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ALL-REMOTE COMPANY/WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE: PHR) (“Phreesia” or the "Company") announced financial results today for the fiscal third quarter ended October 31, 2024. "We are excited about the future here at Phreesia,” said CEO and Co-Founder Chaim Indig. “Our network continues to grow, adoption of our current offerings is increasing, and we are beginning to see the promise of new solutions we are investing in.” Please visit the Phreesia investor relations website at ir.phreesia.com to view the Company's Q3 Fiscal Year 2025 Stakeholder Letter. Fiscal Third Quarter Ended October 31, 2024 Highlights Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook We are narrowing our revenue outlook for fiscal 2025 to a range of $418 million to $420 million from a previous range of $416 million to $426 million, implying year-over-year growth of 17% to 18%. We are updating our Adjusted EBITDA outlook for fiscal 2025 to a range of $34 million to $36 million from a previous range of $26 million to $31 million. Our outlook reflects our strong performance in the fiscal third quarter and our continued focus on margin improvement. We are maintaining our expectation for AHSCs to reach approximately 4,200 for fiscal 2025, compared to 3,601 in fiscal 2024. We are maintaining our expectation for Total revenue per AHSC to increase in fiscal 2025 compared to the $98,944 we achieved in fiscal 2024. Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook We are introducing our revenue outlook for fiscal 2026. We expect revenue to be in the range of $472 million to $482 million. The revenue range provided for fiscal 2026 assumes no additional revenue from potential future acquisitions completed between now and January 31, 2026. We are introducing our Adjusted EBITDA outlook for fiscal 2026. We expect Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $78 million to $88 million. The Adjusted EBITDA range provided for fiscal 2026 assumes continued improvement in operating leverage across the Company through focusing on efficiency. We expect AHSCs to reach approximately 4,500 in fiscal 2026. Additionally, we expect Total revenue per AHSC in fiscal 2026 to increase from fiscal 2025. We believe our $81.7 million in cash and cash equivalents as of October 31, 2024, along with cash generated in our normal operations, gives us sufficient flexibility to reach our fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 outlook. Additionally, our available borrowing capacity under our credit facility with Capital One provides us with an additional source of capital to pursue future growth opportunities not incorporated into our fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 outlook. As of October 31, 2024 we have no borrowings outstanding under our credit facility. Non-GAAP Financial Measures We have not reconciled our Adjusted EBITDA outlook to GAAP Net income (loss) because we do not provide an outlook for GAAP Net income (loss) due to the uncertainty and potential variability of Other (income) expense, net and (Benefit from) provision for income taxes, which are reconciling items between Adjusted EBITDA and GAAP Net income (loss). Because we cannot reasonably predict such items, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. We caution, however, that such items could have a significant impact on the calculation of GAAP Net income (loss). For further information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release, including a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures and an explanation of these measures, please see “Non-GAAP financial measures” below. Available Information We intend to use our Company website (including our Investor Relations website) as well as our Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes express or implied statements that are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance and may contain projections of our future results of operations or of our financial information or state other forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: our future financial and operating performance, including our revenue, operating leverage, margins, Adjusted EBITDA, cash flows and profitability 3; our ability to finance our plans to achieve our fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 outlook with our current cash balance and cash generated in the normal course of business; and our outlook for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026, including our expectations regarding revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, AHSCs and Total revenue per AHSC. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future operational or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control, including, without limitation, risks associated with: our ability to effectively manage our growth and meet our growth objectives; our focus on the long-term and our investments in growth; the competitive environment in which we operate; our ability to comply with the covenants in our credit agreement with Capital One; changes in market conditions and receptivity to our products and services; our ability to develop and release new products and services and successful enhancements, features and modifications to our existing products and services; our ability to maintain the security and availability of our platform; the impact of cyberattacks, security incidents or breaches impacting our business; changes in laws and regulations applicable to our business model; our ability to make accurate predictions about our industry and addressable market; our ability to attract, retain and cross-sell to healthcare services clients; our ability to continue to operate effectively with a primarily remote workforce and attract and retain key talent; our ability to realize the intended benefits of our acquisitions and partnerships; and difficulties in integrating our acquisitions and investments; and other general, market, political, economic and business conditions (including from the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential and congressional elections and the warfare and/or political and economic instability in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those listed or described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024 that will be filed with the SEC following this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update, and expressly disclaim the obligation to update, any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC rules. We have provided a reconciliation of those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, with the exception of our Adjusted EBITDA outlook for the reasons described above. Conference Call Information We will hold a conference call on Monday December 9, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review our fiscal 2025 third quarter financial results. To participate in our live conference call and webcast, please dial (800) 715-9871 (or (646) 307-1963 for international participants) using conference code number 7404611 or visit the “Events & Presentations” section of our Investor Relations website at ir.phreesia.com . A replay of the call will be available via webcast for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call, at the same web link, and will remain available for approximately 90 days. About Phreesia Phreesia is a trusted leader in patient activation, giving providers, life sciences companies and other organizations tools to help patients take a more active role in their care. Founded in 2005, Phreesia enabled approximately 150 million patient visits in 2023—more than 1 in 10 visits across the U.S.—scale that we believe allows us to make meaningful impact. Offering patient-driven digital solutions for intake, outreach, education and more, Phreesia enhances the patient experience, drives efficiency and improves healthcare outcomes. Phreesia, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share and per share data) October 31, 2024 January 31, 2024 (Unaudited) Assets Current: Cash and cash equivalents $ 81,740 $ 87,520 Settlement assets 25,046 28,072 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,468 and $1,392 as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively 71,408 64,863 Deferred contract acquisition costs 362 768 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 11,017 14,461 Total current assets 189,573 195,684 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $87,861 and $76,859 as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively 25,973 16,902 Capitalized internal-use software, net of accumulated amortization of $53,210 and $45,769 as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively 51,322 46,139 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,656 266 Deferred contract acquisition costs 450 986 Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $7,536 and $4,925 as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively 29,014 31,625 Goodwill 75,845 75,845 Other assets 1,870 2,879 Total Assets $ 375,703 $ 370,326 Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Current: Settlement obligations $ 25,046 $ 28,072 Current portion of finance lease liabilities and other debt 8,866 6,056 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 1,021 393 Accounts payable 15,870 8,480 Accrued expenses 29,080 37,130 Deferred revenue 22,188 24,113 Other current liabilities 7,130 5,875 Total current liabilities 109,201 110,119 Long-term finance lease liabilities and other debt 10,292 5,400 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 840 134 Long-term deferred revenue 199 97 Long-term deferred tax liabilities 446 270 Other long-term liabilities 133 2,857 Total Liabilities 121,111 118,877 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders’ Equity: Preferred stock, undesignated, $0.01 par value - 20,000,000 shares authorized as of both October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024; no shares issued or outstanding as of both October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024 — — Common stock, $0.01 par value - 500,000,000 shares authorized as of both October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024; 59,439,197 and 57,709,762 shares issued as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively 594 577 Additional paid-in capital 1,094,629 1,039,361 Accumulated deficit (795,106 ) (742,969 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5 ) — Treasury stock, at cost, 1,355,169 shares as of both October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024 (45,520 ) (45,520 ) Total Stockholders’ Equity 254,592 251,449 Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 375,703 $ 370,326 Phreesia, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue: Subscription and related services $ 49,363 $ 42,595 $ 144,717 $ 119,783 Payment processing fees 24,704 23,218 77,064 71,102 Network solutions 32,733 25,806 88,351 70,409 Total revenues 106,800 91,619 310,132 261,294 Expenses: Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) 17,854 15,529 49,720 44,885 Payment processing expense 16,683 15,410 51,648 47,352 Sales and marketing 30,071 36,478 92,266 111,135 Research and development 29,315 28,544 87,738 82,484 General and administrative 19,633 20,240 58,182 61,105 Depreciation 3,566 4,483 11,011 13,231 Amortization 3,521 2,980 10,052 8,003 Total expenses 120,643 123,664 360,617 368,195 Operating loss (13,843 ) (32,045 ) (50,485 ) (106,901 ) Other expense, net (144 ) (47 ) (261 ) (39 ) Interest income, net 26 523 311 2,027 Total other (expense) income, net (118 ) 476 50 1,988 Loss before provision for income taxes (13,961 ) (31,569 ) (50,435 ) (104,913 ) Provision for income taxes (442 ) (372 ) (1,702 ) (1,326 ) Net loss $ (14,403 ) $ (31,941 ) $ (52,137 ) $ (106,239 ) Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted $ (0.25 ) $ (0.58 ) $ (0.91 ) $ (1.96 ) Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted 57,891,591 55,251,074 57,358,637 54,139,555 (1) Our potential dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be to reduce the net loss per share. Therefore, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same. Phreesia, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) (in thousands) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net loss $ (14,403 ) $ (31,941 ) $ (52,137 ) $ (106,239 ) Other comprehensive loss, net of tax: Change in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax (3 ) — (5 ) — Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (3 ) — (5 ) — Comprehensive loss $ (14,406 ) $ (31,941 ) $ (52,142 ) $ (106,239 ) Phreesia, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (in thousands) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Operating activities: Net loss $ (14,403 ) $ (31,941 ) $ (52,137 ) $ (106,239 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 7,087 7,463 21,063 21,234 Stock-based compensation expense 16,525 17,963 49,813 53,749 Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount 62 84 174 253 Cost of Phreesia hardware purchased by customers 571 582 1,248 1,232 Deferred contract acquisition costs amortization 1,322 235 1,706 855 Non-cash operating lease expense 207 142 568 484 Deferred taxes 57 39 176 181 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (10,141 ) (991 ) (6,558 ) (3,361 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets 1,005 (1,530 ) 4,286 (761 ) Deferred contract acquisition costs (552 ) — (765 ) — Accounts payable 6,948 1,189 5,198 (1,226 ) Accrued expenses and other liabilities (3,655 ) 469 (6,202 ) 6,530 Lease liabilities (202 ) (232 ) (622 ) (884 ) Deferred revenue 954 218 (1,823 ) (1,347 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 5,785 (6,310 ) 16,125 (29,300 ) Investing activities: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (10,406 ) — (14,279 ) Capitalized internal-use software (3,566 ) (4,069 ) (11,112 ) (13,889 ) Purchases of property and equipment (616 ) (1,242 ) (5,919 ) (3,344 ) Net cash used in investing activities (4,182 ) (15,717 ) (17,031 ) (31,512 ) Financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options 17 250 583 925 Treasury stock to satisfy tax withholdings on stock compensation awards — (1,451 ) — (12,176 ) Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 840 919 2,443 2,782 Finance lease payments (1,895 ) (1,729 ) (5,170 ) (5,156 ) Constructive financing — — — 1,688 Principal payments on financing agreements (304 ) (273 ) (888 ) (318 ) Debt issuance costs and loan facility fee payments — — (152 ) (250 ) Financing payments of acquisition-related liabilities (309 ) — (1,673 ) — Net cash used in financing activities (1,651 ) (2,284 ) (4,857 ) (12,505 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (10 ) — (17 ) — Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (58 ) (24,311 ) (5,780 ) (73,317 ) Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period 81,798 127,677 87,520 176,683 Cash and cash equivalents – end of period $ 81,740 $ 103,366 $ 81,740 $ 103,366 Supplemental information of non-cash investing and financing information: Right of use assets acquired in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ — $ 346 $ 1,958 $ 346 Property and equipment acquisitions through finance leases $ 6,847 $ 371 $ 13,709 $ 7,438 Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software included in current liabilities $ 3,508 $ 2,911 $ 3,508 $ 2,911 Capitalized stock-based compensation $ 343 $ 309 $ 1,006 $ 1,023 Issuance of stock to settle liabilities for stock-based compensation $ 2,853 $ 3,420 $ 10,679 $ 10,641 Issuance of stock as consideration in business combinations $ — $ 30,645 $ — $ 35,321 Deferred consideration liabilities payable in business combinations $ — $ 10,294 $ — $ 10,294 Capitalized software acquired through vendor financing $ — $ — $ — $ 2,047 Cash paid for: Interest $ 595 $ 295 $ 1,459 $ 649 Income taxes $ 549 $ — $ 2,559 $ 48 Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release and statements made during the above-referenced webcast may include certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC rules. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or loss or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss before interest income, net, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and before stock-based compensation expense and other expense, net. We have provided below a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA in this press release and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed after this press release because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget, and to develop short and long-term operational plans. In particular, we believe that the exclusion of the amounts eliminated in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core business. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. We have not reconciled our Adjusted EBITDA outlook to GAAP Net income (loss) because we do not provide an outlook for GAAP Net income (loss) due to the uncertainty and potential variability of Other (income) expense, net and (Benefit from) provision for income taxes, which are reconciling items between Adjusted EBITDA and GAAP Net income (loss). Because we cannot reasonably predict such items, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. We caution, however, that such items could have a significant impact on the calculation of GAAP Net income (loss). Our use of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are as follows: Because of these and other limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA along with other GAAP-based financial performance measures, including various cash flow metrics, net loss, and our GAAP financial results. The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for each of the periods indicated: Phreesia, Inc. Adjusted EBITDA ( Unaudited) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, (in thousands) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net loss $ (14,403 ) $ (31,941 ) $ (52,137 ) $ (106,239 ) Interest income, net (26 ) (523 ) (311 ) (2,027 ) Provision for income taxes 442 372 1,702 1,326 Depreciation and amortization 7,087 7,463 21,063 21,234 Stock-based compensation expense 16,525 17,963 49,813 53,749 Other expense, net 144 47 261 39 Adjusted EBITDA $ 9,769 $ (6,619 ) $ 20,391 $ (31,918 ) We calculate Free cash flow as Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capitalized internal-use software development costs and purchases of property and equipment. Additionally, Free cash flow is a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We consider Free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by our business that can be used for strategic opportunities, including investing in our business, making strategic investments, partnerships and acquisitions and strengthening our financial position. The following table presents a reconciliation of Free cash flow from Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for each of the periods indicated: Phreesia, Inc. Free cash flow ( Unaudited) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, (in thousands, unaudited) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 5,785 $ (6,310 ) $ 16,125 $ (29,300 ) Less: Capitalized internal-use software (3,566 ) (4,069 ) (11,112 ) (13,889 ) Purchases of property and equipment (616 ) (1,242 ) (5,919 ) (3,344 ) Free cash flow $ 1,603 $ (11,621 ) $ (906 ) $ (46,533 ) Phreesia, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP and Adjusted Operating Expenses (Unaudited) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, (in thousands) 2024 2023 2024 2023 GAAP operating expenses General and administrative $ 19,633 $ 20,240 $ 58,182 $ 61,105 Sales and marketing 30,071 36,478 92,266 111,135 Research and development 29,315 28,544 87,738 82,484 Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) 17,854 15,529 49,720 44,885 $ 96,873 $ 100,791 $ 287,906 $ 299,609 Stock compensation included in GAAP operating expenses General and administrative $ 6,049 $ 5,798 $ 18,534 $ 17,423 Sales and marketing 5,431 6,322 16,500 19,850 Research and development 3,793 4,561 11,049 13,002 Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) 1,252 1,282 3,730 3,474 $ 16,525 $ 17,963 $ 49,813 $ 53,749 Adjusted operating expenses General and administrative $ 13,584 $ 14,442 $ 39,648 $ 43,682 Sales and marketing 24,640 30,156 75,766 91,285 Research and development 25,522 23,983 76,689 69,482 Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) 16,602 14,247 45,990 41,411 $ 80,348 $ 82,828 $ 238,093 $ 245,860 Phreesia, Inc. Key Metrics (Unaudited) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Key Metrics: Average number of healthcare services clients ("AHSCs") 4,237 3,688 4,157 3,481 Healthcare services revenue per AHSC $ 17,481 $ 17,845 $ 53,351 $ 54,836 Total revenue per AHSC $ 25,207 $ 24,842 $ 74,605 $ 75,063 The definitions of our key metrics are presented below. Additional Information (Unaudited) Three months ended October 31, Nine months ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Patient payment volume (in millions) $ 1,081 $ 965 $ 3,340 $ 2,970 Payment facilitator volume percentage 81 % 82 % 81 % 82 % ______________________________ 1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss before interest income, net, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and before stock-based compensation expense and other expense, net. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the closest GAAP measure. 2 Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure. We define Free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capitalized internal-use software development costs and purchases of property and equipment. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of Free cash flow to the closest GAAP measure. 3 We define “profitability,” discussed herein, in terms of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure. See ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’ for a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of our Adjusted EBITDA to Net loss, the closest GAAP measure. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209683231/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact:Balaji Gandhi Phreesia, Inc. investors@phreesia.com (929) 506-4950Media Contact:Nicole Gist Phreesia, Inc. nicole.gist@phreesia.com (407) 760-6274 KEYWORD: DELAWARE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SCIENCE SOFTWARE PRACTICE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH HEALTH HOSPITALS HEALTH TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Phreesia, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209683231/en

