A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew is barred from UKTiong (third left) exchanging the MoU documents with Soon Koh. AS we look forward to 2025 with renewed hope and peace, let us also not forget to reflect on some of the major events that have shaped Sibu throughout the past 12 months. Two shooting cases The public and Sibu folks, in particular, were shocked by a shooting incident at a coffee shop in Jalan Wong King Huo on Jan 1. The three male victims were having drinks at the coffee shop at about 5pm that day when suddenly two other men, wearing full masks, arrived on a motorcycle and fired at the group before fleeing the scene. The Magistrates’ Court on Dec 19 released the suspect, in his 30s, after the expiration of his three-day remand. Months apart, on Oct 24, a 46-year-old man was shot by an unidentified gunman while he was in his vehicle, waiting to pick up his son from school at Lane 21 of Jalan Wong King Huo. The victim was allegedly shot through the windshield of his car. A nearby security guard, in sharing his accounts of the incident, had initially mistaken the sound of the gunfire as one from a bursting tyre. Alerted by other members of the public, he contacted the police upon seeing the victim lying in a pool of blood by the roadside. Both of the cases are being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. Diesel smuggling On Aug 26, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested five individuals and seized 1.6 million litres of diesel during a raid on an oil storage depot in Sungai Bidut. RM3.7 million in cash was also seized from the syndicate, allegedly involved in the embezzlement and misappropriation of subsidised diesel belonging to a fishermen’s association. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, in a statement, reported that three men and two women, aged from 30 to 60 years old, were detained at the MACC branch offices in Sibu after their statements were recorded at 4pm on Aug 26. Through investigations and intelligence conducted by MACC, it is believed that the syndicate has been operating since 2012 and has amassed profits of up to RM400 million by selling subsidised diesel meant for fishermen. A follow-up operation also led to the arrest of an assistant enforcement officer and the director of an enforcement agency, to which all of the suspects were brought to the Sibu Magistrates’ Court. The case is being investigated under Section 16(b)(B) and Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, in addition to Section 471 of the Penal Code and the Supply Control Act 1961. Kampung Hilir’s devastating fire On Sept 22, a fire swept through Kampung Hilir in Sibu on a Sunday evening, razing 15 wooden houses and leaving over 150 people homeless. Firefighters from the Sibu Central, Sungai Merah and Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue (Bomba) stations battled to extinguish the massive fire due to the strong winds and the close location of houses, where fortunately no casualty was reported in the incident. The fire was reported to be the third to have struck Kampung Hilir, after the previous ones in 1992 and 2003. File photo shows the fire at Kampung Hilir, at its height. PSB-PDP merger Moving on to a more vibrant political scenario, Sibu also underwent a wave of change this year when former Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh made an announcement of the party’s dissolution. The announcement was made on Aug 19 during a grand ‘Unity Night’, gathering members from PSB and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) from all over Sarawak. At the event, Soon Koh, the Bukit Assek assemblyman, announced that PSB members had been accepted en bloc into PDP after the former’s dissolution approval letter was received from the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on March 19. The move, said Soon Koh, was to pave way for PSB to join the PDP under the helm of president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, so that together, they could be part of the state’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and in manifestation of comradeship and unity spirit. Following the merger, Soon Koh was appointed as senior vice-president of PDP, while former PSB leaders Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa were appointed as the party’s vice-presidents. Earlier this year, during a Chinese New Year visit to Soon Koh’s residence, Tiong had said the PDP-PSB merger was done in accordance with the anti-party hopping laws. Merger talks between the two parties began after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 13, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur. PSB was first formed by Soon Koh as United People’s Party (UPP) in 2014, before it changed its name in 2019. Sarawak’s Sukma 2024 victory Meanwhile, the Sibu people were proud to have welcomed athletes, officials and visitors to the town for the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma), which ran from Aug 13 to 23 this year. The three sports events contested in Sibu were volleyball at Rejang Park Volleyball Stadium; badminton at Sibu Indoor Stadium; and football at Stadium Tun Ahmad Zaidi. Sarawak won gold medal from the women’s volleyball event, and claimed a bronze from the men’s team, alongside first-ever gold medal from Wong Ling Ching who competed in the women’s singles badminton event.roulette google 。

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use

On Dec. 11, President-elect Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he has tapped Kari Lake to serve as the next director of Voice of America. Lake was a television news anchor in Phoenix for nearly three decades until she left in 2021 after making a series of controversial statements on social media, including sharing COVID-19 misinformation during the pandemic. She launched her political career a short time later, quickly building a following and national profile as she sparred with journalists and echoed Trump in her sharp criticism of what she called the “fake news.” She ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for Arizona governor in 2022 and Arizona Senator in 2024. After Trump’s announcement, many people on social media claimed they’d never heard of Voice of America before. Others asked if Trump created a new organization and position just for Lake. Recent search trends also show that “What is Voice of America?” is spiking online. THE QUESTION Is Voice of America a new government organization? THE SOURCES THE ANSWER No, Voice of America is not a new government organization. Sign up for the VERIFY Fast Facts daily Newsletter! WHAT WE FOUND Voice of America is not new. It’s a U.S. government-funded international multimedia news organization that was founded in the 1940s. Voice of America started in 1942 as a radio broadcaster to “combat Nazi propaganda with accurate and unbiased news and information.” Congress funds the organization through the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is a federal agency that oversees all non-military U.S. international broadcasting. Congress passed a law establishing the organization in 1976. According to Voice of America’s congressional charter , the organization is required to present objective, independent news and information to international audiences. These are the principles that govern all Voice of America broadcasts: Since it was founded more than 80 years ago, Voice of America has expanded to online, social and television platforms to share U.S. policy-centric content around the world. The organization currently broadcasts to an estimated weekly global audience of more than 354 million people in nearly 50 languages. Although Trump says he wants Lake to lead Voice of America, that role is actually appointed by the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is a position appointed by the president that requires congressional confirmation. Trump said on Dec. 11 that he plans to announce his nomination for the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media soon. The Associated Press contributed to this report . The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808Shares of some of the market's hottest stocks took a big step back this week as investors reconsidered whether these stocks have run too far too fast in 2024. According to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence , shares of IonQ ( IONQ 12.80% ) fell as much as 22.3% this week, AppLovin ( APP -0.53% ) dropped 20%, and BigBear.ai ( BBAI -5.26% ) fell 28.4%. As of Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET, these three stocks were down 12.2%, 19.2%, and 26.9%, respectively. The hottest stocks on the market It's worth looking at how these three stocks have performed over the past three months alone. You can see they were hot ahead of the election and then took off post-election on speculation the economy would boom in 2025 and beyond. IONQ data by YCharts . The bounce in shares was almost entirely speculation and not a fundamental improvement in the business, so eventually, that speculation ended. Fundamentals may be returning to the forefront While these stocks have been hot, they haven't all been performing all that well financially. AppLovin is very profitable, but the others are not and may be years away from reporting a consistent profit. IONQ Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts . TTM = trailing 12 months. At the same time, valuations are starting to look stretched. Even AppLovin's 26 price-to-sales multiple is extremely high for an established player in advertising. IONQ PS Ratio data by YCharts . PS Ratio = price-to-sales ratio. Add all this together, and valuation may have gotten ahead of fundamentals for all three stocks. Volatility is the price we pay Highly volatile stocks like this can be market beaters over time, but they don't often go up and to the right in a straight line. There are fits and starts both in operations and in valuation. That's part of what we're seeing today. AppLovin is catching up from being undervalued coming out of the impact of Apple 's ATT changes and may have now overshot its fundamentals. IonQ is benefiting from the emerging visibility in quantum computing, particularly after the announcement this week from Alphabet 's Google. BigBear is growing nicely, with revenue up 22% last quarter and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) moving positive. But even those results may be volatile given the nascency of artificial intelligence (AI) in the company's markets. While the past three months were great, that trend reversed this week, and I think that's the takeaway from trading. The market's speculation and fundamental reality Short term, the market is driven by speculation about the next big thing. But going from hot technology, like quantum computing or AI, to a profitable business can be a long journey. And stocks often pull back when the hype cycle ends. This was only one week of trading, so it isn't worth panicking, but it's also a reminder that stocks go down more quickly than they go up. If the market starts to worry about economic growth or interest rates in the coming months, we could see all of the recent gains in stocks given back. And unless a company has profits to fall back on, that can be a real challenge.

Mystery Drone Crashes Into New Jersey Home: What We Know So FarAndrew Callahan: It’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting firedMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins' playoff hopes are not in their hands, but they did their part with a gritty win over San Francisco on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins' playoff hopes are not in their hands, but they did their part with a gritty win over San Francisco on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes are not in their hands, but they did their part with a gritty win over San Francisco on Sunday. Coach Mike McDaniel knows that’s not enough, and his team will need to do it two more times to even have a shot at making the postseason for the third straight year. “I was just proud of this effort and proud of the guys’ effort in general,” McDaniel said. “And that gives you a chance to win December football. Regardless, unless you’re playing in February, you also have to get adept at experiencing that, going through that, having some momentum and then going back and applying it to the next opponent, because no one cares about one win in December or January realistically. It’s about accumulating those.” Miami (7-8) is on the bubble for a wild-card spot along with Indianapolis (7-8) and Cincinnati (7-8). Even if the Dolphins win their remaining two games, they’ll need help from other teams to get in. In one scenario, Miami would make the playoffs with two wins and two losses each by Denver (9-6) and the Los Angeles Chargers (9-6). “This team, we know when we do it well, we can do it very well,” defensive tackle Calais Campbell said. “We know that our chances are slim, but there’s a lot of fight left. And if we have a chance, we’re going to fight for it.” Miami closed out Sunday’s game with a strong fourth quarter in all three phases. The offense converted on all three of its third-down attempts. Running back De’Von Achane had 93 of his 190 scrimmage yards in the quarter, including a 50-yard rushing score that put the game out of reach. Jason Sanders nailed a 48-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning. And the defense intercepted Brock Purdy on one of the Niners’ last-ditch efforts. “I think that was something that we needed to see as a team together,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “You could see in all three phases that we were able to play the complementary football that we said we wanted to play. The defense giving the offense opportunities to go put points on the board. Then when there were times where we didn’t do what we wanted to do offensively, the defense held.” With both of the Dolphins’ final games on the road, they’ll need to play better than they have in away games for much of the season. Miami is 5-3 at home, its fifth straight home winning record, but the Dolphins are 2-5 on the road. McDaniel expressed confidence that those home efforts can travel in this final stretch. “When you’re trying to play football so that in the inevitable situation that you face every season,” McDaniel said, “an elimination game, whether it’s to get in the playoffs or it’s in the playoffs, you want to be tooled with a team that can succeed or execute in those types of situations.” What’s working Miami’s run game finally got going with 166 yards. It was the Dolphins’ first time topping 100 yards rushing since Week 9. Achane led the charge with 120 yards. His 50-yard rushing score was Miami’s longest run this season. What needs help The Dolphins moved the ball well but scored touchdowns on just one of three trips to the red zone. Stock up Sanders. He was 5 for 5 on field goals with a long of 54 yards, and 2 for 2 on extra points. Sanders has made 23 consecutive field goals and is 11 of 13 on kicks of 50-plus yards. He’s one of two kickers, alongside Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey, who have made a field goal in every game this season. Stock down WR Tyreek Hill. The All-Pro receiver caught just 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown. He had a third-down drop on the Dolphins’ opening drive and dropped a potential touchdown later in the game. The NFL’s receiving leader last year is averaging just 55.6 yards per game and has only two 100-plus yard receiving games this season. Injuries WR Jaylen Waddle missed the game because of a knee injury. ... CB Kendall Fuller (knee) and LB Jordyn Brookes (quad/knee) both went down late in the second half. Key numbers Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 76 receptions, 802 yards — Both single-season Dolphins records for a tight end, which Jonnu Smith broke with six catches for 62 yards on Sunday. Next step The Dolphins will continue their efforts to sneak into the playoffs when they play at Cleveland (3-12) on Sunday. They’ll need to beat the Browns and the New York Jets (4-11) in their regular-season finale to give themselves a chance. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement Advertisement

TikTok now pivoting to books

According to the 2024 UK Government Cybersecurity Breaches Survey, 50 percent of businesses experienced a cyberattack or security breach in the past year. Last year, 32 percent of UK businesses reported experiencing a cyber-attack at least once a week, with cyberattacks projected to increase by 15 percent globally. In light of recent cyber threats, the e-commerce hosting provider Hypernode has explained to Digital Journal about the significance of cyber hygiene for businesses and share essential practices to ensure online safety. What is cyber hygiene? Cyber hygiene can be explained as a set of practices to maintain system health and security in relation to a business’s online activities. Like physical hygiene, maintaining cyber hygiene entails a set of regular preventative measures. Cyber hygiene is a necessity in today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats represent significant dangers. Organisations can seek to reduce vulnerabilities , prevent common cyber threats, raise security awareness, mitigate the impact of assaults, and increase their overall cybersecurity defences by following cyber hygiene practices. How can this defenition be translated into practical solutions? Five key practices Milan Bosman, Commercial Director of Hypernode , adds further context in relation to the above advice: “Warnings from experts, who have predicted the rise in cybercrime in the UK, have certainly been proven valid. Globally, cybercrime is expected to surge 15 percent throughout 2024, and 2023 government statistics already state that 32 percent of UK businesses experienced cyber-attacks at least once a week. With this, the importance of maintaining cyber hygiene continues to grow.” Bosman adds: “It’s a good time for businesses whose regulations are not up to date to review them and to ensure all staff are adequately educated around threats to avoid breaches in security.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

Andrew Callahan: It’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting firedORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In losing Sunday’s battle with the Buffalo Bills, perhaps the best team in football, Jerod Mayo won the war. Best I can tell, he’s staying put. For 2025, and maybe beyond. To his angry fan base and incredulous pockets of the New England Patriots’ media corps, remember Mayo’s future doesn’t hinge on winning this season. It’s not about what you want, or what I think. It’s about the Krafts, who hand-picked Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick four and a half years before he actually did, believing in him, and finding reasons to maintain that belief. In the eyes of someone who wants to believe, Sunday supplied enough reason. The Patriots led at halftime, then lost by three as 14-point underdogs. They became the first team since mid-October to hold the Bills under 30 points. Drake Maye outplayed the next MVP of the league for most of the game and took another step toward his destiny as a franchise quarterback, People are also reading... New director transitioning to role at community food pantry Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway Sex offender arrested for not reporting change in employment At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend Gage County says board had authority to deny permit for broadband provider Commendations given to Beatrice Police Zitel pleads not guilty to sex assault, child abuse charges How former Nebraska quarterback Daniel Kaelin landed with Virginia football Meyn, charged in death of 4-month-old, has case continued to March At the courthouse, Dec. 14, 2024 Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team As Brenda Lee turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park If that sounds like a low bar, that’s because it is. Such is life in Year 1 of a rebuild, a multi-year process ownership has committed to seeing through to the end with their organizational pillars now in place: Mayo, Maye and de facto GM Eliot Wolf. As frustrating as this 3-12 campaign has been, there are always nuggets of optimism amid the rubble of a losing season; particularly if you want to find them. The Krafts do, and so does Maye, who loves his head coach, by the way; calling questions about Mayo’s job security “BS.” “We’ve got his back,” Maye said post-game. Maye’s voice matters. Certainly more than any number of fans or media members. Ever since media-fueled speculation that Mayo could get canned at the end of his first season began rising, the caveat has always been the same: if, a Gillette Stadium-sized “if,” the Patriots bomb atomically down the stretch, ownership could pull the plug on Mayo. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport became the latest to join that chorus Sunday with this pregame report: “The Krafts want to keep Jerod Mayo,” he said. “They believe he is the leader for the organization for the future, and they knew it would be a multi-year process to get this thing right. Now if things go off the rails, if they really start to struggle and he loses the locker room the last couple games of the season, we’ve seen this thing turn. “But as of now, the Patriots believe Jerod Mayo is their leader for the future.” Well, Mayo hasn’t lost the locker room. That’s a fact. To a man, both in public and from those I’ve spoken to in private, Patriots players believe in their head coach. Mayo might be a players’ coach, yes, in the best and worst senses. But the Patriots were a few plays away Sunday from pulling off their largest upset since Super Bowl XXXVI. “I think we’re building something good,” Maye said. The Patriots also played their best half of football this season against their toughest opponent yet. Another fact. Now, to the frustrated, I am with you. To the shocked, I understand. But to the trigger-happy, lay down your arms. Mayo, by all accounts, is returning in 2025. Alex Van Pelt, however, is another story. In the same vein that the Krafts could have viewed Sunday’s performance as a reason to save Mayo — despite his pathetic punt at midfield, down 10 with just eight and a half minutes left — they could have convinced themselves their offensive coordinator is the real problem. After all, team president Jonathan Kraft was visibly exasperated over Van Pelt’s play-calling during the Pats’ loss at Arizona a week earlier. Four days later, Van Pelt told reporters he had yet to hear from his boss. Well, that time may be coming. Trailing by three in the fourth quarter Sunday, Van Pelt called a pass that resulted in an unnecessary lateral and game-winning touchdown for Buffalo. His offense later operated like it was taking a Sunday drive with the game on the line, using up 3:16 of the final 4:19 en route to its final touchdown. Van Pelt, finally, weaponized Maye’s legs in critical situations, something that arguably should have been done weeks ago. Not to mention, Van Pelt’s top running back can’t stop fumbling, and the offensive line remains a hot mess. Call him Alex Van Fall Guy. Because Van Pelt’s offense, for the first time in a while, under-performed relative to Mayo’s defense. On merit, he deserves to stay; a case that’s harder to make for defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. But it’s not about merit this season. It’s not about what you want. It’s not about what I think. It’s about the Krafts; what they see, what they want, what they believe. Even in defeat. ____ Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In losing Sunday’s battle with the Buffalo Bills, perhaps the best team in football, Jerod Mayo won the war. Best I can tell, he’s staying put. For 2025, and maybe beyond. To his angry fan base and incredulous pockets of the New England Patriots’ media corps, remember Mayo’s future doesn’t hinge on winning this season. It’s not about what you want, or what I think. It’s about the Krafts, who hand-picked Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick four and a half years before he actually did, believing in him, and finding reasons to maintain that belief. In the eyes of someone who wants to believe, Sunday supplied enough reason. The Patriots led at halftime, then lost by three as 14-point underdogs. They became the first team since mid-October to hold the Bills under 30 points. Drake Maye outplayed the next MVP of the league for most of the game and took another step toward his destiny as a franchise quarterback, People are also reading... 2 troopers, 1 Statesville man injured in in head-on crash after Alexander County chase Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference Efficiency and versatility of Flowers a winning combination for North Iredell volleyball North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule Garbage pickup, holiday hours listed for Statesville, Mooresville, Iredell County North Iredell dominates second basketball meeting with South Iredell West Iredell’s Moore, Lake Norman’s Dingman shine brightest in cross country 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals See balloons light up Statesville Park and Soccer Complex on Saturday Get to know Statesville basketball player Jay'Veon Lackey 3 injured in car-chase crash on Old Mountain Road in Alexander County Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 160-home development rejected by Statesville City Council If that sounds like a low bar, that’s because it is. Such is life in Year 1 of a rebuild, a multi-year process ownership has committed to seeing through to the end with their organizational pillars now in place: Mayo, Maye and de facto GM Eliot Wolf. As frustrating as this 3-12 campaign has been, there are always nuggets of optimism amid the rubble of a losing season; particularly if you want to find them. The Krafts do, and so does Maye, who loves his head coach, by the way; calling questions about Mayo’s job security “BS.” “We’ve got his back,” Maye said post-game. Maye’s voice matters. Certainly more than any number of fans or media members. Ever since media-fueled speculation that Mayo could get canned at the end of his first season began rising, the caveat has always been the same: if, a Gillette Stadium-sized “if,” the Patriots bomb atomically down the stretch, ownership could pull the plug on Mayo. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport became the latest to join that chorus Sunday with this pregame report: “The Krafts want to keep Jerod Mayo,” he said. “They believe he is the leader for the organization for the future, and they knew it would be a multi-year process to get this thing right. Now if things go off the rails, if they really start to struggle and he loses the locker room the last couple games of the season, we’ve seen this thing turn. “But as of now, the Patriots believe Jerod Mayo is their leader for the future.” Well, Mayo hasn’t lost the locker room. That’s a fact. To a man, both in public and from those I’ve spoken to in private, Patriots players believe in their head coach. Mayo might be a players’ coach, yes, in the best and worst senses. But the Patriots were a few plays away Sunday from pulling off their largest upset since Super Bowl XXXVI. “I think we’re building something good,” Maye said. The Patriots also played their best half of football this season against their toughest opponent yet. Another fact. Now, to the frustrated, I am with you. To the shocked, I understand. But to the trigger-happy, lay down your arms. Mayo, by all accounts, is returning in 2025. Alex Van Pelt, however, is another story. In the same vein that the Krafts could have viewed Sunday’s performance as a reason to save Mayo — despite his pathetic punt at midfield, down 10 with just eight and a half minutes left — they could have convinced themselves their offensive coordinator is the real problem. After all, team president Jonathan Kraft was visibly exasperated over Van Pelt’s play-calling during the Pats’ loss at Arizona a week earlier. Four days later, Van Pelt told reporters he had yet to hear from his boss. Well, that time may be coming. Trailing by three in the fourth quarter Sunday, Van Pelt called a pass that resulted in an unnecessary lateral and game-winning touchdown for Buffalo. His offense later operated like it was taking a Sunday drive with the game on the line, using up 3:16 of the final 4:19 en route to its final touchdown. Van Pelt, finally, weaponized Maye’s legs in critical situations, something that arguably should have been done weeks ago. Not to mention, Van Pelt’s top running back can’t stop fumbling, and the offensive line remains a hot mess. Call him Alex Van Fall Guy. Because Van Pelt’s offense, for the first time in a while, under-performed relative to Mayo’s defense. On merit, he deserves to stay; a case that’s harder to make for defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. But it’s not about merit this season. It’s not about what you want. It’s not about what I think. It’s about the Krafts; what they see, what they want, what they believe. Even in defeat. ____ Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

Mailbag: Why the Hotline is tough on Washington, Big Ten TV matters, options for the Pac-12, the SEC and the CFP and moreInside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use

New York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminalsORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In losing Sunday’s battle with the Buffalo Bills, perhaps the best team in football, Jerod Mayo won the war. Best I can tell, he’s staying put. For 2025, and maybe beyond. To his angry fan base and incredulous pockets of the New England Patriots’ media corps, remember Mayo’s future doesn’t hinge on winning this season. It’s not about what you want, or what I think. It’s about the Krafts, who hand-picked Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick four and a half years before he actually did, believing in him, and finding reasons to maintain that belief. In the eyes of someone who wants to believe, Sunday supplied enough reason. The Patriots led at halftime, then lost by three as 14-point underdogs. They became the first team since mid-October to hold the Bills under 30 points. Drake Maye outplayed the next MVP of the league for most of the game and took another step toward his destiny as a franchise quarterback, People are also reading... 2 troopers, 1 Statesville man injured in in head-on crash after Alexander County chase Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference Efficiency and versatility of Flowers a winning combination for North Iredell volleyball North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule Garbage pickup, holiday hours listed for Statesville, Mooresville, Iredell County North Iredell dominates second basketball meeting with South Iredell West Iredell’s Moore, Lake Norman’s Dingman shine brightest in cross country 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals See balloons light up Statesville Park and Soccer Complex on Saturday Get to know Statesville basketball player Jay'Veon Lackey 3 injured in car-chase crash on Old Mountain Road in Alexander County Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 160-home development rejected by Statesville City Council If that sounds like a low bar, that’s because it is. Such is life in Year 1 of a rebuild, a multi-year process ownership has committed to seeing through to the end with their organizational pillars now in place: Mayo, Maye and de facto GM Eliot Wolf. As frustrating as this 3-12 campaign has been, there are always nuggets of optimism amid the rubble of a losing season; particularly if you want to find them. The Krafts do, and so does Maye, who loves his head coach, by the way; calling questions about Mayo’s job security “BS.” “We’ve got his back,” Maye said post-game. Maye’s voice matters. Certainly more than any number of fans or media members. Ever since media-fueled speculation that Mayo could get canned at the end of his first season began rising, the caveat has always been the same: if, a Gillette Stadium-sized “if,” the Patriots bomb atomically down the stretch, ownership could pull the plug on Mayo. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport became the latest to join that chorus Sunday with this pregame report: “The Krafts want to keep Jerod Mayo,” he said. “They believe he is the leader for the organization for the future, and they knew it would be a multi-year process to get this thing right. Now if things go off the rails, if they really start to struggle and he loses the locker room the last couple games of the season, we’ve seen this thing turn. “But as of now, the Patriots believe Jerod Mayo is their leader for the future.” Well, Mayo hasn’t lost the locker room. That’s a fact. To a man, both in public and from those I’ve spoken to in private, Patriots players believe in their head coach. Mayo might be a players’ coach, yes, in the best and worst senses. But the Patriots were a few plays away Sunday from pulling off their largest upset since Super Bowl XXXVI. “I think we’re building something good,” Maye said. The Patriots also played their best half of football this season against their toughest opponent yet. Another fact. Now, to the frustrated, I am with you. To the shocked, I understand. But to the trigger-happy, lay down your arms. Mayo, by all accounts, is returning in 2025. Alex Van Pelt, however, is another story. In the same vein that the Krafts could have viewed Sunday’s performance as a reason to save Mayo — despite his pathetic punt at midfield, down 10 with just eight and a half minutes left — they could have convinced themselves their offensive coordinator is the real problem. After all, team president Jonathan Kraft was visibly exasperated over Van Pelt’s play-calling during the Pats’ loss at Arizona a week earlier. Four days later, Van Pelt told reporters he had yet to hear from his boss. Well, that time may be coming. Trailing by three in the fourth quarter Sunday, Van Pelt called a pass that resulted in an unnecessary lateral and game-winning touchdown for Buffalo. His offense later operated like it was taking a Sunday drive with the game on the line, using up 3:16 of the final 4:19 en route to its final touchdown. Van Pelt, finally, weaponized Maye’s legs in critical situations, something that arguably should have been done weeks ago. Not to mention, Van Pelt’s top running back can’t stop fumbling, and the offensive line remains a hot mess. Call him Alex Van Fall Guy. Because Van Pelt’s offense, for the first time in a while, under-performed relative to Mayo’s defense. On merit, he deserves to stay; a case that’s harder to make for defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. But it’s not about merit this season. It’s not about what you want. It’s not about what I think. It’s about the Krafts; what they see, what they want, what they believe. Even in defeat. ____ Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Two-time defending champion Barcelona clinched the last quarterfinal spot in the Women’s Champions League by beating Hammarby 3-0 in Stockholm on Thursday. Ewa Pajor fired Barcelona ahead with two first-half goals from close range and Aitana Bonmatí finished it off 10 minutes before the final whistle. Following a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the opening group stage game, Barcelona scored 23 goals in the following four games and conceded one. Man City defeated St. Pölten 2-0 to keep a perfect record and lead Group D with 15 points. Barcelona is three points behind and will host City next Wednesday in the final group game. In Group C, Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal beat last-place Vålerenga 3-1 to keep pressure on group leader Bayern Munich. Arsenal produced another dominant display under interim coach Renée Slegers. Frida Maanum also scored for Arsenal and set up Russo's opener. Vålerenga, which retained its domestic league title and just claimed the Norwegian Cup to complete a double, got a consolation goal from substitute Tilde Lindwall. Bayern routed Juventus 4-0 to lead the group with 13 points, one ahead of Arsenal. The two will clash over the top spot in London next week. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The researchers at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have pledged that with the institute’s breeding programme, the upgrade of ShikaBrown stock is expected to lay at least between 350 and 380 eggs for a 90-week cycle. According to the researchers, the need to upgrade ShikaBrown Grand Parent Stock (GPS) became necessary to improve traits for better performance and economic expansion in response to Nigeria’s population prediction for 2050. NAPRI also said that the concerted effort made to maintain the genetics resources in the ShikaBrown GPS potential since the development of the project about 45 years ago was not a mean record. According to NAPRI, the ShikaBrown Layer project is the result of active breeding and selection work by scientists at the poultry research programme since 1979. ABU Director of Public Affairs, Mallam Awwalu Umar, explained at the weekend that “it is essentially to create suitable parent stocks and commercial egg layers from a layer gene pool of different combinations of lines in the grandparent generations.” With the upgrade, the existing hatcheries and breeding farms will have adequate supplies of high-performing and resilient parent stock layer chickens that will be used to produce layers for commercial farms, he noted. “This is besides the springing up of more breeding farms and hatcheries as well as the provision of employment opportunities for many. Other expected impacts of the upgrade will be the availability of more animal protein from poultry meat and eggs for human consumption to improve nutrition and health.” “it is also expected that the foreign exchange used to import parent stock will be available for other needs that cannot be met locally upon completion of the upgrade.” Meanwhile, speaking on the development, the Head of Poultry Research Programme, Dr. Idris Abdullahi, explained that results from scientific researches have shown that the chicken genetic potential has plateaued genetically with little genetic gains, especially traits selected for egg number and egg size. “This simply implies that there is more opportunities in the population from which more selection gains can be made”, Abdullahi said. The programme leader also spoke on the development of broiler foundation at the institute. According to him, the broiler foundation development at the programme began with the introduction of two foundation broiler lines – Anak and Hubbard.WASHINGTON (AP) — Thomas Sorber's 22 points helped Georgetown defeat Coppin State 83-53 on Saturday. Sorber also had 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Hoyas (11-2). Drew Fielder scored 20 points while shooting 6 of 7 from the field and 8 for 8 from the line and added 13 rebounds. Malik Mack finished with 15 points. The Eagles (1-13) were led in scoring by Toby Nnadozie, who finished with 22 points. Julius Ellerbe added 12 points and six steals for Coppin State. Zahree Harrison finished with nine points and four steals. Georgetown took the lead with 19:44 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 37-30 at halftime, with Sorber racking up 13 points. Georgetown pulled away with a 21-2 run in the second half to extend a seven-point lead to 26 points. They outscored Coppin State by 23 points in the final half, as Mack led the way with a team-high nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. Announces Cash DividendA suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew is barred from UK LONDON (AP) — A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he poses a threat to national security. Danica Kirka, The Associated Press Dec 13, 2024 12:46 PM Dec 13, 2024 1:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE -Prince Andrew leaves after attending the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, England, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) LONDON (AP) — A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he poses a threat to national security. A British immigration tribunal upheld the decision on Thursday in a ruling that revealed the Chinese national had developed such a close relationship with Andrew that he was invited to the prince’s birthday party. Government officials were concerned the man could have misused his influence because the prince was under “considerable pressure” at the time, according to the ruling. British authorities believe the Chinese national, whose name wasn’t released, was working on behalf of the United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party that is used to influence foreign entities. The government determined that the businessman “was in a position to generate relationships between senior Chinese officials and prominent U.K. figures which could be leveraged for political interference purposes by the Chinese State,” according to the tribunal's decision. In a statement from his office, Andrew, also known as the Duke of York, said he accepted government advice and ceased all contact with the Chinese national as soon as concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed,′′ his office said. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has been repeatedly criticized for his links to wealthy foreigners, raising concerns that those individuals are trying to buy access to the royal family. Andrew’s finances have been squeezed in recent years after he was forced to step away from royal duties and give up public funding amid concerns about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein , the American financier and convicted pedophile who committed suicide in prison in 2019. British intelligence chiefs have become increasingly concerned about China’s efforts to influence U.K. government policy. In 2022, Britain’s domestic intelligence service, known as MI5, warned politicians that a British-Chinese lawyer had been seeking to improperly influence members of Parliament for years. A parliamentary researcher was arrested in 2023 on suspicion of providing sensitive information to China. The 50-year-old Chinese national covered by this week’s ruling was described as a man who worked as a junior civil servant in China before he came to the U.K. as a student in 2002. He earned a master’s degree in public administration and public policy at the University of York before starting a business that advises U.K.-based companies on their operations in China. He was granted the right to live and work in the U.K. for an indefinite period in 2013. Although he didn’t make Britain his permanent home, the man told authorities that he spent one to two weeks a month in the country and considered it his “second home.” He was stopped while entering the U.K. on Nov. 6, 2021, and ordered to surrender his mobile phone and other digital devices on which authorities found a letter from a senior adviser to Andrew confirming that he was authorized to act on behalf of the prince in relation to potential partners and investors in China. The letter and other documents highlighted the strength of the relationship between Andrew, his adviser and the Chinese national. “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family,” the adviser wrote. “You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship. Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.” The letter went on to describe how they had found a way to work around former private secretaries to the prince and other people who weren’t completely trusted. “Under your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor,” the adviser wrote. Andrew lives at the Royal Lodge, a historic country estate near Windsor Castle, west of London. Danica Kirka, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix S&P/TSX composite down more than 100 points, U.S. stock markets mixed Dec 13, 2024 1:32 PM Nova Scotia non-profit groups trying to save huge Acadian church now facing lawsuit Dec 13, 2024 1:30 PM Court approves The Body Shop Canada sale, about 100 to lose jobs as some stores close Dec 13, 2024 1:21 PM Featured Flyer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s on documents a trove of , including sex with an underage girl, that . Related Articles Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” The committee its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.

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