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Sign up for The Brief , The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. As leaders of the East Central Independent School District regroup from the failure of several big revenue-generating proposals on the Nov. 5 ballot, they now join a long list of Texas districts that face fewer and fewer options to support rapidly growing student growth. Across Texas, voters rejected 20 of 35 school district bond propositions put forward by 19 school districts this November — underscoring a broad skepticism about public school funding and echoing the increasing influence of state-level politics on local education decisions. It’s a befuddling problem to East Central ISD leaders, who face explosive enrollment growth, infrastructure needs and other funding woes — exacerbated in part by the Texas Legislature’s withholding of additional resources last year. The district’s enrollment, now at 11,501 students, is projected to grow to 13,215 by next year and nearly double to 25,617 within a decade. But in Texas, schools are limited in the amount of money they can collect on a local basis, with excess funds from high property values or property growth being “recaptured” by the state. If districts need more money, they have to seek voter approval to get it. East Central leaders warned before the Nov. 5 election if voters didn’t approve extra funds, they wouldn’t be able to compete with other districts in terms of teacher salaries, and that facility repairs would continue to become more expensive. Despite that urgency, voters rejected all three bond propositions and a proposed five-cent property tax rate increase , causing the district’s projected $2.4 million budget shortfall to balloon to roughly $9 million in the coming years, according to the district’s administration. “We didn’t get the result we hoped for, but we look forward to reengaging with our Facilities Committee and gathering additional feedback from the broader community,” East Central ISD Superintendent Roland Toscano said in the aftermath of the defeat. In the meantime, the district’s growth has created urgent demands for new schools and infrastructure repairs, compounded by a teacher shortage and inflationary pressures, according to district officials. With construction costs projected to rise by 10-15% annually, the district risks further financial strain if critical projects are delayed. East Central’s funding quagmire — which is playing out across the state in growing districts — highlights mounting tensions over public school funding, local control and Texas’ evolving political landscape. So what comes next? And what could this mean for education in a state with more than 5.5 million public school students ? A tougher landscape East Central leaders entered the November election clear-eyed about the challenge of getting voters on board with revenue increases. A bond proposal focused on school buildings had already failed in 2021, while a different proposal was approved the following year. Leading up to this election, Brandon Oliver, a district spokesperson, engaged with voters on Facebook leading up to the election, sharing information about the expanding district enrollment and the limited funding allotted to the district by the state, regardless of how much property growth occurred in the region. But unlike in 2022, voters weren’t convinced. Public comments on East Central ISD’s social media accounts shared concerns about the increased taxes and subpar academic outcomes as reasons they were skeptical of the bond requests. “Our kids deserve better, but will ECISD provide that?” one user identified as Cassandra Hernandez wrote in response to the election results. “I remember when I was going there. It was one of the top schools. Now it’s considered garbage, and I feel bad that my kids have to go there. I don’t think any amount of money can make ECISD better.” In response, East Central ISD has pledged to refine its proposals and engage more deeply with the community to build consensus on future initiatives. Toscano emphasized that addressing overcrowding, safety concerns and teacher retention requires urgent action. But as state politics increasingly shape the financial realities of local districts, the path forward remains fraught. Closing off other revenue streams The November election came as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been on a mission to allow parents of private school students to take their taxpayer dollars away from public schools and use it to subsidize their tuition, books or other education expenses. Last session, that effort included withholding funding that lawmakers had approved for public schools as a means to bring them on board with his school voucher plan. The effort failed, and public schools entered the school year without money for teacher raises, mandatory school safety initiatives and other expenses. A similar deal is on the table when state lawmakers return to work in January. At the same time, buoyed by a 2023 legislative session that delivered $18 billion in property tax cuts, Abbott has signaled his intention to further curtail local taxing authorities. Speaking at a campaign event in San Antonio just days before the Nov. 5 election, Abbott said he was already working to line up support for such a plan, though he presented few details, and his office did not respond to a request for more information. “School districts, that’s where your property tax bill largely comes from,” Abbott said. “... Walking into this next session we’re going to have at least a $20 billion budget surplus. I want to work with these legislators ... and make sure we pass another huge property tax cut.” “In addition to passing that property tax cut, we’re going to do this year what we did not do last year,” he continued. “We’ve got to close the loophole that allows these taxing entities to be able to go back behind our back and raise those property taxes.” For school districts like East Central, this rhetoric — and the legislative changes it may bring — poses a possible threat to their ability to fund critical projects through bonds or tax rate increases. They’re also cut out of the benefits of local economic development efforts, because the legislature caps what they can collect from the growth in property value. At a recent meeting of the Bexar County Commissioners Court, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai lamented the fact that a county-incentivized housing development would be a boon to the hospital district and the river authority — but less so to the schools that could use that money. “Although we increase the value [of the property]... more revenue does not automatically go dollar-for-dollar for the school district,” Sakai said. “That’s problematic because school districts don’t get the benefit that the other taxing entities get.” Public education under siege? Abbott, for his part, has insisted that public schools will get their funding next session. But skeptics of his plan see these developments as part of a broader campaign to undermine Texas public schools, which have increasingly found themselves in crosshairs of the state’s culture wars . Public school advocates, including a contingent of rural Republicans, have argued for years that allowing taxpayer money to fund private school education could siphon critical funding from public schools, limiting districts’ ability to serve growing student populations. State House Rep. Steve Allison , R-Alamo Heights, who lost his seat for voting against Abbott’s private school voucher plan, said the governor’s promises are clouded by special interests funding the school choice movement who don’t want to see public schools succeed. “You can’t escape the fact that some of the extreme interests in the voucher program, their ultimate goal is to get rid of the public education system,” he said while campaigning for the Democrat running to fill his seat, who ultimately lost to a supporter of school vouchers . At a different campaign event in San Antonio this month, Democrat Wendy Davis, who represented Fort Worth in the Texas Senate and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2014, described her personal evolution on the matter like this: “When I first started ... I believed that we were having honest disagreements with Republicans about the way that [school funding cuts] should go,” said Davis, who served on the Senate’s Education Committee. “Someone said to me, ‘You know, they are trying to dismantle public education,’ and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, that’s so cynical,'” said Davis, who served on the Senate’s Education Committee. “But I’m telling you, I believe it. I believe it in my core right now.” Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here .jiliko com download 。

