Republican members of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform discuss a proposal during the committee's final meeting on Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform will have 27 bills ready for introduction in the 2025 legislative session that starts in January, several of which seek to move some power away from the judicial branch or make judicial elections partisan. The committee wrapped up what is likely to be its final meeting Dec. 4 just hours after Democrats held a news conference alongside former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot in which they pledged to fight against the bills coming out of the committee, calling them political attacks on the judiciary. Democrats are in the minority in both chambers and chose not to participate in the committee because they did not want to legitimize its efforts, they said. The committee’s members, however, praised their work and that of their staff after seven months of meetings and bill drafting. “It was a big lift. Got a lot of work accomplished in a short amount of time. I’m anxious for the bills coming out of here. We have some good legislation,” Senate President and Committee Chair Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, told the oversight committee to finish its 12th meeting since April. The committee’s final act – barring signing off on a report summarizing the committee’s work – was to approve for drafting three more bills on top of the 24 already ready to go or which are in process. One attempts to outline in statute what the Montana Constitution says about the separation of powers among the three branches of government. The other two seek to make changes to judicial recusal and to limit the effect of an injunction only to the parties involved in the case. While most of the committee’s meetings have been day-long or two-day affairs full of presentations on parts of the judicial branch and discussion over lawmakers’ many proposed bills , Wednesday’s meeting was much shorter, and most of the discussion surrounded the bill on the separation of powers, which will be carried by Sen. Daniel Emrich, R-Great Falls. Emrich said the bill is “one of the most important bills you may see this session.” Deputy Director of Legal Services Jaret Coles told the committee the version they were looking at was his seventh draft of the measure, which over 12 pages creates several new sections of law that describes the baselines of each branch’s powers according to the Constitution, he said. “I think that the most important part about this entire bill is that it creates boundaries and fences that every branch can see,” Emrich said. “And so, there’s a lot of question on where those boundaries are between the branches of government, and I think this puts some pretty good definition on it.” Sen. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, who will be Senate majority leader come January, asked Coles if putting some of the language that involves legislative rules into statute could create legal issues for the legislature because the proposed bill directly outlines its duties. Coles said that whether rules, which are the sole responsibility of the legislature, trump statute or vice versa has been interpreted differently by different courts and states, and that he included “limited language” in the bill to try and avoid legal issues. “They’re the legislature’s rules. They’re not supposed to be interpreted by any other branch,” Coles said. “So, I think you’d have to get to your questions, look and see, is there any of these areas that seem like they would restrict the legislature’s powers? I don’t believe so, but you raise a good question. That’s always going to be, you know, a struggle.” Emrich’s other bill , which aims to make injunctions apply only to the parties in a suit and not to the entire state or court system, would “prevent the court from offering a blanket injunction that affects the entire state of Montana,” he said. Emrich told the committee that he believed the bill would allow the legislature to weigh in when it believes the court is “misinterpreting” the state Constitution and ensure any relief granted from a bill being declared unconstitutional would be narrowly tailored. He claimed that a court enjoining a portion of a bill violates the separation of powers because a court is altering a statute. “This gives the legislature the ability to say, ‘OK, if there is an issue with the statute, we can go back and fix it,’” Emrich said. “And if there’s not, or if we need to restate it in a different way, it gives us the ability to do that. So, it really gives the legislature a seat at the table when it comes to constitutional review.” Ellsworth pointed out that many bills already have severability clauses built in that say that the rest of a bill can stand even if one portion of them is found unconstitutional, and wondered if the “knife would cut both ways” because the legislature might have to defend a bill in every district court in Montana. Moreover, he added, a district court decision still may be appealed to the Supreme Court, whose ruling would bind district courts across the state. Emrich responded by saying he believes courts, through judicial review established by Marbury v. Madison in 1803, are abusing their authority. “I think it opens up new territory, but it’s also opening up old territory where the courts really never had any authority to do this for quite a long time,” he said. “I believe us as a nation survived just fine for quite a long time, and the state survived just fine without the courts stepping into this arena.” Earlier Wednesday, a panel of two legislative Democrats, Racicot and former First Judicial District Court Judge Jim Reynolds, who all have experience as Montana attorneys, said the committee was knowingly pushing out more unconstitutional bills as it responds to courts finding prior bills passed by the Republican-led legislature unconstitutional. “Our constituents have a right to ensure that their taxpayer money is being used with integrity, and now what we have is a small group of individuals pointing their fingers at the court for doing its job, upholding your individual rights under the Constitution,” said Sen.-elect Laura Smith, D-Helena. Smith said she expected lawmakers regardless of party to vote against bills during the session that “clearly violate” Montanans’ constitutional rights, lest those bills also end up back in court being defended by the state. Racicot, rebuked by the Montana GOP last year and who spoke up against what he said were attacks on Montana’s Constitution during the 2023 session, said a “faction” of legislators was trying to exercise complete control over the judicial branch and “threatening the demise of democracy and ultimately our way of life.” “These proposals that have been discussed ... are simply extremist measures offered for the convenience and for the ultimate satisfaction of individual groups within the legislature,” he said of the oversight committee’s efforts. Rep.-elect James Reavis, D-Billings, a public defender in Montana for a decade, talked mostly about the committee’s bills seeking – as some bills that failed did last session – to make judicial candidates declare a party. He said having nonpartisan and impartial courts is key to the principle of justice, as someone facing a judge of an opposing political party, for instance, might not feel they were afforded due process based on their politics. “That’s not a future for Montanans that I want and I don’t think it’s a future Montanans want,” he said. While nearly every bill from last session that the group on Wednesday said attacked the judiciary failed, they said that some efforts to pick away at the Constitution take time. Smith said nonpartisan people and groups have been taking notice of the wave of bills out of the oversight committee and plan to fight them during the upcoming session, and that she believes her colleagues will take notice. “Our colleagues in the House and Senate are thoughtful people who will have conversations with us about the impact of what these laws will actually do, and so I am hopeful in that regard,” she said. “But at the same time, the sheer volume and content of these bills is extremely concerning.”None
Brazilian vets race to save heron with cup lodged in its throatThe statement went on to emphasize the importance of following strict regulations and guidelines when traveling by train and urged passengers to cooperate with security personnel to ensure a smooth and safe journey.
GENEVA (AP) — Netflix has secured the U.S. broadcasting rights to the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031 as the streaming giant continues its push into live sports. The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given, though international competitions in women’s soccer have struggled to draw high-value offers. “Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix isn’t just about streaming matches,” its chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. “It’s also about celebrating the players, the culture and the passion driving the global rise of women’s sport.” Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a heavily hyped boxing match between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. Some viewers reported streaming problems , however. Netflix also will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. That’s part of a three-year deal announced in May. World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences, and the last women's edition in 2023 earned FIFA less than 10% of the men's 2022 World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had publicly criticized public broadcasters , especially in Europe, for undervaluing offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the U.S. “This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino said. The World Cup rights mark another major step in Netflix’s push into live programming. It’s recipe that Netflix has cooked up to help sell more advertising, a top priority for the company since it introduced a low-priced version of its streaming service that includes commercials two years ago. The ad-supported version is now the fastest growing part of Netflix’s service, although most of its 283 million worldwide subscribers till pay for higher-priced options without commercial. But Netflix is still trying to sell more ads to boost its revenue, which is expected to be about $30 billion. Netflix executives have predicted it might take two or three years before its ad sales become a major part of its revenue. Netflix expects to spend about $17 billion on programming this year — a budget that the Los Gatos, California, company once funneled almost entirely into scripted TV series and movies. But Netflix is now allocating a significant chunk of that money to sports and live events, a shift that has made it a formidable competitor to traditional media bidding for the same rights. FIFA will likely use the Netflix deal to drive talks with European broadcasters that likely will be hardball negotiations. Soccer finance expert Kieran Maguire, a co-host of The Price of Football podcast, suggested the deal was “a bit of a gamble" for FIFA and “saber-rattling” by Infantino. “(Netflix) get experience of football broadcasting, FIFA can say, ‘we are now partnering with a blue chip organization, so watch out you nasty Europeans,’” Maguire, an academic at the University of Liverpool, said in a telephone interview. FIFA and Infantino also want to raise the price of broadcast deals to help fund increased prize money and close the gender pay gap on the men’s World Cup. At the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 32 team federations shared $440 million in prize money. For the women’s 2023 tournament , FIFA had a $152 million total fund for prize money, contributions to teams’ preparation costs and payments to players’ clubs. In FIFA’s financial accounts for 2023 , the soccer body reported total broadcasting revenue of $244 million. In the year of the men’s 2022 World Cup it was almost $2.9 billion. The next Women's World Cup will be a 32-team, 64-game tournament in 2027, played in Brazil from June 24-July 25. The U.S. originally bid jointly with Mexico. The 2031 host has not been decided, though the U.S. likely will bid for a tournament which FIFA is expected to try to expand to 48 teams. That would match the size of the 104-game format of the men's World Cup that debuts in 2026 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Spain won the 2023 Women's World Cup after the U.S. won the two previous titles — in France in 2019 and Canada in 2015. More than 25 million viewers in the U.S. watched the 2015 World Cup final, a 5-2 win over Japan, played in Vancouver, Canada, in a time zone similarly favorable to Brazil. FIFA tried to sign Apple+ to an exclusive global deal to broadcast the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup which is being played in 11 U.S. cities next June and July. Broadcast networks showed little interest in the FIFA club event that will now be broadcast for free on streaming service DAZN, which is building closer business ties to Saudi Arabia. Ahead of the next Women's World Cup, Netflix will "produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football,” FIFA said. AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNew Orleans (4-8) at New York Giants (2-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Saints by 5. Against the spread: Saints 5-7; Giants 3-9. Series record: Giants lead 17-15. Last meeting: Saints beat Giants 24-6 on Dec. 17, 2023, in New Orleans. Last week: Saints lost to Rams 21-14; Giants lost to Cowboys 27-20. Saints: overall (12), rush (10), pass (19), scoring (14) Saints defense: overall (30), rush (26), pass (29), scoring (19) Giants offense: overall (T26), rush (15), pass (31), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (19), rush (29), pass (6), scoring (18) Turnover differential: Saints plus-2; Giants minus-8. Derek Carr. The quarterback completed 23 of 28 for 218 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the previous meeting and had a 134.8 quarterback rating. Drew Lock. The veteran quarterback is going to make his second straight start with Tommy DeVito (forearm) hurt. He threw for 178 yards and ran for a career-high 57 yards in the loss to the Dallas. He scored on an 8-yard run and had a 28-yard scramble to set up another. He also made mistakes, throwing a pick-6 and losing a fumble on a scramble. Saints offense vs Giants defense. The Giants defense is banged up. DT Dexter Lawrence (elbow) was put on injured reserve Monday and fellow starter Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck) missed practice earlier in the week. Leading tackler and ILB Bobby Okereke is dealing with a back issue. Saints: Tight end Taysom Hill's knee injury last week will sideline him the rest of the season. Running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) is eligible to come off injured reserve and could return to the lineup Sunday. Guards Cesar Ruiz (concussion) and Nick Saldiveri (knee) have been held out of practice this week. Center Erik McCoy (groin) , who sat out last week's game, returned to practice early this week on a limited basis. Guard Lucas Patrick (calf) has practiced on a limited basis after sitting out the past three games. Tyrann Mathieu (forearm) has returned to full practice this week after sitting out much of the second half of last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Giants: Lawrence and rookie TE Theo Johnson (foot) were placed on injured reserve and probably are out for the season. ... DeVito (forearm) and LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) missed the Dallas game but they are making progress this week. DeVito will back up Lock. ... Eluemunor and RT Evan Neal (hip) may be game-time decisions. ... CB Deonte Banks (ribs), Okereke (back) and Nunez-Roches (neck) are unlikely to play. WR Malik Nabers was added to the report Thursday with a nagging groin issue. The Saints have won two of the past three meetings. The Giants are winless in all six games at MetLife Stadium this season. The Saints are 2-1 under interim coach Darren Rizzi, who was born in New Jersey and grew up a Giants fan. ... Carr ranks sixth among qualified passers with a 103.3 rating in 2024. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had TD catches in his past three games. ... TE Juwan Johnson had five catches against the Rams. ... DT Bryan Bresee has a career-high 6 1/2 sacks and is looking for his third straight game with a sack. He had two sacks against New York last season. ... DL Chase Young has two sacks and three tackles for loss against the Giants in December. ... LB Demario Davis had 10 tackles and a sack in the previous meeting. ... CB Alontae Taylor is the only player with at least 10 passes defended and five tackles for loss in each of the past two seasons. ... Mathieu needs five tackles for his eighth straight season of at least 50 tackles. ... Giants: RB Tyrone Tracy ranks second among rookies with 619 yards rushing. He has run for four touchdowns. ... WR Malik Nabers has 75 catches for 740 yards. His reception total is the most by a rookie in his first 10 games. .... Wan'Dale Robinson has career-high 63 catches. ... OLB Brian Burns has a career-high eight passes defended and 10 tackles for loss. ... Okereke needs seven tackles for his fourth straight season of 100 or more tackles. ... S Tyler Nubin leads all rookies and ranks fourth among DBs with 93 tackles. ... The Giants have set an NFL record going 11 straight games without an interception. They have one interception this season. The NFL record for fewest in a season is two by the 2018 San Francisco 49ers. The fewest in a season by the Giants was six in 2022. Look for running back Alvin Kamara to have a big game. He has 894 yards rushing on 206 carries and he has caught 59 passes for 450 yards. He has seven touchdowns, six rushing. The 29-year-old has had eight games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage this season and he is third in the league with 1,344 yards from scrimmage. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Defensively, Manchester United has also faced numerous issues this season. The team has struggled to keep clean sheets and has looked vulnerable at the back in many games. The lack of defensive solidity has been a stark contrast to their performances last season when they were able to grind out results and show resilience in defense. This season, the defense has failed to inspire confidence, leading to dropped points and disappointing results.
Clarke Reed, who helped Gerald Ford win the 1976 Republican nomination, has died at 96US billionaire businessman Frank McCourt is crafting a fundamental overhaul of TikTok’s business model as part of a plan to bid for the Chinese-owned short-form video app , he told Reuters. McCourt, who formerly owned the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, said he has received verbal funding commitments totaling $20 billion from a consortium of investors to rescue the app from legal purgatory as it awaits a Supreme Court decision to determine if it will be forced to sell its US operations. His vision for TikTok includes revamping the company’s advertising model so that users will have control over the ads and type of content they want to see. Over time, TikTok could earn revenue through ecommerce and licensing data for artificial intelligence training models — with users’ consent — which will diminish the business’ reliance on ads. “When you give permission for your data to be used and you receive compensation, it’s flipping this 180 degrees and giving the user the power,” McCourt said this week. The plan faces several hurdles, including TikTok’s repeated assertions that it cannot be divested from its owner, Chinese tech firm ByteDance. McCourt said the bid for TikTok would exclude the algorithm that determines the content that users see, in order to reduce complications for ByteDance. The Chinese government in 2020 added content recommendation algorithms to its export-control list, requiring a divestiture or sale of TikTok’s algorithm to go through its administrative licensing procedures. TikTok’s appeal to the Supreme Court is a last-ditch effort to overturn a law signed by President Biden that seeks to force a sale over national security concerns, or else the app will be banned on Jan. 19. McCourt said he believes the Supreme Court will uphold the law, after which ByteDance could be open to negotiations. Until then, he is focused on smoothing the path to an acquisition. McCourt said he and his team have had “preliminary conversations” with members of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. Trump tried to ban TikTok in 2020 but has since reversed his view , saying on Dec. 16 that he has “a warm spot in my heart for TikTok .” A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment. The team is also speaking with potential CEO candidates for the new TikTok, McCourt said. One source familiar with the matter said the team approached V. Pappas, TikTok’s former chief operating officer . Pappas did not respond to a request for comment. McCourt declined to name who he is speaking with for the CEO role. The plan for TikTok will also include migrating its technology onto an open-source protocol developed by Project Liberty, an organization founded by McCourt. The protocol would allow users to control their data and easily move it elsewhere on the internet. The plan is influencing the search for a CEO. “This is both a big project to scale the technology that we’ve built, but it is also a vision for a better internet. We’re talking to people who share that vision and have the capacity and skills to do both,” McCourt said.
Taipei Net-Zero101 Project Achievement Exhibition: Mobii Green Energy Launches the World's First Hydrogen-Powered Mobile Data Center 12-20-2024 07:42 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: SHENZHEN HMEDIUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD In May this year, Taipei officially launched the "Net-Zero 101 Project", leveraging cutting-edge technology to pioneer the development of hydrogen-powered data centers. Through a public-private collaboration platform, the project aims to position Taipei as a global hub for green technology and artificial intelligence startups, supporting the city's 2030 goal of achieving a 40% reduction in carbon emissions. As the 14th demonstration site under the "Taipei Net-Zero 101 Three-Year Plan", Mobii Green Energy today (December 19) inaugurated the world's first hydrogen-powered mobile data center, "Mobii D", marking a significant milestone in Taipei's journey toward net zero. Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/dd4ad031e126bb9713d287bd7406b572.jpg Mobii Green Energy Chairman Kenny Zeng (far right), Taipei City Deputy Mayor Chang Wen Te (second from left), Environmental Protection Department Commissioner Xu Shixun (far left), and Taipei Chamber of Commerce Chairman Wu Hwa Tien (second from right) gathered in front of "Mobii D" to commemorate this milestone, emphasizing international cooperation in hydrogen technology and mobile computing power. "Mobii D" features innovative technologies, including the world's smallest hydrogen generator "Mobii A", a dynamic power control system "Mobii B", a 180kW vanadium redox power generator "Mobii E", and an AI cloud management platform "Mobii C". It also integrates Supermicro's GB200 server, with Tatung System Technologies Inc. providing enterprises with rapid deployment of private computing power and comprehensive AI consulting services. Revolutionizing Hydrogen Production Beyond Electrolysis "Mobii A" is the world's smallest hydrogen generator, independently developed by Mobii Green Energy. It employs a proprietary plasma electromagnetic pyrolysis technology, capable of processing methane and water simultaneously to achieve on-demand hydrogen production. This eliminates the need for storage and transportation, significantly reducing costs and risks. The capital investment for this technology is only one-tenth of traditional hydrogen production methods. Starting next year, Mobii Green Energy will offer green hydrogen and blue-green hydrogen solutions to high-emission industries such as steel, petrochemicals, cement, paper, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and ships. The "Mobii B" dynamic direct current power control system integrates solar energy, hydrogen energy, fuel cells, lithium batteries, and vanadium redox batteries. It enables real-time scheduling and dynamic integration, reducing energy consumption, enhancing power supply efficiency, and ensuring uninterrupted operation. The "Mobii E" vanadium redox power generator combines the technological strengths of "Mobii A" and "Mobii B", offering high safety, a lifespan exceeding 20 years, and the capability to replace traditional diesel generators, further reducing carbon emissions and environmental impact. Taiwan-Hong Kong Partnership for International Hydrogen-Powered Supercomputing As the exclusive distributor of "Mobii D" in Taiwan, Tatung System Technologies Inc. (8099) is responsible for system integration and operational services. It also introduces a new "AI Advisor" service, enabling enterprises to swiftly deploy computing power and adopt AI applications, anticipated to become a key revenue driver next year. Supermicro (NASDAQ: SMCI) contributes high-performance GB200 servers and liquid cooling technology, jointly creating mobile computing products that integrate green energy, computing power, and AI applications. Simultaneously, Mobii Green Energy announced the establishment of the "Chinese Hydrogen-Powered Mobile Supercomputing Research Association" and signed an International Industry-Academia Collaboration Memorandum with Taiwan's Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center, the Hong Kong Association of Energy Service Companies, and the Energy Research Center of City University of Hong Kong. The partnership aims to advance technical validation and standards formulation. Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/b42ab7ab339f2048b916515323107901.jpg Mobii Green Energy Chairman Kenny Zeng (fifth from left) joins representatives from City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and industry experts to inaugurate the Chinese Hydrogen-Powered Mobile Supercomputing Research Association. Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/933838ed04d97d473ff7591b61fe652c.jpg In his remarks, Wang Yuanchang, Chief Advisor of the association, stated, "The future of sustainable energy combined with mobile and computational power will pave the way for a transformative new paradigm." Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/819d51dc576bed4957bac3f4eaef9a6d.jpg Mobii Green Energy Chairman Kenny Zeng (center), together with Hong Kong Association of Energy Service Vice Chairman Cheung Kwok-Chuen (far right), City University of Hong Kong Energy Research Center Director Leung Kwok-Hei (second from right), Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center Marine Industry Division Director Dr. Chung Cheng-Hsien (second from left), and Hydrogen Supercomputing Research Association Chief Advisor Wang Yuanchang (far left), signed the International Industry-Academia Collaboration Memorandum on Hydrogen-Powered Mobile Supercomputing, marking a significant step forward in global cooperation. Global Expansion and Future Prospects The "Mobii A" hydrogen generator is set to deliver on-demand green hydrogen to clients in the first quarter of next year. The first batch of "Mobii D" mobile data centers is planned for deployment in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand by the second quarter of 2025, with an estimated shipment of 200 units by the end of 2025. Media Contact Company Name: Mobii Green Energy Group Contact Person: CC Wang Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=taipei-netzero101-project-achievement-exhibition-mobii-green-energy-launches-the-worlds-first-hydrogenpowered-mobile-data-center ] Country: Taiwan Website: https://www.mobiiesg.com/ This release was published on openPR.In a significant move that underscores its commitment to global connectivity and industry best practices, JD Airline has officially announced its membership in the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This strategic decision not only showcases JD Airline's dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency but also paves the way for expanded flight offerings and enhanced customer experiences.A new coffee shop is slated to open in the former home of The Creamery at Fourth and Townsend streets, but the opening figures to be delayed, as the place was broken into twice on Sunday. The storefront at 685 Fourth Street used to be The Creamery, serving coffee to the tech and Caltrain commuter crowds up until its August 2020 closure . Now it’s finally being replaced by a South Bay chain called Silicon Valley Coffee , which claims to “find and roast the best coffee in the world and use the latest coffee technology to help you create a perfect cup of coffee.” But the opening of the SF Silicon Valley Coffee location may be delayed, as KPIX reports that the shop under development was broken into twice this week — within 24 hours. The owners showed up on Sunday, only to find two strangers inside the place, and needles scattered about. So you know what was going on! The owners called the police, who arrived, but oddly did not make any arrests. "Little disappointed, little shaken up," co-owner Matt Baker told KPIX. "We went home and came back the next morning just to find that we were robbed and everything we had back there was gone. Including our, ironically enough, our brand new security system." The SF Silicon Valley Coffee location only figures to be a short-term tenant once they open anyway. They’re eventually going to have to close, as developers plan to break ground on a reported 1,000-unit apartment complex at the site, and Silicon Valley Coffee presumably got a deal. Though the way things are going in the housing construction business these days, their short term may get extended once or twice. "This is an incredible opportunity," Baker told KPIX, with his chin up. "It's not every day an entire coffee shop, a restaurant, a giant patio in a prime location just lands in your feet and they ask you, can you help to make it better." Related: Famed Leather Bar SF Eagle Robbed of $30,000 In an Alleged Inside Job [SFist] Image: Google Street ViewFair Isaac exec James Wehmann sells $8.3m in stock
Photo: Contributed When Dearborn Ford first opened its doors in Kamloops, it was common for owner Ed Gillespie to not only sell a vehicle, but to teach the buyer how to drive it as well. That’s what happened when you started selling cars in 1924. The showroom carried Model T soft tops and Model A cars, and Gillespie’s staff included a bookkeeper, two mechanics and one salesman. Dearborn Ford is still going strong today and is in the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary. Current general manager Justin Grover says the dealership’s “deep roots” are what make it so stable in today’s day and age. “Having Ford as our business partner has been great, because they’re always a forward thinking company,” Grover says. "And everybody here works hard, everyone’s dedicated to the store, to the company, and we’re family based." Dearborn Ford started as a gas station with a garage attached to it in 1923. The following year it started selling Ford vehicles, and in 1925 it was officially recognized as a Ford dealer. Its actual location has changed several times, as have its owners, but it has stood the test of time and for the longest period was the largest B.C. dealership outside of Vancouver. The business has grown along with Kamloops, weathering economic shifts, technological advancements and the ever-changing needs of its customers. Dearborn Ford, which is named after the Michigan city in which the company’s vehicles are made, is currently owned by Cam Clark Automotive Group, but the family values that have been a mainstay over the last century have not changed one bit. “Our core values are integrity, growth, commitment, community and fun,” Grover says. “We stay true to our these values while still being part of the larger organization, Cam Clark Ford, which is family based, family driven and family operated. It's great having the support of the group whilst remaining family operated.” Beyond selling vehicles, Dearborn Ford has built its reputation as a community-driven business. Over the decades, the dealership has championed countless local initiatives, from sponsoring youth sports teams and supporting local charities to contributing to Royal Inland Hospital and hosting community events like charity golf tournaments. As Dearborn Ford looks back on a century of achievements, the dealership is also looking forward. With advancements in electric vehicles, sustainability efforts and customer-focused innovations, Dearborn Ford is embracing the future of the automotive industry while honouring the traditions that have defined its legacy. To mark this momentous occasion, Dearborn Ford is inviting the community to a series of celebrations in 2025, including a centennial gala, special promotions and events that honour the people who have made the milestone possible. So stay tuned for more information. To see what a 100-year-old business looks like, feel free to stop by Dearborn Ford at 2555 East Trans-Canada Highway to say hello and check out the seven-acre site, modern showroom and comprehensive service facilities. You can also find out more information about Dearborn Ford by calling 250-372-7101 or by visiting its website here . Photo: Contributed Click here to view gallery Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and due diligence in safeguarding personal information from unauthorized access and misuse. Individuals are advised to exercise caution while sharing personal data online, regularly update their security settings, and conduct thorough checks on the legitimacy of online vendors before making any purchases.JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Clarke Reed , a Mississippi businessman who developed the Republican Party in his home state and across the South starting in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Reed was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976, beginning at a time when Democrats still dominated in the region. During the 1976 Republican National Convention, delegates were closely divided between President Gerald Ford and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Reed united the Mississippi delegation behind Ford — a move that created a decadeslong feud with William D. “Billy” Mounger, another wealthy businessman who was prominent in the Mississippi Republican Party. Reed recalled in a 2016 interview with The Associated Press that delegates faced considerable pressure. Movie stars visited Mississippi's 30 delegates to push for Reagan, and Betty Ford called on behalf of her husband. Reagan met twice with the Mississippi delegation — once with his proposed running mate, Pennsylvania Sen. Richard Schweiker — and once without, according Haley Barbour, who was executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1976 and served as the state's governor from 2004 to 2012. “Everybody was coming to see us," Reed said. “These poor people had never seen this before, the average delegate.” Mississippi delegates were showing the stress at a meeting away from the convention floor in Kansas City, Reed said. “I looked out, and about half of them were crying," he said. Reed initially supported Reagan, but said he moved into the Ford camp because he thought Reagan made “a hell of a mistake” by choosing a more liberal northeastern running mate in a gambit to win support of the unpledged Pennsylvania delegation. “In my opinion, Reagan was the best president of my lifetime. I didn’t know that then,” Reed said in 2016. “And had he been elected with Schweiker, he might’ve gotten a bullet one inch over and Schweiker would’ve been president.” Ford won the party nomination during the convention, then lost the general election to Jimmy Carter, the Democratic former governor of Georgia. Reed was born in Alliance, Ohio, in 1928, and his family moved to Caruthersville, Missouri, when he was about six months old. He earned a business degree from the University of Missouri in 1950. He and Barthell Joseph, a friend he had met at a high school boarding school, founded an agriculture equipment business called Reed-Joseph International, which used technology to scare birds away from farms and airports. Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi said Monday that Reed was “a mentor, supporter and advisor to me for over 56 years." Wicker said he was 21 when Reed put him on the Republican Platform Committee in 1972. “There is no more significant figure in the development of the modern day Mississippi Republican Party than Clarke Reed,” Wicker wrote on social media. “Our state has lost a giant."
English Premier League Club Sacks Referee Abusing Liverpool Official - Terminates Contract Immediately"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government for its failure to appoint a permanent Director General (DG) for the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). During a hearing on Thursday, Justice Babar Sattar criticized the prolonged vacancy, noting that statutory appointments could not be delayed indefinitely due to bureaucratic inefficiencies or incomplete intelligence reports. Petitioner Dr Shehzad Afzal challenged the extended vacancy of the DG position, pointing out the allocation of interim charge to the Deputy Director General Finance without proper authorization. The court observed that the DG position had been vacant for nearly a year, highlighting negligence by the Federal Government in fulfilling its obligations. The Assistant Attorney General informed the court that a summary for the appointment, dated September 20, 2024, was pending approval in the Prime Minister’s office. He explained that the summary required input from intelligence agencies before being presented to the Federal Cabinet. However, Justice Sattar emphasized that the statutory process could not be stalled indefinitely, remarking, “The implementation of statutory requirements cannot be held hostage to the whims of intelligence agencies.” The court also questioned the Federal Minister for Science and Technology’s authority in assigning the interim charge through orders dated August 1, 2024, and December 5, 2024. Justice Sattar directed the Assistant Attorney General to clarify the legal basis for these decisions and summoned the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary to assist the court. Justice Sattar warned that delaying the appointment undermines the institution’s credibility and effectiveness. He set February 26, 2025, as the next hearing date, cautioning that further delays could result in penalties and legal action. Controversies surrounding the appointment process: Despite repeated attempts over the past two years, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has struggled to finalize the appointment of a PSQCA DG. Sources allege that political interference and efforts to appoint candidates with questionable qualifications have hampered the process, leading to controversies and legal challenges. The latest round of interviews, held on September 19-20, 2024, involved over 40 candidates. However, the ministry attempted to appoint someone already facing inquiries apart from lacking the required qualification and experience. Throughout the selection process allegations persist that certain candidates with histories of irregularities, illegal promotions, and financial misconduct are being considered for the role. Among the recently shortlisted candidates are: Dr. H.U. Khan, who previously served as acting DG PSQCA and faced controversies over rule violations in employee promotions. He has also been dismissed multiple times from the Pakistan Science Foundation, including a compulsory retirement in 2016. Zain ul Abidin, a former interim DG of PSQCA, who reportedly lacks the necessary qualifications and experience for the position. Muhammad Farooq: who also reportedly lacked the required experiences of the post Notably, Dr. Shehzad Afzal, the petitioner and a director at PSQCA, who recently won an international appointment as DG of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO), was excluded from the shortlist. Insiders allege that political considerations have repeatedly obstructed the process, and controversial candidates with limited experience in standardization—a key requirement for PSQCA’s technical mandate—are being prioritized. 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() );The release of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" in Mainland China on January 10 next year is a testament to the growing popularity of the franchise in the region. With its engaging story, lovable characters, and stunning visual effects, the film is sure to be a hit with audiences and critics alike.This incident serves as a reminder to all players, coaches, and officials that they are not above the rules and regulations of the game. It is essential for everyone involved in football to conduct themselves with dignity and respect, regardless of the outcome of a match or the decisions made by officials.
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday dissolved the entire Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) unit in Uttar Pradesh, along with the district and block units, effective immediately, according to a press statement. This decision is being seen as part of the party’s plan to restructure its Uttar Pradesh unit and prepare for the next Assembly elections in the state in 2027. In an official statement, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed the decision, saying, “Congress President has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, along with the district presidents and Block Congress Committees of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect.” All committees, sub-committees, and district-level units of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee have been dissolved with immediate effect, following which all the old officials, executive committee members, and leaders with special charge will no longer hold these posts. The Congress’s performance in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 2022 Assembly elections was disappointing. Therefore, the party needs to re-establish itself in Uttar Pradesh, which was once a Congress stronghold. However, under Kharge’s leadership, the grand old party is trying to bring forward youth and grassroots leaders into its fold. The party leadership believes it is necessary to change the old committee and induct new energy into it. As many as 403 Assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh will play an important role in the upcoming elections. The objective of the organisational change is to strengthen the Congress at the regional level. The party will select a new leadership, which can understand the ground issues better. At the same time, efforts will also be made to fix the accountability of old leaders. This decision by Congress will have more impact in those Assembly seats in the state where the party currently has less influence. New committees could be formed to create a balance between young and experienced party leaders in Uttar Pradesh. Congress will now re-establish its organisation in both rural and urban areas of the state keeping in mind caste equations. Earlier on November 6, Kharge had dissolved the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), along with its district and block units, in a significant restructuring move. The decision, effective immediately, aimed to revamp the party’s structure in the Congress-led hill state, which had not seen a major reorganisation since the party’s government was established there,
This unfortunate turn of events has not only raised alarm within the local community but has also reignited discussions on the importance of proper health and safety measures in public establishments. Many are now questioning the regulatory oversight of such businesses and are calling for stricter guidelines to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.Unai Emery felt his Aston Villa side restored confidence by returning to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League. Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”
Giants will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when they host the SaintsThe Russian Foreign Ministry has recently made a surprising announcement regarding the Syrian conflict. According to the ministry spokesperson, Bashar al-Assad has given the order to peacefully transfer power and has officially abandoned his position as the President of Syria. This unexpected development has sparked speculation and debate among political analysts, diplomats, and citizens around the world.The Gunners took two points out of Liverpool’s lead at the summit of the Premier League after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba struck in the second half – both from corners – to condemn Amorim to his first defeat as United boss. The hosts’ second-half strikes took their goals-from-corners tally to 22 since the start of last season – a statistic that is unmatched by any other team in the division. Asked if Arsenal are one of the best teams he has come up against on corners, Amorim replied: “If you follow the Premier League for a long time you can see that. “They are also big players and you see every occasion when (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka have one-on-ones, a lot of times they go outside and they cross, and they know that if the cross goes well, they can score, and if it is a corner they can score, too, so we have to be better on that. “You have seen in all Arsenal games that every team have had problems with that (corners). And the difference today was the set-pieces. “You see a goal and then the momentum changed, and it is really hard for us to take the full control of the game after that.” Timber leaned into Rasmus Hojlund at the front post before diverting Declan Rice’s set-piece into the back of Andre Onana’s net after 54 minutes to send Arsenal into the lead. Thomas Partey’s header from Saka’s corner then deflected in off Saliba’s shoulder with 17 minutes left. Arteta and the club’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Amorim was left with his head in his hands. The Arsenal supporters cheered raucously every time they won a corner – landing 13 in all without reply. However, Arteta moved to play down the significance of Arsenal’s set-piece threat. “We need that, but we want to be very dangerous and very effective from every angle and every phase of play,” said Arteta. “Today we could have scored from open play like we did against West Ham and Sporting. Last year we scored the most goals in the history of this football club. Arsenal have won four consecutive Premier League matches against Man Utd for the first time ever! 💫 pic.twitter.com/biv1kvsJEP — Premier League (@premierleague) December 4, 2024 “Not because of only set-pieces, but because of a lot of things that we have. We want to create individual and magic moments, too.” Arsenal’s win against United – the first time they have recorded four victories in a row against the Red Devils in the league – was their fourth in succession since the international break. They will head to Fulham on Sunday bidding to keep the momentum going. Arteta continued: “The will to win is there. We try our best to do that. We won four in a row, but it doesn’t matter. We have to go to Fulham now, try to be better than them and try win the game. “It’s every three days that we play. It’s a crazy schedule. We’re going to need everybody and to mentally be very strong.”Moving forward, it is imperative that all educational institutions in Tongzhou District uphold the highest standards of quality and safety in their operations. The well-being and development of young children must be prioritized, and any lapses in compliance with regulations must be promptly addressed.
Moreover, the use of the term "loose" sends a strong signal to the financial markets and businesses, indicating that the government is committed to ensuring stability and fostering growth. The announcement has already been met with positive reactions from investors, with stock markets rallying and bond yields declining. This renewed confidence in the policy direction could spur investment and consumption, driving a new wave of economic activity.
Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHub