sports fest

sports fest CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ten yards into a scramble, Patrick Mahomes could have easily slid for a first down or simply ducked out of bounds and moved on to the next play. Instead, the three-time Super Bowl MVP cut back inside and raced another 23 yards up the field, helping to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired as the Chiefs held on to beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. “At that point, yards are more important than getting out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “With three timeouts, I just tried to just cut through and Justin Watson had a great block and was able to get down the field and get out of bounds.” The game-winning drive was the 21st of Mahomes' career, and the Chiefs won a game decided in the final seconds for the fifth time this season. Eight of the Chiefs' wins have come by one-score margins. “You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I've always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said. Then he smiled and said: “But I would say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.” Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in his first game at Bank of America Stadium and ran for 60 yards — including 33 on that last-minute play — as the Chiefs (10-1) scored on six of their eight possessions. Noah Gray caught four passes for 66 yards and scored two touchdowns for the second straight week, and DeAndre Hopkins also found the end zone for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Kareem Hunt ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards. Bryce Young played well for Carolina (3-8), finishing 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown while leading the Panthers back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on Chuba Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion with 1:46 remaining. Panthers coach Dave Canales, who benched Young earlier this season for veteran Andy Dalton, said last year's No. 1 overall draft pick “absolutely” will remain the team's starting QB next week. That's a break from Canales' recent pattern of waiting a few days to name a starter. “Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities,” Canales said. “And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today.” Said Young: “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence.” Still, there is room for improvement. The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, resulting in field goals of 30, 32, 29 and 33 yards for Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. The Chiefs wasted no time setting the tone as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown strike on the third play of scrimmage for a 7-0 lead. Gray went nine games without a TD catch before hauling in two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more against the Panthers. Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes' poise but said he was concerned about his team's nine penalties for 90 yards. Moving on up Kansas City's Travis Kelce had six catches for 62 yards and moved into third place in career yards receiving by a tight end. He ranks behind only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. However, Kelce failed to find the end zone for the ninth time in 11 games this season. Brooks' debut Running back Jonathan Brooks made his NFL debut for Carolina, but the second-round pick was limited to 7 yards on two carries. Injuries Panthers: Rookie TE Ja'Tavion Sanders was taken to a hospital, where he was evaluated for a neck injury and released. He landed awkwardly on his head after making a catch near the end of the second quarter. Up next Chiefs: Host Las Vegas on Friday. Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday. COWBOYS 34, COMMANDERS 26 LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert choked back tears taking responsibility for missing the extra point that would have tied the score in the final minute. Jeremy Reaves choked back tears blaming himself for a missed assignment that led to a kickoff return touchdown. And John Bates choked back tears talking about moving forward from his costly fumble. All of those late mistakes contributed to the Washington Commanders' third consecutive loss, 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that was wholly unremarkable until fourth quarter chaos. The teams combined to score 31 points in the final four minutes, the most in an NFL game in more than a decade, and the Commanders (7-5) came out on the wrong end of it in a defeat that further endangers their playoff chances. “Any time you lose a game or you lose a game in that type of fashion, it’s very difficult and it’s tough, but it never comes down to one play,” rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels said. “There’s plays throughout the game where little things add up to big things.” There were a lot of little things. After Bates fumbled, the Cowboys (4-7) took an 11-point lead and the Commanders made a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three, Dallas' KaVonte Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. “I didn’t make the play when it was there to make, and it cost us,” said Reaves, one of the league’s top special teams players and the All-Pro pick for that two seasons ago. “No excuse, man. I’ve made that play 100 times, and I didn’t make it today and it cost us the game. It’s unacceptable. It’s solely on me. It’s going to sting for a while. It’s going to hurt.” After Seibert made a 51-yard field goal, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard TD that made it 27-26 with 21 seconds left. Coach Dan Quinn said no thought was given to going for 2 in that situation. Seibert, who missed the past two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt. “I just wasn’t striking it well,” said Seibert, who added he felt fine and did not blame a low snap for his miss. "It didn’t make a difference at all. It was on me.” Juanyeh Thomas returned the onside kick immediately after 43 yards for a touchdown to put Dallas up eight with 14 seconds left. The 31 combined points are the second most in a game since at least 2000, behind only Minnesota and Baltimore's 36 in their game Dec. 8, 2013. Cowboys-Commanders was the first game in the Super Bowl era to have two missed extra points, two kickoff return touchdowns and a blocked punt. “We got down to the end there and it was a game-situational extravaganza,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was like Yahtzee. Everything was in there." While Washington's skid continued, the Cowboys ended their losing streak at five thanks to strong play from QB Cooper Rush, a defense that forced two turnovers and, of course, special teams success. Rush was 24 of 32 for 247 yards and TD passes to Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker. “Lot of games left,” Rush said. “We’re sitting at 4-7. This is why you play them.” The Commanders have some soul-searching to do after losing as a 10 1/2-point favorite in the meeting of NFC East rivals and doing so in a way that left players so emotional. “The crazy games, I know they feel a little bit better whenever you win them,” punter and holder Tress Way said. “But that’s a tough pill to swallow.” Injuries Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game. Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was concussed on a kickoff return in the final seconds and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. ... RB Brian Robinson Jr. left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Up next Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week. VIKINGS 30, BEARS 27, OT CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo's game-ending 29-yard field goal, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears 30-27 on Sunday after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their fifth straight and fell to 5-18 in one-possession games under coach Matt Eberflus, who is 14-31 in 2 1/2 seasons. Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand, leading 27-16 with 1:56 left after Romo kicked a 26-yard field goal. But the Bears weren’t finished. Deandre Carter made up for a muffed punt that led to a touchdown in the third quarter with a 55-yard kickoff return to the 40. Williams took it from there, capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore made it 27-24 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears recovered the onside kick and Williams hit Moore over the middle for a 27-yard gain to the 30 before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal as time expired. Chicago won the coin toss, but Williams was sacked for a 12-yard loss on second down, leading to a three-and-out. The Vikings took over at the 21, and Darnold led a 10-play drive, overcoming a sack and two penalties. Darnold connected with Hockenson for a 29-yard completion that put the ball on the 9. He took a knee and then Romo nailed the winner. Darnold surpassed his previous season high of 19 touchdown passes with a 2-yarder to Addison on the first play of the second quarter, and he made it 14-7 with a 5-yard score to Jalen Nailor late in the first half. He completed 22 of 34 passes. Aaron Jones ran for 106 yards and a score for the VIkings. Williams was 32 of 47 with a 103.1 passer rating in his second straight solid performance since Thomas Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. Moore caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Allen added 86 yards receiving and the late TD. Injuries Vikings: LB Ivan Pace Jr. (hamstring) and LT Cam Robinson (foot) left in the first quarter. ... Darnold missed two plays after he was hit by Gervon Dexter Sr. on a pass play with about 6 1/2 minutes. Up next Vikings: Host Arizona next Sunday. Bears: Visit Detroit on Thanksgiving.The City of Calgary is hiring for a ton of jobs and you could make $55 an hour

LONDON, Ontario, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. (“ Aduro ” or the “ Company ”) (Nasdaq: ADUR ) (CSE: ACT ) (FSE: 9D5 ), a clean technology company using the power of chemistry to transform lower value feedstocks, like waste plastics, heavy bitumen, and renewable oils, into resources for the 21 st century, today announced that the underwriters of its underwritten U.S. public offering (the “Offering”) have partially exercised their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 100,000 common shares at the public offering price of US$4.25 per share. After giving effect to the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, the Company sold an aggregate 1,041,177 common shares for gross proceeds of approximately US$4.43 million, before deducting underwriter discounts and other related expenses. The option closing date was December 3, 2024. The common shares began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on November 7, 2024, under the ticker symbol “ADUR”. Aduro expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering for ongoing research and development costs, expenditures related to the construction of its "Next Generation Process" unit and the remainder (if any) for general corporate purposes and working capital. Craft Capital Management LLC acted as the representative of the underwriters, and D. Boral Capital LLC (formerly known as EF Hutton LLC) acted as the co-underwriter for the Offering. The common shares of the Offering referenced above were not offered to residents of Canada or persons in Canada. A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to the Offering was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (File Number: 333-280955), as amended, and was declared effective by the SEC on October 29, 2024. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from Craft Capital Management LLC by email at info@craftcm.com , by standard mail to 377 Oak St, Lower Concourse, Garden City, NY 11530, or by telephone at +1 (800) 550-8411; or from D. Boral Capital LLC (formerly known as EF Hutton LLC) by email at syndicate@dboralcapital.com , by standard mail to 590 Madison Ave 39th floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at +1 (212) 970-5150. In addition, copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering, may be obtained via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company’s securities, nor shall such securities be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any of the Company’s securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offers, solicitations or sales would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. About Aduro Clean Technologies Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Company’s HydrochemolyticTM technology relies on water as a critical agent in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into resources for the 21 st century. For further information, please contact: Abe Dyck, Investor Relations ir@adurocleantech.com +1 226 784 8889 KCSA Strategic Communications Jack Perkins, Vice President aduro@kcsa.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s current expectations. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, references to the Company’s expectations regarding its anticipated use of net proceeds from the offering. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the exercise of the over-allotment option, or factors that result in changes to the Company's anticipated use of proceeds. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 related to the public offering (SEC File No. 333-280955). Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d6aad90-88b9-478a-a82b-81c7e3e94713Planned Parenthood's Viral 'Wicked' Meme Has The Internet CringingA Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021

Shatel: Is Omaha big enough for two professional volleyball teams?

