queen casino DA suggests unusual idea for halting Trump's hush money case while upholding convictionCounting The Gains Of Tinubu’s Economic RenewalEASTON, Pa. (AP) — Louie Semona scored 15 points off of the bench to lead Stonehill over Lafayette 70-65 on Sunday. Semona had six rebounds for the Skyhawks (8-7). Hermann Koffi scored 13 points, shooting 4 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Josh Morgan had 13 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line. The Leopards (5-8) were led by Caleb Williams, who recorded 15 points. Lafayette also got 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks from Justin Vander Baan. Alex Chaikin also recorded 12 points, two steals and two blocks. Stonehill went into the half leading Lafayette 28-27. Semona put up seven points in the half. Stonehill used a 7-0 second-half run erase a five-point deficit and take the lead at 47-45 with 11:20 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Todd Brogna scored nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

South Korea's acting president faces an impeachment vote as the Constitutional Court meets for its first hearing in the case of President Yoon Suk-Yeol, who was impeached and suspended from duties after a short-lived martial law. The effort to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has been acting president since Yoon was impeached on December 14, threatens to intensify the political crisis gripping Asia's fourth-largest economy and one of its most vibrant democracies. The unexpected martial law decree and swift political fallout shocked the nation and economic markets, unsettling key allies the United States and Europe which had seen Yoon as a staunch partner in global efforts to counter China, Russia, and North Korea. The plan for a vote to impeach Han was unveiled on Thursday by the main opposition Democratic Party after he declined to immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court, saying it would exceed his acting role. After Yoon's impeachment, the DP had said in the interest of national stability it would not pursue impeaching Han over his role in the martial law bid. But the party has since clashed with the Yoon-appointed prime minister over the justices, as well as bills calling for special prosecutors to investigate the president. On Thursday Han said it was beyond his remit as a caretaker president to appoint the justices without bipartisan agreement. A party spokesman said Han's refusal amounted to an abuse of power aimed at obstructing Yoon's trial, adding that the prime minister was himself "a key suspect in the rebellion". The leader of Yoon's People Power Party, Kwon Young-se, told reporters that if Han was impeached, that could trigger a new financial crisis, the Yonhap news agency said. Yoon cited a high number of impeachment votes and other obstructionist moves by the DP as part of his justification for trying to impose martial law. He also later said it was needed to investigate questions over election security. The vote to determine Han's fate comes as the Constitutional Court is set on Friday to hold its first hearing in a case that will decide whether Yoon is reinstated or permanently removed from office. The court has 180 days to decide whether to reinstate Yoon or remove him. In the latter scenario, a new presidential election would be held within 60 days. Yoon is not required to attend the hearing and it is unclear if anyone from his legal team will be there. In contrast to South Korea's two previous impeached presidents, Yoon has refused to receive or acknowledge court communications so far. On Thursday a court spokesperson said the hearing would be held regardless of his team's participation, but she did not comment on whether the president would eventually be compelled to respond. If Han is impeached, the finance minister will assume the acting presidency. The Democratic Party has majority control of parliament, but there is disagreement between the parties and some constitutional scholars over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds vote is needed to impeach the acting president. On Thursday the South Korean won weakened to its lowest since March 2009 in holiday-thinned trading amid the US dollar's continued rally. Yoon shocked his country and the world with a late-night announcement on December 3 that he was imposing martial law to overcome political deadlock and root out "anti-state forces". The military deployed special forces to the national assembly, the election commission, and the office of a liberal YouTube commentator. It also issued orders banning activity by parliament and political parties, as well as calling for government control of the military. But within hours 190 lawmakers had defied the cordons of troops and police and voted against Yoon's order. About six hours after his initial decree, the president rescinded the order.As TikTok bill steams forward, online influencers put on their lobbying hats to visit Washington

David Coote will not appeal against the termination of his contract by referees’ body PGMOL, the PA news agency understands. Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. The legislation is drawing unusual support in Congress In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. Influencers descend on Washington But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. ____ AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. ___ This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille. Advertisement Advertisement

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TORONTO, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blockmate Ventures Inc. (TSX.V: MATE) (OTCQB: MATEF) (FSE: 8MH1) (“ Blockmate ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that it has closed its strategic investment (the “ Offering ”) involving a group of strategic investors led by Antanas Guoga (Tony G) for gross proceeds of $1,400,000. This strategic funding supports Blockmate’s pursuit of industry leadership in blockchain innovation and underscores our commitment to sustainable and transformative technology. In connection with completion of the Offering, the Company has issued 14,000,000 units (each, a “ Unit ”) at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share, and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire a further common share at a price of $0.50 until December 23, 2027. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to statutory restrictions on resale until April 24, 2025, in accordance with applicable securities laws. In addition, Tony G has voluntarily agreed to restrict resale of the 10,000,000 Units he acquired in the Offering until December 23, 2025. No finders’ fees or commissions were paid by the Company in connection with completion of the Offering. Incentive Grant The Company also announces that it has granted 5,275,000 incentive stock options (the “ Options ”), 1,200,000 restricted share units (the “ RSUs ”) and 5,000,000 deferred share units (the “ DSUs ”) in accordance with its omnibus incentive plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”) adopted by shareholders at the annual general and special meeting held on November 23, 2023. 625,000 of the Options vest immediately and are exercisable at a price of $0.21 for a period of thirty-six months. The remaining 5,000,000 Options vest quarterly over a twenty-four month period, and are exercisable at a price of $0.21 for a period of forty-eight months. The RSUs vest and will be settled in common shares of the Company after twelve months. The DSUs vest after twelve months but will only be settled in common shares of the Company upon the departure of the holder from the Company. 2,725,000 of the Options and all of the DSUs exceed the available room under the Incentive Plan. The Company intends to seek approval of shareholders to increase the size of the Incentive Plan at the next annual general meeting and will at that time seek ratification from shareholders for the additional Options and the DSUs. Until such time as shareholder ratification has been received, the additional Options and DSUs will not vest and will not be eligible for exercise or settlement. In the event shareholders elect not to ratify the grant, and room within the Incentive Plan is not available at the time, the additional Options and DSUs will be cancelled. Early Warning Disclosure In connection with the incentive grant, Domenic Carosa, a director of the Company, has been issued 5,000,000 Options and 5,000,000 DSUs. Prior to the grant, Mr. Carosa controlled 17,252,400 common shares, 1,500,000 incentive stock options, and 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants, of the Company, all of which are held by Carosa Corporation B.V., a holding company controlled by Domenic Carosa. The common shares controlled by Mr. Carosa prior to the grant represent approximately 15.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Following the grant, Mr. Carosa has control and direction over 17,252,400 common shares, 6,500,000 Options, 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants and 5,000,000 DSUs of the Company. Assuming the exercise and conversion of all of the Options, share purchase warrants and DSUs controlled by Mr. Carosa, he would have control and direction over 31,752,400 common shares of the Company representing approximately 19.8% of the then outstanding common shares of the Company. Mr. Carosa has acquired the securities for investment purposes and in connection with his compensation as a director of the Company and, as disclosed in the accompanying Early Warning Report, may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company, through the market, privately or otherwise, as circumstances or market conditions warrant. A copy of the Early Warning Report filed with the applicable securities regulators regarding the above acquisition will be available under the profile for the Company on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). About Blockmate Ventures Inc. Blockmate is a venture creator focussing on building fast-growing technology businesses relating to cutting edge sectors such as blockchain and renewable energy. Working with prospective founders, projects in incubation can benefit from the Blockmate ecosystem that offers tech, services, integrations and advice to accelerate the incubation of projects towards monetization. Recent projects include Hivello (download our free passive income app at www.hivello.com ) and Sunified, digitising solar energy. The leadership team at Blockmate have successfully founded successful tech companies from the Dotcom era through to the social media era. Learn more about being a Blockmate at: www.blockmate.com/ . Blockmate welcomes investors to join the Company’s mailing list for the latest updates and industry research by subscribing at https://www.blockmate.com/subscribe . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Justin Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer Blockmate Ventures Inc. justin@blockmate.com (+1-580-262-6130) Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release Forward-Looking Information This news release contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on the assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Raindrop disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

