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With the current weather forecast calling for heavy snow overnight, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has declared a significant weather event. What does this mean? Public Works crews may take longer than normal to clear some roadways and sidewalks. Main and collector roadways will be cleared first before crews are able to get to residential neighbourhoods and sidewalks. "The parking by-law remains in effect with motorists not permitted to park on city streets during the winter months between midnight and 6 a.m.," says a news release issued by the city. "However, during a winter event, motorists should not park on city streets or impede sidewalks during the day to assist in the efficiency of snow removal." Full text of the news release follows: The City of Sault Ste. Marie has declared a significant weather event with respect to hazardous winter storm conditions continuing until further notice. Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for Sault Ste. Marie and area with 10 to 15 cm of heavy snowfall expected today and continuing into Tuesday. Locally, higher amounts of snow are expected over higher terrain. Public Works work diligently during winter events, but it may take longer than normal to ensure public safety and that the roadways, sidewalks, and transit bus stops meet normal maintenance standards. Public Works monitors the weather and patrols the roadways to deploy all available crews to address any snow and ice accumulation. During a winter event, all roads and sidewalks maintained by the city are considered to be in a “state of repair”. Snow will be cleared first from the main and collector roadways. The clearing of residential areas and designated sidewalks will be delayed until the main roadways and collector roads are cleared and safe. Sidewalks should not be blocked at any time to facilitate snow removal. Residents are reminded that the snow plowed to the end of their driveway during a significant snow event is their responsibility and may be more than usual. Do not place garbage and recycling carts out the night before collection as this causes issues with snow plowing and snow removal. Garbage and recycling carts should be placed curbside before 7 a.m. the morning of the designated collection day. Motorists should drive according to the conditions and allow space for heavy equipment operators to clear and sand roadways safely and efficiently. The parking by-law remains in effect with motorists not permitted to park on city streets during the winter months between midnight and 6 a.m. however, during a winter event, motorists should not park on city streets or impede sidewalks during the day to assist in the efficiency of snow removal. Transit Services reminds customers to expect delays because of heavy snowfall. Updates will be posted to the city’s website and social media sites as required. Thank you for your cooperation.It’s just like Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield, really. We were all looking forward to seeing them arrive in Montreal... The excitement is there when we talk about the Canadiens’ prospects, because since his selection at No. 5 in the draft, positive comments have been coming from everywhere when he’s in the news. Tony DeAngelo on his SKA teammate Ivan Demidov: “He’s a world class talent.” – /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) During his appearance on the podcast, DeAngelo also stated that he sees Demidov becoming a 30-goal-per-season top-6 winger... In the worst-case scenario. If – – Demidov progresses as DeAngelo predicts, the Canadiens will have one of the best players in the National League on their hands. But that’s what makes the defender’s comments so interesting: he’s around Demidov every day or so, and he’s in the best possible situation to see him progress... And you can’t discount the fact that DeAngelo knows the National League. Obviously, as much as everyone wants DeAngelo to be right, chances are it won’t work out too. And I’m not saying that to denigrate Ivan Demidov’s talent: it can happen to any talented prospect who makes the jump to the NHL. There have been examples in the past, and it’s not to be dismissed. – Interesting. Defender Chris Jandric has been absolutely dominant in the ECHL since getting loaned by the Rocket. 11 points in 9 games, and he looks like Lane Hutson out there, skating circles around everyone. Second in the ECHL for points per game by a defender with at least 9 games played.... – Andrew Zadarnowski (@AZadarski) – Artem Zub is out with a long-term injury. Report: Sens aggressively pursuing defensemen after Zub injury – theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) – The three NHL stars of the week. Zach Werenski has earned his place on the – RDS (@RDSca)US-Google face off as ad tech antitrust trial comes to closeGeorgetown is set to play its first road game of the season while West Virginia attempts to build off its successful 2-1 trip to the Bahamas when the former conference rivals meet on Friday in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. Picked 13th out of 16 in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, West Virginia (5-2) has been riding the hot shooting of Javon Small and Tucker DeVries. Small averages a team-high 19 points and shoots 41.3 percent on 3-pointers while DeVries adds 14.9 points per game and hits on 46.9 percent of his threes. Every basket was needed last week as the Mountaineers upset then-No. 3 Gonzaga and then-No. 24 Arizona with a loss to Louisville sandwiched in between. All three contests went into overtime, believed to be a first in program history. First-year coach Darian DeVries, who led Drake to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four seasons, had never seen anything like it. "I've never been a part of three games like that, especially with the quality of opponents that we went up these last three days," he said after the Arizona win. "Just incredible resolve and grit and toughness from our group all three nights." Georgetown has started 7-1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season and has done so with a completely revamped roster that includes 14 freshmen or sophomores. As a result of an inexperienced squad, coach Ed Cooley specifically delayed the Hoyas' first trip out of the nation's capital. "Obviously, the competition is going to change," Cooley said after the Hoyas defeated UMBC 86-62 on Monday. "We systematically scheduled this way to build confidence, continuity and chemistry and let our players feel what it is to win, and that's something hopefully that will have some carryover as we now get ready to head out on the road for the first time." Since losing to Notre Dame on Nov. 16, Georgetown has won five straight games by an average of 25.2 points. Thomas Sorber leads the Hoyas in scoring at 15.8 points per game and leads the conference in rebounding at 8.9 per game. Sorber was named as the Big East Freshman of the Week for the third time in four weeks. Georgetown holds the narrowest of leads in the all-time series at 27-26. The two schools met 27 times between 1995 and 2012 as league foes. The Mountaineers captured their lone Big East Championship in 2010 by defeating the Hoyas 60-58 at Madison Square Garden. --Field Level Media
Harry and Meghan’s polo docuseries to highlight ‘grit behind the glamour’
Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio delivers combative testimony in ex-cops defense
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With Elon Musk playing such a high-profile role in Donald Trump’s transition team, Musk’s buddies, many of them Silicon Valley venture capitalists, are reportedly being tapped to help out. For instance, VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, and in particular cofounder Marc Andreessen, is repeatedly being mentioned. He, along with Antonio Gracias and Joe Lonsdale, are reportedly being asked to help with Musk’s advisory panel, the Department of Government Efficiency, which is examining ways to overcome the technical challenges of collecting data about federal programs, reported the Washington Post on Sunday. They are among a handful of other Silicon Valley moguls being tapped. Gracias is co-founder of Valor Equity Partners, which has done well backing Musk companies over the years, including SpaceX and Tesla (the latter where he was on the board of directors from 2007 to 2021). Lonsdale is cofounder of VC firm 8VC, and an active backer of defense tech (like Anduril) and other government tech, like financial software provider OpenGov. Lonsdale worked under billionaire VC Peter Thiel and helped cofound Palantir. A16z has been a big-time investor in SpaceX since around 2022 – and buys more stock as it can, TechCrunch previously reported, and Andreessen has been a vocal supporter of Musk. The DOGE committee hopes to recommend cuts to programs and to reduce the number of federal employees, Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy explained in a Wall Street Journal editorial last week. They also expect to face legal pushback, they wrote. In the immediate future, the group plans to launch a podcast, WaPo reports. Meanwhile, Andreessen Horowitz is also said to be in the running for a position on a promised Trump administration crypto advisory council. It will be staffed with a number of execs from the crypto industry who seek to help the U.S. establish crypto policy, industry executives told Reuters last week . Brian Quintenz, head of policy for a16z crypto, has already been advising Trump’s team, Reuters reports. Another VC being discussed for a spot on this committee is Paradigm, an investment firm co-founded by Fred Ehrsam, previous co-founder of Coinbase. Paradigm specializes in crypto/blockchain investments. Coinbase, which is not a VC firm but does fund its own corporate firm, Coinbase Ventures, is also interested in the committee, sources tell Reuters. Meanwhile, former Thiel disciple Michael Kratsios, who served as chief tech officer under the first Trump administration, has reportedly been tapped to handle tech policy for Trump’s transition team, Politico reported last week. Kratsios was known for authoring Trump’s 2020 pro-AI investment executive order. Prior to his role in government, he worked for Thiel Capital. Kratsios, however, isn’t currently a VC. He’s been working at AI company Scale AI since 2021, according to his LinkedIn . A16z and Lonsdale could not be immediately reached for comment. They also did not respond to request for comment by the Washington Post.
