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Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’Competent federal oversight could have prevented fatal migrant bus crash (Editorial Board Opinion)50 Cent opens Las Vegas Strip production amid Eminem buzz5 winners and 3 losers from Lions win over Colts, Detroit needs its starting corners back as soon as possible
The Indian Premier League ( IPL ) is on a remarkable growth streak, with the top 10 franchises seeing their combined revenue more than double to ₹6,797 crore in FY24 from ₹3,082 crore in the previous year, according to financial data from Tofler. Experts attributed the surge to the league's soaring commercial appeal, powered by smart media partnerships and lucrative sponsorship deals. The primary catalyst for growth was the record ₹48,390 crore media rights deal signed in 2022 between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Disney Star and Viacom18, who have since combined to form JioStar. In addition to broadcasting revenue, the BCCI secured over ₹4,000 crore from multi-year sponsorship agreements with major brands, including Tata Group, My11Circle, Ceat , and Angel One. According to a recent Brand Finance report, IPL's brand value has grown by 13% to reach $12 billion in 2024 compared to 2023, up from its $2 billion valuation in 2009. Notably, four franchises-Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)-have crossed the $100 million mark in brand value. Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Design Microsoft Designer Guide: The Ultimate AI Design Tool By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program You Might Also Like: At $12 bn brand value, IPL is star among sports leagues "The three key drivers of growth for IPL teams are the central revenue pool, which includes media rights and sponsorship income, team-specific sponsorships, and gate revenue. In FY24, media rights income reached record levels, providing a substantial boost," said Ajimon Francis, managing director of Brand Finance India. "Similarly, team sponsorships saw significant growth, contributing to increased financial stability. Additionally, gate revenue experienced a positive shift, driven by higher ticket prices and full capacity utilisation at stadiums, further enhancing overall revenue for IPL teams," he added. The financial performance of IPL franchises last fiscal marked a remarkable turnaround, with most teams reporting doubling of revenue and improved profitability. Leading the charge were Gujarat Titans (GT), MI, and CSK, who set new financial benchmarks, while Punjab Kings (PK) emerged as the most profitable franchise. GT, owned by CVC Capital, topped the revenue charts with ₹776 crore, more than doubling from ₹359 crore in FY23. MI followed closely with ₹737 crore, more than doubling from ₹358 crore. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Jay Mehta, also more than doubled revenue to ₹698 crore from ₹322 crore. CSK, backed by former BCCI president N Srinivasan, generated ₹676 crore compared to ₹292 crore in FY23. RP Sanjiv Goenka Group's Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) posted a 144% growth, with revenue soaring to ₹695 crore from ₹285 crore. Diageo-owned RCB recorded ₹650 crore in revenue, marking the highest percentage growth at 163%. Other franchises, including Punjab Kings (PK) with ₹664 crore (up 141%) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) with ₹662 crore (up 119%) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with ₹659 crore (138%), also reported strong gains. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
I t was a day of reflection, celebration and inspiration as the Combermere School honoured its students’ achievements for 2023/2024. Under the theme Continuing the Tradition of Excellence, the school held its annual speech day and prize-giving ceremony, at the campus on Friday, celebrating academic excellence and sporting achievements, even as it looked forward to a future of continued success. Ryan Brathwaite, chief executive officer of Ticket Linkz and Hackleton Construction, himself a former Combermere head boy in delivering the feature address, reminded students that excellence is not determined by privilege, wealth, or social connections, but by “character, ability, and commitment to values”. Making it clear that “excellence is not perfection” but “a commitment to constant growth,” Brathwaite urged students to embrace challenges, learn from their failures, and constantly strive to become the best version of themselves. “Excellence is who we are, but it is evident in all that we do,” Brathwaite said. “Combermere is more than just a school; it is a tradition, a legacy, a family. Today, we reflect on the theme of Continuing the Tradition of Excellence , and we are reminded of the profound responsibility we all share to carry this theme forward.” Chairman of the school’s Board of Management Captain Rev Al Walcott in his welcome remarks spoke of the importance of celebrating the hard work and dedication of students. He, however, reminded the students that their achievements, thus far, are not the end, but rather a foundation for even greater success. You Might Be Interested In Ross University opens Barbados campus UWI supports innovation for regional growth St George Secondary closed next week “It is a time of celebration where we honour the students who have worked extremely hard in developing their academic careers,” he said. “I pray that this will not be the end of your endeavours to reach high academic standings but a platform upon which you can continue to build and build towards developing a life of achievement, value, and success.” Principal Robin Douglas reflected on the students’ achievements of the past year. In his principal’s report, he highlighted the school’s academic achievements for the 2023-2024 year. At the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, Principal Douglas stated that the school offered 23 subjects and had an overall pass rate of 82 per cent. Notably, 15 per cent of students earned Grade l passes, while 37 per cent achieved Grade ll passes. Furthermore, he said, subjects such as Industrial Technology, Physical Education & Sport, and Theatre Arts achieved a perfect pass rate of 100 per cent. At the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level, Combermere achieved a 94 per cent overall pass rate across 26 subjects. Out of 45 units offered, 36 had pass rates above 80 per cent, with 21 of those units receiving 100 per cent passes. In addition to academic triumphs, Combermere’s sporting achievements for the year were a source of pride for the entire school community. The school dominated the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championship (BSSACC) 2024, emerging as double champions. They also performed admirably in netball, cricket, and football. Looking ahead, Principal Douglas said, the faculty will continue to prioritise the growth and development of students, striving to provide them with the tools they need. “Combermere School continues to move forward with the mission to facilitate student achievement to their greatest potential,” Douglas said. “We will ensure that the tradition of excellence at Combermere is emblazoned upon the fabric of the Barbadian spirit, that it continues its contribution to society in this new world. . .” Before the ceremony began, the school’s Steel Orchestra played a selection of popular hits creating a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere that had the audience tapping their feet in rhythm. There were a number of other performances by students, including dance and song.
The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”Its that time of the year again! Mercury is at it once again. Starting November 25, Mercury goes retrograde one last time this year as it sends us all in massive mood swings until December 15. Experts claim that mercury retrograde can influence communication, travel, technology, leading to misunderstandings, delay, and even equipment malfunctions. Let’s understand this phenomenon better and how it can affect your mood. What Is Mercury Retrograde?Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion that occurs when the planet Mercury appears to move backwards in the night sky. However, in reality, the Earth briefly overtakes Mercury in its orbit. This creates the visual effect that the planet is moving in reverse. Speaking of this astrologically, retrogrades — which occur in other planets, too — are thought to impede the realms that the planet governs. Since Mercury rules communication, information and travel, the retrograde period is believed to hamper these areas. During Mercury retrograde, we may feel pressured, act impulsively or blurt things out. However, it is important to take a moment to reflect before acting and be mindful. Nicholas Campion, professor of cosmology and culture at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, while speaking to BBC said, "Modern astrologers who believe in the influence of Mercury retrograde think it means plans are going to be put on hold or that it is a bad time to start a new job or begin something new. It is very much a feature of a particular strand of western astrology. He further added, "Western astrology now spreads all over the world through social media and apps, so it is becoming global." Dhara Patel of the National Space Centre in Leicester says, "While astronomy and astrology may have been more closely rooted in the past, the general scientific consensus at present is that astronomical phenomena like retrogrades don't have any predictable effect on people's lives." Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Astrology and around the world.
High-profile political donor and Climate 200 convenor Simon Holmes a Court has hurled lofty allegations at the major parties in response to attempts to crack down on excessive political donations. Labor’s Special Minister of State Don Farrell has introduced electoral reform legislation to “cap campaign spending, limit the disproportionate influence of big donors, and stop the arms race of donation drives and endless fundraising”. The attempt to “protect and strengthen our democracy” has attracted scorn from Mr Holmes a Court, one of Australia’s most covertly powerful people , who has accused Labor and the Coalition of attempting to “rig” the electoral system. The legislation currently before parliament could jeopardise his ability to provide enormous financial backing to independent Teal candidates after Climate 200 bankrolled more than 20 candidates in the 2022 federal election. Climate 200, convened by Mr Holmes a Court, plunged almost $13 million into backing “community independents” which resulted in the election of seven new and four existing Teal MPs and Senators. In response to Labor’s electoral reform bill, Mr Holmes a Court has accused Labor and the Coalition of working together to “rig” the electoral system in a post shared to his 120,000 followers on social media. Mr Holmes a Court has also shared posts which label the reforms as “bad for democracy” and which said they would “entrench (Labor and the Coalition’s) duopoly, give themselves buckets of public money and screw everyone else”. His statements have drawn criticism for potentially inciting distrust in Australia's democratic processes, especially after US President-elect Donald Trump made similar “rigging” claims following the 2020 US election. Special Minister of State Don Farrell, who has spearheaded the reform effort, has defended the changes as necessary to ensure fairness in elections and reduce the outsized influence of large donors. Mr Farrell told SkyNews.com.au he “completely rejected” any suggestion the reform was part of a “stitch-up between the major parties”. “This is all about ensuring that ordinary Australians can participate in the electoral process and that you don't have to be a mate of a billionaire to participate in that electoral process," Mr Farrell said. In response to Teal MPs who have claimed the bill was being rushed through parliament, Mr Farrell explained the legislation had been discussed for “more than two and a half years”. “We've got a proposal, we've circulated it to all of the political parties, we've offered meetings about it. I'm hopeful that the rest of the Parliament will see the merit in taking big money out of the Australian electoral system,” he said. “We don't want an American-style electoral system. We want to protect and promote the Australian electoral system. This is all about transparency, it's all about accountability, and it's all about fairness.” Deputy Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and Liberal Senator James McGrath has also voiced concerns about the rhetoric used by Mr Holmes a Court and its potential impact on democratic trust. “It think any language that undermines our electoral system and the good people that work night and day to make it as safe and secure as possible is dangerous and disrespectful,” he told SkyNews.com.au. “It seems the Teals and their donors are more worried about keeping their jobs than actually focussing on the issues affecting Australians. “Anyone in the political sphere has a responsibility to uphold and respect the terms of our democratic system. Anyone who undermines our system in any way for the sake of political gain has no place in politics.” While the Coalition has not publicly supported the bill, Mr McGrath said, “The Coalition will always look seriously at proposals to improve our democracy. We would encourage rich donors who back the Teals to do the same." Australia’s political landscape has seen a surge in the influence of donor-funded independent campaigns, with Climate 200 supporting 23 candidates at the last federal election, 11 of whom were elected. Mr Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 initiative has faced scrutiny for its significant financial contributions to independent candidates. At the last election, Climate 200 provided $740,000 to Teal MP Allegra Spender’s campaign, accounting for more than 40 per cent of her total donations. Ms Spender, the Member for Wentworth, recently faced criticism for her attempted lobbying to have Mr Holmes a Court name removed from a covert “power list” of influential Australians. The Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 has proposed reducing the political donation disclosure threshold from $16,900 to $1,000, requiring cumulative reporting of donations above this amount. It has also proposed caps on individual political donations at $20,000 annually to a single recipient, with further restrictions on total contributions across multiple campaigns or entities. Ms Spender has received 23 donations above $20,000 since 2021, including eight from Climate 200 – amounting to $770,773. The bill also introduces caps on campaign expenditure, with federal campaigns for political parties limited to $90 million, individual House of Representatives candidates to $800,000, and third-party campaigners to $11.25 million annually. Exemptions have included costs for translation services, campaign offices and remote area travel.Federated Hermes, Inc. (NYSE:FHI) Shares Bought by Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank
Biden says Assad's fall in Syria is a 'fundamental act of justice,' but 'a moment of risk'Two Sasquatch hunters were found dead after they went missing while searching for the mythical beast on Christmas Eve . The men, aged 37 and 59, were found after a 60-strong volunteer search and rescue team joined authorities in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State . They had intended to be home for Christmas Day, but a family member reported them missing to Skamania County authorities after they didn’t return by the morning. Police said the harsh weather conditions and their ill-preparedness for the forest contributed to the men’s deaths. Seven law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard used canines, drones, ground teams and helicopters to locate them. “Their exhaustive search efforts resulted in bringing family members home to their loved ones,” the sheriff’s office said of the search teams. The force extended their “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families” involved. Loved ones of Hudson Meek, the teen actor who died in a car accident last week, gathered to celebrate his life on Saturday. The “celebration of life” service, held at a Baptist church in Homewood, Alabama, was livestreamed on the Baby Driver star’s Instagram. Several of the loved ones shared their favorite memories of the 16-year-old, and a choir sang in tribute. Fans expressed their appreciation for the service and their condolences in the comment section. “Wonderful celebration of Hudson’s life,” wrote user @melindaeubankswest, while @jeanniecmom added, “Praying for Hudson’s family at this difficult time. Fellow teen actor Grace Culwell shared in the comments that she was in attendance, writing: ”Such a beautiful service & so glad we were able to be there. Sending so much love & prayers to you all.” Meek died on Dec. 21 in from injuries sustained during a fall from a moving car on Dec. 19 in his hometown, Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Meek was known best for appearing in the 2017 crime movie Baby Driver alongside Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx. A post shared by Hudson Meek (@hudsonmeek) Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Boxing Week sales are still in full swing, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 70 percent off clearance items with the code SALE70 at checkout. Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like NYE frocks and cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. Andy Cohen’s biggest gripe with CNN star and New Year’s Eve partner-in-crime Anderson Cooper? Cooper’s annual giggle fit. Cohen explained to People why the anchor’s unceasing laughter adds extra chaos throughout their annual special. “Well, [it’s] that I have to be the straight guy,” Cohen said. “Literally, he’s in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I’m the one that’s hitting all the commercial breaks.” Cohen said he turns “into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes” while Cooper becomes “Mr. Bravo.” “It’s a very funny role reversal,” the Bravo star said. The longtime friends have hosted the CNN event together since 2017 after former co-host Kathy Griffin was booted in the wake of backlash for posing with a mask depicting the severed head of Donald Trump. Cohen and Cooper have found themselves in various antics since then— some alcoholic , some not —leading to Cooper’s own frustrations with the Bravo host. Cooper joked on Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live earlier this month that he constantly worries about “who [Cohen’s] gonna insult and what the clean up on aisle 3 is gonna be in the morning.” Billionaire businessman Charles Dolan, who founded HBO and Cablevision and whose family owns Madison Square Garden and a number of New York City sports teams, died on Saturday—he was 98. Dolan created Cablevision Systems Corporation in 1973, merging several small Long Island cable TV systems, according to the New York Times . At the time, the company served just 1,500 customers. But when he sold it for $17.7 billion in 2015, it supplied cable TV to over three million households in the New York metropolitan area, the Times reported. He also launched HBO in the early ’70s—it was at the time a pioneering cable TV channel that offered feature-length movies with no commercials. After his death, Dolan’s family will continue to be a powerful and influential force in the worlds of media and sports. His son Patrick is the owner of Newsday , the Long Island-based newspaper he and Charles bought in 2016. The family also owns MSG in New York City and the professional sports teams that play there, the NHL’s Rangers and the NBA’s Knicks. All three entities are led by Dolan’s son James. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Tina Knowles sprang to her daughter Beyoncé’s defense after online trolls criticized her NFL halftime show performance on Christmas Day. Knowles clapped back at critics by reposting a message about her famous daughter on her Instagram on Friday. In the screenshot, user @iamkrisiman praised Beyoncé and wrote that “no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say.” Knowles cosigned the post in a lengthy caption. “It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later,” she wrote. “Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them,” she added. According to the New York Post, Knowles’ post came after some social media users called Beyoncé “overrated.” Fans and celebrities in the comments of Knowles’ response seemed to love her mama bear energy. “Period!!! Ms. T,” singer LeToya Luckett wrote. “All. Of. This!!!!!!” Oscar winner Octavia Spencer added. A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles) Elon Musk appeared to borrow a line from the 2008 film Tropic Thunder in an ongoing social media fight about H1B visas. Musk hit back against MAGA’s top players in a series of X posts, alleging that H1B visas are the reason why he, “and hundreds of other companies that made America strong,” are in the country. To a skeptical X user, Musk blasted: “Take a big step back and F--- YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Although some were shocked by Musk’s sudden escalation—with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon calling him a “toddler”—others noticed that the disparaging remark was similar to a line in Tropic Thunder . Character Les Grossman, played by Tom Cruise, says in the film: “First, take a big step back, and literally, F--- YOUR OWN FACE ... I don’t know what kind of pan-pacific bulls--t power play you’re trying to pull here, but Asia, Jack, is my territory. So whatever you’re thinking, you’d better think again.” In response to Musk’s comment, the X user tweeted, “Bro was just memeing. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.” Nothing beats the classics pic.twitter.com/MRSdXifhH5 Charles Shyer, the writer-director best known for directing the 1991 Steve Martin comedy Father of the Bride has died at 83. According to Deadline, Shyer died Friday and no cause of death was given by his family in a statement. “His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him,” his family told the outlet. In addition to directing, Shyer gained notoriety for his screenwriting and nabbed an Oscar nomination in 1981 for co-writing the Goldie Hawn-led military comedy Private Benjamin alongside Harvey Miller, and fellow writer-director Nancy Meyers. Meyers and Shyer married in 1980 before calling it quits in 1999. They share two daughters. Other notable films co-written by Shyer include Jumpin’ Jack Flash , The Parent Trap , and Baby Boom , which he also directed. His most recent credit behind the camera was co-writing and directing the 2023 Netflix Holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever. A Norwegian chess champion left mid-tournament after refusing to change his outfit for judges. Magnus Carlsen, a five-time World Chess Champion, was competing in New York’s FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday when he was asked to change. According to The Telegraph , Carlsen was first fined $200 for breaking the wardrobe rule before being told he would have to leave if he didn’t change. “I said, ‘I’ll change tomorrow if that’s OK.’ I didn’t even realize it today, but they said, ‘Well you have to change now.’ At that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me,” Carlsen told chess outlet Take Take Take in an interview. “Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much. If this is what they want to do,” he added. As for why he wore the jeans in the first place, Carlsen said he had little time to change before the tournament as he was coming from a meeting. The grandmaster made light of the debacle on X where he tweeted a photo of the now notorious jeans. “OOTD,” he captioned the snap. OOTD pic.twitter.com/9reOP6zuJv Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. Gossip Girl star Chanel Maya Banks , who made headlines last month after denying her family’s claims that she had gone missing, has filed a restraining order against her mother and cousin. The 36-year-old submitted the request in Los Angeles on Thursday, alleging her mom, Lutchmin Judy Kumar, and cousin, Danielle Singh have harassed her, TMZ reported. The actor also claimed that her mother and cousin were working to destroy her credibility. In October, Banks’ family reported her missing. She denied the claims in a post days later. Banks wrote in the restraining order filing that Kumar and Singh broke into her apartment in November while she was gone and attacked her husband. She also alleged that an Apple AirTag was put on her car to track her. After the attack, she alleged that her mother and cousin accused her husband of murder and said that Banks should be in a psychiatric hold. Sources told TMZ that they’re happy she is safe and are “moving on with their lives.” R&B singer Ne-Yo announced Friday that a popular professional boxer under his management has died at age 35. In a joint statement posted by the Grammy-winner and the boxer’s family, Ne-Yo, real name Shaffer Chimere Smith, announced “the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love touched countless lives.” Hailing from Puerto Rico, Bamba became one of the first boxing talents to sign to Ne-Yo’s management company in 2024. Bamba won all of his bouts in 2024 by knock out and recently claimed WBA’s secondary “gold” cruiserweight title after knocking out Rogelio Medina. “He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness. But more than anything, he was a tremendous individual who inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination,” the statement added. Bamba was the No. 12 ranked contender by the WBA and seemed set on fighting in more high profile matches—challenging boxer Jake Paul to “holla at us” in one post. Paul shared his condolences on X, writing, “RIP Paul Bamba.” RIP Paul Bamba https://t.co/ovu7egrGHn
On Saturday night, the Golden State Warriors lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 104-94. The Warriors led by double digits for most of the third quarter, but a 40-13 run by San Antonio closed out the game and handed the Warriors their fourth loss of the season. Superstar Stephen Curry was outplayed by rookie Stephon Castle on both ends of the court and the Warriors simply couldn't hang with San Antonio's defense, but in the grand scheme of things, one loss does not make for a ruined season. At 12-4 with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors are still in first place in the Western Conference. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks, who are the last unbeaten team. The shuffling begins at No. 5, where Notre Dame returned for the first time since Week 2 after beating Army for its ninth straight win. No. 6 Georgia moved up two spots, No. 7 Tennessee and No. 8 Miami each got a three-rung promotion and No. 9 SMU jumped four places for its first top-10 ranking since 1985. SMU has clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and would play Miami, if the Hurricanes win at Syracuse this week, or No. 12 Clemson . Indiana dropped from No. 5 to No. 10 following its first loss, a 38-15 defeat at Ohio State. The Buckeyes would play Oregon in the Big Ten championship game if they beat Michigan this Saturday for the first time in four years. The Southeastern Conference's hopes for landing four spots in the College Football Playoff took a hit with two of their teams losing as double-digit favorites. Texas, Georgia and Tennessee are the only SEC teams with fewer than three losses after Alabama lost 24-3 at Oklahoma and Mississippi lost 24-17 at Florida. Alabama and Mississippi each dropped six spots in the AP poll, the Crimson Tide to No. 13 and the Rebels to No. 15. Texas A&M was the third SEC team to lose, 43-41 at Auburn in four overtimes. The Aggies tumbled five places to No. 20 but would play Georgia in the SEC championship game if they knock off Texas this week. Losses by BYU and Colorado created a four-way tie for first in the Big 12. No. 14 Arizona State, picked to finish last in the conference, handed BYU its second straight loss and is the highest-ranked Big 12 team. No. 17 Iowa State earned a five-rung promotion with its win at Utah. BYU is No. 19 and Colorado, which lost to Kansas , is No. 23. If the four teams each finish 7-2 in conference play, it's Iowa State vs. Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. No. 11 Boise State is first among the four ranked Group of Five teams. The Broncos got a one-spot bump despite struggling to beat a two-win Wyoming team. Tulane is No. 18, UNLV is No. 21 and Army is No. 25. Poll points Oregon, which was idle, was the consensus No. 1 team for the fourth straight week. The Ducks will be unbeaten in the regular season for the first time since 2010 if they beat Washington at home Saturday. Boise State's ranking is its highest since it was No. 8 in the final poll of the 2011 season. Arizona State's ranking is its highest since it was No. 12 in the final poll of the 2014 season. Indiana-Ohio State was the final top-five matchup of the regular season. The five were the most in a regular season since 1996. There also were five in 1936 and 1943. In and out No. 24 Missouri, a 39-20 winner at Mississippi State , returned to the Top 25 after a one-week absence. Washington State's four-week run in the rankings ended with its second straight loss, 41-38 loss at Oregon State. Conference call SEC — 8 (Nos. 3, 6, 7, 13, 15, 16, 20, 24). Big Ten — 5 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 10, 22). Big 12 — 4 (Nos. 14, 17, 19, 23). ACC — 3 (Nos. 8, 9, 12). AAC — 2 (Nos. 18, 25). Mountain West — 2 (Nos. 11, 21). Independent — 1 (No. 5). Ranked vs. ranked —No. 16 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson: It's a Top 25 matchup for the first time since 2013. Clemson's 16-7 victory in Columbia last year was the fourth of five straight wins to end the Tigers' season. —No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M: Stakes are high for the first meeting of longtime rivals since both were in the Big 12 in 2011. Winner goes to the SEC title game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10; Oregon unanimous No. 1
Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler to retain Players Championship Finals titleTwo financial backers of the Geelong Football Club have been accused in court documents of orchestrating an elaborate fraud estimated at $14.5 million against one of the nation’s largest service providers for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Not-for-profit organisation genU has launched Supreme Court action against its former information technology operations manager, Sy Giang Nguyen, and Geelong businessman Keith Greenwood, who owns an office supplies company in Geelong West. Former genU IT operations manager Sy Giang Nguyen (circled) in a past photo with the Geelong team. Nguyen allegedly colluded with Greenwood to siphon millions of dollars from the registered charity by buying or leasing thousands of IT products on behalf of genU that were never delivered, according to documents filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Greenwood’s business, Ryrie Office Machines, is also accused of oversupplying and overcharging for IT hardware and software ordered by Nguyen, who had worked for genU since it was founded in 2016. GenU, which has 5500 staff and provides disability, aged care and employment services, became aware of the alleged fraud in September 2021, when an employee detected allegedly suspicious transactions. Nguyen was dismissed in October 2022 and police were notified in December that year. GenU engaged a forensic auditor, a private investigator and law firm RBK Legal as part of an internal probe which discovered Nguyen was living in a $5 million property in Geelong owned by Greenwood. Nguyen in happier times. Nguyen is accused in court documents of living at another property, owned by Greenwood, in the Geelong suburb of Newtown, while also spending significant time at Crown casino, where he had access to a luxury villa. Documents obtained by a private investigator reveal Nguyen corresponding with Crown Hotels’ former chief executive Peter Crinis. In 2015, Nguyen helped set a Guinness World Record when he consumed the world’s most expensive cocktail – a $12,500 drink known as “The Winston” – at Crown’s former venue Club 23. Nguyen did not finish the drink, made with 1858-vintage Croizet Cuvee Leonie cognac, and was reimbursed for the entire cost of the cocktail by Crown Resorts. Despite earning a base salary of $140,000 at genU, Nguyen showered associates with lavish gifts, including overseas holidays, domestic flights, sporting memorabilia and tickets to major events, according to court documents. A surveillance report included in court documents also revealed Nguyen “attending Kardinia Park (Geelong Football Club) soon after the grand final (2022) and attending a meeting with a recently retired Geelong player”. Keith Greenwood, a Geelong businessman and co-owner of Ryrie Office Machines, is accused in court documents of being involved in a massive fraud against genU. Greenwood and his business are also long-term sponsors of the Cats, and also major benefactors of a gallery and theatre company in Geelong. The website for Ryrie Office Machines claims the business has been an “integral part of the Geelong Football Club for over a decade” and is “synonymous with quality and trust” in the Geelong community. On September 26, the Supreme Court granted genU a freezing order against assets controlled by Nguyen, Greenwood and Ryrie Office Machines, which is owned by Greenwood’s company, Basswood Nominees Pty Ltd. The court order stops the pair disposing of several properties around Geelong, along with $6 million in proceeds from the recent sale of a development site in Leopold previously owned by Greenwood. GenU is set to launch civil action against Nguyen and Greenwood in a bid to claw back estimated losses of $14.5 million. The pair are accused of fraud and theft, while Nguyen is also alleged to have breached a fiduciary duty to his former employer, according to a draft statement of claim due to be filed by Friday. An affidavit by genU chief executive Clare Amies accuses Nguyen and Greenwood of colluding to submit invoices for IT equipment that was not delivered, while also oversupplying and overcharging for IT hardware and software. Nguyen is alleged to have leased or bought 3815 products from Ryrie Office Machines that were not supplied, including 182 servers, 542 desktop and 309 laptop computers, 1462 monitors and 989 docking stations, according to more than 600 pages of court documents obtained by The Age . Greenwood’s IT business also allegedly charged genU more than $2.2 million for six different software licences that appear to have never been delivered to the not-for-profit organisation. “It appears that Mr Nguyen has orchestrated a fraudulent scheme in respect of the supply of IT hardware and software to genU for the benefit of himself and another, being Ryrie Office Machines,” Amies stated in an affidavit signed on September 23. Nguyen tosses the coin before a Geelong-Adelaide AFL game in August. Credit: Fox Footy Detectives from the financial crime squad arrested and interviewed Nguyen, 57, on August 1, after executing a warrant at his Newtown home. No charges have been laid against him. Two days after his arrest, Nguyen greeted Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield and tossed the coin before a match between the Cats and Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium on August 3. Greenwood was arrested and interviewed on September 5, and released without charge as the fraud investigation continues. A police spokeswoman confirmed the pair are the subject of an investigation that began in February 2023 after police were notified by genU management in December 2022. A Geelong property owned by Greenwood. Credit: Justin McManus “Detectives have obtained financial and business records from the organisation and these continue to be forensically assessed,” the spokeswoman said. Amies released a statement to The Age confirming that legal proceedings had commenced against “various defendants for alleged and serious misconduct perpetuated against genU”. “Since joining in 2020, I have been committed to leading an organisation that has the systems, processes and leadership in place to prevent, detect and transparently pursue acts of wrongdoing,” Amies said. “Good governance dictates that those charged with stewardship responsibilities do their utmost to investigate and act decisively to right any wrongs affecting genU’s interests, which is what the current collective leadership did and will continue to do.” HWL Ebsworth Lawyers partner Colin Almond, acting for Greenwood, declined to comment while the matter was before court, but denied “any allegation of wrongdoing or involvement in any improper or illegal conduct” by his client. Geelong Football Club was contacted for comment. Nguyen’s lawyer, Roger Vrachnas from Gigliotti Lawyers, declined to comment. RBK Legal lawyer Michael Hazell, who is acting for genU, also declined to comment. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .
Jonnu Smith's best catches from his 87-yard, 1-TD game vs. Patriots Week 12
OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affair Minister Melanie Joly shared few details of their meetings in Palm Beach, simply saying in a statement the U.S. officials they met with took notes and agreed to relay messages to Trump. "Minister LeBlanc and Minister Joly had a positive, productive meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, as a followup to the dinner between the prime minister and President Trump last month," wrote Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesman for LeBlanc. Lutnick is Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, and Burgum is the former governor of North Dakota and current nominee for secretary of the interior. When announcing Lutnick as his commerce pick Trump said the chief executive of the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald would be in charge of the Trump "tariff and trade agenda." "Both Ministers outlined the measures in Canada’s Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives." He added the ministers agreed to continue the discussions in the coming weeks. Joly is also expected to meet in Florida with senator Lindsay Graham Friday evening. This trip comes less than four weeks before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada's new border plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada. Comeau said earlier Friday morning the ministers would also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump's threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers were to build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau "governor" instead of prime minister. It isn't clear if LeBlanc raised the issue with Trump's team in Palm Beach Friday. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw "explains Canada to Americans." "Some information about Canada for Americans" was all he wrote in the post. The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. "In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada," Brokaw says in the video. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau's recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump's antics on X Thursday, calling it "casual disrespect" and "carrying the 'joke' too far." "Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership," said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland's sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau's leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia. He did not make a public statement about the meeting as of publication. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian PressWake Forest keeps trying new things early in the season, even if not all of the adjustments are by design. The Demon Deacons will try to stick to the script when Detroit Mercy visits for Saturday's game in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons (5-1) will be at home for the final time prior to three consecutive road games. Detroit Mercy (3-2) already has two more victories than all of last season. After a couple of narrow wins and a loss at Xavier, Wake Forest had a smoother time earlier this week in defeating visiting Western Carolina 82-69 on Tuesday night. Yet these are games when teams have to figure where contributions are going to come from in certain situations. The experimenting took a turn for Wake Forest in the Western Carolina game. Center Efton Reid III had limited minutes because of migraines, so there was a shift in responsibilities. Normal backcourt players Cameron Hildreth and Juke Harris logged time at the power forward slot. "That's just part of it," coach Steve Forbes said. "They did a good job adjusting. We ran a lot of stuff and there are several guys learning different positions. ... I give credit to those guys for doing the best job that they could do on the fly and adjusting to the play calls that we ran and the stuff that we changed." Wake Forest could excel if both Parker Friedrichsen and Davin Cosby can be consistent 3-point threats. Friedrichsen slumped with shooting in the first few games of the season and was replaced in the starting lineup by Cosby. In Tuesday's game, Friedrichsen drained four 3-pointers, while Cosby hit two. "It was really good to see Parker and Davin both make shots together," Forbes said. Not everything was solved for the Demon Deacons. Western Carolina collected 12 offensive rebounds, and that took some of the shine off Wake Forest's defensive efforts. "We can't be a good defensive team, or a really good defensive team, unless we rebound the ball," Forbes said. "It's demoralizing to your defense to get stops and then not get the ball." In Detroit Mercy's 70-59 win at Ball State on Wednesday, Orlando Lovejoy tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. "We got the ball to the shooters and playmakers," first-year Titans coach Mark Montgomery said. "You could tell by the guys' body language that we were going to get a road win. It had been a long time coming." On Saturday, the Titans will look for their second road victory since February 2023. The outcome at Ball State seemed significant to Montgomery. "We had to get over the hump," he said. "Our guys grinded it out." --Field Level Media
Middlebury wins seventh national title in a row
AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1 Alabama and Mississippi tumbled out of the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll and Miami and SMU moved in following a chaotic weekend in the SEC. Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks. The shuffling begins at No. 5, where Notre Dame returned for the first time since Week 2 after beating Army for its ninth straight win. No. 6 Georgia and No. 7 Tennessee each moved up two spots. Miami, SMU and Indiana round out the top 10. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.Mutual of America Capital Management LLC Sells 318 Shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)