'An amazing feat': School assignment turns into life-changing opportunity for Hamburg college studentTrump's TikTok love raises stakes in battle over app's fateNoneOpinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• The newly released House Ethics Committee report alleges that former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida had “regularly paid women for sex, had sex with an underage girl and used illegal drugs” and “accepted lavish gifts ... in excess of permissible amounts” (“Ethics report: Gaetz often paid for sex, used drugs,” front page, Dec. 24). The committee concluded that Gaetz violated state sexual misconduct laws, including Florida’s statutory rape law, and violated House rules concerning gifts and misuse of his official office. What the article neglected to report was that, out of the 10 members on the bipartisan committee (five Democrats and five Republicans), three of the committee members — all Republicans — tried to block the release of the report. One of them was U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach from Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District. Rep. Fischbach’s cowardice and lack of ethics are both disappointing and not in keeping with Minnesotans’ expectations. I hope the voters of the Seventh Congressional District, regardless of their political affiliation, will remember her actions the next time she attempts to run for office. Rep. Fischbach neither deserves to represent Minnesota, nor serve on an ethics committee at any level. Lynn Strauss, Plymouth ••• It’s important to note — and important for the state’s largest newspaper to note — that Rep. Fischbach voted to keep the Ethics Committee report a secret, thus voting to deny her constituents the information regarding Rep. Gaetz’s sleazy behavior while he was a member of Congress. She should be recalled and replaced by someone who is not so much of an ideologue that they would vote to hide inexcusable behavior by a member of their own political party. Ray Schoch, Minneapolis ••• I find it very distressing to learn that Rep. Fischbach voted to oppose releasing the recent House ethics report on Rep. Gaetz that accused him of misusing state resources, having sex with a minor and using illegal drugs. After hounding Hunter Biden for almost 10 years, and considering that he has always been a private citizen, the Republican Party can’t find the courage to call out one of their own elected officials who is clearly guilty of serious misconduct when party leaders were pushing this person to be the federal government’s chief law enforcement officer? What other crimes or misdeeds are the Republicans covering up? We won’t know because an iron curtain of authoritarianism is descending and we won’t be allowed to know anything about the people in charge. Welcome to post-truth America. Stephen Kriz, Maple Grove A win for small businesses As a small-business owner in Minnesota, I am grateful to our U.S. representatives for supporting legislation that champions the voices of small businesses in federal rule-making. On Dec. 5, HR 7198, the Prove It Act of 2024, passed the House with the support of Reps. Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber. The Prove It Act strengthens protections for small businesses in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, ensuring we have a seat at the table when federal regulators craft regulations. Too often, federal agencies have used loopholes to bypass the input of small businesses, allowing burdensome and costly rules and mandates to be placed on small businesses. Manufacturing is southeast Minnesota’s second-largest industry, with the second-largest payroll in the region. However, federal regulations significantly impact this sector, with small manufacturers (fewer than 50 employees) facing an average regulatory cost of more than $50,000 per employee. This is a significant burden on manufacturing. Having spent 30 years running a small manufacturing company, I know the challenges of navigating new regulations and paperwork, which often takes time away from improvements that benefit my employees, customers and community. I believe the Prove It Act will compel Washington, D.C., to better listen to small-business owners, ensuring our voices are heard and contributions valued. Traci Tapani, Stacy, Minn. The writer is co-president of Wyoming Machine, Inc. Bless you, Dick Schwartz I am pretty sure Dick Schwartz and I are not brothers, but I swear we share the same father (”A Christmastime ‘Love Story,’ " Dec. 24). While mine has been gone for many years now, he too was a man who never had to say he was sorry. I miss him every day, especially at Christmas. Howie Smith, Minneapolis ••• I always know I’m in for a treat when the Strib Voices page features an article from Dick Schwartz. That said, this year’s Christmas Eve article was in a class by itself. Thank you for a beautiful story that brought tears to my eyes. Ronalee Haugen, Champlin ••• With tears in my eyes, I just put the paper down after reading ”A Christmastime ‘Love Story.’ " My mind went back to 44 years ago when my 51-year-old father was recuperating from a heart attack at St. Mary’s Hospital on the University of Minnesota campus. At the time, I was a student at the U and stopped in to visit him. I had a problem that I shared with him. His reply came back in one sentence, and one sentence only. I smiled and told him, ”Dad, you can say more to me in one sentence than others could say in a lifetime, and I know you understand.” Those were the last words I spoke to him. He died two days later — the day he was to come home. Thank you, Dick Schwartz, for bringing a special memory of my dad back to me Christmas Eve morning. And for sharing your story. You made your point without saying it. Gretchen Olmscheid, Minneapolis ••• 2024 marks the 50th year that Dick Schwartz and I have been good friends. I would like to thank the Strib Voices staff members that have made the repeated decision through the years to publish what I like to refer to as Dick’s “life vignettes” on the Strib Voices page. I have read every one of them including his latest, “A Christmastime ‘Love Story.’ " Throughout our years of friendship I’ve felt that I knew him well, but with each published article I learn something new about the life of this remarkable man. Alan Petri, Apple Valley ••• Dick Schwartz did it again. Tears reading his “A Christmastime ‘Love Story’ " column. His columns are priceless. Thank you. Helen Lifson, Minnetonka Poor choices no surprise Donald Trump predictably is demonstrating a lot of pre-inaugural bad judgment. He and Elon Musk stepped in it with their budget meddling. Several of Trump’s cabinet nominees, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., face intense scrutiny over their behavior and qualifications. How is Gaetz looking now? And once again Trump is showing his foreign policy chops. He is threatening to take back the Panama Canal and again insisting that the United States must purchase Greenland (”From Panama to Canada, Trump again angers allies,” Dec. 24). How does our famous real estate con man plan to close these deals? Will he impose economic sanctions on Panama, Denmark and Greenland? If they don’t cooperate, will he send in the troops? Some will dismiss this as Trump just being a bloviating bully. But remember that he represents us on the international stage. Our allies and adversaries view Trump with equal disdain. The former see him as a threat and the latter view him as a useful idiot. Trump shows us who he is every day. No one, especially Republican sycophants, can act surprised when the clown car crashes again and again and again. Phil George, Lakeville

Not many parts of China’s economy have been able to withstand the post-pandemic slump. The housing market remains in the doldrums and bank lending has shrivelled. Yet, the appeal of “old money fashion” has endured, even in the face of recession in consumer spending. Discussions on how to define the style, or how to dress like it, are trending on popular social media platforms, from Douyin to Xiaohongshu. Items tagged with the style, ranging from 20-yuan (US$2.70) jumpers and belts to luxury European brands associated with the aesthetic, are flooding e-commerce platforms and recording brisk sales. Brunello Cucinelli, an Italian brand that is seen as a poster child for old money aesthetics, recently raised its China sales growth projection to as much as 12 per cent. Ralph Lauren had a 13 per cent gain in China last quarter, building on a stellar 25 per cent jump in 2023. The style, which emphasises minimalist design and top quality fabrics, gained a global following in 2023, partly driven by Succession, a television drama featuring the family behind the largest entertainment empire in the US. Its traction in China reflects a shift towards low-key lifestyle, embracing quality and simplicity amid uncertainties, analysts said. “This aligns with the current consumer mindset,” said Jason Yu, general manager at CTR Market Research. “Nowadays, people do not want to be too flashy. They prefer to stay very low-key, subtly showcasing their taste and style in a way that does not draw attention.” “It does not necessarily mean that you have to buy particularly expensive items, because many affordable brands are also following this trend,” he added. The appeal of old money fashion in China comes in sharp contrast to the dire state of the economy, in which households pinch pennies and lock up savings at record pace for a rainy day. Retail sales in Beijing and Shanghai – two of the largest and wealthiest mainland cities – shrank by about 14 per cent in November. 06:45 More Hongkongers want to move to mainland China despite city’s improved liveabilityBoise State football running back Ashton Jeanty has been the key factor in every football game this season, and that thought is the same goes for Penn State head coach James Franklin. Ahead of their matchup at the Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos running back has had a historic season. He's rushed 344 times for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. The first and second categories lead the nation, while the 29 touchdowns are the best in the Mountain West Conference. Not to mention, Jeanty placed second in the Heisman Trophy race, which sent fans across college football into a haze. However, Franklin emphasized Jeanty's impact and how it's been felt from the beginning to the end of the game. "It all starts and revolves around Jeanty," Franklin said via Daniel Gallen on X. "In any other year, I think the guy wins the... Hayden Cilley