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Trump signs transition agreement with Biden White House. What does it entail?Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donelly revealed the seventh and eighth celebrities to leave camp this evening ahead of this year's all-important final. The stars taking part in the hit ITV reality series set in Australia who were dumped from the show in the second double-exit of the series were Corrie star Alan Halsall and social media sensation GK Barry. The four remaining campers will take part in the epic celebrity Cyclone Challenge in tomorrow night’s show, which always goes down a treat for viewers. Former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse was already guaranteed a place and immunity from tonight’s vote-off when she won the Ticket to Cyclone earlier this week, while the remaining three stars, Coleen Rooney, Richard Coles and Danny Jones, discovered they'd be in the final tonight. However, the latest exit has sparked a huge reaction among ITV viewers, with many flocking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their feelings. One said: "I want all 4 of the remaining celebs to win, it's gonna be so tough to call! #imaceleb." Another added, "I love Oti, but I don't like this immunity lasting this long. #ImACeleb." A third shared, " I was hoping Grace would make the final, but she's done so well!! #ImACeleb." Another said, "I am gutted for GK and Alan." A fifth raged, "I needed to see Grace do the Cyclone. v upset #imaceleb." Owen added, "Gutted GK didn’t get to the final, or even Cyclone. It would’ve been incredible TV, and she deserved to be there—but she smashed it this series." The two eliminations come just 24 hours after Love Island legend Maura Higgins and ex-boxer Barry McGuigan were booted off the show together. As Ant and Dec revealed that both Maura and Barry would be leaving the jungle, the stars said their goodbyes to camp, and Danny Jones gave Barry a huge goodbye hug. Coleen Rooney said of their departure: “I’m gutted. Two big personalities, they will be truly missed.” Elsewhere on tonight's episode, the stars were greeted in camp by their loved ones who they hadn't seen or been able to contact for weeks. Finalist Oti was reunited with her husband Marius, who greeted the dancer with a huge cuddle. Oti said: “Walking through the jungle, this beautiful face was the last face I expected to see, but it was the best surprise ever.” She told him: “You smell so good.” The Strictly Come Dancing winner then discovered her hubby had a surprise in store for her. When he told her to check his pocket, she found an outfit that her baby had worn the day before. A tearful Oti hugged and smelt it, declaring, “This is the perfect gift!” He also gifted her with a ring to mark the 10-year anniversary - and Oti could not wait to pop it on her finger. She beamed: “This is exactly what I needed to spur me on until the end. I love you.” I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX.

Dame Prue Leith claimed TV executives have been “very weak” amid the Gregg Wallace furore, adding that they should be “tough with their presenters”. On Friday, BBC bosses said they would be supporting MasterChef production company Banijay UK as it investigates allegations of misconduct against Wallace, after he stepped away from hosting the BBC One cooking show. In a message sent to staff, director-general Tim Davie , and Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, said the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect”. The Great British Bake Off star Dame Prue told Cathy Newman on Times Radio that she believed TV executives are “very weak” when managing talent. “For goodness sake, they can replace Gregg Wallace. They can replace anybody. So they should be tough with their presenters,” the 84-year-old said. “They should be very clear about whatever the rules are. I do think they’ve been weak. “But I don’t want to say that he should be sacked because I don’t know what the crime is.” Dame Prue said she understands the decision for Wallace to “step aside while they investigate things” but does not agree that people “should be cancelled or sacked”. At the start of the week, Wallace apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”, adding he will “take some time out”. His lawyers have previously strongly denied “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, according to BBC News. “He should just stay off social media because he’s just digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole because he’s too insensitive to understand how offensive it is,” Dame Prue said. “But that’s his problem, that he’s insensitive. “He hasn’t, that I can see, disobeyed the law. I don’t believe people should be cancelled or sacked. “I can see why you would ask somebody to step aside while they investigate things, which I suppose is what they’re doing. “But I think the tragedy in this is that I bet you Gregg has no idea what he’s done wrong.” Dame Prue also voiced concerns that the industry could be inundated with “boring” presenters if it becomes “too regulated and too organised” because “nobody will ever dare say anything”. “And that’s silly too,” she said. “But I think broadcasters need to know. It is very tricky because I do a little programme on ITV on Saturday morning and it’s a cooking programme and every now and again, the production company will say, don’t say that because it’ll be offensive and I think that it’s not offensive. “And then I suppose that’s a Gregg Wallace thing. Maybe I don’t realise. I mean, for example, language changes all the time.” Earlier this week, Banijay UK said in a statement: “It is important to note that MasterChef welfare processes are regularly adapted and strengthened and there are clear protocols to support both crew and contributors. “These include multiple ways of reporting issues, including anonymously. HR contact details are promoted and contributors are assigned a point of contact on set available to discuss any issues or concerns.” This week, the BBC announced it was pulling a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off special and a MasterChef Strictly Christmas special from its December TV schedules amid the controversy.Sinn Féin report on government issues hoped to be delivered before Christmas, Mary Lou says

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I'm A Celebrity reveals results of second double-elimination as final four confirmedSome Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter

Breakdown: Turning anguish into action | Podcast Ep. 3: ‘Dereliction of duty’

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said he would like to see homelessness figures to fall “within 12 months”. The number of people accessing emergency accommodation has risen at a near consistent rate in recent years, repeatedly breaking new records. The housing portfolio is held by Fianna Fail’s Darragh O’Brien. In the last of Virgin Media’s “Big Interviews” with party leaders, Mr Martin said homelessness was his party’s number one priority and the reason it sought the housing portfolio in the coalition. The official figures from the Department of Housing look at the number of people accessing emergency accommodation services over the last week of each month, and are published at 2pm on the last Friday of the following month. October’s figures are due at on polling day, November 29. The latest figures for the end of September show there were 14,760 people accessing such services, including 4,561 children – record highs for both metrics. The figures do not include people sleeping rough, those that may be couch surfing or homeless in hospitals or prisons, and those in a shelter for asylum seekers or domestic violence centres. Mr Martin said his party would not interfere with the agreed process by publishing the figures in advance of polling day. However, he accepted that there are “too many people homeless” and said homelessness is “very traumatic” for families. Speaking on Wednesday night, he said there was a need to” build more houses faster”, prevent homelessness and reduce the amount of time people rely on emergency accommodation. “The obligation is to get people