ENO AND PURSUIT OF ACCOUNTABILITYIntroduction Last week, we dealt with the challenges of implementing value-based leadership in Africa and the role of Pan-Africanism and regional co-operation, followed by discussion of Nigeria as a model for Value-Based Leadership in Africa and opportunity for such leadership. Today we shall conclude on the Challenges And Opportunities For Value-Based Leadership In Africa. Enjoy. Challenges and opportunities for value-based leadership in Africa (continues). Nigeria’s “Missing Billions” In Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, corruption remains a significant obstacle to development. A glaring example of this is the $20 billion oil revenue scandal that rocked the country in 2014. The then-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, raised alarm about $20 billion in oil revenue that was unaccounted for by the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The scandal highlighted how deeply corruption runs in Nigeria’s oil sector. A critical industry that should be driving national development but has instead been a major source of government mismanagement and graft. The consequences of such corruption are devastating. Despite Nigeria being one of the world’s largest oil producers, over 90 million Nigerians still live below the poverty line as of 2024. Funds that could have been invested in infrastructure, healthcare, and education have been siphoned off by a small elite, leaving the majority of the population in poverty. South Africa’s state capture crisis South Africa, another major player on the continent, has also struggled with high-level corruption, particularly during the presidency of Jacob Zuma. The term “state capture” became synonymous with the Zuma era, referring to the undue influence of private business interests, specifically the Gupta family, over government decisions, BBC News. (2019). State capture: Zuma, the Guptas, and the sale of South Africa. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-8980964 Accessed on the 20th of October, 2024.). Between 2009 and 2018, South Africa witnessed the hollowing out of state institutions, including the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and state-owned enterprises like Eskom and Transnet, as the Zuma administration prioritised the interests of the Guptas over the public good (ibid). This period of state capture significantly damaged South Africa’s economy. Eskom, the country’s national electricity provider, was severely compromised, leading to rolling blackouts (referred to as “load-shedding”) that continue to plague the country to this day (IEA World. (2023). South Africa’s Gendered Electricity Crisis. IEA World. https://www.iea-world.org/south-africas-gendered-electricity-crisis/ Accessed on the 20th of October, 2024.). South Africa’s growth rate during the Zuma years stagnated, and unemployment, particularly among the youth, skyrocketed, exacerbating inequality in the nation. The effects of state capture on public trust were profound, with many South Africans losing faith in their political leaders and institutions. 2. Political Instability and Authoritarianism: Barrier to ethical leadership Another significant challenge to value-based leadership in Africa is the prevalence of political instability and authoritarian regimes. In many African countries, democratic processes are undermined by leaders who cling to power through authoritarian means, stifling dissent, and undermining the rule of law. This often leads to political crises, civil unrest, and coups, all of which create an environment in which value-based leadership cannot thrive. Zimbabwe’s long-running leadership crisis Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe offers a case study in how authoritarian leadership can erode national institutions and stifle progress. Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, consolidated power through a combination of political repression, economic mismanagement, and cronyism. While Zimbabwe was once known as the breadbasket of Africa, Mugabe’s policies such as the controversial land reform program that displaced white farmers without a sustainable plan for agricultural productivity led to widespread food shortages, hyperinflation, and economic collapse. By 2008, Zimbabwe’s inflation rate had reached an astronomical 89.7 sextillion percent per month (Cato Institute. (2017). Zimbabwe Hyperinflates Again: Entering the Record Books for the Second Time in Less Than a Decade. Cato Institute. Accessed on the 20th of October, 2024.), effectively destroying the value of the national currency and pushing millions into poverty (ibid). The lack of value-based leadership during Mugabe’s reign decimated public trust in government and left Zimbabwe’s institutions in tatters. Although Mugabe was eventually forced out of power in a military coup in 2017 (ibid), his legacy of authoritarianism continues to hinder the country’s development. Mali and the rise of coups Political instability remains a persistent challenge in several African nations, particularly in West Africa. Mali has experienced multiple coups in recent years, most recently in 2021, when the military ousted the transitional government. The root causes of these coups are often tied to widespread dissatisfaction with corrupt and ineffective civilian governments. However, the frequent disruptions to the democratic process create a vicious cycle: coups lead to further instability, which undermines any attempts to build strong, value-based governance structures. In Mali, the absence of stable, ethical leadership has also contributed to the rise of extremist groups in the northern regions of the country. The lack of trust in government has created a power vacuum, allowing militant groups to gain ground and further destabilize the region. The situation in Mali is emblematic of the broader challenges facing many African nations, where the failure of leadership has opened the door to conflict, poverty, and underdevelopment. 3. Ethnic and Tribal Divisions: Impediments to Unity and Inclusive Leadership In many African countries, leadership is further complicated by ethnic and tribal divisions, which can fuel conflict and undermine national unity. Leaders who prioritize the interests of their ethnic or tribal group over the broader national interest perpetuate inequality and division, making it difficult to implement value-based leadership that serves the whole population. Kenya’s ethnic politics Kenya provides a prime example of how ethnic divisions can be weaponized in the political arena. Since independence, Kenya’s politics have been heavily influenced by ethnic allegiances, with major political parties often representing specific ethnic groups rather than national interests. This was starkly evident during the 2007–2008 post-election violence, in which more than 1,100 people were killed and 600,000 displaced. The violence erupted after disputed election results that many believed were manipulated along ethnic lines, pitting communities against each other. Although the situation has improved somewhat in recent years, ethnic tensions continue to influence Kenyan politics. In a country where leaders often play to their ethnic base to secure power, value-based leadership which prioritizes inclusivity and national unity remains a challenge. As Kenya prepares for future elections, the question of whether the country can move beyond ethnic politics and embrace leadership that serves all Kenyans remains an open one. South Sudan’s civil war The case of South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is another illustration of how ethnic divisions can thwart value-based leadership. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but by 2013, it was engulfed in a brutal civil war, largely along ethnic lines, between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with former Vice President Riek Machar. The war, which has left 400,000 dead and displaced millions, has its roots in longstanding ethnic rivalries between the Dinka and Nuer communities. The conflict in South Sudan is a tragic reminder of the consequences of leadership that prioritizes ethnic loyalty over national unity. For value-based leadership to take hold in South Sudan, leaders must work toward reconciliation and inclusivity, ensuring that all ethnic groups feel represented in the national government. Without this shift, the country risks continued division and underdevelopment. 4. Weak Institutions and Lack of Accountability: A Systemic Issue Many African nations struggle with weak institutions that lack the capacity to hold leaders accountable for their actions. In countries where the rule of law is fragile and institutions like the judiciary, law enforcement, and anti-corruption bodies are compromised, it becomes difficult to enforce value-based leadership. Leaders who are not held accountable for corruption, human rights abuses, or mismanagement can continue to act with impunity, perpetuating a cycle of bad governance. Guinea’s fragile democracy In Guinea, weak institutions have allowed leaders to manipulate the constitution for their benefit, undermining democratic norms. In 2020, President Alpha Condé pushed through a controversial constitutional change that allowed him to run for a third term, despite widespread protests. Condé’s actions sparked unrest and were widely seen as a betrayal of Guinea’s fragile democracy. Although he was eventually deposed in a coup in 2021, the damage done to Guinea’s institutions will take years to repair. The lack of strong, independent institutions in Guinea, as in many other African countries, makes it difficult to implement value-based leadership. Without effective checks and balances, leaders can subvert the democratic process to remain in power, often at the expense of the people. Way Forward: Blueprint for embedding value-based leadership in Africa As Africa marches toward a new era of global influence and economic growth, it is critical to recognize that sustainable progress will only come through value-based leadership. This leadership must be rooted in integrity, service, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the people. While challenges such as corruption, political instability, and ethnic divisions continue to undermine governance across the continent, the road to reform is not impossible. Through strategic interventions, Africa can cultivate a generation of leaders who will prioritize the public good over personal gain and bring about transformative change. Below is a blueprint for how this can be achieved. 1. Strengthening Institutions: Building the Pillars of Accountability The cornerstone of value-based leadership is the existence of strong, independent institutions that can hold leaders accountable. In many African nations, institutions such as electoral commissions, anti-corruption agencies, and the judiciary are compromised by political interference, leaving little room for ethical leadership to thrive. To reverse this trend, there must be a renewed focus on institutional reform. Electoral commissions need to be truly independent and transparent, ensuring that elections are free and fair. In countries like Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made strides, but much more needs to be done to safeguard the integrity of elections. Technological solutions such as real-time results transmission and biometric voter identification can help reduce electoral fraud, giving citizens confidence in the democratic process. Similarly, anti-corruption agencies must be empowered to investigate and prosecute corruption at all levels, without fear of political backlash. Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) are examples of institutions that can play a pivotal role in restoring trust in governance, provided they operate with full autonomy and sufficient resources. Moreover, the establishment of robust whistleblower protection laws will encourage citizens to expose corruption without fear of retribution, creating a culture of transparency and accountability. Judicial independence is equally vital. For value-based leadership to flourish, the courts must be free from political control, allowing them to uphold the rule of law impartially. African governments need to ensure that judicial appointments are based on merit and shielded from political influence, so that courts can act as impartial defenders of justice and hold leaders accountable when they overstep their bounds. 2. Investing in Leadership Education: Cultivating the Next Generation of African Leaders Africa’s future rests in the hands of its young population. With more than 60% of the continent’s people under the age of 25, it is imperative to invest in leadership education that promotes values like integrity, service, and ethical decision-making. The next generation of African leaders must be equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of governance with a strong moral compass. One critical area for reform is the education system. Leadership development should be integrated into school curricula, from primary education to university levels. This is not merely about teaching leadership theory but also about creating opportunities for students to practice leadership through community service, debate clubs, and student governance roles. Schools must foster a mindset of public service and accountability, shaping young minds to understand that true leadership is about making a positive impact on society. (To be continued). Thought for the week Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine – Chris Hadfield. Last line God bless my numerous global readers for always keeping faith with the Sunday Sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian Project, by humble me, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb., LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D, D.Litt, D.Sc, DHL, DA. Kindly come with me to next week’s exciting dissertation.
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Only the coldest of hearts won’t empathize with Michael Andretti, who has been sidelined from his namesake motorsports organization and won’t have any role with the 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, roughly a month after Andretti stepped aside from leading his race 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 as an 11th team — and after Andretti partners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter took controlling interest of the effort. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” While he will have no role with the F1 team, it is unclear what his regular involvement will be with his IndyCar team. His famous father, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti, will be on the board of the F1 team and an ambassador. What changed F1’s position on Andretti — an application it basically mocked in its January denial — is not known. Few have said much beyond noting GM’s increased commitment to take a larger role beyond engine supplier. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of F1’s governing body, had championed the GM bid from the start and Andretti’s application was the only one of seven to receive approval from the FIA. In an interview with The Associated Press, he called F1’s decision to finally allow the GM team a spot in the sport “a win for all of motorsports” but also sympathized with Michael Andretti. “I feel he should be proud because he’s the founder who started this thing with his partners,” Ben Sulayem said. “We did the proper due process, we never favored anyone, and it is only because his application ticked all the boxes that the FIA approved it. Michael is a lovely person and I do not feel this was personal against Michael Andretti. “The other teams? For them, it was about the money. They don’t want the money to go from split between 10 teams to split between 11 teams,” he added. “But it was only a matter of time before General Motors was going to be approved and I feel it is incorrect to say it happened because Michael stepped aside. What did Michael do? Why would people not want him? Because he spoke publicly? He didn’t break any rules. He didn’t abuse anyone. If people want to see it as personal, it is up to them. He doesn’t annoy me.” What likely did annoy F1 and Liberty Media, its commercial rights holder, was the Justice Department investigation. Liberty announced it was under investigation this summer, not long after Mario Andretti visited Washington to discuss the F1 snub with lawmakers. The FBI was allegedly at last month’s Las Vegas Grand Prix and Ben Sulayem confirmed to AP he was interviewed by federal investigators. “It is the department that protects the interest of the United States and the FIA has nothing to hide,” Ben Sulayem said. “I was proud to speak to them and they were very polite and understanding. I wanted this to be cleared: I wanted GM in F1 because it is good for business.” F1 currently has just one American team, owned by California businessman Gene Haas, despite a series-high three races in the United States. Should the Cadillac F1 team make it to the grid in 2026 as scheduled, there will be two American teams and Ford will officially join Red Bull that season as a technical partner. This Andretti-less F1 effort will be led by TWG Global, the investment company founded by Walter, who as CEO of Guggenheim Partners is the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea, and Towriss, who became involved in motorsports initially as a sponsor for Andretti and took an ownership role in Andretti Global in 2022. Towriss is now the majority owner of the Andretti race teams and work on the F1 team will continue in Andretti’s Indiana shop, its recently opened satellite factory in Silverstone and GM’s facilities in North Carolina and Michigan. Towriss is the CEO of TWG Global’s motorsports arm. There is no indication who the drivers will be for the F1 team, although Valtteri Bottas indicated last weekend he’d like to be considered and the original Andretti effort targeted current IndyCar driver Colton Herta, who is sponsored by Towriss’ company, Gainbridge. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Chiefs head to Pittsburgh on Christmas hoping to lock up the top seed in the AFC
Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen has targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said Thursday's bombardment took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. At least three people were reported killed and dozens injured in the Sanaa airport strike. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms are firing up in parts of Texas and could trigger high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk stretched from just east of Dallas, and between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour and large hail. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez, citing 'emotional toll,' seeks sentencing delay in wake of wife's trial NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is asking a federal judge to delay his end-of-January sentencing on bribery charges, saying his family would suffer a “tremendous emotional toll” if the New Jersey Democrat was sentenced during his wife's trial. His lawyers told Judge Sidney H. Stein in a letter that Nadine Menendez would face a jury that might find it impossible not to hear about her husband's sentencing if it occurred eight days into her trial. The 70-year-old Menendez was convicted in July of 16 charges, including bribery. His wife, whose trial was postponed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, faces much of the same evidence as her husband. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze.CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Chaos erupted at a soccer game in Guinea after fans protested a referee’s call and thousands of panicked spectators tried to flee the stadium, leaving at least 56 people dead in the West African nation, officials and witnesses said Monday. Amid the confusion, security forces used tear gas, local news website Media Guinea reported. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, a journalist covering the game for a local sports website told The Associated Press. “The gates, that’s where the stampede happened,” said Cissé Lancine, who got away by climbing over one of the stadium walls. “I was saved because I did not rush towards the exit." The world's latest sports crowd disaster unfurled Sunday in the second-largest city in a military-run nation where information is sparse and government-controlled at the best of times. It was not immediately clear how much the death toll could grow. Lancine said between 20,000 and 30,000 people were present at the Third of April stadium to watch the local Labe and Nzerekore teams compete in the final of the first national tournament honoring military leader Mamadi Doumbouya. Checkpoints were set up Monday throughout Nzerekore, a city of about 200,000 that was at a standstill as soldiers guarded the hospital where victims were being treated. Most shops were closed. Video, apparently from the scene, showed shouting fans protesting the refereeing. People ran as they tried to escape the stadium, many of them jumping the high fence. “Supporters threw stones. This is why the security services used tear gas,” reported Media Guinea, which also wrote that several of the dead were children and some of the injured were in critical condition. The footage showed people lying on the floor of a hospital as members of a crowd helped the wounded. Enock Loua, a resident of Nzerekore, learned over the phone that his niece Aline Olivier had been killed. "We have a hard time realizing what happened to us, it is as if the sky has fallen on our heads,” Loua told The Associated Press. Authorities are trying to establish who was responsible, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bahsaid on national television. The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy opposition coalition said the tournament was organized to drum up support for Doumbouya's “illegal and inappropriate” political ambitions. Doumbouya, who ousted then-President Alpha Conde in 2021 , has been eyeing a possible run for the presidential election, for which the date has not been set. The transition charter put in place by his own regime does not allow him to run. Guinea is one of a number of West African countries — including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso — where the military has taken power and delayed a return to civilian rule. Doumbouya said he was preventing the country from slipping into chaos and chastised the previous government for broken promises. He has, however, been criticized for not meeting the expectations that he raised.The – the brand's sixth and newest cruise ship – is on its maiden voyage that hit the high seas on December 21, 2024. And with that, around 4,000 guests are experiencing not only a state-of-the-art vessel but one that emphasizes immersion within Disney’s historic franchises. It translates some of the most iconic theme park attractions from Disneyland and Disney World to a cruise ship in a way that puts you in the middle of the action. Case in point: The Haunted Mansion is one of the most beloved attractions Disney has ever created, so much so that there are three of them: the original at , , and . So, when tasked with bringing that icon to the Disney Treasure, the Disney Imagineers chose to innovate and create a state-of-the-art experience in the form of the Haunted Mansion Parlor. It features countless eerie portraits, and you might even get a glimpse of the ‘hitchhiking ghosts,’ but centered in the space is a Ghost Fish Aquarium – yes, as cool as it sounds and looks in the images above and below. And while the parlor hints it’s a bar, it’s also a full-fledged attraction. TechRadar spoke with Daniel Joseph, Executive Illusions & Effects for Walt Disney Imagineering, to unpack how the Haunted Mansion Parlor came to be. The Parlor took about five years from concept to rollout aboard the Treasure. But it took many years before that, as the Ghost Fish Aquarium originally debuted as an idea in the 1965 Disneyland Ten-centennial Special. created it and was responsible for many other elements in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. It didn’t necessarily come together at the time as “they didn’t really find a proper method, technique, or technology to do it because it really needed to look real,” explained Joseph. “So fast forward 50 years or so to when we’re brainstorming this all, it was kind of the perfect storm.” Not only did a Ghost Fish Aquarium fit the next chapter of the Haunted Mansion, but Joseph and the team at Imagineering “discovered a new technique and used some new technologies that are out there to make it happen.” It not only pays homage to Rolly Crump, but Disney debuted a new kind of illusion on the ship. Like any magician, Joseph held the tech powering it close but revealed, “There’s nothing like this in any land-based themed park that’s out there. It's really, from a technology standpoint, only visible in our Mansion Parlor.” To create the effect of the Ghost Fish Aquarium, which has skeletons of fish swimming around, Joseph explained, “Using different material sciences and things like that, learning how light and liquid kind of refract and work together, was a big breakthrough in creating the illusion.” So yes, there is liquid inside the Ghost Fish Aquarium, but much like Disney Imagineering’s most epic creations, you won’t see the tech or how it’s done, regardless of where you are. “We can’t control guests' point of view like we do in the Haunted Mansion, where we’re tipping you in different directions to look at the scenery and our different scenes, and also you're at a certain distance and all that stuff it, whereas in the Haunted Mansion parlor, you can go in and go right up to the stuff, it's kind of close up magic,” explained Joseph. With the Ghost Fish Aquarium, he noted, “You'll literally probably have little kids pushing their noses up to it and looking up and down, and just as I did as a kid, riding the mansion and turning my head around to see how everything worked.” So one of the most significant criteria to hit was that you can’t see the tech behind it and that “they can be scrutinized in the round.” Simply, “they just see kind of the magic and the spirited results of it.” Like the portraits in the Haunted Mansion’s stretching room, there are ‘change portraits’ in the Haunted Mansion Parlor. Joseph noted you can go right up to them and “see brush strokes and see how the texture and the light bounce off the gesso and has a reflection and a glossiness and a matte in some other areas, yet these things move.” Ultimately, this “kind of close-up magic and everything is another thing we haven't gotten to do anywhere else in the world because we haven’t had to have things work that close up.” The Haunted Mansion Parlor allowed the Imagineering team to try many different things, something that Joseph described as a dream but also encouraging for future projects. “As far as the techniques we were able to come up with and invent for this parlor, it’s really things that we get to build upon for other things going forward,” explained Joseph. Still, most importantly, he and the eight others who were on the project from inception to its unveiling were all huge Haunted Mansion fans and “huge Imagineering history fans,” so that passion is “ “imbued in the space and the richness of it all.” The bar is also home to secrets, mainly the mirror behind it. As the attraction runs through its eight chapters, you'll see folks like Madame Leota potentially appear, and you might do a double take. These reflections aren’t CGI, and that's by design. “We absolutely shied away from using any CGI to do that," said Joseph, "because, as you know, the mansion opened in 1969 [and] it's a very analog show, which is what all of us love about it, really.’ So rather than use a computer, Joseph and his team opted for a ‘really high ISO camera’ operating at a very high resolution and filmed the animatronics from Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. “We got like footage, like has never been gotten before, of these amazing audio-animatronics, and then, of course, added in post, a little bit of glow around it. But the figures from the attraction are what you see in that mirror, and they're so hyper, high resolution, hyper-real,” explained Joseph. And that all adds to the richness, attention to detail, and immersion the Haunted Mansion Parlor provides. Sure, most Disney rides don’t have a built-in bar, but the Parlor is as much a true Disney attraction as a ride, and it’s one where you get to pick your seat. It’s also one that Joseph, the wider Imagineering team, and Disney are immensely proud of – and one that I desperately want to see IRL. Still, Joseph hinted there's more to come: “Just a couple of weeks ago, we all said, this is the beginning of this level of richness and storytelling of a land-based attraction on a Disney Ship. So we’re hoping that this is the start of more things like this and really bridging out our stories even further into things we’ve never imagined before.” I certainly can’t wait.
Trump warns there will be ‘all hell to pay’ if hostages aren’t released by Jan. 20As Victoria's ever-divided Liberal opposition meets to determine the future of the party, three contenders have put their hands up to replace embattled leader John Pesutto. or signup to continue reading Police spokesman Brad Battin, first-term MP Jess Wilson and Mornington MP Chris Crewther have announced their candidacy if a motion to challenge Mr Pesutto is successful. Before that takes place, the party must determine whether absent MPs can vote, which will be followed by a second vote on whether to return banished colleague Moira Deeming to the fold. After this, a spill motion is expected to be raised. Former party leader Michael O'Brien told reporters he would rather be at the cricket than in the party room but underscored the need for unity. "Unless we can win and hold government, then we can't enhance the freedom, prosperity and security of Victorians or Australians," Mr O'Brien said as he entered Parliament House.. "So we just need to knuckle down, get behind whatever decision is made today and win the next election for Victoria." Opposition financial spokeswoman Jess Wilson announced her candidacy after a deal to become leadership frontrunner Brad Battin's deputy came off the table. "The best way forward to defeat Jacinta Allan and Labor was with a unified leadership ticket," Ms Wilson said. "Unfortunately, it has been made clear to me that a unity ticket is no longer on the table. "Given that and after consulting my colleagues, I've decided to stand to offer them a choice." Mr Battin arrived for the vote flanked by supporters including Sam Groth, while Ms Wilson and Mr Pesutto entered parliament alone. Mr Pesutto entered the opposition party room with deputy David Southwick saying his thoughts were with Victorians experiencing bushfires and the first responders. "We'll deal with these matters in here but the most important thing for us in Victoria is to look out for each other," he said. Mr Crewther's eleventh-hour tilt at the top job came via an email to party members overnight, urging collegues for a "fresh start". "I hope that after today, whoever is chosen as a leader, we all unite behind that person, we all work together, because that's what the Victorians want, they don't want a divided team," he said entering the opposition party room. Mr Pesutto's job had been on shaky ground ever since he lost a defamation case brought against him by former colleague Moira Deeming. A Federal Court judge found the Liberal leader defamed Mrs Deeming by implying she was associated with Nazis who gatecrashed a controversial Melbourne rally she was at and ordered he pay her $315,000 and costs. Then came a shock when former tennis player-turned-politician Mr Groth quit his shadow cabinet post, citing his leader's refusal to stand down after the court loss. A party vote, brought on less than a week later to decide whether Mrs Deeming would be allowed back into the party, split the team down the centre with Mr Pesutto casting the tie-breaking vote to bar her from returning. The Hawthorn MP deemed the matter "resolved" only to propose a January 15 gathering to return the upper house MP to the fold a day later. But that last bid to quell tensions fell flat, with senior MPs Mr Groth, Richard Riordan, James Newbury, Mr Battin and Bridget Vallence signing a petition to meet on Friday to bring the issue to a head. The battle to helm Victoria's opposition comes less than two years before a pivotal state election at which the Labor government - increasingly on the nose with voters - will seek a rare fourth term. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Two Aussies are among the six pedestrians injured in New York City on Christmas Day, after a taxi mounted the kerb. The driver of the cab is believed to have suffered a medical episode at about 4pm on Wednesday, veering onto the kerb and into a group of people walking in Herald Square, according to local media. A nine-year-old Australian boy and his mother were both pinned beneath the vehicle. One eyewitness reported to CBS News that the boy’s leg was trapped underneath a tyre as it was spinning, with he and several other pedestrians working together to free the pair of Aussie tourists. Footage of the rescue has since been shared to social media. The boy is now in hospital where he is being treated for injuries to his thigh. Another woman was taken to hospital for treatment and three others declined medical attention, it has been reported. The 58-year-old driver is believed not to have acted maliciously with police confirming the incident occurred after he experienced a medical episode. He remained at the scene and no arrests were made. Originally published as Aussies among injured in NYC taxi incidentGirl who shot her Kiwi mother was ‘anti-social’ and went to gun ranges
HOUSTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OptiSigns, a leader in digital signage software solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation as a Platinum Sponsor in this year's Digital Signage Experience (DSE) 2024, taking place this December in Las Vegas, Nevada . The highly anticipated event, a premier gathering for digital signage innovators, professionals, and enthusiasts, will provide the perfect stage for OptiSigns to unveil its latest advancements and engage with industry leaders. Visitors of DSE 2024 will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how OptiSigns' powerful and user-friendly platform is transforming how businesses communicate, engage, and inform their audiences. From dynamic content scheduling to seamless integrations and real-time updates, OptiSigns' solutions are designed to meet the needs of businesses across industries, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more. "At OptiSigns, we are passionate about empowering businesses with technology that engages audiences and drives results," said Head of Sales John Shelley. "We are excited to connect with industry professionals at DSE 2024, showcase our solutions, and demonstrate how digital signage can transform communication strategies." DSE 2024 will take place from December 9, 2024 , to December 10, 2024 , at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada , and promises to bring together key players and thought leaders in digital signage, offering a unique platform to explore the latest technologies and network with industry professionals. What to Expect from OptiSigns at DSE 2024: Live Demonstrations: Visitors of DSE can visit OptiSigns booth #3134 to explore the intuitive features of the OptiSigns platform and learn how it can simplify and enhance digital signage management. Using OptiSigns innovative technology like the Pro Player and Android Stick, visitors will be treated to LIVE Demos of unique OptiSigns features like Audience Intelligence, the OptiSync Data Management System, and the Lift and Learn Interactive Kiosk Experience. New Product Announcements: Stop by OptiSigns booth #3134 and be the first to see the newest innovative Pro Max technology designed by OptiSigns and learn more about unique updates that will redefine the digital signage landscape. Our newest Pro Max technology is our most powerful digital signage player that supports 8K or 4x4K video walls. With OptiSigns experts onsite, visitors will have the opportunity to discuss trends, best practices, and strategies for maximizing the impact of digital signage. Exclusive Giveaways and Promotions: Attendees visiting OptiSigns booth #3134 will have access to special offers, giveaways, and prizes. This year, OptiSigns will unleash their interactive Opti Claw Machine, tantalizing visitors with a chance to win OptiSigns Android Sticks, Pro Players, Optibot Keychains, and more. One lucky winner will win a brand new PS5 Pro via a LinkedIn competition, and the winner will be announced LIVE at DSE! For more information on the PS5 giveaway, check out OptiSigns' LinkedIn page. About OptiSigns OptiSigns is a leading digital signage software provider dedicated to helping businesses create engaging, impactful content experiences. Focusing on simplicity, scalability, and innovation, OptiSigns empowers organizations to communicate their message effectively and captivate their audience through digital displays. For more information on OptiSigns, visit www.optisigns.com or follow us on all social media @OptiSignsInc. Media Contact: Aisha Albritton Director of Trade Show Strategy and Event Marketing Aisha.Albritton@OptiSigns.com | (404) 641-0613 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/optisigns-to-showcase-cutting-edge-digital-signage-solutions-at-the-digital-signage-experience-2024-in-las-vegas-302320107.html SOURCE OptiSignsTransMedics Appoints Gerardo Hernandez as Chief Financial Officer and Provides Updated 2024 Financial Outlook