Set to host the Ravens on Christmas Day, the Houston Texans claimed wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers on Monday after Baltimore waived him last week. Thin at receiver behind star Nico Collins due to season-ending injuries to Stefon Diggs (torn ACL) and Tank Dell (torn ACL, dislocated kneecap), the Texans are hoping Johnson, 28, can provide depth at the position alongside Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III. With the Ravens, Johnson reeled in just one catch for 6 yards and received a one-game suspension for what the team said was refusing to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1. Baltimore waived him on Friday. An unrestricted free agent after this season, Johnson is joining his fourth team this calendar year after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Carolina in March and then moved from the Panthers to the Ravens in October. A third-round draft pick in 2019, Johnson had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games (all starts) for the Panthers earlier this season. In six career seasons, the 2021 Pro Bowl selection has 422 receptions for 4,726 yards and 28 TDs for the Steelers (2019-23), Panthers and Ravens. --Field Level MediaPublished 5:26 pm Monday, December 23, 2024 By Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. — Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position, has died. He was 65. Henderson died on Friday. The Athletics said Saturday they were “shocked and heartbroken by his passing,” but did not specify a cause of death. Known as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments over his nomadic 25-year career — an MVP, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series titles and a Gold Glove award. “Rickey was simply the best player I ever played with. He could change the outcome of a game in so many ways,” said Don Mattingly, Henderson’s teammate with the New York Yankees from 1985-89. “It puts a smile on my face just thinking about him. I will miss my friend.” It was stealing bases where Henderson made his name and dominated the sport like no other. He broke through with 100 steals in his first full season in the majors in 1980, topping Ty Cobb’s AL single-season record with Billy Martin’s “Billy Ball” Oakland Athletics. He barely slowed playing for nine franchises over the next two decades. He broke Lou Brock’s single-season record of 118 by stealing 130 bases in 1982 and led the league in steals for seven straight seasons and 12 overall. Henderson surpassed Brock’s career record when he stole his 939th base on May 1, 1991, for Oakland, and famously pulled third base out of the ground and showed it off to the adoring crowd before giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” Henderson finished his career with 1,406 steals. His 468-steal edge over Brock matches the margin between Brock and Jimmy Rollins, who is in 46th place with 470. “He’s the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, and I’m not sure there’s a close second,” former A’s executive Billy Beane said of Henderson. In September, Henderson insisted he would have had many more steals in his career and in the record-breaking 1982 season if rules introduced in 2023 to limit pickoff throws and increase the size of bases had overlapped with his career. “If I was playing today, I would get 162, right now, without a doubt,” he said. “Because if they had had that rule, you can only throw over there twice, you know how many times they would be throwing over there twice and they’d be going, ‘Ah, (shoot), can y’all send him to third? Give him two bases and send him to third.’ That would be me.” He even predicted how he could still be stealing more bases than the current major leaguers even 20-plus years post-retirement: “If they’re stealing 40-50 bases right now I’d lead the league.” Henderson’s accomplishment that record-breaking day in 1991 was slightly overshadowed that night when Nolan Ryan threw his record seventh career no-hitter. Henderson already had been Ryan’s 5,000th career strikeout victim, which led him to say, “If you haven’t been struck out by Nolan Ryan, you’re nobody.” That was clearly not the case for Henderson. He is also the career leader in runs scored with 2,295 and in leadoff home runs with 81, ranks second to Barry Bonds with 2,190 walks and is fourth in games played (3,081) and plate appearances (13,346). He finished his career with 3,055 hits over 25 seasons spent with Oakland, the Yankees, Toronto, San Diego, Anaheim, the New York Mets, Seattle, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He fittingly finished his career with the Dodgers at age 44 in 2003 by scoring a run in his final play on a major league field. Henderson is the third prominent baseball Hall of Famer with ties to the Bay Area who died this year, following the deaths in June of former Giants stars Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda. Henderson was the rare position player who hit from the right side and threw with his left arm — but then again, everything about Henderson was unique. He batted out of an extreme crouch, making for a tighter strike zone that contributed to his high walk total. He struck fear in opponents with his aggressive leads off first, his fingers twitching between his legs inside his batting gloves as he eyed the pitcher and the next base. Born on Christmas Day in 1958 in Chicago in the back of his parents’ Chevy, Henderson grew up in Oakland and developed into a star athlete. He played baseball, basketball and football at Oakland Tech High School and was a highly sought-after football recruit who could have played tailback at Southern California — where he likely would have eventually had the chance to run alongside football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen. But Henderson said his mother loved baseball and thought it would be the safer career in a decision that proved to be prescient. “She didn’t want her baby to get hurt,” Henderson told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2019. “I was mad, but she was smart. Overall, with the career longevity and the success I had, she made the right decision. Some of the players in football now have short careers and they can barely move around when they’re done.” Henderson was selected in the fourth round of the 1976 amateur draft by the hometown A’s and made his big league debut in 1979 with two hits — and, of course, one stolen base. He became a star for the A’s the following season and remained in Oakland through 1984 before being traded to the Yankees. Henderson was part of some talented teams in New York that never made the postseason. In 1985, he scored 146 runs in 143 games to go along with a league-leading 80 steals and 24 homers, helping start the “80-20 club” that season with Cincinnati’s Eric Davis. Henderson was traded back to Oakland in June 1989, leading to his greatest successes. He topped the AL that season with 113 runs, 126 walks and 77 steals, was named the ALCS MVP and helped lead the A’s to the World Series title in the earthquake-interrupted Bay Bridge series by sweeping the Giants. Henderson then won the AL MVP the following season for Oakland before the A’s lost the World Series to Cincinnati. “I traded Rickey Henderson twice and brought him back more times than that,” former A’s general manager Sandy Alderson said. “He was the best player I ever saw play. He did it all — hit, hit for power, stole bases, and defended — and he did it with a flair that enthused his fans and infuriated his opponents. But everyone was amused by his personality, style, and third-person references to himself. He was unique in many ways. “Rickey stories are legion, legendary, and mostly true. But behind his reputation as self-absorbed was a wonderful, kind human being who loved kids. His true character became more evident over time. Nine different teams, one unforgettable player.” Henderson set the career steals record in 1991 and then was traded two years later to Toronto, where he won his second World Series. He spent the final decade of his career bouncing around the majors and still led the AL with 66 steals and 118 walks at age 39 with Oakland in 1998. In 2017, the A’s named their playing surface “Rickey Henderson Field” at the Oakland Coliseum in his honor. “When you’re old and grey, sitting around with your buds talking about your career in baseball, you are going to talk about Rickey,” said Ron Guidry, another of Henderson’s former Yankees teammates. “He was just amazing to watch. There were great outfielders. There were great base stealers. There were great home run hitters. Rickey was a combination of all of those players. He did things out there on the field that the rest of us dreamed of.”

