MCKINNEY, Texas , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hartwater Aesthetics ® , a leading medical aesthetic brand, announced an expansion of its clinical and leadership team with the addition of a new aesthetic provider and a new practice manager at its location in McKinney, TX. The Hartwater Clinical team is joined by Tiffany Byres , LMA, a licensed Medical Aesthetician, Certified Laser Technician, and Laser Safety Officer with 13 years of experience in the plastic surgery and medical aesthetics space. Byres brings to Hartwater an extensive knowledge of skin care techniques and protocols as well as expertise with numerous laser technologies and other treatments to provide top-quality care to patients. Joining the leadership team as Practice Manager is Lauren Parker , an experienced operational and sales leader in the beauty industry. Parker will oversee daily operations at the practice and ensure the continued delivery of a seamless, patient-focused experience. This growth reflects Hartwater's ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional care and innovative services to its patients. The team expansion marks an exciting new chapter for Hartwater Aesthetics ® as it continues to set the standard for medical aesthetic care. About Hartwater Aesthetics ® Hartwater Aesthetics ® is a premier medical aesthetic practice offering industry-leading treatments for the face, body, and skin. It is home to a team of world-class aesthetic providers and uses the most state-of-the-art technology to offer patients the highest quality of care available. Media Contact: pr@h artwatera esthetics.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hartwater-aesthetics-expands-team-302337620.html SOURCE Hartwater AestheticsWorld Cup selection drives US sevens star Maher's move to Bristol
World Cup selection drives US sevens star Maher's move to Bristol
DETROIT — The auto industry has an addiction. It’s a “capital junkie” that’s been on a yearslong binge of unprecedented spending on all-electric and autonomous vehicles. And now, it’s waking up from the bender and entering rehab. Automakers from Detroit to Japan and Germany are attempting to lower costs and reduce expenses amid economic concerns, billions of dollars wasted on self-driving vehicles and a prolonged, if not uncertain, return on investment in EVs amid slower-than-expected adoption. Those issues come in addition to weakening consumer demand, higher commodity costs, and some Wall Street analysts sounding the alarm about global automotive sales and profits peaking, as China’s industry continues to expand. General Motors and Ford Motor are cutting billions in fixed costs, including laying off thousands of workers, while other automakers such as Nissan Motor , Volkswagen Group and Chrysler parent Stellantis are taking even more drastic measures to reduce headcounts and trim spending. “Western [automakers] are increasingly focusing on capital efficiency, meaning likely lower spending, more collaboration, and restructured EV portfolios to prioritize profits,” Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said in a September investor note. The automotive industry is a global web of companies producing tens of thousands of parts to assemble a new vehicle. It requires significant capital investment every time an automaker launches a new product or updates current models, causing a spending ripple effect throughout the global supply chain. But in recent years, automakers have put such investments in overdrive with self-driving and electric vehicles. Companies invested tens of billions of dollars into the technologies, most with little to no short- to midterm returns on their investments. Research and development costs, as well as capital spending for the top 25 automotive companies, have increased 33% from roughly $200 billion in 2015 to $266 billion in 2023, according to auto consulting firm AlixPartners. Such costs for GM increased about 62% from 2015 to 2023, to $20.6 billion (excluding sold European operations), despite a 38% drop in global sales during that time. That compares with other increases during that timeframe of 42% for Volkswagen; 37% for Toyota Motor; 27% for Fiat Chrysler’s successor Stellantis; and 18% for Ford. EV startups Rivian Automotive and Lucid Group have burned through $16 billion and $8.8 billion, respectively, in free cash flow since 2022. Both companies are attempting to ramp up vehicle production and narrow their losses. It’s not the first time the auto industry has blown through money to then attempt quickly to cut costs. These kinds of periods happen in cyclical industries such as autos, but could the spending have potentially been avoided — or at least alleviated — this time around? Capital junkie The latest cost-cutting cycle comes nearly a decade after an infamous Wall Street presentation by late-Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne called “Confessions of a Capital Junkie.” The April 2015 report highlighted the industry’s massive capital spending on overlapping or niche products that Marchionne was convinced could be solved through consolidation and shared capital spending. The report, made by Marchionne amid failed merger attempts with Fiat Chrysler that included GM, has reemerged as automakers cut costs and announce tie-ups between companies such as Volkswagen and Rivian Automotive as well as GM and Hyundai Motor to share costs. “We believe the concepts within this deck [are] highly insightful and as relevant today as ever,” Jonas said in a November 2023 investor note invoking Marchionne’s junkie manifesto, which he has continued to reference. 'The Sergio Quotient' Using a measurement called “The Sergio Quotient,” Jonas points out that the average S&P 500 company spends its market cap in capex plus research and development in about 50 years. GM and Ford spend their market cap in 1.9 and 2.6 years, respectively. Only Volkswagen, at 1.8 years, was lower than GM among traditional automakers. Toyota was the best suited, at 14.4 years. As of September, Ford and GM ranked 402 and 403 out of 406 nonfinancial companies in the S&P 500 regarding their capital spend compared with their market cap. Former Ford executive Joe Hinrichs brought up Marchionne’s 2015 manifesto during an automotive conference this summer, condemning the industry for its capital waste. “The auto industry is famous for destroying capital. That’s a bad thing,” said Hinrichs, now CEO of railroad company CSX . “If you waste billions of dollars on autonomous vehicles or billions of dollars on electrification, you should be held accountable. That’s shareholder money.” Most capital spending by automakers isn’t wasted, but the industry isn’t as efficient as other sectors, with minimal return on invested capital. The ROIC of traditional, mainstream automakers is roughly seven or less, while tech companies such as Google parent Alphabet are at roughly 22, according to FactSet. “We’ve seen major CapEx spend with extended ROIs, given the slowdown ... and low utilization in manufacturing plants,” said Rebecca Evans, a principal at management consulting firm Roland Berger . “We have been looking extensively at cost.” In particular, automakers have not seen ROIC on autonomous vehicles and EVs. GM continues to invest in its embattled autonomous vehicle unit Cruise despite already spending more than $10 billion on it since acquiring the company in 2016. Ford also has wasted billions of dollars on warranty and recall costs as well as strategy shifts. It recently canceled production of a three-row electric SUV after significant development cost the automaker roughly $1.9 billion in expenses and cash expenditures. That included $400 million for the write-down of certain product-specific manufacturing assets. Rehab After years of spending, Nissan, Volkswagen and Stellantis are conducting massive business restructurings that include layoffs, production cuts and other cost-saving measures. Others such as Ford, GM, and EV startups Lucid and Rivian are attempting to lower costs but their efforts are not as severe as the others. “Have we got to cut costs with every car we’re making? Absolutely,” Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson told CNBC in October, citing the company’s cost-cutting task force. “We’re working assiduously on that.” Volkswagen is in the midst of a massive cost-cutting program that uncharacteristically involves layoffs and potential plans to shutter plants in its home country of Germany. VW Chairman and CEO Oliver Blume said in an interview published earlier this month that such actions are needed to remedy years of ongoing problems at the German carmaker, which reportedly expects to spend 900 million euros ($975.06 million) to execute the turnaround. “The weak market demand in Europe and significantly lower earnings from China reveal decades of structural problems at VW,” Blume told German paper Bild am Sonntag, according to Reuters . The rise of Chinese automakers has been eating away at the profits of traditional automakers such as VW, GM and others that were once dominant players in China — the world’s largest car market that has quickly moved from being a consumer of vehicles to exporter. Nissan, Honda and BMW, among others, also blamed declines in China for missing earnings expectations or restructuring needs. GM, which has raked in billions from China, is restructuring operations there, including attempting to renegotiate with its major Chinese partner, SAIC. While losing ground in China, GM has been among the most aggressive in spending on EVs and self-driving vehicles. But, to its credit, remains highly profitable and had roughly $27 billion of free cash flow at the end of the third quarter. It remains one of the standouts in balancing investment and cost-cutting efforts, while remaining profitable. GM CFO Paul Jacobson on Wednesday reconfirmed plans for the automaker to level capex to around $11 billion going forward. “What we’ve established over the last couple of years, I think, is a pretty disciplined track record of capital expenditures,” Jacobson said during a Barclays conference . “You want to be in an organization that has more ideas than it can fund. Our job is to allocate that and prioritize it.” Partnerships Newer automakers such as Rivian and Lucid are cutting costs and raising capital to stay afloat as the companies continue to lose tens of thousands of dollars on each EV they sell. Lucid’s largest shareholder, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has invested billions of dollars into the company, while Rivian has teamed up with Volkswagen for an up to $5.8 billion software deal , which is expected to close by the end of this year. GM and Hyundai this summer entered into an agreement to explore “future collaboration across key strategic areas” in an effort to reduce capital spending and increase efficiencies. The companies have not announced any actions since then. Marchionne argued such partnerships were effective but not enough going forward. He said companies could save billions of dollars annually in capital by sharing costs involving commoditized parts such as transmissions, standardized safety equipment and advanced driver assistance systems. “It’s fundamentally immoral to allow for that waste to continue unchecked,” Marchionne said in the three-hour conference call with global industry analysts in 2015. “Something needs to give. It cannot continue like this.” Some things have changed, but there have not been large systemic shifts. Major automotive industry mergers and joint ventures don’t always result in long-term successes. Many fall apart before producing significant results. Both VW and Rivian have experienced such failures with Ford in recent years. Rivian and the Detroit automaker canceled plans to codevelop EVs two years after Ford took a 12% stake in the startup in 2019. Around that time, VW also announced a $2.6 billion deal with Ford for autonomous vehicles that didn’t pan out. Stellantis Stellantis — formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Groupe in January 2021 — has proven that not all mergers enacted to produce scale guarantee a profitable company. After a record profit last year, the company has struggled in 2024. While Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has touted achieving roughly $9 billion in cost reductions following the merger, the automaker has mismanaged the U.S. market — its prime cash generator — with a lack of investment in new or updated products, historically high prices and extreme cost-cutting measures. When asked by Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska about Stellantis not performing to “capital junkie” standards despite the massive merger, Tavares said the company achieved the scale needed to be more efficient but it’s still working on a product blitz and correcting mistakes in North America . Tavares said Stellantis remains more profitable than Fiat Chrysler and PSA were on their own. He also cited impacts of “regulatory chaos,” a reference to U.S. and Europe standards for EVs and emissions. “Stellantis is the concrete expression of the scale that you need to have to use the resources of your shareholders in a meaningful way. So, that’s what we did. FCA was too small,” Tavares said when discussing first-half results in July. “PSA was too small. Stellantis has the right scale. That’s an answer that I’m sure Sergio would recognize.”American rugby sevens star Ilona Maher will join 15-a-side club Bristol in January in a bid to play in next year's women's Rugby World Cup, the English club announced on Monday. Maher, 28, helped the USA to a bronze medal at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris and is the sport's most popular player on social media. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NEW YORK , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to: Patterson Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDCO )'s sale to Patient Square Capital for $31.35 in cash per share. If you are a Patterson shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . NeuroMetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NURO )'s sale to electroCore, Inc. If you are a NeuroMetrix shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PWOD )'s sale to Northwest Bancshares, Inc. for 2.385 shares of Northwest common stock for each share of Penns Woods common stock. If you are a Penns Woods shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA )'s merger with Tvardi Therapeutics, Inc. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Cara shareholders are expected to own approximately 17.0% of the combined company. If you are a Cara shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email [email protected] or [email protected] . Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Halper Sadeh LLC Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. (212) 763-0060 [email protected] [email protected] https://www.halpersadeh.com SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP
NonePhilippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday described a public threat by the vice president to have him killed by an assassin as a criminal plot and vowed to fight it, in a looming showdown between the country’s two top leaders. Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday in an online news conference that she has contracted an assassin to kill the president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives if she herself is killed, in a threat she warned was not a joke. The national police and military immediately boosted the security of the president, and the justice department said it would summon the vice president for an investigation. The National Security Council said it considered the threat a national security concern. The vice president, a lawyer, later tried to walk back her remarks by saying it was not an actual threat but an expression of concern about her own safety over an unspecified threat. “Why would I kill him if not for revenge from the grave? There is no reason for me to kill him. What’s the benefit for me?” Duterte told journalists. “That criminal plot should not be allowed to pass,” Marcos said in a televised statement, without mentioning Duterte by name. “I’ll fight it.” "As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law,” Marcos said. Marcos ran with Duterte as his vice-presidential running mate in May 2022 elections and both won landslide victories on a campaign call of national unity. In the Philippines, the two positions are elected separately. The two leaders and their camps, however, soon had a bitter falling out over key differences, including in their approaches to China’s aggressive territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet in June as education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body. On Monday, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said in a news conference that Duterte would be subpoenaed to face an investigation. Andres called the vice president the “self-confessed mastermind” of a “premeditated plot to assassinate the president.” All government resources and law enforcement agencies would be mobilized to identify the alleged assassin and determine criminal accountability, he said. “We have to maintain order in a civilized society by adherence to the rule of law and we will apply the full strength and force of the law on this,” Andres said. Under Philippine law, such public remarks may constitute a crime of threatening to inflict a wrong on a person or their family and are punishable by a jail term and fine. The Philippine Constitution says that if a president dies, sustains a permanent disability, is removed from office or resigns, the vice president takes over and serves the rest of the term. The vice president is the daughter of Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, whose police-enforced anti-drug crackdown when he was a city mayor and later president left thousands of mostly petty drug suspects dead in killings that the International Criminal Court has been investigating as a possible crime against humanity. Like her equally outspoken father, the vice president became a vocal critic of Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin, accusing them of corruption, incompetence and politically persecuting the Duterte family and its supporters. Last month, the vice president told reporters her relationship with Marcos had “gone so toxic” that she has imagined “cutting his head." Her latest tirade was set off by the decision by House members allied with Romualdez and Marcos to detain Duterte's chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, who was accused of hampering a congressional inquiry into the possible misuse of Duterte's budget as vice president and education secretary. Lopez has been detained in a hospital after being traumatized by a plan by legislators to temporarily detain her in prison. In a pre-dawn online news conference on Saturday, an angry Duterte accused Marcos of incompetence as president and of being a liar along with his wife and the House speaker, in expletive-laden remarks. When concerns over her security were raised, Duterte, 46, suggested there was an unspecified plot to kill her. “Don’t worry about my security because I’ve talked with somebody. I said ‘if I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke,’” the vice president said, without elaborating and using the initials that many use to refer to the president. "I’ve given my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.’ And he said, ’yes,’” the vice president said.The transfer from West Virginia scored a season-high 24 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 44 seconds left. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution 7 people in custody after barricade situation in Norfolk 7 people in custody after barricade situation in Norfolk Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. But how much should privacy matter? One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. 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A visit to Ottawa's Taffy Lane in Orléans is a staple this time of year, but a dispute amongst neighbours over traffic congestion is threatening to dim the magic of the holidays. "I'll politely refer to them as grinches," said Tony Sullivan. "They're complaining about the traffic and traffic issues." Sullivan lives on Sugar Creek Way off Taffy Lane, which is famously known for spreading holiday cheer with its elaborately decorated homes. Each year, the brightly lit street attracts thousands, and Sullivan says people will often stop at the end of his driveway to donate and collect chocolate and other goodies in return. But the exchange is prompting complaints to police. "They implied they are going to start ticketing us if we are on the street and we are obstructing traffic," Sullivan said. Police say they've received two calls about the traffic, but neither resulted in a ticket. Police would not comment about future enforcement. "There are some neighbours on the street that are frustrated with trying to leave their house and they have to wait just for the collection of the money," said neighbour Peter Abercrombie. The homes on Taffy Lane have been known to light up the holidays since the 1970's. For Abercrombie, it's his 47th year and says he doesn't mind the traffic. "People will actually line up and wait for the lights to come on at 5 p.m.," said Abercrombie. "Lots of smiles everyone comes up the laneway and does a tour." While donations are not required to enjoy the magic, Sullivan says he refuses to let the situation dampen his spirits. "If they want to charge me over kindness they can go ahead and charge me with that, but I'll always give back to the community," he said. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Estevan police officer arrested following SIRT investigation An officer of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) is facing several charges following an investigation by the province’s police oversight agency. BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Saskatoon 'There are lines': In year-end interview, NDP leader says Moe went too far in election campaign Saskatchewan’s two main political leaders had agreed before October's provincial election not to target the families of candidates during the campaign, says Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck. Sask. RCMP on the scene of rollover on Highway 40 The Saskatchewan RCMP said Highway 40 was closed Monday afternoon following a rollover just west of Hafford, a village just under 100 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Saskatoon woman arrested following machete attack A 55-year-old woman was arrested following a stabbing with a machete early Monday morning. Vancouver BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Court rules B.C. law to push through Vancouver housing project is unconstitutional The B.C. Court of Appeal says a law passed by the provincial government to stave off opposition to a supportive housing development in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano is unconstitutional. Cleanup underway after rockslide derails train in B.C. No injuries were reported after a rockslide derailed a freight train, sending railcars into British Columbia's Fraser River, on Sunday night. Vancouver Island BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Cleanup underway after rockslide derails train in B.C. No injuries were reported after a rockslide derailed a freight train, sending railcars into British Columbia's Fraser River, on Sunday night. Court rules B.C. law to push through Vancouver housing project is unconstitutional The B.C. Court of Appeal says a law passed by the provincial government to stave off opposition to a supportive housing development in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano is unconstitutional. Kelowna Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna, B.C., sold to the city A former Hells Angels clubhouse that was seized by the British Columbia government in 2023 after years of fighting in court has been sold to the City of Kelowna. Death of woman found in Kelowna's Waterfront Park in June deemed 'non-criminal in nature': RCMP Police in Kelowna say a death they began investigating back in June has now been confirmed as "non-criminal in nature." B.C. man sentenced for 'execution-style' murder of bystander in drug trade conflict A B.C. man convicted of the "intentional and ruthless killing of a bystander" while acting as an enforcer in the drug trade has been sentenced for a second time in the slaying. Stay ConnectedUS proposes voluntary guidelines for self-driving vehicles in waning days of Biden administration
Thousands rally after Georgian PM vows 'no negotiations' with pro-EU oppositionRole of literature in building harmonious society highlighted
Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary footballLawyers for a voting machine company that’s suing Fox News want to question founder Rupert Murdoch about his contentious efforts to change his family trust , the attorneys told a court Monday. Election-tech company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit regards Fox's reporting on 2020 voting fraud claims. But Smartmatic’s attorneys suggest the separate succession fight over Murdoch's media empire might shed light on any Fox Corp. involvement in editorial matters. It's an important, if technical, question as Smartmatic seeks to hold the deep-pocketed Fox parent company responsible for statements that the news network aired. Fox contends that there's no such liability and that it was engaging in journalism, not defamation, when it broadcast election-fraud allegations made by then-President Donald Trump 's attorneys. Rupert Murdoch may already have given a deposition — out-of-court questioning under oath — in the defamation suit. Such records aren't public at this stage, but plans for his deposition were briefly mentioned at a 2022 hearing. Smartmatic now is seeking to talk to Murdoch about his efforts to rewrite his plans for his businesses after his death. The matter is playing out behind closed doors and in sealed files in a Nevada probate court. The New York Times has reported that Rupert Murdoch wants to keep his eldest son, Lachlan , in charge of the conglomerate's newspapers and television networks in order to ensure a continued conservative editorial outlook . Smartmatic wants to get the 93-year-old patriarch on record while the probate matter plays out, company attorney Edward Wipper told a judge Monday. Fox News lawyer K. Winn Allen said the probate case “has nothing at all to do with” Smartmatic's claims and is “not appropriate” fodder for the suit. Fox Corp. declined to comment after court. Fox News' lawyers, meanwhile, want Smartmatic to provide records about a U.S. federal criminal case against people, including Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate, accused of scheming to bribe a Filipino election official . Piñate has pleaded not guilty. Smartmatic isn't charged in the criminal case, and Smartmatic attorneys have said the matter was irrelevant to the defamation suit. Fox lost prior bids for a court order to get the information, but a hearing on the network's renewed request is set next week. It's unclear how soon Judge David B. Cohen will decide on that request or on Smartmatic's bid to dig into the Murdoch family trust case. Both requests are part of pretrial information-gathering, and no trial date has been set. Smartmatic says it was a small player, working only with California's heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In subsequent Fox News appearances, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell portrayed Smartmatic as part of a multi-state scheme to steal the vote from the Republican. Federal and state election officials , exhaustive reviews in battleground states and Trump’s own attorney general found no widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Nor did they uncover any credible evidence that the vote was tainted. Dozens of courts, including by judges whom Trump had appointed, rejected his fraud claims. Fox News ultimately aired an interview with an election technology expert who refuted the allegations against Smartmatic — an interview done after the company demanded a retraction . The network is countersuing Smartmatic , claiming it violated a New York law against baseless suits aimed at squelching reporting or criticism on public issues. The New York defamation suit is one of several stemming from conservative-oriented news outlets' reports on Trump’s 2020 vote-rigging claims. Smartmatic recently settled with One America News Network and Newsmax . Fox News settled for $787 million last year with Dominion Voting Systems, another election-technology company that sued over conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s 2020 loss. Jennifer Peltz, The Associated PressThree members of organised crime gang who took part in ram raids to be sentenced
John Stankey to Update Shareholders at UBS Global Media & Communications Conference on December 10Buy Smarter: The Consumer Guide to Smart TVs
Special police force to secure Parachinar Road PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Monday decided to deploy a special police force of 399 personnel to secure the Parachinar Road.The 19th meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, took a number of other decisions as well. The cabinet was briefed about the situation in the Kurram district and the steps the government was taking to restore durable peace, provide essential commodities, and transport patients, elderly people, and students. It was informed that several jirgas had been organised, humanitarian measures included delivery of medicines via helicopter, subsidised wheat supplies, and compensation for affected families. Helicopter services have been initiated to address transportation challenges, transporting 220 people in the last two days. It was also decided to establish temporary posts initially, with plans for permanent ones in the future. A new FIA cell will monitor and block social media accounts spreading communal hatred.Illegal weapons were to be surrendered by February 1, 2025 and all unauthorised tranches would be demolished. The chief minister said the conflict in Kurram was a local dispute, not terrorism. He said certain elements were fueling unrest through false narratives and communal hatred.He said the government remains committed to resolving the issue peacefully through dialogue while ensuring the safety of residents. The cabinet approved the release of wheat at a subsidized rate.It granted ex-post facto approval to the declaration of emergency in district Kurram under the National Disaster Management (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Act, 2019. This is already in place. The cabinet approved the construction of the 365-kilometer Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway through a public-private partnership and directed the Finance Department to arrange funds for the land acquisition of the project.As a Christmas gift, the cabinet approved Rs.40 million for around 80 Churches of KP to be released by Monday. The cabinet approved Rs. 300 million in funds for the Medical and Dental College at Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology Haripur in two tranches with Rs.150 million this financial year and Rs 150 million next financial year. It approved the allocation and release of recurring grant for disbursement amongst the public sector universities for payment of regular pensions and their liability and salaries.The cabinet granted one step up-gradation to all the employees of the defunct FATA Development Corporation as per the recommendations of the Committee constituted for looking into their grievances and the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The cabinet approved forwarding Resolution No. 118 adopted by the KP Assembly to the federal government.The assembly had recommended to the KP government to ask the federal government to order the Islamabad police to end the alleged harassment of Pakhtuns doing business in Islamabad. The cabinet okayed the amendments to rule 12 (2) of the KP Civil Servants (Appointments, Promotion & Transfer) Rules 1989. As per the amendments posts in BS-3-15 of the district cadre should be filled only by domicile holders of the district concerned. Relaxing the ban, the Cabinet allowed the creation of 221 posts of various categories in the Health Department. To make the establishment of Girls’ Cadet College DI Khan functional, the cabinet approved the extension of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Education & Training Institutions Ordinance 1971 to the Girls Cadet College DI Khan and also approved a grant of Rs 300 million for it. The cabinet approved the allocation and release of Rs. 3.5 million grant-in-aid for financial year 2024-25 for China Window at Peshawar. It was okayed for partnering with Bank of Khyber, Peshawar in respect of ADP 2024-25 Project 1646-240152 “Development of Community Based Accommodation for Facilitating Tourists”.The cabinet approved the establishment of Water & Sanitation Services Company, Haripur along with the provision of funds to the tune of Rs 250 million.New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil
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Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary footballVictors Home Solutions has been recognized as 2024 Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year DETROIT , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 5th, 2024 , Victors Home Solutions was awarded the title of Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year at the Best of Success conference in Bonita Springs, FL. At this conference, Victors Home Solutions, which has been in business since 2008, received the award for Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year. Victor Smolyanov , Founder and CEO, attributes much of his success to the opportunity to give back to the communities in which he operates: "Last year we were blessed to give away 23 roofs, and this year it's going to be 40, and that has a huge impact," he said. "For us, it's one out of 4,000 roofs, but for them, it's potentially a life-changing event, allowing them to live more comfortably without having to worry about moving their bed when it rains or having a tarp on." This marks the 20th year of the conference, and it is said to be a must-attend event for roofing professionals. In addition to the amenities available on-site, there are many opportunities for education, exploration of new roofing technologies, and networking with top organizations in the roofing industry, such as Victors Home Solutions. Victors Home Solutions is recognized for their impact on local communities through their Give Back program. A program that has provided many with a roof over their heads. For every 100 roof replacements installed, Victors will provide one local family in need with a roof replacement at no cost. To nominate someone you know, click here . About Victors Home Solutions Victors Home Solutions has provided premier residential roofing and home improvement services to Michigan , Ohio , Kentucky , New Jersey , Illinois , and Pennsylvania communities for over 15 years. Victors' commitment to quality workmanship and integrity, along with his passion for roofing, has made Victors Home Solutions the highest ranked roofing company in Michigan . With over 200 employees and eight locations, Victors is at the forefront and stands poised to revolutionize the roofing and home improvement industries. For more information, visit Victors.com . Media Contact: Jake Tilk j.tilk@victors.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/victors-home-solutions-recognized-as-2024-roofing-contractor-of-the-year-302337604.html SOURCE Victors Home Solutions
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