SECP reasserts compliance by listed firms to publish gender pay gap dataCharlie the dog was lost for over a day at the Sacramento International Airport. How family found him

ATLANTA, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitcoin Depot Inc. (“Bitcoin Depot” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BTM), a U.S.-based Bitcoin ATM (“BTM”) operator and leading fintech company, today celebrates a landmark moment in the cryptocurrency as Bitcoin surpasses its all-time price peak of $100,000. This industry milestone reflects growing global confidence in Bitcoin as a financial asset and highlights the increasing demand for accessible crypto solutions. "Bitcoin reaching $100,000 is an example of its resilience, staying power, and growing role in the financial ecosystem," said Brandon Mintz, CEO and founder of Bitcoin Depot. "This moment shows the growing trust millions place in Bitcoin and further establishes Bitcoin Depot’s commitment of 'Bringing Bitcoin to the Masses®' by providing secure, user-friendly access points that bridge traditional finance and the digital economy." 2024 has been a defining period for the crypto industry, marked by significant advancements such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's approval of the first Bitcoin spot ETFs and continued growing institutional adoption. These achievements, coupled with increased regulatory clarity and rising global interest in Bitcoin, further demonstrate cryptocurrency's expanding role in the financial landscape. Bitcoin Depot, with over 8,300 Bitcoin ATM kiosks deployed across North America and Puerto Rico, has cemented itself as a key player in facilitating crypto adoption. As the largest BTM operator in North America, the Company has built significant momentum in the last year, marked by key milestones such as bringing its BDCheckout Program to six new states, expanding into Puerto Rico , and introducing strategic retail partnerships with multiple major convenience and grocery store retailers. “Bitcoin’s momentum is driving new users to enter the market, and many are choosing BTMs for secure and convenient access to cryptocurrency,” said Scott Buchanan, COO of Bitcoin Depot. “At Bitcoin Depot, we’ve always believed in providing everyone with easy access to Bitcoin, and as we grow, our focus remains on delivering a simple and reliable way to buy Bitcoin quickly and securely. This is just the beginning for the cryptocurrency industry and Bitcoin Depot as a leading provider.” Bitcoin Depot BTMs are designed to provide a seamless user experience, allowing customers to quickly convert cash into Bitcoin and access the broader digital financial system for payments, transfers, remittances, and investments. About Bitcoin Depot Bitcoin Depot Inc. (Nasdaq: BTM) was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot kiosks in 48 states and at thousands of name-brand retail locations in 29 states through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 8,486 kiosk locations as of December 05, 2024. Learn more at www.bitcoindepot.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations of plans, business strategies, objectives and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance, including our growth strategy and ability to increase deployment of our products and services, the anticipated effects of the Amendment, and the closing of the Preferred Sale. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "anticipate," "appears," "approximately," "believe," "continue," "could," "designed," "effect," "estimate," "evaluate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "initiative," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "priorities," "project," "pursue," "seek," "should," "target," "when," "will," "would," or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; future global, regional or local economic and market conditions; the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; our ability to manage future growth; our ability to develop new products and services, bring them to market in a timely manner and make enhancements to our platform; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities; the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; and those factors described or referenced in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our assessments to change. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Contacts: Investors Cody Slach Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 BTM@gateway-grp.com Media Brenlyn Motlagh, Ryan Deloney Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 BTM@gateway-grp.com