out of emergency accommodation as quickly as we can, and get them a house as quickly as we can. “That is why building 40,000 social houses is progress, and we need to build 12,000 social houses a year, I think, to deal with the homelessness issue.” Asked if he was expecting the figures to be uncomfortable, he said: “We’re already uncomfortable with the homelessness figures, so next Friday isn’t going to change that to any significant degree.” Pressed on when he expected the figures to peak, Mr Martin said he did not have exact timelines and added supply needed to be increased. Asked when the figure would come down, he said: “I would like to see that within the next 12 months but I can’t give a guarantee on that. “Population is growing, and that is a factor in all of this. But we have to get up to 50,000 houses per annum.” Elsewhere, he doubled down on ruling out a Fianna Fail coalition with Sinn Fein. Mr Martin said Sinn Fein’s tax proposals would “destroy” Ireland’s enterprise economy, as he made an appeal to Irish voters before polling day on Friday. Asked how big the differences are between the two parties, he said: “They’re very substantial, fundamentally, in terms of the economic model that we have in this country.” Mr Martin said the vast majority of Fianna Fail members agreed with his position. Pressed on Fianna Fail’s past history of entering into coalition with Fine Gael in 2020 after initially ruling it out, the party leader defended that decision. He said there were a number of factors, including the argument about obligations to elect a government. He said the Fianna Fail-Fine Gael-Green coalition was able to “protect a pro-European, pro-Enterprise” model. Mr Martin said the Government was also formed in the context of a “one in 100-year” pandemic. The Fianna Fail stalwart also refused to rule out a future bid for President of Ireland, but said: “I haven’t considered it.”WANTED IN THE HAGUE Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attend a military ceremony in October before the defense chief was fired early this month over his differences with Netanyahu in the handling of the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. —REUTERS PARIS — World leaders were divided over the arrest warrants that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ousted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with some saying they disagreed with the issuance of the warrants even as they noted that they were bound to enforce the orders. The ICC also issued a warrant on Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif—in response to accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, set off by the militant Palestinian group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The court urged member states to enforce “a policy of severing contact and meetings” with Netanyahu and Gallant. Netanyahu in a statement said: “The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial—and it will end in the same way.” He was referring to the 19th-century Alfred Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish army captain was wrongly convicted of treason in France before being exonerated. READ: Netanyahu says ICC warrant won’t stop Israel defending itself Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and accusations made against it,” Netanyahu said, again saying that the judges were “driven by anti-Semitic hatred of Israel.” The United States said it “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s decision. “We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” said a National Security Council spokesperson. “The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter.” US President Joe Biden himself, in a statement on Thursday, called the warrants on the top Israeli leaders “outrageous.” “Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence—none—between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said. “We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” Posting on X, Argentine President Javier Milei said the warrant “ignores Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.” But Josep Borrell, foreign policy chief of the European Union, said the warrant “is not a political decision.” “It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented,” he said. But there has been some contradiction among EU’s member states, with Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto saying his country would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they visited, no matter that he thinks the ICC is “wrong” to put Netanyahu on the same level as Hamas. Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary said on Friday he would invite Netanyahu to visit and assure him that the ICC’s warrants would “not be observed.” Germany said it will carefully examine the warrants, but will not take further steps until a visit by Netanyahu is planned. Cyprus, which has close ties with Israel, said it still considers arrest warrants issued by the ICC as binding in principle. The Palestinian Authority, a rival of Hamas, said “the ICC’s decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions.” Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim said of the warrants against the Israeli leaders: “[It’s] an important step toward justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world.” Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents 300 Israeli victims of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, said the “arrest warrant against Mr Deif is massively significant.” “It means these victims’ voices are being heard,” she added, speaking from outside the court in The Hague on Thursday. In March last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants on Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his commissioner on children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in connection with the “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . READ: Netanyahu: Hamas shot hostages in ‘back of the head’

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Maple Leafs' Rielly feels 'really good' with game after learning curveConservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad faces a test after 13 members of his caucus have asked him to essentially discipline Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko for comments that she made about a former Vancouver Police Board member. The signed letter published by radio host Jas Johal on X Thursday (Dec. 5) calls on Rustad to "invite" Sturko to "offer" Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba a written apology after Sturko had criticized her, following Sakoma-Fadugba's controversial remarks about the nature of Canadian society. Sakoma-Fadugba left her position Nov. 22 after several social media posts linked to her became public. Screenshots of the Instagram stories linked to Sakoma-Fadugba show Reddit posts lamenting the loss of Christian values in the face of immigration and criticized "woke culture" as well gender transitions. The alleged statements cost Sakoma-Fadugba her job on the police board and drew criticism from various corners of the political spectrum, including Sturko, a former RCMP officer and member of the LGBTQ2S+ community. “When we have statements being made that erode the public’s trust, or their comfort with their police service, it makes it that much harder on the front-line officers," Sturko told the CBC in November. But this statement did not sit well with her 13 colleagues, calling on Rustad to ask Sturko for the apology "and to encourage the Vancouver Police Board to advance conciliatory discussions with (Sakoma-Fadugba)." But that is not their only demand. "If Ms. Sturko declines your invitation, we ask that you offer this apology and encouragement on behalf of the Conservative caucus," they write. This double-demand appears to put Rustad in a double-bind. He either follows the demands from his part of his caucus ostensibly aimed at one of their own or he undermines the position of Sturko by issuing an apology on her behalf. "The way he responds will tell us something about where his own loyalties lie," UBC political scientist Stewart Prest said. "We do know that he is quite supportive of articulations of these kinds of more critical views of modernity ... so it may be that he has a certain amount of sympathy with the letter writers and his response will tell us whether that's the case. At the same time, a leader has another responsibility to the larger caucus as well. It may be that there are other members of the caucus who feel (Sturko) was quite correct in offering that assessment, and then has nothing to apologize for." Found within the letter is also a larger expression of sympathy for Sakoma-Fadugba's statements and a request to Rustad to give those views room by reminding him of what the signatories consider Rustad's own views to be. "The posts express views many Conservatives (including Conservative MLAs and staff) hold in support for parental rights, religious faith, and the pursuit of shared Canadian values," it reads. "Under your leadership, the Conservative Party of BC has consistently denounced 'cancel culture' and stood for the Charter rights British Columbians enjoy to free expression and freedom of religion," it reads. "The very first question you raised in the (legislature) as leader was in defence of parental rights." “Will the minister admit this SOGI 123 has been divisive and an assault on parents’ rights and a distraction to student education?” Rustad asked on Oct. 3, 2023. That question drew a rebuke from Premier David Eby, who called the question "outrageous" in accusing Rustad of leveraging children for culture-war purposes. “Shame on him," Eby said. "Choose another question." Prest called the letter a "deliberately provocative approach" that speaks to the ideological divisions within the party now for everyone to see. "It's putting right out in the open something we knew was going to be part of this, this challenging political coalition bringing together more populist-style conservatives with more, if you like, centrist or politically moderate types such (Sturko)." None of the 13 signatories once sat with Sturko when she was part of BC United and all were elected on Oct. 13 as first time Conservative candidates. Of note, is also the geographical representation of the MLAs. Eleven signatories represent ridings outside of Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria including areas in the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan. Three signatories – Dallas Brodie (Vancouver-Quilchena), Brent Chapman (Surrey-South) and Anna Kindy (North Island) – have also found their names in the news over comments that they had made before or during the election campaign, with Chapman being perhaps the most widely reported one following his comments about Palestinian children made in 2015. "I would suggest that we are seeing to emerge, perhaps the makings of which you could almost call a Freedom Caucus in the (Conservative Party of B.C.), the sense that there's a group within a group that looks at the world quite differently than other members of that caucus," Prest said. This is not the first time that Sturko has been the object of criticism from within the Conservative Party of B.C. While still with B.C. United, Conservative candidate Paul Ratchford had called her a "woke, lesbian, social justice warrior." At the same time, Sturko had also been critical of the Conservatives, while still with B.C. United. In early October 2023, Sturko called on Rustad to apologize after appearing to draw a comparison with harms caused by residential schools and parental concerns about SOGI 123. Rustad denied making such a comparison. Sturko also called on Rustad to apologize after he had referred to being LGBTQ2S+ as a "lifestyle" in a media interview. When asked to comment on the letter from her colleagues, Sturko said deferred to Rustad. "This letter was addressed to John. I'm going to allow him the opportunity to speak to it at this time." Black Press Media has reached out to the Conservative Party of B.C., including Rustad's spokesperson and Rustad himself for comment.Philadelphia (9-2) at Baltimore (8-4) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 7-4; Ravens 6-5-1. Series record: Baltimore leads 3-2-1. Last meeting: Ravens beat Eagles 30-28 at Philadelphia on Oct. 18, 2020. Last week: Eagles beat Rams 37-20; Ravens beat Chargers 30-23. Eagles offense: overall (3), rush (1), pass (25), scoring (7) Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (3), scoring (6) Ravens offense: overall (1), rush (2), pass (3), scoring (2) Ravens defense: overall (24), rush (2), pass (31), scoring (10) Turnover differential: Eagles plus-3; Ravens plus-2. RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley has not only turned the Eagles into legitimate Super Bowl contenders, his numbers could make him the first non-QB to win MVP since Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson in 2012. He had a career-high 255 yards on 26 carries and two rushing TDs against the Rams. It was the ninth-best single-game rushing performance in NFL history. Barkley has only played against Baltimore once, and finished with 83 yards rushing and a touchdown in October 2022. RB Derrick Henry. Not to be outdone, Henry is close behind Barkley in the race for the NFL rushing title, trailing 1,392 yards to 1,325. His 15 total TDs lead the league. This is the first meeting between players with at least 1,300 yards rushing since Week 16 of 2012, when Peterson's Minnesota team faced Houston and Arian Foster. Baltimore's Lamar Jackson vs. Philadelphia's top-ranked defense. Jackson has been particularly good with ball security this season. He's thrown only three interceptions. The Eagles lead the league with 46 points off turnovers since Week 8. Eagles: Philadelphia lost the heart of the team when DE Brandon Graham announced after last week's game that he was out for the season with a torn triceps. He said previously this would be his final season. Graham has 3 1/2 sacks this season, his 15th with the Eagles. ... The Eagles should know closer to game day if CB Darius Slay (concussion) and WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) will play against the Ravens. Ravens: Star LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) did not play against the Chargers, but he was back at practice this week. The past three meetings between the teams have been decided by a combined four points. In fact, only one matchup in the series — Baltimore's 36-7 win in 2008 — has had a margin of more than five. ... The past two meetings came down to 2-point conversion attempts by Philadelphia near the end of the game, and both times the Eagles failed. ... John Harbaugh spent a decade on the Eagles' staff before becoming Baltimore's head coach in 2008. The Eagles have started 9-2 or better in three consecutive seasons. ... Nick Sirianni is the first Eagles head coach with winning seasons in each of his first four years with the team. ... Over the past 30 years, only five coaches have opened 9-2 or better in three straight years: Sirianni (2022-24 Eagles), Sean Payton (2018-20 Saints), Bill Belichick (2014-17 Patriots), Tony Dungy (2005-07 Colts) and Mike Shanahan (1996-98 Broncos). ... Philadelphia’s seven-game winning streak is tied for its third-longest stretch in a single season since 2004, trailing only the 2017 (nine) and 2022 (eight) seasons. ... The Eagles are second in the NFL with a .719 (23-9) road winning percentage since 2021, trailing only Kansas City (23-8) in that span. ... The Eagles have held opponents to fewer than 300 total yards for seven straight games, their longest streak since 2008. ... The Ravens have at least two sacks in 15 straight games. That's the longest active streak in the NFL. ... Jackson is 23-1 in games started against the NFC. ... Baltimore has scored TDs on 78.7% of its red zone trips, tops in the league. ... The Ravens are the first team in the Super Bowl era with at least 3,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing through the first 12 games of a season. ... Jackson is the first player since 2020 (Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers) with at least 3,000 yards passing and a passer rating of at least 115 entering Week 13. ... Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy have eight sacks apiece for Baltimore. The Ravens, Texans and Vikings are the only teams with two players who have reached that total. ... Baltimore has gone three straight games without scoring in the first quarter. Ravens TE Mark Andrews has a TD catch in two of his past three games and appears to be Baltimore's top option at that position despite the presence of Isaiah Likely. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

TJ Bamba led Oregon with 22 points and five assists in the Ducks' 78-68 victory over San Diego State on Wednesday in pool play of the Players Era Festival at Las Vegas. The Ducks (7-0) won both games in the "Power Group" and will play in the championship Saturday against the top team from the "Impact Group." San Diego State (3-2) will await its opponent for one of the secondary games Saturday. The matchups are based on seeding dependent on performance of the first two games. Bamba made 7 of 14 shots from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Keeshawn Barthelemy had 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and hit 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. Nate Bittle finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, Brandon Angel 12 points and six rebounds and Jackson Shelstad paired 12 points with four assists. BJ Davis led San Diego State with 18 points before fouling out. Nick Boyd finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Neither team led by more than four points until Oregon scored nine unanswered to take a 34-27 lead with 2:20 left in the first half. Barthelemy started the run with a jumper and finished it with a 3-pointer. Oregon outscored San Diego State 16-4 in the last 4:23 of the half to take a 41-31 lead into the break. Bamba and Barthelemy combined for 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the first half. Boyd led San Diego State with 13 points, making all three of his 3-point attempts and going 5-of-6 overall. A 7-2 run for Oregon increased its advantage to 48-35 with 17:36 remaining, but San Diego State cut the lead to 56-53 with 10:58 left following a 9-0 run. A Bamba 3-pointer closed an 8-2 stretch with 4:15 remaining to increase Oregon's lead to 73-63. San Diego State did not get closer than eight points the rest of the way. Davis fouled out with 31 seconds left and Oregon leading 77-68. --Field Level MediaNo. 7 Alabama looks to remain in playoff contention with a visit to Oklahoma

Brazil's federal police said Thursday they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people for allegedly attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Police said their findings were being delivered Thursday to Brazil's Supreme Court, which must decide whether to refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva . Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were indicted "to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news." The 700-page police document likely will take several days for the court to review, Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes said. Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were indicted, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. The investigation started last year. On Tuesday, four military men and one federal police agent were arrested as part of the same probe. Other investigations focus on Bolosnaro's potential roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them, and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others' COVID-19 vaccination status . Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country's voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. The far-reaching investigations have weakened Bolsonaro's status as a leader of Brazil's right wing, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. "Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections," Melo told the The Associated Press. "And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then. To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aides. That's a very tall order," Melo said. Brazil Coup d'etatNEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Zeta Global Holdings Corp. ZETA and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Zeta, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/zeta-global-holdings-corp . Investors have until January 21, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Zeta securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Davoodi v. Zeta Global Holdings Corp. , et al. , No. 24-cv-08961. What is the Lawsuit About? Zeta is a cloud-based technology company that provides a marketing platform to assist marketers in acquiring customers. The complaint alleges that Zeta represented that its marketing platform was powered by the industry's largest opted-in data set. On November 13, 2024, prominent investment research firm Culper Research published a report titled: "Zeta Global Holdings Corp (ZETA): Shams, Scams, and Spam." Based on Culper's investigation that included proprietary interviews with industry experts and former Zeta employees, the research firm found that Zeta's data set had been generated from a network of "consent farms" – i.e., sham websites designed to gather consumer data under false pretenses or awards that did not exist. Culper Research further wrote that these consent farms drove almost the entirety of Zeta's growth over the past 2+ years, representing 56% of its Adjusted EBITDA, and could result in devastating regulatory action. The news caused a significant decline in the price of Zeta stock. On November 13, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 37%, from a closing price of $28.22 per share on November 12, 2024, to $17.76 per share on November 13, 2024. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/zeta-global-holdings-corp . What Can You Do? If you invested in Zeta you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/zeta-global-holdings-corp Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/zeta-global-holdings-corp Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New YorkPoliticos call for action on violence against women

accused International Criminal Court judges of holding “anti-Semitic hatred toward Israel” after it issued arrest warrants against him and the country’s former defence minister. The Israeli prime minister showed his contempt for the decision by launching a personal attack against Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor. “The decision was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor attempting to save himself from serious allegations of sexual harassment, and by biased judges driven by anti-Semitic hatred toward Israel,” Mr Netanyahu said on Wednesday. Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defence minister, have been accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity and for their role in the . The ICC’s decision means the politicians risk being arrested in any of the 124 countries that are signed up to the court. Both Israel and the US have argued the ICC over the Jewish state as it is not a member of the court. “We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” the White House said in a firm rebuke of the arrest warrants on Thursday. “The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter.” The court also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military chief, who is seen as the orchestrator of the Oct 7 attacks. Israel claimed to have killed Deif earlier this year, which Hamas is yet to confirm. An Israeli official told The Telegraph that the arrest warrant was “expected” but that the government considers it an “outrageous, political move”. “I find it hard to believe that any of Israel’s allies will arrest a sitting prime minister, but we are in touch with all of them now to figure out how to contain the situation,” the official said. Mr Netanyahu compared the arrest warrants to “ – and it will end in the same way”. It was in reference to an infamous 19th century court case in which Alfred Dreyfus, a French Jewish army captain, was wrongly convicted of treason. Mr Netanyahu accused Mr Khan, the ICC’s British-born chief prosecutor, of “lying” when he told American senators that he would take no action until he had visited Israel. “Instead, he cancelled his arrival in Israel last May, several days after suspicions of sexual harassment were made against him, and announced his intention to issue arrest warrants,” the prime minister said. Mr Gallant, who was recently fired by Mr Netanyahu, also delivered an angry reaction to his arrest warrant, saying it will be “remembered in infamy”. “It places the State of Israel and the murderous Hamas leaders on the same level, thereby legitimising the murder of babies, the rape of women and the kidnapping of elderly people from their beds,” said Mr Gallant. Sir Keir Starmer . When asked about the issue, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said the Government of the court but declined to say whether Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he arrived in the UK. The spokesman said: “We respect the independence of the ICC, which is the primary institutional institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes in relation to international law. “This Government has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law. There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terror groups. “We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza.” , Israel’s president, described the ICC’s decision as a “dark day for justice and humanity” and said the arrest warrants were issued in “bad faith”. Itamar Ben-Gvir, , echoed accusations of anti-Semitism against the ICC and said the government should respond by annexing the West Bank. Mike Waltz, Donald Trump’s pick for , said the court should expect “a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC and United Nations come January”. Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator, called on Washington to sanction the ICC in response to its decision. The arrest warrants were welcomed by Hamas, who said they represented an “important step towards justice”. Basem Naim, a Hamas official, said: “It can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world,” Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, also praised the decision, which he said restores “hope and trust not only in international law along with UN institutions, but also in the importance of justice, accountability and prosecution of war criminals”. Some human rights groups also applauded the arrest warrants. Balkees Jarrah, the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said they “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law”. Peace Now, the Israeli NGO, said the war against Hamas has become “ , allegedly using unlawful means such as starvation. Under Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel has become a pariah state, and this is a low point in our history as a people and a nation”. The ICC has no power to enforce its warrants but any country that has signed the Rome Statute, which established the court’s existence, would be obliged to arrest Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant. Mr Khan said in a statement: “I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders.” He also called on countries that are not members of the ICC to work together towards “upholding international law”. 07:53 PM GMT Round-up of today’s events Thank you for following our live blog. Here is a round-up of today’s events. The International Criminal Court’s most senior prosecutor has urged the body’s 124 members to act on arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. Sir Keir Starmer has backed the ICC’s decision to issue a warrant for Netanyahu. He declined to say whether Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he arrived in the UK. The United States “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, a White House national security council spokesman said and is “deeply concerned” by the decision to do so. Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, said his country would be obliged to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited. 07:34 PM GMT White House is ‘deeply concerned’ by decision to issue arrest warrants The White House has said it remains deeply concerned by the ICC’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister. 07:19 PM GMT Italy is bound by ICC to act on arrest warrants, says Crosetto Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, said his country would be obliged to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited. Crosetto, whose country holds the G7 rotating presidency this year, told RAI television’s Porta a Porta programme said that if Netanyahu or Gallant “were to come to Italy, we would have to arrest them”. It was not a political choice but Italy was bound as a member of the ICC to act on the court’s warrants, Crosetto said. 06:49 PM GMT Netanyahu: ‘ICC warrant won’t stop me from continuing to defend Israel’ Benjamin Netanyahu has said the warrant issued for his arrest by the ICC “won’t stop me from continuing to defend Israel”. 06:35 PM GMT Dutch’s Foreign Minister cancels trip to Israel Caspar Veldkamp, The Netherlands Foreign Minister, has cancelled his trip to Israel, the Dutch news agency ANP has said, citing leaked plans of the trip as the reason. 06:12 PM GMT Italian government will arrest Netanyahu if he came to country The Italian government would have to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to the country, its defence minister Guido Crosetto has said. 05:35 PM GMT ICC prosecutor urges its 124 members to act on arrest warrants The International Criminal Court’s most senior prosecutor has urged the body’s 124 members to act on arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. The ICC has no power to enforce its warrants but technically, any country that has signed the Rome Statue would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu or Gallant. Karim Khan in a statement, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, said in a statement:“I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders. He also called on countries that are not members of the ICC to work together towards “upholding international law”. Khan said his investigation into the situation in Gaza was continuing and his team was looking into “additional lines of inquiry in areas under the Court’s jurisdiction, which include Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.” 05:30 PM GMT Turkey praises ICC decision to issue ICC arrest warrants. Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister, hailed as “a very important step” the decision by the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister He wrote on X: “This decision is an extremely important step in bringing to justice the Israeli authorities who committed genocide against Palestinians.” 05:20 PM GMT ICC prosecutor urges members to ‘live up’ to their commitments Karim Ahmad Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has urged members to comply with arrest warrants. He said that countries that belong to the court must “live up” to their commitments and has also called on the co-operation of non members. 04:45 PM GMT Trudeau: ‘We will abide by rulings of the ICC’ Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, has said his government will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the International Criminal Courts. He told a televised news conference. “It’s really important that everyone abide by international law. We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts.” 04:31 PM GMT Palestine welcomes arrest warrants for Netanyahu The Palestinian Authority welcomed the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants on Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. “The ICC’s decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions,” it said in a statement published by official Palestinian news agency Wafa, and urged ICC members to enforce “a policy of severing contact and meetings with internationally wanted individuals, Netanyahu and (Yoav) Gallant”. 04:21 PM GMT Starmer backs ICC warrant Sir Keir Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister. When asked about the issue, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said the Government respected the independence of the court. He declined to say whether Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he arrived in the UK. The spokesman said: “We respect the independence of the ICC, which is the primary institutional institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes in relation to international law.” “This Government has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law. There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terror groups. “We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza.” Under the Conservatives, the British government had told the court it intended to challenge the plans for the arrest warrants. However weeks after coming to power, Sir Starmer’s government reversed that position and said it would not object. 03:48 PM GMT US rejects ICC decision to issue arrest warrants The United States “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, a White House national security council spokesman said. “We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” the spokesman added. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Donald Trump, called for the Senate to sanction the ICC, saying the court was a “dangerous joke”. “It is now time for the US Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body.” 03:33 PM GMT Suella Braverman: ICC is ‘making a mockery of the law’ Suella Braverman has accused the ICC of “making a mockery of the law”, . The Tory MP and former home secretary told The Telegraph: “The issuing of an arrest warrant from the ICC for Israeli Ministers is outrageous and brings the ICC into disrepute. “Israel is fighting for survival against Hamas terrorists who wish to wipe Jewish people off the face of the earth. To equate Hamas brutality with legitimate defensive measures of the democratically elected Israeli government is absurd and brings the ICC to shame. “That this Labour government effectively supports the ICC’s action puts the UK at odds with one of our closest allies in the Middle East. “The ICC has lost credibility with this politicised decision which has no objective evidential basis. They’ve made a mockery of the law and undermined the international rules based system.” 03:21 PM GMT UK should not enforce ‘farcical’ arrest warrant, says Robert Jenrick Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the ICC now has “no credibility”, . Mr Jenrick said: “The UK should not enforce this farcical arrest warrant from a politicised court that is itself mired in scandal. “This latest decision will only fuel the growing perception the ICC is a kangaroo court. “Equating Israel’s war of self defence with Hamas is absurd. “The ICC has no credibility when it turns a blind eye to the crimes of tyrants like Khomeini and Putin.” 03:14 PM GMT Ireland’s PM: ICC arrest warrants is ‘extremely significant step’ Ireland’s prime minister has said the ICC’s issuing of arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Mohammed Dief is an “extremely significant step”. “The court points to reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant each bear criminal responsibility for crimes perpetrated in the war in Gaza,” Simon Harris said. Mr Harris also pointed to the arrest warrant for Hamas commander Mohammed Dief, who Israel claims to have killed earlier this year. “The court points to reasonable grounds that Mr Deif ... is responsible for crimes against humanity,” Mr Harris noted. The Irish leader said his government has long expressed “profound concern” that rules of international humanitarian law have not been upheld during the war in Gaza. 02:45 PM GMT Priti Patel: ICC decision is deeply concerning and provocative Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: “The decision by the ICC to issue arrest warrants for the democratically elected leader of Israel and Israel’s former defence minister is deeply concerning and provocative. “This will do nothing to bring about the release of all hostages held and the bringing of much-needed aid into Gaza. “In issuing these warrants, the ICC are drawing a moral equivalence with the actions of the terrorist leadership of Hamas, which it is wrong to do. “The Conservative Government did not believe the ICC has jurisdiction in this area, as Israel is not a signatory to the Rome statute, and because Palestine is not recognised as a state. “The Labour Government must condemn and challenge the ICC’s decision.” 02:37 PM GMT Netanyahu compares ICC ruling to ‘modern-day Dreyfus trial’ Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has released a statement comparing the ICC’s ruling to the Dreyfus affair of 1894, when the French government wrongly convicted a Jewish army officer of treason. “The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial -- and it will end in the same way,” Netanyahu said, referencing the fact the French state eventually exonerated Albert Dreyfus. Mr Netanyahu added that the decision to issue an arrest warrant was “made by a corrupt chief prosecutor attempting to save himself from serious allegations of sexual harassment”. The ICC announced earlier this month that Karim Khan, its chief prosecutor, would face an external investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Mr Khan has denied all the allegations and vowed to cooperate with the investigation. 01:52 PM GMT Pictured: Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif As well as issuing arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defence minister, the ICC also sought the arrest of Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Israel has claimed that it killed Deif earlier this year. A shadowy figure, he had been on Israel’s most wanted list for nearly three decades and survived at least seven assassination attempts that left him with impaired sight and movement. 01:28 PM GMT The ICC has turned universal justice into a laughing stock, Israeli president says Israel’s president has attacked the ICC’s arrest warrant decision, saying the court has turned universal justice into a “laughing stock”. “It makes a mockery of the sacrifice of all those who fight for justice - from the Allied victory over the Nazis till today,” Isaac Herzog said. He added: “It ignores the basic fact that Israel was barbarically attacked and has the duty and right to defend its people. “It ignores the fact that Israel is a vibrant democracy, acting under international humanitarian law, and going to great lengths to provide for the humanitarian needs of the civilian population.” 01:12 PM GMT Arrest warrants are ‘assault on justice and truth’, Israeli parliament speaker says The ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is an “assault on justice, truth, and the universal right of self-defence”, the Israeli parliament speaker has said. In a statement, Amir Ohana went on to say that the decision “marks a dark day in the history of international law”. Continuing, Mr Ohana said the ICC had chosen to “politicise its mandate, turning itself into a tool of terrorists and those who seek to delegitimise Israel’s right to exist”. He called on democracies across the world to “take heed of the dangerous precedent this decision sets, threatening all nations fighting the scourge of terrorism”. “We reject this decision with the full moral force of our conviction and will continue to act decisively to defend our people and our sovereignty.” Mr Ohana signed off the message by saying that the ICC “didn’t get the memo on Mohammed Deif”. The ICC also issued an arrest for Deif, the leader of Hamas’ military wing, who Israel claims to have killed earlier this year. 12:59 PM GMT Human rights groups applaud Netanyahu arrest warrant Some human rights groups have applauded the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant. “The ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. ActionAid, an international charity that works with women living in poverty, said it “welcomed” the ICC’s move. It added: “The Pre-Trial Chamber’s finding that Israeli officials Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally deprived civilians in Gaza of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and fuel is a grave indictment of their barbaric actions in Gaza.” 12:51 PM GMT Benny Gantz condemns ICC decision Benny Gantz, a political rival to Benjamin Netanyahu, has condemned the ICC’s decision to order the arrest of the Israeli prime minister and former defence secretary Yoav Gallant. Mr Gantz said the move showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten”. 12:46 PM GMT House of Commons reacts to ICC arrest warrants Bob Blackman, the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, shared a post saying the ICC “gave Hamas a strategic win” with its ruling. Two Labour MPs who are currently serving six-month suspensions from the party both called on Sir Keir Starmer to back the ICC’s ruling. Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent MP after losing the Labour whip, said: “The ICC’s arrest warrants are long overdue. “The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary must immediately endorse this decision. That is the bare minimum. Will the UK Government now, finally, honour its international obligations to prevent genocide and end all arms sales to Israel?” Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, said: “The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. “The UK government must comply with the ICC, end all arms sales, impose economic sanctions & suspend its trade deal with Israel. Nothing less will do.” Apsana Begum, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, added: “The ICC have now issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netayanhu and Yaov Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. “The UK Government needs to get behind the ICC now, uphold international law and end its own complicity.” 12:43 PM GMT Farage: The ICC loses more credibility with each day that passes Nigel Farage has criticised the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, saying the court “loses more credibility with each day that passes”. The Reform UK leader said in March that there was a “growing prejudice” against Israel and Israelis beginning to “run through” Britain’s public services. 12:33 PM GMT Arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism, Israeli opposition leader says Arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant are a “reward for terrorism”, Israel’s opposition leader has said. Yair Lapid, from the centrist Yesh Atid party, said he condemned the ICC’s decision and that Israel had been defending itself against terrorist “organisations that attacked, murdered and raped our citizens”. 12:22 PM GMT Hello and welcome to our live coverage We’re bringing you the latest updates after arrest warrants were issued for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister, by the International Criminal Court.Houston's Al-Shaair apologizes for hit on Jacksonville's Lawrence that led to concussion HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In the long post, Al-Shaair says "To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.” Jets are sticking with struggling Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will remain the New York Jets’ starting quarterback despite speculation the team could bench him in what has been a disappointing season. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said during a video call that he still believes Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, gives the Jets their best chance to win. Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards and touchdown passes to Davante Adams and Isaiah Davis but also had an interception returned 92 yards for a touchdown by Leonard Williams in the Jets’ 26-21 loss to Seattle on Sunday. Hall of Famer Randy Moss reveals he's 'battling something' internal and asks for prayers Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss revealed he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made the announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying for any particular illness. Moss explained why he’s been wearing tinted sunglasses, saying, “I’m battling something, man, and it’s something internal, your boy is going to get through it.” College playoff bracket offers last dress rehearsal and one more chance to see where the SEC stands The next set of College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday night under heavy scrutiny before the final bracket is set on Sunday. It will be one last chance to see just how much the selection committee loves the Southeastern Conference. The best gauge will be whether Miami, which suffered its second loss over the weekend, is placed behind any or all three SEC teams with three losses — Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina, all of which are coming off wins. Whatever happens, the SEC is likely to have at least five teams in the 12-team field when the final bracket comes out. Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepping down as LPGA commissioner after 3 1/2 years of record prize money Mollie Marcoux Samaan is leaving after more than three years as LPGA commissioner. In a surprise announcement Monday, Marcoux Samaan says she will step down in January, just three weeks before the LPGA starts its 75th season. Liz Moore is the chief legal and technology officer. She'll be serving as interim commissioner until a search committee can find a permanent replacement. Marcoux Samaan was the athletic director at Princeton when she took over the LPGA in May 2021. Prize money has soared during her tenure. She also has faced criticism for the LPGA not gaining in popularity during a rise in women's sports. Kansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; UConn slides to No. 25 Kansas continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Auburn is pushing the Jayhawks in the latest poll after winning the Maui Invitational and checked in at No. 2. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly fell out entirely after an 0-3 week at Maui, falling from No. 2 to 25th. The Southeastern Conference had three of the top four teams with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky behind the Tigers. The poll featured six new teams, headlined by No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Memphis and No. 18 Pittsburgh. TCU, Duke climb into top 10, Notre Dame drops in women's AP Top 25; UCLA and UConn remain 1-2 TCU has its best ranking ever in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll after a convincing win over Notre Dame. The Horned Frogs jumped eight spots to No. 9, the first time the school has ever been in the top 10. The Fighting Irish, who were third last week, fell seven spots to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. UCLA remained No. 1, followed by UConn, South Carolina, Texas and LSU. USC, Maryland and Duke are next. USC QB Miller Moss enters transfer portal after losing starting job to Jayden Maiava LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans’ starting job last month. Moss started the Trojans’ bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. Moss signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year’s Holiday Bowl. Michael Andretti's Formula 1 dream comes to bittersweet fruition without his involvement Michael Andretti has been sidelined from his namesake motorsports organization and won’t have any role with the Formula 1 program he spent the last four years desperately trying to launch. His effort to get a program partnered with General Motors into F1 was approved last week, a month after he stepped aside from his teams. F1’s decision to expand its grid for Cadillac F1 came amidst a federal antitrust investigation into why Liberty Media refused to admit Andretti Global and after Andretti partners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter claimed controlling interest of the fledgling effort. Ryan Poles to remain Bears general manager and lead search for new head coach LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren said Ryan Poles will remain the general manager and serve as the point person in the search for a head coach to replace the fired Matt Eberflus. He says Poles will have the “final say” if the two have differing opinions on who should get the job. Chicago had never fired a coach during a season. But a six-game losing streak marked by questionable coaching decisions spurred the founding NFL franchise to change course. The Bears let Eberflus go Friday and replaced him on an interim basis with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.

Snow filled Bliss

A man walks outside the Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen, China on Sept. 2, 2022. David Kirton/Reuters Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. TCEHY led a recent US$80-million ($112-million) equity investment in Neo Financial Technologies Inc., valuing the Calgary online financial upstart at a steep discount to its last financing. Neo did not reveal its lead investor when it announced the deal two weeks ago and has rebuffed queries about its identity. “We’ve disclosed all that we’re prepared to disclose at this time,” co-founder and chief commercial officer Jeff Adamson said Wednesday. But a term sheet for the deal obtained by The Globe and Mail identifies Tencent as the investor, showing it committed to buy US$50-million of the offering, which values Neo at US$430-million before the receipt of funds, and US$510-million after. Neo is one of several digital financial services startups seeking to challenge Canada’s big banks by offering a smooth online experience and low fees. The company, created and led by three cofounders of Canadian food delivery service SkipThe Dishes, has grown rapidly, surpassing US$100-million in annual revenue in April, according to a document sent to prospective investors. It has 1.3 million customers and expects to hit operating profitability in 2025. The new valuation is at a steep discount from Neo’s $185-million financing in spring 2022, which valued it at more than $1-billion. According to a document filed by Neo with the federal government, investors in the new deal paid US$4.26 or US$5.33 apiece for two types of preferred shares, down from the US$16.01 issue price for shares sold in 2022 (A separate table listing investors prior to the recent financing shows the 2022 shares were valued at US$19.15 each). That is consistent with other financial technology firms that have been devalued since 2022. In a Nov. 11 news release about the deal, Neo said only that several Canadian technology entrepreneurs including founders of Shopify, Slack, PointClickCare and Roblox had invested alongside previous backers, which accompanied a $250-million debt financing. The release did not mention a lead investor, which is unusual for a big tech financing, particularly since Neo has attracted backing from Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures alongside other U.S. and Canadian venture capital firms and Thomvest, an investment vehicle founded by Peter J. Thomson. (The Thomson family holding company, Woodbridge Co. Ltd., owns The Globe and Mail). Canadian financial institutions ATB Financial and Concentra Bank and Hudson Bay Co. are also investors. When asked who participated, Mr. Adamson initially told The Globe and Mail: “Obviously we haven’t listed every single investor,” adding the round’s backers included “a mix of global top tier investors” who have backed leading digital bank challengers globally. “They have made their pick in Canada and that pick is Neo.” Online news publication The Logic subsequently reported securities filings showed Neo had raised most of the round from an unidentified Chinese investor. When The Globe pressed Mr. Adamson for its identity, he replied by e-mail: “We respect each investor’s right to privacy and confidentiality.” He told tech news site BetaKit that Neo lacked approval to name the investor, describing it only as “an experienced global investment firm” that had backed fintechs elsewhere. Tencent has backed at least nine digital banks in Europe, South America, Japan and India, including two alongside Valar: France’s Olinda SAS (known as Qonto) and Germany-based N26 AG. Tencent has made several investments in Canada, backing Wattpad, Element AI, Kindred Systems, Real Ventures and financial technology company NorthOne. The Tencent-led deal appears to be structured in a way to allay geopolitical concerns, should they arise, about a Chinese company owning just under 10 per cent of a consumer-focused Canadian financial services company. All Chinese-based companies are required under Chinese law to share information with its government, if requested. Similar concerns have led to bans on the use of telecom equipment made by China’s Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. in Canada and its intelligence-sharing allies. The deal establishes Tencent as a passive investor: It does not get a board seat and has limited information rights about the company’s performance compared to other investors. It gets no access to data or personally identifiable information about Neo customers. Mr. Adamson said Neo still qualifies as a Canadian-controlled business. By contrast, TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance Ltd. collects user data including location, contacts, likes and shares. ByteDance this month was ordered by the Canadian government to shut its subsidiary here, although Canadians were not banned from using the social media app. TikTok has faced concerns related to safety and privacy stemming from the possible involvement of its home government and whether it has been used as a tool for propaganda or spying. Questions about Neo’s mystery backer have overshadowed its fast growth. Investor documents show Neo’s growth is outpacing other global “neobanks” and the company forecasts it will surpass US$1-billion in revenue by 2028. By comparison, Equitable Bank (known as EQ Bank), one of the most prominent digital-only competitors to Canada’s big banks since starting online banking in 2016, reported revenue of $944-million in the first 10 months of 2023. Neo offers core banking products including bank accounts, term deposits, credit and debit cards, as well as a loyalty program in partnership with 14,000 merchants including Shell, Subway and Harry Rosen. Like other bank challengers, Neo is at a disadvantage to regulated banks, as it cannot hold or use deposits for lending and must partner with licensed institutions to manage savings accounts, meaning it has a higher cost of capital than the incumbents. One of the keys to its growth has been its 2021 partnership with Hudson’s Bay Co. to offer its branded Bay credit cards, securing a chance to build its client base by tapping into one of Canada’s largest loyalty programs. Neo also landed deals to provide the platform underpinning credit cards offered by Tim Hortons and airline Cathay Pacific. The company says it consistently adds about 100,000 customers per quarter, as its average cost to acquire customers has fallen to the low US$20-range from above US$60 in early 2022. Its next big play is to go after small and medium businesses, targeting a market it sees as underserved by banks.Former NFL head coach Mike Mularkey admits to leaking false information to media just before he was fired

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.B.C. Premier David Eby vows to seek out new export opportunities in wake of Trump tariff plan