None
ITV I'm A Celebrity fans all say the same thing as Coleen Rooney screams in terrorWhen schoolchildren across Texas return to classrooms next fall, thousands could encounter new, Bible-infused lessons. The Texas board of education voted Friday to approve “Bluebonnet Learning,” an optional, state-developed curriculum for public elementary schools that includes Christian teachings like the Gospel of Matthew and Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. The 8-7 vote by Texas officials arrives as Christian nationalist groups nationwide intensify their efforts to inject religion into state curricula. Earlier this month, a federal judge temporarily blocked a Louisiana law requiring every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments by January 1. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, sent a memo in June ordering all 5th through 12th grade teachers to incorporate the Bible into their lesson plans. Similar directives have failed legal tests in the past. The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment is widely interpreted to enshrine church-state separation, prohibiting the government from establishing a national religion or favoring one system of belief over another. But armed with a new conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal judiciary stacked with Donald Trump’s picks, the Christian far right sees a revived opportunity to overturn decades of legal precedent. “With more conservative leaders being elected, and with the U.S. Supreme Court becoming more conservative and issuing a series of decisions weakening the separation of church and state, all of that has emboldened Christian nationalist and other religious right groups,” said Alex J. Luchenister, associate legal director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a lead plaintiff in litigation over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law and the Oklahoma superintendent’s Bible mandate. One of these decisions was issued in 2021, when the Supreme Court found that Maine had to include religious schools in its publicly funded education assistance program. The following year, shortly after issuing the landmark decision that overturned Roe v. Wade , the Supreme Court overturned another six decades of legal precedent in the case Kennedy v. Bremerton . Joseph Kennedy, a high school football coach, had established a practice of leading group prayers in the middle of the field after each game. After attempting to negotiate religious accommodations with Kennedy, the public school district in Bremerton, Washington, ultimately declined to renew his contract, citing fears that his conduct was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court found that the First Amendment protected Kennedy’s public school prayer and safeguarded the inclusion of religious institutions in state school voucher programs. Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in an analysis that, together, these two rulings could render “the lines between church and state hopelessly blurred, if not eliminated altogether.” As a lawyer with Americans United, Luchenister has been fighting the religious right’s attacks on public education for more than 20 years. But, he told Truthout , the organization has seen “much more aggressive efforts by Christian nationalist groups” in the last year alone. “Before that, we weren’t really seeing these kinds of efforts to just defy existing precedent and directly try to push religion into the classroom in a very overt way,” Luchenister said. So far in 2024, Americans United has tracked at least 91 state bills that would promote religion in public schools, including protecting school prayer. That’s nearly double the amount of similar bills that were proposed last year. But in chipping away at foundational constitutional protections, Christian nationalist groups stand to win more than prayer in schools or Bible-based lesson plans. The legal battles playing out in federal courts could give rise to anti-LGBTQ violence and state-sanctioned discrimination against religious minorities. “Children can be made to feel that they’re marginalized, made to feel like outsiders or ostracized by their peers if there’s any indication that they don’t believe in the majority religion,” Luchenister said. “These actions threaten the most vulnerable among schoolchildren in these states.” Still, Luchenister said he thinks that Supreme Court precedent remains a sound bulwark against Christian nationalists’ latest legal attacks, particularly in the Louisiana Ten Commandments lawsuit. After all, the Court already issued a ruling in a near-identical case, Stone v. Graham . In 1980, the justices found that a Kentucky statute requiring public schools to post copies of the Ten Commandments was unconstitutional and violated the First Amendment. Why, then, might state legislators attempt to blatantly defy such clear constitutional protections? Luchenister said Louisiana’s legislation was likely “passed with the intent of trying to trigger a lawsuit” that would make its way through the federal courts, in the hopes that SCOTUS would eventually take it up and overturn the Stone precedent. Indeed, Louisiana has already appealed the district court’s ruling to the 5th Circuit. “We think the Supreme Court continues to recognize the fundamental principle that public school students should not have religion forced upon them in public schools,” Luchenister said. “But maybe we’re overly optimistic.” A report by the Center for American Progress, a progressive policy institute, called the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, “rogue.” In recent years, the 5th Circuit, which oversees Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, has issued a series of decisions that have “allowed extremist lower court judges to issue sweeping, politically fraught rulings.” This approach, the report’s authors write, “has helped undermine the separation of powers, established precedent, and principled legal reasoning to accomplish right-wing policy goals.” The far right groups pushing for legislative change are also well-funded and highly coordinated. The First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit Christian law firm, raked in nearly $25 million last year and has served as co-counsel in several major Supreme Court victories, including Kennedy v. Bremerton . The Alliance Defending Freedom, a far right Christian advocacy organization classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-LGBTQ hate group, says it is involved in “more than 1,000 active legal matters” at any given moment. Both, First Liberty Institute and the Alliance Defending Freedom, serve on the advisory board of Project 2025, a conservative coalition led by the Heritage Foundation that has drafted an extremist policy blueprint for Trump’s second term. “There is a much larger, broader movement that is attempting to erode and destroy the wall between church and state using schools as the vehicle,” said Colleen McCarty, founding executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit against Oklahoma state superintendent Walters, the Oklahoma department of education and the members of the state’s school board. In a CNN interview last week, Walters decried “gaslighting from the left” and “hatred for this country pushed by woke teachers’ unions.” In addition to his Bible education mandate, Walters has demanded that Oklahoma schools screen a video for students that begins with him praying for president-elect Trump, and he recently announced that the first batch of Trump-endorsed “God Bless the USA” Bibles had arrived for public instruction. “President Trump has a clear mandate: He wants prayer back in school. He wants radical leftism out of the classroom,” Walters told the CNN host. “His agenda is crystal clear.”
As a smooth-talking media and political pundit, Colman Domingo ’s Muncie Daniels is used to commenting on politics and the news — not becoming the news — in The Madness . However, his fate will quickly change for the worse when we meet him in the new series. When the CNN personality discovers the dead body of a white supremacist in the woods near where he’s staying in the Poconos, he winds up in the crosshairs of law enforcement and possibly framed for murder — and even his lawyer friend Kwesi (Deon Cole) warns the silver-tongued Muncie, “You’re not going to be able to talk your way out of this.... They are going to pin all this on you.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Gaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the SenateFRISCO, Texas (AP) — A rare win as a double-digit underdog came just in time to let the Dallas Cowboys believe their playoff hopes aren't completely gone in 2024. Cooper Rush probably will need three more victories in a row filling in for the injured Dak Prescott for any postseason talk to be realistic. The thing is, the Cowboys (4-7) could be favored in two of those games, and already are by four points as an annual Thanksgiving Day host against the New York Giants (2-9) on Thursday, according to BetMGM. Not to mention the losing record at the moment for each of the next four opponents for the defending NFC East champions, playoff qualifiers each of the past three seasons. The Cowboys have a chance to make something of the improbable and chaotic 34-26 win at Washington that ended a five-game losing streak. “Behind the eight ball,” Micah Parsons said, the star pass rusher acknowledging the reality that Dallas hadn't done much yet. “Let’s see how we can handle adversity and see if we can make a playoff run. But we got a long way to go.” It was a start, though, powered in part by the best 55 minutes from the Dallas defense since the opener, when the Cowboys dismantled Cleveland and looked the part of a Super Bowl contender. The last five minutes for the Dallas defense against the Commanders looked a lot like most of the nine games after that 33-17 victory over the Browns. Which is to say not very good. Jayden Daniels easily drove Washington 69 yards to a touchdown before throwing an 86-yard scoring pass in the final seconds to Terry McLaurin, who weaved through five defenders when a tackle might have ended the game. The Cowboys kept a 27-26 lead thanks to Austin Seibert's second missed extra point, and withstood another blunder when Juanyeh Thomas returned an onside kick recovery for a TD rather than slide and leave one kneel-down from Rush to end the game. Dallas will have to remember it did hold a dynamic rookie quarterback's offense to 251 yards before the madness of the ending in the Cowboys' biggest upset victory since 2010 at the New York Giants. That one was too late to save the season. This one might not be. “We needed it,” embattled coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s been frustrating, no doubt. We’ve acknowledged that. We’ve got another one right around the corner here, so we have to get some wins and get some momentum.” Rush ended a personal three-game losing streak with his best showing since the previous time he won as the replacement for Prescott, who is out for the season after surgery for a torn hamstring. The 117.6 passer rating was Rush's best as a starter, and the NFL's second-worst rushing attack played a solid complementary role with Rico Dowdle gaining 86 yards on 19 carries. KaVontae Turpin's electrifying 99-yard kickoff return did more than lift the Cowboys when it appeared an 11-point lead might get away in the final five minutes. It eased the worst day of special teams for Dallas since John Fassel took over that phase four years ago. Suddenly struggling kicker Brandon Aubrey had one field-goal attempt blocked and missed another. Bryan Anger had a punt blocked. For the second time in five games, Aubrey's attempt to bounce a kickoff in front of the return man backfired. The ball bounced outside the landing zone, putting the Commanders at the 40-yard line to start the second half and setting up the drive to the game's first touchdown. CB Josh Butler, whose NFL debut earlier this season came five years after the end of his college career, had 12 tackles, a sack and three pass breakups. The pass breakups were the most by an undrafted Dallas player since 1994. Rookie LT Tyler Guyton, who has had an up-and-down season with injuries and performance issues, was benched immediately after getting called for a false start in the fourth quarter. His replacement, Asim Richards, could be sidelined with a high ankle sprain that executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones revealed on his radio show Monday. Veteran Chuma Edoga, who was the projected starter at Guyton's position before a preseason toe injury, was active but didn't play against the Commanders. He's awaiting his season debut. The status of perennial All-Pro RG Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder) and LG Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) will be a question on the short week after both sat against Washington. Stephen Jones indicated Smith could be available and said the same of WR Brandin Cooks, who hasn't played since Week 4 because of a knee issue. TE Jake Ferguson may miss at least a second week with a concussion. The short week might make it tough for CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) to return. 75% — Rush's completion rate, his best with at least 10 passes. He was 24 of 32 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His other game with multiple TDs and no picks was a 25-10 victory over Washington two years ago, when he went 4-1 with Prescott sidelined by a broken thumb. There's some extra rest after the short week, with Cincinnati making a “Monday Night Football” visit on Dec. 9. The next road game is at Carolina on Dec. 15. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflA California man who was reported missing 25 years ago is set to be reunited with his sister after a USA TODAY article published in Ma y alerted the woman to her sibling's whereabouts, authorities announced. The report, which sought to identify an unknown patient at a Los Angeles County hospital, was sent to the woman by a friend of hers, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office in Northern California confirmed on Facebook. The patient was discovered in South Los Angeles on April 15 and taken to the St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, USA TODAY previously reported. Officials at the hospital asked for the public's assistance in identifying the man, who is non-verbal and could not communicate his name. For the next six months, the hospital's social services department was unable to reach any family members for the patient. That all changed on Friday, when his sister told the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office that she believed the unidentified patient was her long lost brother. The sheriff's office has not revealed the name of the man or his family members, citing privacy for the family. Information regarding his health status have also been withheld due to patient confidentiality laws. USA TODAY has reached out to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Francis Medical Center for additional information. Brother reported missing in 1999 The man was reported missing from Doyle, California in 1999 and not heard from since, his sister told the sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Kennemore contacted the hospital, where staff told him the patient had been transferred to different hospital. The second hospital confirmed that the man was in their care and matched the description of the missing person, according to the sheriff’s office. His identity was later confirmed through a fingerprint test conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office. "The family will be reunited soon," the office wrote. "The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to commend Deputy Kennemore on his tenacity with this case. We would also like to thank the Los Angles Police Department for their assistance in identifying the missing man and closing out this 25 year old case."
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.(All financial figures in United States dollars unless otherwise stated) VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (OTCQX: OCANF ) ("OceanaGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Waihi District Pre-feasibility Study ("PFS") results, which includes the existing Waihi operation and the proposed Wharekirauponga underground mine in New Zealand . Waihi District PFS Highlights Initial Mineral Reserve for Wharekirauponga Underground of 4.1 Mt at 9.2 g/t for 1.2 Moz of gold After-tax NPV 5% of $621 million at a gold price of $2,400 per ounce, or $138 million at $1,750 per ounce IRR of 24% at a gold price of $2,400 per ounce, or 9.2% at $1,750 per ounce Gold production of 1.6 Moz over a 15-year mine life at an average All-in Sustaining Cost of $994 per ounce (or $634 per ounce over the Wharekirauponga-only mine life) Significant project upside at Wharekirauponga with ~400 koz of Inferred Resources and recent results confirming the EG Vein Zone mineralization extends a further 270 metres to the south and remains open in all directions Growth capital of $556 million over an 8-year period, expected to be funded from Free Cash Flow First ore from Wharekirauponga Underground expected in 2032 Early-works 2025 capital budget of $40 to $45 million approved for design and construction activities, subject to receipt of necessary permits. Gerard Bond , President & CEO of OceanaGold, said "This PFS is a major milestone for OceanaGold and the Waihi operation. We plan to safely and responsibly develop the Wharekirauponga Underground mine which extends the life of the Waihi operation to at least 2038, while generating strong returns for our shareholders and wider economic benefits for local communities and New Zealand . There remains significant exploration upside at Wharekirauponga, as seen in the exploration results we have released since the June 30, 2024 date of the PFS. The orebody remains open in all directions, with high-grade mineralization now defined to 270 metres beyond existing resources. Drilling is scheduled to continue on the EG Vein Zone in 2025 with the goal of expanding the orebody, extending the life of the Waihi operation and improving the economic returns to all stakeholders." The technical report is prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") with an effective date of June 30, 2024 . The technical report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on our website at www.oceanagold.com . Senior management will host a webcast to discuss the results on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 10:00 am Eastern Time , details of which are provided in this release. See: https://app.webinar.net/DdjR72Pnakx Overview The town of Waihi on the North Island of New Zealand is located approximately 140 kilometres southeast of Auckland and is the location of a significant gold district which has produced an estimated 8 million ounces of gold to date. The PFS for the Waihi District includes the Martha Underground mine ("MUG") and the Wharekirauponga Underground mine ("WUG"). WUG is located approximately 10 kilometres north of Waihi (Figure 1). The Company owns a property (Willows), adjacent to and outside of the Coromandel Forest Park, that will host the main access portal to, and service the development of WUG. For a visual overview of the site and proposed project infrastructure, please see the accompanying VRIFY media at https://vrify.com/meetings/recordings/7bed3b3f-699c-42e0-b243-f219d70af6fa . The PFS is based on Mineral Reserves only and operating metrics reflect the inclusion of both MUG and WUG as they contribute to production. Existing operations at MUG, which have been in active production since 2019, are expected to continue until 2033. Production from WUG is expected to begin in 2032, with first stope ore in 2033 and mining to continue until 2038. Mineral Reserves Mineral Reserves in the Waihi District comprise underground reserves only. The Mineral Reserves estimate as of June 30, 2024 is presented in Table 1. Table 1: MUG and WUG combined Mineral Reserves estimate as of June 30, 2024 Notes: The WUG Mineral Reserves estimate was reviewed and approved by, or is based on information prepared by or under the supervision of, Euan Leslie , MAusIMM CP, the Company's Group Mining Engineer and a qualified person under NI 43-101. The MUG Mineral Reserves estimate was reviewed and approved by, or is based on information prepared by or under the supervision of, David Townsend , MAusIMM CP, the Company's Mining Manager and a qualified person under NI 43-101. Mineral Reserves are reported based on OceanaGold's mine design, mine plan, mine schedule and cash flow model at a gold price of $1,750 /oz. Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 100,000 tonnes. Ounces are estimates of metal contained in the Mineral Reserves and do not include allowances for processing losses. Ounces are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand ounces. All figures have been rounded; totals may therefore not sum exactly. Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Gold ounces are reported as troy ounces and "g/t" represents grams per tonne. All key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate Mineral Reserves and the data verification procedures followed are set out in the technical report titled " NI 43-101 Technical Report – Waihi District Pre-feasibility Study, New Zealand " dated December 11, 2024 with an effective date of June 30, 2024 (the "Technical Report"), which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com . Mineral Resources The Mineral Resources estimate at the Waihi District comprise both open pit and underground resources. The Mineral Resource estimate as of June 30, 2024 for Waihi is presented in Table 2. Table 2: Summary of Mineral Resources estimate as of June 30, 2024 Notes: Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral Resources estimates were prepared by or under the supervision of, Leroy Crawford-Flett , MAusIMM CP, the Company's Exploration and Geology Manager and a qualified person under NI 43-101. Mineral Resources are reported at a gold price of $1,950 /oz. Mineral Resources estimate for MUG is reported below the MOP5 design and constrained to within a conceptual underground design based upon the incremental cut-off grade of 2.15 g/t Au. Mineral Resources estimate for WUG is reported within a conceptual underground design at a 2.10 g/t Au cut-off grade. Mineral Resources estimates for Martha Open Pit ("MOP") and Gladstone Open Pit ("GOP") are reported within conceptual pit designs and incremental cut-off grades of 0.50 g/t Au and 0.56g/t Au, respectively. The MOP conceptual pit design is limited by infrastructural considerations. Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Gold ounces are reported as troy ounces and "g/t" represents grams per tonne. No dilution is included in the reported figures and no allowances for processing or mining recoveries have been made. All figures have been rounded; totals may therefore not sum exactly. All key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate Mineral Resources and the data verification procedures followed are set out in the Technical Report, which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com . Mineral Resource close out dates for data used in the estimation are as follows: MUG – June 11, 2024 ; MOP – February 1, 2024 ; WUG – April 24, 2024 ; GOP – September 1, 2022 . PFS Operating Summary The Waihi District PFS covers the current operating Martha underground mine ("MUG") and the new Wharekirauponga underground mine ("WUG"). MUG and WUG are expected to produce a combined 1.6 million ounces of payable gold over a 15 year mine life (2024-2038) with peak production of 253 koz of gold in 2035 and a life-of-mine average All-In Sustaining Cost ("AISC") of $994 per ounce (Figure 2). MUG is expected to be the primary ore source until 2033, when mining transitions to WUG. A mill expansion to 0.8 Mtpa is also included in the PFS, which begins to process at the increased throughput levels in 2033. WUG begins commercial production in 2033 with an average AISC of $634 per ounce, demonstrating the strong margins of this high-grade orebody. Project Economics At a Reserve gold price assumption of $1,750 per ounce, the Waihi District generates pre-tax and after-tax NPV 5% values of $259 million and $138 million respectively, and an IRR of 9.2%. Using a flat $2,400 per ounce gold price over the life of the operation, the project is estimated to produce pre-tax and after-tax NPV 5% values of $902 million and $621 million respectively, and an IRR of 24.0%. Table 3: PFS economic results Capital and Operating Costs The total non-sustaining capital investment for the Waihi District is estimated to be $556 million , spread over eight years (Table 4) beginning in 2025. Growth capital expenditures include WUG mine development, surface infrastructure, expansion of the process plant and water treatment plant and construction of a new tailings storage facility ("TSF"). WUG is accessed via 6.5 kms of underground development from surface, with two ventilation shafts to be located in the Coromandel Forest Park. Table 4: Total capital cost summary ($M) Total life of mine operating costs are summarized in Table 5. Table 5: Operating cost summary ($M & $/t) Permitting The New Zealand government Fast-track Approvals Bill (the "Bill") was formally introduced into the New Zealand Parliament on March 7 , 2024. It has completed the process of parliamentary sub-committee review and is expected to be enacted by the New Zealand Parliament imminently and become effective in the first quarter of 2025. In October 2024 , the New Zealand Government named the Waihi North Project ("WNP"), including WUG, as a listed project that will be eligible to apply for approvals through processes under the Bill once the Bill becomes law. Key permitting and schedule assumptions included in the PFS are: The Bill will be passed and the fast-track process will be open for applications before the end of March 2025 ; The WNP Fast-track application including the supporting Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) will be lodged in March 2025 ; and Fast-track approvals to commence construction will be granted to OceanaGold by the end of November 2025 . Early-works construction, including infrastructure at Willows (the main underground portal site), the water treatment plant and services trench, is expected to begin in the second half of 2025 and enables the decline and underground development to commence in late 2026. Development of WUG and the Waihi North Project generally has the potential to create significant socio-economic contributions for the communities in the Waihi region and for New Zealand . This includes significant in-country investment and a substantial increase in direct and indirect employment opportunities, with the project having the potential to extend operation of the Waihi operation to and beyond 2038. Company tax payments in New Zealand are estimated at $482 million (NZ$790 million) at a $2,400 /oz gold price. OceanaGold operates to the highest environmental and social standards which has enabled it to run a successful and responsible mining business in New Zealand for over three decades. Next Steps Detailed engineering and design work is ongoing for the services trench, the water treatment plant upgrade, and bulk earthworks for Willows Facilities area (at the WUG underground portal site). The services trench will connect power, water and telecommunications from the existing process plant to the portal site. Geotechnical investigations will continue to enable detailed portal boxcut and waste rock stack design, and the first 1.5 km of decline to the first ventilation shaft. These activities are included in the $40 to $45 million approved capital budget for 2025. Future drilling programs at Wharekirauponga and Martha target both resource conversion and growth. A broad development and drilling strategy is planned with the objective to both grow and convert Wharekirauponga resources along the EG Vein and parallel hanging wall and footwall veins as well as further test the mineralized T-Stream and Western Veins immediately to the west. The current focus of drilling is the EG Vein and the hanging wall and footwall veins and the continuation and conversion of high-grade mineralization further to the southwest. Currently ~400,000 ounces of Inferred Mineral Resource at a grade of 9.6 g/t Au have also been defined (as of June 30, 2024 ) in the central and northern area of the EG Vein Zone available for conversion. Approximately 17,700 metres of drilling is planned and budgeted for Wharekirauponga and Martha in 2025. Webcast Details Senior management will host a webcast to discuss the results on Thursday December 12, 2024 at 10:00 am Eastern Time . To register, please copy and paste the link into your browser: https://app.webinar.net/DdjR72Pnakx If you are unable to attend the webcast, a recording will be made available on the Company's website. About OceanaGold OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America ; Didipio Mine in the Philippines ; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand . For further information please contact: Qualified Persons Except as otherwise set out herein, the scientific and technical information in this press release relating to the Waihi operation was reviewed and approved by, or is prepared by or under the supervision of Euan Leslie , MAusIMM CP, David Townsend , MAusIMM CP and Leroy Crawford-Flett , MAusIMM CP, each of whom is an employee of the Company and a qualified person under NI 43-101. The scientific and technical information in this press release relating to exploration matters was reviewed and approved by, or is prepared by or under the supervision of, Craig Feebrey, MAusIMM, the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Exploration Officer and a qualified person under NI 43-101. Technical Report For further information, please refer to the Technical Report available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name and on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com . Cautionary Statement for Public Release This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: expansion of the Waihi operation based on the results of the PFS; the PFS representing production growth; timing, amount and duration of future production and mill processing expansion; future AISC and Free Cash Flow; the price of gold; estimated capital and operating costs; ability to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated and extend forecasted mine life for the Waihi operation; expectations regarding forward drilling programs; the estimates of NPV and IRR from the Waihi operation; expectations regarding the ability to obtain the necessary permits and approvals for the PFS, the timing of early-works construction and decline and underground development, and the creation of significant socioeconomic contributions for the communities in the Waihi region and for New Zealand ; future growth; results of operations; and business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. They include, among others, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Cautionary Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures This press release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, including AISC and Free Cash Flow. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with OceanaGold's consolidated financial statements. Readers should refer to OceanaGold's Q3 2024 Management's Discussion & Analysis dated November 6, 2024 available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.com under OceanaGold's name and OceanaGold's website at www.oceanagold.com under the heading "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" for a more detailed discussion of how OceanaGold calculates such measures and a reconciliation of such measures to IFRS terms. SOURCE OceanaGold Corporation
Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be differentFeds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’FRISCO, Texas (AP) — A rare win as a double-digit underdog came just in time to let the Dallas Cowboys believe their playoff hopes aren't completely gone in 2024. Cooper Rush probably will need three more victories in a row filling in for the injured Dak Prescott for any postseason talk to be realistic. The thing is, the Cowboys (4-7) could be favored in two of those games, and already are by four points as an annual Thanksgiving Day host against the New York Giants (2-9) on Thursday, according to BetMGM. Not to mention the losing record at the moment for each of the next four opponents for the defending NFC East champions, playoff qualifiers each of the past three seasons. The Cowboys have a chance to make something of the improbable and chaotic 34-26 win at Washington that ended a five-game losing streak. “Behind the eight ball,” Micah Parsons said, the star pass rusher acknowledging the reality that Dallas hadn't done much yet. “Let’s see how we can handle adversity and see if we can make a playoff run. But we got a long way to go.” It was a start, though, powered in part by the best 55 minutes from the Dallas defense since the opener, when the Cowboys dismantled Cleveland and looked the part of a Super Bowl contender. The last five minutes for the Dallas defense against the Commanders looked a lot like most of the nine games after that 33-17 victory over the Browns. Which is to say not very good. Jayden Daniels easily drove Washington 69 yards to a touchdown before throwing an 86-yard scoring pass in the final seconds to Terry McLaurin, who weaved through five defenders when a tackle might have ended the game. The Cowboys kept a 27-26 lead thanks to Austin Seibert's second missed extra point, and withstood another blunder when Juanyeh Thomas returned an onside kick recovery for a TD rather than slide and leave one kneel-down from Rush to end the game. Dallas will have to remember it did hold a dynamic rookie quarterback's offense to 251 yards before the madness of the ending in the Cowboys' biggest upset victory since 2010 at the New York Giants. That one was too late to save the season. This one might not be. “We needed it,” embattled coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s been frustrating, no doubt. We’ve acknowledged that. We’ve got another one right around the corner here, so we have to get some wins and get some momentum.” What's working Rush ended a personal three-game losing streak with his best showing since the previous time he won as the replacement for Prescott, who is out for the season after surgery for a torn hamstring. The 117.6 passer rating was Rush's best as a starter, and the NFL's second-worst rushing attack played a solid complementary role with Rico Dowdle gaining 86 yards on 19 carries. What needs help KaVontae Turpin's electrifying 99-yard kickoff return did more than lift the Cowboys when it appeared an 11-point lead might get away in the final five minutes. It eased the worst day of special teams for Dallas since John Fassel took over that phase four years ago. Suddenly struggling kicker Brandon Aubrey had one field-goal attempt blocked and missed another. Bryan Anger had a punt blocked. For the second time in five games, Aubrey's attempt to bounce a kickoff in front of the return man backfired. The ball bounced outside the landing zone, putting the Commanders at the 40-yard line to start the second half and setting up the drive to the game's first touchdown. Stock up CB Josh Butler, whose NFL debut earlier this season came five years after the end of his college career, had 12 tackles, a sack and three pass breakups. The pass breakups were the most by an undrafted Dallas player since 1994. Stock down Rookie LT Tyler Guyton, who has had an up-and-down season with injuries and performance issues, was benched immediately after getting called for a false start in the fourth quarter. His replacement, Asim Richards, could be sidelined with a high ankle sprain that executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones revealed on his radio show Monday. Veteran Chuma Edoga, who was the projected starter at Guyton's position before a preseason toe injury, was active but didn't play against the Commanders. He's awaiting his season debut. Injuries The status of perennial All-Pro RG Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder) and LG Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) will be a question on the short week after both sat against Washington. Stephen Jones indicated Smith could be available and said the same of WR Brandin Cooks, who hasn't played since Week 4 because of a knee issue. TE Jake Ferguson may miss at least a second week with a concussion. The short week might make it tough for CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) to return. Key number 75% — Rush's completion rate, his best with at least 10 passes. He was 24 of 32 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His other game with multiple TDs and no picks was a 25-10 victory over Washington two years ago, when he went 4-1 with Prescott sidelined by a broken thumb. Next steps There's some extra rest after the short week, with Cincinnati making a “Monday Night Football” visit on Dec. 9. The next road game is at Carolina on Dec. 15. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy threw one short pass in the open portion of practice for the San Francisco 49ers as he remains slowed by an injury to his throwing shoulder that has already forced him to miss a game. Purdy spent the bulk of the session of Wednesday's practice open to reporters as either a spectator or executing handoffs outside of one short pass to Jordan Mason. Purdy hurt his shoulder during a loss to Seattle on Nov. 17. He tried to throw at practice last Thursday but had soreness in his right shoulder and shut it down. He missed a loss to Green Bay but was able to do some light throwing on Monday. His status for this week remains in doubt as the Niners (5-6) prepare to visit Buffalo on Sunday night. Purdy isn't the only key player for San Francisco dealing with injuries. Left tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa remain sidelined at practice Wednesday after missing last week's game. Williams was using a scooter to get around the locker room as he deals with a left ankle injury. Bosa has been out with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Bosa said the week off helped him make progress and that he hopes to be able to take part in individual drills later in the week. Bosa wouldn't rule out being able to play on Sunday. "It’s feeling a lot better,” Bosa said. “Still need to get better before I’m ready to go. This week will be big and I’ll know a lot more in the next couple of days.” Running back Christian McCaffrey has been able to play, but isn't back to the form that helped him win AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 after missing the first eight games this season with Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has 149 yards rushing in three games back with his 3.5 yards per carry down significantly from last season's mark of 5.4. But he is confident he will be able to get back to his usual level of play. “When you lose and maybe you don’t jump out on the stat sheet, your failures are highlighted,” he said. “I’m happy I’m out here playing football and I just know with time it will come.” Coach Kyle Shanahan said he has liked what he has seen from McCaffrey, adding that there hasn't been much room to run in recent weeks. But Shanahan said it takes time to get back to speed after McCaffrey had almost no practice time for nine months. “Guys who miss offseasons and miss training camp, usually it takes them a little bit of time at the beginning of the year to get back into how they were the year before, let alone missing half the season also on top of that,” Shanahan said. “I think Christian’s doing a hell of a job. But to just think him coming back in Week 8 with not being able to do anything for the last nine months or whatever it is, and to think he’s just going to be in MVP form is a very unrealistic expectation.” NOTES: LB Dre Greenlaw took part in his first practice since tearing his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl. Greenlaw will likely need a couple of weeks of practice before being able to play. ... LB Fred Warner said he has been dealing with a fracture in his ankle since Week 4 and is doing his best to manage the pain as he plays through it. ... CB Deommodore Lenoir didn't practice after banging knees on Sunday. His status for this week remains in question. ... DT Jordan Elliott (concussion), OL Aaron Banks (concussion) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) also didn't practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLWest Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis
Social enterprises face a unique set of challenges as they navigate economic viability as well as their commitment to a social purpose. Social enterprises share properties with both businesses and not-for profits (NFT). If businesses are traditionally profit-first, and NFPs are characterized as mission-first or purpose-lead, then social enterprises are somewhere in the middle, combining aspects from business, like revenue from sales and market responsiveness, with elements of NFPs, such as being built on a social mission and a community focus. According to Sally Osberg, president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation, and Roger Martin, former dean of the Rotman School of Management, “to succeed, these ventures must adhere to both social goals and stiff financial constraints. Typically, the aim is to benefit a specific group of people, permanently transforming their lives by altering a prevailing socioeconomic equilibrium that works to their disadvantage”. Based on the complexities arising from balancing both mission and profit, it's no wonder that many social enterprises, and the social entrepreneurs who shepherd them, face challenges along the way. Challenges For Social Enterprises In interviews with current social entrepreneurs, academics, and social enterprise consultants, a number of common themes emerged as challenges uniquely encountered by social enterprises. The Cost Of Passion CEO and Principal Consultant of CRSE Group Carmel Riley shared, “our biggest challenge is protecting our mental health and wellbeing - our whole heart goes into every intentional action every day”. Riley went on to explain the personal costs faced by those who follow their passions: “we are skilled at overcoming obstacles and navigating grassroots change in a way that the system cannot do, however, if we do not have means to prioritize self-care, it comes at a personal cost”. Pulled In Both Directions Dr Jon Hewitt, RMIT University researcher of fashion-based social enterprise, noted “social enterprise leaders often grapple with balancing social and commercial goals, navigating limited resources, and building consumer trust”. Adding to this theme, founder of 3P Impact Alan Taylor said, “these challenges are compounded by societal attitudes that prioritize profit over purpose, often reducing mission-driven work to a 'cost'. This view overlooks the profound losses (environmental, social, and cultural) that occur when purpose is undervalued”. Working within a profit-driven economy forces social enterprises to compete against lower cost and sometimes unethically sourced products and services. From Intent To Action More importantly, those interviewed provided actionable recommendations to move from good intentions to impactful action. Collaboration and Community “The best way is through collaboration—no single leader or enterprise possesses all the skills needed to deliver every outcome, stated Susanna Bevilacqua, Founder and Director of Moral Fairground. “By taking intentional action in partnerships and leveraging the strengths of others, social enterprise leaders can achieve greater impact together than they could alone.” The importance of collaboration was noted by all of those interviewed. Taylor added the following: “no matter how capable we are, we can’t do everything alone. A connected community provides support to lift us when we’re down, unblock us when we’re stuck, and help solve challenges we can’t tackle on our own”. Personal Wellbeing Other advice to social entrepreneurs focused on self-care and wellbeing. Riley advised, “be unapologetic about nurturing and protecting your wellbeing first, in order to be available for others”. To further look after for yourself and noting the importance of community, Riley added, “recognize the intensity of your passion can have unintended consequences and distance others. You need to find ways to temper your passion in a way that brings people along with you”. Balancing Profit And Purpose While there may be many challenges for those who balance profit and purpose, there is also great opportunity for social impact . With these tips from social enterprise founders, researchers, and consultants, aspiring social entrepreneurs can take action to build up their communities, engage in collaboration, and ensure their own wellbeing.
OTTAWA — Defence Minister Bill Blair said Monday that he's ready to work with the incoming Donald Trump administration to speed up Canada's timeline to meet its NATO alliance spending targets. Canada committed last year to meet the NATO members' pledge to spend at least two per cent of GDP on national defence and in July Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to hitting that target by 2032. At a Canada Global Affairs Institute conference on that commitment in Ottawa Monday, Blair told military industry representatives that Canada will need some outside assistance to do it faster. "They want us to go faster, and I'm ready to go faster," he said, when speaking about dealing with the next administration. Blair said he is asking the defence industry and American officials for "help" because much of what the Canadian Armed Forces has to acquire comes from America's military-industrial complex, and the "regimes that are currently in place for military sales, congressional approvals — even the rules with respect to how I engage with their industries, frankly, are slowing us down." He said 2032 is a "long way off" — even "too long." But Blair considers the conflict over two per cent to be "settled," since Ottawa has committed to a plan. The comments come as the Liberal government is facing stepped-up criticism from U.S. politicians and others for falling far behind what other alliance members spend. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said in a public talk at the recent Halifax International Security Forum, a glitzy confab that gathers lawmakers and military leaders from around the world to discuss global security threats, that Canada's timeline "truly has to be better than that." Trump has bristled over countries failing to meet the two per cent target, and Risch said president-elect would let out a "very large guffaw" at Canada's current timeline. Goldy Hyder, head of the Business Council of Canada, said the 2032 target leaves Canada exposed heading into trade talks with the next administration. "We're late to the game," he said. "You can't enter a year in which you're having a review and renewal of the most important trade agreement in our country on the back foot, you can't be on the defensive — and that's what we clearly are." His organization released a report Monday calling on the government to bring in a raft of reforms to defence procurement, including to build up Canada's domestic defence industry base and speed up the plan to reach the NATO target to 2030, then raise it to three per cent by 2035. Speaking at the 70th annual session of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Montreal on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the Liberal record on defence spending, saying the government stepped up "big time" after it came to power in November 2015. In 2015-16 Canada's defence spending had fallen below one per cent of GDP. It's expected to be 1.37 per cent this year. Trudeau said the country is now on a "clear path" to meet the two per cent spending pledge, something Canada committed to spend annually at the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Canada consistently ranks at the back of the pack among NATO allies when it comes to how much it shells out on its military as a share of its GDP. The office of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said this summer that a future Conservative government would "work towards meeting Canada's NATO spending commitment," though the party has not produced its own timeline. David Perry, President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said Trudeau's government has stepped up defence spending in its time in office, but is still struggling to spend money fast enough. "They're not yet getting money out the door at a rate that's going to get us to two per cent of GDP by 2032," he said. "The next five to six months are really going to tell us a lot about whether they can actually hit a really aggressive ramp-up the way they have been planning." "It's just taking longer and slower than everybody had hoped." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian PressNoneAt its November 18 meeting, Sarnia City Council approved amendments to a zoning by-law to permit the development of a three-storey affordable housing project on Kathleen Avenue, just west of Indian Road. The current bylaw requires 75 parking spaces for the project, which includes 50 one-bedroom units and a 120-square-meter office space. However, only 31 parking spaces are proposed. City staff reviewed the motion in the context of the Provincial Planning Statement, Lambton County, and City Official Plans and deemed it appropriate. The Provincial Planning Statement supports the achievement of complete communities and requires municipalities to permit and facilitate a range of housing options that address the social, health, economic, and well-being requirements of current and future residents. Councillor Terry Burell inquired whether a study had been conducted on parking demand in similar units. Jordan Fohkens, a planning consultant for the project, stated that the County of Lambton already owns and manages several apartment properties with similar parking rates to those being proposed, which he believes are justified. He highlighted that the development is well-served by transit and is close to commercial amenities. Councillor Anne Marie Gillis raised concerns about the development’s proximity to green spaces but was reassured that several options are nearby. The resolution for the zoning bylaw amendment passed unanimously. “We’re very pleased with Council’s decision,” said Melisa Johnson, Manager of Housing Services for the County of Lambton. Construction of the rent-geared-to-income (RGI) affordable housing project on Kathleen Avenue is slated for spring 2025, with occupancy expected by the fall of 2026. Of the 50 units, 14 are supported by the March of Dimes for people with permanent physical disabilities. The other 36 units will be allocated to those on the County’s centralized waiting list, which currently has 943 individuals on it. “This will not fill needs for everyone,” says Johnson, “but it will allow us to move 36 units off that waitlist and into permanent affordable housing.”Retiring Naeher is proud of her achievements and looking forward to USWNT's next generation
None