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mnl777 vip The Ada Community Chiefs Association has urged both the outgoing government and President-elect John Mahama to address the violent attacks on workers at the community pan in Bornikope, located in the Ada West Constituency. The incident, which occurred on December 21, 2024, at approximately 10 a.m., resulted in two men sustaining injuries and the destruction of salt evaporation equipment. According to reports, the victims were allegedly mining salt at the concessions when they were attacked. Investigations have been initiated by the Sege District Police Headquarters following the filing of an assault case. Authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. One of the victims, 49-year-old Korletey Kuglenu, shared his harrowing experience. He described being brutally beaten by members of the community during the assault, which left him injured and devastated as his livelihood was destroyed. The chiefs have called for swift and decisive action against the perpetrators to ensure justice for the victims and to prevent further violence in the area. “Monday around 10:30, I went to my site. When I got there I saw some people there on the site, when I got closer one person called Sampson picked a stick and hit me with it twice for me to fall, when I tried to escape, another person called Mike came to hold my shirt and said the command says he should take my phone they took one motorbike belonging to my worker. After the incident, we went to the hospital but we were asked to go to the police station.” Speaking at a press conference, the Executive Secretary of the Association, Nene Daniel Sewu III, condemned the attack, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to destabilize the community. “Instead of supporting this transformative initiative, some individuals are manipulating others to seek their political interest. This must be condemned. The perpetrators of this violence must be brought to justice to serve as a caution to others who might harbour similar intentions. He further called on all stakeholders to adopt a non-partisan approach to resolving disputes over the Songor Lagoon, emphasizing the need for peace and stability in the area. We stand united in our demand for peace, progress and justice for Ada. The development of our region must not be hindered by the selfish ambition of few. We call on all stakeholders to join in condemning this action.” Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp! Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x No spams, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigitalLANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Washington Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas’ TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. CHIEFS 30, PANTHERS 27 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns , Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and Kansas City beat Carolina to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their first five possessions. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. David Moore had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Trailing 27-19, Young completed a fourth-down pass to Adam Thielen to move the chains, then went deep for the veteran receiver, who drew a pass-interference penalty on Chamarri Conner. That set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard. LIONS 24, COLTS 6 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores and David Montgomery added a third touchdown run, leading Detroit to a victory over Indianapolis. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards as the Lions (10-1) extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight. Detroit has its been 11-game record since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1934. Jared Goff continued his sensational season, too, completing 26 of 36 throws for 269 yards. The Colts (5-7) lost their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. Anthony Richardson was 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. While Indy managed to hold the NFL’s highest-scoring offense largely in check Sunday, it was doomed by its inability to finish drives with touchdowns. BUCCANEERS 30, GIANTS 7 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Baker Mayfield catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay’s four rushing touchdowns, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York’s skid to six. The Giants’ decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones did nothing to help the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. DeVito threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South. Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield’s TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor’Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed — seemingly mocking DeVito’s go-to celebration — as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead. DOLPHINS 34, PATRIOTS 15 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, including two scores to running back De’Von Achane, and Miami routed New England. The Dolphins (5-6) have a thin margin for error the rest of the season but have kept themselves afloat with a three-game winning streak. With their win at New England (3-9) in Week 5, the Dolphins have swept their division rivals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Tagovailoa, who moved to 7-0 in his career against New England, entered the game with a league-high 73.4% completion rate and went 29 for 40. Backup Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with about 11 minutes left in what was already a blowout, but a bad handoff on his first play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Christian Gonzalez and returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It cut New England’s deficit to 31-15, and Tagovailoa returned the next drive. TITANS 32, TEXANS 27 HOUSTON (AP) — Will Levis threw for 278 yards and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo put Tennessee on top in the fourth quarter and the Titans held on for a win over the Texans. Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 91⁄2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. Titans coach Brian Callahan held both hands in the air and smiled after watching the miss that allowed his team to win on a day it had three turnovers. The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. VIKINGS 30, BEARS 27, OT CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo’s game-ending 29-yard field goal , and Minnesota outlasted Chicago after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their fifth straight. Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand, leading 27-16 with 1:56 left after Romo kicked a 26-yard field goal. But the Bears weren’t finished. Deandre Carter made up for a muffed punt that led to a touchdown in the third quarter with a 55-yard kickoff return to the 40. Williams took it from there, capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore made it 27-24 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears recovered the onside kick and Williams hit Moore over the middle for a 27-yard gain to the 30 before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal as time expired.

NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday 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 . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”

Jake McCabe was absent from practice on Tuesday as injury concerns mount, and he's been replaced by a defenseman finally making his return. The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Jake McCabe in order to add another solid defenseman to their blueline, but little did they know they would strike gold with him. Since coming to Toronto, and especially since being paired with Chris Tanev, McCabe has been one of the league's best shutdown defenders and is a big part of why Toronto is giving up the fourth-least amount of goals per game so far. It's concerning then that McCabe was absent at practice, as he was not known to have any injury concerns, and with no word about what was going on, things could get bad quickly. So with McCabe out, in comes Dakota Mermis , a defenseman who is recovering from jaw surgery and is looking to make his debut this season. The news comes courtesy of David Alter of The Hockey News, and it's a sign that Toronto might be dealing with some more injuries to the team. Head coach Craig Berube tried to assuage all concerns as the stated that McCabe was simply having a day off for 'maintenance' which may also be concerning. It's concerning because Max Domi had two 'maintenance' days before he ended up on the IR dealing with an unspecified injury. If McCabe is hurt too, it's a huge blow to Toronto's improved defense. This season McCabe has been great, recording five assists so far but mainly playing elite shutdown defense alongside Chris Tanev. But that leads to the question... Who is Dakota Mermis? Dakota Mermis, a 6'0 defenseman from Alton, IL came over to the Maple Leafs as a free agent this summer. The 7-year NHL veteran has spent time with Arizona, New Jersey, and Minnesota where he has 12 points in 74 games. Known as a speedy and mobile defender, Mermis is a solid playmaker in addition to his defense. The former Iowa Wild captain is a great addition for Berube as he can employ him in various scenarios if he sees game action. While he isn't the biggest he has heart and grit; two traits near and dear to Berube. Signed primarily as depth, Mermis will look to try and get himself back into game action after missing so much time. While he won't see a ton of minutes, he can be counted on in case of emergency, much like Philippe Myers. He was skating with Chris Tanev and is more than likely a placeholder for McCabe while he takes a maintenance day. It's important though that Mermis gets reps with the team, as he could be a key insurance policy down the line. FAQ: Jake McCabe Replaced In Practice Q1: Why was Jake McCabe replaced in practice for the Maple Leafs? A1: Jake McCabe took what head coach Craig Berube calls a maintenance day; essentially a day off to rest any bumps and bruises and to take a mental reset and relax for a bit. It's not uncommon as other players like Max Domi and William Nylander have had these. Q2: Will Dakota Mermis play for the Maple Leafs? A2: It's not certain, and he is more than likely just a placeholder body for McCabe while he rests. Mermis is not likely to play unless an emergency happens and Toronto is lacking defensive depth all of a sudden. He's a great piece to have as insurance. In closing, Jake McCabe needs a day off, and he's earned it. He has been a fantastic defenseman this season, but the rigors of the NHL call for rest. Dakota Mermis took his spot in practice in a positive sign he's back on track after a serious injury put his career on hold. This article first appeared on Hockey Patrol and was syndicated with permission.Pro wrestling champion dead at 48 following heart attack

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The facts at hand suggest that the intersection is much more complicated, and Europe is on a slip road towards a spaghetti junction. At a moment of intense geopolitical upheaval and economic stagnation, the bloc is being squeezed from all sides, and from within. “The crisis theatres in Europe and Indo-Pacific are linked as we can witness from North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the EU’s outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell said last month. 01:09 North Korea may send 100,000 troops to Russia, as Kim tells military to ‘go all out’ On the face of it, the EU could hardly be less ready for these external shocks: politically and economically, it is perpetually on the cusp of turmoil.Bluesky is on the verge of overtaking Threads in all the ways that matter

'The people have spoken,' Esther Rantzen says as polls show public backs assisted dyingCAMBRIDGE, Mass. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM ), the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online, announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved its bid to acquire select assets from Edgio, including certain customer contracts from Edgio's businesses in content delivery and security, and non-exclusive license rights to patents in Edgio's portfolio. The transaction does not include the acquisition of Edgio personnel, technology, or assets related to the Edgio network. The court approval follows Akamai submitting the winning bid for the select assets during Edgio's 363 bankruptcy auction on November 13, 2024 , as part of its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief. The court decision provides the necessary approval for the closing of the sale to proceed. When the transaction closes, several hundred net new Akamai customers will have a clear path and the necessary support to smoothly migrate to a best-in-class and reliable provider of the services they need prior to Edgio ceasing operations of its content delivery network. The customers will also have immediate access to the full portfolio of Akamai's cybersecurity and cloud computing services. "Akamai is offering Edgio customers a smooth, secure transition without impacting their business or that of their end users," said Adam Karon , Akamai's Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Cloud Technology Group. "We have the capacity, capabilities, and experience to help Edgio customers easily migrate to Akamai, and we believe our track record with similar transactions gives us the expertise to help move them to Akamai as seamlessly as possible. We look forward to welcoming these new customers and giving them the opportunity to take advantage of Akamai's full range of security and cloud solutions, which run on the world's most distributed platform." For the fourth quarter of 2024, Akamai expects this transaction to add approximately $9 - $11 million in revenue. As part of its bid, Akamai agreed to pay certain costs for Edgio to operate its network during the transition and wind-down period until such time as Edgio ceases operation of its content delivery network in mid-January 2025 . Akamai expects those transition services costs to be approximately $15 - $17 million in the fourth quarter. Akamai anticipates the transaction to be dilutive to non-GAAP net income per diluted share by approximately $0.03 - $0.05 in the fourth quarter, inclusive of the transition service costs. For the full year 2025, Akamai anticipates this transaction will add approximately $80 - $100 million in revenue, approximately $25 - $30 million of transition service costs, and be accretive to non-GAAP net income per diluted share by approximately $0.15 - $0.20 . "We believe this transaction will create significant value for Akamai and our shareholders," said Ed McGowan , Akamai's Chief Financial Officer. "By integrating these customers onto our platform with its advantageous cost structure, we expect to improve profitability and unlock new growth opportunities. We're excited about the potential to cross-sell and up-sell our advanced security and cloud computing solutions to this expanded customer base." The transaction is expected to close in early December 2024 , subject to customary closing conditions for a transaction of this type. About Akamai Akamai is the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online. Our market-leading security solutions, superior threat intelligence, and global operations team provide defense-in-depth to safeguard enterprise data and applications everywhere. Akamai's full-stack cloud computing solutions deliver performance and affordability on the world's most distributed platform. Global enterprises trust Akamai to provide the industry-leading reliability, scale, and expertise they need to grow their business with confidence. Learn more at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog , or follow Akamai Technologies on X and LinkedIn . Contacts Akamai Public Relations [email protected] Akamai Investor Relations [email protected] Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act This press release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about: management's guidance regarding the expected impact of the transaction on Akamai, including its expected impact on revenue, non-GAAP net income per diluted share, capital expenditures, and new customer additions; the potential benefits of the transaction to Akamai, its customers and its shareholders; expectations regarding customer migration in connection with the transaction; expected transition services costs; the expected duration of Edgio's transition and wind-down period; and the expected closing date of the transaction. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change as a result of various important factors, many of which are beyond the company's control, including, but not limited to: the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; the parties' ability to satisfy closing conditions; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreements; Akamai being unable to achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction; the risk that customer migration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the retention of key personnel during the transition period; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; effects of competition, including pricing pressure and changing business models; impact of macroeconomic trends, including economic uncertainty, turmoil in the financial services industry, the effects of inflation, rising and fluctuating interest rates, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, securities market volatility and monetary supply fluctuations; continuing supply chain and logistics costs, constraints, changes or disruptions; defects or disruptions in Akamai's products or IT systems, including cyber-attacks, data breaches or malware; changes to economic, political and regulatory conditions in the United States or internationally; and other factors that are discussed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Akamai does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), Akamai provides additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP financial measures). Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for financial and operational decision making, for planning and forecasting purposes, to measure executive compensation and to evaluate Akamai's financial performance. The non-GAAP financial measure used in this release is non-GAAP net income per diluted share. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Akamai's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in the business, as they facilitate comparison of financial results across accounting periods and to those of our peer companies. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enable investors to evaluate Akamai's operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management. These non-GAAP financial measures may exclude expenses and gains that may be unusual in nature, infrequent or not reflective of Akamai's ongoing operating results. The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of Akamai's GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Akamai's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the financial guidance contained in this press release that is provided on a non-GAAP basis cannot be reconciled to the closest GAAP measures without unreasonable effort because of the unpredictability of the amounts and timing of events affecting the items we exclude from non-GAAP measures. For example, stock-based compensation is unpredictable for Akamai's performance-based awards, which can fluctuate significantly based on current expectations of the future achievement of performance-based targets. Amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs are all impacted by the timing and size of potential future actions, which are difficult to predict. In addition, from time to time, Akamai excludes certain items that occur infrequently, which are also inherently difficult to predict and estimate. It is also difficult to predict the tax effect of the items we exclude and to estimate certain discrete tax items, such as the resolution of tax audits or changes to tax laws. As such, the costs that are being excluded from non-GAAP guidance are difficult to predict and a reconciliation or a range of results could lead to disclosure that would be imprecise or potentially misleading. Material changes to any one of the exclusions could have a significant effect on our guidance and future GAAP results. Akamai's definition of the non-GAAP measures used in this press release are outlined below: Non-GAAP net income per diluted share – Non-GAAP net income divided by weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding are adjusted in non-GAAP per share calculations for the shares that would be delivered to Akamai pursuant to the note hedge transactions entered into in connection with the issuances of $1,265 million of convertible senior notes due 2029 and the issuances of $1,150 million of convertible senior notes due 2027 and 2025, respectively. Under GAAP, shares delivered under hedge transactions are not considered offsetting shares in the fully-diluted share calculation until they are delivered. However, Akamai would receive a benefit from the note hedge transactions and would not allow the dilution to occur, so management believes that adjusting for this benefit provides a meaningful view of operating performance. With respect to the convertible senior notes due in each of 2029, 2027 and 2025, unless Akamai's weighted average stock price is greater than $126.31 , $116.18 and $95.10 , respectively, the initial conversion prices, there will be no difference between GAAP and non-GAAP diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. Non-GAAP net income – GAAP net income adjusted for the following tax-affected items: amortization of acquired intangible assets; stock-based compensation; amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation; acquisition-related costs; restructuring charges; amortization of debt issuance costs; amortization of capitalized interest expense; certain gains and losses on investments; gains and losses from equity method investment; and other non-recurring or unusual items that may arise from time to time. The non-GAAP adjustments, and Akamai's basis for excluding them from non-GAAP financial measures, are outlined below: Amortization of acquired intangible assets – Akamai has incurred amortization of intangible assets, included in its GAAP financial statements, related to various acquisitions Akamai has made. The amount of an acquisition's purchase price allocated to intangible assets and term of its related amortization can vary significantly and is unique to each acquisition; therefore, Akamai excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets from its non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with a consistent basis for comparing pre- and post-acquisition operating results. Stock-based compensation and amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation – Stock-based compensation is an important aspect of the compensation paid to Akamai's employees which includes long-term incentive plans to encourage retention, performance-based plans to encourage achievement of specified financial targets and also short-term incentive awards with a one year vest. The grant date fair value of the stock-based compensation awards varies based on the stock price at the time of grant, varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types. This makes the comparison of Akamai's current financial results to previous and future periods difficult to interpret; therefore, Akamai believes it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation and amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation from its non-GAAP financial measures in order to highlight the performance of Akamai's core business and to be consistent with the way many investors evaluate its performance and compare its operating results to peer companies. Acquisition-related costs – Acquisition-related costs include transaction fees, advisory fees, due diligence costs and other direct costs associated with strategic activities, as well as certain additional compensation costs payable to employees acquired from the Linode acquisition if employed for a certain period of time. The additional compensation cost was initiated by and determined by the seller, and is in addition to normal levels of compensation, including retention programs, offered by Akamai. Acquisition-related costs are impacted by the timing and size of the acquisitions, and Akamai excludes acquisition-related costs from its non-GAAP financial measures to provide a useful comparison of operating results to prior periods and to peer companies because such amounts vary significantly based on the magnitude of the acquisition transactions and do not reflect Akamai's core operations. Restructuring charge – Akamai has incurred restructuring charges from programs that have significantly changed either the scope of the business undertaken by the Company or the manner in which that business is conducted. These charges include severance and related expenses for workforce reductions, impairments of long-lived assets that will no longer be used in operations (including acquired intangible assets, right-of-use assets, other facility-related property and equipment and internal-use software) and termination fees for any contracts canceled as part of these programs. Akamai excludes these items from its non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating its continuing business performance as such items vary significantly based on the magnitude of the restructuring action and do not reflect expected future operating expenses. In addition, these charges do not necessarily provide meaningful insight into the fundamentals of current or past operations of its business. Amortization of debt issuance costs and capitalized interest expense – Akamai has convertible senior notes outstanding that mature in 2029, 2027 and 2025. The issuance costs of the convertible senior notes are amortized to interest expense and are excluded from Akamai's non-GAAP results because management believes the non-cash amortization expense is not representative of ongoing operating performance. Gains and losses on investments – Akamai has recorded gains and losses from the disposition, changes to fair value and impairment of certain investments. Akamai believes excluding these amounts from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as the types of events giving rise to these gains and losses are not representative of Akamai's core business operations and ongoing operating performance. Gains and losses from equity method investment – Akamai records income or losses on its share of earnings and losses from its equity method investment, and any gains from returns of investments or impairments. Akamai excludes such income and losses because it does not have direct control over the operations of the investment and the related income and losses are not representative of its core business operations. Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments and certain discrete tax items – The non-GAAP adjustments described above are reported on a pre-tax basis. The income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments is the difference between GAAP and non-GAAP income tax expense. Non-GAAP income tax expense is computed on non-GAAP pre-tax income (GAAP pre-tax income adjusted for non-GAAP adjustments) and excludes certain discrete tax items (such as the impact of intercompany sales of intellectual property related to acquisitions), if any. Akamai believes that applying the non-GAAP adjustments and their related income tax effect allows Akamai to highlight income attributable to its core operations. SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.AMHERST — At the end of the day, effort is important. The scoreboard, however, is much more so. "I told the guys [Friday] night, there was a lot of adversity this year, with different things happening and a lot of tough losses. It was another one today," University of Massachusetts interim head coach Shane Montgomery said after the Minutemen dropped a 47-42 decision to Connecticut in the regular-season finale at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. "I was really, again, proud of our effort most of the day," Montgomery said. "We didn't do things perfect. We made too many mistakes at times in all three phases. I loved the fight. I told the guys I was proud of them for the way it looked like we were down and out a couple of times, and we'd drive down and score. "We had a chance at an onside kick with 36 seconds left." The Minutemen finish 2-10 and without a win over an FBS team for the second time in three years. UConn improves to 8-4, which makes the Huskies a very bowl-eligible team. It will be interesting to see if coach Jim Mora Jr. and his squad get a call as an independent to play in December. Up next for UMass will be the search for a coach to replace Montgomery, who was named interim coach after Don Brown was fired following the overtime loss to Liberty. It is possible that Montgomery could be a candidate for the permanent job. UMass held a 1-point lead at halftime, 28-27. And if someone wants to see where the the game turned, it was in the third quarter. UMass ended up with 15 net yards of offense in the third quarter, going three-and-out on three different occasions. The one that Montgomery, his staff and the UMass players will see in their nightmares came early in the quarter. The Huskies had won the toss and elected to defer, so after Jacob Lurie's second-half kickoff, UConn took over on its 24. Moving the ball to near midfield, UConn faced third-and-8 on its 47, but quarterback Joe Fagnano was under heavy pressure by the UMass defense and couldn't complete a pass to Skyler Bell. On fourth down, Mora thought he'd fool the Minutemen, throwing the ball out of punt formation. Connor Stutz's pass was intended for John Neider, who was wide open beyond the sticks, but UMass special teams player Ryan Barnes got his hands up in front of the receiver, deflecting the ball away. That gave UMass a golden opportunity on the Huskies' 47-yard line. Three running plays by Jalen John gained 7 yards, and he was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on third-and-3. Opportunity squandered. The next three drives compounded the felony. "I think we had four straight three-and-outs" in the third quarter and early in the fourth, the interim coach said. "We didn't have good field position. I think three of them were inside the [10]. When you get backed up like that, your playbook shrinks. You're trying to get that one first down and we missed on a couple." UConn took the lead for keeps on a 54-yard touchdown drive. The TD was scored when Fagnano found Jasaiah Gathings and Gathings beat defensive back Isaiah Rutherford for the 26-yard touchdown. The UConn 2-point conversion was a serious adventure. An incomplete pass was wiped out by an illegal substitution penalty against UMass. Trying again, Fagnano was stopped short of the goal line, and it was 33-28. The visitors went up two scores after a short punt and a 35-yard touchdown drive. Earlier in the season, UMass might not have recovered. Instead, backup quarterback Ahmad Haston engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive. He made the big play with a 32-yard run on third down. Two plays later, C.J. Hester scored on an 8-yard run. The PAT kick cut the lead to 40-35. Haston was running the show because starting quarterback A.J. Hairston, who finished 13 for 21 for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns, suffered an upper body injury on the final play of the third quarter. He went to the locker room and did not return. "Ahmad was hurt coming into the game. He got hurt a little bit last week and it really affected him throwing the football," said Montgomery. "The plan this week was use A.J. and use Amhad to possibly run the ball. Ahmad was very limited throwing the football." When UMass got the ball back with the score 47-35, things appeared bleak. Hairston was out and Haston couldn't throw, except for what Montgomery described as dinking and dunking. So freshman Will Perry, a preferred walk-on, got the call. The left-handed quarterback guided the Minutemen from their 25 into the end zone. He had a huge fourth-down pass to John for 11 yards and a first down on the UConn 7. On the next play, he lasered a throw to T.Y. Harding at the back of the end zone. Lurie's kick made it 47-42, but the Minutemen could not recover the onside kick. "When A.J. got hurt and he was out," Montgomery said, "I really didn't know what to do there at the end because we had to throw the ball and Ahmad couldn't do it, not what we needed. Will Perry was the only quarterback I had left who could throw the ball "I always tell him you've got to be ready. He went in there and did a great job and the guys really rallied around him." Perry finished 7 for 11 for 72 yards. The game started inauspiciously for the Minutemen, who went three-and-out and, on UConn's first play from scrimmage, gave up a 55-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lou Harmon. The Minutemen had six first-half possessions before they elected to take a knee in the last 17 seconds. They scored touchdowns on four of them. Connecticut had the last say in the first half, as kicker Chris Freeman boomed a 53-yard field goal with 22 seconds until halftime, making the score 28-27 at the break. It was a career best for Freeman. That set up what was a second half that was even wilder than the first half was. Despite the heroics, when the clock hit 0:00, it was another loss for the Minutemen. Despite what the interim coach said about the effort, the result is what stings. "There has been a handful of guys who have been here for a long time which, in today's world of sports is different. There's not many guys that stay four and five years. I feel bad for them because they really worked hard to try to get this program to the next level. It just didn't work out wins and loss wise," Montgomery said. "We made some strides and we had a lot of close games. "You ultimately get judged by wins and losses, and it wasn't where we wanted [to be] this year." ———

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