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what is online gambling CO2 Energy Transition Corp. Announces Closing of Previously Announced IPO and Full Exercise of Over-allotment Option, Raising $69 Million in Gross Proceeds

Seven years ago, El Salvador made global headlines as the first country in the world to ban all metal mining. The decision was hailed as a victory for environmental protection, celebrated by local communities, environmentalists and even the Catholic Church. That was then. President Nayib Bukele is now calling for a reversal of the landmark ban, claiming that beneath the country's fertile soil lies an untapped fortune. According to Bukele, the small Central American nation sits atop an estimated $3 trillion in unmined gold reserves—a potential jackpot that could radically transform El Salvador's financial future. "We potentially have the largest gold deposits per square kilometer in the world," Bukele declared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter ). He claimed that extracting just 4 percent of the country's gold deposits could generate approximately $131 billion, a sum equivalent to 380 percent of El Salvador's current GDP. "God placed a gigantic treasure underneath our feet," Bukele wrote, calling the 2017 mining ban "absurd." It wasn't always this way. When Bukele ran for president in 2019, he supported the mining ban, which had been passed unanimously by El Salvador's Legislative Assembly in a 70-0 vote. The ban had broad support and was seen as essential to protecting the country's vulnerable water resources from contamination caused by mining operations. But his views have since shifted. Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has become one of the ban's most vocal critics, pushing for what he calls "modern and sustainable" mining that, he claims, will safeguard the environment while unlocking the nation's hidden wealth. Bukele, who previously made waves by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and is simultaneously overseeing one of the biggest organized crime crackdowns in the world, now sees mining as a potential economic miracle. He argues that responsible resource exploitation could dramatically transform the nation's economic prospects. This week, Bukele doubled down on his proposal, and his critics were quick to respond. They fear that reopening mining could lead to the contamination of water sources, especially given the amount of freshwater needed for mining operations and the risks posed by heavy metals used in the process. "The president claims that 'responsible mining' can be done, but there is no evidence to support this claim," Pedro Cabezas, a member of the Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN), told Newsweek . "There are no examples of 'responsible mining' that haven't caused serious impacts. The effects in El Salvador would be terrible," he warned. For Bukele, however, the push to reopen mining is part of a broader ambition to overhaul El Salvador's economy. His administration is already known for what he calls a "security miracle," which has seen the mass incarceration of more than 80,000 Salvadorans accused of gang affiliation since March 2022. Now, he aims to replicate that same top-down approach to the Salvadoran economy. As one of the most popular leaders in the world, Bukele was reelected earlier this year with overwhelming support. His party holds a commanding majority in El Salvador's Congress and with his opponents politically weakened, there's little standing in the way of his mining agenda. "When Bukele won a congressional supermajority that allowed him to bypass many democratic checks and balances, a major concern was that he would eventually start making unpopular decisions, and those opposing them would have little or no recourse," Adam Isacson, director of the Washington Office on Latin America's (WOLA) Defense Oversight program, told Newsweek . "A rush back into gold mining, at the expense of communities living atop the gold deposits, would be a prime example of that," he added. Signs of a possible resumption of mining activity first emerged in October 2022 with the creation of the General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mines within the Salvadoran government. Environmental concerns deepened when El Salvador joined the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF), a global association of countries addressing mining issues. For a nation that was the first to ban all metallic mining operations, joining such a forum struck many as an unusual move that preceded a national pivot on the issue.TCTC Holdings LLC Has $10.40 Million Position in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

NoneA look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- If last month's election wasn't painful enough for Florida Democrats, they're losing another state House seat after one of their members announced Monday that she's switching parties. State Rep. Susan Valdés, a former school board member who was reelected as a Democrat last month, said on X that she is “tired of being the party of protesting.” Valdés ran to be chairperson for her local county’s Democratic executive committee earlier this month. She won her current term by nearly 5 percentage points but can't run for reelection again because of term limits. Republicans have controlled the governor’s office and both branches of the Legislature since 1999. Valdés is serving her final two years before leaving office due to term limits. Republicans now have an 86-34 majority in the House. “I got into politics to be part of the party of progress,” Valdés wrote. “I know that I won’t agree with my fellow Republican House members on every issue, but I know that in their caucus, I will be welcomed and treated with respect.” House Speaker Daniel Perez reposted Valdés’ statement and welcomed her into the House, where Republicans have a supermajority of 86-34. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said she was surprised and disappointed by Valdés’ announcement. “It is sad that she has elevated her own aspirations above the needs of her district,” Driskell wrote in a statement on X.

A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul

India News | India, EU Firm Up Extensive Roadmap for Green Hydrogen CooperationMedina-Pingree/Buchanan upends Central McLean in ND Class B volleyball quarterfinals

Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don’t lose weightThe Early Childhood Service Corps (ECSC) is transforming lives across Colorado by addressing two critical challenges: the shortage of staff in early childhood education centers and the health risks associated with loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Through free virtual training and intergenerational connection, ECSC empowers individuals 50 and older to make a meaningful difference in their communities. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.By Ross Cristantiello Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson returned to work Monday, three days after she was arrested on public corruption charges by federal authorities. The embattled councilor led a hearing on how to redress historic racial harms , ignoring calls for her resignation . At the same time, potential challengers for Fernandes Anderson’s seat are ramping up their campaigns. Fernandes Anderson appeared virtually in her role as chair of the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity, and Immigrant Advancement. Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn, who both urged Fernandes Anderson to resign after she was arrested, participated in the hearing. There was no mention of Fernandes Anderson’s arrest or the charges against her during the meeting. Murphy thanked her for “gathering” the attendees and advocating for her district. Fernandes Anderson represents District 7, which includes Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and part of the South End. Prosecutors say she orchestrated a kickback scheme involving a family member who was also hired as a staffer within her office. Fernandes Anderson did not disclose that this staffer was a family member, but issued them a $13,000 bonus with the agreement that $7,000 would be secretly handed back to the councilor, who was struggling financially in early 2023. The handoff of that cash payment occurred in a City Hall bathroom last year, according to federal authorities. She briefly appeared in federal court Friday, entering a not guilty plea before being released on conditions that include regular reporting to probation officials, staying in Massachusetts, surrendering her passport, and staying away from any witnesses. News broke early last week that Fernandes Anderson was being investigated by federal law enforcement, but the specifics were not made public until Friday. She appeared at a City Council hearing last week before being arrested, telling reporters that she had no plans to resign . Over the weekend, Fernandes Anderson continued to post on social media about regular council business. She has limited which Facebook users can comment on these posts. Mayor Michelle Wu, Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, Councilor Sharon Durkan, and Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata have all called for Fernandes Anderson’s resignation, alongside Murphy and Flynn. The full City Council is scheduled to meet in person on Wednesday. Fernandes Anderson was initially elected in 2021, and won reelection last year. She is up for reelection again next year, and already appears to have a few challengers. Said Ahmed , a track coach who cofounded the Boston United Track and Cross Country Club, a free youth track program, announced his intent to run for City Council on Dec. 4. Ahmed, who also ran track professionally and worked within Boston Public Schools, wrote about his desire to take “bold action” in a series of social media posts. “I’ve dedicated my life to empowering Boston’s youth. My work in education and athletics has always been about creating opportunities, and I believe we can transform our schools and neighborhoods to support every student and family,” he wrote. Ahmed filed paperwork with the state in October about running for City Council, but did not begin publicizing his campaign until last week. This delay was to solidify his platform and perfect his website and was unrelated to the scandal involving Fernandes Anderson, Ahmed told the Boston Herald . The other candidate is Said Abdikarim, The Dorchester Reporter reported in October. Abdikarim volunteered to work on the campaigns of former District 7 Councilor Tito Jackson, Mayor Wu, the late Mayor Tom Menino, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Abdikarim has worked at the at the nonprofit African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Islamic Society of Boston, per the Reporter . He ran for an at-large City Council seat in 2021. Ross Cristantiello Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. - Ontario Provincial Police in Kirkland Lake, Ont., are investigating a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 11 that killed one person. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. - Ontario Provincial Police in Kirkland Lake, Ont., are investigating a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 11 that killed one person. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Ontario Provincial Police in Kirkland Lake, Ont., are investigating a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 11 that killed one person. Kirkland Lake OPP say emergency responders were called to a collision involving five vehicles on Highway 11, north of Highway 112. They say a 53-year-old individual from Montreal was pronounced dead at a local hospital. They say a post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place at a later date. Police say investigators were on scene for about 20 hours and the highway remained closed for another 13 hours due to poor weather conditions. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The highway has since reopened, and more details about the incident will be released as they become available. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. AdvertisementCourt upholds death sentence for tycoon in $12bn fraud caseUL Monroe at Georgia Tech — ACCNX Southern at Texas — SECN+ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul

A year in wealth: The biggest billionaire winners and losers of 2024A joint investigation by WIRED, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), and Netzpolitik.org uncovered that US companies legally collecting digital ad data are enabling adversaries to cheaply track American military and intelligence personnel . A collaborative analysis of billions of location coordinates from a US-based data broker revealed detailed tracking of thousands of devices from sensitive US sites in Germany, including NSA facilities and bases reportedly housing US nuclear weapons. Elsewhere, social media giant Meta has disclosed for the first time its efforts to combat the forced-labor compounds driving the surge in pig butchering scams on its platforms. The company revealed that it has been quietly collaborating with global law enforcement, tech industry partners, and external experts for over two years to dismantle the crime syndicates behind these operations in Southeast Asia and the UAE. This year alone, Meta reports it has taken down more than 2 million accounts linked to scam compounds in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the UAE. At the Cyberwarcon security conference on Friday, the cybersecurity firm SpyCloud shared findings about publicly accessible black market services offering low-cost access to sensitive information on Chinese citizens, including phone numbers, banking details, hotel and flight records, and even real-time location data. According to the firm’s researchers, these services seem to obtain their data through insiders within Chinese surveillance agencies and government contractors, who sell their access. Also at the conference, cybersecurity firm Volexity uncovered that a Russian hacking group has reportedly developed a novel Wi-Fi-hacking technique that involves taking control of a nearby laptop and using it as a bridge to infiltrate a targeted Wi-Fi network. Dubbed a “nearest neighbor attack,” the method was uncovered during a 2022 investigation by the firm into a network breach of an unnamed Washington, DC. client. And finally, researchers explored how the US is calling out foreign influence campaigns faster than they ever have—but there’s plenty of room for improvement. That’s not all. Each week, we round up the security and privacy news we didn’t cover in depth ourselves. Click on the headlines to read the full stories. And stay safe out there. “King of Toxic Masculinity” Gets Hacked Hacktivists have breached an online “educational platform” founded by the misogynistic right-wing influencer Andrew Tate reportedly revealing the email addresses of hundreds of thousands of users as well as the contents of the platforms’ private chat servers. Data from the hack, first reported by the Daily Dot, has now been published by the transparency nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets . Andrew Tate, the so-called “king of toxic masculinity,” is currently under house arrest in Romania and faces two separate criminal charges , including allegations of forming an organized criminal group and trafficking women across Romania, the UK, and the US. The compromised platform, a subscription-based service known as The Real World (formerly called Hustler's University), describes itself as a “global community” focused on “personal growth.” According to its website, members receive expert training, mentorship, and access to a wide range of educational courses for around $50 per month. According to the Daily Dot , hacktivists announced their breach of the platform on Thursday by disrupting the course's main chatroom with a barrage of uploaded emojis while Tate was livestreaming an episode of his show Emergency Meeting on Rumble. The emojis included a transgender pride flag, a feminist fist, an AI-generated image of Tate wrapped in a rainbow flag. Data from the breach, verified by WIRED, includes more than 700,000 usernames and reportedly includes messages from 221 public and 395 private chat servers. An analysis by the Daily Dot reveals a mix of content within the chat logs, ranging from motivational quotes and personal progress updates to grievances about the “LGBTQ agenda.” WIRED is continuing to analyze the leaked material. The “Worst Telecom Hack in US History” Is Still Ongoing Chinese government hackers have infiltrated over a dozen US telecommunications companies in what a senior senator is calling the worst telecom breach in American history—and they’re still inside the networks. The hacking group, Salt Typhoon, has been able to eavesdrop on audio calls in real time and obtain millions of records of call and text metadata from targeted individuals, according to a Washington Post interview with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Fewer than 150 victims have been identified and notified by the FBI so far—most of them in the DC region—including president-elect Donald Trump, his vice president-elect, JD Vance, as well as people working for Vice President Kamala Harris and state department officials. Warner said, however, that the effort was not directly election-related, as the hackers got into some telecom systems more than a year ago. Leaked Documents Show GrayKey Struggles to Access Modern iPhones Leaked documents obtained by 404 Media reveal that GrayKey, a phone-hacking tool used by law enforcement to extract data from devices in their possession, can at the moment only partially access information from modern iPhones running iOS 18.0 and 18.0.1. While the precise details of exactly how Graykey operates are unknown, the tool reportedly brute-forces iPhone or Android passcodes to unlock them—essentially hacking the phone—allowing law enforcement to then access and extract encrypted device data. While the specific types of data accessible during a “partial” extraction are unclear, it likely includes unencrypted files and metadata, such as file sizes and folder structures. The document provides context to an ongoing cat-and-mouse dynamic between forensic technology companies and mobile device manufacturers. With each new software update, tools like GrayKey are temporarily thwarted, prompting developers to quickly adapt their technology to catch up. At the moment it appears that they have not. This leak follows another report from 404 Media about a feature in iOS 18 called “inactivity reboot,” which forces devices to restart after four days of inactivity, adding another layer of difficulty for law enforcement attempting to access data on seized devices. Europe Probes Undersea Cable Sabotage European authorities are investigating suspected sabotage to two undersea fiber-optic cables: one linking Finland and Germany, and the other connecting Sweden and Lithuania. Russia—widely suspected as the likely perpetrator—denies involvement, dismissing the allegations as “ridiculous.” The incident began on Sunday when two telecommunications companies detected traffic disruptions likely caused by physical damage to undersea cables. One of the affected cables, known as C-Lion—a vital 730-mile link between Finland and Central Europe—runs alongside other critical infrastructure, including gas pipelines and power lines. By Wednesday, the Danish navy had reportedly intercepted a Chinese cargo ship in connection with the disruptions. The vessel, which had most recently docked in Russia before the incident, was near the damaged area at the time. It is now under investigation, with its crew being questioned about their possible involvement.

