In a bizarre incident in Rajasthan, a paid of oxen were seen pulling an electric car belonging to Anil Singh Medtia after the vehicle broke down in Kuchaman City. A video of the incident has also surfaced online. In the viral clip, two oxen can be seen pulling the electric car of Anil Singh Medtia, Leader of the Opposition in the Kuchaman Municipal Council, after his vehicle broke down. It is also learned that Medtia purchased the car in 2023 but faced constant issues since then. Rajasthan: Youth Paraded in Market, Thrashed by Cops For Teasing School-Going Girls; Viral Video Surfaces/ आज डीडवाना में कुचामन नगर परिषद के प्रतिपक्ष नेताजी की इलेक्ट्रिक कार 🚗 ने जब रास्ते में धोखा दिया, तब बैलों ने जिम्मेदारी संभाली..!! टेक्नोलॉजी और नागौरी बैलों का ऐसा अनोखा जुगाड़ सिर्फ राजस्थान में 🚗+🐂 = 💡 @8PMnoCM #Rajasthan #Didwana #Kuchaman #Nagaur @arvindchotia pic.twitter.com/jJ0F6oiF4A — Vinod Bhojak (@VinoBhojak) December 28, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)Schlumberger Ltd. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country. Assad’s departure on Sunday brings to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power in a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Assad’s exit stood in stark contrast to his first months as Syria’s unlikely president in 2000, when many hoped he would be a young reformer after three decades of his father’s iron grip. But faced with protests of his rule that erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to his father's brutal tactics to crush dissent. A long stalemate was quickly broken when opposition groups in northwest Syria launched a surprise offensive late last month. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world. In the end, though, democracy prevailed. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that he was declaring martial law and giving his government sweeping powers to crack down on protesters, ban political parties and control the media. Members of the military blocked lawmakers from using the legislature's constitutional power to cancel the power grab. But the National Assembly within hours unanimously voted to do so. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. 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 U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. First 12-team College Football Playoff set, Oregon seeded No. 1 and SMU edges Alabama for last spot SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs (11-2), losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama (9-3) of the SEC but one fewer loss. The first-of-its-kind 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.
REGINA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a new lieutenant-governor for Saskatchewan. Bernadette McIntyre is to serve in the role, representing the King in the province. Her duties include swearing in cabinet ministers, opening each session of the legislative assembly and providing royal assent to provincial bills. McIntyre has held executive roles at Saskatchewan Government Insurance and Wascana Centre Authority in Regina. She has also been a longtime community volunteer, receiving awards for her contributions in the sport of curling. McIntyre is to replace Russ Mirasty, who served as lieutenant-governor for five years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024. Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press’Twas the night before Christmas 2024 And across the land of the free and home of the brave The campaigning was over. Families and friends gathered Praying the other would behave. Campaign hats, buttons and signs were stashed away In hopes that their disappearance would inspire Talking in a courteous way. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess 45’s supporters, lawyers and future appointees Were all snug in their beds, While visions of a future wrought By “Agenda 25” and “Project 2025” Danced in their heads. Kamala’s supporters, donors, funders, and Democracy lovers awakened From their winter’s nap with a scream In their slumber they remembered 45 was elected 47 And they wished it was a bad dream. Across the land there arose such a clatter, Everyone sprang to their windows to see What was the matter. Before their wondering eyes appeared Leonard Leo leading Congregational Republicans, Christian Nationalists, White Supremacists, Heritage Foundation leaders, Federalist Society members, corporate moguls, and dark money campaign funders. Singing the praises of their fearless leader Who they pretend to revere. On social media they posted, “Our secret plan devised so long ago To replace liberal democracy With an authoritarian we control Is no longer a secret because Soon everyone will know. We found a promoter of chaos and constant lies, Who is without shame. A performer who fooled so many to believe Only he understood their pain. We won and you, Socialist liberals, LBGTQ+ and, DEI advocates and progressives lost. Now, us faux patriots will make you, and so Many unsuspecting citizens bear the cost. On Jan. 20, 2025, a new nation will arise. ‘Project 2025’ will be 47’s and his appointees’ guide. Soon it will only be men who determine women’s reproductive health, And make sure no women or minorities Take any white men’s jobs by stealth. More tax breaks for the wealthy. Fewer programs and funds for those in need Invoke the “Alien and Enemies Act” That will ensure we succeed. We, the super wealthy investors in 47’s kleptocracy will call the shots. If you resist, the FBI will find you, And 47’s Justice Department Will make sure you serve a sentence or two. We’ll do our best to close the Department of Education, And break up the FBI, NIH, FDIC, and the CDC. We’ll even try to privatize Medicare, Medicaid, USPS and Social Security. We’ll promote deregulation, Get rid of many unnecessary Federal bureaucratic jobs, And in their place put appointees Who have no knowledge, expertise or cogent thoughts. With threats, Musk and Ramaswamy will pitch DOGE For Republican legislators must be loyal like a dog. Suddenly, they fell silent For they heard a sound that crescendo And scared them as it seemed to surround. “Is this the ‘others’ who will try to disrupt our plans? Not possible, because our Supremes see things From our point of view Since we gave a few of them Lots of free trips and food. Slowly thousands of democracy champions emerged Singing freedom songs, and shouting “We will fight for democracy and our rights Now is the time to make ‘Good Trouble’ Don’t surrender our democracy without a fight. We will go to the courts, to Congress, Crisscross the highways and byways of this land. We will expose lies and propaganda By supporting the truth With science and observable facts. We will not become citizen somnambulists For our history tells us that The Republic was not created For just a few. Rich White Nationalists.” From some ethereal source, “Silent Night” Mysteriously floated through the air. Both crowds settled as the night sky, turned bright. When it ended, the Ghost of Christmas Future spoke, “Your democratic republic may survive The next four years if most of its citizens Exercise a judicious sense of what not to believe, And exercise their constitutional rights Most vigorously.” All departed and went their separate ways, Knowing tomorrow would be Christmas Day. Robert Kubacki lives in Greenfield.
STUART, Fla. , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health In Tech, an Insurtech platform company backed by third-party AI technology, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 2,300,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a public offering price of $4.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $9,200,000 , before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and estimated offering expenses. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Syrians rejoice as Assad flees, ending brutal reignBy Lawrence Delevingne and Carolina Mandl BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - As a money manager, Scott Bessent's years of inconsistent performance have contributed to a nearly 90% decline in his hedge fund's assets. Now, with some clients gone, he is scoring on perhaps his biggest bet yet: President-elect Donald Trump. Bessent spotted what he called an anomaly in the market: that political and market analysts were too negative on what a Trump victory would mean, according to a letter to clients in January seen by Reuters. His Key Square Capital Management put on bets that U.S. stocks and the dollar would gain, helping earn a double-digit percentage profit so far in 2024, with November as its best month, according to a person familiar with the situation. Bessent's even bigger wager is on Trump, the future president. He's been a donor, economic adviser and booster on TV to Trump, and Bessent is now seen as a likely candidate for a top economic role in the administration, such as running the U.S. Treasury Department or leading the White House National Economic Council. Trump has talked Bessent up as “one of the most brilliant men on Wall Street." Details of his fund's performance, reported here for the first time, show a mixed track record in the decade since he launched his own hedge fund firm. Ted Seides, the former president of Protege Partners, an investment firm where Bessent earned strong returns in the late 2000s, told Reuters that Bessent's track record should be taken in the context of macro investing, where big profits can be followed by less attractive returns. So-called macro hedge funds bet on global macroeconomic trends and are not open to retail investors. "If you only look at the part of a track record with lean years, it’s like saying Aaron Judge struck out a lot last year," Seides said, referring the baseball star known for hitting home runs. "But he was just named MVP." Bessent's candidacy in the hotly-contested role of Treasury Secretary or another economic role in the Trump administration has heightened interest in the fund manager. If he were to take a job in the new administration, Key Square could be wound down, sold, or put in "sleep mode," according to the same person. Trump recently floated the idea of appointing Kevin Warsh as Treasury Secretary on the understanding that he could later be Federal Reserve Chairman, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The report also said Bessent might lead the White House National Economic Council and then become Treasury Secretary after Warsh. Bessent has long been considered a top contender to run Treasury. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, said in an email that decisions on personnel "will continue to be announced by him when they are made." BIG START Bessent, who grew up in a small town in South Carolina and went to Yale College before landing on Wall Street, started Key Square in late 2015. The firm quickly raised $4.5 billion - then one of the largest hedge fund launches in history. That included $2 billion from famed macroeconomic investor George Soros, for whom Bessent had helped earn billions of dollars over two stints at Soros Fund Management. Key Square's main fund returns surged 13% in its first year, 2016, according to a second person familiar with the firm. That year, it gained on correctly predicting the British pound's decline around "Brexit," a vote for Britain to leave the European Union, according to the first person familiar with the situation. Later, Key Square made money when Bessent correctly anticipating a U.S. stock and dollar rally when Donald Trump was elected that November, according to the first person. But Key Square lost 7% in 2017, and then lost money or just broke even from 2018 to 2021, according to the second person and performance disclosures from one of its investors, New York City Police Pension Fund. The hedge fund gained double digits in both 2023 and 2024 and is up "double digits" over its history, according to the second person. That uneven performance appears to have scared away some clients. Assets under management shrank from a peak of around $5.1 billion at the end of 2017 to $577 million as of December 2023, while the number of institutional investors fell from 180 in December 2017 to 20 by the end of 2023, according to regulatory disclosures tracked by Convergence Inc. Soros took back most of his capital in 2018, per a previous agreement with Bessent to return the money, according to a third source familiar with the matter. Soros no longer has any money managed by Bessent, according to the third person. The two men have not spoken since 2016, Bessent said in a recent interview with Trump ally Roger Stone. Other large clients who no longer have money with Key Square include Australia's Future Fund, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, and the New York City Police and Fire pension funds, according to public records and regulatory disclosures. One large hedge fund allocator told Reuters that they pulled their money several years ago from Key Square because the returns had been “too inconsistent.” Another large Key Square investor withdrew from the hedge fund last year because of Bessent’s support of Trump, according to the second person familiar with the firm. While Key Square's hedge fund assets have declined, it has other business lines that remain strong, including providing investment ideas to other money managers and an advisory business for family offices, foundations and endowments, according to the two people familiar with the firm. It also has plans to launch an ETF, according to a recent securities filing. The University of California redeemed its assets from Key Square amid a broader pull back from using hedge funds, but Bessent has remained "deep source of knowledge for us," chief investment officer, Jagdeep Singh Bachher, told Reuters via email. Another longtime client to stick with Key Square is Brevan Howard Asset Management, the $34 billion macro hedge fund manager co-founded by British billionaire Alan Howard. "Scott is one of the best macro investors in the world," a spokesperson for Brevan Howard said via email. "His understanding of markets, public policy, and the global economy is largely unmatched." Semafor previously reported that selective Key Square performance numbers were being shared around Wall Street chats as Bessent competed for the coveted post of U.S. Treasury Secretary. The report did not reveal the numbers shared. POLITICAL BET Bessent contributed to Trump’s inauguration following his 2016 election win. He was more involved during the 2024 election cycle, serving as an economic adviser to the campaign in addition to being a top fundraiser. Since the election, he has made TV appearances and written opinion pieces in support of Trump's proposed economic agenda. “I was all in for President Trump. I was one of the few Wall Street people backing him,” Bessent recent said in the interview with Stone. In January this year, Bessent predicted a “Trump Rally” in stocks as long as the Republican remained ahead in the election polls. “We are expecting an upward trajectory in the U.S. equity markets,” he wrote in the letter to Key Square clients. “Barring (President Joe) Biden pulling ahead in substantial fashion, all pullbacks should be bought.” (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne in Boston and Carolina Mandl in New York; editing by Paritosh Bansal, Megan Davies and Deepa Babington)
None
Fleetune continues evolving for smarter route optimization40 Nostalgic Photos That Bring Back The Joy And Magic Christmas In The '80s To Xennials
’Twas the night before Christmas 2024 And across the land of the free and home of the brave The campaigning was over. Families and friends gathered Praying the other would behave. Campaign hats, buttons and signs were stashed away In hopes that their disappearance would inspire Talking in a courteous way. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess 45’s supporters, lawyers and future appointees Were all snug in their beds, While visions of a future wrought By “Agenda 25” and “Project 2025” Danced in their heads. Kamala’s supporters, donors, funders, and Democracy lovers awakened From their winter’s nap with a scream In their slumber they remembered 45 was elected 47 And they wished it was a bad dream. Across the land there arose such a clatter, Everyone sprang to their windows to see What was the matter. Before their wondering eyes appeared Leonard Leo leading Congregational Republicans, Christian Nationalists, White Supremacists, Heritage Foundation leaders, Federalist Society members, corporate moguls, and dark money campaign funders. Singing the praises of their fearless leader Who they pretend to revere. On social media they posted, “Our secret plan devised so long ago To replace liberal democracy With an authoritarian we control Is no longer a secret because Soon everyone will know. We found a promoter of chaos and constant lies, Who is without shame. A performer who fooled so many to believe Only he understood their pain. We won and you, Socialist liberals, LBGTQ+ and, DEI advocates and progressives lost. Now, us faux patriots will make you, and so Many unsuspecting citizens bear the cost. On Jan. 20, 2025, a new nation will arise. ‘Project 2025’ will be 47’s and his appointees’ guide. Soon it will only be men who determine women’s reproductive health, And make sure no women or minorities Take any white men’s jobs by stealth. More tax breaks for the wealthy. Fewer programs and funds for those in need Invoke the “Alien and Enemies Act” That will ensure we succeed. We, the super wealthy investors in 47’s kleptocracy will call the shots. If you resist, the FBI will find you, And 47’s Justice Department Will make sure you serve a sentence or two. We’ll do our best to close the Department of Education, And break up the FBI, NIH, FDIC, and the CDC. We’ll even try to privatize Medicare, Medicaid, USPS and Social Security. We’ll promote deregulation, Get rid of many unnecessary Federal bureaucratic jobs, And in their place put appointees Who have no knowledge, expertise or cogent thoughts. With threats, Musk and Ramaswamy will pitch DOGE For Republican legislators must be loyal like a dog. Suddenly, they fell silent For they heard a sound that crescendo And scared them as it seemed to surround. “Is this the ‘others’ who will try to disrupt our plans? Not possible, because our Supremes see things From our point of view Since we gave a few of them Lots of free trips and food. Slowly thousands of democracy champions emerged Singing freedom songs, and shouting “We will fight for democracy and our rights Now is the time to make ‘Good Trouble’ Don’t surrender our democracy without a fight. We will go to the courts, to Congress, Crisscross the highways and byways of this land. We will expose lies and propaganda By supporting the truth With science and observable facts. We will not become citizen somnambulists For our history tells us that The Republic was not created For just a few. Rich White Nationalists.” From some ethereal source, “Silent Night” Mysteriously floated through the air. Both crowds settled as the night sky, turned bright. When it ended, the Ghost of Christmas Future spoke, “Your democratic republic may survive The next four years if most of its citizens Exercise a judicious sense of what not to believe, And exercise their constitutional rights Most vigorously.” All departed and went their separate ways, Knowing tomorrow would be Christmas Day. Robert Kubacki lives in Greenfield.The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answersUS budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Supreme Court steps into fight over FCC's $8 billion subsidies for internet and phone services WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has stepped into a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices on Friday agreed to review an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund. The Federal Communications Commission collects money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. The Biden administration appealed the lower court ruling, but the case probably won’t be argued until late March. At that point, the Trump administration will be in place and it is not clear whether it will take a different view of the issue. Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it heads for a winning week Stocks gained ground on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.2% in afternoon trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 333 points and the Nasdaq composite was essentially flat. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called of its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. New York judge rejects state efforts to shutter bitcoin mine over climate concerns NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge has rejected an effort by state regulators to shutter a bitcoin mine over concerns about its greenhouse gas emissions. The decision will allow the Greenidge power plant to continue operating in the Finger Lakes region of the state. The state had previously found the gas-powered crypto mine ran afoul of a climate law intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions. But on Thursday, a state Supreme Court judge found Greenidge was entitled to a process to defend its continued operation. Environmental groups have protested the facility, which they allege is pumping emissions into the air while contaminating the nearby Seneca Lake. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings.
America's technology blind spot
Syria's president Bashar al-Assad fled Syria as Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus Sunday, triggering celebrations across the country and beyond at the end of his oppressive rule. Russian news agencies late Sunday said Assad and his family were in Moscow. Crowds toured Assad's luxurious home after the rebels declared he had fled, a spectacular end to five decades of brutal Baath party government. The government fell 11 days after the rebels began a surprise advance more than 13 years after Assad's crackdown on anti-government protests ignited Syria's civil war, which had become largely dormant until the rebel push. "This victory, my brothers, is historic for the region," Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (HTS) that spearheaded the advance, said in an address at the landmark Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. US President Joe Biden said Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said from the White House. Residents cheered in the streets as the rebel factions heralded the departure of "tyrant" Assad, saying: "We declare the city of Damascus free." Celebratory gunfire sounded along with shouts of, "Syria is ours and not the Assad family's". AFP correspondents saw dozens of men, women and children wandering through Assad's modern, spacious home whose rooms had been stripped bare. "I can't believe I'm living this moment," tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha told AFP by phone. "We've been waiting a long time for this day," he said. The rebel factions on Telegram proclaimed the end to "50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and displacement". It is, they said, "the start of a new era for Syria." The foreign ministry of Assad's key backer, Russia, had announced earlier Sunday that Assad had resigned from the presidency and left Syria. The head of war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP: "Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left" the facility. Later Sunday, a Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that he and his family had arrived in Moscow where they had been granted asylum "on humanitarian grounds". Around the country, people toppled statues of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's father and the founder of the repressive system of government he inherited. For the past 50 years in Syria, even the slightest suspicion of dissent could land one in prison or get one killed. During their advance, the rebels said they had freed prisoners, including on Sunday at the Sednaya facility, notorious for the darkest abuses of Assad's era. UN war crimes investigators urged those taking charge in the country to ensure the "atrocities" committed under Assad's rule are not repeated. Amnesty International called this a "historic opportunity" for those responsible for the abuses in Syria to face justice. The end of Assad's rule came just hours after HTS said it had captured the strategic city of Homs. Homs was the third major city seized by the rebels, who began their advance on November 27, the same day a ceasefire took place in neighbouring Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Hezbollah had supported Assad during the long civil war but has been severely weakened by Israeli strikes. The group's forces "vacated their positions around Damascus", a source close to the group said Sunday. HTS is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda but has sought to soften its image in recent years. It remains listed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments. On Sunday afternoon the rebels announced a curfew in the capital until 5:00 am (0200 GMT) Monday. The commander of Syria's US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of northeast Syria, hailed the fall of Assad's "authoritarian regime" as "historic". A military council affiliated with the SDF clashed Sunday with Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in Syria's north, leaving 26 fighters from both sides dead, the Observatory said, as the Turkish-backed group launched an offensive on the Manbij area. The Observatory said Israel had struck government security buildings and weapons depots Sunday on the outskirts of Damascus, as well as in the eastern Deir Ezzor province. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overthrow of Assad was a "historic day in the... Middle East" and the fall of a "central link in Iran's axis of evil". "This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, Assad's main supporters," he added. The UN envoy for Syria said the country was at "a watershed moment". Turkey, which has historically backed the opposition, called for a "smooth transition". Iran said it expected "friendly" ties with Syria to continue, even as its embassy in Damascus was vandalised. Since the start of the rebel offensive, at least 910 people, mostly combatants but also including 138 civilians, have been killed, the Observatory said. Syria's war has killed more than 500,000 people, and forced half of the population to flee their homes. Millions fled abroad. "I can barely remember Syria," said Reda al-Khedr, who was only five years old when he and his mother escaped Syria's Homs in 2014. "But now we're going to go home to a liberated Syria," he told AFP in Cairo. Liberated, but facing enormous challenges. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday the bloc would help rebuild a Syria that safeguards minorities after Assad's fall. bur-it/jj