The "Yakuza" series, created by Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, has captured the hearts of players around the world with its captivating storytelling, deep characters, and immersive open-world environments set in the seedy underworld of Japan. As the series has evolved over the years, fans have expressed a growing desire to see earlier titles remade with updated graphics, mechanics, and other improvements.
In a candid and self-deprecating statement, Refund Brother expressed gratitude for the support and love he has received over the years. He acknowledged that his inability to continue creating content does not mean that the industry of online consumer advocacy is coming to an end. Instead, he emphasized the importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges.
The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and admiration as Xiang Zuo settled into the salon chair, ready to undergo a transformation under the skilled hands of the talented hairstylists. As the scissors snipped and the hairdryer hummed, onlookers watched in awe, marveling at the seamless blend of artistry and precision that defined the hairstyling process.
The Steelers' Playoff Hopes Are In Serious Jeopardy As NFL Pundit Picks Apart Remaining Schedule
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s slogan of “ Batenge toh katenge (Divided we perish)” prevailed over the ‘Pichda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak’ or PDA pitch of the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh as the ruling party secured six out of nine seats in the high-stakes bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP retained Ghaziabad Sadar, Khair (reserved), Phulpur, and Majhawan, wrested Kundarki and Katehari from the SP, and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) preserved Meerapur after joining the National Democratic Alliance. The SP maintained its hold over the family fief of Karhal and Sisamau but its victory margin in both the seats has come down considerably. While the U.P. CM described the results as the electorate’s “stamp on the double-engine government’s commitment to providing security and development”, SP president Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of making “election synonymous with corruption” by misusing administrative machinery to rig the polls in its favour. Hindutva icon Four months after the BJP’s below-par performance in the Lok Sabha poll in the State, the results are expected to silence the growing dissonance in the BJP and consolidate Mr. Adityanath’s position as the Hindutva icon. The CM, who held 37 public meetings in 13 days in his State as well as Maharashtra and Jharkhand, has emerged as a strong pan-India force. He worked to bury the anti-north Indian sentiment in Maharashtra politics by invoking Shivaji’s great escape from the Mughal hold in Agra, reflected in the grand Chhath Puja celebrations in Mumbai. Coming up with a versatile slogan that evoked different meanings in different constituencies, political observers felt that by invoking “ Batenge toh kateng e”, Mr. Adityanath not only sought Hindu consolidation but also addressed dissenters within the party and when the RSS echoed his line and PM Narendra Modi responded with “ Ek hain toh safe hain ”, it sent an impression among the cadre that the ‘double engine’ was back on track. Interestingly, both alliances described each other’s agenda as negative politics. While the BJP dressed an old majoritarian anxiety into a new slogan, the INDIA alliance repeated its fears over the Constitution and reservation, a theme many felt held limited resonance in the byelection. After the initial burst of unity, Congress workers remained absent from the ground and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi didn’t share the stage with Mr. Yadav. The results indicate that the SP didn’t recognise the role the Congress played in mobilising Muslim and Dalit votes towards the INDIA bloc during the Lok Sabha election. Kundarki surprise The most shocking result for the SP has come in Kundarki. Party candidate Md. Rizwan, who demanded a repoll, lost his deposit in a seat with a 65% Muslim population and 57.7% voting, the highest of the nine constituencies. Senior party leader Muneer Ahmad said no one can digest that 80% of the electorate voted for the BJP candidate when a dozen Muslim candidates were in the fray. “It proved our party’s charges against the BJP government of using the administrative machinery to stop or discourage a community from exercising its franchise and indulge in bogus voting,” Mr. Ahmad alleged. The BJP described its win in Kundarki as the “victory of nationalist agenda” and Mr. Adityanath suggested that a section of voters remembered their ancestral lineage and cultural heritage while voting. While BJP candidate Thakur Ramveer Singh did reach out to Muslim Rajputs in the constituency by accepting skullcap and keffiyeh from local Muslim leaders, many political commentators felt the result defied psephological logic and demanded the attention of the Election Commission. Riding on the sympathy wave for spouse Irfan Solanki, SP candidate Naseem Solank , who also accused the police of violating norms , scraped through in Sisamau. However, in Meerapur, another seat where SP asked for a repoll, its candidate Sumbul Rana lost to the RLD’s Mithlesh Pal. The fact that Pasmanda Muslim candidates of AIMIM and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) secured 22,661 and 18,869 votes respectively contributed to her defeat. In a roller-coaster contest in Katehari, SP’s Shobhavati Verma lost to BJP’s Dharmraj Nishad, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Amit Verma secured more than 41,000 votes contributing to Ms. Verma’s defeat. Similarly, in Manjhwan the margin of victory between BJP’s Shuchismita Maurya and SP’s Jyoti Bind was 4,922 votes while BSP candidate Deepak Tiwari secured 34,927 votes. Meanwhile, RLD proved its worth for the BJP. It not only retained Meerapur but also showed its worth in Khair where its Handpump effectively watered Lotus to victory. ) Published - November 24, 2024 01:19 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditThe controversy began when the owner of the stall, Mr. Li, decided to maintain the original price of instant noodles despite facing pressure from rivals to increase the cost. This decision was met with disapproval from some nearby stalls that saw it as undercutting their prices and cutting into their profits. Tensions escalated as Mr. Li refused to back down, prompting his competitors to resort to threats and intimidation tactics in an attempt to force him into compliance.
