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UConn blunts UMass upset bid topping Minutemen 47-42Five more people are facing charges as part of an investigation into extortion attempts made against South Asian businesses in Brampton and Mississauga, police say. The five accused — four men and one woman — were arrested and charged recently and have been released from custody with conditions, Peel Regional Police said in a news release on Thursday. The woman and three of the men were charged with extortion. Police said they have also recovered four firearms. According to police, the arrests and charges follow incidents in September 2023 and January, May, June and July of this year. The recent arrests, charges and seizures of guns are all part of an investigation into extortion-related incidents by the Peel Regional Police Extortion Investigative Task Force (EITF), a team made up of investigative and intelligence units supported by tactical teams. Police alleged in the release that extortion-related incidents in Peel Region have involved demands for large sums of money under the threat of violence. The incidents have also involved property damage and weapons offences. "Victims of these incidents are often contacted through social media platforms, such as WhatsApp and Facebook, which allow online chat groups," police said in the release. Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a video statement that police noticed a "disturbing" trend in late 2023 in which business owners were becoming the victims of extortion attempts for large sums of money under the threat of violence. "These incidents deeply impacted victims and their families and were felt throughout our community and communities right across this country," he said. In response, police set up the task force. Since it was launched, Duraiappah said police have investigated more than 60 extortion-related incidents, made 23 arrests and laid 154 charges. Duraiappah said police have also seized 20 firearms, several rounds of ammunition, several high capacity gun magazines, more than 11 kilograms of methamphetamines and more than $10,000 in proceeds of crime. He added that police have recovered six stolen vehicles. "The EITF continues to work closely with law enforcement partners across Canada and the U.S. to investigate these incidents, and we anticipate our efforts will lead to further arrests and charges," Duraiappah said. "Anyone who receives a demand for money under the threat of violence is urged not to make any form of payment and to call the police immediately." According to police, the five accused are a 27-year-old man from B.C., a 25-year-old man from Brampton, a 44-year-old man from Brampton, a 24-year-old man from Hamilton and a 21-year-old woman from Brampton.dynamite fishing 。

Last month, the Minnesota Lynx came a possession short of a WNBA championship . Then, they saw two key personnel depart the franchise in favor of other opportunities — assistant coach Katie Smith took a coaching role with her alma mater, Ohio State , while general manager Clare Duwelius pivoted to become Unrivaled’s general manager. But, the Lynx made a series of moves to help fortify Cheryl Reeve’s coaching staff. On Saturday, the organization announced two new assistant coach hires: former standout player Lindsay Whalen and long-time WNBA coach Eric Thibault. Whalen, a four-time WNBA champion with the Lynx who served as head coach at the University of Minnesota for five seasons, was a sideline staple throughout Lynx’s Finals run, and now will officially rejoin the organization in a new capacity. Eric Thibault, who served as head coach of the Washington Mystics before fired earlier this fall, finds a new home in the WNBA. “I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff,” said Reeve , who has served as the head coach of the Lynx since 2010. “Eric has vast experience coaching in the WNBA as both a head and an assistant coach and is a WNBA Champion. Lindsay adds a unique perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. I look forward to working with both in our quest for another WNBA Championship.” Thibault was let go by the Mystics after two seasons as head coach. Prior to that, he served as an assistant for 10 seasons, under his father, Mike’s, leadership. Related Whalen, a franchise legend, hasn’t coached since 2023, when she completed a stint at the University of Minnesota. Lindsay Whalen brings the perspective of a former player Lindsay Whalen was the point guard on four Lynx championship teams. For her career, she averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. Her jersey was retired by Minnesota in 2019, and she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. Whalen is not the first former player on the coaching staff; Rebekka Brunson, who was Lynx teammates with Whalen for nine season — including the four championships — has served as an assistant coach on the Lynx for five seasons. “I think it’s what makes us so unique at Minnesota; we have people who’ve been through what we’re going through,” Collier told ESPN’s Alexa Philippou . “They won so many championships in the place they’re coaching and we’re playing at now.” Whalen was often seen coaching up the Lynx from the sidelines as she sat courtside as games throughout the playoffs, even traveling to New York for Game 5. . @minnesotalynx legend Lindsay Whalen coaching from the sidelines helps set up an AND-1 for McBride #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/zKdWcVUfpI She is one of the winngest player in league history; she’s amassed 323 career victories (second-most all-time behind Sue Bird, 333) and 54 postseason wins (second-most all-time behind Brunson, 57). Whalen should help elevate Courtney Williams , who effectively served as the Lynx’s point guard last season. Eric Thibault brings extensive WNBA coaching experience Thibault’s roots with the Mystics are deep, and so is his understanding of the WNBA landscape. “It was very clear the team continued to trust in what they were doing, trusted each other, trusted the leadership of Eric,” Reeve said to ESPN. Whalen played for Mike Thibault for six seasons on the Connecticut Sun, and their families have long been intertwined. “I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Becky [Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen said. “Eric and I have also known each other for a long time, and for me, I couldn’t imagine joining a better staff as I return to coaching and get my first opportunity to coach in the WNBA. We have a special group with this team and I can’t wait to get to work.” For those keeping track, Thibault becomes the second fired head coach to find a new home in the WNBA. Curt Miller , who was let go by the Sparks, is the new general manager of the Dallas Wings. ( Stephanie White , who departed the Connecticut Sun on her own accord, was named the new head coach of the Indiana Fever soon after). On the flip side, Teresa Weatherspoon (Chicago Sky), Tanisha Wright (Atlanta Dream), and Latricia Trammell (Atlanta Dream) all have yet to announce their next moves in the WNBA — if one is to come, that is. Weatherspoon will be coaching in Unrivaled during the WNBA offseason, though that doesn’t preclude her from also getting involved in the WNBA. Related At a moment in which so many teams are completely rebuilding their coaching staffs, the Lyxn will benefit from the continued leadership of Cheryl Reeve, one of the most decorated head coaches in WNBA history. At the same time, the organization very likely nailed their two assistant coaching hires, bringing in a former player who has already showcased a meaningful connection with the players, while also hiring someone with extensive and proven WNBA experience. With the majority of Minnesota’s core returning, Lindsay Whalen and Eric Thibault should help bolster the Lynx’s title chances next season.New York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminalsWhen Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown welcomes players back to Halas Hall on Monday after their weekend off, his first order of business will be to stabilize the organization after a chaotic, jarring few days. The final game of former coach Matt Eberflus’ brief tenure ended haphazardly Thursday as he botched clock management in a 23-20 loss to the Lions , and the fallout wasn’t much smoother. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was visibly angry after Eberflus’ failure to call timeout cost the team a chance to at least tie the game, but remained diplomatic afterward by saying only that he didn’t believe it was his decision as an inexperienced player and he leaves those calls up to Eberflus. Things weren’t quite so civil in the visiting locker room at Ford Field, and one player said Eberflus’ post-game address about “sticking together” was derailed as players vented frustration at “an all-time high” level. The organization’s power players, including president Kevin Warren, chief administrative officer Ted Crews and general manager Ryan Poles, saw all of it. “Guys were [ticked] off,” one player said. “I can tell you what we think: It’s not the talent.” Eberflus wouldn’t concede that the week before, and when asked why this roster kept losing, he pivoted to a line about needing to “look forward and... look upward.” Those canned answers grew tiresome with the public and within Halas Hall. Minutes after blowing yet another game in the final seconds was not the time for another one. The same old speech about hanging tough and moving forward, essentially a repeat of what Eberflus had said after every loss in the six-game losing streak that pushed Poles to fire him, fell flat. Tight end Cole Kmet pointed out that he and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who arrived together as rookies in 2020, have heard nothing but that during their careers. “You only want to hear it so much,” Kmet said. “We want the results.” There was a prevailing opinion in the locker room that the Bears’ defeats were self-inflicted and, as one player put it relative to Eberflus, “That’s the problem.” The Athletic cited a player saying Johnson “went crazy” at Eberflus after the game and most or all of the locker room was on his side. Eberflus was under scrutiny in all six losses. He misplayed the end of the Commanders game and failed to notice cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s wandering attention, then dragged the story throughout the next week by refusing to say something definitive about consequences. Not surprisingly, the Bears looked unready for their ensuing game against the Cardinals, and a bad defensive call by Eberflus at the end of the spirit knocked any remaining wind out of them. They came home and lost 19-3 to the Patriots, the worst team in the NFL at the time, then rallied to give themselves a shot at upending the Packers for the first time in six years only for Eberflus to forfeit the option of trying to gain a few more yards and settling for a 46-yard field goal that got blocked. He had an epic error against the Vikings in which miscommunication led to the kicking team running onto the field when the offense was preparing to go for it on fourth down, and then the debacle in Detroit. Throughout, the Bears were impressed by Eberflus clearing the relatively low bar of having the team refocused and reenergized by the following Wednesday to begin the practice week. Management was skeptical, however, that he could keep that going, a source said. That doubt grew too big to ignore after the embarrassing ending against the Lions. While things already were stacked against Eberflus coming back in 2025, a source said, had Rome Odunze caught Williams’ final pass and scored the game-winning touchdown, it would’ve been a step in the right direction and Eberflus would’ve survived for at least another game. While Warren, Poles and chairman George McCaskey surely had a lot of thoughts about Eberflus on Thursday, they did not meet to discuss his future until Friday at 7:30 a.m. at Halas Hall. Poles was furious with Eberflus’ mishandling of the ending, a source said, and preferred to calm down and have a conversation free of emotion. The three most powerful people in the organization met for three hours, unconcerned at the time that Eberflus was scheduled to hold his day-after-game news conference at 9 a.m. on Zoom. He logged on unaware that he would be fired within two hours and perhaps unaware of the meeting. It was a bad look for the Bears, who made the right decision but executed it the wrong way. It could’ve been avoided merely by changing his schedule and making up a reason for the public, but a source said there was little attention given to that. There was total preoccupation with making a decision. It was Poles’ call, and Warren said in a statement he supported it. It was not a tough sell to McCaskey to break from the franchise’s 105-year tradition of not firing a coach in-season, a source said. In the meeting, there were three key points in favor of doing it now rather than waiting until January, as the Bears painfully did in a similar situation with Matt Nagy in 2021: Eberflus continued to make game-costing decisions, the locker room was bailing on him and there no longer was any chance of bringing him back next season. If that was the conclusion, no sense in delaying it. There also was concern about missteps with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, whom he fired after nine games amid player complaints, and his ability to guide Williams. The Athletic reported that some players floated the idea of benching him in favor of Tyson Bagent after the loss to the Patriots, but two sources told the Sun-Times there was no call to bench Williams and such a move would be nonsensical. After Eberflus was informed of his dismissal, he relayed that and said goodbye to his staff in a quick meeting, and management reached out to team captains to spread the word. It was all over by noon. Eberflus released a statement to CBS on Saturday thanking Poles and the McCaskey family and praising the players. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the players for all of their effort, dedication and resilience,” he said. “In every situation — practice, games and especially in the face of adversity, you stayed together and gave great effort for your team and each other.” He added that he was “most proud of... the way you carried yourself both on and off the field and represented the Bears’ organization with class in the community,” and thanked Bears fans for their “support and passion.” That passion was loud near the end, when fans at Soldier Field chanted for Eberflus to be fired and booed him repeatedly. Warren said they “deserve better results” than what they got from a coach who went 14-32.Lululemon Athletica earnings beat by $0.16, revenue topped estimates

ROCHESTER — Christmas is coming. And you know what that means? Complaints about Rochester post office’s chronic mail service delays are on the rise as its undermanned staff copes with a seasonal surge of Christmas packages, parcels and cards. On Thursday, Minnesota’s two U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, added their voices to the chorus of complaints, expressing concern in a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that mail delivery and staffing issues in the Rochester area “continue to be sources of stress and frustration.” ADVERTISEMENT “We are very concerned by reports of Minnesotans going four or more days without mail delivery, including when their informed delivery tracking and local post office promise imminent deliveries,” Klobuchar and Smith state in their Dec. 12, 2024, letter. The letter notes that Minnesota customers rely on the Postal Service to receive paychecks, Social Security benefits, and life-saving medications. “Even delays of one day can be difficult and harmful,” they wrote. “With the Minnesota-North Dakota District currently reporting on-time deliveries at 85.76%, this leaves a significant gap for individuals who rely on the Postal Service for essential services.” Todd Holm, Rochester’s postmaster, and Angela Bye, district manager of USPS Minnesota-North Dakota District, were unavailable for comment. The letter comes two days after DeJoy testified before Congress on the agency’s performance and modernization efforts. The hearing descended into a yelling match when Rep. Rich McCormick, a Georgia Republican, lambasted DeJoy for his poor performance heading the agency, according to the Daily Mail Online. “You are responsible for the fall of the Postal Service,” McCormick told DeJoy. “No, Congress is responsible for the fall of the Postal Service,” the postmaster replied. “I am trying to fix the Postal Service.” ADVERTISEMENT Under DeJoy, the agency has sought to add more than 100,000 workers to its ranks. During the hearing, the committee’s chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, noted that the USPS lost nearly $10 billion in 2024. The estimated loss for USPS next year will be $6.5 billion. When DeJoy gave himself an “A” for his performance, McCormick exploded, “You do not get an A grade. You were graded by the United States people and they don’t use your service anymore.” In the midst of his harangue, DeJoy held up his hands to cover his ears to mock the lawmaker. The USPS Office of the Inspector General, in an audit released in June, revealed widespread issues with USPS management in Minnesota, citing nearly 100,000 pieces of delayed mail in the facilities inspectors visited on one day alone. The report also highlighted a shortage of 551 employees across the MN-ND district. Last year, the Rochester Post Bulletin reported a 17% decrease in postal carriers on Rochester streets from previous years even as its coverage area has expanded as the city added more streets and people. The mismatch between dwindling manpower and growing demand for its services prompted one Rochester mail carrier to predict postal service was set up to “fail gloriously this holiday season.” ADVERTISEMENT This Christmas season looks to be no different. A veteran Rochester mail carrier told the Post Bulletin Thursday that little headway is being made on the hiring front. At best, it is treading water as the new people hired on a monthly basis barely keep pace with those retiring. “They’re putting next to no effort in hiring,” the carrier said. “It’s kind of basically just one step above word of mouth. No radio ads, not TV ads, no nothing.” He said the problem is not unique to Rochester as staff in other districts are putting in 60-hour work weeks. The workload hurts retention efforts, because few people want to work a 60-hour job. The carrier said the inadequate manpower is counterproductive financially, because unionized mail carriers are getting paid double time and almost $100 an hour when a new hire could be paid $21 an hour for straight pay. He added that mail carriers are instructed by management to give priority to packages over Christmas cards and other holiday missives, “which are just sitting idle.” “Our frustration — and no one in the post office will admit this on the record — but it’s Amazon that gets priority over the mail,” he said. “The packages have to be delivered. The mail can sit. They won’t officially say that, but that’s what we get yelled at for if we bring packages back.” ADVERTISEMENT In their letter to DeJoy, Klobuchar and Smith ask for responses to a series of questions: Were he or his staff aware that some Rochester neighborhoods were going four or more days without deliveries? What is the U.S. Postal Service doing to address the mail delays affecting the Rochester area? What are the current staffing levels for urban and rural carriers, career and non-career, for Minnesota and Rochester? How many seasonal employees did the district aim to hire and how many were successfully onboarded, for Minnesota and Rochester? “We appreciate the hard work that postal workers do to deliver mail, especially through the peak season and winter weather conditions,” the letter states. “However, staffing shortages continue to affect service across Minnesota, including Rochester, and this puts a heavy burden on postal workers to make up for the staffing shortages.”

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'FOX & Friends First' co-host Todd Piro provides details on the incident targeting the Kansas City Chiefs stars as the FBI investigates. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has made more than $93 million in career NFL earnings, and has plenty to spend on a birthday gift for Taylor Swift . But his blue-collar Ohio father apparently isn't going to stretch himself too thin for the occasion. Kelce's father, Ed Kelce , said that he plans to only spend $10 on a present for his son's pop star girlfriend this year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce attend the men's final match between the USA's Taylor Fritz and Italy's Jannik Sinner on day 14 of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sept. 8. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images) "You're not going to crush Taylor Swift with a gift that cost, you know, $100,000. You've got to get something that tweaks the strings of her heart that you spend 10 bucks on," Ed said during an appearance on the "Baskin & Phelps" podcast . "Then she'll just be all gooey. You've got to find something that triggers the emotion." Ed, a former steelworker and Coast Guard service member, believes that there's no point in spending too much on someone like Swift, who has the means to attain anything she wants as a billionaire. TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE HAVE 'AUTHENTIC' RELATIONSHIP DESPITE 'MARKETING STRATEGY' RUMORS: CHIEFS PRESIDENT Taylor Swift stands with Donna Kelce after the AFC Championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Jan. 28. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) "The amount of money is meaningless," he said. "There's nothing they want that they don't already have. You have to look beyond that. You've got to dig down and come up with something special." Swift turned 35 on Friday, and is into her second full year in her relationship with the NFL star. Kelce has faced mounting pressure to propose to Swift after Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen got engaged to actress Hailee Steinfeld at the end of November. Fans have called on Kelce to drop to one knee for Swift on all social media channels as the two are now each officially in the second half of their 30s. If and when that day comes, Swift will look to embrace Ed and Kelce's mother Donna as in-laws, but she likely won't expect high-end gifts from either of the two parents, based on Ed's philosophy. While Ed made a career in the steel industry, he comes from a military background. "Everybody in my family prior to me was in the service," Ed said on an episode of Travis and his brother Jason's "New Heights" podcast in February 2023. "We're also talking about family [that] lived through World War II, so that's what everybody did because that was the background." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Taylor Swift turned 35 on Friday, and is into her second full year in her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Ed did not go into the Army because he had a pre-existing knee injury. He joined the Coast Guard, but had to leave boot camp after it was discovered he had Crohn's disease. After joining the steel industry, Ed made sure to bring his sons Travis and Jason to work with him at the mill to show them what that line of work looked like. "I'd take them there — hard hat, safety glasses, boots, the whole nine yards," he told the Los Angeles Times . "I'd tell them, 'You can have a job like your mother's, or you can have a job like mine.'" Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.Is Barbie Sequel FINALLY Happening? Studio Denies Reports Amidst Growing Buzz!

James Jones on the Chicago Bears' clock management on their final play and whether Caleb Williams, Matt Eberflus or other players are to blame. The Bears lost 23-20 to the Detroit Lions and dropped to 4-8. Despite becoming the first head coach in Chicago Bears history to be fired midseason, Matt Eberflus had kind words for the organization after his dismissal Friday. Eberflus was sacked after the Bears' disastrous loss to the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day. On Friday morning, he met with reporters, expressing his belief that he would remain head coach and that he was focused on the team’s Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus talks to the media after a game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Just hours later, Eberflus was fired. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "This morning, after meeting with [Chairman] George [H. McCaskey] and [President and CEO] Kevin [Warren], we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head coaching position," Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. "I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward." Some on social media called out the Bears for the timing of Eberflus’ firing following his comments about planning for the 49ers , but the coach released a statement Saturday expressing his "heartfelt gratitude." Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) talks with head coach Matt Eberflus during the second half of a game in Detroit Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) BEARS SACK HEAD COACH MATT EBERFLUS AFTER THANKSGIVING DAY LOSS IN FIRST-EVER MIDSEASON FIRING "I would like to thank the McCaskey family and Ryan Poles for the opportunity to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears. "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the players for all of their effort, dedication and resilience. In every situation — practice, games and especially in the face of adversity — you stayed together and gave great effort for your team and each other." Eberflus also thanked the fan base for its "support and passion" and left his players with kind words. Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus during a game against the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day in Detroit Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "What I am most proud of was the way you carried yourself both on and off the field and represented the Bears organization with class in the community." Eberflus leaves the Bears with a 14-32 record, and Chicago becomes the third NFL team this season to fire a head coach. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Paulina Dedaj is a Sports Reporter for Fox News Digital.Cox Enterprises Nearing One-Third of its Ambitious Goal to Empower 34 Million People to Live More Prosperous Lives by 2034

News site will demonstrate value of Content Credits' subscription alternative platform while allowing content creators to contribute to new objective news source CINCINNATI and COVINGTON, Ky., Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Content Credits , a micropayments platform that enables consumers to access content on a per-article basis outside of traditional subscription paywalls, has launched a new online news site— The Cincinnati Exchange . Content Credits, a company based in Covington, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio, created The Cincinnati Exchange to demonstrate its micropayment platform for accessing content while the company continues to pursue publishing partners. The site's design and approach are inspired by the former The Cincinnati Post, a daily afternoon newspaper that launched as The Penny Paper in 1881 and ceased operations in 2007. "Since launching Content Credits this summer, the media landscape has experienced unprecedented disruption, with many of the country's largest publications and channels losing subscribers and viewers by hundreds of thousands and even millions, while at the same time consumers' demand for unbiased and trusted content continues to skyrocket," said Adam Koehler, co-founder and chief executive officer of Content Credits. "As we were finalizing The Cincinnati Exchange as a simple way to demonstrate to both publishers and consumers how our platform can work for them, we realized we could also impact media directly by providing an alternative venue for writers to contribute their content. We seek to be an objective source of user-curated news, and we invite content creators from all walks of life to consider contributing." Currently, The Cincinnati Exchange leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to populate its content. However, Content Credits hopes to attract enough human content creators in the next several months to fully populate the site with user-sourced news articles. Those interested in being contributors to The Cincinnati Exchange can submit their content for review at adam@contentcredits.com . With Content Credits, users can purchase individual articles or pieces of content at a fraction of the cost of a traditional subscription. As an example, with Content Credits, a consumer interested in reading a specific article published online by a particular media outlet can choose to purchase that article using one or more content credits. Initially, individual credits are expected to be priced at $0.25. Key Features: Impact on Bounce Rates and SEO: Traditional paywalls often result in high bounce rates, with studies showing that websites can have bounce rates as high as 60% to 90% for landing pages and blogs—some reaching as high as 97%. High bounce rates negatively impact SEO, as they are often correlated with lower search rankings due to reduced user engagement and session duration. By providing a flexible micro-payment option, Content Credits will help reduce bounce rates, improve user engagement, and ultimately enhance SEO performance for publishers ( Marcel Digital ) ( MarketSplash ). Ad Revenue Impact: Paywalls can also impact ad revenue by reducing the number of visitors who see ads. Studies show that the number of unique visitors can decrease by up to 16.8% when paywalls are implemented, leading to fewer ad impressions and lower ad revenue ( iZooto ) ( The Good ). By offering a micro-payment option, Content Credits will ensure more eyeballs on ads, enhancing ad revenue potential for publishers. Those interested can visit ContentCredits.com to sign up and receive $10 in free credits, putting them first in line to experience the benefits of micro-payments firsthand. Once the appropriate number of publishing partners has been added to the platform, those who have signed up will be notified that the platform is ready for use. Interested publishers are invited to reach out to discuss the model, understand its benefits, and participate in testing. Visit ContentCredits.com for more information. About Content Credits Founded in 2024, Content Credits is at the forefront of revolutionizing digital content accessibility. By partnering with leading publishers and leveraging innovative blockchain technology, Content Credits offers a micropayment platform that makes premium content affordable and accessible to all. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide and foster a more informed society. By allowing users to earn and spend "Content Credits," this service incentivizes high-quality content creation and consumption on all platforms while avoiding cumbersome and discriminating paywall experiences, fostering a vibrant and rewarding online environment for publishers, businesses and consumers. Media Contact Dan O'Keeffe 513.235.8638 dan@contentcredits.com ContentCredits.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/content-credits-launches-the-cincinnati-exchange-302330820.html SOURCE Content CreditsNEW YORK, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Outbrain Inc. (NASDAQ: OB) (“Outbrain”), a leading technology platform that drives business results by engaging people across the Open Internet, announced today that, at its special meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) held earlier today, Outbrain shareholders voted to approve the issuance of 35 million shares of common stock and 10.5 million Series A Convertible Preferred Shares, which are convertible into common stock, in connection with the acquisition of Teads S.A. (the “Share Issuance Proposal”). The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2025. “We are pleased with the outcome of today’s special meeting and extend our appreciation to our shareholders for supporting the combination with Teads,” said David Kostman, Chief Executive Officer of Outbrain. “Today’s shareholder approval marks a major milestone in the process to combine our two complementary businesses. We look forward to the closing of the transaction and becoming a global leader on the Open Internet delivering our full funnel value proposition to drive great outcomes for brands and media owners,” added Kostman.

Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. Declares DividendThis week, an initiative aimed at making it easier to become Swiss cleared the 100,000 signature hurdle required to qualify for a referendum, reported RTS. Switzerland is one of the most difficult places to gain citizenship. The referendum, for which 104,603 valid signatures were collected, aims to make naturalisation easier in several ways. Currently, there is a 10-year residence requirement, the last 5 of which must have been on a C-permit. The initiative wants this cut to 5 years on any permit. It also wants to remove other requirements, such as evidence of integration and the requirement to not have received welfare in the years preceding an application for citizenship. Other requirements, such as mastering the local language and not having a criminal record, would remain but be applied less strictly. Language requirements would be lowered to a basic level and only crimes that result in long prison sentences would be considered when disqualifying someone from citizenship. Non citizens are largely excluded from voting. Some exceptions allow some to vote at a municipal level. The vote organisers point out that around a quarter of Switzerland’s population are not Swiss. Excluding such a significant part of the population from the democratic process is undemocratic. Swiss citizens on the other hand get to decide on issues that sometimes specifically affect non-Swiss residents. The initiative’s website sets out the arguments of the organisers in more detail.