SI2r#㗰%LXh@"X s2{ ? <mjo}[Vk;loD !Trump pushing death for 'rapists, murderers, monsters'The Chicago Bulls conclude a three-game homestand on Friday when they host Eastern Conference counterpart Charlotte Hornets, with both returning to action after lengthy breaks. Both Charlotte and Chicago last played on Sunday, going on hiatus the following four days due to their eliminations from the NBA Cup. The Hornets finished 0-4 in East Group A, and the Bulls went 2-2 in Group C. Charlotte resumes competition coming off a win, however, having snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 113-109 defeat of Indiana on Sunday. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 26 points, including a pair of crucial free throws with seven seconds remaining that sealed the victory. The win was Charlotte's first since losing guard LaMelo Ball to a calf strain. Ball was on a tear with four straight games scoring between 32 and 50 points before sustaining the injury in the fourth quarter of the Hornets' Nov. 27 loss to Miami. Ball is averaging 31.1 points and 6.9 assists per game, both team highs. He is expected to remain out for Friday's contest, though the Charlotte Observer reported on Wednesday that he is "inching closer" to a return. No LaMelo Ball means there will not yet be an on-court reunion of brothers, as Chicago has had Lonzo Ball in the lineup for five of its last six games after his return from a nearly three-year absence. Lonzo Ball scored a season-high nine points and dished four assists in a 132-123 loss to Indiana on Dec. 6 For Charlotte, compounding the absence of LaMelo Ball is that the team has also been without Tre Mann, his backup at point guard. Mann has been sidelined since Nov. 23 with disc irritation in his back. "Our performance staff do a really good job of developing the most thoughtful plans they can," Hornets coach Charles Lee told reporters, as his team deals with a rash of injuries that also includes forward Miles Bridges. "And every injury has different boxes you have to check off." Each injury requires lineup adjustments, too. Vasilije Milic has fulfilled starting point guard duties over the last six games with Ball and Mann out, and Milic has scored at least 13 points in four of them. Chicago comes into Friday's contest a loser in its last two before its four days off, dropping decisions to Indiana and a 108-100 final to Philadelphia on Sunday. Zach LaVine, who is averaging a team-leading 22.1 points per game for the season, scored 32 and 30 in the two home defeats. LaVine's individual performance was reminiscent of a five-season stretch in Chicago before the foot injury that limited him to 25 games a season ago. The two-time All-Star averaged at least 23.7 points per game each of the five campaigns prior to last year. "There might be a game where I may need to go out there and try and lead the team offensively, but this year has been more about spurts," LaVine told the Chicago Sun-Times of him taking on a more reserved scoring role. "I don't think that's the style of play that we're playing right now." Chicago's second-leading scorer for the season, big man Nikola Vucevic (21 ppg), had muted scoring performances of 13 points in each of the two recent defeats. He previously scored 39 points in a Dec. 5 win over San Antonio. Vucevic is shooting a career-best 64.2 percent on 2-point attempts this season. Conversely, Charlotte's defense is giving up 55.8 percent shooting from inside the 3-point arc, an area for the Bulls to potentially exploit. --Field Level Media
Coleen Rooney stuns I’m A Celebrity viewers as she takes jungle shower in bikini after horror trialHeather Rae Young brushed off an internet troll’s comment that her lace red Christmas dress was “not appropriate” for a mother. “Comments like this make me laugh,” the “Selling Sunset” alum wrote on her Instagram Story Monday over a screenshot of the criticism. “I don’t even get offended anymore by the rudeness of others. I choose to spread joy not hate.” Young, 37, shared a collection of photos earlier in the day showing off her figure in a sheer red gown from what appeared to be her and her husband Tarek El Moussa’s early Christmas celebration. “Fav time of year, & fav plus one,” she captioned the post. In the comments section, one follower wrote, “The dress is not appropriate. Your [sic] a mother now.” Young quickly fired back at the hater, commenting back, “so because I’m a mother I can’t wear a pretty dress that makes me feel beautiful? What does that have to do with anything?” She added, “I am still a human and my name is heather I’m not just a mother. Choose joy.” This isn’t the first time the “Flip Off” star has had to address rude comments on her social media photos. In November, Young preemptively addressed potential nosy followers looking too deeply into her Thanksgiving post by addressing why her stepdaughter , Taylor, 14, was not with her family for the holiday. The set of pictures included El Moussa, 43, the couple’s son , Tristan, 1, and Young’s stepson, Brayden, 8. “For the haters – Tay is on a trip with her mom, that’s why she’s not in our photo,” Young wrote, referring to her husband’s ex-wife , Christina Hall. “We are thankful for our kids, Taylor, Brayden & Tristan. They bring so much innocence, love and laughter to our lives. And our big blended crazy but beautiful family,” the former Netflix personality shared elsewhere in her caption. Young and El Moussa tied the knot in October 2021.
A video posted to social media by a Texas lieutenant in the Department of Public Safety shows a young girl at the U.S.-Mexico border standing alone. She has traveled from El Salvador, and holds just a Post-It note with a phone number on it. "How old are you?" a trooper asks. The girl holds up two fingers. A second video posted by the same lieutenant shows 60 migrant children who journeyed by themselves to the U.S. arriving in Eagle Pass, Texas. Another image shows an accused smuggler running across the border with a 5-year-old in his arms, reportedly paid to bring the girl to her mother already in the states. The Texas Department of Public Safety, under Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, openly supports President-elect Donald Trump's push to dramatically tighten immigration. Lt. Chris Olivarez began posting photos and videos of child migrants around the time Tom Homan, Trump's point-person on the border, visited Eagle Pass. "I guarantee some are in forced labor, some are in sex trades," Homan said. "We're going to save those children." RELATED STORY | Trump announces former acting ICE Director Tom Homan as new 'border czar' The arrival of unaccompanied minors is not a new phenomenon. Thousands have journeyed across the Mexican border each year, including during the first Trump term, according to a Scripps News review of data from the Department of Health and Human Services. The flow of unaccompanied minors, however, reached record highs during the first years of the Biden administration, as undocumented immigration soared. The numbers have fallen since 2022 but remain elevated today. The federal government tries to quickly place child migrants with a sponsor already in the country, usually a parent or other close family member. The sponsor pledges to care for the minor while ensuring they go through immigration proceedings. However, it is an approach that does not always work. RELATED STORY | Trump's mass deportation plan targets specific groups of immigrants A 2023 joint investigation by Scripps News and the Center for Public Integrity found many children end up disappearing from their sponsor homes. Thousands of unaccompanied minors run away, some winding up in dangerous illegal child labor jobs, or worse. "They've simply vanished into a dark underworld of sex and drug trafficking, forced labor, gang activity and crime," said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California, during a November congressional hearing. McClintock and other Republicans say the Department of Health and Human Services is to blame for failing to properly vet sponsors. A 2023 report by a Florida grand jury obtained by Scripps News found some sponsor addresses were in fact empty lots or a strip club. One address listed 44 kids assigned to it. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says they are doing the best they can with a limited budget. "What we don't do is short-change the vetting process," Becerra said at a November hearing on Capitol Hill. "We make sure that we follow best practices in the child welfare field. "We do background checks on every individual," he added. RELATED STORY | The struggle to locate migrant children missing from US homes Just how many migrant children have disappeared from their sponsors is in dispute. Becerra says a frequently cited estimate of 85,000 missing kids is too high and doesn't account for many children who are safe but just not reachable by HHS officials who make three attempts to contact them. "They may be at school, they may be at a doctor's appointment, they may not have a phone working anymore," Becerra said. Homan and the rest of the Trump administration have not yet laid out what their policy will be for those children who make the perilous journey to the U.S. alone.New York City Could Have First White Christmas in 15 Years
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When government officials in the Dominican Republic desperately sought COVID-19 drugs in July of 2020 -- as the U.S., under the Trump administration, was stockpiling the world's supply of remdesivir -- they turned to a lobbying firm with deep ties to Donald Trump that they had been paying more than $100,000 a month. "We have an urgent need for these and [pharmaceutical company] Gilead is requesting WH approval for Gilead to provide these through diplomatic channels to the DR Presidential Palace," an official from the Dominican Republic's consulate wrote to veteran lobbyist Brian Ballard. Within a matter of hours, the solution to the Dominican Republic's problem was in motion, with Ballard directly connecting the official with Anand Shah, then a deputy commissioner at the Food and Drug Association, according to an email filed with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. MORE: GOP senators seek 'normal process' to confirm Trump nominees, torn over FBI background checks "We have had the privilege of representing the Dominican Republic for several years and have been very pleased with the pro American policies of the government. I hope you might advise on the best way forward to assist on this critical matter," Ballard wrote. The exchange illustrates one example of the kind of services for which foreign and domestic clients flocked to Ballard Partners during Trump's first administration. After nearly two decades in business servicing mainly Florida clients, the firm emerged as a dominant force in Trump's Washington, notching blue-clip clients like Amazon, American Airlines and Uber and earning more than $24 million in federal domestic lobbying in 2020, just four years after opening their first D.C. office. While the firm's massive growth stalled slightly after Trump left office, the firm appears well positioned to profit from Trump's return to the White House, prompting concerns from some consumer advocacy groups and several ethics experts. 'We've got friends' This election cycle, Ballard bundled a total of $1.8 million in campaign contributions for a Trump fundraising vehicle from other donors -- and Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and his nominee for attorney general , Pam Bondi, both worked at various times as registered lobbyists with the company. Wiles worked at the lobbying firm for eight years -- leaving the firm in 2019 -- and Bondi has been a partner since 2019. After leaving Ballard Partners, Wiles ran Trump's Florida campaign in 2020, worked for Mercury Public Affairs, then served as Trump's campaign manager for this election cycle. "It's definitely two of the most important positions in the federal government," said Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel at the progressive watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "And the fact that they're both coming from the same lobbying firm sends a powerful message: 'If you have interests that need to be protected ... we've got friends.'" While administrations from both parties have routinely filled government positions with former lobbyists, Trump's decision to tap two loyalists whose most recent prior job experience was lobbying has prompted concerns about the revolving door of politics and questions about Trump's vow to "drain the swamp." "The pitch in the election was that the swamp is too swampy and the working class has been ignored, and corporations have been sending their jobs abroad," said Jon Golinger, an advocate at the progressive consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. “We'll be looking to see whether those issues are prioritized, or whether it's the same old business as usual with new people in charge." "Susie Wiles and Pam Bondi are highly respected individuals who have proven deeply loyal to President Trump and the American people who just re-elected him," said incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement to ABC News. "Pam, Susie, and all of President Trump's nominees will abide by all ethical obligations in their respective roles." As Trump inched closer to the White House over the last year, Ballard Partners also signed high-profile clients with key stakes affected by federal policy, including Japanese steel giant Nippon Steel, whose merger with U.S. Steel is opposed by both Trump and President Joe Biden, and TikTok, which could be banned if its owner does not sell the app to a non-Chinese entity. Ballard Partners is also registered as a foreign agent for the Embassy of Japan since last year, making more than $300,000 for their work so far, per government filings. According to Department of Justice disclosures, Ballard has facilitated meetings and phone calls with journalists and lawmakers on behalf of the Japanese embassy. In October, the Embassy for the Republic of Sudan -- which is embroiled in a civil war between two rival parts of its military government that has displaced more than 8 million people and killed 15,000 -- signed a $50,000-a-month contract with Ballard Partners for assistance with "communications with U.S. government officials and decision makers," according to federal disclosures. "If you're a company or a government or another organization, you're hiring Ballard Partners because you think they can open doors for you," said Nick Schwellenbach, a senior investigator at the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight. "They're very intertwined at the highest levels with the incoming Trump administration, and they stand to profit significantly." 'Personal connections to President Trump' Ballard Partners quickly established itself in Washington during the first Trump administration, after focusing predominantly on lobbying Florida officials, including on behalf of Trump's businesses. Brian Ballard first got to know Trump a few years after Trump purchased the Mar-a-Lago estate that's now his home, when Ballard penned a letter to Trump to praise him about his 1987 bestselling book, "The Art of the Deal." "When the president was elected, a lot of corporations we represent in Florida and folks from around the county started to call up and say, 'We don't know folks in the administration' and 'We'd like to get to know some folks in the administration,'" Ballard told the Tallahassee Democrat in 2017. Ballard Partners declined a request for comment from ABC News for this story. Ballard Partners opened up its first D.C. office in 2017, quickly signing clients and making $9.8 million in domestic federal lobbying revenue during that first year, according to disclosures. By 2018, they doubled their revenue to $18.2 million before peaking in 2020 with $24.5 million in revenue from domestic federal lobbying. The company made $1.8 million lobbying on behalf of the private prison operator Geo Group amid Trump's crackdown on immigration, and made $1.64 million from French wine and spirits maker Pernod Ricard, $860,000 from General Motors, $780,000 from Boeing, $420,000 from Uber, $360,000 from Major League Baseball, and $150,000 from DraftKings, according to financial disclosures. MORE: Trump announces Pam Bondi as his AG pick to replace Matt Gaetz "Mr. Ballard, a Republican National Committee finance vice chair and Trump super-donor, had built his firm around his personal connections to President Trump," the Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability wrote in a 2024 report entitled "White House for Sale: How Princes, Prime Ministers, and Premiers Paid off President Trump." According to the report, Trump's businesses received millions of dollars from foreign entities located in 20 different countries during Trump's presidency. After the report was published, Trump's son Eric Trump, who helped run the Trump Organization while Trump was president, told ABC News in a statement that the House Democrats' "narrative is insane," citing profits that Trump voluntarily donated to the Treasury Department to offset his business earnings from foreign entities. Ballard Partners also made millions by working as agents for foreign countries, with deals to represent Turkey and the Turkish bank Halkbank for $125,000 a month while the U.S. Justice Department probed the bank for allegedly violating Iranian sanctions. The lobbying firm made $2 million from Halkbank before dropping the bank as a client after the Justice Department indicted the bank for evading the U.S. sanctions on Iran in 2019. Halkbank has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In other foreign lobbying, Ballard Partners represented the government of Kosovo while it negotiated with neighboring Serbia; it advocated for lifting U.S. sanctions against Zimbabwe; it sought to improve U.S.-Guatemala bilateral relations; and it represented an exiled Democratic Republic of the Congo opposition leader. As registered foreign agents, Bondi represented Qatar from 2019 to 2020 for work related to anti-human trafficking efforts, and Wiles represented one of Nigeria's main political parties for two months in 2019. 'Here to stay' After reaching its peak revenue of $24.5 million in federal domestic lobbying in 2020, Ballard Partners gradually lost business as the control of power in Washington shifted from Trump to Biden, making approximately $18 million in both 2021 and 2022 as lobbying firms with ties to Biden and his administration flourished . "We had a wonderful run, we're going to be here to stay, but it's not going to be the same," Brian Ballard told The Hill in 2021. But with Trump returning to Washington in a matter of weeks, Ballard appears poised to benefit from a second wind -- in part because former lobbyists Wiles and Bondi will occupy top positions in the administration, according to the experts who spoke to ABC News. MORE: What a 'deep state' investigation could look like if Kash Patel becomes FBI director "There's a lot of opportunity here for their former firm and their former clients, even though there are ethics restrictions in place," Canter said, regarding federal regulations that prohibit government employees from working on matters involving their former employer or former clients within the past year. The concern, Canter said, is that the public might not be best served by the arrangement. "Corporate interests will take precedence over the public interest," she said.AP Business SummaryBrief at 10:03 a.m. EST
Shares of Ashoka India Equity Investment ( LON:AIE – Get Free Report ) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 303 ($3.81) and last traded at GBX 300 ($3.78), with a volume of 396681 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 300 ($3.78). Ashoka India Equity Investment Price Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 287.14 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 284.66. The firm has a market capitalization of £442.38 million, a P/E ratio of 555.56 and a beta of 0.50. About Ashoka India Equity Investment ( Get Free Report ) Ashoka India Equity Investment Trust PLC is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ashoka India Equity Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ashoka India Equity Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom.
BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report.DEA Slammed For Unlawful Talks With Cannabis Opponents - The Plot ThickensChad activists fight violence against women
Juan Soto introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year deal NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. He said at his introductory news conference on Thursday that the Mets “showed me a lot of love." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, Soto was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. University trustees approved terms of a five-year deal for him Thursday morning before he held his introductory news conference on campus. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Hojlund scores twice for Manchester United to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europa League Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after coming off the bench and Manchester United rallied to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League. The Denmark striker netted in the 88th minute after collecting Bruno Fernandes’ pass off a free kick to seal the victory. Ahead of the late games, United moved to fifth place with 12 points from six games. Hojlund came on in the 56th to replace Marcus Rashford and scored an equalizer six minutes later. In the Conference League a youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the third-tier competition. NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC Bill Belichick is already the most decorated coach in NFL history. His next challenge is college football after he agreed to a five-year deal to coach at North Carolina. The reaction around the NFL ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. Others caution that the players he brings into UNC should prepare to have their limits tested.For the last two decades, scientists at Posit Science working on BrainHQ have been unlocking how human brains can be improved both functionally and as healthier organs. This work began with a focus on cognitive aging — the slowing in brain function and brain health begins in your late 20s. The tools discovered for aging brains also have applications across various health conditions (brain injuries, mental illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases), and researchers found they could also improve already high-performing brains. Recent research has centred on how brain plasticity serves as the next frontier of human advancement. Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science/BrainHQ spoke at the What’s Next Longevity Innovation Summit at the National Press Club in Washington DC on December 10. In a statement sent to Digital Journal, Mahncke states: “Since the 1960s, we’ve seen how America’s investment in NASA has resulted in all sorts of innovations that impact our daily lives. It’s a seemingly unrelated and endless list, including GPS, local weather forecasts, digital photography, wireless headsets, self-driving cars, cell phones, memory foam, computer chips, air purifiers, cordless tools, shelf-stable foods, CAT scans, LEDs, athletic shoes, modern home insulation, and freeze-dried food.” “My own journey with the neurotechnology we first developed to help aging older adults is filled with the same sense of wonder about all the unexpected innovations it has led us to,” Mahncke adds. The BrainHQ neuroplasticity-based technology was first developed in the early 2000’s to address the cognitive decline associated with normal aging. At the same time, Posit Science established a global network of independent university-based researchers to run studies evaluating the efficacy of the brain exercises. There are now published studies on the efficacy of BrainHQ cognitive assessments and brain training. Studies in aging have shown significant improvement in standard measures of cognitive function (attention, speed, memory, reasoning, decision-making) in standard gerontological measures of quality of life (maintaining independent living, general health, health-related quality of life, mood, confidence), and in real world activities (gait, balance, fall risk, driving safety). Furthermore, over 100 studies have been published across many health conditions, including, brain injuries (mild to severe traumatic brain injuries, and brain fog associated with cancer, COVID, and HIV, and heart failure); mental illnesses (depression, anxiety/stress/fatigue, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar disorder) and neurodegenerative diseases (MCI/pre-Dementia, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis). Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO) (“EVgo” or the “Company”) today announced the closing of its $1.25 billion guaranteed loan facility from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) Loan Programs Office (“LPO”) under its Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program to support EVgo’s forthcoming efforts to build convenient, reliable public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) with the construction of 7,500 new fast charging stalls nationwide. This buildout will bring EVgo’s total owned and operated network to at least 10,000 fast charging stalls, allowing the Company to more than triple its network footprint by 2029. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: EVgo fast charging network to further expand across the United States. (Photo: Business Wire) “As one of the nation’s leading public fast charging providers, we are well-positioned to deploy the infrastructure needed to support both current and future domestic investments in transportation electrification,” said EVgo CEO, Badar Khan. “This public-private partnership will help us continue to scale our operations to serve the influx of vehicle options that will be available to American consumers in the coming years.” Building high-power public charging at scale bolsters range confidence for Americans as they consider the choice to drive an EV. Expanding fast charging infrastructure not only contributes to job creation and local economic benefits, but it is also critical to protecting the investments made by the automotive industry, which is expected to release over 30 new affordable EV models by the end of 2025, 1 in addition to the more than 70 vehicle models already available to American consumers today. 2 EVs now account for roughly 9% of new vehicle sales 3 and increasing consumer confidence in the availability of public charging is key to the success of these investments. EVgo estimates this project buildout will create more than 1,000 jobs in the U.S., over 700 of which will be contracted resources engaged by the Company encompassing roles in construction, engineering, development, and operations and maintenance. Total Guaranteed Loan Facility Amount Interest Rate Collateral Equity Contribution Tenor Deployment Period Principal & Interest Grace Period Loan Structure First Drawdown Additional Key Terms The closing of this DOE guaranteed loan facility follows receipt of a on October 3, 2024, and marks the conclusion of a thorough 18-month process. Through the EVgo Innovation Lab, the Company is fostering American innovation to advance the broader transportation electrification ecosystem, including its extensive interoperability testing and ongoing technical collaboration with leading automakers and technology partners to support a superior customer experience for drivers. This technical innovation extends to the joint development of , for which EVgo will soon secure domestic intellectual property rights. This architecture will leverage EVgo’s learnings from serving over a million customers nationwide to provide EVgo with more control over the full customer experience, streamlining the charging process while driving energy efficiency and cost savings. The Company plans to deploy this new architecture beginning in the second half of 2026. For more information about the EVgo network, visit . A live audio webcast and conference call for EVgo’s DOE Loan Facility will be held today at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The webcast will be available at , and the dial-in information for those wishing to access via phone is: : (800) 715-9871 (for U.S. callers) : (646) 307-1963 (for callers outside the U.S.) : 9312273 This press release, along with other investor materials that will be used or referred to during the webcast and conference call, including a slide presentation will also be available on that site. EVgo (Nasdaq: EVGO) is one of the nation’s leading public fast charging providers. With more than 1,000 fast charging stations across 40 states, EVgo strategically deploys localized and accessible charging infrastructure by partnering with leading businesses across the U.S., including retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations, rideshare operators, and autonomous vehicle companies. At its dedicated Innovation Lab, EVgo performs extensive interoperability testing and has ongoing technical collaborations with leading automakers and industry partners to advance the EV charging industry and deliver a seamless charging experience. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company’s future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “going to,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the terms of the DOE loan facility; the anticipated benefits and growth from the DOE loan facility, including project build out plan, use of proceeds, issuance, timing and availability of advances, satisfaction of covenants and the absence of events of default; growth in the demand for EV vehicles and charging infrastructure; the anticipated release of new affordable EV models; anticipated job creation in the US from the project buildout; the Company’s ability to scale; the joint development and deployment of the Company’s next-generation charging infrastructure, and the anticipated IP rights, efficiencies, cost savings and launch plans. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of EVgo’s management, and are not predictions of actual performance. The Company’s expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made in this press release, including changes or developments in the broader general market; EVgo’s dependence on the widespread adoption of EVs and growth of the EV and EV charging markets; EVgo's reliance on the DOE loan facility, its ability to fully draw on the DOE loan facility and its ability to comply with the covenants and other terms of the DOE loan facility; competition from existing and new competitors; EVgo’s ability to expand into new service markets, grow its customer base and manage its operations; the risks associated with cyclical demand for EVgo’s services and vulnerability to industry downturns and regional or national downturns; fluctuations in EVgo’s revenue and operating results; EVgo’s ability to satisfy the required conditions, enter into definitive agreements and receive loan funding in connection with, and to realize any anticipated benefits and growth from, the DOE loan facility; unfavorable conditions or disruptions in the capital and credit markets and EVgo’s ability to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms; EVgo’s ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; any current, pending or future legislation, regulations or policies that could impact EVgo’s business, results of operations and financial condition, including regulations impacting the EV charging market and government programs designed to drive broader adoption of EVs and any reduction, modification or elimination of such programs due to the results of the 2024 Presidential and Congressional elections; EVgo’s ability to adapt its assets and infrastructure to changes in industry and regulatory standards and market demands related to EV charging; impediments to EVgo’s expansion plans, including permitting and utility-related delays; EVgo’s ability to integrate any businesses it acquires; EVgo’s ability to recruit and retain experienced personnel; risks related to legal proceedings or claims, including liability claims; EVgo’s dependence on third parties, including hardware and software vendors and service providers, utilities and permit-granting entities; supply chain disruptions, inflation and other increases in expenses; safety and environmental requirements or regulations that may subject EVgo to unanticipated liabilities or costs; EVgo’s ability to enter into and maintain valuable partnerships with commercial or public-entity property owners, landlords and/or tenants (collectively “Site Hosts”), original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), fleet operators and suppliers; EVgo’s ability to maintain, protect and enhance EVgo’s intellectual property; and general economic or political conditions, including the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and the broader Middle East region, and elevated rates of inflation and associated changes in monetary policy. The forward-looking statements contained in this report are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described herein and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and current reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this report are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. 1 Source: JD Power’s Future Vehicle Calendar (April 2024) 2 Source: EV Volumes, 2024 US EV sales 3 View source version on : CONTACT: EVgo Contacts For Investors: Media: KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EV/ELECTRIC VEHICLES AUTOMOTIVE ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES/FUELS SOURCE: EVgo Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 04:04 PMKINGSTON Jamaica – Dates for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Six exams have been pushed back on account of disruptions caused by recent bad weather. The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information advised that after consultation with key stakeholders, a decision was taken to adjust the dates to provide additional preparation time to students. The revised dates for administration of the tests are: Ability Test, Thursday, February 20, 2025; Performance Task Tests – Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (Language Arts), and Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Mathematics); Curriculum-Based Tests – Wednesday, April 30, 2025 (Language Arts and Science), and Thursday, May 1, 2025 (Mathematics and Social Studies). The ministry, in a bulletin, said it recognises the challenges faced by students, educators and parents during these trying times, and has, therefore, taken proactive measures to facilitate the best possible outcomes for the learners. School administrators are being urged to encourage teachers and parents to maximise the additional time given to ensure adequate preparation of the students for the assessment. -JIS
Leaving an Arby's in Santa Barbara, California, this is the first time that the son of President Biden has been photographed since he was pardoned by his father. (Backgrid) First son Hunter Biden was spotted on camera for the first time since his father, President Biden, pardoned him, smiling for the cameras as he picked up a fast-food order in California. Hunter was seen on Wednesday afternoon in Santa Barbara sporting a T-shirt, jeans and baseball cap while picking up food from an Arby's. The media was heard asking Hunter in a short video outside the restaurant if he had any comment on the pardon. The first son did not respond, and instead was seen hopping into the back of an SUV while flanked by security. The photos and video come after President Biden announced Sunday evening that he would spare his son from being sentenced in a pair of separate court cases in which Hunter was found guilty of illegally purchasing a gun and failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Biden cited in his statement that Hunter's convictions were politically motivated and a "miscarriage of justice." 2 TIMES BIDEN SAID HE WOULD NOT PARDON SON HUNTER BIDEN Hunter Biden is seen leaving an Arby's in Santa Barbara, California, on Wednesday. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital) "Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter," Biden wrote in a statement. "From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted." He continued: "It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election. Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the court room — with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases." BIDEN PARDONS SON HUNTER BIDEN AHEAD OF EXIT FROM OVAL OFFICE Hunter Biden flashes a big smile as he leaves an Arby's in Santa Barbara, Callfornia, on Wednesday. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital) "I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," he added. The pardon stands in stark contrast to what the president said earlier this year, vowing he would not pardon his son both before and after Hunter was found guilty in a June gun trial. WHO ELSE MIGHT BIDEN PARDON AFTER HE SPARED HUNTER FROM SENTENCING? "I am not going to do anything," Biden said after Hunter was convicted in the gun case. "I will abide by the jury’s decision ." Wednesday was the first time that the son of President Biden had been photographed since he was pardoned. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital) Hunter was found guilty on June 11 of lying about his drug use when buying a gun in 2018. He was found guilty on three charges — making a false statement in the purchase of a gun, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. Hunter has an extensive and well-documented history of addiction, which was best captured in his 2021 memoir "Beautiful Things," which walked readers through his spirals of crack cocaine use. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Hunter faced another trial regarding three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses over his alleged failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes in a California court in September. As jury selection was about to kick off in Los Angeles federal court , Hunter entered a surprise guilty plea.The damning figures that show Labour forcing people to buy EVs won't work