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September School, Boulder's longest continuously operating independent school, announced this week that it will close at the end of the fall semester on Dec. 20. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. “The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more,” Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. “There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie,” said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction.” In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation , did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the “no-fault findings,” as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report , Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist “saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities.” But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's “decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable.” A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug “then entered the market through illegal channels,” he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles,” Li said. “The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice.” This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. “Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated,” he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. “It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. “Which clearly it has not.” AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal
The Federal Government says it is pushing for land registration, documentation and titling that will involve all land parcels in the country to ensure efficient and economically viable land administration. The Government reveals that the aim of the exercise which was mooted during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s time is to increase formalization of land transactions from less than 10% to over 50% within a decade. Ahmed Dangiwa, the minister for housing and urban development, who disclosed this at a real estate conference in Lagos on Thursday, explained further that the reason for this push is to stem further growth of dead capital in the country estimated at $300billion. Land ownership in Nigeria is in two categories – formal and informal. According to experts, only 10% of the entire land area in Nigeria is formalised, meaning that such land areas are registered and documented with titles such as Certificates of Occupancy (C of O). This certificate gives any piece of land that has it legal recognition and security. It also enables landowners to use their property for loans or investments, thereby fostering economic growth. On the other hand, informal land ownership dominates, relying on customary arrangements, verbal agreements, or inheritance without legal documentation which is why Andrew Nervin, former chief economist at PwC, said that land tenure and ownership in Nigeria is the most rigid globally. While culturally entrenched and accessible, untitled land leaves owners vulnerable to disputes, evictions and limits the economic utility of land. Without formal titles, such properties cannot be leveraged for financial opportunities or government support. Dangiwa noted that the Land Use Act of 1978 is the overriding legal instrument for land administration in Nigeria, but much of its provision is either outdated or impossible to implement within the current framework. “We are working to review the Act in collaboration with the National Assembly to make it relevant and comprehensive to deal with existing and emerging issues around access to land and its administration,” the minister said. He recalled that, earlier this year, the ministry instituted Four Reforms Task Teams to help provide the framework for driving the implementation of the ministry’s plans. One of them was the Land Reforms Task Team, headed by Ugochukwu Chime, a renowned housing expert with decades of experience in the sector. “Leveraging the work done by the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms (PTCLR), the task team was charged with building a framework for effective land administration in Nigeria, as well as the proposed establishment of the National Land Commission to operationalize the Act,” he said. Shehu Osidi, the managing director and chief executive of the federal mortgage of bank (FMBN), who also spoke at the real estate conference in Lagos, cited a 2019 PwC study which says that about 75% of the nation’s estimated 42 million housing stock falls below the United Nation’s criteria for permanent human occupation. “In addition, the nation’s dismal record of untitled land implies that about $300 billion, roughly 60 percent of national GDP, is ‘dead capital’ as the owners cannot realise tangible earnings or utilise the assets to improve their economic status,” he said. He recalled that the federal government, in September 2024, announced a landmark partnership with the World Bank aimed at registering all land titles in Nigeria within five years, adding that the initiative, led by the ministry of housing seeks to address the challenges posed by untitled land. He explained that, “by formalizing land ownership, the partnership aims to unlock vast economic potential, including an estimated $300 billion in dead capital, ensuring clarity and security in land ownership while transforming Nigeria’s land administration system.” A key component of this partnership, he said, involves collaborating with state governments to register, document, and title all land parcels. This collaboration is designed to bring landowners, communities, and regional authorities into the formal land system, ensuring inclusivity and widespread participation. “By providing clear and secure land ownership records, the initiative aims to unlock development opportunities, foster sustainable land use, and attract local and foreign investment. In November 2024, the ministry revealed plans to establish a National Land Digital System (NLDS), a modern digital registry that will facilitate the efficient and secure verification of land titles,” he stated.
MISSOULA — The Montana women's basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Sunday in defensive-minded Big Ten foe Minnesota. The Golden Gophers held the Lady Griz to a season-low seven points in the first quarter in racing to a 22-point lead. From there Minnesota cruised to an 84-45 win at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Montana had a two-game win streak snapped in falling to 3-3. Minnesota, who held UMass-Lowell and Oregon State in the 30s in wins earlier this season, improved to 7-0. The Gophers are coached by former South Dakota skipper Dawn Plitzuweit, whose emphasis on defense has been well-received. Minnesota finished 20-16 in her first season and is off to an impressive start this year. Not only did Montana lose the game, the team may have lost redshirt freshman guard Macy Donarski for a while. She left the game in the first quarter with what looked to be a significant left leg injury. Donarski did not play last season due to a knee injury. Montana was befuddled from the start by the Gophers' defense. Minnesota stresses team defense with active rotations and an emphasis on forcing turnovers. The Lady Griz had 16 turnovers in the game Montana hit just 3 of 12 shots in the first quarter in spotting the hosts a gaudy 29-7 lead. Minnesota was 9 for 19 with two triples. The Gophers stretched their lead to 52-22 by halftime. The Lady Griz were 7 for 23 from the floor. Mack Konig and Adria Lincoln were bright spots with nine points apiece in the first 20 minutes. Minnesota continued to add to its lead in the second half. The Gophers led by as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter before settling for their 39-point victory. Montana's seven points in first quarter were a season low. The Lady Griz had the same total in the fourth frame.Zero Zero Robotics showcases bestselling HOVERAir X1 series at CES 2025
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23: Director of the Nursing Services Department at the Ministry of Health Dr. Iman Al-Awadhi revealed an increase of approximately 1,300 male and female nurses in the Ministry of Health this year, which brings the total number of nursing staff in the health sector to around 23,000 nurses of various nationalities. In a press statement, Dr. Al-Awadhi said the number of male and female graduates with a bachelor’s degree or diploma from the College of Nursing and the Nursing Institute in the 2023/2024 academic year was approximately 229. She indicated that the total number of nursing staff in 2023 was about 21,796. Announced Also, Dr. Al-Awadhi announced the launch of the conference titled “Innovation in Nursing Care: Transforming the Future of Health Care”, which will run for two days and is being held under the patronage of the Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi. It will feature 22 experts and specialists from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Council of Nursing (ICN), the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Jordan, Malaysia, and Egypt. She explained that the conference aims to strengthen the role of nursing in improving healthcare services through the effective use of modern technology and techniques. It also seeks to encourage nurses to adopt a culture of innovation that aligns with developments in the healthcare field and improves the quality of healthcare services in Kuwait. The scientific papers presented at the conference will cover several key areas, including the introduction of modern technologies in the nursing profession, creating an innovative culture in nursing practices, promoting scientific research, and integrating evidence-based practices to improve the quality of healthcare. Dr. Al-Awadhi revealed that two workshops will be held alongside the conference to discuss important topics such as effective communication and collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of creativity and leadership within the nursing profession. By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times StaffLudhiana: The senior medical officer (SMO) of Ludhiana civil hospital has taken disciplinary action against a Class IV employee of the health facility after a video of him being drunk while administering an IV drip to a woman patient surfaced online. SMO Dr Harpreet Singh said the erring employee, Sukhdev, is a nursing staff member. An official said ge has now been transferred to Hathur, which is 60km from the city. “He was deputed in the female ward, but he has been removed from duty. We have recommended his transfer to the civil surgeon,” added the SMO. The SMO said the action was taken after examining the content of video and taking a written statement from staff which was on duty at the time of the incident. In the video, the employee is also seen and heard speaking something, but his speech is incoherent. The SMO said they suspected the video to be of Tuesday night, but he was not sure of the time it was shot. In the video, the employee could be seen not being able to stand steadily and having trouble in going about his job, as is required from a medical staffer. He holds on to the stand on which the intravenous (IV) fluid is hung, with his eyes closed. Sources said the video was shot by a relative of another patient lying on the bed in front of the patient who was being given the IV drip. Sources added family members of other patients present in the ward asked the employee to stop doing things, but he “continued” despite this. Later, the attendants called other nursing staff, who took over the charge from Sukhbir. We also published the following articles recently Buxar civil court employees threaten state-level protest, want upgraded pay Civil court employees in Buxar, Bihar, continued their protest for a second day, demanding upgraded pay scales and promotions. They cite pay disparity, multiple roles, and the state government's failure to implement Supreme Court orders and the Shetty Commission report. Viral video of giant python sparks fear, seen floating in floodwater Devastating floods in Malaysia and southern Thailand have forced mass evacuations and tragically claimed 25 lives, impacting over 300,000 households. A viral video from Pattani province shows a large python, possibly deceased, with a distended belly drifting through floodwaters, sparking online discussions about its recent meal. CAG report flags lack of staff, facilities in hosps A CAG report reveals Odisha's healthcare system is crippled by a severe shortage of doctors, nurses, and beds, falling 64% short of the National Health Policy targets. Lack of basic amenities, unused equipment, and deficient emergency services plague district hospitals. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
