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A seven-storey Christmas tree erected in Valletta’s entrance has drawn sharp criticism, with critics calling it “ugly” and comparing its decorations to Malta’s construction boom. But Jason Micallef, the chairman of the Valletta Cultural Agency, has defended the tree decorations and lashed out at critics, accusing them of wanting to disrupt Christmas in the capital. Decorated with miniature white streetlight lanterns, colourful wooden window shutters, and a small door and balcony featuring the Maltese cross, the tree was unveiled as part of the 'Christmas in the Capital' programme. But the structure outside the parliament sparked a social media backlash with many deriding its design. “Must a (Christmas) tree also be transformed into a building,” former Valletta mayor and PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier wrote on Facebook. He also called out the irony of the tree being placed in front of the banner bearing the name of the construction collapse victim Jean Paul Sofia. The Facebook group 'Belt Valletta' described the Christmas tree as a block of apartments. “In the heart of the capital, in the most public space we have in Malta, we celebrate... the sponsors,” the group wrote, reflecting on the banners for TEC events. Andre Pizzuto, president of the Kamra tal-Periti, also shared the picture of the Christmas tree with the simple caption: “Merry Construction." Some critics humorously suggested replacing the tree’s star with a crane, dubbing it “Malta’s true symbol”. “Are people paid to come up with these ridiculous ideas? A modern take on a tree house perhaps,” another commented. “For Christmas time, at the entrance of the capital, they installed a monument of greed,” Robert Aquilina, former president of rule of law NGO Repubblika, wrote on Facebook. “Obsession with construction. They even converted a Christmas tree into a building!” "I'm all for patriotism, but I don't know what a Maltese balcony has to do with Christmas. Awful, from top to bottom," another commented. Speaking to Micallef dismissed the outrage as politically motivated by Repubblika activists. He emphasised that the tree’s design honours Maltese traditions which are on the brink of being lost. He said the Maltese street lanterns were inspired by a poem by Maltese poet Anton Buttigieg and slammed the criticism that the decorations symbolise construction. “There is nothing wrong with these decorations, and I am not celebrating construction at all. People are mocking the work the agency does.” “This is a personal campaign to disturb Christmas,” he stressed. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.None
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Friday ousted two more elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office and replaced them with state-appointed administrators, citing terrorism-related charges against them. With their ouster, the number of elected mayors that have been sacked since October rose to six. An Interior Ministry statement said the mayor of the mainly Kurdish-populated provincial capital of Tunceli was removed from office due to his past conviction and an ongoing investigation for links to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. The district mayor for Ovacik, in Tunceli province, was sacked due to his past conviction of membership in the PKK, the statement said. The two mayors belong to the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, which is the third-largest party represented in Parliament. They were elected to office in local elections in March. Among those previously ousted was the mayor of Esenyurt, a district in Istanbul, who is a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, CHP. The mayor, Ahmet Ozer, was arrested last month, for alleged connections to the PKK. Several other pro-Kurdish mayors have similarly been ousted from office following past elections. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has defended the mayors' removals saying they are part of efforts to maintain security. Opposition parties and human rights groups, however, accuse the government of undermining democracy and say the charges brought against the mayors are often politically motivated. The PKK, which has led an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since the 1980s, is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people.“I’m Still Sunburned”: Tom Brady Throws a Jab at Jerry Jones With a Mocking Remark on AT&T Stadium
Fifth Third Bancorp stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsCalifornia approves $1,4 billion plan to build thousands more vehicle chargers, boost ZEV infrastructure – electric charging and hydrogen refueling stations SACRAMENTO – Thousands more electric vehicle (EV) chargers are coming to California. The California Energy Commission (CEC) today that accelerates progress on the state’s EV charging and hydrogen refueling goals. These investments will help deploy infrastructure for light, medium, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) across California, expanding the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the country. The plan details how the CEC’s will spend $1.4 billion in state funding over the next four years, with at least 50% targeted to benefit lower-income and disadvantaged communities. The funding is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s historic California Climate Commitment, which includes more than $10 billion for ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure. The state has also received billions from the Biden-Harris Administration for clean transportation. Building ZEV infrastructure is a critical part of Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades across the state. Find projects building your community at . , said: “With this investment, and the help of the private sector, we’re building a bigger, better vehicle charging network that ensures Californians can reliably and affordably get where they’re going.” The funds approved today will result in nearly 17,000 new chargers for passenger vehicles statewide. Over are installed today. Combined with previous investment plans, funding from the federal government, electric utilities and other programs, the state expects to reach 250,000 chargers in the next few years. In addition to the public network, the state estimates that more than 500,000 private home chargers are installed statewide. The funds will become available over the next four years and distributed to projects through competitive grants. Projects include direct incentive and rebate programs for businesses, non-profit organizations, tribes and public agencies. Why this matters First created in 2007, the Clean Transportation Program is one of the first transportation-focused funding efforts established to help advance the state’s climate change policies. To date, $2.3 billion has been invested in projects supporting ZEV infrastructure, alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, providing the following benefits. California’s strategy for a clean transportation transition This is a major milestone on California’s path to a clean transportation future. In addition to advancing ZEVs, which topped 26.4% of all new California vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2024, the Newsom Administration is prioritizing clean fuel production, public transit and rail infrastructure enhancements, and a cleaner, smarter electric grid to help power it all. As California works toward this clean transportation future, the state is also advancing efforts to prevent gasoline price spikes. the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at California approves $1,4 billion plan to build thousands more vehicle chargers, boost ZEV infrastructure – electric charging and hydrogen refueling stations, Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc Announces Closing of Private Placement of Unsecured Convertible Debentures MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. (TSXV: NXH, OTC: NXHSF)... Everfuel and Karlstads Energi gets funding notification for potential project in Sweden Herning, Denmark, 13 December 2024 – Everfuel A/S’ is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Everfuel Production Karlstad AB... Charbone Hydrogen secures warrant proceeds, extends expiry dates, and grants stock options Charbone Hydrogen Corporation (TSX-V:CH, OTCQB:CHHYF) announced $371,150 from warrant exercises expiring in late 2024 and early...(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Wednesday, Dec. 18 AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE 7 p.m. NHLN — Providence at Lehigh Valley COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 6:30 p.m. CBSSN — Creighton at Georgetown 7 p.m. ESPN2 — Memphis at Virginia FS1 — Xavier at UConn 8 p.m. SECN — The Citadel at Vanderbilt 9 p.m. CBSSN — Alabama at N. Dakota ESPN2 — Michigan vs. Oklahoma, Charlotte, N.C. FS1 — Butler at Marquette 10 p.m. BTN — CS Northridge at Southern Cal 11 p.m. FS1 — Washington St. at Washington COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 6:30 p.m. ESPNU — North Carolina vs. Florida, Charlotte, N.C. 7 p.m. ACCN — Wofford at Duke 8:30 p.m. ESPNEWS — Tennessee at Memphis COLLEGE FOOTBALL 5:30 p.m. ESPN — The Boca Raton Bowl: W. Kentucky vs. James Madison, Boca Raton, Fla. 8:30 p.m. ESPNU — NJCAA Tournament: Hutchinson Community College vs. Iowa Western Community College, Championship, Canyon, Texas 9 p.m. ESPN — The Art of Sport L.A. Bowl: California vs. UNLV, Los Angeles GOLF 3:30 a.m. (Thursday) GOLF — DP World Tour: The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, First Round, Mont Choisy Le Golf, Grand-Baie, Mauritius NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m. TNT — Philadelphia at Detroit TRUTV — Philadelphia at Detroit (DataCast) 9:30 p.m. TNT — Florida at Minnesota SOCCER (MEN'S) 2:40 p.m. CBSSN — EFL Carabao Cup: Brentford at Newcastle United, Quarterfinal TENNIS 6 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin 11 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin 6 a.m. (Thursday) TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .
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Business experts say Biden regulations have stifled growth: 'America wants a different choice'If you’re looking for a family-friendly activity to plan for the upcoming holiday breaks — and if you’re a fan of the popular Netflix series “Squid Game” — consider “Squid Game: The Experience NYC,” a unique chance to dive into a live-action rendition of the show’s thrilling challenges. Held at Manhattan Mall, the event is suitable for all ages, though parents are encouraged to assess whether the physical and strategic nature of the games is appropriate for their children. Tickets start at $29, with VIP packages offering perks like priority entry, access to the VIP lounge, and unique collectibles. Click here to buy tickets to “Squid Game: The Experience NYC.” The event tests players’ survival instincts and strategic thinking in a 60-minute competition. Participants face off in groups to complete challenges inspired by the show, such as “Red Light, Green Light” and the Glass Bridge, with real-time scoring displayed on a leaderboard. “Squid Game” explores themes of class struggle, debt and survival, resonating with viewers around the world. The experience doesn’t stop with the games — players can explore recreated sets, snap photos and enjoy the Korean-inspired Night Market, complete with food, drinks and exclusive merchandise. ‘Squid Game: The Experience NYC’ offers real-life, immersive version of popular Netflix show. (Courtesy Netflix) Courtesy Netflix MORE ABOUT THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE The venue is open from Thursday to Monday, with additional holiday hours. After the main event, guests are invited to linger at the Night Market, making for a fun and memorable outing. Accessible for all, the experience is located at 100 W. 33rd St. in Manhattan with an entrance at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 33rd Street. Guests will enjoy 60 minutes of intense gameplay at “Squid Game: The Experience NYC” inspired by the iconic Netflix series, as well as exclusive new games created specifically for New York. After the competition, there is a Night Market, where you can enjoy Korean food, themed cocktails and photo opportunities with iconic show settings. Exclusive merchandise and collectibles are also available to complete the experience. ‘Squid Game: The Experience NYC’ offers real-life, immersive version of popular Netflix show. (Courtesy Netflix) Courtesy Netflix ABOUT SQUID GAME “Squid Game” is a South Korean survival drama series that premiered on Netflix in 2021. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show centers around a deadly competition where 456 financially desperate participants compete in children’s games for a large cash prize. However, the games take a brutal twist, as those who fail are eliminated in fatal ways. The show’s tension arises from its critique of social inequality, greed and human nature as players face moral dilemmas in their pursuit of the prize. The series became a global phenomenon due to its gripping plot, high-stakes drama and striking social commentary. Popular games featured on the show include “Red Light, Green Light,” “Tug of War” and the “Glass Bridge,” all of which are simple childhood games with life-or-death consequences for the participants.
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Shares of drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros ( BROS 1.43% ) skyrocketed 62.2% during November, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence . It's not uncommon to see a stock jump after a positive financial report, and the company did report financial results for the third quarter of 2024 on Nov. 6. But a jump of this magnitude is unusual and signals that something extra special happened. Throughout 2024, an increasing number of investors have been betting against Dutch Bros stock -- this is known as short selling . As the chart shows, short interest has been increasing and hit an all-time in late September. And it was still elevated going into November. BROS Short Interest data by YCharts At the risk of oversimplifying things, it seems investors were generally becoming more pessimistic about Dutch Bros going into the Q3 report. But the company shocked investors by turning in a strong report that showed 28% year-over-year revenue growth and net income of nearly $22 million. When investors have low expectations, and the company turns in a good report, an explosive stock price can result. And it seems that's what happened with Dutch Bros stock in November. Serving up some new growth ideas Dutch Bros stock has investors' attention because of its strong growth. This growth has largely come from opening new locations since it went public. But with its Q3 report, management brought attention to the fact that it's testing an expansion of its menu . Whereas food items make up less than 2% of sales today, it hopes that food can make up a much larger percentage in the future. It gives Dutch Bros another growth lever that investors hadn't counted on, contributing to the strong gains with the stock. With its Q3 report, professional analysts on Wall Street had to adjust their expectations for Dutch Bros stock. Many analysts responded by increasing their price targets . Perhaps the most substantial increase came from Piper Sandler analyst Brian Mullan. According to The Fly, Mullan has a new price target of $51 per share for Dutch Bros, compared with a price target of just $36 before. And an increase such as this gets investors excited. What to watch now Regardless of whether food will eventually drive growth, the main growth lever for Dutch Bros remains promising. Management is accelerating new openings headed into 2025 and is already filling out its pipeline for 2026. Assuming these new locations have similar economics to existing locations, this could be a powerful driver of future gains for Dutch Bros stock. Shareholders will want to watch profit margins as Dutch Bros expands -- the coffee space is competitive, and strong competition can drive profits lower. But if the company keeps growing at this pace while margins hold strong, it could signal strong long-term potential for this business.
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NoneThe Solano College women’s volleyball team’s most successful season in program history ended with a four-set loss to visiting Shasta in the second round of the NorCal Regionals. The 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22 loss to the Knights leaves Solano with a 26-6, who won their 69th straight Bay Valley Conference win en route to a title. One of those wins came earlier this season against Shasta on Sept. 11, but the Knights’ hitters were up for revenge the second time around. “I think tonight we were nervous. That’s all I could think of,” Solano head coach Darla Williams said, shrugging her shoulders. “They were nervous and a little apprehensive. We weren’t playing our type of ball. Definitely not how we played against Cosumnes River and Ohlone.” Shasta was led by sophomore Madelyn Frick, along with Shelbie Rogers and Emerie Brown. Frick led the Knights with 20 kills, with eight of them coming in the fourth set. Solano fell behind 14-7 midway through the first set, but soon regrouped to go on a 6-0 run to bridge the gap to 14-13. The run was sparked by two aces from Vanessa Semien and a kill from Aliyah Aguiar. Solano kept things close, but could never tie or take the lead. A kill from the Falcons’ Vanya Paopao cut the lead to 19-18, but Rogers had a kill to make it 20-18. Semien had a kill to once again cut the lead to a single point at 22-21, but once again the Knights answered. Shasta scored the last three points, the final one coming from Frick in a 25-21 win. The second set remained close as well, but Shasta went on a 7-1 run to get some breathing room. Two kills during the run come from Frick. Solano had kills from Semien and Jada Cuffie to bridge the gap to 24-19, but a Falcon ball sailed out out of bounds to give Shasta a 2-0 lead. Solano woke up in the third set. Back-to-back kills from Aguiar gave Solano a 9-7 lead, but Shasta kept things close. Solano went up 14-11 when Aguiar had a kill. Aguiar had five kills in the third set and 14 in the match to lead the Falcons. Solano seemed to be in control, but had problems serving. Up 19-17, Solano had three unforced errors in the next few minutes that could have given the Falcons more breathing room. However, Solano hung tight and a kill by Aguiar ended the set at 25-23. Shasta didn’t wait around in the fourth set. The Knights took a 8-3 lead and seemed to be cruising. Solano, seeing its season slip away, didn’t go down without a fight, using a two consecutive kills by Aguiar to tie it at 15-all. Then Frick woke up. The Knights’ outside hitter had eight kills and an ace in the fourth set, the majority of them coming near the end. Up just 23-22, Frick had two consecutive kills to get the Knights to win 25-22 and advance. “I don’t think anything changed with her. I mean she’s (Frick) a good hitter that averages in the 30 plus kills for most sets,” Williams said. “They actually didn’t go to set her as much as I thought they would. She was in the back row because she’ll be hitting back row taps. All the film we watched didn’t see any of those big hitters (Rogers and Brown). It’s like they came alive today.” Frick was happy with how her team played in the second matchup of the season. “I think everybody was there to play today,” Frick said. “I can say my team showed up and I am proud of each and every one of them. “I think after the second game we just got a little too comfortable,” Frick said. “You never want to be too comfortable in anything in life. We just let go a little bit, which is not OK. We have to always go, go, go.” Williams said rust didn’t affect how the Falcons played on Tuesday night. In the end, Williams said she is proud of the team. “This group just gets along. I wish they were a little more vocal,” Williams said, with a laugh. “One through 12 we’re pretty strong. Everyone can step up for one another. I just think this start, we started out slow. I wish I knew the secret is to avoid that, because I would love to know.”