
Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login It looks like a sparkling pét-nat-style wine in the glass: slightly hazy, pale pink, gently fizzy. It smells and tastes like a rosé prosecco spritz: herbal, spicy, refreshing but slightly bitter too. It’s just the thing you’ll want to drink over the looming hot summer holiday period. But it’s not made from grapes and it contains zero alcohol. In fact, the just-released new batch of Conscious Drink – a collaboration between bushfood company Kakadu Kitchen, food-rescue organisation OzHarvest, and non-alcoholic drinks producer ALTD Spirits – is made from blueberries that would otherwise have gone to landfill, and is flavoured with native botanicals from First Nations suppliers. Not only that, but some of the proceeds from the sale of the drink go to feed people in need and plant more native ingredients. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Fetching latest articles
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team’s starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who turns 41 next Monday, has been hampered at times during the Jets’ 3-8 start by various injuries to his left leg, including a sore knee, sprained ankle and balky hamstring. Ulbrich said Monday the quarterback came back from the team’s bye-week break ready to go. “All I can say, and you’d have to ask Aaron if he’s fully healthy, but he’s better off today than he’s been as of late,” Ulbrich said. “So he’s definitely feeling healthier than he has probably for the past month. A healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. “So, I’m excited about what that looks like.” NFL Network reported on Sunday that Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps last season with a torn left Achilles tendon , has declined having medical scans on his injured leg so he can continue to play. “I have not been informed of that, either way,” Ulbrich said. Rodgers suffered what NFL Network reported was a “significant” hamstring injury against Denver in Week 4. He then sprained his left ankle against Minnesota in London a week later. RELATED COVERAGE Rams WR Demarcus Robinson arrested on suspicion of DUI after loss to Eagles Jackson accounts for 3 TDs, John Harbaugh moves to 3-0 vs. brother as Ravens beat Chargers 30-23 Chargers struggle to score after RB J.K. Dobbins hurts his knee in his reunion game with Ravens The four-time MVP has not been able to consistently move around during games as he has in the past, when extending plays and making things happen on the run became such a big part of his game. Rodgers said leading into New York’s 28-27 loss to Indianapolis last Sunday that it was the healthiest he felt in a while. But he struggled against the Colts, finishing 22 of 29 for 184 yards after a brutally slow start during which he went 9 of 13 for just 76 yards. The Athletic reported last week that owner Woody Johnson broached the idea during a meeting with the coaching staff of having the banged-up Rodgers sit after the Jets’ loss to Denver in Week 4. With Rodgers’ struggles and perhaps compromised health the past few games, a hot debate on social media and sports talk shows during the past week has been whether the quarterback should take a seat in favor of Tyrod Taylor. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . But when asked if there has been any talk of shutting down Rodgers, Ulbrich replied flatly: “There has not.” In a follow-up question, the interim coach was asked if Rodgers will, in fact, be the Jets’ starting quarterback at home Sunday against the Seahawks. “Absolutely,” Ulbrich said. He added that he didn’t feel the need to sit down with Rodgers and address all the reports and chatter outside the facility. “No, I feel like we are on the same page,” the coach said. Last week, Ulbrich said he and his staff would take “a deep dive” into what the team could do better after losing seven of its past eight and being on the verge of missing the postseason for the 14th consecutive year. Ulbrich opted not to make any changes to the coaching responsibilities of his staff and he will continue to run the defense as the coordinator. He also said there would not be any personnel changes coming out of the bye, barring injuries. “But definitely, we created a really clear vision of where we need to improve and found some things,” Ulbrich said. “Obviously, you find the things that you’re not doing well, you need to improve upon them, but then also found some some things that I think we can really build upon. So I was excited in both ways.” Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas last Tuesday, six weeks after he also dismissed coach Robert Saleh. On Monday, the team announced it would be assisted by The 33rd Team , a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, in its searches for a general manager and coach. Ulbrich insisted that isn’t creating an awkward situation for him, in particular, as he and his staff focus on the present while the organization begins planning for the future. “In all honesty, it’s not at all,” Ulbrich said. “My singular focus is just finishing the season off the right way, playing a brand of football we’re all proud of, myself included. And that starts with Seattle.” Injuries LB C.J. Mosley said he’s “progressing” in his return from a herniated disk in his neck, but is still uncertain about his availability for Sunday. Mosley said Monday was the first time he put on a helmet since the injury occurred during pregame warmups against New England on Oct. 27. ... Ulbrich said the team is still evaluating LT Tyron Smith, who missed the game against Indianapolis with a neck ailment. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflVikings $4.1 million starter predicted to leave Minnesota for Bengals | Sporting News
Pune: BJP functionaries are calling for action against members of the Mohite Patil family in Solapur for allegedly threatening party workers after they switched their support from the BJP to the NCP (SP). BJP senior leader Devendra Fadnavis has warned Lok Sabha MP Dhairyasheel Mohite Patil of action for harassing party workers which the MP has refuted. Dhairyasheel Mohite Patil switched from the BJP to the NCP (SP) a month before the Lok Sabha poll, and was given a ticket to contest from Madha constituency. He defeated his cousin Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil of the BJP. Later, during the recently held assembly poll, the MP was given the responsibility to work for the party's candidates. The NCP (SP) won four seats in the district. After the election process, BJP members complained of harassment of party workers by Mohite Patil. Ranjitsinh, is an MLC and a BJP member. However, BJP candidates alleged that the MLC did not campaign for the party and helped candidates of the opposition win. Former MLA Ram Satpute, who lost to NCP (SP)'s Maruti Jankar from Malshiras seat, has demanded that Ranjitsinh be expelled. "During the campaign, Mohite Patil's goons attacked our supporters and tried to prevent them from campaigning in various constituencies. Despite being a BJP member, Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil did not work for the party. Therefore, I have demanded that he be expelled," Satpute said. The Mohite Patil family is influential in state politics. Ranjitsinh father, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, was a senior NCP member who was deputy chief minister in Sushilkumar Shinde's govt. However, before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, some of his family, including Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, switched from the then-undivided NCP to the BJP. Now, after five years, the Mohite Patil family has again extended support to Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), which has led to friction between the family and BJP functionaries in Solapur. During an interview with a web portal a few months ago, Fadnavis, the home minister, said that he would not tolerate harassment of his party workers and that Dhairyasheel would have to face consequences. The MP told TOI, "Baseless allegations are being made by Ram Satpute, who has lost his mind after facing two defeats (Lok Sabha and assembly poll) in five months. Fadnavis's interview was before the assembly poll which Satpute is circulating again on social media. We have not threatened or harassed anybody, and we contested the poll democratically. Satpute wants to pin the blame on somebody, and therefore, he is blaming my family."Bills reveal uniform combination for their SNF game