NEW ORLEANS — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Michelle Cheramie, founder of Zeus' Rescues, at her office in New Orleans on Dec. 9 with a whiteboard index of sheltered cats and dogs and a Scrim look-alike recuperating in the background. Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. Scrim on Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. Neighbor Tammy Murray had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues van toward reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim came to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter for stealth. Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus' Rescues, left, walks with Scrim on Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something," she said. "He's doing that, too.” Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim rests in a kennel Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” Scrim sits in the arms of Zoey Ponder on Oct. 24 at Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie. A Scrim sticker for sale Dec. 9 at Zeus' Rescues office to raise money for the shelter in New Orleans. A homemade portrait of Scrim hangs Dec. 9 in the Zeus' Rescues shelter in New Orleans. Scrim at the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter in Louisiana. Scrim spends some time outside Oct. 24 with Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus' Rescues, in a fenced-in area at Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
Paris moves to slow down traffic, while critics call for a full stop. To Torontonians, it might feel familiarBarstool Sports founder helps Baltimore pizzeria stay open with generous donation
BOISE, Idaho — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. UTSA 44, COASTAL CAROLINA 15: Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High. Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards. UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games. CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl.Yogi Adityanath impresses delegation with nearly 2-minute statement in Japanese | Watch
DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of ASML HoldingAnother stowaway caught on Delta flight raises major concerns about airport safety
SEALSQ Corp Shares Are Up By More Than 90%: What You Need To KnowSam Kerr in the Hunter Valley as Matilda Emily van Egmond ties the knotCryptocurrencies such as bitcoin will help drive modernisation of Australia’s financial system, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared while revealing the re-election of Donald Trump has already forced a rethink of the emerging sector’s importance. Chalmers said while there were legitimate concerns such as the use of crypto by criminal elements, the possible advantages from the creation of new investment opportunities should not be curtailed by overzealous regulation. Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have attracted even more interest since the re-election of Donald Trump. Credit: Bloomberg Cryptocurrencies, which encompass digital currencies that are effectively policed by investors rather than authorities such as governments or central banks, were already one of the world’s fastest-growing investment opportunities before Trump’s election victory in November. Trump has promised to be a “crypto president” by loosening regulation around products, creating a stockpile of bitcoin – the value of which has surged by a third since November – and making it easier for crypto investors to gain access to traditional banking systems. In Australia, broad investment in cryptocurrencies is still well short of traditional sectors such as equities and property, but there is growing interest, particularly among younger people. Chalmers said he believed crypto, and the infrastructure surrounding it, could be a key feature of an improved financial system. “I think crypto has a role to play, and it’s part of modernising and innovating in our financial system,” he said. “We need to make sure there are appropriate protections and guard-rails, but we need to make sure we don’t overdo that and stomp on part of the industry which, I think, will be important in the industry.” Last month, RBA governor Michele Bullock, who previously headed up the bank’s payments arm, was less bullish than Chalmers about cryptocurrency and said she didn’t see a role for it in the economy. “I don’t really see a role for it in, certainly in the Australian economy or payments system,” she said. Governments, central banks and policymakers around the world are watching Trump’s policy agenda with particular interest, given he has promised to impose wide-scale tariffs , deport millions of undocumented workers and possibly intervene in official interest rate settings . Chalmers said Trump’s approach to crypto was also uppermost in the government’s mind. “Of the list of changes in policy emphasis we expect from the incoming Trump administration, this is one of the ones we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about,” he said. “We think about trade and tariffs, we think about financial regulation, we think about deregulation more broadly. We think about the energy transformation, and we think about crypto.” The government is planning to introduce legislation next year that would create licensing arrangements for businesses that offer digital assets such as crypto and stablecoin – a type of cryptocurrency pegged to the value of another currency or commodity. The licensing is in part due to growing crypto-related scams that were estimated last year to have cost Australians about $180 million in losses. AUSTRAC this month warned that it believed specialist crypto ATMs were being used by criminal organisations in South-East Asia to launder the money of Australian-based criminals. Treasurer Jim Chalmers believes cryptocurrencies will drive modernisation and innovation across the nation’s financial system. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Chalmers said regulations around crypto had to balance security issues for potential investors in the asset class against being overly onerous. “Our interest here is to recognise it’s legitimate, it’s important, it’s growing,” he said. “We need to make sure that people are protected, but we don’t want to overdo it in a way that stifles an industry we believe in. “Obviously, the multinational crime element of it is something people are focused on with good reason, but I think we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we overfocused on the downside and didn’t sufficiently focus on the upside.” One of the downsides is the use of crypto by criminals attracted to the way its underlying technology makes it difficult to track major financial transactions. In some cases, criminals have demanded ransom payments in crypto. This masthead can also reveal that cryptocurrency assets are increasingly being seized by the Australian Federal Police as part of their inquiries. Between July and November this year, the AFP had collected more than $20 million worth of crypto. Over the same period, more than $28 million in cash was seized by the AFP’s criminal asset confiscation taskforce. All seized cash goes into an account used for community safety programs. The AFP has collected $62 million in crypto since the middle of 2019. The value of that crypto may be growing. Once the AFP collects it, the agency does not track the ongoing value of the crypto (which is managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority). Since July 1 this year, the value of bitcoin has soared from $US63,352 to $US97,742. As recently as December 17, bitcoin had reached $US106,470. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .
LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Truist Finl's TFC short percent of float has risen 41.67% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 17.98 million shares sold short , which is 1.36% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.34 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Truist Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Truist Finl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted. Comparing Truist Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Truist Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.74%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probeWHEELING, W.Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco") (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. ("Premier") (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco's special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. "Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders," said Jeff Jackson , President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. "With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities." With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio , based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana , and serve customers in nine states. About WesBanco, Inc. With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia , WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024 . Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Premier Financial Corp. Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio , is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio , operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio , Michigan , Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier's website at www.PremierFinCorp.com . Matters set forth in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, and including statements about the benefits of the proposed Merger between WesBanco and Premier, that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those contained or implied by such statements for a variety of factors including: the effects of changing regional and national economic conditions, changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and associated interest rate sensitivity; sources of liquidity available to WesBanco and its related subsidiary operations; potential future credit losses and the credit risk of commercial, real estate, and consumer loan customers and their borrowing activities; actions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Securities Investors Protection Corporation, and other regulatory bodies; potential legislative and federal and state regulatory actions and reform, including, without limitation, the impact of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act; adverse decisions of federal and state courts; fraud , scams and schemes of third parties; cyber-security breaches; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; rapidly changing technology affecting financial services; marketability of debt instruments and corresponding impact on fair value adjustments; and/or other external developments materially impacting WesBanco's operational and financial performance, the businesses of the WesBanco and Premier may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the proposed Merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes; disruption from the proposed Merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; the required governmental approvals of the proposed Merger may not be obtained on the expected terms and schedule; changes in economic conditions; movements in interest rates; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing of other business strategies; the nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms; and extended disruption of vital infrastructure; and other factors described in WesBanco's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Premier's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and documents subsequently filed by WesBanco and Premier with the SEC. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release. Neither WesBanco nor Premier assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesbanco-inc-and-premier-financial-corp-announce-shareholder-approvals-of-merger-agreement-302329433.html SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.