HOUSTON, United States Special counsel Jack Smith announced Monday that he has filed motions to drop all federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump due to presidential immunity laws, according to media outlets. Trump was first indicted in June 2023 on 37 felony counts related to the mishandling of classified documents he took from the White House after he finished his first term in the Oval Office. Federal agents raided his Mar-a-Lago resort in the state of Florida where the FBI confiscated more than 11,000 sensitive government documents and photographs. Trump was also indicted on four felony charges in August 2023 for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in which he lost to President Joe Biden and led to the deadly storming of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. The counts included conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. A series of legal wranglings about the legality of charging a former US president -- with Trump being the first former president in American history to be charged with felony crimes -- put the court proceedings on hold. Trump's lawyers argued that a former president could not be charged with crimes that occurred while he was in office. However, now that Trump will be sworn into his second term of office on Jan. 20, 2025, the laws regarding presidential immunity factored into Smith's decision to dismiss the charges because the Justice Department's position is that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. "That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind," Smith's office said in a statement. "The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have." Trump has claimed from the beginning that the prosecutions were politically motivated. He has never publicly conceded that his rigged election claims were false and he pleaded not guilty in both federal cases. Smith's decision to drop all federal charges comes a little under two months before Trump is sworn into office. The president-elect vowed during his campaign that if reelected, he would fire Smith the moment he began his second term in the White House. "Today’s decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country." Smith's announcement of filing to drop the charges comes amid speculation that he will resign as special counsel before Trump is sworn into his second term in office. In his statement, Smith expressed that following Trump's reelection, the special counsel's office was caught between "two fundamental and compelling national interests." "On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities ... and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law and the longstanding principle that '(no) man in this country is so high that he is above the law,'" said Smith.AGF Reports November 2024 Assets Under Management and Fee-Earning Assets
Ace's innovative modular battery recycling platform is designed to minimize battery waste and retain critical battery materials of strategic importance. Ace, with commercial operations in , is focused on global expansion and plans to develop a flagship battery recycling plant in for lead and lithium-ion batteries. Ace believes that it is uniquely positioned to commercially recycle both lead and lithium-ion batteries using fully electrified processes that produce zero Scope 1 emissions, zero toxic water and zero solid waste. Ace has established a robust network of supply chain partners, including a 15-year offtake agreement with Glencore, one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies and a leading company in the recycling industry. Ace is assigned an equity value of in the transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025. , /PRNewswire/ -- Ace Green Recycling, Inc. ("Ace" or the "Company"), a leading provider of sustainable battery recycling technology solutions, and Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II ("ATAC II") (NYSE: ATEK), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement, pursuant to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATAC II will merge with and into Ace, with Ace becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATAC II and Ace's operations becoming the operating business of the combined entity. Ace's revolutionary battery recycling technology focuses on recovering critical battery materials from both lead and lithium-ion batteries. The Company's innovative and modular technologies are fully electrified, producing zero Scope 1 emissions, zero toxic water and zero solid waste. These capabilities position Ace as a provider of hydrometallurgical recycling solutions without any smelting or thermal processes for both lead and lithium batteries. Ace currently operates commercial facilities in (lithium-ion; since 2023) that it owns and has licensed its technology to ACME Metal in (lead; since 2024), with advanced plans to deploy its technology by building its own plant in . The Company has proven its technology's commercial credentials by enabling processing of more than three million pounds of lead and lithium batteries in and Taiwan. The Company's LithiumFirstTM technology is capable of commercially recovering up to 75% of lithium with a purity exceeding 99% from lithium iron phosphate ("LFP") and Nickel Manganese Cobalt ("NMC") batteries. In addition to recovering Lithium, the Company's LithiumFirst technology also recovers NMC salts, graphite, iron phosphate and other materials such as plastics, steel, aluminum and copper by utilizing a closed-loop hydrometallurgical process that avoids pyrometallurgical operations and produces no liquid waste or Scope 1 carbon emissions. Ace's GREENLEAD® Recovery Technology is a fully electric process that produces zero Scope 1 emissions and is capable of recovering up to 99% of battery-grade lead with more than 99.98% purity. Ace's process is designed to replace legacy smelting operations, which are detrimental to the environment, as well as human health due to potential lead poisoning, and is expected to facilitate a more streamlined permitting process. Ace's expansion strategy centers on the development of battery recycling plants in the U.S., creating centralized hubs for the sustainable recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life batteries. These plants are expected: Generate high-quality manufacturing jobs in the U.S., stimulating local economies and strengthening America's workforce. Reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and lead, bolstering domestic supply chains and supporting the growth of the U.S. electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. Develop partnerships for renewable captive power with distributed power generators, further minimizing the environmental impact of operations. Ace operates commercial facilities in (since 2003) and (since 2024), with planned project development in the U.S. ( ), , and , along with complimentary supply chain operations. The Company is currently generating approximately in annual revenue. Ace's market strategy targets immense opportunities across two core sectors: the mature lead battery recycling market, valued at over in 2024, and the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery recycling market, projected to exceed by 2040. Unique modular, cost-effective deployment strategy allows for high margins and an efficient CapEx and OpEx model. The Company monetizes considerable opportunities in battery recycling through owned and operated facilities, joint venture and licensing agreements, and supply chain and services contracts. Already approved by regulators in key global markets, Ace's electrified process eliminates the typical toxic waste and carbon emissions that have forced the shutdown of peer facilities. Additionally, Ace is differentiated in its ability to process both lead and lithium batteries, including LFP, as its competitors are generally unable to process LFP batteries and are able to process either lead or lithium batteries, but not both. : Ace believes that it is poised for global expansion, supported by a robust network of supply chain partners across the U.S., , and . Global offtake agreement with Glencore, one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies and a leading company in the recycling industry, underpins the high demand for low-cost feedstock to enable the electrification of vehicles, solar energy and the transition to green energy solutions. National security, economic and sustainability initiatives have globalized the refining of feedstock and battery production away from traditional sources. We believe that Ace's planned facility in and anticipated U.S. footprint will support the U.S. in safeguarding its critical battery metals supply chain. Additionally, Ace is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory for advanced research on recycling of LFP batteries and upcycling of spent graphite to battery grade. Executing customized IP strategies in the lithium and lead recycling spaces, Ace has developed an industry-leading IP portfolio consisting of utility patents, stealth patents and trade secrets supported by more than a decade of research and development ("R&D"). Ace also collaborates with R&D institutions such as the and Singapore Polytechnic on battery recycling topics. Ace's team of industry leaders brings together diverse expertise in battery recycling, green energy, business development and global strategy. Ace's current investors have deep expertise in the metals and recycling sectors, including Claude Dauphin Family Office, former executives at Trafigura, Circulate Capital, and the Francis Family Fund ApS. "Ace is advancing electrification by building a global recycling technology to create sustainable supply chain solutions for critical metals that will enable next-generation technologies," said Nishchay Chadha, CEO of Ace. "Compared to other recyclers, we employ a modular, fully electrified, low CapEx strategy, addressing two distinct and sizeable markets in lead and lithium-ion batteries. We believe that this approach will allow us to rapidly achieve commercial scale while diversifying both our feedstock and end-markets. Our planned focus on the U.S. market makes listing on a U.S. exchange a strategic move that better aligns our goals with our core stakeholders." The proposed business combination (the "Proposed Business Combination") is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory, court and shareholder approvals. Concurrently, Ace expects to complete a financing from existing insiders and various strategic and fundamental investors. Chardan is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Ace Green Recycling Inc. Lucosky Brookman LLP is serving as legal counsel to Ace Green Recycling Inc. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II. Ace Green Recycling, Inc., incorporated in , is an innovative battery recycling technology platform offering sustainable end-of-life solutions. It has deployed modular, Scope 1 emissions-free recycling plants for Lithium (NMC & LFP) and Lead batteries used in various industries including electronics, automotive and energy storage. Ace is founded by Nishchay Chadha, who serves as its Chief Executive Officer and is a veteran in recycling, mining and global supply chain industries and Dr as Chief Technology Officer, who is an accomplished scientist with extensive experience in battery materials recycling technology. For more information, please visit . In connection with the Proposed Business Combination, ATAC II and Ace are expected to prepare a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") by ATAC II, which will include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to ATAC II's shareholders in connection with ATAC II's solicitation for proxies for the vote by ATAC II's shareholders in connection with the Proposed Business Combination and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Ace's shareholders in connection with the completion of the Proposed Business Combination. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, ATAC II will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the Proposed Business Combination. ATAC II's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, in connection with ATAC II's solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the Proposed Business Combination, because these documents will contain important information about ATAC II, ACE, and the Proposed Business Combination. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, or any other document that ATAC II will send to its shareholders in connection with the Proposed Business Combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the Proposed Business Combination and other documents filed with the SEC by ATAC II, without charge, at the SEC's website located at or by directing a request to Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II, Attn: , 442 5th Avenue, . . Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at . The definitive proxy statement/ prospectus (if and when available) will be mailed to shareholders of ATAC II as of a record date to be established for voting on the Proposed Business Combination. Shareholders of ATAC II will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at . ATAC II, Ace and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from ATAC II's shareholders in connection with the Proposed Business Combination. Information about ATAC II's directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in ATAC II and with respect to the Proposed Business Combination and any other matters to be acted upon at the ATAC II shareholder meeting will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Proposed Business Combination and be available at the SEC's website ( ). Information about Ace's directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in Ace and with respect to the Proposed Business Combination will also be included in such registration statement. This press release relates to a proposed transaction between ATAC II and Ace. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any offer, sale or exchange of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include the statements regarding the expected timing for completion of the Proposed Business Combination, Ace's U.S. development plans and global expansion plans, the expected impact of Ace's planned battery recycling plants in the U.S., and Ace's expectation that it will be profitable in 2026; in some cases you can also identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All forward-looking statements are based on ATAC II's and Ace's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination, including the adoption and approval of the Business Combination Agreement, the Proposed Business Transaction, the intended financing and other related matters by ATAC II's shareholders, (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, (iii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Proposed Business Combination on Ace's business relationships, operating results and business generally, (iv) risks that the Proposed Business Combination disrupts Ace's current plans and operations, (v) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against ATAC II or Ace related to the Business Combination Agreement or the Proposed Business Combination, (vi) the risks that the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur, including prior to the date on which ATAC II is required to liquidate under the terms of its charter documents (as may be amended) and the potential failure to obtain an extension of its business combination deadline in ATAC II's upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (vii) costs related to the Proposed Business Combination and the failure to realize anticipated benefits thereof or to realize estimated pro forma results and underlying assumptions, including with respect to estimated shareholder redemptions, (viii) the risk that Ace and its current and future collaborators are unable to continue to successfully develop and commercialize Ace's products and services, or experience significant delays in doing so, (ix) the risk that Ace may need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all, (x) the ability of ATAC II to maintain the listing of its securities on a U.S. exchange before the closing of the Proposed Business Combination and following the Proposed Business Combination, and (xi) the risk that the post-transaction company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus discussed above and other documents filed or to be filed by ATAC II and/or or any successor entity thereof from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ATAC II and Ace assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. 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