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30jili.ph Where to go if you want warm weather this holiday seasonSadiq Khan's farmers ad ban defied as activist plasters London Underground with postersDavid Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | (TNS) KFF Health News In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch four MicroGEO satellites for California-based Astranis to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The mission, dubbed ‘Astranis: From One to Many,’ includes the company’s UtilitySat, which is designed to relocate within geostationary Earth orbit over its life to respond to different mission objectives. It will launch alongside three other satellites. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is set for 10:39 p.m. EST (0339 UTC). Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.  Coming into the launch opportunity, the 45th Weather Squadron forecast a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff on Friday night. Launch weather officers cited no specific concerns that would prevent the launch from a meteorological perspective. “A broad area of high-pressure over the central United States will bring northwest flow and drier air to the cape Friday and Saturday,” meteorologists wrote in their forecast. “Although the Probability of Violation is slightly higher on the backup day due to a slight chance of a flight-through Cumulus Cloud Rule violation, expect favorable weather for either launch window.” The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this launch, tail number B1077 in the SpaceX fleet, will be launching for its 17th time. It’s previously missions included Crew-5, GPS 3 Space Vehicle 06 and CRS-28. Nearly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1077 will land on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,’ which is positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. If successful, this will mark the 91st booster landing on ASOG and the 386th booster landing to date. The four satellites onboard the Falcon 9 are called MicroGEO satellites since they are each roughly the size of a washing machine. They were built in Astranis’ Pier 70 facilities in San Francisco, CA, and are designed to operate for about eight to ten years. Two of the satellites, named NuView Alpha and NuView Bravo, will serve Anuvu’s aviation and marine customers. The agreement between Anuvu, previously known as Global Eagle Entertainment, and Astranis was announced back in July 2021 and will service the North America and Caribbean regions. “We aim to expand our connectivity network in a way that is scalable and agile for our mobility customers” said Josh Marks, CEO of Anuvu in a 2021 press release. “Astranis and its MicroGEO satellites will offer Anuvu customers freedom from decades-long contracts or outdated legacy systems. Most significantly, they are quick to market, have a mission life of seven to ten years, and can be controlled and updated from the ground, enabling our mobility clients to pivot their business model as new technology is introduced.” Anuvu ordered the two satellites launching on Friday (originally planned to launch in “early 2023”) in addition to six more that will be added in the future.  Also onboard Friday’s launch is a satellite called ‘AGILA,’ named after the national bird of the Philippines. It is the first of two satellites providing service to that country through a partnership with Orbits Corp. “Orbits Corp will be able to double the number of people that it connects in the most remote islands of the Philippines,” wrote John Gedmark, Astranis Founder and CEO in a November 2023 blog post. “Millions of people, many of whom live on less than $5,000 per year, will be able to connect to the internet as a direct result. “Orbits Corp estimates that this two-satellite program will bring up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs to the Philippines, accelerating economic growth and jumpstarting economic development in many of the smallest and most remote communities in the fast-growing nation.” The final satellite aboard the mission is called ‘UtilitySat,’ which will initially be used in service of Astranis customer, Apco Networks, an internet service provider, in Mexico. This is the first of two MicroGEO satellites sold to the company, which has the ability to “connect up to five million people,” Gedmark said in a 2023 blog post. “A number of our employees at Astranis come from Mexico, some from small communities where connectivity is very poor, or non-existent,” he said. “As they told us, and as we found from further research, the need for better connectivity in Mexico is self-evident — more than 30 percent of the country does not have internet access today, and satellite is often the only way to connect the remote and rural communities scattered across the rough, mountainous terrain of Mexico’s 32 states. “And the nation itself is focused on improving satellite internet availability. Connectivity is a constitutional right in Mexico, and the President has made connectivity a national priority.” UtilitySat is unique from the other three satellites on this mission because it is designed to adjust its orbital position and support a different mission than its original one at launch. “UtilitySat is the world’s first multi-mission commercial GEO satellite, capable of conducting fully operational broadband connectivity missions in Ka, Ku, and Q/V bands,” Astranis wrote on its website. “A fully maneuverable satellite with onboard propulsion, UtilitySat will perform multiple such missions throughout its life on orbit — relocating or repointing each year, month, or day to serve urgent customer needs.” The company said it plans to launch “a fleet of UtilitySat satellites in the coming years.” Excited to announce UtilitySat, the world’s first multi-mission geostationary satellite, that we’re launching at the end of this year. This is a first of its kind. And a new product line– providing on-demand connectivity for disaster relief, bridge capacity, and other missions.... pic.twitter.com/8tJS5fDPcE — John Gedmark (@Gedmark) August 9, 2023

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 22, 2024-- Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (Nasdaq: FFIE) (“FF”, “Faraday Future”, or “Company”), a California-based technology company specializing in artificial intelligence electric vehicles (AIEV), announced that it has secured approximately $30 million in cash financing commitments. The funds will be used to accelerate the Company’s growth and the development of Faraday X (FX), FF’s strategy of launching affordable high performance AIEV equipped vehicles with cutting edge technology, filling the U.S. market gap in this segment, and for general corporate purposes. Targeting the mainstream EV market in the U.S., FF is expected to have its first two FX prototype mules arrive in Los Angeles later this month, with product development and testing scheduled to begin at FF’s manufacturing facility in Hanford, CA. As part of their delivery journey, the two prototype mules will stop in Las Vegas from January 5 to 7, 2025, where the Company will provide updates on its FX strategy. The $30 million financing commitment includes a pre-funded $7.5 million, which was received in the fourth quarter of this year, and $22.5 million in new cash commitments (the “Financing”), structured in the form of unsecured convertible notes (“Convertible Notes”) and warrants to acquire additional shares of the Company’s common stock (“Warrants”). The conversion price for the Convertible Notes and exercise price for the Warrants are $1.16 and $1.392 per share, respectively, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The shares of common stock underlying the Convertible Notes and Warrants issued in the Financing are currently unregistered, subject to trading restrictions, and not immediately tradable. The Financing is subject to customary closing conditions. For additional information regarding the material terms relating to the Financing, please see the Company’s Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC on December 23, 2024. “The new funding lays a solid foundation for both FF and its new brand as the Company approaches the end of 2024 and enters the new year,” said Matthias Aydt, Global CEO of FF “I am optimistic about the opportunities that this new funding will bring, including supporting the ongoing production of our FF 91 2.0 and the growth of the FX brand,” Aydt explained. “We are pleased to have supported FF in successfully completing this round of financing,” said Jerry Wang, President of FF Global Partners and Head of Corporate Development, FFIE (Consultant), “We are enthusiastic about the promising opportunities ahead for the FX brand, and we firmly believe in FF's ability to execute its strategy effectively and deliver significant value in the process.” The Convertible Notes, along with the Warrants, were offered and sold in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. Accordingly, the Convertible Notes, Warrants and underlying shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes and exercise of the Warrants may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. The Company has agreed to file one or more registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes and exercise of the Warrants issued in connection with the Financing. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the convertible notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. ABOUT FARADAY FUTURE Faraday Future is the pioneer of the Ultimate AI TechLuxury market amidst the global trend of EVs. Luxury is just one of the key factors reflecting FF’s achievements in reshaping the EV industry. The company is dedicated to establishing an ever-evolving, interactive in-car software and operating system powered by artificial intelligence and user-generated data, optimizing the experience for each individual within an ecosystem of worldwide users who are also contributors to the innovative FF model. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the closing of the Convertible Notes financing, the Faraday X (FX) strategy and plans for the FX brand, the delivery of two prototype mules, and anticipated use of funds from the Convertible Notes financing, are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include, among others: that the closing of the Financing could be delayed or not occur at all; the timing for the two prototype mules to clear U.S. customs; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and improve its liquidity and financial position; the Company’s ability to pay its outstanding obligations; the Company's ability to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and the risks related to the restatement of previously issued consolidated financial statements; the Company’s limited operating history and the significant barriers to growth it faces; the Company’s history of losses and expectation of continued losses; the success of the Company’s payroll expense reduction plan; the Company’s ability to execute on its plans to develop and market its vehicles and the timing of these development programs; the Company’s estimates of the size of the markets for its vehicles and cost to bring those vehicles to market; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company’s vehicles; the Company’s ability to cover future warrant claims; the success of other competing manufacturers; the performance and security of the Company’s vehicles; current and potential litigation involving the Company; the Company’s ability to receive funds from, satisfy the conditions precedent of and close on the various financings described elsewhere by the Company; the result of future financing efforts, the failure of any of which could result in the Company seeking protection under the Bankruptcy Code; the Company’s indebtedness; the Company’s ability to cover future warranty claims; the Company’s ability to use its “at-the-market” program; insurance coverage; general economic and market conditions impacting demand for the Company’s products; potential negative impacts of a reverse stock split; potential cost, headcount and salary reduction actions may not be sufficient or may not achieve their expected results; circumstances outside of the Company's control, such as natural disasters, climate change, health epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, and civil unrest; risks related to the Company's operations in China; the success of the Company's remedial measures taken in response to the Special Committee findings; the Company’s dependence on its suppliers and contract manufacturer; the Company's ability to develop and protect its technologies; the Company's ability to protect against cybersecurity risks; and the ability of the Company to attract and retain employees, any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings, and volatility of the Company’s stock price. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 28, 2024, as amended on May 30, 2024, and June 24, 2024, as updated by the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s first quarter 2024 Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on July 30, 2024, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241222966710/en/ CONTACT: Investors (English):ir@faradayfuture.com Investors (Chinese):cn-ir@faradayfuture.com Media:john.schilling@ff.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: LUXURY ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES/FUELS TECHNOLOGY EV/ELECTRIC VEHICLES AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE MANUFACTURING RETAIL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/22/2024 05:11 PM/DISC: 12/22/2024 05:09 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241222966710/enSAP SE (NYSE:SAP) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

The far-right Dasna temple head Yati Narsinghanand yet again made a hate speech at the World’s Religion Parliament in Haridwar on Friday, December 20, repeating his pattern of inflammatory rhetoric against the Muslim community of India. In a video that has surfaced on social media the saffron-clad Narsinghanand is seen addressing an audience accompanied by some right-wing members on stage. During the event, he delivered a threatening statement suggesting violence, stating “If the police move away for 15 minutes, this person asking and lecturing for time will not survive,” cryptically referring to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s controversial speech. It is pertinent to mention here that Owaisi delivered the speech in 2012 while addressing a rally in Telangana’s Adilabad district where he allegedly made an open challenge stating “If the police were to be removed for 15 minutes the Muslim community could show its strength”. Amid applause and sloganeering of “Har Har Mahadev from the audience, Narsinghanand is further heard declaring his willingness to sacrifice his entire family for the “Sanatan Dharma” cause. अगर पुलिस बीच में से हट जाए तो ये 15 मिनट का टाइम मांगने वाला जीवित नहीं बचेगा : यति नरसिंहानंद गिरी हरिद्वार में विश्व धर्म संसद में 20 दिसंबर, 2024 को बयान दिया, सुनिए 👇 pic.twitter.com/W4X2zbFGmr The 58-year-old priest has a history of hate speech and communally charged statements, particularly targeting the Muslim community and famous Muslim personalities like former president APJ Abdul Kalam. Earlier in October, he made derogatory remarks against the Prophet of Islam stating that, “If you have to burn effigies on every Dussehra, then burn the effigies of Muhammad.” Last year, he said “Akhand Hindu Rashtra was the dream of Veer Savarkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This dream should not be limited to Afghanistan; we should strive until Hindutva reaches Makkah and Kaaba.” He further claimed that a Shiv temple lies beneath the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site. Following unrest in Israel in 2023, the priest declared that he, along with 1,000 supporters, wishes to settle in Israel and contribute to the war effort free of charge. Due to his repeated hate speech, he has been booked across multiple states, with FIRs filed in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. However, despite facing numerous legal challenges, he continues to make provocative statements without facing any legal repercussions. The Uttar Pradesh police have often been accused of allowing Narsinghanand to be scot-free despite being a history-sheeter. Critics have pointed out the apparent double standards in handling such cases stating marginalized groups and independent journalists who report these hate crimes are stamped down immediately, and those spewing hate speech remain outside the law. On Thursday, December 19, the Supreme Court refused to hear a complaint alleging that the Uttar Pradesh administration and police failed to take action against far-right Dasna temple head priest Yati Narsinghanand’s Dharam Sansad which is being organised between December 17 and December 21. However, the Supreme Court directed the UP administration to follow the guidelines on hate speech. “Please keep track of what is happening, recordings of the event be there, the mere fact that we are not entertaining doesn’t mean there should be violations,” the CJI told additional solicitor general KM Nataraj representing the state. A team of former civil servants and activists, including retired IAS and IFS officers Aruna Roy, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Deb Mukarji and Navrekha Sharma as well as former member planning commission and NCW chief Syeda Hameed and social researcher and policy analyst Vijayan MJ, filed a contempt petition stating such events which include hate speeches could lead to communal disharmony in the region. They pointed at the Dharam Sansad advertisements which explicitly mention anti-Muslim speeches.Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang Are Highlighted in an Exclusive In-Game Experience Filled with Nostalgia, Prizes, and Fun! HERZLIYA, Israel , Dec. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This New Year, Solitaire Grand Harvest is bringing joy, nostalgia, and a bit of winter magic with everyone's favorite beagle, Snoopy,! Starting December 29 , players can experience Snoopy, Woodstock, and the Peanuts gang in a special month-long event that's bound to bring back cherished memories while adding a little sparkle to your solitaire game. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/playtika/9222155-en-solitaire-grand-harvest-featuring-snoopy Solitaire Grand Harvest, the #1 highest-grossing solitaire game in the U.S.**, is transforming into a Peanuts-themed winter wonderland just in time to ring in 2025. Whether you're sipping cocoa by the fire or counting down to midnight, the Peanuts ® takeover will warm your heart and make every win feel a bit more magical. Starting December 29 , players will discover Snoopy and his Winter Fair Collection, featuring charming in-game mini-games and exclusive prizes inspired by the classic Peanuts characters. But the fun doesn't stop when the ball drops! Between January 1-12 , players may add Snoopy and Woodstock to their collection, alongside their in-game special pet companions, making it a New Year's celebration that keeps on giving. Players get to keep their favorite characters with them forever with the permanent in-game Snoopy collection. Roi Glazer, General Manager of Solitaire Grand Harvest , shared his excitement, saying: "Snoopy has been a beloved part of so many of our lives for generations. This partnership with Peanuts allows us to combine the nostalgia of Snoopy with the excitement of Solitaire Grand Harvest in a way that brings joy to our players during the New Year celebration." Scott Shillet , Vice President of Global Hardlines at Peanuts , said: "We are thrilled to bring Snoopy and the beloved Peanuts gang to Solitaire Grand Harvest, allowing us to continue our mission of spreading joy through new and engaging experiences. By integrating our timeless characters into the game, our fans will find fresh ways to connect with Peanuts while enjoying the fun world Solitaire Grand Harvest has to offer." Solitaire Grand Harvest is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play (in-app purchases available). To follow along, visit Solitaire - Grand Harvest on Facebook and on Instagram . About Solitaire Grand Harvest ® Solitaire Grand Harvest is the top Solitaire game in the U.S.**, with hundreds of thousands of daily players across multiple platforms. Solitaire Grand Harvest, developed by Supertreat GmbH, allows its community to experience the fun side of farming as they grow and harvest crops, build and design their personal farm and progress through thousands of challenging Solitaire levels. The game provides high value content, and players are exposed to new features and provided with the opportunity to connect with other members of the Solitaire Grand Harvest community online. About Playtika Playtika Holding Corp. PLTK is a mobile gaming entertainment and technology market leader with a portfolio of multiple game titles. Founded in 2010, Playtika was among the first to offer free-to-play social games on social networks and, shortly after, on mobile platforms. Headquartered in Herzliya, Israel , and guided by a mission to entertain the world through infinite ways to play, Playtika has employees across offices worldwide. **According to App Annie , Solitaire Grand Harvest is the highest-grossing Solitaire game in the U.S. based on in-app purchases, from January 2024 – October 2024 . About Peanuts The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment ( Japan ) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz , who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown , Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ring-in-2025-with-solitaire-grand-harvests-new-year-celebration-featuring-snoopy-302338478.html SOURCE Playtika Holding Corp. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Lagos: LG polls will hold in 20 LGs, 37 LCDAs — APC chairman

A German pharmacist invented polystyrene in 1839. Today, the production of polystyrene produces more than 12.5 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, and 15 million metric tonnes are produced every year, with a less than 1% recycle rate. In 2016, Tetra Pak was the first company in the food packaging industry to have its climate impact reduction targets approved by the Science-Based Targets (SBT) initiative. One year later, in 2017, Tetra Pak had a 13% reduction in its overall climate impact despite a 19% increase in packages sold. The biodegradable packaging market was valued at $473.74 B in 2023 and is projected to reach more than $800 B by 2032. Scaling biodegradable packaging A Ukrainian startup, S.Lab , has been working to scale biodegradable packaging. The company was founded in 2021, but with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company moved its production facilities to Málaga, Spain. Julia Bialetska , CEO and co-founder of S.Lab said they chose this area because the region is striving to become climate-neutral by 2030, actively investing in sustainability, fostering the development of related businesses, and serving as a convenient logistics hub. Bialetska says Spain is an agricultural country with a lot of agricultural waste, including hemp and linen, which the company uses in its production. The local government also provided S.Lab with a production premise for five years. In 2024, the company launched its first fully automated production line in Coín, with a capacity of up to 30,000 units per month. Bialetska says this is a full production cycle: from purchasing waste from local farmers within a radius of 50 km from the production site to producing the packaging itself. Bialetska told Forbes that scalable biodegradable packaging solutions can be adapted for large-scale production to meet volume demands while adhering to environmental regulations and consumer preferences. "These solutions must balance sustainability with functionality, ensuring no features are compromised while remaining safe for the environment," said Bialetska. From the forest and the fields to the lab S.Labs leaned on nature when it developed its approach to biodegradable packaging using mycelium and agricultural waste. "We borrowed the natural process of mycelium growth from nature as the baseline of our process," said Bialetska. "Mycelium is a network of mushroom roots, and it is rapidly growing, creating long white nets that bind anything that they grow on." "This mechanic could be compared to a spider that creates nets and twists them around something nutritious," she added. Bialetska says that, in their case, agricultural waste acts as a skeleton/matrix for the material, and mycelium is a glue that binds all the particles together. "The main challenge was to transfer this process from the forest to the lab and then from the lab to the proper continuous manufacturing," said Bialetska. "For that, we developed our own hardware technology." Agricultural waste of hemp stems and linen France cultivates the largest hemp crop in Europe, but Spain has a history of growing hemp for industrial uses, and today, hemp is grown across the Iberian peninsula. "Normally, stems remain on the fields after the harvest or are thrown away after the processing as there is no use of this part of the plant," said Bialetska. "So instead of throwing them away, we take those stems and transform them into packaging that afterwards can be returned to nature and will fully biodegrade in 30 days in the soil." Hardware for continuous manufacturing S.Lab filed two European Union patents in 2024 for its continuous sterilization process and forming and shaping robot. Three new patents are in progress and are expected by Q4 2025. The company has several active packaging pilots with L'oreal, JTI, and Nespresso and is an approved supplier with L'oreal. “Our continuous, chemical-free sterilization method and innovative robotic forming mechanism of mycelium-based packaging solve the main problem related to bio-based solutions, which is scalability,” said Bialetska. Bialetska added that while other companies may offer solutions using materials like mycelium or agricultural waste, they can struggle to meet industrial-scale demands and rarely disclose their capacities. "This is why our production numbers matter, they demonstrate our readiness and reliability, making us a viable partner for industries transitioning to sustainable packaging at scale,” she said. "Our entire manufacturing process is controlled through advanced robotics, sensors, and computer vision, ensuring precision and reducing human error through real-time data monitoring and analysis.” Bialetska says their production line can also adapt to diverse client needs, including custom designs and sizes, without adding to production costs. "Our manufacturing technology is the first to produce mycelium-based packaging with precise 90° angles, mirroring the functionality of conventional packaging, which provides a lot of possibilities for packaging for various sectors," she added. S.Lab’s tech and production process can achieve up to three times the energy efficiency of traditional EPS production. "It is a closed-loop, energy, and water-efficient production, and this results in 90% lower CO2 emissions and 90% less water usage than polystyrene production," said Bialetska. Innovation at CES 2025 Visitors to the S.Lab stand (Venetian Expo, Eureka Park, Hall G—62659) at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2025 will be able to see S.Lab's production line prototype and mini-factory, which will also include a number of biodegradable packaging samples. Their mini-factory prototype is a self-contained 40-foot container featuring a built-in production line for on-site packaging production at customers' facilities. "By providing mini production lines, we offer clients sustainable packaging produced at their own premises without disrupting their existing processes," said Bialetska.

The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, Mountain Standard Time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.

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MELBOURNE, Australia and INDIANAPOLIS , Dec. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX; Nasdaq: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces that it has submitted its Biologics License Application (BLA) to the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for TLX250-CDx (Zircaix®[1], 89 Zr- girentuximab) kidney cancer imaging[2]. TLX250-CDx is an investigational PET[3] drug product for the non-invasive diagnosis and characterisation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common and aggressive form of kidney cancer. If approved, TLX250-CDx will be the first and only targeted PET agent specifically for kidney cancer to be commercially available in the U.S., further building on Telix's successful urology imaging franchise. The FDA is expected to advise the PDUFA[4] goal date following the 60-day administrative review of the application. Kevin Richardson , Chief Executive Officer, Precision Medicine at Telix, stated, "We are pleased to be progressing the BLA for TLX250-CDx, which has been granted Breakthrough designation, and may therefore be eligible for priority review. Telix continues to target a full U.S. commercial launch in 2025 addressing a major unmet medical need for patients with suspected ccRCC." About TLX250-CDx TLX250-CDx (Zircaix® 1 ) is an investigational PET agent that is under development for the diagnosis and characterisation of ccRCC. Telix's pivotal Phase III ZIRCON trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03849118 ) evaluating TLX250-CDx in 300 patients, of whom 284 were evaluable, met all primary and secondary endpoints, including showing 86% sensitivity and 87% specificity and a 93% positive-predictive value for ccRCC across three independent radiology readers[5]. Telix believes this demonstrated the ability of TLX250-CDx to reliably detect the clear cell phenotype and provide an accurate, non-invasive method for diagnosing and characterising ccRCC. Confidence intervals exceeded expectations amongst all three readers, showing evidence of high accuracy and consistency of interpretation. About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and associated medical technologies. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia , with international operations in the United States , Europe ( Belgium and Switzerland ), and Japan . Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical and commercial stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX) and the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: TLX). Telix's lead imaging product, gallium-68 ( 68 Ga) gozetotide injection (also known as 68 Ga PSMA-11 and marketed under the brand name Illuccix®), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[6], by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) [7], and by Health Canada [8] . No other Telix product has received a marketing authorisation in any jurisdiction. Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on X and LinkedIn . Telix Investor Relations Ms. Kyahn Williamson Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Email: [email protected] This announcement has been authorised for release by the Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Disclosure Committee on behalf of the Board. Legal Notices You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our registration statement on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, or on our website. The information contained in this announcement is not intended to be an offer for subscription, invitation or recommendation with respect to securities of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) in any jurisdiction, including the United States . The information and opinions contained in this announcement are subject to change without notification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any information or opinions contained in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements (as referred to below), whether as a result of new information, future developments, a change in expectations or assumptions, or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or opinions expressed in the course of this announcement. This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Telix's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect Telix's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical trials, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for Telix's product candidates, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; Telix's sales, marketing and distribution and manufacturing capabilities and strategies; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; Telix's ability to obtain an adequate supply of raw materials at reasonable costs for its products and product candidates; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. ©2024 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. The Telix Pharmaceuticals®, Illuccix® and Zircaix® 1 names and logos are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates – all rights reserved. [1] Brand name subject to final regulatory approval. [2] Telix ASX disclosure 31 July 2024. The FDA requested additional data demonstrating adequate sterility assurance during dispensing of TLX250-CDx in the radiopharmacy production environment. [3] Positron emission tomography. [4] Prescription Drug User Fee Act. [5] Shuch et al. Lancet Oncol. 2024. Telix ASX disclosures 7 November 2022. [6] Telix ASX disclosure 20 December 2021. [7] Telix ASX disclosure 2 November 2021. [8] Telix ASX disclosure 14 October 2022. SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

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Want diversification? Get it instantly with these ASX 200 sharesGuilt-Free New Year Party: 10 Tasty & Healthy Snack Options That Your Guest Will LoveCheslin Kolbe has switched his rugby gear for the red Santa suit and decorated his home in Tokyo, Japan, all for his wonderful kids and family. The rugby star took to Instagram and shared short clips and a picture of him and his wife getting everything ready for their kids for Christmas. Check out the lovely post and the response from fans. CHESLIN KOLBE’S CHRISTMAS IN JAPAN Cheslin Kolbe lives with his wife Layla and their three children in Tokyo, Japan. The Springbok shared a post showing their last-minute preparations for Christmas. He captioned the post:“Christmas Eve 2024 in Japan. Santa is hard at work trying to make it extra special for the kids. Have a blessed one.” The father-of-three is seen with Layla in the first video putting up a banner which read “Merry Christmas”. They then shared a beautiful photo showing how they decorated other parts of their home. The image showed their cozy lounge complete with a lit up Christmas tree and lights on the wall. There are also Christmas stockings and the lovely couple smiles at the camera. The second video shows Layla busy wrapping a bunch of Christmas gifts. There are also other cute décor items shown in the post. Cheslin also revealed how they had already prepared their dinner table for the festivities. The table is simply decorated with crackers and cute details that makes it so stylish. FANS REACT TO THE POST Cheslin Kolbe fans reacted by wishing the beautiful family a wonderful Christmas. Here are some of their comments. “Have a blessed Christmas Kolbes.” “Merry Christmas champ, from back home.” “You guys are the best parents.” One fan joked about how Layla was ordering Cheslin around when they were putting up the decorations. He wrote: “Everywhere in the world is the same. The woman points and determines where it will hang, and we as men stand on the stairs.” Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued in court on his sixth day of testimony in his criminal trial that regulatory decisions he approved prior to an alleged illicit quid pro quo agreement with a news website owner proved that the indictment regarding subsequent authorizations was baseless. The prime minister maintained that he approved all of these regulatory decisions, which are at the heart of the allegations against him, as a pro forma step of a bureaucratic nature and that he had no idea at the time of their significance to businessman Shaul Elovitch. Elovitch owned both Bezeq and the Walla news site at the time the indictment says the two men entered into their agreement, in which the prosecution alleges Walla gave Netanyahu favorable coverage in return for his assistance on regulatory matters. Netanyahu is giving testimony in the Tel Aviv District Court on charges of bribery and fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000, involving Walla, Elovitch and his business interests, which has been the single focus of the prime minister’s defense attorney since Netanyahu began testifying last week. During Tuesday’s hearing, defense attorney Amit Hadad asked Netanyahu about two regulatory decisions he approved in 2010 and 2011, which the prosecution included in the indictment against the prime minister and said were of great economic importance to Elovitch. Netanyahu’s attorney brought up those decisions since they preceded the period in which the prosecution alleges there was an illicit quid pro quo agreement between the two men, which the indictment says began after a meal held by Netanyahu and his wife for Elovitch and his wife at the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem in 2012. The indictment ostensibly included the pre-2012 regulatory decisions in the indictment to demonstrate a longstanding relationship between Netanyahu and Elovitch. But Netanyahu argued in court that the earlier decisions demonstrated that his signature both then and in 2014 was nothing more than a bureaucratic step in a purely regulatory decision taken on a purely professional, and not illicit, basis. “It shows how ridiculous the charges are, and even negligent,” said Netanyahu. “I didn’t have any bribery relationship with Elovitch. I don’t remember signing permits in 2010 and not in 2014,” he told the judges. On Monday, Netanyahu said that when he approved the regulatory decisions mentioned in the indictment in 2014 he did so in a perfunctory and automatic matter after they were brought to him, as were hundreds of others, for his signature by his staff after passing several layers of professional and legal approval. The two earlier regulatory steps were a permit Netanyahu signed in 2010 along with then communications minister Moshe Kahlon that allowed Elovitch to become the controlling shareholder in Bezeq. The second measure was an authorization signed by Netanyahu allowing the B-Com company, which was controlled by Elovitch, to fall below the minimum percentage of holdings in Bezeq shares, which the indictment says was also important to the businessman. “Both these first permits are more significant, those made before I entered the position [of communications minister in 2014] or before the ‘understanding’ with Elovitch, they were more important economically,” Netanyahu argued to the judges, and insisted that since they were made before the alleged agreement they are “evidence of acquittal.” After Netanyahu signed off on the 2010 decision, Elovitch purchased Bezeq for NIS 6.8 billion ($1.9 billion). In 2014, after Netanyahu signed a permit for the sale of the Yad2 sales website owned by Elovitch, the businessman sold it for NIS 800 million ($220 million). Judge Moshe Baraam asked Netanyahu directly whether he knew Elovitch back in 2010, and the prime minister said, as he has previously testified, that they did not have a personal relationship and that he only knew him from the forum of businessmen Netanyahu would convene as prime minister, and after Elovitch came to the shiva for Sara Netanyahu’s father in November 2011. Along with the bribery charges against Netanyahu in Case 4000 involving Elovitch’s business interests and Walla’s media coverage are a charge of breach of trust, which alleges that since the two men formed a personal relationship at one stage Netanyahu was legally prohibited from making any decision which affected Elovitch. “The procedures which I signed off on were automatic,” Netanyahu said in reference to the pre-2012 decisions. “If one of the legal professionals would have said there was a problem the authorization would not have got to me.” During the course of Tuesday’s hearing, Hadad returned to evaluating the list of 315 examples cited in the indictment of instances in which Netanyahu, his family members, or associates demanded improved coverage from Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua. One of those articles was a report that Netanyahu’s son Yair was dating a non-Jewish woman, which the indictment alleges Sara Netanyahu’s friend Zeev Rubinstein demanded directly from Elovitch that he remove it from the news site. The item was removed 10 hours later after Elovitch asked Yeshua to do so, but Netanyahu, as he has repeatedly insisted, said he wasn’t involved in the request, maintained that he could call Elovitch directly if he wanted to — as he did do on some occasions — and pointed out that Rubenstein’s initial request demonstrated he had direct access to Elovitch. Hadad also highlights another example cited by the indictment as evidence of special treatment by Walla to Netanyahu, two opinion pieces published in January 2014 which Elovitch himself ensured were removed. But the opinion pieces were not negatively disposed toward Netanyahu, but rather to former prime minister Ehud Barak and the actions he took against Netanyahu. Hadad noted that former Walla employee and commentator Yinon Magal actually testified that it had been Barak who requested the op-eds be removed, leaving Hadad to wonder why the indictment included it in its list. And Hadad emphasized further problems with the indictment regarding an alleged request by Sara Netanyahu to Elovitch’s wife Iris that Walla remove an article about the former manager of the prime minister’s residence suing Netanyahu, and which the indictment says was indeed removed. The item was not removed and was hostile to the prime minister, leading Netanyahu to quip that this was “one mistake among many.” Hadad also highlighted another example brought by the indictment in which Netanyahu personally called Elovitch to ask him to remove an article about a new lawsuit against the prime minister. Netanyahu conceded that it was likely he had called Elovitch about that particular article, but insisted that it demonstrated that he could call the Bezeq and Walla owner himself and did not need Rubinstein or anyone else as an intermediary. According to Netanyahu, this reality undermines the prosecution’s allegations he was involved in the numerous requests by Rubinstein and others for better coverage from Walla on his behalf. “When I want to talk with Elovitch I speak with Elovitch, not through Rubinstein.” The charges against Netanyahu Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases. He faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000 and Case 2000, and charges of bribery, as well as fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000. Case 1000 revolves around allegations that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, received expensive gifts illicitly from Hollywood media mogul Arnon Milchan worth some NIS 700,000, and that Netanyahu violated conflict of interest laws when he provided Milchan with assistance in renewing his long-term US residency visa and sought to help him with tax issues. In Case 2000, the prime minister is accused of fraud and breach of trust over his alleged attempt to reach a quid pro quo agreement with the publisher of the Yedioth Aharaonot newspaper Arnon (Noni) Mozes, whereby Yedioth would give the prime minister more positive media coverage in exchange for legislation weakening its key rival, the Israel Hayom free sheet. Case 4000, also known as the Bezeq-Walla case, is the most serious the prime minister faces, in which he is accused of authorizing regulatory decisions that financially benefited Bezeq telecommunications giant shareholder Elovitch by hundreds of millions of shekels. In return, Netanyahu allegedly received favorable media coverage from the Walla news site, which Elovitch also owned. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing and says the charges were fabricated in a political coup led by the police and state prosecution.PSE: Trump policies to dictate path of PHL stocks