NoneA MAJOR bar chain with locations across the country will be handing out free cocktails on one important condition. Be At One is set to giveaway a Christmassy cocktail to customers who embrace the festive spirit next week. 3 Be at One will be handing out free cocktails to some customers next week Credit: Alamy 3 The offer will only run for three days Credit: Alamy 3 People will be required to embrace the Christmas spirit to get their hands on a free drink Credit: Getty The chain has launched a “Swap and Sip” initiative to help give back to children during this season of gifting. Be At One will hand out a free glass of its Bloody Christmas cocktail to each person who brings in an unwrapped toy to donate. These toys will be given to local children’s hospitals to bring cheer to those who need it most. This initiative will only run from 9th - 10th December, so cocktail lovers need to make sure they get down to their nearest branch fast. Read more on money PRIMED & READY Amazon Prime members can pick up 10 more games making 28 free titles BILL BOOST Major energy firm giving customers free cash as it launches new loyalty scheme With 40 locations across the country, people can make a difference this Christmas while enjoying a festive drink and a weekday treat. These include branches in major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. No time restrictions apply to this festive incentive, so donors will be able to claim their free drink during the day or late into the night. This offer will only be redeemable for the Bloody Christmas cocktail and no other drinks. Most read in Money TOP SPOTS Unassuming Scots suburb named as one of the UK's poshest SELL ON HMRC warns Vinted sellers over new ‘30 item rule’ coming in weeks 'WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?' Shoppers fuming after Rowntree's sweets left 'tasting like soap' WE’RE STUFFED Fears Christmas dinner could be RUINED by shortage - will you be affected? Each person donating a toy will be eligible to receive one drink. People should note that small hazardous toys or used toys will not be accepted. I rewrap my son's birthday presents for Christmas as I can't afford new ones The offer will only be redeemable against substantial toys of a fair value and this will be up to a bar manager's discretion. This will also not be available in conjunction with any other offers or deals. Andy Palfreyman, Operations Director at Be At One, shared why the chain was running this campaign. They said: “Christmas is a time for giving—not just to our loved ones, but also to those who need it most. "With the support of the nation, we’re thrilled to bring some festive magic to children in hospitals who deserve joy and smiles during the holidays. "Our goal is to collect as many toy donations as possible to make their Christmas brighter.” Participating Be At One locations Be At One Chester Be At One Liverpool Victoria Be At One Greek Street Leeds Be At One Bath Be At One Cardiff Be At One Leeds Be At One Leeds Boar Lane Be At One Manchester Be At One Liverpool Be At One Birmingham Be At One Brindley Place Be At One Nottingham Be At One Bristol Be At One Chelmsford Be At One Battersea Be At One Camden Be At One Clapham Be At One Farringdon Be At One Islington Be At One Liverpool Street Be At One Monument Be At One Shoreditch Be At One Spitalfields Be At One Milton Keynes Be At One Norwich Be At One Reading Be At One Bournemouth Be At One Brighton Be At One Covent Garden Be At One Epsom Be At One Greek St Be At One Hammersmith Be At One Oxford St Be At One Piccadilly Be At One Putney Be At One Regent Street Be At One Richmond Be At One Russell St Be At One Lincoln Be At One Newcastle
Judge to hear arguments on whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopoly ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Justice Department and Google are set to make closing arguments in a trial alleging Google’s online advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. The arguments in federal court Monday in northern Virginia come as Google is already facing a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine. The Justice Department says it will seek the breakup of Google to remedy its search engine monopoly. The case focuses not on the search engine but on technology that matches online advertisers to consumers on the internet. A judge is expected to rule by the end of the year. ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel DALLAS (AP) — The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday — most of them by car. Thanksgiving Day falling so late this year has altered traditional travel patterns. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration says it could screen a record number of U.S. air travelers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration says a shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays. Transportation analytics company INRIX says roads could be congested on Monday with both commuters and returning holiday travelers. Macy’s says employee hid up to $154 million in expenses, delaying Q3 earnings Macy’s says it’s delaying the release of its fiscal third-quarter earnings results after it discovered an up to $154 million accounting-related issue. The company did provide some preliminary results for its third quarter, including that net sales fell 2.4% to $4.74 billion. It anticipates reporting its full third-quarter financial results by Dec. 11. 'Buy now, pay later' is more popular than ever. Experts warn shoppers not to overdo it NEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers are using ‘buy now, pay later’ plans heading into Black Friday and the holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. Experts say the short-term loans can lead consumers to overextend themselves and warn that those who use credit cards for the service face higher interest expenses. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Workers at Charlotte airport, an American Airlines hub, go on strike during Thanksgiving travel week CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport have gone on strike during a busy week of Thanksgiving travel to protest what they say are unlivable wages. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services authorized the work stoppage in North Carolina that started Monday morning. Union spokesperson Sean Keady says the strike is expected to last 24 hours. The companies contract with American Airlines to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. Airport officials say this holiday travel season is expected to be the busiest on record. The companies have acknowledged the seriousness of a strike during the holiday travel season. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Stock market today: Wall Street rises near records as Treasury yields ease NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising near records and adding to last week’s gains. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% Monday and was just below its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 286 points to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% higher. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has advocated for reducing the U.S. government’s deficit, which could soothe some worries that had been building on Wall Street. Judge in Alex Jones' bankruptcy case to hear arguments on The Onion's bid for Infowars A federal judge in Texas is set to hold a hearing on whether the satirical news outlet The Onion made a valid bid for the Infowars platforms of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who alleges a bankruptcy auction was marred by fraud and collusion. The hearing is set for Monday afternoon. It's not clear how soon the bankruptcy judge will rule. He could allow The Onion to move forward with its purchase, order a new auction or even name the only other bidder as the winner. Jones filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuits by families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut. As Amazon expands use of warehouse robots, what will it mean for workers? Amazon has introduced a handful of robots in its warehouses that the e-commerce giant says will improve efficiency and reduce employee injuries. Two robotic arms named Robin and Cardinal can lift packages that weigh up to 50 pounds. Sparrow transfers items from bins to other containers. The company says it's already seeing benefits, such as reducing the time it takes to fulfill orders and helping employees avoid repetitive tasks. However, automation also carries drawbacks for workers who might need to be retrained for new positions. The Associated Press recently spoke with Julie Mitchell, the director of Amazon’s robotic sortation technologies, about where the company hopes to go from here.NonePAEC gets construction licence for Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-5
DSA commissions junior officers in 66th Intake
The fallout from the bipartisan spending bill earlier this month, which was heavily influenced by Elon Musk , along with his recent comments supporting foreign workers, has prompted some Republicans to criticize and question Musk's business ties to China. Why It Matters As one of Donald Trump 's top allies and largest financial backers, Musk has demonstrated his influence in the incoming administration, playing a key role in the collapse of the bipartisan spending agreement earlier this month. Musk urged Republican lawmakers to reject the bill, which some House Democrats allege was motivated by its restrictive investment provisions targeting China. Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX , has deep business ties with China and often speaks favorably of the country that shares a tense relationship with the U.S. and the Republican Party . President-elect Donald Trump has advocated for higher tariffs on Chinese goods, has often referred to the coronavirus as "China virus," and has criticized President Joe Biden for not countering China, particularly on trade policies. What To Know Musk, the world's wealthiest person, has invested in China, a country crucial to his electric car company. Tesla's Shanghai plant opened in 2019 and is the company's largest factory, accounting for half of Tesla's global car production, according to The Wall Street Journal . Newsweek has reached out to Tesla via email on Friday for confirmation and to contact Musk. In addition to production, China is also a major market for Tesla and is a key player in the global battery supply chain. Musk has met with a handful of high-ranking Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Industry Minister Jin Zhuanglong, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. The tech giant often praises China's technological advancements, including the country's space program, infrastructure, and renewable energy. In 2019, he was offered permanent residency in the country after visiting and saying, "I love China and want to come here more often." Earlier this month, Musk came out against the bipartisan spending bill that would avert a government shutdown, with some lawmakers suggesting he was against it due to the provisions on China. The original bill would have prohibited or required notification of overseas transactions involving China in sectors like semiconductors, quantum technology and artificial intelligence. It also would have included an expanded review of Chinese real estate purchases near national security-sensitive sites and a requirement to study national security risks posed by Chinese-made consumer modems and routers. The final version of the bill removed all China-related provisions. Prior to his nomination as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), some Republicans were wary of Musk's relationship with China, such as former Trump White House chief strategist Steven Bannon who previously said that " his paymasters " are from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Now, amid the inter-party strife over H-1B visas, more Trump supporters are raising eyebrows over Musk's business ties to China. What People Are Saying Steve Bannon told Newsweek via text message on Friday, "I've always been public about my deep reservations concerning Elon's financial ties to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party]—the Tesla joint venture underpins his entire business empire and they control it." Bannon also told Newsweek he doesn't believe that Musk didn't support the bipartisan spending bill over its China provisions. Laura Loomer said on Steve Bannon's show, War Room , on Friday morning: "I also have a problem with his [Musk's] ties to China....Why does this guy have why does this guy have unfettered access to President Trump? And what are the national security implications of this?" Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro in a December 20 press release: "Musk's investments in China and his ties with the Chinese Community Party have only grown over the last few years with Tesla's Shanghai plant producing about 50 percent of Tesla's global automobile output. It is no surprise 'President' Musk does not want to see a funding deal containing this provision be signed into law." Republicans against Trump posted on X on Thursday: "MAGA just finding out that DOGE was never about "government efficiency." Instead, it was a tool for Elon Musk to push for deregulation, shut down criminal investigations into his companies, and make it easier for him to expand his businesses in China." Republican Senator Marco Rubio posted on X on January 3, 2022 : "Right after President Biden signed Sen. Rubio's Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law, @Tesla opened a store in #Xinjiang. Nationless corporations are helping the Chinese Communist Party cover up genocide and slave labor in the region." What Happens Next It is unclear what U.S.-China relations will look like under the new Trump administration. While Elon Musk presents a friendly face, the nominations of prominent China hawks Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Mike Waltz as national security adviser suggest a contrasting approach.Chehalis Mayor Pro Tem Daryl Lund in ICU after septic shock diagnosis; remains in treatment in Tacoma
Forty-eight hours before Romanians were due to vote in a presidential election run-off, the whole process was scrapped because of an unprecedented ruling by the constitutional court. The court's decision to annul the first round came after a far-right independent candidate, Calin Georgescu, came out of almost nowhere to lead the first round two weeks ago amid allegations of Russian interference. Georgescu has condemned the ruling as a coup and Romania may have to wait months to vote again. Romania is a key Nato member on its eastern flank and shares a long border with Ukraine. It is not the first Eastern European state to fend off Russia's hybrid war, and the constitutional court has ruled that intelligence revelations of Russian meddling are sufficiently serious to put the presidential vote on hold. Moldova's recent presidential vote was held amid alleged Russian interference and voter fraud, and across the Black Sea in Georgia , the pro-Western opposition says contested elections there were hit by Kremlin meddling. Opinion