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A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, its also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three of them denied TikTok’s petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators - for which the company is covering legal costs - as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court's ruling. "I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it's time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm - the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan - would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.HONG KONG , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CCSC Technology International Holdings Limited (the "Company" or "CCSC") (Nasdaq: CCTG ), a Hong Kong -based company that engages in the sale, design and manufacturing of interconnect products, including connectors, cables and wire harnesses, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first six months of fiscal year 2025 ended September 30, 2024 . Mr. Kung Lok Chiu , Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company, commented, "The first six months of fiscal year 2025 has been a remarkable period of growth for our Company. We are proud to report a 22.9% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, while our gross margin remained stable despite a net loss of $0 .74 million in a challenging environment. Furthermore, in January 2024 , we successfully completed our initial public offering (IPO) and got listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "CCTG". Building on the momentum, we launched a plan in May 2024 to establish a new supply chain management center in Serbia, Central Europe . Once completed, this center will serve as the headquarter of our supply chain operations in Europe to support our operations across the region. As of the date of the report, we have acquired the land plot for our new center and expect to complete this project by the fourth quarter of 2025. Looking forward, we plan to strategically focus on further expanding into high-growth industries, such as new energy, robotics, and medical technologies. By continuing to invest in research and development, we aim to deliver innovative and cost-effective products that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We are committed to delivering high-quality products to our customers and generating long-term value for our shareholders." First Six Months of Fiscal Year 202 5 Financial Highlights Revenue increased by 22.9% to $9.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $7.5 million for the same period of last year. Gross profit increased by 20.5% to $2.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $2.3 million for the same period of last year. Gross profit margin was 29.8% for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , compared to 30.4% for the same period of last year. Net loss was $0.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , compared to net income of $0.4 million for the same period of last year. First Six Months of Fiscal Year 202 5 Financial Results Revenue Total revenue was $9.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , which increased by 22.9% from $7.5 million for the same period of last year. The following table sets forth revenue by interconnect products: Revenue generated from cables and wire harnesses increased by 24.9%, to $8 .6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $6 .9 million for the same period of last year. Revenue generated from connectors remained essentially unchanged compared to the same period last year. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to the increase in sales volume and partially offset by the decrease in the average selling price of products. The increase in demand was mainly due to that customers had utilized their inventories previously purchased and increased their orders accordingly. The following table sets forth the disaggregation of revenue by regions: Revenue generated from Europe increased by 29.7%, to $5 .6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $4 .3 million for the same period of last year. The increase was primarily due to the increase of sales in Denmark of $1.0 million and Bulgaria of $0.2 million . Revenue generated from Asia increased by 14.6%, to $2 .7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $2 .4 million for the same period of last year. The increase was primarily due to sales increases in Hong Kong, China of $0 .1 million, and sales increases in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, of $0 .2 million. Revenue generated from the Americas increased by 9.9%, to $0 .9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $0 .8 million for the same period of last year. The increase was primarily due to sales increases in Northern America of $0.08 million . Revenue from other regions was mainly derived from Australia . Cost of Revenue Cost of revenue increased by 23.9%, to $6 .5 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, from $5.2 million for the same period of last year, which was in line with the increase of the total revenue. Inventory costs amounted to $4 .4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $3 .5 million for the same period of last year. The increase of inventory costs was primarily due to a 47.5% increase in the total sales volume and a 13.6% decrease in the inventory cost per unit. Labor costs amounted to $1.5 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $1.2 million for the same period of last year. The increase of labor costs was primarily due to the increase in production volume as a result of an increase in sales volume. Gross Profit and Gross Margin Gross profit increased by 20.5%, to $2 .7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $2 .3 million for the same period of last year. Gross profit margin was 29.8% for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , compared with 30.4% for the same period of last year. The gross profit margin was basically consistent with the same period of 2023. The Company recruited more workers to cope with the increased sales volume, and the increased labor costs eroded profits, resulting in a decrease in gross profit margin. Operating Expenses Operating expenses increased by 38.5%, to $3.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $2 .6 million for the same period of last year. The expense increase was mainly due to the increases in the selling expenses of $0.3 million , inclusive of $0 .2 million in costs relating to market development and expansion to ASEAN market, and general and administrative expenses of $0.7 million , inclusive of $0.6 million in agent and professional fees for expenses related to compliance requirements as a public company following the IPO in the U.S.. Other Income/(Expenses) Other income/(expenses) decreased by $0.8 million, to other expenses of $0 .1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from other income of $0.6 million for the same period of last year, primarily due to the decrease in foreign exchange gain. Income tax benefit Income tax benefit increased by 170.7%, to $0 .2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from $0.1 million for the same period of last year, which was due to the loss of CCSC Technology Group for the six months ended September 30, 2024 . Net (Loss)/Income Net income decreased by 280.0%, to net loss of $0.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , from net income of $0 .4 million for the same period of last year. Basic and Diluted (Loss)/ Earnings per Share Basic and diluted loss per share was $0 .06 for the six months ended September 30, 2024 , compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.04 for the same period of last year. About CCSC Technology International Holdings Limited CCSC Technology International Holdings Limited, is a Hong Kong -based company that engages in the sale, design and manufacturing of interconnect products. The Company specializes in customized interconnect products, including connectors, cables and wire harnesses that are used for a range of applications in a diversified set of industries, including industrial, automotive, robotics, medical equipment, computer, network and telecommunication, and consumer products. The Company produces both OEM ("original equipment manufacturer") and ODM ("original design manufacture") interconnect products for manufacturing companies that produce end products, as well as electronic manufacturing services ("EMS") companies that procure and assemble products on behalf of such manufacturing companies. The Company has a diversified global customer base located in more than 25 countries throughout Asia , Europe and the Americas. For more information, please visit the Company's website: http://ir.ccsc-interconnect.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company's proposed Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as "may," "will," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "propose," "potential," "continue", or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please contact: CCSC Technology International Holdings Limited Investor Relations Department Email: [email protected] Ascent Investor Relations LLC Tina Xiao Phone: +1-646-932-7242 Email: [email protected] *Retrospectively reflect the changes in class of shares effective on September 10, 2024 SOURCE CCSC Technology International Holdings Limited
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The political circumstances that surrounded the publication of "Ultimatum," once a best-selling novel that imagined an American effort to annex Canada, may ring familiar to anyone following recent headlines. A US leader announces tariffs on Canadian imports, signaling a more confrontational relationship, and a prime minister named Trudeau scrambles to respond. But the American, in this case, was former president Richard Nixon and the Canadian leader was Pierre Elliott Trudeau -- father of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Nixon and the elder Trudeau are long dead, but the author of "Ultimatum," published in 1973, is D-Day veteran Richard Rohmer, the honorary lieutenant general of the Canadian Armed Forces, who recently turned 101. Still an avid news consumer and writer, Rohmer told AFP that remarks by President-elect Donald Trump implying that Canada could be absorbed by the United States should not be laughed off. "This man has to be taken seriously," he said. "He is a man with great imagination who has ideas about what he can do and what he cannot do, and as far as Canada is concerned." Trump mocked Trudeau this week as the "governor" of a state, rather than prime minister of the giant US neighbor -- a taunt beyond any seen during Trump's first term. The president-elect's jibe followed Fox News reports that, in talks with Trudeau in Florida, he had suggested that if Canada could not withstand his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports, then it should be absorbed as the 51st US state. While some analysts dismissed the barbs as "Trump being Trump," it hit a sensitive nerve in Canada. Days after meeting Trudeau, Trump posted an AI-generated image showing himself standing high atop a mountain next to a Canadian flag, gazing forward. Former Quebec premier Jean Charest responded on X by tartly cautioning Trump to "think twice before invading Canada." Charest recalled the War of 1812, when US advances on Canadian territory ended in defeat -- and the torching of the White House. Yet not everyone in Canada views US annexation as a terrible idea. A poll by the Leger research firm conducted after Trump's comments found that 13 percent of Canadians would like the country to become a US state, with support strongest among men and Conservative Party supporters. Trudeau has not publicly responded to Trump's taunts. An op-ed piece in the Toronto Star said Trump was behaving "like a toddler," and the prime minister was wise to not "rise to the bait." For Laura Stephenson, chair of the political science department at Western University, Trump's musings amount to an escalation compared to a tariff threat. "We're in a different world now. Annexation isn't the same as 'I'm going to hurt your industry.'" Even if an active confrontation with the US remains unthinkable, Stephenson told AFP that such mockery can be "humiliating" to Canadians. She said many Canadians identify themselves explicitly as "not American," and Trump's poking at the issue "has all sort of implications for Canadian identity." University of Toronto political scientist Renan Levine, on the other hand, suggested Trump's ribbing could be a "good sign" for Canadians, as it implies a bond with Trudeau. "He's basically signaling, 'I have a certain level of comfort with you and we can exchange wisecracks,'" Levine told AFP. Rohmer said the moment calls for patriotism. The success of his book "Ultimatum" came at a curious time in Canadian fiction, with a flurry of books, including a novel by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, exploring conflict with the US. Rohmer said his book likely tapped into a thirst for national pride that Canadians crave but are notorious for suppressing. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland responded to Trump's mockery by saying "Canada is the greatest country in the world" -- while adding that such a boast was not "appropriately Canadian." When asked if he thought Trump's insults should prompt Canada to assert its strength, Rohmer said: "I think we should, but I have no idea how." bs/bbk/bgs
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CDWP approves 15 projects worth Rs422.704bn Meeting chaired by Minister PDSI & Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chairs a meeting to review the progress of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects in Balochistan on September 2, 2024. — APP ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved 15 development projects worth Rs422.704 billion during its meeting chaired by Minister PDSI & Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Out of these, 6 projects worth Rs17.95 billion have been approved by the CDWP forum, while the forum has recommended 9 projects worth Rs404.754 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for its consideration. The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, Joint Chief Economist (Ops), Members of the Planning Commission, as well as respective federal secretaries, heads of provincial and representatives from federal ministries and provincial governments. The agenda included discussion on projects of health, agriculture, environment, manpower, governance, water resources, transport & communication and science & technology.US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
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( MENAFN - Newsfile Corp) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 13, 2024) - Vext Science, Inc. (CSE: VEXT) (OTCQX: VEXTF) ("VEXT" or the "Company") a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio, today announced final voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders held on December 13, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting"). The shareholders of the Company voted in favour of all matters included in the management information circular for the Meeting, demonstrating strong support for the matters brought before the Meeting, with each of the resolutions passing with over 98% of the votes cast, representing 73.45% of the votes associated with the issued and outstanding shares of the Company.[1] For more details, visit Vext's investor website or contact the IR team at ... . About VEXT Science, Inc. Vext Science, Inc. is a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio. Vext's expertise spans from cultivation through to retail operations in its key markets. Based out of Arizona, Vext owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, fully built-out manufacturing facilities as well as dispensaries in both Arizona and Ohio. The Company manufactures VapenTM, one of the leading THC concentrates, edibles, and distillate cartridge brands in Arizona. Its selection of award-winning products are created with Vext's in-house, high-quality flower and distributed across Arizona and Ohio, as well as through Vext's partnerships in other states. Vext's leadership team brings a proven track record of building and operating profitable multi-state operations, with the Company having operated profitably since 2016. The Company's primary focus is to continue growing in its core states of Arizona and Ohio, bringing together cutting-edge science, manufacturing, and marketing to provide a reliable and valuable customer experience while generating shareholder value. Vext Science, Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol VEXT and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol VEXTF. Learn more at and connect with Vext on Twitter/X and LinkedIn. For more details on the Vapen brand: Vapen website: VapenBrands Instagram: @vapen Facebook: @vapenbrands Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Vext's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding future developments and the business and operations of Vext, including but not limited to the Company's transition to serve both the medical and adult-use markets in Ohio and the anticipated results therefrom, market projections of the cannabis industry in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, and statements about the timing and completion of the Ohio Expansion Transaction, the acquisition of additional licenses and the opening of additional dispensaries in Ohio, all of which are subject to the risk factors contained in Vext's continuous disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at . Although Vext has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; being engaged in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. Federal laws; change in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindered market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry; and regulatory or political change. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Because of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Vext disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Vext does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. Eric Offenberger Chief Executive Officer 844-211-3725 For further information : Jonathan Ross, Vext Investor Relations ... 416-244-9851 SOURCE: Vext Science, Inc. [1]In total, 181,705,738 shares out of 247,390,811 shares the Company has issued and outstanding, were voted at the Meeting. The reference to shares means the Company's common shares and Class A shares reported on an as converted basis. To view the source version of this press release, please visit SOURCE: VEXT Science, Inc. MENAFN13122024004218003983ID1108991790 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 15: In a major step towards implementing the roadmap for the country’s comprehensive digital transformation project, the State Audit Bureau (SAB) approved the request of the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) to sign a lease contract with Google Cloud for establishing three major data centers in different locations in Kuwait, with total revenues of up to KD 12.6 million over the next 20 years. According to informed sources, the approval followed a thorough review of CITRA’s request, which outlined the annual revenues from the three sites — Sulaibiya Agricultural Area, Jaber Al-Ahmad Residential City, and South Al-Mutlaa Residential City. These sites, each spanning 30,000 square meters, are expected to generate annual revenues of KD 210,000 from each center. The sources said, “This step will significantly boost CITRA’s revenues over the 20-year contract, totaling KD 12.6 million. The contract, which is set to be signed soon between CITRA and Google, is based on Cabinet’s resolution No. 1274/2023 that granted CITRA the authority to conclude and sign contracts for private state real estate properties related to facilities, land, and uses allocated to the authority.” They affirmed that SAB approved the contract with Google Cloud Services, under the condition that CITRA coordinates with the relevant ministries to ensure the lands are delivered free of obstacles before finalizing the agreements, and SAB has set a maximum approval period of 90 days. The sources highlighted that this project represents a strategic move to strengthen cloud infrastructure in Kuwait and reflects the collaboration between the government and international companies to enhance digital transformation, in line with the state’s vision for digitalization. By Mohammed Al-Enezi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times StaffPrototype device produces critical fertilizer ingredient from thin air, cutting carbon emissions
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President-elect Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban the TikTok social media platform on Jan. 19 if it isn’t sold by its Chinese parent company. Trump said the court should give him time after his Jan. 20 inauguration to “pursue a political resolution” of the dispute. He didn’t take a position on the constitutionality of the disputed law, which Congress enacted on a bipartisan basis earlier this year. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. "Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much," Scheffler said. "A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things." Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. "I think in this game I think a lot of all y'all are looking for perfection out of us," he said. "Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased." Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. "You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are," Thomas said. "He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies." Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. Get local news delivered to your inbox!