Blake Lively is trying to make Christmas 'special' for her four kids amid Justin Baldoni lawsuit Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ and AMY LAMARE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 22:34 GMT, 23 December 2024 | Updated: 22:40 GMT, 23 December 2024 e-mail View comments Blake Lively is trying to make Christmas 'special' for her four children amid her lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni . The 37-year-old actress is taking time to focus on her children with husband Ryan Reynolds as the real reason she had mentioned their kids in the bombshell lawsuit had been revealed. A source told People on Monday: ' She's trying to just focus on making Christmas special for her kids. Lively shares one-year-old son Olin as well as daughters James, 9, Inez, 8, and Betty, 5, with the 48-year-old Canadian actor. This comes amid more bombshell claims regarding Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star, 37, said that a lack of protections on set led to her and her infant son Olin catching COVID-19 . Blake Lively is trying to make Christmas 'special' for her four children that she shares with Ryan Reynolds according to a source for People on Monday; Blake and Ryan are seen with two of their four children in Hollywood back in December 2015 This comes amid Blake's lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni Not only that, but she also alleged that Baldoni, 40, failed to notify Lively that she'd been exposed to the virus. Even worse, the production didn't have insurance for COVID delays in filming and Baldoni was upset about the time and money lost when Blake had COVID and couldn't work. Read More The REAL reason Blake Lively mentioned her kids in bombshell lawsuit with Justin Baldoni 'Ms. Lively was told by another producer that Wayfarer did not have insurance coverage for COVID,' the legal paperwork states and that's why Blake wasn't informed of her exposure. 'Mr. Baldoni deliberately withheld from Ms. Lively that she had been exposed to COVID. Both Ms. Lively and her infant child contracted COVID from the outbreak.' She tried to raise concerns with Baldoni and his producing partner Jamey Heath but was shut down, according to the legal docs. 'Ms. Lively expressed her upset that Mr. Heath and Mr. Baldoni had hidden the fact that she had been exposed to a COVID outbreak on set from which she and her infant contracted COVID,' the statement began. 'Instead of acknowledging responsibility and committing to safety moving forward, they expressed upset over production days missed and resulting costs.' When production resumed after the WGA and SAG strikes, Blake had a list of conditions that must be met for her to return to filming and she included that list in the legal documents. Lively shares one-year-old son Olin as well as daughters James, 9, Inez, 8, and Betty, 5, with the 48-year-old Canadian actor. Blake and Ryan Reynolds seen here in 2014 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star, 37, said that a lack of protections on set led to her and her infant son Olin catching COVID-19. Justin seen here on December 4, 2024 Not only that, but she also alleged that Baldoni, 40, failed to notify Lively that she'd been exposed to the virus. Blake seen here on August 6, 2024 'If BL is exposed to COVID-19, she must be provided notice as soon as possible after Wayfarer or any producer or production executive becomes aware of such exposure,' one of the items on the request read. In the lawsuit, which was filed on December 20, she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment as well as launching a smear campaign with the intent to 'destroy' her reputation. Read More Blake Lively claims Justin Baldoni 'cried' because she didn't look 'hot' In the court documents, the leaked plan from Baldoni's crisis management team reportedly revealed the intention to target Lively in a calculated smear campaign. Lively's lawsuit is full of explosive revelations and allegations including accusing The Jane the Virgin star of entering her trailer while she was nude, and letting his 'friends' watch her film sex scenes, along with other activities, creating a 'hostile work environment .' The Gossip Girl star had given birth to her fourth child a few months before filming began in May 2023, and she alleged that Baldoni treated her as a 'sex object' while being overly concerned with her weight. On the second day of filming, for example, Mr. Baldoni made the rest of the cast and crew wait for hours while he cried in Ms. Lively's dressing room, claiming social media commentators were saying that Ms. Lively looked old and unattractive based on paparazzi photos from the set,' the filing alleges. Lively claimed she tried to reassure the director 'that she should look authentic in the scenes depicted in the photos, which were just after her character had been abused by her fictional husband, rather than "hot."' The leading lady claimed Baldoni continually focused on her physical appearance and 'routinely degraded' her by finding 'back channel ways of criticizing her body and weight.' Even worse, the production didn't have insurance for COVID delays in filming and Baldoni was upset about the time and money lost when Blake had COVID and couldn't work. Seen here on December 10, 2024 The filing also alleges that Baldoni secretly contacted Lively's fitness trainer, implying he wanted her to 'lose weight in two weeks,' and claiming he was worried about having to pick her up for an upcoming scene, even though no such scene was in the script. Lively claimed when she came down with strep throat, he offered to connect her with 'an expert he had on retainer to help her with probiotics and to combat the sickness,' as a gift. However, when she was filling out the privacy forms, Lively learned the 'expert' was a 'weight loss specialist.' 'Ms. Lively was told by another producer that Wayfarer did not have insurance coverage for COVID,' the legal paperwork states and that's why Blake wasn't informed of her exposure. Seen here in 2018 In another incident, Lively, who was nursing her son at the time, wore a low-cut dress to facilitate breast feeding. She asserted that Baldoni 'commented about how much he liked her outfit' and later asked her to remove her coat in front of 'the crew and multiple background actors in a packed bar.' Lively claimed Baldoni asked her to remove the coat because he wanted to 'see her "onesie" under the coat because it was zipped low to reveal her lace bra.' She added that he allegedly told her, 'I think you look sexy,' which Lively said made her feel 'ogled and exposed. Justin Baldoni Ryan Reynolds Blake Lively Share or comment on this article: Blake Lively is trying to make Christmas 'special' for her four kids amid Justin Baldoni lawsuit e-mail Add commentOnly Fools And Horses stage show stars left 'visibly upset' after two black cast-members are 'racially abused by a rowdy audience member'

Given that it’s Christmas Eve, and the law of averages dictates that at least 30 per cent of those reading this haven’t finished their shopping yet, we’ll keep this short and sweet. Well, that and there is even less than usual going on at the moment. And in that vein, there will not be an update on Wednesday; plus the Post sports desk will either be just getting home, still asleep, or opening our stockings to see what Father Christmas brought. If it’s socks, there’s going to be trouble. Still, there were a couple of things worthy of mention that happened while most of us were sleeping, and with the English Premier League entering its holiday rush, lets start there. The news most were expecting after he was spotted hobbling out of Crystal Palace on crutches on Saturday, Bukayo Saka is out for “many weeks” with a hamstring tear. In a press conference on Monday, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta called the England international’s loss a “huge blow”, and then revealed that he would also be without Raheem Sterling “for weeks” as well. Sterling – the obvious back-up option for Saka – suffered a knee injury before the game against Palace, and Arteta said the on-loan Chelsea winger would need further testing on Tuesday to assess the extent of any damage. There’s never a good time to get sacked, but two days before Christmas has got to really sting. Only marginally better to be giving the news than receiving it you’d thing, unless you’re a proper Scrooge and revel in that sort of job.WASHINGTON — A powerful government panel on Monday failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel, leaving a decision to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, sent its long-awaited report on the merger to Biden, who formally came out against the deal in March of this year and now has 15 days to reach a final decision, the White House said. A U.S. official familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the private report, said some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump courted unionized workers at U.S. Steel and vowed to block the acquisition amid concerns about foreign ownership of a flagship American company. The economic risk, however, is that Nippon Steel also has the financial resources to invest in the mills and upgrade them, possibly helping to preserve steel production within the United States. The interagency committee reviews such deals with an eye toward potential national security risks. Monday was the deadline to approve the deal, recommend that Biden block it or extend the review process. The Washington Post earlier reported CFIUS' submission of its report. Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . Under the terms of the approximately $14.9 billion all-cash deal, U.S. Steel would keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, where it was founded in 1901 by J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. It would become a subsidiary of Nippon Steel, and the combined company would be among the top three steel-producing companies in the world, according to 2023 figures from the World Steel Association. Biden, backed by the United Steelworkers, said earlier this year that it was "vital for (U.S. Steel) to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.” Logo of Nippon Steel on the exterior of Blast Furnace No. 1 at the company's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Ayaka McGill Trump has also opposed the acquisition and vowed earlier this month on his Truth Social platform to “block this deal from happening.” Trump proposed to revive U.S. Steel's flagging fortunes “through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs.” The steelworkers union has said it doesn’t believe Nippon Steel would keep jobs at unionized plants, make good on collectively bargained benefits or protect American steel production from cheap foreign imports. “Our union has been calling for strict government scrutiny of the sale since it was announced. Now it’s up to President Biden to determine the best path forward,” David McCall, the steelworkers' president, said in a statement Monday. “We continue to believe that means keeping U.S. Steel domestically owned and operated.” In the face of political opposition, Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel had waged a public relations campaign to win over skeptics. A staff enters doorway next to Nippon Steel logo at the company's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Ayaka McGill U.S. Steel said in a statement Monday that the deal “is the best way, by far, to ensure that U.S. Steel, including its employees, communities, and customers, will thrive well into the future.” A growing number of conservatives had publicly backed the deal, as Nippon Steel began to win over some steelworkers union members and local officials around its blast furnaces in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Many backers said Nippon Steel has a stronger financial balance sheet than rival Cleveland-Cliffs to invest the necessary cash to upgrade aging U.S. Steel blast furnaces. Nippon Steel pledged to invest $2.7 billion in United Steelworkers-represented facilities, including U.S. Steel’s blast furnaces, and promised not to import steel slabs that would compete with the blast furnaces. It also pledged to protect U.S. Steel in trade matters and to not lay off employees or close plants during the term of the basic labor agreement. Earlier this month, it offered $5,000 in closing bonuses to U.S. Steel employees, a nearly $100 million expense. Nippon Steel also said it was best positioned to help American steel compete in an industry dominated by the Chinese. The proposed sale came during a tide of renewed political support for rebuilding America’s manufacturing sector, a presidential campaign in which Pennsylvania was a prime battleground, and a long stretch of protectionist U.S. tariffs that analysts say has helped reinvigorate domestic steel. Chaired by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, CFIUS screens business deals between U.S. firms and foreign investors and can block sales or force parties to change the terms of an agreement for the purpose of protecting national security. The committee’s powers were significantly expanded in 2018 through an act of Congress called the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, known as FIRRMA. In September, Biden issued an executive order that expands the factors that the committee should consider when reviewing deals — such as how the deal impacts the U.S. supply chain or puts Americans’ sensitive personal data at risk. Nippon Steel already has manufacturing operations in the U.S., Mexico, China and Southeast Asia. It supplies the world’s top automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., and makes steel for railways, pipes, appliances and skyscrapers.

Romania's pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was leading in the first round of presidential elections Sunday according to exit polls, with the far right not yet assured of a place in the second round, despite a breakthrough in support. With 25 percent of the vote according to two exit polls, Ciolacu appeared to be well ahead of far-right challengers looking to capitalise on this EU member's concerns about inflation and the war in neighbouring Ukraine. The same exit polls gave second place to centre-right former journalist turned small-town mayor Elena Lasconi at 18 percent, with two far-right candidates scoring 15 and 16 percent. In the absence of an outright winner in the first round -- scoring more than 50 percent -- the top two candidates go through to a second-round run-off in the poor NATO member on December 8. Ciolacu, a Social Democrat, is leading a field of 13 contenders in the race to take over from President Klaus Iohannis in the largely ceremonial post. He welcomed the exit polls putting him in the lead, but said all the votes would have to be counted before he knew who he would face in the second round. Lasconi too, was cautious. "The scores are very tight, it's not yet time to celebrate," said the 52-year-old politician. Far-right leader George Simion, 38, who some had forecast might take second place, is for the moment in fourth. Exit polls put him just behind the 62-year-old pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu. But Simion said Sunday evening: "We'll see the results of the ballot boxes at 11:00 pm (2100 GMT)." Ciolacu's party has shaped Romania's politics for more than three decades, and as he voted Sunday he promised stability and a "decent" standard of living. But political analyst Cristian Parvulescu told AFP: "The far right is by far the big winner of this election." Simion saw his popularity surge by tapping into voter anger over record inflation while promising more affordable housing. Looking for a new election breakthrough for European far-right parties, Simion warned of possible "fraud" and "foreign interference" when voting. But he added: "I am happy that we are giving Romanians hope and the prospect of a better future." The stakes are high for Romania, which has a 650-kilometre (400-mile) border with Ukraine and has become more important since Russia invaded its neighbour in 2022. The Black Sea nation now plays a "vital strategic role" for NATO -- as it is a base for more than 5,000 soldiers -- and the transit of Ukrainian grain, the New Strategy Center think tank said. Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election has further "complicated" Romania's choice, political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP. Known for his fiery speeches, Simion is a Trump fan who sometimes dons a red cap in appreciation of his idol. Simion opposes sending military aid to Ukraine, wants a "more patriotic Romania" and frequently lashes out against what he calls the "greedy corrupt bubble" running the European Union. Having campaigned hard to win over Romania's large diaspora working abroad, he said the country had only "minions and cowards as leaders". Pirvulescu predicted that if Simion reached the second round his AUR party would get a boost in the December parliamentary election. "Romanian democracy is in danger for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989," he said. "I'm really afraid we'll end up with Simion in the second round," 36-year-old IT worker Oana Diaconu told AFP, expressing concern about the far-right leader's unpredictable nature and attacks on the European Union. The campaign was marked by controversy and personal attacks, with Simion facing accusations of meeting with Russian spies -- a claim he has denied. Ciolacu has been criticised for his use of private jets. Some observers had tipped Lasconi, now mayor of the small town of Campulung and head of a centre-right opposition party, as a surprise package. Sunday's exit polls appeared to suggest they were right. During campaigning, she had said she wanted a future "where no one has to pack their suitcases and leave" the country and for "institutions that work". bur/js-jj/Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

A massacre of more than 200 people in Haiti this month followed a gang-ordered manhunt that saw victims, many of them elderly, pulled from their homes and shot or killed with machetes, the UN said Monday. The victims were suspected of involvement in voodoo and accused by a gang leader of poisoning his child, with the suspects taken to a "training center" where many were dismembered or burned after being killed. A civil society organization had said at the time that the gang leader was convinced his son's illness was caused by followers of the religion. "On the evening of December 6, (Micanor Altes) ordered the members of his gang -- around 300 -- to carry out a brutal 'manhunt.' They stormed into about ten alleys of the (Port-au-Prince) neighborhood and forcibly dragged the victims out of their homes," said the report, authored jointly by the UN office in Haiti, BINUH, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OCHR). In the days that followed, the gang returned to the neighborhood, abducting adherents from a voodoo temple, targeting individuals suspected of tipping off local media and slaughtering people seeking to escape. Some of the bodies "were then burned with gasoline, or dismembered and dumped into the sea," the report concluded. A total of 134 men and 73 women were killed in total over six days, the report said. A mosaic of violent gangs control most of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. The impoverished Caribbean country has been mired for decades by political instability, made worse in recent years by gangs that have grown in strength and organizational sophistication. Despite a Kenyan-led police support mission, backed by the United States and UN, violence has continued to soar. "According to BINUH and OHCHR, since January 2024, more than 5,358 people have been killed and 2,155 injured," the report said. "This brings the total number of people killed or injured in Haiti to at least 17,248 since the beginning of 2022." The UN Security Council "strongly condemned the continued destabilizing criminal activities of armed gangs and stressed the need for the international community to redouble its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the population." A spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "these crimes touched the very foundation of Haitian society, targeting the most vulnerable populations." Voodoo was brought to Haiti by African slaves and is a mainstay of the country's culture. It was banned during French colonial rule and only recognized as an official religion by the Haitian government in 2003. While it incorporates elements of other religious beliefs, including Catholicism, voodoo has been historically attacked by other religions.Kumho Tire cruises toward meeting 2024 sales guidanceBats are not blind, or only live in caves and suck blood, as pop culture has led us to believe. But they do serve as nature’s silent pest control and are vital pollinators, playing a crucial role in the reproduction of many plants. In the Santa Clarita Valley, residents, if lucky, can spot bats also known as chiroptera in scientific terms, right outside their backyard or near a large body of water. On Nov. 22, College of the Canyons held a science, technology, engineering and mathematics speaker series in efforts to engage, inform, and inspire students pursuing STEM careers. Jessi Vannatta, a COC adjunct professor and environmental scientist for California State Parks, delivered a presentation called “All Things Bats!” a topic she’s researched since graduate school and worked on for over a decade. The misunderstood flying mammal and its beneficial contributions to the environment was the topic of the night, with many students in attendance making it a successful evening filled with engaging questions and fun facts debunking common myths and misconceptions. The chiroptera species “do a lot of important things that benefit us directly and the environment as well. An ecosystem service would be pest control, especially the species around here,” she said. “That’s mostly what we have, insect-eating bats and they eat lots and lots of different types of insects,” said Vannatta. Bats don’t just consume unwanted pests lingering around someone’s backyard, but they also help reduce the number of agricultural insects and, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife , the natural pest control that bats provide is “extremely valuable to the state’s $54 billion per year agriculture and $450 million timber industries. The bats’ appetite reduces the need for chemical pesticides, reduces crop losses and curtails the spread of crop diseases.” Vannatta has focused her research up north in the Hungry Valley, with the advanced technology of acoustic detectors, and at least 15 different bat species have been identified as of the publication of this story and “there’s a potential for many of those to also be in the Santa Clarita Valley,” she said. Recently Vannatta has placed bat detectors in both the COC Canyon Country and Valencia campuses in hopes to learn more about the local flying mammals. So far at least two different species have been detected in Canyon Country, including the Mexican free-tailed bat and the pallid bat. Vannatta still has to process her data from the Valencia campus, as she just placed the detectors this past semester. Throughout the presentation, she also discussed the current threat they face, which includes climate change and white-nose syndrome, a fatal fungal disease that affects the flying mammals and isn’t a threat to humans. “The changing of seasonal patterns and temperatures and more extreme weather events can greatly impact their life cycle. Heat waves can cause the pups to die because it’s too hot for them and wherever they’re roosting. It can just change their whole seasonality pattern,” she said. White-nose syndrome has been detected in California, Vannatta said, and it’s a growing concern since it was first recorded in “the winter of 2007-2008 ... in cold humid conditions such as caves and mines,” stated the United States Geological Survey . “Millions of insect-eating bats in at least 40 states and eight Canadian provinces have died from this devastating disease.” “It’s going to be really interesting, because it’s a big unknown as to how it’s going to affect the bat species out here. I would say that it is a big potential threat, but we won’t really know until it starts popping up more in the populations and how severely it’s going to affect them,” she said, adding that due to the fatal disease several bat species on the east side of the United States have been listed as threatened and endangered. In August 2023 , the Los Angeles County Public Health Department reported that out of 50 rabid bats reported in the county, 32 of them were located in the SCV. Although rabies isn’t prevalent in bats and about “1 out of 1,000 are infected” stated the Public Health report, it did grow concern from the public and “for some reason there seems to be a higher incidence of rabies-positive bats,” she said. “It’s interesting because usually most reported prevalence of rabies and bats is low ... it’s usually a very low percentage in the population that actually do have it. So it seems to be some sort of strange anomaly,” she added. Vannatta did encourage people to never handle bats or any wild animals on their own to prevent exposure to disease, and to call professionals immediately if they encounter an unwanted bat nearby. “Any animal, any mammal, could have rabies ... There’s a risk for disease or being bitten if we handle any wild animal. Observe from a distance,” she advised. The presentation was focused on emphasizing the animals’ positive contributions to wildlife and ecosystems. “Without them, we would lose a lot of