polls were almost neck and neck going into Sunday's race. Almost 19 million Romanians were eligible to choose between Calin Georgescu and liberal mayor and former TV journalist Elena Lasconi. Latest polls even gave Lasconi the edge in the run-off. But then on Wednesday Romania's outgoing President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence documents from the supreme council for national defence suggesting that almost 800 Tiktok accounts created by a "foreign state" in 2016 were suddenly activated last month to full capacity, backing Georgescu. Another 25,000 TikTok accounts had become active only two weeks before the first round. Romanian foreign intelligence said Russia was the "enemy state" involved and had engaged in hybrid attacks including tens of thousands of cyber attacks and other sabotage. Domestic intelligence put Georgescu's sudden surge in popularity down to a "highly organised" and "guerilla" social media campaign" that involved identical messaging and social media influencers. TikToks promoting him were not marked as election content, violating Romania's laws, it said, while one account paid out $381,000 (£300,000) in the space of a month to users who pushed Georgescu's candidacy, while he said he had not paid anything for his campaign. That decision to declassify intelligence documents changed everything. Judges from the constitutional court met on Friday to consider a large number of requests to annul the first round. It was a complete about-turn from a decision four days before that approved the initial 24 November vote after a complete recount of 9.4 million votes. In its single-page judgement, the constitutional court says that in order to ensure the fairness and legality of the electoral process it has unanimously decided to annul the entire vote and the government must establish a new date for a re-run. The court says cites its role under the constitution "to guard the observance of the procedure" of presidential elections. It stresses the decision is final and binding. The president in Romania wields considerable power as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and with the task of appointing the prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who calls himself a university teacher, was a relative unknown in the presidential race. He denies he is a fan of Vladimir Putin, although he sees the Russian leader as a "patriot and a leader" and wants to put an end to political and military aid to Ukraine. "Zero. Everything stops," he told the BBC's Sarah Rainsford. "I have to take care just about my people. We have a lot of problems ourselves," in words that reflect his Romania-first stance. He says while Romania should remain in international organisations such as the EU and Nato, it must end its "subservient" role. He also condemns allegations that Russia was behind his electoral success as intelligence "lies". A 62-year-old agricultural engineer by profession, he held high-ranking civil service jobs years ago at Romania's environment and foreign ministries. He is also a conspiracy theorist who believes Man never landed on the Moon and the Covid-19 pandemic never happened, despite the seven million deaths worldwide , reported by the World Health Organization. Read more: Far-right candidate vowing to end aid to Ukraine Romanians are split over the constitutional court decision. "Today the Romanian state trampled democracy underfoot," liberal candidate Elena Lasconi complained. Crin Antonescu, former leader of the National Liberal party however welcomed the court ruling and said he could not understand Lasconi's reaction. "This is exactly right, to start [the whole race] again from scratch," he told Romanian media. There has been anger from supporters of Calin Georgescu. "We are witnessing a lying political class scared of losing power and capable of any injustice to keep their power and positions," Eugen, an entrepreneur in the western city of Timisoara told the BBC. Romanians who have been unenthusiastic about both candidates are unsure whether to be glad they do not have to decide on Sunday, or concerned for the future of Romanian democracy. The election starts all over again in three or four months' time, to give candidates a chance to gather endorsements to run. In the meantime, incumbent President Klaus Iohannis has said he will remain in post until the next president is elected. There is no reason why Georgescu cannot run again, although he may face criminal proceedings as a result of the allegations made against him which he denies. Romania has only just held parliamentary elections in which the centrist parties did better than expected. The Social Democrats are likely to led the next coalition government. However, three far-right parties between them polled 32% of the vote, and one of them, George Simion's AUR, came second. Another factor of uncertainty is how Georgescu supporters will react to the annulment. Will they take to the streets, or look to support Calin Georgescu or another nationalist candidate when Romania eventually returns to the ballot box.
‘Waves’ Review: The Czech Republic’s Oscar Entry Is a Thrilling Affirmation of the Importance of Independent Journalism
MORE than 150,000 illegal migrants have arrived on small boats in the last five years — enough to fill a town the size of Blackpool. On Boxing Day , 407 people made the journey in ten boats, while pictures suggest crossings continued into yesterday. Combined with 451 arrivals on Christmas Day , the total since 2018 has now hit 150,243 — surpassing the populations of Blackpool and even Cambridge . The milestone heaps huge pressure on Labour, with more than 22,000 arriving since Sir Keir Starmer’s party took power in the summer . It sparked accusations of inaction after the new Government axed the Rwanda deportation plan and instead pledged to crush the smuggling gangs driving the crossings. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted the move as a disaster, calling it a green light for migrants to flood in over Christmas. READ MORE ON IMMIGRATION He said: “We have been let down again by Labour. "Their Christmas gift to the British public appears to be uncontrolled and unlimited illegal immigration .” “It was a terrible mistake for Labour to cancel Rwanda before it even started. That’s why crossings are up 20 per cent since Labour came in. “The Government must urgently restore a Rwanda style removals deterrent." Most read in The Sun Mr Philp called on France to follow Belgium’s lead and start intercepting boats at sea and sending them back. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice added it is “only getting worse under Labour”. He added: “They must start putting British people first and stop letting our borders be controlled by the weather . “Reform UK would pick up and return boats to France under maritime law . It’s simple — but Labour lacks the backbone to act.” This year alone, 35,898 migrants have crossed the Channel, up 22 per cent on the same period last year, though still 22 per cent lower than 2022’s record of 45,774. The rise has been fuelled by favourable weather, with October and November seeing a record 26 “red days” — when calm conditions make crossings more likely. At least 50 migrants have died attempting the journey this year, the highest toll since early 2018. The crisis has been building steadily since then, when just 299 migrants were detected. That December, then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid cut short his Christmas break and declared a “major incident” after 40 migrants crossed on Christmas Day. But the figures have exploded since, with 1,843 crossings in 2019, 8,466 in 2020, and a record 45,774 in 2022. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has promised tougher action against the smuggling gangs. She said: “In 2025, we will bring forward new legislation to give law enforcement tougher powers to investigate, prosecute and disrupt organised immigration crime . “The criminals breaching our border security need to know that they will face the full force of both the UK and international law enforcement and justice systems.” We are increasing removals of those with no right to be here and are clamping down on illegal working She also slammed the Tories for lax enforcement, highlighting that Labour has removed 13,500 people, increased workplace raids, and is set to deliver the highest return rates since 2018. Ms Cooper said that next year, biometric kits and body-worn cameras will be introduced to quickly identify those with no right to be or work in the UK. She added: “This is all part of this Government’s Plan for Change to strengthen our borders and fix the foundations of a broken immigration system, while also putting more money in people’s pockets and making the NHS fit for the future .” While Labour ditched the Rwanda plan, it has previously expressed an interest in studying Italy’s deal with Albania, under which some migrants will be sent there to have their asylum claims processed. But the agreement has faced significant challenges, with transfers recently halted by courts in Rome . A Home Office source yesterday sought to blame the previous government for the new figures, saying: “The Tories left an appalling legacy of broken border security. “We are fixing the foundations with a new Border Security Command, 100 new specialist investigators and new agreements with Europe and beyond to break up the business models of the evil criminal gangs making millions from small boat crossings. "We are increasing removals of those with no right to be here and are clamping down on illegal working.” A Home Office spokesman said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. “We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.” READ MORE SUN STORIES Labour is also facing significant challenges after net migration into the UK hit a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023. The Office for National Statistics originally estimated it was 740,000 but revised it in early December. 22,324 have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power in July 22% increase in the number of illegal migrants since last year 50 killed making the crossing in 2024, the deadliest year so far By Leo McKinstry, political commentator IMMIGRATION policy has long been a gigantic exercise in deceit. Politicians keep promising crackdowns, yet the influx of new arrivals continues to swell dramatically. The gap between tough words and feeble inaction is starkest over the cross-Channel trade in human cargo. After becoming PM in 2019, Boris Johnson struck a defiant pose as champion of tough border controls. “We’ll send you back,” he warned illegal migrants. But that bold claim only emphasised his impotence. Crossings maintained their remorseless increase — reaching more than 45,000 in 2022. In Opposition, Labour mercilessly attacked the Tory Government for failing to stop the small boats. But, despite all their talk about “smashing the gangs”, Labour’s record is just as dismal. At least the Conservatives tried to implement their Rwanda scheme. Labour offers nothing but tinkering.UW’s transfer portal wish list: Which positions will Huskies target?
Jameson Williams roasts Jayden Reed over no-showing in Lions win over Packers | Sporting NewsBofA sees potential for snow accumulation to decline by 20-30% across U.S. resorts by 2050jetcityimage Introduction Dollarama Inc. ( OTCPK:DLMAF ) is set to announce Q3 ’25 earnings on December 4 th, ’24, before the market opens. I wanted to go through some numbers as the company is not very well covered by the Street Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.