CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference fined four of its schools on Monday for scuffles that broke out during rivalry week in college football, which had a rash of fights between players who attempted to plant flags and other team symbols on their rivals’ fields. North Carolina and N.C. State were fined for a brawl that started when Wolfpack players attempted to plant a flag on North Carolina’s field after beating the Tar Heels 35-30 on Saturday. Virginia and Virginia Tech were fined for a pregame scuffle. The ACC said the teams’ actions violated the league’s sportsmanship policy and called what happen at both games unacceptable. The league did not disclose the amount of the fines, but said they would be the maximum allowed by league bylaws. The money collected from the fines will go into the ACC’s postgraduate scholarship account. At North Carolina, the teams had to be separated near midfield. The brawl overshadowed coach Mack Brown’s final game. At Blacksburg, players from the Cavaliers and Hokies mixed it up during pregame warmups and had to be separated. The Big Ten Conference fined Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each on Sunday for a fight that broke out in Columbus, Ohio, after Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag at midfield. That one had to be broken up by police officers, who deployed pepper spray to quell the melee. One officer suffered a head injury when he was “trampled” and was taken to a hospital, a police official said. The officer has since been released. Arizona State defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika tried to plant a team trident in the middle of Arizona’s logo after a 49-7 win over the Wildcats. Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. planted a flag on Florida State’s logo after a 31-11 win, sparking another melee. BRIEFLY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Syracuse QB Kyle McCord was named AP National Player of the Week. The Ohio State transfer completed 26 of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-38 win over then-No. 8 Miami. Hawaii freshman Micah Alejado finished runner up after throwing for 469 yards and five TDs in a 38-30 win over New Mexico. IOWA: Big Ten rushing leader Kaleb Johnson announced he will declare for the NFL draft and not play in the Hawkeyes’ bowl game. He made the announcement in a social media post. Johnson ran for more than 1,500 yards this season for an average of 128 per game to lead the conference. He ranked sixth nationally. Johnson also finished with a school-record 23 touchdowns. MISSOURI: Wide receiver Luther Burden III declared for the NFL draft. He is expected to be a first-round pick. Burden said in a statement he will skip the Tigers’ bowl game. Despite playing just three seasons, Burden finished sixth on the school’s career list with 2,263 yards receiving. He also finished fourth in receptions with 192 and fifth with 21 touchdown catches. OKLAHOMA: Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was hired to serve in the same capacity for the Sooners. Arbuckle has been the play-caller at Washington State the past two years. The Cougars rank 12th nationally with 36.8 points per game this season. NEBRASKA: Dana Holgorsen signed a two-year contract to remain Nebraska’s offensive coordinator. Coach Matt Rhule brought in Holgorsen in early November as a consultant and days later moved him into the role of coordinator and play-caller for the final three games of the regular season. FLORIDA STATE: FSU hired Tony White to be its defensive coordinator after he developed consecutive top-20 defenses at Nebraska. That’s according to a person familiar with the decision. ESPN reported that White signed a three-year contract. White replaces Adam Fuller, who was fired last month. USC: QB Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans’ starting job last month. Moss started USC’s bowl victory last season and the team’s first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. APPALACHIAN STATE: Head football coach Shawn Clark was fired following the school’s first losing season since 2013. Clark was 40-24 in five seasons with the Mountaineers, but the team dropped to 5-6 this year following a 29-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday. FLORIDA ATLANTIC: The Owls finalized the hiring of Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley as their new head coach. He is replacing Tom Herman, who was fired two weeks ago. ALABAMA A&M: Bulldogs coach Connell Maynor was fired after seven seasons. Athletic director Paul A. Bryant announced the decision with a brief statement.

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Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2

TULSA — Lawyers representing the state of Oklahoma and Arkansas-based poultry integrators wrangled most of this past week about evidence purporting to show there has been little to no improvements for water quality within the Illinois River Watershed. A legal team led by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond spent most of the week presenting evidence that shows phosphorus levels in the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller have trended higher during recent years. Witnesses for the state said increased phosphorus loading and concentrations are being seen despite the implementation of programs designed to reduce nonpoint sources of the nutrient. A cadre of lawyers representing the poultry integrators and various subsidiaries spent that time picking apart the state’s evidence, criticize how it was gathered, and discredit its witnesses. By the time the evidentiary hearing concludes, integrators intend to show significant changes made by the poultry industry since 2010 have produced dramatic improvements to water quality throughout the IRW. The evidentiary hearing, which began Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for Northern Oklahoma, was scheduled after lawyers for the integrators complained about evidence presented at trial being too stale to support remedies sought by the state. U.S. Judge Gregory Frizzell disagreed with that assertion but scheduled the hearing to allow the presentation of data showing present conditions. Frizzell, who presided over a 52-day trial of that concluded in 2010, found poultry producers named in the state’s lawsuit responsible for polluting the land and waters within the Illinois River watershed. In the 219-page document, he cites overwhelming evidence presented by the state that shows poultry producers were aware of the environmental harm caused by phosphorus in the poultry wastes applied as fertilizer to land within the Illinois River Watershed. “Poultry waste generated by the operations of each of the defendants and their growers is a significant source of the phosphorus in the rivers and streams of the Oklahoma portion of the IRW and in Lake Tenkiller,” Frizzell writes in the ruling. “The State’s injuries from phosphorus concentrations in the rivers and streams of the IRW and Lake Tenkiller are significant.” The evidentiary hearing kicked off Tuesday with testimony provided by Ed Fite, water quality manager for Grand River Dam Authority. During his testimony, Fite recalled his observation of changes within the watershed that have occurred during the past four decades. Fite was appointed in 1983 as director of Oklahoma Scenic River Commission, the operations of which were merged in 2016 with GRDA. “The old gal is not well,” Fite said of the Illinois River during his testimony on Tuesday. “She’s still impaired.” John Elrod, a lawyer who represents Simmons Foods, produced articles published in 2016 that included comments by Fite about improved conditions within the watershed. Fite said one article specifically referenced reductions of bacteria levels, not phosphorus. Fite acknowledged there has been some improvement to water quality within the watershed since the trial concluded. But conditions have worsened since 2016, and he has become “more aware of the algal growth,” which regularly coats the streambed of the Illinois River “like astroturf.” Nautical Adventures Scuba owner Tim Knight of Cookson said declining water quality of Lake Tenkiller forced him to change the way his business operates. He said horizontal visibility in the lake has been reduced from 25 feet or more to less than five feet today. “We ceased diving mid-lake about 15 years ago due to safety,” Knight said. “We had to change our diving courses — we no longer have technical training.” Julie Chambers, environmental program manager at Oklahoma Water Resources Board, confirmed Knight’s observations. She said decreased water clarity at Lake Tenkiller continues “to adversely impact recreational activities and aesthetics.” The lake’s eutrophic state, she said, is “caused by phosphorus concentrations in the reservoir.” She said the five-year rolling average based upon the most recent data shows “an upward tick in phosphorus levels.” Tuesday’s testimony was overshadowed somewhat by a surprise announcement from Gov. Kevin Stitt about the termination of Secretary of Energy and Environment Ken McQueen. In social media post, Stitt expressed disappointment with McQueen’s decision to attend the evidentiary hearing for which his office is a named plaintiff. Drummond, who expressed concerns about the timing of Stitt’s announcement, said he and the governor share different values. “I value clean water and the poultry industry,” Drummond said following Tuesday’s testimony. “He (Stitt) values his donors.” Stitt’s office provided for The Frontier a letter from McQueen to the governor, announcing his intent to resign at the end of the year. The governor’s spokeswoman told The Frontier: “We just sped up the process a little bit.” On Thursday, Drummond and his team presented testimony from Lance Phillips, an environmental programs manager with OWRB. Phillips cited data that show phosphorus loadings and concentrations present an ongoing threat to the Illinois River and the Flint and Barren Fork creeks. Shanon Philips, water quality division manager for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, testified about nonpoint sources of phosphorus within the watershed. Her testimony also examined in-basin applications of poultry waste and its export to locations outside the watershed. On Thursday, lawyers representing the state and poultry integrators agreed to accept a report from Katie Mendoza, a researcher with Texas A&M, in lieu of her testimony. Mendoza’s report includes information about water quality models she helped develop and her criticism of a model adopted by the state of Arkansas. Lawyers for the integrators agreed to refrain from any attempt to introduce evidence about the model recently adopted by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Defendants began presenting testimony from their witnesses on Friday. That testimony is scheduled to resume the third week of December.First Nations want courts to force Trudeau government to pay them a half billion in promised carbon cash

Santa Clara, CA and Kyoto, Japan, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ROHM Semiconductor and Valeo, a leading automotive technology company, today announced they are collaborating to propose and optimize the next generation of power modules for electric motor inverters using their combined expertise in power electronics management. As a first step, ROHM will provide its 2-in-1 Silicon Carbide (SiC) molded module TRCDRIVE packTM to Valeo for future powertrain solutions. Valeo is broadening access to efficient, electrified mobility across various vehicle types and markets from the smallest one (ebikes), through the mainstream (passenger cars) to the largest one (eTrucks). By combining Valeo's expertise in mechatronics, thermal management and software development with ROHM's power modules, Valeo drives the power electronics solution forward, contributing to the performance, efficiency, and decarbonization of automotive systems worldwide. ROHM and Valeo have been collaborating since 2022, initially focusing on technical exchanges aimed at improving the performance and efficiency of the motor inverter – a key component in the propulsion systems of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). By refining power electronics, both companies aim to offer optimized cost/performance by delivering higher energy efficiency, reducing heat generation thanks to an optimized cooling and mechatronic integration, and increasing overall reliability with a SiC packaging. "We are pleased to support Valeo, a renowned automotive supplier, with our power semiconductors. ROHM's TRCDRIVE pack provides high power density, leading to an improved power efficiency. Together, we contribute to the development of highly efficient powertrains by fostering the collaboration with Valeo," said Wolfram HARNACK, President ROHM Semiconductor GmbH. "This partnership marks, for Valeo Power Division, a significant step forward in delivering advanced and high-efficient power electronics," says Xavier DUPONT, Valeo Power Division CEO. "Together, we aim to set new industry standards for high voltage inverters and accelerate the transition towards more efficient and affordable electric mobility." These evolutions are all essential to supporting the growing demand for longer range, faster charging capabilities and, overall, a high-performance and an affordable inverter for BEVs and PHEVs. Valeo will start supplying a first series project in early 2026. ROHM and Valeo will contribute to the improvement of efficiency and downsizing of Valeo's next generation of xEV inverters. Background on ROHM's TRCDRIVE pack TRCDRIVE pack is a trademark for ROHM's SiC molded module developed for traction inverter drives. This product features high power density and a unique terminal configuration, solving the key challenges of traction inverters in terms of miniaturization, higher efficiency, and fewer person-hours. Because SiC enables low-loss power conversion under high-voltage conditions, combining Valeo's component technology, casing design and thermal management expertise with ROHM's power module creates a synergistic effect. Through both companies' collaboration in automotive power electronics, they contribute to achieving a decarbonized society by enhancing the performance and efficiency of the motor inverter. More information is available at: https://www.rohm.com/news-detail?news-title=2024-06-11_news_trcdrive-pack&defaultGroupId=false TRCDRIVE packTM is a trademark or registered trademark of ROHM Co., Ltd. About Valeo Valeo is a technology company and partner to all automakers and new mobility players worldwide. The company innovates to make mobility safer, smarter and more sustainable. Valeo enjoys technological and industrial leadership in electrification, driving assistance systems, reinvention of the interior experience and lighting everywhere. These four areas, vital to the transformation of mobility, are the Group's growth drivers. https://www.valeo.com/ Valeo in figures: 22 billion euros in sales in 2023 | 109 600 employees, 28 countries, 159 plants, 64 research and development centers and 19 distribution platforms (June 30, 2024). Valeo is listed on the Paris stock Exchange. About ROHM Semiconductor ROHM, a leading semiconductor and electronic component manufacturer, was established in 1958. From the automotive and industrial equipment markets to the consumer and communication sectors, ROHM supplies ICs, discretes, and electronic components featuring superior quality and reliability through a global sales and development network. The company's strengths in the analog and power markets allow ROHM to propose optimized solutions for entire systems that combine peripheral components (i.e., transistors, diodes, resistors) with the latest SiC power devices, as well as drive ICs that maximize their performance. https://www.rohm.com/ Attachment Strong Partnership © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.BC SPCA recovers adult cats and kittens from Kamloops property

Chipotle: Price Hikes Could Make 2025 An Uphill BattleWASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. The legislation is drawing unusual support in Congress In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. Influencers descend on Washington But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. ____ AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. ___ This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille. Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press

Kutay Tanir BBVA Argentina ( NYSE: BBAR ) is one of the largest banks in that South American nation. From this point, it could see a major capital appreciation in the stock as the Argentinian public finances experience an impressive recovery due to Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

An FE tutor who took cocaine into the college where he worked was among education staff disciplined and banned in the first term of the academic year in Wales. Other offences that saw school and college staff brought before professional standards commitees included theft, disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual images with intent to cause distress, calling a colleague a "psycho b****" and failing to disclose court convictions. Cases before the Education Workforce Council Wales professional standards committees saw some staff struck off and banned from the classroom while others were allowed to continue working but with official reprimands placed on their registration. The EWC’s role is to maintain and standards of professional conduct among teachers and support staff in schools and colleges. Its professional standards panels have powers to strike staff off the EWC education professional register, or impose official reprimands, if evidence of misconduct is found. Some hearings are held in private for child protection or other reasons and some parts of some hearings are held in private for a number of other legal reasons. The allegations, findings and final rulings of each case are published online by the EWC. Most hearings are held remotely online and the standards commitees include lay members as well as former and current school and college staff with the help of legal advisors and EWC support staff. These are the outcomes of EWC hearings held between September and December 2024: Aaron Phillips A school teaching assistant was cautioned by police for disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual images with intent to cause distress. Aaron Dean Phillips, who was working at Ysgol Penglais in Aberysywyth at the time, was banned from the classroom after failing to inform the Education Workorce Council Wales that he had accepted the police caution. The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr Phillips: Having made these findings, the committee judged Mr Phillips’ conduct in paragraph two above was dishonest and demonstrated a lack of integrity. The panel indefinitely removed him Mr Phillips from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided he may not make an application for restoration to the register before two years has elapsed. If he does not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after September 4 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely. Louise Thomas A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on September 10 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school learning support worker, Louise Thomas. The panel found the following allegations proven, that Ms Thomas: on April 6 2018, accepted a caution from Gwent Police for theft from person on February 15 2018 The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Ms Thomas from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided she may not apply to be restored to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Ms Thomas not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after 10 September 2026, she will remain prohibited indefinitely. Samuel Harvey A military training instructor was slapped with a reprimand after he told teenage pupils he was looking forward to spending the night with his partner after she had got lip filler, among other allegations. A professional standards committee heard that Samuel Harvey made a series of inappropriate comments to teenagers while working in a pupil referral unit in Pembrokeshire . The Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales fitness to practise committee also found it proved that Harvey, who worked at Pembrokeshire Learning Centre, had offered a pupil free entry to a nightclub, told a learner he had been arrested over the summer, and accused another learner of starting a fire in a multi-storey car park. Harvey – who was employed as an instructor with the Military Preparation College for Training, which is now known as the Learning Curve Group – was also found to have left a vape pen on a school desk while learners were in the room. A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council sitting remotely on September 10, 11 and 12 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Samuel Harvey. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a MPCT Schools Lead Instructor Teacher at Learning Curve Group, Mr Harvey: advised a learner that he had been arrested over the summer The committee imposed a reprimand upon Mr Harvey’s registration as a work based learning practitioner for a period of two years (from 12 September 2024 to 12 September 2026). As such, Mr Harvey will be able to work as a registered person (work based learning practitioner) who provides services for or on behalf of a work based learning body (other than as a volunteer) in Wales for the period of the reprimand. Timothy John A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on September 23 and 24 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Timothy John. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Training Officer at Cambrian Training, Mr John: Having made these findings, the committee also determined that Mr John’s conduct at paragraphs 1 and 2 above was dishonest and lacking in integrity. The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr John from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of work-based learning practitioner. It also decided he may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Mr John not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after September 24 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely. David Sweet A teacher, who was head of behaviour and safeguarding at a large secondary school, went off sick rather than tell his school he was going to court on a charge of threatening behaviour. David Sweet was caught out years later when he was summoned to court again for a further offence of drink driving. Sweet, who was found guilty and convicted of both offences, taught at Ysgol John Bright in Llandudno at the time. He was Head of KS4 behaviour and safeguarding as well as a PE teacher at the school, where he had been employed since 2005. A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on October 2 and 3 2024, has found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and a relevant offence proved against Mr Sweet. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school teacher at Ysgol John Bright, Mr Sweet: Having made the above findings, the committee also determined that Mr Sweet’s conduct at paragraphs 3 and 4 above was dishonest and lacked integrity. The committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Sweet’s registration as a school teacher for a period of two years (from 3 October 2024 to 3 October 2026). As such, Mr Sweet will be able to work as a registered person (school teacher) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the reprimand. Martin Lofthouse A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely from September 30 to October 3 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against further education teacher, Martin Lofthouse. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a lecturer at Gower College Swansea Mr Lofthouse, on June 7 2023: The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Lofthouse’s registration as a further education teacher for a period of two 2 years (from October 3 2024 to October 3 2026). As such, Mr Lofthouse will be able to work as a registered person (further education teacher) who provides specific services in or for a further education institution in Wales for the period of the reprimand. James Jones A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on September 30 and October 1 to 4 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school teacher, James Jones. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a deputy headteacher at Wats Dyke Primary School, Wrexham , Mr Jones engaged in inappropriate use of social media on a number of occasions in that: Having made these findings, the committee also determined that Mr Jones’ conduct at 1 and 2 breached confidentiality. The committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Jones’ registration as a school teacher for a period of two from October 4 2024 to October 4 2026. As such, Mr Jones will be able to work as a registered person (school teacher) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the reprimand. Kristen Evans A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council sitting remotely from October 14-16 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Kristen Evans. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as an Assessor with ACT Training Ltd, Mr Evans: Having made the above findings, the committee also determined that Mr Evans’ conduct at paragraphs 2 and 3 above was dishonest and lacked integrity. The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Evans from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of work-based learning practitioner. It also decided Mr Evans may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Mr Evans not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after October 16 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely. Leah Johns A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on October 24, 25, 28 and 29 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct and an allegation of a relevant offence proved against further education teacher, Leah Johns. The committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Ms Johns’ registration as a further education teacher for a period of 12 months (from 29 October 2024 to 29 October 2025), provided that she meets the conditions specified within this timeframe. As such, Ms Johns will not be able to work as a registered person (further education teacher) who provides specific services in or for a further education institution in Wales for the period of the suspension order. Phillip Lewis A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on November 19 and 20 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against further education learning support worker, Phillip Lewis. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a tutor at Pembrokeshire College, Mr Lewis: The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Lewis from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of further education learning support worker. It also decided Mr Lewis may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Mr Lewis not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after November 20 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely. Melanie Morgan An experienced teaching assistant who called vulnerable children in her care "little s****" and locked one or more out of the classroom was banned from the profession. Melanie Morgan also swore in front of the children aged five to 11 in her class at Pantside Primary School in Newbridge, a professional standards hearing was told. Melanie Morgan worked in one of the two classes at the school's special resource base for children with additional learning needs, an EWC Fitness to Practise committee of the Education Workforce Council heard. Some of the pupils in her care had autism and some were non-verbal but understood what she was saying and the tone used according to colleagues who said they witnessed the swearing and pupils being locked outside. The committee, sitting remotely on November 26, 27 and 28 November 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against her. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Teaching Assistant by Caerphilly County Borough Council at Pantside Primary School, Miss Morgan: The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Miss Morgan from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided Miss Morgan may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should she not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after November 28 2026, she will remain prohibited indefinitely. Chloe Munn An inexperienced and unqualified teaching assistant who left five-year-old pupils alone by a lake and a car park on a school trip received a reprimand but can continue to work, a professional standards panel ruled. Chloe Munn, who worked at Llandough Primary School, had not been given guidance on how to take children to the toilet on the trip to Cosmeston Lakes when she left three of them unaccompanied, an Education Workforce Council Wales committee found. Announcing its delayed decision after a hearing in November , the panel said that a risk assessment for the trip did not address how children should be taken to the toilet and Miss Munn had not been given clear instructions. There was also no evidence she had received on the job training at Llandough Primary. A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on November 5 to 8, and 29 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school learning support worker , Chloe Munn . The committee found the following allegations proven: The committee imposed a Reprimand on Miss Munn’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of two years (from November 29 2024 to November 29 2026). As such, Miss Munn will be able to work as a registered person (school learning support worker) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the reprimand. Richard Stratton-Thomas A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on December 2, 3 and 4 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Mr Richard Stratton-Thomas. The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven: The committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Stratton-Thomas’s registration as a work-based learning practitioner for a period of 2 years (from December 4 2024 to December 4 2026). As such, Mr Stratton-Thomas will be able to work as a work-based learning practitioner, who provides services for or on behalf of a work-based learning body (other than as a volunteer) in Wales for the period of the reprimand. Anthony Morris A college carpentry supervisor who “tapped” a colleague on the bottom and failed to disclose convictions for destroying or damaging property was struck off the education work register. Antony Morris failed to disclose the convictions when he applied to register with the Education Workforce Council Wales and now the council has barred him indefinitely A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on December 17, 18 and 19 December 2024, found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and relevant offence proved against further education learning support worker, Anthony Morris. The committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr Morris: Having made these findings, the committee determined that Mr Morris’ conduct at paragraphs 4 and 5 above was dishonest and demonstrated a lack of integrity. The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Morris from the register of education practitioners in the category of further education learning support worker and work based learning practitioner. It also decided Mr Morris may not apply for restoration to the register before a period of 2 years has elapsed. Should Mr Morris not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after December 19 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely. Nicholas Maguire A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on December 9 to 10 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Nicholas Maguire. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Work-Based Learning Practitioner at Inspire Training, Mr Maguire The committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Maguire’s registration as a work-based learning practitioner, further education learning support worker and school learning support worker for a period of two years (from December 10 2024 to December 10 2026). As such, Mr Maguire will be able to work as a work based learning practitioner, who provides services for or on behalf of a work-based learning body other than as a volunteer or as a further education learning support worker, in FE institutions in Wales or school learning support worker in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.NeueHealth to Be Taken Private by NEA and Consortium of InvestorsFoundation renovates Ogun general hospital’s children ward

Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2Lebanon is closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus, the General Security Directorate said Friday. The decision came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged a border crossing in northern Lebanon just days after it was reopened. Separately, Jordan’s interior minister said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. He spoke after Syrian opposition activists said insurgents had captured the main border crossing with Jordan, forcing the Syrian authorities to leave. Israel’s military said it planned to reinforce its positions in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and near the border with Syria. Israel said it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” Meanwhile, Syrian insurgents entered the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The breakthrough came a day after jihiadi-led opposition fighters captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest. In other developments, a Hamas official said international mediators have resumed negotiations with the Palestinian militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war is within reach. Israel's war against Hamas has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,600 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. ___ Here's the Latest: DEIR AL-Balah, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike hit a residential building in central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp on Friday evening, killing at least 12 people, including six children and four women, according to officials at Awda Hospital. The strike wounded at least 46 others, including 13 children and 12 women, and damaged several neighboring houses, the hospital said. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,600 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. CAIRO — Israel said Friday that “thousands of food packages and sacks of flour” were delivered to the isolated northernmost reaches of Gaza, where hunger experts warn famine could be underway. The delivery would mark one of the first successful convoys to the area, which is besieged by Israeli troops that have mounted a fierce offensive in Gaza’s north since early October. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls the border crossings into Gaza, said the aid was delivered to the town of Beit Hanoun. Israeli authorities did not publicly say who delivered the aid, and did not provide details on the exact amount of aid involved. COGAT released photos of flatbed trucks driving past rubble, some carrying what appeared to be 25-kilogram (55 pound) sacks of aid and others with cargo covered under tarps. The U.N. has struggled to deliver aid to the area in recent weeks. Alia Zaki, a spokesperson for the World Food Program, told The Associated Press that nearly no food has entered the area for two months, and that the agency’s daily requests to enter the area have been denied by Israel. Of two missions that have been approved since Oct. 6, Zaki said, only two trucks of aid were delivered to a shelter that Israeli soldiers ordered to evacuate soon after and then burned. The situation in northern Gaza has prompted hunger experts to warn that famine is either near or may already be underway. BEIRUT — A Kurdish-led force in Syria that's backed by the United States says it has taken positions along the border with Iraq, replacing Syrian government forces. The move by the Syrian Democratic Forces to capture areas on the west bank of the Euphrates River is likely to cut the land line that links Iran with the Mediterranean coast. The SDF said in a statement that its fighters were deployed in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and west of the Euphrates for the safety of civilians. “Our primary objective is to protect our security and the security of our people,” it said about the deployment. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told The Associated Press that their fighters are not in control of the Boukamal border crossing with Iraq. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Iran-backed fighters have evacuated the border crossing point of Boukamal and the SDF is expected to control it later. The Boukamal border crossing has been a main supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, who had opened the corridor that links Iran with the Mediterranean in 2017. The developments come as jihadi-led insurgents in northwestern Syria have made stunning advances over the past week that have so far met little resistance from government troops. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Crowds of displaced Palestinians, some carrying cooking pots and crying children, gathered at an aid kitchen in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Friday, but many left with nothing. “The food ran out,” said Adel Mohammad, who was hoping to get a meal of rice – the only food being served — for his children. “At night they wake up hungry.” After the kitchen shut down, children used their hands to scoop bits of rice left in large empty cooking pots. The World Food Program has warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is “nearing collapse as famine looms.” The U.N. agency says Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries, along with the breakdown of law and order in Gaza, has made it difficult for aid convoys to reach displaced Palestinians. Concerns are growing with the onset of another winter of war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, many displaced repeatedly by Israeli attacks, are living in tent camps, reliant on international aid. Experts have already warned of famine in northern Gaza, which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s General Security Directorate said Friday the country is closing all land border crossing with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus. The decision by the security agency in charge of border crossings came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged the Arida border crossing with Syria in north Lebanon, days after it was reopened. “Border crossings will be closed until further notice for the safety of travelers,” the agency said in a statement posted on X. It said that the only border crossing that will be kept open is Masnaa in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. Lebanon’s state news agency said Friday the airstrike on the Arida crossing caused heavy material damage and cut the road. The Israeli military said fighter jets attacked the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, adding that they were used to transfer munitions for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. BEIRUT - Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have captured a main border crossing with Jordan forcing Syrian authorities to leave it. Shortly afterward, Jordan’s Interior Minister al-Frayeh said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. Opposition activists posted videos online showing people storming the border crossing with Jordan, which was in rebel hands until government forces regained control of it in 2018. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist based in France who covers events in southern Syria, told The Associated Press that local gunmen have captured the Naseeb crossing as well as several other areas in the southern province of Daraa where the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011. Syrian troops have evacuated checkpoints in several areas including the villages of Inkhil, Nawa and Jassem, he added. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said on Friday that it planned to reinforce its forces stationed in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and rebel groups. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” After 13 years of civil war, Syrian insurgents are gaining ground, first taking cities in the country’s north and on Friday entering cities in central Syria. It comes as rebel groups mount new challenges to Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian forces, including in Aleppo, the country’s largest city. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has intermittently struck areas in Syria seen as strongholds of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group it is at war with in Lebanon. The advances of the Syrian insurgents adds new instability on Israel’s northern border, two months after it invaded neighboring Lebanon. Israel’s defense minister and military chief of staff met to discuss the situation Thursday. Israeli media reported there is concern in the country’s security establishment that the rebels would advance until they reached the Golan Heights, territory occupied by Israel, gaining control of Syrian weapons stockpiles along the way. Writing in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahoronoth Friday, veteran military correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai wrote that Israel may “prefer” to destroy the weapons storehouses so they won’t fall into the hands of the rebels. Israel seized control of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Syria has constantly accused Israel of launching attacks against it from territory it occupies in the Golan Heights. Israel has frequently struck Syria over the years. BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents entered two central towns early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The break into Rastan and Talbiseh came a day after opposition gunmen captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest, after the Syrian army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians. The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have said that they will march to Homs and Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. The city of Homs, parts of which were controlled by insurgents until 2014, is a major intersection point between the capital, Damascus, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus where Assad enjoys wide support. Homs province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Insurgents are now 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory’s chief. MANAMA, Bahrain — Iran said Friday it conducted a successful space launch, the latest for its program the West alleges improves Tehran’s ballistic missile technology. Iran conducted the launch using its Simorgh program , a satellite-carrying rocket that had had a series of failed launches, at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport in rural Semnan province. That’s the site of Iran’s civilian space program. The Simorgh carried what Iran described as an “orbital propulsion system,” as well as two research systems to a 400-kilometer (250-mile) orbit above the Earth. A system that could change the orbit of a spacecraft would allow Iran to geo-synchronize the orbits of its satellites. Tehran has long sought that ability. Iran also put the payload of the Simorgh at 300 kilograms (660 pounds), heavier than its previous successful launches. There was no immediate independent confirmation the launch was successful. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and as an uneasy ceasefire holds in Lebanon. MELBOURNE, Australia — Arsonists extensively damaged a Melbourne synagogue on Friday in what Australia’s prime minister condemned as an antisemitic attack on Australian values. The blaze in the Adass Israel Synagogue is an escalation in targeted attacks in Australia since the war began between Israel and Hamas last year. Cars and buildings have been vandalized and torched around Australia in protests inspired by the war. A witness who had come to the synagogue to pray saw two masked men spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms inside the building at 4:10 a.m., officials said. About 60 firefighters with 17 fire trucks responded to the blaze, which police said caused extensive damage. Investigators have yet to identify a motive, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed antisemitism. “This was a shocking incident to be unequivocally condemned. There is no place in Australia for an outrage such as this,” Albanese told reporters. “To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, is attacking the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added. ISTANBUL — A Hamas official says international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States because of frustration over a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But there has been a “reactivation” of efforts in recent days to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel, according to Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political bureau who spoke with The Associated Press in Turkey on Thursday. Another official familiar with the talks confirmed the return of Qatari mediators. The official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media. Since the talks broke down, there have been significant shifts in the global and regional landscape. Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, and a ceasefire was declared last week between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump is a staunch supporter of Israel, but Naim said he believes the incoming administration could “affect the situation positively” given that Trump had made halting wars in the region part of his campaign platform. Trump this week called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza by the time he takes office on Jan. 20, saying there would be “hell to pay” if that doesn’t happen. WASHINGTON -- Three U.S. service members were being evaluated for potential traumatic brain injuries following an attack near a base in eastern Syria this week, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday. Ryder said U.S. Central Command is still evaluating who was behind the attack near Mission Support Site Euphrates, which prompted the U.S. to conduct counter strikes on Tuesday. At the time, the Pentagon said rockets and mortars had landed in the vicinity of the base. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. ___ By Lolita Baldor

Assurant Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsSHAMED ref David Coote won’t appeal the decision to sack him, it emerged last night. Referees’ body the PGMOL gave him the boot this month after a probe into videos of him snorting white powder and a foul-mouthed rant about ex Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp . Advertisement 4 Shamed ref David Coote won’t appeal the decision to sack him, it emerged last night Credit: Reuters 4 Coote was filmed branding ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a 'German c**t' Credit: X 4 The top-flight ref was also filmed snorting white powder at Euro 2024 Sources last night said the 42-year-old Premier League official had decided to accept his sacking - rather than fight to keep his old job, the Daily Mail reported. The PGMOL - Professional Game Match Officials Board - showed Coote the door after examining evidence provided by The Sun. We exclusively revealed a film of him snorting what appears to be cocaine during the Euros in Germany this summer . In the eight-second WhatsApp clip, he was wide-eyed as he used a rolled-up US banknote to snort a four-inch line of the substance in his Uefa-funded hotel room. Advertisement READ MORE ON DAVID COOTE REF’S A WORKER Shamed David Coote seen for first time since being sacked as Prem referee FINAL WHISTLE Scandal-hit Prem ref David Coote SACKED after white powder video & Klopp rant The previous day, the official had acted as a VAR for France's quarter-final shootout win over Portugal. Days before that exposé, footage emerged on social media showing him calling former Liverpool boss Klopp a “German c***”. Coote had also tried to arrange a drugs party during Tottenham’s win over Manchester City on October 30 . He was the fourth official for the Carabao Cup clash. Advertisement Most read in Football PAT ON THE BACK Hearts hero makes abrupt move to former club of Postecoglou and Muscat MOR TO COME Huge twist in Morelos' future as ex-Gers boss lands Santos job amid return saga TEENAGE KICKS Celtic star unrecognisable in throwback pic when he played with ex-Hoops ace AMA NEW MAN Rangers flop finds new club after five months in wilderness and buying COWS Official body PGMOL said the ref - also subject of a separate betting probe - was sacked after his actions were found to be in breach of contract. In a statement, they said: “David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable. "Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.” Moment scandal-hit Prem ref David Coote snorts white powder in shocking video during Euro 2024 Coote has been lying low near his Midlands home since the video emerged. Advertisement Referees body the PGMOL, who examined evidence provided by The Sun, sacked him on Monday following a probe into his sweary rants and white powder abuse. Coote was then the subject of a new probe over allegedly issuing a yellow card to order. The loss of Coote’s career is set to cost him £1m over the next few years in loss of earnings. Shocking David Coote video in full First video First man : "What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?" Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Erm Liverpool were s***." First man : "What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?" Second man (allegedly Coote) : "C***, absolute c***." First man : "Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?" Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown. "Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me - and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant. "So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner." First man : "James Milner, he gets on with James Milner." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "You can see me there with mask on." First man : "Mask on, obviously." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart." First man : "We have to social distance." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me." First man : "Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers." Second video Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously." First man : He’s a Premier League referee, let's not f***ing ruin his career. "Like let's face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "So, yeah." First man : "So lets not ruin his career." 4 Shamed ref David Coote was seen for the first time since his sacking, as he was pictured heading to the gym Credit: BackGrid Advertisement50 EH/s expansion accelerated to H1 2025 Focused on alternative funding instruments Potential for investor distributions in 2025 Transition to U.S. domestic issuer SYDNEY, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IREN (NASDAQ: IREN ) (together with its subsidiaries, "IREN” or "the Company”), today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended September 30, 2024. All $ amounts are in United States Dollars ("USD”) unless otherwise stated. "We are pleased to report our Q1 FY25 results and reiterate our focus on low-cost Bitcoin mining, operating cashflows and shareholder returns,” said Daniel Roberts, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of IREN. "We are just weeks away from achieving our 31 EH/s milestone and are excited to announce the acceleration of our growth trajectory to 50 EH/s in H1 2025, which was previously H2 2025. Our funding program is focused on alternative funding instruments and the strong operating cashflows we expect to generate enhances our flexibility to support potential distributions in 2025.” Business Update Bitcoin Mining (USD$m) 1 Sep 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 (USD$m) Sep 30, 2024 June 30, 2024 This press release includes "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or IREN's future financial or operating performance. For example, forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the Company's business strategy, expected operational and financial results, and expected increase in power capacity and hashrate. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate,” "believe,” "may,” "can,” "should,” "could,” "might,” "plan,” "possible,” "project,” "strive,” "budget,” "forecast,” "expect,” "intend,” "target”, "will,” "estimate,” "predict,” "potential,” "continue,” "scheduled” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause IREN's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including, but not limited to: Bitcoin price and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; IREN's ability to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms and in a timely manner to meet its capital needs and facilitate its expansion plans; the terms of any future financing or any refinancing, restructuring or modification to the terms of any future financing, which could require IREN to comply with onerous covenants or restrictions, and its ability to service its debt obligations, any of which could restrict its business operations and adversely impact its financial condition, cash flows and results of operations; IREN's ability to successfully execute on its growth strategies and operating plans, including its ability to continue to develop its existing data center sites and to diversify and expand into the market for high performance computing ("HPC”) solutions it may offer (including the market for AI Cloud Services); IREN's limited experience with respect to new markets it has entered or may seek to enter, including the market for HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services); expectations with respect to the ongoing profitability, viability, operability, security, popularity and public perceptions of the Bitcoin network; expectations with respect to the profitability, viability, operability, security, popularity and public perceptions of any current and future HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services) that IREN offers; IREN's ability to secure and retain customers on commercially reasonable terms or at all, particularly as it relates to its strategy to expand into markets for HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services); IREN's ability to manage counterparty risk (including credit risk) associated with any current or future customers, including customers of its HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services) and other counterparties; the risk that any current or future customers, including customers of its HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services), or other counterparties may terminate, default on or underperform their contractual obligations; Bitcoin global hashrate fluctuations; IREN's ability to secure renewable energy, renewable energy certificates, power capacity, facilities and sites on commercially reasonable terms or at all; delays associated with, or failure to obtain or complete, permitting approvals, grid connections and other development activities customary for greenfield or brownfield infrastructure projects; IREN's reliance on power and utilities providers, third party mining pools, exchanges, banks, insurance providers and its ability to maintain relationships with such parties; expectations regarding availability and pricing of electricity; IREN's participation and ability to successfully participate in demand response products and services and other load management programs run, operated or offered by electricity network operators, regulators or electricity market operators; the availability, reliability and/or cost of electricity supply, hardware and electrical and data center infrastructure, including with respect to any electricity outages and any laws and regulations that may restrict the electricity supply available to IREN; any variance between the actual operating performance of IREN's miner hardware achieved compared to the nameplate performance including hashrate; IREN's ability to curtail its electricity consumption and/or monetize electricity depending on market conditions, including changes in Bitcoin mining economics and prevailing electricity prices; actions undertaken by electricity network and market operators, regulators, governments or communities in the regions in which IREN operates; the availability, suitability, reliability and cost of internet connections at IREN's facilities; IREN's ability to secure additional hardware, including hardware for Bitcoin mining and any current or future HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services) it offers, on commercially reasonable terms or at all, and any delays or reductions in the supply of such hardware or increases in the cost of procuring such hardware; expectations with respect to the useful life and obsolescence of hardware (including hardware for Bitcoin mining as well as hardware for other applications, including any current or future HPC solutions (including AI Cloud Services) IREN offers); delays, increases in costs or reductions in the supply of equipment used in IREN's operations; IREN's ability to operate in an evolving regulatory environment; IREN's ability to successfully operate and maintain its property and infrastructure; reliability and performance of IREN's infrastructure compared to expectations; malicious attacks on IREN's property, infrastructure or IT systems; IREN's ability to maintain in good standing the operating and other permits and licenses required for its operations and business; IREN's ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce its intellectual property rights and confidential information; any intellectual property infringement and product liability claims; whether the secular trends IREN expects to drive growth in its business materialize to the degree it expects them to, or at all; any pending or future acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures or other strategic transactions; the occurrence of any environmental, health and safety incidents at IREN's sites, and any material costs relating to environmental, health and safety requirements or liabilities; damage to IREN's property and infrastructure and the risk that any insurance IREN maintains may not fully cover all potential exposures; ongoing proceedings relating in part to the default, and any future litigation, claims and/or regulatory investigations, and the costs, expenses, use of resources, diversion of management time and efforts, liability and damages that may result therefrom; IREN's failure to comply with any laws including the anti-corruption laws of the United States and various international jurisdictions; any failure of IREN's compliance and risk management methods; any laws, regulations and ethical standards that may relate to IREN's business, including those that relate to Bitcoin and the Bitcoin mining industry and those that relate to any other services it offers, including laws and regulations related to data privacy, cybersecurity and the storage, use or processing of information and consumer laws; IREN's ability to attract, motivate and retain senior management and qualified employees; increased risks to IREN's global operations including, but not limited to, political instability, acts of terrorism, theft and vandalism, cyberattacks and other cybersecurity incidents and unexpected regulatory and economic sanctions changes, among other things; climate change, severe weather conditions and natural and man-made disasters that may materially adversely affect IREN's business, financial condition and results of operations; public health crises, including an outbreak of an infectious disease (such as COVID-19) and any governmental or industry measures taken in response; IREN's ability to remain competitive in dynamic and rapidly evolving industries; damage to IREN's brand and reputation; expectations relating to Environmental, Social or Governance issues or reporting; the costs of being a public company; the increased regulatory and compliance costs of IREN ceasing to be a foreign private issuer and an emerging growth company, as a result of which we will be required, among other things, to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC commencing with our next fiscal year, prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP rather than IFRS, and to modify certain of our policies to comply with corporate governance practices required of U.S. domestic issuers; and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors” in IREN's annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on August 28, 2024 as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of IREN's website at https://investors.iren.com. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this investor update. Any forward-looking statement that IREN makes in this investor update speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, IREN disclaims any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Non-IFRS Financial Measures This press release includes non-IFRS financial measures, including Net electricity costs, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. We provide these measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. There are a number of limitations related to the use of Net electricity costs, Adjusted EBTIDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. For example, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently. The Company believes that these measures are important and supplement discussions and analysis of its results of operations and enhances an understanding of its operating performance. EBITDA is calculated as our IFRS profit/(loss) after income tax expense, excluding interest income, finance expense and non-cash fair value loss and interest expense on hybrid financial instruments, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, which are important components of our IFRS profit/(loss) after income tax expense. Further, "Adjusted EBITDA” also excludes share-based payments expense, which is an important component of our IFRS profit/(loss) after income tax expense, foreign exchange gains and losses, impairment of assets, certain other non-recurring income, loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, gain on disposal of subsidiaries, unrealized fair value gains and losses on financial assets and certain other expense items. Net electricity costs is calculated as our IFRS Electricity charges net of Realized gain/(loss) on financial asset, ERS revenue (included in Other income) and ERS fees (included in Other operating expenses), and excludes the cost of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). About IREN IREN is a leading data center business powering the future of Bitcoin, AI and beyond utilizing 100% renewable energy. Sodali & Co +61 477 946 068 IREN +61 407 423 395 [email protected] Aircover Communications +1 510 333 2707

Ruben Amorim says Manchester United are a massive club but not a massive team as he continues to try and turn around a group that need to “run like mad dogs” if they are to become winners. A poor start to Erik ten Hag’s third season in charge last month led the Red Devils to turn to the 39-year-old, who immediately lifted the mood after swapping Sporting for Old Trafford. Amorim followed a draw at Ipswich in his opening match with entertaining wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton, yet he repeatedly attempted to manage expectations. The Portuguese said United would “suffer for a long period” and then warned a “storm will come” ahead of Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal – a reality check before hosting Nottingham Forest on Saturday. “I think that is very clear,” Amorim said of the scale of the job. “We are a massive club, but we are not a massive team, and we know it. It’s no problem to say it. “So, we want to improve, we are in a different moment from Arsenal, but you could feel it during the game. “I think we have to believe more because we were not dominant in the game, but we had control in the game. “Not so many chances for Arsenal – of course a lot of set pieces – but we were OK, especially in the first half. We had some good things in that moment, but you could feel that there’s so much to do. “We need to be better in the final third, we have to create more danger, they have to feel it. “I felt that Arsenal had problems to block our build up but then when they were defending the goal it was quite comfortable for them, so we are learning these things and trying to improve in two days.” United’s problems mean they enter the weekend 13th in the Premier League standings – quite the sight for fans of a club who have won an English record 20 league titles. Asked if perceptions around the club need to change, Amorim said: “That will not change because this club has glories in the past. “Our players have to understand that this is a very difficult position, so we are not (one of) the best teams in the league, and we have to say that and to think that clearly. “But our past, our club is maybe the best one in the league, so we have here a problem, but we have to focus on the little things, the little details. “If you think in everything, it will be a problem. Let’s focus on the small details and then we will improve it as a team.” Amorim has had precious little time to work on such details having started during an international break followed by a relentless winter schedule. Saturday’s home game against Forest is United’s third of nine matches in December and came with a demand for effort on top of technical quality. “It’s impossible to win the Premier League without a team like that – that every moment runs back, runs forward,” Amorim said. “It is impossible to win. If you want to win, we have to do it. “Even with the best starting XI in the planet without running they will not win nothing, so that is very clear. “If we want to win the Premier League, we have to run like mad dogs. If not, we are not going to win.” Interestingly, Amorim’s comments come six years after compatriot Jose Mourinho spoke about United’s lack of “mad dogs” following a December draw at Southampton. “It doesn’t matter about the system,” the former United manager said. “It has to do with the characteristics of the players and we don’t have many, with all the respect, mad dogs – the ones who bite the ball all the time and press all the time. We don’t have many with that spirit.” Amorim will hope not to be feeling similar after facing Forest, having previously said he needs to improve the “physical aspect of the team”. “The problem to be fit enough is if they can cope with that,” United’s head coach said. “If they are used to do that in training, they will do that in games. “So, they are professional athletes, they can improve this. You cannot be faster, but you can run more with training. We are in that path.”

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