download mnl777 download
Why these 2 ASX 300 shares were my latest investmentsNone
ED: All Schools Need Cellphone PoliciesFormer US President Jimmy Carter Dies at 100
Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.
Michael Gray Jr., Byron Ireland rally Nicholls to 76-75 victory over Louisiana
Texas A&M-CC takes down Prairie View A&M 109-743 Americans released from Chinese custody in prisoner swapIn this month’s edition of our comparison series, we take a look at two upstream powerhouse producers. The first, Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), is in the process of digesting a large acquisition and carries a lot of debt as a result. Is the share price fully discounting this factor? We will see. The second is EOG Resources, (NYSE:EOG) a company that in recent years has chosen to grow organically, eschewing the M&A craze that has brought a lot of consolidation into the sector. There is a reasonable comparison between the two even though EOG is priced at about 2.5X OXY. Both have big acreage positions in the Delaware basin that are the cornerstone of their income. Both have international exposure with operations in Middle East-OXY, and in Trinidad-Tobago-EOG. Both have catalysts for growth in the coming year. And, like many comparisons, there isn’t necessarily a bad choice. So let’s dive in. Are we near a bottom in upstream oil and gas stocks? I think we are. It should be understood that oil production is a cyclic business -production rises until prices stabilize - and then it begins to decline as activity tapers off. We've had a step change from technology-driven cost and efficiency improvements that have extended the period of production semi-levitation at current levels that must come to an end. Sometime. Without going through a lot of verbiage and reference citations, it just makes sense that we are nearing a peak in the last reservoir to show significant growth - the Permian. If you think about it, since 2010 we have stuck a straw in the Permian, and production has risen from about 1 mm BOEPD to over 6.2 mm BOEPD. Today we are extracting 2.23 bn BOE annually from the Permian, and that just can't go on forever. Estimates are that we are well past the midpoint of production from the key reservoirs that deliver this oil and gas to us. put out a newsletter in conjunction with Novi Labs recently that discussed some aspects in detail that largely agrees with this thesis. Concerns about demand-which has actually stayed fairly robust recently, have offset the plateauing of output in traders' minds, and led to a weakening of prices. Does that reflect reality? My core macro for upstream oil and gas investing is that North American producers are undervalued due to a lack of understanding about the fragility of current shale production levels. Shale is also called 'short-cycle'-meaning that output is related to activity and can be controlled thereby. Obviously less so now due to technology, but the principle remains valid up to a point. The point is growth may be constrained by lower-tier development not being as productive and other logistics impacts-water injection may put a damper on output. The incoming administration's plan to increase production by 3 mm BOPD may also be putting a ceiling on crude and upstream E&P's. I view this as a near impossibility in liquids, and highly doubtful in gas-which is increasing all by itself as the reservoirs being drilled are gassier. There simply aren't enough rigs to generate this kind of growth, and no sign the industry is willing to build them up to that level. When the disconnect between what the incoming administration wants to do and what is possible becomes evident, the drag on prices will evaporate. I think there will be extreme winners, and extreme losers when the real impact of declines in the Permian are noticed by the market. In that scenario, I think we are near a bottom for stocks in the upstream sector, particularly ones with the critical mass that OXY and EOG possess. Occidental Petroleum, (NYSE:OXY) was one of the big wins for investors coming out of the pandemic. Many recognized the value Anadarko brought and loaded up in the teens. It’s been a rough ride since late 2022. The fact those who bought at the 2020 bottom are still in the black after a 35% capital implosion since April of this year, doesn't ease the pain of seeing all that money shifted over into the loss column. Now with the post-election jitters of "Drill Baby, Drill" roiling the market, if anything the slope has gotten worse. Notably absent from the market since midyear, has been Uncle Warren, who over the last couple years has been busy, amassing, a 29% stake at prices well above $50 in some June-24 buys, above $60. Until the other day we were wondering what was it about OXY that Warren liked in $50s that he didn't in the $40s? That curiosity was resolved last week with news of his in OXY shares. and holds; warrants that would let him add another 90 mm shares bringing his position to about 40% of the float. If you have any faith in domestic energy at all, it would seem that this is the time to be adding to upstream positions. Buffett may have put a floor on OXY shares with his vote of confidence last week, as the company navigates softer commodity prices. Energy comprises only a tiny fraction of the SP-500 index now, thanks to multiple compressions over the last couple of years. Does that make sense? I don't think so, but things are what they are, and the decline in the sector weighting certainly has a rationale to it as commodities have underperformed. OXY has struggled in comparison to a loose peer group over the past year, only slightly outperforming, bottom-hugging Devon. Only a couple, EOG and Diamondback Energy, (NYSE:FANG) have managed to deliver any growth, while other Delaware basin-focused producers, OXY, Devon Energy, (NYSE:DVN), and ConocoPhillips, (NYSE:COP) are down. FANG and EOG top the list with Operating Margins (OMs) of 42% and 35% respectively. DVN comes in right behind EOG at 32%. This article isn't about DVN, but I must say it makes the negative sentiment toward the company all the more odd. The company is an oil and gas producing juggernaut with total output currently at 1.42 mm BOEPD and guiding to 1.47 mm BOEPD in Q-4. OXY’s cornerstone is in the Permian’s Delaware basin, but through the CrownRock deal has a significant foothold in the Midland basin. It also has production from the U.S. GoM, and internationally in the Middle East. The company also has a chemicals-caustic soda business that operates in the black and actually is symbiotic to their nascent Direct Air Capture-DAC business - in that caustic drives a reaction to liberate the carbon for capture. The company is successfully integrating the CrownRock purchase into their operations which is receiving an increasing share of D&C capex this year - the goal being to increase the overall oil percentage of total production. It was also noted that legacy CrownRock water infrastructure is contributing about $10 mm in savings this year. OXY is successfully managing LEO costs down through production increases, leveraging infrastructure around new pads, and actively engaging with service providers to minimize the white space-slack time, between TD'ing a well and rigging up to frac. The Delaware continues to perform with the company increasingly drilling secondary benches and seeing better than anticipated performance. Speaking for OXY, s as they wring superior performance out of low-tier benches-Wolfcamp B & C as an example. “These secondary benches that we have second and third and fourth benches that we can develop in the Permian in the Delaware and the Midland Basin, and we're still continuing to get more out of those reservoirs. I expect though in the near-term with weaker prices that what we used to think as a peak in say in three years, moves further out because with weaker prices I think there's going to be less growth in the Permian.” I don't think this is true for all companies (if my prognostication that the Permian peaking in the nearer term is way out of whack), as OXY has some of the best Delaware dirt around, thanks to the Anadarko deal. All in all, OXY is generating $3.1 in AFFO and netted $1.5 bn in free cash for the quarter. Pretty much every nickel they take in is going toward debt reduction, which is as it should be. OXY's cashflow priorities are shown in the slide below. Once LT debt is less than $15 bn, then the focus shifts to buying back shares and redeeming Warren's 10% yielding Preferred stock. This puts holders of the common stock at the end of a multiyear list for any significant boost to the dividend. This could be problematic for the stock affecting any chance of a price recovery. I also think that this mindset on the part of management may be contributing the weakness in OXY shares, as investors look for steady cash. A noted that in turbulent times, investors shift from growth stocks to dividend payers. “Investors typically flock to the dividend payers in down markets or when the economic outlook turns cloudy. Indeed, many companies with big payouts, including utilities and consumer staples, produce stable earnings in any weather.” Ok now let’s review EOG. The company has a reputation as being one of the best-run shale drillers and has consistently returned capital to shareholders through the cycle. This shows in the value creation claimed by the company in the slide below. If WTI sees the gain projected over the next couple of years the free cash available for distribution could be enormous. Analysts rate EOG as , but I doubt that rating takes into account the swoon since early November. The Q-4 EPS forecast for the company is $2.57 per share. This is down from the $2.78 per share forecast for Q-3, which they crushed at $2.89. If they beat on Q-4, it will be consistent with their performance over the entire year. Share price forecasts range from $146-$170, with a median of $144, making an entry point sub-$120 a very reasonable short-term prospect. Particularly when the shareholder-friendly plans for capital returns are factored in. The company has just made a triple-bottom sub-$120, and with a Q-4 beat is unlikely to get much cheaper. I think there will be extreme winners, and extreme losers when the real impact of declines in the Permian are noticed by the market. In that scenario, I think we are near a bottom for stocks in the upstream sector. The company is banging on the door of the million barrel-a-day equivalent producer club. One of the things that sets it apart from other shale players is its well-distributed legacy positions in key shale plays that date from early shale E&P activity in the 2010's. The company has first class assets which are shown in the company graphic below. Recently it’s made a big push into the long-neglected Utica shale. EOG has mostly legacy acreage positions that date back to the Enron days pre-shale revolution when dirt was cheap, and thus have avoided the need for big capital outlays to snag competitors at $50-100K per acre. The last , which they comparatively ‘stole’ for $5,400 an acre. Deal execution like this shows on the balance sheet with a paltry $3.6 bn of long-term debt presently. On DE basis none of its peer group even comes close. EOG has some of the best dirt in the Delaware, thanks to the Yates deal. Perhaps you’ve seen the Wolfcamp white paper put out by the EIA. If not . It shows that some of the best Wolfcamp A, and Bone Spring benches are in southern Eddy and Lea County New Mexico, and in Loving County, Texas. A recent discussed the intensity of drilling in these areas. We're a fan of good dirt around here as it drives cost impacts from logistics and technology. This enables EOG to be pretty selective in the projects they sanction, putting a 30% after-tax rate of return at $40 per barrel. That's a pretty steep hill to climb, but it insulates the company from all but the wildest swings in commodity prices. It also enables price realizations that top the peer group at $77 for Q-3, 2024. I think most of us get the idea behind stock buybacks and their intrinsically increasing the value of remaining shares. That has to be balanced though with the fact that much of this is fraught with peril at squandering capital. This is done by buying back stock in one quarter and seeing the price continue to decline. That is certainly the scenario extant these days. I am surprised equity analysts don't pursue this in conference calls more. EOG has been bitten by the share buyback bug-noting that it will be done ‘opportunistically’, but shows a much more shareholder-friendly attitude with its robust $3.90 per share annual dividend, than many companies that have totally scrapped special dividends in favor of buybacks. The Yield on Cost (YOC) is actually pretty decent at 3.28%. Bottom-line management at EOG knows shareholders need to eat while waiting for the stock float shrinkage to drive share prices higher. EOG's entry into the with relatively little fanfare. Things seem to be going pretty well from the comments in the slide below. EOG has a huge acreage position, and the Utica is far less developed than the Marcellus. The northeast is gas hungry from the explosive growth in AI data centers and the demand coming from the Cove Point LNG terminal on the Chesapeake Bay. On the horizon, new East Coast plants are creating a potential uplift in demand. It is fair to say that EOG isn't cheap here. But against a cohort of near-million barrel producers, it's reasonably priced. Things can always get cheaper, so this multiple might shrink. I am betting there is less elasticity in EOG than in others. I don't think there is any doubt that OXY is a buy for long-term capital appreciation at current levels. As I have noted, I feel strongly that American oil and gas companies are undervalued in terms of their true impact on society, here at home and globally, and lack only a catalyst to rerate higher. This would totally change the dynamic for owners of these assets, but there is no date certain as to when this will occur. The question is, can we wait that out while receiving peanuts for our capital? That leaves us looking for income while we wait for growth, and the money coming quarterly from OXY will not buy Porterhouse steak at Kroger. It may not even buy chicken breasts without a coupon. Chicken leg quarters are the immediate future of OXY holders as we wait on capital appreciation in the commodity rerating I expect. The problem I see is management's dogged determination not to pay a respectable dividend to reward shareholders now. Let's review. First, they had the debt from Anadarko. Ok, that transformed the company...while almost killing it. They got through that and then rising oil prices worked their magic and we had a 5-bagger in appreciation, with the stock price peaking at $75 in late 2022. Holders of OXY stock will listen to any song management sings with that kind of growth in their portfolio. Then came the CrownRock debt and dilution. As I have noted, the company is rightly knocking down the debt, but their single-minded focus on buying back stock at multiples where no one else, except Warren Buffett, is buying does investors no service. The YOC is under 2% and there are no special dividends planned to spread a little cash among shareholders. Since reinstituting the regular dividend in 2022 it's been raised twice and I expect it will be raised again when Q-4 earnings are announced. By another 4-5 cents. To continue our chicken metaphor, this is chicken feed. OXY trades at 5.5-6X EV/EBITDA and $48K per flowing barrel. Not terribly cheap on either metric, so it's probably a toss-up,-pay interest on debt or capitalize on a 30% downdraft in stock prices...since April of this year. Now let’s look at EOG. EOG is trading at a flowing barrel price of $69 per barrel. Again not give away prices. You can buy shale cheaper. EOG has a reputation of being one of the best-run companies in this sector and most of the metrics I've seen substantiate that notion. I've always been willing to pay up for quality, and that's the recommendation here. Buy EOG. EOG has 4.43 bn bbl of 2P reserves as of the end of 2023. During the year they replaced 202% of production with new discoveries. Both are solid metrics and justify the current prices for the stock. At $40 per bbl, EOG has a net present value (NPV) of $179.00 per share, which comes for the share price. This doesn't take into account future revenue from the Utica play, so I regard it as conservative. Also, investors entering EOG before 1-17-25 will receive the previously announced and just raised regular dividend of $0.98 per share on Jan-31st. I regard the timing as auspicious. The yield is admittedly not spectacular-3.08% but I am expecting a special dividend at some point in the coming year that will improve the overall yield on cost. I think EOG is an outstanding bargain for future growth and immediate shareholder returns. Every serious investor in upstream E&P companies should have a position in the company. Accordingly, I rate EOG as the winner of this month’s comparison.
The Edo State Government and the immediate past administration are at loggerheads over revelations by former aviation minister, Osita Chidoka regarding the state governorship election on September 21. Chidoka, during a programme on Channels Television on Friday, criticised the conduct of the election, alleging that it was rigged. In response, Governor Monday Okpehbolo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, in a statement released Saturday, said Chidoka’s Athena Centre did not cover substantial parts of the state during the election. He stated further that representatives of the Athena Centre were stationed at the Edo State Government House under the supervision of former Governor Godwin Obaseki to manipulate figures. He said, “On Friday, 29th of November, 2024, Osita Chidoka decided to throw his toys around on behalf of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, as bad losers do. In a well-orchestrated plot hatched by the PDP, in connivance with a serial defector featherweight politician from Anambra State, Osita Chidoka, they tried to bully and blackmail the judiciary into circumventing the will of Edo people. The shameful display, which was unfortunately aired on a once-respected national television, Channels TV, reeled out numbers purchased from ‘Oluwole Market,’ and impetuously concluded that the 21st September governorship election in Edo State was rigged. “Unfortunately, Osita Chidoka’s Athena Centre did not cover the election in substantial parts of the state. They sat in Edo State Government House under the supervision of ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki to concoct and orchestrate figures and numbers to suit their mindset. “First, the factional chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Edo State is blind to the glaring reality that the party was spurned by Edo people in the last governorship election because of their weakness as their own enemies. “Overlooking its messy and divided house, the party is shopping for non-existent evidence to upturn the popular will of the people at the Tribunal. What exactly is the intention or benefit of orchestrating a media trial, as Mr. Chidoka has done? It amounts to deliberate ambush. “Even though the PDP and its hatchet man understand that discussing an issue that is sub-judicial is wrong, they are unremitting in their shambolic plot to supplant facts with concoctions, hoping to arrive at their premeditated end. “This case is already in the tribunal; it should be allowed to run its full course without inhibitions. Thankfully, courts do not pander to concoctions, prevarication, sentiments, red herrings, contradictions, and orchestrations but rely on evidence and facts. “We are hopeful that the judiciary will remain firm in the face of this blackmail, intimidation, and orchestrated media attacks. “The recent attempt by the PDP and their serial defector, Osita Chidoka, to arm-twist logic and employ demagoguery to whip up sentiments amounts to the last cry of a bull as the butcher’s knife serrates its chord; and nothing more. Related News Traffic offenders to do community service in Edo Cheers and jeers: Mixed reactions as Okpebholo begins reforms in Edo Inauguration of Stella Obasanjo Hospital by Obaseki disgraceful - Okpebholo “We are aware that former Governor Godwin Obaseki and some PDP leaders in Edo State, along with their supporters, held a meeting during the week with online merchants and editors of leading newspapers, where it was decided that media trial would be their pattern to discredit the credible Edo election of 21st September. “The truth of the matter is that INEC conducted a very free, fair, and violence-free election acknowledged by domestic observers in their reports. Even the PDP leadership in Edo State, in its review and report, acknowledged that the APC won the election. The latest drama by Osita Chidoka amounts to merely beating about the bush, trying to rake up mud against the election. The PDP should allow the tribunal to do its job in line with established procedures. “We can see that they have recourse to social media, national newspapers, and pliable television stations to push their ugly narratives that Governor Okpehbolo did not win the 21st September governorship election in Edo State. “By this, we make them aware that Governor Monday Okpehbolo is making good progress in office as the duly elected governor with an irrevocable mandate for the next four years.” However, media aide to Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, said the revelation clearly threw the Edo State governor and his allies into a frenzy. He said, “The independent analysis by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, a non-partisan research institute, of the sham election that installed Monday Okpehbolo as governor of Edo State clearly threw the governor and his godfathers into a frenzy. “Channels TV, in their show, Politics Today, laid bare the mindless and unprecedented transgressions of the Independent National Electoral Commission and their conspirators, the Edo All Progressives Congress. The show must have been a difficult 30 minutes even for the most vile criminal. “Taunted by overwhelming evidence and data exposing the systemic rigging and brazen subversion of the people’s will during the September 21 governorship election, the APC, rather than covering their faces in shame, resorted to a smear campaign, lies, and propaganda to distract from the daylight robbery and undermine the integrity of institutions advocating for the judiciary to right the wrong of the electoral umpire and their conspirators. “The independent analysis broadcast yesterday is the outcome of a forensic examination of data and documents made available to the research institute by the Independent National Electoral Commission. It revealed widespread manipulation and substantial interference in the electoral process by the umpire. But the APC, a party to the robbery, would rather have the findings dismissed, distorted, or buried under a barrage of propaganda and baseless accusations. “Among other things, the centre uncovered shocking discrepancies in the election results, showing that INEC inflated the number of accredited voters by over 100,000 in 798 polling units. They also discovered that polling officers recorded 580,000 accredited voters, yet INEC’s backend mysteriously produced 687,000, further buttressing evidence of deliberate tampering with the election. “There were glaring inconsistencies between INEC’s certified results and the data uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Specifically, the forensic analysis revealed that PDP’s results were slashed by 11,665 votes during collation, while 32,284 votes were illegally added to APC’s tally, demonstrating the brazen manipulation and fraud perpetrated against the people of Edo State during the last governorship election. “While we sympathise with the APC over their trauma from the public exposure of their electoral fraud in Edo State by the Athena Centre, we restate our resolve to reclaim the mandate duly given by the good people of Edo State. “We trust in the impartiality of the judiciary and are confident they will rise above the distractions and intimidation tactics of the APC, ensuring justice is served and the will of the people prevails.”Developers will have to show that their project either helps reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste going to landfill, or replaces an older, less efficient incinerator. The move forms part of the Government’s drive to increase recycling rates, which have held at about 45% of household waste since 2015. Environment minister Mary Creagh said: “For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer. “That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.” Developers will also have to ensure their incinerators are ready for carbon capture technology, and demonstrate how the heat they produce can be used to help cut heating bills for households. The Government expects that its “crackdown” on new incinerators will mean only a limited number are built, while still reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and enabling the country to process the waste it produces. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the country was almost at the point where it had enough waste facilities to handle non-recyclable rubbish, and so had limited need for new incinerators. But the proposals stop short of the plans included in the Conservatives’ 2024 manifesto, which committed to a complete ban on new incinerators due to their “impact on local communities” and declining demand as recycling increased.
St. Petersburg council approves $23M repair to hurricane-ravaged Tropicana Field roofBarrister cleared of misconduct calls on head of Bar Standards Board to resignDr Charlotte Proudman, who specialises in family law, had faced a Bar Standards Board (BSB) disciplinary tribunal over a 14-part Twitter thread criticising a judge’s ruling over a domestic abuse case, saying it echoed a “boys’ club”. However, the five charges against the 36-year-old were dropped on Thursday. In an interview with The Times, Dr Proudman described the position of Mark Neale, the board’s director-general, as “untenable” and said its chairwoman, Kathryn Stone, should also stand down. “They need a change, not just in those two individuals, though, because, of course, it seeps down to the rest of the organisation,” she said. She told the paper she “genuinely” wanted to work with the Bar Standards Board in helping them to understand how misogyny and sexism have impacted women at the bar. However, she said that “under the current leadership, it’s just not going to be possible”. The charges alleged Dr Proudman had “failed to act with integrity” in posting the tweets, that they amounted to professional misconduct, were “misleading” and “inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge” in the case. The women’s rights campaigner was also accused of behaving in a way “which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public placed in her and in the profession”, and that she “knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public” by making the posts. But panel chairman Nicholas Ainley found her tweets are protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right of freedom of expression. He said her tweets did not “gravely damage” the judiciary, which would “put them outside” of Article 10 protection, even if they “might not have been pleasant for any judge to read” or even “hurtful”. “We take the view that the judiciary of England and Wales is far more robust than that,” he said. The panel also concluded that some of the tweets were only inaccurate “to a minor degree” and not to the extent necessary for a charge of a lack of integrity. Speaking after the hearing, Dr Proudman told the PA news agency: “This ruling is a victory for women’s rights and a right to freedom of speech. “The prosecution against me brought by my regulatory body, the Bar Standards Board, should never have happened and I said that from day one. “I criticised a domestic abuse judgment. Everyone should have the right to do that, whether you’re a barrister or not. Our justice system, which I strongly believe in, is robust enough to withstand criticism from me.” She believes her tweets help “foster confidence” in the justice system, adding: “Only that way can we go about building change and a better treatment for all victims, women and children and men who are affected by domestic abuse.” Explaining that the BSB appears to have spent almost £40,000 “of barristers’ money” on instructing counsel in her case, she added: “I think it’s shameful that they’re using our money to pay for, in my view, malicious, vexatious prosecutions which I have no doubt was a personal attack against me as a woman and as a feminist, as an outspoken critic and advocate for women’s rights.” Dr Proudman called for “systemic change” within the board. “They don’t understand gender, they don’t understand diversity, I don’t think they’ve ever heard of the concept misogyny and certainly not institutional misogyny,” she said. “Until they recognise the deeply rooted, entrenched issue of bullying, harassment, sexism at the bar, for which I have suffered relentlessly... and own up to it I don’t think we’re going to see any change and I have no confidence in them.” She told of how male barristers have called her insulting names on social media and made derogatory comments about her. In the posts on April 6 2022, Dr Proudman referenced a case in which her client alleged she had been subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour by her husband, a part-time judge, meaning she had been “unable to freely enter” the couple’s “post-nuptial” financial agreement. Commenting on the ruling by Family Court judge Sir Jonathan Cohen, Dr Proudman wrote: “I represented Amanda Traharne. “She said she was coerced into signing a post-nuptial agreement by her husband (who is a part-time judge). I lost the case. “I do not accept the Judge’s reasoning. I will never accept the minimisation of domestic abuse.” She continued: “Demeaning the significance of domestic abuse has the affect of silencing victims and rendering perpetrators invisible. “This judgement has echoes of (t)he ‘boys club’ which still exists among men in powerful positions.” In the thread, Dr Proudman wrote that the judge had described the relationship of the couple as “tempestuous”, which she argued was a “trivialisation” of domestic abuse. “Tempestuous? Lose his temper? Isn’t this the trivialisation of domestic abuse & gendered language. This is not normal married life,” she wrote.
UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York
A high-profile barrister who was cleared of misconduct over social media posts has called on the head of the Bar Standards Board to resign. Dr Charlotte Proudman, who specialises in family law, had faced a Bar Standards Board (BSB) disciplinary tribunal over a 14-part Twitter thread criticising a judge’s ruling over a domestic abuse case, saying it echoed a “boys’ club”. However, the five charges against the 36-year-old were dropped on Thursday. In an interview with The Times, Dr Proudman described the position of Mark Neale, the board’s director-general, as “untenable” and said its chairwoman, Kathryn Stone, should also stand down. “They need a change, not just in those two individuals, though, because, of course, it seeps down to the rest of the organisation,” she said. She told the paper she “genuinely” wanted to work with the Bar Standards Board in helping them to understand how misogyny and sexism have impacted women at the bar. However, she said that “under the current leadership, it’s just not going to be possible”. The charges alleged Dr Proudman had “failed to act with integrity” in posting the tweets, that they amounted to professional misconduct, were “misleading” and “inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge” in the case. The women’s rights campaigner was also accused of behaving in a way “which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public placed in her and in the profession”, and that she “knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public” by making the posts. But panel chairman Nicholas Ainley found her tweets are protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right of freedom of expression. He said her tweets did not “gravely damage” the judiciary, which would “put them outside” of Article 10 protection, even if they “might not have been pleasant for any judge to read” or even “hurtful”. “We take the view that the judiciary of England and Wales is far more robust than that,” he said. The panel also concluded that some of the tweets were only inaccurate “to a minor degree” and not to the extent necessary for a charge of a lack of integrity. Speaking after the hearing, Dr Proudman told the PA news agency: “This ruling is a victory for women’s rights and a right to freedom of speech. “The prosecution against me brought by my regulatory body, the Bar Standards Board, should never have happened and I said that from day one. “I criticised a domestic abuse judgment. Everyone should have the right to do that, whether you’re a barrister or not. Our justice system, which I strongly believe in, is robust enough to withstand criticism from me.” She believes her tweets help “foster confidence” in the justice system, adding: “Only that way can we go about building change and a better treatment for all victims, women and children and men who are affected by domestic abuse.” Explaining that the BSB appears to have spent almost £40,000 “of barristers’ money” on instructing counsel in her case, she added: “I think it’s shameful that they’re using our money to pay for, in my view, malicious, vexatious prosecutions which I have no doubt was a personal attack against me as a woman and as a feminist, as an outspoken critic and advocate for women’s rights.” Dr Proudman called for “systemic change” within the board. “They don’t understand gender, they don’t understand diversity, I don’t think they’ve ever heard of the concept misogyny and certainly not institutional misogyny,” she said. “Until they recognise the deeply rooted, entrenched issue of bullying, harassment, sexism at the bar, for which I have suffered relentlessly... and own up to it I don’t think we’re going to see any change and I have no confidence in them.” She told of how male barristers have called her insulting names on social media and made derogatory comments about her. In the posts on April 6 2022, Dr Proudman referenced a case in which her client alleged she had been subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour by her husband, a part-time judge, meaning she had been “unable to freely enter” the couple’s “post-nuptial” financial agreement. Commenting on the ruling by Family Court judge Sir Jonathan Cohen, Dr Proudman wrote: “I represented Amanda Traharne. “She said she was coerced into signing a post-nuptial agreement by her husband (who is a part-time judge). I lost the case. “I do not accept the Judge’s reasoning. I will never accept the minimisation of domestic abuse.” She continued: “Demeaning the significance of domestic abuse has the affect of silencing victims and rendering perpetrators invisible. “This judgement has echoes of (t)he ‘boys club’ which still exists among men in powerful positions.” In the thread, Dr Proudman wrote that the judge had described the relationship of the couple as “tempestuous”, which she argued was a “trivialisation” of domestic abuse. “Tempestuous? Lose his temper? Isn’t this the trivialisation of domestic abuse & gendered language. This is not normal married life,” she wrote.
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon intercepted a pass in the end zone with 37 seconds left to preserve the Los Angeles Rams' 13-9 win Saturday over the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif. Witherspoon made a diving catch after the ball bounced high off the helmet of Arizona tight end Trey McBride on the pass attempt by Kyler Murray. The Rams (10-6), who lead the NFC West by one game, have won five straight games, while the Cardinals (7-9) have lost five of their last six games. Los Angeles could clinch a playoff berth on Sunday depending on the outcome of other games, and will have a chance to clinch the division next weekend against second-place Seattle (9-7). Matthew Stafford threw for 189 yards while completing 17 of 32 pass attempts without a touchdown or interception. Puka Nacua finished with 10 receptions for 129 yards. Murray was 33 of 48 for 321 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. McBride made 12 catches for 123 yards to surpass 1,000 yards for the first time in his three NFL seasons. Despite leading the Cardinals in catches and yards, his touchdown catch on Saturday was his first of the season. Arizona running back James Conner, who gained 4 yards on four carries, did not play in the second half because of a knee injury. Los Angeles took a 13-9 lead with 6:33 left on a 25-yard field goal by Joshua Karty, and Arizona had two chances to take the lead. First, Murray engineered a drive that went to the Los Angeles 40. On fourth-and-10, his throw to the end zone was intercepted by Kamren Kinchens, who returned the ball to the Arizona 11 with 3:02 left. The Rams punted after a three-and-out, and the Cardinals took possession at their 36 with 2:01 remaining. The Cardinals drove to the Los Angeles 5 before Murray's pass went high to McBride, hit his helmet, and Witherspoon made the pick. Neither team scored until 3:23 remained in the second quarter. The Rams drove 60 yards on nine plays and cashed in with a 1-yard touchdown by Kyren Williams. Los Angeles got a 53-yard field goal from Karty to make it 10-0 with 27 seconds left before halftime. Arizona scored on the first possession of the second half when Murray threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to McBride, cutting the lead to 10-6. The point-after attempt was blocked, eliminating the chance to tie the game late with a field goal. A 28-yard field goal by Chad Ryland cut the lead to 10-9 with 14 minutes left in the game. --Field Level MediaNone
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a doctor in the state of New York alleging the doctor prescribed abortion medication to a woman in Texas therefore violating the state’s strict anti-abortion law. In the first-of-its-kind lawsuit, Paxton is testing the bounds of conflicting state abortion laws by pursuing litigation against a doctor in New York – where shield laws protect providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions. The 11-page lawsuit, filed in Collin County, Texas , alleges Dr. Margaret Carpenter illegally prescribed the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol via telehealth to a 20-year-old woman in Collins County. The lawsuit claims the 20-year-old woman sought and took the medications without informing the father of the fetus when she was nine weeks pregnant. But he later found out about the medication abortion after the woman had to be taken to the hospital for severe bleeding. Paxton alleges Carpenter was not permitted to prescribe the medication via telehealth because she is not a licensed physician in Texas and state law only allows for abortion when the patient’s life is at risk or there is a “serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.” The Texas AG claims Carpenter has seen multiple patients in Texas and has done this. Carpenter is the co-founder and co-medical director of Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine , a clinic that provides “telemedicine abortion care to patients in all 50 states.” Her biography says she has worked in reproductive health for years, volunteering with Planned Parenthood and providing medical and surgical abortions since 1999. The Independent has asked Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine for comment. “Carpenter’s knowing and continuing violations of Texas law places women and unborn children in Texas at risk,” Paxton argued. Paxton is asking the Texas court to prevent Carpenter from practicing telehealth in the state and impose a $100,000 fine for each violation. But it’s unclear how far the lawsuit can go given New York’s law protects providers from out-of-state lawsuits like this by refusing to order a defendant, like Carpenter, to comply with extradition, arrest and legal proceedings in other states The state’s shield law also gives prescribers who are sued the ability to countersue to recover damages. Paxton has relentlessly pursued litigation against those who provide or seek abortion in the state. He sent threatening letters to medical providers in 2023 after a woman named Kate Cox got explicit permission to obtain a medically necessary abortion. His lawsuit, of course, has only arisen because the Supreme Court overturned the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade in 2022. Roe made abortion a federal right – preventing each state from outright banning it. But now, with each state responsible for creating its own law, immense legal and social conflict has arisen. One way those living in states with strict abortion bans, like Texas, have skirted around rules is by using telehealth to obtain abortion medication. But lawsuits like this and others risk the availability of it.Walmart's Mexico subsidiary plans to appeal a $4.6 million fine for alleged monopolistic practicesOur friends from Chef’s Market show us how to make a perfect Holiday Prime Rib Roast. Chef's Market Catering & Restaurant is located at 900 Conference Dr., Goodlettsville, TN 37072. For more information or menu details visit www.chefsmarket.com or call (615) 851-2433. Look for Chef’s Market on Facebook and @chefs_market on Twitter and Instagram. Holiday Prime Rib Roast Order a bone-in rib roast with the bones cut and tied. You will need one bone for every two guests. When ordering the rib from the butcher ask for a roast with the best marbling. Leave your roast out of the refrigerator long enough for it to be at room temperature. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Mix the butter and herb roast below. 1 cup butter, softened 3cloves garlic, minced 1 Tablespoon thyme, finely chopped 1 Tablespoon oregano, finely chopped 1 Tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped 1 Tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper Before you cook the roast, calculate your cook time. For every pound of rib you will need to cook the ribat 500 degrees for 5 minutes,e.g. If your rib is 5.5pounds you will need to cook the rib at 500 for27 1/2 minutes. If it is 10 pounds, you will need to cook it 50 minutes. Rub the butter herb mixture generously on all sides of the roast. Place in the roasting pan bone side down. Sprinkle kosher salt all over the top of the rib. Quickly place into the middle of the preheated oven and set the timer to the calculated cook time. Once the timer goes off, immediately turn the oven off and set the timer for two hours. It is very important that you do not open the oven during these two hours. After two hours, remove from the oven. You may want to let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing, but because it has rested in the oven, it is ready to serve if that better fits your service time. You can make an au jus by using 1-part wine to 2-parts beef stock. Place your roast pan with the remaining juice on the top of the stove on a burner on low to medium heat. Add the beef stock scraping the side of the pan to deglaze. Add the wine then reduce slightly. Your au jus should not be thick like a gravy or typical sauce.
Florida vs. Florida State stream, where to watch, TV channel, kickoff time, odds, spread, prediction, pick
The Government will block new incinerators if they do not help meet environmental objectives under rules unveiled on Monday. Developers will have to show that their project either helps reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste going to landfill, or replaces an older, less efficient incinerator. The move forms part of the Government’s drive to increase recycling rates, which have held at about 45% of household waste since 2015. Environment minister Mary Creagh said: “For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer. “That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.” Developers will also have to ensure their incinerators are ready for carbon capture technology, and demonstrate how the heat they produce can be used to help cut heating bills for households. The Government expects that its “crackdown” on new incinerators will mean only a limited number are built, while still reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and enabling the country to process the waste it produces. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the country was almost at the point where it had enough waste facilities to handle non-recyclable rubbish, and so had limited need for new incinerators. But the proposals stop short of the plans included in the Conservatives’ 2024 manifesto, which committed to a complete ban on new incinerators due to their “impact on local communities” and declining demand as recycling increased.PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Related Articles National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | United Healthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.
BATAVIA, Ill., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Wire Networks, Inc. (OTCQB: HWNI), a leading global provider of managed cybersecurity, reported results for continuing operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024. All comparisons are to the same year-ago period unless otherwise noted. The following results are from continuing operations following the divesture of the company’s technology enablement services business on June 27, 2024. The company’s current business segments include Overwatch managed cybersecurity services and SVC telecom services. Q3 2024 Operational Highlights Awarded an expanded annual contract renewal to deliver enhanced managed cybersecurity at more than a dozen luxury car dealerships across the West Coast and Midwest U.S. The renewal increases the anticipated annual revenue by fivefold over the previous year. Recognized as top cybersecurity leader in Frost & Sullivan’s managed security services report, Frost RadarTM: Managed Security Services in Americas, 2024 . Appointed veteran cybersecurity thought leader and executive, Edward Vasko, CISSP, as High Wire’s chief operations officer and chief executive officer of the Overwatch managed cybersecurity services division. Vasko brings to High Wire more than 33 years of experience and accomplishment in the cybersecurity industry, including business formation and product development, and leading strategic M&As and major exits. Appointed Mark Dallmeier to the new position of chief revenue officer of Overwatch. Dallmeier brings to Overwatch 27 years of accomplishment in taking technology and managed services companies into ‘hypergrowth.’ Appointed Michael Lieder as senior director of Overwatch Service Delivery and Products. Financial Highlights Revenue from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2024 increased 4% to a record $2.1 million, with revenue for the first nine months up 8% to a record $6.1 million. The increases were primarily due to growth in the company’s Overwatch managed cybersecurity business. Q3 2024 revenue from Overwatch increased 9% to $1.0 million. Operating income for SVC was $103,000, up 600% from the second quarter of 2024, with operating income for the first nine months up 34% to $252,000. Operating expenses decreased 21% to $3.6 million, as compared to $4.6 million in the same year-ago quarter, as the result of the company’s strategic realignment initiative. Net loss from continuing operations in the third quarter totaled $1.7 million or $(0.01) per diluted share, a 56% improvement from a net loss of $3.8 million or $(0.01) per diluted share in the same year-ago quarter. Total liabilities for the third quarter of 2024 decreased $5.9 million to $7.6 million at quarter end from $13.6 million at the end of the same year-ago quarter. Interest expense decreased $1.1 million or 96% to $50,000 in the third quarter of 2024. Management Commentary “In Q3, we saw continued revenue growth from our Overwatch managed cybersecurity and telecom businesses as we began to realize the benefits of the strategic realignment we initiated in the second quarter,” stated High Wire CEO, Mark Porter. “This realignment included the divestiture of our IT enablement services business so we could focus on the greater and more rewarding opportunities in managed cybersecurity. “The strong momentum we’ve experienced with our current business in Q3, including higher average monthly recurring revenue from new and expanded engagements, validates this transition. It also reinforces our strategy of targeting larger channel partners and enterprise-level opportunities in the cybersecurity space. “Our Overwatch growth in the quarter is perhaps even more impressive when considering the distraction of the IT divestiture and our transition to focus on Overwatch. Our sharper focus on Overwatch resulted in the full realignment of our Overwatch management team with certain departures and key news hires designed to better prepare us for the accelerating growth we see ahead. “The new appointments included Ed Vasko as our new Overwatch CEO, Mark Dallmeier as chief revenue officer, and Michael Lieder as senior director of Overwatch’s service delivery and products. Together, they have refined our go-to-market strategy around larger partners, paving the way for strong growth ahead. “During the quarter we also implemented efficiencies that decreased our operating expenses by 21% versus the same year-ago quarter. This substantial improvement demonstrates the effectiveness of our operating strategies and leverage in our model, which includes the application of advanced AI automation and engineering. “Altogether, these efforts have resulted in the largest pipeline of large deals in our company’s history, with several in the final closing stages and supporting our path to profitability. Combined with now a much cleaner capital structure, we are well positioned for an uplisting to a major exchange — especially how the capital markets are looking the best they’ve been in many months. Capable players have expressed strong interest and confidence in helping us with such an endeavor. “Last month, we were honored to be recognized for the fourth consecutive year by MSSP Alert as a Top 100 provider in the managed security service space. This achievement reflects our team's dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions through our Overwatch ecosystem, including managed XDR and advanced edge protection. We believe these solutions meet the evolving needs of our partners and customers like none other on the market today. “Looking ahead, we remain confident in our ability to capitalize on the new foundation we’ve established. Our diversified service offerings in secure voice, combined with enhanced compliance and quality, are attracting new customers and unlocking additional revenue streams. “As we progress through the final quarter of the year and into 2025, we expect accelerating growth with this supporting significant profitability by the second half of the new year. This positive outlook, coupled with the strengthening macroeconomic sentiment among our partners, positions us well for executing our managed cybersecurity strategy and delivering greater shareholder value.” Q3 2024 Financial Summary Revenue in the third quarter of 2024 totaled $2.1 million, an increase of 4% from $2.0 million in the same year-ago quarter. The increase in revenue reflects an increase in revenue from the company’s Overwatch managed cybersecurity business. At the end of the third quarter of 2024, Overwatch was generating monthly recuring revenue of approximately $0.4 million or $4.8 million on an annualized basis. Gross profit totaled $0.7 million or 33.1% of revenue in the third quarter, improving from $0.6 million or 32.6% of revenue in the same year-ago quarter. The increase in gross profit in the third quarter of 2024 was primarily due to the business moving towards a more scalable, efficient cyber platform as well as the efficiencies gained by continued improvements in the company’s automation capabilities. Total operating expenses decreased 21% to $3.6 million compared to $4.6 million from the same year-ago quarter. The decrease is due to decreases in salaries and wages expenses of $0.8 million, general and administrative expenses of $812,000, and depreciation and amortization of $12,000. Net loss from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2024 totaled $1.7 million or $(0.01) per diluted share, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $3.8 million or $(0.01) per diluted share in the same year-ago quarter. Net loss attributable to High Wire Networks common shareholders in the third quarter of 2024 totaled $1.7 million or $(0.01) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million or $(0.01) per diluted share in the same year-ago quarter. First Nine Months of 2024 Financial Summary Revenue in the first nine months of 2024 totaled $6.1 million, an increase of 8% from $5.6 million in the same year-ago period. The increase in revenue reflects the same reasons described above. In the first nine months of 2024, the Overwatch managed cybersecurity business contributed revenue of $3.1 million, as compared to $2.9 million in the same year-ago period. Gross profit totaled $2.4 million or 39.8% of revenue in the first nine months of 2024 as compared to $1.7 million or 29.6% of revenue in the same year-ago period. The increase in gross profit reflects the same reasons described above. Total operating expenses decreased 7% to $12.2 million compared to $13.0 million from the same year-ago period. The decrease is primarily due to decreases in general and administrative expenses of $1.2 million and depreciation and amortization of $6,000. Net loss from continuing operations in the first nine months of 2024 totaled $7.7 million or $(0.03) per diluted share, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $6.4 million or $(0.02) per diluted share in the same year-ago period. Net income attributable to High Wire Networks common shareholders in the first nine months of 2024 totaled $2.0 million or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.5 million or $(0.03) per diluted share in the same year-ago period. The first nine months of 2024 included a gain on the sale of the company’s technology enablement business for approximately $8 million. About High Wire Networks High Wire Networks, Inc. (OTCQB: HWNI) is a fast-growing, award-winning global provider of managed cybersecurity. Through over 200 channel partners, it delivers trusted managed services for more than 1,100 managed security customers worldwide. End-customers include Fortune 500 companies and many of the nation’s largest government agencies. Its U.S. based 24/7 Network Operations Center and Security Operations Center is located in Chicago, Illinois. High Wire was ranked by Frost & Sullivan as a Top 15 Managed Security Service Provider in the Americas for 2024. It was also named to CRN’s MSP 500 and Elite 150 lists of the nation’s top IT managed service providers for 2023 and 2024. Learn more at HighWireNetworks.com . Follow the company on X , view its extensive video series on YouTube or connect on LinkedIn . Forward-Looking Statements The above news release contains forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this document that are not statements of historical fact, including but not limited to, statements identified by the use of terms such as “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “indicate,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and other variations or negative expressions of these terms, including statements related to expected market trends and the Company's performance, are all “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performances and are subject to a wide range of external factors, uncertainties, business risks, and other risks identified in filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any statement is based except as required by applicable law and regulations. High Wire Contact Mark Porter Chief Executive Officer High Wire Networks Tel +1 (952) 974-4000 Email contact Investor & Media Relations: Ronald Both or Grant Stude CMA Investor & Media Relations Tel +1 (949) 432-7557 Email contactJavon Small scored 31 points to rally West Virginia to an 86-78 overtime upset of No. 3 Gonzaga in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Wednesday in Nassau, Bahamas. The Mountaineers (4-1) trailed by 10 points early in the second half and by five in the final minute. But over the final 19 seconds of regulation, Tucker DeVries scored five straight points to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Small scored five points and West Virginia held Gonzaga to a single field goal, which came after the outcome was decided with 19 seconds left. Amani Hansberry added a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds for West Virginia, which advances to the semifinals Thursday against another surprise first-round winner, Louisville, which stunned No. 15 Indiana. Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle added 16 points for Gonzaga (5-1) which settles for a consolation-round game Thursday against Indiana. Nolan Hickman tallied 13 points. Ryan Nembhard delivered seven points and 12 assists for the Bulldogs. Huff put Gonzaga in position to win when he made three hook shots in the final 2:34 of regulation as the Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 69-66 lead. Two free throws by Nembhard expanded the lead to 71-66 with 25 seconds left. But DeVries followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then made a mid-court steal and drew a foul with 5.9 seconds left. His two free throws sent it to overtime. The Mountaineers never trailed in overtime. Sencire Harris wrapped it up with a steal and a breakaway slam that put West Virginia up 84-76 with 26 seconds left. Battle, a transfer from Arkansas, scored eight points in a span of 90 seconds late in the first half as the Bulldogs took control on their way to a 39-31 lead at the break. Gonzaga earned its biggest lead early in the second half when Graham Ike scored inside with an assist from Nembhard to make it 43-33. But West Virginia responded with a 17-2 run, fueled by Small as he hit two 3-pointers and two layups. Hansberry drained a trey and DeVries grinded for a putback layup to give the Mountaineers a 50-45 lead with 12:26 left. DeVries finished the game with 16 points and four blocks. --Field Level Media