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Lara Trump will step down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee as she considers a number of potential options with her father-in-law, President-elect Donald Trump , set to return to the White House. Among those possibilities is replacing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump tapped to be the next secretary of state. If Rubio is confirmed, his replacement — who would be chosen by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — would serve for two years until the next regularly scheduled election in 2026, at which point the seat would be up for election again. “It is something I would seriously consider,” Lara Trump told The Associated Press in an interview. “If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it.” Elected as RNC co-chair in March, Lara Trump was a key player in the Republicans retaking the White House and control of the Senate while maintaining a narrow House majority. What she does next could shape Republican politics, given her elevated political profile and her ties to the incoming president. The idea of placing a Trump family member in the Senate has been lauded in some Republican circles. Among the people pushing for her to replace Rubio is Maye Musk, mother of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk . “The Senate is an old man’s club. We desperately need a smart, young, outspoken woman who will reveal their secrets,” she posted on X. Lara Trump is 42. Elon Musk, who was with Lara Trump on election night at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, responded to his mother’s post: “Lara Trump is genuinely great.” Led by chairman Michael Whatley and Lara Trump, the RNC invested heavily in recruiting roughly 230,000 volunteers and an army of lawyers for what it called its “election integrity” effort, four years after Donald Trump lost his reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden, citing false or unproven theories about voter fraud. Outside groups such as Turning Point Action and Musk’s America PAC took a greater responsibility for advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. While Whatley will remain RNC chairman, Lara Trump said she felt she had accomplished her goals in the co-chair role. “With that big win, I kind of feel like my time is up,” she said. “What I intended to do has been done.” President-elect Donald Trump endorsed RNC Treasurer KC Crosbie to replace Lara Trump as co-chair of the committee on Monday. “As Treasurer, she helped the RNC smash every fundraising record in History, and fortified our Party’s financial foundation. KC has been with me from the very beginning, helping REAL Republicans get elected across the Country, and would be a tremendous Co-Chair of the RNC!” President-elect Trump wrote on Truth Social. Lara Trump praised Musk’s new endeavor, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE , a nongovernmental task force headed by Musk and and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy . They’ve been tapped to fire federal workers , cut programs and slash federal regulations as part of Trump’s “Save America” agenda for his second term. “I really don’t think we’ve seen movement like this in our federal government since our country’s founding in many ways,” she said. “And I think if they are successful in what they plan to do, I think it is going to be transformative to America in a great way.” She said she expects a different presidency this time, beginning with the structure of the administration: While Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner served as White House advisers in his last administration, Lara Trump said she doesn’t see any family member taking any position in the White House this time around with her father-in-law. “He really wants to get in there and do a good job for the four years, and that’s all he wants to serve,” she said. “Four years, and he’s out.” Lara Trump also says she expects the Republican Party to be more unified than it has ever been. When she became co-chair in May, the Trump campaign and the RNC merged, with staffers fired and positions restructured. She said the result could spell trouble for GOP lawmakers who do not agree with Trump’s agenda. “The whole party has totally shifted and totally changed,” she said. “I think people are feeling a little more bold in coming out with their political views.” This story has been corrected to clarify that Rubio’s Senate seat would be filled until 2026 when an election would be held for the seat. Linderman reported from Baltimore and Mendoza from Santa Cruz, California. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: RKV, the “ Company ”, “ Rakovina ”, or “ Rakovina Therapeutics ”) a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new cancer therapies based on novel DNA-damage response technologies is pleased to announce the closing of a $3.0 million private placement. The private placement consists of 50,000,000 units (the “ Units ”) at a price of $0.06 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a “ Common Share ”) and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a “ Warrant ”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for and purchase one Common Share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.10 per Common Share. Rakovina retains the right to accelerate the Warrant exercise period if, upon written notice to the holder, the 20-day volume-weighted average price of its Common Shares exceeds $0.30. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid cash finder’s fees to Canaccord Genuity Corp., Ventum Financial Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, Hampton Securities Limited, Ewing Morris & Co. Investment Partners Ltd. and Leede Financial Inc. (each a “ Finder ”, and collectively, the “ Finders ”) in the aggregate amount of $180,841 and issued a total of 3,021,872 non-transferable finder’s warrants (each, a “ Finder’s Warrant ’) to the Finders, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ TSXV ”). Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for and purchase one Common share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.10 per Common Share, subject to acceleration on the same terms as the Warrants issued in connection with the private placement. The private placement is subject to the final acceptance of the TSXV and all securities issuable in connection with the private placement are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws. The proceeds of the private placement will be used to accelerate both discovery and development of the Company’s proprietary drug candidates, shortlisted from the Deep Docking and Variational AI platforms. “This overwhelming response from our investors underscores the strength of our science, the extraordinary talent and dedication of our team and the transformative potential of our therapies,” said Jeffrey Bacha, Executive Chairman of Rakovina Therapeutics. “We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and remain resolute in our mission to utilize leading AI technologies to develop innovative solutions for cancer care.” The Company extends its heartfelt thanks to its investors, partners, and team for their unwavering support as Rakovina continues its work to bring new hope to patients and families affected by cancer. Rakovina is pleased to announce its engagement of Fairfax Partners Inc. as its Investor Relations (IR) partner. With extensive expertise in investor engagement strategies, Fairfax will implement a comprehensive six-month IR program designed to enhance Rakovina’s market presence and expand its investor base. The program, which includes an option to renew for an additional six months, focuses on complementing traditional IR efforts with targeted online marketing campaigns, activation of a robust social media influencer network, and collaboration with external consultants and global wealth management channels. These initiatives will support Rakovina’s strategic plan for 2025 by institutionalizing its investor base and strengthening its distribution capabilities. Under the agreement, Fairfax will receive a monthly fee of $5,000 plus GST, a one-time setup fee of $15,000 plus GST, and a marketing budget of $120,000 plus GST, disbursed as follows: $80,000 upon signing and $40,000 two months later. Services provided by Fairfax include inbound and outbound phone communications, website and social media management, marketing material preparation, news release support, and roadshow assistance, ensuring Rakovina’s IR efforts align with market expectations. Fairfax Partners Inc., located at 306-1238 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, confirms that neither its directors nor officers hold any securities of Rakovina. For inquiries, please contact connect@fairfaxpartners.com. “We are thrilled to partner with the seasoned team at Fairfax Partners to expand our investor base and increase awareness of Rakovina Therapeutics’ vision. Fairfax’s creative and forward-thinking approach to investor relations will be a critical asset as we enter a pivotal year. By harnessing their extensive network and digital expertise, we aim to significantly enhance our market presence and deliver lasting value to our shareholders,” said Mr. Bacha. About Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. is dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies targeting the DNA-damage response. The company has established a development pipeline of novel DNA-damage response inhibitors by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the identification and optimization of drug candidates. Rakovina Therapeutics aims to advance one or more of these candidates into human clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners and secure marketing approvals from Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other international regulatory agencies. Further information may be found at www.rakovinatherapeutics.com . The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the content of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company and its respective business, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of the private placement, the closing of the private placement, the receipt of final TSXV approval, the proposed business plan of the Company; the Company’s commitment to advancing new cancer therapies; the ability of the Company to extract value from its AI collaborations; the Company’s ability to execute on its business plans while maintaining high standards of research; the ability of Pharma Inventor Inc. to accurately provide medicinal chemistry support; the projected timeline and effectiveness of the Company’s strategy to utilize the Deep Docking AI platform; and the Company’s ability to generate shareholder value. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “is expected”, “expects”, “scheduled”, “intends”, “contemplates”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “proposes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events, or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including risks regarding the medical device industry, economic factors, regulatory factors, the equity markets generally and risks associated with growth and competition. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The reader is referred to the Company’s most recent filings on SEDAR for a more complete discussion of all applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company’s profile page at www.sedar.com. For Further Information Contact: David Hyman, Chief Financial Officer info@rakovinatherapeutics.com Invest Relations &Media Michelle Seltenrich ir@rakovinatherapeutics.com 778-773-5432Man who alleges New Rochelle Police lieutenant planted drugs to justify arrest shares body cam video
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A Manhattan jury has cleared Daniel Penny of criminal wrongdoing in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a crowded subway — a caught-on-video killing that sparked fierce debate over the city’s mental health system and crime underground. The courtroom erupted in applause as the panelists acquitted Penny of criminally negligent homicide — which could have put him behind bars for up to four years — in Neely’s chokehold death aboard a crowded uptown F train in May 2023. “We the jury have come to a unanimous decision on count two,” the foreperson on the jury told the courtroom. Penny immediately broke out a huge smile and turned to hug defense attorney Thomas Kenniff — even as Neely’s father, Andre Zachary, was escorted from the courtroom. “Racist f****** country,” one Black Lives Matter supporter yelled as she left the room. Another Neely supporter, turning to Penney, screamed, “It’s a small world, buddy,” before leaving the room. Manslaughter, the top charge against Penny, was tossed on Friday after jurors twice said they couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. Jurors sided with Penny’s defense attorneys, who had argued that the Marine veteran was justified in rushing to protect his fellow subway straphangers when he subdued the erratic homeless man. The lawyers had also questioned whether there was sufficient evidence that the chokehold caused Neely’s death. “Who do you want on the next train ride with you?” one of his lawyers, Steven Raiser, in his closing statement in Manhattan Supreme Court. Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest updates on Daniel Penny’s not guilty verdict “The guy with the earbuds minding his own business who you know would be there for you if something happened? Or perhaps you just hope that someone like Jordan Neely does not enter that train when you are all alone, all alone in a crowd of others frozen with fear?” The lawyers had also questioned whether there was sufficient evidence that the chokehold caused Neely’s death. The verdict drew an immediate reaction from across the nation. “Daniel Penny’s actions were heroic & protected the lives of people on that train,” House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X. “We used to celebrate bravery like this in America, but the Left continues their crusade to protect criminals and prosecute heroes,” Johnson said. “Good to see this charge dismissed.” In the Big Apple, city Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said the jury’s decision “underscores nothing other than the perverse sense of justice held by [Manhattan DA] Alvin Bragg. “Every New Yorker is fearful on the subway and had no problem understanding the context of Daniel Penny’s actions,” he said. “The district attorney should resign in shame.” The acquittal comes after jurors heard from more than 40 witnesses, including passengers who described Neely’s terrifying outburst on the train before Penny approached him from behind and took him down at the Broadway-Lafayette station. One straphanger testified she was “scared s–tless” hearing Neely ranting about being “willing to die and go to jail.” She later thanked Penny for stepping in to restrain Neely, who also raged that “someone is going to die today.” Another woman on the train told jurors that she feared for her life after hearing Neely’s “satanic” rant. And a mother who was taking her 5-year-old son to a doctor’s appointment testified that she was so scared of a “belligerent and unhinged” Neely that she barricaded her son behind his stroller. No witness testified that Neely put his hands on anyone, or lunged at a specific person, before Penny put him in the chokehold. Evidence during the month-long trial also revealed that Neely was not carrying a weapon at the time — with cops finding only a muffin in his pocket. The polarizing case kicked off fierce conversation about a mentally ill man who was failed by the city’s broken system — a sentiment even Mayor Eric Adams expressed, saying Penny did “what we should have done as a city” by protecting others that day. Prosecutors argued that Penny went “too far” — and that his actions turned criminal when he kept Neely in the hold after nearly all of the frightened passengers had fled the train. “What’s so tragic about this case is that even though the defendant started out trying to do the right thing, as the chokehold progressed, the defendant knew that Jordan Neely was in great distress and dying, and he needlessly continued,” prosecutor Dafna Yoran said in her closing statement. Jurors watched frame-by-frame footage from a bystander’s six-minute video of Penny holding Neely — including for 51 seconds after Neely’s body appears to go limp. Penny kept holding Neely despite witnesses pleading with him to “let him go!,” the video shows. Dr. Cynthia Harris, who ruled that Neely’s death was a homicide caused by Penny’s chokehold, pointed out for jurors the exact moment when Neely passed out on the subway car’s floor — with Penny still wrapping his arm around Neely’s neck. The city medical examiner, who made her ruling before Neely’s toxicology report came back, testified that she was so confident after watching video of the encounter that she’d stand by her decision even if it later turned out that Neely had enough drugs in his body “to put down an elephant.” Jurors asked for a readback of that specific portion of Harris’ testimony during deliberations. Trial evidence revealed that Neely had the synthetic marijuana drug K2 in his system at the time of the confrontation. Jurors also heard that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, telling doctors in 2021 that he’d heard the “devil’s voice.” Penny’s mother, sister, friends and fellow Marines took the stand to vouch for his character. The defense’s medical expert, forensic pathologist Dr. Satish Chundru, claimed that Neely died not from Penny’s chokehold, but by “the combined effects of sickle cell crisis, the schizophrenia, the struggle and restraint, and the synthetic marijuana.” Penny declined to take the stand. But jurors heard him tell arriving cops on the train platform, “I just put him out,” before making a choking gesture with his arms. Hours later, at Chinatown’s 5th Precinct, a relaxed Penny insisted during an interrogation that he was merely trying to “de-escalate the situation” and that he didn’t mean to hurt Neely. “I’m not trying to kill the guy,” the Marine veteran told two detectives, as prosecutors watched him through a one-sided mirror. “I’m just trying to keep him from hurting anybody else.” In an apparent reference to the mentally ill Neely, Penny added during his questioning that “all these people are pushing people in front of the train and stuff.” Neely’s death, and Penny’s arrest 11 days later, sparked a national political firestorm about whether Penny’s actions were justified. The episode also sparked outrage about how Neely fell through the cracks of the city’s mental health system, failing to get the treatment he needed despite the NYPD treating him as an “emotionally disturbed person” in more than two dozen prior encounters with him. “This case is about a broken system, a broken system that does not help our mentally ill or our unhoused,” Penny’s attorney Raiser said at the end of his closing statement. “In fact, it is that broken system that led us, that is interwoven into the very fabric of this case.” In a statement, the city council’s progressive caucus denounced the verdict, saying it “highlights the deep-seated [ck] societal discomfort with unhoused individuals. “Jordan Neely was failed by the city’s social service system for years,” the statement said. “He was failed by our city when Daniel Penny put him in a chokehold on the subway. And today Jordan was failed once again, this time by the city’s justice system.” Others Big Apple lawmakers, however, celebrated the outcome of the high-profile and divisive trial. “Justice has prevailed,” city Councilwoman Joanne Ariola (R-Queens) said following Monday’s verdict. “Daniel Penny is a hero and I”m happy to see that a good man was not punished for doing the right thing and defending his fellow New Yorkers from a mentally ill criminal who fell between the cracks.” Originally published as Daniel Penny acquitted in subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely, sparking applause, uproar in New York courtroom
Benchmark indices on Wall Street pulled back from record high levels amidst caution around the upcoming inflation numbers and a fall in street darling Nvidia's shares. Share Market View All Nifty Gainers View All Company Value Change %Change The Dow Jones fell 250 points, continuing its underperformance to peers. The index has now declined in five out of the last six trading sessions. On the other hand, S&P 500 and Nasdaq retreated from their respective record high levels, declining 0.6% each. Nvidia shares fell over 3% after China opened a probe over suspicions that the chipmaker and currently the most valuable company in the world, broke anti-monopoly laws around a deal it made in 2020. Meantime, Chinese stocks that are listed in the US staged a sharp rally as top leaders in Beijing used their most direct language yet on providing monetary easing and boosting domestic consumption. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index, which tracks the biggest Chinese stocks in the US, climbed nearly 10%, its strongest intraday gain since late September. Large-cap technology stocks including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and PDD Holdings Inc. rose more than 7% each in New York trading. Shares of Western companies with high revenue exposure in China also rallied. In the US, consumer names Estée Lauder Cos. and Amer Sports Inc. traded higher. In Europe, miners such as Rio Tinto Plc and luxury brands like LVMH led stock gains in the region’s equity benchmark. Data including Wednesday’s consumer price index will offer Fed officials a final look at the pricing environment ahead of their meeting the following week. Any indication that progress has stalled on the inflation front could well undercut the chances of a third straight reduction in rates. “This Wednesday’s inflation data may hold the key to the Fed’s next move,” said Jay Woods at Freedom Capital Markets. “So far results have been in line with economists’ expectations and haven’t scared the market. However, an upward surprise should raise eyebrows at the Fed and could put another rate cut on pause.” Treasury 10-year yields rose four basis points to 4.20%. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1%. Oil climbed as China signaled bolder stimulus for next year, with traders also keeping an eye on developments in the Middle East. The S&P 500 will extend its record-setting rally to 7,100 by the end of next year amid a strong economy, according to Oppenheimer Asset Management, whose outlook is now the most bullish among peers. Fundamentals “suggest the current resilience of the economy and the stock market appear poised to continue into next year,” the firm’s Chief Investment Strategist John Stoltzfus wrote in a note. Citigroup Inc. strategists expect mid-single-digit gains for the S&P 500 in 2025 amid increasing volatility, fueled by a soft landing of the US economy, artificial intelligence and Donald Trump’s policy promises. Their base-case target is 6,500 points for the S&P 500. The upper scenario is set at 6,900 and lower at 5,100; both the bull- and bear-case scenarios “frame an expectation for increased volatility,” the strategists wrote. (With Inputs From Agencies.)
A recent social media storm erupted over allegations that YesMadam, an India-based beauty services platform, laid off 100 employees citing workplace stress. The viral post claimed the layoffs were a result of a stress survey conducted by the company. However, mounting evidence suggests the claims may be a poorly executed public relations stunt aimed at gaining attention, with critics and analysts raising questions about the authenticity of the narrative. The controversy began with a LinkedIn post by a purported employee named Anushka Dutta , who shared an email allegedly sent by YesMadam's HR department. The email announced the termination of employees who had reported high stress levels in a recent workplace survey. The post quickly gained traction, sparking outrage and debates about workplace ethics. According to her post, the email read: "To ensure that no one remains stressed at work, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress." The dismissals were described as effective immediately, and the affected workers were promised further details in follow-up communications. Social media users lambasted the company, with one user labelling the move "the weirdest, most unethical reason for employee termination." Others speculated that the email might be part of a PR campaign gone wrong. While there have been several people online who've cried out, "Wolf!", a cybersecurity researcher on LinkedIn, who goes solely by "Akshay," posted an analysis of the viral email , pointing out out numerous inconsistencies suggesting it may not be legitimate. Some of his key observations include: 1. Email Inconsistencies: The email was allegedly sent through Google's GSuite platform but bore labels indicating it was from an external source, a mismatch for internal communications. Additionally, the sender's profile image and the email's font appeared to have been edited, raising suspicions of editing. 2. Unrealistic Claims: The claim that over 100 employees were terminated without a single corroborating post from the affected workers was seen as implausible. Scraping LinkedIn profiles of YesMadam employees failed to reveal any similar posts or grievances. 3. Contradictory Branding: The company name was inconsistently referred to as "YesMadam" and "Yes Madam" across various communications. Such discrepancies suggest a lack of attention to detail, uncharacteristic of a legitimate HR communication. 4. Labour Law Violations: Terminating employees en masse under such circumstances would likely violate labour laws and trigger regulatory scrutiny. Yet, no such legal action or public fallout has been observed. 5. PR Campaign Speculation: Critics noted that YesMadam offers stress-related therapy services, leading to speculation that the viral post was crafted to draw attention to its offerings. However, this alleged stunt appears to have backfired, damaging the brand's reputation rather than enhancing it. 6. Names Mentioned in the Email: Upon reviewing the names mentioned in the email, it was found that Ashu Arora Jha is the company's HR director, boasting over 10 years of experience in human resources. For a seasoned HR professional, a mistake of this magnitude (not using bcc for the email list) would appear unfathomable, though not entirely impossible. Meanwhile, "Mayank" refers to YesMadam's Founder and CEO, Mayank Arya, while "Garima" is identified as the company's director. It is also noteworthy to point out that the only person who's posted their grievance about the email is the company's UX copywriter, Anushka Dutta, who makes a living crafting viral content. While YesMadam has not released an official statement addressing the viral post, analysts and experts caution against exploiting sensitive topics like workplace stress for publicity. Such actions can undermine trust in workplace surveys and employee feedback mechanisms, potentially discouraging honest communication in professional settings. As speculation continues, the incident serves as a reminder of the thin line between clever marketing and reputational damage. If this was indeed a PR stunt, it highlights the pitfalls of sensationalism in corporate branding efforts. Ultimately, organisations must prioritise authenticity and integrity to maintain credibility with their audience and workforce. Whether the viral post is genuine or a calculated move, it has certainly sparked a larger conversation about workplace culture and mental health.
From revisiting the political scandal that sparked a cultural reckoning in Canberra to a rich-lister’s unravelling, there were no shortage of court battles being waged — or defended — by the top end of town in 2024. We revisit some of the cases that dominated headlines and left us shocked, perplexed, and — at times — even entertained. Brittany Higgins defended a defamation action launched by Senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: Composite image/Holly Thompson Villain or victim? Reynolds v Higgins It was a story of an alleged rape in the halls of Parliament House and a covert political cover-up, and like all “fairytales”, it needed a villain. That was how WA Senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett began the five-week-long trial in her defamation suit against former staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, the most high-profile case to go before WA’s civil courts in 2024. The former defence minister sued Higgins over social media posts accusing her of mishandling the former staffer’s alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019 — a claim that was later aired by the media and created a storm that led to Reynolds’ political demise. Loading Higgins fiercely defended the action on the basis her posts were true, but opted against taking the stand at the eleventh hour amid concerns for her health. The trial, which the pair mortgaged and sold their homes to pursue, pored over the events of 2019 in excruciating detail, dragged in high-profile figures — from former prime minister Scott Morrison to broadcaster Peta Credlin — and threw private texts into the public arena we imagine the parties would have preferred to remain private.DRESSED as sunflowers in yellow petals and green tutus, the six Dutchmen had been boozing since 5.30am in preparation for their Ally Pally initiation. Now, 3,500 bladdered darts fans — also in fancy dress — were bellowing at them: “Have you seen a flower down a pint?” Bottoms up went the beers, with Rotterdam corn trader Willem Alderliesten, 29, telling me: “It’s crazy here. We love it!” Amid the dark, gloomy days of winter a shining star has reappeared in the sporting firmament — the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. Long a hallowed British institution, darts was propelled into a different league last Christmas with the emergence of a bona fide superstar, Runcorn teenager Luke Littler . Now a bucket-list event, all 90,000 tickets for this year’s tournament sold out within 15 minutes in July. Even Prince Harry has been to the arrows — although that was back in 2014 when he was fun. Ed Sheeran (the real one, not a fancy dress stooge) came the week before Christmas, downing a pint when the crowd demanded it. The Tractor Boys fan was also serenaded with a raucous: “Ipswich get battered everywhere they go.” Organisers the Professional Darts Corporation tweeted: “Multi-platinum award-winning artist Ed Sheeran in the house — and he’s watching a window clean- er take on a caravan salesman. You can’t beat the darts.” So, dressed as a Christmas tree, clutching a 180 scorecard and giant foam hand, I trekked to Ally Pally to see if they’re right. Emerging from Wood Green Tube station at 11am, I joined the sloshed and surreal comet’s tail of humanity on the mile-long climb to the Palace. Lord Nelson, Donald Trump, the Toy Story cast, hordes of Mario Brothers, two Harry Potters and some Santas wove unsteadily through the genteel North London streets. With 90 minutes still to go before the darts afternoon session began, most seemed to have indulged in a morning session of their own. Opened as the “Palace of the People” in 1873, Ally Pally was once home to the BBC and hosted 1967’s 14 Hour Technicolor Dream, headlined by Pink Floyd. The LSD-soaked hippies watching must have thought they had witnessed the most far-out scenes ever seen on this North London hill. But that was before the darts. Entering the Palace’s Great Hall, I was greeted by a cacophonous Technicolor dream of my own. Thousands in the most ludicrous fancy dress and brandishing pitchers of frothy lager were belting out: “Stand up if you love the darts.” Everybody does. And then we all sing it again every few minutes throughout the session. It’s as if 500 stag and hen dos converged at a giant pub with quality darts a few feet away. The occasion is a potent mix of that most endearing of British traits — not taking ourselves too seriously — and our propensity for a roistering alcohol binge. Organisers expect as many as 250,000 pints to be sunk over the course of the 16-day tournament, which finishes on January 3. I’ve come as Captain Kirk for my 60th. What better way to celebrate your birthday? It’s now a firmly entrenched part of the festive calendar, and I met many family groups celebrating there. Retired City trader Rob Elston, from Orpington, Kent, and his children Richard, 31, Georgia , 28, Rianna, 23, and Sasha, 19, were all decked out in Star Trek costumes. Millwall fan Rob said: “I’ve come as Captain Kirk for my 60th. What better way to celebrate your birthday?” Inside the hall, there was a distinct fans’ hierarchy. Those people in the cheaper stands (around £55 a seat) continuously bantered with others who had managed to snaffle table seats (about £65 each). “Boring, boring tables,” was countered with “Feed the stands, let them know it’s Christmas, too” to the tune of Band Aid. Then there was the VIP seating area where, bizarrely, fancy dress is banned. Hospitality packages there begin at just under £400 a head. Two Michelin-starred chefs have conceived three-course meals and you can sip Taittinger champagne while listening to the banter in the cheap seats. When I visited, the only person ejected for misbehaviour was from the VIP seating. A security guard told me: “He was having a row with another table, then had a pop at our guys and got himself removed. What a waste of £400.” The table and stands — for once with one voice — serenaded the miscreant with chants of “W****r! W****r! W****r!” Then the hall echoed with another perennial darts singalong about the two footballing Toure brothers from the Ivory Coast, who played for Manchester City together. No one I spoke to at Ally Pally seemed to know why this footballing ditty has become part of the darts experience. In the bar area, sisters Lisa and Kairen Sotheron, from Colchester , Essex, gave me a rendition. In their Ninja Turtle outfits, they first chanted Yaya Toure’s name with their hands in the air, then as his brother Kolo’s name got an airing, their hands reached for the floor. Nurse Lisa, 44, told me: “I just love the atmosphere and the buzz. I’ve got a jug of beer and Kairen’s got a jug of vodka. And I actually like watching the darts.” Oh, yes, the darts. Sometimes it does feel like a giant beano with a sports event attached, rather than the other way round. I just love the atmosphere and the buzz I was once lucky enough to interview the late commentator Sid Waddell — a bard of darts, who did much to increase its popularity. He told me Ally Pally is “a cross between the Munich Beer Festival and Rome’s Colosseum when the Christians were on the menu. The crowd here are rock ’n’ roll. They are more important to the whole experience than any other sport. “Darts players need to be extroverts and big-headed. It’s a very aggressive and flashy sport.” Each match begins with a boxing-style walk-on, with players glad-handing their devoted fans. A good walk-on tune with some exuberant fist bumps and perhaps some provocative bottom-wiggling can win over the Pally. Nathan Aspinall’s walk-on to The Killers’ Mr Brightside is a sure-fire singalong, as is Joe Cullen’s Don’t Look Back In Anger by Oasis. With his long locks flowing, Ryan “Heavy Metal” Searle’s entrance to Black Sabbath’s Paranoid normally unleashes a few air guitarists in the crowd. Once on stage, the players are greeted by an incredible wall of noise, even when on the oche. There’s no Wimbledon-style “Quiet, please”. Each throw can be punctuated by roars and boos, the Toure song and banter between stands and tables. The best players seem to enter a Zen-like state, poker-faced. Then the crowd’s screams disappear, replaced by the regular thud of an arrow hitting the treble 20. Yet even the best pros can get the jitters. On his opening match at the Pally this year, Luke Littler admitted: “In the hours before the game, I was perfectly fine — then it was game on, and the bottom’s gone. It fell out. I didn’t know what to do with myself.” The players’ powers of arithmetic — charting routes to the favoured double 16 in nanoseconds — are astonishing and seemingly innate. Darts has come a long way since the first world championship in 1978 was televised on the BBC. Players sank pints and smoked on the oche, reflecting the sport’s birth in pubs and working men’s clubs. Killjoy governing body the British Darts Organisation banned booze in 1989, and the game drifted towards oblivion. Then, when top players engineered a breakaway from the BDO in 1992, the Professional Darts Corporation was born, with wily boxing and snooker promoter Barry Hearn eventually becoming chair. He ramped up the razzmatazz and in 2007 moved the championship, initially held at the Circus Tavern near the Dartford flyover in Kent, to the Ally Pally. So why is darts now more popular than ever? Dressed as a banana, Tom Arnold, 50, from West Malling, Kent, who works in sales, said: “It’s the Luke Littler effect — he’s given the whole thing a new lease of life and made it accessible to a new generation.” Littler, 17 — pipped by Luke Humphries in the final last year — is the reason thousands of kids unwrapped pristine dartboards on Christmas morning. It’s the Luke Littler effect — he’s given the whole thing a new lease of life and made it accessible to a new generation Only the Princess of Wales and Donald Trump had more Google searches in the UK in 2024. Littler is the spearhead of a sport going global. This year’s world championship began with dart players from 28 nations, including India, Japan, the Bahamas, South Africa and the Philippines. England had the most representatives with 26, followed by the Netherlands with 16. And Ally Pally is now a regular pilgrimage for darts fans from Germany, Belgium and Netherlands . Dressed in a blazer in the colours of the Dutch flag, Tom Beumer, 36, from Arnhem, told me: “We love the party, the beer and the fancy dress. The British create a crazy atmosphere but the Dutch are crazy, too.” There is even talk that the Saudis are interested in snaffling this most drunken of occasions. PDC supremo Barry Hearn said recently: “The Saudis asked me for darts and I asked them a simple question — ‘Can we have alcohol?’. “And they said no. I said, ‘Well then you can’t have the darts’.” This festive cocktail of elite sport and British silliness is safe for now.Google CEO Pichai tells employees to gear up for big 2025: ‘The stakes are high'