WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," she wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which was suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen said. FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The news came after Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. Congress approved the bill only after a fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt stands at about $36 trillion — after ballooning across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but are debating over how to pay for them. Many consumers may remember receiving their first credit card, either years ago in a plain envelope, or months ago from a smartphone app. Still other consumers may remember their newest card, maybe because it's the credit card they're now using exclusively to maximize cash back rewards or airline miles. But for most consumers, there's also a murky in-between where they add, drop and generally accumulate credit cards over time. Over the years, consumers may close some credit card accounts or leave some of their credit cards dormant as a backup form of payment, or perhaps left forgotten in a desk drawer. In the data below, Experian reveals the changes in consumers wallets in recent years. U.S. consumers, on average, carry fewer cards today than they did in 2017, when the typical wallet held 4.2 active credit cards. As of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, consumers carried 3.9 cards on average. This average is up slightly since the early days of the pandemic, when consumers reduced their average credit card debt and number of accounts as the economy slowed. As Experian revealed earlier this year, credit card balances are still climbing, despite (and partially because of) higher interest rates. And while average balances are increasing, they are spread across fewer accounts than in recent years. Alternative financing—including buy now, pay later plans for purchases—may account for at least some of this discrepancy, as consumers gravitate toward these newer financing methods. In general, residents of higher-population states tend to carry more credit cards than those who live in states with fewer and smaller population centers. Nonetheless, the difference between the states is relatively small. Considering that the national average is around four credit cards per consumer, the four states with the fewest cards per consumer (Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) aren't appreciably different, with "only" about 3.3 credit cards per consumer. Similarly, the four states on the higher end of the scale where consumers have 4.2 or more credit cards are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The disparity in average credit card counts is more apparent when the population is segmented by age, thanks in part to Generation Z, many of whom have yet to receive their first credit card. The average number of credit cards for these consumers was two, less than half of what older generations keep on hand. The average number of credit cards held by each generation follows the familiar pattern seen in credit card balances, which tend to increase in a consumer's middle age. It's not surprising that the number of credit card accounts follows a similar climb throughout young adulthood and middle age, then drops off in the retirement years. No matter how many credit cards you may have at the moment, keep in mind that the number of accounts has little if any bearing on one's FICO Score. Far more important is how consumers manage those accounts. This is easily demonstrable by quickly stepping through some of the factors that affect your credit scores . Longer credit histories do tend to have a positive effect on a consumer's credit score, but it's not something you can rush. Adhering to on-time payments and managing amounts owed will go far in improving credit scores, even absent a lengthy credit history. While accounts closed in good standing remain on your credit report for 10 years, canceling your oldest credit card account still has the potential to shorten your credit history when it is eventually removed. The impact of its removal depends on any other active credit cards in your credit file. Ultimately, the number of cards a particular individual carries is a personal decision. Justifications can be found for carrying a travel rewards card, a cash back card, a balance transfer card, a card for business transactions and other types of credit cards that other consumers may not have either the need or qualifications for. However, keeping track of numerous credit cards, whether or not a consumer is actively using all of them, can be a mentally taxing exercise. Not only that, credit card fees can add up and dull the benefit of carrying several credit cards. Organized consumers can benefit greatly from a wallet full of specialized cards, but for those seeking a more zen-like financial future, some judicial pruning may be in order. Methodology: The analysis results provided are based on an Experian-created statistically relevant aggregate sampling of our consumer credit database that may include use of the FICO Score 8 version. Different sampling parameters may generate different findings compared with other similar analysis. Analyzed credit data did not contain personal identification information. Metro areas group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for population censuses and compilations of related statistical data. This story was produced by Experian and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Genius Group increases Net Asset Value to $54.6 million, reduces net loss per share by 74% in First Half of 2024. Provides guidance of $75 million net asset value for Full Year with growth in Bitcoin Treasury. SINGAPORE, Dec. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (“Genius Group” or the “Company”), a leading AI-powered, Bitcoin-first education group, today announced its financial results for the first half of 2024. “Following a rationalization of our operations in the first half of the year, we are extremely pleased to report a stronger balance sheet and a reduction in operational expenses for the first six months of 2024. This trend has continued in the second half, with the launch of our Bitcoin-first strategy and growth of our Bitcoin Treasury.” said Roger Hamilton, CEO of Genius Group. Genius Group’s unaudited first half financial results are for the operations of the Company excluding financials related to the LZGI transaction signed in January 2024. As previously reported, the Company has voted to rescind that transaction, and the matter is currently in arbitration. The financial highlights for the first half of 2024 is prior to the launch of the Company’s Bitcoin Treasury strategy in the second half of 2024. Financial Highlights for the First Half of 2024 “While the company has put significant focus on various corporate actions, rationalizing its operations and reducing costs in 2024, we have done so while growing our core Edtech business.” said Gaurav Dama, CFO of Genius Group. “We are finishing 2024 with a strong balance sheet and look forward to moving towards a sustainable cash positive operating model anchored by our Bitcoin Treasury plan in 2025.” Strategic and Operational Highlights for the First Half of 2023 Recent Strategic and Operational Highlights Following the issues relating to the LZGI transaction, the Company previously withdrew guidance for the year 2024. With the restructuring and realignment of the company to its Bitcoin-first strategy in the second half of 2024, the Company anticipates its Net Asset Value to grow to $75 million for the full year, with over $20 million in its Bitcoin Treasury. The Company is committed to its current path towards profitable, cash positive operations and an initial Bitcoin Treasury target of 1,000 Bitcoin. Other The audit opinion of its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Form on 20F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2024, prepared as going concern. The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2024 have been prepared on a going concern basis. About Genius Group Genius Group (NYSE: GNS) is a Bitcoin-first business delivering AI powered, education and acceleration solutions for the future of work. Genius Group serves 5.4 million users in over 100 countries through its Genius City model and online digital marketplace of AI training, AI tools and AI talent. It provides personalized, entrepreneurial AI pathways combining human talent with AI skills and AI solutions at the individual, enterprise and government level. To learn more, please visit www.geniusgroup.net . Investor Notice Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See “Forward-Looking Statements” below. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company’s Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise. GENIUS GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (In US Dollars) GENIUS GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In US Dollars) GENIUS GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In US Dollars) Summary Combined Consolidated Financial Data Non-IFRS Financial Measure We have included Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget and to develop short- and long-term operational plans. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core business. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net profit / loss for the period plus income taxes and social contribution plus / minus finance revenue /expense result plus depreciation and amortization plus impairments plus revaluation adjustment of contingent liabilities plus share-based compensation expenses plus bad debt provision. Derived from Financial Statements Contacts Investors: Investor Relations Team Email: investor@geniusgroup.net Media Contacts: MZ Group - MZ North America (949) 259-4987 GNS@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.us
Bridge Defense Announces Strategic Investment in Federated IT
(TNS) — Sometimes traditional health care isn't enough to help people, but new technologies can make a difference, and Wichita State University wants to capitalize on that. That's why the school has started the new Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Assistive Technology. "We have a pretty unique situation here," said Gregory Hand, dean of the College of Health Professions. In addition to having scientists, engineers and clinicians, WSU has fabrication and manufacturing on campus that a lot of schools do not. "This is going to accelerate solutions to a lot of problems in rehabilitative medicine," Hand said. IRMAT is a collaborative effort to address disease and disabilities through research and technology, which can help people with physical and cognitive disabilities. Think of things such as artificial limbs or other devices that can help people adapt to disabilities, including strokes and paralysis, in their daily lives. "It will give us an opportunity to accelerate the development of new assistive technologies," Hand said. "And it will allow Kansans to have an opportunity to participate in clinical trials of these new assistive devices." Nationally, Kansans — especially those in rural areas — "are woefully underrepresented in clinical trials," Hand said. With its partners and WSU's own clinics, he said, "We can do all this in house, which would save tens of thousands of dollars." In addition to the College of Engineering and WSU's industry and defense programs, initial partners also include Ascension Via Christi's Rehabilitation Hospital, Heartspring's Outpatient Services and the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. "This partnership exemplifies how collaboration with industry leaders can drive innovation and enhance patient care," said Laurie Labarca, president for Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa and Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, in a news release. "We are thrilled to be part of this effort, ultimately transforming the way we address complex medical challenges." The institute has started on campus now. By 2027, IRMAT will be located at the new Wichita Biomedical Campus in downtown Wichita, which is under construction now at Broadway and William. It's a partnership with WSU and the University of Kansas Medical Center. Hand said the assistive technology market is growing and should be a more than $30 billion industry worldwide within five or six years. Part of the growth is due to an aging population, but it also comes from the drive to help people with accessibility issues. Also, the health-care industry is increasingly allowing reimbursement that will assist with clinical trials and other advancements. Hand said the two key growth areas are robotics, such as artificial limbs, and external sensors. Those can be small, hidden sensors or entire exoskeletons. "I call them Iron Man suits," Hand said. They can help people who have been weakened through strokes or other issues. "It can give you back your strength," Hand said. "We've got people walking on crutches who are paralyzed from the waist down." He said IRMAT will be life-changing for "people who have burned through the health care system and can't find solutions to their problems." Hand said the limitation, until now, has been combining the clinical populations with the fabricators, but IRMAT will change that. As his colleague Pierre Harter, who is associate vice president for research and industry engagement, said in the release: "The institute has the potential to impact the well-being of countless individuals in our community and state."Vancouver-based bookkeeping service Bench Accounting has announced its sudden closure, putting hundreds of staff out of work and forcing clients to seek alternatives just days from the end of the year. The company that has described itself as North America’s largest bookkeeping service for small businesses posted a “notice of service closure” on its website. It said that as of Friday the platform was “no longer accessible.” “We know this news is abrupt and may cause disruption, so we’re committed to helping Bench customers navigate through the transition,” it said. Bench has previously said it had more than 600 employees, more than 12,000 U.S.-based customers and had received investor funding of US$113 million. It said it moved to Vancouver and changed its name to Bench in 2013, having started out in 2012 as 10sheet Inc in the U.S. Calls to Bench’s Vancouver office went to voice mail and did not immediately receive a response. B.C.‘s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diana Gibson said in a statement Friday that “our thoughts go out to the people who have lost their jobs, especially during the holidays.” “It’s disappointing any time we hear of a business closing ... as this is a private business, I don’t have any information about why it’s closing,” she said. She added that B.C. had a “strong financial tech sector,” and the government would continue to support those businesses. Bench’s website said customers would be told how to access their data by Dec. 30, and that the material would be available for download until March 7. ”(You’ll) be able to enter your Bench login credentials to download your current and prior year-end financials, as well as any documents you’ve uploaded such as receipts and bank statements,” it said. It said customers should file for a tax extension to get extra time to find a new bookkeeper to file their taxes. The company’s former CEO and co-founder Ian Crosby released a statement on social media on Friday, saying he was “very sad” about the closure. But Crosby, who said he was ousted by the company’s board about three years ago, said there was a lesson in the fate of the company. “I hope the story of Bench goes on to become a warning for VCs (venture capitalists) that think they can ‘upgrade’ a company by replacing the founder. It never works,” he said. The University of British Columbia Sauder Business School alumnus said he had been avoiding speaking publicly about Bench since his exit, but wanted to make a statement in light of the company’s demise. He said that in 2021 he had been battling with some board members over their strategy for a “new direction” that he thought was a “very bad idea.” “Rather than continuing to fight with me, they opted to just replace me, thinking that they could run the company better themselves,” he said. “I was totally convinced that their approach would destroy the company. I opted to resign rather than fight.” Kaz Nejatian, COO of Bench investor Shopify, agreed with Crosby. “Bad investors destroyed a great Canadian company by replacing the founder with so-called professionals,” Nejatian said on social media platform X. Other bookkeeping companies were quick to reach out to Bench’s former clients, with rivals such as Acuity and Better Bookkeeping making reference to Bench’s closure in social media pitches. Rival companies also commented on complaints by Bench clients, offering their services. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024.