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc . (“ K92 ” or the “ Company ”) (TSX : KNT; OTCQX : KNTNF) is pleased to announce its latest high-grade results from the ongoing surface and underground diamond drilling of the Kora, Kora South, Judd and Judd South deposits in addition to the Kora and Judd Deeps targets at the Kainantu Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea. Multiple high-grade intersections plus two zones of broadening width, identified as dilatant zones, recorded in a previously sparsely drilled area near the twin incline at Kora. The dilatant zones identified are the first to be drilled with significant drill density, demonstrating large interpreted strike lengths of approximately 60 metres in K1 and approximately 100 metres in K2, providing high potential for bulk mining (see Figure 4 for 950 Level Plan Map, and Figures 1 and 2 for K1 and K2 long sections). These dilatant zones are also located near-mine infrastructure, approximately 175 metres south from the current 950 Level access development, enabling potential near-term mining. Importantly, the dilatant zones are in an area previously interpreted to be narrow vein in the mineral resource estimate (September 12, 2023 effective date, “2023 MRE”) and the Updated Integrated Development Plan PEA Case (January 1, 2024 Effective Date, “Updated IDP”), while also recording multiple high-grade intersections. K2 dilatant zone intercepts: KMDD0752: 13.50 m at 19.02 g/t gold equivalent (“AuEq”) (2) (14.93 g/t Au, 199 g/t Ag, 1.00% Cu) KMDD0746: 14.40 m at 12.09 g/t AuEq (9.58 g/t Au, 54 g/t Ag, 1.15% Cu) KMDD0709: 12.14 m at 5.97 g/t AuEq (4.73 g/t Au, 7 g/t Ag, 0.72% Cu) KMDD0751: 9.50 m at 7.00 g/t AuEq (2.26 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag, 2.63% Cu) K1 dilatant zone intercepts: KMDD0709: 16.10 m at 15.63 g/t AuEq (11.48 g/t Au, 40 g/t Ag, 2.28% Cu) KMDD0743: 14.05 m at 5.56 g/t AuEq (3.14 g/t Au, 56 g/t Ag, 1.07% Cu) KMDD0692: 8.90 m at 8.60 g/t AuEq (3.73 g/t Au, 81 g/t Ag, 2.41% Cu) KMDD0712: 7.25 m at 5.58 g/t AuEq (3.05 g/t Au, 77 g/t Ag, 0.98% Cu) High-grade intercepts: KMDD0698A: 8.15 m at 24.49 g/t AuEq (24.00 g/t Au, 16 g/t Ag, 0.18% Cu) KMDD0775: 4.00 m at 15.58 g/t AuEq (11.53 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 2.19% Cu) KMDD0715: 6.00 m at 9.73 g/t AuEq (4.75 g/t Au, 49 g/t Ag, 2.72% Cu) KMDD0775: 4.60 m at 8.73 g/t AuEq (2.77 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, 3.49% Cu) High-grade zones within Kora's K1 and K2 Veins extended up-dip from main mine, with multiple areas exceeding resource model grades, including: K1 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: KMDD0753: 10.60 m at 34.57 g/t AuEq (27.85 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag, 3.91% Cu) KMDD0702: 4.37 m at 33.27 g/t AuEq (32.16 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag, 0.61% Cu) KMDD0705: 5.30 m at 25.67 g/t AuEq (24.99 g/t Au, 3 g/t Ag, 0.40% Cu) KMDD0726: 7.16 m at 9.79 g/t AuEq (7.07 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag, 1.64% Cu) K2 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: KMDD0754: 9.35 m at 13.70 g/t AuEq (11.51 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 1.27% Cu) KMDD0705: 6.60 m at 10.76 g/t AuEq (7.27 g/t Au, 12 g/t Ag, 2.08% Cu) KMDD0714: 9.50 m at 9.53 g/t AuEq (8.05 g/t Au, 5 g/t Ag, 0.89% Cu) KMDD0720: 6.66 m at 8.41 g/t AuEq (6.32 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, 1.14% Cu) Judd’s J1 Vein recorded an extension of the high-grade zone up-dip from main mine, with several areas reporting significantly higher grades than the 2023 MRE that was based on, at that time, sparse drilling. Additionally, multiple high-grade intercepts were identified beyond the current resource at Judd Deeps and along strike in both directions: J1 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: JDD0251: 5.00 m at 178.59 g/t AuEq (177.69 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag, 0.54% Cu) JDD0258: 3.95 m at 51.67 g/t AuEq (50.06 g/t Au, 24 g/t Ag, 0.81% Cu) JDD0263: 7.38 m at 7.66 g/t AuEq (6.87 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu) J1 Vein high-grade intercepts at Judd Deeps and north of resource: KMDD0729: 1.30 m at 23.33 g/t AuEq (16.77 g/t Au, 52 g/t Ag, 3.69% Cu) JDD0261: 1.70 m at 23.20 g/t AuEq (21.63 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag, 0.65% Cu) JDD0265: 2.20 m at 15.24 g/t AuEq (6.39 g/t Au, 78 g/t Ag, 4.91% Cu) JDD0266: 3.47 m at 11.88 g/t AuEq (11.41 g/t Au, 9 g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu) Notes: (1) Drill highlights presented above are core lengths (not true widths). Refer to Table 1 to 3. (2) Gold equivalent (AuEq) exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.00/lb, a silver price of US$22.5/oz and a gold price of US$1,750/oz. John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, “The latest drilling results at Kora and Judd, once again confirm that the resource expansion potential is very significant, and that there are significant opportunities to upgrade multiple areas in terms of both thickness and grade, with increased drill density. The high-grade zones extended up-dip at Kora and Judd in the main mine area, plus the identification of the two new dilatant zones in the twin incline area is especially significant as they are near existing mine infrastructure, providing a near and medium-term benefit to the Stage 3 Expansion ramp-up. This is also the first time dilatant zones have been drilled with significant drill density, demonstrating substantial strike lengths for bulk mining – these zones have already been integrated into our mine plans. We believe that we control a large gold-copper district of which we are only starting to scratch the surface. In addition to exploration at Kora-Kora South and Judd-Judd South, exploration at Arakompa has considerably expanded over the course of the year, with four drill rigs now operating. We look forward to providing an update in due course.” The results for the latest 95 diamond drill holes completed from surface and underground are summarized in the tables below. The results continue to demonstrate the high-grade, continuity and expansion potential of the Kora-Kora South and Judd-Judd South vein systems. Intersections largely focused on increasing drill density vertically while also targeting resource extension along strike to the south and north. All drill holes at Kora-Kora South (including Kora Deeps) intersected mineralization, with 21 intersections exceeding 10 g/t AuEq and 67 intersections exceeding 5 g/t AuEq. At Judd-Judd South (including Judd Deeps), all drill holes intersected mineralization, with 11 intersections exceeding 10 g/t AuEq and 24 intersections exceeding 5 g/t AuEq. Figures Long sections of K1, K2, and J1 showing the location of the latest drill holes are provided in Figures 1, 2, and 3 , respectively. A plan map showing K1 and K2 at the 950 level is provided in Figure 4. A long section showing Kora drilling to date is provided in Figure 5 . A long section showing Judd drilling to date is provided in Figure 6 . Core photographs are provided, of drill hole JDD0251 in Figure 7 , KMDD0753 in Figure 8 and KMDD0702 in Figure 9 . The Independent Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource estimate is Simon Tear, P.Geo. of H & S Consultants Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australia, and the effective date of the estimate is September 12, 2023. (Refer to technical report, titled, “Independent Technical Report, Kainantu Gold Mine, Updated Integrated Development Plan, Kainantu Project, Papua New Guinea” dated November 28, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2024.) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Geological interpretation has generated a series of narrow, sub-vertical vein structures based on delineated wireframes on 10m, 20m and 25m spaced cross sections. The design of the lode wireframes is based on a combination of logged geology, Au, Cu & Ag assay grades and locally on a nominal minimum mining width of 5.2m, all coupled with geological sense. Resources were compiled at 3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grades for Kora and Judd. Density (t/m 3 ) was modelled using Ordinary Kriging on 2,778 sample measurements. Areas within the mineral wireframes where no density grades were interpolated had average default values inserted at appropriate levels. Reported tonnage and grade figures are rounded from raw estimates to reflect the order of accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Estimations used metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). Gold equivalents are calculated as AuEq = Au g/t + Cu%*1.6481+ Ag g/t*0.0114. Gold price US$1,700/oz; Silver US$22.5/oz; Copper US$4.00/lb. Metal payabilities and recoveries are incorporated into the AuEq formula. Recoveries of 95% for copper and 80% for silver were used. Drill Hole Sampling Methodology, QA/QC and Qualified Person The diamond drill hole is first logged to determine the sampling intervals, which range from a minimum of 0.1 metres to generally 1 metre. The drill core is sawn half core cut along a reference line, with the remainder of the core returned to the core tray. Core samples are then placed in numbered calico and plastic bags, with a numbered sample ticket for dispatch to the assay laboratory. Samples are separately assayed for gold, copper and silver. K92’s procedure includes the insertion standards, blanks and duplicates. Gold assays are by the fire assay method. Copper and silver assays are by three-acid-digestion method (nitric, perchloric and hydrochloric mix). K92 maintains an industry-standard analytical quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) and data verification program to monitor laboratory performance and ensure high quality assays. Results from this program confirm reliability of the assay results. All sampling and analytical work for the mine exploration program is performed by Intertek Testing Services (PNG) Ltd, an independent accredited laboratory that is located on site. External check assays for QA/QC purposes are performed at SGS Australia Pty Ltd in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. K92 Executive Vice President, Exploration, Mr. Chris Muller, PGeo, and K92 Mine Geology Manager and Mine Exploration Manager, Andrew Kohler, MAIG, both Qualified Persons under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects , have reviewed and are responsible for the technical content of this news release. In addition to the analytical QA/QC program outlined above, data verification also includes significant time onsite reviewing drill core, soil and outcrop sampling, artisanal workings, as well as discussing work programs and results with geology personnel and external consultants. About K92 K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018, is in a strong financial position, and is working to become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer through ongoing plant expansions. A maiden resource estimate on the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience. On Behalf of the Company, John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA, President and Chief Operating Officer at +1-604-416-4445 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of the Kainantu Mine Definitive Feasibility Study, and the Kainantu Preliminary Economic Assessment, including the Stage 3 Expansion, a new standalone 1.2 mtpa process plant and supporting infrastructure; (ii) statements regarding the expansion of the mine and development of any of the deposits; (iii) the Kainantu Stage 4 Expansion, operating two standalone process plants, larger surface infrastructure and mining throughputs; and (iv) the potential extended life of the Kainantu Mine. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “project”, “target”, “potential”, “schedule”, “forecast”, “budget”, “estimate”, “intend” or “believe” and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could”, “should” or “might” occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control, that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public Health Crises, including the COVID-19 virus; changes in the price of gold, silver, copper and other metals in the world markets; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares; inherent risks associated with the mining industry, including problems related to weather and climate in remote areas in which certain of the Company’s operations are located; failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with exploration and development; uncertainties relating to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that mineral resources may never be converted into mineral reserves; the Company’s ability to carry on current and future operations, including development and exploration activities at the Arakompa, Kora, Judd and other projects; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company’s ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3 Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability of the Company to achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including gold, silver and copper; failures of information systems or information security threats; political, economic and other risks associated with the Company’s foreign operations; geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine; compliance with various laws and regulatory requirements to which the Company is subject to, including taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions, including relationship with the communities in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form under the heading “Risk Factors”. Estimates of mineral resources are also forward-looking statements because they constitute projections, based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from those that are anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Figure 1 – K1 Vein Long Section Figure 2 – K2 Vein Long Section Figure 3 – J1 Vein Long Section Figure 4 – K1 and K2 Vein Plan Map (950 Level) Figure 5 – Kora-Irumafimpa Long Section Figure 6 – Judd Long Section Figure 7 – JDD0251 Core Photograph, 151.59 – 156.45m; within intersection of 5.00 m at 178.59 g/t AuEq or 177.69 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag and 0.54% Cu from the J1 Vein. Figure 8 – KMDD0753 Core Photograph, 237.10 – 248.62m; within intersection of 10.60 m at 34.57 g/t AuEq or 27.85 g/t Au, 37 g/t Ag and 3.91% Cu from the K1 Vein. Figure 9 – KMDD0702 Core Photograph, 123.00 – 128.24m; within intersection of 4.37 m at 33.27g/t AuEq or 32.16 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag and 0.61% Cu from the K1 Vein. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/064a9c40-fada-4234-95db-4c39d433638e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/413e3218-7e10-44d2-a0bb-5faaaa9969d7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7cc7a0d3-1619-46fd-9fb2-05f096957a89 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7fa60ea0-cdff-4f31-b8f3-5427b875b07f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f594a08-f037-4bea-a7cb-4100bba460dc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d0e873c-d8e7-4e33-9048-5c1059e4d509 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ff1e4ac-504c-4e80-b8c6-a54647c4998a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57b10fbe-eb32-45f8-8ded-23821ed0748b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72ba22ab-9608-4734-a07a-9817f53e6032Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordWorld shares mixed, dollar advances amid improved U.S. manufacturing, French political drama
Former President Jimmy Carter, right, embraces his secretary of state, Edmund Muskie, during the 1985 dedication of the Muskie Archives at Bates College in Lewiston. Bates College photo Despite his Georgia roots, former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday in his hometown in Georgia, had closer ties to Lewiston and Auburn than most would expect from a former peanut farmer. He visited the twin cities on a handful of occasions, speaking at least twice at Bates College and scrounging for votes in Auburn during his long-shot presidential campaign in 1975. At the Holiday Inn in Auburn that long-ago December, Carter told a small crowd the country was drifting “in the absence of leadership from the president” and called for someone in the White House who could “inspire the American people to reach for greatness.” At Bates that same day, Carter pledged to several hundred students and resident that he would “never tell a lie, never make a misleading statement, never betray your confidence and never avoid a controversial issue.” Rosalynn Carter, the former president’s wife who died last November, spent even more time in the area in the months leading up to the Maine presidential caucus in 1976, including a couple of overnight stays in Auburn with supporters of her husband and a tea at a Chamberlain Avenue home in Lewiston. Carter, largely unknown to most of the country, wound up winning more delegates in Maine than all the other Democratic contenders combined, providing him with a boost that helped him win the New Hampshire primary a few weeks later and then his party’s nomination in 1976. One of the people who met Carter on that trip, former state Rep. James Handy of Lewiston, told the oral history project at the Muskie Archives at Bates College that the former president “probably more influence on me than any other politician.” “His commitment to other people to me was what I wanted to do,” Handy said. “He really illustrated to me that you can be successful, and your success can be measured in what you do for others and putting other people before yourself.” Handy said that Carter’s commitment to human rights, both internationally and in his own country, exemplified his ethics and helped make him “very inspirational.” Carter defeated incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in November 1976. In the final year of his one-term presidency, he appointed former U.S. Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine to serve as his secretary of state, cementing a special tie between the president and the Pine Tree State. When Carter sought a second term, he spent a couple of evenings making phone calls to ordinary people across Maine who were working on his campaign. One of them, Cecilia Treworgy, who taught home economics at Lewiston High School at the time, picked up the phone one night in February 1980 to find Carter on the other end of the line. “I was so taken aback I couldn’t think of anything to say,” Treworgy recalled recently. But Carter lost his reelection bid to Republican Ronald Reagan that year. “I felt very sad when he didn’t win,” Treworgy said. She called him “a very decent man.” After his defeat, Carter began a new career as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and promoter of peace in troubled areas worldwide. Just days after Hurricane Gloria slammed New England in September 1985, Carter flew to Lewiston for the dedication of the Muskie Archives at Bates. A college professor, Carl Straub, said at the time: “There is more than the Appalachian Trail which binds Maine to Georgia. There is a common heritage which rises from the simple decency of our people: We share a sense of what is good and just and beautiful. “We share gratitude for the common leadership given us by Jimmy Carter. On this festive occasion when we honor a son of Maine and of Bates, we pause to thank this son of Georgia. “ “His journey has been one of human adventure,” Straub said as the college conferred an honorary doctorate on the former president. “When he reached his highest office, he did not forget the lessons from that journey, for they taught him what is important to the American people.” Carter and Muskie, a former governor from Rumford and a 1936 Bates graduate, were friends. Awarding Muskie the Medal of Freedom in 1981, Carter said he had admired Muskie “ever since I’ve been aware of his public service and been interested myself in going into the political arena.” Carter appreciated the Mainer’s “quiet sense of inner strength and demonstrated courage.” He said that Muskie “has never yielded to temptation to lower his own standards or the standards which make all public servants proud” and despite being “a loyal Democrat,” his service transcended party. In addition to Muskie, the former president also had close ties to another Bates graduate, civil rights leader Benjamin Mays, a leader in the class of 1920 who would later mentor Martin Luther King Jr. During his 1985 speech at Bates, Carter thanked the college “for making it possible for Dr. Benjamin Mays to overcome the handicaps of white supremacy and racism and to take his place among the prominent leaders of our nation and the world.” The address at Bates also touched on some of the recurrent themes of Carter’s public life, including his insistence a country should be measured by its commitment to human rights. “In order to be truly great, we must use our power for the enhancement of peace for ourselves and for others,” he said. “This includes forgoing belligerence and force wherever possible and relying wherever possible on diplomacy.” Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous
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BENSALEM, Pa., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Investors have until the deadlines listed below to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors suffering losses on their investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in these class actions at (215) 638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com . iLearningEngines, Inc. (NASDAQ: AILE ) Class Period: April 22, 2024 – August 28, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 6, 2024 The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) that the Company’s “Technology Partner” was an undisclosed related party; (2) that the Company used its undisclosed related party Technology Partner to report “largely fake” revenue and expenses; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company significantly overstated its revenue; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. Iris Energy Limited (NASDAQ: IREN ) Class Period: June 20, 2023 – July 11, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 6, 2024 The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants overstated Iris Energy’s prospects with data centers and high performance computing, in large part as a result of material deficiencies in Iris Energy’s Childress County, Texas site; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW ) Class Period: February 6, 2024 – July 24, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 13, 2024 The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company did not possess reliable information pertaining to projected revenue outlook and anticipated growth; (2) the Company’s growth was at risk of decelerating; (3) the Company’s “patient activation activities” failed to reach the perceived low-treatment-rate population TAVR’s growth relied upon obtaining; (4) the Company overstated hospital desire to continue to utilize the Company’s TAVR procedures over newer, innovative structural heart therapies; and (5) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Xiao-I Corporation (NASDAQ: AIXI ) Class Period: March 9, 2023 – July 12, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 16, 2024 The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants had downplayed the true scope and severity of risks that Xiao-I faced due to certain of its Chinese shareholders’ non-compliance with Circular 37 Registration, including the Company’s inability to use Offering proceeds for intended business purposes; (2) Xiao-I failed to comply with GAAP in preparing its financial statements; (3) Defendants overstated Xiao-I’s efforts to remediate material weaknesses in the Company’s financial controls; (4) Xiao-I was forced to incur significant R&D expenses to effectively compete in the AI industry; (5) Xiao-I downplayed the significant negative impact that such expenses would have on the Company’s business and financial results; (6) accordingly, Xiao-I overstated its AI capabilities, R&D resources, and overall ability to compete in the AI market; (7) as a result of all the foregoing, there was a substantial likelihood that Xiao-I would fail to comply with the NASDAQ’s Minimum Bid Price Requirement; and (8) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. To be a member of these class actions, you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about these class actions, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com , or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com . This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Contacts Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Howard G. Smith, Esquire 215-638-4847 888-638-4847 howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com www.howardsmithlaw.comGirl who shot her Kiwi mother was ‘anti-social’ and went to gun ranges
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter has spurred a broader discussion about what else he should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should be pardoning Donald Trump. Biden on Tuesday ducked questions about his son, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola . He dismissed shouted questions about the matter with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, telling the Angolan delegation: “Welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, and he has largely avoided interactions with reporters since President-elect Trump’s victory last month. Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly had said he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family. Biden claimed that the Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son, using some of the same language that Trump uses to describe his own legal predicaments. Biden's reversal drew criticism from many Democrats , who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks. There is concern the pardon — and Biden's claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it has threatened to cloud Biden's legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Hunter Biden is the closest presidential relative ever to be granted clemency, but other leaders have pardoned family members and close friends. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after Roger Clinton had served his sentence. By the time Trump left office after his first term, he had issued 144 pardons, which included Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned fervent supporters Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and other people convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. In the months after the 2020 election, Trump and his allies were trying to overturn his loss, a failed effort that culminated in the violent riot by his supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. There were discussions at the time over whether Trump would preemptively pardon some of those involved in the effort — and maybe even himself — before he left office. But that never happened. Now, Democrats are having similar discussions about preemptive pardons on their side because of Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail. He's made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. He talks about "enemies from within." He's circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He's also taken aim at Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris, promoting a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals to punish her because she was guilty of treason. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said last week on Boston Public Radio that Biden might consider broad pardons to protect people against whatever wrath Trump may seek, but also as a way to move the country past this acrimonious and divided time. “I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful first year at least of his administration toward individuals who he believes harmed him,” Markey said. Presidents enjoy expansive pardon powers when it comes to federal crimes . That includes granting clemency to people who have not yet been charged, as President Gerald Ford did in 1974 when he pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. The decision at the time caused an uproar but has been seen in the ensuing decades as a move that helped restore order. Markey cited Ford's pardon as a way for the country “just to close that chapter and move on to a new era.” Biden could do the same, Markey said, to help the country move on “to an agenda that deals with the ordinary families.” Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat-turned-independent from West Virginia, took it a step further and suggested Biden should even pardon Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, federal charges that are now evaporating with Trump's upcoming return to the White House. “Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges?" he said in an interview with CNN. “It would have gone down a lot more balanced. I'm just saying, wipe them out.” At the same time, Democratic lawmakers and criminal justice reformers are pushing Biden to grant pardons to broad groups of Americans. Democrats Ayanna Pressley, Jim Clyburn and Mary Gay Scanlon wrote to Biden on Nov. 20, asking him to use his clemency powers to "address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.” The letter, also signed by 61 others, suggested Biden could use his powers to send a powerful message of criminal justice reform and "rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges.” “We encourage you to use your clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers,” they wrote. So far, Biden has pardoned 25 people. Most presidents tend to grant a flurry of clemency requests at the end of their terms, and it's likely Biden will do the same. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said Biden is “thinking through that process very thoroughly.” Weissert reported from Luanda, Angola.
Stock market today: Stocks waver in thin trading after US markets reopen following a holiday pause
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Depending on your viewpoint, the Audi S6 e-tron is either moving with the times or having an identity crisis. You see, the latest – all-electric – S6 follows not only petrol versions but also diesels. One thing that hasn't changed is the S6's remit: to offer great performance in a practical body – in the S6 e-tron's case, a hatchback (Sportback) and an estate car (Avant). It looks pretty compelling on paper, with lots of power fed to all four wheels, a big battery to give you lots of range and adjustable air suspension to make it capable through corners. But does the first Audi S6 electric car have what it takes to go head to head with the quickest BMW i5 or the Porsche Taycan – two models which are also available as estate cars ? Read on to find out... Overview Performance & drive With a focus on performance, every Audi S6 e-tron comes with 496bhp and has the potential to sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.1 seconds – or 3.9 seconds if you use its launch-control setting. There’s no doubt that’s pretty quick, and you’re pushed reassuringly into your seat when you put your foot down, but it doesn’t feel as quick as the BMW i5 M60 xDrive or Porsche Taycan 4S . Indeed, both those rivals get off the line with even more vigour and will continue up to 62mph faster than the S6. Interestingly, the S6 Avant e-tron estate car covers the sprint in the exact same time as the sleeker Sportback, making it a match for the BMW i5 Touring M60 and much faster than the VW ID 7 Tourer GTX . It’s still slower than a Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo though. With a 94.9kWh (usable) battery, the S6 e-tron will go further on a charge than all those electric car rivals . Indeed, with an official range of 402 miles, even the Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus is no match. Every S6 e-tron comes with adaptive air suspension as standard and that does wonders for the way it drives. When you’re driving normally, it's firm enough to have great body control over undulating terrain but still manages to soak up potholes and imperfections with little fuss. In Dynamic mode, everything tightens up, with the suspension getting stiffer and the steering heavier. As a result, the S6 e-tron becomes pretty fun to drive, exhibiting very little body lean, having lots of grip thanks to its quattro all-wheel-drive system and with lots of feedback from the steering. All that really lets the side down is the brake pedal, which lacks the feel of rivals. Speaking of which, while the S6 e-tron is good to drive, the Porsche Taycan is on another level entirely, so if handling is at the top of your priority list, you’ll want to look at that rival instead. Outside of the brake pedal, which is fine for everyday driving, the S6 e-tron is quite refined, with little wind noise and about the same level of road noise as you'll hear in a BMW i5 . "As good as the Audi S6 e-tron is to drive, it’s hard to ignore that the Porsche Taycan 4S costs the same and is much better for performance and handling." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer Interior Taking a seat in the Audi S6 e-tron is a comfortable affair, with the driving position lining you up perfectly with the pedals and steering wheel. The Sports Plus seats giving you plenty of electrical adjustment, including lumbar support, and loads of side bolster to keep you in place in fast corners. As with the Audi A6 e-tron, you sit quite low within the S6 e-tron’s interior, and that doesn’t help when it comes to visibility, especially in the sleek Sportback (hatchback) version. You see, the sloping roofline compromises the view over your shoulder, while the letterbox rear window limits the amount that you can see out of the back. The Avant estate car is better, with large rear windows and a slightly larger back window, but the BMW i5 Touring is better still. At least you get plenty of parking aids to help make reversing easier, including front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera and a system that allows the car to park itself. Meanwhile, standard-fit matrix LED headlights ensure you’ll see plenty at night, allowing you to leave full beam on at all times without dazzling other drivers. Infotainment is displayed on a big 14.5in touchscreen within a large curved fascia that dominates the top of the dashboard and also includes an 11.9in digital driver's display. Both are high definition and really easy to read. The infotainment system itself is easy to navigate and responds to all your prods quickly. It’s just a shame that you won’t find any physical controls for the system, as you do in the BMW i5 , which gets a physical controller. As a result, the S6 e-tron's system is more distracting to use while you're driving. The only buttons you’ll find are touch-sensitive ones on the steering wheel, and while they’re handy for setting the cruise control , they’re also easy to operate accidentally. While interior quality in the regular Audi A6 e-tron is a little let down by some of the materials, that isn’t the case in the S6: every surface is covered with varied and quality-feeling materials. Sure, there are still some scratchy plastics, but they’re hidden out of the way in places you won't touch often. "I’d avoid the optional camera wing mirrors. The latest versions are better than the old ones but they’re still so frustrating and give you zero depth perception." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer Passenger & boot space Regardless of whether you go for the Audi S6 e-tron in Sportback or Avant form, you’ll find there’s plenty of space in the front, even if you’re six feet tall. Indeed, you’ll find that there’s head room to spare and more than enough shoulder room to stop you rubbing shoulders with your passenger. There’s an impressive amount of front storage, with both versions getting a couple of cupholders, decent-sized door bins, a space within the central armrest and a space under the centre console for a smartphone. Space in the rear isn’t quite as impressive, with both versions offering a decent amount of leg room but not all that much head room. Granted, the Avant estate car is better thanks to its higher roofline, but neither is as generous as the equivalent BMW i5 , with the Sportback’s sleek silhouette really eating into the head room. The boot space , meanwhile, is 502 litres whether you go for the hatchback or estate S6. That’s fairly impressive in the Sportback, beating the i5 and the Porsche Taycan but means that the S6 Avant e-tron’s boot is around 70 litres smaller than the one in the BMW i5 Touring . Either way, you won’t struggle to fit your family’s holiday luggage or a big load of shopping back there. What’s more, the S6 e-tron comes with a handy 25-litre frunk (front boot), which gives you a place to store your charging cables and frees up boot space . "I think it’s really handy that you get 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. They let you feed long items through from the boot without compromising the outer rear seats." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer Buying & owning Those after the Audi S6 e-tron Sportback or Avant as a cash purchase can expect to pay slightly less for the equivalent Porsche Taycan 4S and around the same for the equivalent BMW i5 . Customers buying on PCP finance will be happy to know that the S6 e-tron is predicted to depreciate at the same rate as the BMW i5 Touring and much slower than the Taycan, and that helps to keep monthly payments competitive. Company car drivers can expect to pay around the same BIK tax on all three. There’s only one trim level available with the S6 e-tron but it comes packed with kit, including 21in alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof with switchable transparency, soft-close doors, a Napa leather interior, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with 16-speakers (including in the front headrests) and wireless phone-charging. Providing you can find a charger that’s fast enough, the S6 e-tron’s maximum charging rate of 270kW means it should go from 10-80% in just 21 minutes. For context, that’s slightly faster than the BMW i5 and Mercedes-AMG EQS but slower than the Porsche Taycan , which can charge up to 320kW. The S6 e-tron is too new to have been included in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey . Audi placed 24th out of the 31 brands included, below BMW, Porsche and Mercedes. A three-year/60,000-mile warranty comes as standard with the S6 e-tron. At the time of writing, the S6 e-tron has not been tested for safety by Euro NCAP . We can tell you that it comes with lots of safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking ( AEB ), lane-departure warning, front cross-traffic assist, traffic-sign recognition and driver-attention monitoring. "Unlike with the BMW i5 , there are not many options you can add to the Audi S6 e-tron but I don't see that as a problem because of the extensive equipment list." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here FAQs With its 94.9kWh (usable) battery, the S6 e-tron will officially cover up to 402 miles between charges. The S6 e-tron’s two motors produce a total of 496bhp and feed it to all four wheels, meaning it has four-wheel drive . As a cash purchase, the S6 e-tron will cost you slightly more than the equivalent Porsche Taycan 4S and about the same as the BMW i5 M60 xDrive . With a maximum charging rate of 270kW, the S6 e-tron will go from 10-80% in around 21 minutes – faster than the BMW i5 but quite a bit slower than the Porsche Taycan .Trump lines up billionaire defense investor and megadonor to be No. 2 at Pentagon
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