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ps qc Arne Slot's Liverpool secured the win in their final Premier League match of the year 2024. Liverpool created a dominant display in their away game against West Ham. Luis Diaz opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 30th minute. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah scored a goal each, taking Liverpool to a 3-0 advantage in the first half. The second half also proved fruitful for the visitors as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota struck a goal each. Liverpool successfully maintained a clean sheet against West Ham and will stay at the top of the Premier League 2024-25 standings. Manchester City Registers Much-Needed 2–0 Victory Over Leicester During Mark Guardiola’s 500th Game in Charge for Man City. The story from the London Stadium as @LFC win big 📈 #WHULIV pic.twitter.com/sC3AY2acKy — Premier League (@premierleague) December 29, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

CALLUM McGREGOR has backed Brendan Rodgers to take Celtic to the next level with his January additions. The Hoops boss held a transfer summit with Dermot Desmond in Dublin last week as he looks to strengthen his squad. 3 McGregor would love to reunite with "quality" Tierney at Parkhead Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow 3 Tierney and McGregor against Germany at Euro 2024 Credit: Kenny Ramsay McGregor’s old team-mate Kieran Tierney is among the top targets, and the Hoops skipper said: “When you’re at a big club, the demands are so high that you always have to be at the maximum level and push yourself, the squad, everybody. “Come January we might have a few new faces in, and that will push the group further and the squad will get stronger. “We’ll see what happens, but it’s always good to have new faces to push everyone. “In every window we do look to strengthen. The club will always try and do the best deals they can. READ MORE CELTIC STORIES SHOCK SWOOP Former Celtic boss 'lines up shock January transfer swoop for Kyogo Furuhashi' FIRM OFFER Football free bets for Rangers and Celtic games PLUS bonuses and sign-up offers “Naturally, at a big club there’s always competition for places. “It just remains to be seen what happens, but the guys who do come in, we’ll get them up to speed as quickly as possible.” SunSport revealed Celts are in pole position to bring Tierney back to Paradise , after Arsenal opted not to take up a year’s contract option. Pressed on a possible reunion with his old Celts and Scotland team-mate, McGregor added: “He’s a quality player. I’ve been in war with him for a number of years now! Most read in Football PAT ON THE BACK Hearts hero makes abrupt move to former club of Postecoglou and Muscat MOR TO COME Huge twist in Morelos' future as ex-Gers boss lands Santos job amid return saga TEENAGE KICKS Celtic star unrecognisable in throwback pic when he played with ex-Hoops ace AMA NEW MAN Rangers flop finds new club after five months in wilderness and buying COWS “Kieran’s a good guy, we’ll see what happens. I’ve not spoken to him yet, but I’ve seen all the stuff that’s been written. “I don’t know too much about it. We’re generally the last ones to know. When someone appears in the building, we’ll go and meet them.” Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers turns on Lennoxtown Xmas lights Celtic were held to a 0-0 by Dundee United on Sunday, and are now nine points clear of Rangers at the top. McGregor expects a big reaction when they host Motherwell on Boxing Day. He said: “There are a lot of games coming up and we don’t want one result to snowball into two and three. “The lead we have is a product of how good we’ve been this season. “But we don’t want to have too many of these days where you start to chase your tail a little bit. 3 “We know what the problem was against United but we dust ourselves down and move on from it. “We have been here many times before and we know how to handle it.” McGregor also defended Kyogo Furuhashi after he fluffed a late chance to hit a winner at Tannadice. He added: “Kyogo will be fine. Yeah, he missed the chance on Sunday, but how many goals has he scored for us? Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBRRR Scots blasted with snowfall days before Christmas as storms cause transport chaos FLOOR PHILLER Rangers boss Philippe Clement spotted dancing in popular Glasgow bar “He’s won us countless big games and trophies. In the big moment he’s been the go-to man for us. “Strikers will miss chances. It’s no problem We go again as a team.” Keep up to date with ALL t h e latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football pageNeedham initiates coverage on On Holding with buy ratingSaints hail PM Modi as a champion of Sanatan Dharma ahead of ‘Mahakumbh’

Prominent brands struggle to adapt to an e-bike industry dominated by cheap, direct-to-consumer sales

