Provident Bancorp, Inc. Adopts Stock Repurchase ProgramThe Boxing Day sales are already starting with some of the UK's biggest retailers slashing prices. Argos has launched its sale event and now Currys has joined the party with the technology store cutting costs across a swathe of devices. There are hundreds of discounts in this latest event, so to help you go shopping, Express.co.uk has been online and picked the best 8 offers available right now. Here are our top 8 Currys Boxing Day deals Samsung Galaxy S24 FE NOW £574 - PLUS - get a free Galaxy Chromebook worth £299 BOXING DAY DEAL: The Galaxy S24 FE offers big specs on a smaller budget. It gets a 6.7-inch screen, triple lens rear camera, fast processor and decent battery life. Right now, this buying one will get a free Chromebook worth £299. SEE THE GALAXY FE DEAL HERE Fitbit Versa 4 NOW £129 - SAVE £50 BOXING DAY DEAL: Fitbit still offers one of the best ways to track your health and the Versa 4 is a solid option. This wearable will monitor your heart rate, steps, calories and even how stressed out you are. SEE THE FITBIT DEAL HERE Google Pixel 8a NOW £369 - SAVE £130 BOXING DAY DEAL: Don't want to spend a fortune on a new phone? The Pixel 8a offers plenty of features for under £370 with this device getting a 6.1-inch screen, dual cameras and speedy Tensor processor. SEE THE PIXEL DEAL HERE Samsung 43-inch TV NOW £2599 - SAVE £70 BOXING DAY DEAL: Samsung still makes some of the best TVs in the business and you don't have to spend big to get a decent display. Currys is currently dishing out the DU7100 model for £259 - that's £70 off the usual price. It features 4K visuals, smart features and free content via Samsung TV Plus. SEE THE SAMSUNG TV DEAL HERE Sony WH-1000XM5 NOW £245 - SAVE £54 BOXING DAY DEAL: Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones are some of the best cans in the business with these music makers featuring long battery 30-hour battery life, fast charging and incredible sound with top-notch Active Noise Cancellation. SEE THE DEAL HERE Apple iPad NOW £289 - SAVE £50 BOXING DAY DEAL: The iPad 10th Gen was slashed in price for Black Friday, now the deal is back with £50 off the usual price. This top tablet is powered by the A14 Bionic processor, gets a Liquid Retina display and is compatible with the latest Apple Pencil. SEE THE IPAD DEAL HERE Apple iPhone 14 NOW £549 - SAVE £50 BOXING DAY DEAL: The iPad 10th Gen was slashed in price for Black Friday, now the deal is back with £50 off the usual price. This top tablet is powered by the A14 Bionic processor, gets a Liquid Retina display and is compatible with the latest Apple Pencil. SEE THE IPAD DEAL HERE JVC TV NOW £119 - SAVE £40 BOXING DAY DEAL: This budget TV from JVC comes with Roku technology included. That means you get full access to a swathe of smart features and apps such as Disney+, Netflix and more SEE THE JVC DEAL HERE

Luke Humphries celebrated his impressive Players Championship final victory against Luke Littler by taking a swig of his water bottle before chucking some of the contents over crowd members. The world No. 1 beat Littler 11-7 in an epic final marred by whistling from some fans in attendance. Humphries threw down the gauntlet with the World Darts Championship looming large, producing a controlled display to outclass the newly-crowned Grand Slam of Darts champion. The 29-year-old overcame disappointing whistling from the Minehead crowd to lift his seventh major title and retain his Players Championship crown. Humphries was fending off an inspired run of momentum from Littler, with both players throwing high-quality legs as the score reached 7-6 in favour of the former. The reigning world champion - an honour earned by bettering Littler at Ally Pally in January - won the next leg before looking visibly frustrated by the distraction attempts. Humphries had to step away from the oche to recompose himself, wearing an annoyed expression on his focused face. With a stern voice, the match referee announced: "Stop whistling, thank you." But Humphries momentarily paid the price, missing his doubles as Littler took advantage to make it 8-7 before the final break. Yet, he proved why he is atop the PDC rankings after re-emerging from the back, winning three legs on the spin to triumph on the Butlins stage. A joyous Humphries celebrated his latest success with multiple muscle flexes, fist pumps and many a friendly embrace with his rival and good friend, Littler. He then got his own back on the crowd after having a gulp of water, first pretending to throw his drink over those at the front of the masses in attendance. Humphries followed up by actually lobbing some of his refreshment towards the crowd, which also seemed to soak at least one camera operator below. It was all in jest, though, after a pleasant, good-spirited showdown, which the whistling incident didn't marr completely. MORE TO FOLLOW We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. For the latest news and breaking news visit: express.co.uk/sport/football . Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow us on Twitter @dexpress_sport - the official Daily Express & Express.co.uk Twitter account - providing real news in real time. We're also on Facebook @dailyexpresssport - offering your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day to like, comment and share from the Daily Express, Sunday Express and Express.co.uk .

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Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status toteTHE 10th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES), the thought leadership platform of PropertyGuru Group, gathered experts and thought leaders to discuss the intersecting issues moving and shaking the real estate industry, including technology, design, business development, economics and more. Themed "Shaping the Aspirations of Future Cities," ARES 2024 attracted more than 300 delegates to The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok on Dec. 12, 2024 for a series of insightful discourses. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.

Topline Tuesday kicks off a historically merry period for investors, a stretch known familiarly as the Santa Claus rally for the positive stock market returns typically enjoyed during the holiday season, potentially bringing further gains to a largely cheery 2024 for equities. Key Facts Is The Stock Market Open Today? Yes . The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will both operate on half-day schedules, closing at 1 p.m., while bond markets will shut down at 2 p.m., and major U.S. financial markets will stay closed until Thursday’s normal trading session. Key Background Before Santa came down the chimney on Wall Street on Tuesday, it was already a good year for equity investors. The S&P has advanced more than 25% in 2024, putting the index well on pace for its first back-to-back 20% annual gains since 1998, according to FactSet. Driving much of the gains were continued optimism about generative artificial intelligence and the first interest rate cuts since 2020. What To Watch For Wall Street strategists largely predict 2025 will be another year of strong returns for investors, with the likes of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley each predicting another record run for the S&P. Tangent The S&P’s top percentage gainer Tuesday was none other than Palantir, the AI-heavy government contractor which is the index’s best-performing stock of 2024. Further Reading

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Anthony Dell’Orso hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points, Caleb Love added three 3s and 20 points and No. 24 Arizona pulled away for a 104-71 victory over Davidson at the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday night to snap a two-game skid. Trey Townsend added 17 points, Tobe Awaka had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Motiejus Krivas scored 10 points for Arizona (3-2), which shot 57% and made 11 of 22 from 3-point range. Connor Kochera scored 20 points and Bobby Durkin hit five 3s and added 15 points for Davidson (4-1), which shot 38% and made just 11 of 34 3-point tries. Arizona's 17-point second-half lead was cut to six about 7 1/2 minutes into the second half but the team outscored Davidson 36-9 the rest of the way. Arizona led at halftime 49-37. Takeaways Arizona arrived at this tournament after losses to Wisconsin and Duke. Once ranked No. 9 in The Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Wildcats had slipped to No. 24. They're trying to keep alive a streak of having been ranked in the last 61 AP polls. This victory helps but there are more obstacles ahead in this tourney. Key moment Townsend's second 3-pointer to cap an 18-4 run left Davidson behind after it had cut an earlier 17-point deficit to six points. In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Arizona guard Jaden Bradley goes to the basket as Davidson forward Sean Logan (15) defends during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. Credit: AP/Tim Aylen Key stats Though Arizona shot well from the arc, much of its effort went to using its dominance inside to outscore Davidson 50-28 in the paint. It's interior defense helped hold Davidson's top offensive weapon, 6-foot-11 Reed Bailey, a 19 points-per-game scorer, to nine points and 3-of-11 shooting. Up next Arizona takes on Oklahoma, a 79-77 winner over Providence, in the semifinals on Thursday. Davidson will play the Friars in the consolation bracket.The Recap: Trump's newest Cabinet drama, and the infestation in his administrationThe Boston Celtics look good value to defend their title, in large part to the play of Jayson Tatum. A consensus top-five player in the league who is coming off his first NBA championship and Olympic gold medal over the summer, the Celtics star has positioned his squad to a 16-4 start, good for second in the East. However, the last couple of months weren't as smooth sailing for Tatum as everyone would like to believe. During the Olympics , Tatum received very little to no playing time throughout Team USA's run to the gold. But Celtics teammate and Team USA teammate Jrue Holiday revealed on the Podcast P with Paul George that Tatum could not have handled his situation any better. “JT, the way he handled it, he handled it like a professional," Holiday said. “He never brought it in the locker room, he never brought it to us like, yeah, we talked about it and all that, but it was never like it was an issue.” Holiday sang Tatum's maturity and professionalism, while also being puzzled at the same time as to why Team USA's head coach, Steve Kerr, chose to restrict Tatum's playing time. “Was it weird? Yeah, it’s Jayson Tatum ,” Holiday said. “What do you mean? He’s a top five player in the league, just won a championship, one of the best players in the playoffs and in the Finals. “When it was happening, you felt for him. You could see that he was upset, he wanted to play. "But he wasn't pouting, I can tell you that. He would get in the gym. It's not like he stopped working. "He was the one seriously trying to be like, all right, well, I'm gonna stay ready whenever my numbers called." George was also impressed with how Tatum handled the whole situation. "I did think he handled that amazingly," George said. "He handled it like a professional. Shoutout JT, that was dope." Not often does a player coming off a championship run have to take a backseat at the Olympics. But that is exactly what Tatum did, as the team was centered on the presumed last run for LeBron James , Steph Curry and Kevin Durant . It was the proverbial swan song for the big three and their Team USA careers. They didn't lose a single game, while all three superstars had their individual moments, most notably Curry in the semifinals against Serbia, and then again in the gold medal game against France. Tatum's limited playing time in Paris clearly hasn't impacted his start to the season as he is currently averaging 28.9 points per game to go along with 8.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists. In other words, he's once again playing at an MVP-level. As Holiday noted, Tatum handled it all with class, and in turn, it looks as though it has fueled him to begin the season. That's a scary sign for the rest of the league.One of the advantages electric vehicles have is that their batteries can store energy to be used for purposes other than driving. Vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-load are some of the terms used to describe this versatility. So, if you have a Ford Lightning , Chevy Silverado EV , or Tesla Cybertruck and your home power goes out, if there is enough electricity in your pickup truck’s battery you can use that to provide electricity to your appliances. On a larger scale and for work and industrial purposes, there is the Mobile Power Station manufactured by DANNAR . Relative to an EV for personal transportation, it is huge and multi-functional. Personally, I like this idea far better than a massive diesel generator which uses a fuel that creates toxic air pollution when combusted, is loud, and smelly. Fossil fuels are also doing a lot of harm to the planet’s atmosphere and climate. Additionally, electric batteries are more energy efficient than diesel generators. Gary Dannar, Founder and CEO of DANNAR, answered some questions about the Mobile Power Station for CleanTechnica . What does MPS mean, and what is the battery on wheels? DANNAR is a global leader in clean energy technology and the pioneer of the Mobile Power Station® (MPS). Founded by Gary Dannar in 2011, DANNAR has established a new category in the developing EV industry as the first-ever self-propelled MPS that serves as both a dynamic heavy work machine with industry-standard hydraulics to power work tools and attachments, as well as an unparalleled energy storage and charging solution. This ‘mega battery on wheels’ is capable of off-road and on road autonomous and semi-autonomous work and is capable of transporting and exporting power for increased energy resiliency through mobile micro-grids. The MPS’ modular design allows it to serve multiple industries across agriculture, utilities, construction, government fleets, airports, emergency response, military and defense, and more. Does it have a drivetrain, or does it need to be trailed? The MPS is a fully integrated battery system and carries its own onboard inverter, liquid cooling system, and BMW-engineered battery packs. This system is on a four-wheel drive chassis and is powered by a highly efficient electric drivetrain. The MPS powertrain includes an oscillating axle, creep and travel modes, selectable 2W and 4W (coordinated or crab), traction control and regenerative braking, and more. The MPS’ top speed is 20 MPH with a drawbar pull of 100,000 pounds with auxiliary brakes and has a 1-mile line of sight Safe Remote Control (SRC). What is the minimum battery capacity and the maximum battery capacity? The DANNAR MPS is available with 250 kWh and is configurable up to 500 kWh depending on the customers’ needs and desired use cases for the MPS. What is the battery chemistry? The DANNAR MPS uses the BMW i3 Li-Ion battery packs. What is the cost? The cost of an MPS is equivalent to a similar-sized construction vehicle or work vehicle you would see at construction sites, used by government fleets, etc. Specific pricing for the MPS is based on the configuration requested by the customer. The MPS is unique in that its modular design allows customers to have a multiple purpose and multi-functional vehicle in one platform. Customers can attach a cab to drive the MPS, a backhoe, mower, and much more based on their needs. Because the MPS is able to perform jobs that would usually take multiple vehicles or machines, this saves the end customer dollars, storage space, and time toward maintaining multiple machines to do the jobs they need. In addition, the MPS can provide solutions to other customers’ needs across electricity output for outdoor events, caps in EV charging, and more. What does the warranty cover? The warranty for the MPS covers defects in the MPS unit across the battery system, power electronics, and other components. The parts and main battery system also come with a warranty, and customers will need to make sure they register their DANNAR MPS to activate the warranty. Who is it intended for? The MPS is intended for customers across a wide variety of industries. Whether you are in construction and are in the process of converting your fleet to full electric, a farmer looking to use a powerhouse EV in your field, to a fleet manager looking for one vehicle that can serve multiple purposes, the MPS can serve virtually anyone. The industries DANNAR is seeing the most interest from are construction, agriculture, fleets, military, utilities, and airports. In general, we are seeing a shift towards EVs, not just in the automotive industry, but also across big machinery. This is because EVs can supply a more constant stream of power, meet sustainability goals, are quieter, and require less maintenance. However, the gap in EV charging is something we cannot ignore. DANNAR is directly solving this gap with their MPS acting as a ‘mega battery on wheels’. The MPS can go off-road and reach massive construction EVs and provide opportunity charging during the work shift, as well as off-hour maximum charging when required. The MPS can also be used as a DC fast charger for vehicles. The options and opportunities to use the MPS are endless, and we are excited to see how the use cases for our modular machine continue to develop. Who are some of your customers currently? DANNAR has customers across the agricultural, military, construction, and fleet industries. For agriculture, we are seeing the MPS used to power their EV farming machinery, but also to help act as the farming machine itself, pulling, watering, and fertilizing attachments without damaging crops. Across construction, we are seeing the MPS used to step in as an additional powerhouse vehicle to being used as the charger for the massive EV construction machines. The military is also exploring similar use cases with the MPS as well. For government fleets, we are seeing customers adopt the MPS to replace multiple pieces of machinery they used to need but can now be replaced with one modular MPS. This saves customers time and dollars across storage, maintenance, and more. In each industry, we are seeing customers continue to evolve how they are using the MPS, and with virtually unlimited attachment options, we at DANNAR are always excited to see how the MPS can be used next. How much does it weigh? The DANNAR MPS weighs up to 22,000 pounds and can carry a payload of about 40,000 pounds. Additionally, the MPS is about the size of a full-sized pickup truck and can fit in most standard parking spaces. How is it recharged, and how long does a full charge take? The DANNAR MPS can be charged in a variety of ways depending on the users’ setup. The MPS can be charged directly from grid connection, through a Level 2 AC input, using a CCS1 Level 3 DC fast charger up to 250 kW, and via 480 3-Phase. The full charge time depends on which charging option users are going with and its battery configuration; however, if the MPS is connected to the grid, it can be charged much quicker. Once the MPS is charged, depending on how customers use the MPS, it will usually be fully functional for multiple days before needing to be recharged. What kind of electrical outputs does it have, and what can it be used to charge? At DANNAR, we like to say the MPS can charge other machines as fast as the machines themselves can handle it. The MPS can export energy via 110 VC Output at 20 amps, 240 VAC 1P NEMA 14-50 Output, SAE-J1772 Level 2 Charger Output up to 9.6 kW. In addition, the platform can also provide a DC fast charging output and can deliver up to 120 kW of power for multiple vehicles at once. The flexibility in the output of energy is also what makes the MPS so attractive to various industries. In fact, multiple MPSs can be tethered together to create a microgrid for backup power and emergency response needs. Is it possible to charge it with solar power? DANNAR’s MPS can be charged using solar power, and the MPS is a great complement to solar in a comprehensive microgrid setup. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when looking to charge the MPS using solar. A microprocessor will be needed to make the process streamlined, as the collection of solar is intermittent. Because of this, the most effective way to ensure an efficient charge is for the solar generation system itself to have its own battery. This will allow the electricity to flow steadily from one battery to another controlled by the microprocessor. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook X Email Mastodon Reddit

Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies and other financial markets, will step down from his post on Jan. 20. Gensler pushed changes that he said protected investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled at what they saw as overreach. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. It hit new highs Thursday and was nearing $100,000. Bitcoin moved notably higher still after Gensler's resignation was announced. Gensler's stance on the rise of cryptocurrencies was captured during a speech he gave during the first year of his chairmanship in 2021 where he described the market as “the Wild West.” “This asset class is rife with fraud, scams, and abuse in certain applications,” he said in a speech at the Aspen Security Forum. “There’s a great deal of hype and spin about how crypto assets work. In many cases, investors aren’t able to get rigorous, balanced, and complete information.” Under Gensler, the SEC brought actions against players in the crypto industry for fraud , wash trading and other violations, including as recently as last month when the commission brought fraud charges against three companies purporting to be market makers, along with nine individuals for trying to manipulate various crypto markets. Yet access to cryptocurrencies became more widespread under Gensler. In January, the SEC approved exchange-traded funds that track the spot price of bitcoin. With such ETFs, investors could get easier access to bitcoin without the huge overlays required to buy it directly. Gensler, however, acknowledged the SEC had denied earlier, similar applications for such ETFs, including Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, among the first to eventually be approved by the SEC. “Circumstances, however, have changed,” Gensler said, pointing to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that said the SEC failed to adequately explain its reasoning in rejecting Grayscale’s proposal. Even there, Gensler made sure not to endorse the merits of bitcoin. He pointed to how ETFs that hold precious metals are tracking prices of things that have “consumer and industrial users, while in contrast bitcoin is primarily a speculative, volatile asset that’s also used for illicit activity including ransomware, money laundering, sanction evasion, and terrorist financing.” Gensler was tested early in his tenure with the rise of the meme stock phenomenon that shocked the financial system in early 2021. Earlier this year, the SEC under Gensler pushed Wall Street to speed up how long it takes for trades of stocks to settle, one of the areas where the commission’s staff recommended changes following the reckoning created by GameStop , one of the first meme stocks. In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, hordes of smaller-pocketed and novice investors suddenly piled into the stock of the struggling video-game retailer. During the height of the frenzy, several brokerages barred customers from buying GameStop after the clearinghouse that settles their trades demanded more cash to cover the increased risk created by its highly volatile price. In May 2024, new rules meant broker-dealers have to fully settle their trades within one business day of the trade date, down from the previous two. Critics of the SEC under Gensler have called many of the agency's proposals overly burdensome. The investment industry, for example, is pushing against a proposal to force some advisers and companies disclose more about their environmental, social and governance practices, otherwise known as ESG. Critics say the proposal is overly complex and increases the risk of investor confusion, while imposing unnecessary burdens and costs on funds. On Thursday, Gensler stood by the SEC's track record under his direction. “The staff and the Commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike," Gensler said in prepared remarks. “The staff comprises true public servants." Gensler previously served as Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, leading the Obama Administration’s reform of the $400 trillion swaps market. He also was senior advisor to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes in writing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) and was undersecretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance and assistant secretary of the Treasury from 1997-2001.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has responded to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. “Australia respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law,” Wong wrote in a statement posted to X. “Australia is focused on working with countries that want peace to press for an urgently needed ceasefire.” Supermarket giant Woolworths has told customers it doesn’t expect any “immediate” impact on stock levels at its stores in two states, after a strike by warehouse workers. Up to 1500 unionised workers at three of the retailer’s distribution centres in Victoria and another in NSW walked off the job indefinitely on Thursday. The workers want better pay amid a cost of living crisis and an end to a performance framework the United Workers Union says pushes them to work faster in ways that risk safety. Striking Woolworths workers warn their industrial action could impact supermarket shelves at Christmas. Credit: Louie Douvis With Christmas just over a month away, the union warned the liquor, frozen and refrigerated goods shelves at Woolworth could run bare unless its conditions are met. But Woolworths, and its distributor Primary Connect, said there would be little impact. Employment Minister Murray Watt was asked about the strikes on Seven’s Sunrise, where he said these types of disputes weren’t unusual, and that he was confident the issue would be resolved. “I would encourage, obviously, the parties to keep trying to work it out,” Watt said. “It is in the interests of workers at Woolworths to come to an agreement about the wages, and it is in the interest of Woolworths to make sure operations keep going, not to mention the rest of us who want to keep shopping at Woolworths.” With AAP Up to 80,000 people of various visa categories could be potentially removed to third countries under the Albanese government’s plan to pay countries to accept its deported non-citizens, as legal experts criticise the bill. The Albanese government has not detailed which countries it has been in discussions with, in a bill that passed the House of Representatives and was examined in a Senate inquiry on Thursday. At the inquiry, several human rights and legal groups, including the Law Council of Australia, slammed the sweeping powers. Greens senator David Shoebridge questioned how many non-citizens could be deported under the bill at a senate inquiry on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen “Detaining individuals pre-emptively [in Australia or overseas] to prevent them from committing future crimes must not become normalised in an otherwise free and liberal society,” council president Greg McIntyre told the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation committee. The proposed amendments to the Migration Act seek to deport non-citizens, including not just those convicted of crimes, and to pay those third countries for their part in the removal regime. It would also grant extensive immunity to government officials and those in third countries involved with the removals as well as reversing protection findings for refugees. Greens senator David Shoebridge pushed Department of Home Affairs officials to clarify which categories of visa holders who were not citizens would be affected. They said that 4452 people on Bridging Visa E, 986 in immigration detention, 193 in community detention, 246 on Bridging Visa R from the NZYQ cohort, a further 96 individuals also on the same visa and potentially “a fluid cohort” of up to 75,400 people could be included. Earlier in the hearing, former Manus Island detainee and award-winning Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani said the proposed bill was draconian, citing his personal experience being detained in Papua New Guinea. He pleaded with the senators to vote down the bill: “What Australia has done is to banish refugees to be out of sight and out of mind.” AAP Former treasurer Peter Costello has rounded on Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ plan to have the $230 billion Future Fund favour investment in housing, renewable energy and cybersecurity infrastructure, labelling it a “very bad” idea that would ultimately hurt taxpayers. Costello, who created the fund in 2006 and served as its chairman until this year, said the proposal – which the Coalition has vowed to overturn if it wins office – would reduce international respect for the fund. In an opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review , Costello said Labor never raised the proposal with him during his decade as the chair of the fund’s board and that if they had, he “would not have agreed to it”. “A key reason why [the Future Fund] has done so well is because of its independence from government,” Costello wrote. Meanwhile, in comments given to The Australian, former prime minister John Howard says the changes are “fiscal vandalism with a great dollop of hypocrisy”. But coming in to defend the government was another former treasurer, ALP president Wayne Swan, who questioned “how desperate” the Liberal Party is to “drag out” Howard and Costello. “The fact is, the government has not changed the mandated investment return at all. And that is the critical point,” Swan told Nine’s Today. “I think Australians want their money invested in this country if they can get the required return. What’s wrong with saying that there are some national priorities? “This is just absurd political criticism in the lead-up to the next election. Nothing more, nothing less.” Popular social media platforms Tiktok, Snapchat and Instagram are among the sites that will have to ban children younger than 16, with reforms likely to pass parliament by the end of the fortnight. Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduced world-first legislation to the House of Representatives on Thursday, saying it would make the online environment safer for young people. TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) will have to impose age limitations on users. But Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom and YouTube are expected to be classified as “out-of-scope services”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government wanted this “action to happen as soon as possible”, as the opposition confirmed it would work constructively to see the bill passed next week. Concerns with the speed at which the bill is slated to pass through the parliament have been raised, with only 24 hours allowed for submissions to a Senate enquiry initiated on Thursday. It will report its findings on Tuesday. Advocacy groups, including the Australian Human Rights Commission, have come out against the ban. The AHRC said it would likely have negative human rights impacts on young people: “If there are less restrictive options available to achieve the aim of protecting children from harm, they should be preferred over a blanket ban.” Companies that breach the minimum age obligation will face fines of up to $49.5 million. Under the draft laws, the onus will be on social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children younger than 16 from having accounts. There will be a minimum lead-in period of 12 months before the ban is activated. Parents will not be able to give consent for their children to use social media, and users will not be required to hand over sensitive ID documents to platforms. Australia would be the first country to have an age ban on social media. Age verification trials are underway to determine how the ban will be enforced. AAP with Josefine Ganko The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”. Read the full story here. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Credit: AP Reuters Good morning and welcome to the national news blog. As always, my name is Josefine Ganko, and I’m here to guide you through the news as it develops through the first half of the day. It’s Friday, November 22. There’s been plenty of international news overnight, so here’s what you might have missed.None

Police have launched a manhunt for a driver who hit a crowd after a match. Football fans had been leaving clash with on Saturday (November 23) when the incident occurred. One supporter, who was among the injured, said they were shocked nobody was killed after the car mounted a pavement. The victim, 33, said the car accelerated and struck her and several others on Witton Road, close to Manor Road, in Aston, at around 5.15pm. she had moved her 85-year-old nan out of the way, placing herself in the car's path. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's The woman was flung over the vehicle's bonnet and suffered injuries to her leg. She said: "What was meant to be a good game of football ended up with me getting hit by a car, which struck me on the side of the knee. [I] was coming out of Villa about to cross the road and this big black car accelerated straight into us. I had shoved my elderly relative out the way and went onto the bonnet. Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter! From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox. It only takes a matter of seconds. Simply , then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories. You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, "He literally went into me, drove up the pavement into other people apparently. People around me were screaming. He hit multiple people, some people tried chasing after him. "Many witnesses helped me up, but it could have been a lot worse. It has shaken me up and scared everyone. How no-one got killed I don't know. It was absolutely reckless driving from him. Police were made aware and this has been reported to them." Police have now launched a manhunt and asked anyone who may have relevant information to come forward. They said: "We were called to a collision involving a car and pedestrians in Witton Road, Aston, yesterday (Saturday). "Thankfully no-one was seriously injured. We are investigating and carrying out CCTV inquiries to identify the vehicle."Nutanix, Inc. NTNX shares are trading lower on Wednesday. The company’s annual recurring revenue grew 18%, while revenue jumped 16%. Needham analyst Mike Cikos reiterated the Buy rating on Nutanix, raising the price forecast to $90 from $80. He raised the fiscal 2025 estimate from $1.36 to $1.42. Cikos highlights that Nutanix’s early success with new go-to-market partnerships and share gains from M&A disruption contributed to strong results in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Despite revenue guidance being above projections for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, management kept its outlook unchanged, which the analyst views as a conservative approach. Cikos also notes Nutanix’s strong track record in setting expectations. Operating margin expansion provides flexibility for continued investment in sales and marketing and R&D, he added. Also Read: US–Mexico Trade Tensions Escalate As Mexican Peso Hits August 2022 Lows: Why Is Auto Industry Most At Risk? Northland Capital Markets analyst Nehal Chokshi reiterated the Market Perform rating on Nutanix, raising the price forecast to $77 from $74. The analyst notes that Nutanix added 630 customers in the quarter — a 66% year-over-year increase. This indicated a re-acceleration in customer acquisition after a three-year lull. This growth is attributed to a focus on SMBs and the impact of Broadcom Inc. ‘s AVGO purchase of VMW VMW . Despite strong revenue, operating profit, and free cash flow results, the analyst observes a slowdown in annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth to 18% year-over-year, down from 22% in the previous quarter. The weak incremental ARR of $58 million, a 43% year-over-year decline, is primarily driven by underperformance in the federal vertical, linked to delayed government spending resolutions. Additionally, the analyst suggests that the elongation of large deals is contributing to the disappointing drop in incremental ARR, as reflected in the deterioration of NRR from 123% in fiscal 2023 to 110% in the first quarter of 2025. Price Action: NTNX shares are trading lower by 7.17% to $67.18 at last check Wednesday. Read Now: Trump's Tariff Plan Targets Imports: Electronics, Retail Stocks At Risk Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Rep-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) said Sunday she is focused on governing, not on culture wars led by the right. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/ZUMA Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) is not taking Rep. Nancy Mace’s (R-S.C.) bait. In her first interview after Mace’s weeklong, social media–fueled campaign —which included nearly 300 posts on X —to ban her from the women’s bathroom in the House of Representatives offices, McBride showed how a member of Congress who is actually interested in governing , not grabbing headlines, acts. “I’m in Congress to deliver for my constituents, to make health care, housing, and child care more affordable,” McBride said in a Sunday interview on MSNBC’s The Weekend , adding that she plans to support pro-union legislation as well as bills focused on paid leave and affordable childcare. “I’m so grateful to have this opportunity. I think on November 5, Delawareans showed the country what I’ve known throughout my life: that in our state of neighbors, we judge candidates based on their ideas and not their identities.” Mace kicked off this past week by introducing a resolution seeking to bar transgender members and employees in the House from using the bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity in the Capitol building, baselessly alleging that allowing trans women to use women’s bathrooms “jeopardizes the safety and dignity” of cisgender women. (In fact, research has found that there is “no link” between trans-inclusive bathroom policies and safety, and that reports of “privacy and safety violations” in bathrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms are “exceedingly rare.”) Though Mace’s resolution did not mention McBride—the first openly transgender person elected to Congress—by name, Mace admitted it was “absolutely” meant to target her. On Wednesday—which also happened to be the annually recognized Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day meant to memorialize trans people murdered in violent acts of bigotry—House speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) threw his support behind Mace’s effort, telling reporters he was simply formalizing what has long been an “unwritten policy”; he also noted in an emailed statement that all Members have private bathrooms in their offices and there are several unisex bathrooms throughout the Capitol. But Johnson has not clarified how the policy will be enforced or whether he will include it in the rules package the House will vote on in early January. “I worried that the heart of this country wasn’t big enough to love someone like me, and over the last decade, I have been able to bear witness the change that once seemed so impossible to me as a kid.” Johnson also has not addressed whether or not he condemns the threats of physical violence Mace and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) reportedly made against any trans person who violates the bathroom ban. (I’ve repeatedly asked Johnson’s spokesperson if he condemns these threats and if members would face consequences for carrying them out, but have yet to receive a direct answer.) Getting what she wanted did not make Mace dial back her bigotry, though: She has continued to repeatedly misgender McBride and denigrate trans people on social media. But on Sunday, McBride dismissed all that as “noise”—without mentioning Mace by name—and said she is focused on honoring the weight of history in her new role. “I have to be honest, this week was awe-inspiring, being at orientation, despite all of the noise,” McBride said. “Because as you were there, you realize you are in the body that Abraham Lincoln served in. We walked onto the House floor, and you’re in the space where they passed the 13th Amendment and the 14th Amendment, where women got the right to vote. You’re sitting in the chairs in the job where people passed the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. And you feel that responsibility, but also you feel that you are part of a tradition, because every single one of your predecessors served in incredibly tumultuous, challenging times, and enough of them fulfilled their responsibilities to be stewards of our democracy and that is our calling in this moment, and I feel it very deeply.” Sarah McBride: "I worried that the heart of this country wasn't big enough to support someone like me. And over the last decade, I have been able to bear witness to change that once seemed so impossible to me as a kid that it was almost incomprehensible ... I carry that with me." pic.twitter.com/YKLnhQMeJl She also spoke about her own trailblazing role in Congress, which she said proves that anything is possible. As a college student, she said, “I worried that the heart of this country wasn’t big enough to love someone like me, and over the last decade, I have been able to bear witness the change that once seemed so impossible to me as a kid—that was almost incomprehensible—and I have seen it not only become possible, but become a reality. And I carry that with me in this moment, because I think in so many ways, this country—on both sides of the political divide—this country is facing its own crisis of hope. And I know we still have both the individual and collective capacity meet the scope and the scale of the challenges that we face. And I know, because I have seen it, that nothing is truly impossible.” Mace, meanwhile, spent the morning posting a Bible verse about the creation of “woman” all over social media.