Erling Haaland has insisted his Manchester City team-mates are still 'believing' despite their poor form. The Premier League champions are winless in seven matches across all competitions for the first time since 2004. Meanwhile, the Citizens are also on their worst run of league form since 2008. Sunday's defeat at Liverpool was City's fourth in a row, matching a run from April to August 16 years ago. That run spread over two seasons, though, as losses to Fulham, Liverpool and Middlesbrough were followed by an opening weekend defeat to Aston Villa. Fast-forward to this season and the defeat at Anfield added to recent losses to Bournemouth, Brighton and Tottenham. In response to the latest setback, however, Haaland took to social media to provide supporters with a message. The forward wrote on X : "We've seen better days before, and we'll see them again. We keep believing." City slipped to fifth in the table with the defeat in Merseyside and now trail leaders Liverpool by 11 points. They will be hoping to cut the gap at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in their latest chance to snap the winless streak. The home win over Southampton on October 26 remains their last victory, having since been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Spurs. City were also beaten in the Champions League by Sporting before last week's three-goal collapse against Feyenoord meant they had to settle for a draw. As for Haaland, he has three goals across the winless run, but has failed to score in the last two league matches. Despite that, he remains the Premier League's top scorer this term with 12 strikes in 13 appearances. The Norwegian also has an impressive record against Forest ahead of their trip to the Etihad Stadium. In four previous meetings, he has scored five goals, including a hat-trick at home in August 2022. Haaland was on target in both league matches between the sides last season. City, meanwhile, have not lost to Forest in a league meeting since December 1997, a run stretching eight matches.
Family shocked as they’re berated with sickening ‘racist’ insults: videoPolice Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake said an internal investigation had commence, in relation to reports that an off duty policeman assaulted a man and woman at a party on the weekend. Blake told the STAR said he learned about the incident today whilst at a meeting. “The matter has since been handed over to INDECOM”, Blake said in addition to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) internal investigation. Popular TikToker TJ and his girlfriend, Moya, were allegedly assaulted by a policeman at dancer and social media influencer Dancing Rebel's birthday party, held at the National Stadium parking lot in St Andrew. Producer and artiste manager Romeich Major, co-promoter of the event, in a TikTok live apologised for the actions of the policeman who was reportedly hired by him. The incident has been a talking point online and in entertainment circles, many commentators condemning the incident. A press release has also been sent on the issue that has garnered international attention and widespread condemnation. “The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) High Command is aware of a video circulating on social media that shows an alleged incident involving off-duty personnel purported to be members of the JCF,” the release said. “Upon learning of the incident, the High Command immediately launched an internal investigation through its Inspectorate Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) to determine the facts, including whether any policies were breached,” the JCF said. The JCF commits to fully cooperate with the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), which is responsible for investigating allegations of police misconduct. “In keeping with established procedures, the JCF has handed over all relevant information to INDECOM,” The JCF said in a release. The High Command said it takes the allegations seriously and reiterates its commitment to transparency and accountability. “We categorically state that there have been no delays in our response; action was taken immediately upon the matter being brought to our attention. As the investigation is ongoing, and now under the jurisdiction of INDECOM, the JCF will not comment further on this specific case at this time,” the release said. The JCF said it is important to clarify that the organisation permits members to engage in private service, commonly referred to as "extra work," under strict guidelines outlined in the Force Orders of March 8, 2018. These guidelines regulate how officers may engage in private service while ensuring their primary responsibilities to the Force and the public are not compromised. Private Service arrangements must adhere to established rules regarding eligibility, prohibited activities, and operational standards the JCF says. “The policy ensures that such engagements are conducted transparently, ethically, and without conflict of interest. While extra work is allowed, all officers are required to uphold the highest professional standards at all times, whether on-duty or off-duty. Any misconduct or breach of policy is treated with the utmost seriousness. We assure the public that any member found in breach of JCF policies or the law will be held accountable. The integrity of the JCF and the trust of the Jamaican people remain our highest priorities,” JCF said in the release this afternoon. We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar
Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordThe Philadelphia Eagles have to make sure they don’t beat themselves. A nine-game winning streak helped the Eagles (11-2) clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers coming up Sunday. Philadelphia is seeking an NFC East title and still have a chance at catching Detroit (12-1) for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. But an ugly win over Carolina in which Jalen Hurts only threw 21 passes for 108 yards left wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in a bad mood. He made it clear the offense, specifically the passing attack, wasn’t playing up to standard. He’s right. Hurts has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three straight games. But Saquon Barkley is running at a record-setting pace, so the Eagles haven’t had to rely on Hurts throwing to Brown and Smith as much as they have in the past. Brown caught four passes on four targets for 43 yards, and Smith had four catches on six targets for 37 yards and one touchdown against the Panthers. That led to Brown bluntly responding “passing” when asked by a reporter after the game what needs improvement. Veteran leader Brandon Graham added fuel to the drama on his radio show Monday night by implying there’s friction between Brown and Hurts. The two were close friends long before they became teammates, and Hurts is the godfather for Brown’s daughter. “The person that’s complaining (needs) to be accountable,” Graham said of Brown. “I’m just being honest. ... Like and he (knows) this. I don’t know the whole story, but I know that (Hurts) is trying. And I mean, (Brown) could be a little better with how he responds to things and they were friends before this. It’s like, man, but things have changed, and I understand that because life happens, but we gotta — it’s the business side that we have to make sure that we don’t let the personal get in the way of the business, and that’s what we gotta do better at right now because we know it’s the issue. “Everybody is saying some things, but we need to be able to talk things out as men, you know what I’m saying? But, we need to let personal stuff go and let’s get right for this game because man, it’s like most of the time it’s just a conversation that just (needs) to be had, but the person with the problem (has) to want to talk to the person other than others. That’s all I’m saying.” Graham, who is sidelined with a triceps injury, clarified his comments later to an ESPN reporter, saying he made the wrong assumption about the relationship between Hurts and Brown and planned to apologize to both players. But the damage was done. Or was it? While social media ran wild with news that there’s more trouble in Philadelphia, the Eagles have been here before. They fell apart last year after a 10-1 start, dropping six of their final seven games, including a lopsided loss in the playoffs to Tampa Bay. There were questions about Hurts’ leadership, his relationship to teammates and the team’s locker room dynamic. Plus, coach Nick Sirianni was harshly criticized for the team’s failures. They overcame a tumultuous offseason and are 11-2 and in position to make a Super Bowl run. All they have to do is get along, put the team first and focus on the overall goal of winning a championship instead of pouting about individual statistics. One breakout passing game can change everything.Samsara CEO Sanjit Biswas sells $4.84 million in stock
Joe Burrow is no longer talking about the playoffs after another loss by the high-scoring Bengals
On a day where President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street failed to build on a furious rally that has picked up steam after his election win. In focus was fresh inflation data, which helped cast doubt on investor confidence for the path of interest rates ahead. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) was down and the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) were both about 0.5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) fell roughly 0.6% while shares of Apple ( AAPL ) rallied less than 1% to close at a record high. In bonds, the 10-year Treasury yield ( ^TNX ) added 5 basis points to hit 4.32%, its highest closing level since Nov. 22. The market received another piece of the inflation puzzle on Thursday — an update on wholesale prices — after the latest consumer inflation data invigorated stocks on Wednesday , lifting the Nasdaq above 20,000 for the first time. The in-line consumer price index reading cleared one of the last remaining risks to easing by the Fed in December. That boosted bets on a quarter-point rate cut in December to a near 99% chance, per the CME FedWatch tool . But the November producer price index released on Thursday morning came in hotter than expected , rising 0.4% from the previous month. Economists had been expecting an increase of 0.2%. That has put the chances of the Fed holding rates steady in January in focus, as several officials have voiced a cautious stance on policy. A downbeat revenue forecast from Adobe ( ADBE ) also helped dampen the mood, revealing the Photoshop maker's struggle for a payoff from its AI investments. Shares in the software maker sank nearly 14%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Costco ( COST ) slightly beat estimates in its fiscal first quarter results as inflationary-weary shoppers turn to the wholesale retailer. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.04, compared to Bloomberg consensus estimates of $3.81. Revenue of $62.15 billion also beat expectations of $61.98 billion. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, grew 7.2% in the quarter, boosted by its US business, followed by international and then, Canada. Foot traffic, up 5.1%, missed the 6.87% jump Wall Street hoped for, but ticket size grew 0.1%, besting the 0.40% decline the Street predicted. Shares were up less than 0.5% in after-hours trading. Read more here. All three major indexes slid as more stocks in the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) closed lower than higher for the ninth straight day. This marked the first time that's happened in the market since 2001. Notably, during the nine-day stretch to start December the S&P 500 has still been in the green for the month, largely led by Big Tech. But should this weak breadth in the market continue, it could be a worrisome about the health of the stock market rally. "Savvy traders should at least pay attention to some of the warning signs about the overall health of the market. So far, it is the sniffles or just a case of bad breath," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. "But there are some symptoms that can lead to something more meaningful if left unattended." A first glance at Thursday mornings weekly jobless claims release could be seen as a warning sign for the labor market. Weekly unemployment claims shot up to 242,000 from 225,000 the week prior, and above economists' expectations 220,000. Given that the current labor market has been defined by low layoffs, an uptick in claims on a consistent basis would be a worrisome signal. But economists were quick to point out that the start of the holiday season is typically a volatile period for the data set. "Jobless claims data can be particularly volatile during the holiday period," Citi's team of economists wrote in a note. "Therefore, it is too early to conclude whether there is a concerning trend in claims data yet. A sustained increase in initial claims over a few weeks would be a more concerning sign of weakness in the labor market." This brings us back to a common truth about economic data. The economic narrative rarely hinges on one print , especially when considering that a variety of factors from weather-related disruptions to seasonal trends can distort an already volatile dataset like jobless claims during any given week. Stock losses accelerated in afternoon trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) was down about 0.5%, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) was off 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) fell roughly 0.4% as shares of Nvidia ( NVDA ) slipped about 1%. Meanwhile, the interest rate sensitive small-cap Russell 2000 Index ( ^RUT ) fell more than 1% as investors continued to question the Federal Reserve's path forward ahead of the central bank's final meeting of the year next week. The stock market will end 2025 lower than its current levels, according to Stifel chief equity strategist Barry Bannister. Bannister sees sticky inflation prompting the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates high as economic growth weakens, serving as key catalysts to the eventual pullback in the stock market rally. Bannister sees the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) ending 2025 in the mid-"5,000s." As of Thursday afternoon, the S&P 500 was hovering just shy of an all-time high at about 6,070. Among the more than 17 strategists tracked by Yahoo Finance who have listed 2025 year-end calls for the S&P 500, Bannister is the lone strategist to call for the benchmark index to fall in 2025. Still, his call for a pullback in the second half of the year after further gains in the rally isn't alone. On Wednesday, Fundstrat head of research Tom Lee said he believes the S&P 500 will rally to 7,000 midway through the year before falling to 6,600. "The environment does not appear conducive to continued equity mania, and we prefer more defensive sectors," Bannister wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. He added that slower economic growth would benefit "defensive value," including the Healthcare ( XLV ), Utilities ( XLU ), and Staples ( XLP ) sectors. Yahoo Finance's Claire Boston reports: Mortgage rates dropped for the third consecutive week after fresh economic data kept expectations about the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate cut intact. The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 6.6% in the week through Wednesday, compared with 6.69% a week earlier, according to Freddie Mac data . Average 15-year mortgage rates also dropped to 5.84% from 5.96%. “The combination of mortgage rate declines, firm consumer income growth, and a bullish stock market have increased homebuyer demand in recent weeks,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. “While the outlook for the housing market is improving, the improvement is limited given that homebuyers continue to face stiff affordability headwinds.” Read more here. Google-owned YouTube TV ( GOOG , GOOGL ) is raising the prices of its monthly subscription plans, with plans rising to $82.99 per month up from the prior $72.99. "We don't make these decisions lightly, and we realize this has an impact on our members," YouTube wrote in an email to customers. The company said the increase comes amid the "rising cost of content and the investments we make in the quality of our service." YouTube TV, the internet pay-TV service that allows viewers to watch live channels and access local broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, launched in 2017. Since then, its breadth of content, as well as its price point, has made it attractive to consumers looking for a cheaper replacement for their cable packages. According to Nielsen's latest TV viewing report, YouTube, which also includes the main digital platform, notched another consecutive month as the most-watched streaming service on television screens during the month of November. In total, YouTube captured 10.8% of total US TV viewing, up from the prior-year period's 9%. It also delivered a sizable beat compared to Netflix's 7.7% market share. Other à la carte streaming platforms have also raised prices this year. Disney ( DIS ) hiked the prices of its various subscription plans in October, while Comcast's ( CMCSA ) flagship streaming service, Peacock, implemented price hikes in July , just ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. And in June, Warner Bros.' ( WBD ) Max streaming platform raised prices for its ad-free streaming plans, also ahead of key programming: the second-season debut of its blockbuster "Game of Thrones" prequel, "House of the Dragon." Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares declined as much as 2% on Thursday to lead most of the chip sector lower. Peers Broadcom ( AVGO ), Micron ( MU ), and AMD ( AMD ) also fell. With the exception of Wednesday's rally, Nvidia shares have wavered in recent days. Earlier this week the stock slumped after China opened an antitrust inquiry against the chipmaker amid a struggle between Beijing and China over AI dominance. Nvidia is reportedly expanding hiring in China as it focuses on artificial intelligence chips for autonomous cars, according to Bloomberg . Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google ( GOOG , GOOGL ) on Thursday debuted an all-new version of its Android operating system designed to power virtual and augmented reality headsets and glasses. Dubbed Android XR, the software, which Google developed in conjunction with Samsung, will allow users to interact with everything from virtual reality apps to real-world objects via your voice, motion controls, and eye-tracking capabilities. Shares of Google were largely flat immediately following the news. Read more here. Stocks came off their session lows on Thursday morning but the major averages were still trading just below the flatline at 11 a.m. ET. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) slipped slightly, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) fell 0.1% The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) dropped nearly 0.2% after slipping as much as 0.5%. Tesla ( TSLA ), which closed at a record high in the prior session, turned positive after sliding more than 1% in early trading. Microsoft ( MSFT ) also climbed more than 1%. Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) has risen 2% in the past 24 hours to hold above the $101,000 level. The world's largest cryptocurrency first broke the $100,000 threshold last week, reaching an all-time high of about $103,900. Bitcoin has soared since Donald Trump's presidential victory last month on optimism of crypto-friendly policies under his administration. President-elect Trump rang the opening bell on Thursday morning as stocks pulled back from record highs after fresh inflation put a question mark over whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) edged down 0.1%, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) slipped roughly 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) fell 0.4% after closing above the 20,000 level for the first time. Tech stocks led the decline on Thursday with Nvidia ( NVDA ) falling more than 2%. Adobe ( ADBE ) shares also sank at the open after the company issued weak guidance for its 2025 fiscal year. Wholesale prices in November came in hotter than expected, putting into question whether Federal Reserve officials will cut interest rates at their next policy meeting on Dec. 18. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will step down on Jan. 20, the day President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office. Michael Whitaker said he will leave his post in a letter released on Thursday morning. Stock market futures edged lower after data released this morning showed wholesale prices rose more than expected in November, putting a question mark over whether Federal Reserve officials will want to cut interest rates at their policy meeting next week. The producer price index (PPI) rose 0.4% from the prior month, compared to expectations of 0.2%. Wholesale prices, excluding volatile food and energy prices, increased 3.4% year over year, versus expectations of 3.2%. Federal Reserve officials want to see inflation slow as they continue their easing cycle. The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will convene on Dec. 17-18 for its last rate-setting meeting of the year. Adobe ( ADBE ) shares fell more than 11% before the market open on Thursday after the company issued weak guidance for its 2025 fiscal year. In its earnings Wednesday, Adobe said it expects revenue in the range of $23.3 billion to $23.6 billion and adjusted earnings per share between $20.20 and $20.50, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. Wall Street analysts had expected the company to guide for an annual revenue of $23.8 billion and adjusted EPS of $20.52, Bloomberg data showed. The worse-than-anticipated outlook stoked investor fears that AI will disrupt Adobe's business . TD Cowen downgraded the stock to a Hold rating Thursday morning. Still, Wall Street analysts largely maintained their Buy ratings on the stock. Some 34 analysts tracked by Bloomberg recommend buying Adobe shares. Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week ending Dec. 7); Producer Price Index (November) Earnings: Broadcom ( AVGO ), Costco ( COST ), Lovesac ( LOVE ) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Why a top Wall Street bull thinks the S&P 500 rally will cool Adobe stock slumps as sales forecast misses amid delayed AI payoff What Cruise's self-driving end means for Tesla and Waymo SNB surprises with a 50 basis point rate cut, biggest in nearly a decade Nvidia steps up hiring in China to focus on AI-driven cars Microsoft sees $800 million charge on stake in GM’s Cruise Meta donates $1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund It's going to be a busier than normal day out front of the iconic New York Stock Exchange as President-elect Donald Trump is slated to ring the opening bell. The bell-ringing on the podium feels befitting to an incoming president who has long viewed the stock market's performance as an indicator of how his policies are doing. As a memory jogger, in 1985 Ronald Reagan became the first sitting US president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The bull was let loose for stocks in Trump's first term and during President Joe Biden's term. The S&P 500 rose 61% under Trump from Inauguration Day through Dec. 11. It has advanced 58% from Biden's Inauguration Day to Dec. 11. Below is a historical watch from that Reagan visit. Yahoo Finance's Jared Blikre will be out front of the NYSE this morning. Tune in live on Yahoo Finance for his reporting and more from our team!Atos SE announces the completion of the settlement and delivery of its €233 million rights issue
Global Adult Stem Cell Assay Market Forecast: Key Growth Drivers, Trends, and Opportunities from 2024 to 2033Lowe scores career-high 22, leads Pitt over LSU 74-63 in Greenbrier Tip-Off
Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
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NEW YORK — Stoli Group USA, the owner of the namesake vodka , has filed for bankruptcy as it struggled to contend with slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack that has snarled its operations and several years of fighting Russia in court. The company in its bankruptcy filing said it is “experiencing financial difficulties” and lists between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon will continue to be available on store shelves while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process, which only pertains to its U.S. business. Until 2022, Stoli was sold as Stolichnaya in the United States, which loosely translates to “capital city” in Russian. The company shortened its title following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and boycotts against Russian-branded vodkas . Stoli Group’s founder, Russian-born billionaire Yuri Shefler, was exiled from that nation in 2000 because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin. Intel announced on December 2 that CEO Pat Gelsinger has resigned after a difficult stint at the company. The once-dominant chipmaker’s stock cratered as it missed the AI boom and was surpassed by most of its rivals. The liquor has long been marketed as a Russian vodka, but its production facilities have been in Latvia for several decades. Stoli Group is a unit of Luxembourg-based SPI Group, which owns other spirit and wine brands. “The Stoli Group has been targeted by the Russian Federation since it was formed nearly 25 years ago,” said Stoli Group CEO Chris Caldwell in a statement. “Earlier this year the company and our owner were both named by the Russian state as ‘extremist groups working against Russia’s interests.’” Its ongoing legal battle with the Russia government has forced Stoli to “spend dozens of millions of dollars on this long-term court battle across the globe with the Russian authorities,” according to its court filing. Caldwell also said that Stoli’s global operations has been a “victim of a malicious cyber attack” that has forced the company to operate “entirely manually while the systems are rebuilt.” A slowdown in demand for alcohol has crushed several company’s bottom lines following the pandemic when people were stuck at home and stocked up. Stoli’s filings said that it has seen a “decline and softening of demand for alcohol and spirits products post-Covid and especially beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024.” Stoli Group USA, maker of Stoli vodka, has filed for bankruptcy due to slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack, and ongoing legal battles with Russia. The-CNN-WireTM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
Kamala Harris Campaign Advisor: If Democrats Had Open Primary Competition, It Would Have Upset Black Women
Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says “violence to combat any sort of corporate greed is unacceptable” and the White House will “continue to condemn any form of violence.” She declined to comment on the investigation into the Dec. 4 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson or reports that writings belonging to the suspect, Luigi Mangione, said insurance companies care more about profits than their customers. “This is horrific,” Jean-Pierre said of the fatal shooting of Thompson as he walked in Manhattan. He didn’t appear to say anything as deputies led him to a waiting car outside. “I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Hochul said in the statement. “I am coordinating with the District Attorney’s Office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable. Public safety is my top priority and I’ll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe.” That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!NoneDoorDash will require its drivers to verify their identities more often as part of a larger effort to crack down on unauthorized account sharing. DoorDash has been under pressure to ensure its drivers are operating legally. Over the summer, for example, it pledged to do a better job identifying and removing dangerous drivers after a flood of complaints of dangerous driving from cities. Officials in Boston, New York and other cities have said that in many cases, people with multiple traffic violations continue to make deliveries using accounts registered to others. The San Francisco delivery company said Thursday it was requiring some drivers to complete real-time identity checks immediately after they complete a delivery. Previously, drivers were occasionally asked to re-verify their identities before or after a shift. DoorDash has introduced the new system in Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle and other cities, and said it planned a wider rollout next year. DoorDash said it also has developed an advanced machine learning system that can flag potential unauthorized account access, including login anomalies and suspicious activity. If the company detects a problem, it will require drivers to re-verify their identity before they can make more deliveries . U.S. drivers must verify their identities with a driver’s license or other government-issued identification, and upload a selfie that matches their identification photo before they can do work for DoorDash. They also must submit to background checks, which require a Social Security number. The company said it found that some drivers were getting around the requirements by sharing accounts with authorized users. In some cases, drivers who were not authorized to drive for DoorDash paid authorized users for access to their accounts. Some federal lawmakers have demanded that DoorDash and other delivery apps do a better job of keeping people who are in the U.S. illegally off the platforms. Republican U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana and Ted Budd of North Carolina sent letters to delivery companies in April asking them to crack down on account sharing. “These illegal immigrants are delivering food directly to consumers’ doors without ever having undergone a background check and often without even using their real names,” the letter said. It added that working illegally can also be dangerous for migrants, creating the potential for exploitation and abuse. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment Thursday with Gig Workers Rising and Justice for App Workers, which both represent delivery drivers. DoorDash won’t estimate how many drivers are using shared accounts, but said its safeguards are effective. Last year, it began asking drivers to re-verify their identities monthly by submitting a selfie. The company said it is now asking more than 150,000 drivers to complete selfie checks each week, and it’s removing them from the platform if they don’t comply.Washington : He’s sold everything from steaks and sneakers, to Make America Pray Again bibles. Now, Donald Trump is seeking to profit off the assassination attempt on his life with a new fragrance called Fight, Fight, Fight. First Lady Jill Biden talks to President-elect Donald Trump at reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Credit: AP In the latest example of ethics being tested in politics, the new perfume range for men and women hit the market this week, giving fans the chance to smell the scent of victory for the cool price of $US199 ($312). Trump announced his latest business venture in a Truth Social post on Sunday, sharing a picture of himself having a pleasant exchange with First Lady Jill Biden at the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with the humorous caption: “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist.” “Here are my new Trump Perfumes & Colognes! I call them Fight, Fight, Fight, because they represent us WINNING,” he wrote. “Great Christmas gifts for the family... Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!” The iconic image of Donald Trump urging supporters to “fight, fight, fight” after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. Credit: AP According to the perfume website, the new fragrances have been “curated to capture the essence of success and determination” and are essentially a “rallying cry in a bottle”. Their name, of course, has been taken from the now historic words Trump shouted as he pumped his fist in the air after his near-death experience in July when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks tried to kill the former president as he stood on stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Since then, that iconic image has appeared on everything from T-shirts to mugs and posters that Trump – as well as third parties selling merchandise at his rallies – have used to make a quick buck. “Crafted for those who stand tall, this bold scent delivers rich, robust notes that leave a lasting impression,” says the website where fans can now buy his latest perfume range. “It’s not just a cologne – it’s a symbol of resilience. Inspired by Trump’s relentless drive, wear it with pride and confidence.” While Trump is no stranger to trading off his famous name, his transition team has declined to say whether he will continue to do so after he is sworn in as America’s 47th president on January 20, which would potentially raise further ethical questions for the billionaire businessman turned politician and convicted felon. The company listed as the contact for the fragrance is 45Footwear LLC, the same group affiliated with Trump’s sneaker brand. Records suggest it is based in Wyoming but its ownership has not been disclosed, making its financial dealings hard to trace. Gary Nordlinger, a public policy expert at George Washington University said Trump’s latest fragrance venture was “tacky, ethically dubious and demeaning of the office of the president” - but hardly surprisingly. Citing the membership fees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort as an example – whereby individuals seeking access or influence now pay $1 million to be part of Trump’s private club in Florida – Nordlinger added: “Trump has always been able to get other people to pay for his lifestyle, but it apparently doesn’t seem to bother millions who voted for him. So the challenge for people like me, and for the Democrats, is not just to criticise the man, but to understand what makes him so special to so many.” The perfumes are the latest in a long time of items the 78-year-old Republican has hawked. Last year, for example, he sold a new collection of digital trading cards (NFTs) featuring various portraits of the then Republican candidate, which generated almost $5 million within days of release. “These cards show me dancing and even me holding some bitcoin!” Trump said in a promotional video posted in August. Donald Trump holds gold Trump sneakers at Sneaker Con Philadelphia, an event popular with sneaker lovers. Credit: AP In March, he also lent his name to a new $US60 “God Bless The USA” bible inspired by the Lee Greenwood song of the same name, which is played every time Trump takes the stage at a rally or event. The ad for Trump’s new fragrance. Credit: TruthSocial “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again!” Trump wrote as he encouraged supporters to buy the book in time for Easter. And in February, he also made a somewhat unusual campaign stop at Sneaker-Con in Philadelphia, one of the largest sneaker gatherings in the world, where he spruiked a pair of shiny gold high tops with a retail value of $US399. The move came immediately after a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $454 million after he was found liable of fraudulently inflating the value of his properties for financial gain. Trump sought to have that claim dismissed after his election victory against Vice President Kamala Harris last month, but New York attorney general Letitia James’ office refused, telling Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday that there was “no basis” to do so. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .