g hotel dauis
AP News Summary at 5:04 p.m. EST
President-elect Donald Trump reveals Republicans will attempt to eliminate ‘inconvenient’ daylight saving timeSenores Pharma, Ventive Hospitality debut at premium; Carraro shares list at 8% discount
Whether you wanted to dance to a top DJ or down a few pints with your mates, Kent has been home to some first-class pubs and clubs over the decades. Sadly, some of our most loved venues have closed down, leaving us with just our memories of the times we spent there. Here, we take a look at some of the biggest, best places to be over the years - where we’d love to return for one more night out. Amadeus/Passion, Rochester No nostalgia piece about Kent’s most iconic venues could go without Amadeus, the £5 million club at Medway Valley Leisure Park which opened in a blaze of glory in 1997. There’s a good chance a lot of people visiting it in its current form as a Hollywood Bowl have no idea of the mayhem that used to take place behind those walls, whether it be jamming to garage music, hooking up with fellow punters or throwing up after one too many shots. Every weekend, hundreds of glammed-up dancers would head to the club, make the most of £1 drinks before 11pm, buy grub from the burger bar and battling to keep track of your friends – it was a huge venue. Lovingly labelled "Amadangerous", there even used to be a bus service taking people from pub to pub. It was sold in 2003 but the tunes kept coming for eight more years, ending life under the name Passion before it was finally time to say goodbye. All we have now are those memories, with punters often taking to social media to relive those heavy nights . Atomics, Maidstone In 1991, Maidstone DJ Mick Clark converted an old warehouse on Hart Street into Atomics, which became a legendary dance music venue. Among those to grace the decks were Boy George, Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold and Judge Jules and the county town’s now-famous son Nic Fanciulli cut his teeth there. Home to the infamous Club Class nights, Atomics looked different every week, decorated with banners, inflatables and lasers. It welcomed clubbers from as far away as France and Germany, as well as all over the south east, who danced to hardcore, happy house, drum ‘n’ bass and house over the years. It wasn’t to last though. Atomics closed after 11 years and the building was eventually converted into apartments. Warehouse, Maidstone Of course, you can’t mention Atomics without giving fellow Maidstone club Warehouse a shoutout. Described by some as the birthplace of British dance music, the club easily rivalled London venues in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Warehouse opened in 1979 in a former industrial warehouse, opposite where the Fremlin Walk car park now stands, and DJs led clubbers on a musical journey over the years, playing cheesy 80s, jazz funk, soul, disco and house. When it closed 12 years later, it was a rave club. Music would be lighthearted until 11pm when the DJ would drop a track such as acid techno favourite Spice by Eon and it would be hard rave for the next three hours. Bridge Country Club, Canterbury From a £100 Led Zeppelin gig to its legendary 'grab-a-granny' nights, few places had quite the hedonistic reputation as Bridge Country Club between the 60s and 90s. The historic mansion on the outskirts of Canterbury was the most popular rock and roll and disco venue in the county, embracing the music of the era. Among the bands who performed there were the Moody Blues, the Kinks, the Yardbirds and Manfred Mann, as well as jazz legends Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball. It has since been transformed into a luxury hotel - The Pig at Bridge. Onyx/The Priz, Folkestone Whether your era was La Parisienne, Club Indigo or Onyx, a night out at ‘the Priz’ was a rite of passage for generations who grew up in Folkestone. The seafront nightclub was the heartbeat of the town’s party scene for almost three decades, but eventually, the sound system fell silent and the dancefloor cleared for the final time in October 2015. Then, just months after the party was over for good, the building was hit by a suspected arson attack. Now, the foundations of the nightclub are nowhere to be seen, hidden under shingle on Folkestone beach. Whether throwing shapes to dance tracks in the main room, or revelling in the cheesiest hits of the decades next door, it was always a top night. Stage Three, Leysdown Leysdown venue Stage Three used to be a major attraction for lovers of jazz, funk and soul music in the late 70s and early 80s – as long as you didn’t mind the drive to the far side of the Isle of Sheppey. Founded by Robert and Mark Wilson in 1979, it took influences for its lighting and sound from famous New York haunts like Studio 54 and Paradise Garage. World-famous DJs including Pete Tong used to perform sets there, but it was forced to shut after a fire in September 1989. The site is now a car park that sometimes hosts a market. The much-loved former club had a popular reunion night in 2014. Dusty’s/Liquid, Ashford The 123-year-old flour mill in East Hill has had many names and spent a long time as an iconic late-night venue after it closed as a working mill in 1972. It hit the headlines in 1974 when a catastrophic fire devastated part of the building but was soon transformed into Ashford's first nightclub, Dusty's and the Jolly Miller, in 1981. The club closed in 1990, when the owner of the mill reportedly abandoned the business owing thousands of pounds, then became Cales Nightclub and Flatfoot Sam's for 11 years before undergoing a £500,000 facelift and being rebranded as Liquid in 2002. It shut in 2014 and has since fallen into more serious dereliction with multiple attacks of vandalism and trespassing over the years. M20, Ashford What is now a place to enjoy a plate of peri peri chicken was once an exciting raving destination. The M20 nightclub opened in the early Noughties in Eureka Park, in what would become Nando's. It became the first club in Britain to receive a Superclub award in 2004 but shut in 2005 and remained empty for three years until reopening as Strawberry Moons. It then became Rain, and finally Arena Live before the restaurants moved in. Excalibur, Gillingham This one was a legendary clubbing destination within the King Charles Hotel. The club in Gillingham was demolished to make way for houses in 2019 but in the 80s and 90s it welcomed rap duo Salt-N-Pepa, cult icon Rick Astley and heartthrobs Bros. It was known as The Regency in 1982 before its final incarnation as Excalibur - which enjoyed a hugely successful run from 1989 until its close in 1998. In 2018, a 90s themed goodbye night was hosted before the building was demolished to make way for houses. JJ's, Sittingbourne JJ's has had a few names, including Base and Fat Sam's and was found within the Bell Shopping Centre in Sittingbourne. It was eventually lost to the town, and the shopping centre collapsed in 2013. Plans had been in the works to transform the derelict site into 165 flats, a medical centre and a pharmacy but the site is now up for sale. The Front, Herne Bay The Front was part of Talk of the Town right on the seafront and shared the building amusement arcade and casino. It has had various names over the years, including New York and Show Bar. The owners sold the venue in 2018 after contending with rising taxes and the costs of the casino. After the sale, Talk of The Town became an events venue called Vibe and a cocktail bar called Captain Jack's. The Funky Monkey, Dover One that was still recently with us, the Funky Monkey closed in December two years ago. The building is part of an ambitious plan to transform that "neglected" part of Dover. It was one of the town’s most popular venues and "created a lot of memories" for those who graced its dancefloor. After running for 16 years, work to demolish it started last year. Moo Moo, Gillingham This Canterbury Street nightclub wasn’t always known by the cow-sound name, having previously lived life as Bliss and Preach. Dating back to the 1970s, the club was known under many guises: Joanna's, The Zone, Ritzy, Preach, and Bliss. Renamed Moo Moo in 2016, it became famous in its later years for freshers' events, and UV parties with foam, paint and ball pits – becoming a rite of passage for students from the University of Kent's Medway campus. The club closed down in 2019 and was demolished earlier this year . Franks, Cliftonville This clubbing venue in Ethelbert Crescent, was previously run by Frank Thorley who sadly passed away last year. It was once a popular spot with two-for-one offers, ladies' nights and under-18s events. In 2009, it closed down and was sold. The Margate location's ground floor is now home to a community space and was formerly Rendezvous restaurant, while the top floor is the Faith in Strangers events space. AMP/SOS, Tonbridge At the time of its closure on Christmas Eve 2017, AMP, which was previously known as Source of Sound, was Tonbridge's only nightclub. There was heartbreak among regulars as plans revealed the disco would be turned into 14 new flats and a gym. After closing, it was a community creative space called Hub for a while. The site has not been transformed as of yet, despite two separate planning applications for the development of apartments. The Jolly Sailor, Canterbury A pub first stood on the corner of Northgate Street as early as 1619. Sadly, almost 400 years later, it was serving its final pint. It was then known as the Black Swan, before changing its name to the Jolly Sailor between 1780 and 1830. The pub was popular with students and had been taken over by Ian Blackmore, a former uni student in the city, in 2008 before he had to give it up 10 years later. It was bought by the Kings School in 2019 after its closure, with the latest plans to do something with the site causing controversy . The Court House/Wig and Gown, Dartford Having shut twice in the past 10 years, this Spital Street boozer was sold earlier this year after its operating costs doubled. When it shut for the first time in 2016, the Court House had been going since the late 1990s. The building was first erected in 1850 as part of the methodist church opposite but was converted into a Crown Court within 10 years. A short-lived revival saw the name change after reopening in 2018, but the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis plunged it back into trouble. The Saracens Head, Deal Closing in March last year, this 19th-century pub has been the centre of a planning row after a bid to turn it into a home was launched. Despite the pub originally thriving, its last tenants, Matthew and Martine Brett, left after 13 months saying it had been “ impossible to make a profit ”. Strawbs frontman Dave Cousins joined a fight to protect it from developers in 2016 when it was made an asset of community value. The building is thought to date back as far as 1806 when it housed a carpenter’s shop and several apartments before becoming a pub 15 years later. Cross Keys, Canterbury This 17th-century Oaten Hill pub was forced to close in December 2019 when a huge hole and 20ft deep shaft opened up in the toilet floor . There were hopes of seeing it reopen within a couple of years but as of now, it remains an eyesore. It was originally referred to as the Trumpet in 1687 before changing its name less than 10 years later, and in the 1950s also housed a bakery. Older customers will remember when Charringtons and Co and Whitbread Fremlin included the Cross Keys in a pub swap in 1972. The Railway Tavern, Teynham When it closed in 2015, the writing had been on the wall for some time for this pub between Sittingbourne and Faversham. The owner had said a year before it was no longer commercially viable and his efforts to turn it back into a house once prompted Swale Borough Council to visit him out of fears he was suicidal. But dating back to 1857, the tavern had a proud history with many locals visiting the Lower Road over the years. It was originally built as a farmhouse and had been a Barclay’s, Courage and Enterprise Inns establishment. Duke of Kent/Braces, Ramsgate This quirky-looking inn has gone through many names including Cobblers, Duke of Kent and Swiss Cottage. It was more recently called Braces and closed in 2009 and then became a favourite haunt of trespassers. In 2017, permission was granted for Braces to be demolished, but nothing happened and the building went up for sale in 2019. Finally, in 2020 it was demolished, and flats were built in its place. Millers Cottage, Gravesend This once-charming inn in Shrubbery Road made headlines in 2009 when its bar staff got their kit off for a charity calendar. Built in 1695, the original building has since undergone many changes and was still grinding wheat to serve its original purpose until the last miller to occupy the cottage, one Michael Slaughter Woolett, left in 1842. It was then opened as a public house where the drinks flowed until 2018, two years after it went up for sale. The building was soon converted into a property, though the nearby Windmill Tavern remains. The Greyhound, Rochester The Greyhound was a traditional backstreet boozer and was found on Rochester Avenue. For decades, landlady Wendy Stenhouse served up sound advice, good grub and pints. She even took one regular out clothes shopping when she didn't approve of his fashion sense, and she and her late husband Bill used to go on holidays abroad with their customers. After Bill died, Wendy kept running the business for a few years but eventually pulled the last pint in 2002. The King’s Arms, Headcorn This High Street property opened as a boozer in the 1830s but was the setting for Catholic intrigue before then. Local Jacobites - supporters of the deposed James II and his descendants in their claim to the British throne after the Revolution of 1688 - used the house as a secret rendezvous while it was also seen as a “seedy joint” thanks to its ties with the Hawkhurst Gang. After closing in 2016, it became an Indian restaurant and then an opticians. The Elephants Head, Sevenoaks This pub was once visited by an actual elephant, which had been forced to walk from Wales to Maidstone when the cricus she was travelling in was taken off the road. Lizzy, as she was known, sadly died of a heart attack soon after. The watering hole started serving in 1867 but sadly closed in 2009. The site is now occupied by Sevenoaks Veterinary Surgery. The Mounted Rifleman, Luddenham The Mounted Rifleman near Faversham has a vibrant history. Most interestingly, it had no bar. There was just a cellar below and the landlord, John Austin, would bring up drinks on a tray. There was huge uproar from locals when the closure of the pub was announced in the early 1990s and the news reached local TV. The pub had been owned by the same family for well over 100 years before it was sold and became a private house. However, the painted sign on the front of the building has been kept.Final regular-season games loom large in determining conference championship matchupsNone
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
John Fetterman slams liberal magazine for calling assassination of health insurance boss 'inevitable'Elon Musk jokes about buying MSNBC with risqué meme: ‘Temptation’
NEW YORK and LONDON , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. (NYSE: PDCC) (the "Company") has commenced an underwritten public offering of its Series A Preferred Stock Due 2029. Certain financial and other terms of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be determined by negotiations between the Company and the underwriters. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are rated 'BBB' by Egan-Jones Ratings Company, an independent rating agency. In addition, the Company plans to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the same terms and conditions. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and to trade thereon within 30 days of the original issue date under the ticker symbol "PDPA." Lucid Capital Markets, LLC ("Lucid"), B. Riley Securities, Inc. and Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers and InspereX LLC and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC are acting as lead managers for the offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to acquire investments in accordance with the investment objectives and strategies described in the prospectus supplement and for general working capital purposes. Investors should consider the Company's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The preliminary prospectus, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), contains this and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. The information in the preliminary prospectus and this press release is not complete and may be changed. The preliminary prospectus and this press release are not offers to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted. A registration statement relating to these securities is on file with, but has not yet been declared effective by, the SEC. Copies of the preliminary prospectus (and the final prospectus, when available) may be obtained by writing to Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, by calling Lucid toll-free at 646-362-0256 or by sending an e-mail to Lucid at prospectus@lucid.com . Copies also may be obtained on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Egan-Jones Ratings Company is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO). A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and any such rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the applicable rating agency. About Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. (NYSE: PDCC) is an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Its primary investment objective is to maximize its portfolio's total return, with a secondary objective of generating high current income. The Company seeks to achieve these objectives by investing primarily in equity and junior debt tranches of CLOs collateralized by portfolios of sub-investment grade, senior secured floating-rate debt issued by a large number of distinct US companies across several industry sectors. The Company is externally managed by Pearl Diver Capital LLP. For more information, visit www.pearldivercreditcompany.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the prospectus and the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE Investor Contact: Info@Pearldivercap.com UK: +44 (0)20 3967 8032 US: +1 617 872 0945 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearl-diver-credit-company-inc-announces-offering-of-series-a-preferred-stock-302329464.html SOURCE Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc.
Act leader David Seymour (L) and NZ First leader Winston Peters are at odds over the government's new ferry replacement plan. Photo: RNZ On Wednesday, Seymour said indicative costings were "approximately half the at least $3 billion cost" of Labour's proposal. He shared that information despite Minister of Finance Nicola Willis' caution about disclosing costs. Asked on Morning Report if the government had a sum in mind, Peters said it would be "stupid" and "imprudent" to name the price. "I said [on Wednesday] it would be most imprudent, politically and business-wise, stupid, to start saying what you're going to buy them for, because that's the bottom line. They'll start from there and up it will go." He rejected Seymour's statement the new deal would cost a "fraction of the price" of the iRex project, and that private investment remained on the table. "You're talking to the minister in charge now, not the one that's not in charge." Pressed by host Ingrid Hipkiss on whether Seymour's $2.2bn sum was incorrect, he said, "Of course he's wrong on it. "He's wrong on the figures that he's used, he's wrong on the question of privatisation and he's wrong on the question of what it's going to cost. "But I'll tell you this: it's going to cost a whole lot less than... if we'd persisted with a policy where the whole plan was not to buy two ferries but to build a whole infrastructure costing almost 80 percent of the whole project. "Where on earth did anybody think that this was a good idea?" Seymour said yesterday the new plan was "a very good design", and that "private money options are open". Peters told Morning Report "everything's in the mix but some of the comments I've heard about privatisation ... are just ridiculous. "We've been through that, we went through that in 1993 when Fay Richwhite got a hold of it and when it was going to make $100m a year... "It got run down twice in the past; this is not new. But I can tell you this, we will fix it. And I'm certain with the right people behind us, put together very, very quickly, we will have the answers to you." Asked how the tender process would work, Peters replied: "This is not our first rodeo - we're going to go out and say we want this and this and this, and you tell us what you can do it for, and then we will decide who is the best company."
Credit Acceptance Celebrates its 10th Year as a Best Place to Work in IT by Computerworld
BOULDER, Colo. — A 72-year-old lifelong Colorado fan with end-stage kidney failure waited to the side of the field in his wheelchair for Travis Hunter and the rest of the Buffaloes. One by one, players strolled over and signed a football for Riley Rhoades, his face lighting up with each signature. Standing close by and taking in the scene was Jeremy Bloom. He's become a wish facilitator for older adults. Bloom, the former Colorado wide receiver and Olympic freestyle skier, started the Wish of a Lifetime foundation in 2008, which has made thousands of aspirations turn into reality for older adults. The list of granted wishes range from taking veterans back to the beaches of Normandy to helping late-in-life authors publish a book. He's staged concerts for musicians, assisted some in daredevil feats such as jumping out of an airplane and even lined up a meeting between an Olympic medalist and former President Barack Obama. For Rhoades, his wish was simply to return to Folsom Field again, the place where he used to have season tickets but hasn't attended a game since 2004. "Everybody has somebody in their life —a grandparent, friend, neighbor — at that age where you wish you had more resources to help," said Bloom, whose college career was cut short two decades ago when the NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams. "Nothing can compare to seeing someone else's eyes light up because you helped make their dream come true." The foundation is a tribute to his grandparents. But the concept began to take root when he was a teenager. He was in Japan for a World Cup freestyle skiing competition when a woman tried to hop on a crowded bus. There was no room, but everyone in front rose from their seats to make space. That stuck with him, along with seeing these acts of kindness for older adults all over Europe and Asia as he traveled. An idea formed — bring that same level of appreciation to the United States, with a wish-granting element. Bloom's organization has been a charitable affiliate of AARP since 2020. It was the yearning of Rhoades that brought the two of them to Folsom Field last weekend. Rhoades, who had season tickets at Colorado for 27 years, wanted to see the Buffaloes in person after watching the team's resurgence on television. A few years ago, Rhoades, who was born with spina bifida, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Being among the 54,646 fans Saturday stirred up plenty of emotions for Rhoades, as he watched the 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) beat Utah. Colorado remains in the race for not only a conference title but a spot in the College Football Playoff. "It's just great to be back here again," Rhoades said as he pointed out the section where he used to watch games. "It's just ... so cool." For Bloom, the success that coach Deion Sanders has brought to the program means more reunions with teammates as they pass through town. "I've been through many years where nobody comes to visit," Bloom said. "It's fun that Boulder has become the epicenter of college football." Leading the way for Colorado this season have been quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Hunter, who's the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. But what particularly pleases Bloom is that Sanders, Hunter and the rest of college football players are able to finally profit through name, image and likeness. In his day, Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in one (skiing) so he could fund his Olympic aspirations. How time have changed. "I'm just really grateful that this generation of athletes gets to monetize their skills and ability," said Bloom, who finished sixth in moguls at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy. "It's the right thing." He's thrown his passion into fulfilling wishes such as learning ballet, riding in a Formula 1 pace car or taking a flight in a fighter jet. He's also helped reconnect families and friends, including a reunion for a trio of centenarian sisters who hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. This granted wish has stuck with Bloom: A person in Alabama wasn't able to travel after being diagnosed with end-of-life emphysema. So he asked for postcards to be sent, just to learn what made someone's town so special. He received 2,000 postcards from 26 different countries. "There's no end to the things that they've done for us in the world," Bloom said of older adults. "We're one of the organizations that reminds them that their dreams still do matter and that we still appreciate them and we cherish them." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
US News Today Live Updates: In today’s dynamic landscape, staying updated on the latest developments across the United States is essential. US News delivers the most impactful and current stories from coast to coast, covering a broad spectrum of topics, including politics, economic trends, healthcare, social issues, and cultural shifts. From significant government actions and economic shifts to breakthroughs in technology and the latest social debates, we provide real-time updates and thoughtful analysis to keep you informed. Our goal is to keep you connected to the stories that shape American life, ensuring you’re always in the know on the news that matters. US News Today Live: Flight attendant faces dismissal over her social media post about Liam Payne's body onboardJHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Medtronic ( NYSE: MDT ) shares continued losses for seven straight sessions, as the stock closed 0.7% lower at $82.94 on Wednesday. The Galway, Ireland-based MedTech giant lost over 2% in the preceding six sessions. Overall, the stock has gained nearly 2% so far this year, compared to the
In a bid to fund an upcoming tour, singer Kate Nash recently revealed an unconventional method to raise money: selling pictures of her posterior on the adult subscription platform, OnlyFans. Describing the move as “very empowering... fun [and] funny,” Nash, 37, told her critics to “kiss my a– (for a price of course),” reported The Telegraph . OnlyFans, established in 2016 by Essex entrepreneur Tim Stokely and his father Guy, is a paywalled social media platform where subscribers, or “fans,” pay fees ranging from $5 to $50 ( ₹ 415– ₹ 4,150) per month to access content. While it includes a wide variety of creators, much of its offerings are explicit in nature. The site allows direct interaction between subscribers and creators, with the option to pay additional “tips” for personalised content. Currently, the platform hosts more than four million creators. Discussing her decision to join OnlyFans, Nash said, “I need extra income to take the stress out of [touring],” adding that she wanted to fairly compensate her band and crew while providing high-quality shows. “I like flashing my a–, and I know a few people that run their own adult film companies or work on OnlyFans,” she shared. Pop artists join OnlyFans Nash is not alone in exploring this platform. Other musicians, including Lily Allen and rappers Cardi B and Iggy Azalea, have used OnlyFans for non-explicit ventures. Allen, 39, for example, shares photos of her feet under the username @lilyallenFTSE500 for an £8 ( ₹ 830) monthly fee and claims that the platform is already more profitable for her than streaming services, which pay artists just $0.003 to $0.005 ( ₹ 0.25– ₹ 0.40) per play. Creators on OnlyFans retain 80% of their earnings, while the platform takes a 20% cut. “OnlyFans has always been a platform for creators from all genres, including musicians,” said a spokesperson. “It provides opportunities to grow their presence, engage with fans, and earn revenue independently, away from traditional industry constraints.” Also read: ‘I am not a Pakistani’, clarifies YouTuber Zara Dar, who quit PhD for OnlyFans Despite its controversial reputation for hosting adult content, the platform has flourished, reporting revenues of $1.3 billion ( ₹ 1,07,900 crore) for the year ending November 2023—a 20% increase from the previous year. CEO Keily Blair emphasised that OnlyFans is not solely a pornographic website, noting that creators often post varied content, such as yoga videos, alongside more explicit offerings. Tim Stokely, who founded OnlyFans after experimenting with ventures like a porn website called Customs4U, described the platform’s concept in a 2021 interview. “The idea was to create a platform similar to social media but with a payment button,” he said. Initially embraced by sex workers, the site gained mainstream traction during the pandemic, with strip clubs closed and public figures like Bella Thorne and Cardi B joining the platform for brief periods. For many, OnlyFans has become a viable alternative to traditional income sources. A former estate agent who now uses the platform said subscribers tend to be supportive compared to anonymous trolls on other social media. However, building a successful presence requires significant effort. “I spend about two hours daily chatting with fans and also dedicate time to editing content,” she shared, adding that promoting oneself as a commodity demands resilience. Since its launch, OnlyFans has paid over $15 billion ( ₹ 1,24,500 crore) to creators, with some, like Dannii Harwood, earning their first million within a year. While Kate Nash and Lily Allen haven’t disclosed their earnings, the platform has proven immensely profitable for its owners. In 2023, Leonid Radvinsky, who holds a 75% stake, received a $472 million ( ₹ 37,200 crore) dividend, and Stokely’s net worth is estimated at $3.8 billion ( ₹ 3,16,300 crore). Also read: ‘I am addicted to filler, Botox’: 30-year-old OnlyFans star spends ₹ 53 lakh to look like 'Barbie for life'5 winners, 3 losers from the Lions’ win against Colts - Pride Of DetroitElections in 2024 in Japan, both regional and national, highlighted social media's influence, with underdog candidates surprisingly winning after positive portrayals and convincing narratives boosted their popularity online. As more people acquire information from social media rather than traditional news outlets such as TV, what circulates online should no longer be a "black box," analysts said, adding the press and political parties must promote a balanced digital space. A recent telephone survey by Kyodo News, meanwhile, showed that 85.5 percent of respondents expressed concern about the spread of unverified information on social media during election campaigns, casting doubt on the rapidly evolving circumstances. Information about candidates running in elections in Japan is widely shared online, often posted by individuals trying to attract reactions and earn advertising revenue. Frequent exposure to such content seems to be affecting how people vote. In the Hyogo gubernatorial election in November, Motohiko Saito was reelected as governor despite automatically losing the job after a no-confidence motion was unanimously adopted by the prefectural assembly, accusing him of abuse of power. Many news organizations expected Saito to struggle, as the race was held amid an assembly investigation into accusations against him, including the punishment of a subordinate who reported misconduct to the whistleblower's office and later died by apparent suicide. During the campaign period, however, narratives on social media claiming that there was "no abuse," that "reform-minded" Saito was forced to resign, and that a "lone victim" was fighting "vested interests" as a "hero" may have led to his triumph, analysts said. Saito's victory backed by his online popularity was reminiscent of the strong run in July in the Tokyo gubernatorial race by relatively unknown Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of a small city in Hiroshima Prefecture, who had no support from any major political party.Stock Market Today: Sensex, Nifty decline in morning trade; laggards list
A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins has a collection of 4.2 million butterflies representing hundreds of species. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. One expert familiar with Collins and his work suggests that the collection should be digitized for global access. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately.Capitals are rolling along without Alex Ovechkin thanks to depth that has kept them a contender
Nitish Kumar Reddy's Sister Tejaswi Reddy Opens Up on All-Rounder's Maiden International Century During IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test 2024 (Watch Video)For Destiny 2, the afterglow following The Final Shape, last summer's saga-capping expansion, has long faded. Those players who have stuck around (like me) for the next phase now have a shopping list of complaints about the episodic format that has followed, exacerbated by how buggy the game has become in the wake of the mass layoffs conducted by Bungie in July. Into that atmosphere it's important to strike the right balance between contrition over mistakes and the optimism necessary to convince players that the good times are coming again. In today's end of year communique from assistant game director Robbie Stevens, he largely gets the tone right, acknowledging that since The Final Shape "some changes have been well received by the community..." while "others have had a rocky start." Stevens cites the removal of weapon crafting as a particular pain point. The decision to cut crafting from seasonally-released weapons was sold as a way to make each loot drop more exciting, rather than just grinding out the patterns necessary before you could create your perfect 'God Roll'. However, and this may shock you, many people have not been delighted at going back to relying on RNG, particularly when as Stevens acknowledges, the new 'Tonic' system designed to mitigate that RNG has been buggy and onerous to interact with. We know we missed the mark with the Tonic timers and not guaranteeing a weapon from the active Tonic. The way Tonics work is that you use materials to mix potions, which once glugged will give your character an increased chance of looting a particular item for a set amount of time. In theory, it lets you target farm for the weapon you want, regardless of which of the game's many activities you're playing. In practice, some found themselves locked out of creating tonics entirely, others simply couldn't be bothered to manage the timers, and it was eventually discovered that certain tonics weren't even rewarding the right items. Add that to the recent 'Weightgate' controversy, in which the community uncovered a problem with the way loot RNG works (ie much less randomly than it should) that seemed to date all the way back to 2018, and it's little wonder that players have become increasingly frustrated and mistrustful about the game's fundamental systems. "Tonics were meant to provide loot agency in-lieu of crafting and give you a fresh way to chase gear," said Stevens. "But we know we missed the mark with the Tonic timers and not guaranteeing a weapon from the active Tonic. So, we’re in the process of developing changes to make Tonics last longer and give better payouts on top of a series of bug fixes planned for December 17." That is the question. And please indulge me with a mini-rant: Bungie really needs to sort out how Dungeon loot works. Certain exotics aside, weapons that drop from Dungeons have never been craftable, and that makes farming them a huge annoyance, specifically because the loot pool is clogged with armor that no one needs once they've unlocked the transmog. I recently spent two nights farming for a perfect VS Pyroelectric Propellant [picture top], and none of us even came close to the roll we wanted. We sure did get a lot of boots though. That's all well and good, but I'm still not convinced by Tonics as a concept. Extending their timers doesn't feel like enough of a rethink. Ultimately it's an unnecessary system layered onto a game which already has too many of those. Far better to take inspiration from the way Destiny 2 handles focusing for exotic class items and lets players simply toggle the item they wish to target. I feel much more positive about the mention of the Heretical Arsenal, which Stevens describes as "a new tier of seasonal weapon", which will launch as part of the next episode, currently scheduled for 4 February. "More details on these weapons as we approach Heresy but rest assured that it will be clear when they hit your inventory that they’re worth inspecting," said Stevens. My hope is that this might be an entirely new tier of weapon rarity, which frankly the game has needed for years. I'd love something like the Mythic Uniques found in Diablo, but if I had to guess it's more likely to be similar to the 'shiny' weapons that dropped from the original version of Onslaught. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Vaulting ambition More gear means more pressure on Guardians' storage vaults, but Stevens also hinted at help coming on that front. "We’re in the early stages of planning long-term changes to relieve vault pressure that will start [to] manifest later in the year of Codename Frontiers." For those of you who've understandably lost track of the lexicon of Destiny expansion codenames, Frontiers is the next big narrative cycle coming to Destiny, which will begin after Heresy wraps up next summer. Frontiers will comprise two expansions in 2025, each pegged at a roughly similar size to the Rise of Iron DLC, and involves players venturing out beyond the Sol system for the first time. The working title for the first of those expansions is Apollo, and Stevens confirmed that it will feature a brand new planetary destination which is already content complete: "We’re focused on polishing the non-linear campaign, Metroidvania gameplay experience, developing the finer details of the world and fleshing out the numerous quests that you’ll discover during the journey through new frontiers. The Core Game Portal, activities, modifiers, and next generation gear that will be Destiny’s new backbone are coming online." The Metroidvania concept is the most interesting thing here, as it points to a potentially very different way to explore the game's universe. However, if what that amounts to is time-gating by another name—ie ' Sorry, you can't get through that door this week, come back next with the right upgrade'—I suspect the outcry on Reddit will be heard from Venus. Speaking of playtesting Apollo's content, Stevens revealed that multiple community summits are in the works, and that Bungie is also hiring a number of gameplay specialists to test the core systems and activities. On that front, let's also hope the QA department is being staffed back up. I've played Destiny 2 for 10 years and many thousands of hours, and I've never known it to be this buggy. Only yesterday, an 'Event Card' for the game's winter celebration went live for free, when it normally costs $10, before it was pulled from the store. Bungie described that as a "bank error" in favor of those players who grabbed the cosmetics quickly enough, but that magnanimity aside, there are an enormous amount of bugs in the game which are hampering players. We've had loot chests that drop nothing. Abilities doing way too much (or too little) damage. Regular crashing in certain areas, UI glitches, in-game notifications that repeat ad nauseam—on and on it goes. As my colleague on GamesRadar noted last month: ' Destiny 2 is kind of a mess right now '. At no point in the blog does Stevens engage directly with the community-wide sentiment that something really needs to be done to stabilise the game, but I have to hope it's being made a substantial priority. Again, it's hard not to look back at those layoffs as the most likely culprit for the overall downturn in reliability. I mean, if developing your game is a bit like building a plane while still flying it, then maybe it isn't a good idea to get rid of a bunch of the people whose job it was to ensure things work properly.
Punjab Bandh: Farmers Block Roads At Many Places, Traffic Hit