Mike Wilson predicts 'flat-ish' S&P 500 returns over the next decade due to high valuations. Current Shiller CAPE ratio levels suggest annualized returns in the 2-3% range over 10 years. But Wilson sees potential in energy, materials, and emerging markets like India and China. With a price target of 6,500, Mike Wilson thinks the S&P 500 has relatively modest upside of around 9% in 2025. But over the next 10 years, expect the benchmark index's annualized returns to be roughly flat, the Morgan Stanley CIO says. There's a simple explanation for why: valuations, which account for much of how equities perform over a 10-year period, are historically elevated, he said. Wilson made the comments in an interview with the economist David Rosenberg earlier this month, and then reiterated his outlook in an interview with Business Insider this week. "My comment on the podcast is not a controversial view based on valuations," he told BI. "That is a very common view, that given where valuations are today, over the next 10 years, the returns from point A to point B will be basically flat-ish, and on a real basis, maybe negative." Below are a couple of valuation measures that Wilson cites. On the left is the forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio. On the right is the Shiller cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio, which compares the current prices to a 10-year rolling average of earnings to normalize outliers. Both measures are approaching levels seen at the peak of the internet bubble in 2000. The Shiller CAPE ratio has proven very dependable in predicting long-term returns. Current levels around 37 put 10-year return expectations in the 2-3% range, according to the analysis below from Michael Finke , a professor of wealth management at The American College of Financial Services. As Wilson alluded to, he's not the first to warn of a sort of lost decade ahead for the broader market. Goldman Sachs' David Kostin said in October that he sees the S&P 500 delivering 3% average annualized returns over the next decade. Compare that to 4.59% risk-free yield on 10-year Treasurys. Smead Capital Management's Bill Smead, a top-2% value investor, has also recently warned of poor annualized returns in the coming decade. Some think calls like Kostin's are too bearish, however. "There's no denying the stark relationship between P/E ratios and long-term forward returns, but an annualized return of 3% over the next ten years is likely too low," said Jeff Buchbinder, the chief equity strategist at LPL Financial, in an October 29 note. "Productivity gains from technology investments (artificial intelligence and otherwise) are likely to boost the profitability of S&P 500 companies and support both earnings growth and valuations." While Wilson has a sour long-term outlook on the index level, he thinks certain areas of the market are better positioned than others to deliver robust returns in the years ahead. "There will be plenty of opportunities to make money over that time in sectors and stocks even if the index is flat," he said. Two underappreciated sectors right now are the energy and materials sectors, with their valuation levels relatively depressed. While the S&P 500's trailing 12-month PE ratio sits at 29.5, the same measure for the iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF is 21.6, and the iShares U.S. Energy ETF is 10.7. "If you were to be adding certain energy assets or materials assets here, yes, I think your odds of making pretty good money over the next 3-5 years are quite high," Wilson told BI. Spending on AI infrastructure will benefit the sectors, he said. "It doesn't happen magically without energy and materials," Wilson said. Wilson also said international stocks, particularly some emerging markets, are trading at attractive prices. India is one that he believes is in a bull market trend. And China could start to turn around eventually, he said. "China is the one that everyone's kind of trying to figure out," he said. "I don't know when it starts, but I wouldn't count the Chinese stock market out completely, and I think there will be opportunities there." As of November 29, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index traded at a 15.3 trailing 12-month PE ratio.

Distributed Photovoltaic Inverter Market Key Industry Trends Size and Growth Forecast 2032Garrett Greene threw a TD pass in his final home game and Jahiem White added a short rushing score for the Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3 Big 12). West Virginia avoided losing for the fifth time at home, which hasn’t happened since 1990. Whether the win was enough for embattled coach Neal Brown to keep his job remains to be seen. UCF (4-7, 2-6) is assured of its second straight losing season under coach Gus Malzahn. Donaldson, averaging 53 rushing yards per game, finished with 96 yards. He came out determined with 56 yards on his first four carries, including a 1-yard run on West Virginia's opening series. West Virginia cornerback Dontez Fagan then recovered a fumble by UCF quarterback Dylan Rizk, and Donaldson ran for 28 more yards on the next series that was capped by White’s 3-yard TD run. Greene struggled in the passing game for most of the first half, then went 4 of 6 for 65 yards just before halftime, hitting Rodney Gallagher with a 12-yard TD toss for a 21-7 lead. Rizk went 11 of 21 for 172 yards, including a 45-yard scoring strike to Kobe Hudson. RJ Harvey, the Big 12’s leading rusher, ran for 130 yards and two scores, including a 9-yard TD run that brought UCF within 31-21 with 5:20 left. But the ensuing onside kick didn't go the required 10 yards. Greene then converted a pair of fourth-down passes and West Virginia ran out the clock. Greene finished 13 of 21 for 118 yards. UCF: The Knights outgained West Virginia 348 yards to 318 but now have lost seven of eight games following a 3-0 start. West Virginia: The Mountaineers won despite being stuck in many third-and-long situations on offense against a solid effort from UCF's defensive front. UCF: Hosts Utah on Friday night. West Virginia: Finishes the regular season at Texas Tech next Saturday. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballSAN FRANCISCO — OpenAI revealed details Friday about its plans to adopt a new corporate structure that will remove the company from control by a nonprofit that has been the focus of contention. OpenAI’s leaders have been privately discussing a change for several months but had provided few specifics. In a company blog post published Friday, OpenAI said it planned to restructure as a public benefit corporation, or PBC, which is a for-profit corporation designed to create public and social good. OpenAI rivals like Anthropic and Elon Musk’s xAI use a similar structure. “The PBC is a structure used by many others that requires the company to balance shareholder interests, stakeholder interests, and a public benefit interest in its decision making,” the company said. “It will enable us to raise the necessary capital with conventional terms like our competitors.” A year ago, the board of the nonprofit tried to fire CEO Sam Altman. It failed, but the incident spooked OpenAI’s investors, including Microsoft. In the months since, Altman and his colleagues have been working toward a new structure. With the change in structure, Altman and his colleagues must find ways to compensate the nonprofit for its loss of control. OpenAI said the nonprofit would receive shares in the PBC but added that the value it would receive was still being negotiated by independent financial advisers. The plan “would result in one of the best resourced nonprofits in history,” the company said in its blog. OpenAI’s latest funding round valued the company at $157 billion. Altman founded OpenAI as a nonprofit in 2015 with several AI researchers and entrepreneurs, including Musk. The aim, Altman and his co-founders said, was to build AI for the benefit of humanity — not for corporate shareholders. But by 2018, OpenAI’s founders realized that building powerful AI technology would require far more money than they could raise through a nonprofit. This article originally appeared in The New York Times .

CO2 Energy Transition Corp. Announces Closing of Previously Announced IPO and Full Exercise of Over-allotment Option, Raising $69 Million in Gross ProceedsNoneAgartala, Dec 28 (IANS) : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday emphasised the crucial role played by Tripura Civil Service (TCS) officers in implementing government initiatives, plans and schemes aimed at addressing public issues and development. Addressing a winter clothes distribution program, the Chief Minister said that the TCS officers play a pivotal role in ensuring that the benefits of various welfare schemes, both from the Central and state governments, reach the most marginalised sections of society. They also act as a bridge between the government and the people, he stated. The winter clothes distribution programme was organised by the TCS officers association here. Winter clothes were distributed to around 400 families affected by the recent floods in Agartala. The Chief Minister highlighted that the TCS officers association regularly engages in social activities. "Previously, the association distributed winter clothes to 700 sanitation workers of Agartala Municipal Corporation. Such social service initiatives are indeed praise-worthy. TCS officers’ efforts have also been instrumental in successfully managing various disasters, including the recent floods," he said. The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to creating a dynamic, welfare-oriented administration, with TCS officers being integral to this mission. Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumdar, Corporator Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya, President of the Tripura Civil Service Officers' Association Dilip Kumar Chakma, General Secretary Ashim Saha among others attended the programme. Addressing another event, the Chief Minister said that officers in the state government are playing a key role in making the administration corruption-free which is an example of good governance. "The main aim of good governance is a corruption-free administration. We must work towards that, and in doing so, people will continue to keep faith in us. People are keeping faith in us, and for that, the officers are playing a key role. Everyone must work for the welfare of the people of the state. We have also launched 'Amar Sarkar' to address local development issues," he said. Saha pointed out that around 60 per cent of Tripura's population comprises the young generation, and their potential must be utilised to strengthen the state.

(From left) BJ Pascual, Denise Julia and Killa Kush. Images: Josh Tolentino via Instagram/@bjpascual, @denisejvlia, @killakushla Even Christmas was not spared from the drama that stemmed between Denise Julia , BJ Pascual and Killa Kush as the three-way feud made headlines in what was supposed to be a festive season. The controversial spat stemmed from Pascual making claims about Denise’s alleged “unprofessionalism,” which was agreed on by the content creator. However, the feud — which included several screenshots posted on December 25 — escalated with the R&B singer hinting at taking the battle to court. Curious how the feud began? Don’t miss out on the details behind their controversial spat, as well as other trending entertainment headlines from December 20 to 26. Denise Julia and BJ Pascual | Image: Instagram/@denisejvlia, @bjpascual The spat between Denise Julia , BJ Pascual and Killa Kush began after the celebrity photographer revealed that the singer-songwriter was his “worst celebrity experience” on Killa Kush’s “Bad B*tch Bible” podcast. “Nanggigigil pa din ako,” Pascual began. “Si Denise Julia. I have heard so many things about her,” he began. “I guess medyo kasalanan ko rin that I still took the job, and it was more like a passion project because her manager JV (Denise Julia’s manager) called me many times, like, would message me on Instagram, and so we had a meeting,” he admitted. Pascual detailed his experience being asked to work on Denise’s album cover and music video, and then the latter’s team questioned the expenses and canceling them. “Ang babayaran na lang nila is manpower and materials. There is no talent fee. This is charity work na,” he said. “Sabi ng manager ko, ‘They want to cancel daw the shoot.’ The reason was nag-flake daw ‘yung hairstylist nila.” “Girl... This was already 10 PM. Ang call time namin is 6 AM [the next day]. Sya [Denise] 8 AM. How many hours na lang before the shoot? We have been setting the set since 4 PM,” he added. Pascual also shared that Denise’s camp also declined to pay the cancellation fee, while adding that he ended up shooting another celebrity for the set so as not to go to waste. “After that, I never heard from her. No thank you, no sorry, no anything. No ‘what happened?’ Nothing,” he recalled. Denise Julia and BJ Pascual. Image: Instagram/@denisejvlia, @bjpascual Denise Julia spoke up on BJ Pascual ’s claims of “unprofessionalism” against her, clarifying that it was the photographer’s team who canceled their scheduled shoot due to their “differences in production processes.” She made a tell-all via her Instagram Stories on Christmas Day, including in her posts the screenshots of her manager’s conversation with Pascual’s manager regarding the shoot. According to the singer-songwriter, her team reached out to Pascual back in May, and they had an online meeting in June, and they also had personal calls to exchange ideas for the shoot. In July, Denise’s manager gave a budget of P650,000. But Pascual’s team—despite the former “following up many times”—did not immediately get back to the singer’s team if the “budget is doable.” “We can’t really have a shoot date without us being sure if the budget is even feasible to them. Because on our end, we understand if this is not something they can work with,” she said. “We would have pulled back immediately already from the start if they had only told us that this is not doable for them, that that’s not the price range they can work with,” she noted. However, three days before the shoot and already three weeks after Denise’s team sent their initial budget, Pascual’s team, according to Denise, sent a cost sheet of P1.2 million. The singer’s team tried to extend their budget to P800,000 because they “really wanted to do this.” Her manager gave out options so that “none of the efforts go to waste,” although Pascual’s team was only able to adjust the cost to P1 million two days before the shoot. Denise then showed a screenshot of the conversation between her manager and Pascual’s, in which the singer’s manager pointed out that from experience, “no vendors would do anything without a budget actually agreed upon.” “I think that’s where the confusion is,” Denise’s manager said in the screenshot. “I should have been more straightforward with how important it was that we agreed on a number before confirming anything. I thought that was a protocol for y’all as well so I apologize for me assuming that’s the case,” the manager regretted. Pascual’s manager then replied, “Okay, so due to the differences in our production processes. I think it would be best to cancel the shoot.” Denise added that her manager had suggested pushing the shoot to a later date. “But ultimately at the end, BJ’s team, not us, canceled the shoot.” “I am fully acknowledging my mistake for not reaching out after this anymore, but it was because I didn’t know the extent of his frustration until everything aired on social media and it blew off proportion,” Denise said. Denise Julia (left) and Killa Kush | Image: Instagram/@denisejvlia, @killakushla Apart from BJ Pascual, Denise Julia is also voicing her grievances against Killa Kush (also known by her real name Acushla Obusan), with a threat to file charges. On Christmas Day, Kush took to her Instagram stories to express her “devastation” over how her recent podcast episode with Pascual sparked controversy after they aired their experience with Denise. She shared the context and screenshots of her conversation with the singer and her team about their past collaboration. “It’s truly devastating how this has played out. I could play the receipts game all day long with all our projects since 2022, but it’s literally Christmas day,” Kush said. “As a collaborator, I’ve already spent 400K mounting her first album launch event with no down payment (and had to fulfill everything in 4 days), then got paid over a month after,” she wrote. Kush disclosed more details on the financial damage their previous podcast collaboration supposedly generated. As Kush detailed the effort and expenses she supposedly shelled out for Denise, she emphasized that airing her side of the story is an attempt to open the conversation about professionalism. “As a host, my questions and comments on the podcast were never meant to shame anyone but rather to open up the conversation on challenges in the creative industry,” she said. “I hope this discussion leads to more accountability and professionalism. My focus is to continue sparking meaningful conversations and challenging minds,” she pointed out, noting that she doesn’t want to drop more screenshots. After her statement, Denise took to X (formerly Twitter) to warn Kush about pursuing legal action, as she described the latter’s statements as a “twisted narrative.” “Hope you can back up all that when I see you in court,” Denise warned. “‘Check her stories’ and it’s all twisted narrative as usual with business that was between her and a label team; receipts are just her trash-talking behind me and my best friend.” Denise alleged instances of unprofessionalism on Kush’s part, including late payments for talent fees, exploitative use of her name and image for promotional purposes, and even inappropriate behavior during their initial encounters. The singer also shared a private conversation between her and Kush, stressing her intent to take the issue to court. “Lols. Biglang bait,” she captioned the screenshot. BJ Pascual. Image: Instagram/@bjpascual BJ Pascual clarified parts of the screenshots earlier made public by Denise Julia, stressing that he does not want to escalate the issue but that he just wants to “provide transparency and accountability.” Pascual, who recently named the singer as the worst celebrity he worked with, responded to Denise’s tell-all about their canceled shoot by sharing screenshots as well of the parts of the conversation between them. “I appreciate Denise’s recent efforts to address the situation and the conversation we had in the hopes of moving forward,” he said via his Instagram Stories on Christmas Day. “However, some claims and portions of the images she shared on her IG stories do not reflect the full context of what transpired,” he noticed. One of the points Pascual raised is that his team was supposedly able to cut the cost of the shoot to accommodate the budget of the group of Denise. To support his statement, Pascual added a screenshot of the cost sheet his team sent to the singer’s manager. “Our team made every effort to adjust the budget down to 371K for the one-day shoot, which was below industry standards,” he said. “This was part of our effort to accommodate their budget and fit within their specific range, contrary to the original P1.2M amount that Denise shared in her IG story. A detail that was not fully addressed in her video,” he explained. Pascual noted that after giving Denise’s team the discounted cost, the latter told them that they were “not ready” due to their glam team canceling on them. He said they had managed to secure another glam team for the singer, but her team “still felt unprepared.” “My intention in sharing the context is not to escalate the matter but to provide transparency and accountability... I hope this brings clarity and closure to the matter, allowing us to move forward constructively,” he said. “I have already responded personally to Denise yesterday, acknowledging her message and expressing my openness to resolving this further in person.” Denise Julia and BJ Pascual. Image: Instagram/@denisejvlia, @bjpascual After disclosing their private conversations regarding their canceled shoot, Denise Julia and BJ Pascual appear to be heading to a legal battle. This will apparently be the case as the singer expressed intent to file a defamation suit against the photographer, as per her statement on her X page on Christmas Day. Her post—which includes a screen recording of their managers’ full conversation—came after Pascual made clarifications and shared more images of their teams’ conversation to provide “full context.” “We went into this wanting to work with you—we’re genuine fans and were so excited about the collaboration,” she said. “From the very beginning, we were upfront about our budget and what we can afford to execute the music video, the photo shoot, the album art, the trailer and press photos,” she stressed. “I had moved my entire release date just to be able to work with you, out of respect for your time. I’ve stayed quiet for as long as I could, but I needed to say my piece,” she continued. Denise reiterated that her manager tried to make the negotiation between her and Pascual’s team work so that “no one’s effort goes to waste.” “You targeted me to bring me down,” Denise addressed Pascual. “I thought this was something we had agreed to talk about in person... We are now in contact with our legal team about a defamation suit. I hate that this had to go this way when it didn’t have to.” Pascual has yet to comment, as of press time. MJ Lastimosa at the media conference and red carpet premiere of “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” on Thursday, Dec. 19. | Image: INQUIRER.net/Jessica Ann Evangelista MJ Lastimosa was in disbelief after learning that her name was dragged into an “infidelity” scandal involving influencer Small Laude’s husband entrepreneur Philip Laude. During the media con and red carpet premiere of “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” last Dec. 19, Lastimosa was asked if she was aware that her name was recently mentioned in the viral screenshots involving the intimate exchanges between Philip and her alleged mistress. In the now-deleted screenshots, Philip was supposedly assuring a woman named Precious Mae Larra that she shouldn’t get jealous of a woman named “MJ” because they were not an item, at the same time trying to “belittle” MJ’s traits. “Pinagselosan ako? Saan? Hindi ako aware,” she said as reporters filled her in with the information. “Ang first and last encounter ko with them [Laudes] was in L.A. Nung na-invite ako sa mansion nila. After that, wala naman nangyari. Bakit ako?” she asked. “Nakilala ko si Ma’am Small and Sir Philip and the family. Lahat sila. Pumasok kami tapos kumakain na sila. Ayun lang. Hi, hello. Mga one hour. That was it. Paano ako nadamay dyan?” Lastimosa wondered with amusement. Lastimosa was in utter confusion as reporters filled her in with more details about the issue. “Pero ako ba talaga? Eh, hindi naman kami magkakilala. Sure ba kayong ako ‘yon?” she queried. “Mamaya naman... or baka kasi may mga relationship din na mga selosa lang talaga ‘yung partner. Pero hindi nya naman partner ‘yun, di ba?” she remarked. Lastimosa was also asked for her reaction, knowing that Philip allegedly “downgraded” her appearance. “Grabe. I love being maitim. Hindi ko sya kinakahiya. Nagbe-beach nga ako para umitim pa lalo,” she said. “[Pero] sa pageantry, usong uso naman ‘yang laitan. Parang wala na sa ‘kin ‘yan.” “Basta ako, naniniwala akong maganda ako. Basta pagtingin mo sa salamin, confident ka, okay na po ‘yon,” she maintained. Lastimosa said she would look for the screenshots to see them for herself. Meanwhile, Philip and Small Laude have remained quiet about the allegations. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Image: Scott A Garfitt, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File Blake Lively has accused her “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to “destroy” her reputation in a legal complaint. The complaint obtained by The Associated Press, which The New York Times reported was filed on Dec. 20 with the California Civil Rights Department, precedes a lawsuit. It names Baldoni, the studio behind the romantic drama “It Ends With Us,” and Baldoni’s publicists among the defendants. In the complaint, Lively accuses Baldoni and the studio of embarking on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation. This alleged plot followed a meeting in which she and her husband Ryan Reynolds addressed “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” by Baldoni and a producer on the movie. The scheme, the complaint said, included a proposal to plant theories on online message boards, engineer a social media campaign, and place news stories critical of Lively. Baldoni enlisted publicists and crisis managers in a “sophisticated, coordinated and well-financed retaliation plan” meant to “bury” and “destroy” Lively if she went public with her on-set concerns, the complaint alleges. “To safeguard against the risk of Ms. Lively ever revealing the truth about Mr. Baldoni, the Baldoni-Wayfarer team created, planted, amplified and boosted content designed to eviscerate Ms. Lively’s credibility,” the complaint states. “They engaged in the same techniques to bolster Mr. Baldoni’s credibility and suppress any negative content about him,” the document reads. The complaint also says Baldoni “abruptly pivoted away from” the movie’s marketing plan and “used domestic violence ‘survivor content’ to protect his public image.” Bryan Freedman, an attorney representing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, called the claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” He pushed back against Lively’s allegations of a coordinated campaign, saying the studio “proactively” hired a crisis manager “due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production.” Freedman also said Lively threatened to not appear on set and not to promote the film “if her demands were not met.” Those demands were not specified in the statement, but Lively’s complaint lists 30 demands that she said Baldoni and others agreed to after their tense sit-down over her hostile work environment concerns. “It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a $50 million debut. But the movie’s release was shrouded by speculation over a discord between the lead pair. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Baldoni took a backseat in promoting the film while Lively took centerstage along with Reynolds, who was on the press circuit for “Deadpool & Wolverine” at the same time.Transforming the Car Rental Industry with Advanced Software SolutionsVeritasi Homes Unveils Tinuola Towers: Future Of Luxury In Nigeria

UL Monroe at Georgia Tech — ACCNX Southern at Texas — SECN+ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .NoneUkraine must be in strong position for negotiations, Starmer says