In the ever-evolving landscape of mobile gaming, Tencent's latest release, "荒野起源" (Wilderness Origin), has taken the industry by storm even before its official launch. With pre-orders exceeding a whopping 1.5 million, the game has generated massive anticipation among players and industry insiders alike. What's more, Tencent has also announced an exciting collaboration with Sony, hinting at a promising future for the game.
Undefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level MediaA vegetable store in a bustling city recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The store, known for its fresh and vibrant produce, was found to have excessive pesticide residue in their vegetables, exceeding the safety standards by a significant margin. This egregious violation of food safety regulations has not only raised concerns among consumers but also led to a hefty penalty of 100,000 yuan being imposed on the store.
-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email For most American homebuyers , 2024 was a tough year. The U.S. is on track to record 4 million home sales in 2024 — the lowest volume in nearly 30 years . But among the country’s wealthiest homebuyers , the market is booming. Luxury home sales — including properties listed for $1 million or more — were up 5.2% in the first half of 2024. That’s compared to overall home sales volume dropping 12.9% over that same period, according to data from The Agency , a global luxury real estate brokerage. Mind-boggling records were broken in 2024 in the luxury home sales market. In Colorado, an Aspen megamansion was the state’s most expensive home sale ever. In New York City, a penthouse unit in the tallest residential building in the world found a deep-pocketed buyer. And a Malibu mansion in California sold for a whopping $210 million, breaking a record once held by Beyoncé and Jay-Z as the priciest home sale in the state’s history. Related Politics, discos, private islands: Billionaires spent big in 2024 Economic challenges keeping the average homebuyer out of the market — including higher mortgage rates , fewer available homes and flattening wage growth — aren’t deterring those with more resources at their disposal. In August, ultra luxury home sales — properties listed at $100 million or more — were on pace to break a yearly sales record set in 2021, per Bloomberg . Here are some of the priciest deals that closed in the U.S. this year. May they inspire a fair amount of envy, but not too much. Because a home is what you make it, and who says you need an in-house sauna when your apartment comes with in-unit laundry? Kendrick Lamar's $40M mansion Before dropping his sixth studio album this year, Kendrick Lamar dropped a cool $40 million on a 16,000-square-foot compound in Brentwood, one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods, according to Mansion Global , a trade magazine covering luxury real estate. A property listing from 2019 describes the Brentwood mansion as an eight-bedroom main house with a gym, wine cellar, pool and separate guest house. Room for a home recording studio, perhaps? We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism Ellen's high-end swap A couple hours down the coast, Ellen DeGeneres and mining tycoon Robert Friedland — more specifically, a shell company linked to Friedland — engaged in a high-end home swap in Santa Barbara. In August, Friedland’s company spent $96 million on Degeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi’s former digs: a 10-acre property with an 8,000-square-foot house and guest cottage, per Mansion Global . In exchange, DeGeneres and de Rossi paid Friedland $32 million to buy back the home they sold him earlier this year, also in Santa Barbara, Mansion Global reports. Kind of like a secondhand clothing swap, but presumably with more chandeliers. California dreamin' A few hours north, Laurene Powell Jobs — the philanthropist and widow of Steve Jobs — bought a mansion in San Francisco at 2840 Broadway for $70 million , representing the priciest home sale to have ever closed in the city. Powell Jobs’ new block boasts at least a couple tech titan neighbors; Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, owns the property next door, and Johnathan Ive, the prolific Apple designer who worked on the iMac and iPhone, also has a property on the block, The Wall Street Journal reports . A Malibu mansion that sold for a whopping $210 million in June is the most expensive home to ever sell in California But those deals pale in comparison to the Malibu mansion that sold for a whopping $210 million in June — the most expensive home to ever sell in California. James Jannard, who founded the sunglasses brand Oakley, sold the property, which Architectural Digest describes as a sprawling, 15,000-square-foot mansion with eight bedrooms and fourteen bathrooms. The buyer wasn’t disclosed, and Jannard’s sale broke a statewide record set by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who spent $200 million on their Malibu compound in 2023. Central Park Tower sunset over Central Park (Courtesy of Evan Joseph/M18 PR) $115M for the nosebleed section In New York City, an undisclosed buyer shelled out $115 million for the two-story penthouse in Central Park Tower, the tallest residential building in the world. The duplex spans roughly 12,560 square feet and includes seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a library, conservatory, home theater, an in-unit elevator and two massive terraces. (The jury’s still out as to whether the home includes a stock supply of Dramamine — apparently, the tower is so tall that “a high-pitch whistling noise” can be heard near the windows overlooking Central Park, The Daily Mail wrote in 2022.) Aman New York Hotel Exterior, Crown Building (Courtesy of Aman) It wasn’t the city’s priciest deal of the year. That moniker goes to yet another penthouse in the Aman New York Hotel that sold for $135 million . Remarkably, the buyer was none other than the penthouse’s developer, the Russian billionaire and CEO of Aman Resorts Vladislav Doronin, The Wall Street Journal reported in July. (Doronin didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Journal.) 4736 North Bay Road (Courtesy of Luxhunters / Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design) A "Posh" $80M mansion Down in south Florida, David and Victoria Beckham bought a Miami Beach mansion that includes nine bedrooms, nine bathrooms (and an additional four half-bathrooms!) for $80 million in October, Page Six reported . It’s a fitting addition to the couple’s ultra-luxe real estate portfolio, which includes a condo in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, a London townhouse and the five-bedroom penthouse in Miami’s One Thousand Museum tower, according to Mansion Global . Bezos' $90M bunker Also in Florida, billionaire Jeff Bezos snagged a $90 million mansion in Indian Creek, a 300-acre man-made island in Miami-Dade County known as “Billionaire Bunker” that counts the likes of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady and Carl Icahn as residents. Bezos reportedly plans to live in his new $90 million home while he demolishes his other two Bezos has other property in Indian Creek — specifically, two other mansions for a combined $147 million — and he reportedly plans to live in the $90 million home while he demolishes the other two, Bloomberg reported , citing a person close to the deal. And about an hour and a half north of Miami, Australian investment magnate Michael Dorrell shelled out $150 million for a two-acre private island in Palm Beach and the megamansion atop it, according to The Wall Street Journal . The property, Tarpon Island, is accessible by bridge and includes an 11-bedroom mansion spanning nearly 29,000 square feet. 419 Willoughby Way in Aspen (Courtesy of Staslove & Warwick) Shelling out for snow In the mountains of Aspen, Colorado, two billionaire buyers paid $108 million for the sprawling compound at 419 Willoughby Way, setting a record for the most expensive home sale ever in the state of Colorado. Casino tycoon Steve Wynn and billionaire stock trading executive Thomas Peterffy bought the property, which spans 22,405 square feet and boasts 11 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. It sits on 4.5 acres in Red Mountain, one of Aspen’s wealthiest neighborhoods that includes Bezos and Michael Dell. Read more about personal finance House hunting? This app shows how your future neighbors voted Moving to NYC cost us $10k in fees. Those fees are now banned Homeownership: tougher for millennials? By Cara Michelle Smith Cara Michelle Smith is a writer, reporter and performer living in Brooklyn. She’s spent more than a decade in financial journalism; her award-winning reporting can be found in NerdWallet, Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, the Houston Business Journal, CoStar News and other outlets. MORE FROM Cara Michelle Smith Related Topics ------------------------------------------ Best Of 2024 Home Sales Real Estate Related Articles Advertisement:
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Two-hundred and fifty minor hockey teams from six countries around the world are taking to the ice for the 24th annual Bell Capital Cup. Open to youth hockey teams ages 9 to 13 from across the world, more than 4,500 kids will play games held at various rinks across Ottawa and Quebec until New Year's Eve. For Isaac Charpy, it's about redemption after his team from Almonte lost in the finals of last year's event. While he has his eyes on the prize, he knows that it's still about having fun. "I like hockey the best out of any sport, and I would play hockey all day, every day if I could." Most of the young players who took to the ice Friday morning are stepping into familiar territory having played in previous years. "I was in here last year and we have so much fun," said Beckett Last on the U11 Kemptville Royals. "Just love the tournament all together." It's an event that has grown in size and culture according to general manager Mark Sluban. Teams from around the world are playing in the tournament such as Chinese Taipei, Korea, Austria, and the reigning division A champions from Slovenia. "It's an overall experience. Win or lose, everybody here that come out to Ottawa has a great time," said Sluban. "We have the best awards, we have the best trophies for player of the game," he added. "We go all out, we give them the full on experience with the live music and then all that stuff off the ice that you don't get when you go to minor hockey tournaments." The Bell Capital Cup on display inside Bell Sensplex as tournament kicks off. Friday Dec. 27, 2024. (Josh Marano/CTV News Ottawa) This is also the first year that the Bell Capital Cup has welcomed sledge hockey players, something Sluban says is important for growing the game as well as emphasizing inclusivity. The championship matches will take place on Dec. 30 and 31. The full schedule of Bell Capital Cup events can be found on its website. CTV News is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home If You're Headed Somewhere Warm On Vacation, Don't Forget To Pack These 16 Things Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals 11 Bestselling Coffee Makers And Espresso Machines You Can Get On Sale Right Now Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Ottawa Top Stories FREEZING RAIN WARNING | Freezing rain expected in Ottawa Saturday morning ahead of warm spell Police watchdog investigating after officer shot crowd control gun at Ottawa man Seeking solutions to the troubles facing downtown Ottawa Fan activities surrounding the World Juniors in Ottawa 24th annual Bell Capital Cup returns to arenas across Ottawa Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect What's open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays Teenage phenom Gavin McKenna scores, Canada tops Finland 4-0 in world junior opener CTVNews.ca Top Stories Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Missing dog returned to family home and rang the doorbell After a nearly weeklong search, Athena, a four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, found her way home to her Florida family in time for Christmas Eve and even rang the doorbell. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. 'Home Alone' director Chris Columbus explains how the McCallisters were able to afford that house Audiences have wondered for years how the family in 'Home Alone' was able to afford their beautiful Chicago-area home and now we know. Trump says Microsoft's Bill Gates has asked to visit him in Florida Donald Trump said Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has asked to visit him at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Friday night. B.C. man charged with dangerous driving after elderly Good Samaritan killed in crash A man is facing multiple charges of dangerous driving following a collision that led to the death of an 80-year-old Good Samaritan on Vancouver Island, B.C. Halifax Thunderbirds player Tyson Bell suspended, cited for assault in Colorado The Halifax Thunderbirds has suspended player Tyson Bell following an alleged assault in Colorado. Atlantic One dead in two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B. One person has died following a two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B., Friday. 'Nobody should have to go through that': N.B. family grieving father, daughter killed in crash A New Brunswick family is grieving the loss of a father and daughter in a crash. Halifax business owners hope tax holiday will prevent post-Christmas sales slump Time will tell if the federal government's tax holiday will pay off, but businesses hope to see an increase in sales during the slow winter months. Toronto Toronto's New Year's Eve festivities: Road closures and Union Station access restrictions to manage crowds The City of Toronto is taking steps to ensure New Year’s Eve revelers enjoy the festivities and get home safely. 1 arrested, 1 outstanding after armed robbery at Ancaster cannabis dispensary Police in Hamilton are looking for a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a cannabis dispensary in Ancaster. Pedestrian taken to the hospital after being struck by TTC bus driver at Islington Station A female pedestrian was taken to the hospital after being hit by the driver of a TTC bus on Friday afternoon, say paramedics. Montreal Montreal SPCA at full capacity amid spike in pet surrenders The holiday season is typically a slow period for the Montreal SPCA, but this year is different. The animal shelter says the tough economic climate has taken a toll on its operation, leaving it at full capacity. Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal A team of tugboats is being deployed to refloat a ship that has been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve. Avian flu cases are concerning Quebec health officials Avian flu is raising red flags across several provinces, including in Quebec. While it poses a low risk to humans right now, experts are concerned that could change. Northern Ontario Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. Five-vehicle crash closes Hwy. 11 in New Liskeard A collision involving five vehicles closed Highway 11 in both directions Friday morning between Golf Course Drive in New Liskeard and Highway 66 in Kenogami. Windsor VIDEO | Vehicle flipped on its roof in west Windsor collision A dramatic collision on Windsor's west side left one van overturned on its roof earlier this afternoon. Essex residents get second chance for holiday garbage pickup after calendar misprint Essex residents in the town’s north end will see garbage trucks return Monday, December 30 after a calendar misprint caused confusion about holiday trash collection. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. London Garage fire causes $125,000 in damages near Tillsonburg A garage was fully involved by the time responders arrived, with heat from the detached building compromising the residence next to it. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. Wortley Village business pillar to rise again as 'homage to what it was' Residents and merchants are hopeful 2025 will bring good fortune to Wortley Village in the wake of two devastating fires. Kitchener Fire rips through former Peter Hay Knife Company building in Cambridge Emergency responders were called to a fire in Cambridge on Thursday as flames ripped through the building that formerly belonged to the Peter Hay Knife Company. Influx of dogs in need, Waterloo Region dog rescue says A not-for-profit dog rescue in Waterloo Region is putting out a call for help around the holidays. Chicopee Ski Resort opens, celebrates 90th anniversary The slopes are officially open for the season at Chicopee Ski Resort in Kitchener. Barrie Snowy conditions bring near-perfect start to ski season with thousands of visitors A snowy December, topped off by a heavy snowfall just before Christmas, delivered nearly perfect conditions for ski resorts across central Ontario during one of their busiest weeks of the year. 'No excuse,' Driver caught speeding 160km/h in posted 80 zone: OPP Provincial police issued a reminder to motorists to slow down after a driver was stopped for allegedly travelling double the posted speed limit though Kawartha Lakes on Friday afternoon. Are your bins still at the curb? Here are the changes to curbside collection Curbside collection is delayed by one day this week due to the holidays. Winnipeg Downtown Winnipeg a hub for research, baking and milling at Cereals Canada High above on the tenth floor of a downtown Winnipeg office space, baking bread is a normal routine. Thousands of hockey players descend on Winnipeg for annual holiday competition Around 2,500 players, 170 teams, and a few Winnipeg Jets have taken over the Hockey for All Centre to mark an annual tournament over the holidays. Winnipeg police arrest fifth person in drug trafficking investigation; sixth suspect still at large The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) has made a fifth arrest in a drug trafficking investigation but is still searching for a sixth suspect. Calgary 'This is not our alignment': Year-end interview with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek reveals fissures between city and province on Green Line A year-end interview between CTV News anchor Tara Nelson and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Edmonton 'She's very good at politics': Analyst says Alberta's 2024 bills designed for Smith leadership success For one political expert, 2024 was all about the base in Alberta. Cell phone scam costs Edmontonians $600K: EPS Edmonton police are warning residents about a cell phone scam that has so far defrauded victims of more than $600,000. 'Like panning for gold': Christmas bird count invites community to help with avian research Armed with binoculars and birdwatching apps, dozens of locals could be seen out and about in the capital region Friday for an annual tradition aimed at understanding wild bird populations. Regina 'Something that connected us all': For 53 years, Sask. family celebrates holidays with street hockey game For over 50 years, Stephen Lentzos and his family have celebrated Christmas Day with a street hockey game. Regina police launch homicide investigation after injured man dies at scene Regina police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man found gravely injured Thursday evening. Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Saskatoon The thrill is gone from Boxing Week shopping, Saskatoon residents say Christmas has come and gone for most people, but the shopping hype continues as some get out of the house to take in the post-Christmas scene. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Prince Albert man facing weapons charges after Christmas Day of armed robberies Police in Prince Albert, Sask, are reporting a harrowing Christmas Day story involving three armed robberies, two suspect chases and the shooting of a taxi driver. Vancouver B.C. man who flipped 14 homes in four years is fined $2M for tax evasion A serial property flipper in British Columbia has been convicted of tax evasion and fined more than $2 million for failing to report nearly $7.5 million in earnings. 79-year-old man assaulted on B.C. ferry, Sunshine Coast RCMP say Mounties on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are asking anyone who witnessed an assault aboard a Thursday afternoon BC Ferries sailing to contact them. B.C. court orders fraudster who owes $36.7M to pay from retirement funds The British Columbia Securities Commission says a man behind one of the province's largest investment frauds has been ordered by the B.C. Supreme Court to use two retirement accounts to pay off a multimillion-dollar fine. Vancouver Island 2nd earthquake in 3 days reported off Vancouver Island coast A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Vancouver Island's west coast early Friday morning, less than 48 hours after a 4.8-magnitude quake in roughly the same location on Christmas Day. 79-year-old man assaulted on B.C. ferry, Sunshine Coast RCMP say Mounties on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are asking anyone who witnessed an assault aboard a Thursday afternoon BC Ferries sailing to contact them. B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. Kelowna B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences after CBSA investigation A resident of B.C.'s Interior has been charged with weapon and drug trafficking offences after an investigation launched by border agents at Vancouver International Airport earlier this year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Stay ConnectedRecord-smashing home sales of 2024
The 2024 Fantasy Football season is headed straight for the Fantasy Football playoffs in a matter of weeks, depending on how long your league's regular season is, and now is the time to make moves that can set you up for a successful playoff run. In some leagues, your trade deadline hasn't passed yet, and we can find some players to trade for. In leagues where the deadline has passed, we'll focus on difficult start/sits the rest of the way, playoff schedules to target and avoid, and final waiver wire pushes. On Sunday night's Week 12 recap, the Fantasy Football Today team looked into some of the most intriguing players from the Week 12 slate. You can find the full breakdown on the FFT YouTube page. Jaylen Waddle was Jamey's biggest winner in Week 12. "He was a borderline drop candidate, but hopefully, this is a start for him. We saw the big plays, and that could be a sign of things to come." Waddle had not scored double-digit Fantasy points in PPR since Week 1. In Week 12, Waddle racked up 144 receiving yards on eight receptions -- he was targeted nine times. Waddle's playoff schedule does look a bit daunting down the stretch, however. Three road games in cold environments ( Packers , Browns , Jets ) and just two home games remain -- 49ers and Jets. Dave views Anthony Richardson as a Week 12 loser, and it might be best for us to slow our role on the former breakout candidate being a viable starter rest of season at the QB position. "In the second half, Richardson went 4-of-14 passing for 55 yards. 57% of his throws were for 15+ air yards," Dave said on the show. Richardson had a 50% completion rate in the first half despite passing the eye test. Jamey added that Olgetree dropped a TD, which impacted his stats, and Adam mentioned that he was encouraged by how open some Colts receivers were on tape review. Richardson has scored 30+ Fantasy points in two of his last six games, but he hasn't top 14 in the other four. His schedule rest of season: @NE, BYE, @DEN, TEN, @NYG, JAC Bucky Irving was a hot topic among Fantasy Football analysis on FFT last week as Jacob Gibbs and I talked up a breakout coming in Week 12 during Beyond the Boxscore with Ben Gretch (where we broke down rest of season rankings and 30,000-foot view Fantasy concepts). It was great to see him pull through with a breakout performance. Of course, Sean Tucker operated as a goalline back in Week 12 before fumbling. Dave praised Irving as looking the best on tape. "He played the most snaps of any Bucs back," Dave said. "He played 55% of the snaps and two-of-three snaps inside the 3-yard line. Irving had just as many rushing attempts and averaged 4.2 yards per carry more than Rachaad White . How can they watch these guys play and say they are on the same level when Irving is blowing him out as a runner? Irving took the lead among running backs in receptions and receiving yards in the last five games. And their schedule is so good the rest of way." Irving does have a fun schedule rest of season: @CAR, LV, @LAC, @DAL, CAR, NO Speaking of the Fantasy Playoffs, Heath deemed Irving to be a "league winner" the rest of way.ANTHONY KLAN EXCLUSIVE Guide Dogs Victoria was devastated by the Josh Frydenberg political advertisements scandal, with donors leaving for good, and no part of the organisation left unharmed, says its chief executive. More than two-and-a-half years after the charity was thrust into the biggest scandal of its 65-year history, Guide Dogs Victoria has finally lifted its silence over the affair. The impact of the Frydenberg affair was “huge” and far-reaching, Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Nicky Long has told The Klaxon, in an exclusive and wide-ranging interview. “The impact on the organisation has been huge,” Long said. “I don’t think there’s anyone internally or even at a volunteer level that didn’t feel the ripple effects of what occurred”. “I don’t think there’s anyone internally or even at a volunteer level that didn’t feel the ripple effects of what occurred” — Nicky Long Weeks before the 2022 federal election, it emerged Guide Dogs Victoria’s then chief executive Karen Hayes had appeared in political advertisements spruiking Frydenberg, then the Federal Treasurer. It is illegal for charities to endorse politicians or political parties. Hayes was “stood down” within days of the scandal breaking and Iain Edwards was replaced as Guide Dogs Victoria chair. Yet despite the seriousness of the affair — and widespread public concerns — aside from a handful of carefully-worded written statements, Guide Dogs Victoria has refused to comment on the scandal or its aftermath. Now, Long — who took the reins in April last year — is breaking that silence, shedding light on the impact of the scandal that engulfed one of Australia’s most trusted charities. “We had donors who said ‘we’re out of here and we’re never coming back’,” Long told The Klaxon. “That was pretty harmful. “Our fundraising was absolutely impacted,” she said. “We had donors who said ‘we’re out of here and we’re never coming back’” — Nicky Long As to whether the damage from the affair remained ongoing, Long was unsure. “How long is that tail? I hope it isn’t (long),” she said. “We also have a lot of really loyal people who recognise it was a critical bump in the road, and on the other side of it they’re sticking around”. The full financial impact of the scandal — much of Guide Dogs Victoria’s revenue comes from donations — was also hard to determine. Long said donations had not seen a “dip” but had “stabilised”, or stopped growing. “When you’re investing in fundraising you want growth — I’d say we’ve held,” she said. Long is now hopeful that the dust has settled. “When I started I put a line in the sand, with staff, with everyone, and said we are entering a new era,” she said. “Not to say the bruises of the recent past aren’t there, but we can’t keep looking back, we have to look forward. “And so it’s been quite a task to get everyone back up feeling positive about the future of Guide Dogs and I think...we are there,” Long said. “It’s been quite a task to get everyone back up feeling positive about the future of Guide Dogs” — Nicky Long Guide Dogs Victoria is located in the inner-Melbourne federal seat of Kooyong, which had been held by the Liberal Party since the party was founded. At the May 2022 election Frydenberg lost the seat to independent Monique Ryan. Weeks out from the election, in flyers distributed in Kooyong, and in advertisements posted online and to social media, Hayes was featured, holding a puppy, as “Chief Executive Officer, Guide Dogs Victoria”. “I’ve known Josh for over a decade and I could not have asked for a better local Federal Member for Kooyong than Josh Frydenberg,” Hayes is quoted. “He (Frydenberg) has always maintained his strong and unwavering commitment to his local Kooyong community for whom he has delivered in so many ways. “In our darkest moments Josh was there providing support.” The scandal drew the spotlight on the charity, and revealed it had been heavily utlilised by the Liberal Party for campaigning for at least a decade. It also put the focus on the charity’s operations more broadly. Weeks after the election, in June 2022 The Klaxon revealed taxpayers Guide Dogs Victoria revealed Guide Dogs Victoria was charging taxpayers four times more than a decade earlier but delivering fewer services — and that it spent more money on fundraising than delivering guide dogs . Later that month we revealed Guide Dogs Victoria’s then “capital fundraising” boss made over $87,000 in donations to the Federal Liberal Party, before the Federal Coalition gave millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to Guide Dogs Victoria. In November 2022, with Guide Dogs Victoria apparently in damage control, we revealed at least one of its executives had been lying to donors about its performance , including making false claims about The Klaxon’s reporting. (The following month we revealed a string of executives had departed , including the charity’s general manager responsible for marketing and communications and its chief financial officer). The Klaxon also revealed the charity had missed every guide dogs target since 2016 ; that in the 2021 financial year it had delivered just 35 dogs ; and that in 2021-22 it delivered the lowest number of dogs on record . In January last year we revealed the Guide Dogs Victoria’s senior management and board had been warned of “politicisation” involving the Liberal Party back in 2013 . The following day it was announced Edwards was leaving the organisation and that Long had been appointed — but would start in around three months’ time, in “mid-April”. The board was “pleased to confirm” it had appointed Long, then CEO of not-for-profit Expression Australia, “following the announcement of her resignation this afternoon”, it said in its January 13 statement . “Nicky will join GDV in mid-April once she has served her notice period [at Expression Australia],” it said. Long started at Guide Dogs Victoria on April 17. After the scandal broke, it was announced Edwards would stand down as chair and fill the position of “interim CEO” until a new CEO was found. On January 13 it was announced Edwards would depart Guide Dogs Victoria altoghter. More reports from The Klaxon: 2022: May 31 — Guide Dogs CEO “resigns”: major questions remain June 23 — Spends more on fundraising than dogs June 27 — Fundraising boss gave $87,000 to Liberal Party Nov 20 — Guide Dogs Victoria caught lying to donors Dec 5 — Guide Dogs executives exit Dec 16 — Supplies lowest value of dogs on record 2023: Jan 12 — Guide Dogs Victoria board warned of “politicisation” a decade ago Apr 7 – Top dog departs after Klaxon expose That month, and again in May, The Klaxon requested an interview with Long. We received no response. A week ago, The Klaxon approached Guide Dogs Victoria with concerns regarding its performance, from its last two annual reports, and again requested an interview with Long. This time the request was successful. “I don’t know that we handled dealing with you in the past very well,” Long said this week. “My approach is always to meet with people and talk with them”. When asked whether Guide Dogs Victoria had changed its stance regarding political endorsements or affiliations, Long was unequivocal: “Absolutely — you can’t do it”. Long said she was confident improvements had been made, including “board changes”. “I wouldn’t be the CEO here if I thought there was an ongoing issue, if things were in place that could see that ever happen again,” she said. More to come...
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