Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. The NBA, where Parsons was interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014, was among organizations offering condolences. “Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder's company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, was named chairman of Citigroup in 2009, one month after leaving Time Warner Inc., where he helped restore the company’s stature following its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online Inc. He steered Citigroup back to profit after financial turmoil from the subprime mortgage crisis, which upended the economy in 2007 and 2008. Parsons was named to the board of CBS in September 2018 but resigned a month later because of illness. Parsons said in a statement at the time that he was already dealing with multiple myeloma when he joined the board, but “unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges.” He said his doctors advised him to cut back on his commitments to ensure recovery. “Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.” “Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.” Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street. He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division. He also fended off a challenge from activist investor Carl Icahn in 2006 to break up the company and helped Time Warner reach settlements with investors and regulators over questionable accounting practices at AOL. Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading provider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music. He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case, who had also championed the combination. The newly formed company’s Internet division quickly became a drag on Time Warner. The promised synergies between traditional and new media never materialized. AOL began seeing a reduction in subscribers in 2002 as Americans replaced dial-up connections with broadband from cable TV and phone companies. Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content. Time Warner is now owned by AT&T Inc. A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid. Its board had been criticized for allowing the bank to invest so heavily in the risky housing market. Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012. In 2014 he stepped in as interim CEO of the Clippers until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took over later that year. Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations. He also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team. Parsons, who loved jazz and co-owned a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their family. This obituary was primarily written by the late Associated Press reporter Anick Jesdanun, who died in 2020 .Jharkhand Assembly elections | Uniform Civil Code, ‘Bangladeshi infiltration’, and other issues: how they resonated with votersAnatomy of Man City’s utter capitulation: Gvardiol’s nightmare and Guardiola’s shocking tactics
A YouTube creator is accusing of fraudulent behavior tied to the internet browser extension , which advertises finding and applying coupon codes for . YouTube creator posted a video titled, on Dec. 21 accusing Honey, which is owned by PayPal, of deceiving consumers and influencers by hijacking links that pay influencers for products they promote, providing limited coupon options and publishing inaccurate advertisements. The 23-minute , the first in a three-part series, according to MegaLag, had more than 9.4 million views, as of Thursday morning. The video concludes with what appears to be a tease for a follow-up. "I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up going down as one of the most aggressive, shameless marketing scams of the century," MegaLag said in the . In response to the video, PayPal Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer Amy Bonitatibus provided USA TODAY with the following response: “Honey is free to use and provides millions of shoppers with additional savings on their purchases whenever possible. Honey helps merchants reduce cart abandonment and comparison shopping while increasing sales conversion. Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution." MegaLag denied to comment when contacted by USA TODAY. Here's what to know about the accusations made by MegaLag and where they line up with industry standards. Honey is a free browser extension that claims to find coupon codes during online shopping checkout. Honey was released in 2012 and PayPal purchased it in 2020 for approximately $4 billion, according to a . When PayPal acquired Honey, said the shopping tool served about 17 million monthly active users and helped consumers save about $1 billion annually. After purchasing Honey, PayPal launched PayPal Rewards, which incentivizes using the Honey extension. PayPal users earn points when using the browser extension, even if they don't redeem any coupons, according to the Those points can be used to redeem cash back, PayPal shopping credit or gift cards. In the video, MegaLag called this rewards program a The creator proceeded to provide an example of how much money he earned through an affiliate link versus PayPal Rewards cashback when making the same purchase. MegaLag provided an example completed through Honey Gold, Honey's former rewards program utilized before PayPal purchased it. When purchasing a NordVPN standard package (about $95) through his own affiliate link, MegaLag reported making about $35 from the sale. When purchasing the same package but activating PayPal Rewards, rather than using his affiliate link, MegaLag reported earning about 89 cents in cashback. In the video, MegaLag mentions that upon conducting research about Honey, there was virtually no other information on the topic. However, since