Utah Hockey Club walks to arena after bus gets stuck in Toronto traffic
Thousands of Afghans on Thursday attended the funeral of the refugees minister, AFP journalists saw, after he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul the day before in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bombing at the ministry's offices in the Afghan capital. Thousands of men, many of them armed, gathered for Haqqani's funeral in his home village of Sarana, in a mountainous area of Paktia province, south of Kabul. The funeral included heavy security, with armoured vehicles, snipers and personnel manning the area and the road from Kabul, which was jammed with hundreds of cars as mourners travelled from surrounding provinces. Senior Taliban officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, and Maulawi Abdul Kabir, political deputy of the prime minister's office, attended the funeral, according to an AFP team on site. The deceased's nephew, the powerful interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, also attended, along with foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. In a speech there, Muttaqi said the latest IS attacks had been planned "abroad", denouncing, without naming them, "countries harbouring" the organisation. "We call on all nations to work together to stop the common enemy, which does not recognise any kind of morality." In September, the Taliban authorities said IS had training camps in Balochistan province of Pakistan, which also regularly faces jihadist attacks. Haqqani, the highest ranked member of the Taliban government to be killed in an attack since their return to power, "was a big loss for us, the system and the nation", said Paktia resident Hedayatullah, 22. "May God protect our other leaders and keep them victorious." "Our leader... who had his life brutally taken away, achieved martyrdom," said Bostan, 53, haranguing the "cowardly attack" that killed Haqqani. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack on Thursday, offering condolences to the victims' families. "There can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on X. The European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack, along with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. Haqqani -- who is on US and UN sanctions lists and never appeared without an automatic weapon in his hand -- was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the feared Haqqani network responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the ministry, according to a statement on its Amaq news agency, as translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Taliban authorities had already blamed IS for the "cowardly attack" -- the first targeting a minister since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban forces took over the country that year, ending their war against US-led NATO coalition forces. However, the regional chapter of IS, known as Islamic State Khorasan, is active in Afghanistan and has regularly targeted civilians, foreigners and Taliban officials with gun and bomb attacks. bur-qb-sw/nroThe UK government is taking a tougher stance on protecting children online, threatening tech platforms to introduce stricter regulation unless they introduce measures that will keep kids away from harmful content. Developers of age assurance technology should play a part in that, according to UK’s Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. The Online Safety Act should be implemented “as quickly and effectively as possible,” according to a new document released last Wednesday by the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. The Draft Statement of Strategic Priorities outlines the government’s key focus areas for online safety. The new document is a part of the Technology Secretary’s drive to ensure tech companies will comply with the Online Safety Act, last year. The regulation requires companies to keep children away from harmful and age-inappropriate content, including pornography, violence, hate, bullying, content supporting suicide, self-harm or eating disorders and others. Since the introduction of the new regulation, however, have been brewing that the Act may not live up to its expectations. Kyle, who was appointed as head of the by the new Labor government in July, is hoping to disprove this. Enforcement of the regulation falls on the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom which has the power to fines tech firms of up to 18 million pounds (US$22.6 million) or 10 percent of their annual global turnover for non-compliance. The Secretary told the media last week that he wants the agency to take a stricter stance toward policing social media companies that have been operating in a “gray area.” “Some of these companies are spending more on R&D than the British state is in total. So don’t tell me you can’t throw some resources together and have a conversation about how things like age verification can be made more robust, and that safety can’t be built in,” Kyle said in an with The Telegraph. Ofcom’s tasks include publishing Codes of Practice and providing guidance on how companies can comply with their duties. The first edition of the Illegal Harms Codes of Practice and the illegal content risk assessment guidance is expected to be made public in December 2024. The Draft Statement of Strategic Priorities places effective age assurance among its key focuses. “Services should take advantage of the technologies that are already available to identify child users and ensure that they cannot access harmful content on their services,” says the draft. “Age assurance should be deployed consistently, effectively and fairly to users from all backgrounds and age ranges.” The document also notes that the government has been supporting the development of third-party solutions for online harm through funding grants, hackathons and innovation challenges. This will help Ofcom outline ambitious recommendations for adopting technologies for online services. “The UK safety tech sector has an important role to play by developing innovative solutions to support platforms, improve online safety outcomes and enable agile regulation,” says the document. The strategy also outlines focuses such as safety by design or preventing online harm, increasing transparency and accountability of online platforms maintaining regulatory agility to keep pace with changing technology and behavior as well as building an inclusive and resilient online society. According to the Technology Secretary, tech firms have been claiming that age verification technology cannot yet provide the highly effective age checks required to enforce restricting social media use for children under the age of 13. However, companies already have the technology to understand people’s personalities which means they can understand a person’s age “with some precision,” he notes. Kyle explained that the government is reluctant to introduce new regulations before it sees the effects of the Online Safety Act. But he also promised the country would not hesitate to introduce more strict solutions to keep children safe online, including legislation similar to Australia. Last week, the country a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16. For now, the Online Safety Act is proving effective at least for some tech firms, he adds. Instagram has been rolling out , including verifying users’ age by using Yoti’s facial age estimation or by uploading an identity document. Online gaming platform Roblox also this month that it plans to limit children under 13 from messaging other users. The decision was welcomed by Ofcom. | | | | | | | | | |
Percentages: FG .519, FT .868. 3-Point Goals: 2-14, .143 (Jones 1-1, Martindale 1-2, Barbee 0-1, Cain 0-1, Thibiant 0-1, Beard 0-2, Washington 0-2, Fuller 0-4). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Jones 3, Martindale, Washington). Turnovers: 10 (Beard 3, Fuller 2, Lewis 2, Jones, Martindale, Washington). Steals: 6 (Jones 2, Brinson, Fofana, Lewis, Washington). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .339, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 10-30, .333 (Lee 2-2, Shogbonyo 2-4, Craig 2-5, Lopez-Sanvicente 1-1, Pickett 1-3, Addo-Ankrah 1-5, Akins 1-5, Bowen 0-1, Carney 0-2, Mani 0-2). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 2 (Lopez-Sanvicente 2). Turnovers: 13 (Craig 4, Akins 3, Lopez-Sanvicente 3, Bowen, Lee, Shogbonyo). Steals: 4 (Craig 2, Lopez-Sanvicente, Mani). Technical Fouls: None. A_109 (7,321).Tinubu's FG begs Nigerian workers, reveals month states will pay new minimum wage
Adams has 19 as CSU Northridge defeats Denver 89-60Military establishment distances itself from ongoing PTI-govt talks During his press conference in May, DGISPR was asked about possibility of deal with PTI and Imran Khan ISLAMABAD: The military establishment has made it clear that it has nothing to do with the ongoing reported behind the scene contacts between the PTI and the government. A source, associated with the establishment, while talking to The News on Friday categorically denied the impression, given or perceived by some people, as if these background contacts are either the consequence of the initiative of the security establishment or there is any interaction between the institution and the PTI. “Our position is clear that the Army will not talk to any political party. It is for the political parties to talk to each other,” the source said, adding that the Pakistan Army will not hold any dialogue with any political leader or political party. The source, while referring to the press conference addressed by the DGISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif in May this year, said that the institution stated position remains unchanged. During his press conference in May, the DGISPR was asked about the possibility of any deal with PTI and Imran Khan. He had stated that the Army has no political role. “The Army is apolitical and its relationship with every government is in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he had clarified. “All political parties are respectable for us. However, if any political group attacks its own army, no one will interact with it. The only way for such an anarchist group is to apologise to the nation, promise to shun the politics of hatred and do constructive politics,” he had said, and stressed, “In any case, such a dialogue should take place between political parties. It is not appropriate for the Army to be involved.” The News, while quoting a senior defence source, had also reported on November 2 that the military’s policy, as announced earlier, remains unchanged and if Imran Khan and the PTI want to seek any relief or concession, the only way forward for them is to talk to the political parties, including those representing the government, and not the army or its chief.
NoneTrump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
Tinubu's FG begs Nigerian workers, reveals month states will pay new minimum wageKing laughs at British comedian’s impression of Donald Trump at Royal VarietySYDNEY, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vast Renewables Limited (“Vast”) (Nasdaq: VSTE), a leading Australian green energy technology company, held its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) on November 27, updating shareholders on progress towards deploying its next generation concentrated solar power (“CSP”) solution to deliver clean, continuous dispatchable power and heat. The AGM saw Vast’s Chairman, Peter Botten, and CEO, Craig Wood, provide updates on the company’s achievements throughout 2024 and the outlook for the year ahead. All resolutions were successfully passed at the AGM, with Craig Wood, Colin Richardson and William Restrepo all re-elected as Directors. The AGM follows Vast’s recent announcement that it has signed an updated funding agreement to access up to $30 million of its existing $65 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (“ARENA”). The funding and Vast’s progress throughout 2024 pave the way for another successful year ahead. Vast’s technology is set to be deployed at utility-scale in Port Augusta, South Australia at the Vast Solar 1 (“VS1”) project to deliver green, reliable and affordable energy for South Australia’s grid. The technology will also power a world-first co-located renewable methanol production facility, Solar Methanol 1 (“SM1”). A real world, in-demand application for hydrogen, renewable methanol has the potential to decarbonise shipping and is already being used to power major container vessels. Leveraging Australia’s natural resources, the projects are set to be a catalyst for a domestic Australian CSP industry, creating highly skilled green manufacturing and operational jobs, and helping Australia become an export powerhouse by supplying Australian green technology to clean energy projects around the world. Vast is attracting significant interest from major investors, industry and international governments. Along with funding from ARENA, Vast is backed by EDF and Nabors Industries, and Vast’s renewable methanol project is supported by Mabanaft and the German Government. The following addresses were made by Vast’s Chairman Peter Botten and CEO Craig Wood during Vast’s Annual General Meeting on November 27, 2024. Chairman’s Address from Peter Botten 2024 has been a pivotal year in the growth of Vast since the business combination with Nabors Energy Transition Corp was completed in December last year. Significant progress has been made this year towards Vast’s vision of delivering continuous, carbon free energy to the world, leveraging our next generation CSP technology As announced earlier this week, Vast has secured up to $30m of funding from ARENA. This is an important signal of confidence from ARENA in the potential of Vast’s technology to power Australia’s energy transition, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support. Vast continues to progress towards final investment decision on our utility-scale CSP reference project in Port Augusta, South Australia (VS1). The project paves the way for Vast’s pipeline of utility-scale projects in Australia and internationally. Alongside generating green electricity for the grid, we believe Vast’s technology will have a key role to play in reducing the cost of sustainable fuels production. Vast is also progressing a co-located renewable methanol production facility (SM1) at the Port Augusta site, partnering with German fuels giant Mabanaft on that project. During the year, Vast also expanded its presence in the US market, signing a project development partnership with Houston-based renewables developer GGS Energy. As Vast looks to 2025, the key focus will be on: We continue to see growing demand for the continuous, affordable electricity and heat our CSP technology can deliver. We believe it will be a critical solution to decarbonise the grid and phase out coal in sunny countries. We also see continued demand for our technology to power sustainable fuels production as well as off-grid use cases, including mining, industrial processes and data centres. CEO’s Address from Craig Wood As Peter mentioned, our utility-scale CSP reference project in Port Augusta, VS1, is progressing well. The plant will have 30MW capacity and 8 hours of thermal storage, providing dispatchable overnight power critical to stabilising South Australia’s grid. We recently finalised the FEED stage and we’re working diligently with our partners towards achieving Final Investment Decision in Q1 2025 with construction to commence shortly thereafter. The project has received support from the Australian Government, including from ARENA and the Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. The co-located renewable methanol plant, SM1, is also progressing well through the pre-FEED stage. The project will produce 7,500 tonnes of renewable methanol per annum, which will help decarbonise the local maritime industry. As a world-first project, we’re thrilled to be partnering with German company Mabanaft on this effort. Financial close is currently targeted for 2025. Vast continues to strengthen our market-leading proprietary CSP technology, and to build out our manufacturing capability ahead of delivering Vast equipment into the VS1 project. Our solution leverages the abundant sunshine in sunbelt countries like Australia to power homes, industry and transport with green, reliable and affordable energy. We continue to improve the cost and performance of our modular, scalable technology, and to de-risk its manufacture and operation. Vast equipment is currently being produced at our facility in Queensland, Australia, and we’ll be scaling up our manufacturing capability to deliver to the Port Augusta projects starting in 2025. Throughout 2024, we’ve also invested in our business systems and capabilities to set ourselves up for success. Vast has had a strong emphasis on safety during 2024, and we are focused on improving our safety performance as we head towards construction on site next year. We are investing in a new ERP to replace legacy systems as our requirements continue to evolve. We are also developing the quality and project control systems necessary to deliver the Port Augusta projects. All of this activity means Vast’s team has continued to grow throughout the year, both in Australia and the US. This growth will continue early into 2025, and then accelerate as we move into construction of the VS1 and SM1 projects. As Peter mentioned, we were delighted to announce earlier this week that Vast continues to enjoy strong support from ARENA as evidenced by up to $30m of funding being made available to the business, subject to certain milestones being achieved. This funding is important as it creates a runway to support Vast in completing the necessary activities to achieve financial close on VS1 and SM1, and to continue the build out of our Australian green technology manufacturing business. As part of that release, we also updated the estimated capital cost for VS1 to AUD360-390million. We look forward to another successful year in 2025 as we move into construction on VS1 and SM1, deliver Vast technology through our manufacturing business, and expand our project development pipeline in Australia, the US and other global markets. We thank you, our shareholders, all of our partners and our employees for their ongoing support. About Vast Vast is a renewable energy company that has CSP systems to generate, store, and dispatch carbon-free, utility-scale electricity, industrial heat, or a combination to enable the production of sustainable fuels. Vast’s CSP v3.0 approach utilises a proprietary, modular sodium loop to efficiently capture and convert solar heat into these end products. On December 19, 2023, Vast listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “VSTE”, while remaining headquartered in Australia. Visit www.vast.energy for more information. Contacts For Investors: Caldwell Bailey ICR, Inc. VastIR@icrinc.com For US media: Matt Dallas ICR, Inc. VastPR@icrinc.com For Australian media: Nick Albrow Wilkinson Butler nick@wilkinsonbutler.com Forward Looking Statements The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include "forward-looking statements" 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. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding the Port Augusta project, Vast's future financial performance, Vast's strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "project," "should," "will," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Vast management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Vast disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Vast cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Vast. These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; Vast's ability to obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms or at all; Vast’s ability to manage growth; Vast's ability to execute its business plan, including the completion of the Port Augusta project , at all or in a timely manner and meet its projections; potential litigation, governmental or regulatory proceedings, investigations or inquiries involving Vast, including in relation to Vast's recent business combination; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of Vast's recent business combination; costs related to that business combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Vast's products and services. Additional risks are set forth in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2024, dated September 9, 2024, as amended on November 7, 2024, and other documents filed, or to be filed with the SEC by Vast. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Vast's expectations can be found in Vast's periodic filings with the SEC. Vast's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry celebrated a political win Thursday as he signed into law sweeping tax measures passed by lawmakers that include reducing the individual income tax to 3%, cutting corporate taxes and raising the state sales tax. He also approved an array of proposed constitutional changes to go before voters in March. “Y’all have instituted generational change,” Landry said of a bipartisan group of lawmakers standing beside him at the Capitol in Baton Rouge. “They opened the door for a new era here in Louisiana, an era where every working citizen in this state gets to keep more of their hard-earned money.” Landry, a Republican, said the measures will provide $1.3 billion in income tax cuts for Louisiana residents as well as nearly triple the standard individual deduction and double deductions for seniors. The income tax rate was 4.25% for people earning $50,000 or more. Republicans said the measures will help stanch outward migration from the state. To pay for the bulk of the tax cuts, Landry approved increasing the state sales tax to 5% for the next five years, after which it will drop to 4.75%. It previously stood at 4% with a temporary 0.45% increase set to expire next year. RELATED COVERAGE Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility Louisiana judge halts state police plans to clear New Orleans homeless camps before Thanksgiving Louisiana GOP lawmakers want to make it easier to try juveniles as adults Landry also agreed to redirect $280 million in vehicle sales tax funds earmarked for several major infrastructure projects to help pay for the tax cuts over the next two years. Landry said other changes would make the state more competitive for businesses. Large corporations will have their income tax rate reduced from 7.5% to 5.5%. Louisiana also eliminated the 0.275% corporate franchise tax. Republicans had long decried the levy on businesses operating in the state worth more than $500 million in annual revenue as hindering economic growth. “Our complicated business tax policy has been finally moved more towards fairness and put us in a place to be more competitive with our surrounding states,” said Republican Rep. Julie Emerson, who sponsored several major bills signed by Landry. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said the corporate tax cuts sends business a message: “We are here to compete, we do compete, and we want you.” Landry and his allies in the GOP-controlled legislature had championed the tax reform package in an intense three-week special session in November, the third such session since he took office in January. While Democratic lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the tax package in the Senate, some Democrats in the House of Representatives warned the tax cuts would mostly benefit the wealthiest residents and corporate shareholders. Critics pointed out that increasing the state sales tax disproportionately affects lower-income households. Louisiana has the highest combined state and average local sales tax in the country, according to the Tax Policy Foundation. The tax measures included an array of proposed constitutional changes intended to streamline a complicated section of the state’s constitution. The changes include liquidating several education trust funds to pay off approximately $2 billion in school district debt and using the savings to make permanent a $2,000 pay raise for teachers. Another constitutional change would include a growth cap designed to limit the amount of additional funding the state could earmark for recurring expenses each year. Landry also signed other proposed constitutional amendments unrelated to taxes. One would make it easier for lawmakers to expand the number of crimes for which minors can be tried and sentenced in adult courts by removing constitutional restrictions. Republican lawmakers and prosecutors say the change will increase public safety by paving the way for longer prison sentences for teenagers who commit violent crimes. Democrats and criminal justice reform advocacy groups have warned it would undermine rehabilitative efforts and fails to address the root causes of juvenile crime. “If you care about kids, you want to vote yes” on the amendment, Landry said. Another proposed amendment would allow the legislature to create specialty courts. Republican lawmakers said the bill would give more flexibility to the justice system, such as by enabling the creation of regional drug courts to serve rural parishes that could not afford their own. Some Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that the broad language of the amendment could allow for Republicans to exercise more control over the criminal justice system in Democrat-dominated jurisdictions such as New Orleans. The constitutional amendments are scheduled to go before voters on March 29. ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96
NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs tried for a third time Friday to persuade a judge to let him leave jail while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, but a decision won’t come until next week. Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing that he will release his decision on Combs’ latest request for bail after Combs’ lawyers and federal prosecutors file letters addressing outstanding issues. Those letters are due at noon on Monday, Subramanian said. Combs’ lawyers pitched having him await trial under around-the-clock surveillance either his mansion on an island near Miami Beach or — after the judge scoffed at that location — an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Their plan essentially amounts to putting Combs on house arrest, with strict limits on who he has contact with. But prosecutors argue that Combs has routinely flouted jail rules and can’t be trusted not to interfere with witnesses or the judicial process. “The argument that he’s a lawless person who doesn’t follow instructions isn’t factually accurate,” Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco argued. “The idea that he’s an out-of-control individual who has to be detained isn’t factually accurate.” Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. His trial is slated to begin May 5. The Bad Boy Records founder remains locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, where he spent his Nov. 4 birthday. Two other judges previously concluded that Combs would be a danger to the community if he is released and an appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs his bail request. Friday’s hearing was the second time Combs was in court this week. On Tuesday, a judge blocked prosecutors from using as evidence papers that were seized from his cell during jail-wide sweep for contraband and weapons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. As he entered through a side door, Combs waved to relatives including his mother and several of his children in the courtroom gallery, tapping his hand to his heart and blowing kisses at them. He then hugged his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, before taking a seat at the defense table. He was not handcuffed or shackled and wore a beige jail uniform, occasionally pulling a pair of reading glasses from his pocket as he peered at papers in front of him. Prosecutors maintain that no bail conditions will mitigate the “risk of obstruction and dangerousness to others” of releasing Combs from jail. Prosecutors contend that while locked up the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist has orchestrated social media campaigns aimed at tainting the jury pool. They allege that he has also attempted to publicly leak materials he thinks would be helpful to his case and is contacting potential witnesses via third parties. “Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik argued. Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos countered that, given the strict release conditions proposed, “it would be impossible for him not to follow rules.” Michael R. Sisak, The Associated PressTrump taps Pam Bondi for attorney general WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Pam Bondi, a staunch ally who helped defend the ex-leader against impeachment, as US attorney general on Friday following firebrand Matt Gaetz ́s withdrawal from the running. The nomination of Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who served as a surrogate during the 2024 campaign and pushed to de-legitimize vote counting in swing state Pennsylvania in 2020, could be seen as a useful tool for Trump in his attempt to settle personal grievances. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans -- Not anymore,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network in announcing Bondi ́s nomination. Bondi, 59, was a member of Trump ́s legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial, in which he was alleged to have pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, using aid as leverage, to hand over political dirt on Biden. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” Trump wrote, adding that she is “smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter.” Trump has made several eye-catching selections for top roles, including Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defence secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and billionaire Elon Musk to head a government cost-cutting unit. The exit of Gaetz, 42, was the first setback for Trump and Vice-president elect JD Vance in placing key allies in top positions, but his confirmation by the Senate was widely seen as doomed due to lack of support from fellow Republicans.
Biden officials, Republicans point fingers over exhausted disaster loans programDeputy Prime Minister Richard Marles’ most senior staffer has launched legal action against him and the Prime Minister’s chief-of-staff Tim Gartrell for allegedly ousting her out of the job after she complained of workplace bullying. Jo Tarnawsky, chief-of-staff to Marles, made her allegations public six weeks ago, and on Monday morning, announced she would be taking her complaint to the Federal Court of Australia. “It has now been over 200 days since I raised concerns privately with the Deputy Prime Minister about bullying behaviour in his office,” Tarnawsky in a press conference at Parliament House on Monday. “I was then exiled as a result. My workplace situation remains unresolved. Today, after untenable delays and inaction from the government, I am launching legal proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia.” Tarnawsky’s lawsuit involves Marles, Gartrell and the Commonwealth as respondents. The parties are yet to respond to the allegations, and a defence to Tarnawsky’s claim has not yet been filed to the court. Here’s what you need to know. What happened? Jo Tarnawsky began her role as the chief-of-staff to Deputy Prime Minister in June 2022. It is the most senior staffer role in a minister’s office, with a salary of $270,000. According to court documents, staff in the Deputy Prime Minister’s office began bullying Tarnawsky in May 2023. She claims she was gradually iced out in an “abrasive, hostile and exclusionary manner”. In early 2024, Tarnawsky said she could hear staff gossipping about her, and they allegedly refused to engage with her about team outings and trips, including a trip to Ukraine. On April 30, Tarnawsky made a private complaint to her boss about the workplace bullying, which then sparked further deliberate exclusion of her from the rest of the staff. According to her claim, Tarnawsky stopped receiving team emails, she had a restricted view of Marles’ diary, and an image of her pet was removed from the staff’s shared pet wall. What is her claim to the Federal Court of Australia? Tarnawsky’s claim does not accuse Marles nor Gartrell of workplace bullying. Rather, Tarnawsky alleges they mishandled the situation, and iced her out of the job. After Tarnawsky returned from a period of leave in May, she was informed by another government employee that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s chief-of-staff, Tim Gartrell, worked with Marles to oust her from the job. According to the claim, she was refused entry to her old office without receiving 24 hours’ notice. Tarnawsky, she claims, was allowed back into Parliament House during the May Budget week, allegedly to network, to find another job outside of Marles’ ministerial office, and to have “agency” in her “story about leaving”, as allegedly described by Gartrell. Following the budget, on May 16, Marles and Gartrell reportedly told Tarnawsky to take six months’ leave “off the books”. In October this year, Tarnawsky made her allegations public and spoke out about how Marles and Gartrell allegedly handled the situation. Now, she is taking her claim to the courts. “As far as I know, there has been no investigation into the behaviours I reported, nor regarding the actions taken by the deputy prime minister against me,” she said in the press conference on Monday. “Not a single member of the government has reached out to check on my wellbeing.” What happens next? Tarnawsky told reporters on Monday that she had written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, asking him to “intervene and to hold the Deputy Prime Minister to account for the way that I had been treated”. Tarnawsky said the Prime Minister is yet to respond. “Instead, my complaint has been passed around – first to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, more recently to Comcover – both claim to be independent agencies, but both chose to engage lawyers, the same lawyers from the same law firm, who were also clearly taking instructions from the Deputy Prime Minister,” she said. “They have not been able to assure me that my private information and psychological safety will be protected, and they cannot deal with the most important issue I have raised – that is, for those who did this to me to be held accountable, and to ensure that nobody else in this place is ever treated this way again.” Ahead of the 2022 election, the Labor government pledged to “set the standard” of workplace safety, and whilst in government, they have proposed parliamentary workplace reforms to do so. Tarnawsky said she feels “let down” by the “inaction” of the government and the contradictory behaviour from senior leaders in Parliament House. “If the government won’t hold its own poor behaviour to account, then I will ask the courts to do that,” Tarnawsky said. A defence to her claim is yet to be filed to the Federal Court of Australia. “To my fellow staffers,” Tarnawsky said at the press conference, “we give countless hours of our lives to these jobs, in support of the ministers and MPs we serve. In return, we should not be tossed aside abruptly, after such loyal service. “Good exits are possible. It should not be unreasonable for any of us to expect to depart our roles with dignity, to walk away better from our time working in this building, rather than carrying lifelong trauma from the poor treatment we have endured here.”