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SHANGHAI , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentage Holdings Inc. (the "Company", "we", "our") SNTG , is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with no material operations of its own. Through its China -based operating entities, the Company offers consumer loan repayment and collection management, loan recommendation, and prepaid payment network services in China . The Company today announced its financial results for the first six months of fiscal year 2024 ended June 30, 2024 . The following summarizes such financial results. Financial Highlights for the First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Total operating revenue was $nil in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with $82 for the same period of last year, representing a 100% decrease. The reason for the decrease in revenue was that the Company's existing business had declined while the Company attempting to enter into new businesses. the company has been adjusting and improving its products and services to enhance its competitiveness. These improvements require more time to be completed. Net loss was $1.12 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with net loss of $1.08 million for the same period of last year. Basic and diluted loss per share was $0.47 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with basic and diluted loss per share of $0.46 for the same period of last year. Financial Results for the First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $43,366 , or 4%, to $1,123,711 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , from $1,080,345 for the same period of last year. The increase was due to the following reasons: Professionals consulting expenses increased by $122,525 or 30% to $ 534,675 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , from $412,151 for the same period of last year. The increase was primarily due to the company paying more for consulting services to third party professionals. Provision for Income Taxes Provision for income taxes was nil for the six months ended 30 June 2024 , compared with nil for the same period last year. Net Loss Net loss was $1.12 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with net loss of $1.08 million for the same period of last year. Loss Per Share Basic and diluted loss per share was $0.47 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 , compared with basic and diluted loss per share of $0.46 for the same period of last year. Cash and Cash Equivalents As of June 30, 2024 , the Company had cash and restricted cash of $1.61million , compared with $2.26 million as of December 31, 2023 . Cash Flow Net cash used in operating activities was $1.09 million , compared with Net cash used in operating activities of $1.01 million for the same period of last year. Net cash used in investing activities was $nil, compared with Net cash used in investing activities of $537 , for the same period of last year. Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activity was $0.43 million , compared with Net cash used in financing activity of $(4,709) for the same period of last year. About Sentage Holdings Inc. Sentage Holdings Inc., headquartered in Shanghai, China , is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with no material operations of its own (the "Company"). Through its China -based operating entities, the Company offers consumer loan repayment and collection management, loan recommendation, and prepaid payment network services in China . Leveraging the Company's deep understanding of its client base, strategic partner relationships, and proprietary valuation models and technologies, the Company is committed to working with its clients to understand their financial needs and challenges and offering customized services to help them meet their respective objectives. For more information, please visit the company's website at ir.sentageholdings.com. Forward-Looking Statement Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review risk factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement. For more information, please contact: Sentage Holdings Inc. Investor Relations Department Email: ir@sentageholdings.com Ascent Investor Relations LLC Tina Xiao President Tel: +1-646-932-7242 Email: investors@ascent-ir.com SENTAGE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of December 31, 2023 As of June 30, 2024 USD USD ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,262,881 $ 1,615,725 Restricted cash 26,127 21,101 Accounts receivable, net 284,628 132,049 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9,118,909 6,720,283 Total current assets 11,692,545 8,489,158 Non-current assets Right-of-use assets, net 72,939 29,133 Plant and equipment, net 64,472 57,395 Intangible assets, net 66,859 58,702 Long-term investments 1,000,000 3,500,000 Deferred tax assets 12,324 12,040 Total non-current assets 1,216,594 3,657,270 Total assets $ 12,909,139 $ 12,146,428 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 5,985 $ 5,847 Lease liabilities 72,230 23,802 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 256,795 237,490 Total current liabilities 335,010 267,139 Non-current liability Due to a related party, non-current 344,235 782,364 Total non-current liability 344,235 782,364 Total liabilities 679,245 1,049,503 Shareholders' equity Class A Ordinary shares, $0.005 par value, 180,000,000 shares authorized, 2,805,325 and 2,805,325 shared issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024* 14,027 14,027 Class B Ordinary shares, $0.005 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024* - - Additional paid in capital 55,327,858 55,327,858 Statutory reserves 166,038 166,038 Accumulated deficit (43,363,848) (44,489,252) Accumulated other comprehensive income 85,819 78,254 Total shareholders' equity 12,229,894 11,096,925 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 12,909,139 $ 12,146,428 * Retrospectively restated for one-for-five reverse split with effective date of August 10, 2022. SENTAGE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS For the six months ended June 30, 2023 2024 OPERATING REVENUE Prepaid payment network service fee 82 - Total operating revenue 82 - OPERATING EXPENSE Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,080,345 1,123,711 Total operating expenses 1,080,345 1,123,711 LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (1,080,263) (1,123,711) OTHER EXPENSES (1,623) (1,693) LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION (1,081,886) (1,125,404) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES - - NET LOSS (1,081,886) (1,125,404) OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Foreign currency translation adjustment (57,057) (7,565) COMPREHENSIVE LOSS $ (1,138,943) $ (1,132,969) Loss per common share- basic and diluted $ (0.46) $ (0.47) Weighted average shares- basic and diluted 2,376,764 2,376,764 SENTAGE HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the six months ended June 30, 2023 2024 Cash flows from operating activities Net loss $ (1,081,886) $ (1,125,404) Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash and restricted cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 49,087 52,151 Allowance for Credit Losses (2,902) 45,231 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 37,863 107,348 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 124,441 (101,374) Lease liabilities (44,191) (44,473) Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (97,547) (19,443) Net cash used in operating activities (1,015,135) (1,085,964) Cash flows from investing activity Additions to property, plant and equipment (537) - Net cash used in investing activity (537) - Cash flows from financing activity Proceeds from (Repayment to) related party loans (4,709) 438,129 Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activity (4,709) 438,129 Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash, beginning of period Cash 3,805,135 2,262,881 Restricted cash 23,089 26,127 Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period $ 3,828,224 $ 2,289,008 Reconciliation of cash and restricted cash, end of period Cash 2,724,245 1,615,725 Restricted cash 19,850 21,101 Cash and restricted cash, end of period $ 2,744,095 $ 1,636,826 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash (63,749) (4,347) Net decrease in cash and restricted cash (1,084,130) (652,182) Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period 3,828,224 2,289,008 Cash and restricted cash, end of period $ 2,744,095 $ 1,636,826 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentage-holdings-inc-announces-financial-results-for-the-first-six-months-of-fiscal-year-2024-302334029.html SOURCE Sentage Holdings Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Silksworth is set to see a boost in sports facilities, with plans for upgraded football and basketball amenities due to be decided upon by councillors in the new year. Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee will consider an application for land at Silksworth Recreation Park in January 2025, which includes proposals for new fencing and floodlighting at the existing multi-use games area (MUGA). The development forms part of the Football Foundation’s PlayZones Programme, aimed at tackling physical activity inequalities and improving access to high-quality facilities in targeted areas. The scheme also seeks to benefit lower socio-economic groups, women and girls, disabled people and ethnically diverse communities by providing safe, inclusive and welcoming facilities. Plans for a PlayZone in Southwick have already been approved, and Sunderland City Council recently revealed proposals to roll out more PlayZones to enhance access to sport. The new plans for Silksworth Recreation Park, submitted earlier this year, are linked to the existing MUGA near Wilson Terrace and adjacent to the park’s bowling green. A design and access statement from Sports Labs Ltd, on behalf of the city council, stated that the application is in partnership with the Youth Almighty Project. The scheme's proponents said upgrades to the MUGA would provide an exciting opportunity. The proposed development is aimed at creating an "attractive and enticing space" for the local community, with a focus on promoting physical activity through football and other sports. The current MUGA is described as "basic and simple in nature", "tired and unused". The planned upgrades, including new benches, goals, basketball hoops and a sports court with anti-slip paint, are expected to bring wider benefits to the local area. These include "increased opportunities for sport", "use during evenings and weekends", and serving as a "valued training facility improving the team sports experience; used for educational, club and community football training and matches". The design and access statement further highlighted that the proposal aligns with the principles of the PlayZone scheme – accessibility, inclusivity, sustainability, engagement and usage – and can positively impact vital social and health priorities. Council planning officers have recommended approval of the PlayZone scheme in a report published ahead of a decision-making meeting on January 6, 2025. The committee report stated that the proposal would "aid the continued use of Silksworth Recreation Park for recreational purposes and improve the facilities at the park". It was also noted that the development would be "acceptable in principle at this location and would have no unacceptable impacts on residential/visual amenity, highway safety, ecology, land contamination or flooding". The council committee report stated: "Due to the potential to impact upon residential neighbours during evening hours, the council’s environmental health team recommended that the floodlights and their hours of use are limited to 08:00-21:00." "As the pitch will be unlikely to be utilised should the lights not be in use, this will reduce the likelihood of noise after 21:00. With regard to lighting a detailed lighting scheme was submitted confirming the flood lighting type which would be installed at the site. "The design access statement notes that the lighting has been selected with flat style optics designed to reduce upward waste light and overspill. "It is stated that there will be no light spill directly impacting on neighbouring dwellings or natural habitat." Planning documents confirmed proposed opening hours for the PlayZone aimed to "satisfy the demands of curriculum activities" and to "allow the wider community access to the pitch". The design and access statement also referenced letters of support from Silksworth ward councillors, local businesses and a community group praising the proposed upgrades to the park’s MUGA. It was noted that "efforts have been made to ensure that any negative impacts of the proposed development are minimised as far as practicable". A decision on the PlayZone rests with councillors on the Planning and Highways Committee, who will next meet on Monday, January 6, 2025. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5.30pm at City Hall and will be open to the public. For further details on the planning application or to follow its progress, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search for reference: 24/02109/LP3. Join our Sunderland WhatsApp community for all the latest news Sunderland news sent direct to your phone. To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community' . No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . CLICK HERE TO JOINTampa, Florida–(Newsfile Corp. – December 17, 2024) – As the events industry embraces new ways to captivate audiences, Sylvie di Giusto has emerged as a true pioneer with its cutting-edge 3D immersive holographic keynotes. The company’s transformative approach to live presentations has redefined storytelling, delivering an unprecedented combination of actionable insights and immersive innovation that fully engages and inspires attendees. Their work has not only set a new standard for audience engagement, but it has also earned the company three prestigious awards in 2024, reinforcing their position as a trailblazer in the speaking industry. Setting the new standard for live events: Sylvie di Giusto pioneers the use of 3D holographic technology in professional keynotes. Sylvie di Giusto’s accolades this year include the ILEA Esprit Award 2024 (International Life Events Association) for the debut of its groundbreaking keynote, “The Power of Choice,” at the NSA Annual Convention Influence (National Speakers Association). The company also garnered two Davey Awards 2024 for Best Speaker Emerging Tech and Best Education Emerging Tech, celebrating its ability to seamlessly merge advanced technology with human connection. To get a glimpse of Sylvie di Giusto’s 3D holographic keynote that’s transforming the future of events, watch a video here. Recognition Reflects Rising Demand for Innovative Keynote Experiences The growing appetite for innovation in the events sector is underscored by Sylvie di Giusto’s recent awards and rapidly increasing bookings. Organizations across various industries are turning to the company for expertise to deliver one-of-a-kind, transformative experiences that resonate deeply with audiences and spark conversations long after the event concludes. “2024 has been an extraordinary year, both in pushing creative boundaries and redefining what’s possible in live events,” says founder Sylvie di Giusto. “The recognition is humbling, but what excites me most is how immersive technology enables me to create unforgettable, deeply customized, and informative experiences seamlessly woven into each client’s unique event goals.” The Next Chapter in Live Events-The Future of Events is Now As organizations prepare for their 2025 events, the demand for immersive experiences has reached an all- time high. Meeting professionals and conference planners are seeking innovative approaches to captivate audiences, and Sylvie di Giusto’s 3D holographic keynotes have proven to be exactly what the industry needs. The company’s ability to push the boundaries of imagination while seamlessly blending practical insights with cutting-edge technology and emotional connection has distinguished itself as a transformative force in the evolution of live events. Combining cinematic visuals, stunning projection technology, and interactive elements, these holographic keynotes transform traditional speeches into unforgettable, multi-dimensional and multi-sensory journeys. The groundbreaking format not only captures attention but ensures that each message resonates on a profound and memorable level. “Each of my keynotes is designed for maximum impact,” Sylvie says. “However, this approach and technology allow me to collaborate closely with my clients to offer not just a presentation but instead an experience that aligns seamlessly with their vision and transforms their event. Clients can become part of the experience by immersing their event leaders or attendees into this captivating world, or by integrating their conference theme or sponsor acknowledgments in the most unique and unforgettable way-among many other possibilities.” By combining the company’s deep expertise in human behavior-whether in leadership scenarios or client relationships-with the latest technological innovations, Sylvie di Giusto empowers organizations to communicate their most important messages in ways that leave a lasting impact. For bookings or media inquiries, contact Sylvie di Giusto at hello@sylviedigiusto.com or visit www.sylviedigiusto.com An unforgettable event centerpiece: Sylvie di Giusto’s 3D holographic keynote transforms how audiences learn and connect. About Sylvie di Giusto Sylvie di Giusto is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker renowned for her expertise in emotional intelligence, perception management, and personal branding. Represented by cmi, a leading global speaker management agency, Sylvie has redefined audience engagement with her pioneering use of 3D holographic technology. As the author of multiple books and a highly sought-after keynote speaker, she is widely recognized for delivering awe-inspiring, highly customized, and engaging presentations that captivate audiences worldwide. Sylvie’s multicultural background reflects a rich blend of experiences-Austrian by birth, French in her heart, Italian in her kitchen, German in her work ethic, and American by choice. She currently resides in Florida. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234134 #distro
A power outage at SpaceX's California facility led to a temporary loss of ground control during the historic Polaris Dawn mission. This incident has brought attention to potential conflicts of interest and the lack of disclosure regulations for private space companies. The outage occurred due to a cooling system leak that triggered a power surge, rendering SpaceX mission control unable to command the Dragon spacecraft. Communication was maintained via the Starlink satellite network despite this setback. Jared Isaacman's nomination as NASA administrator intensifies concerns due to his SpaceX ties. Experts highlight the need for transparency to ensure safety and address potential conflicts, as the regulatory environment currently lacks sufficient oversight. (With inputs from agencies.)Yet another stowaway managed to board a major airline’s plane – renewing serious questions and concerns about airport safety during the busiest travel season of the year. This time, a stowaway tried to hitch a ride on Delta Air Lines Flight 487 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Christmas Eve. The unticketed passenger was discovered while the plane was still taxiing out for takeoff to Honolulu, Delta Air Lines told CNN. The Transportation Security Administration and the Port of Seattle confirmed the incident to CNN. The incident came less than a month after another stowaway boarded a Delta airplane Thanksgiving week. That unticketed passenger made it all the way from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Paris before she was eventually arrested . Delta Air Lines planes are seen parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 19, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. And on Christmas Eve, a body was found in a wheel well of a United Airlines plane shortly after it traveled from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and landed in Maui. Hiding in a plane’s wheel well is the most common method used by stowaways , the Federal Aviation Administration said. Stowaways often get crushed when the landing gear retracts, and oxygen levels plummet as a plane reaches higher altitudes. In the Seattle incident, the stowaway went through a TSA security checkpoint the evening before the flight but wasn’t holding a boarding pass, an airport spokesperson told CNN. The next day, the person “gained access to the loading bridge without a scanned ticket at the gate,” airport media relations manager Perry Cooper said. Once the person was discovered, the Airbus A321neo returned to the gate to remove the unticketed passenger, Delta said. Port of Seattle police officers were dispatched to gate B1 at the airport around 1:05 p.m. for “a report of a suspicious circumstance” on the Delta flight. The person “ran out” of the aircraft before officers arrived, Cooper told CNN Friday. “The aircraft returned to the terminal and the subject departed the aircraft,” the Port of Seattle said. “With the help of video surveillance, POSPD were able to locate the subject in a terminal restroom. The subject was arrested for criminal trespass.” The unticketed passenger didn’t have any prohibited items, the TSA told CNN. “The aircraft was swept by K9 as well as all areas in the terminal accessed by the subject,” the Port of Seattle said. “The aircraft was deplaned and all passengers were escorted by TSA to return to the security checkpoint for rescreening.” CNN has reached out to the Port of Seattle for additional comment. Delta said the flight was delayed by two hours and 15 minutes. After the rescreening, it continued to Honolulu at 3 p.m. “As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed procedures to have an unticketed passenger removed from the flight and then apprehended,” the Atlanta-based airline said in a statement. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels and thank them for their patience and cooperation.” TSA said it “takes any incidents that occur at any of our checkpoints nationwide seriously. TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our travel document checker station at Seattle/Tacoma International.” How the person got through airport security is a question many want answered. There are a number of factors at play, according to former commercial airline pilot and aviation analyst, John Nance. “There are multiple causes that come into this, and they probably involve not only a bit of lackadaisical inattention,” Nance told CNN affiliate KING . “It may be training, it may be compliance, but it’s probably all of that.” It’s “embarrassing” for this situation to happen twice to the same airline and TSA, according to former Department of Homeland Security official Keith Jeffries, who was federal security director when he left the DHS in 2022. In his 20 years working with DHS and the TSA, Jeffries said he’s seen these situations multiple times. “It has happened before. It will happen again until they continue to strengthen that vulnerability,” Jeffries said. “The fact that it happened to the same airline, of course, couldn’t be more embarrassing, especially back-to-back, and during the holiday season, when there’s an extra alertness associated with the large holiday season,” Jeffries added. During the holidays, Jeffries explained, there’s typically more staffing at the airports being “extra vigilant.” TSA, airlines and airports have even more people present to ensure things like this don’t fall through the cracks, making these cases “even more concerning,” he said. If there is a “silver lining,” Jeffries said, it’s that Delta did catch the stowaway during the taxi, and they didn’t make it to Hawaii. The stowaway also didn’t have prohibited items when scanned through TSA, which is another plus, he said. “Everybody’s going to have to work together; TSA and the airlines on how they can strengthen both of those vulnerabilities, and in some cases, even work with the airport,” he said. Congress will likely scrutinize these incidents, Nance added. “But there will be no one paying more attention than the airlines themselves,” he said. ___ CNN’s Holly Yan, Pete Muntean, Amanda Musa and Nicole Chavez contributed to this report. Elise Mertens, of Belgium, serves against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, on March 11, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Fans interfere with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, on Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. 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(AP Photo/Noah Berger) A gaucho, or South American cowboy, bathes a horse during the Criolla Week rodeo festival, in Montevideo, Uruguay, on March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) A horse looks out the window from its stable ahead of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) A cat searches for food in a house burnt by rockets fired by Hezbollah in the town of Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, on Feb. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) A man transports an electronic voting machine on a pony as election officials walk to a polling booth in a remote mountain area on the eve of the first round of voting in the six-week long national election at Dessa village in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, India, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) Debris is visible through the window of a damaged home following severe storms in Lakeview, Ohio, on March 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) Friends and family fuss over a quinceañera in preparation for her photo session at Colon square in the Zona Colonial neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Jewish ultra-Orthodox men dressed in costumes celebrate the Jewish festival of Purim in Bnei Brak, Israel, on March 24, 2024. The holiday commemorates the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Druze clergymen attend the funeral of some of the 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a soccer field at the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) People take cover next to a public bomb shelter as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from Lebanon, in Safed, northern Israel, on Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Sloane Stephens of the U.S. signs autographs after defeating Daria Kasatkina of Russia in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Monuwara Begum and another woman return from a polling station across the Brahmaputra river on the eve of the second phase of India's national election in Sandahkhaiti, a floating island village in the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India, on April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) The container ship Dali rests against the wreckage of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on the Patapsco River, on March 27, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) A girl waits in the family home of the late Ousmane Sylla, who died by suicide inside one of Italy's migrant detention centers, ahead of his body's arrival in Conakry, Guinea, on April 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu) Members of the Abu Sinjar family mourn their relatives killed in an Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at their house in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Jan. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) Yulia Navalnaya, center, widow of Alexey Navalny, stands in a queue with other voters at a polling station near the Russian embassy in Berlin on March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Alicia Keys performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) People walk through a part of the Amazon River that shows signs of drought in Santa Sofia, on the outskirts of Leticia, Colombia, on Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia) A fisherman casts his fishing line into the Mediterranean Sea from a rocky area along the coastline in Beirut, Lebanon, on July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) People mourn over the flagged-covered coffin of Israeli soldier Sgt. Amitai Alon, killed by a Hezbollah drone attack, during his funeral near Ramot Naftali, Israel, on Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Israeli students watch a virtual tour of the concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the Testimony House, a Holocaust museum in Nir Galim, Israel, on the eve of Israel's annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Children shake hands before they play a chess game at The Soga Chess Club of the internally displaced persons camp in Kanyaruchinya, Democratic Republic of Congo, on July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) A young man watches the ball after diving while playing soccer on a dusty field in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) A voter fills out a ballot during general elections in Nkandla, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A resident wades through a flooded street following heavy rains from typhoon Toraji in Ilagan City, Isabela province, northern Philippines, on Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Noel Celis) Erin Young holds her adopted daughter Gianna Young, as she prays the "Patriotic Rosary" for the consecration of the nation and Donald Trump around a bonfire at their home in Sunbury, Ohio, the night before the U.S. election, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The conservative Catholic family lives their anti-abortion beliefs through adoption, foster-parenting and raising their children to believe in the sanctity of life. They're also committed to teaching their children about political candidates they see as aligned with their beliefs. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) In this photo taken with a long exposure, people look at the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, in the night sky on May 10, 2024, in Estacada, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) A mother coaxes her daughter into trying a spoonful of rice at a school turned into a makeshift shelter for people displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) A man sits inside a concrete pipe meant for municipal use after his shelter was swept away by the flooding Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) People gather in front of destroyed buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) A cosplayer dressed as Deadpool attends a Comic-Con convention in Panama City on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) A cleric holds up his son as he celebrates Iran's missile strike against Israel during an anti-Israeli protest at Felestin (Palestine) Square in Tehran, Iran, on Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and capture team pull a sedated black rhino from the water in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, on Jan. 16, 2024, as part of a rhino relocation project to move 21 of the critically endangered beasts hundreds of miles to a new home. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga) A pod of Beluga whales swim through the Churchill River near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, on Aug. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) A person carrying a handgun and a sign depicting Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump stands outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Atmaram, who goes by one name and was found living on the street a day earlier, eats breakfast at Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans Welfare Society, a home for the aged and unwanted, on April 12, 2024, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Buildings cover Gardi Sugdub Island, part of San Blas archipelago off Panama's Caribbean coast, on May 25, 2024. Due to rising sea levels, about 300 Guna Indigenous families are relocating to new homes, built by the government, on the mainland. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) People help Liudmila, 85, board a bus after their evacuation from Vovchansk, Ukraine, on May 12, 2024. Her husband was killed in their house during a Russian airstrike on the city. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Prisoners reach out from their cell for bread at lunchtime at the Juan de la Vega prison in Emboscada, Paraguay, on July 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) Members of the water safety team move into the impact zone on a jet ski to rescue a surfer under a rainbow during a training day ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, on July 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Children play with the ropes of a ship docked on a beach in Parika, Guyana, on June 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) A supporter of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump waits for the start of his campaign rally in Doral, Fla., on July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Actors make final adjustments to their costumes before the start of Ramleela, a dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Rama according to the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, in New Delhi, India, on Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Christophe Chavilinga, 90, suffering from mpox, waits for treatment at a clinic in Munigi, eastern Congo, on Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) Two men in Russian Cossack uniforms pose for a selfie with the Historical Museum in the background after visiting the mausoleum of the Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, marking the 154th anniversary of his birth, in Moscow's Red Square, on April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) A fisherman carries his catch of the day to market in Manta, Ecuador, on Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Ama Pipe, from Britain, center, receives the baton from teammate Lina Nielsen in a women's 4 X 400 meters relay heat during the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Ultra-Orthodox Jews look at part of an intercepted ballistic missile that fell in the desert near the city of Arad, Israel, on April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/ Ohad Zwigenberg) Margarita Salazar, 82, wipes sweat from her forehead in her home during an extreme heat wave in Veracruz, Mexico, on June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) People drive along a road littered with fallen power lines after the passing of Hurricane Rafael in San Antonio de los Banos, Cuba, on Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Palestinian activist Khairi Hanoon walks with the Palestinian flag on a damaged road following an Israeli army raid in Tulkarem, West Bank, on Sept. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) A polar bear and a cub search for scraps in a large pile of bowhead whale bones left from the village's subsistence hunting at the end of an unused airstrip near the village of Kaktovik, Alaska, on Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Vero Almarche, right, hugs her neighbor Maria Munoz, who was born in the house where they are photographed and which was destroyed by flooding in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, on Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Wearing a device that measures his energy consumption, Israel Amputee Football Team player Ben Maman, left, fights for the ball with a young soccer player from a local team during a practice session in Ramat Gan, Israel, on April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) First-graders attend the traditional ceremony for the first day of school in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) With tears streaming down her face, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris applauds as Harris delivers a concession speech on Nov. 6, 2024, after losing the 2024 presidential election, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) A mural of former Argentine first lady María Eva Duarte de Perón, better known as Eva Perón, or Evita, depicting her with a saint's halo, adorns a wall inside the Peron Peron restaurant in the San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) A girl plays a jump rope game at a school housing residents displaced by gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) People fish next to drainage that flows into the Paraguay River in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) Athletes compete during the men's 10km marathon swimming competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, on Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) Lava flows from a volcanic eruption that started on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, Nov. 20, 2024. 