the video has gained traction, during a Twitch stream in 2020 has resurfaced. Mark Fischbach (the creator behind Markipiler) did not get into much detail, but he did voice his "distrust" for the shopping tool. "I think they've even offered me (a brand deal) and I said no because I just don't trust Honey," Fischbach said during the . "I have a feeling in like a couple years there's going to be the great Honey conspiracy of like 2022." The day after MegaLag's video published, Fischbach reposted his stream clip to X with the comment, In the video, MegaLag accuses Honey of breaching affiliate links. MegaLag sets up the following example: If a consumer clicks an affiliate link in the description of a YouTube video, the consumer will be taken to the corresponding website. Without using Honey, if the consumer makes a purchase from that link, the YouTube creator will earn a commission. Thinking in real-world scenarios, an affiliate link is similar to a salesperson helping a customer at a store. For example, if a department store salesperson helps a customer find and purchase a piece of jewelry, the salesperson earns commission. If a consumer has the Honey browser extension installed and accepts a Honey pop-up − whether it be a coupon the shopping tool offers or just a message indicating that Honey didn't find any coupons - Honey will earn a commission from the online purchase. The YouTube creator, whose affiliate link the consumer originally followed, will not receive a commission. This model is called last-click attribution, which gives credit to the last touchpoint a user interacts with before making a purchase. Though there are other types of attribution − such as first-click, which provides a commission to the first touchpoint interacted with − last-click is considered the industry standard. In the , MegaLag claims Honey is "exploiting" last-click attribution. When it comes to content creator versus content creator, MegaLag says last-click attribution is usually fair, but when it is content creator versus Honey, "there's no real competition." "Honey pops up right at the end of your purchasing journey, virtually guaranteeing they'll win that last click," MegaLag says in the . "They, of course, know this and do anything they can to get that last click. Even where there's no coupon codes to offer." Another industry standard when it comes to affiliate marketing is the . This policy, implemented by host sites, in this case a retailer, requests that browser extensions respect affiliate marketing. If a retailer utilizes a stand-down policy, extensions like Honey cannot claim credit, even if they are the last touchpoint, according to , a fintech company that offers white-label cashback services. In response to the MegaLag video, YouTube creator Hank Green released a video, on Dec. 25. In his video, Green discussed how affiliate marketing functions in the "small business ecosystem." Green said the ecosystem of small business creators looking to make money and being attracted to affiliate marketing is "How responsible should creators be for understanding the business models of the companies that they do brand deals for?" Green posed in his . "I am certain that many creators aren't really savvy enough or have the time to do that work. The brand deal ecosystem, it's where, for most creators, where most of the money comes from, so it can be really hard to say no and it can be really easy to try to not think too hard about how things work." Ultimately, like MegaLag, Green claimed Honey and PayPal are taking advantage of content creators. USA TODAY has reached out to experts for more context on best practices in the industry. MegaLag also accused Honey of offering limited coupon codes, not providing customers with all of the best options. In the , MegaLag said he was often able to find redeemable coupon codes from other shopping tools like RetailMeNot when Honey indicated no coupons could be found. PayPal's Bonitatibus told USA TODAY that merchants ultimately decide what coupons are offered to consumers through Honey. When it comes to sourcing its coupons, Bonitatibus said they are manually gathered by Honey's team, sourced from deal networks, made available through merchant partnerships and sourced from users who share codes with Honey. In the , MegaLag also accused Honey of releasing dishonest advertisements claiming the shopping tool searches for all available coupon codes, implying that a customer who uses Honey does not need to search for their own coupons. In 2020, the National Advertising Division opened an inquiry into a Honey advertisement that claimed, "With just a single click, Honey will find every working code on the internet and apply the best one to your cart," according to a . However, Honey informed the National Advertising Division, after the inquiry was opened, that it had been in the process of discontinuing the ad for "business reasons," according to a . Honey also agreed to permanently discontinue the related advertisements. Thus, the National Advertising Division inquiry was closed. is a New Zealand YouTube creator who had 508,000 subscribers, as of Monday afternoon. Self-identified as a tech investigative journalist, the creator, who confirmed to USA TODAY his first name is Jonathon, is known for his videos that "expose" companies or experiment with different technology.
A plan to replace the Omand Park pedestrian bridge could soon be on the way, as city staff warn the deteriorating structure could fail at any time. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * A plan to replace the Omand Park pedestrian bridge could soon be on the way, as city staff warn the deteriorating structure could fail at any time. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? A plan to replace the Omand Park pedestrian bridge could soon be on the way, as city staff warn the deteriorating structure could fail at any time. A report seeks city council approval to plan and design a replacement bridge for construction “no later than 2029.” The path over Omand’s Creek, connecting the park to Wolseley, is in poor condition and at risk of closure, the report notes. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files The Omand Park pedestrian bridge is in poor condition and at risk of closure, a municipal report states. “It may be permanently closed at any time without warning when it is no longer considered safe for public use,” writes Brad Neirinck, the city’s manager of engineering. A new bridge would be about 2.8 metres higher than the existing one to avoid seasonal flooding and is expected to cost between $3 million and $5 million, which could potentially be funded through a city reserve. Preventing further funding is deemed key to the project. “In addition to age-related deterioration, the bridge is also frequently closed due to flood,” it states. The city says the bridge has been covered in water for more than 600 days over the last 10 years and doesn’t meet current accessibility standards. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of council’s public works committee, said she supports the study, since the bridge is part of a key active transportation route. “This is a key link and it’s a beautiful area, a beautiful park. It’s very well used,” said Lukes (Waverley West). Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The councillor said raising the height of the bridge is necessary to address flooding but could also significantly change the park’s appearance. “This will be interesting because in order to raise the bridge so it doesn’t flood, it will fundamentally have a major effect on the park. It will change the look of the park,” said Lukes. The public works committee will debate the idea on Nov. 29. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementSlot: Man City's drop-off shows it’s too early to celebrate
Judge hears closing arguments on whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopolyHow co-writing a book threatened the Carters’ marriageAP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:59 p.m. ESTGretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Beans are kind of like the your best friend from high school — nearly forgotten but always ready to step back into the limelight and help out an old pal when needed. As gorgeously (and tantalizingly) demonstrated in Rancho Gordo’s new cookbook, “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” (Ten Speed, $35), beans are indeed a magical fruit, though not in the way you heard as a kid. Classified as both a vegetable and a plant-based protein in the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, beans and other legumes can be the ingredient you build an entire vegetarian or veggie-forward meal around. Or, they can help an economical cook stretch a dish twice as far with nutritious calories. A healthful and shelf-staple plant food — they last for years when dried — beans have been among a home cook’s most reliable pantry items for a very long time. (Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are thought to have been grown in Mexico more than 7,000 years ago.) That’s why, for some, they’re often something of an afterthought, especially if the only time you ate them as a kid was when your mom tossed kidney beans into a pot of beef chili or made baked beans (with brown sugar and bacon, please!) for a family cookout. Related Articles Restaurants Food and Drink | Do not wash your turkey and other Thanksgiving tips to keep your food safe Restaurants Food and Drink | Frying a turkey this Thanksgiving? Here are some tips to stay safe Restaurants Food and Drink | 5 budget-friendly Thanksgiving dinner ideas Restaurants Food and Drink | The future of Thanksgiving is takeout and hosts couldn’t be happier Restaurants Food and Drink | A starry Thanksgiving: Recipes beloved by Donna Kelce, Eric Stonestreet, Taylor Swift Vegetarians have always appreciated their versatility and nutritional punch, and because they’re cheap, they also were quite popular during the Great Depression and World War II as C rations. Sales also peaked during the coronavirus pandemic, when shoppers stockpiled long-lasting pantry essentials. It wasn’t until Rancho Gordo, a California-based bean company, trotted out its branded packages of colorful heirloom beans that the plant began to take on cult status among some shoppers. Unlike the bean varieties commonly found in even the smallest grocery stores, heirloom beans are mostly forgotten varieties that were developed on a small scale for certain characteristics, with seeds from the best crops passed down through the generations. The result is beans that are fresher and more colorful than mass-produced beans, and come in different shapes and sizes. They also have a more complex and intense flavor, fans say. “The Bean Book” dishes up dozens of different ways to cook Rancho Gordo’s 50 heirloom bean varieties, which include red-streaked cranberry beans, mint-green flageolets, black and classic garbanzos and (my favorite) vaquero — which wear the same black-and-white spots as a Holstein cow. Other gotta-try varieties (if just for the name) include eye of the goat, European Soldier, Jacob’s Cattle and Good Mother Stallard, a purple bean with cream-colored flecks. “The very good news is that you have to work extra hard to mess up a pot of beans, and it’s not difficult to make an excellent pot,” Steve Sando writes in the book’s foreword. “The even better news is that you become a better cook with each pot you make.” Not convinced? Here are five reasons to jump on the bean bandwagon: Even the smallest grocery store will have a selection of dried and canned beans. Common varieties include black, cannellini (white kidney), Great Northern, pinto, navy, kidney, Lima and garbanzo (chickpea) beans. Even when they’re not on sale, beans are a bargain at the supermarket. Many varieties cost less than $1 a can, and dried beans are an economical way to build a menu. I paid $1.25 for a one-pound bag of cranberry beans, a smooth and velvety bean with a slightly nutty flavor, at my local grocery store. Rancho Gordo’s heirloom beans cost substantially more. (They run $6.25-$7.50 for a one-pound bag, with free shipping on orders over $50.) But they are sold within a year of harvest, which makes them more flavorful and tender. A bag also comes with cooking instructions and recipe suggestions, and the quality is outstanding. Plus, after cooking their beans with aromatics, “you are left with essentially free soup,” Sando writes in the cookbook. “If you drain properly cooked and seasoned beans, the liquid you are left with is delicious.” Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber, and they include essential minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. If you’re watching your weight or following a particular diet, beans are naturally free of fat, sodium and cholesterol and are rich in complex carbohydrates. They also contain antioxidants and folate. And if you’re vegan or vegetarian, most types of dry beans are rich sources of iron. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 1-3 cups of legumes, including beans, per week Dry beans have to be soaked overnight, but cooking them is easy. They can be cooked on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, in the pressure cooker and in the oven. Canned beans are even easier — just rinse and drain, and they’re ready to go. Beans can be used in so many different dishes. They can be made into soup, salad or dips, top nachos, add some heft to a casserole or be mashed into the makings of a veggie burger. You also can add them to brownies and other baked goods, toss them with pasta, add them to chili or a rice bowl or stuff them into a taco or burrito. Check out these four recipes: PG tested This light and creamy vegetarian soup benefits from a surprising garnish, roasted shiitake mushrooms, which taste exactly like bacon. For soup 1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 medium carrot, scrubbed and chopped 6 garlic cloves, finely grated or pressed 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 cups vegetable broth 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed For bacon 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, caps cut into 1/8 -inch slices 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt To finish Plant-based milk Chili oil, for drizzling Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make soup: In large pot, heat oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are fragrant and tender, 8-10 minutes. Add vegetable stock and beans, increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, 12-14 minutes. Meanwhile, make the bacon: Spread shiitake mushrooms into a single layer on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Bake until browned and crispy, 18-20 minutes, rotating pan front to back and tossing mushrooms with a spatula halfway through. Let cool in pan; mushrooms will continue to crisp as they cool. To finish, add some milk to the soup and use an immersion blender to puree it in the pot, or puree in a blender. (Cover lid with a clean kitchen towel.) Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Divide soup among bowls and top with shiitake bacon. Garnish with thyme sprigs and a drizzle of chili oil. Serves 4-6. — “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking” by Joe Yonan PG tested Velvety cranberry beans simmered with tomato and the punch of red wine vinegar are a perfect match for a soft bed of cheesy polenta. This is a filling, stick-to-your-ribs dish perfect for fall. 1/4 cup olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, juice reserved 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth 4 fresh sage leaves Salt and pepper 4 cups cooked Lamon or cranberry beans 2 cups uncooked polenta 6 ounces pancetta, diced Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving In large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and red wine vinegar. In a small bowl, dissolve tomato paste in the broth and add to pan. Stir in sage and season with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, 15-20 minutes. Add beans to tomato sauce. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare polenta according to package instructions. Place pancetta in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pancetta is brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel to drain. To serve, spoon polenta into serving dishes. Ladle the beans over the polenta and top with the pancetta. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with grated Parmesan. Serves 6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” by Steve Sando PG tested Beans and seafood might seen like an unusual pairing, but in this recipe, mild white beans take on a lot of flavor from clams. Spanish chorizo adds a nice contrast. 4 cups cooked white beans, bean broth reserved 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 white onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/2 cup finely chopped Spanish-style cured chorizo 2 plum tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 pounds small clams, scrubbed well Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish Country-style bread and butter, for serving In large pot, heat beans in their broth over medium-low heat. In large lidded saucepan, warm olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chorizo and cook gently until some of the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine and cook to allow the flavors to mingle, 5-6 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add clams. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Uncover the pan and cook until all of the clams open, another few minutes. Remove pan from heat, then remove and discard any clams that failed to open. Add clam mixture to the bean pot and stir very gently until well mixed. Simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to mingle but not get mushy. Ladle into large, shallow bowls and sprinkle with parsley. Set out a large bowl for discarded shells and encourage guests to eat with their fingers. Pass plenty of good bread and creamy butter at the table Serves 4-6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans, from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen” by Steve Sando with Julia Newberry PG tested So easy to pull together for your next party! 1 1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 small garlic clove, minced Generous pinch of salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 or 3 tablespoons water, if needed 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped, optional 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves chopped, optional In a food processor, pulse cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, salt and several grinds of pepper until combined. If it’s too thick, slowly add the water with the food processor running until it is smooth and creamy. Blend in the basil and/or rosemary, if using Serve with veggies, pita or bruschetta. Makes 1 1/2 cups — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
MGP and Golden, Democrats who won in Trump country, have a plan for reducing polarization in CongressIn the recent closure of Alex Kamangila’s apparent war against judicial corruption, one of the most glaring issues to arise was the lack of concrete evidence to substantiate the corruption claims he made. Despite his high-profile social media posts and public accusations, Kamangila has failed to provide any verifiable evidence to back his accusations against various individuals, leaving his case without the weight it needs to resonate with both the public and the authorities. This raises an important question: Is Kamangila simply another social media figure seeking attention by exposing people without any real proof? The Rise of Attention-Seekers in the Social Media Era Kamangila’s case is not isolated. In te age of social media, there has been a growing trend of individuals using online platforms to air grievances and make accusations—sometimes without any real foundation. Whether it’s calling out corruption, injustice, or personal grievances, many individuals seem to feel that their voice is amplified online, even when their claims lack substance. In this case, Alex Kamangila appears to have followed a similar path, drawing attention by naming people he alleges to be corrupt but failing to provide any tangible proof. This phenomenon has become all too common on social media, where accusations can spread like wildfire. The platform, often unregulated and anonymous, gives people the ability to make sensational claims without fear of immediate consequences. However, the reality is that accusations made on social media without evidence or proper channels of accountability often end up damaging reputations and fostering distrust without any resolution. Alex Kamangila: The Social Media Carper? The lack of evidence in Kamangila’s claims suggests that his public declarations may be less about justice and more about garnering attention. Much like other social media figures who make sensational posts to fuel online discussion, Kamangila seems more interested in generating buzz than actually contributing to meaningful change. There’s an irony in the fact that, despite naming several individuals he alleges to be corrupt, Kamangila has never provided a single shred of evidence to support his claims. Instead, he repeatedly directs the public to “investigate” the accused, a statement which itself betrays his lack of preparedness or responsibility. While the call for investigations is not inherently wrong, it shows a disregard for the fact that, when serious allegations are made, they must be substantiated. If someone is truly interested in seeing justice done, they should come prepared with evidence, not just vague accusations. Unfortunately, this seems to be the pattern with Kamangila—pointing fingers without offering anything solid for the authorities to act upon. Social Media as a Tool for Accountability—or Distraction? The growing influence of social media has opened up new avenues for public scrutiny and accountability, but it has also created a platform for unfounded rumors and malicious gossip. In Kamangila’s case, his online presence seems more about stirring up controversy and playing the role of an online whistleblower rather than working constructively with the authorities or providing the public with the evidence necessary to understand the full picture. While there is no doubt that corruption exists in Malawi’s public and private sectors, and that figures like Kamangila may believe they are doing the public a service by calling out corrupt individuals, the problem is that accusations without proof only serve to further muddy the waters. In an environment where corruption is already an entrenched issue, fueling rumors without evidence makes it harder to distinguish between those who are genuinely trying to address the problem and those who are simply leveraging public sentiment to gain fame or social capital. Furthermore, when figures like Kamangila use social media to expose people without evidence, they play into the narrative of political and social instability, potentially causing harm to innocent individuals and distracting from the real work of rooting out corruption. This can have long-term consequences for the public trust and the integrity of institutions like the judiciary and law enforcement, which need solid evidence to act on any allegations. The Lack of Accountability in Social Media Accusations One of the most critical elements in the debate about online whistleblowing is the issue of accountability. Kamangila’s case, like many other online accusations, brings attention to the fact that individuals who make serious claims online are often not held accountable for their words. Social media allows people to voice opinions and allegations without facing any real consequences for spreading false or unsubstantiated claims. While platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have made significant strides in curbing misinformation, they still fall short in holding users accountable for defamation, spreading unfounded rumors, or making baseless accusations. This has opened the door for individuals like Kamangila to freely target people without any checks on their behavior. In the case of corruption, accountability becomes even more important. If someone makes an accusation against public figures or institutions, they should be held responsible for the truthfulness of those allegations. If no evidence is provided, as in Kamangila’s case, then the claims should be treated as conjecture—at best—and dismissed as an attempt to sow discord, at worst. The Real Work of Fighting Corruption While it is clear that corruption is a systemic problem in Malawi, the fight against it requires more than just public shaming on social media. It demands rigorous investigations, transparent legal processes, and, above all, a commitment to presenting hard evidence in order to hold those responsible accountable. Simply calling someone corrupt without providing proof doesn’t help solve the problem; it only adds noise to a conversation that already contains too much empty rhetoric. The role of civil society, investigative journalists, and the legal system cannot be overstated. They are the ones who should be tasked with gathering the evidence, conducting investigations, and ensuring that justice is served. Those like Kamangila, who claim to be “whistleblowers,” need to step back and ask themselves: If I want to truly contribute to the fight against corruption, am I providing concrete evidence, or am I simply fueling a spectacle? Conclusion: The Danger of Reckless Allegations In the end, Alex Kamangila’s case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of social media as a tool for exposing alleged corruption without backing up those claims with evidence. While social media can be an invaluable resource for mobilizing people and raising awareness about key issues, it can also be a double-edged sword when used recklessly. By exposing people without providing evidence, Kamangila—and others who follow in his footsteps—undermine the very cause they claim to support. Instead of contributing to meaningful change, they become part of the noise, distracting from real efforts to address corruption in a systematic and accountable way. For those genuinely committed to seeing justice done, it’s time to move beyond accusations without evidence and engage in the hard work of collecting facts, building cases, and, ultimately, demanding that those in power be held accountable for their actions. Sharing is caring!
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Richard Parsons, prominent Black executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76By NADIA LATHAN Associated Press/Report for America Fred Harris, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Oklahoma, is being remembered by party members for his commitment to social and economic justice. Harris died Saturday at age 94. He served in Congress for eight years before mounting an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1976. The Oklahoma Democratic Party commemorated his work in the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate civil unrest. Harris chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1969 to 1970 and helped unify the party after its tumultuous national convention in 1968. The former senator appeared at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year where he spoke to the Oklahoma delegation about progress and unity. Oklahoma residents on Sunday mourned the death of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, a trailblazer in progressive politics in the state who ran an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1976. Harris died on Saturday at 94. Democratic Party members across Oklahoma remembered Harris for his commitment to economic and social justice during the 1960s — a period of historical turbulence. Harris chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1969 to 1970 and helped unify the party after its tumultuous national convention in 1968 when protesters and police clashed in Chicago. “Fred Harris showed us what is possible when we lead with both heart and principle. He worked to ensure everyone had a voice and a seat at the table,” said Alicia Andrews, chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. Harris appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago earlier this year as a guest speaker for the Oklahoma delegation, where he reflected on progress and unity. “Standing alongside him in Chicago this summer was a reminder of how his legacy continues to inspire,” Andrews said. Kalyn Free, a member of the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma and the DNC, said that there is no one else in public service whom she admired more than the former senator. “He was a friend, a mentor, a hero and my True North. Oklahoma and America have lost a powerful advocate and voice,” Free said in a statement. “His work for Indian Country will always be remembered.” “Senator Harris truly was an Oklahoma treasure and was ahead of his time in so many ways,” said Jeff Berrong, whose grandfather served in the state Senate with Harris. “He never forgot where he came from and he always remained focused on building a society that would provide equality of opportunity for all.” Harris served eight years in the state Senate before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served another eight years before his 1976 presidential campaign. State party leaders commemorated his work on the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, or the Kerner Commission, to investigate the 1960s riots. Harris was the last surviving member of the commission. Shortly after his presidential campaign, Harris left politics and moved to New Mexico and became a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. —- Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.HIP container handling aims to capture relay market
A child was tasered, and four police officers were injured after a wild vehicle pursuit from Sydney's west to Wollongong. or signup to continue reading Four teenagers, two aged 14 and two aged 13, are accused of leading police on a chase in a stolen Audi overnight on Sunday, November 24. Officers first spotted the Audi in Granville about 9.30pm, and when they put on their warning lights, the car allegedly sped away and a pursuit was initiated. "Police will allege the car continued onto the Hume Highway and Henry Lawson Drive, Georges Hall before the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns," a NSW Police spokeswoman said. "POLAir assisted in monitoring the car before road spikes were deployed on the Princes Motorway, Mount Ousley." With a deflated tyre, the car allegedly left the M1 Princes Motorway and turned onto Mount Pleasant Road in Mount Pleasant. The vehicle eventually stopped on Hopewood Crescent, Fairy Meadow. "A 14-year-old male driver and 14-year-old male passenger allegedly fled on foot down Hopewood Crescent, before being arrested nearby on Garratt Avenue, Fairy Meadow, about 10.10pm," police said. Officers tasered one of the teenage boys who allegedly resisted arrest. "The other two male passengers, both aged 13, locked themselves in the vehicle," the police spokeswoman said. "Police forced entry into the car before arresting the two males." Officers seized hammers and knives from the vehicle, which they allege were stolen. The teens were taken to Wollongong Police Station, where the 14-year-old driver was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously; drive conveyance taken without consent of owner; and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. The other three males were charged with being carried in conveyance and resisting arrest. Four police officers sustained minor injuries during the arrest and did not require hospitalisation. Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Talyn Taylor, the 2024 Beacon-News/Courier-News Football Player of the Year, takes game to another level for GenevaINVESTORS in the Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) of Chinese cosmetics firm Mao Geping Cosmetics received an early Christmas present on Dec 10 when the company made its trading debut – the shares rose as much as 92 per cent before closing the day 77 per cent higher. It was the best first-day performance in four years and a further sign that the three-year slump in IPOs on the Hong Kong stock market is finally over. As at Dec 8, 63 companies, mostly from the Chinese mainland, had listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) this year, according to a recent report from international accounting firm KPMG. They raised a combined HK$83 billion (S14.5 billion), 80 per cent more than in 2023, and pushing the exchange back up to fourth place in the global ranking for IPO fundraising. Of the total, HK$69 billion came in the second half of the year, driven by several sizeable deals, including the four largest IPOs in the past two years, the report said. It’s a welcome turnaround from 2023, when the city’s IPO market plunged to its worst showing in 20 years and only HK$46.3 billion was raised in total from 73 listings amid poor market sentiment. “It’s fair to say that market activity and sentiment have improved significantly compared with six months ago,” said Xu Wenjia, head of Greater China equity capital markets at law firm Linklaters LLP. According to forecasts by KPMG and its peer EY, IPOs in Hong Kong are set to recover further in 2025, with total fundraising projected to reach HK$100 billion to HK$120 billion, pushing the bourse back to its position among the top three global exchanges in terms of IPO fundraising. The turning point for what looked set to be another disappointing year came in September with the blockbuster IPO of home-appliance manufacturer Midea Group. The company, which listed in Shenzhen in 2013, raised HK$35.7 billion in the largest listing in Hong Kong in three years and the second-largest globally in 2024. Although the company is in a traditional consumer-focused industry rather than a hot emerging technology sector, demand massively outstripped the shares on offer in the IPO and as at Tuesday (Dec 24), the stock had climbed more than 40 per cent from its offer price of HK$54.80. Three more major IPOs took place in October and November, each raising more than HK$5 billion – China Resources Beverage, autonomous-driving tech firm Horizon Robotics, and delivery group SF Holding. This compares with 2023 when only one company, liquor-maker ZJLD Group, raised more than HK$5 billion. The rebound in the IPO market follows the implementation of a series of favourable policies issued by the HKEX, efforts by mainland regulators to bolster Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and support Chinese companies’ international expansion, and an improvement in market sentiment fuelled by a slew of stimulus measures unleashed in late September and early October by the Chinese government. This year saw the first three companies list under Chapter 18C of the exchange’s listing rules, a new IPO pathway introduced in March 2023 for money-losing specialist technology firms in fields such as next-generation information technology, advanced materials, new energy and new agricultural technology. Several other companies have submitted listing applications. Hong Kong’s special purpose acquisition company listing mechanism, introduced on Jan 1, 2022, also completed its first merger transaction in October this year. New regulations on overseas listings for mainland companies, implemented from Mar 31, 2023, were intended to make it easier for them to list in Hong Kong by standardising procedures, clarifying regulatory requirements, shifting to a filing-based regime from an approval-based regime, making the process more transparent. In April this year, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) introduced five measures to enhance collaboration with Hong Kong’s capital markets, including boosting support for companies such as Midea and SF Holding to do their Hong Kong IPOs. The commission was reported to have held meetings in October with more than 10 international banks and law firms, urging them to help speed up the offshore listings of mainland companies which had already gained CSRC consent to create some “successful cases” of high-profile deals to bolster sentiment in the market. “Midea’s listing in Hong Kong gave everyone a very positive impression,” said Xu from Linklaters. “The company is in a traditional industry, has an overseas setup, and priced its Hong Kong IPO at a moderate discount to its A-shares, which generated a lot of interest.” Its success should encourage more firms, especially those with a record not only of stable and sustainable profitability but also of financial disclosure discipline honed by years of oversight from mainland regulators, Xu said. Midea’s listing has paved the way for a string of other IPOs from mainland companies. SF Holding listed in November, and in December, auto-driving systems maker Ningbo Joyson Electronic, pharmaceutical company Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, and condiment manufacturer Foshan Haitian Flavouring and Food, all announced plans to issue shares in Hong Kong. Sources have told Caixin that leading battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology and leading energy-drink company Eastroc Beverage are among others planning Hong Kong IPOs. Mining companies are also eyeing Hong Kong as a venue to raise money after years of silence, according to Frank Bi, head of corporate transactions practice in Asia at lawyers Ashurst. They are being seen from a new perspective – as upstream suppliers for new materials, new energy, and hard technology companies, he said. “Moreover, post-pandemic, as China’s Belt and Road Initiative progresses, mining companies are needed for infrastructure development, which will drive greater financing demand.” The slowdown in IPO activity on the mainland market has also prompted many companies originally intending to list on the Shanghai, Shenzhen or Beijing stock exchanges to switch to Hong Kong. Beijing 51World Digital Twin Technology, a specialty technology company, became the fifth company to file under Chapter 18C with the HKEX after unsuccessful attempts to list on the high-tech Star Market in Shanghai and the Beijing Stock Exchange for innovative small and medium-sized companies. Stricter oversight of applicants for mainland listings has reduced the number of companies in the queue from over 1,000 to about 300, according to Louis Lau, a partner of the capital markets advisory group at KPMG China. Many of these firms may switch to Hong Kong and become a significant source of IPOs for the city in future, he said. Companies currently in Hong Kong’s IPO pipeline include Jingdong Industrials, a supply-chain technology and service provider spun off from e-commerce giant JD.com, and transport and logistics firm Lalatech Holdings. The central government’s encouragement of mainland companies to list in Hong Kong has opened up a new financing platform for their global expansion, according to Kelvin Leung, managing director at Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong). Midea, for example, plans to use 20 per cent of the proceeds of its IPO for global technology research and development and 35 per cent for boosting its global distribution channels and sales networks over the next five years. SF Holding’s chairman, Wang Wei, has said his company’s Hong Kong listing will be a platform to expand into international markets, while Mao Geping said 15 per cent of the funds it raised will be used for overseas expansion and acquisitions. Hong Kong is making even more changes to help mainland companies list on its bourse. In October, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the exchange jointly announced plans to streamline the local listing approval process, including setting up a fast-track path for companies which are already trading on the mainland stock market that could cut the number of rounds of regulatory feedback to one and shorten the IPO evaluation process to just 30 working days. Edward Au, managing partner of the Deloitte China Southern Region, said that the collaboration between the two regulators to improve the approval process should help avoid repetitive inquiries to issuers and improve the overall pace of listings. CAIXIN GLOBAL