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 29: stc has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting the community through its comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which was further strengthened this year with its Sustainability Program. As a pioneer in Kuwait’s telecom and digital industries, stc has been a catalyst for positive change by implementing or participating in initiatives within the key areas of education, environmental sustainability, sports, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. Through these activities and initiatives, stc aimed to create lasting contributions for the community, while also aligning with the Company’s strategic focus on enabling digital transformation. Danah AlJasem, General Manager of Corporate Communications at stc, said, “Over the years, stc broadened its CSR framework to include various sub-programs that have played a role in shaping the Company’s commitment to its key pillars. Initiatives such as ‘Weyak’, the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, and ‘Because We Care’ have now taken on a more prominent role under the framework, with annual reoccurring initiatives launched under their respective umbrellas.” In 2024, stc signed several strategic partnerships with various local institutions to create a wider and more positive impact within the community. These partnerships came in addition to the different initiatives launched by stc annually, as we all the Company’s CSR agenda for the year. Under each partnership, stc contributed in different ways to the core pillars defined under its CSR framework. This enabled the Company to support the youth, as well as segments in the community in unique ways alongside trusted partners.” Aside from its partnerships and collaborations, stc launched its own unique initiatives focused on addressing and highlighting key topics that impact the community. The initiatives, in alignment with the Company’s CSR pillars, aimed to either engage with the community or the Company’s employees in different positive ways. One key subject that stc strongly stands by is empowering the youth and supporting the younger generation. In launching its own initiatives under this category, stc held its annual programs for students, while introducing various educational platforms. These efforts, as well as other activities implemented by stc, have significantly contributed to strengthening the social fabric and fostering unity across diverse segments of Kuwait’s society. Sustainability Program - Small Move, Big Impact With a newfound outlook on sustainable practices, stc announced its Sustainability Program, an annual initiative that reinforces the Company’s commitment to sustainability across the ESG pillars. Under this program, stc implemented a series of strategic initiatives to enhance its carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices through community-driven projects focused on education, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, stc worked closely with government bodies and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with the highest governance standards, further embedding transparency, accountability, and ethical business practices into its operations. Through this comprehensive approach, the Sustainability Program reflects stc’s long-term vision of integrating sustainability into every aspect of its business, creating a positive and lasting impact on society and the environment. A highlight of the ‘Sustainability Program was the launch of the first standalone Sustainability Report in line with our commitment to transparency and progress. This milestone reflects our dedication to integrating sustainable practices across all aspects of our business while creating long-term value for our stakeholders. As part of the campaign, stc collaborated with the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy (MEW), through an awareness-based social media campaign highlighting the importance of conserving water and electricity. Another initiative was the Partnership with Tadwire to launch E-waste recycling initiative. Supported by the Kuwait National SME Fund, Tadwire complemented stc’s sustainability initiative for the year 2024, focusing on ways to reduce the waste footprint in its offices, operations, and the community. stc partnered with SEEDs by sponsoring Bloom Market, the first market dedicated to promoting sustainable lifestyle and entertainment in Kuwait, in addition to launching the Plastic Free July initiative, which included 17 sustainable Kuwaiti projects. All vendors in the market were committed to not using plastic, and participants ranged from recycled furniture stores to eco-friendly daily consumer goods and fashion clothing. As part of a series of initiatives, stc announced its strategic sponsorship of the sustainability forum organized by the Kuwait Transparency Society. The forum, bearing the slogan, “Governance and environmental sustainability: Effective methods and practices”, was held at the National Library Theater under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaila, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs. Through this program, the Company aimed to raise awareness on various issues, while adopting long-term sustainable practices that leave a positive impact on the community and future generations. stc also collaborated with the Ministry of Municipality to launch a significant cleaning campaign in the Al Mutlaa desert area. With the spirit of environmental consciousness and community service in mind, employees were invited to participate in the clean-up, where they were presented with an opportunity to actively contribute to the preservation of the environment. Celebrating Kuwait in a national TVC In celebration of Kuwait’s National and Liberation Days, stc launched its TVC concept, titled “الكويتي مازال”, which blended modernity and tradition through a focus on the importance of progression and sustainability in the community. The production featured several influential figures that have played a role in empowering the community, especially the younger generation. Following its long-standing commitment to sustainability, coupled with its extensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, the TVC aimed to reflect the values that stc stands by along with the importance of these activities in nurturing and empowering entrepreneurs, innovators, and the younger generation. The concept and execution of the production was done by Together Production, with Sine Agency as the production house. The production featured the well-known singer Bader Al-Shaeebi, lyrist and composer Ali Bougheith, under the direction of Shamlan Al-Nassar and the director of photography Amin Shamsuddin. Youssef Al-Omran, also known as "Bu Jarrah”, a well-known advocate for sustainability, as well as other influencers and supporters featured in the production alongside the Kuwaiti award-winning inventor Jenan Al Shehab, along with media influencers Alia Ahmad, Jenan Al Zaid and Ali Najm were featured in the TVC considering their roles as influencers who encourage the importance of knowledge, achievements, and other aspects that drive progression and innovation. ‘With good, we go further’ During the Holy Month of Ramadan, stc launched its “With good, we go further” campaign, which consisted of different activities and programs designed to emphasize the importance of performing good deeds for the greater good of the community. The approach behind the “With good, we go further” campaign was to show participants and the public the trickle effect of doing good in the community, and how the impact can grow towards a positive sustainable future. stc, with the support of its various partners, launched initiatives that aimed to spread goodness in the community in ways that positively impact members of the community. These initiatives came in the form of distributing meals, supporting worshippers during Ramadan, spreading awareness on various issues, and engaging with the community. The initiatives launched during the campaign included partnering with the Zajel Volunteer Team to organize various activities including the largest Futoor with over 3,000 meals distributed in Mubarakiya in collaboration with Kuwait Municipality, Gastronomica, and Jahez Kuwait. This came in addition to distributing Eid gifts at the Zajel Expo to families in need. stc also collaborated with Flare Fitness to host the “Your Calories = internet” event, as well as collaborating with the Aspire Kids Club to distribute iftar meals and hold workshops to assist children in memorizing the Holy Quran. On the community front, stc participated in various initiatives such as the Al Qabas 2024 Padel Tournament where the Company was a sponsor for the 3rd year in a row. stc also hosted a Quran memorization contest in collaboration with the Imam of Grand Mosque Sheikh Omar Al Damkhi. During the Qiyam prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan, a special service for worshippers was organized by stc during the last 10 days of Ramadan at different mosques in Kuwait. Additionally, stc hosted several Girgean celebrations within the different events it participated in as part of its Ramadan celebrations for the youth. These initiatives, as well as other implemented under the “With good, we go further” theme aimed to diversify stc’s range of activities, programs, and sponsorships, positively aligning with the core objectives behind the Company’s CSR and sustainability frameworks. “Weyak” - Empowering Kuwaiti youth while nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the community AlJasem added, “The ‘Weyak’ initiative remained to be an integral part of stc’s CSR efforts in 2024, with innovative approaches to inspiring and empowering Kuwaiti youth while nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the community. Designed to support the aspirations of young innovators, startups, and SMEs, ‘Weyak’ provided tools and resources needed to either bring ambitious ideas to life or support existing concepts in thriving. With a special focus on blending creativity with business skills, the various programs under the initiative helped individuals achieve their set out objectives while contributing to the progression of Kuwait’s economy.” With its objectives set on supporting SMEs in Kuwait, stc’s ‘Weyak’ initiative engaged with aspiring entrepreneurs throughout various activities and programs. The Company organized several gatherings for entrepreneurs and SMEs as part of its strategic focus on empowering the private sector to drive economic growth and societal advancement. The interactive experience enabled like minded individuals to share their experiences and unique journeys in starting their own businesses, while discussing the entrepreneurial landscape in Kuwait. Aside from that, stc strengthened its strategic partnership with Flare Fitness by sponsoring the ‘Flare Festival’ for the 5th consecutive year. Flare Festival is considered one of the largest events of its kind in Kuwait and this year welcomed over 3,500 registered competitors across all tournament events, with a total of over 8,000 attendees over the course of three days. stc also organized its first gathering for Kuwaiti female photographers coinciding with ‘World Photography Day’, with a workshop conducted by Kuwaiti photographer, Haya Buqammaz. The event brought together 45 talented female photographers to discuss various styles of capturing photographs stc organized several workshops that covered important entrepreneurial topics to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in Kuwait. Through ‘weyak’ program and workshops, stc seeks to support and equip motivated business leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed and thrive. The ‘Weyak’ initiative reflects stc’s deep commitment to building a thriving economy for young entrepreneurs and innovators. The initiative is rooted in the belief that Kuwait’s future prosperity depends on empowering its youth and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in line with Kuwait Vision 2035. Over the years, stc made this a priority within its CSR strategy, ensuring that its initiatives resonate with this vision. In 2024, the Company continued to push boundaries by introducing innovative ideas and platforms, assisting individuals and businesses navigate and benefit from the rapidly evolving digital world. ‘upgrade’ - focusing on supporting educational programs and platforms that aim to spread knowledge to members of the community Commenting on the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, AlJasem said, “Education remains one of the key pillars of stc’s CSR framework, especially in 2024. Since the launch of its educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, stc focused on supporting educational programs and platforms that aim to uplift the education sector while spreading knowledge to members of the community. Several initiatives were launched throughout the year under the umbrella of the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, each serving a different purpose. This focus mirrors stc's understanding of the nature of academic excellence in building a sustainable future.” Throughout the year, stc formed strategic partnerships with various institutions such as the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) – Kuwait University Branch, Kuwait College for Science and Technology (KCST), Kuwait Technical College (KTECH), and the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC). The strategic partnerships focused on launching and sponsoring different programs that aimed to enhance the accessibility to educational platforms that can assist students and individuals in learning more about different subjects. Some of the programs stc participated in following the partnerships included the TechNext program launched by KTECH which was designed to channel their creativity and innovation within the field of technology. Another program was KTECH’s coding competition that witnessed the participation of over 30 public high schools where students had to put their problem solving and python programming skills to use. stc also sponsored the Journey in Kuwait” robotics competition under its strategic partnership with SACGC. The “Journey in Kuwait” competition focused on the exciting world of robotics, programming, and artificial intelligence (AI), and was for children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. Other than the programs stc participated in as part of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) that it formed with various institutions, the Company also participated in several honoring ceremonies for academic excellence. stc honored top performing high school students at stc’s headquarters in Olympia Tower which was attended by Maryam Al-Enezi, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development & Activities Sector at the Ministry of Education, and stc executives including Eng. Muataz Aldharrab, CEO of stc. The Company also honored 130 exceptional students with physical disabilities for the 3rd consecutive year in the presence of Mansour Al-Dhafiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Special and Specific Education, Mahmoud Abdel-Rida, acting Director of Special Education Schools Administration and the presence of several GCC ambassadors in Kuwait. 60 Kuwait University students who displayed academic excellence in the College of Arts were also celebrated by stc during 2024. Through a range of impactful programs and activities in 2024, the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative reinforced stc’s dedication to cultivating a society rooted in knowledge and awareness. The activities carried out under the initiative align with the Company’s broader vision of social responsibility, addressing immediate community needs while creating a positive long-term impact on the younger generation. ‘Because we care’ – to reinforce our commitment towards the community As for stc’s commitment to the environment and the community, AlJasem stated, “Environmental preservation, sustainable practices, and personal wellness are all key themes under stc’s ‘Because we care’ initiative. Throughout 2024, stc launched and participated in numerous campaigns that aimed to spread awareness on various health issues and environmental causes that impact the community.” Under the ‘Because we care’ initiative, stc carried out its annual health initiatives related to Blood Donation, Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer. The Company collaborated with various entities to promote and raise awareness on these health issues and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. stc welcomed arriving Hejaj at Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 4 from Mecca for the 3rd year in a row, in collaboration with the Kuwait International Airport and the Directorate General for Civil Aviation and Incheon Korea for Airports Services- T4. In celebration of Eid Al Adha, stc organized a visit to Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital in the presence of Gergasha Characters and stc Sofara’a Team from all departments to distribute gifts and bring joy to the children who are seeking medical needs. As part of stc’s ongoing commitment to foster health and wellbeing across the community and in collaboration with the Kuwait Oncology Association and other strategic partners, the Company launched its annual breast cancer awareness campaign called, “Your Awareness protects you” in line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote early detection and prevention The activities launched under stc’s ‘Because we care’ initiative were designed to promote community wellbeing while raising awareness about environmental, health and societal issues. To create a lasting positive impact, stc strongly believes in the power of engaging with the community by providing them with platforms to come together and do good for the community. The activities organized under the initiative also align closely with the stc’s broader strategy to enhance the quality of life and lifestyle choices for its customers. 11th intake of ‘inspireU’ entrepreneur accelerator In collaboration with inspireU from stc group, this year witnessed the launch of the 2nd take of the inspireU Program in Kuwait, an entrepreneurial state-of-the-art incubator and accelerator designed to support startups and SMEs in Kuwait which focused on several areas including fintech, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, and online gaming. The program aims to equip entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to turn their ideas into successful projects, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to create new job opportunities and enhance sustainable growth, in line with stc's vision for enabling digital transformation And by the end of 2024, stc celebrated the graduates of the “inspireU” program in a graduation ceremony held by stc Group in its HQ in Riyadh that recognized 44 businesses and startups that completed the inspireU program, including 5 startups from Kuwait. This marked the successful conclusion of the program’s 10th and 11th intakes, as well as the first season of the advanced inspireU program. A lasting positive impact As stc looks ahead, the Company remains deeply committed to creating a positive and lasting impact on the community through its comprehensive CSR and sustainability programs. These initiatives, rooted in stc’s core values, aim to empower individuals, drive social and economic progress, and foster environmental stewardship. By addressing immediate community needs while laying the groundwork for long-term benefits, stc continues to build a legacy of positive change that resonates across Kuwait. AlJasem concluded, “The progress we have made through our CSR and sustainability programs, as well as our collaborations with various institutions in Kuwait, align with our overall mission to drive positive and lasting change in the community. We are grateful for the opportunities we have had to contribute meaningfully to the lives of individuals and society as a whole. Moving forward, we aim to build on these achievements by strengthening our partnerships and exploring new ways to address the evolving needs of our community, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.” Looking ahead, stc envisions deepening its role as a responsible corporate citizen by further integrating sustainability into its core business strategy and operation. Having set its long-term strategic goals, stc will continue to build strategic partnerships with local and international organizations, adding value to its programs through wider reach and exposure to remain impactful and relevant. The Company will also continue focusing on expanding its environmental initiatives, with plans to launch new projects that contribute to Kuwait’s sustainability goals. By aligning its CSR and Sustainability programs with both national and global objectives, stc reaffirms its commitment to creating lasting, positive change across the community and driving sustainable development for future generations.Soaring data center power needs could trigger NW blackouts, industry insiders sayA history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own

NoneBURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: NEUP) (“ Neuphoria ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that its previously announced scheme of arrangement in relation to Bionomics Limited’s proposed re-domiciliation from Australia to the United States, under which Neuphoria will become the ultimate parent company of Bionomics Limited, has been implemented today, December 23, 2024 New York time (December 24, 2024 Sydney time). The shares of common stock of Neuphoria (“ Neuphoria Shares ”) issued today in connection with the re-domiciliation are expected to commence trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol “NEUP” on December 24, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. In addition, Neuphoria will issue options to acquire shares of common stock in Neuphoria (“ Neuphoria Options ”) to holders of options to acquire shares in Bionomics (“ Bionomics Options ”) that were issued by Bionomics, in exchange for their Bionomics Options. Neuphoria will also issue a warrant to purchase 1,054,381 shares of common stock in Neuphoria (“ Neuphoria Warrant ”) to an institutional investor that holds a warrant to purchase 12,652,572 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) of Bionomics (“ Bionomics Warrant ”), in exchange for the Bionomics Warrant. Further details regarding the implementation of the redomiciliation can be found in a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be filed by Neuphoria with the SEC. About Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc. Neuphoria (Nasdaq: NEUP) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing therapies that address the complex needs of individuals affected by neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuphoria is advancing its lead drug candidate, BNC210, an oral, proprietary, selective negative allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, for the acute, “as needed” treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and for chronic treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). BNC210 is a first-of-its-kind, well-tolerated, broad spectrum anti-anxiety experimental therapeutic, designed to restore neurotransmitter balance in relevant brain areas, providing rapid relief from stress and anxiety symptoms without the common pitfalls of sedation, cognitive impairment, or addiction. In addition, Neuphoria has a strategic partnership with Merck & Co., Inc. (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) with two drugs in early-stage clinical trials for the treatment of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous system conditions. Neuphoria's pipeline also includes the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor next generation and the Kv3.1/3.2 preclinical programs, both in the lead optimization development stage. Forward-Looking Statements Neuphoria cautions that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “seek,” “contemplate,” “potential,” “continue” or “project” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Neuphoria that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and its other reports. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Neuphoria undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors is included in Neuphoria’s filings with the SEC, copies of which are available from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) and on Neuphoria’s website (www.neuphoriatx.com) under the heading “Investor Center.” All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Neuphoria expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this press release. Not an offer of securities This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any jurisdiction. The Neuphoria Shares, Neuphoria Options and Neuphoria Warrant have not been registered under the US Securities Act and may not be offered or sold except in a transaction registered under the US Securities Act or in a transaction exempt from such registration requirements and applicable US state securities laws.

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PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Defying expectations Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” ‘Country come to town’ Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” A ‘leader of conscience’ on race and class Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn was Carter’s closest advisor Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Reevaluating his legacy Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. Pilgrimages to Plains The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.

Radical Jaguar rebrand and new logo sparks ire online NEW YORK (AP) — A promotional video for a rebrand of British luxury car brand Jaguar is being criticized online for showing models in brightly colored outfits — and no car. The rebrand, which includes a new logo, is slated to launch Dec. 2 during Miami Art Week, when the company will unveil a new electric model. But Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India’s Tata Motors Ltd., has been promoting it online. The Jaguar brand is in the middle of a transition to going all-electric. “Copy Nothing,” marketing materials read. “We’re here to delete the ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing.” Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations DALLAS (AP) — The nation is set to mark 61 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Even after over six decades, conspiracy theories about what happened that day still swirl and the desire to follow every thread of information hasn’t waned. President-elect Donald Trump made promises over the summer that if reelected he would declassify the remaining records. At this point, only a few thousand of millions of pages of records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released. And those who have studied what's been released so far say that the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations even if the remaining files are declassified. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused the firms of selling counterfeit clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Defense lawyers declined to comment on the verdict and whether they planned an appeal. Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum? NEW YORK (AP) — A previously unknown musical work written by composer Frederic Chopin appears to have been found in a library in New York City. The Morgan Library & Museum says the untitled and unsigned piece is the first new manuscript of the Romantic era virtuoso to be discovered in nearly a century. Robinson McClellan, the museum’s curator, says he stumbled across the work in May while going through a collection brought to the Manhattan museum years earlier. He worked with outside experts to verify the document's authenticity. But there’s debate whether the waltz is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland is spewing lava from a fissure in its seventh eruption since December. Iceland's seismic monitors said the eruption started with little warning late Wednesday and created a long fissure but looked to be smaller than eruptions in August and May. Around 50 houses were evacuated after the Civil Protection agency issued the alert, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster. The repeated eruptions over the past year have caused damage to the town of Grindavík and forced people to relocate. Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5 VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister said was every parent’s nightmare. Officials earlier said an American and two Danish tourists also had died following reports that multiple people had been sickened in town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in Thailand. Later Thursday, Britain said a British woman also died and the media in the U.K. identified her as 28-year-old Simone White. US ahead in AI innovation, easily surpassing China in Stanford's new ranking The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI industry across a variety of dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. Following the U.S. and China were the United Kingdom, India and the United Arab Emirates. Pop star Ed Sheeran helps favorite soccer team sign player before getting on stage with Taylor Swift It turns out British pop star Ed Sheeran is also good at recruiting soccer players. Sheeran is a minority shareholder at English soccer team Ipswich Town and it needed his help over the summer to get a player to join the club. Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton tells a Soccerex industry event in Miami: “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground, just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift. Hopefully that was a key part in getting the player across the line.” Ashton didn’t disclose the player in question, saying only: “He’s certainly scoring a few goals.”

Drama surrounds final three F1 races of seasonDow ends at fresh record as oil prices pull back on ceasefire hopes

NoneTweet Facebook Mail A social media video surfaced Wednesday allegedly showing a warehouse in Syria stacked with captagon, an illicit drug that had transformed the country into a narco-state under former President Bashar al-Assad's rule. The large warehouse was reportedly located at the headquarters of a military division near Damascus that was commanded by Assad's brother Maher. CNN is unable immediately to verify the location. A voice commenting over the video says that it is "one of the largest warehouse facilities of captagon manufacturing of pills." Piles of pills are seen on the floor along with drug-making equipment. READ MORE: Inside Syria's notorious 'slaughterhouse' prison A social media video surfaced Wednesday allegedly showing a warehouse in Syria stacked with captagon. (Supplied) If confirmed, the discovery would support claims by the United States and others that the Assad regime had been involved in actively exporting the drug. Captagon has become a significant social problem in neighbouring Arab nations and spurred some of them to engage in talks with the former Syrian regime to curb its trafficking. It is a highly addictive drug, mostly containing amphetamine, that is sometimes described as the "poor man's cocaine". Studies over recent years have estimated the annual trade in the drug to be worth billions of dollars. It is believed to have become an economic lifeline for the Assad regime while it was under crippling American sanctions. This week, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya reported the discovery of thousands of captagon pills at the Mazzeh airbase south of Damascus. The purported discovery, which CNN cannot confirm, was made at a branch of Air Force Intelligence, an arm of the Assad regime previously alleged to have been involved in the production and distribution of the drug. READ MORE: Teenager cornered and stabbed by carload of people while walking on Melbourne road Last year, the US Treasury sanctioned a number of Syrians closely associated with the Assad regime for their alleged involvement captagon trade. "The Syrian regime and its allies have increasingly embraced the production and trafficking of captagon to generate hard currency, estimated by some to be in the billions of dollars," the Treasury said. Among those sanctioned were two cousins of Bashar al Assad and Khalid Qaddour, a close associate of Maher al-Assad who was described as a "key drug producer and facilitator" of captagon production in Syria. On Sunday, after arriving in Damascus, the leader of the forces that overthrew the regime – Mohammad al Jolani – said Syria had become "the world's leading source of captagon. But today, Syria is being purified by the grace of God almighty". In 2023, the Biden administration drew up a strategy to combat the captagon trade, saying that the vast majority was "produced by local Syrian factions linked to the Assad regime and Hezbollah" and that "large quantities of these captagon pills are shipped from Syrian ports such as Latakia or smuggled across the Jordanian and Iraqi borders". READ MORE: When are ATARs released and how do I access them? Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (Getty) Leveraging the captagon trade According to a report earlier this year by the Carnegie Endowment, the Assad regime and its allies had "leveraged captagon trafficking as a means of exerting pressure on the Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia, to reintegrate Syria into the Arab world." It said production of the drug was "intertwined with the interests of powerful interest groups in Syria, including senior members of the leadership." The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported last year that "the main departing area for captagon shipments" continued to be in Syria and Lebanon, "with destinations in the Gulf Arab countries reached either directly by land or sea, or indirectly with shipments through other regions." READ MORE:  Teen walking in Melbourne cornered and stabbed by carload of people The UNODC also reported that the largest seizures of the drug – some two-thirds of the total – had been made in Saudi Arabia. CNN has previously reported on the widespread use of the drug in the kingdom. In 2022, the Saudi ambassador in Beirut reported that the authorities in the kingdom had confiscated 700 million tablets smuggled from Lebanon since 2014. Several studies estimate the trade in captagon to have surged over the last decade. The Middle East Institute reported that in 2021, nearly $USD6 billion ($9.41 billion) of Syria-made captagon was seized abroad, and in April 2022 alone, 25 million captagon pills were intercepted in neighboring countries, worth some $USD500 million ($784 million). DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .

CLEVLEAND (AP) — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. And deeper meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent following last season. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stick with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. There were other offers. None of them matched what he already had in Cleveland. “It's the relationships,” Bieber said on a Zoom call. "The development staff. The coaching staff. My teammates. Having continuity and familiarity in those realms I feel like can prove beneficial not only to me but my family and everybody really involved. "That was big for me to feel confident in my rehab where I’m at right now. Nobody knows me as well as Cleveland does and vice versa, so I’m happy to be continuing with them." Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract . The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. Not long ago, it seemed as if Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts over seven seasons for Cleveland, was determined to continue his career elsewhere. He had turned down previous long-term offers in the past from the Guardians, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. And while a setback, the injury and surgery helped Bieber realize that he was already in the perfect place. “I had plenty of great meetings and beneficial and progressive meetings with other ball clubs,” he said. "Everybody handled everything first class all the way, and I’ve got great things to say about plenty of other organizations. “Ultimately, Cleveland made the call and I was happy to receive it and come to terms and so I’m happy with where I’m at. My family’s ecstatic. It was very clearly the right decision for not only myself, my family, and we’re excited to continue it.” Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. He's throwing three days a week at 90 feet and encouraged by his progress. As for when he'll take the mound in a game, that's currently unknown. “I’m pushing, pushing, pushing.” he said. “I feel great. I haven’t skipped a beat. When I ask for a (return) date, they don’t even give me a date. So there’s a long way to go.” A two-time All-Star, Bieber burst onto the national stage in 2019 when he was named MVP of the midsummer event in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't appear to be struggling before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. Days later, and with his season officially over, Bieber became emotional during a news conference at Progressive Field. He knew that in the short-term his life would be different and baseball, as he had always known it, would be on the backburner. Bieber said it took a while before he “digested” his new reality. He coped by immersing himself in his recovery, and Bieber found joy in watching his teammates storm through an unexpected season to a division title. Although it may not have been the same because he wasn't contributing on the field the way he always had, the hardships may have given Bieber something he needed. “It’s provided a lot of perspective,” he said. “It was a hard season this year for me and my family, but it was a great one. We’re expecting a baby and it was a season full of growth and I’m very excited to continue that into 2025.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB