slot game login Music doesn’t just evoke memories — it can change how we remember the past: studyBrighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six Premier League games by a frustrating goalless draw against away-day strugglers Brentford. Albion dominated for large periods on a foggy evening at the Amex Stadium and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken also made a string of important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Thomas Frank’s visitors a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Brighton have plummeted from second place to mid-table amid a poor run of form which has increased scrutiny on head coach Fabian Hurzeler. Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber called for perspective from fans in his programme notes after revealing he revealed emails “full of doom and gloom” following the recent 3-1 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. Enciso, one of two players recalled by Hurzeler following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, almost gave Albion a dream start. A poor pass from Bees goalkeeper Flekken was intercepted by Carlos Baleba and, following a neat layoff from Joao Pedro, Paraguay forward Enciso curled against the right post. Brentford arrived in Sussex with the worst away record in the division, having previously taken a solitary point from 24 available this term. Flekken saved well from Baleba and then collected a tame header from the unmarked Enciso before the away side thought they had snatched a 13th-minute lead. After being slipped in by Mads Roerslev at the end of a swift counter-attack, Wissa thumped high into the net beyond Seagulls keeper Bart Verbruggen only to be ruled marginally offside. Flekken made further saves from Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley before hurting himself keeping out a deflected Kaoru Mitoma cross and being replaced by 23-year-old Iceland international Valdimarsson. Brentford remained on the back foot and, aside from Wissa’s disallowed effort, offered little going forward in a one-sided opening period which somehow ended level. Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke produced a crucial block to deny Wissa as the west London club began the second half brightly before Christian Norgaard’s ambitious effort deflected wide amid groans from increasingly restless home fans. Hurzeler responded with a triple change, introducing Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh in place of O’Riley, Gruda and Mitoma. Albion forward Pedro then escaped punishment in the 76th minute after swinging an arm at Bees substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact before defender Ben Mee became the second visiting player to depart injured. The introduction of Solly March in the 88th minute for his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in October last year briefly lifted the mood on the terraces. But, following a frantic five minutes of added time, some Seagulls supporters vented their displeasure at full-time as their club’s wait for victory goes on.

Needham initiates coverage on On Holding with buy ratingWatch Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks: TV channel, live stream info, start time

NEW YORK: With December so far delivering Scrooge-like returns in an otherwise stellar year for US stocks, investors hope the tail end of 2024 offers some holiday cheer, but warn of potential headwinds. The benchmark S&P 500 is up more than 23 percent for 2024, even after a major stumble this week, and Wall Street has historically often enjoyed a strong annual close. Since 1969, the last five trading days of the year combined with the first two of the following year have yielded an average S&P 500 gain of 1.3 percent, a period known as the “Santa Claus Rally,” according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. But this year, there are signs Santa Claus may disappoint. The S&P 500 on Wednesday suffered its biggest one-day drop since August after the Federal Reserve caught investors off guard by signaling fewer-than-expected interest rate cuts in 2025. The market also looks less healthy beneath the surface: Eight of the 11 S&P 500 sectors are in negative territory for December, while the equal-weight S&P 500, a proxy for the average index stock, is down 7 percent. Congress also dealt the markets a year-end curveball on Thursday evening, rejecting a package that would have averted a partial government shutdown that could affect a range of services. “I think investors are somewhat concerned about the potential for a government shutdown, particularly if one were to linger through the weekend,” said Anthony Saglimbene, Chief Market Strategist at Ameriprise Financial. Another worry for stocks as the year winds down is rising Treasury yields, said Matt Maley, chief market strategist at asset manager Miller Tabak. Benchmark 10-year yields hit 4.55 percent on Thursday following the Fed meeting, their highest level in over six months. With the S&P 500 trading at 21.6 times forward earnings estimates, well above its 15.8 historical average, according to LSEG Datastream, that jump in yields will put more pressure on equity valuations. “We’re ending the year with people finally facing the reality that the stock market is extremely expensive and the Fed is not going to be as accommodative as they had been thinking,” Maley said. Still, this week’s pullback could be positive because it eliminated some of the frothy sentiment in equities, “setting up the market for a rebound,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services. “If there is further follow through on the downside, that could be a little bit more dangerous to the bullish trend.” The Santa Claus period, when combined with the following first five trading days of January and the performance of January overall, is a harbinger for the year: when those three indicators are positive, the year has ended higher more than 90 percent of the time in the past 50 years, according to the Almanac. But that seasonal strength may have come early this year, given the S&P 500 posted a blockbuster 5.7 percent return in November driven by Donald Trump’s Nov 5 presidential election victory, Carlson said. “It’s been a strong year for the market, and you can make an argument that we kind of got the year-end rally in November instead of December,” Carlson said. Signs that the market rally is increasingly narrow could also spoil any holiday cheer. A number of megacap stocks have performed well in December, including Tesla and Alphabet, which are up 26 percent and more than 12 percent respectively so far this month. Broadcom shares are up 35 percent for December after the company this month predicted booming demand for its custom artificial intelligence chips, pushing its market value over $1 trillion. But such gains are increasingly sparse. The number of S&P 500 components that declined outpaced those that advanced for 13 straight sessions as of Wednesday, the longest such losing streak in LSEG data that stretches back to 2012. In another worrisome sign, the percentage of S&P 500 stocks trading above their 200-day moving averages declined to 56 percent as of Wednesday, a low for the year, according to Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. “We recommend waiting for support to be established and for momentum to improve before stepping up to buy the dip,” Turnquist said in a note following Wednesday’s selloff. — Reuters

LONDON , NEW YORK , and SYDNEY , Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DAZN , a world-leading sports entertainment platform, has today announced an agreement to acquire Foxtel Group (' Foxtel ') from its majority shareholder News Corp and minority shareholder Telstra at an enterprise value of US$2.2 billion , subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition establishes DAZN as a leader in sports entertainment in Australia – a highly attractive sports market – while also expanding DAZN's global footprint and enhancing the group's standing as the global home of sport. The addition of Foxtel to DAZN brings the Group's pro-forma revenues towards US$6 billion and provides the additional content, expertise, and expansion opportunities to accelerate DAZN's growth trajectory. Foxtel is one of Australia's leading media companies, with 4.7 million subscribers, who will benefit from DAZN's extensive portfolio of sports content, platform technology, and global reach. From its beginnings as Australia's original pay-TV innovator, Foxtel has evolved to become a digital and streaming leader in sports and entertainment and the proposed transaction positions Foxtel for continued expansion as a digital-first, streaming-focused business. Foxtel will maintain its local character, led by the CEO, Patrick Delany , and his world-class management team. DAZN, a sports streaming platform with a truly global reach, is committed to growing the global audience for domestic Australian sports across the 200 territories in which it is available. Under the terms of the transaction, News Corp and Telstra will become minority shareholders in DAZN, enabling them to retain an interest in Foxtel. Shay Segev , Chief Executive Officer of DAZN, said: "Australians watch more sport than any other country in the world, which makes this deal an incredibly exciting opportunity for DAZN to enter a key market, marking another step in our long-term strategy to become the global home of sport. Foxtel is a successful business that has undergone a remarkable digital transformation in recent years, and we are confident that our global reach and relentless pursuit of innovation will continue to drive the business forward and ensure long-term success. "We are committed to supporting and investing in Foxtel's television and streaming services, across both sports and entertainment, using our world-leading technology to further enhance the viewing experience for customers. We are also committed to using our global reach to export Australia's most popular sports to new markets around the world, and we will continue to promote women's and under-represented sports. "We're looking forward to working closely with Patrick Delany and his team, as well as News Corp and Telstra as shareholders in DAZN, to realise our ambitious vision for the future of sport entertainment." Siobhan McKenna , the Chairman of Foxtel , said the agreement with DAZN was international recognition of the transformation of Foxtel from an incumbent pay TV operator to a sports and entertainment digital and streaming leader. "Over the last seven years the Foxtel team, with the strong support of News, have achieved an extraordinary turnaround in an intensely competitive environment." Foxtel Group CEO, Patrick Delany , said: "Today's announcement is a natural evolution for the Foxtel Group, having reinvented the company over the past five years as Australia's most dynamic technology-led streaming company. "Kayo and Foxtel provide Australian sports fans with access to the best Australian and international sport and shows, including AFL, NRL and Cricket with 4.7 million subscribers. "We are excited by DAZN's commitment to the Australian market. They are experts in the sports media business and can play a significant role in supporting Foxtel as the business grows its streaming capabilities, bringing a bigger and better service to customers across entertainment, news and sport. They are a perfect match for us as we look toward this next era of growth. "We have been grateful for the support of News Corp while we reimagined the future of Foxtel. In 2019, when we merged Foxtel and Fox Sports we had many people questioning our future. "After launching Kayo later in 2019 and BINGE in 2020, today we are the largest Australian-based streamer of sport and entertainment, we have stabilised our Foxtel base and launched Hubbl to help consumers find all the streamed content they love all in one place. This wouldn't have been possible without the support and encouragement of News Corp." NOTES TO EDITORS About DAZN As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide. DAZN is the home of European football, women's football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. DAZN partners with leading pay-TV operators, ISPs and Telcos worldwide to maximise sports exposure to a broad audience. Its partners include Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Sky, Movistar, Telenet, Vodafone, and many more. DAZN is a global, privately-owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. The Group generated $3.2bn in revenue in 2023, having grown its annual revenues by over 50% on average from 2020 to 2023, through diverse revenue streams comprising subscriptions, advertising, sponsorship, and transactional. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com . About Foxtel The Foxtel Group is one of Australia's leading media companies with 4.7 million subscribers. Its businesses include subscription television, streaming, sports production and advertising. The Foxtel Group is owned 65% by News Corp and 35% by Telstra. The Foxtel Group's diversified business includes Fox Sports, Australia's leading sports production company, famous for live sports and shows with the best commentators and personalities. It is also the home of local and global entertainment content and continues to be the partner of choice for the widest range of sports and international content providers based on established, long-term relationships, growing streaming audiences, and position as the largest Australian-based subscription television company. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dazn-advances-global-expansion-with-acquisition-of-foxtel-a-leading-australian-sports-and-entertainment-media-group-302337994.html SOURCE DAZNGang members found guilty of first-degree murder in Kern County

PHILADELPHIA, PA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently confiscated 22,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers during inspections at the Area Port of Philadelphia. The illegal shipments, originating from Israel, were valued at $1,404,700 if authentic. The counterfeit inspection stickers were discovered in two separate parcels—10,000 stickers were intercepted on November 26, and another 12,000 were found on December 9. Following an investigation, Pennsylvania authorities confirmed the stickers were fraudulent, leading to their official seizure on December 16. Vehicle inspection stickers in Pennsylvania play a critical role in ensuring compliance with mechanical, safety, and emissions standards. Fraudulent stickers compromise public safety by obscuring uninspected, potentially unsafe vehicles. According to state law, vehicle owners caught using counterfeit stickers may face a fine of up to $500 and possible jail time. “Unscrupulous actors peddling fraudulent vehicle inspection stickers create a very serious public safety concern. Fake inspection stickers mask unsafe motor vehicles that place all motorists on our roadways in harm,” stated Cleatus P. Hunt, Jr., CBP’s Area Port Director. CBP officers emphasized their commitment to identifying and seizing counterfeit goods that pose risks to consumers and public safety, maintaining vigilance in monitoring shipments entering U.S. ports. No arrests have been made in connection with the seized shipments. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .Taylor Swift speaks on behalf of Travis Kelce to make promise to Caitlin Clark

Two more Miami Hurricanes entered the transfer portal on Sunday: twin brothers Bobby and Robby Washington. The pair of Miami natives, who spent two seasons with the Hurricanes, are the fourth and fifth UM players known to enter the portal this offseason, according to On3. “Business decision,” Robby wrote on social media. “Love Miami for everything.” The Washington twins both played at Miami Palmetto High, with Bobby starring as a linebacker and Robby standing out as a do-it-all running back, wide receiver and defensive back. Both brothers were four-star prospects. Bobby played the most for UM, getting 37 defensive snaps in 14 games over the past two seasons. He had seven tackles and half a sack. Bobby also played 112 special-teams snaps. Robby moved from wide receiver to cornerback during this offseason, playing 22 defensive snaps this season. He also had 57 special-teams snaps. The Hurricanes have young players at linebacker, returning Raul Aguirre, Bobby Pruitt and Adarius Hayes. Veterans Jaylin Alderman and Wesley Bissainthe could also return if they choose to stay for their senior seasons. Miami signed two high-school linebackers: Ezekiel Marcelin and Kellen Wiley. UM has Damari Brown, OJ Frederique Jr., Ryan Mack and Robert Stafford at cornerback. D’Yoni Hill and Jadais Richard are juniors who could enter the draft or return. The Hurricanes signed three high school cornerbacks: Jaboree Antoine, Chris Ewald Jr. and Amari Wallace.