Former officials urge closed-door Senate hearings on Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief

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CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — A Ukrainian girls’ hockey team is in Canada for a few days of peace and hockey in an arena that doesn’t have a missile-sized hole in its roof. After 56 hours of travel to Calgary, including a 24-hour bus ride from Dnipro to Warsaw, Poland, that required army escort for a portion of it, the Ukrainian Wings will join Wickfest, Hayley Wickenheiser’s annual girls’ hockey festival, on Thursday. The squad of players aged 11 to 13 was drawn from eight different cities in Ukraine, where sport facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Russia started its invasion in February 2022. “They all have a personal story of something awful happening,” said Wickenheiser. “We give them a week of peace and joy here, and I hope they can carry that with them. “We know full well they’re going back to difficult circumstances. It’s tough that way.” Nine players are from Kharkiv, where pictures show a large hole in the roof of the Saltovskiy Led arena where the girls’ team WHC Panthers once skated. “It was our home ice arena, and we played all our national team championships in this ice arena,” said Kateryna Seredenko, who oversees the Panthers program and is the Wings general manager. Ukraine’s Olympic Committee posted photos and wrote in a Facebook post Sept. 1 that Kharkiv’s Sport Palace, which was home to multiple hockey teams, was also destroyed in an attack on the city. Seredenko says the Wings’ arduous journey to Calgary was worth it because it gives the girls hope. “It’s not a good situation in Ukraine, but when they come here, they can believe that everything will be good, everything will be fine, of course we will win soon and we must play hockey. We can’t stop because we love these girls and we will do everything for them,” she said. “So many girls on this Ukrainian team are future players of the national team.” Wickenheiser, a Hockey Hall of Famer , is the assistant general manager of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a doctor who works emergency room shifts in the Toronto area. The six-time Olympian and four-time gold medalist organized her first Wickfest after the 2010 Winter Games. She’s had teams from India, Mexico and the Czech Republic attend over the last decade and a half, but never a team that ran the Ukrainians’ gauntlet of logistics. The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health took on the task of arranging visas and paying for the team’s travel. “We care about women and children’s health. Sport is such a symbol. When you see a group of girls coming off the ice all sweaty and having worked hard on the ice, it’s a symbol of a healthy girl,” said chief executive officer Julia Anderson. “That’s a healthy kid that’s able to participate in sport. We really believe if we can get girls there, whether they’re in an active war zone, or here in Canada, those girls will change the world.” The Wings aren’t the first Ukrainians to seek a hockey haven in Canada since the war began. An under-25 men’s team played four games against university squads in early 2023 to prepare for that year’s world university games. Ukrainian teams have also twice played in the Quebec City International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. “It’s the first time in Ukrainian history where a girls’ team is coming to Canada to a very good tournament,” Seredenko said. “They can see how they can play in their future. And they can see how it is to play hockey in Canada.” ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports The Associated PressMeta to build new USD10B AI data centre

