
The Mass Leads Act contains a provision that could give ticket resellers powers to restrict where fans can resell or transfer tickets - or prevent them from doing so altogether A new bill signed into law in Massachusetts has been widely criticised for ultimately strengthening Ticketmaster’s monopoly. The Mass Leads Act is an economic development bill focusing on climate technology, life sciences and AI. However, it has a provision that allows ticket sellers to prevent buyers from transferring or reselling tickets, or restrict them to only reselling on the platform where the ticket was bought. This has been criticised for increasing pricing for fans and undercutting market competition. The bill comes just six months after Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, faced an anti-trust lawsuit from the US Justice Department . The suit alleged that the company’s concert promotion and ticketing operations have undermined competition in the live music industry, leading to unfair market leverage, high transaction fees and flawed customer service. The report claims that since the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the enterprise has gone on to control more than 80 per cent of the market for ticket sales in the US. “Massachusetts joined the federal antitrust suit against Live Nation — but now it’s opening the door for Live Nation to strengthen its monopoly by cutting off the transfer of tickets” said Chamber Of Progress Senior Director Of Technology Policy Todd O’Boyle. “Bay Staters are some of the most dedicated sports fans, but this will make it harder for families to support the Red Sox at Fenway. When the General Court reconvenes in 2025, they should fix this anti-fan mistake.” The Boston Globe reports that a coalition of consumer advocacy groups sent a letter to Governor Maura Healey last week saying, “Ticket transferability gives consumers control of their tickets after they purchase them, empowering fans to comparison shop across different marketplaces.” Ticketmaster. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Statistics show that resale marketplaces often save ticket holders a significant amount of money. According to analysis by fan advocacy organisation Protect Ticket Rights, concertgoers in Massachusetts saved $13.87 million when purchasing on resale marketplaces [via Boston.com ]. The consumer advocacy organisation Sports Fans Coalition did a similar study and found that fans across the US saved $351 million by buying tickets to sporting events through the secondary ticket market between 2017 and 2024. In response, Live Nation issued a statement to Stereogum, in which they said: “Broker advocates are masquerading as consumer watchdogs. Fighting this bill protects scalpers who profit off ransoming tickets to the highest bidder. This bill ensures artists and teams have the choice to cap resale and protect their fans from paying two times as much to scalpers. “Suggestions that Ticketmaster buys back tickets to resell them for profit are unequivocally false.” Ticketmaster’s practices have been the subject of significant controversy for a while now, particularly in relation to the Oasis reunion tour next summer . Despite the pair’s strong anti-tout stance and efforts to curb inflated re-sale prices , fans soon discovered that Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing system was in place, which meant that ticket costs increased in response to demand. According to experts, not warning fans prior to the sale may have been a breach of consumer law , and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also called for a review into dynamic pricing and secondary ticket sites. The controversy pulled back into focus Robert Smith ’s endeavours to keep tickets for The Cure shows affordable for fans . In an email to fans last year, The Cure frontman vowed to keep ticket prices reasonable on the band’s US tour, writing: “The Cure have agreed all ticket prices, and apart from a few Hollywood Bowl charity seats, there will be no ‘platinum’ or ‘dynamically priced’ tickets on this tour.” After tickets went on sale, the musician said he was “sickened” by high Ticketmaster fees that were still applied , and subsequently pushed Ticketmaster to give money back for “unduly high” fees . He also asked Ticketmaster to explain why tickets in the promised face value ticket exchange were “weird” and “over priced” . Related Topics Live Music NewsIndian billionaire Gautam Adani on Saturday said "attacks" on his company made it "stronger", days after US prosecutors accused him and other officials of fraud. The November 20 bombshell indictment in New York accused the industrialist and multiple subordinates of deliberately misleading international investors as part of a multi-million-dollar bribery scheme. Addressing the allegations for the first time, the 62-year-old tycoon said his conglomerate was committed to "world-class regulatory compliance". "What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger and every obstacle becomes a stepping stone for a more resilient Adani Group," he said at an awards ceremony in the northern Indian city of Jaipur. Adani is suspected of having participated in a $250 million scheme to bribe Indian officials for lucrative solar energy supply contracts. The billionaire, however, said nobody from his company had been charged with any violation of corruption laws or "any conspiracy to obstruct justice". The US Justice Department said Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and one other official were charged "with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud". Five others were charged "with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act," the department said. On Thursday, Adani's company said it had suffered a loss of nearly $55 billion in market capitalisation across its 11 listed companies since the US indictment was filed. With a business empire spanning coal, airports, cement and media, Adani Group has weathered previous corporate fraud allegations, suffering a similar stock rout last year. The conglomerate saw $150 billion wiped from its market value in 2023 after a report by short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of "brazen" corporate fraud. Adani is a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was at one point the world's second-richest man, and critics have long accused him of improperly benefitting from their relationship. ash/ahaNone
Esports Market Set To Surpass $5 Billion By 2029: What Investors Need To Know
Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City.Influencer Em Davies breaks Tammy Hembrow's strict no children rule at star-studded wedding ceremony...Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week. Subscribe to continue reading this article. 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The new lineup of innovative smartphone models is expected to hit the market in November 2024 which will provide customer satisfaction based on different advanced features and designs. Despite the dwindling smartphone sales, brands such as Realme, Oppo, and Xiaomi are bringing out newer models, spelling spectacular advancements in the display, the camera, and processing in the month. These releases are intended for two primary groups of consumers: those who are willing to get an affordable 5G phone and those who are ready to pay for a gaming phone. Manufacturers are responding to these two types of requirements as well and providing users with suits for all types of devices for all types of uses. Here are some of the best smartphones expected to launch this month. The Realme GT 7 Pro will be launched in China on November 4 with the promise of hitting Indian shores shortly. At a price point of around ₹47,100, this smartphone is quite impressive to have. The screen is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. Powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite, this promises solid performance. There’s also a 50MP triple camera setup for photography fans to play around with. In November, Oppo is introducing its Find X8 series featuring the Find X8 and Find X8 Pro. The MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset is expected to offer improved performance found on these devices. The 6.78” quad-curved LTPO OLED display is expected to bring vibrancy to the visuals with the Find X8 Pro. Both models are designed to provide that premium user experience with their advanced camera systems but in sleek designs. The Asus ROG Phone 9 series will make its debut on November 19. The rich gaming experience is expected to come in delivery to this gaming-focused smartphone that sports a 6.78-inch Full HD + AMOLED display. Featuring Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, it claims processing performance. It will also have a dedicated cooling system to prevent any unwanted issues causing the unit to overheat and crash. In India, this month, Xiaomi will launch the Redmi A4 5G. Being under ₹10,000, this budget-friendly smartphone will be more affordable to a wider audience and 5G will become more accessible in comparison to other smartphones in this segment. The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset will power it and be okay for day-to-day tasks. Its pricing and these essential features are meant to give the device value for money. The iQOO 13 will be unveiled by iQOO in November. The smartphone is claimed to come with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display and a 144MHz refresh rate making the visuals as smooth as possible. It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor which is an announcement of robust performance. Photography enthusiasts will also get a device with a 50MP triple camera setup . Vivo is set to launch the X200 Pro in India soon. This smartphone will pack a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen along with a 120Hz refresh rate, making the visuals silky smooth. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, it delivers raw performance. The other job of the device would be a triple-camera setup at the back with 50MP for photography enthusiasts. These upcoming cell phones presented here, promise the latest technology. Consumers will have choices to suit their needs: that is, all these high-performance gaming phones. Not forgetting budget-friendly 5G devices; all of these present exciting options for November 2024.
Carter 3-10 6-8 13, Edmanson 2-6 3-4 8, Bascoe 5-15 0-0 12, Power-Cassidy 3-8 0-0 9, Webber 2-10 0-0 5, Burke 4-8 0-0 11, Green 1-5 0-0 2, Orihel 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 21-63 9-12 62 Fontleroy 3-8 2-2 9, Littlepage-Buggs 4-6 3-4 11, Vonleh 8-11 3-5 19, Andrews 4-7 4-6 15, Walker 5-8 1-2 11, Abraham 0-0 0-0 0, Felder 3-5 1-2 8, Jennings 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 27-46 14-21 73 3-Point Goals_Villanova 11-24 (Carter 1-2, Edmanson 1-2, Bascoe 2-6, Power-Cassidy 3-4, Webber 1-3, Burke 3-6, Green 0-1), Baylor 5-11 (Fontleroy 1-5, Andrews 3-4, Felder 1-1, Jennings 0-1). Assists_Villanova 15 (Bascoe 7), Baylor 15 (Walker 5). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Villanova 25 (Carter 6, Green 6), Baylor 42 (Fontleroy 9, Littlepage-Buggs 9). Total Fouls_Villanova 20, Baylor 16. Technical Fouls_None. A_158.
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A man living in Southern California has been accused of shipping guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and other military items to North Korea in shipping containers. Shenghua Wen, a 41-year-old Chinese national illegally living in Ontario, California, was Tuesday morning and charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), according to a U.S. Department of Justice release. Violating the IEEPA includes breaking the law by doing business with a sanctioned country or individual despite the restrictions. According to the , it can consist of transferring funds, making payments or conducting trade with a designated entity, potentially leading to severe civil and criminal penalties. If convicted, Wen could be sentenced to a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Court records did not indicate that Wen had legal representation as of Tuesday. According to an affidavit filed Nov. 26, Wen obtained the guns, ammunition and export-controlled technology to ship them to North Korea, which is a violation of federal law and U.S. sanctions against that nation, according to the Justice Department. The shipping containers full of guns and ammunition were allegedly shipped from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea by Wen and his unidentified co-conspirators, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Law enforcement searched Wen's home on Aug. 14 and seized two devices — a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices — that he intended to send to North Korea for military use, according to the Justice Department. A month later, on Sept. 6, law enforcement seized about 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that Wen allegedly obtained to send to North Korea, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. When law enforcement reviewed Wen's iPhone, they learned that in December 2023 he had smuggled items from Long Beach to Hong Kong with their final destination being North Korea, according to the release. Messages from Wen's cell phones revealed conversations he had earlier this year with co-conspirators about shipping military-grade equipment to North Korea, the U.S. Attorney's Office said, adding that the some of texts included photographs of the firearms. From January to April, Wen sent emails and text messages to a U.S.-based broker about obtaining a civilian plane engine, according to the Justice Department. Several text messages were on Wen's iPhone about price negotiations for the plane and its engine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Wen is considered illegal in the U.S. after overstaying his student visa, meaning that he is prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition, according to the release. Wen also does not have the required licenses from the U.S. government to export ammunition, firearms and the other devices that law enforcement seized at his home to North Korea, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.Exclusive-CoreWeave targets valuation of over $35 billion in 2025 US IPO, sources say
No, the president cannot change Social SecurityMontreal Canadiens forward, Patrik Laine, just made the statement of the year during today's press conference. Let's not forget that the new scorer for the Canadiens, acquired a few months ago in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, will be playing his very first career game with the Canadiens tonight! (against the New York Islanders and Patrick Roy) After suffering a knee injury during a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Patrik Laine is finally making his official debut with the Habs tonight. We can't wait. A strong statement in a press conference by Patrik Laine Just a few hours before his highly anticipated season debut, during today's press conference, Laine sent quite a message. I love it! It says so much about the passion and motivation of this young player. Patrik Laine, on making his return at the Bell Centre: Patrik Laine, via Eric Engels (Sportsnet) He's absolutely right! If a player is playing in Montreal, at the Bell Centre, and isn't motivated.. there's something wrong with that player. He's obviously not targeting anyone specifically, but the message is very clear and absolutely on point. For the full press conference, check below, but let's also note that Laine mentioned he didn't sleep much last night because he was so excited to start his day and finally play his first game with the Montreal Canadiens. He will undoubtedly be very excited and nervous, but we're all behind him! This article first appeared on Habs Fanatics and was syndicated with permission.
ETSU 79, Austin Peay 57