things that we rely on like our food sources ... coffee, chocolate, fruit, all of those things, a lot of them are primarily pollinated, or the seeds are spread by bats. If we didn’t have them, we would lose all of those important goods,” she said. Residents can seek out bats in local areas and it isn’t super difficult to see them at night, Vannatta said. “A lot of people tell me, ‘I’ve never seen a bat flying around or anything,’ but a lot of times it’s just because people haven’t really looked up and paid attention.” Vannatta suggested bat seekers can view them safely and from a distance, at Castaic Lake or other bodies of water where many insects such as mosquitoes may linger, and bats will likely be spotted feeding once the sun begins to set. The Bridgeport Marketplace lake near Valencia Heritage Park is another place bats can be spotted, she added. Vannatta hopes to continue researching the local bats with acoustic surveys and temporarily capturing them to take excrement samples, body size measurements, and record their activity patterns and submit them to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for other scientists to access. She added: “Because we don’t know, with white-nose syndrome and everything else, how these species might decline, it’s important to have those samples for people to potentially use to study the species in the future, so we like to collaborate and help in whatever way we can.”

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Devastated by Botched $75k Bonus Round Despite Big Boost

WASHINGTON — The economic and technological rivalry between the United States and China has come to the drone market, where Chinese-made flying devices are a dominant player. Lawmakers in Washington are seeking to ban new sales of drones from two dominant Chinese manufacturers, arguing they could be used to spy on Americans and that the low-cost models are hurting the U.S. drone industry. A defense bill that passed Congress last week would bar new Chinese drones from DJI Technology and Autel Robotics should a review find them to pose an “unacceptable” risk to U.S. national security. But American users, from police officers to farmers, mappers and filmmakers, have come to rely on Chinese-made drones, especially those by DJI. Here are things to know about the debate. Lawmakers say the drones pose a national security threat Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be U.N. ambassador, has led House efforts to ban new Chinese drones, saying Americans have become too dependent on them. “It is strategically irresponsible to allow Communist China to be our drone factory,” she argued. It was the role of drones in everyday life that drove Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to get Congress to restrict the purchase of Chinese drones by federal agencies. Those restrictions were included in a bill that Democratic President Joe Biden signed last year. Scott has compared Chinese drones to spy balloons that could “gather data or carry harmful payloads” across America, posing risks to military bases, critical infrastructure and natural resources. Drones made by DJI dominate the US market DJI, named in the bill, is the best-known Chinese drone brand. The company has the lion’s share of the global drone market and is a dominant player in the U.S. market. Its drones have been used by first responders to locate disaster victims, mappers to survey roads and utility lines, mosquito control officers to reach swarms of larvae, and filmmakers to capture aerial footage. Founded in 2006 and based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, DJI makes devices that are known for their affordability and high performance. They are even used on the battlefield in Ukraine by both sides, even though DJI does not make military drones. As U.S.-China relations soured, DJI drones have come under scrutiny. The U.S. government has put the company on several blacklists citing human rights concerns as well as alleged links to the Chinese military. DJI has denied any wrongdoing, and is suing the Pentagon over the designation that it is a Chinese military company. U.S. customs officials have also blocked some DJI shipments over concerns that the products might have been made with forced labor. DJI has called it “a customs-related misunderstanding." DJI has also expressed concern about the review of Chinese drones included in the defense bill., saying it doesn't allow the company to defend itself. It called for "a fair right of reply to any findings.” Users say Chinese drones can't be easily replaced Russell Hedrick, a North Carolina farmer, flies drones to spray fertilizers on his corn, bean and wheat fields at a fraction of what it would cost him to use a conventional ground spreader. A drone spreader costs $35,000, while a ground sprayer would cost $250,000, he said. As a volunteer rescuer, Hedrick uses thermal drones to search for people trapped by mudslides and cargo drones to send water and baby formula to those who are stranded — something he did after Hurricane Helene. “I am not going to say I won’t love to have U.S. drones, but I don’t see the American drones as anywhere close to the DJI drones in terms of reliability, ease of use, and just the user-friendly software,” Hedrick said. “The U.S. drones are not as good as DJI ones but cost twice as much.” At the Interior Department, the ban on foreign-made drones has resulted in a “loss of opportunities to collect data on landscape, natural and cultural resources, wildlife and infrastructure,” according to a September report by the Government Accountability Office. Michael Robbins, president and chief executive officer of AUVSI, an advocacy group for unmanned vehicles such as drones, argues against an immediate ban. Instead, the group has urged the government to support the domestic drone-making industry through investment so it can catch up with its Chinese competitors in both capability and cost.Greece introduces new unemployment benefit structure with pilot program