No. 24 Illinois stuns Rutgers on Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds leftAt California’s community colleges, conservative professors and students are making their voices heard — not just in the classroom but in court. Their lawsuits have already led community colleges to pay millions in settlements and legal fees. CalMatters identified at least seven cases filed since 2020 in which professors or students have sued their community college districts for issues related to free speech. Most of the cases are still ongoing and are located in California’s Central Valley, in counties where Republicans often outnumber Democrats. Although separate, many of these lawsuits include similar allegations: that programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion are restricting the right to free speech under the First Amendment. The University of California system is facing a similar case in Santa Cruz. In a state with 73 community college districts and 116 community colleges, such lawsuits are rare. Still, President-elect Donald Trump has used similar cases as fodder for national policy, such as a 2019 executive order he signed regarding free speech on college campuses, which he justified by pointing to a few conservative and religious students who claimed colleges had restricted their rights. Throughout his campaign for this year’s election, Trump promised to continue that focus if re-elected. “The time has come to reclaim our once great educational institutions from the radical left,” he said in a campaign video last year, later adding that he would protect free speech and remove “all Marxist diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucrats” from college campuses. Even when these lawsuits get dismissed, community colleges can still pay a price. In a Riverside County lawsuit , Moreno Valley College professor Eric Thompson claimed the community college violated his right to free speech when it fired him. The lawsuit alleges that his termination was a result of various student complaints, all stemming from opinions that Thompson had presented in class or over email with the wider college community. He argued, for example, that homosexuality is the result of social factors, not genetics, and that conversion therapy should be allowed. Thompson lost the case, but public records show that the district still paid nearly $900,000 in legal costs to fight it. It was never about making money. It was not only about making change, but also about ensuring that change remains for future students. For Daniel Ortner, an attorney who recently helped students and professors file three different lawsuits against community college districts, these cases are part of a broader trend of cracking down on controversial speech and forcing “conformity to a certain viewpoint,” especially on topics of race. Ortner works for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit organization that focuses on free speech issues. Ortner said the policies at the community college level are the strictest, and therefore, elicit more pushback from faculty. According to state regulations adopted in 2022, every community college district in the state must develop a policy to evaluate staff based on their ability to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. “Students must experience campus and classroom cultures that they feel they can belong to , where they can thrive and succeed,” said Eloy Ortiz Oakley, then-chancellor of the community college system, during a 2022 presentation about the new regulations. Of the more than 2 million students who enrolled at one of the state’s community colleges last year, most are low-income , including some students who are former foster youth or formerly incarcerated. Most students identify as Black, Hispanic or Asian. The California community college system has the “most diverse student population in the nation,” said Ortiz Oakley, later adding that neither the CSU nor the UC system had similar regulations in place. “We should be proud that we’re leading the way.” Nationally, many college systems have taken the opposite approach. A total of 25 states have proposed or signed legislation curbing how colleges support diversity, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Lawsuits Over Pronouns, Posters and Alleged Censorship Many of the California lawsuits follow the same general contours. According to the details of one case , David Richardson, a professor at Madera Community College, started using the pronouns “Do, Re, Mi” while attending a 2021 presentation about personal gender pronouns. When the facilitator later approached Richardson about his choice of pronouns — calling his actions “harmful to trans people” — Richardson doubled down, claiming that his choice of pronouns was part of his right to free expression. After the college disciplined him, Richardson sued the State Center Community College District, which oversees Madera Community College. The case is still pending in federal court. The community college system, the California State University system and the UC Office of the President have policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion on their campuses, though each system has taken a different approach. Another lawsuit at Bakersfield College dates back to 2019, when two professors, Matthew Garrett and Erin Miller, put together a campus talk about “free speech” and “campus censorship.” During the talk, Garrett and Miller criticized the school for supporting Kern Sol News, a nonprofit news site, and criticized specific professors at the school’s Social Justice Institute. Bakersfield College administrators then wrote a note in their personnel files, criticizing Garrett and Miller for “unprofessional conduct,” effectively “chilling” their First Amendment rights, according to the lawsuit. The Kern Community College District settled with Garrett this summer, paying him $2.4 million on the condition that he drop all of his legal complaints against the district. It’s less than 1% of the district’s annual budget, but for a faculty member, many of whom make around $100,000 a year, it’s a significant sum. Miller is continuing with the case. In the settlement, both Garrett and the district deny any wrongdoing. “The settlement is in the best interest of the District and allows us to focus on the future and continue to deliver quality higher education for students of Kern County without any further legal distractions,” Norma Rojas, a spokesperson for the Kern Community College District, said in a written statement. “To be clear, the dispute with Matthew Garrett was a disciplinary matter due to his disruptive actions on campus, none of which concerned freedom of speech.” Miller and Garrett declined multiple requests to comment. Support timely, comprehensive news. We have launched our year-end campaign. Our goal: Raise $50,000 by Dec. 31. Help us get there. Times of San Diego is devoted to producing timely, comprehensive news about San Diego County. Your donation helps keep our work free-to-read, funds reporters who cover local issues and allows us to write stories that hold public officials accountable. Join the growing list of donors investing in our community's long-term future. DONATE TODAY! Another Central Valley case stems from an incident in 2021. At the time, Juliette Colunga was a student at Clovis Community College and on the leadership team of her college’s chapter of the Young America’s Foundation, a national conservative organization with local branches at over 2,000 college campuses. She and two other students placed a set of posters across campus that criticized communism, which the college then removed after other students complained. Later, Colunga and her co-leaders asked to put up pro-life posters, but school leaders said they could only be placed in a different location, far from the spot where they usually placed their content. With help from Ortner and the Young America’s Foundation, she and the other student leaders sued , alleging that the school district’s actions violated their First Amendment Rights. This summer, the State Center Community College District, which oversees Clovis Community College, agreed to pay her, the other student leaders, her attorneys and the Young America’s Foundation $330,000 as part of a legal settlement. The district also agreed to implement a new policy for displaying posters on campus and to provide “First Amendment training” to all of its managers. “It was never about making money,” Colunga said. “It was not only about making change, but also about ensuring that change remains for future students.” Kristen Kuenzli Corey, general counsel to the State Center Community College District, declined to comment on Colunga’s lawsuit, Richardson’s lawsuit and another similar lawsuit. She pointed to the pleadings in the cases as evidence of the district’s position. Do Public Employees, Students Have the Right to Free Speech? In general, the free speech provision of the First Amendment governs the relationship between people and government. Faculty and students at a public college have a right to free speech under the First Amendment, but in a slightly more limited manner, said David Snyder, the executive director of the First Amendment Coalition. Various courts have found that public institutions can limit the free speech rights of its employees — in this case, faculty — if an employee’s behavior runs counter to the mission of the institution. Schools also have a right to restrict their students’ speech, but only if it disrupts education. The most famous example is the “Tinker test,” in which the U.S. Supreme Court said that students had a First Amendment right to free speech, as long as their conduct did not “materially and substantially interfere” with education. “What also matters is what the school’s policies say,” Snyder said. Regardless of the constitutional questions, a professor or student can sue if they feel the school’s actions contradict its policies. In addition to its policy on diversity, equity and inclusion, California’s community college system also has a policy on academic freedom, which states that faculty, staff and students should have “the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level.” The regulations around diversity, equity and inclusion do not conflict with the academic freedom policy or otherwise “censor or compel speech,” said Paul Feist, a spokesperson for the community college system, and he pointed to a lawsuit filed by Bakersfield College professor Daymon Johnson as evidence. Johnson does not agree with the college’s principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and claims that being forced to adhere to them would infringe on his rights, according to the case. A judge recently dismissed Johnson’s claims, though he has appealed the ruling. Neither the district nor Johnson responded to requests for comment. Of the seven lawsuits identified by CalMatters, most have taken years to resolve. Colunga’s lawsuit settled this summer — almost three years after she and the other student leaders first put up the posters at Clovis Community College. By the time the case settled, she had already graduated and transferred to Master’s University, a private, four-year Christian college near Los Angeles. She said the school doesn’t have an official chapter of Young America’s Foundation, but she’s trying to get one started. Adam Echelman covers California’s community colleges for CalMatters in partnership with Open Campus, a nonprofit newsroom focused on higher education. Get Our Free Daily Email Newsletter Get the latest local and California news from Times of San Diego delivered to your inbox at 8 a.m. daily. Sign up for our free email newsletter and be fully informed of the most important developments.
Is this the time Nebraska gets past Wisconsin? The teams have played three straight one-score games, each won by the Badgers. GAME PREDICTIONS Which Husker senior, playing their final game inside Memorial Stadium, goes out with a bang? Amie Just, columnist: Ty Robinson. Luke Mullin, reporter: Robinson spends the whole game in the Wisconsin backfield, finishing with two sacks and even more quarterback pressures. Nate Head, editor: Let's say Isaac Gifford, the Lincoln native, comes down with his first interception of the season. Who leads the way in Nebraska's ever-changing running back rotation this week? Just: Emmett Johnson. Mullin: It's another week of Johnson leading the way, though Dante Dowdell takes over inside the red zone. People are also reading... Head: Johnson has had two games with at least 10 carries this season. He gets his third Saturday. Close finishes have followed Nebraska lately. At what point in the game will the final result be known? Just: The final buzzer. Mullin: It'll be a one-score game to the end, but a stop from the Nebraska defense with two minutes left seals the win. Head: Late. Wisconsin scores a go-ahead touchdown with four minutes left in the game, and Nebraska's ensuing drive ends in a turnover. Call your shot- which young Husker does Dana Holgorsen plug and play into the offense? Just: Keelan Smith. Mullin: Freshman wide receiver Quinn Clark gets his shot and records a catch too. Head: Clark seems like the obvious choice so I'll mix it up: Carter Nelson. OVER/UNDERS Dante Dowdell rushing yards — 46.5 yards Just: Under. Mullin: Under. Head: Under. Dylan Raiola passing TDs — 1.5 Just: Under. Mullin: Over. Head: Under. Jahmal Banks receiving yards — 32.5 Just: Under. Mullin: Over. Head: Over. Tawee Walker rushing yards — 72.5 Just: Over. Mullin: Over. Head: Over. Braedyn Locke passing yards — 187.5 Just: Under. Mullin: Under. Head: Under. Subscribe for the best Husker news & commentary Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Article content As injuries begin mounting a quarter of the way into the season, the Edmonton Oilers were hoping to get Darnell Nurse back in the lineup Saturday against the visiting New York Rangers. The veteran blueliner missed the previous three games after taking a vicious hit to the head from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves on Saturday. A repeat offender, Reaves was suspended for a fourth time as the league handed down a maximum five-game penalty after Nurse was left dazed and bloody after taking a shoulder to the helmet while playing a puck that went in behind the Oilers net on the way to a 4-3 overtime loss. Also missing Viktor Arvidsson and Zach Hyman from their top-six forwards, the Oilers had gone with an 11-and-seven formation to carry an extra defenceman, calling up Josh Brown from the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League. The Oilers went 1-2 in Nurse’s absence to enter Thursday’s game one game above .500 (10-9-2). “He’s a heartbeat back there for us, a guy everybody looks to,” Oilers forward Adam Henrique said following the morning skate at Rogers Place, which included Nurse. “I think he was playing fantastic before the injury and doing a lot of small things that I think sometimes can get overlooked. “We’ll wait to see what happens, but it will certainly be nice to have him back in the lineup at some point soon.” Sooner rather than later. And that goes for all injuries, if the team had its way. “He’ll be fresh and he plays big minutes and contributes as a big part of the team,” said fellow defenceman Brett Kulak. “It’s not just like calling someone and slotting them in for some minutes, he’s a big part of the team. “I think everything kind of happens around him, so it will be good to have him back.” And not just in his regular role on the second defensive pairing, but also on special teams, including an Oilers penalty kill that has begun to find its legs as of late, having gone a perfect 13-for-13 over the previous six games and not allowing a goal. “It’s a major adjustment, he plays all situations and a lot of minutes, everyone has to chip in and play more,” Kulak said. “It’s a different dynamic without him in the lineup. “He’s an incredible player and does a lot of great things.” In other words, the Oilers are finding out just how tough Nurse is to replace. “First of all, he plays 22-25 minutes a night, he’s good at transporting the puck, getting it out of the zone and the biggest thing is just how much area he covers defensively,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “To play against him, there’s not much room. One, because of his quickness. And two, his reach. And if you do get into a battle with him, he’s so incredibly strong that he could push somebody off the puck. “So, it’s difficult to play against him.” Thursday’s game was part of the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Institute. As part, the Oilers had special nameplates above their lockers, with the words: “I play for,” followed by a blank. Kulak chose to dedicate the game to the memory of a late uncle. “Uncle Randy, he was my mom’s brother and he passed away to lung cancer when I was younger,” said Kulak, who was born and raised in Edmonton. “I forget what age I was when he passed away, I was pretty young. But I’ve still got some good memories of him. “One thing he always said was he was going to be my agent when I grew up and made the NHL, so that was kind of fun. I’m still sure in a way he’s up in heaven doing his job for me.” Kulak is holding up his end of the bargain, too, realizing his childhood dream of making the big league. And it certainly didn’t hurt having someone early on in the process think he could do it. “Definitely, it’s another stepping-stone along the way,” he said. “To see an adult that you look up to believe in you like that, it just kind of makes the dream feel a little more possible.” E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
CHANDLER, Ariz. — History has been made as the St. Mary's Knights have become the first-ever champions of the 4A conference in girls flag football. This has been an incredible season for the No. 1 seed Knights, who defeated No. 2 Prescott, 10-7, in the state championship game. The Knights finished the season 13-0 after dominating their competition from the beginning of the season to the end. St. Mary's scored an average of 28.46 points per game, kept opponents from scoring eight times and only gave up more than seven points once, in their regular-season finale against Mesquite. Once the playoffs arrived, St. Mary's showed they wanted to raise the golden football with a 19-7 win over No. 16 Arcadia, 33-0 win over No. 9 Eastmark and 20-3 win over No. 5 Scottsdale Christian. The Knights were tested in the title game, however. After opening the scoring against Prescott with a touchdown late in the first half, the Badgers responded to tie the game right before halftime. The teams would play a scoreless second half until St. Mary's was able to make a field goal with 46.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give them the state championship. St. Mary's now goes down in the history books as the first team to ever win a state championship in 4A, as the conference was newly added this year. >> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone. Watch 12News+ for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app! The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV . 12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account , or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. Friday Night Fever on YouTube Catch up on the latest Arizona high school football news and action on the 12News YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe!Telangana: NHRC team begins probe into Lagcherla violence
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad oversaw a merciless crackdown on a pro-democracy revolt that morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century. After facing down nationwide protests demanding his ouster and an armed rebellion that he all but crushed, he had until this month taken back control of much of Syria in the civil war that began in 2011. Quiet in his demeanour, Assad is a political survivor who for years excelled in his alliance-building with Russia and Iran, and who knew just how to present himself as Syria's only viable leader in the face of the Islamist threat. But since November 27, an Islamist-led rebel offensive has wrested from Assad's control city after city, including Aleppo and Hama for the first time since 2011, leaving his grip on power severely under threat. Assad has cast himself as the protector of Syria's minorities, a bulwark against extremism and the sole possible purveyor of stability for the war-ravaged country. In multiple votes held over the years, conducted solely on government-held territory, he has taken the vast majority of the ballots, amid accusations from Western countries that the wartime elections were neither free nor fair. In appearance, whether in person or in the many portraits of him in the capital Damascus, Assad has typically eschewed military garb, opting instead for a sharp-cut business suit and sober tie. In official meetings, during interviews and even on the frontlines, the 59-year-old ophthalmologist by training conducts himself calmly and can almost appear timid. Behind the facade, however, is an astonishing ability to hold onto power amid multiple waves of violence and transformative change in Syria and the wider region. - 'Shuffle the cards' - One journalist, who met with Assad on several occasions before and after war broke out in 2011, told AFP the president is a "unique and complex figure". "Each time I met him he was calm... even during the most difficult moments of the war," said the journalist, who declined to be named. Assad has "the same qualities" as his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly three decades until his death in 2000, the journalist said. "In politics, it's important to know how to shuffle cards, not just how to arrange them," he added. "Assad has mastered the shuffling game." Hafez al-Assad, head of the Syrian Baath Party, imposed in the country a secretive, paranoid regime where even the slightest suspicion of dissent could land one in jail or worse. Bashar al-Assad was never meant to become president, but his life changed radically when his older brother Bassel, who was being groomed to inherit power, was killed in a road accident in 1994. Bashar quit his studies in ophthalmology and left London, where he had met his wife, Asma, a British-Syrian and Sunni Muslim who worked for financial services firm JP Morgan. Back home, he took a course in military studies and was tutored in politics by his father. When the latter died, Bashar became president by referendum, running unopposed, then winning a second term in 2007. Sworn in at the age of 34, Assad was widely seen by Syrians pining for freedoms as a reformer, who could do away with years of repression and introduce economic liberalisation. In the early days, Assad would be seen driving his own car or having dinner at restaurants with his wife. He relaxed some of the heavy restrictions that existed under his father. - Deadly crackdown - But his initial image as a reformer quickly evaporated as authorities arrested and jailed academics, intellectuals and other members of what was then known as the Damascus Spring movement. When the Arab Spring reached Syria in March 2011, peaceful demonstrations broke out calling for change. Assad, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, responded by ordering a brutal crackdown on the protesters and civil war swiftly ensued. Throughout the war, which has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced half the population, Assad's position has not changed. He has been the subject of countless cartoons by dissident artists depicting him as a killer, not least in the aftermath of the 2013 chemical attacks on rebel bastions around Damascus. A Syrian researcher in Damascus, who asked to speak anonymously over security concerns, said: "Assad's personality played an undeniable role in his survival." His "persistence and rigour" were especially important in helping him "consolidate decision-making powers, and secure the army's full support", he added. Throughout the war, Assad has enjoyed military backing from staunch allies Iran and Russia, who helped him score a string of military victories. Since the start of the Islamist-led rebel offensive on November 27, Assad has echoed his long-held stance that the conflict in Syria is machinated from abroad. "The terrorist escalation reflects the far-reaching goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries in it and redraw the map in line with the objectives of the United States and the West," Assad said on Monday. He is the father of three children. His wife, Asma, was dubbed a "rose in the desert" by Vogue magazine before the revolt. bur/ser/jhbKBC Group NV Boosts Position in Albany International Corp. (NYSE:AIN)
Raiden LeGall’s temporary assignment as a backup goaltender with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips has turned into a more permanent gig. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Raiden LeGall’s temporary assignment as a backup goaltender with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips has turned into a more permanent gig. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Raiden LeGall’s temporary assignment as a backup goaltender with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips has turned into a more permanent gig. On Friday, the 18-year-old from Morden was confirmed a WHL regular when the Silvertips traded veteran goaltender Alex Garrett, 19, to the Brandon Wheat Kings. LeGall is currently the No. 2 man behind 18-year-old veteran Jesse Sanche, who leads the league in goals-against average and is second in save percentage. ANDY GLASS / EVERETT SILVERTIPS Raiden LeGall has a 5-1-0-0 record with a .944 save percentage and 1.51 goals-against average in six starts with Everett. In six games since being called up from the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks in mid-November as a injury fill-in for Sanche, LeGall posted a 5-1-0-0 record with a .944 save percentage and 1.51 goals-against average for the No. 3-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. “It’s been awesome here — it’s another level compared to playing back home and they treat you well, so it’s been great,” said LeGall from Everett, Wash. The only serious blip in LeGall’s pre-Christmas stint in Everett came in a 4-1 loss to the Portland Winter Hawks on Dec. 11. Three nights later, he rallied to stop 30 of 31 shots in a 4-1 triumph over the visiting Tri-City Americans. “I feel like probably after that Tri-City game I felt like I belonged because they were a strong team and we were without two of our top defencemen,” said LeGall. “We were a little worried going into that one and then got a big win there going into the break. After that, I feel like I can play and compete at this level.” Silvertips GM Mike Fraser, who is expected to bolster his roster further prior to the league’s Jan. 9 trade deadline, said LeGall has met and exceeded expectations. “It wasn’t an easy decision, in the sense that Alex had been playing really well,” said Fraser. “In the end, what it came down to was we envision Raiden with us not only this year but next year. We wanted to invest more of the time in him.” LeGall, who posted a 7-7-1-0 record with a 2.46 goals-against average and .921 save percentage with Niverville, didn’t falter when he moved to a higher level of competition. “I knew he could play that way but in the same breath, I wondered what it was going to be like for him just adjusting to the league and that type of thing,” said Fraser. “But his demeanour is so calm and he doesn’t get too high or too low.” Entering Friday’s action, the Silvertips were running away with top spot in the Western Conference standings with a 25-5-2-1 record. “We’ve got a really good team — especially defensively,” said LeGall. “It’s crazy, because there’s not a lot of great scoring opportunities coming our way and we can put the puck in the net, too. It’s pretty cool to see.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sanche was scheduled to make the start Friday when the Silvertips faced the Seattle Thunderbirds at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. How will ice time be distributed among the goaltenders? “Their play will dictate that,” said Fraser. “I think we have two very capable goaltenders now and they know that it’s going to be a friendly competition. In the same breath, they are teammates and they get along well and they both understand the situation. It’s taking us a little bit to get to this point with our goaltending, but I think we’re happy now with being able to put either one of those two guys in and against any team in our league.” The Calgary Hitmen acquired 19-year-old forward Lukas Hansen from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for 2009-born prospect Adam Halat. Hansen, a Winnipeg product, is in his fourth WHL season. Drafted by the Blades in the second round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draf, Hansen had 22 goals and 43 points in 168 regular-season games. mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Mike Sawatzky is a sports reporter at the . He has been working at the newspaper since 2003. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Mike Sawatzky is a sports reporter at the . He has been working at the newspaper since 2003. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Quinton Cooley rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, Billy Lucas added 131 yards and a score, and Liberty gained 419 on the ground with four touchdowns in a 38-21 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday. Liberty (8-2, 5-2 Conference USA) has won eight-plus games for the sixth consecutive season to keep alive hopes of a second straight trip to the conference championship game. The Flames play Sam Houston (8-3, 5-2) on Friday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Philippe Clement was left frustrated following Rangers' 1-1 draw with Dundee United, but acknowledged he "cannot ask much more" from his players. ( More Sports News ) The Gers dropped their first points at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership season, and could trail leaders Celtic by 11 if the Hoops beat Hearts later on Saturday. Sam Dalby's 36th-minute header put the visitors in front, though Vaclav Cerny's smart finish levelled the contest midway through the second half. The hosts pushed for the winning goal, with Ianis Hagi and Robin Propper denied by United goalkeeper Jack Walton later on. Yet, despite over 70% of the possession and nine shots on target to their opponents' one, Clement's side were forced to settle for a share of the spoils. "We need to reward ourselves, and we need to play like we played in the second half, 90 minutes long," he told Rangers TV. "Like that, you strangle teams like you did in the past, and that's the football I want to see. "I cannot say anything about commitment in the second half, the team pushed until the last seconds to score a winner, and the goalkeeper made some excellent saves. The team was not rewarded in that way. Full-Time at Ibrox. Rangers 1-1 Dundee United pic.twitter.com/MJp2GtFEuV "It's frustrating to lose points in a game where you face one shot on target, and it's a goal. Last season, we won these games and, now, you lose points, so we need to get back to the level of before. "They fought until the end. We had really good opportunities. You cannot ask much more, only to score the second goal. Then, you have a totally different feeling after the game." Meanwhile, Jack Butland was left to rue what might have been, with the goalkeeper insisting he and his team-mates must up their game. "It can't take until the second half to get going," he said. "We've got to be better. We've given away too many easy goals against teams that are just looking to hang onto something. "It's not a great result at all. It feels like a loss. These games have got to be wins. It's not what the fans deserve from the game today. We need to do much more."
Farage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbersFormer US President Jimmy Carter dies
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Newcastle will feature an unforgettable fireworks display at 9pm on December 31. or signup to continue reading The Queens Wharf precinct will be prime position for the extravaganza, with family-friendly activities, bike parades, live music and local food providers adding to the fun from 5pm. Wollongong will be illuminated by its iconic harbourside fireworks on New Year's Eve. When the show starts at 9pm there will be two great viewing spots: Osborne Park and Lang Park. From 5pm, families can make the most of food trucks near the harbour in Osborne Park. A New Year's Eve carnival will also run between December 31 and January 5 in Lang Park on Marine Drive. Gear up for Australia's most famous fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The colossal New Year's celebration has dozens of vantage points to best view the show, with a 'family friendly' 9pm show as well as the midnight extravaganza atop the Harbour Bridge. Enjoy fun with the whole family on Lake Burley Griffin this year. The two separate shows are back after 2023 featured one longer show. The first display is at 9pm for families, followed by another at midnight. Fireworks will launch from the Central Basin and Commonwealth Bridge. This will ensure maximum visibility across four celebration hubs. These will be at Rond Terrace, Queen Elizabeth Terrace and two hubs will be at Regatta Point, one in front of the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre and one near Nerang Pool. Head to Maitland Riverbank, Riverside Carpark and RH Taylor Reserve, Lorn to ring in the New Year with a bang. A family-friendly event from 5pm will offer free amusements, face painting, live music and a disco reliving the year's top hits. Celebrations will conclude with a fireworks display from 9pm onward. Welcome 2025 on Wagga Wagga's iconic Lake Albert. Family fun kicks off at 6.30pm at Apex Park, Lake Rd with food trucks and fun activities for the whole family. The regional centre's traditional fireworks will light up the sky at 9.30pm. Watch Melbourne sparkle on New Year's Eve with the annual fireworks display. Melbourne's night sky will light up across free celebration zones at 9.30pm and again when the clock strikes midnight. Find family-friendly celebration zones at Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, The Shrine and Treasury Gardens offer the best inner-city views of fireworks and lasers. See the best spots: https://nye.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ Head to the Geelong Waterfront for the best seat in the house. Roll out a rug at Eastern Beach when the annual fireworks displays at 9.30pm midnight light up the night sky. The Bendigo sky will be illuminated not once, but twice, on December 31. A family-friendly display will run at 9.15pm, and another will explode at midnight. Both displays will be let off from the Poppet Head lookout in Rosalind Park. For the first time, Ballarat will have its own New Year's Eve fireworks. The annual display usually comes in mid-January, but it has been shifted to the iconic December 31 timeslot. Lake Wendouree will host the show, which kicks off at 9.30pm. Warrnambool will feature two extraordinary fireworks displays on New Year's Eve. The first show will start at 9.30pm and the second kicks off at midnight, both launching from the Breakwater. The Lady Bay beachfront is the best seat in the house, but Cannon Hill and Flagstaff Hill are also prime viewing spots. Head to the Hobart waterfront to witness an amazing fireworks display at 9.30pm. An amazing midnight show will follow over Sullivan's Cove over the Derwent River at midnight. This year, the Regatta Grounds will have a designated viewing area on the grassy hill looking over Macquarie Point to the Derwent and fireworks. Celebrate New Year's Eve on the Riverbank at Elder Park. Enjoy free fireworks displays at both 9pm and midnight at Elder Park on King William Road. Festivities include food trucks, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. Perth features an incredible 11 fireworks displays throughout December and January, including two shows on New Year's Eve. Families can ring in the New Year at Elizabeth Quay with a fun fair and fireworks. The displays kick off at 8.30pm and midnight over the Swan River. New Year's Eve at the Darwin Waterfront will offer two firework displays, a neon disco for the kids and a New Year's themed show from Liquid Light. Local musicians will wow crowds from 5pm onward. Two fireworks displays will light up the sky at 9pm and midnight, with liquid light and neon fairies promising to entertain the children for hours on end. Brisbane will feature two action-packed fireworks shows on December 31. Held at the South Bank Parklands, one display will take off at 7.45pm and another at midnight. Lay out the picnic blanket and watch the firework action from Wilson's Lookout, City Botanic Gardens, Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Bartley's Hill Lookout or Captain Burke Park for a relaxed viewing with the family. The best viewing locations at South Bank include the Clem Jones Promenade, the Cultural Forecourt, Riverside Green and River Quay. Enjoy amazing fireworks displays across the Gold Coast this New Year's Eve from 8pm onward. Broadbeach, 8pm and midnight at Kurruwa Park, Broadbeach. Coolangatta, 9pm and midnight at Coolangatta beach. Paradise Point, 9pm at Paradise Point Parkland. Coomera, 8pm at Coomera Sports Park. Robina, 10pm at Robina Town Centre, Robina Town Centre Drive, The Promenade. Southport, 9pm at Broadwater Parklands, Marine Parade. Surfers Paradise, 8pm and midnight at Surfers Paradise Foreshore. The Sunshine Coast will have just one fireworks event, a family-friendly display at Mooloolaba at 8.30pm. There have traditionally been two events, but the midnight show was cancelled in November due to safety concerns. Amazing fireworks shows will light up the sky across Springfield Central, South Ripley, Ipswich Central, Chuwar and Goodna at 9pm. The Springfield Central, South Ripley and Ipswich Central fireworks locations have been chosen strategically in central locations so some residents can view the displays from their home backyards or in large, open public spaces nearby. The best public viewing locations include Ironbark Park, South Ripley, the Springfield Central Sporting Complex, Bill Paterson Oval, Limestone Park and the Tivoli Drive In. Find out more: Correspondent covering key issues across regional Victoria, based in Melbourne. Correspondent covering key issues across regional Victoria, based in Melbourne. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. 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