Colorado stars Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders take Big 12 player of year honors
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Coastal Carolina blown out by UTSA in Myrtle Beach Bowl (copy)WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department . Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report's release on Monday, slammed the committee's findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here's a look at some of the committee's key findings: ‘Sex-for-money arrangements,' drug-fueled parties and trips The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women "likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature," the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he's down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard," Greenberg replied. ‘Substantial evidence’ indicates that Gaetz had sex with underage girl, the committee said The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals" who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There's no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn't tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn't how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Gaetz said evidence would ‘exonerate’ him but provided none of it In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. "Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials," the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” Justice Department didn't cooperate with the committee The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn't want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women's statements. The agency's lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee's probe, lawmakers said. 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MUNICH, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE) , opens new tab is reviewing its majority stake in medical technology subsidiary Siemens Healthineers, (SHLG.DE) , opens new tab , the German technology group's Chief Financial Officer Ralf Thomas told the Handelsblatt newspaper. The synergies with the manufacturer of MRI machines and laboratory systems are not great enough to justify a capital commitment of 45 billion euros ($46.91 billion), Thomas told Handelsblatt, referring to how much Siemens' 75% equity stake is worth. "We are evaluating the economic opportunities for Siemens AG in the healthcare sector. We will then derive from this how instrumental Healthineers is as an investment. And then we will draw a conclusion from that," he said, adding that the results will be presented at a capital markets day at the end of 2025. Siemens AG spun off the Erlangen, Germany-based subsidiary in 2018 and floated it on the stock exchange. Until now, Siemens had maintained it would keep the majority stake in Siemens Healthineers. However, Thomas recently held out the prospect of selling around 5% in the foreseeable future to finance the takeover of U.S. software company Altair (ALTR.O) , opens new tab . Thomas said he remained committed to the Mobility train division, which investors have repeatedly called to be spun off. "The business is in good hands with us. I don't see any need for us to part with it at the moment," he told Handelsblatt. ($1 = 0.9592 euros) Sign up here. Reporting by Alexander Huebner, Writing by Miranda Murray; Editing by Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabA Christmas Story has remained a seminal holiday movie since its release in 1983 and is a favorite to watch on Christmas Day. The movie follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) who is determined that he wants a new Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, but all the adults are trying to convince him its a bad idea because it might "shoot your eye out." Despite being released more than 40 years ago , many of its stars have remained in show business, so let's take a look at what they're up to today. Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) The star of the film with his iconic blue eyes and glasses, stayed in movies and even continued to make hit Christmas films. Billingsley had an uncredited role in 2003's Elf starring Will Ferrell and he also served as a producer—even briefly making a cameo appearance—in Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. The actor remained close to the movie that made him famous around the world and co-produced the original 2012 Broadway musical adaptation of A Christmas Story. Billingsley once again played Ralphie in the 2022 HBO Max film A Christmas Story Christmas . Ian Petrella (Randy Parker) The actor would go on to have some more acting roles in TV shows such as Diff'rent Strokes and Who's The Boss? after landing his first acting role at the age of three. Petrella took a 15-year break from acting where he traveled the world and studied marionette puppetry in Czechia. He eventually returned to the U.S. where he made animated shorts and acted in A Christmas Story Christmas alongside Billingsley. Scott Schwartz (Flick) Schwartz perhaps had one of the most memorable scenes in cinema history when his character licked a frozen light pole, getting his tongue stuck. In the 1990s, Schwartz turned his attention to the adult film industry where he starred as an actor and also worked behind the camera. He eventually returned to mainstream acting but is well known for his collection of celebrity-based trading cards. Schwartz also reprised his role as Flick for the HBO sequel to A Christmas Story . Zack Ward (Scut Farkus) Scut Farkus was the notorious bully in A Christmas Story and also returned for the 2022 sequel. "It's part of my life that I really couldn't separate away from," Ward told Newsweek in 2022. "And I'm sure the day that I die, they'll be like, 'Oh, by the way, Scut Farkus has passed, and his other name was Zack Ward.' So it's like being Batman, I guess." Other than starring in the Christmas classic, Ward has had a prolific acting career. Some of his credits include, American Horror Story , It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia , Mike and Molly , Liv and Maddie , three CSI shows, Hawaii Five-O , Cold Case and Transformers. Melinda Dillon (Mrs. Parker) Dillon had already won a Tony Award and been nominated twice for an Oscar before appearing in the Christmas film. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence of Malice . She continued to work in many movies and TV shows, with some of her final roles coming in 2007, including the series Heartland and the film Reign Over Me with Adam Sandler. Dillon passed away in 2023 at the age of 83. Darren McGavin (Old Man) McGavin played Ralphie's very grumpy, but loving dad. He is probably most remembered in the movie for bringing out a lamp that looked like a leg in a fishnet stocking. After A Christmas Story, McGavin played Adam Sandler's billionaire dad in Billy Madison . McGavin was nominated for an Emmy in 1990 for a guest appearance on sitcom Murphy Brown. McGavin passed away from heart disease in 2006, aged 83. Yano Anaya (Grover Dill) The actor portrayed Scut Farkus' sidekick and continued to act, including reprising his role in the HBO sequel. Anaya made headlines in 2022 when the owner of the iconic house from A Christmas Story slammed him for taking selfies with fans outside the property, per TMZ. When the owner listed the property for sale, Anaya expressed an interest in buying it. "You guys ain't gonna buy this place. I'm never selling it to you," the man is heard telling Anaya in a video posted on TMZ.No. 15 Tennessee women beat Winthrop 112-50 for seventh 12-0 start in program historyNetflix stock is likely to enter “the valuation danger zone,” but market analysts at KeyBanc reiterated their bullish position and opted to raise their share price target. According to a report by Barron's, analysts led by Justin Patterson maintained an ‘Overweight’ rating on Netflix, while increasing the price target to $1000 from $785. The new price target is 9.4 per cent above current levels. According to the report, analysts increased the target price on the stock but that came with a two-part warning. The first is on the narrative, with Netflix as the big winner of the cable-streaming TV wars. The second is valuation. Analysts noted that Netflix shares are trading at nine times enterprise value to sales, which has historically signalled that the streamer is nearing a peak valuation. “Historically speaking, this combination of valuation and narrative creates elevated risk for investors," said analysts at Keybanc. Despite this, they raised their price target and maintained their rating on the stock. “While this suggests investors may have priced-in recent momentum, we see several reasons to believe Netflix can outperform the S&P 500 into 2025,” said the analysts.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sara Puckett had 17 points and Ruby Whitehorn scored 16 as No. 15 Tennessee walloped Winthrop 112-50 on Sunday, earning the Lady Volunteers the seventh 12-0 start to a season in program history. Puckett made 6 of 10 shots with a 3-pointer and all four of her free throws, adding eight rebounds for Tennessee, which is unbeaten through 12 games in its first season under head coach Kim Caldwell — and for just the second time in the past 19 seasons. Whitehorn made 7 of 13 from the floor and both of her foul shots. Jewel Spear hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 for the Lady Vols. Kaniya Boyd scored 15 off the bench on 5-for-5 shooting with a 3-pointer. Zee Spearman added 14 points and reserve Tess Darby scored 10. Amourie Porter made all eight of her free throws and scored 14 to lead the Eagles (6-7), who fell to 1-5 on the road. Eight different players scored as Tennessee led 35-13 after one quarter. Spear and Puckett each had nine points by halftime and Whitehorn scored eight as the Lady Vols took a 61-32 advantage into intermission. Tennessee added eight points to its lead after three quarters and outscored Winthrop 31-4 in the final period. Tennessee entered play leading the nation in scoring average (97.4), 3-pointers made per game (12.6) and attempted per game (38.3) as well as offensive rebounds per contest (21.5) and turnovers forced (27.2). It was the sixth time the Lady Vols have scored at least 100 this season. Tennessee opens Southeastern Conference play on Thursday at Texas A&M. Winthrop travels to South Carolina Upstate on Thursday for a Big South Conference opener. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP women’s college basketball: andCoastal Carolina blown out by UTSA in Myrtle Beach Bowl
The co-hosts of Fox & Friends Weekend were faced with a tricky job on Sunday morning — navigating the feud that has broken out amongst supporters of President-elect Donald Trump over H-1B visas for highly skilled immigrants, which significantly escalated on Saturday. “America First” acolytes on the far-right want stricter, draconian immigration measures applied to both illegal and legal migrants when Trump takes office in January. Among the loudest voices pushing this argument are far-right activist Laura Loomer , and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon . In contrast, the Silicon Valley “tech bro” contingent led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy , which backed his election, wants better legal immigration routes such as the H-1B program to fill skills gaps in key sectors such as engineering, science, and technology. Yesterday afternoon, the president-elect came out in support of Musk and the latter argument, saying he had always been a “believer” in the program and had employees at his properties in the country on H-1B visas. During the campaign and in his first term he had been against it , so the about-face has confused some of his core supporters. This schism in MAGAworld, before Trump even re-enters the White House, is awkward leaving Fox News tip-toeing through something of a minefield, as Mediaite reported. Co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy noted that the president-elect coming out in favor of the H-1B visa “left a lot of people confused.” Trying to rationalize support for skilled worker visas, her colleague Charlie Hurt remarked: “The idea of having a program that allows an Elon Musk to come into the country, I don’t think anybody has a problem with that, and certainly Donald Trump doesn’t have a problem with that. The problem with the program is that it’s been so abused and turned into a system where it is designed for big tech employers to get, maybe not cheap labor, but cheaper labor.” Will Cain, who co-hosted with the two, added: “We’re not an algorithm. We’re not a company. We are a country. We’re a nation. We are a people. And that purpose of that nation is to serve Americans.” Campos-Duffy then suggested that tech CEOs such as Musk might have to pay American tech workers more attractive wages and pay themselves a little less if the talent pool was smaller through a more restrictive immigration policy. “If you limit those visas and only bring in the Elon Musks and the really exceptional people, what you’re going to see is that there’s a tighter market and the wages will have to be — you’ll have to pay wages that young math students like my son-in-law, who is married and has to support a family, would want to be part of,” she said. “And that may mean, guys, guess what? Fox News alert! It may mean that big tech bosses make a little less money and they have to pay their workers a little better. I think all of us would be okay with that.” Sounding remarkably Campos-Duffy added that the federal government should invest in educational opportunities in underserved communities to train the next generation to take the jobs currently being filled by skilled immigrants. As deft as the presenters might have tried to be in tackling what is a thorny issue, Steve Bannon was having none of it. The former Trump adviser and host of the WarRoom podcast took to the social media platform Gettr, and referencing the Mediaite article, wrote: “Stop with the ‘Tip-Toe’...” “Choose a Side: Either Stand with American Citizen Workers or with Globalist Elitist Tech Oligarchs Who Feast on Foreign Indentured Servants ...Simple.”Lauren Sanchez turns heads in the perfect Christmas dress and diamond jewelryBills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets
Colorado stars Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders take Big 12 player of year honors
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — EJ Farmer scored 16 points as Youngstown State beat Detroit Mercy 73-64 on Sunday for their seventh victory in a row. Farmer had three steals for the Penguins (9-5, 4-0 Horizon League). Gabe Dynes scored 12 points while going 4 of 5 and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds and four blocks. Nico Galette had 10 points. Orlando Lovejoy led the Titans (5-10, 1-3) with 23 points and three steals. Legend Geeter and TJ Nadeau both scored eight. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .A fresh perspective on investing has caught the attention of the financial world. As market dynamics continue to evolve, investors are seeking alternative strategies to maximize their returns. Innovative Approach This new method emphasizes diversifying portfolios in unexpected ways. By focusing on sectors traditionally overlooked, investors are finding opportunities in areas they never considered before. Instead of sticking to the usual trends, this approach encourages a broader vision, spotting potential in emerging industries and technologies. Reshaping Portfolios Analysts suggest that this strategy could redefine how we think about risk and reward. By venturing outside conventional boundaries, investors may unlock new growth potential. This new mindset champions a proactive search for novelty in markets, aiming for both stability and innovation. Global Impact The ripple effect of this shift is already being felt worldwide. As more adopt this novel approach, the global investment landscape may see significant changes. Embracing a mix of tried-and-true methods along with bold, new ideas could lead to a more balanced and prosperous financial future. A Call for Action Now is the time for investors to reconsider their strategies and explore new horizons. With this innovative investment path, individuals can potentially harness diverse opportunities to bolster their financial well-being. As the adage goes, fortune often favors the bold. Unveiling the Future: Revolutionary Investment Tactics Transforming Global Markets In an era where market dynamics are constantly shifting, a new investment strategy is gaining traction, challenging traditional financial principles and offering fresh opportunities for growth. The Rise of Alternative Investment Strategies The new approach focuses on diversifying investment portfolios in unconventional ways, particularly by targeting sectors often neglected. These sectors include emerging industries and breakthrough technologies that promise substantial returns. By venturing beyond traditional market trends, investors can identify opportunities that were previously overlooked. Pros and Cons of the Innovative Investment Strategy – Pros : – Expands investment opportunities by identifying undervalued sectors. – Facilitates potential high returns through exploration of emerging markets. – Encourages a diversified portfolio, reducing overall investment risk. – Cons : – May involve higher risk due to the unpredictability of untested markets. – Requires extensive research and due diligence to identify viable opportunities. – Potentially volatile, with results less consistent than traditional strategies. Predictions and Trends: The Future of Investing Industry experts predict that this innovative investment approach could reshape the concept of risk and reward within financial markets. By blending stability with innovation, this strategy encourages a future where new market frontiers are explored, potentially leading to a more dynamic global investment landscape. Insights into the Global Impact The implementation of these strategies is already influencing global markets. As more investors adopt this approach, there is potential for significant changes in investment behaviors worldwide. The shift towards a balanced integration of time-tested methods and groundbreaking ideas could foster more robust financial systems globally. Security and Sustainability: Investment Strategies for the Modern World A key consideration for investors looking to adopt this strategy is ensuring security and sustainability. Emphasizing environmentally sustainable practices and assessing the long-term viability of new technologies ensures ethical and responsible investing. Compatibility with Existing Investment Principles This new strategy doesn’t solely replace traditional approaches but complements them. It encourages investors to think outside the box while still honoring the fundamental principles of risk management and portfolio diversification. Are You Ready for the Change? A Call to Action for Investors As the financial world evolves, it’s crucial for investors to reevaluate their strategies and consider exploring these new horizons. Engaging with this innovative approach may open doors to opportunities that not only enhance individual portfolios but also contribute positively to global economic growth. For more information on diverse investment strategies, visit Forbes .
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