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Web3Bay Launches User-Powered E-Commerce; The Graph Forecasts 30% Rise as Theta Advances in AIMeta said it is “99% of the way there” in solving an ongoing social media blackout with its apps. On Wednesday at around 6pm, thousands of social media users in parts of the UK reported an outage with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The social media giant reported that a “technical issue” had left users unable to access its services. DownDetector, a website that monitors social media outages, says the three cities hit worst by the outage were London, Manchester and Glasgow. Other major cities hit hard by the blackout were Cardiff, Nottingham and Birmingham. Thanks for bearing with us! We’re 99% of the way there – just doing some last checks. We apologize to those who’ve been affected by the outage. — Meta (@Meta) By around 10pm on Wednesday, DownDetector UK said there had been 23,445 reports of Facebook outages, 11,466 Instagram outages and 18,646 on WhatsApp across Britain. In an update issued at 10.26pm on X, Meta said the problem was now nearly resolved. A spokesperson said: “Thanks for bearing with us! We’re 99% of the way there – just doing some last checks. “We apologise to those who’ve been affected by the outage.” Other parts of the world affected include Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, according to DownTracker. To find out if your area is affected, visit: .
Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities. Get local news delivered to your inbox!FDA proposes new testing rules to ensure cosmetics are asbestos-free
ResMed Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market
FDA proposes new testing rules to ensure cosmetics are asbestos-free
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:55 p.m. ESTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A pair of conservative groups on Friday challenged a Maine law that limits donations to political action committees that spend independently in candidate elections, arguing that money spent to support political expression is "a vital feature of our democracy.” Supporters of the referendum overwhelmingly approved on Election Day fully expected a legal showdown over caps on individual contributions to so-called super PACs. They hoped the referendum would trigger a case and ultimately prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the matter of donor limits after the court opened the floodgates to independent spending in its 2010 Citizens United decision. The lawsuit brought by Dinner Table Action and For Our Future, and supported by the Institute for Free Speech, contends the state law limiting individual super PAC donations to $5,000 and requiring disclosure of donor names runs afoul of that Citizens United legal precedent. “All Americans, not just those running for office, have a fundamental First Amendment right to talk about political campaigns,” lawyers wrote in the lawsuit in federal court. “Their ‘independent expenditures,’ payments that fund political expression by those who are not running for office but nonetheless have something to say about a campaign, are a vital feature of our democracy.” Cara McCormick, leader of the Maine Citizens to End Super PACs, which pressed for the referendum, said the lawsuit attempts to undermine the will of the people after an overwhelming majority — 74% of voters — approved the referendum last month. “Super PACs are killing the country and in Maine we decided to do something about it. We want to restore public trust in the political process,” she said. “We want to say that in Maine we are not resigned to the tide of big money. We are the tide.” But Alex Titcomb, executive director of Dinner Table Action, argued Friday that the government “cannot restrict independent political speech simply because some voters wish to limit the voices of their fellow citizens.” Named in the lawsuit are Maine’s attorney general and the state’s campaign spending watchdog, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. The ethics commission is reviewing the complaint, said Jonathan Wayne, executive director. The Maine referendum didn’t attempt to limit spending on behalf of candidates. Instead, it focused on limits on individual donations to super PACS, an area the Supreme Court has not ruled on, observers say. Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, a longtime advocate for campaign finance reform, contends the U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue of individual contributions to PACs, and long-established case law supports the notion that states can limit individual contributions to PACs despite a decision to the contrary by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Lessig, whose Equal Citizens nonprofit backed the Maine referendum, previously said the cap on donations imposed by the referendum "is not asking the Supreme Court to change its jurisprudence, not asking them to overturn Citizens United.”
Tears were shed in Langley on Friday, Dec. 13, when directors of the Langley Good Times Cruise-In car show began handing out the cheques to local charities from the $94,000 raised at this year's 25th show. Marilyn Piticco, founder of which runs weekly programs for local stroke survivors, said the Cruise-In has become a constant source of funding. "It lifts me up. It makes it so that I can do my work, that I have a team behind me plus my volunteers," she told The Star. Piticco runs two Hope After Stroke groups out of the Walnut Grove Community Centre, and has received more than $100,000 in donations from the charity car show in the last 10-plus years. And that's the name of the game. Cruise-In has always been about providing a spectacular car show that raises money for community causes. Thanks to sponsors, 100 per cent of the money raised goes to charity. "This journey is personal for me. It started because my dad couldn't speak, his bench is out front [of the community centre]. It was a personal thing of saying 'this is needed in our community,'" she shared. Piticco connected with Cruise-In and became one of its charities, quickly moving to be a returning one. "I feel very honoured," she said, adding that people interested in donating, volunteering, or joining the group can reach her at 604-882-4672. Marty Brown, president of the 2024 Cruise-In, said Hope After Stroke is a great group to support. "Marilyn is amazing, it's really good [what they do," he said. When he first saw the total amount raised this year, Brown said it surprised him but he immediately thought of the team behind the car show. "I just thought how we really pulled together, all the hard work we did, and our relationships with our sponsors, vendors, and the people that work with us were really strong this year. So, I felt like it was an appropriate number and I'm extremely proud of it." More than 1,200 vehicles were on display at the Langley Good Times Cruise-In charity car show in Aldergrove on Sept. 7. Crowds of almost 100,000 spectators strolled along Fraser Highway between 264 and 272 Streets for the show, which was closed for the event. Many of the 125 volunteers showed up as early as 4 a.m. to set up Fraser Highway for the event and guide registered car owners into their spots on the road. “Our car owners brought out their finest rides, our sponsors helped immensely this year, and the Township of Langley was right behind us all the best,” Brown told The Star. “It really takes an army of people and none of the show would happen without all the amazing volunteers, including the Cruise-In board, captains, and show day helpers. The power of people is amazing.” Among the recipients are five main charities of choice: Piticco’s Langley Community Support Group, Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association, Langley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Boys & Girls Club of Langley, Rotary Starfish Program, Aldergrove Veterans & Seniors Society, Parkside Elementary, Langley Meals on Wheels, Langley BMX Club, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Valley Therapeutic Riding Association, and Langley Food Bank. Ricardo Sestito, returning as president for 2025, said the board is already meeting to plan the next car show and they are seeking volunteers. Those interested can contact Heather Lehman at lehmanns@telus.net or 604-866-3977.
Dave Portnoy shares staggering story of how his podcast saved a fan's life READ MORE: Brianna LaPaglia responds to Dave Portnoy romance rumors By MAX WINTERS Published: 18:12 EST, 26 December 2024 | Updated: 18:13 EST, 26 December 2024 e-mail View comments Dave Portnoy has shared a remarkable story from a listener of his podcast, who revealed the show saved his life. Portnoy, the brains behind Barstool Sports, hosted the 'BFFs' podcast alongside Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia and Josh Richards but made his final appearance earlier this month. However, Portnoy's final episode on December 18 turned out to be lifesaving for one listener. He posted a screenshot of a message from a fan on social media, which detailed a harrowing story of how listening to the episode prevented him from possibly dying. It read: 'Hi you saved my life this past weekend. I got caught up listening to BFFs and watching TikTok 's of you which delayed me going to the store. 'I went into cardiac arrest literally 1 minute after watching your video and I have a defibrillator implanted which saved my life, but if I wasn't watching you I would've left the house and this would've all happened while I was driving. Dave Portnoy pictured during his final appearance on the 'BFFs' podcast earlier this month On Thursday, Portnoy shared a message from a fan who revealed the podcast saved his life Read More Dave Portnoy gives brutal verdict on Beyonce's halftime show during Texans-Ravens Christmas game 'So in all, you're a life saver and BFFs pod saved my life too.' Portnoy's final appearance on the 'BFFs' podcast went out on December 18 after he announced earlier this year that he was going to step back from the show at the end of 2024 . But the final show received more scrutiny when Portnoy addressed a feud between LaPaglia and another Barstool presenter, Grace O'Malley, that saw her leave the company. As part of his post on social media, Portnoy hit out at favoritism toward LaPaglia and now, she herself mocked the claims as she addressed his final show via Instagram. 'I know everyone thinks me and Dave are secret lovers but on a serious note, the past four years of bffs with has been a highlight of my time at Barstool,' she wrote. 'Sad to see him leave but very excited for what Josh and I have in store for bffs.' Last week, the 47-year-old Portnoy slammed claims he had a crush on LaPaglia, 25, as he addressed O'Malley leaving Barstool. 'Emergency walk and talk — everybody knows Grace quit,' the 47-year-old said in a video posted on the BFFs X account. 'I’m still getting DMs from people being like "Dave, you f***ing fired her. You’re a scumbag for picking sides." Co-host Brianna LaPaglia recently mocked claims she is in a secret relationship with Portnoy LaPaglia paid tribute to Portnoy as he stepped away from their Barstool podcast 'BFFs' 'People are f***ing nuts. People posting pictures of my ex f***ing wife [Renee Portnoy] online, being like, ‘Oh she looks like Bri, so Dave’s in love with her.’ It’s f***ing crazy.' Portnoy, who has been supporting LaPaglia through her breakup with country singer Bryan, said in November that he would stepping away from the show, saying: 'The subjects don’t interest me at all. 'They show me the topics when I go in there, I haven’t done any research, and I’m just ripping apart 18-year-olds, who I don’t even know. I don’t love necessarily doing that. 'It certainly accomplished what I wanted to accomplish when we started it. Josh and Bri will continue it. It’s super successful, but yeah, it’s time for me to try the next thing. I had run my course with it.' He added in a November BFFs show: 'Just because I’m getting older, like nearing 50 - talking about teenage drama, a little out of my wheelhouse.' Share or comment on this article: Dave Portnoy shares staggering story of how his podcast saved a fan's life e-mail Add commentParty like it's 1987. That was the story for the Division II select winner at Prep Classic
WNBA fans left heartbroken by Cameron Brink's Christmas wish
Tampa Medical Spa Redefines Beauty, Boosting Confidence with Non-Invasive TreatmentsA t the end of the year, newsrooms are generally half-empty. Many journalists happily go away on holiday, leaving news editors patrolling deserted aisles and staring at empty news lists and blank pages, wondering how to fill them. The panicked editors sometimes terrorise the few unfortunate reporters left behind, who then furiously start working the lines. It is especially at this difficult hour that people with capacious minds and precise memories come to our rescue. They have no billowing capes, no colourful spandex costumes, no shields, and no swords, but they are our saviours. In a reporter’s lexicon, they are ‘dial a quote’ sources — subject experts who can weigh in on any problem and provide context for stories. Two days ago, I went around the newsroom speaking to reporters. My colleagues said they swear by a student leader-turned-activist-turned-politician, who is now an academic, for quotes on anything from the travails of the homeless in Delhi’s bitter cold winters, to trade union protests, to trouble at universities. For the security beat reporters, former officers of the Army, Air Force, and Navy are the go-to guides. They explain the topography of a border area where a conflict has broken out or the torturous process of buying weapons than may span over decades. Their on-the-record comments add gravitas to the story. Then there are historians. Every time a road is renamed or a heritage structure comes crumbling down, they take us through the dusty bylanes of a bygone era. Without them, our stories would have no roots and simply become dull ‘he said, she said’ exchanges. While writing about rural development, I lean on activists who spend months in the field and are in touch with the workers every day. They trawl through the gigabytes of data on government websites to spot trends. Often, I feel guilty for sponging off their hard work, but we reporters draw solace from the fact that as the medium, we have successfully managed to put the message across. Political commentators are always ready to talk. Generally, the more they are sidelined within their party, the more enthusiastic they are to be quoted. ‘Dial a quote’ is not a new fad; it is as old as newsrooms. The scientist, J.B.S. Haldane, was a darling of journalists and would be ready to comment on anything under the sun, from weather to submarines. In Haldane’s biography, A Dominant Character , Samanth Subramanian quotes an apocryphal story about him. A journalist, probably on a slow news day, called Haldane to ask him what his studies about nature had taught him about the Creator. Haldane replied, “He has an inordinate fondness for beetles.” If dial-a-quoters are witty, it is an added bonus. Editors, of course, hate some of these stock names that appear often in stories. Once, a harried news editor, tired of seeing the same names crop up in copies on cost of living, gave a standing instruction: the names of the people who supply tea and snacks should never find their way to print. Also, the views of these sources can sometimes be jaded and out of date. So, we keep searching for new ‘dial a quote’ sources who offer newer and different perspectives. The most invaluable sources are those whose names never appear in print, but who provide background information; the scaffolding that supports our stories. During elections, they provide tutorials on caste equations, political rivalries, and the shifting loyalties of local leaders in various constituencies. There are also those who we may not call for months, but still go the extra mile to arrange interviews. The dial-a-quote sources may come from different fields but they have some things in common. They are passionate about their area of expertise, kind enough to pick our call at any time, and answer basic queries with patience. They are also brave enough to be quoted on record. As we take stock of the year gone by, we would like to pay our gratitude to all our ‘dial a quote’ sources — thank you. sobhanak.nair@thehindu.co.in Published - December 27, 2024 03:12 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit news media
Wike to Odili: Embrace statesmanship, avoid partisan dealings
