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Falmouth Rugby Club has issued a polite request to find the ball which was taken some time on Boxing Day following the local derby match between arch rivals Penryn which they lost 10-37. The ball had been placed behind the bar for safekeeping when it disappeared Posting on its Facebook page, the club says it appreciated the enthusiasm and excitement that comes with holding such a special shaped ball but they would like it returned as it was meant to be auctioned for Cornish children's charities. They said in the ball can be returned in confidence and appealed to parents whose children might suddenly have acquired a rugby ball. "Regarding a missing Signed Rugby Ball We hope this message finds you well," the appeal said. "We are reaching out regarding a signed ball that was taken from behind the clubhouse bar on Boxing Day. We truly appreciate the enthusiasm and excitement that comes with wanting to hold such a special shaped ball. "However, we would like to kindly ask that the ball be returned to us in confidence. It was intended to be auctioned to raise funds for Cornish children's charities, and your understanding in this matter would be greatly appreciated. "So if your child has acquired an unknown ball on boxing day please return it. "Thank you for your cooperation, and please feel free to contact us via DM or by emailing theclubhouse@falmouthrugbyclub.co.uk"
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Christmas came early for Trump. Car companies and other top CEOs are rushing to donate millions of dollars to the president elect’s inauguration fund before Trump, 78, enters the Oval Office on Jan. 20 — with Toyota being the latest to hand over the cash. A rep for the Japan-based automotive manufacturer confirmed it had contributed $1 million to the fund in a statement to The Post on Christmas Eve. Toyota’s contribution came after Ford and General Motors both said they would also be shelling out $1 million for the incoming president’s fund, Reuters reported . Trump has floated a 25% tax on all imports coming from the Mexico, potentially hampering Toyota, which manufactures their Tacoma pickup truck there. The Republican also threatened during his 2024 campaign that he could slap up to a 200% tariff on cars coming from Mexico in an effort to protect American automobile manufacturing. The efforts to upend tax and trade policies when he gets to the White House has prompted even those who have sparred politically with the 45th president in the past to turn the other cheek. Companies that previously vowed to not support Political Action Committees (PACs) that disputed the 2020 election after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot are also pitching in with massive donations, per the Wall Street Journal , including, Intuit, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, AT&T and Stanley Black & Decker. Uber has given the largest donation, coming in at $2 million, per the Journal. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech CEOs have also been frolicking around Mar-a-Lago in recent weeks, hoping to cozy up before the 47th president’s term kicks in, as Trump has expressed interest in significant tech innovation alongside his confidant Elon Musk. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was spotted dining with Trump at the Florida estate earlier in December, and he wrote a $1 million check later to the inaugural fund. Bezos, who had previously spoken out against Trump, said he was “optimistic” about his second term in power. “I’m actually very optimistic this time around,” Bezos revealed at the the New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York earlier in December. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him,” Bezos said. “We do have too many regulations in this country.” Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg also gave the same amount after visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago the month prior, and Open AI CEO Sam Altman was another billionaire who gave $1 million to the inauguration fund. “I want to get ideas from them,” Trump said of his conversations with business leaders. “Look, we want them to do well,” he said at the New York Stock Exchange after being deemed “person of the year.” Foreign companies have also gotten in on the action. Softbank, a Japanese investment holding company, announced it would be investing $100 billion in US tech projects during Trump’s administration, the once and future president unveiled in a press conference at Mar-a-Lago last week. Trump had previously promised to award companies that invest at least $1 billion “fully expedited approvals and permits” in the US. “Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!” he said on Truth Social in early December.Republic Welcomes James Newman as General Partner - Fund Manager & VP of OperationsReading PDFs has become second nature, but when it comes to editing, converting, or even organizing PDF documents, the process can be cumbersome. UPDF has changed that, offering an AI-powered PDF solution that makes these complex tasks easier for Mac users. With full-featured editing at just a quarter of the price of Adobe Acrobat Pro, UPDF brings an impressive suite of capabilities to the table, including AI tools that summarize, translate, and even let you chat with PDFs. 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5 Common Mistakes New Gold Investors MakeShoppers ring up £3.4bn Christmas debt time-bomb More consumers than ever turn to unregulated form of credit to fund Christmas New rules to protect shoppers will not be brought in until at least 2026 Experts say delay will leave consumers at risk of falling into debt for longer By JESSICA CLARK Updated: 16:50 EST, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments British shoppers risk starting the New Year with a debt time-bomb after spending a record £3.4 billion using the buy now, pay later (BNPL) type of credit over the festive period. New figures showed that more consumers than ever have turned to the unregulated form of credit to fund Christmas this year. Despite Labour's vow to overhaul the sector, new rules to protect shoppers will not be brought in until at least 2026. Experts say that the delay will leave consumers at risk of falling into unaffordable debt for a further year. BNPL is a form of credit that allows shoppers to defer payments or pay for products in instalments. Critics say that it can trap users in a spiral of debt, and claim that information is not clear enough for customers and that affordability checks are only surface-level. Providers also charge fees or interest on late payments. Time-bomb: BNPL is a form of credit that allows shoppers to defer payments or pay for products in instalments Platforms have welcomed the Government's commitment to new rules that would end years of uncertainty after plans for regulation were first floated in 2021. BNPL giants such as Swedish firm Klarna, which is still planning a long-awaited US listing, and Clear Pay dominate the market in the UK. Some banks, such as Monzo, and retailers including Mike Ashley's Frasers Group offer their own BNPL services to customers. But despite the popularity of BNPL in the UK, another big player, Laybuy, collapsed into administration this year as customers tightened their belts. The amount spent through BNPL in November and December is expected to have climbed by 8.3 per cent year-on-year, according to forecasts by Adobe. And separate figures have shown that one in 12 UK adults – or 4 million people – will rely on credit over the Christmas period. Around 38 per cent of those will use BNPL, amounting to more than 1.5 million shoppers. That is a two percentage-point rise compared with 2023, when 36 per cent or 1.4 million borrowers used BNPL products over the festive period, according to debt charity StepChange. And women are particularly at risk, with 42 per cent of female borrowers relying on the lending compared with 32 per cent of men. The splurge comes despite retail sales over the festive period taking a tumble. 'Super Saturday', the final Saturday before Christmas Day, saw a disappointing 0.9 per cent rise in shopper numbers compared with 2023. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Retailers face collapse as costs rocket and High St distress... Over 400 shop jobs lost every day this year as bleak retail... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Boxing Day, when people traditionally hit stores in search of post-Christmas bargains, also failed to provide a much-needed uplift for struggling retailers. Shopping activity on the morning of December 26 was down by nearly 9 per cent compared with last year, with high streets experiencing the sharpest declines, according to MRI Software. Analysts noted that rather than queuing outside of shops to hunt for bargains, many people were instead using Boxing Day to spend time with their families, dining out or attending sports matches. Simon Trevethick at StepChange said: 'BNPL services have grown in popularity over the last few years, but of course at this time of year using this type of interest-free credit can be even more popular as people see their budget stretched by Christmas expenses. 'While BNPL can be a useful way to spread the cost of gifts, food and other festive items, consumers can be at risk of falling into difficulty if the repayments become unaffordable in the New Year.' When regulation is introduced, BNPL firms will be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. That will mean providers will have to check that shoppers can afford the repayments before offering a loan. 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We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J. Blucas of Erie was hospitalized in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak.” Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to IMDb.com , including 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” starring John Cusack. Haddon left modeling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to reenter the workforce after her husband's 1991 death. This time she found the modeling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’” Haddon told The New York Times in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estée Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company's anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s “The Early Show.” "I kept modeling, but in a different way," she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organization aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalized communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.' Haddon was born in Toronto and began modeling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes — she began her career with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, according to her website . Haddon's daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.” “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said.
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Four in 10 rectification orders issued by the Building Commission to builders of standalone houses were not complied with inside the mandated period, amid warnings of widespread defects across greenfield construction in Sydney’s southwest. Data obtained by the Herald under NSW freedom of information laws provides a snapshot of the Building Commission’s first-year foray into regulating the construction of residential standalone houses, known as class-one buildings, after new powers legislated in late 2023 boosted the scope and funding of the agency beyond apartments. Homes with defective work are often not being rectified in an acceptable time frame. Credit: Jessica Hromas Cowboy home builders operating in tough financial conditions have forced the commission to suspend and cancel a spate of licences after defects were found across dozens of sites. Rectification orders are issued where building work is non-compliant as a means of remediating the problem before it becomes a serious defect. The data comes at a time the state needs to build 378,000 homes by July 2029. Premier Chris Minns has previously insisted the eye-watering quantity required will not come at the cost of quality, with the building commission empowered to try to prevent a repeat of the Mascot and Opal Towers debacle . Figures provided by the Department of Customer Service show 3339 complaints were received in relation to standalone houses between January 1 and October 8 this year, resulting in 897 inspections. Of those, the commission issued 319 rectification orders, and 126 were not complied with inside the designated period. The new building commissioner, James Sherrard, told the Herald that he did not believe the proportion of rectification orders disobeyed represented a compliance problem for the regulator. New building commissioner James Sherrard does not believe the number of rectification orders ignored represents a compliance problem Credit: Janie Barrett “I don’t believe we do. I mean, you can look at statistics a number of different ways. One in three have already been complied with, I think that is a better way of saying. Some won’t be complied with because the builder has gone under, or some such thing like that,” he said. Sherrard said “a lot of” rectification orders could not be complied with until the project was complete. “So the order is effective in ensuring that we have a solution to the problem, albeit that the strict time frame of the order is there to ensure that we get that adherence,” he said. The Building Commission had also slapped 216 home building licenses with conditions in the first 10 months of the year, limiting their work to apartments. Aggrieved clients of builders have previously questioned the effectiveness of Building Commission-issued rectification orders, finding there was little consequence for builders who defied the compliance measures unless there was a commitment to pursue them legally. Home owners and building commission sources said, in some cases, the cost of defying rectification orders had been baked into the costs for builders, who preferred to be fined and then gamble that financially stressed clients would not have the means to seek remedy through the courts. “Builders would ask if they could pay fines on Amex,” a building commission inspector told this masthead on the condition of anonymity. The source estimated that 75 per cent of houses being constructed would have at least 10 defects, including major issues such as waterproofing or structural issues, pointing to poor education of tradespeople as the driving force behind defects. Chandler has been heartbroken by the state of some of the buildings he has investigated. Credit: Kate Geraghty In August, former building commissioner David Chandler told the Illawarra Mercury there was a “deep denial about the quality of home construction”. Inspections of class-one buildings since last December showed there was “widespread, statewide non-compliant construction going on”. Grahame McCulloch, a third-party building inspector who worked with a number of customers of Punjabi film producer turned home builder Sippy Grewal, said the amount of defective building work was “very, very widespread” in the parts of Sydney’s south-western greenfield fringe where he operated. McCulloch attributed the shoddy workmanship to accelerated learning pathways for tradespeople, leaving a broader pool of underqualified workers to choose from. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .Cloudflare Announces Date of Investor Day 2025
The UN Secretary-General on Thursday urged the Security Council to act decisively to establish international guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI), warning that delays could heighten risks to global peace and security. Addressing ministers and ambassadors, António Guterres warned that rapid developments in AI are outpacing humanity's ability to govern it, raising important questions about accountability, equality, safety and human oversight in decision-making. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Area individuals among NC Teaching Fellows awardees