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DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has reaffirmed her ruling that Tesla must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick on Monday denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. McCormick also rejected an equally unprecedented and massive fee request by plaintiff attorneys , who argued that they were entitled to legal fees in the form of Tesla stock valued at more than $5 billion. The judge said the attorneys were entitled to a fee award of $345 million. The rulings came in a lawsuit filed by a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musk’s 2018 compensation package. McCormick concluded in January that Musk engineered the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. The compensation package initially carried a potential maximum value of about $56 billion, but that sum has fluctuated over the years based on Tesla’s stock price. Following the court ruling, Tesla shareholders met in June and ratified Musk’s 2018 pay package for a second time, again by an overwhelming margin. RELATED COVERAGE Stock market today: S&P 500 and Dow post gains and close out best month of 2024 The outlook is uncertain for AI regulations as the US government pivots to full Republican control Zuckerberg dines with Trump in Mar-a-Lago Defense attorneys then argued that the second vote makes clear that Tesla shareholders, with full knowledge of the flaws in the 2018 process that McCormick pointed out, were adamant that Musk is entitled to the pay package. They asked the judge to vacate her order directing Tesla to rescind the pay package. McCormick, who seemed skeptical of the defense arguments during an August hearing, said in Monday’s ruling that those arguments were fatally flawed. “The large and talented group of defense firms got creative with the ratification argument, but their unprecedented theories go against multiple strains of settled law,” McCormick wrote in a 103-page opinion. The judge noted, among other things, that a stockholder vote standing alone cannot ratify a conflicted-controller transaction. “Even if a stockholder vote could have a ratifying effect, it could not do so here due to multiple, material misstatements in the proxy statement,” she added. Meanwhile, McCormick found that the $5.6 billion fee request by the shareholder’s attorneys, which at one time approached $7 billion based on Tesla’s trading price, went too far. “In a case about excessive compensation, that was a bold ask,” McCormick wrote. Attorneys for the Tesla shareholder argue that their work resulted in the “massive” benefit of returning shares to Tesla that otherwise would have gone to Musk and diluted the stock held by other Tesla investors. They value that benefit at $51.4 billion, using the difference between the stock price at the time of McCormick’s January ruling and the strike price of some 304 million stock options granted to Musk. While finding that the methodology used to calculate the fee request was sound, the judge noted that the Delaware’s Supreme Court has noted that fee award guidelines “must yield to the greater policy concern of preventing windfalls to counsel.” “The fee award here must yield in this way, because $5.6 billion is a windfall no matter the methodology used to justify it,” McCormick wrote. A fee award of $345 million, she said, was “an appropriate sum to reward a total victory.” The fee award amounts to almost exactly half the current record $688 million in legal fees awarded in 2008 in litigation stemming from the collapse of Enron.WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site had not posted any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

In spite of the widespread outcry over economic hardship, some business owners in Bwari Area Council of the FCT said they made huge profits from their businesses during the Christmas celebrations. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday the business owners attributed they success to high patronage and impressive turnout at their respective businesses. Mrs Bosede Bamidele, owner of a restaurant and bar, told NAN that the Christmas celebrations brought in one of her highest customer turnouts in recent times. Bamidele revealed that her usual stock of 50 crates of alcoholic drinks and 15 crates of soft drinks, which normally last for two days, was surprisingly exhausted within 24 hours during the festive period. Bamidele said: “I had to keep ordering for more drinks because customers kept coming in and out of my restaurant, eating and drinking all the assorted recipes made available. “Interestingly, in spite of the widespread complaints on economic hardship, people still found ways to unwind and have fun, I sincerely appreciate God for that because it benefitted my business.” Similarly, Mr Buhari Alhamdu, a tailor, also said that he had worked so hard prior to the festivity to meet customers’ demands said that he had to hire more hands to assist him. Alhamdu, said he sewed both male and female clothing, he use to sew a standard outfit for at least, N5, 000, but increased it to N7, 000 before the Yuletide. This, he added, did not deter patronage and brought him new customers. He said that although reason for the increment was due to the cost of sewing materials, he however said that, his take-home after deductions of expenses incurred, left a smile on his face. Another business owner, Miss Praise Moses, a hairdresser said that she made more than N100, 000 in two days before Christmas. Moses, who said that she hardly makes N30, 000 in a week due to low patronage, however said that the festive season brought a surge in customers, particularly ladies seeking to enhance their beauty for the celebrations. “I always look forward to Christmas period , no matter how the year has been, we make money during this season, there’s always patronage no matter how people cry that there’s no money. Madam Esther Izuogo, a resident, also said that it was normal for some businesses to boom during the festivity because Nigerians would always find a way to relieve the stress from the year’s hustle. She also cautioned those who spend so much during the festivity to remember their responsibilities in the coming year, she encouraged business owners who made profits to utilise their gains wisely, prioritising family needs and business growth.

ORCHARD PARK (AP) — Cornerback Taron Johnson is still agitated over the dud the Buffalo Bills defense produced in giving up season worsts in points and yards, while melting down on third down in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams last weekend. There’s no better time or opportunity to show how much better they are than this Sunday. That’s when the Bills (10-3) travel to play the NFC-leading Detroit Lions (12-1), who just happen to lead the NFL in scoring and feature the same dynamic style of offense as the Rams. “I think our mindset is just going to be attack,” Johnson said after practice Wednesday. “We can’t wait to play Sunday just to prove people wrong and prove to ourselves that how we played wasn’t who we are.” The Bills acknowledge having several excuses to lean on for why they unraveled in a 44-42 loss — riding a little too high after a division-clinching win, a cross-country trip and facing a more driven opponent in the thick of a playoff race. What’s unacceptable is the hesitancy their usually reliable defensive backs showed in coverage and the lack of pressure applied by their defensive front. The bright side is the substandard performance potentially serving as a late-season reminder of this not being the time to let their foot off the gas. “A lot of teams have scars on their way to having a darn good season. And we’re having a darn good season,” coach Sean McDermott said. “So what has to be in front of us this week is the opportunity that’s in front of us, quite frankly, to challenge that team,” he added, referring to Detroit. “You better bring your heart, you better bring your guts, you better put it on the line.” With a little bit of added fire, the Bills are going back to the basics on defense following an outing in which very little went right. The defense was off-balance from the start in being unable to stop the run, before eventually being picked apart in the passing game while allowing the Rams to score on each of their first six drives (not including a kneel-down to close the first half) in building a 38-21 lead. The most frustrating part was Buffalo’s inability to get off the field while allowing the Rams to convert 11 of 15 third-down chances. LA’s 73.3% third-down conversion rate was the third highest against Buffalo — and worst since Miami converted 75% of its chances in 1986 — since the stat was introduced to NFL gamebooks in 1973. “The recipe to lose a football game is what we did (Sunday) and it starts with me, first and foremost,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said Monday. “Move on and let it not happen again. Let it be a learning lesson. Failure is the best teacher.” The challenge is preparing for an exceptionally balanced Lions offense that ranks fourth in the NFL in both rushing and passing, and averaging 32.1 points per outing. The objective, McDermott said, is to not overcorrect but stick to the fundamentals that led to Buffalo winning seven straight before losing to Los Angeles. He placed an emphasis on winning at the line of scrimmage and forcing takeaways, something Buffalo failed to do last weekend for the first time this season. A little more urgency, would help, too. “It is a mentality. It is an attitude, and if you want to play good defense, that’s where it starts,” McDermott said. “There’s not a lot of shortcuts or ways around it. It’s got to be a mentality.” The message resonated even on offense, where quarterback Josh Allen nearly rallied the Bills to victory while becoming the NFL’s first player to throw three touchdown passes and rush for three more scores. “It was a case of you saw a team that’s fighting for their lives to try to make the playoffs in the Los Angeles Rams, and they came out ready to play. And maybe we didn’t have that type of urgency,” Allen said. “It forces us to know that we’ve got to be better. We know that.” NOTES: LB Baylon Spector (calf) and DE Dawuane Smoot (wrist) returned to practice Wednesday, opening their 21-day windows to be activated off IR. ... Starting CB Rasul Douglas did not practice and could miss time after hurting his knee on Sunday. ... Buffalo has until this weekend to determine whether to activate OL Tylan Grable (groin) off IR.WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump doesn't think much of Joe Biden's foreign policy record. The Republican president-elect frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term. But a funny thing happened on Trump's way back to the White House: The Biden and Trump national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza , Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife's edge. It's not clear how much common ground those teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House on Jan. 20, 2025. “There is a deep conviction on the part of the incoming national security team that we are dealing with ... and on our part, directed from President Biden, that it is our job, on behalf of the American people, to make sure this is a smooth transition,” Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a weekend appearance at a forum in California. “And we are committed to discharging that duty as relentlessly and faithfully as we possibly can.” To be certain, Trump and his allies haven't let up on their criticism of Biden, putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of Biden and Democrats for the series of crises around the globe. The president-elect says Biden is responsible for the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, arguing that policies under his watch led to Hamas and Russia becoming emboldened. And shortly before Syria's Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed last week, Trump blamed Biden's old boss, former President Barack Obama, for failing to enforce his own “red line” in 2013 after Assad deployed chemical weapons that killed hundreds of civilians, and laying the groundwork for Islamic militants to establish a beachhead in the country. But amid the hectoring of Biden, Trump team officials acknowledge that the Biden White House has worked diligently to keep Trump's circle apprised and help ensure there is a smooth handoff on national security matters. “For our adversaries out there that think this is a time of opportunity that they can play one administration off the other, they’re wrong, and we are — we are hand in glove," Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for national security adviser, said in a Fox News interview last month. “We are one team with the United States in this transition.” While Trump rarely has a good word for the Democratic administration, there's an appreciation in Trump world of how the Biden White House has gone about sharing critical national security information, according to a Trump transition official who was not authorized to comment publicly. The coordination is precisely how lawmakers intended for incoming and outgoing administrations to conduct themselves during a handover when they bolstered federal support for transitions. It's already the most substantive handoff process since 2009, aides to Biden and Trump acknowledged, surpassing Trump's chaotic first takeover in 2017 and his wide refusal to cooperate with the incoming Biden team in 2021. Trump's pick to serve as special envoy to the Middle East , Florida real estate developer Steve Witkoff, consulted with Biden administration officials as he recently traveled to Mideast to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. Sullivan, who was to travel to Israel on Wednesday for talks with Netanyahu, has in turn kept Waltz in the loop about the Biden administration's efforts at getting a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before Trump's inauguration. Biden administration officials say that the two national security teams have also closely coordinated on Ukraine and Syria, though they have provided scant detail on what that coordination has looked like. “Let me put it this way: Nothing that we’re doing and nothing that we’re saying are coming as a surprise to the incoming team,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "They will decide for themselves what policies they might want to keep in place, what approaches they might want to continue and which ones they won’t." Trump made clear during his campaign that he would move to end the war in Ukraine quickly once he came to office. He called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier this week to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine . But the Biden White House has begun gently — and publicly — making the case for how continued support for Ukraine lines up with Trump's priorities. On Saturday, Sullivan pointed to comments made by Trump on social media to buttress the case that Biden’s push for continued support of Ukraine falls in line with the incoming president’s thinking. Trump earlier that day had noted that Assad’s rule was collapsing because Russia “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever.” “Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success,” Trump said in the posting on Truth Social. Sullivan underscored that Biden and Trump are in agreement that there should be no American boots on the ground in Syria and that the war in Ukraine was a major factor in Assad’s fall. “I was a little bit struck by it — earlier in the post, he said part of the reason this is happening is because of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Sullivan said of Trump. “And I think he even referenced the sheer scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in Ukraine, and for that reason, they’re not in a position to defend their client, Assad. And on that point, we’re in vigorous agreement.” Two days later in Washington, Sullivan made the case that Trump should bolster the little-known U.S. International Development Finance Corporation that was created during the Republican’s first term. The push for reauthorizing the foreign aid agency comes as Trump has promised to make massive cuts to the federal bureaucracy. Trump signed into law the agency's authority -- tucked into a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration — to provide $60 billion in loans, loan guarantees and insurance to companies in developing nations. Sullivan called the agency an effective tool for private-public partnerships, before allowing that “maybe I shouldn’t be the one” making the case “since I’m leaving, but I will give my advice anyway.” “It was created as we’ve all noted, under the Trump administration,” Sullivan said in remarks at the agency’s annual conference. “It has been strengthened under the Biden administration. And as we look to DFC reauthorization next year, it has to remain a bipartisan priority.” After Assad's government fell, the Biden administration issued a warning to Iran not to speed up its nuclear program after one of its closest allies was toppled, declaring “that’ll never happen on our watch.” The U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic, hinted at coordination on the matter with the Trump team. The official said there had been “good discussions” with the incoming administration on the matter and there was an expectation the same policy would carry over. Biden has also approved a new national security memorandum that is meant to serve as a road map for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the White House announced Wednesday. Biden administration officials began developing the guidance this summer. It was shaped to be a document that could help the next administration build its approach from Day 1 on how it will go about dealing with the tightening relationships between the United States’ most prominent adversaries and competitors, according to two other senior administration officials. One of those officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, sought to assure the incoming Trump team that the Biden White House effort “isn't trying to box them in or tilt them toward one policy option or another.” Instead, the official said, it's about helping the next administration build “capacity” as it shapes its policies on some the most difficult foreign policies it will face.

Trump picks Key Square Group CEO Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, Chavez-DeRemer as Labor SecretaryAs 2025 kicks off, the tech world is buzzing with exciting deals on cutting-edge gadgets. Whether upgrading smartphones, exploring high-performance tablets, or grabbing audio and wearable accessories, retailers have rolled out massive discounts to keep the holiday shopping spirit alive. With popular devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 , Apple headphones, and more, this guide dives into the best deals to kickstart 2025. Smartphones: Foldables and Flagship Devices at Record Lows Price: $1,099.99, or $349.99 with eligible trade-in at Samsung. Samsung’s foldable marvel, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, is available at a massive discount. The after-Christmas deal offers up to $750 off with an eligible trade-in, making this premium device more accessible than ever. Its innovative design and advanced features have redefined smartphone versatility. Shop the Deal Buy the Galaxy Z Flip 6 unlocked on Amazon with up to 23% off for a limited time. Explore the Offer Price: Discounted on Amazon at $849. The Oppo Reno12 5G boasts a 5000mAh battery and a sleek design, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a powerful yet stylish device. Its new discounted price makes it even more appealing. View the Deal Tablets: High-Performance Devices at Unmatched Prices Price: $1,049 at JB Hi-Fi, down from $1,299. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra offers an expansive display and unparalleled multitasking capabilities, making it ideal for productivity and entertainment. Its current discounted price is a steal for those seeking premium performance. Shop Now Price: $119, down from $149. This budget-friendly tablet offers a vibrant 10.1-inch display, perfect for streaming and reading. With a hefty discount, it’s an excellent option for casual users. Audio and Wearables: Premium Devices at Slashed Prices Price: $249 on Amazon. These lightweight headphones offer effortless connectivity, superior sound quality, and a personalized listening experience. The current price cut makes them an excellent value for audiophiles. Get Yours Here Price: Starting at $329. Samsung’s latest smartwatch features advanced health tracking and seamless integration with Galaxy devices. A significant discount makes this wearable a must-have for fitness enthusiasts. Digital Storage Solutions: Compact and High-Performance Price: $199, down from $279. This high-speed SSD offers durability and ample storage for professionals and gamers. Its discounted price makes it an excellent choice for those needing reliable storage solutions. Price: $359, reduced from $499. SanDisk’s Extreme Portable SSD is ideal for photographers and videographers requiring large-capacity storage with exceptional transfer speeds. Smart Home Devices: Create a Connected Home Price: $199, down from $249. The Nest Hub Max combines a smart display and home assistant, offering seamless control over smart devices and entertainment features. Price: $169, down from $249. With a rotating screen and superior sound quality, the Echo Show 10 is a game-changer for smart home enthusiasts. Other Top Picks: Laptops, Accessories, and More Price: $899 at Appliance Central, down from $1,199. This premium soundbar offers an immersive audio experience, perfect for home theater setups. Explore the Deal Price: $1,299, reduced from $1,599. The XPS 13 remains a favorite for professionals, thanks to its sleek design and robust performance. Why These Deals Stand Out The ongoing deals represent significant savings on some of the most sought-after gadgets. Foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Oppo Reno12 5G highlight advancements in mobile technology, while tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra cater to productivity and entertainment needs. Wearables and audio devices add convenience and style to daily life, while storage solutions and smart home devices enhance functionality. As the new year begins, tech enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to with these incredible deals on smartphones, tablets, and more. From foldable smartphones to advanced SSDs, these top discounts are perfect for upgrading devices without breaking the bank. Explore these offers today and enjoy the best that 2025’s tech world has to offer.

Victoria Police has announced it's treating the Melbourne synagogue fire as a terrorist attack. The blaze at the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea soon appeared to many, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to be motivated by terror, but it took authorities four days to declare it. To the casual onlooker, this might seem odd. On December 6, masked men were seen pouring liquid on the floor while people were inside, before the building burst into flames. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, among others, was adamant it was clearly an act of terror. But whether or not something is terrorism isn't always easy to determine, nor is the current political argument about it very useful. If holding those responsible is the goal, careful investigation from the outset is the only way to achieve it, even if it means waiting longer. À lire aussi : Albanese announces antisemitism taskforce, as synagogue firebombing investigation upgraded What have police said? In a press conference, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett outlined how the investigation has been upgraded from arson to counter-terrorism, based on investigations over the weekend. The main thing that changes operationally is unlocking more resources: more people with specific expertise, more federal and state cooperation and more agencies involved, including ASIO. Legally, it means those responsible potentially face harsher penalties. Any charges laid would likely be related to terrorism rather than regular arson or property destruction. Police have identified three suspects, but have said little about them. This is usual practice in these sorts of investigations as they don't want to alert the perpetrators that authorities are onto them. While police haven't explicitly said so, it's likely they've found evidence of the suspects' motivations. This could include finding their online footprints, social media posts and communications with...SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled Monday that the Venezuelan government violated the political rights of former opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles . The court, based in Costa Rica’s capital, said in a statement that the government violated his freedom of expression, his right to equality under the law and judicial protections. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Itron Marks Significant Milestone of 50th Temetra Deployment in AustraliaSt. Katharine Drexel Teacher Cynthia Bettio Wins Esri Canada’s Making a Difference Award

Titans are their own worst enemy as they fail again to string together winsSaints QB situation remains cloudy as matchup with Washington nears

FAILING authorities missed at least 15 opportunities to put Sara Sharif in a safe home before she was beaten to death. They included reports from her siblings of dad Urfan Sharif’s violence as long as ten years before she died. Social workers spotted burn marks on children and were told Sharif slapped a child around the face and that he waved a knife around the home. Sara’s school also logged bruises on their internal computer, without formally passing those concerns on to social services. The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza , said it showed Britain’s child protection system had a “profound weakness” which “we have failed time and time again to correct”. And Sara’s MP in Woking , Will Forster, called for an immediate inquest to understand how the system let her down. READ MORE ON SARA SHARIF He said: “It is heartbreaking to think of the warning signs that were missed that allowed her to die at the hands of those who were meant to protect her.” But Surrey County Council said: “It is clear the perpetrators went to extreme lengths to conceal the truth from everyone.” It will now launch a safeguarding review, which is expected to appoint a cultural adviser. Sara was known to social services from the day she was born in 2013 — yet 15 opportunities were missed by authorities. Most read in The Sun JANUARY 2013: Sara was made subject to a child protection plan at birth because of Urfan Sharif being accused of attacking three women including her mother, as well as hitting and biting two children. But she was allowed to remain with her father. FEBRUARY 22, 2013: A month after Sara was born, social services and police were told that Sharif had slapped a child around the face. Nothing was done. MAY 7, 2013: A social worker spotted a burn mark on a child’s leg. Sharif failed to report the incident and claimed it was a barbecue accident. Nothing was done. OCTOBER 7, 2013: A child was seen with a burn mark made by a domestic iron. Sharif told social services the child had bumped into the appliance. No action was taken. 2013 TO 2014: A child told a social worker that Sharif smashed up a TV and punched Sara’s mother Olga . NOVEMBER 2014: Sara was taken into foster care after a child told a social worker about a bite mark. But she later returned to live with her father following a family court hearing in October 2019 where social services recommended Sara lived with her father because that was her preference. JANUARY 2015: Sharif was reported to social services for ­waving a knife around at home in what he said was a zombie game. Social workers noted that Sharif hit and kicked Olga at home and the pair threatened to kill each other. FEBRUARY 2015: A child told their foster carer that Sharif used to hit them on the bottom with a belt. In September that year the child was heard to say to Sharif: “When you’re at home you hit and kick me every day.” 2015: Olga told social services about Sharif tightening a belt around her neck. Around this time social workers complained Sharif was coercive and derogatory towards them. A male social worker was then appointed to the family. DECEMBER 2016: A child told a social worker they did not like Sharif because he punched them all over their body and gave them lots of bruises. Social workers saw Sara flinch when Sharif told her off during supervised contact and seem ­surprised when he cuddled her. JUNE 6, 2022: A teacher reported that Sara had a bruise under her eye, using the school’s online child protection monitoring system. Sara initially would not say what happened, before later saying another child hit her. But no referral was made to social services. MARCH 10, 2023: A teacher saw bruises on Sara’s face. Sara said she had fallen on roller skates. When she gave a different story to a safeguarding lead, the school made a referral to social services. Six days later social services decided to take no further action. It is understood there had been no contact between social services and Sara’s family for four years at this point. Social services categorised the case as the second highest priority and asked other agencies for information. When nothing came back, the case was closed. MARCH 20, 2023: A report was logged on the school’s internal system after Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool was overheard referring to children as “motherf***er, sister f***er, b**** and whore” in the playground. But no details were passed to social services. MARCH 28, 2023: Batool claimed a mark on Sara’s face was caused by a pen. The teacher told the school safeguarding lead. APRIL 17, 2023: Sharif decided to home-school Sara. School staff rang the council for advice and were told they should make a referral if there were concerns. Staff saw Sara later that day at school pick-up and she seemed fine so they decided against it, even though she had been beaten earlier that day. She was never seen outside the home again. Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel said: “Her death is a heartbreaking reminder of the profound weaknesses in our child protection system that, as a country, we have failed time and time again to correct. READ MORE SUN STORIES “We have been here before — and each time we have said ‘never again’. Sara’s death must also bring about an immediate shift in how we protect children like her.” Rachael Wardell, executive director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at Surrey County Council, said: “We are resolute in our commitment to protecting children, and we are determined to play a full and active part in the forthcoming review alongside ­partner agencies, to thoroughly understand the wider circumstances surrounding Sara’s tragic death.” By Ed Southgate AUTHORITIES are facing questions over whether cultural and religious issues affected decision-making in the Sara Sharif case. It is expected a cultural adviser will be appointed to the safeguarding review to examine how it would affect certain areas. Ten-year-old Sara was forced to wear a hijab to conceal injuries — but her wicked stepmum Beinash Batool did not wear one. Ex-neighbour Chloe Redwin told jurors she spoke with Sharif and Batool when she first saw Sara in a headscarf, commenting that she looked nice in it. Ms Redwin said Sharif claimed Sara was “learning about the faith”, and that she “wanted to explore more”. She also said the way Batool spoke to her about it was “abrupt, almost as if she wanted the conversation to end”. Another neighbour said he felt it was odd Sara had only her eyes covered, as nobody else in the family wore Asian dress. He never saw any injuries, but could not know as she was so covered. One witness who saw Sara with bruises said she wore a headscarf that was “very low”. Rather than simply covering her hair, as would be the norm, it was worn “very low, almost ­covering her forehead”. Friends of Sara’s birth mum Olga also claim a Muslim social worker once told her to stop being “selfish”, to return to Poland, and to let Sara enjoy an upbringing in a Muslim family. SARA Sharif’s stepmother Beinash Batool was abused by her own family. At 18, they objected to a man she wanted to marry and she was held against her will at her uncle’s house in the UK for weeks. Batool was also assaulted by her grandad. She was born to a “very traditional” Pakistani family with three sisters and a brother, and was said to be instrumental in courts deciding Sara should live with her and Sharif. But she refused to give dental impressions after bites were found on Sara’s body. FAISAL Malik was born to a large family in Pakistan in 1995 — but he did not grow up with his brother Urfan. Malik travelled to the UK in 2022 to study at Portsmouth University. It was the first time he had left Pakistan. He was not close to Urfan who felt obliged to let him live with his family. Malik, 29, worked at McDonald’s and would often leave the home to escape tensions between Urfan and Batool. His barrister suggested that after the trio fled to Pakistan it was Malik who first said he was returning to the UK.

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL will consider expanding replay assist to include facemask penalties and other plays. Officials have missed several obvious facemask penalties this season, including two in a three-week span during Thursday night games. “When we see it, because I see it like yourselves and the fans, I have an opportunity to see it from a different angle and see it from a slow-mo,” NFL executive Troy Vincent said Wednesday at the league’s winter meetings. “When you think about the position of where the officials are, things are happening so fast. Sometimes the facemask can be the same color as the gloves. There’s a lot happening. Concerning? Yes, because that’s a big miss. That’s a big foul. That’s why we would like to consider putting that for the membership to consider putting that foul category that we can see, putting that (penalty flag) on the field to help. There is a frustration, and we believe that is one category we can potentially get right." Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was grabbed by his facemask and brought down in the end zone to end Minnesota’s comeback attempt against the Rams on Oct. 24. But there was no call. On Oct. 3, officials missed a facemask on Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving while he ran for 7 yards late in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay instead was called for holding on the play, got forced out of field-goal range and Kirk Cousins rallied the Falcons to an overtime victory. “That is one this year, the facemask seems like it was the obvious one” Vincent said. “That keeps showing up.” Vincent also cited hits on a defenseless player, tripping, the fair catch, an illegal batted ball, an illegal double-team block, illegal formations on kickoffs and taunting as other areas that warrant consideration for replay assist. Current rules only allow replay assist to help officials pick up a flag incorrectly thrown on the field, or in assisting proper enforcement of a foul called on the field. The NFL’s Competition Committee will review potential recommendations for owners to vote on for expanding replay assist. Vincent was emphatic about the league’s desire to eliminate low blocks that could lead to serious injuries. “The low block below the knee needs to be removed from the game,” Vincent said. “You look at high school, you look at college, too. Every block should be above the knee, but below the neck. All the work that we’ve done for the head and neck area, all the things that we’ve taken out of the game, this is the right time for us to remove the low block out of the game. Be consistent with high school. Be consistent with college. Every block should be above the knee and below the neck.” The league will consider changes to the onside kick after dramatically overhauling the kickoff rule on a one-year basis. “We need to look at that. That’s a dead play,” Vincent said of the onside kick’s low success rate. “That is a ceremonial play. Very low recovery rate. When we look at the kickoff and maybe where the touchback area should be during the offseason, we need to revisit the onside kick.” Options include giving the team an opportunity to run one play to gain a certain number of yards to keep possession. The Washington Commanders’ search for a new stadium site includes options in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and work has escalated on one in particular. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and controlling owner Josh Harris met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week about the RFK Stadium site in Washington, which requires a bill getting through Congress to transfer the land to the District government before anything else can happen. “I think there’s a bipartisan support for this,” Goodell said, adding he’d like to see it get to a vote soon. “We hope that it will be addressed and approved so that it’s at least an alternative for the Commanders if we go forward. I grew up in Washington, and I know would be exciting for a lot of fans.” The NFL continues to discuss a potential 18-game season, but would need approval from the players’ union. “We are doing analysis I would say, but we are not finalizing any plans at this point,” Goodell said. “They’ll share that analysis with the players’ union, which would need to agree to any change.” AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Puma Exploration Announces closing of $668,500 Non-Brokered Financing