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Chargers focused on avoiding a letdown and not a potential playoff berth in matchup with PatriotsMAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country's highest court confirmed ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections killed at least 21 people, including two police officers, authorities said Tuesday. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court's announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. “From the preliminary survey, in the last 24 hours, 236 acts of violence were recorded throughout the national territory that resulted in 21 deaths, of which two members of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique also died," Ronda said. He said 13 civilians and 12 police were injured. Ronda said 25 vehicles were set on fire, including two police vehicles. He added that 11 police subunits and a penitentiary were attacked and vandalized and 86 inmates were freed. Tensions were high in the country ahead of the The Constitutional Council ruling on Monday and violent protests started immediately after the announcement was made. Footage circulating on various social media platforms showed protesters burning and looting shops in the capital Maputo and the city of Beira, where some city officials were reported to have fled the city. Mondlane has called for a “shutdown” starting Friday but violence in the country has already escalated and the situation remained tense in the capital on Tuesday night following a day of violence and looting by protesters. The country of 34 million people has been on edge since the Oct. 9 general elections . Mondlane’s supporters, mostly hundreds of thousands of young people, have since taken to the streets, and have been met by gunfire from security forces. This brings to more than 150 the number of people who have died from post-election violence since the initial results were announced by the country's electoral body.Pop music singer Katy Perry has already announced dates for two legs of her upcoming “Lifetimes” tour and on Monday she used a recognizable Canadian sparkling water brand in a video posted to social media to reveal she will be coming to the Great White North this summer. “OK guys, what leg of the tour do you think we’re going to announce next?” the American musician asked in a video posted to Perry’s X account . The singer, who appeared to be lying on a kitchen counter, then pulled at a bottle of Clearly Canadian water and put it in view of her camera. “Clearly Canadian — the Canadian leg is coming up.” Perry’s website shows she is scheduled to perform in seven Canadian cities in late July and early August: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto. Perry, known for hit songs like “I Kissed a Girl,” “Hot n Cold” and “Roar” has sold tens of millions of albums in her career. Earlier this year, she released the album 143 which features appearances by 21 Savage and Kim Petras. Perry performed at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards in September, where she also accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. She was handed the lifetime achievement award by her partner, actor Orlando Bloom. Perry’s “Lifetimes” tour begins on April 23, 2025 in Mexico City. For more information on Perry’s upcoming tour dates, you can visit her website here . –With files from The Associated Press

Greetings CIPAWorld! I’m back, ready to drive you through the latest scoop on all things privacy and compliance. Have you ever wondered who might be listening when you use a website’s chat feature? A recent development in Rodriguez v. Ford Motor Co. , No. 3:23-cv-00598-RBM-JLB, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 218685 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 3, 2024) brings that question into sharp focus. Earlier this year, the Southern District of California dismissed claims in the First Amended Complaint, finding that allegations under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”) were too thin to proceed ( a point I highlighted in my previous blog regarding Google ). Fast forward to December: the Second Amended Complaint presented a stronger case, and the Court has now shifted gears—dismissing some claims but allowing key allegations of unauthorized eavesdropping and aiding and abetting under CIPA Section 631(a) to move forward. This decision forces Ford to respond by December 17, 2024 and underscores a critical issue I’ve emphasized repeatedly in my CIPA blog posts: how companies manage digital privacy and the role of third-party software providers. The case began when Plaintiff visited Ford’s website and had what she thought was a straightforward chat with a customer service representative. What she didn’t know—and what would later become the center of the matter—was that a third-party company called “LivePerson” was allegedly monitoring and recording these conversations without her knowledge. Before we dive in even more deeply, it’s important to note that this case isn’t just about chat features—it’s part of a broader reckoning over how digital platforms collect, process, and monetize user data. With consumers (myself included) increasingly concerned about privacy and lawmakers introducing stricter regulations, companies must align their practices with emerging legal norms. So, what’s at issue here? Yes, you guessed it. CIPA, specifically Section 631(a), a law, as we all know, that was initially designed to prevent telephone wiretapping, has now become a battleground in cases seen repeatedly. As noted in Heiting v. Taro Pharms. USA, Inc. , 709 F. Supp. 3d 1007, 2023 WL 9319049, at *2 (C.D. Cal. 2023), courts must navigate between two seminal cases that frame the recent jurisprudence on Section 631: Ribas v. Clark , 38 Cal. 3d 355, 212 Cal. Rptr. 143, 696 P.2d 637 (1985), and Rogers v. Ulrich , 52 Cal. App. 3d 894, 125 Cal. Rptr. 306 (1975). This key question has created a significant split among district courts in California. One line of cases, led by Graham v. Noom, Inc. , 533 F. Supp. 3d 823 (N.D. Cal. 2021) holds that software vendors are “extensions” of the websites that employ them, and thus not third parties under the statute. Conversely, the opposing view—exemplified by Javier v. Assurance IQ, LLC , 649 F. Supp. 3d 891 (N.D. Cal. 2023)—holds that software providers can be third parties within Section 631’s meaning, focusing on their capability to use the information rather than actual use. In siding with the Javier approach, LivePerson’s extensive capabilities mainly influenced the Rodriguez Court. Why is this so? Well, the Court found it significant that LivePerson monitors an average of 2.6 billion visitor sessions per month across its customers’ websites and combines this data with other behavioral information to build one of the world’s most extensive customer datasets. Just think about that for a moment. 2.6 BILLION VISITOR SESSIONS... PER MONTH . Wow. As emphasized in D’Angelo v. Penny OpCo, LLC , Case No. 23-cv-0981-BAS-DDL, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 191054, 2023 WL 7006793, at *7 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 24, 2023), the mere capability of using collected data for other purposes could trigger liability—regardless of whether that capability is ever exercised. In addition, the Court found compelling evidence that Ford was aware of these capabilities. Here, Plaintiff successfully alleged that Ford was made aware of LivePerson’s data use and the risk of prohibiting legislation and, therefore, knew LivePerson’s conduct constituted a breach of some duty. This knowledge formed the basis for allowing the aiding and abetting claims to proceed. The Court noted that companies cannot hide behind third-party vendors to evade liability. When outsourcing customer service technology, businesses must account for their partners’ data practices and the potential for improper use of consumer information. What is more, some courts have suggested that determining whether software acts more like a tape recorder or an eavesdropper requires factual investigation. As noted in Kauffman v. Papa John’s Int’l, Inc. , Case No. 22-cv-1492-L-MSB, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7873, 2024 WL 171363, at *7 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 12, 2024), “Whether [the software provider] acts akin to a tape recorder or whether its actions are closer to ‘an eavesdropper standing outside the door’ is a question of fact which is better answered after discovery into the technical context of the case.” This uncertainty creates additional complexity for businesses operating in the Ninth Circuit, especially given the potential liability under state statutes like CIPA continues to grow. Compliance is key here. As always, Keep it legal, keep it smart, and stay ahead of the game. Talk soon!

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a fortunately LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingLAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”

“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Lately, when I find myself feeling a little too calm about things, I’ve taken to reading the Reddit subreddit r/singularity to help swing my equilibrium back to its natural state of intense panic. This is a place where activity has flourished in recent months, as community members feverishly discuss the day’s ever-increasing developments in artificial intelligence and casually argue about the date they expect computers to officially exceed all human control. “AGI by the end of 2025” predicted a top ranking post on the subreddit this week, referencing the stage of singularity when “artificial general intelligence” – the point at which computers can perform any intellectual task that a human can – is reached. The excitement was caused by OpenAI’s announcement that its o3 system can now reason through maths, science and computer programming problems, which are three things I definitely can’t do. We had the chance to give computers less control, and instead we gave them more. Credit: iStock It got me thinking: we should have just let the Y2K bug win, hey? There we were, exactly 25 years ago, gifted with a date glitch that would’ve sent us warmly back to the 1900s, when life was simple and butter was churned in the backyard. But instead we panicked, worried that nuclear plants would melt down, planes would fall out of the sky, ATMs would erase all our savings, and like Bill Pullman in Independence Day we chose to fight. Now, 25 years on and with robot overlords breathing down our necks, it feels like a fork-in-the-road moment where we Robert Frosted the wrong way. We had the chance to give computers less control, and instead we gave them more. Dummy move! Perhaps because I’d just turned legal drinking age, or perhaps because I was watching Buffy religiously instead of following the news, I don’t remember feeling too concerned about the Y2K bug. What did I care if computers thought it was 1900 instead of 2000? Life across those 100 years wasn’t that different. In 1999, I still walked everywhere; I still did school exams in pencil; I still developed 35mm film negatives for my day job like Thomas Edison in his laboratory. Computers might’ve been around, but they weren’t such a part of our lives as they are now. I’d go whole days without touching one sometimes, except to play Grim Fandango . We were so close, as this archival shot from the film Time Bomb Y2K shows. Not to get all John Lennon, but imagine there were no computers. I wouldn’t miss them. I’d be sitting by a river bank right now, writing this column in salmon blood with my index finger. We’d all be so close to nature we could taste it, like the kid from Into the Wild . Maybe we’d die eating berries, but we’d live eating berries, too. If computers had died in 1999, we wouldn’t have social media either, the worst experiment in humankind since lobotomies. Instead we’d just have polite conversation with whoever was in our vicinity and/or crushing loneliness, both preferable options. If Y2K had happened, industry would be thriving too. No computers means no factory closures means no Donald Trump, it’s a simple equation. Loading And not just manual industries, but creative ones too. If computers had died, music might still be a viable artistic career. I know this because in 1999 it would take me four days to download one Talib Kweli song, whereas today I just skimmed through his full life’s work during a toilet break. No one should have such carefree access to an artist’s entire life work, especially during a bowel movement. It’s not right. Maps. Street directories. The Yellow Pages. Privacy. Look at all the things we lost because, 25 years ago, we chose to save computers instead. A worthwhile exchange? I don’t know, maps were fun to fold. You can’t fold a GPS, you can just yell at its ignorant directions. “But what about the hospitals?” you’re probably saying. “Hospitals need computers.” Yes, I’m sure computers have saved more lives than the cast of Bondi Rescue , and the result is overpopulation. To paraphrase Paris Hilton, sometimes you just have to leave the party. The people of 1900, aprons splattered in freshly churned butter, understood this. As you can see, the Y2K bug got an unnecessarily bad rap in 1999. The good news is that we have another chance to get it right in 2038, when at 03:14:08 UTC on 19 January 2038, computer systems running on Unix time will suddenly revert to 20:45:52 on Friday, 13 December 1901. It’s called the Year 2038 Problem , which isn’t as catchy as Y2K, but it’ll do. Butter churning, here I come. To read more from Spectrum , visit our page here . Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article The Verdict Spectrum For subscribers Robert Moran is Spectrum Deputy Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald. Connect via email . Most Viewed in Culture Loading

