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f 99 bet After Canada, Australia may also fall out of favour with Indian students as it debates a bill proposing to cap foreign student intake, many study abroad consultants said even as some downplayed the likely impact of the bill. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results Reactions to the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 are mixed within Australia's international education sector and among consultants. Many predict consequences similar to Canada's experience after it recently paused fast-track visas amid diplomatic tensions with India, especially as Indian students enjoy a red-carpet welcome in the US and Europe. The proposed cap is already altering the landscape for Indian students with more looking at options within the country as well as Europe and the US, they said. "It appears that there is already a shift in students applying abroad and this is borne out by the observed trend that applications for admissions in Indian institutions have increased by 20-30%," said Naveen Chopra, founder of TC Global. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) ET Bureau Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, said there is a growing sense of uncertainty about Australia. "After last year's COE (Confirmation of Enrolment) cancellations, stricter GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) processes, and rising housing costs in Australia, students and parents are becoming cautious," he said. "Smart students planning for 2025 are already keeping backup options ready. Nobody wants last-minute surprises anymore." 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"America has emerged as the clear winner here-for the first time, India has overtaken China as their largest source of international students," Jain said. Germany and Ireland are also gaining popularity for their affordability and quality. Manisha Zaveri, joint managing director of Career Mosaic, said Australia's proposed cap could lead to a decline in Indian student numbers, reminiscent of pandemic-era lows. "This policy disproportionately impacts students in high-demand fields like IT, engineering, and healthcare - areas where Indian students traditionally excel," she said. "Institutions in metropolitan hubs, which already operate at or near full capacity, may face the greatest impact, potentially leading to heightened competition and restricted access for postgraduate applicants." Zaveri also observes a notable shift in interest. "We've observed 35% growth in inquiries for European countries, reflecting shifting preferences," she said. Chopra of TC Global agreed that Indian students heading to Australia will drop in the short term, not because of a lack of demand but because of the barriers being erected. He anticipates that within 12 to 18 months, economic demand and pressures from corporates and universities will reverse these policies because "in implementing these policies, the university sector will suffer tremendously as they are heavily reliant on international student fees" and Indian students form one of the largest cohorts. You Might Also Like: Australia’s international student caps likely to be blocked You Might Also Like: Australia may grant new 'First Work and Holiday visa' to up to 1,000 eligible Indians Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024Patriots QB Drake Maye speaks out on alma mater UNC hiring Bill Belichick READ MORE: UNC hires Belichick as legendary NFL coach seals return to football By ERIC BLUM Published: 23:56, 11 December 2024 | Updated: 23:59, 11 December 2024 e-mail View comments The second-most well-known connection between North Carolina 's football program and the New England Patriots , Drake Maye, has spoken out about Bill Belichick taking the gridiron helm in Chapel Hill. Belichick was not with the Patriots when they drafted Maye in April from North Carolina. It is possible that in scouting for his then-existent New England future that Belichick watched tons of Maye film. Despite the two never crossing in football circles, they represent two of the few who have worn Tar Heel and Patriot blue. 'Obviously, a legendary coach with the success he had here and what a great place Chapel Hill is,' Maye said of Belichick at UNC. 'So anytime you have a legendary NFL coach going back to college, I think it's cool. It's pretty interesting for me.' Belichick will now embark at 72 on his first job in college football after nearly 50 years in the NFL. Former North Carolina and now-Patriots quarterback Maye has spoken out about Belichick Belichick has made the jump from the NFL to college for the first time with his UNC hiring Drake Maye arrives ... shares thoughts on the possibility of Bill Belichick becoming coach at his alma mater, University of North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/3w9Y0X5GxK — Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 11, 2024 Belichick heading to the college game sent shockwaves through the sport, as many thought he was trying to re-enter the NFL coaching sphere. Read More ESPN host makes crude Bill Belichick joke as he closes in on UNC job With many teams likely not giving Belichick the kind of managerial control he had in 24 seasons with the Patriots, he heads to Chapel Hill, where he will have that level of power. Belichick will show quickly how much sway he has in recruiting, as college football's signing period wraps in February. North Carolina had been losing plenty of talent to the transfer portal and has four-star quarterback recruit Bryce Baker unsigned. Bringing Baker officially into the fold and would be the first encouraging sign for arguably the best NFL coach of all time in a different environment. Bill Belichick North Carolina Share or comment on this article: Patriots QB Drake Maye speaks out on alma mater UNC hiring Bill Belichick e-mail Add commentNFL fans will gobble up as much football as they can this weekend, but some of it could be hard to digest. This Thanksgiving, we’re “talking turkey” about some of the less palatable aspects of the 2024 season. New York Giants uniforms | "Century Red" To commemorate their 100th season, New York unveiled "Century Red" throwback uniforms for their home opener against the Vikings in Week 1. Unfortunately, the Giants failed to score a touchdown in the game, losing to Minnesota 28-6. The Giants have announced that they will be wearing their "century red" uniforms for their Week 1 opener against the Vikings at MetLife Stadium pic.twitter.com/WnGPq9gHkY Unfazed, New York wore them again against Washington in Week 9, falling to the Commanders 27-22 in what turned out to be quarterback Daniel Jones’ next-to-last game with New York. Giants fans weren’t too fond of the team’s retro-look and given the team’s 2-9 record, shouldn’t expect to see those uniforms any time soon. Jerry Jones | Owner | Dallas Cowboys Jones vowed the Cowboys would be “all-in” for 2024. He proceeded to flat-out ignore a running game that’s now the league’s second-worst, engaged in protracted contract drama with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and overall produced an underwhelming offseason. Later, he took issue with being questioned about the team’s roster and threatened to fire a pair of radio hosts after a 47-9 home loss to the Lions. Finally, with the running game still in shambles and the team quickly falling out of playoff contention, Jones dealt a fourth-round pick to Carolina for Jonathan Mingo, a wide receiver with no career touchdowns and one catch for eight yards since joining the team. Jones has always been a loose cannon, but he’s been more caricature than character lately. Aaron Rodgers | QB | New York Jets Jets fans couldn’t wait to get Rodgers back on the field after he tore his Achilles four snaps into the 2023 season, but now most can’t wait to get him off the field. Rodgers’ current 88.9 quarterback rating is his worst mark as a starter, tied with Broncos rookie Bo Nix and below well-traveled veterans like Minnesota’s Sam Darnold (101.7) and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield (104.1). Thanks to a series of nagging injuries, Rodgers looks nothing like the player that won four MVP awards as a Packer. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport , New York knows little about his injuries because he refuses to get treated. No wonder owner Woody Johnson lobbied for Rodgers’ benching before cutting ties with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, something that could still happen before next week’s game against the Seahawks. George Pickens | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers Per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert , Hail Mary passes have been successful in just over 8% of plays since 2009. Those odds aren’t good and they get even worse when the wide receiver doesn’t look for the ball and attempts to throw the defender to the ground by his facemask. The @Browns knock it down for the win! pic.twitter.com/fhz53gmwDc That’s exactly what Pittsburgh’s George Pickens did to Cleveland’s Greg Newsome II on the final play of “Thursday Night Football” last week, a game the Browns won 24-19. Pickens appeared to be in good position to make a catch had he not engaged with Newsome. Despite the loss, Pittsburgh remains in first place in the AFC North. But had Pickens made the catch, the Steelers (8-3) would have a game in hand over the (8-4) Ravens. He’ll need to do better on the road against a desperate Bengals team in Week 13.

(Image: Private Media) “As we have seen in the past, bad policy design leads to bad outcomes, which is why it’s important that we get these reforms right,” a spokesman for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told the Australian Financial Review over the weekend . He was talking about the government’s promised gambling advertising reforms, which have stalled for nearly a year and a half. But Rowland hasn’t appeared to feel the same scrutiny is warranted when it comes to her proposed bill to ban under-16s from accessing social media. On every level, the two bills make for an interesting contrast in just how much time, evidence and scrutiny good policy needs. Time Labor gave the public one day to weigh in on teen social media ban. It got 15,000 responses Read More Teen social media ban: The confirmation of a delay on gambling reform came days before the first and only hearing of the snap inquiry into the bill for a social media ban for under-16s, allowing three hours to hear from 12 witnesses. The public was only given one day for submissions — which didn’t stop 15,000 of them flooding in . This followed a previous inquiry into social media use, which delivered its report earlier this month. The report did not recommend an age-based social media ban . Gambling advertising reform: The standing committee on social and legal policy affairs adopted an inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on “problem gamblers” on September 15, 2022, following a referral from Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth (a month later it was amended to change the gambling lobby’s favourite term to “those experiencing gambling harm”). There was almost two months during which the public could make submissions; 161 were received. After more than six months and 13 public hearings, the committee delivered its report in June 2023 . It unanimously recommended, among other things, “a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling, to be introduced in four phases, over three years, commencing immediately”. No doubt extremely keen to get that policy design absolutely right, the government sat on those recommendations for more than a year , widely consulting with the industry before proposing a watered-down set of regulations. Expertise Australia’s gambling mates cost us billions Read More Teen social media ban : Macquarie University adjunct professor and clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein — who has long argued that social media contributes to anxiety disorders in the young — told Monday’s inquiry that there were “no” benefits for social media and plenty of evidence of the harms. The Office of Impact Analysis produced an analysis in support of a social media ban. The research it cited comprised two documents : A study whose co-author told Crikey that its findings do not support the case for a teen social media ban. “I think they have misunderstood the purpose and findings of our research,” University of Oxford professor of human behaviour and technology Andrew Przybylski told Crikey . A section from the US surgeon general’s advisory on social media and youth mental health. Which is based on the same “misunderstood” study. Gambling advertising reform : Apart from the intervention of former prime ministers , state premiers and Labor backbenchers , a raft of public health experts made submissions or otherwise put their name to recommending a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising. These included: Professor of public health at Deakin University Samantha Thomas Associate Professor Charles Livingstone from Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Addiction treatment and research organisation Turning Point Former president of the Australian Health Promotion Association Gemma Crawford First Nations senior research fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research Dr Beau Jayde Cubillo Co-CEO of Financial Counselling Australia Dr Domenique Meyrick Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray Anglicare CEO Simon Miller Director of health promotion at the George Institute for Global Health Professor Simone Pettigrew, And many, many others . Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. People are also reading... Sheriff: 1 arrested, 1 wanted after Statesville man strangled, robbed Lake Norman residents voice concerns with Marshall Steam Station changes Iredell County bridge to close for $1.2 replacement project Basketball transfer Patterson back home at West Iredell to 'bring in some wins' Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams making furniture in Alexander County again Baseball league cries foul as Iredell plans to charge to use Jennings Park fields MerMade: Workspace opens in Statesville, caters to artists, crafters Statesville embraces underdog role in rematch with defending champ Hickory Statesville falls to Hickory, Mooresville tops NW Guilford in football playoffs Mooresville's Farmer, Graham picked to play in Shrine Bowl With supermajority in NC House gone, Iredell's Republican lawmakers talk changes, challenges Statesville sweeps varsity doubleheader with South Iredell; Shehan reaches 1,000 points in Lake Norman win Historian, writer Bill Moose subject of Iredell County Historical Society event Monday West Iredell starts season strong with win over Bunker Hill Statesville Police Department welcomes first police attorney, Stephanie Adkins FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday afternoon. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. ___ Special Counsel Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump’s inauguration, according to The New York Times. 12 political cartoons size up Donald Trump's Cabinet picks Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.None

Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters’ own verdict. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities ... and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors’ request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump’s lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.Princely Umanmielen’s return to the Swamp ends with a loss and a police escort

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quisitive Technology Solutions Inc. ("Quisitive” or the "Company”) (TSXV: QUIS, OTCQX: QUISF), a premier Microsoft Cloud and AI solutions provider, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. Management Commentary "Our Cloud business maintained stability as we experienced modest sequential growth and saw an expanding pipeline of AI-driven customer engagements,” said Quisitive CEO Mike Reinhart. "The hiring process of specialized staff from Microsoft's investment in our Blackbelt Team has been completed and will enhance our ability to further establish a strong pipeline of customer opportunities. We have also developed new IP for our AI Innovation Center, designed for customers in the Azure environment to accelerate their AI use case testing and to facilitate successful custom AI deployments. Looking ahead to the new year, we remain committed to further investing in our sales engine in alignment with Microsoft, with early 2025 positioned as a key momentum-building phase to drive growth in the latter part of the year.” Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results The Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and related management's discussion and analysis will be posted on the Company's website and on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com on November 25, 2024 subject to completion of the interim review by the Company's external auditors. All figures are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Financial highlights include: Quisitive is providing the following guidance for fiscal year 2024: Quisitive management will hold a conference call today (November 25, 2024) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results. Company CEO Mike Reinhart and CFO Scott Meriwether will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Toll Free dial-in: 1-877-704-4453 International dial-in: 1-201-389-0920 Webcast Link: Here Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time today and will expire after Monday, December 9, 2024. Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921 International replay number: 1-412-317-6671 Replay ID: 13750196 For additional information, please visit the Investor Relations section of Quisitive's website at: https://quisitive.com/investor-relations/ . The following tables summarize results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023: About Quisitive: Quisitive Investor Contact Matt Glover and John Yi Gateway Group [email protected] 949-574-3860 Tami Anders Chief of Staff [email protected] 972.573.0995 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA Financial Measures and Adjusted EBITDA There are measures included in this news release that do not have a standardized meaning under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures and metrics presented by other publicly traded companies. The Company includes these measures because it believes certain investors use these measures and metrics as a means of assessing financial performance. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is calculated as net earnings before finance costs (net of finance income), income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization of intangibles) is a non-GAAP financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We prepare and release quarterly unaudited and annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial information, used to evaluate our performance, in this and other earnings releases and investor conference calls as a complement to results provided in accordance with IFRS. We believe that current shareholders and potential investors in the Company use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA, in making investment decisions about the Company and measuring our operational results. The term "Adjusted EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before certain charges that management considers to be non-operating expenses and which consist of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes), changes in fair value of derivatives, transaction and acquisition-related expenses, US payroll protection plan loan forgiveness, and earn-out settlement losses. Management considers these non-operating expenses to be outside the scope of Quisitive' ongoing operations and the related expenses are not used by management to measure operations. Accordingly, these expenses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, which we reference to both measure our operations and as a basis of comparison of our operations from period-to-period. Management believes that investors and financial analysts measure our business on the same basis, and we are providing the Adjusted EBITDA financial metric to assist in this evaluation and to provide a higher level of transparency into how we measure our own business. However, Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with IFRS or other non-GAAP measures that may be used by other companies, such as EBITDA. The use of Adjusted EBITDA does have limitations as, some investors may consider these charges and expenses as a recurring part of operations rather than expenses that are not part of operations. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information” and "forward-looking statements” (collectively, "forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Quisitive and its business. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects”, or "does not expect”, "is expected”, "anticipates” or "does not anticipate”, "plans”, "budget”, "scheduled”, "forecasts”, "estimates”, "believes” or "intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may” or "could, "would”, "might” or "will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the future growth potential of the Company and its cloud solutions business and AI offerings; the financial outlook of the Company, including growth projections, capital allocation and cost savings; potential for growth and expectations regarding the Company's ability to capitalize on the expanding opportunities emerging from AI advancements. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; the ability to realize on cost saving measures; the Company's limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the technology industry; unproven markets for the Company's product offerings; lack of regulation and customer protection; the need for the Company to manage its future strategic plans; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; foreign currency trading risks; use and storage of personal information and compliance with privacy laws; use of the Company's services for improper or illegal purposes; global economic and financial market conditions; uninsurable risks; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; and those factors described under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated May 23, 2023 available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.LILLEY UNLEASHED: Pro-Hamas riots in Montreal and antisemite sit-in in Toronto despicable

Exiled MP’s $300k defamation win

TikTok is challenging the federal government’s order to shut down its operations in Canada. The company filed in documents in Federal Court in Vancouver on Thursday. The government ordered the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business in November after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform. That means TikTok must "wind down" its operations in Canada, though the app will continue to be available to Canadians. TikTok wants the court to overturn the government’s order and to place a pause on the order while the court hears the case. It is claiming the minister's decision was "unreasonable" and "driven by improper purposes." The review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to harm national security. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement at the time the government was taking action to address "specific national security risks," though it didn’t specify what those risks were. TikTok’s filing says Champagne "failed to engage with TikTok Canada on the purported substance of the concerns that led to the (order.)" The company argues the government ordered "measures that bear no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies." It says the reasons for the order "are unintelligible, fail to reveal a rational chain of analysis and are rife with logical fallacies." The company's law firm, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, declined to comment, while Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the order would "eliminate the jobs and livelihoods of our hundreds of dedicated local employees — who support the community of more than 14 million monthly Canadian users on TikTok, including businesses, advertisers, creators and initiatives developed especially for Canada." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Darryl Greer and Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian PressEnvironment Secretary Steve Reed has been asked to review “incompetence” at the Met Office that led to a “clear underestimation” of the impact of Storm Bert. Labour MP for Cardiff West, Alex Barros-Curtis, said warnings should have been “amber or red”, as Mr Reed told MPs that more flooding is “likely”. Hundreds of homes were left under water, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across parts of the UK. More than 130 flood warnings and 160 alerts remained in place across the UK on Monday. In the Commons on Monday, Mr Barros-Curtis asked: “Can I ask that the Secretary of State speak to his Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) colleagues to carefully look into the role of the Met Office here? “It is clear that their response was slow and that there was a clear underestimation of the impact of Storm Bert. “They put it yellow rather than amber or red. Our constituents have been let down by this incompetence before, and it cannot keep happening.” Mr Reed said: “In most parts of the countries that were affected, warnings were given with adequate time for people to prepare and I would encourage people to sign up on the Defra website, or the Environment Agency website for warnings and alerts if they live in an area that could be affected by flooding. “I’m aware of the particular concern that he mentions regarding the Met Office, and I will indeed be speaking to colleagues in DSIT as they review the circumstances of that and look at how the situation can be improved for future events of this kind.” A Met Office spokesperson said: “Storm Bert was well forecast, with first signs of disruptive weather signalled a week ahead and the first warnings issued on Wednesday November 20. “A number of warnings were in place ahead of the system reaching the UK. “We work closely with partners to assess the potential risks of extreme weather and warnings covering Wales highlighted the potential for homes and businesses to flood with fast flowing or deep floodwater possible, causing a danger to life. “Observed rainfall totals were broadly in line with the forecast and the severe weather warnings issued in advance.” During his update to the House, the Environment Secretary said that more flooding this week is “likely” but its impact “should be less severe” than has been seen. He said: “Around 28,000 properties are being protected by Environment Agency flood defences. “Unfortunately, an estimated 107 properties have flooded across England, principally from river and surface water flooding.” He added: “The Environment Agency and local responders have also been busy protecting properties elsewhere in England, including flooding from the River Teme in Tenbury Wells where around 40 properties have flooded. “The river has now peaked and local responders will be focusing on the lower reaches of rivers over the next few days.” He further stated: “Further flooding is sadly likely over the next few days as water levels rise in slower flowing rivers such as the Severn and the Ouse. “The Environment Agency anticipates that any impacts should be less severe than we have seen in recent days.” Mr Reed also described the flood defences they inherited from the previous government as being “in the worst condition on record following years of underinvestment”. He added: “Over 3,000 of our key flood defences are below an acceptable standard. “That is why we are investing £2.4 billion over the next two years to build and maintain flood defences.” Elsewhere in the session, Labour MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana, was among the MPs to call for a legal duty on fire services to respond to flooding. She said: “I want to express my solidarity and thanks to all of our emergency services, including firefighters on the front line. “Extreme weather events are on the rise and becoming ever more frequent due to climate change, highlighting the urgent need for proper funding and resources. “England is the only part of the UK without a statutory duty for flooding, leaving fire services underfunded and under-resourced to respond effectively. This must change, as the FBU (Fire Brigades Union) has long called for.” “When will the Government finally provide a statutory duty for Fire and Rescue authorities to respond to flooding incidents in England?” Mr Reed replied: “The fire and rescue authorities have the powers to intervene, but she’s quite right to point out there’s not a duty, and officials in my department, working with the Home Office, will review that to see that that remains appropriate.” Conservative MP for Mid Buckinghamshire Greg Smith said some communities in his constituency are flooding “for the first time in decades” as he accused the Government of wanting to “concrete over the countryside”. He said: “That is a result of some of the big infrastructure we are seeing being built, particularly HS2 where they will concrete over a field completely, it seems, unaware that that will have a knock-on effect to farmland next door. “So will the Secretary of State commit to working with the Transport Secretary (Louise Haigh) and I also suggest the Deputy Prime Minister (Angela Rayner) given their plans to concrete over the countryside to ensure that where construction takes place proper, and I really mean proper, flood mitigation measures are put into place.” Mr Reed replied: “This needs to operate across Government, and we will have those conversations and ensure that measures are put in place to support communities as much as is possible from the more severe weather events that we’re seeing as a result of climate change.”NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana civil court judge on Monday halted state agencies' plans to forcibly clear homeless encampments in New Orleans. Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Ethel Julien issued a temporary restraining order blocking state police and two other agencies from evicting homeless people from their encampments in New Orleans or seizing their property without following city laws and due process. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry had called earlier this month for the City of New Orleans to remove a large encampment before Thanksgiving and warned he would intervene if the city did not comply. “If a judge believes that people have a right to be on whatever public space they choose, maybe that judge should have them move into her chambers and courtroom," Landry said after the judge issued the restraining order Monday. Louisiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Katharine Stegall said the agency’s legal team and the state Attorney General’s Office are reviewing the order. State police have “promptly halted activities” and are “complying with the restrictions” of the order, Stegall said. Landry and New Orleans officials have repeatedly clashed over how to address the issue of homelessness in the city. New Orleans City Councilmember Lesli Harris said Monday that directing more resources towards moving homeless people into stable housing was “infinitely more effective than punitive sweeps” of encampments. “Coordination between the government and service providers on the housing of people is imperative, and continuously moving people only makes it that much harder to house them,” Harris said. But the governor has pushed to clear homeless encampments. In late October, Louisiana State Police, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Department of Transportation and Development converged on a homeless encampment under a highway to remove and relocate dozens of people prior to pop star Taylor Swift’s concerts in the nearby Superdome. Some people who had been away at the time of the clearances returned to the area to find they had lost their personal property including family heirlooms, identification documents and medication, according to testimony in court documents. City officials and advocates for homeless people decried the evictions and said they disrupted ongoing efforts to secure long-term housing for these individuals because they became harder to locate. A judge later granted a temporary restraining order preventing more clearances but declined to extend it beyond early November after lawyers representing the state police indicated in court that removals tied to the Taylor Swift concerts had ceased. But on Friday, homeless people began receiving flyers from state police officers ordering them to leave their encampments within 24 hours, according to a motion for relief filed on behalf of two homeless plaintiffs by the Southern Poverty Law Center and two other legal groups. The planned sweeps preceded the Bayou Classic football game on Saturday between Southern University and Grambling State University at the Superdome. “Your presence is considered a violation,” the flyers stated, according to the motion for relief. However, they were halted by the new temporary restraining order. On Dec. 3, the judge is scheduled to deliberate on whether to issue a preliminary injunction against the three state agencies. “The vulnerable people with disabilities who make up the vast majority of people living in the street deserve to be treated with sensitivity and compassion,” said Joe Heeren-Mueller, director of community engagement for Unity of Greater New Orleans, a homeless outreach organization. There are about 1,450 homeless people in New Orleans and neighboring Jefferson Parish, according to a January survey by the nonprofit Unity of Greater New Orleans. The city has committed to securing housing for these individuals by the end of 2025. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck explains trick play call on game-defining drive in Penn State loss

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NEW YORK (AP) — The outgoing head of the nation’s top public health agency urged the next administration to maintain its focus and funding to keep Americans safe from emerging health threats. “We need to continue to do our global work at CDC to make sure we are stopping outbreaks at their source,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. “We need to keep that funding up. We need to keep the expertise up. We need to keep the diplomacy up.” Cohen, 46, will be leaving office in January after about 18 months in the job. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday night said he picked Dave Weldon , a former Congressman from Florida, to be the agency’s next chief. Cohen said she hasn’t met Weldon and doesn’t know him. She previously voiced concern about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine advocate and CDC critic nominated to oversee all federal public health agencies . The CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. The staff is heavy with scientists — 60% have master’s degrees or doctorates. The last eight years have been perhaps the most difficult in the agency's history. The CDC once enjoyed a sterling international reputation for its expertise on infectious diseases and other causes of illness and death. But trust in the agency fell because of missteps during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, political attacks and resistance to infection-prevention measures like wearing masks and getting vaccinated. The CDC has four political appointees, out of about 13,000 employees. The rest serve no matter who is in the White House, with civil service protections against efforts to fire them for political reasons. Trump said during the campaign that he wants to convert many federal agency positions into political appointments, meaning those employees could be hired and fired by whoever wins the election. There’s also a proposal to split the agency in two: one to track disease data, and another focused on public health but with a limited ability to make policy recommendations. And then there’s a current budget proposal in Congress that would cut the agency’s funding by 22%. It would also eliminate the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses, suicides and and shooting deaths. Cohen said there’s reason to be proud of the agency’s work in recent years. The CDC has built partnerships to improve the availability of testing for different infections and to watch for signs of disease outbreaks by monitoring wastewater . There are emerging threats, as always, but no new, full-fledged public health emergencies, she said. The day after the Nov. 5 election, Cohen emailed CDC employees to urge them to keep going. “While the world may feel different with changes ahead — our mission has not changed,” she wrote. She said she’s not aware of any wave of worried CDC scientists heading for the doors because of the election results. “There is a difference between campaigning and governing,” she said. “I want to go into this in a way that we’re passing the baton.” Cohen said she doesn’t know what she’ll do next, other than spend time with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina, where her family maintained its residence while she ran the agency. Next year, for the first time, the CDC director will be subject to Senate confirmation, which could make for a gap before Trump's pick takes the helm. CDC Deputy Director Dr. Debra Houry has been assigned to help manage the transition. Aside from administration transition, the CDC has to face several looming threats. Officials this month confirmed the first U.S. case of a new form of mpox that was first seen in eastern Congo. There’s also the ongoing stream of bird flu cases , most of them mild illnesses seen in farmworkers who were in direct contact with infected cows or chickens. CDC officials say they believe the risk to the public remains low and that there’s no evidence it’s been spreading between people. “I don’t think we’re yet at a turning place. But does that mean it couldn’t change tomorrow? It could,” she said. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

NoneFirefighters are expected to be at the scene of a large truck fire in Thurgoona for several hours, with one trailer and the prime mover destroyed. or signup to continue reading Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Stewart Alexander said the B-double was carrying tissue paper or toilet tissue, which caught alight at 7.25am on Friday. The rear trailer was saved, but the front trailer and the prime mover were engulfed. About 30 firefighters are at the scene of the November 22 blaze, with northbound traffic backed up from the Borella Road exit to the scene near the Thurgoona Drive exit. "It was well alight when firefighters arrived, both the prime mover and the A-trailer" he said. "Fortunately due to some very good firefighting, the B-trailer has been saved. "We will be here for several hours at least," he said. "Given the contents, that will have to be pulled out, separated and extinguished, then the prime mover and A-trailer will have to be moved. "Hopefully the B-trailer will be released soon. "Both northbound lanes have diversions in place." The driver wasn't hurt during the incident and the cause of the blaze is unclear. "It will be a slow task to get the truck off the freeway," Superintendent Alexander said. "The wetter the load gets the more compact it gets. "It will need to be pulled apart and we're mindful of the dry grass next to the freeway. "We don't want any embers to get into the bushland in the rail corridor." A truck has caught fire on the Hume Highway, closing the northbound lanes near Thurgoona. The incident began about 7.30am near Racecourse Road, with emergency services still on the scene. Traffic diversions have been put in place. Drivers are advised to use Racecourse Road, Dallinger Road, Catherine Crescent and Wagga Road to rejoin the Hume Highway. "This diversion is suitable for all vehicles up to 26-metre B-doubles," Live Traffic NSW said. In other news, on Thursday, November 21. Former full-time Albury player was selected by Sydney at No. 41 while . DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementWarren Buffett gives away another $1.1 bil and plans for distributing his $147 bil fortune after his deathQatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has successfully hosted a blood donation drive at its headquarters, in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The initiative, which saw the participation of QIB employees, highlighted the bank’s ongoing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its dedication to supporting healthcare services in Qatar. Held as part of QIB’s CSR programme, the drive received a high response from employees across various departments, reflecting the bank’s values of community support and solidarity. The donations will contribute to replenishing the HMC Blood Bank reserves, ensuring that vital blood supplies remain available to patients in need across the country. QIB organises a series of campaigns to highlight the significance of blood donation. These initiatives emphasize the critical need for blood while acknowledging the pivotal role donors play in sustaining the blood bank reserves at HMC. Mashaal Abdulaziz al-Derham, assistant general manager, head of Corporate Communications & Quality Assurance at QIB, said: “We appreciate our colleagues’ dedication to supporting this initiative and for coming together for a cause that makes a difference in people’s lives. “QIB’s employees’ commitment to donating blood represents the values we hold as an organisation. We would like to thank the HMC team for their expertise and collaboration in facilitating this initiative. Together, we continue to promote health and community well-being across Qatar.” QIB is dedicated to CSR initiatives focused on fostering positive transformations within both the organization and the local society. The bank’s efforts are aligned with and supportive of the four primary pillars outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030. For more information about QIB’s CSR initiatives, visit www.qib.com.qa. Related Story QCAA holds training programme for 3rd batch of Egyptian air traffic controllers QNL explores strategies to support language development among children

Formula 1 expands grid for new American team in 2026Luigi Mangione could be facing an uphill legal battle as a suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson due to the mounting evidence against him, according to a Baltimore attorney with ties to the family. A retrieved firearm and alleged manifesto contribute to what criminal defense attorney Tomas J. Maronick describes as “very strong” evidence against Mangione. Maronick, who runs the Baltimore firm Maronick Law LLC, hosted the "Tom Moore Show," a weekend politics, legal issues and entertainment program, for the Mangione family-owned WCBM-AM radio station for 20 years from 2003 until 2023. During that time, Maronick knew several members of the family, including patriarch Nick Mangione Sr., and Maryland delegate Nino Mangione, who was the web content director at the time. While Maronick does not recall if he met Luigi Mangione, he said he was shocked when he heard the news about the shooting. “When I saw the name, and they said ‘Mangione,’ I said, ‘This can’t be,’” Maronick said. “’This can’t be the same family I worked with for 20 years.’ It turns out it was. I was shocked like anyone else. It’s the last family name you would suspect being associated with something like this.” New York prosecutors have charged Mangione with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was denied bail during a court appearance Tuesday in Pennsylvania. Mangione is also fighting extradition and will remain at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution until prosecutors obtain a governor’s warrant to take him back to New York to face charges. Maronick acknowledged that Mangione faces a tough legal battle to be cleared of the charges. In addition, multiple reports surfaced Wednesday stating that Mangione’s fingerprints were found at the scene of the shooting. “The evidence in this case looks very strong,” Maronick said. “You have a firearm that matches the kind that appears to have been used in the commission of the crime in his possession. You have a manifesto that appears to provide a motive for this. Then, you have a detachment from the family.” Maronick expects that Mangione’s defense attorney might request a competency evaluation, which is mental health assessment to determine whether a criminal defendant is able to understand and participate in the legal process, after Mangione had an outburst while being led by police for an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania, yelling to reporters: “This is completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience.” Bradley S. Shepherd, a defense attorney with Posner & Cord LLC in Maryland, said this case has already been sensationalized in the media with a public investigation. The outburst only added to the controversy. “The most basic piece of advice that any criminal defense attorney can give to a client or a prospective client is don’t say anything to the police or press or anyone,” Shepherd said. University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law professor Doug Colbert does not think a competency hearing will be needed due to Mangione’s educational background and academic prowess. Colbert said Mangione likely understands the gravity of the case against him. Another challenge facing both defense attorneys and prosecutors is finding an unbiased jury pool. The current state of the health care industry with increased prices and denied care has polarized society, underscored by the support of Mangione on social media. “The jury pool is going to be one where you really ask questions about health care,” Maronick said. “You want to ask what people’s views are and if they have ever been denied a claim. What is their experience with health care companies? Do they have a favorable impression? Have they had bad experiences? Have they had claims denied? Both sides are going to want to have those questions asked.” Shepherd is confident the system will find an effective jury. He noted that while the criminal trial of President-elect Donald Trump earlier this year was difficult to find able jurors and the selection lasted a week, the court was able to effectively complete the process. “To my knowledge, in the history of United States jurisprudence, we have never failed to find 12 jurors who are fit for the job,” Shepherd said. “I’d be interested to read a book where that was not the case.” The Mangione case has reached far beyond Maryland and is now an international story. Maronick has done interviews about the case with the BBC, which broadcasts across Europe. As a result, he said he doesn’t see any reason a judge would move the case from New York . “I don’t think a motion to change venues is going to do much when it does get to New York because this is a national, and I would even say an international, case,” Maronick said. “It’s gotten so much publicity. I don’t think you would have a better or worse jury somewhere else. It’s been reported everywhere.” However, according to Maronick, the crimes does not tarnish the reputation of the Mangione family. “It’s such an esteemed, classy family,” Maronick said. “They are people who were not only incredibly supportive of my career at WCBM, but everyone else, with charity and how they donated money and have their name on the aquatic center at Loyola University Maryland.” ©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

After a week of rest, the Morningside University and Northwestern College football teams will now gear up for its respective second round matchups in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The No. 6 seeded Mustangs (10-1) are set to host No. 12 MidAmerica Nazarene (9-1), noon Saturday at Elwood Olsen Stadium. The No. 11 Red Raiders will travel to Butte, Montana, to take on No. 8 Montana Tech (9-2). Morningside, the reigning Great Plains Athletic Conference champions, enter its matchup with the Pioneers on a 10-game winning streak led by its explosive offense and dominant defense. Morningside's Max Hough (middle) tries to evade Dordt's Dan Jungling (right) during a GPAC game at Open Space Park in Sioux Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Ryan Timmerman, Sioux City Journal The Pioneers had an impressive regular season, headlined by a 48-47 victory over at the time No. 7 Benedictine, who defeated Morningside 48-45 in its season opener. The Mustangs went undefeated in conference play to pick up their 14th GPAC title under conference coach of the year Steve Ryan. Their high-flying offense is led by conference offensive player of the year, quarterback Zack Chevalier, who led the NAIA in passing yards and passing touchdowns in the regular season. Northwestern is led by its stifling defense, stonewalled by conference defensive player of the year, linebacker Parker Fryar. The Red Raiders will have their toughest matchup of the season, going up against a team that opened the season with a 29-22 win against at the time No. 3 Georgetown. Montana Tech also picked up a 42-35 win over at the time No. 7 Southern Oregon in its fifth game of the season and notched another top 25 win against Carroll at the end of the regular season. The Journal’s Jared McNett shows how to download and browse the Sioux City Journal's app. Jesse Brothers(Bloomberg) — Trading in Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s flagship holding company, Grupo Elektra, remained halted as bids triggered a circuit breaker for a second straight session, stalling transactions that would slash the billionaire’s net wealth. The highest bids on Monday were around 420 pesos per share, compared with the 944.95 pesos the stock last traded at in July, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Trading is automatically halted by the Mexican stock exchange when a share falls more than 15%. Bolsa Mexicana de Valores lifted a trading ban on Elektra on Friday, four months after it was imposed following a dispute with a creditor. Salinas, Mexico’s third-richest man, has fought the resumption in trading which would see his net wealth of over $10 billion tumble. Lifting the ban “will generate irreparable damage to the company, generating instability and distortion in the markets, causing conditions contrary to the healthy uses and practices of the market and putting all investors at risk,” Elektra said in a statement Friday. It didn’t immediately comment further when contacted Monday. Elektra was removed from the country’s benchmark stock index earlier this year after a month with no trading amid the creditor dispute. That means exchange-traded fund managers like BlackRock Inc and The Vanguard Group will likely seek to unload the stock once trading does resume. BlackRock and Vanguard are the biggest current holders of Elektra after Salinas, who owns almost 80% of the shares outstanding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Salinas built his empire over the last four decades out of family businesses that included Elektra, which was founded in 1950 to assemble radios and later TVs. Today, Elektra stores offer white goods, telephones and , and include branches of Banco Azteca, which help customers’ finance purchases. Salinas also controls Mexico’s No. 2 television broadcaster, as well as closely-held cable, security and energy companies. Analysts dropped coverage of Elektra in the wake of Salinas’ 2012 battle with Mexico’s stock exchange, when it first tried to kick the stock off the benchmark IPC index due to allegations that the company was manipulating the amount of floating shares in the market. Dispute The stock trading halt was put in place in July at the request of Elektra, which warned regulators of a possible fraud. Salinas has since sued a company that lent him $110 million, using 7.2 million Elektra shares as collateral. His lawyers have alleged in a UK court that most of those shares were sold to fund the loans, and the rest pocketed by the lender. As the deadline for trading to resume approached, Elektra said last week that it had won a court order blocking the comeback. In a separate statement, it added that the exchange had decided to suspend trading for 20 business days. But the country’s securities regulator CNBV ordered the exchange to resume trading, saying it had not been informed of the ruling. An exchange spokesman confirmed the suspension had been lifted, though bids that keep triggering the exchange’s circuit breaker threshold have kept the halt in place. (Updates with context starting in first paragraph)UConn's Dan Hurley Blames 'S--ty Calls' for Loss to Memphis; Technical Foul a 'Joke'