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Starbucks SBUX . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SBUX, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 9 options trades for Starbucks . This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 55% bullish and 44%, bearish. Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $29,250, and 8, calls, for a total amount of $356,084. Predicted Price Range Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $70.0 to $99.0 for Starbucks during the past quarter. Analyzing Volume & Open Interest Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Starbucks's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Starbucks's significant trades, within a strike price range of $70.0 to $99.0, over the past month. Starbucks Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days Biggest Options Spotted: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume SBUX CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/03/25 $2.37 $2.33 $2.37 $91.00 $134.6K 917 1.1K SBUX CALL TRADE BEARISH 01/03/25 $0.74 $0.7 $0.71 $94.00 $40.3K 1.1K 2.3K SBUX CALL SWEEP BEARISH 01/03/25 $3.35 $2.85 $2.85 $90.00 $35.6K 621 170 SBUX CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/10/25 $0.3 $0.28 $0.3 $99.00 $33.2K 1.1K 1.1K SBUX CALL TRADE BULLISH 12/27/24 $3.0 $2.84 $3.0 $90.00 $30.0K 848 285 About Starbucks Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 40,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2024. The firm operates in three segments: North America, international markets, and channel development (grocery and ready-to-drink beverage). The coffee chain generates revenue from company-operated stores, royalties, sales of equipment and products to license partners, ready-to-drink beverages, packaged coffee sales, and single-serve products. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Starbucks, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Where Is Starbucks Standing Right Now? Currently trading with a volume of 2,821,123, the SBUX's price is up by 0.42%, now at $92.25. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold. Anticipated earnings release is in 32 days. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access . Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Starbucks with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Milestone deal for DAZN's position as the global home of sport. This acquisition establishes DAZN's sports platform in Australia , one of the world's most attractive sports markets. Foxtel Group will leverage DAZN's global reach, industry-leading technology and extensive content portfolio to further enhance the viewing experience for Australian sports fans. LONDON , NEW YORK , and SYDNEY , Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DAZN , a world-leading sports entertainment platform, has today announced an agreement to acquire Foxtel Group (' Foxtel ') from its majority shareholder News Corp and minority shareholder Telstra at an enterprise value of US$2.2 billion , subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition establishes DAZN as a leader in sports entertainment in Australia – a highly attractive sports market – while also expanding DAZN's global footprint and enhancing the group's standing as the global home of sport. The addition of Foxtel to DAZN brings the Group's pro-forma revenues towards US$6 billion and provides the additional content, expertise, and expansion opportunities to accelerate DAZN's growth trajectory. Foxtel is one of Australia's leading media companies, with 4.7 million subscribers, who will benefit from DAZN's extensive portfolio of sports content, platform technology, and global reach. From its beginnings as Australia's original pay-TV innovator, Foxtel has evolved to become a digital and streaming leader in sports and entertainment and the proposed transaction positions Foxtel for continued expansion as a digital-first, streaming-focused business. Foxtel will maintain its local character, led by the CEO, Patrick Delany , and his world-class management team. DAZN, a sports streaming platform with a truly global reach, is committed to growing the global audience for domestic Australian sports across the 200 territories in which it is available. Under the terms of the transaction, News Corp and Telstra will become minority shareholders in DAZN, enabling them to retain an interest in Foxtel. Shay Segev , Chief Executive Officer of DAZN, said: "Australians watch more sport than any other country in the world, which makes this deal an incredibly exciting opportunity for DAZN to enter a key market, marking another step in our long-term strategy to become the global home of sport. Foxtel is a successful business that has undergone a remarkable digital transformation in recent years, and we are confident that our global reach and relentless pursuit of innovation will continue to drive the business forward and ensure long-term success. "We are committed to supporting and investing in Foxtel's television and streaming services, across both sports and entertainment, using our world-leading technology to further enhance the viewing experience for customers. We are also committed to using our global reach to export Australia's most popular sports to new markets around the world, and we will continue to promote women's and under-represented sports. "We're looking forward to working closely with Patrick Delany and his team, as well as News Corp and Telstra as shareholders in DAZN, to realise our ambitious vision for the future of sport entertainment." Siobhan McKenna , the Chairman of Foxtel , said the agreement with DAZN was international recognition of the transformation of Foxtel from an incumbent pay TV operator to a sports and entertainment digital and streaming leader. "Over the last seven years the Foxtel team, with the strong support of News, have achieved an extraordinary turnaround in an intensely competitive environment." Foxtel Group CEO, Patrick Delany , said: "Today's announcement is a natural evolution for the Foxtel Group, having reinvented the company over the past five years as Australia's most dynamic technology-led streaming company. "Kayo and Foxtel provide Australian sports fans with access to the best Australian and international sport and shows, including AFL, NRL and Cricket with 4.7 million subscribers. "We are excited by DAZN's commitment to the Australian market. They are experts in the sports media business and can play a significant role in supporting Foxtel as the business grows its streaming capabilities, bringing a bigger and better service to customers across entertainment, news and sport. They are a perfect match for us as we look toward this next era of growth. "We have been grateful for the support of News Corp while we reimagined the future of Foxtel. In 2019, when we merged Foxtel and Fox Sports we had many people questioning our future. "After launching Kayo later in 2019 and BINGE in 2020, today we are the largest Australian-based streamer of sport and entertainment, we have stabilised our Foxtel base and launched Hubbl to help consumers find all the streamed content they love all in one place. This wouldn't have been possible without the support and encouragement of News Corp." NOTES TO EDITORS About DAZN As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide. DAZN is the home of European football, women's football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. DAZN partners with leading pay-TV operators, ISPs and Telcos worldwide to maximise sports exposure to a broad audience. Its partners include Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Sky, Movistar, Telenet, Vodafone, and many more. DAZN is a global, privately-owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. The Group generated $3.2bn in revenue in 2023, having grown its annual revenues by over 50% on average from 2020 to 2023, through diverse revenue streams comprising subscriptions, advertising, sponsorship, and transactional. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com . About Foxtel The Foxtel Group is one of Australia's leading media companies with 4.7 million subscribers. Its businesses include subscription television, streaming, sports production and advertising. The Foxtel Group is owned 65% by News Corp and 35% by Telstra. The Foxtel Group's diversified business includes Fox Sports, Australia's leading sports production company, famous for live sports and shows with the best commentators and personalities. It is also the home of local and global entertainment content and continues to be the partner of choice for the widest range of sports and international content providers based on established, long-term relationships, growing streaming audiences, and position as the largest Australian-based subscription television company. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dazn-advances-global-expansion-with-acquisition-of-foxtel-a-leading-australian-sports-and-entertainment-media-group-302337994.html SOURCE DAZNTwo years ago, we questioned the sustainability of a rapid e-fuels pathway for shipping. Our position hasn’t changed, but we’ve watched the industry yo-yo between fossil-based alternative fuels and e-fuels. Anchored in energy economics (using renewable energy most efficiently) and our pragmatic view, we argued that LNG has an important role to play in the fuel transition short to medium term, while e-fuel is likely to be part of a longer-term solution. In this piece we will focus more on the commercial development needed to successfully transition to these low carbon molecules, rather than the physical characteristics and arguments. “Fast forward two years, there has been a lot of development and, as many will argue, a lot of missing development.” Let’s begin with methanol. The strong growth in methanol dual-fuel (DF) vessel contracting, first led by Maersk in 2021, continued well into 2023, emerging as one of the leading DF options. It represented 12%1 of contracted gross tonnage (GT) over 5,000 GT in 2023. This growth has been supported by a relatively low capex premium on DF engines, along with a promising supply-side outlook, as new projects continue to be announced. As a result, methanol DF vessel contracting grew in prominence. While we do not intend to fuel the “LNG vs Methanol vs Ammonia” debate – since, as brokers we remain fuel-agnostic and believe that all fuels will play a role in the future – it’s clear that LNG and methanol have been competing closely across principals’ desks over the past couple of years. This is evident in the sharp decline in LNG dual-fuel vessel contracting in 2023 dropping from 28% in 2022 to 14.7% of contracted GT above 5,000 GT, largely due to methanol’s growing popularity. Some of this decline, however, can also be attributed to a surge in gas prices following the sanctions on Russian gas. But in late 2023, we saw the first sign of LNG regaining momentum when liner giant CMA CGM changed an order of eight 9,200 TEU vessels from methanol DF to LNG DF2. While this news passed somewhat quietly, a similar move by Danish competitor Maersk did not. Maersk surprised the industry by revealing plans to invest in LNG DF vessels3. This diversification from previous commitments was justified with the rationale that betting on just one fuel would be risky. Instead their portfolio mix would include the methane molecule, although emphasising that focus is on bio-LNG and not on fossil LNG. Our 2022 argument supports the shift, and like Maersk, points out a more fundamental challenge in the fuel transition: the limited availability of green methanol. They emphasised the need to achieve their decarbonisation goals in a commercially competitive way. In other words, while several e-methanol projects are approaching final investment decisions (FIDs), there remains a shortage of green methanol at acceptable prices. This highlights a key issue in the fuel transition: the need for more movement in green e-fuel project developments. The high cost of low-carbon fuels is a challenge for all fuel alternatives, but we stand by our original position and emphasise our concern for the outlook for methanol. LNG (though a fossil fuel, it still offers clear reductions in GHG emissions) and bio-LNG (a, potentially, carbon-neutral variant) are largely driven by demand from sectors outside shipping. Similarly, we expect the first large-scale demand for low-carbon ammonia to come from industries like coal-fired power plants (for co-firing) or as a hydrogen carrier. This means that shipping, as an offtake sector, doesn’t have to be the primary driver of demand for LNG or ammonia, which is crucial given the industry’s longstanding preference for the cheapest product cracked from crude oil, on the spot market. In contrast, most e-methanol project developers are counting on shipping to be their main offtakers. For these projects to reach FID, shipping companies will need to commit to long-term offtake agreements at prices multiple times higher than conventional fuels, with first volumes expected in 3 to 4 years (the typical production facility lead time). This presents a significant challenge—especially considering that even Maersk, a champion of methanol and leader in decarbonisation, has not been able to make this model commercially viable. Regulations like FuelEU Maritime, and hopefully the IMO’s upcoming Global Fuel Intensity Requirement, will play a crucial role in making low-carbon fuels, including e-methanol, commercially viable. The challenge, however, lies in the fact that many of these fuels depend on long-term shipping offtake agreements to get production projects off the ground. This is complicated by the gradual phase-in of these regulations and the lead time between FIDs and actual fuel production. By the time these regulations start to have a real impact—likely around 2030 to 2035—when fuel prices might become more competitive and willingness to pay increases, the necessary fuel volumes may not yet be available. This timing mismatch presents a major hurdle for the adoption of low-carbon fuels in shipping, and in particular e-methanol (as we argue the other fuels may come with or without us). In the long term, we believe e-fuels like ammonia, which unlike e-methanol and e-LNG, doesn’t rely on biogenic CO2 as a feedstock, will play a significant role in shipping’s fuel mix. A recent study by the Maersk McKinney Møller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMZCS) estimated that the global availability of biogenic CO2 is around 370 million tons4—enough to produce around 43% of the e-fuels required to meet shipping’s current energy demand. However, it’s unlikely that shipping will be able to secure all of this, given competition from other sectors. In other words, biogenic CO2 could become a major constraint if shipping focuses solely on e-methanol and e-LNG for large-scale decarbonisation. Ammonia offers a promising alternative, but its main challenge lies in engine technology development. While the progress made by key engine manufacturers like MAN and WinGD is encouraging, and initiatives like the recent ship-to-ship5 transfer of ammonia fuel demonstrate its potential, we are still years away from seeing a significant number of ammonia dual-fuel vessels in operation. So, where do we go from here? As shipping emissions continue to rise, we stress the point, again, that waiting for a perfect end-game solution could hinder shipping’s green transition. We have vocalised concerns about the availability of low-carbon methanol for the methanol dual-fuel vessels set to enter operation in the coming years. While we view ammonia as an appealing long-term solution, we cannot afford to wait for it, as emissions keep accumulating. In the meantime, LNG presents a well-to-wake (WTW) GHG reduction of approximately 17% compared to conventional fuels when burned in a high-pressure two-stroke engine, according to the FuelEU Maritime regulation. Whilst there are valid concerns about upstream methane leakages, several initiatives and regulations (e.g., the Global Methane Pledge)6 are working to ensure these issues are effectively addressed and reduced. Bio-LNG is a very attractive low-carbon fuel for shipping, with the potential to be blended with LNG up to 100%. In conclusion, while the industry grapples with the availability of essential fuels like e-methanol and ammonia, the continued use of LNG and bio-LNG as transitional solutions is vital. In the past, we’ve been challenged on our position of championing fossil-based alternative fuels, but we maintain that not only does it offer immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions but also provides a pathway for scaling up low-carbon fuel adoption whilst ensuring that renewable energy resources are deployed for global benefit. We’re pleased to see that these challengers and indeed the data is now starting to align with our stance so that greater progress can be recognised. As we look ahead, collaboration between stakeholders, including brokers, shipowners, and fuel developers, will be essential to overcome hurdles and ensure a smooth transition. The journey may be complex, but with informed guidance and strategic planning, the path forward can lead to a more sustainable future for shipping. Source: Clarkson Plc.

Path of Exile 2 early access players think Titan’s Treasure is bugged because of its absence in Titan’s Grotto. The second act of Path of Exile 2 has players exploring Titan’s Grotto, the same area where they’ll face off against the Zalmarath, the Colossus boss. Those who take some time to explore may stumble across optional objectives and Points of Interest that deepen the experience. However, players have found that one item in particular does not appear on the map as expected. Path of Exile 2 players baffled by missing Titan’s Treasure Since the sequel entered early access, users in Path of Exile forums and Reddit threads have pondered the conspicuous absence of the Titan’s Treasure, which should appear in Titan’s Grotto. One person in a forums post commented, “Has anybody found out where the titan’s treasure in Titan’s Grotto? I’ve checked twice but did not find any.” Dozens of other users have chimed in to say that they, too, haven’t had any luck finding Titan’s Treasure, even after completing the Titan fight. Multiple runs through the Grotto do not appear to yield any results either. Several people have pointed out that a stone Titan with a sword lodged in its throat may be the answer. It’s located near a checkpoint, but nothing of consequence happens when interacting with the stone. The consensus among Path of Exile 2 players is that Titan’s Treasure is bugged, not unlike Tinker’s Tools which are visible on the world map but never appear in real-time. Unfortunately, developer Grinding Gear Games has yet to address either of these issues, so there’s no official word on when players should expect a fix. Path of Exile 2’s early access went live on December 6 and immediately suffered from technical and server issues. Many of the launch woes have since been resolved, enough that POE2 became one of Steam’s most popular games in a day.

A MUM-of five was slapped with a £1,000 fine right before Christmas for making a simple mistake with her bins. Trisha Malone from Birmingham said the eye-watering penalty has ruined the holidays and she even faces a criminal record if she doesn't pay. Trisha, who is a full-time carer for her disabled son, put her rubbish in a neighbour's communal bin. When she was caught out, she explained to Birmingham City Council that her bin was too small for a family of six but didn't want to leave her rubbish lying around. To her dismay, her pleas to be let off were ignored and she claims the council has "no heart". "I can't afford it. I have five children. When I pay my rent, I have nothing left, and the council is saying I have to pay it in full. There's not even an option for installments," she told Birmingham Live. read more on local councils "I'm a full-time carer for my son. He's six and paralysed down the left side of his body. This fine could ruin our Christmas . They have no heart." She's now worried that she might be sent to prison if she fails to pay the fine. " It's not fair, I didn't throw rubbish on the floor, it wasn't actually fly-tipping. Some people throw stuff everywhere, on roundabouts and all sorts. I didn't do that," she added. She said that her own bin isn't big enough for the amount of rubbish that her family produces. Most read in The Sun Trisha has argued that she has told the council that she needs a bigger bin but her requests have been ignored. A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "We are not able to offer a comment at this stage while the legal process is ongoing." This comes as South Yorkshire council tightened rules around bin collections. Residents who put the "wrong" rubbish in their bins could be hauled to court and fined up to £2,500 under a new council purge. Town hall snoopers will also be checking on reports about house-holders who leave their bins out on the street after 7pm on collection day. Those who complain their bins were not emptied properly will also face investigation with council bosses in Rotherham, South Yorkshire , using computer records to check the claims. But those who follow the rules will get a special reward stocked, the council equivalent of a Blue Peter Badge, for toeing the line. Eyebrows maybe raised at how complicated the council’s recycling rules already area, for example, greetings cards can be put in bins for paper - but not cards that have glitter.