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Two weeks in and Auckland Transport (AT) has clocked a quarter of a million trips using the new contactless payment option on public transport. Last month, AT introduced contactless payment with cards and smartdevices for travel on buses, ferries and trains . However, concession fares and the weekly fare cap are still only available to those using AT’s HOPcard. Auckland Transport’s chief executive Dean Kimpton said AT’s public transport, technology and customer service teams, together with AT HOP partner Hitachi Rail GTS, had spent more than 18 months working on the roll-out of the contactless payments, including planning and testing. “So far we’re seeing the most demand from people using contactless payments on the weekend, and using our train and ferry services,” Kimpton said. Hitachi Rail GTS’ general manager Denise Burns said the roll-out had its challenges because it covered buses, trains and ferries all at once. “We had both hardware and software releases planned in stages to allow us to update the technology in the background without causing issues for public transport customers. We started installing the first new ‘validators’ that people use for tagging off and on back in April while we continued to make the software changes needed for us to go live [with contactlesss payments] in November. “There was a huge amount of planning needed to make sure the go-live was as seamless as possible because of the unique challenge of making changes to buses, trains and ferries,” Burns said.
COLORADO, USA — An experienced Colorado climber was among three men presumed dead this week after they did not return from their ascent of New Zealand's tallest peak. The Americans — Kurt Blair, 56, of Colorado, and Carlos Romero, 50, of California — are certified alpine guides, according to the website of the American Mountain Guides Association. A statement by New Zealand's police did not name the third climber, who is from Canada, citing the need to notify his family. The men started their planned climb of Aorarki, also known as Mount Cook, on Saturday. They were due to meet their flight out from the mountain on Monday but didn't arrive, New Zealand Police said. Search and rescue crews found several climbing-related items that are believed to belong to the men. Police said the search didn't resume on Tuesday due to deteriorating weather conditions. The Silverton Avalanche School said on social media that their "friend and colleague Kurt Blair" was presumed deceased and that the climbers had likely taken a fatal fall from high on the mountain. "Kurt was a beloved fixture of the San Juan mountains who comes from a proud lineage of mountain adventurers," the Silverton Avalanche School said. "The Durango local pivoted from a life of personal climbing accomplishments to chasing his dream of becoming a professional mountain guide, gaining IFMGA certification in 2022." Blair is a guide with San Juan Mountain Guides. According to the San Juan Mountain Guides website , he has climbed in Alaska, Canada, Yosemite, the Swiss Alps, Ecuador and the Himalayas. Aoraki is 12,218 feet high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand's South Island. A settlement of the same name at its base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists. The peak is popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather and glacier movement. More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ball security, rebounding key for CU Buffs in rematch against No. 3 Iowa StateHouse and Senate Democrats moved Monday to redirect more than half a billion dollars headed for the state’s long-term savings account and instead use it to close a budget gap and fund some additional spending. Lawmakers surfaced and quickly approved their final plan ( H 5132 ) for closing the state’s financial books on fiscal 2024, sending it to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk minutes before Beacon Hill budget-writers formally kicked off the process of planning for fiscal 2026. The newly approved “closeout” budget has a $701.2 million bottom line, with a projected net cost to the state of $133.6 million after federal reimbursements, according to a House Ways and Means Committee official. The proposed appropriations address accounts underfunded in the annual budget and fill a fiscal 2024 budget gap that materialized in part due to non-income surtax revenue collections that didn’t hit projections, leaving a shortfall of about $233 million. Legislative Democrats moved Monday to bridge the shortfall and fund some spending by using more than half a billion dollars that would have otherwise flowed into a state savings account. Each year, capital gains tax revenues above a certain level are split up with 90% deposited into the state’s “rainy day” stabilization fund, 5% used to fund pensions, and 5% used for other post-retirement benefits. The new spending bill would dramatically change that formula on a one-time basis. It would steer 85% of excess capital gains — about $502 million — to the general fund, and direct only 5% or $29.5 million to the stabilization fund, according to the House Ways and Means official. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits would each receive the same 5% as the traditional formula. That’s a shift from the approach the House and Senate first sought to take. The original House bill directed 47% of excess capital gains revenue to the General Fund and 43% to the stabilization fund. The original Senate bill sought to use 15% of excess capital gains revenue for the General Fund, and would have steered higher shares toward pensions and other post-retirement benefits. Healey proposed navigating the gap by using surtax collections that surpassed projections to backfill education- and transportation-related spending in fiscal 2024, freeing up originally appropriated dollars to plug the hole. But Healey also agreed to use capital gains tax collections as a similar type of backstop in the current cycle. The fiscal 2025 budget she signed in July allows the state to divert up to $375 million in excess capital gains tax revenue from the rainy-day pipeline and instead use it to balance the books for the cycle that runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. After previously drawing scrutiny from ratings agencies for dipping into the rainy day fund, Beacon Hill in recent years has worked to build up a sizable nest egg and resisted calls to spend its more than $8 billion balance. A House Ways and Means committee official said the funding shuffle will also allow about $162 million to be swept into the Student Opportunity Act reserve fund, which helps pay for increases in K-12 state aid outlined in a 2019 law, bringing its balance to about $460 million. Spending in the bill would flow to a range of areas, including $7.3 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, $8.7 million for the state’s universal school meals program, and $2.5 million to cover start-up costs for online Lottery games. The vast majority of the spending, about $565 million, would go to MassHealth. Senate Democrats previously estimated that line item would carry a $0 net cost to the state after federal reimbursements. Healey will get 10 days to review the bill. Lawmakers were once again weeks late on completing the closeout budget, at least according to deadlines written into statute. The state comptroller by law is supposed to file a key financial report by Oct. 31, but cannot do so until the governor signs into law a closeout budget. Lawmakers have made a habit in recent years of blowing past that date and delaying the comptroller’s work as a result. Michlewitz and Rodrigues have completed a closeout budget before Oct. 31 only once in their six cycles as Ways and Means Committee chairs. Alison Kuznitz and Sam Drysdale contributed reporting.
An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four , including , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. __ This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to By most accounts, 2017 was a red-letter year for Salter’s First finalist: Moore Grider Second finalist: Janzen, Tamberi & Wong
George Weston Ltd. stock rises Monday, outperforms marketGerman President dissolves Parliament and announces February election date
Published 11:07 am Sunday, December 29, 2024 By Terri Cowart Frazier As a new year approaches, I like to aspire to an out-with-the-old and in-with-the-new mantra. But I had not planned on that including my refrigerator. It all began Wednesday night after the last child had driven off, and I had wiped away tears for the umpteenth time. I decided it was time to settle in for a quiet night. Well, maybe not so quiet — I did pull out the vacuum to begin the clean-up of crumbs, glitter, and the stray dog hairs that walked themselves in on the soles of our shoes. But when I felt like I had at least addressed the initial layer of Christmas clean-up, hubby and I finally sat down for a meal of leftover goodies. As I opened the fridge to pull out the ham and turkey, I noticed a slight smell, but I just chalked it up to the assortment of foods that had been ever so slightly crammed inside for the past week. It wasn’t until later that night that I discovered I was wrong. My now almost-empty fridge had a problem and so did the freezer. When I went to grab some ice for a glass of water, the cubes were quite soft and in the bottom of the tray water had begun to puddle. I informed hubby, but he was glued to the TV watching a football game and therefore said he would check it in the morning. Well, when morning came, it was even more obvious that the refrigerator and freezer were not doing their job. So, I called my dad to see if he had a number for a repair man. Obviously, he did. My dad is an apartment owner and retired contractor, so he has folks like this on speed dial. Lucky for me the fellow showed up in record time even though it was the day after Christmas. But that is where my good fortune ended because the diagnosis, sadly, was not good. My compressor was going out and to replace it would cost nearly as much as a new fridge. The situation was now dire. Well maybe not dire. We do have an old used model in the storeroom to help when we have overflow and to keep soft drinks and Gatorade chilled. However, it is smaller than the one inside and it does not have an ice maker. Therefore, the next step would be to find a replacement and one that was of a brand the repairman had suggested, so hubby and I set out to do just that. One would assume this would not be that big of a deal, but because we live in a stainless-steel world and my kitchen appliances are white, finding a fridge was an issue. So-much-so, in our quest we wound up having to go to Jackson. I didn’t begin to panic until we left the third retail store and had come up empty handed. Our last stop was at Cowboy Kitchens in Ridgeland and thankfully they had a model that would work. It wasn’t in stock, but the sales rep said she could get it to me in a couple of weeks. While this was certainly going to be inconvenient, I just couldn’t seem to be dismayed with my dilemma. Because all I could think about was what if this had happened just a few days earlier. Talk about a Christmas being spoiled. The new year is just days away and while I will be ushering in a new refrigerator with it, I also look forward to all the cool stuff 2025 has in store for me. Terri Cowart Frazier writes features for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com . Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.” Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations. Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom. Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier. “From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’Barstool Sports founder helps Baltimore pizzeria stay open with generous donation
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