On most weekday nights, the ticking of a metronome rings out across the University of Massachusetts Amherst athletic fields, followed by the music of the “Power and Class of New England,” the UMass Amherst Minutemen Marching Band. The students in the band put in a huge commitment to their music and routines, and this year their hard work has brought them to the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where they will showcase their talents on a national stage. “This is a chance to represent our university and our state to this huge audience,” said Timothy Anderson, director of the Minutemen Marching Band. “The students really understand what the mission is. That, to me as their teacher, has been real inspiring.” The marching band was selected from bands around the country to perform in the Thanksgiving Day classic, which will be televised on NBC starting at 8:30 a.m., and they will be the fourth band to play. “I really am excited for people to see the UMass band and what ‘Power and Class’ is all about and what we do here,” said Qeanu Smith, a fifth-year drum major. “We’re trying to bring as much of ourselves with us there and really show people, ‘This is what we do. UMass. This is what the band is all about.’ What we do here is special and getting the opportunity to go to the parade is really exciting.” The band will play “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” during their televised performance, a tribute to late UMass alum Natalie Cole. The routine includes musicians, baton twirlers, dancers and the color guard, who will march the 31⁄2-hour, 2.5-mile parade route, ending with their performance in front of the Macy’s flagship store at Broadway and 34th Street. The band began practicing its music in early October, and overall had about a month and a half to prepare the routine, also practicing for the UMass football halftime shows during that time. The band members learned they would be performing in the parade during the Oct. 7, 2023 football game. “I got to go to New York in the middle of the summer, and walking the parade route, it was super neat standing there. It’s kind of hard to envision. We were in the street looking at the Macy’s sign, and I’m like, ‘There’s going to be a star here!’ It’s going to be so cool, I’m super excited,” said Lilly Barnett, a junior baton twirler and travel coordinator for the band. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess At a rehearsal on Nov. 19, just over a week before their performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the band members were still making adjustments to their routine, ensuring that everything was precisely in place. One of the trickiest parts of performing in the parade is getting the 400-plus members of the band into the small televised space during their time slow of 1 minute and 15 seconds. The performers have 56 counts, or approximately 25 seconds, to move everyone into the Macy’s Star and begin their routine, while playing. The dimensions of the star and performance space in Herald Square are spray-painted onto their practice field, and the band members meticulously practice getting into that space and landing exactly on their “dots.” “The hardest thing about getting ready for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is that the stuff you see on TV, that is like, at most, a fourth of a football field,” said Anderson. “The first couple days we started learning the drill I just had to tell them, ‘You guys need to trust me on this, this is how it’s going to work.’ And now they’ve got the hang of it, but really that’s the biggest challenge is that it’s such a small, restricted space.” Even the smallest changes can make a huge difference in the band’s 75-second routine, so precision is key. At practice, Chris Sirard, assistant director and visual coordinator, instructed students to move closer together in certain configurations, so that different formations would be distinct from each other, telling them to find space “even if it’s 6 inches.” Along the parade route, the band will play songs including “God Bless America” and “Fight Mass,” the UMass fight song, which are part of the band’s typical repertoire. While they have yet to perform in a parade this year, the band members typically march in a few each season and will perform at the Merry Maple celebration in Amherst on Friday, Dec. 6. The UMass band left Amherst on Monday and spent the days leading up to the parade practicing in a bubble dome, hotel ballrooms and on the streets of New York. On Wednesday, the day before the parade, the University of South Carolina Band joined UMass for a performance at New York’s Pier 16 near the South Street Seaport at 10 a.m. Anderson and the USC band director went to graduate school together, and when they found out they would both be in the parade, they decided to put together this performance. The students in the band put a lot of time into it throughout the year and their season, practicing every afternoon Monday through Thursday, often performing on the weekends. “After four years, you really become a strong part of this band, and the band becomes a part of you,” said Aiden Beckman, a senior who is the Macy’s coordinator for the band and section leader of the front ensemble. “It’s amazing. You know that there is one large place on campus where you can go every day, feel welcome and commit to a common task.” This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature 22 balloons, 34 floats, 11 marching bands, 28 performers and more from 8:30 a.m. to noon. It will be available to watch on NBC. The UMass Minuteman Marching Band will also be performing its Macy’s set at the football game against the University of Connecticut on Saturday, Nov. 30.

U.S. Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials Amid Contested ElectionIf Your Vibe Is *Fancy* But Your Wallet Screams *Cheap*, You’ll Probably Love These 32 Items

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda’s U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. On Monday: The S&P 500 rose 43.22 points, or 0.7%, to 5,974.07. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66.69 points, or 0.2%, to 42,906.95. The Nasdaq composite rose 192.29 points, or 1%, to 19,764.89. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 4.93 points, or 0.2%, to 2,237.44. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,204.24 points, or 25.2%. The Dow is up 5,217.41 points, or 13.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,753.53 points, or 31.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 210.36 points, or 10.4%.

Antonio Brown teases role in Donald Trump's administration - before swiftly deleting the postStocks shook off a choppy start to finish higher Monday, as Wall Street kicked off a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 ended 0.7% higher after having been down 0.5% in the early going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also recovered from an early slide to eke out a 0.2% gain. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Gains in technology and communications stocks accounted for much of the gains, outweighing losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.7%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1%. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 12.7%, while Nissan ended flat. Eli Lilly rose 3.7% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.5% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. All told, the S&P 500 rose 43.22 points to 5,974.07. The Dow gained 66.69 points to 42,906.95. The Nasdaq rose 192.29 points to 19,764.89. Traders got a look at new snapshot of U.S. consumer confidence Monday. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets closed mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas.

NEW DELHI: A compliance audit of I-T collections from 11 distilleries and breweries in UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi has uncovered significant under-reporting of sales, with the Comptroller and Auditor General estimating the tax implications of this "short accounting" at approximately Rs 12,800 crore over a 10-year period. The CAG report, tabled in Parliament last week, reviewed the sales of these 11 distilleries and breweries for a 10-year period, till Dec 2022. In one case against a distillery in UP, CAG said its audit found Rs 1,378 crore of alleged under-reporting of sales with a tax implication of Rs 448 crore. "While the distillery had reported sales in its profit and loss account at Rs 4,036 crore, whereas information made available by UP excise dept revealed that sale reported by assessee was Rs 5,414 crore," CAG noted. The under-reported sales of Rs 1,378 crore were accepted by I-T dept in AY 2011-12 to 2013-14, which resulted in short computation of income, involving a tax effect of Rs 448 crore, excluding interest, the audit said. CAG has found deficiencies in functioning of I-T assessment units where they found that "information available within I-T dept was not utilised by assessment units." Reconciliation of details from assessees was not carried out by assessing officer, which involved a tax impact of Rs 12,781 crore, it said. The auditor has asked CBDT to consider issuing a SoP/MoP for specifically requisitioning info/statement of financial transactions from the state excise authorities as mandatory while conducting assessment of the distilleries and breweries. Pointing to systemic failure in I-T dept, CAG observed that a large amount of rebates, discounts, etc., was allowed as expenditure in accounts of distilleries while the genuineness of such claims were not verified. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET’s Workshop is just around the corner!

'Negative Politics Defeated': PM Modi In His 1st Address After Maharashtra Poll Victory - WATCHElon Musk's battle over his Tesla pay is entering a new phase. A Delaware judge ruled on Monday that to pass Elon Musk's $55 billion compensation package. Tesla called the decision "wrong" and it would appeal. "This ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs' lawyers run Delaware companies rather than their rightful owners — the shareholders," Tesla wrote in a post on X. So what happens next? If files an appeal, Delaware's Supreme Court will review the decision of Delaware Chancery Court Judge , who maintained her earlier ruling that struck down the pay package on the grounds that Musk could have influenced Tesla's board members, to whom he had close ties. Mathieu Shapiro, Obermayer's managing partner and a member of its litigation department, told Business Insider that appeals processes often take a year or longer. Shapiro, who focuses on business and commercial litigation, said the case will ultimately have to balance Delaware's freedom for companies to self-govern with concerns about excessive payouts and Musk's status as one of the most successful businessmen. While appeals are generally difficult to win, Shapiro said Musk's case is "novel" and contains unpredictable elements. One issue that may come up is whether Musk influenced the negotiations over his Tesla pay package, as the trial judge suggested in her initial ruling, he said. "Little law addresses executive compensation, let alone what seems to be the largest-ever compensation deal at a US public company," Shapiro said. Given that Musk's pay package was set to be the for a CEO, there aren't many cases to turn to for direct precedent. Anat Alon-Beck, a business law professor at Case Western Reserve University, told BI that one case that stands out is the 2015 Delaware Chancery Court decision ruling against Mark Zuckerberg's attempt to ratify board actions related to Facebook's 2010 acquisition of Instagram. Alon-Beck, who used to work as a merger and acquisition attorney for tech companies and also specializes in Delaware deal law, said Zuckerberg didn't follow the proper procedural requirements mandated by state law. The case demonstrates that even controlling shareholders need to comply with the legal procedures for ratifying board decisions, he added. "When you know Delaware law, you know that stuff like that is just not going to fly," Alon-Beck said. Columbia law professor Dorothy Lund used to clerk for a Delaware Supreme Court justice and US Court of Appeals judge. She told BI that Delaware is also "in a weird spot" because Tesla reincorporated from Delaware to Texas in June, and Musk has repeatedly spoken out about Delaware courts (he called the ruling "absolute corruption" on Monday). While these decisions aren't supposed to be influenced by concerns around public perception, Lund said Musk's behavior hasn't been the most strategic. "Delaware now has to worry about looking like, well, if we reverse, do we just look like we got cowed by Elon Musk?" Lund said. Reintroducing the pay package in Texas Prior to the shareholder vote, Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm said in June that the board had considered introducing a new pay plan if the shareholder vote didn't pass — an option she said would cost shareholders. If Tesla created a new plan with the same stock grants, it would cost tens of billions in stock-based compensation today. That's because the compensation tied to the original package was worth an estimated $2.3 billion in stock, and it's already been paid out. Alon-Beck told BI that a new compensation package in Texas would make the most sense. "I would do a new vote in Texas, under Texas law, and I would authorize a new compensation package," Alon-Beck said, adding that the old package wouldn't be able to be authorized because of a conflict of laws. Shapiro said he thinks it would be "very difficult" to draft the same package in Texas, noting that the original plan goes back to 2018 and was based on specific targets as well as Tesla's stock price in 2018. Shapiro said Musk's decision to appeal or reintroduce the package in Texas depends on multiple factors — and underlying motivations. While it may be all about the money, the case may also signify more about public companies in the US and the way in which shareholders and courts can interfere with management's plans. "Or is it about his public persona and his reputation and how those things are understood in future business dealings," Shapiro said. "If he were my client, I would have a discussion about all of those things before deciding what path forward was best for him." Read the original article onFor the second time this season, DeVonta Smith will miss a game for the Philadelphia Eagles due to an injury. Back in Week 4, Smith missed the team's blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a concussion. Heading into their Week 12 contest against the Los Angeles Rams, Smith will miss the NFC showdown with a hamstring injury. USA Today Sports Smith has been banged up for most of the season with lower body injuries. Sunday will be a chance for him to "get right" ahead of the team's key games down the stretch. But with the former Heisman Trophy no longer available, the Eagles will need additional players to step up for them. Yes, stars like A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert are all still on the roster, but even one member of the Eagles missing time is usually a bad sign for the organization. To Philadelphia, Sunday will be a golden opportunity for additional players across the receiver position to step up. Related: Eagles Defense Preparing For Main Part Of Sean McVay's Offense Whether it's former first-round pick Jahan Dotson, the return of special teams ace Britain Covey, or rookies such as Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith, the Eagles have plenty of weapons to remain competitive against the high-flying Rams. In that regard, anything less than their usual average of points scored will not do with quarterback Jalen Hurts leading the way. Smith's loss is a big issue for the Eagles moving forward, but for Sunday, it's a chance that the team can show they are more than just their star players. Related: Eagles' Star Currently in Top 10 In Statistic

President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., last week in Washington. Alex Brandon/Associated Press NEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general; and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims – as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. The FBI added: “We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message. My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops. We are thankful for the swift... — Lee Zeldin (@LeeMZeldin) November 27, 2024 White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump’s transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely,” Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik’s office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Her office said “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism.” The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. The agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X . “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island, said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area” around 9 a.m. Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot, with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump. Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats. This is dangerous and unhinged. It is not who we are in America. Joe Biden and all Democrat leaders have an... https://t.co/0xZztX4DQo — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) November 27, 2024 In Wu’s case, a male caller told police he had shot his own wife and tied another man up. When police and EMT responders arrived at the address given by the caller, they quickly realized it was the Boston mayor’s home. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting’ incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump,” he wrote on X . “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »Vardy helps Van Nistelrooy to first win with Leicester as Guehi defies the FA with religious messageNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher after flipping between gains and losses several times during the day. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. 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President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak