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Jolt Energy Storage Completes $4M Series A Raise to Revolutionize Long Duration Grid Energy Storage
Syrian government services come to a ‘complete halt’Based on Company's Dual-Track Strategy, the 2025 QNED evo Lineup Boasts Unprecedented Technological Advancements ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics USA (LG) unveiled today its renewed 2025 QNED evo lineup, featuring new proprietary wide color gamut technology, a true wireless viewing experience that transmits 4K 144Hz1 images without loss of picture quality or delay, AI-enhanced picture and sound processing, and an ultra-personalized AI-based customer experience via webOS 25. LG continues to strengthen its competitiveness in the global premium TV market through a dual-track strategy. This strategy emphasizes LG's market-leading, self-emissive OLED lineup and the QNED evo series – a premium LCD TV lineup that incorporates key OLED innovations, such as advanced AI capabilities and wireless convenience. The 2025 QNED evo lineup boasts an improved color gamut compared to previous models by applying LG's new proprietary wide color gamut technology, Dynamic QNED Color Solution, which replaces quantum dots. This unique technology enables light from the backlight to be expressed in pure colors that are as realistic as they appear to the eye in general life. With the application of Dynamic QNED Color Solution, the entire 2025 QNED evo lineup is 100 percent certified by global testing and certification organization Intertek for Color Volume, measuring a screen's ability to display the rich colors of original images without distortion. In 2025, LG will also unveil the QNED evo (QNED9M) featuring its True Wireless 4K technology. This innovation, previously exclusive to the top-tier OLED evo model (M Series) last year, will now be available in the QNED evo lineup. This expansion allows viewers to enjoy high-definition 4K content wirelessly, without compromising on picture quality or experiencing delays, moving beyond the limitations of traditional wired connections.2 The wireless solution utilizes a separate Zero Connect Box to transmit high-definition video at up to 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 144Hz. The QNED evo is designed to minimize screen disconnection and deliver natural images even in a wireless setup. Additionally, it has earned AMD FreeSync Premium certification. The TV itself requires only a power cord, allowing for more convenient storage of gaming consoles and set-top boxes. The company additionally continues to raise the picture and sound quality of its QNED evo lineup by offering more powerful editions of its proprietary AI processors. 2025 LG QNED evo models are equipped with the α8 AI Processor, offering close to 70 percent improvement in AI performance compared to the previous year. This processor delivers picture and sound at a level worthy of ultra-large TVs. These AI capabilities include more advanced upscaling, analyzing the filmmaker's intent to adjust picture noise and presenting faces, objects, text and backgrounds more naturally. Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro breaks down each scene to fine-tune HDR effects and brightness for each zone. Moreover, AI converts 2-channel sound sources to virtual 9.1.2 channel sound for a richer audio experience. It also distinguishes voices from background sounds and makes them clearer, while audio sounds natural as if it were coming from the center of the TV screen. The new AI Magic Remote, included with the 2025 QNED evo, features a new AI button for easy analysis of viewing preferences and recommendations on what to watch and which apps to use. Personalization is further enhanced by Voice ID, Generative AI Gallery3 and customized TV picture and sound quality modes. A short press on the AI button guides users to relevant keywords and TV features, while a long press enables personalized searches based on a large language model (LLM4). For example, if a user is planning a trip to France, they can ask their remote, "Recommend movies to watch on my trip to Paris." The AI will understand the context and suggest movies set in the French capital, including specific genre recommendations based on the user's viewing preferences. LG's proprietary smart TV platform, webOS25, elevates the customer experience by offering hyper-personalized service advancements and content through its best-of-all-time AI features and the ongoing webOS Re:New Program, which includes webOS upgrades for five years. The 2025 QNED lineup will also now range from 40 to 100 inches as LG is expanding its QNED lineup by introducing a 100-inch option in response to customer demand for ultra-large, premium LCD TVs. "Our renewed 2025 LG QNED evo lineup inherits OLED's differentiated picture quality along with a true wireless viewing experience and ultra-personalized solutions to deliver an outstanding super-large viewing experience that no other LCD TV can offer," said Hyoung-sei Park, president of the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company. 1 LG 2025 QNED9M series TVs provide support for 4K@144Hz. 2 Wireless transmission refers to the transferring of video and audio signals between a TV screen and the Zero Connect Box. Visually lossless, based on internal test results with ISO/IEC 29170-2 and measurement results may vary depending on connection status. 3 Only available in Korea and the U.S. 4 Only available in Korea and the U.S. About LG Electronics USA LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $68 billion global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems, and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. The company's commitment to environmental sustainability and its "Life's Good" marketing theme encompass how LG is dedicated to people's happiness by exceeding expectations today and tomorrow. For more information, visit . Media Contacts: LG Electronics USA LG Electronics USA Chris De Maria Christin Rodriguez [email protected] [email protected] LG-One [email protected] SOURCE LG Electronics USA MENAFN17122024003732001241ID1109004904 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won't apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could got a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July it on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.’’ Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
Reserve Bank of Australia monetary policy Statement due today - what to watch Major indices close moderately lower across the board No surprise. Canada Trudeau says Canada will respond if Trump imposes tariffs Crude oil settles at $68.37 Atlanta Fed GDPNow growth estimate for 4Q remains at a robust 3.3% Goldman Sachs: BOC meeting on Wednesday – Base case and alternative scenario Canada to present autumn fiscal update on Dec 16 European equity close: French stocks lead the way New York Fed survey of consumers: One-year inflation expectations 3.0% vs 2.9% prior US employment trends 109.55 vs 107.66 prior US wholesale inventories 0.2% vs 0.2% estimate Treasury yields higher as China turns on the taps but bonds skeptical It's all about China today: Three stories are dominating Kickstart the FX trading day for Dec 9 w/a technical look at the EURUSD, USDJPY & GBPUSD BOE's Ramsden: Calmer markets this year could lead to greater risk-taking in the future ForexLive European FX news wrap: Aussie buoyed as China vows to ramp up stimulus next year Market moves: WTI crude oil up $0.99 or 1.47% at $68.19 US 10-year yields up 5 bps at 4.203% 2 year yield up 3.1 bps at 4.128% Bitcoin down -$4176 or -4.12% at $97,037 Gold up $27.75 or 1.05% at $2660.06 S&P 500 down -37.42 points or -0.61% at $6052.85 Nasdaq -123.08 points or -0.62% at 19736.69 The day started with the AUDUSD and NZDUSD leading the way to the upside (lower USD) on the back of increased Chinese stimulus measures helping the risk on flows for those countries currencies. Although both are off their highs heading into the US session close, they are maintaining solid gains of 0.80% and 0.62% respectively on the day. The JPY meanwhile tumbled (the USD rising) on the back of higher US yields. Overall, the USDJPY is down -0.85% on the day. The fall in the JPY represents the largest decline since November 6. The 10-year yield is trading up 5 basis points while the 2-year is up a more modest 3.1 basis points. The gain in yields come despite the 85% expectation that the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points next week. Fundamentally, supporting the rising yields was the NY Fed survey of inflation expectations which rose modestly across the forward calendar: One-year inflation expectations rose to 3.0% from 2.9% last month (a four-year low) Three-year inflation expectations 2.6% vs 2.5% prior Five-year inflation expectations 2.9% vs 2.8% prior Also, US employment trends rose marking consecutive monthly gains for the first time in 2024. The increases in October and November added up to the largest two-month increase in the ETI since the torrid period of job gains in 2022 coming out of the pandemic. Recall that the US job gain and revision were higher than expectation on Friday supporting the ETI gains. Technically, The EURUSD is closing the day near the converged 100 and 200 hour moving averages at 1.0545. Move below that level and then the 100 bar MA on the 4-hour chart at 1.05307 would tilt the technical bias more to the downside. Stay above 1.0545 would give the buyers the upper hand with the 1.0592 to 1.0609 as a key upside target to get to and through. The AUDUSD is off its highs for the day that tested a swing area at 0.6471 to 0.6481. The fall from that resistance took the price back toward the 100-hour MA at 0.6430 (the price is trading at 0.6438 currently). The RBA is expected to keep rates unchanged when they meet in the new trading day. If the price moves below the 100 hour MA, that would tilt the technical bias more to the downside. Conversely. stay above and getting above the 200 hour MA at 0.6462 would have traders looking to break a swing area up to 0.6482 followed by the 38.2% of the move down from the November high at 0.6493. The USDJPY trended higher today, but did find some sellers near a swing area between 151.19 to 151.27. THe high reached 151.32. The price is trading at 151.22 within that swing area as the new day begins. Will the buyers keep the momentum going with the 38.2% of the move down from the November high at 151.736 as the next target, or will sellers push back to the downside after the sharp move higher on Momday?
POET expands capacity to meet AI infrastructure demand
Sports on TV for Friday, Nov. 22
WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won't apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could got a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July it on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.
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All-star Scottie Barnes returns to Raptors lineup vs. Timberwolves TORONTO — Darko Rajakovic cut straight to the chase in his pre-game news conference: yes, Scottie Barnes is back. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press Nov 21, 2024 3:36 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) shoots as Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV (14) defends during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, October 25, 2024. Barnes was inserted into the Toronto Raptors starting lineup ahead of tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn TORONTO — Darko Rajakovic cut straight to the chase in his pre-game news conference: yes, Scottie Barnes is back. Barnes was inserted into the Toronto Raptors starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. He had been out since Nov. 4 with a fractured right orbital bone. "I don't want Scottie Barnes to be anything outside of Scottie Barnes," said Rajakovic in his pre-game news conference. "I just need him to be best version of himself and when he's that, he's really raising the people around him to another level. "He's making everybody around him better." Barnes was injured in the fourth quarter of Toronto's 121-119 overtime loss to the Nuggets on Nov. 4 when he caught an errant elbow from Denver centre Nikola Jokic. Barnes was expected to be out at least three weeks with the injury but came back slightly ahead of schedule. The 23-year-old all-star forward was averaging 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists per game before he was hurt. Rajakovic said Barnes would play limited minutes and that he'd have to wear protective goggles. Rajakovic was coy when asked who would be moved to Toronto's bench to make space for Barnes. "Scottie will start. Who knows who won’t," laughed Rajakovic. Rookie combo guard Ja'kobe Walter was also made available for the Raptors. He had missed Toronto's last six games with a sprained right shoulder. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Basketball 76ers' star Paul George sidelined the next 2 games with bone bruise in left knee Nov 21, 2024 3:05 PM Stephen Silas coaching USA Basketball in AmeriCup qualifying games this weekend Nov 21, 2024 12:36 PM Canadian basketball player Chad Posthumus dead at 33 after brain aneurysm Nov 21, 2024 12:22 PMCalifornia to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites
NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple's Tim Cook , OpenAI’s Sam Altman , Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg , SoftBank's Masayoshi Son and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company's president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump's choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and AI, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to 13 billion euros ($13.7 billion) in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as someone who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. “We have two multi-billionaires, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are tasked with cutting what they’re saying will be multiple trillions of dollars from the federal budget, reducing the civil service, the workforce,” said Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University. Musk, he said, has a level of access to the White House that very few others have had -- access that allows him to potentially influence multiple policy areas, including foreign policy, automotive and energy policy through EVs, and tech policy on artificial intelligence. “Elon Musk walked into Twitter’s headquarters with a sink and then posted, ‘let that sink in,‘” he said. “Elon Musk then posted a status update on X, a picture of himself with a sink in the Oval Office and said, 'Let that sink in.′" —— Associated Press writers Kelvin Chan, Michael Liedtke, Matt O'Brien, Barbara Ortutay and Sarah Parvini contributed to this report.
By TRÂN NGUYỄN SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to pass the world’s first law banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks’ 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story.” Related Articles National News | Biden creates Native American boarding school national monument to mark era of forced assimilation National News | How should the opioid settlements be spent? Those hit hardest often don’t have a say National News | ‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year National News | Supreme Court rejects appeal challenging Hawaii gun licensing requirements under Second Amendment National News | Supreme Court rejects appeal from Boston parents over race bias in elite high school admissions Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and TikTok in October for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also signed several bills in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to limit or ban students from using smartphones on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and legislation is in the works to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr . Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Tuesday branded his successor Donald Trump's economic plans a "disaster" in a speech hailing his own legacy in office. Biden said Trump's threats to impose huge tariffs on imports were a "major mistake" and urged the Republican to abandon proposed tax cuts. The lame-duck president's speech comes after Trump won a second term largely on the back of US voters' anger at the high cost of living under the Democrats. "I pray to God the president-elect throws away Project 2025. I think it'd be an economic disaster for us and the region," Biden said in his speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, referring to a conservative blueprint for a second Trump administration. Coughing frequently because of a cold, Biden said US consumers would pay the price for the tariffs that Trump has vowed to slap on US neighbors Mexico and Canada and on Asia-Pacific rival China. Together they are the three biggest US trading partners. "I believe this approach is a major mistake," Biden added. The White House had touted Biden's speech as a "major address on his economic legacy" as the 82-year-old looks to the history books with less than six weeks left in office. Biden dropped out of the 2024 race against Trump in July due to concerns about his age and passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Trump comfortably defeated at the November polls. Trump's inauguration is not until January 20 but he has already become something of a shadow president, making pronouncements on the economy and foreign policy and being feted by world leaders. Biden has meanwhile kept a relatively low profile since the November 5 election, but he came out swinging in defense of his own record in front of an audience of economists. He contrasted his "middle-out, bottom-up economic playbook" with what he called Trump's failed promise of "trickle-down economics" in which tax cuts for the wealthy are supposed to boost incomes across the board. Biden also touted achievements including the US economy's recovery from the Covid pandemic and his huge investments in green technology and industry. "President-elect Trump is receiving the strongest economy in modern history, which is the envy of the world," said Biden. But the departing president said he regretted not signing his own name to Covid stimulus checks sent out to Americans, like Trump had done. "I also learned something with Donald Trump. He signed checks for people for 7,400 bucks," he said. "And I didn't -- stupid!" Biden ended his speech with a broader plea for US leadership in a troubled world, even as Trump has repeatedly signaled his intention to take a more isolationist stance. "If we do not lead the world, what nation leads the world? Who pulls Europe together? Who tries to pull the Middle East together?"he said. dk/nro
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. People are also reading... $100,000 Nebraska Pick 5 winning ticket sold in York Burglary targets Klute Steel near Bradshaw; suspect at large McCool Junction village board chairwoman to face recall vote Nebraska expressway system won't be done until 2042, official says York City Council approves agreement to sell land for housing development Paige Hubl, former Nebraska volleyball player and Lincoln Southeast coach, dies at age 34 Milford teen boys accused of assaulting potential child predator with gun Colleen Williams pens farewell letter to viewers after longtime stint on NTV Koch jump-starts Duke girls' win over Platteview York County deputies issue 25 tickets during Make It Click enforcement York High event promises songs, Shakespearean speech and suspense York Fire Department puts remounted ambulance through its paces Business Beat: Check out the latest on the business scene around York York's Kilgore Memorial Library deals with growing use, shrinking space Schuyler Community Schools staff arrested, no longer employed with schools Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." World reacts to overthrow of Syria's Assad regime People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Get local news delivered to your inbox!SHAMED ref David Coote was at the centre of an FA betting probe last night after it emerged he discussed giving a yellow card before a match. Coote , 42, messaged a pal afterwards: “I hope you backed as discussed.” The FA said it was investigating the “very serious allegations as a matter of urgency”. Coote denies any wrongdoing. Refs’ body the PGMOL — which suspended Coote earlier this month over a foul-mouthed rant about ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp — was last night poring over the latest “very serious allegations”. A separate investigation was also launched by the FA “as a matter of urgency” into the messages, which came before and after a Leeds United versus West Bromwich Albion game in October 2019. It is understood that Coote accepts a discussion took place, but claims it was only “banter” and nothing improper took place. There is no suggestion that the referee made any financial gains. Coote, who was filmed snorting white powder during the Euros this summer , said last night in a statement: “Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field. “I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.” In the new exchange unearthed by The Sun, Coote appears keen to impress a Leeds fan he met online. He bragged that he was set to officiate in the upcoming Leeds- West Brom Championship clash. The pal says he jokingly told Coote to give a yellow card to Leeds left-back Ezgjan Alioski so he could put a bet on it at the bookies beforehand. The day before the game, Coote tells him: “Yeah really good I’ve got Leeds tomorrow.” The friend replied: “Ooh big game. We still on for what we discussed (Alioski). Maybe I could join you if so.” Coote replies: “Haha don’t know what you mean.” His friend then posts: “Haha well I’m off to back it in the morning so don’t let me down.” I hope you backed as discussed Coote answered: “Haha will see.” The following evening, Alioski is booked in the 18th minute of the game for a sliding challenge on Darnell Furlong. Last night football experts said the booking was fully justified given the nature of the tackle. Leeds eventually won the game 1-0 with a goal from Alioski. The following day, Coote messaged his friend again to say: “What a day yesterday. I hope you backed as discussed.” The pal tells him that he did not put money on it but he believes another friend “backed it though”. Coote then replies: “Haha he will have to share with you then.” Football bosses were last night examining the latest shock revelations to ensure no corruption exists within the game. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the pal told The Sun yesterday: “My first contact with David Coote was online. When I got talking to him a bit more, I found out about his job as a football referee. "I jokingly told him to give Alioski a yellow card in the Leeds United game the following day against West Bromwich Albion, so I could back this in the bookies. "He sarcastically replied, ‘Haha will see’. Just 18 minutes into the game the next day Alioski was booked. “It was Leeds’ only yellow card in the match. “He messaged me a while after the game and said, ‘I hope you backed as discussed’.” The latest allegations come after Coote was suspended for a wide-eyed rant about Liverpool and their then-manager Klopp. Last night sources close to the ref suggested he may have engaged in “inappropriate banter” and sent “ill-judged” messages. But they ruled out any suggestion of corruption or deliberately booking players, and say he always officiated with “integrity and impartiality”. The PGMOL said last night: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations. “We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis. “PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven. David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by the FA. “We will be making no further comment at this stage.” The Football Association added: “These are very serious allegations and we are investigating as a matter of urgency.” By Stephen Moyes THE Sun revealed earlier this month that David Coote was filmed snorting white powder at the Euros this summer. Footage showed him sniffing the substance at a hotel in Germany the day after the France-Portugal quarter-final, where he was a support VAR official. He sent another photo a few days beforehand showing his credit cards next to six chopped-up white lines. We then revealed he tried to arrange a “drugs party” in messages sent at half-time in Spurs’ Carabao Cup tie with Man City last month. He was suspended after he was filmed calling Jurgen Klopp a “German c***”.
Syrian government services come to a 'complete halt' as state workers stay home
Jonah Goldberg: What if most Americans aren't bitterly divided?MG has a storied history, and in recent years it has established a strong presence in the Australian market, primarily by selling cheap cars with mass-market appeal. It’s currently ranked seventh in Australia’s new-vehicle sales chart, and while it isn’t on track to surpass its 2023 sales record, it’s still a top contender with an ever-expanding local model lineup. MG’s model range is being bolstered by the arrival of new and upgraded vehicles across a variety of market segments, which are serving to help the brand elevate itself up and away from its cheap-and-cheerful roots roots. Indubitably, it’s cheap cars like the MG 3 hatch that come to mind when MG is mentioned, though the all-new MG 4 electric hatch, the long-awaited new MG 3 and subsequent renewals of other models like the HS mid-sized SUV and ZS small SUV are helping to shift perceptions – as is the arrival of the $100,000-plus Cyberster electric sports car. But MG as we know it now is just its latest iteration, and there’s a lot more to the brand name than what’s happened in only the past 15 years. Most car enthusiasts and anyone middle-aged won’t be surprised to read MG was originally an entirely British manufacturer most notable for small sports cars loaded with charm. But did you know the MG name came from modifying another company’s vehicles? Or that the brand established its historical sporting pedigree through motorsport success as long ago as the 1930s? Here we’ll break all that down, including the factors that led to its eventual downfall in the early 2000s and its subsequent rebirth as a global automotive powerhouse under Chinese ownership. As the marque celebrates its 100th birthday, here’s everything you need to know about MG. Interested in an MG? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer . MORE: Everything MG MG – specifically MG Motor – is headquartered in Shanghai, China, and has been owned by the Chinese state-owned carmaker SAIC Motor since 2007. Many will know the MG badge for its much older origins though, and there’s plenty to unpack from its 100-year history. MG was established in 1924, when the first vehicles created by British car designer Cecil Kimber appeared in Oxford. Its origins aren’t as clear cut as other carmakers though, because the brand effectively began as an unofficial spin-off of Morris Garages – owned by British motor manufacturer William Morris. Morris Garages was an automobile retail sales and service centre in Oxford, where Mr Kimber was hired as a sales manager in 1921 and promoted to general manager in 1922. He went on to become the founder of MG. He began by modifying the standard production Morris Oxford, a model that had been in production since 1913. Mr Kimber’s modified versions were dubbed Kimber Specials, and they featured both Morris and MG badges. A reference to MG with its iconic octagon badge first appeared in a local newspaper in late 1923, and the symbol was later registered as a trademark by Morris Garages in 1924. In the same year, the MG 14/28 appeared as the company’s first recognised model, and in 1925 the MG Old Number One went on sale. Continued expansion over the coming years led to Morris Garages moving to several new locations, until a facility near the main Morris factory in Cowley, Oxford became its home in 1927. That factory provided the company its first opportunity to employ an actual production line. MG continued to grow and by 1928 it was large enough to warrant the establishment of an identity separate to the original Morris Garages, and so it was subsequently dubbed the M.G. Car Company in March 1928 – a name derived from its origins. 1928 also saw the launch of the first MG model that wasn’t a modified Morris, the MG 18/80. In October of that year it hosted its first exhibit at the London Motor Show, followed by another necessary relocation to a larger factory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire in 1929. In that year, it launched the first in a long line of its iconic sporty Midgets, the Morris-derived M-Type. The official M.G. Car Company was incorporated on July 21, 1930. It soon rolled out several small T-Series models that were later exported worldwide following World War II. Those cars achieved unexpectedly high success thanks to models like the MG TC, TD, and TF – all of which were based on the pre-war MG TB. Throughout the 1930s, MG also began enjoying success in motorsport after toppling British giants like Bentley. Mr Kimber stayed with the company as its managing director until 1935, when Mr Morris – who was still the company’s main shareholder – formally sold the M.G. Car Company to Morris Motors, which meant Mr Kimber was no longer the sole controlling owner. In the coming years the outbreak of WWII halted car production at MG, but it continued making basic items for the British army until Mr Kimber controversially obtained a contract to work on aircraft. He did so without prior approval, which led to company executives asking him to resign. He left in 1941 and soon found work elsewhere, though he was tragically killed in a railway accident at London’s King’s Cross station in 1945. In 1952, the M.G. Car Company and Morris were absorbed into the British Motor Corporation (BMC), which was created through a merger between Morris Motors and the Austin Motor Company. MG soon departed from its earlier pre-war designs to release the MGA in 1955. It was later followed by the iconic MGB in 1962, in response to demand for a more modern and comfortable sports car. From 1967 to 1969 a short-lived MGC was produced, which was based on the MGB but featured a larger, heavier six-cylinder engine and noticeably worse handling. Aside from those small sports cars though, many of MG’s cars under BMC were simply badge-engineered versions of models from other marques. One such car was the MG Midget of 1961, which was a rebadged and slightly restyled Austin-Healey Sprite. In 1966, BMC merged with Jaguar Cars to form British Motor Holdings (BMH), which itself merged with the Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968 to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC). From the early 1970s under BLMC, the M.G. Car Company name disappeared and the MG marque began to only be used for rebadged models from BLMC’s other brands. The exception was the unsuccessful MGB GT V8, which was only in production from 1973 to 1976. While both the MGB and Midget designs were frequently modified to keep up to date with changing safety regulations, primarily in the United States, those two popular models were becoming outdated under BLMC ownership. MG’s step back during this period was largely caused by BLMC, later British Leyland, whose management and engineering staff were predominantly carried over from the former Leyland organisation. That was unfortunate for MG, as the Leyland company previously incorporated Triumph – its historically close rival. In fact, while Triumph was able to release new models during the 1970s like the TR7 and Dolomite, no new MG models were introduced except for that short-lived V8 MGB. Several distinct tiers emerged at British Leyland, with Triumph, Rover and Jaguar bundled into its Specialist Division, while MG was placed in the Austin-Morris division that generally made mass-produced family cars. Despite its lower status, MG proved to be profitable, though its profits were offset by substantial losses mounting from the rest of the Austin-Morris division. That meant any funding allocated to the division by British Leyland was diverted away from MG and instead to desperately needed mass-market models. That left MG with limited funding to maintain its tired lineup, let alone develop new models. The Abingdon plant closed as a result (bringing with it the death of the MGB and Midget), and in the 1980s MG returned to being used for badge-engineering Austin Rover models like the Metro, Maestro, and Montego. It wasn’t until 1992 that the MG marque reappeared in its own right, with the MG RV8 – an updated MGB Roadster with a V8 engine from Rover – previewed at that year’s Birmingham Motor Show. It entered low-volume production in 1993. That car was followed by the MG F in 1995, which was the first mass-produced all-new MG sports car since the death of the MGB in 1980. By that point, MG ownership had shifted hands multiple times. British Leyland became the Rover Group in 1986, which led to the MG marque being passed to British Aerospace in 1988 and then BMW in 1994. BMW sold the business in 2000, when the MG marque was passed on to the MG Rover Group based at the historic car factory in Longbridge, Birmingham. MG’s own sports cars continued to be sold alongside rebadged Rovers, and the lineup included the models like the MG ZS small sedan (a rebadged Rover 45) and the Rover 75 mid-sized sedan, both of which were sold in Australia in the mid-2000s. In 2005, the overarching MG Rover Group entered administration with £1.4 billion (~A$2.7 billion) in debt, and car production was suspended on April 7, 2005. Interestingly, the group wasn’t formally dissolved until May 2023. China had entered the MG picture as early as 2004, when reports of a joint venture between SAIC and MG Rover led to speculation from British media that a takeover was imminent. That initial venture fell through, and SAIC denied it had tried to purchase the company. In July 22, 2005, Nanjing Automobile Group purchased the rights to MG along with the MG Rover Group’s other assets, but it couldn’t acquire the Rover name from BMW and thus created Roewe. The company formed was titled NAC MG UK, and Nanjing Automobile later merged with SAIC Motor in 2007. Earlier in 2007 though, Nanjing had restarted MG production, which saw sports cars like the MG TF manufactured at Longbridge from 2008 to 2010. The company was renamed to MG Motor UK in 2009, and MG continues to be controlled by SAIC to this day. The first all-new MG in 16 years hit the market in the form of the MG 6 in 2011 – though it was derived from the SAIC-owned Roewe 550 and was thus distantly related to the Rover 75, which ended production in 2005. It was built both in China and in the United Kingdom at Longbridge, and was followed by the MG 3 in 2013. MG Motor ended production at the Longbridge plant in September 2016. MG vehicles have been primarily built in China ever since – with the exception of localised operations in countries like Thailand and India. SAIC has since designated MG as its main international brand, and it became China’s largest single-marque car exporter in 2019. MG Motor went on to sell around 840,000 units globally in 2023, when 88 per cent of its sales were outside of China. Apart from of SAIC-developed MG models, MG Motor also sells rebadged versions of other vehicles from SAIC-owned brands like Roewe (successor to Rover) and Maxus (founded by SAIC in 2011). One such vehicle is the second-generation MG HS, which is a rebadged version of the Chinese-market Roewe RX5. The new HS was released in 2024, alongside new-generation versions of the MG 3 and ZS, replacing Australia’s top-selling light car and small SUV, respectively. MG Motor has also since released its first roadster under Chinese ownership, the battery-electric Cyberster. Between 2020 and 2023, MG was one of the fastest-growing brands in the UK and Europe, and during the same period its Australian sales quadrupled. Its most popular global model continues to be the ZS, while MG’s sales were boosted by the arrival of its first electric vehicle (EV) developed from the ground up – the MG 4 in 2022. In 2023, China was MG Motor’s largest market with 99,441 sales. It was followed by the UK with 81,289, Mexico with 60,128, and Australia with 58,346. Interested in an MG? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer . MORE: Everything MG MG currently sells six distinct models in Australia, though there are several caveats. MG’s Australian lineup is as follows: Prices are based on a Victorian postcode, and all exclude on-road costs unless specified as drive-away (D/A). You can click the names of the cars in the table above to be taken to their dedicated CarExpert showrooms. Prices for the MG 3, 4, and 5 are all as-listed, though specific drive-away pricing for the MG 4 range is only listed for the base-spec Excite 51. It’s also worth noting there are currently several factory bonus deals available, which bring discounts for models like the ZS EV – check MG’s website for more details. There are also several ZS models, which can be explained as standard (ZS), updated and restyled (ZST), electric (ZS EV), and new-generation (ZS Hybrid+) – the latter of which is hitting showrooms this month and will be followed by new petrol versions early next year. The HS and 3 are now officially in their second-generation guises, while the all-new Cyberster has only just arrived in Australia and will go on sale next month. While the HS and 3 are two models that received significant updates this year, you can still purchase new previous-generation versions of both models while stocks last. The old MG 3 is currently discounted through MG’s run-out sale for $19,990 drive-away, alongside the old HS for either $28,990 drive-away or $30,990 drive-away depending on the variant. Similarly, the outgoing HS Plus EV plug-in hybrid is on sale for either $34,990 drive-away or $37,990 drive-away. We’ll now provide a top-line overview of each of the new and incoming models, though it’s worth checking out our individual price and specs articles for detailed information. These will be linked to the model’s name below. The MG 3 is the brand’s smallest model, and it’s available as either a standard petrol variant or the electrified Hybrid+. Each employ a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, and non-hybrids get a continuously variable transmission (CVT) compared to the ‘hybrid’ transmission in the Hybrid+. Drive is sent to the front wheels only. It’s a similar story with the MG 5 , though its higher-spec version adds a turbocharger and a dual-clutch transmission to its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Lower grades utilise a CVT, and all are front-wheel drive. A facelift for the MG 5 has been revealed in China, and it’ll likely arrive in Australia early next year. As for MG’s SUVs, there are currently two in the lineup. The smallest of the pair is the ZS, which has been on sale for some time and has just been released in next-generation Hybrid+ form. The outgoing ZS only has one variant available, which utilises a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a four-speed torque converter transmission. It’s front-wheel drive only. Above that is the ZST , which is updated and restyled compared to the standard ZS. It’s front-wheel drive only and there are four variants; the bottom two use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder mated with a CVT, while the top two gain a 1.3-litre turbo three-cylinder and a six-speed torque converter automatic. The new-gen ZS Hybrid+ is arriving this month in two variants, both with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. That’s mated with a three-speed motor-assisted hybrid transmission, with drive again sent to the front wheels only. There’s also the larger HS , which is now in its second generation. It’s sold in three variants, and all use a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. MG’s EV range also includes SUVs with the ZS EV , which is sold in three variants. The two cheapest variants utilise a 50.3kWh battery pack for 320km of WLTP range, while the top-spec Long Range gains a 72kWh unit for a claimed range of 440km. Then there’s the dedicated-electric MG 4 , Australia’s cheapest EV, that is sold in five variants. The base Excite 51 is the only one to use a 51kWh battery for a claimed range of 350km, while the next two up use a 64kWh battery for ranges of 450km and 435km respectively. The Long Range 77 has a 77kWh battery pack and a claimed range of 530km, and all are rear-wheel drive. The odd one out is the XPower at the top of the range, which has a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, a 64kWh battery, and 400km of driving range. Finally, MG Motor’s most unique global car to date is the all-electric Cyberster . It’s coming to Australia in one all-wheel drive variant, and it’s the most expensive car MG has ever brought here. The scissor-door convertible utilises a 77kWh battery pack for a claimed range of 443km, while MG says it can reach 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds. Interested in an MG? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer . MORE: Everything MG MG is primarily competing against auto brands that sell similarly affordable cars in Australia, namely Chery, GWM, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and – at a stretch – Mazda. Firstly Chery, as it’s another Chinese brand competing in similar Australian market segments. Its Omoda 5 and Tiggo 4 Pro are strong rivals for the ZST and ZS respectively, largely due to their price and size. The entry-level Omoda 5 FX is priced at $27,990 drive-away, compared to the ZST Core’s $26,990 drive-away price tag. On the cheaper end, the Tiggo 4 Pro costs as little as $23,990 drive-away, while the ZS is priced from $20,990 drive-away. In terms of larger SUVs, the closest matched vehicles are the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro ($39,990 drive-away) and the MG HS ($34,990 drive-away). GWM – another Chinese manufacturer – competes against MG’s SUVs with its Haval-branded Jolion and H6 models, while the Ora EV is also a strong rival for the MG 4. The MG 3 is MG’s cheapest and smallest car, therefore making it a rival for the Suzuki Swift Hybrid . There are some differences though – the MG 3 is cheaper than the Swift Hybrid, and the cheapest Swift Hybrid offers a manual transmission instead of a CVT. Mitsubishi’s ASX small SUV goes up against the ZS on price in particular, while its larger models like the Eclipse Cross and Outlander can also be compared to the HS in size and price – though the HS wins out on standard tech. Mazda isn’t a direct rival for MG, though its smaller and older models like the Mazda 2 and CX-3 would likely be cross-shopped against the MG 3 (MG 5 in sedan guise) and ZS respectively. The key difference is Mazda’s cheapest models tend to offer a slightly higher level of luxury (albeit without being legitimately luxurious) than comparable MGs. Similarly, the Cyberster doesn’t currently have any direct competitors, given its unique positioning as an all-electric high-performance roadster. Interested in an MG? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer . MORE: Everything MG MG is currently Australia’s seventh-best selling auto brand, sandwiched between Mitsubishi in sixth and Isuzu in eighth. Against the above rivals on yearly sales to the end of October this year, MG (41,302) ranks considerably higher than both Chery (8956) and Suzuki (17,670), though there’s a much smaller gap to GWM (35,143). It’s still well behind Mazda (81,143) and Mitsubishi (62,588), the latter of which is currently enjoying a year-to-date sales increase of a sizeable 20.1 per cent. MG, meanwhile, is currently down 15.6 per cent on its figure from this time last year. That means MG is on track to fall short of its record sales figure of 58,346 in 2023, if it maintains October’s monthly sales of 5206 for the rest of the year. It is, however, only around 8000 units down on its 2022 sales figure of 49,582. MG remains Australia’s top-selling Chinese brand, with GWM currently its closest rival on the charts. The brand’s best-selling model here is the ZS, which has found 18,668 new homes so far this year. It’s worth noting that figure combines sales of the ZS, ZST, and ZS EV. It’s followed by the MG 3 on 10,421, but after that is a sizeable gap to the MG 4, its second most popular model with 5258 sales. Making up the rest of the total are the HS and MG 5 with 3530 and 3425 sales respectively. Interestingly, both the ZS and MG 4 made the sales top 20 for the month of October this year. The ZS ranked 11th, ahead of cars like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda CX-3 , while the MG 4 was 16th and ahead of the Isuzu MU-X and Hyundai i30 . Interested in an MG? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer . MORE: Everything MG MG has multiple new models on the way in 2025 alone, following the launch of several others in late 2024. The two recently launched new models are the Cyberster and the ZS Hybrid+ , which will be on sale shortly. The next new MG expected to arrive here is the MG 7 fastback , which entered production in China in 2022. It’ll fill the large sedan space currently unoccupied by MG, whose only current sedan is the smaller MG 5. On that note, an update to the MG 5 is expected to arrive at a similar time to the MG 7, and it’s expected to improve the current model’s ANCAP safety rating. Next up is the new petrol-powered ZS , which is expected to arrive in the first half of 2025. Though it follows the Hybrid+ version, it’ll feature the same design and bring the rest of the ZS range into the current generation. Similarly, a replacement for the ZS EV is expected to arrive in first half of next year – though it’ll likely look different to the new ZS and more like the S5 electric SUV spied in Australia earlier this year. Unlike the MG 3-based ZS, the S5 will share its platform with the MG 4. Another MG 4-influenced car is the second-generation Marvel R , which is another electric SUV but appears to be closer in size to the HS. The current Marvel R has been sold overseas for some time, but never in Australia. The second-generation version is expected to arrive in local showrooms in the first half of 2025. As MG’s largest SUV, however, the HS is expected to gain hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions in mid-2025. They’ll join the latest petrol HS, which itself arrived in Australia earlier this year. MG is also looking to bring its first seven-seat SUV to Australia in the future, and – like the HS – it’s expected to be a rebadged SUV from fellow SAIC brand Roewe. In this case it’ll be the RX9, but timing is unconfirmed. While MG has confirmed the RX9 for the Philippines, it may need a different name in Australia given Mazda owns the rights to the RX-9 trademark here. Interested in an MG? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer . MORE: Everything MG
