NEW YORK CITY—Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) has filed to launch a candidacy for a seat on the New York City Council next year, to make a potential political comeback following a series of scandals over sexting and a criminal conviction for obscene online contact with a minor. Weiner, 60, told the Associated Press that he is “still exploring” whether to run. District 2 encompasses a broad swath of some of Lower Manhattan’s most iconic neighborhoods, such as Gramercy, the Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, the East Village, Flatiron, Union Square, and Murray Hill. Carlina Rivera, a progressive Democrat with a focus on abortion access and transgender rights, currently represents the district on the City Council. After numerous investigations into sexual improprieties and a criminal conviction that sent him to prison for 21 months, Weiner has tried, so far without success, to make a political comeback. Weiner launched a run for mayor of New York in 2013 and failed to get past fifth place in the primaries. He had previously run for the same office, without success, in 2005. In 2011, Weiner engaged in sexting with social media users, causing a scandal that led to his announcement on June 16, 2011, that he would resign from the U.S. House of Representatives. Not long after his entry into the 2013 mayoral race, reports emerged that Weiner had used an alias to send sexually explicit photos to a 22-year-old woman. Another scandal erupted in August 2016 around reports that Weiner had sent a woman an image of himself lying in bed with his son. His then-wife Huma Abedin, a longtime close aide to former Secretary of State and two-time presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, filed for divorce in 2017. The two later agreed to negotiate their separation privately. In September 2016, allegations that Weiner had sent obscene content to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina prompted officials to seize Weiner’s laptop. After a discovery of certain emails on the laptop, then-FBI Director James Comey reopened an investigation into then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s improper use of a private email server for sensitive official matters. Prior to the reopening of the investigation, many polls had heavily favored Clinton. To this day, many people, including Clinton herself, believe that Weiner’s improprieties helped hand Donald Trump the presidency in November 2016. In 2017, Weiner received a 21-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to having sent obscene content to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. He served his sentence and was released from prison in 2019, and ordered to register as a sex offender.Russian state news agencies say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is in Moscow and given asylumIdaho officials will spend more time in the courtroom over the state’s closed-doors decision to purchase the University of Phoenix after the Supreme Court on Thursday undid a lower court ruling to dismiss a lawsuit from Attorney General Raúl Labrador. The attorney general’s lawsuit accused the State Board of Education of violating state law by negotiating the purchase of the University of Phoenix in private. In a 4-1 victory for Labrador, the Supreme Court determined that a prior decision by Judge Jason Scott to reject the attorney general’s lawsuit was based on a misinterpretation of state law, and sent the case back down to the lower court for further review. The court also reversed a requirement that Labrador’s office pay nearly $250,000 in attorneys fees for the State Board. The case hinged on private meetings the State Board held to negotiate a potential purchase of the well-known online learning proprietor by the University of Idaho. While the state’s Open Meeting Law generally requires government business to be conducted publicly, “preliminary negotiations” for business deals that are “in competition with” other governments are exempt from the law. But the law states that exemption is supposed to be narrow. “We conclude that the district court erred in its expansive interpretation of these two phrases that provide only narrow exceptions to the general policy of transparency in the Open Meetings Law,” Justice Gregory W. Moeller wrote for the majority. Labrador called the decision a “comprehensive win.” “After 14 months of working to ensure transparency, this is a comprehensive win for the people of Idaho and the principles of open government,” he said in a statement Thursday. It’s unclear how further litigation will affect the possibility of a purchase, which state officials are still negotiating. Republican lawmakers, who will begin their next legislative session in January, have so far been hostile to the deal. In an email, State Board spokesperson Mike Keckler mostly declined to comment on the pending litigation but said the ruling was not a loss. University of Idaho spokesperson Jodi Walker said the school was reviewing the ruling and working “on next steps.” Representatives of the University of Phoenix did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ruling ‘cloaks’ business dealings in secrecy In May 2023, the State Board approved a $500 million purchase of the University of Phoenix, using an estimated $685 million bond, at a public meeting that was announced the day before. Before that, board members held a series of private meetings to discuss the purchase, reportedly because they believed other state universities were also vying to acquire the private school. University of Idaho Chief Financial Officer Brian Foisy signed a non-disclosure agreement to discuss the sale with Phoenix’s representatives, which State Board members adhered to, according to the Idaho Supreme Court opinion. Administrators also began referring to the proposed deal as “Project Neptune” to keep their discussions private. After the State Board approved the purchase, Labrador sued, arguing that a private meeting before the deal was approved violated the Idaho Open Meeting Law. He later tried to expand his lawsuit to include other private negotiations. Scott sided with the State Board and limited how much information the board needed to disclose about its internal communications. Because the board members “reasonably” believed they were competing with other buyers, their private meetings were appropriate, the judge concluded. But the Supreme Court on Thursday took issue with Scott’s analysis, which allowed nearly all negotiations related to a competitive sale to occur in private. It also ruled that a “belief” that the State Board was competing with other universities is not enough to allow its private meetings to continue. Scott’s decision “effectively cloaks all negotiations and actions taken prior to a final public vote in shadow by broadening the very exceptions that the legislature required be narrowly construed,” Moeller wrote. Many times in his opinion, he also noted that relevant documents were unavailable in the record, because Scott had limited Labrador’s ability to obtain details about the State Board’s negotiations. “Because there is simply too much left unknown, undiscovered, and unaddressed about Project Neptune, there remain too many genuine issues of material fact” for the court to make a final determination, Moeller added. The Supreme Court was not asked to address Scott’s determination that Labrador be disqualified from the case. The State Board had argued that the board’s director held a private meeting with Labrador — who, as the attorney general, he believed to be his lawyer — only to see him sue the board afterward. Labrador has said he told the board’s director that he planned to file a lawsuit at the beginning of the meeting. In her dissent, Justice Colleen D. Zahn wrote that while she agreed with most of the majority opinion, its narrow interpretation of the phrase “preliminary negotiations” fails to allow agencies to compete with other potential buyers, and would make that exemption to the open meetings law “unusable.” This story was originally published December 5, 2024, 2:18 PM. University of Idaho extends its deadline for deal to finalize Phoenix purchase Idaho lawmakers just killed University of Phoenix purchase proposal. Will that doom it?
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.Share pledging, where corporate insiders uses shares as collateral for personal loans, has been at the heart of several high-profile corporate scandals in recent years. One of the most notorious cases was the . From 1999 to 2002, the U.S.-based telecom company inflated profits to maintain its stock price. The scandal was largely driven by the on his pledged shares. A similar scenario unfolded in China when Leshi Internet Information and Technology and its founder, Jia Yueting, committed from 2007 to 2016. Yueting had pledged 97 per cent of his shares to secure funding for his U.S.-backed company, Faraday Future. To look deeper at this issue, , since Chinese controlling shareholders predominately pledge their shares. Our research found a trouble connection between share pledging by controlling shareholders and the likelihood of corporate misconduct. Our research found that when controlling shareholders engage in pledging, it increases the probability of corporate misconduct. This relationship held true across various types of misconduct and persisted regardless of the severity of penalties imposed. Corporate insiders frequently pledge their shares as collateral to secure loans for personal investments and other private benefits. In the U.S., , and the average pledging ratio reached 37 per cent in 2012. A notable example is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who . The trend like Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In western Europe, pledging is common in a number of countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal and Spain, and among others. In developing markets like India and Taiwan, between 35 and 50 per cent of publicly listed firms have controlling shareholders who pledge shares. In China, 66 per cent of controlling shareholders pledged their shares between 2003 and 2017, with from RMB$26.22 billion (Chinese Yuan) in 2003 to RMB$2.9 trillion in 2017. , which typically hold at least 50 per cent of voting shares, have significant power over firms. Minority shareholders, on the other hand, receive poor legal protection under concentrated corporate ownership. Concentrated ownership is , particularly in East Asia where . A pivotal shift occurred on May 24, 2013, when the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, along with the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation, through the stock exchange trading system. Before this, share pledging was limited to banks and trusts operating in the over-the-counter market. by offering lower interest rates, fewer restrictions on loan usage and faster approvals. While the deregulation did not target misconduct by securities firms, it created a unique environment for analyzing the causal link between share pledging by controlling shareholders and corporate misconduct. This is what our research looked at. We found that firms located in Chinese provinces with more securities firms (treatment firms) were expected to have greater access to share pledging compared to firms in provinces with fewer securities firms (control firms). Our results confirmed that firms with pledging controlling shareholders were more likely to engage in misconduct following the 2013 deregulation. Prior to 2013, treated and control firms showed no significant differences. However, from 2015 onward, firms in provinces with more securities firms demonstrate an increased likelihood of misconduct compared to firms in provinces with fewer securities firms. This relationship was primarily driven by factors such as financial constraints, stock price inflation, avoidance of margin calls (demands from a broker to fund one’s margin account), and expropriation under weak corporate governance. Factors like political connections, share repurchases and increased bank monitoring didn’t contribute to the link between share pledging and corporate misconduct. Although our study is based on data from China, its findings offer critical insights for countries beyond its borders. The findings are particularly relevant for countries in Asia, western Europe, and Latin America . The study’s conclusions also hold significance for North America, where financial institutions like pension funds and mutual funds invest portions of their portfolios in emerging markets. For instance, the and . The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board reported that was invested in China in March 2024. These institutions should consider governance risks associated with share pledging when developing their investment strategies. For regulators, our study underscores the importance of monitoring the growing influence of share pledging and its potential to exacerbate corporate misconduct. Weak governance structures can allow controlling shareholders to exploit the system, and strengthened oversight and tailored regulations are needed to alleviate these risks. Institutional and retail investors can likewise benefit from the study’s findings, using them to make investment decisions from the perspective of corporate governance. As markets become increasingly integrated, the importance of assessing governance risks associated with share pledging grows. Our research serves as a vital resource for policymakers and regulators who want to maintain ethical, robust financial systems.CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday, signaling their frustration with the state of the franchise’s rebuilding project. Chicago has dropped four in a row to fall to an NHL-worst 8-16-2 on the season. It was outscored 41-27 while going 3-9-1 in its last 13 games. Anders Sorensen was elevated to interim coach. Sorensen had been coaching the team’s top minor league affiliate in Rockford. “Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach,” general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community. As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary.” Chicago had expected to be more competitive in Richardson’s third season. It signed Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Alec Martinez and Craig Smith this summer. It also had coming back for his second season after winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. But Bertuzzi and Teravainen have struggled, and Martinez has been hampered by injuries. Bertuzzi has five goals and five assists in 26 games going into Saturday’s matchup with Winnipeg. Teravainen has three goals and two assists in his last 21 games. Of course, the most important player for Chicago is the 19-year-old Bedard — and it’s his lack of production that likely led to Richardson’s dismissal. While the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft has shown some positive developmental signs, the young center has struggled offensively. Bedard stopped a 12-game drought when he scored in a 6-2 victory against Dallas on Nov. 27. He has five goals and 14 assists in 26 games after he had 11 goals and 10 assists at the same point last season. “We’re not happy with the record, for sure,” Richardson said after his last game, to Boston on Wednesday night. “The guys are trying to work within the system and the right way and unfortunately, like I said before, we don’t seem to have one kind of Achilles’ heel. There’s not one problem with our team. “It’s like one night there’s one area — maybe our defense or our forward or one player — and the next night it’s another area, like a different player.” While Chicago has been plagued by a variety of problems, it’s clear that offense is its biggest issue. It is averaging 2.42 goals per game, ranked No. 31 in the NHL ahead of only Nashville going into Thursday night’s games. The Blackhawks finished with a league-low 178 goals last season. Richardson, 55, had a 57-118-15 record in Chicago. The former NHL defenseman was an assistant on Montreal’s coaching staff when he was hired by the Blackhawks . When Dominique Ducharme was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the 2021 playoffs, Richardson took over as coach for six games and helped lead the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993. The move comes with Chicago set to host the Winter Classic on Dec. 31 against the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field. Shortly before the coaching change was announced, the NHL of what the rink will look like at the home of baseball’s Chicago Cubs. Sorensen, 49, is a familiar face for many of the Blackhawks. He was originally hired by the organization as a development coach ahead of the 2013-14 season. He has a 117-89-16-7 record in 229 career AHL games as a head coach, all with Rockford. ___ AP NHL:BALTIMORE — One of Baltimore’s most prominent families was thrust into the spotlight this week, when a son of the clan, Luigi Mangione, was arrested by Pennsylvania police and charged in the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Locally active in philanthropy, both via individual donations and through the Mangione Family Foundation, the Mangiones gave millions to Baltimore’s various institutions and nonprofits, including more than $1 million to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and more to the American Citizens for Italian Matters, Baltimore Opera Company and others. Loyola University, which counts Mangione alumni among their ranks, has an aquatic center named after the family, and GBMC previously had a high-risk obstetrics unit, since closed, that bore their name. Their story is a uniquely American one: The Mangiones went from deep poverty to massive wealth in just three generations, with one cousin, Nino Mangione, now a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Despite an eventually deep portfolio of development properties and government contracting for 20 years, the family patriarch, Nicholas Mangione Sr. , said he still faced prejudice for his background when he attempted to buy land to build the Turf Valley Golf and Country Club, now the Turf Valley Resort, in Ellicott City. “Tongues started wagging,” Mangione told The Baltimore Sun in 1995. “People (were) wondering where an unknown Italian could get the money for a $5 million project. In those days, there were no Italians in real visible positions (in Howard County).” Mangione said the implication was that he must have backing from the mob, so he countered sharply. “People thought I needed money from the Mafia to buy this place. They asked me what family I belonged to,” he said. “I told them, ‘I belong to the Mangione family. The Mangione family of Baltimore County.’” The family is now defending its name again. On Monday, members released a statement on social media expressing dismay at Luigi Mangione’s arrest, saying they were stunned by the news. “We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved,” the family wrote . “We are devastated by this news.” The family did not respond to a request for comment via a family attorney or their foundation. From poverty to philanthropic elite How they went from the Depression-era streets of the city’s Little Italy to its philanthropic elite is straight out of a Horatio Alger novel. Nicholas Sr. was born in Baltimore’s Little Italy, and spent his first eight years in a one-room apartment with an outdoor privy, according to a 2008 Sun article. He earlier told The Sun his Italian immigrant father, Louis, could neither read nor write, and worked in the city water department until he died of pneumonia. Today, the Mangione family is a sprawling one, with a business empire to match: Nicholas Sr., made the beginning of the family’s fortunes in the post-World War II years as a bricklayer and contractor . He built up his business holdings throughout the following decades, with his wife, Mary , growing their family to include five sons, five daughters, and 37 grandchildren, including Luigi. The family’s holdings range from construction to commercial real estate to local radio station WCBM-AM and a majority stake in Lorien Health Services, which operates multiple assisted living facilities in Maryland. Aside from the Turf Valley Resort, with its 10,000-square-foot ballroom, 220-room hotel, and 85-seat amphitheater, the Mangiones also own the Hayfields Country Club in Cockeysville and a slew of companies registered in Maryland . Its family foundation had net assets of $4.4M as of its 2022 tax filing , the most recent on record. The Mangione Family Foundation’s stated focus is supporting, “Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn’t provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.” Politically active across the aisle Politically, the Mangiones have been active across the aisle. Luigi Mangione’s parents, Louis and Kathleen Mangione donated $35,935 to state and local politicians from 2005 through 2023, according to data from the State Board of Elections. Half went to Nino Mangione ’s campaign account for his state delegate races from 2018 through 2023. Other donations went to Howard County executives Calvin Ball and Ken Ulman, both Democrats, and Allan Kittleman, a Republican, along with additional high-profile candidates of both parties, including former Govs. Martin O’Malley and Robert L. Ehrlich, and former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. Large family The immense number of Mangiones also was briefly confusing for Baltimoreans on Monday. Aside from Nicholas Sr. and Mary Mangione’s 10 children and 37 grandchildren, city counts at least two other Mangione families, who were briefly inundated with phone calls from the media and queries from former schoolmates and acquaintances. One of Luigi Mangione’s two sisters is a physician at the University of Texas Southwestern, according to her LinkedIn profile. Another sister is a visual artist. Neither sister responded to requests for comment. His mother, Kathleen, comes from a family that owns a funeral home, the Charles S. Zannino Funeral Home in Highlandtown, the Baltimore Fishbowl reported , and now runs a travel agency, KZM Boutique Travel, which had removed its website as of Tuesday evening. His father, Louis was groomed to help take over the family’s business empire, according to a 2003 Washington Post article . ©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Smartsheet Inc. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 ResultsPOLITICAL parties will ramp up coalition talks this week in case Fianna Fail and Fine Gael fail to agree on policy and leave the door open for rivals. The Dail is set to meet on December 18 however it is unlikely that political talks will have agreed a new coalition government by then. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the recent poll, securing 48 of 174 seats, ahead of Sinn Fein on 39 and Fine Gael on 38. The result left a greater imbalance of power than in the last government, with FF expecting their greater numbers to be reflected in Cabinet seats and crucially in the length of time Micheal Martin gets in the Taoiseach hot seat. Fianna Fail TD Mary Butler said she understands her party leader and Tanaiste Martin is set to meet with Fine Gael leader Simon Harris today. She insists she is hoping for a “strong, stable and secure government”, adding she will be “quite happy to work with my Fine Gael colleagues again”. She said: “I’ve worked with them for the last four-and-a-half years and we worked very, very well together, we delivered the majority of our programme for government . “We’re just starting into the talks now, my understanding is that the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste are going to meet tomorrow.” She said her party is very proud to have seen 48 TDs elected, but added to RTE : “The important thing is we enter these talks with an open mind, and we respect each other, and I have no doubt that what the people voted for was a strong effective government that will be able to withstand any of the shocks that might come our way in the time to come.” Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon says his party “can’t be taken for granted” in terms of its manifesto pledges. He said the work done now on agreeing policies between parties will be the “bedrock for how successful the next government will be”. He added: “That’s what matters to Fine Gael, that’s our clear focus.” He said Mr Harris is set to meet with the eight independent TDs and Labour leader Ivana Bacik on Monday. “I’m sure he’ll talk to Fianna Fail later in the week as well,” Mr Heydon added. “There was some informal discussion there last week, briefly between himself and the Tanaiste.” He also reiterated that his party does not intend to form a government with Sinn Fein . Sinn Fein TD Louise O’Reilly said Fianna Fail “is in the driving seat”, and Mr Martin “seems hellbent and intent on putting Simon Harris back at the Cabinet table and bringing Fine Gael in as their junior partner”. She added: “I wouldn’t downplay the numbers that the left have within the Dail, you’re talking about 66 TDs elected - that is a very large bloc, that is a bloc that will make sure that their voices are heard.” Meanwhile Michael Collins of Independent Ireland said the group he has joined with the two Healy-Rae brothers and Paul Gogarty, have not received a call from anyone yet. Simon Harris - Fine Gael- 2024 Leo Varadkar - Fine Gael - 2022 - 2024 Micheal Martin - Fianna Fail - 2020 - 2022 Leo Varadkar - Fine Gael - 2017 - 2020 Enda Kenny - Fine Gael - 2011 - 2017 Brian Cowen - Fianna Fail - 2008 - 2011 Bertie Ahern - Fianna Fail - 1997 - 2008 John Burton - Fine Gael - 1994 - 1997 Albert Reynolds - Fianna Fail - 1992 - 1994 Charles Haughey - Fianna Fail - 1987 -1992 Garret FitzGerald - Fine Gael - 1982 - 1987 Charles Haughey - Fianna Fail - 1982 Garret FitzGerald - Fine Gael - 1981 - 1982 Charles Haughey - Fianna Fail - 1979 - 1981 Jack Lynch - Fianna Fail - 1977 - 1979 Liam Cosgrave - Fine Gael - 1973 - 1977 Jack Lynch - Fianna Fail - 1966 - 1973 Sean F. Lemass - Fianna Fail - 1959 - 1966 Eamon de Valera - Fianna Fail - 1957 - 1959 John Costello - Cumann na nGaedheal - 1954 - 1957 Eamon de Valera - Fianna Fail - 1951 - 1954 John Costello - Cumann na nGaedheal - 1948 - 1951 Eamon de Valera - Fianna Fail - 1932 - 1948 William Thomas Cosgrave - Cumann na nGaedheal - 1922 - 1932
NoneNetanyahu hails Assad’s ouster as ‘historic day’, weighs strategic impact on regionNone
TEL AVIV: Israel has watched the rapid overthrow of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with a mixture of hope and concern as officials weigh the consequences of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in years. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the ousting of Assad as an “historic day” that followed the blows delivered by Israel against Assad’s supporters Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon that had created a chain reaction throughout the region. “This of course creates new, very important opportunities for the State of Israel. But it is also not without risks,” he said on a visit to the border area on Sunday. Israel has pushed tanks over the border into the buffer zone with Syria to prevent a spillover from the turmoil there, but has declared its intention of staying out of the conflict engulfing its neighbour. Netanyahu said Israel was working on a policy of “good neighbourliness” and would “extend a hand of peace” to Druze, Kurds, Christians and Muslims. “We will closely follow developments. We will do what is necessary to protect our border and protect our security,” he said in a filmed statement. The lightning advance of Syrian rebel forces since their seizure of Aleppo last week has thrown further turmoil into a region already reeling from the shocks of the war in Gaza and Israel’s subsequent campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. “At the moment, if we aren’t attacked we will just retain the current situation,” Israel’s Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis told Reuters. “Nobody should think that this threat of the Shiite-Iranian axis of evil has been eliminated entirely, there are changes but we need everyone... to be even more vigilant about this,” said Akunis. Overnight, the Israeli military said it was not interfering with internal events in Syria but would “operate as long as necessary in order to preserve the buffer zone and defend Israel and its civilians.” The rapid collapse of the Syrian government has presented Israel with a mix of problems and opportunity, said Dina Lisnyansky, a specialist in regional politics at Tel Aviv University. Iran’s inability to protect its long-time ally Assad has underlined the weakness laid bare by Israel’s devastating campaign against Hezbollah, which left the long-time Iranian proxy reeling, its long-feared missile arsenal largely destroyed and most of its top leadership dead. But the advance of a disparate group of rebel forces with roots in the Islamist ideology of Al Qaeda risks re-igniting chaos in Syria and creating a new security threat on Israel’s borders. “It really depends on what happens next in Syria,” Lisnyansky said. “We need to know if it goes to the peaceful side of events or perhaps whether a new civil war could occur in Syria, which would of course endanger our borders,” she said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Movie Review: ‘September 5’ goes inside a newsroom during the Munich Olympics hostage crisisVANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eldorado Gold Corporation (“Eldorado” or “the Company”) today releases its updated Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource (“MRMR”) estimates as of September 30, 2024. “Our updated Mineral Reserves estimate provides a solid foundation and underpins our production profile over the next decade and beyond,” said George Burns, President and CEO. “We were pleased to increase our Mineral Reserves by approximately 2% overall, driven by increases at the Lamaque Complex and Efemcukuru that extends Reserve mine life significantly and complements our already long mine life assets at Skouries, Kisladag and Olympias. The Lamaque Complex Mineral Reserve increased by 45%, driven primarily by the declaration of an Inaugural Mineral Reserve at Ormaque of 619 thousand ounces. This follows a solid track record of successfully replacing Mineral Reserves since acquiring the asset in 2017 and sets up the Lamaque Complex for the long-term with two underground mines with significant Inferred Mineral Resource conversion potential and exploration upside.” “In addition, at Efemcukuru, we increased Mineral Reserves by 23% resulting in an extension to the mine life by an additional two years to an updated life of mine of eight years. Efemcukuru has been a reliable producer since 2011, and