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:32 a.m. EST

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TO continue enhancing financial literacy across Asean, Maybank and Maybank Foundation hosted the 3rd Maybank Regional Financial Education Excellence (Regional FinEx) Awards 2024. The event was held at the Maybank Performing Arts Theatre (MPAT) in Bonifacio Global City, Manila, Philippines. This year’s awards celebrated the achievements of schools, educators and families who build financial literacy among children. It followed the success of previous Regional FinEx events held in Malaysia and Cambodia. With the Cashville Kidz (CVK) Financial Literacy programme, Maybank is the first Malaysian and regional institution to have embarked on such a wide-scale effort. Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation’s chairman Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa highlighted the importance of financial literacy. “In a region where financial literacy levels vary widely, empowering young people with the skills to navigate today’s evolving economic landscape is critical. “At Maybank Foundation, we support the region’s development by helping children acquire skills to make informed financial decisions, break the cycle of poverty and secure a brighter future,” he said. Maybank’s CVK programme continues to address the need for financial education in schools across Asean by educating schoolchildren aged nine to 12 via an animated series. Since its launch, the programme has benefitted over 370,000 schoolchildren and trained more than 6,300 teachers across nearly 1,370 schools. These are spread across Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Maybank Philippines Incorporated president and chief executive officer Patrick Dennis L. Solosa noted the CVK programme continues to evolve, combining elements of fun and learning to make it even more exciting and easier for children to become financially savvy. The CVK programme is accorded co-curriculum status by Malaysia’s Education Ministry and is supported by the Philippines’ central bank and education department, Cambodia’s national bank and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture. The awards ceremony recognised and showcased outstanding nominees from Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam in the four categories. These included the Best School Award for the school that best drove the Financial Literacy agenda in their school. The Best Educator Award rewarded the teacher who ensured students achieve marked improvement in their pre- and post-assessment scores. The Best Student Award was given out to the pupil with the highest post-assessment score while the Best Family Award recognised the family which showed the most effort in improving its financial standing. Among those present were Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino and Maybank Group chief sustainability officer Shahril Azuar Jimin.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN 79, NORTH DAKOTA 67NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russian attack with hypersonic missile

BETHUNE-COOKMAN 79, NORTH DAKOTA 67

The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that yet another child has died due to suspected food poisoning. The Grade 2 learner from Thabisile Primary School in Diepkloof, Soweto, reportedly died on Friday, 22 November. GRADE 2 LEARNER DIES FROM SUSPECTED FOOD POISONING According to the Gauteng Department of Education the learner allegedly fell ill on Wednesday, 20 November, after reportedly consuming biscuits from a local spaza shop. Her condition reportedly worsened over the course of the next two days, and she was taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Friday, where she was tragically declared deceased. Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said at this stage, the exact cause of her passing remains unclear. The relevant authorities are conducting investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Mabona said they have dispatched the psycho-social support unit to provide counselling to the affected family, learners, and staff at Thabisile Primary School on Monday, 25 November. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and school community during this difficult time. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all learners and will continue to monitor developments closely,” Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said. Meanwhile, on Friday, a five-year-old Grade R learner also from Diepkloof in Soweto, Gauteng died from suspected food poisoning after consuming snacks bought from a local spaza shop. Three other minors who were hospitalised. FOODBORNE ILLNESSES CLASSIFIED AS A NATIONAL DISASTER On Thursday, 21 November, ministers leading the multidisciplinary teams in government responsible for the national response to foodborne illnesses held a media briefing to outline the government’s action plan to manage foodborne diseases. Justice Minister Thembi Simelane said the disaster management centre had classified foodborne illnesses as a national disaster under the National Disaster Act. Simelane said the classification encourages all organs of state, the private sector, and communities to improve their risk-avoidance practices by adhering to food safety legislation, standards and procedures. Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.Andrej Jakimovski hit a layup with 8 seconds left, and Colorado upset No. 2 UConn 73-72 in the consolation bracket of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado (5-1) rallied from down 11 in the first half to get the win over the two-time defending national champions Huskies. Jakimovski finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Julian Hammond III and Elijah Malone each scored 16 for the Buffaloes, who advanced to the fifth-place game in Maui on Wednesday. Down 72-71, Jakimovski drove the right side of the lane and made a scoop shot as he was falling down. UConn called timeout to set up the final play but Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left. Liam McNeeley led UConn with 20 points, Solo Ball scored 16 and Diarra finished with 11. The Huskies (4-2) lost two straight for the first time since dropping three in a row from Jan. 11-18, 2023. Colorado trailed by eight at halftime and Diarra hit two 3-pointers early in the second half that made it 46-37. The Buffaloes scored the next 11 points to take a 48-46 lead, their first of the game. Hammond bookended that run with a pair of triples. UConn went back in front 55-52 on Tarris Reed Jr.'s driving layup but Malone's bucket with 8:34 left tied it at 59. McNeeley's hook shot gave the Huskies a 63-60 lead before Jakimovski drained a 3-pointer to tie it again with 5:16 left. Ball hit a 3-pointer and a layup to give UConn a five-point lead but Colorado got within 70-69 on two free throws by Malone with 2:04 left. A putback from Jaylin Stewart made it a three-point game with 1:29 remaining. Malone answered with a layup, Javon Ruffin blocked Diarra's shot and Colorado got an offensive rebound with 24 seconds left to set up the winning basket. McNeeley made his first four shots from deep and had 16 points by intermission to lead the Huskies. Colorado had opportunities to make it a close game by halftime but went just 12-for-19 from the foul line and trailed 40-32. UConn attempted only four free throws in the first half and had five players with two or more fouls, including Reed, who had three. --Field Level Media

fortune 3 on axe The first stage of the world’s eighth and Sri Lanka’s first seven-star hotel, Aviyana’s Private Chalets will open in Kandy next May, said Chairman and Founder of the Aviyana Private Chalet Complex, Dr. Indika Thisara Hewawasam at a media briefing at Cinnamon Life on Thursday. Hailing from Elpitiya in Galle, he said that they will have 50 swimming pools in the Chalets making it the only such hotel in the region built outside a city. In response to a Sunday Observer Business query, he said that of the total estimate of around Rs 9 billion, Rs 7 billion has been invested and 70% of the construction has now been completed. The first stage is set to open in May 2025 and over 300 workers were engaged in the construction work. “This will comprise around 12 chalets; out of a 50 plus that will be built when the construction comes to completion,” he said. “We hope to have a novel global marketing campaign and market a chalet at around USD 1,000 minimum, helping to position Sri Lanka as an upmarket destination attracting billionaires and helping to set a new standard in luxury travel,” Dr Hewawasam said. Sri Lanka has untapped potential to cater to high-end travellers and celebrities seeking luxury, privacy and an unparalleled experience marketing the island’s natural beauty and biodiversity in the Knuckles Mountain range. “We hope to at least muster around USD 500 million annually as our contribution to the local tourism segment revenue annually”, he added. “I have already invested around Rs. 2 billion on this property spanning around 18 acres and the balance is raised through local professionals and locals and foreigners too could own a villa for around USD 180 million and pre purchases were now available. “Investors are guaranteed one of the highest ROIs in the market, with earnings in either USD or LKR. We’ve created a model where investors don’t need to worry about tenants or maintenance — everything is handled by our dedicated team,” Dr. Hewawasam added. When asked why they did not want to venture into the stock market and raise the balance, he said that they did not want to broad-base the ownership but limit it to a few local professionals and foreigners. Dr. Hewawasam said they had already contacted world class chefs, professionals and wellness centres to join the staff and service sector to enhance the services of the hotel.

Lindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhills

AP News Summary at 5:04 p.m. ESTNEW YORK – American Airlines said on Tuesday its flights had resumed after a technical glitch forced the carrier to issue an hour-long ground stop, disrupting travel for thousands on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest periods of the year. The issue that briefly affected the carrier’s ability to get its planes in the air involved network hardware and was caused by DXC Technology, an operating system vendor responsible for maintaining its flight operations, the airline said. While customers were still pressing for details on their delayed flights, the relatively brief stoppage means American will likely avoid a full-scale meltdown that could ripple for days during the peak holiday travel season. The airline has 3 901 flights scheduled worldwide on Tuesday, with 19 of those cancelled, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. However, only 37 per cent of the flights have departed on time so far in the day, while 36 per cent have arrived on time, according to Cirium. “Not a good start to Christmas Eve travel as current flight is grounded and Captain cannot provide ETA on resolution from system outage and/or paperwork error at national level. Will make connections or refunds more complicated too,” a user had said, tagging American Airlines on X . Tuesday’s snafu is the latest technical snag after carriers were hit by a global tech outage tied to Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and a software issue at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike earlier this year. The outage had cost Delta Air Lines at least $500 million. (Reuters) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Devin Haney's baby mama breaks silence on viral call with Young Thug-Clears the air amid backlash

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Wesley Celichowski’s 22 points helped Air Force defeat Stony Brook 69-61 on Saturday. Celichowski shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 8 for 8 from the line for the Falcons (3-7). Ethan Taylor scored 17 points while going 6 of 11 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and added eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Caleb Walker shot 6 of 6 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. The Seawolves (2-7) were led by CJ Luster II, who recorded 27 points. Stony Brook also got 13 points from Collin O’Connor. Andre Snoddy finished with 11 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Women’s basketball: Short-handed CU Buffs roll past Southern Utah

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’"Aidan Bouman, Quaron Adams rally South Dakota past Tarleton State 42-31 in FCS second-round duel

Fernando Lovo remembers seeing the family crest sitting above the desk in his paternal grandfather's office. "It said Lobo, L-O-B-O," Lovo told the Journal on Sunday, adding his father is from Nicaragua and met his mother here in the United States. "And at some point in time, I don't know when, but the family name got misrepresented or was misspelled or whatever, so it became what it is now.Article content Re: “ Dubé lays down law for new MDs ” (The Gazette, Dec. 5) Just as the pen is mightier than the sword, the carrot is superior to the stick. And yet, Health Minister Christian Dubé’s proposed solution for steering new doctors away from the private sector and into the public system is to use legislative force and lock the door for a minimum of five years. The better idea: Improve work conditions so physicians experience satisfaction and fulfilment in their role and, thus, will want to choose the public system. Nick Di Cino, Ahuntsic-Cartierville Re: “ Santé Québec isn’t the cure for what ails health care ” (Allison Hanes, Nov. 20) I would tend to go along with Allison Hanes and bet nothing will change for the better in the health-care system under Santé Québec. Why is it that the government seems to get it wrong time and time again? Is it, as Hanes suggests, because the effort to overhaul health care is focused on structures rather than services? Timely and efficient services are what Quebecers need and what medical professionals are trained to provide. It’s been far too long now that we hear mostly of problems and too little about workable solutions. Goldie Olszynko, Mile End Re: “ On the critical list: Study urges doctors to never use these phrases with patients ” (NP Montreal, Nov. 14) As a former board certified oncology social worker at a major teaching hospital in Montreal, I can attest to how much words and phrases matter. All too often, patients who feel anxious and vulnerable are subjected to words and/or phrases spoken by their health-care provider that exasperate their sense of hope and renders them even more concerned and fearful for their future. It has been my experience when patients and their families find themselves in a clinical setting they are generally known to hang on to every word the doctor says. Therefore, I feel it incumbent upon the physician to always be aware that regardless of the prognosis, healing is a process that continues until one’s very last breath. Thus, doctors best heed the wisdom and advice spelled out in the book Whole Person Care (Tom A. Hutchinson, editor) by Dr. Abraham Fuks, who writes: “The skein of recognition, commitment, and directedness toward the other that can relieve suffering and permit healing is spun by language and knotted by words.” Brahms E. Silver, Côte-St-Luc Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@montrealgazette.com We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer’s argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or “open letters” addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author’s full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be. Please send the letter in the body of an email, not as an attachment.

Lindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhills

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Taylor Swift fans outraged as Eras Tour book sells eye-popping amount in first week despite being littered with mistakesThe Inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix was the highest-profile new sporting event in the world last year. The collision of luxury and high-octane adrenaline left spectators in awe, showcasing the extravagant lifestyle and hospitality synonymous with Las Vegas. Stretching over 3.8 miles, the custom-designed street circuit features 17 high-speed turns and two DRS zones against the dazzling Las Vegas backdrop. Last year's event garnered 315,000 fans to witness drivers racing down the strip at 215 mph. The last time Las Vegas hosted a Grand Prix was in 1982 when Formula One drivers competed on a track set up in a parking lot next to Caesars Palace. The success of Netflix reality show Drive to Survive has boosted Formula One's stateside popularity in the United States in recent years. But the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix isn't just about what happens on the track; Sin City also offers high-end hospitality options for attendees. VIP packages include exclusive lounges, gourmet dining experiences, and up-close views of the action from private suites. The ultimate ticket to this year's Grand Prix race is the Bellagio Fountain Club , which sits mere feet from the 1.2-mile high-speed straight. This exclusive package constructed next to the city's famous fountains is a powerhouse trifecta of indulgence, hospitality, and exhilaration. "Bellagio Fountain Club's debut at last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix event surpassed all expectations," said Andrew Lanzino, MGM Resorts' Vice President of Citywide Events Strategy. The private indoor and rooftop deck gives guests unobstructed trackside viewing. Celebrity chefs like Mario Carbone, David Chang, Alain Ducasse, Masaharu Morimoto, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten serve exquisite culinary offerings. At the same time, drinks flow at the open bar from master sommeliers and mixologists. The Bellagio Fountain Club is a highly sought-after ticket for race weekend, yet the hotel offers numerous activities everyone can enjoy. The Shoey Bar is back! Drink from a newly designed white shoe at the wildly popular tribute to one of racing's most iconic celebrations (thanks to Daniel Ricciardo). The Bellagio's Ferrari pop-up boutique returns for the second consecutive year, exclusively housing men's and women's collections, luxury leather accessories, one-of-a-kind items, and signed collectibles. Exclusive Balmain Racing menswear capsule and the French house's iconic ready-to-wear, handbags, and shoes will be available at a temporary boutique at the Bellagio through January 5. The Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a luxurious new addition to the Vegas Strip. A long-anticipated sister property to the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, this Las Vegas counterpart brings high-end design and world-class dining. As the official event partner for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, Fontainebleau will host the international elite at Papi Steak Garage, fusing high-energy dining and trackside action. Hosted by Papi Steak, a renowned David Grutman's Groot Hospitality hotspot, this package places guests within the pulse of the race, the Pit Lane. Known for its signature "Papi Steak," a richly seasoned and expertly cooked Tomahawk, the restaurant blends vintage glamour with a vibrant, high-energy atmosphere. For racing enthusiasts looking to pair fine dining with Formula 1 excitement, the VIP ultra-luxe package experience includes: No matter what team you cheer for, Sin City comes alive during race weekend. For those looking to get a taste of the action off-track, F1-themed activations throughout the city keep the energy high. The lobby at ARIA is the epicenter of excitement for Mercedes-AMG Petronas fans. A fully decked-out installation features race simulators, team merchandise, and photo opportunities with a show car, among other specialized experiences. The Cosmopolitan elevates race weekend with The Boulevard Experience, a souped-up watch party atop the Boulevard Pool. New for this year's race is a closed-circuit viewing of the live Las Vegas Grand Prix TV feed. The Brooklyn Bridge will transform into a motorsport fan's dream with Williams Racing team-curated interactive experiences. The free event offers fans an inside look at what it means to be on the team. Guests wandering The Cosmopolitan will find a variety of complimentary race weekend experiences, including MoneyGram Haas F1 Team memorabilia and photo opportunities with a team show car. As an official partner of the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, the resort is a high-energy destination for sports, entertainment, and exclusive experiences. More than 20 displayed Aston Martin models give fans unprecedented opportunities to experience the exquisite craftsmanship and advanced technology defining this prestigious brand. Aston Martin's Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Marco Mattiacci, says, "It's an opportunity to connect with our community of owners and bring our brand to enthusiasts from across North America during a landmark moment in the F1 calendar." The exclusive Aston Martin British Bloodline experience presents a curated selection of current and rare vintage performance cars. Among them is the return of an icon, the Vanquish, Aston Martin's V12 flagship. This collection also features the newly launched Vantage sports car, the groundbreaking DB12 Super Tourer, and the DBX707, hailed as the supercar of SUVs. "As the excitement builds toward Race Week, we are thrilled to offer our guests an intimate look at the history and evolution of Aston Martin, a brand that symbolizes both excellence and sophistication," says Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden. "As a resort, we pride ourselves on bringing top-tier experiences to our guests, creating once-in-a-lifetime memories. Fontainebleau Las Vegas is extremely proud to be the exclusive partner of Aston Martin, and we are honored to bring this iconic luxury brand for the ultimate Race Week experience." The hotel invites guests to experience Race Week in VIP style with the Aston Martin Million Dollar Package . This epitome of luxury allows guests to tailor their own Race Week adventure. It offers the extraordinary opportunity to take home an Aston Martin Vanquish, the stunning new flagship model from the prestigious British performance car brand. The Aston Martin Million Dollar Package also includes: Experience the Grand Prix without the craziness of The Strip with a retreat to Crockfords Las Vegas , an ultra-luxe property located directly on Las Vegas Boulevard just outside the high-energy zone. Recharge at this exclusive hotel within Resorts World after an action-fueled day at the track. The Chairman's Villa is an exclusive four-bedroom suite with direct views of the strip and race track from its private balcony on the 65th floor. This opulent suite includes a private lobby experience, a personal butler, and access to all of Crockford's amenities. A large media room, formal dining room, chef's kitchen, and billiards table bar mean guests can relax in the expansive living room while enjoying cocktails from a private bar or watching the drivers speed down the straight from the strip-facing balcony. The Chairman's Villa is also supreme for hosting exclusive events or parties during race weekend. It is truly a one-of-a-kind accommodation that embodies the glamour and extravagance of Las Vegas and Formula 1. Inspired by his nickname "Smooth Operator," Carlos Sainz will bring the vibes to Las Vegas with the 'Smooth Operator' Dance Lounge at ARIA Resort & Casino. Sainz famously earned his moniker by singing the song while overtaking competitors during global Grand Prix events. The charismatic Grand Prix driver will take over ARIA's ALIBI Ultra Lounge before racing around the Las Vegas streets. "Collaborating with Carlos Sainz on this exclusive party further strengthens the way we're delivering the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix experience to fans unlike any other race of the year," continues Lanzino. "Whether it's one-of-a-kind dining experiences with world-famous chefs, virtual reality Grand Prix moments with championship teams, or dancing with the Smooth Operator himself, we are creating a variety of ways for visitors and locals to have the time of their lives."

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, it's also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits , that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republicans and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three denied TikTok’s petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder, or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators — for which the company is covering legal costs — as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court's ruling. "I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it's time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm — the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan — would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.

Revlon Signs Lease to Relocate its New Jersey-based Science and Innovation Lab to The Northeast Science & Technology (NEST) Center

Chandigarh: The CBI arrested an alleged middleman on Saturday in connection with a bribery case, in which an assistant director of the ED is under the scanner, officials said. The officer managed to give a slip to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during a trap operation on Sunday (December 22) and is yet to join the investigation, while his brother has been arrested by the federal agency, the officials added. The CBI arrested “middleman” Neeraj on Saturday and produced him before a special court that sent him to the agency’s custody for a day, they said. The assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) posted at Shimla and his brother, a senior manager in the Punjab National Bank in Delhi, had allegedly gone to a location near Chandigarh to receive bribe money from a businessman, who is facing a case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said. The businessman filed a complaint with the CBI about alleged extortion, based on which the Chandigarh unit of the agency planned the trap operation where the complainant was asked to give a bribe of Rs 55 lakh in cash to the officer, with CBI sleuths keeping an eye, the officials said. The plan was that the CBI would nab the accused after the bribe was received by him, they said. The ED officer, who is on deputation from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), got alerted during the operation and allegedly fled, the officials said. The agency has been trying to locate him for six days. It has even launched technical surveillance to pin-point his location but to no avail. So far, cash amounting to around Rs 1 crore, including the bribe money, has been recovered during searches, the officials said. The CBI has arrested the officer’s brother, Vikas Deep, in connection with the case and produced him before a court, they added. The agency is questioning him regarding his alleged involvement in the case. Sources in the ED said the accused assistant director of its Shimla sub-zonal office and his supervisory officers — a deputy director and the joint director (based in Chandigarh) — have been transferred to Delhi following the case.Organisers of the just-concluded UK Property Investment Event and Wealth Diversification Seminar, which took place in Lagos, have described the event as great, successful, insightful and engaging. The occasion was the flagship introduction of UK-renowned property developer Integritas Property Group into Nigeria, which delighted new and many Nigerian investors who have invested in their projects over time. A brainchild of Mr Deji Nehan, CEO of Property Concierge UK, the event provided a fantastic platform for both local and international investors to learn more about the dynamic and ever-growing property market in the United Kingdom. The discussions throughout the day were educational, informative, and extremely relevant, especially for investors desirous of diversifying their portfolios. The event focussed on why the UK remains one of the most attractive property investment destinations, not just for UK-based investors but also for international players, particularly Nigerian investors. The highlights of the event included reasons for Nigerians to invest in the UK property market, which continues to be a vibrant and resilient asset class driven by strong demand, particularly in cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. Speakers emphasized the UK’s robust legal framework, transparent property processes, and strong rental yields, making it a haven for global investors. Stakeholders at the event also hyped how Nigerian investors can benefit from diversifying their investment portfolios into the UK as the Nigerian economy is currently facing volatility and currency devaluation risks, saying the UK offers a more stable and secure environment for long-term wealth accumulation. Reasons advanced are that property in the UK offers not only stable capital appreciation but also consistent rental income, making it an ideal option for those looking to mitigate risk while maximizing returns. The event was structured to allow ample networking opportunities with experts, industry leaders, and fellow investors. This encouraged discussions around the most effective strategies for entering the UK market, as well as how to navigate the challenges international investors might face, such as currency exchange, legal considerations, and financing options. At the event, discussions on investment strategies and market trends covered In-depth presentations on emerging trends in the UK property market, including the rise of build-to-rent properties, the growing demand for student accommodation, and the opportunities in regions outside of London. The speakers also shared valuable insights into the role of technology in shaping the future of property investment. Guests at the event gained first-hand knowledge and advice on how to make strategic property investments in one of the world’s most stable markets. The expert-led sessions left attendees feeling more confident and empowered to explore the UK’s property market as part of their broader investment strategies.

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Wisconsin faces its first losing season in 23 years and the end of a bowl streak when the Badgers host arch-rival Minnesota on Friday in the annual Big Ten battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) lost to No. 4 Penn State 26-25. Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) lost its fourth straight, 44-25, at Nebraska in a game that was not as close as the score. "Well 1890 is the first time we played this football team coming up and this is what it's all about," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said of the rivalry. "And you wouldn't want to have it any other way, being able to end the season with one of your biggest rivals. I know our guys will be ready to go, ready to play." Wisconsin has 22 consecutive winning seasons since going 5-7 under Barry Alvarez in 2001, the longest active streak among Power 4 teams. The Badgers also have played in a bowl game in each of the last 22 seasons, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest in FBS. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is more concerned with the rivalry game than the winning season and bowl streaks. "I'm not downplaying it, I'm not saying it's not important, I'm not saying it's another thing that's on our plate," Fickell said Monday. "But when it gets down to this last week, it's about one thing, it's about the rivalry. It's about preparing to play in the most important game of the year." The Gophers have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row. Minnesota averages 26.6 points per game, while allowing 18.5, 15th-best in the country. Max Brosmer has completed 67 percent of his passes for 221 per game with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Daniel Jackson is the top target with 69 catches for 802 yards and three scores, and Darius Taylor is the top rusher with 730 yards at 4.8 per carry with nine touchdowns. One week after leading Oregon after three quarters, the Wisconsin defense was shredded for 473 yards and five touchdowns by Nebraska. Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback when Tyler Van Dyke suffered an early season-ending knee injury, has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games. Locke has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 180.6 yards per game, with 12 touchdowns and 10 picks. Tawee Walker is the leading rusher with 828 yards at 4.7 per carry with 10 touchdowns. He has failed to reach 60 yards in three of the last four games. Former Wisconsin and NFL standout JJ Watt posted on social media his assessment - and frustration - with the Badgers after the Nebraska game. "Losing happens, it's part of the game. Hearing announcers talk about how much tougher and more physical Nebraska & Iowa are while getting blown out ... that's the issue," Watt wrote on X. "We are Wisconsin. Physicality, running game, great O-Line and great defense. That is our identity." Wisconsin defeated the Gophers 28-14 last after Minnesota had won the previous two meetings. The Badgers have won 7 of the last 10 and lead the storied series 63-62-8. --Field Level Media

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The Shenandoah boys basketball team had the opportunity to get some of the rust off, taking the court on Saturday in a pre-season scrimmage against Elwood. This game was scheduled for five quarters, each with a 12 minute running clock. The score was reset after each quarter and each team was given more defensive freedom as the game progressed. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Ottawa driver gets double licence suspension after allegedly going 3 times the speed limitfortune ox download 。

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Article content If U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is looking to beef up his administration, there’s one person that fits the bill and is willing to take that call. Recommended Videos Retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, a staunch supporter of Trump during his campaign for re-election, says that the incoming president could give him a role in his new administration. Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, suggested the notion during an interview with Fox News ’ Brian Kilmeade this past weekend. During the interview, the former WWE superstar recounted a conversation that he had with Trump at a political rally in October at Madison Square Garden. According to Hogan, Trump seemed open to the idea of having the wrestling icon serve in his second term in the White House. “My president said, ‘You know something, you’d be great to run the President’s Council on Physical Fitness,’” Hogan said of the conversation between them at the New York rally. Hogan said that after the rally, he and Trump were talking nutrition and physical fitness, which led to the discussion. “At the end of the day, when I was in the back at Madison Square Garden after the whole rally, we were talking about Robert Kennedy, I was talking about nutrition and how many foreign countries won’t even let their people eat the food that we eat here in America,” Hogan said. “It’s so bad, and it’s poisoned a generation of kids. And at the end of the day, we start talking about physical fitness.” The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition is a federal advisory panel that encourages healthy eating and physical activity, according to its website. The council was renewed by President Joe Biden until Sept. 30, 2025. The Trump campaign did not respond when contacted for comment by The Hill . Hogan made several appearances stumping for Trump on the campaign trail. He appeared at the Republican National Convention earlier this year, speaking on stage and getting the crowd fired up by ripping off his own shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath while saying “Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!” The WWE hall of famer landed in some hot water in August when he drunkenly joked about body-slamming U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who was running for president after Biden stepped down. During a wild speech at a bar in Medina, Ohio, the 71-year-old told the crowd about body-slamming and “dropping the leg” on Harris before questioning her heritage. In a clip shared on social media, Hogan asked the crowd, ”Want me to body slam Kamala Harris? Want me to drop the leg on Kamala?” referring to his finishing move during his in-ring career. “Is Kamala a chameleon? Is Kamala Indian?” Hogan asked, referring to comments about her heritage made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and vice-presidential running mate J.D. Vance. Known racist Hulk Hogan threatens to “body slam” Kamala Harris https://t.co/nrRwiZPHgw Perhaps realizing he had gone too far, Hogan tried to walk it back. “I am going to get heat for that one, brother. That was not me,” he said. “That was the beers talking.”Deferring rate hike under govt pressure costs discoms 55,000 cr

Viewers of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here" spotted significant gaffes in Friday's episode. Fans of the popular ITV show were quick to highlight a faux pas made by the editors. On various occasions, stars would show up in the Bush telegraph segments with another celebrity's name would pop up. Love Island star Maura Higgins appeared with Melvin Odoom's name instead, while McFly's Danny Jones was wrongly identified as Radio 1's Dean McCullough. The blunder didn't escape the notice of Twitter users. One viewer remarked: "The editing team tonight need to be fired. they've mixed up campmates names several times. #imacelebrity #ImACeleb", reports the Mirror . Another commented: "Issues with names tonight Danny was Dean and Maura was Melvin #ImACeleb #imaceleb2024," and one exclaimed: "What's happening with the names today??? Danny was in the telegraph apparently it was Dean and Maura was Melvin. @imacelebrity #ImACeleb #imaceleb2024". Sharing snaps of the mix-up, another said: "The names are cracking me up. Dean and Melvin look different! @imacelebrity @antanddec #ImACeleb". In the latest episode of the hit series, viewers were on edge that Dean McCullough might accidentally disclose a major secret from within the jungle's depths. Earlier this week, fans saw Love Island's Maura Higgins and The Communards' Reverend Richard Coles whisked away to the Jungle Junkyard, ostensibly stripped of comforts - no beds in sight. But unknown to the main camp, they were not roughing it; instead, they indulged in undercover luxury with the task of deceiving their fellow contestants. After successfully braving the recent Bushtucker Trial, Dean joined Maura and Richard in their clandestine quarters, setting social media ablaze with viewer apprehension. One anxious fan posted: "Dean will ruin the junkyard lie and ruin it for everyone, i fear. He couldn't keep the teabags a secret when Tulisa/Melvin had salt and no one knew until she gave it up #imaceleb." Another lamented online: "I'm sorry I really wanted to like Dean being a local celeb and all but the man is a disaster and a liability to the camp #ImACeleb." Echoing the sentiment, another added: "Dean is going to expose the whole secret mission I fear #imaceleb #imacelebrity." Further concern was voiced by another, who predicted: "How long then before Dean blabs to everyone when they are all in the trial area, and ruins the hard work Richard and Maura have put into this secret mission #ImACeleb."The Yakima County Development Association has long recognized the importance of connecting local farms with the latest agricultural innovations. For more than a decade, YCDA has attended industry-leading trade shows like the World Ag Expo and, more recently, the FIRA-USA Ag Tech Conference, building relationships with companies that are developing technologies vital to our Valley’s agricultural success. At the 2024 FIRA-USA Ag Tech Conference in Woodland, Calif., YCDA Economic Development Manager Joe Schmitt explored the future of agricultural automation and robotics. The event showcased transformative tools like AI-powered irrigation systems, autonomous harvesting robots and real-time data analytics platforms. These innovations address pressing issues such as labor shortages, sustainability and productivity — challenges that resonate deeply with Yakima County’s agriculture-driven economy. Participation in events like FIRA-USA creates opportunities to connect with innovators and share how their technologies can succeed in a region defined by agricultural excellence. Building these relationships allows YCDA to stay ahead of emerging industry trends and bring promising solutions back to the Valley, where they can strengthen farm operations and improve economic outcomes. YCDA’s efforts at the World Ag Expo have also yielded promising results. This global agricultural trade show has become a key platform for sharing Yakima Valley’s story and attracting ag-tech companies. During its most recent visit, YCDA connected with more than 50 industry-leading companies offering advanced solutions in automation, logistics and data-driven farming technologies. Notable prospects, many of which have already deployed pilot projects throughout the region, include GUSS automated sprayers, Advanced Farm automated harvesting platforms, Agtonomy automated tractors and implements and BOVI bolt-on vehicle innovation and software. These trade shows are more than opportunities to showcase the region — they serve as essential platforms for building long-term partnerships that can transform the local economy. When outside companies see what Yakima County offers — our rich agricultural history, central location, and supportive business environment — they recognize the opportunity to thrive here. The relationships built at these trade shows have already sparked new business prospects. Several companies are exploring the possibility of establishing operations in the Yakima Valley, promising to boost the local economy and create well-paying jobs. Looking ahead, connecting local farms with cutting-edge agricultural technologies will be crucial for Yakima County’s long-term economic stability. As the agricultural industry continues to face challenges such as labor shortages, rising production costs and the need for sustainable practices, fostering partnerships with tech innovators offers a path forward. By embracing advancements in ag-tech, the region can strengthen its agricultural economy, create quality jobs and ensure that the Yakima Valley remains a competitive and resilient hub for farming and food production in the years to come.

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. ( NASDAQ:MNMD – Free Report ) – Investment analysts at Roth Capital cut their Q3 2025 earnings per share estimates for Mind Medicine (MindMed) in a research note issued on Tuesday, November 19th. Roth Capital analyst J. Wittes now expects that the company will earn ($0.35) per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of ($0.34). The consensus estimate for Mind Medicine (MindMed)’s current full-year earnings is ($1.25) per share. Roth Capital also issued estimates for Mind Medicine (MindMed)’s FY2025 earnings at ($1.38) EPS, FY2026 earnings at ($1.61) EPS, FY2027 earnings at $1.27 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $4.67 EPS. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) in a report on Monday, November 11th. Leerink Partnrs raised Mind Medicine (MindMed) to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 11th. Leerink Partners assumed coverage on shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) in a research report on Monday, October 14th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $20.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price target on Mind Medicine (MindMed) from $16.00 to $14.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 16th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mind Medicine (MindMed) has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $25.38. Mind Medicine (MindMed) Stock Up 6.6 % Shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) stock opened at $7.56 on Friday. Mind Medicine has a 1 year low of $2.75 and a 1 year high of $12.22. The firm has a market cap of $554.37 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.35 and a beta of 2.48. The company has a 50-day moving average of $6.44 and a 200 day moving average of $7.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 9.00 and a quick ratio of 9.00. Insider Activity at Mind Medicine (MindMed) In other Mind Medicine (MindMed) news, insider Dan Karlin sold 6,871 shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.98, for a total value of $41,088.58. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 344,656 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,061,042.88. The trade was a 1.95 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Also, CEO Robert Barrow sold 19,771 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.98, for a total transaction of $118,230.58. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 545,772 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,263,716.56. This trade represents a 3.50 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 28,994 shares of company stock worth $173,384. 2.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mind Medicine (MindMed) A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Mind Medicine (MindMed) by 472.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 246,208 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,775,000 after acquiring an additional 203,216 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC bought a new position in Mind Medicine (MindMed) during the first quarter valued at $1,698,000. Rhumbline Advisers purchased a new position in shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) in the 2nd quarter worth $679,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC bought a new stake in shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) in the 1st quarter worth about $8,964,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP raised its position in shares of Mind Medicine (MindMed) by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,160,203 shares of the company’s stock valued at $15,575,000 after buying an additional 161,659 shares in the last quarter. 27.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Mind Medicine (MindMed) Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, develops novel products to treat brain health disorders. The company’s lead product candidates include MM-120, which is in phase 2 for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; and MM-402, a R-enantiomer of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, which is in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Mind Medicine (MindMed) NYSE Stocks Give Investors a Variety of Quality Options Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade What to Know About Investing in Penny Stocks MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally Using the MarketBeat Dividend Yield Calculator Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Receive News & Ratings for Mind Medicine (MindMed) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mind Medicine (MindMed) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing [Source: Reuters] Donald Trump’s return to power portends a shakeup in the U.S. approach to addressing America’s fentanyl crisis and what counternarcotics officials say is the biggest obstacle to solving it: China. Advisors to the Republican president-elect’s transition team are advocating a much more aggressive posture towards Beijing over fentanyl than the one adopted by Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. Already, Trump is signaling that to stem the flow of narcotics he will resort to his weapon of choice: tariffs. In posts on Monday on Truth Social, his social network, he promised additional 10% tariffs on goods from China, and 25% duties on merchandise from Mexico and Canada. Trump claimed these nations have not taken strong enough action to stop illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, from entering the United States. He said his many talks with China about stopping the flow of drugs were “to no avail.” Trump’s advisors are likewise pushing for U.S. sanctions on Chinese financial institutions allegedly linked to the fentanyl trade. Trump will be the ultimate decider. China is the dominant source of chemical precursors used by Mexican cartels to produce fentanyl, while Chinese money launderers have become key players in the international drug trade, U.S. authorities say. The Biden administration has been negotiating with Beijing for the past year to crack down on both. Diplomacy has yielded promising but modest results so far. That has frustrated some U.S. security officials and China hawks who say the U.S. must ratchet up the pressure to get Beijing’s leadership to act. “When you don’t do those things, then you’re a doormat,” said Steve Yates, a China expert and former national security official in the George W. Bush administration. Yates, who is not formally involved with the president-elect’s transition team, has advised Trump’s circle on fentanyl policy. Over the past decade, more than 400,000 Americans have died of synthetic opioid overdoses, including Yates’ daughter, who died last year. Yates and others counseling the Trump team say one of the quickest and surest ways for Washington to get Beijing’s attention is to sanction Chinese banks doing business with money launderers and corrupt chemical sellers. Foreign banks hit with U.S. sanctions can’t engage with American financial institutions or access the U.S. dollar, severely curtailing their ability to transact business internationally, according to Edward Fishman, a sanctions expert at Columbia University. He said Washington can also freeze U.S. assets held in sanctioned banks. It’s a powerful weapon that has been wielded against financial institutions in countries of some U.S. adversaries such as Iran and Russia, but never against banks in Mexico and China tied to drug trafficking, according to David Asher, a top former U.S. anti-money laundering official who helped target the finances of the Islamic State terrorist group. “You need to hit all the bankers. It’s sort of basic,” said Asher, now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington. Asher formulated a preliminary plan circulating in Trump transition circles that calls for a whole-of-government task force incorporating all aspects of U.S. diplomatic, law enforcement and financial power to address the fentanyl crisis. Parts of the plan, shared with Reuters, call for criminal indictments of major Chinese and Mexican financial institutions allegedly laundering money for the cartels; mass sanctions on Chinese companies and people implicated in the fentanyl trade; beefed-up bounties on most-wanted traffickers; cyber warfare against Mexican cartels; and a U.S. intelligence agency focus on fentanyl that’s commensurate with the war on terrorist organizations. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington cited numerous steps that China has taken to prevent illegal production, trafficking and abuse of fentanyl since talks with the Biden administration resumed. The embassy warned that China would respond if the U.S. takes a more combative posture. “Sanctions, smears and slander against China will only undermine the foundation of China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation,” the embassy said in a statement. “China firmly opposes the U.S.’s arbitrary use of unilateral sanctions and will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.” Hostility toward China’s government has taken root on Capitol Hill, with both Democrats and Republicans urging trade actions to punish Beijing for what some believe is a deliberate effort to destabilize the United States with fentanyl. Trump’s promised 10% tariffs on China over narcotics might just be an opening volley. Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick to run the Commerce Department and oversee the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, said in a podcast interview in October that “China is attacking America” with fentanyl and suggested that Trump might levy tariffs as high as 200% on China. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to designate Mexico’s drug cartels as terrorist groups and harness the U.S. military to destroy them. But it’s not clear if Trump is willing to move beyond tariffs on Chinese goods and take stronger actions such as hitting Chinese banks with sanctions over fentanyl. Trump’s past disputes with Beijing have centered mostly on China’s huge trade surplus, not synthetic opioids. Trump expressed admiration, even love, for Chinese President Xi Jinping throughout much of his first term, even as U.S. overdose fatalities soared. Trump transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, asked by Reuters if his administration’s increased pressure on China over fentanyl might include bank sanctions, said Americans re-elected Trump “to lead our country and restore peace through strength around the world.” She said Trump would “take the necessary action to do just that” when he returns to the White House. A Reuters investigation into the global fentanyl supply chain has shown how easy it is to purchase precursors online from Chinese sellers, who ship them by air to the U.S. disguised as gadgets and other low-cost merchandise. These boxes typically sail through customs duty-free amid a sea of other Chinese imports, and are routed by traffickers to Mexican drug labs. Bipartisan sentiment is growing in Washington to end China’s use of this streamlined entry channel. There is growing consensus in Republican circles close to Trump that Beijing has exploited, even engineered, the synthetic opioid epidemic to harm Americans. They point to a bipartisan report issued in April by the House of Representatives’ select committee on China that calls that nation the “ultimate geographic source” of the fentanyl crisis. The report alleges that Beijing provides tax rebates to Chinese companies that export fentanyl chemicals, and that it allows groups linked to drug trafficking to operate as long as their efforts are focused abroad.

NoneFrom Christmas stockings to cozy crocheted slippers, something extra special happens when holiday gifts and keepsakes are homemade. During the cozy weekends left before Christmas, there remains a little time to make handmade holiday gifts from the heart. Technology has made it even simpler. Searching the Internet for “DIY (do it yourself) ornaments” or “DIY Christmas gift ideas” generates hundreds of results, with detailed tutorials often included. Handmade gifts range from candies to cookies, containers, hand-dipped candles, tote bags, earrings and jewelry, gift baskets, homemade jams, snowball bath bomb, bath salt, wind chimes, wreaths and more. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get our free email newsletters — latest headlines and e-edition notifications.

The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore.Big Ten could place four teams in playoff, thanks to IU's riseDeferring rate hike under govt pressure costs discoms 55,000 cr

How Janette Nesheiwat and RFK Jr Could Be Split On VaccinesRovin Capital UT ADV reduced its position in shares of Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ) by 9.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,657 shares of the information services provider’s stock after selling 888 shares during the quarter. Rovin Capital UT ADV’s holdings in Alphabet were worth $1,436,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GOOGL. New Hampshire Trust lifted its position in Alphabet by 2.7% during the second quarter. New Hampshire Trust now owns 43,714 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $7,963,000 after purchasing an additional 1,132 shares in the last quarter. Trinity Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Alphabet by 4.5% in the third quarter. Trinity Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,423 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $771,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. abrdn plc lifted its position in shares of Alphabet by 10.7% during the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 6,305,717 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $1,037,196,000 after buying an additional 611,233 shares in the last quarter. StoneCrest Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Alphabet by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. StoneCrest Wealth Management Inc. now owns 21,509 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $3,567,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the period. Finally, EWG Elevate Inc. increased its holdings in Alphabet by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. EWG Elevate Inc. now owns 1,305 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.03% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets GOOGL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Alphabet from $220.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Phillip Securities upgraded shares of Alphabet to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $205.00 price target on shares of Alphabet in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $217.00 price objective (up from $215.00) on shares of Alphabet in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $210.00 target price on shares of Alphabet in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty-one have issued a buy rating and five have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $205.90. Alphabet Trading Down 1.7 % GOOGL stock opened at $164.76 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $167.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $170.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.02 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Alphabet Inc. has a twelve month low of $127.90 and a twelve month high of $191.75. Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The information services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $88.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $72.85 billion. Alphabet had a net margin of 27.74% and a return on equity of 31.66%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.55 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Alphabet Inc. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current year. Alphabet Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.49%. Alphabet’s payout ratio is 10.61%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Sundar Pichai sold 22,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.68, for a total transaction of $3,570,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,137,385 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $339,160,251.80. The trade was a 1.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CAO Amie Thuener O’toole sold 682 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.44, for a total transaction of $109,420.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,017 shares in the company, valued at $5,136,807.48. This represents a 2.09 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last three months, insiders sold 206,795 shares of company stock valued at $34,673,866. Insiders own 11.55% of the company’s stock. Alphabet Company Profile ( Free Report ) Alphabet Inc offers various products and platforms in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments. The Google Services segment provides products and services, including ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Alphabet The 3 Best Fintech Stocks to Buy Now Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade How to buy stock: A step-by-step guide for beginners MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally Following Congress Stock Trades Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOGL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Alphabet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alphabet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Google has unveiled Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, an experimental AI model that represents a significant advancement in reasoning and operational transparency. This innovative model introduces a feature called “ ” reasoning, allowing users to follow its step-by-step decision-making process. By supporting multimodal inputs, including text and images, Gemini 2.0 is designed for a wide range of users, from developers to non-technical audiences. It is freely accessible through AI Studio, making sure widespread availability without financial barriers. Have you ever wondered how artificial intelligence actually “thinks”? AI decisions can often feel like a black box, making it hard to connect with the reasoning behind them. But what if you could see the step-by-step logic leading to an AI’s conclusions? That’s what Google’s latest innovation, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, aims to deliver. By introducing Chain of Thought reasoning, this experimental model not only but also explains its process—like having a conversation with a smart friend who walks you through their reasoning. What makes Gemini 2.0 even more exciting is its versatility. It’s free to use through AI Studio, supports both text and image inputs, and even corrects itself when it makes mistakes. In a world where AI often feels out of reach or overly technical, Gemini 2.0 stands out as a transparent and approachable tool. Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking introduces advanced “Chain of Thought” reasoning, allowing step-by-step transparency in decision-making and logical analysis. The model supports multimodal inputs (text and images), making it versatile for both technical and non-technical users across various applications. Key innovations include an expanded context window (up to 32,000 tokens), self-correction mechanisms, and transparent reasoning for enhanced trust and usability. Real-world applications span education, healthcare, creative industries, and more, with potential future expansions to include audio and video modalities. Freely accessible via AI Studio, Gemini 2.0 encourages community feedback to refine its capabilities and align with user needs. Gemini 2.0 stands out due to its focus on logical reasoning and transparency, offering a range of advanced features that enhance its functionality and usability. These include: The ability to process both text and images expands its potential applications across various fields. It excels in logical analysis and iterative problem-solving, delivering precise and reliable outputs. The model dynamically refines its responses during the reasoning process, making sure improved accuracy over time. These features collectively position Gemini 2.0 as a powerful tool, surpassing earlier AI models and offering a competitive alternative to other systems, such as OpenAI’s 01 preview. Gemini 2.0 is designed to address tasks that require complex reasoning, making it highly versatile across a range of real-world scenarios. Its practical applications include: It can solve puzzles, analyze hypothetical scenarios, and provide well-reasoned solutions. The model identifies patterns, interprets visual data, and draws logical conclusions from images. By adapting its approach based on feedback or new data, it continuously improves its performance. This adaptability ensures that Gemini 2.0 is valuable for both technical professionals and everyday users, whether for professional projects, educational purposes, or casual problem-solving. Here are additional guides from our expansive article library that you may find useful on Google Gemini AI. Gemini 2.0 integrates innovative research and development from DeepMind, incorporating advanced techniques to enhance its reasoning and usability. Some of the key technical innovations include: With the ability to process up to 32,000 tokens, the model can handle lengthy and complex interactions without losing coherence. Seamless integration with APIs enables its use in both text-based and image-based tasks, broadening its utility. Users can trace the logic behind the model’s conclusions, fostering trust and a deeper understanding of its decision-making process. These advancements make Gemini 2.0 not only a powerful AI tool but also one that is accessible and user-friendly, bridging the gap between advanced research and practical applications. One of the most new aspects of Gemini 2.0 is its ability to process multimodal inputs, such as combining text and images for cross-modal reasoning. This capability opens up new possibilities in various fields, including: Enhancing learning experiences by allowing interactive problem-solving and visual-textual integration. Assisting in diagnostic reasoning by analyzing medical images alongside patient data for more informed conclusions. Supporting design, storytelling, and content creation by seamlessly integrating visual and textual elements. Looking ahead, Google has hinted at the potential expansion of the Gemini series with “Pro” and “Ultra” versions. These future iterations may incorporate additional modalities, such as audio and video, further broadening the model’s capabilities. User feedback will play a crucial role in shaping these developments, making sure that the model evolves to meet real-world needs effectively. Gemini 2.0 is freely available through AI Studio, making it accessible to a wide audience without subscription fees or hidden costs. Google actively encourages users to provide feedback on the model’s performance, fostering a collaborative approach to its development. By involving the community, Google aims to refine Gemini 2.0 and align its capabilities with practical applications and user expectations. This open-access approach not only provide widespread access tos advanced AI technology but also ensures that the model continues to evolve based on real-world use cases and insights from a diverse range of users. Media Credit:LAS VEGAS , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading charging solution provider TESSAN has announced its participation in CES 2025, where it will present its latest innovations designed to enhance connectivity and convenience for users. Visitors can explore the brand's new offerings at Booth 30562 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 2. "Tessan aims to be a reliable companion for users in their lives and travels, ensuring that they stay connected at home or on the go. Participating in CES 2025 is also an opportunity for us to deepen the connection with more users, offering them a tangible experience of our commitment to innovation and sustainability," said Alex, CEO of TESSAN. At the heart of TESSAN's showcase are products that reflect its core values: simplicity and convenience, innovation and efficiency, as well as sustainability. Every product is designed with a user-centric approach, integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices to meet modern demands. A highlight of the exhibit will be the 140W Universal Travel Adapter, designed for global use with EU, UK, US, and Australian plugs. Its lightweight, compact design makes it travel-ready. USB-C ports offer up to 140 watts for fast charging, while USB-A ports provide 18 watts. It can charge multiple devices simultaneously, including smartphones, laptops, cameras, and CPAP machines. Advanced safety features, like double-patented auto-resetting fuses, ensure secure operation. Another innovation on display is the 100W Charging Station. Compact and designed to save space, this multi-functional device can charge up to nine gadgets simultaneously at high speed. Its sleek upright design combines style with functionality, while robust safety measures safeguard devices from overcurrent, voltage surges, and overheating, ensuring uninterrupted charging around the clock. For electric vehicle owners, TESSAN will showcase its Level 2 Smart EV Charger, a high-performance charging solution that delivers up to 11.5kW/h, offering remote control via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, off-peak scheduling, and adjustable currents. Compatible with most North American electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, its SAE J1772 connector and water-resistant, fireproof design ensure safety and reliability. These innovative products have not gone unnoticed in the industry. In May 2024 , TESSAN was recognized at the MUSE Design Awards, earning gold and silver honors for its Intelligent Charging Set, multi-functional fast charging socket, and Household EV AC Charger. These accolades reflect the brand's dedication to blending exceptional design with cutting-edge functionality, resonating with users worldwide. Beyond technology, TESSAN remains deeply committed to environmental sustainability. In August 2024 , the brand received ClimatePartner certification, signifying its alignment with eco-friendly practices. Most recently, it announced a collaboration with the non-profit organization One Tree Planted, launching an initiative to plant 10,000 trees as part of its efforts to mitigate climate change and support global reforestation. As a brand committed to empowering users to explore the unknown while safeguarding the planet, TESSAN continues to lead through innovation, sustainability, and meaningful action. CES 2025 promises to be an exciting opportunity for audiences to witness these values brought to life. About TESSAN TESSAN, a trusted partner in charging solutions, is committed to enriching experiences both at home and during travel. The brand offers a wide array of products, including multifunctional power strips, travel adapters, wall extenders, and smart home devices. Supported by a robust R&D and production team, TESSAN develops innovative socket products for users across the globe. With the trust of over 20 million users, TESSAN empowers their journeys from home to every destination, promoting environmentally conscious electricity usage. For more information, visit www.tessan.com or the TESSAN Amazon store , and follow TESSAN on Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ces-2025-preview-tessan-to-showcase-charging-solutions-for-enhanced-connectivity-and-convenience-302338829.html SOURCE TESSAN

Sports on TV for Sunday, Dec. 22Pitt QB Eli Holstein carted off with leg injury

How Janette Nesheiwat and RFK Jr Could Be Split On VaccinesThurston County Sheriff’s Office is set to begin the new year with a large amount of upgraded equipment. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved, Tuesday, Dec. 17, the purchase of 17 Grappler units, 100 body and vehicle cameras and 100 Tasers. The Grappler units and associated equipment comes from an agreement with Stock Enterprises, LLC, and costs $109,343.48, while the cameras and Tasers stem from a 10-year contract with Axon in the amount of $4,911,044. Sheriff Derek Sanders told the commissioners that the department was already awarded the funding and budget authority for the purchase of the Grappler units, but that it must come back before the board to purchase a specific set number of sole source items. He added that TCSO is in the process of securing one final grant for the Grappler units and the cost of grappler units has decreased recently. “We’ve gotten external funding from a couple different sources, three of them being different types of grants and reimbursement programs. The reason the cost went down is because we bought so many of these that they’re actually going to train our county shop staff and some of our deputies on how to install and train them internally,” Sanders said. “So we no longer have to pay the vendor fee, which is a huge deal. The county could even see revenue sources come in as additional agencies are getting more interested in these devices specifically, and as far as I know, we’ll be the only agency in the state that is certified to train and install them.” The Grappler system is a high-speed pursuit alternative to reduce risk to deputies and the community. This equipment allows law enforcement to quickly bring a suspect’s vehicle in a high-speed pursuit to a stop. The equipment is deployed from the front end of the deputy’s vehicle and affixes to the rear tire of the suspect’s vehicle, causing it to become tethered to the patrol vehicle. The patrol vehicle can then have control over the suspect’s vehicle to bring it to a controlled stop. The department also purchased six Grappler units in April with the board’s approval in the amount of $48,662.92. TCSO received notification in May that it would receive $39,550 from the Washington Counties Risk Pool, and it also received a grant from the Department of Commerce to purchase the additional Grappler units. As well, according to a news release Dec. 16, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell announced that Thurston County received an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant in the amount of $19,809 to purchase two Grappler units to de-escalate high-risk pursuits and prevent unnecessary injury or property damage. TCSO’s new 10-year contract with Axon will alleviate the department’s limitations with its current body and vehicle cameras and Tasers. Bruce Rohrbough, county fleet services manager, told the board that replacement of the cameras addresses ongoing issues with reliability and data management. Sanders said the previous Tasers, the TASER X26 model, were “extremely outdated” and that it is a “one-shot, one-chance Taser.” “If you get in an environment where you attempt to Taser someone who’s fighting and they have a jacket on or thick clothing, it doesn’t allow probes to get through. Your Taser is obsolete at that point. It doesn’t work anymore,” Sanders said. The department will be upgrading to the TASER 10, which has 10 separate darts instead of the one, and the range of the shot is more than double the previous model. Commission Vice Chair Wayne Fournier said the new Tasers also link with the camera system and begin recording when removed from the holster. The board also unanimously approved two resolutions to extend the recruitment incentives programs to attract and hire lateral deputy sheriffs and corrections deputies for TCSO. The policy authorizes TCSO to offer a new lateral hire a $25,000 hiring bonus, paid in installments, and 40 hours of both vacation time and sick leave, upon hire. It also allows the department to award employees 40 hours of incentive leave if they refer, and the office subsequently hires a lateral candidate. The program was absorbed by the agency’s vacancy savings. Sanders called the program “wildly successful,” adding that from 2021-24, TCSO did not hire a lateral deputy sheriff, but it has hired 14 since it went live three months ago. “The easiest way to put it is that when you compare the cost comparisons between an entry level and a lateral deputy sheriff, it’s about $63,000 more expensive to hire a brand new deputy in a 12-month rolling period,” Sanders said. “If you multiply 14 times the $63,000 minus the lateral bonus, which is $25,000, that leaves you with a little over half a million dollars of savings throughout a 12-month rolling period.”

The Sudanese army said on Saturday it had retaken a key state capital south of Khartoum from rival paramilitaries who had held it for the past five months. The Sennar state capital of Sinja is a strategic prize in the 19-month-old war between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces as it lies on a key road linking army-controlled areas of eastern and central Sudan. The army said that Sinja had been "liberated... from the terrorist militia." It posted footage on social media that it said had been filmed inside the main base in the city. "Sinja has returned to the embrace of the nation," the information minister of the army-backed government, Khaled al-Aiser, said in a statement. Aiser's office said armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had travelled to the city of Sennar, 60 kilometres to the north, on Saturday to "inspect the operation and celebrate the liberation of Sinja." The RSF had taken the two cities in a lightning offensive in June that saw nearly 726,000 civilians flee, according to UN figures. Human rights groups have said that those who were unwilling or unable to leave have faced months of arbitrary violence by RSF fighters. Sinja teacher Abdullah al-Hassan spoke of his "indescribable joy" at seeing the army enter the city after "months of terror." "At any moment, you were waiting for militia fighters to barge in and beat you or loot you," the 53-year-old said by telephone. Both sides in the Sudanese conflict have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminately shelling homes, markets and hospitals. The RSF has also been accused of summary executions, systematic sexual violence and rampant looting. The paramilitaries control nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur as well as large swathes of Kordofan in the south. They also hold much of the capital Khartoum and the key farming state of Al-Jazira to its south. Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 11 million – creating what the UN says is the world's largest displacement crisis. From the eastern state of Gedaref – where more than 1.1 million displaced people have sought refuge – Asia Khedr, 46, said she hoped her family's ordeal might soon be at an end. "We'll finally go home and say goodbye to this life of displacement and suffering," she said. (AFP)

Home | Budlender argues that Ramaphosa did not intend to break the law Legal counsel for President Cyril Ramaphosa has 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 has been arguing before the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is challenging the National Assembly’s decision not to adopt the Section 89 report that found that there is a prima facie case for which the president must answer in relation to the theft at his Phala Phala farm. Budlender argues that Ramaphosa did not have the intention of breaking the law. “But even if one assumes, for the sake of argument, that its interpretation is the correct one, that doesn’t answer the question whether the president deliberately and in bad faith adopted the wrong interpretation of the term ‘paid work’,” argues Budlender. “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,” adds Budlender. Phala Phala Case | EFF pickets outside ConCourt – Natasha Phiri reports: Advocate Andrew Breitenbach for the National Assembly and the Speaker has argued in the Constitutional Court that the legal challenge launched by the EFF is moot due to the time that has lapsed since the Section 89 report on Phala Phala was not adopted by the National Assembly. Phala Phala Case | Unpacking court proceedings – Canny Maphanga reports: Breitenbach has argued that the relief sought by the EFF in the Phala Phala matter if granted, would be a breach of the separation of powers principle. The EFF has argued that when a Section 89 panel finds prima facie evidence against a sitting head of state, the report should be sent directly to the Impeachment Committee instead of being debated in the National Assembly. However, Advocate Breitenbach submitted that this would give a third party the power to encroach on the processes of the National Assembly. He says the relief sought by the EFF falls outside the parameters of judicial authority. Meanwhile, the African Transformation Movement (ATM)’s lawyer has argued that it was irrational for the ANC to rely on the completion of the investigations that looked into the conduct of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Advocate Anton Katz has submitted that it was irrational for the ANC to vote against adopting the Section 89 independent panel report on Phala Phala on that basis. Katz has submitted before the bench of the Constitutional Court that only the National Assembly has the Constitutional mandate, to look into the impeachment of a Head of State and not the other bodies the ANC relied upon. SABC © 2024DETROIT (AP) — If Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, booze and other goods. The president-elect floated the tariff idea, including additional 10% taxes on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S. But his posts Monday on Truth Social threatening the tariffs on his first day in office could just be a negotiating ploy to get the countries to change behavior. High food prices were a major issue in voters picking Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, but tariffs almost certainly would push those costs up even further. For instance, the Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said Tuesday that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when other countries retaliate. “Tariffs distort the marketplace and will raise prices along the supply chain, resulting in the consumer paying more at the checkout line,” said Alan Siger, association president. Mexico and Canada are two of the biggest exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables to the U.S. In 2022, Mexico supplied 51% of fresh fruit and 69% of fresh vegetables imported by value into the U.S., while Canada supplied 2% of fresh fruit and 20% of fresh vegetables. Before the election, about 7 in 10 voters said they were very concerned about the cost of food, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. “We’ll get them down,” Trump told shoppers during a September visit to a Pennsylvania grocery store. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. People looking to buy a new vehicle likely would see big price increases as well, at a time when costs have gone up so much they are out of reach for many. The average price of a new vehicle now runs around $48,000. About 15% of the 15.6 million new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year came from Mexico, while 8% crossed the border from Canada, according to Global Data. Much of the tariffs would get passed along to consumers, unless automakers can somehow quickly find productivity improvements to offset them, said C.J. Finn, U.S. automotive sector leader for PwC, a consulting firm. That means even more consumers “would potentially get priced out,” Finn said. Hardest hit would be Volkswagen, Stellantis, General Motors and Ford, Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska wrote Tuesday in a note to investors. “A 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada would severely cripple the U.S. auto industry,” he said. The tariffs would hurt U.S. industrial production so much that “we expect this is unlikely to happen in practice,” Roeska said. The tariff threat hit auto stocks on Tuesday, particularly shares of GM, which imports about 30% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, and Stellantis, which imports about 40% from the two countries. For both companies, about 55% of their lucrative pickup trucks come from Mexico and Canada. GM shares were down more than 8% and Stellantis was off over 5%. It's not clear how long the tariffs would last if implemented, but they could force auto executives to move production to the U.S., which could create more jobs in the long run. But Morningstar analyst David Whiston said in the short term automakers probably won't make any moves because they can't quickly change where they build vehicles. Millions of dollars worth of auto parts flow across the borders with Mexico and Canada, and that could raise prices for already costly automobile repairs, Finn said. The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. said tariffs on tequila or Canadian whisky won’t boost American jobs because they are distinctive products that can only be made in their country of origin. In 2023, the U.S. imported $4.6 billion worth of tequila and $108 million worth of mezcal from Mexico and $537 million worth of spirits from Canada, the council said. “At the end of the day, tariffs on spirits products from our neighbors to the north and south are going to hurt U.S. consumers and lead to job losses across the U.S. hospitality industry,” the council said. Electronics retailer Best Buy said on its third-quarter earnings conference call that it runs on thin profit margins, so while vendors and the company will shoulder some increases, Best Buy will have to pass tariffs to customers. “These are goods that people need, and higher prices are not helpful,” CEO Corie Barry said. Walmart also warned this week that tariffs could force it to raise prices, as did Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who talked with Trump after his call for tariffs, said they had a good conversation about how the countries can work together. "This is something that we can do, laying out the facts and moving forward in constructive ways. This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on and that’s what we’ll do,” Trudeau said. Trump's threats come as arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico have been falling . The most recent U.S. numbers for October show arrests remain near four-year lows. But arrests for illegally crossing the border from Canada have been rising over the past two years. Much of America’s fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico, and seizures have increased. Trump has sound legal justification to impose the tariffs, even though they conflict with a 2020 trade deal brokered in large part by Trump with Canada and Mexico, said William Reinsch, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former trade official in the Clinton administration. The treaty, known as the USMCA, is up for review in 2026. In China’s case, he could simply declare Beijing hasn't met its obligations under an agreement he negotiated in his first term. For Canada and Mexico, he could say the influx of migrants and drugs represent a national security threat, and turn to a section of trade law he used in his first term to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum. The law he would most likely use for Canada and Mexico sets out a legal process that often takes as long as nine months, during which time Trump would likely seek a deal. If talks failed and the duties were imposed, all three countries would likely retaliate by putting tariffs on U.S. exports, said Reinsch, who believes Trump's tariffs threat is a negotiating ploy. U.S. companies would lobby the Trump administration intensively against tariffs, and would seek to have products exempted. Some of the biggest exporters from Mexico are U.S. firms that make parts there. “Our economies really are integrated,” Reinsch said. Longer term, Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the threat of tariffs could make the U.S. an “unstable partner” in international trade. “It is an incentive to move activity outside the United States to avoid all this uncertainty,” she said. Trump transition team officials did not immediately respond to questions about what he would need to see to prevent the tariffs from being implemented and how they would impact prices in the U.S. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Tuesday that Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own. Sheinbaum said she was willing to talk about the issues, but said drugs were a U.S. problem. ___ Rugaber reported from Washington. AP reporters Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit, Stan Choe and Anne D'Innocenzio in New York, and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.MISC Berhad (MISC), a global leader in energy-related maritime services, has entered into a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with clean energy solutions provider Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari) through Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd, to jointly explore the development of integrated shipping and floating solutions for clean ammonia, targeted for completion earliest by 2027. Leveraging MISC’s shipping and floating solutions expertise with Gentari’s focus in clean hydrogen and ammonia production, this partnership represents a shared commitment to deliver end-to-end solutions that streamlines the clean ammonia value chain while setting new benchmarks for sustainable energy transportation. President and Group Chief Executive Officer of MISC Berhad, Mr. Zahid Osman, said, “This partnership is not only about creating solutions for today but also about building the foundation for tomorrow’s low-carbon maritime ecosystem. The solutions we are developing with Gentari Hydrogen will be game-changing for the maritime industry, offering integrated approaches that enhance efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Together, we will drive innovation in the way clean ammonia is transported globally and enhancing Malaysia’s standing as a forward-looking maritime and energy hub.” Gentari’s Chief Hydrogen Officer Michèle Azalbert said, “This collaboration marks an important step in laying the foundation for a robust clean ammonia value chain, subsequently enabling quicker decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors. By developing innovative ammonia shipping solutions, we are addressing critical infrastructure needs and paving the way for ammonia to become a key energy carrier in the global transition towards a sustainable future.” The Collaboration Agreement was signed by Mr. Wong Zun Haur, Head of Business Development, New Energy Division, MISC and Mr. Nizam Ahmadi Shah Abd Hakim, Head of Marketing and Sales (SEA), Gentari Hydrogen. Through a comprehensive joint-study, this strategic collaboration aims to: Advance Energy Transition: Strengthen the infrastructure needed for ammonia transportation, enabling the broader energy sector to meet demand for alternative energy sources; and Develop Comprehensive Integrated Solutions: Offer end-to-end logistics, transportation, and infrastructure solutions for clean ammonia, a vital component of the future energy mix, particularly for sustainable power generation and industrial applications. Marking a significant step toward supporting the global energy transition, this partnership underscores both parties’ commitment to harnessing clean ammonia’s potential and championing sustainable energy pathways and driving progress toward a low-carbon future. Source: MISC Berhad

Reactions have trailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first presidential media chat, which took place on Monday, at his residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi lagos. The president highlighted why some of his reforms are necessary for the development of Nigeria, including the removal of Fuel Subsidy, which says he has no regret in removing. The president also described recent stampede that has claimed the lives of over 70 Nigerians, as a grave error by the organisers, adding that he has been sharing palliatives in his Lagos residence for 25 years without an incident. In Delta State, Renowned Philanthropist, Tony Elumelu Donated 1800 bags of rice to the people of Onicha-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, his hometown to celebrate Christmas, Recipients of the donation, including the Ede of Onicha Uku, Steve Osakwe expressed gratitude for the gesture, and reflected on the immense contributions of the renowned banker towards the development of his community, Nigeria, African and world at large. In Kaduna State now, the state Governor Uba Sani, attended the Christmas Carol organised by the Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and urged residents to live in peace, love and unity for the overall progress and development of the state. The Governor who is Muslim, is attending the Christmas Carol for the second year since he assumed office, he said attended the carol to celebrate with Christians because when he took the oath of office, he promised to treat everyone equally, irrespective of their religious, tribal, or political affiliations, the governor also advised residents of the state to shun ethnic and religious antics. In Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday launched the first-ever Lagos Shopping Festival, a 72-hour non-stop shopping and entertainment experience, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan. The festival, running from December 23 to 25, is described by organizers as Africa’s largest of its kind, blending commerce with creativity and entertainment. During the event, the Governor thrilled the crowd dancing to Wasiu Ayinde’s Marshals hit song ‘E Yonu Simi’. A video showing a heartwarming moment where high life musician Flavour visited his alma mater, Igbariam Primary School in Enugu on Monday has made rounds on social media. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday directed the Nigerian police to either arraign Olamide Thomas, the activist who cursed at Seyi Tinubu, Son of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, within 48 hours or release her unconditionally, declaring her prolonged detention a violation of her fundamental rights. Olamide, who is a nurse, was arrested for calling for the death of Seyi Tinubu on Social Media. She was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on cyberbullying, She was among the protesters arrested by the police on October 20th, during the rally to commemorate the fourth anniversary of #EndSARS at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos. The activist was also accused of insulting the inspector general of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi in a Facebook video recorded after her arrest. In Rivers State, a video has surfaced online showing four police officers assaulting a young man for allegedly wearing camouflage-style trousers. Some Nigerians on social media have tackled the minister of works Dave Umahi over his projection that all federal roads wil be motarable, this Christmas! Umahi spoke back in October, in Akure, the Ondo state Capital, during a town hall meeting organised by the ministry of works. In the United Kingdom, Super Eagles Midfielder, Alex Iwobi has opened a temporary shop where poor families can get free food for Christmas! The shop, which is called Alexpress, is located in Canning Town in East London, where the footballer was raised. In an interview with the BBC, Iwobi said his parents are his role models, and inspired him to be selfless since he was young man. Follow us on:

fortune ox slot demo FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Dallion Johnson scored 25 points and made seven 3-pointers to help FGCU defeat CSU Bakersfield 74-54 on Friday. Johnson went 9 of 14 from the field for the Eagles (1-4). Zavian McLean scored 12 points, going 4 of 9 from the floor, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Jevin Muniz went 3 of 10 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points, while adding eight rebounds. Marvin McGhee led the Roadrunners (3-2) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Fidelis Okereke added 10 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:02 p.m. ESTVirtual and Augmented Reality have come a long way, and they are now used in various fields, including gaming and movies. Now, researchers have found an intriguing way to gain better insights into animal behaviors like course stabilization and obstacle avoidance during navigation. To view new perspectives on the aerodynamic powers of flying insects, researchers at Flinders University have developed a computer program that sets a virtual reality experience to move through. Since animals are tethered and not moving physically, studying their movements and comprehending responses becomes easier. Fascinatingly, since the virtual world is computer-generated , it can swiftly be altered, allowing better control over the space and facilitating the identification of visual triggers of behavior. “ Using machine learning and computer vision algorithms, we were able to observe the animals and work out what they are doing, whether that is a hoverfly attempting to turn to the left in its flight, or a fiddler crab avoiding a virtual bird flying overhead, ” says Dr. Yuri Ogawa. “ The software then adapts the visual scenery to match the movements that the animal has made. “ One of the most popular ways of developing insect VR is tethered flight arenas. However, these tethered flights don’t include translational motions, crucial to studying flying insects. Insects often perform rotational and translational behaviors, such as forward motion and sideslip. Therefore, several new VR arenas have been developed to offer unrestricted animal movement, including translational motions. VRs like TrackFly and FreemoVR have been validated in flies and mice, where the visual surrounding is updated based on the animal’s current position. New VR simulation lets you explore supermassive black hole In this context, Antarium could be considered an important VR framework. In this VR set, both rotational yaw and translational motions are generated in the Unity virtual environment. However, to provide an immersive experience, it is important to reduce the latency. More importantly, there is a lower limit to these delays when using conventional cameras or visual displays. “ This has truly been a team effort where every author on the paper has been instrumental in making the VR work. We look forward to using the VR to investigate the mechanisms underlying decision-making in insects, ” says Professor Nordström . Online Gaming can Boost up your Academic Results Journal Reference

fortuner q black 2024 Kingsport rider Steve Clark earned a three-peat recently at the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) National Championships. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

NoneCanada’s Trudeau says he had an ‘excellent conversation’ with Trump in Florida after tariffs threat

Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner was caught up in a stabbing incident in New York last week The retired Denmark star was walking on a street with a group when the assailant charged at them Bendtner played over 150 matches for Arsenal and represented the Denmark national team over 80 times CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner was part of a group that was attacked by a man wielding a knife. The former Denmark striker has opened up on the horrific incident which happened last week in New York. What happened to Nicklas Bendtner? According to Danish media via The Mirror , Bendtner was walking on the street in Manhattan on Thursday, November 21, when a man carrying a knife charged at one of his friends. PAY ATTENTION : Standing out in social media world? Easy! "Mastering Storytelling for Social Media" workshop by Legit.ng. Join Us Live! The reports added that the victim was reportedly a footballer. He was injured in the incident and needed medical attention in a New York hospital. Read also Gary Neville details biggest 'red flag' in Ruben Amorim's first Man United game The attacker, Joshua Zinberg, 25, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault. "Could it have been me who was attacked? I have no comment about that. But I can confirm that it's me on the video - it's hard to run away from," the ex-Arsenal star said. The 36-year-old scored 47 goals in 171 appearances for the Gunners and played 81 times for the Danish national team, per Transfermarkt . In 2021, he announced his retirement from football . Supercomputer Premier League prediction Legit.ng earlier reported that Opta's supercomputer predicted the final Premier League table of the 2024/25 season after Manchester City's loss. The defending champions suffered a humiliating defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur, while Liverpool won to go eight points clear. Pep Guardiola's side are aiming for their fifth straight title but have fallen off the pace after losing three straight games . Read also Supercomputer predicts final 2024/25 EPL table after Liverpool win, Man City loss Will Robin van Persie return to Arsenal? Legit.ng also reported that Bendtner's former teammate, Robin van Persie, discussed the possibility of returning to Arsenal . The former Dutch striker said the door closed following his controversial transfer to Manchester United in 2012. He went on to win the Premier League at Old Trafford. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: TUKO.co.keSir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to his “wonderful” brother Nick, who has died aged 60 after suffering from cancer. The Prime Minister said his younger brother, who had learning difficulties because of complications at birth, had met “all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour”. He died peacefully on Boxing Day, according to the Prime Minister’s spokesman. The Prime Minister had been due to go on holiday with his family on Friday, but it is understood that he will now remain at home, and hopes to join them later. Sir Keir said in a statement: “My brother Nick was a wonderful man. “He met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour. We will miss him very much. “I would like to thank all those who treated and took care of Nick. Their skill and compassion is very much appreciated.” Sir Keir spoke candidly about his brother in a recent biography written by journalist and former Labour Party adviser Tom Baldwin. While growing up in Surrey, the brothers shared a bunk bed in a room with an airing cupboard, and “just enough space for a couple of small desks where we’d do our homework”. The biography recorded how each child of the Starmer family was given a dog for their 10th birthday, and Nick and his twin sister Katy received Jack Russell terriers called Greg and Ben. The book also described how their mother, Jo, had taught Nick to read, but Sir Keir remembered how the school described his brother as “remedial”. Sir Keir, the middle child of four siblings, said: “They had no expectation of him or anything and I’m not sure he even sat exams, so he had nothing to show for coming out of education. “We were a family of six, so it didn’t feel lonely and I shared a room with him, but Nick didn’t have many friends and got called ‘thick’ or ‘stupid’ by other kids.” He added: “Even now I try to avoid using words like that to describe anyone.” Nick worked on scrap cars and scaffolding, earning enough money to rent a home near where he had grown up, according to the book. It said Sir Keir was best man at Nick’s wedding, and the now Prime Minister recalled borrowing a car so his brother was not “driving his bride from the church in his beaten-up minivan, which had all his clothes in the back”. The marriage ended and Nick lived for some time in Yorkshire. In 2022, Sir Keir stepped away from local election campaigning to make several hospital visits to see his brother, who was seriously ill at the time. The Prime Minister also spoke about Nick in his speech at this year’s Labour Party conference in Liverpool. As he described his early encounters with art and culture, and the need to remove social barriers, Sir Keir told delegates: “My brother, who had difficulties learning, he didn’t get those opportunities. “Every time I achieved something in my life, my dad used to say, ‘Your brother has achieved just as much as you, Keir’. “And he was right. I still believe that.” Mr Baldwin, writing for The Times on Friday, recalled the moment in 2023 that he learned from Sir Keir that his brother was dying of lung cancer. He wrote: “This has been a huge part of his life over the past couple of years, during which he made regular trips to Leeds where his brother was in hospital. “Even during the election campaign and since he entered Downing Street, Starmer has continued to visit without a camera crew in sight. “He got to know the staff treating his brother so well that he could recite all their names and they would let him into the hospital through a back door so that there would be no publicity.” Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was among those in the world of politics to offer their condolences. She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This is such awful news. Particularly devastating at Christmas time. “My sincere condolences to Keir Starmer and all his family.” Irish premier Simon Harris wrote: “My sincere sympathy to Keir Starmer and his family on such sad news. “They are in my thoughts at this difficult time.”Khalid is speaking out in response to allegations made by his ex-boyfriend Hugo Almonte , who allegedly was the person who outed the singer as gay. The 26-year-old “Young Dumb & Broke” singer came out as gay last week in a series of tweets after Hugo wrote about their relationship in since-deleted posts. Hugo claimed that Khalid “lied and said that I broke into his house,” according to Rolling Stone . Hugo told the outlet that he didn’t mean to out anyone and he meant to “share how [Khalid] tried to use his power to silence me because I simply ended our relationship.” Khalid posted a video on social media on Monday (November 25) in response to some of Hugo ‘s allegations. Keep reading to find out more... “I’ve never accused anybody publicly of breaking into my house, and the only people who even know about a breaking are my close circle. Nobody knew because I don’t want everybody in my business,” he said. Khalid also denied allegations that he does cocaine and that he pays people to date him. “I’m gonna speak about the pink cocaine thing. I’ve never done cocaine a day in my life. I don’t place myself in those scenarios. I’m not in those surroundings,” he said. “I smoke weed. And I drink a little bit, but I’ve never done cocaine a day in my life, for real.” “Let’s talk about his escorting thing,” he continued. “I’ve never I’ve never paid for sex a day in my life, ever. I’ve never paid anybody to date me, I’ve never paid anybody to be in a relationship with me, ever.” Khalid said he hasn’t seen Hugo in years. “This is four years ago. Where is this coming from? You tell me, cause I really don’t know. The only reason I’m really clearing up any of this is because it’s just a little triggering seeing the few comments – it’s not that it’s a running narrative or anything like that — but it’s triggering seeing a few comments of people painting me as if I’m just some manipulative abuser. It’s just crazy to me,” Khalid said. Khalid also claimed the abuse “was the other way around, and that’s what hurts the most.” “All of this is definitely frustrating. I want all of this to be over just like y’all. It’s literally one of the main reasons why I don’t involve myself in any drama, why I stay out of the way. I don’t like this. So I”m not gonna run around like I’m unbothered. I never said I was unbothered. This is very bothering for real,” he said. Watch the full video below. Shared this on Instagram so I’m gonna share this here too. Thank you pic.twitter.com/i8mJIZsfAn — Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 25, 2024

Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsOXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Kam Craft's 34 points led Miami (OH) over Bethany (WV) 112-70 on Sunday. Craft had a big night from beyond the arc for the RedHawks (6-3), as he made 10 of Miami's 22 3-pointers. Brant Byers scored 21 points while going 8 of 10 (5 for 7 from 3-point range). Eian Elmer had 20 points and shot 7 for 13, including 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. Ben Guffey led the way for the Bison with 12 points. Troy Hixson added 11 points for Bethany. Cole Dailey finished with 10 points. Miami took the lead with 19:17 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 62-28 at halftime, with Byers racking up 17 points. Miami outscored Bethany by eight points in the second half, and Craft scored a team-high 20 points in the second half to help secure the victory. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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