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philucky mines Saskatchewan fall legislative sitting ends with barbs after civility promiseFormer Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation. The Republican's announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. Here's the latest: As incoming White House chief of staff, one of Susie Wiles ’ vexing challenges will be policing the buffet line of powerful interests who want something from Donald Trump. It’s a world she knows well. During Trump’s first presidency, she lobbied for many of them. Trump was first elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. But his transactional approach to the presidency instead ushered in a lobbying boom that showered allies, including Wiles, with lucrative contracts, empowered wealthy business associates and stymied his agenda after his administration was ensnared in a series of influence-peddling scandals. Now, as Trump prepares to return to power , his victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear, raising the prospect that his second administration could face many of the same perils as his first. That will test the ability of Wiles to manage a growing number of high-powered figures — including Trump’s children, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and billionaires like Elon Musk — who will not be dependent on her for access to the president. ▶ Read more about Susie Wiles and her new role Vance accompanied Matt Gaetz in meetings with GOP senators on Wednesday. “I’m extremely grateful for the work Matt put into the nomination process,” the Ohio senator posted on X. “Matt is a patriot, and I look forward to seeing what he does next.” President Joe Biden still believes President-elect Donald Trump is a dangerous figure in U.S. democracy, his top spokesperson said Thursday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “his thinking on that has not changed” even as the Biden White House emphasizes its commitment to the “peaceful transfer of power.” Jean-Pierre told reporters there is no double-speak in Biden’s approach. Biden framed Donald Trump as a “fundamental threat” to the nation’s identity as a democracy and its stability as a global superpower when he defeated Trump in 2020. He did it as a candidate for reelection. He did it again when he dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. But Jean-Pierre said Biden recognizes the legitimacy of Trump’s election to another term, even if it’s not the result he wanted. “The American people spoke,” she said, adding that Biden wants to be an example of how to respect U.S. elections. That was an opaque reference to Trump’s refusal to accept Biden’s victory in 2020 and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters as Congress met to affirm the results. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says she hasn’t spoken to her designated successor, Karoline Leavitt. Jean-Pierre told reporters gathered Thursday at the White House that she hopes the second Trump administration will be forthright with the public by talking to reporters. Trump’s first White House dramatically curtailed its initial interactions with the White House press corps, and Jean-Pierre said Biden and his staff “worked really hard to bring back the norms” with press briefings and interactions. “We’ve tried to do this in a very respectful way,” she said. Jean-Pierre declined to “speak to what any administration is going to do” in the future, but added that the back-and-forth with the press is part of “what democracy is all about.” In other presidential transition news, Trump is urging federal lawmakers to kill a bill that would protect journalists from having to disclose information about anonymous sources or other records obtained during reporting. The proposal that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but is pending in the Senate, also bars the government from requesting data from phone or email providers. The bill includes exceptions such as when there’s a reasonable threat of imminent violence or an act of terrorism. As of now, only some states grant absolute protection from disclosing sources or other records. “Republicans must kill this bill!” Trump posted on Truth Social and shared a video from PBS News Hour interviewing the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalist, Jodie Ginsburg, talking about the proposal. Last month, The Associated Press, along with more than 100 news outlets and organizations, signed a letter authored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press asking senators to support the bill. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre isn’t commenting on Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination as president-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general in the new administration. “We really, truly want to respect the transfer of power,” Jean-Pierre said Thursday during a White House press briefing, explaining her steadfast refusal to comment on Trump personnel moves. But Jean-Pierre nonetheless used the matter to take a subtle jab at how Trump, who was twice indicted by the federal government, has reacted to federal law enforcement. “Look, the president has said when it comes to investigation, that department should be independent. there should be no partisanship. There should be no loyalty to one party or the other,” she said. “The loyalty should be to the Constitution, and the loyalty should be to the rule of law.” Trump has insisted that it was Biden and his lieutenants who weaponized the Justice Department by indicting him for his role in trying to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory and for hoarding national security documents after Trump left the White House in January 2021. That latter case has been thrown out by a Trump-appointed judge. The former case is still pending. Taken together, there are a striking number of incidents in which potential high-ranking government officials in Trump’s second administration face allegations of sexual abuse. Here’s a look at some of the cases: President-elect Donald Trump: He was found liable by a New York City jury for sexual abuse and defamation and eventually ordered to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll , $83 million in damages. Pete Hegseth, nominee for secretary of defense: A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police the encounter had been consensual and denies wrongdoing. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for secretary of health and human services: A woman who babysat for Kennedy and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine he groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation, telling a podcast: “I had a very, very rambunctious youth.” He texted the woman an apology after the story was published. Linda McMahon, nominee for secretary of education: A lawsuit filed last month alleges McMahon knowingly enabled sexual exploitation of children by a World Wrestling Entertainment employee as early as the 1980s. She denies the allegations. Elon Musk, Trump’s choice to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency: The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX was accused of sexual misconduct by a flight attendant contracted by SpaceX who worked on his private jet in 2016. He denied the claim. ▶ Read more about the allegations of sexual misconduct Among those who were seen as contenders before Gaetz was picked is former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker , who Trump chose earlier this week to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Other names that were floated as potential attorney general nominees include Jeff Jensen, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Trump last week chose Todd Blanche , an attorney who led the legal team that defended the Republican at his hush money criminal trial , to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official. Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor, was chosen to be the principal associate deputy attorney general. An attorney who represents two women who say they were paid by Gaetz for sex says his clients are “relieved to have this chapter behind them.” “They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” said Joel Leppard, whose clients testified before the House Ethics Committee. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Leppard revealed earlier this week details about his clients’ testimony to House Ethics Committee to release its report on the Gaetz investigation. Leppard said his clients were paid a total of $10,000 by the congressman. One of his clients testified that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, while he was in Congress. Though Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for attorney general, he isn’t Trump’s only appointee in hot water. A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public late Wednesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. Earlier today, Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” ▶ Read more about the allegations against Hegseth In his Nov. 13 resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Gaetz said, “I hereby resign, as United States Representatives for Florida’s First Congressional District, effective immediately, and I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration.” He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state began a special election process to fill the vacancy. Attorneys involved in a civil case brought by a Gaetz associate were notified this week that an unauthorized person accessed a file shared between lawyers that included unredacted depositions from a woman who said Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 and a second woman who says she saw the encounter, according to attorney Joel Leppard. Leppard said that two women he represents told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017 when Gaetz was in Congress. The files the person was able to access were part of a defamation case filed by a Gaetz associate against the former representative’s onetime political ally Joel Greenberg , who pleaded guilty in 2021 to sex trafficking of a minor, and admitted that he had paid at least one underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The apparent breach was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times. Gaetz has denied all the allegations. ▶ Read more about the apparent file breach Trump had announced last week that he’d chosen Todd Blanche, an attorney who’s defended him in some of his criminal cases, to serve as deputy attorney general. That’s the second highest ranking position at the Justice Department. A former federal prosecutor, Blanche has been a key figure defended him both in the New York hush money criminal trial that ended in a conviction in May, and the federal cases brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Thursday in a post on X that he believes the now-former congressman “will continue to contribute to our nation’s wellbeing for years to come.” Graham, a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, also said he looks forward to working with Trump “regarding future nominees to get this important job up and running.” The caption of the Instagram photo reads “The end of an era. No one loves America more than this guy.” The Florida representative was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation involving underage girls by the Justice Department, the very department President-elect Trump had tapped him to lead. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2023 said the investigation ended with no federal charges against him.He was also being investigated by the House Ethics panel, but Republicans declined yesterday to release the committee’s findings over objections from Democrats in a split vote. ▶ Read more about the Justice Department’s investigation into Gaetz He had abruptly resigned from his congressional seat upon being nominated as attorney general amid a long-running House Ethics investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which was seen as a way to halt the probe. The House Ethics panel’s Republicans declined this week to release the committee’s findings into Gaetz over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. However, Gaetz did win re-election earlier this month for the new Congress which convenes Jan. 3. But it’s unclear if he would take office. There’s also been plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. “President Trump remains committed to choosing a leader for the Department of Justice who will strongly defend the Constitution and end the weaponization of our justice system,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team. In a message on his Truth Social network, Trump also said he was looking forward to seeing what Gaetz will do next after withdrawing as his pick. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump posted. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” Matt Gaetz has just withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on the former congressman’s ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The Florida Republican’s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party.US President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden also warned that Washington will "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups, announcing that US forces had just conducted fresh strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria." Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable." Biden -- set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power -- said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding. "We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said. However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny. "Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said. The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions." Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria. "We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria. The US military said the strikes were conducted by warplanes against Islamic State operatives and camps. Strikes were carried out against "over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s," the US Central Command said on social media. Earlier, Biden met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the crisis. Assad's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced Sunday they had taken the capital Damascus and that Assad had fled, prompting celebrations nationwide and a ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that the deposed leader was now in Moscow, along with his family. The US military has around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to help combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly struck targets in the country including those linked to Iranian-backed militias. Tehran was a major backer of Assad's government. Biden also confirmed US authorities believe the American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, still lives. "We believe he's alive," Biden said, but the US has yet "to identify where he is." bur-sms/mlm

His research explored the environmental impact of gold and silver nanoparticles on plant germination and growth — an area of increasing importance as nanoparticles become central to modern medicine. These particles, used in applications such as imaging contrast agents and drug delivery systems, often find their way into ecosystems, raising concerns about their long-term effects. Last Summer, Roberts undertook specialised training at the University of NSW to synthesise nanoparticles and impressively continued producing them within his high school science lab. His project showcased not only scientific rigor but also exceptional creativity in tackling an emerging global challenge. The award ceremony, held on Friday, November 22 at the University of Technology Sydney, celebrated his innovative contributions. His work has also earned a nomination for the National ASTA i3 Awards, where he will represent the Central Coast region, further solidifying his role as a young leader in scientific research and innovation.

The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media. He acknowledged — despite all of Alabama’s losses coming against conference opponents this season — that the Tide’s push to schedule more games against teams from other major conferences in order to improve its strength of schedule did not pay off this time. “That is not good for college football," Byrne said. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State , Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballWorld Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. After two days of relentless bombing, Israel has destroyed Syria’s entire navy and crippled the country’s other key military assets. The Israeli Defence Force has carried out 350 strikes of “strategic targets” since Saturday afternoon as Syrian opposition rebels seized control of Damascus and brought an end to the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad . In an operation dubbed ‘Bashan Arrow’, the IDF first took out air defences before shifting focus to weapons stockpiles, armouries and missile production facilities in the capital as well as Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Plymyra. Overnight, the Israeli Navy destroyed 15 vessels in ports on the coast, which formed virtually the entirety of Syria’s naval force. Damage at Latakia port after an Israeli air strike that has wiped out Syria’s navy. Picture: Bilal Al Hammoud/EPA/AAP An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack. Picture: AFP The UN special envoy for Syria has called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments. Picture: AFP As a result of the two-day campaign, an estimated 80 per cent of the former regime’s defence force capabilities have been destroyed, the IDF said, to keep it “out of the hands of extremists”. “The IDF has acted in the last few days to attack and destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the state of Israel,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said. Under Assad’s rule, Syria became a key ally of Iran and a thoroughfare for weapons sent to terrorist groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel has said. Its key concern since the fall of the regime has been that Syrian weapons could be seized by “hostile” forces in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended a tentative olive branch to Syrian rebels, saying he “would like to form relations with the new regime”, while issuing a stern warning. “If this regime allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us — we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video statement. Rebels appoint interim PM The group responsible for toppling the Assad regime, Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS), has appointed a caretaker prime minister. Mohamed al-Bashir will lead the country until at least next March, the group said, in a bid to ensure a peaceful transition of power. In a televised address, Mr al-Bashir said his priority was to restore “stability and calm” and revealed he has met with members of the former Assad regime. Rebels have installed an interim prime minister as Syria looks nervously to the future. Picture: Getty Mohamed al-Bashir will act as interim prime minister until at least next March. Picture: AFP “The meeting was under the headline of transferring the files and institutions from the government of the ousted regime to the transitional government in order to receive these files and conduct business,” he said. “This means that there will be a Syrian government that will handle these files and manage the business during a transitional period, God willing, that may end on March 1.” Mission to find kidnapped journalist The White House has begun urgent talks to determine the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in Syria in mid-2012. US officials are engaging with authorities in Turkiye and other neighbouring allies as part of efforts to reach out to the rebels who toppled the Assad regime. Journalist and former Marine Austin Tice was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. The end of the dictatorship might “present an opportunity” for the White House to find Tice or at least determine what happened to him, spokesperson John Kirby said. The US believes Tice is still alive and his parents last week held a media conference to reveal they had credible information from high-level sources to indicate as much. Tice is a former US Marine who worked as a freelance journalists, filing on the Syrian civil war for global media organisations, including The Washington Post . Eerie look inside Assad’s palace Photojournalists have released images from inside Syria’s trashed presidential palace, home to Assad and his family until Sunday. The pictures include glimpses of formal spaces, bedrooms and living areas, as well as a number of eyebrow-raising ‘souvenirs’. A passageway with a red carpet is seen inside the Presidential Palace. Picture: Getty An empty chamber inside the Presidential Palace. Picture: Getty A trashed office is littered with debris inside the Presidential Palace. Picture: Getty Among them is a photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, apparently hand-signed by the former monarch. The Queen met Assad and his wife, Asma, at Buckingham Palace in 2002. Artworks, statues, gold chests and official portraits of Assad and his wife can also be seen littered throughout the sprawling mansion. After seizing control of Damascus, forcing Assad and an entourage to flee to Moscow, rebels stormed the palace. Countless items of varying value have been looted. Vision emerged on Monday showing Assad’s enormous private collection of luxury cars, including Ferraris, Audis and Mercedes vehicles. Russia’s role in Assad escape The Kremlin arranged the “secure” transport of Assad and his family from Damascus to Moscow as the capital fell to rebel forces, Russia has confirmed. The country’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was interviewed on NBC today, reiterating reports on Monday that Assad and his entourage had been granted asylum. “He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation,” Ryabkov told the US news channel. Assad and his family escaped to Moscow as Damascus was seized by rebels. Picture: Getty Russia had co-ordinated the escape of Assad and his family “in the most secure way possible”, he added. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed under the Assad regime’s watch, including scores of political prisoners detained and imprisoned in barbaric jails. Since Assad was deposed at the weekend, there have been renewed calls for the dictator to face trial at the International Criminal Court of Justice. Asked whether Russia would hand him over, Ryabkov pointed out Russia is not a party to the court’s convention. “I have no idea what is going on with him right now,” Ryabkov said. More Coverage Dictator, glam wife’s humiliating new life Samuel Clench Al-Assad’s palaces looted after tyrant flees Staff writers and AFP Originally published as Israel wipes out 80 per cent of Syria’s military, including its entire navy Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Illness ‘Harm’: Doctors demand Covid vaccine pulled A petition calling for Covid vaccines to be pulled has attracted high-profile backers — including one of Donald Trump’s key appointments. Read more News Furious customer drives car into dealership A man has been arrested after police said he intentionally drove his car into a dealership storefront. Read more

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Motor finance scandal could cost as much as £50bn payment protection insurance debacle By JOHN-PAUL FORD ROJAS Updated: 22:03, 10 December 2024 e-mail View comments The scandal in the motor finance industry could end up costing as much as the £50billion payment protection insurance (PPI) debacle more than a decade ago, the City watchdog has admitted. Stephen Braviner Roman, legal director at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), told MPs it would be ‘premature’ to say that the hit to lenders would not reach the same level as PPI. That implies an even bigger potential cost than the highest estimate so far – from credit ratings agency Moody’s, which has suggested the total industry could be on the hook for as much as £30billion. Hundreds of thousands of customers have complained about the way car dealers sold loans to finance the purchase of vehicles. Commission fees: Hundreds of thousands of motorists have complained about the way car dealers sold loans to finance the purchase of vehicles The complaints centre on the practice of dealers receiving a commission from lenders for selling those loans. Earlier this year, the FCA began a probe into customers being overcharged as a result. It centred on the now-banned use of ‘discretionary commission arrangements’ (DCAs), where dealers were rewarded with higher commissions the higher the rates were on the loans. But a Court of Appeal ruling in a separate case in October widened the scope of the scandal, leaving the industry stunned. The court said it was unlawful for dealers to receive a commission from lenders without receiving the informed consent of the customer. Crucially, the ruling covered not just DCAs but also fixed commission payments, dramatically adding to the potential scale of the scandal. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Trump unleashes animal spirits to turbocharge US: But UK... Ashtead's wake-up call: Equipment firm's decision to switch... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Lloyds Banking Group is among the lenders facing a potential major bill for compensation and has set aside £450million to cover the cost. Santander UK, meanwhile, has set aside £295million. Two smaller lenders, Close Brothers and Investec, have also revealed that they continued to face uncertainty over the impact of the scandal. Earlier this year, before the ruling, FCA boss Nikhil Rathi sought to play down comparisons with PPI. But yesterday, Braviner Roman told MPs on the Treasury select committee: ‘The scale of the problem that we were anticipating and we were investigating has undoubtedly expanded with the Court of Appeal decision.’ That decision is subject to a possible appeal to the Supreme Court so may not be the ‘final word’, he said. He added: ‘We’ve previously said that looking at DCAs alone, we do not think it’s the scale of PPI. ‘But that was when we were looking at DCAs alone, so it would be premature to say it’s definitely not the scale of PPI now.’ DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Motor finance scandal could cost as much as £50bn payment protection insurance debacle e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top storiesNoneRobinhood Markets ( NASDAQ:HOOD – Free Report ) had its price objective raised by Sanford C. Bernstein from $30.00 to $51.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock. A number of other brokerages also recently commented on HOOD. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Robinhood Markets from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Robinhood Markets from $28.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on Robinhood Markets from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Robinhood Markets from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on Robinhood Markets from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $28.66. View Our Latest Stock Report on Robinhood Markets Robinhood Markets Stock Performance Robinhood Markets ( NASDAQ:HOOD – Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $637.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $660.53 million. Robinhood Markets had a net margin of 21.80% and a return on equity of 7.52%. The business’s revenue was up 36.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.09) earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Robinhood Markets will post 0.74 EPS for the current year. Insider Transactions at Robinhood Markets In other news, Director Baiju Bhatt sold 108,964 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.92, for a total value of $2,715,382.88. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,521 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $62,823.32. This trade represents a 97.74 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, Director Meyer Malka sold 3,225,806 shares of Robinhood Markets stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.07, for a total transaction of $80,870,956.42. Following the transaction, the director now owns 29,357,336 shares in the company, valued at $735,988,413.52. The trade was a 9.90 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 4,710,549 shares of company stock worth $115,477,194 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 19.95% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HOOD. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Robinhood Markets by 1,211,858.7% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,817,670 shares of the company’s stock valued at $89,410,000 after acquiring an additional 3,817,355 shares in the last quarter. Azora Capital LP acquired a new stake in Robinhood Markets during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $79,780,000. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Robinhood Markets by 31.3% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 14,129,544 shares of the company’s stock worth $330,914,000 after purchasing an additional 3,368,118 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in shares of Robinhood Markets by 37.7% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 7,651,700 shares of the company’s stock valued at $173,770,000 after purchasing an additional 2,094,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Robinhood Markets by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,620,673 shares of the company’s stock valued at $271,708,000 after buying an additional 1,895,427 shares during the last quarter. 93.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Robinhood Markets ( Get Free Report ) Robinhood Markets, Inc operates financial services platform in the United States. Its platform allows users to invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), American depository receipts, options, gold, and cryptocurrencies. The company offers fractional trading, recurring investments, fully-paid securities lending, access to investing on margin, cash sweep, instant withdrawals, retirement program, around-the-clock trading, and initial public offerings participation services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Robinhood Markets Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robinhood Markets and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in Wintrust Financial Co. ( NASDAQ:WTFC – Free Report ) by 708.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 17,327 shares of the bank’s stock after buying an additional 15,185 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in Wintrust Financial were worth $1,880,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Wintrust Financial by 36.2% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 802,841 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $87,132,000 after acquiring an additional 213,559 shares in the last quarter. Choreo LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,115,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Wintrust Financial by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 203,285 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $22,063,000 after purchasing an additional 14,699 shares during the last quarter. LMR Partners LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Wintrust Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $499,000. Finally, Westfield Capital Management Co. LP lifted its position in shares of Wintrust Financial by 13.8% during the 3rd quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP now owns 237,311 shares of the bank’s stock worth $25,755,000 after purchasing an additional 28,727 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.48% of the company’s stock. Wintrust Financial Trading Up 0.2 % NASDAQ WTFC opened at $136.75 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $122.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $108.74. Wintrust Financial Co. has a one year low of $89.29 and a one year high of $142.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.02. The firm has a market cap of $9.09 billion, a PE ratio of 14.32 and a beta of 1.18. Wintrust Financial Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, November 7th were issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 7th. Wintrust Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 18.85%. Insider Activity at Wintrust Financial In other news, insider Richard B. Murphy sold 4,099 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.63, for a total transaction of $473,967.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 42,311 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,892,420.93. This represents a 8.83 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, COO David A. Dykstra sold 15,492 shares of Wintrust Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.48, for a total value of $1,789,016.16. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 197,591 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,817,808.68. This trade represents a 7.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 21,198 shares of company stock worth $2,445,314 in the last three months. Insiders own 1.47% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently commented on WTFC. Citigroup increased their target price on Wintrust Financial from $126.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Truist Financial raised their target price on Wintrust Financial from $123.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Barclays boosted their target price on Wintrust Financial from $130.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $130.00 price target on shares of Wintrust Financial in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Wintrust Financial from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $124.62. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Wintrust Financial Wintrust Financial Profile ( Free Report ) Wintrust Financial Corporation operates as a financial holding company. It operates in three segments: Community Banking, Specialty Finance, and Wealth Management. The Community Banking segment offers non-interest bearing deposits, non-brokered interest-bearing transaction accounts, and savings and domestic time deposits; home equity, consumer, and real estate loans; safe deposit facilities; and automatic teller machine (ATM), online and mobile banking, and other services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WTFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wintrust Financial Co. ( NASDAQ:WTFC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Wintrust Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wintrust Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Sophia Banks To Direct Film On Bitcoin Founder Satoshi Nakamoto From David O. Sacks Productions, Mark Goffman And Getaway Entertainment

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