our team remains committed to exploring opportunities to extend mine life further. During 2025, our focus will continue to be on extending the mine life at our existing operations and testing near-mine exploration targets, while seeking a discovery from our highly prospective portfolio of early stage exploration targets in Canada and Turkiye.” Mineral Reserves Update The Company’s Proven and Probable gold Mineral Reserves totalled 11.9 million ounces as of September 30, 2024, an increase of approximately 2% from the previous MRMR statement from September 30, 2023. The complete MRMR table and notes can be found at the end of this release. (1) The Company’s total MRMR excludes Mineral Reserves at its non-core Romanian asset (Certej). As disclosed in the Q3 2024 Managements Discussion & Analysis, the Certej project has been presented as a disposal group held for sale as at September 30, 2024 and as a discontinued operation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement to sell the Certej project. The closing of the disposition is subject to certain conditions. (2) Depletion declared here are in-situ ounces. Depletion includes the 12-month period of October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. Excluding depletion, the increase in Mineral Reserves is primarily attributable to additions at Kokarpinar South at Efemcukuru as well as an inaugural Mineral Reserve estimate for the Ormaque deposit within the Lamaque Complex. The following table summarizes the period-over-period changes to the Company’s Mineral Reserves: NOTE: Totals may not sum due to rounding. (1) The Company reports its MRMR as of September 30, 2024. As such, the change year over year is from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. Mineral Resources Update Eldorado’s Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (“M&I Mineral Resources”) totalled 22.0 million ounces gold, as of September 30, 2024. The Company successfully converted Inferred Mineral Resources to M&I Mineral Resources at Ormaque, within the Lamaque Complex, and at Efemcukuru. The total is offset by depletion at the other operating mines. This resulted in a 3% decrease from the previous MRMR statement from September 30th, 2023. Eldorado’s Inferred Mineral Resources totalled 6.8 million ounces as of September 30, 2024, a 10% decrease from the previous MRMR statement. Detailed MRMR disclosure tables are included at the end of this news release. The following table summarizes the period-over-period changes to the Company’s Mineral Resources: NOTE: Totals may not sum due to rounding. (1) Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. (2) The Company Reports on its MRMR as of September 30, 2024. As such, the change year over year is from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. (3) As disclosed in the Q3 2024 Managements Discussion & Analysis, the Certej project has been presented as a disposal group held for sale as at September 30, 2024 and as a discontinued operation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement to sell the Certej project. The closing of the disposition is subject to certain conditions. 2025 Reporting Schedule The Company intends to report, and host a conference call led by senior management, as set out in the table below. The Company reserves the right to amend the schedule in its discretion and will inform the market of any changes in schedule. About Eldorado Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkiye, Canada and Greece. The Company has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, a portfolio of high-quality assets, and long-term partnerships with local communities. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO). Contact Investor Relations Lynette Gould, VP, Investor Relations, Communications & External Affairs 647 271 2827 or 1 888 353 8166 lynette.gould@eldoradogold.com Media Chad Pederson, Director, Communications and Public Affairs 236 885 6251 or 1 888 353 8166 chad.pederson@eldoradogold.com Notes: (1) Resource grades are reported undiluted, however resources are assessed for reasonable expectation of economic extraction by applying expected minimum mining shapes. (2) As disclosed in the Q3 2024 Managements Discussion & Analysis, the Certej project has been presented as a disposal group held for sale as at September 30, 2024 and as a discontinued operation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement to sell the Certej project. The closing of the disposition is subject to certain conditions. (3) Mineralized shapes based on RPEEE identified based on 2.5 g/t Au COG; within shapes material below incremental COG of 1.0 g/t have been excluded; grades are diluted by must-take material between 1.0 and 2.5 g/t Au. (4) Due to narrow veins, continued conversion of Resources to Reserves at Ormaque will reflect expected lower grades to fully represent mining modifying factors. Notes: (1) Resource grades are reported undiluted, however resources are assessed for reasonable expectation of economic extraction by applying expected minimum mining shapes. (2) As disclosed in the Q3 2024 Managements Discussion & Analysis, the Certej project has been presented as a disposal group held for sale as at September 30, 2024 and as a discontinued operation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement to sell the Certej project. The closing of the disposition is subject to certain conditions. (3) Due to narrow veins, any future potential conversion of Resources to Reserves at Ormaque will reflect expected lower grades to fully represent mining modifying factors. ADVISORIES AND DETAILED NOTES ON MINERAL RESERVES AND RESOURCES General Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are as of September 30, 2024 The Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources were classified using logic consistent with the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves (2014) incorporated, by reference, into National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Sample preparation, analytical techniques, laboratories used, and quality assurance and quality control protocols used during exploration drilling programs are done consistent with industry standards and independent certified assay labs are used. Mineral Reserves are included in the Mineral Resources. The Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are disclosed on a total project basis. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. With respect to “Inferred Mineral Resources”, there is a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a “Measured Mineral Resource”, “Indicated Mineral Resource” or “Inferred Mineral Resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Additional information on the Kisladag, Efemcukuru, Olympias, Skouries and Lamaque mineral properties mentioned in this news release (all of which are considered to be material mineral properties to the Company) are contained in Eldorado’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the following technical reports for each of those properties, all of which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com and www.sec.gov : Qualified Persons Simon Hille, FAusIMM, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technical Services, is the “qualified person” under NI 43-101 responsible for preparing and supervising the preparation of the scientific or technical information contained in this news release and verifying the technical data disclosed in this document relating to our operating mines and development projects, unless otherwise noted. Additional qualified persons have approved disclosures for specific properties as detailed in “Mineral Reserve Notes” and “Mineral Resource Notes” below. Jessy Thelland, géo (OGQ No. 758)., Director Technical Services Lamaque, a member in good standing of the Ordre des Géologues du Québec, is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 responsible for, and has verified and approved, the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release for the Quebec projects. Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources There are differences between the standards and terms used for reporting mineral reserves and resources in Canada, and in the United States pursuant to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”). The terms Mineral Resource, Measured Mineral Resource, Indicated Mineral Resource and Inferred Mineral Resource are defined by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) and the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources adopted by the CIM Council, and must be disclosed according to Canadian securities regulations. These standards differ from the requirements of the SEC applicable to domestic United States reporting companies. Accordingly, information contained in this news release with respect to mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the SEC’s reporting and disclosure requirements. Mineral Reserve Notes Eldorado reports Mineral Reserves in accordance with CIM Definition Standards. Mineral Reserves for the operating sites (Efemcukuru, Kisladag, Olympias, and within the Lamaque Complex – Ormaque and Triangle) were determined using a long-term gold price of $1,450/oz while Mineral Reserves for the Skouries and Perama Hill projects were determined based on a $1,300/oz gold price. A reserve test is undertaken every year to confirm future undiscounted cash flow from reserve mine plan is positive. Qualified Persons The following persons, all of whom are qualified persons under NI 43-101, have approved the disclosure related to the Mineral Reserves for the projects noted below contained within this release: Mineral Resource Notes Eldorado reports Mineral Resources in accordance with CIM Definition Standards. All Mineral Resources are assessed for reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE). The Resource cut-off grades or values (e.g. gold equivalent) are determined using a long-term gold price ($1,800/oz) and modifying factors derived in the resource to reserve conversion process (or by comparison to similar projects for our resource-only properties). These values are then used to create constraining volumes that provide limits to the reported Resources. Resource grades are reported undiluted from within the constraining volumes that satisfy RPEEE. At Efemcukuru, mineralized shapes based on RPEEE identified based on 2.5 g/t Au COG; within shapes material below incremental COG of 1.0 g/t have been excluded; grades are diluted by must-take material between 1.0 and 2.5 g/t Au. Due to the presence of narrow veins, any future potential conversion of Resources to Reserves at Ormaque will reflect expected lower grades to fully represent modifying factors associated with mining. Open Pit Resources used pit shells created with the long-term gold price to constrain reportable model blocks. Underground Resources were constrained by volumes whose design was guided by a combination of the reporting cut-off grade or value, contiguous areas of mineralization and mineability. Eldorado’s Mineral Resources are inclusive of Reserves. Mineral Resource Reporting and demonstration of Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction: The Mineral Resources used a long term look gold metal price of $1,800/oz for the determination of resource cut-off grades or values. This guided execution of the next step where constraining surfaces or volumes were created to control resource reporting. Open pit-only projects (Kisladag, Perama Hill, Perama South, and Certej) used pit shells created with the long-term gold price to constrain reportable model blocks. Underground Resources were constrained by 3D volumes whose design was guided by the reporting cut-off grade or value, contiguous areas of mineralization and mineability. Only material internal to these volumes were eligible for reporting. Projects with both open pit and underground Resources have the open pit Resources constrained by either the permit (Skouries), and pit shell, or by an open pit/underground economic crossover surface, and underground Resources constrained by a reporting shape. (1) Mineralized shapes based on RPEEE identified based on 2.5 g/t Au COG; within shapes material below incremental COG of 1.0 g/t have been excluded; grades are diluted by must-take material between 1.0 and 2.5 g/t Au. Qualified Persons The following persons, all of whom are qualified persons under NI 43-101, have approved the disclosure related to the Mineral Resources for the projects noted below contained within this release: Cautionary Note about Forward-looking Statements and Information Certain of the statements made and information provided in this news release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “budget”, “continue”, “estimates”, “expects”, “forecasts”, “foresee”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intends”, “opportunity”, “outlook”, “plans”, “potential”, “strive”, “target” or “underway” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “can”, “could”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “will” or “would” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information are by their nature based on a number of assumptions, that management considers reasonable. However, such assumptions involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which, if proven to be inaccurate, may cause actual results, activities, performance or achievements may be materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to: our Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; long term prospects for the Lamaque Complex, the sale of the Certej project; exploration opportunities to extend the life of mine at Efemcukuru; 2025 focus on extending mine life, testing near-mine exploration targets and seeking a discovery from prospective early-stage exploration targets; the filing of a new technical report for the Lamaque Complex, the disclosed outlook on long term metal prices; and generally our strategy, plans and goals. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including assumptions about: our ability to obtain all required approvals and permits in a timely manner and our ability to comply with all the conditions that are imposed in such approvals and permits; timing of filing of a new technical report for the Lamaque mineral properties; timing, cost and results of our construction and development activities, improvements and exploration; the future price of gold and other commodities and the global concentrate market; exchange rates; anticipated values, costs, expenses and working capital requirements; production and metallurgical recoveries; Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; our ability to unlock the potential of our brownfield property portfolio; our ability to address the negative impacts of climate change and adverse weather; consistency of agglomeration and our ability to optimize it in the future; the cost of, and extent to which we use, essential consumables (including fuel, explosives, cement, and cyanide); the impact and effectiveness of productivity initiatives; the time and cost necessary for anticipated overhauls of equipment; expected by-product grades; the use, and impact or effectiveness, of growth capital; the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, suspensions or delays on our business; the sustaining capital required for various projects; and the geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate that we operate in (including disruptions to shipping operations and related impacts). Even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions may be difficult to predict and are beyond our control. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, risks relating to our operations in foreign jurisdictions (including disruptions to shipping operations) development risks at Skouries and other development projects; community relations and social license; liquidity and financing risks; climate change; inflation risk; environmental matters; production and processing; waste disposal; geotechnical and hydrogeological conditions or failures; the global economic environment; risks relating to any pandemic, epidemic, endemic or similar public health threats; reliance on a limited number of smelters and off-takers; labour (including in relation to employee/union relations, the Greek transformation, employee misconduct, key personnel, skilled workforce, expatriates, and contractors); indebtedness (including current and future operating restrictions, implications of a change of control, ability to meet debt service obligations, the implications of defaulting on obligations and change in credit ratings); government regulation; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; commodity price risk; mineral tenure; permits; risks relating to environmental sustainability and governance practices and performance; financial reporting (including relating to the carrying value of our assets and changes in reporting standards); non-governmental organizations; corruption, bribery and sanctions; information and operational technology systems; litigation and contracts; estimation of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; different standards used to prepare and report Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; credit risk; price volatility, volume fluctuations and dilution risk in respect of our shares; actions of activist shareholders; reliance on infrastructure, commodities and consumables (including power and water); currency risk; interest rate risk; tax matters; dividends; reclamation and long-term obligations; acquisitions, including integration risks, and dispositions; regulated substances; necessary equipment; co-ownership of our properties; the unavailability of insurance; conflicts of interest; compliance with privacy legislation; reputational issues; and competition. The reader is directed to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form & Form 40-F filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR under our Company name, for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect our business and operations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements and information is designed to help you understand management’s current views of our near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company’s business contained in the Company’s reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States.
If you’re looking for two growth stocks that could soar in 2025 and beyond, ( ) and ( ) are compelling picks. Both growth stocks have strong fundamentals, exciting growth potential, and unique niches in thriving industries. Let’s dive into why these growth stocks deserve a spot on your watchlist. Calian stock Calian Group, headquartered in Ottawa, is a diversified company providing services ranging from healthcare to cybersecurity and advanced technology. It’s like that overachieving kid in class who’s not just great at one subject but excels across the board. The growth stock’s revenue for the trailing 12 months reached $741.39 million, reflecting an impressive 11.1% year-over-year growth. Despite a dip in quarterly earnings, Calian is a long-term play, supported by a robust operating cash flow of $90.51 million and a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 39.88%. With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 10.13, the stock seems undervalued, considering its diversification and trajectory. What sets Calian apart is its ability to pivot and adapt. The growth stock has steadily built a reputation for acquiring complementary businesses, which has helped it diversify its revenue streams. Over the past year, its market cap has hovered around $590.59 million, showcasing resilience even amid market volatility. For investors eyeing dividends, Calian recently announced an annual dividend yield of 2.33%, a cherry on top for growth-oriented portfolios. Lumine Lumine Group is a rising star in the vertical market software industry. Think of it as a savvy investor who buys under-appreciated software businesses and transforms them into winners. Lumine’s strategy mirrors lready proven that this model works wonders. Over the past year, Lumine’s quarterly revenue growth shot up by 35.1%, reaching $624.36 million in the trailing 12 months. The growth stock also maintains a healthy current ratio of 1.96, signalling strong liquidity. Despite being relatively new to the scene, Lumine’s stock price has surged by 86.22% over the past year, indicating investor confidence. Its market cap now sits at a hefty $11.75 billion, and with a forward P/E ratio of 41.67, the stock is trading at a premium, but for good reason. Lumine has the potential to dominate its niche market. It is supported by an aggressive acquisition strategy and a dedicated management team. For long-term investors, it’s a bet on the continued digital transformation across industries. Future focus Looking ahead, both Calian and Lumine have bright futures. Calian’s focus on cybersecurity and healthcare aligns with two of the fastest-growing sectors globally. The increasing demand for robust security solutions and the aging population’s healthcare needs provide Calian with tailwinds that are hard to ignore. Lumine, however, benefits from the digitization of traditional industries. Its portfolio companies cater to essential sectors like communications and media, making it a solid play for the tech-savvy investor. Past performance is another reason to believe in these companies. Calian’s disciplined approach to growth has led to steady returns for shareholders, with a beta of 0.89, signalling lower volatility. Lumine’s meteoric rise since its public debut reflects its ability to execute its acquisition-focused strategy with precision. Both growth stocks are set to benefit from their strong financials and visionary leadership. While Calian leverages its diverse offerings to hedge against market risks, Lumine focuses on dominating a specific niche with razor-sharp precision. These approaches make them complementary additions to any growth-focused portfolio. Bottom line As with any investment, risks remain. For Calian, geopolitical tensions could impact its government contracts, while Lumine’s growth depends heavily on successful acquisitions. However, the strong balance sheets and proven business models mitigate these risks. So, whether you prefer Calian’s , diversified growth or Lumine’s high-octane tech play, both stocks are poised to make waves in 2025 and beyond. If you’re in it for the long haul, these companies could be the growth engines your portfolio needs.
The man accused of killing the head of one of the biggest U.S. health insurance companies is fighting being sent to face charges in New York City, where the attack happened. Luigi Mangione, 26, is being held without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at a McDonald's on Monday after a broad search following the Dec. 4 ambush of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . During a hearing Tuesday, Mangione's lawyer said he wouldn't agree to waive his right to an extradition hearing. Although it might delay the defendant being sent to New York to face murder and other charges, Blair County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney Peter Weeks said Mangione's decision to fight extradition won’t be a substantial barrier to it happening. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday on social media that she would sign “a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure the suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson is held accountable in New York.” The case has captured the American imagination, at least for the moment, with online arguments over whether Mangione is a hero, a killer, or both. The gun found on Mangione when he was arrested in Pennsylvania matched shell casings found at the shooting scene in midtown Manhattan, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday, adding that his fingerprints also matched prints on a water bottle and protein bar wrapper found near the crime scene. Police have said they believed the gunman bought them at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target. Writings found in Mangione’s possession hinted at a hatred of corporate greed, authorities have said. Among the items investigators have recovered was a spiral notebook, along with a three-page handwritten letter found when he was arrested, a law enforcement official said Wednesday. The official wasn’t authorized to disclose information about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Police have not disclosed what was in the notebook, but Mangione said in his letter that it would contain clues about the attack, according to the official. In addition to the letter, arresting officers also found Mangione to be carrying a ghost gun, which is a type of firearm that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday. Story continues below video Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the commissioner said. Kenny told CBS New York on Tuesday that no prints were found on the bullets that killed Thompson, but there was one fingerprint on a cellphone that was recovered. He said the evidence was being processed. Kenny also suggested that the motive might have been related to an accident that sent Mangione to an emergency room on July 4, 2023. Mangione, who comes from a prominent Maryland family, was valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and had degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin, said that Martin had learned that Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by the AP earlier this week said Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, which law enforcement said was based on a review of Mangione's handwritten notes and social media posts. Investigators are also looking at Mangione’s Facebook page, where he posted X-rays of numerous screws that were inserted into his spine, as well as writings in which he discussed the difficulty of sustaining that injury. In his first public words since his arrest, Mangione shouted about an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” as he was escorted into the courthouse Tuesday. Associated Press reporters Michael R. Sisak, Jamie Stengle and Lea Skene contributed to this report.NoneScottie Scheffler 'extraordinary but typical' at Hero World Challenge
NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday's Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech to his nation that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow's talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick... there will be consequences,” he said. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday's missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means “hazelnut tree,” was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. The missile had six nonnuclear warheads each carrying six submunitions and reached a spoeed of Mach 11, it said. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missile’s name, Oreshnik. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said.. Ukraine’s Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects,” said Artiukh, according to Suspilne. Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, contributed.On Wednesday at around 6pm, thousands of social media users in parts of the UK reported an outage with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The social media giant reported that a “technical issue” had left users unable to access its services. DownDetector, a website that monitors social media outages, says the three cities hit worst by the outage were London, Manchester and Glasgow. Other major cities hit hard by the blackout were Cardiff, Nottingham and Birmingham. Thanks for bearing with us! We’re 99% of the way there – just doing some last checks. We apologize to those who’ve been affected by the outage. — Meta (@Meta) December 11, 2024 By around 10pm on Wednesday, DownDetector UK said there had been 23,445 reports of Facebook outages, 11,466 Instagram outages and 18,646 on WhatsApp across Britain. In an update issued at 10.26pm on X, Meta said the problem was now nearly resolved. A spokesperson said: “Thanks for bearing with us! We’re 99% of the way there – just doing some last checks. “We apologise to those who’ve been affected by the outage.” Other parts of the world affected include Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, according to DownTracker. To find out if your area is affected, visit: downdetector.co.uk/status/facebook/map .
Day says OSU fired up, offensive line adjustments could be coming against TennesseeAmazon tries again, with another $4 billion, to get Anthropic to use its AI chips rather than Nvidia GPUs
Washington, Dec 8 (AP) Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate cease-fire with Ukraine, describing it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal," Trump wrote on social media, referring to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a television interview that aired Sunday, Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the US national security community. Asked on NBC's “Meet the Press” if he were actively working to end the nearly 3-year-old Ukraine war, Trump said, “I am.” He refused to say if he had spoken to Putin since winning the election in November. “I don't want to say anything about that, because I don't want to do anything that could impede the negotiation,” Trump said. Trump's call for an immediate cease-fire went beyond the public policy stands taken by both the Biden administration and Ukraine and drew a cautious response from Zelenskyy. It also marked Trump's wading unusually deeply into efforts before his inauguration on January 20, 2025, to resolve one of the major global crises facing the lame-duck Biden administration. Trump made his proposal after a weekend meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders, where many world leaders gathered to celebrate the restoration of Notre Dame cathedral after a devastating fire. Of his advisers that travelled with him, none appeared to have expertise on Ukraine. Kyiv would like to close a deal and “stop the madness,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.” “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump added. He was referring to mediation efforts by China that many in the West have seen as favouring Russia. Zelenskyy described his discussions Saturday with Trump, brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron, as “constructive" but has given no further details. In a post Sunday on the Telegram messaging app, Zelenskyy cautioned that Ukraine needs a “just and robust peace, that Russians will not destroy within a few years.” “When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must talk first of all about effective peace guarantees. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land,” Zelenskyy said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump's post by repeating Moscow's longstanding message that it is open to talks with Ukraine. Peskov referenced a decree by Zelenskyy from October 2022 that formally declared the prospect of any talks “impossible” as long as Putin was Russia's leader. That decree came after Putin proclaimed four occupied regions of Ukraine to be part of Russia, in what Kyiv and the West said was a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Trump's former national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, warned there was no such thing as a quick fix to ending Russia's war with Ukraine. “What I'm worried about is this kind of flawed idea that Putin can be placated, right, that Putin will come to some kind of a deal,” McMaster told “Fox News Sunday." “I think it's really important for President Trump to adhere to his instinct in this connection ... peace through strength,” McMaster said, adding, “How about give them what they need to defend themselves, and then saying to Putin, You're going to lose this war?”' While Trump has said before that he would like to see a quick cease-fire in Ukraine, his proposal Sunday was framed as a direct appeal to Russia. The quick responses from Ukraine and Russia demonstrated the seriousness with which they regarded the idea from the incoming American president. Both Trump and the Biden administration officials have pointed to Russia's disengagement in Syria, where the Russian military largely moved out of the way in recent days as Syrian rebels overthrew the country's Russian-allied president, as evidence of the way the Ukraine was has sapped Russia's resources. The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have made a point of not being seen to press Ukraine for an immediate truce. Ukraine's allies fear a quick deal would be largely on the terms of its more powerful neighbour, potentially forcing damaging concessions on Ukraine and allowing Russia to resume the war again once it has built back up its military strength. For most of the war, Kyiv's official position has been to call for a full withdrawal of Russian troops from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, as a condition for peace talks. Moscow, too, has demanded heavy concessions from Ukraine as a condition for even beginning talks. Trump portrays himself as up to making fast deals to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that have frustrated many of the Biden administration's own mediation efforts. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise affect current US policy. The Logan Act bars private citizens from trying to intervene in “disputes or controversies” between the United States and foreign powers without government approval. But the 1799 statute has produced just two criminal cases, none since the 1850s and neither resulting in a criminal conviction. In the NBC interview that was taped Friday, Trump renewed his warning to NATO allies that he did not see continued US participation in the Western military alliance as a given during his second term. Trump has long complained that European and the Canadian governments in the mutual-defence bloc are freeloading on military spending by the US, by far the most powerful partner in NATO. NATO and its member governments say a majority of countries in the bloc are now hitting voluntary targets for military spending, due in part to pressure from Trump in his first term. Asked whether he would consider the possibility of pulling out of NATO, Trump indicated that was an open question. “If they're paying their bills, and if I think they're treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely I'd stay with NATO,” he said. But if not, he was asked if he would consider pulling the US out of the alliance. Trump responded, “Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.” Trump expressed the same openness when asked if Ukraine should brace for possible cuts in US aid after Trump moves into the White House. “Possibly,” he said. US arms and other military support are vital to Ukraine's efforts to fend off invading Russian forces, and Democratic President Joe Biden has been surging assistance to Ukraine ahead of leaving office. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday announced nearly USD 1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine. (AP) GSP (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Real Life Don't miss out on the headlines from Real Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Warning: Distressing The mother of a young girl brutally killed by her father and stepmother has blasted the pair for killing her 10-year-old daughter Sara Sharif, stating: “It is not human to do this to your own child.” Olga Domin, 38, lost custody of Sara in 2019 , despite accusing her ex-husband Urfan Sharif of abuse following their separation four years earlier. Sara then moved in with him and his new wife, Beinash Batool, where she suffered a campaign of abuse that ultimately led to her death last year, The Sun reports. The pair have just been found guilty of Sara’s murder after her body was found by police in her bunk bed on August 10, 2023. A post mortem uncovered she had 25 fractures and 71 external injuries , including six human bite marks, and burns from a domestic iron. Taxi driver Sharif, 43, beat Sara with a cricket bat and metal pole, sometimes tying her hands and legs together with tape. She was made to wear makeshift hoods during attacks and Sharif urged another child to hit her like a punchbag as if it was a game in what was described in court as a “daily living hell” for the 10-year-old. Sara Sharif, 10, was murdered by her father and stepmother in August last year. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Batool, 30, often called Sharif back from work saying Sara was being naughty, knowing he would beat her up, the court heard. Meanwhile, Sara’s uncle 29-year-old Faisal Malik – who lived with them in an apartment then a cramped three-bedroom house in Woking, Surrey – failed to raise the alarm whenever Sara was attacked. Sharif hit Sara twice on the abdomen when she lay dying because he thought she was pretending to be ill. He refused to call for medical help and investigators suspect the three jet-washed Sara’s body before fleeing to Pakistan, leaving her in the bottom bunk, The Sun added. She had started wearing a hijab to school to conceal injuries to her face and head. A jury at London’s Old Bailey – the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales – found Sharif and Batool guilty of murder on Thursday following an eight-week trial. Malik was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Her dad Urfan Sharif throttled Sara and beat her with a cricket bat and metal pole. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police His new wife, Beinash Batool, would call Sharif back from work saying Sara was being naughty, knowing he would beat her up. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Ms Domin, a Polish national, said she still cannot believe what happened to her child while in the custody of her father. “I still can’t believe what is going on, this situation,” she said. “It’s not human to do this stuff to your own child. “I can’t believe he was hitting her belly when she was dying. I still can’t manage that. They should all get the same for what they were doing. Monster is too nice word for him anyway. “I hope he will be dying in jail.” Paying tribute to “angelic” Sara, who dreamt of being on The X Factor , Ms Domin said: “She was always laughing, smiling. “She loved all the kids. She was always helping, and making videos. She was an amazing child. She was saying ‘I’ll be a model’. “I just don’t get why she is where she is.” Sara had 25 fractures and 71 external injuries – including human bite marks – at the time of her death. Picture: Surrey Police Sara was living with Ms Domin from 2015, when they fled to a domestic refuge to escape Sharif’s violence. He was having supervised contact at a Government-run children’s centre in Reading before a family court hearing in 2019 which ruled Sara should live with Sharif. It is understood Ms Domin did not contest the ruling at the time. Friends say Sharif took accusations made against him and threw them back at Ms Domin — and used the same tactic in his trial by blaming Batool for Sara’s murder, before admitting he too beat her up. Ms Domin was allowed contact with Sara, supervised by Batool, but she said the couple blocked this a few years before Sara’s death. The youngster has been laid to rest in Poland in a grave bearing her mum’s surname and adorned with flowers. Ms Domin visits daily. Sara’s mum had fled her marriage to Sharif over claims of abuse. Picture: Surrey Police But a court awarded Sharif custody in 2019. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Ms Domin also said in a statement released through Surrey Police: “My dear Sara, I ask God to please take care of my little girl, she was taken too soon. “Sara had beautiful brown eyes and an angelic voice. Sara’s smile could brighten up the darkest room. “Everyone who knew Sara will know her unique character, her beautiful smile and loud laugh. “She will always be in our hearts, her laughter will bring warmth to our lives. We miss Sara very much. Love you Princess.” Sharif also dished out horrific abuse to Ms Domin, who said he did it all with “really evil eyes”. She said: “He choked me with a belt, he tried to set me on fire, he beat me with his fists. He was putting the oil on my body. His friend stopped him. He already had the lighter in his hand.” Sara’s body was left in her bed while Sharif, Batool fled to Pakistan. Picture: Surrey Police Ms Domin said Sharif would sleep with money all the time and she had to plead for cash for food for the children. She added: “He told me that he dressed me and no one would help me if I left him because I don’t know the language and I have never worked here. “He said he didn’t like my friend. I wasn’t allowed to meet her. I went to pick up something from the shop and he wouldn’t let me out. I was working nights cleaning the pubs. “They kicked him out of McDonald’s (where he was a shift manager) because he was stealing money. He didn’t have a job. He took all the money from me. “I took £100 (about $AU200) to buy clothes for my kids and he hit me because I took the money. “He would be cunning and would take my phone and he locked me out around three times. “When he did this he had evil eyes, really evil eyes. I was alone in a foreign country, without a language, without a family, until I finally realised that this was not the life I had and left.” Ms Domin was taken to a domestic violence refuge in 2015 and their divorce was completed in 2017. During the trial, Sharif spent six days lying to Old Bailey jurors, claiming Batool was an “evil psycho” and the “true villain of the piece”. On his seventh day in the witness box, Sharif dramatically confessed to beating Sara with a cricket bat and pole and ultimately killing her. But the self-confessed coward could never bring himself to admit he had murdered Sara, The Sun reported. Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Sara’s family forced her to wear a hijab to hide her injuries. Picture: Surrey Police At one point he told the court he beat her repeatedly and intended to cause her “really serious harm” — but he then went back on his testimony insisting he had never meant to hurt her ever. Police found a note by her body, written by Sharif, which said: “I legally punished her and she died.” Once he landed in Pakistan, he called emergency services to say: “I’ve killed my daughter. I legally punished her and she died.” Batool and Malik both refused to give evidence. Det Chief Insp Craig Emmerson, of Surrey Police, said the trio only sought to preserve their own interests and showed no remorse. Mr Emerson added: “Sara was a bright and lively little girl who loved singing and dancing. “Sara’s spirit and bravery and resilience in the face of the suffering that she endured has shone through from the vast inquiries that have been undertaken in this case. “Sara’s young life was brought to an end as a result of the brutal abuse and unspeakable violence inflicted on her by Sharif and Batool, which Malik did nothing to prevent.” Meanwhile a friend of Ms Domin asked: “How could social services ever give Sara to that man? “He’s the worst of the worst. He treated her like a dog.” This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission More Coverage Porn star cries after sex act with 100 men Rebekah Scanlan ‘Perfect body’: Brazilian model a straight ‘10’ Eleanor Katelaris Originally published as Father, stepmum of 10-year-old Sara Sharif guilty of her horror murder More related stories Lifestyle ‘Die tonight’: Countless Aussies facing hell This time of year should be a merry one, spent celebrating with loved ones and hopefully enjoying a break. But for many, the next few weeks will be a living hell. Read more Real Life Porn star cries after sex act with 100 men Lily Phillips is “in training” to sleep with 1000 men, but despite insisting she enjoys the sex acts, new footage shows the real toll it takes. Read moreColor Star Technology Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Minimum Closing Bid Price Rule
Christopher Nolan on ‘Interstellar’s’ cosmic success 10 years laterNEW YORK — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen's house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team showed a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver. “Everything that they showed me, what they have, what they want to do, it was incredible,” Soto said. “But my favorite part was the video.” Soto was introduced at Citi Field on Thursday, a day after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and agent Scott Boras. Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. The slugger walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. Soto picked the Mets over the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. His deal includes a luxury suite and four premium tickets for home games, all for free, and personal team security for the four-time All-Star and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games. “My family is really important for me. Without them, I probably wouldn't have been here,” Soto said. “It's one of the biggest things.” Boras had asked for those sweeteners. “We included it at the beginning," Cohen said. “He made a request and we were happy to provide.” The crosstown Yankees, who reached the World Series for the first time since 2009 in part because of Soto, refused to consider the concept. “Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them,” general manager Brian Cashman said. Cohen purchased the Mets ahead of the 2021 season and has boosted them to baseball's highest payroll in search of the team's first title since 1986 — when the World Series MVP, like Soto, wore No. 22 — Ray Knight. The owner thanked his son, Josh, for helping create the video and commended his 93-year-old father-in-law Ralph for attending the first get-together with Soto. While other teams met Soto at the Pendry Newport Beach, a hotel just a five-minute drive from Boras Corp.'s office, Cohen asked to host the session at one of his homes. “If we’re going to some restaurant, I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be,” Cohen said. “Food's better at my house.” Cohen and Soto met again Friday at another of the owner's homes in Boca Raton, Florida. Soto wanted to know how many championships Cohen expects over the next decade? “I said I’d like to win two to four,” the owner recalled. The value of Soto's contract eclipsed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Its length topped Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego that runs through 2034. The 26-year-old Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks this year and has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven seasons with Washington, San Diego and the Yankees. Boras wouldn't discuss who finished second in the bidding in Soto's mind. “When you’re at a wedding, you don’t talk about the bridesmaids," he said. Soto made the decision Sunday while at home with his family. Boras referred to the group as the “Soto Supreme Court" defined as “mother, sister, father — he’s got a wide group. I think he may have eight or nine uncles.” “My information requests and such were rather unique,” Boras said, detailing that his team asked for OPS by ballpark. Soto's 1.175 at Citi Field is his highest at any stadium where he's played 15 or more games. Soto cited Cohen's relationship with Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Díaz as a factor in his mind. “They are kind of like (a tight) family, a family that wants to win but they definitely want to take care of their players and their families,” Soto said. Cohen had his wife Alex and father-in-law attend the initial meeting to emphasize kinship. “My father-in-law is at every game, every home game,” Cohen said. “I wanted him to see how important baseball is to this family. And Alex grew up with one TV in an apartment and that Met game was on every night.” Cohen relishes owning the Mets. He spoke earlier in the day to a town hall at his hedge fund. “Whenever you meet somebody, they want to talk about the Mets before they talk about financial markets,” he said. Soto's success will be determined by World Series titles. The Yankees have 27, the Mets two. “It's such a big city, right? There's plenty of room for both of us,” Cohen said. Soto had a more direct definition. "Championships is going to tell you if it's a Yankees or Mets town at the end of the day," he said.If you’ve ever thought Counter-Strike lacked cutthroat politics, you might want to keep an eye out for Alara Prime, the tactical 4v4v4 FPS entering closed alpha in early 2025. In a new trailer shown at today’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted you’ll get a peek at the game’s setup, which sees three squads of four players take turns defending a capture point while the other two squads try to kill them and take control. The attackers can work together to knock a leading team off their high horse, or spend so much time backstabbing one another the defenders win by default. It’s a solid minute of gameplay footage showing various tricks from four classes: assault, infiltrator, support, and engineer. Riot shields, flashbangs, surveillance cameras, and holographic decoys are all fair game as each team snakes between corridors. While nothing seems astonishingly different to what you’ll find in Valorant or Counter-Strike 2, it’s got a delicious extra layer of paranoia knowing you’ll either be thoroughly outnumbered or uncertain who you can trust. The cloaking device and wall-breaching charges shown in the trailer make it clear that devious tactics will help players turn around unfavorable odds—or just run the other two teams into each other. Beyond that it looks how you might expect, with plenty of the ol' aiming down sights and running up behind unsuspecting blokes for instant knife kills. A sleek, spacey aesthetic and clear affection for neon green do a bit to differentiate Alara Prime visually from the big two in the tactical shooter subgenre, though it's clear developer Fall Damage is anticipating those comparisons if these posts on X are any indication. Players who receive an invite to the closed test will get a hands-on look at how the three-team antics shake out very soon, but regardless, you can wishlist the game on Steam . The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast. Speaking at the White House, Biden said the U.S. was not sure of Assad's whereabouts, but was monitoring reports he was seeking refuge in Moscow. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. WASHINGTON (AP) — The is forcing the Biden administration and the incoming Trump team to confront intensifying questions about the possibility of greater conflicts across the Middle East. President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which , because close ally the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer.” Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden's national security adviser. Biden was meeting with his national security team at the White House on Sunday. He was expected to make public comments later in the day. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Assad's adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's and its fragile in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and , noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now.” The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by . The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. Vice President-elect , a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of ‘the rebels’ are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they’ve moderated. Time will tell,” he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin's government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting . Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict.” “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. “If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain, contributed to this report. Will Weissert, The Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time this week as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . Bitcoin fell back below the $100,000 by Thursday afternoon, sitting above $99,000 by 4 p.m. ET. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but most daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. And the industry has made sizeable investments along the way. Back in August, Public Citizen, a left-leaning consumer rights advocacy nonprofit, reported finding that crypto-sector corporations spent more than $119 million in 2024 to back pro-crypto candidates across federal elections. Trump made his latest pro-crypto move when he announced his plans Wednesday to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto custodian Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary . That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs, particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. “It is hard to overstate the magnitude of the change in Washington’s attitude towards crypto post-election,” Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, said via email Thursday, reiterating that prices could keep rising if trends persist. “There is a lot more demand than there is supply, and that’s usually a pretty good recipe for success.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Today’s excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren’t already in the space want to get in on the action. For those in a position to invest, Hougan says it's not too late — noting that bitcoin is still early in its development and most institutional investors “still have zero exposure.” At the same time, Hougan and others maintain that it's important to tread cautiously and not bite off more than you can chew. Experts continue to stress caution around getting carried away with crypto “FOMO,” or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. This story has been corrected to refer to Anchorage Digital as a crypto custodian, not a crypto asset manager.
Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurer