Chinese giant takes aim at Apple with new phonePOCATELLO — Social media posts from Pocatello area residents and businesses were rife with excitement this month over a local visit from Grammy nominated and award-winning musical artist Post Malone. Austin Post, known best by his stage name Post Malone, lives in nearby Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and was reportedly in Southeast Idaho to spend some time in the great outdoors. Malone, whose hit singles “Sunflower”, “Rockstar”, “Circles” and “Congratulations” have been streamed on Spotify billions of times, was frequently seen this month in selfies posted on social media by local residents who encountered the music star in the Pocatello area. The 19th Hole, a south Pocatello convenience store, shared a selfie with Malone on its Facebook page and the post quickly received hundreds of likes. Other selfies were shared via social media by patrons and staff at local restaurants that were visited by Malone during his Southeast Idaho stay. Malone also visited Boise for the Boise State Broncos game in early December, where he shared news that he will be hosting a concert at Albertsons Stadium with featured guest artist Jelly Roll in June 2025. Malone spent time unwinding after the game in Boise’s downtown area, visiting a variety of restaurants and taking photos with fans.MCG set a new record with over 350,000 fans attending the 2024 Boxing Day Test between India and Australia. Indian fans dominated, creating a vibrant atmosphere. IND vs AUS: The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed an unprecedented gathering of over 350,000 cricket fans for the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Cricket Australia confirmed on day five of the thrilling contest. This aggregate attendance shattered the 87-year-old record for the most fans attending a single Test match in the country. Historic Milestone The previous record was held by the MCG itself, with 350,534 fans attending the iconic Ashes Test in January 1937 over six days. The match, centered around Sir Donald Bradman’s legendary exploits, was a landmark moment in Australian cricket history. However, the 2024 Boxing Day Test, spanning just five days, has now surpassed that figure, reflecting the enduring allure of the traditional fixture. Indian Fans Paint the MCG in Blue A significant proportion of the crowd comprised Indian fans, adding a vibrant and electrifying atmosphere to the MCG. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s century was met with deafening cheers, making it feel like a home game for the Indian team. The stadium was packed with over 80,000 spectators on each of the first three days, culminating in a total of 87,000 fans on Boxing Day alone. Although day four saw a dip in attendance to around 40,000, Cricket Australia noted a remarkable surge on day five, with more than 50,000 fans entering the gates during the first session alone. To ensure the match remained accessible, Cricket Australia offered day five tickets at just AUD 10 (roughly INR 530), with free entry for children under 15. This initiative helped drive a projected turnout of over 70,000 fans on the final day, boosting the total attendance beyond the historic 350,000 mark. A Record-Breaking Contest While this match now ranks as the second-highest attended in cricket history, it falls short of the staggering 465,000 fans who attended the India vs Pakistan Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in 1999. Nonetheless, the MCG’s feat underscores its status as a premier cricket venue, particularly during the festive Boxing Day Test. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy Delivers Drama As fans eagerly awaited a decisive fifth day, the MCG once again proved to be a theater of dreams, hosting a gripping contest that lived up to its billing. This remarkable turnout highlights the unifying power of cricket and the enduring passion of fans for the longest format of the game. With such overwhelming support from fans, the Boxing Day Test has reaffirmed its status as one of the marquee events on the cricketing calendar. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information Minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

JERUSALEM — Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and a witness in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs. Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as “lies.” “My opponents on the left and in the media found a new-old target. They mercilessly attack my wife, Sara,” he said. He called the program “false propaganda, nasty propaganda that brings up lies from the darkness.” It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus — highlighted by the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial. The pair have also had a rocky relationship with the Israeli media. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. The report obtained correspondence between Sara Netanyahu and Hanni Bleiweiss, a former aide to the prime minister who died of cancer last year. The messages indicated that Sara Netanyahu, through Bleiweiss, encouraged police to crack down violently on anti-government protesters and ordered Bleiweiss to organize protests against her husband’s critics. She also told Bleiweiss to get activists in Netanyahu’s Likud party to publish attacks on Klein. Klein is an aide to billionaire Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and has testified in the corruption case about her role in delivering tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars and gifts to Netanyahu for her boss. According to the report, Bleiweiss also was instructed to organize demonstrations outside the homes of the lead prosecutor in the corruption case, Liat Ben-Ari, and then Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who had issued the indictments, and protests and social media campaigns smearing political opponents. According to the report, Bleiweiss was a loyal aid to Netanyahu for decades. But while she was ill, it said Sara Netanyahu mistreated her, prompting her to share the messages with a reporter shortly before her death. Sara Netanyahu has been accused of abusive behavior toward her personal staff before. This, together with accusations of excessive spending and using public money for her own extravagant personal tastes, has earned her an image as being out of touch with everyday Israelis. In 2019, she was fined for misusing state funds. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees police and has repeatedly said the attorney general, Baharav-Miara should be fired over a series of grievances against her, said the latest announcement was another reason for her to be dismissed. “Someone who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as the attorney general,” he said. And Justice Minister Yariv Levin, another Netanyahu ally and critic of Baharav-Miara, accused her of focusing on “television gossip.” “Selective enforcement is a crime!” he said in a statement. AP correspondents Eleanor H. Reich in New York and Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem contributed reporting.

Ben Homeyer. South Carolina’s economy is built on its small businesses. Small businesses are owned and run by our friends and neighbors, and they employ many members of our community. They support local charities, sponsor our kids’ sports teams, and make our communities stronger. We need our small businesses, and they need us. That’s why we need to support them on Small Business Saturday. Black Friday may have expanded into a month-long sales event, but Small Business Saturday is still just the Saturday after Thanksgiving. When you shop at chain stores, you’re buying from big corporations. However, when you shop or eat at a local business, there’s a good chance you’re dealing directly with the owner—someone who genuinely cares about making you happy and turning you into a customer who’ll come back throughout the holidays and all year long. Chain stores and chain restaurants are fine, but if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Small businesses, on the other hand, are different. Their shelves are usually thoughtfully curated and reflect the owner’s unique style. With one-of-a-kind items, limited stock, and a focus on supporting local artisans, these stores provide a personalized shopping experience that larger retailers and online platforms simply can’t match. Locally owned restaurants can offer customers a unique experience that goes beyond just a meal. These independent eateries provide distinctive menus and decor that connect with the heart of the local community. Small Business Saturday began in 2010 as a way to promote local businesses as they recovered from the Great Recession. Since then, it has grown from a simple promotion into a holiday tradition. Last Thanksgiving weekend, people spent an estimated $17 billion at independent shops and restaurants on Small Business Saturday. That’s great, because small businesses are facing an uncertain economic future. Inflation continues to drive up the cost of everything from raw materials to wrapping supplies, and owners are still waiting to see whether Congress will preserve the 20 percent small business tax deduction that’s scheduled to expire in the coming year. Many homeowners and small businesses are still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Without our support, some Main Street shops and restaurants might not survive, and we can’t afford to lose them. Small businesses make our communities strong and help keep our economy healthy. When we support local businesses, 67 cents of every dollar stays in the community. That’s why I believe we need to make it a point this Thanksgiving weekend to shop and dine locally on Small Business Saturday. When we help small businesses, we help our community. Ben Homeyer is the South Carolina director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said: This is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them, and letting parents know we’re in their corner when it comes to supporting their children’s health and wellbeing. Up until now details of how the ban would actually work have been scarce. Today’s bill provides a more complete picture. But many ambiguities – and problems – still remain. What’s in the bill? Today’s bill is an amendment of the Online Safety Act . It introduces a new definition for an “age-restricted social media platform” whose sole or significant purpose is to enable users to post material online and interact socially with other users. This includes platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, but also many more minor platforms and services. It includes an exclusion framework that exempts messaging apps such as WhatsApp, online gaming platforms and services with the “primary purpose of supporting the health and education of end-users” (for example, Google Classroom). The bill will attempt to force owners of newly defined age-restricted platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent people under 16 from having a user account. This will include young people who have an existing account. There are no grandfather provisions so it is unclear how platforms will be required to manage the many millions of existing users who are now set to be excluded and deplatformed. The bill is also vague in specifying how social media platforms must comply with their obligation to prevent under 16s from having an account – only that it “will likely involve some form of age assurance”. Oddly, the bill won’t stop people under 16 from watching videos on YouTube or seeing content on Facebook – it is primarily designed to stop them from making an account. This also means that the wider ecology of anonymous web-based forums, including problematic spaces like 4chan, are likely excluded. Age-restricted platforms that fail to prevent children under 16 accessing their platforms will face fines of nearly A$50 million. However, the government acknowledges that it cannot completely stop children under 16 from accessing platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Australia should be prepared for the reality that some people will break the rules, or slip through the cracks. The legislation will take effect “at least” 12 months after it has passed parliament. How did we get to this point? The government’s move to ban under 16s from social media – an idea other countries such as the United Kingdom are now considering – has been heavily influenced by News Corp’s “Let Them Be Kids” campaign. This campaign included sensitive news reports about young people who have used social media and, tragically, died by suicide. The government has also faced pressure from state governments and the federal opposition to introduce this bill. The New South Wales and South Australian governments last month held a summit to explore the impact of social media on the mental health of young people. However, Crikey today revealed that the event was purposefully set up to create momentum for the ban. Colleagues who attended the event were shocked at the biased and unbalanced nature of the discussion. The announcement and tabling of the bill today also preempts findings from a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of social media on Australian society. The inquiry only tabled its report and recommendations in parliament this week. Notably, it stopped short of recommending a ban on social media for youth. There are evidence-based alternatives to a ban The government claims “a minimum age of 16 allows access to social media after young people are outside the most vulnerable adolescent stage”. However, multiple experts have already expressed concerns about banning young people from social media platforms. In October more than 140 experts, me included, wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in which we said “a ‘ban’ is too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively”. The Australian Human Rights Commission has now added its voice to the opposition to the ban. In a statement released today it said : Given the potential for these laws to significantly interfere with the rights of children and young people, the Commission has serious reservations about the proposed social media ban. In its report , the parliamentary inquiry into the impact of social media on Australian society made a number of recommendations to reduce online harm. These included introducing a “duty of care” onto digital platforms – a measure the government is also moving ahead with , and one which is more in line with best evidence. The inquiry also recommended the government introduce regulations which ensure users of social media platforms have greater control over what content they see. This would include, for example, users having the ability to change, reset, or turn off their personal algorithms. Another recommendation is for the government to prioritise the creation of the Children’s Online Privacy Code . This code will better protect the personal information of children online. Taken together, the three measures above manage the risks and benefits of children’s digital media. They build from an evidence base, one that critically includes the voices and perspectives of children and parents. The concern then is how a ban undermines these efforts and possibly gives platforms a hall pass to avoid obligations under these stronger media policies. Daniel Angus receives funding from Australian Research Council through Discovery Projects DP200100519 ‘Using machine vision to explore Instagram’s everyday promotional cultures’, DP200101317 ‘Evaluating the Challenge of ‘Fake News’ and Other Malinformation’, and Linkage Project LP190101051 'Young Australians and the Promotion of Alcohol on Social Media'. He is a Chief Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making & Society, CE200100005.NHL fines Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishment

Gal Gadot had `massive blood clot` in brain during eighth month of pregnancy

Smith’s glory days are gone, but he may have a parting shot to playIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.

TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NexGold Mining Corp. ( TSXV: NEXG; OTCQX: NXGCF ) (“ NexGold ”) and Signal Gold Inc. (TSX: SGNL; OTCQB: SGNLF) ( “ Signal Gold ”) are pleased to announce the successful completion of the previously-announced transaction pursuant to which, among other things, NexGold acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Signal Gold (the “ Signal Shares ”) pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the “ Arrangement ”). The Arrangement combines the two companies to create a top near-term gold developer advancing NexGold’s Goliath Gold Complex Project (“ Goliath Project ”) in Northern Ontario and Signal Gold’s Goldboro Gold Project (“ Goldboro Project ”) in the historic Goldboro Gold District in Nova Scotia. Kevin Bullock, President, CEO and Director of the combined company, stated: “Today we have created a stronger and larger company with two cornerstone assets that we believe are near-term gold development projects. We have also strengthened the balance sheet, and now have a great opportunity to create immense value for our combined shareholder base. We extend our thanks to shareholders, stakeholders and our Rightsholders that will help us realize our vision. With this transaction, NexGold is primed to move forward on our path to development.” Mr. Bullock continued: “I would like to thank the outgoing members of the Signal Gold board of directors for their diligence and hard work in moving us towards this next phase.” Pursuant to the Arrangement, former Signal Gold shareholders received 0.1244 of a NexGold common share (each whole share, a “ NexGold Share ”) in exchange for each Signal Share held. NexGold issued approximately 31.9 million NexGold Shares to former Signal Gold shareholders, prior to taking into consideration any of the financings connected to the Arrangement, representing approximately 70% and 30% of the issued and outstanding NexGold Shares, respectively, on a fully-diluted in-the-money basis and without taking into account any securities of NexGold issued in connection with the Arrangement. As of the completion of the Arrangement, there are 142,246,958 NexGold Shares outstanding. Board of Directors and Senior Management of Combined Company Mary-Lynn Oke (a former Signal Gold director) and Kevin Bullock have joined the NexGold Board of Directors (the “ Board ”). Reporting to the Board, the combined company will be managed by Kevin Bullock as President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Wyeth as Chief Operating Officer and Orin Baranowsky as Chief Financial Officer. Jim Gowans, Chairman of NexGold, stated: “I am excited for the path forward for NexGold, a company that I believe has two of the most advanced gold projects in Canada, with significant exploration potential and an excellent team in place capable of delivering on a clear path to being a multi-asset producer. With the recently announced Benefits Agreement with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, the first of its kind in the Province of Nova Scotia, NexGold has demonstrated a commitment to building meaningful relationships towards mutual benefits with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia in a responsible, respectful and sustainable manner.” Mr Gowans continued: “I would like to welcome Kevin and Mary-Lynn to the Board and would like to thank Michele Ashby for her contributions to the Board as Chair of the Compensation Committee and Jeremy Wyeth, who will be taking on the newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer responsible for the successful delivery of the Goliath and Goldboro Projects. I’d also like to thank Morgan Lekstrom, who will continue on as a Director, for his instrumental leadership and contributions to the creation of NexGold, creating a clear vision and strong path forward to being one of the next Canadian mid-tier gold companies”. Debt Restructuring NexGold and Signal Gold are also pleased to announce the completion of a restructuring of the two entities’ respective debt facilities (the “ Debt Restructuring ”), significantly reducing the debt profile of the combined entity going forward. Signal Gold’s outstanding credit facility of approximately US$20.8 million with Nebari and NexGold’s US$6.2 million facility with Extract Capital (“ Extract ”) have been repaid in connection with the Arrangement. Under the Debt Restructuring, NexGold has entered into a new US$12.0 million facility with Nebari, which has a 30-month term with an interest rate of 11.4%, payable monthly in arrears and secured against both the Goliath and Goldboro Projects. Under the facility, existing Signal Gold warrants associated with the prior Nebari facility were cancelled, and 3,160,602 new NexGold warrants were issued to Nebari with an exercise price of $1.00 per NexGold Share with a term of 30 months. In addition, Nebari has paid NexGold US$6.0 million for a 0.6% net smelter return royalty (the “ Royalty ”) on the Goldboro Project, which includes a 100% buy-back right for the first 30 months at NexGold’s option. If the Royalty is not repurchased during the 30-month period, then the Royalty rate shall increase to 2.0%. The new Nebari facility and Royalty, together with a US$4.0 million equity placement with Nebari and certain proceeds from the Signal Gold subscription receipt financing, as well as existing working capital, were used to retire the existing Nebari and Extract debt. Steven Bowles, Managing Director of Nebari, stated: “We have been monitoring the progress of the Goliath Project for many years and have been a partner with Signal in advancing the Goldboro Project. We are very pleased to continue this relationship with NexGold as they progress the development of both of their advanced projects. The experience and dedication of the combined teams demonstrated throughout Nebari’s due diligence during the merger process between NexGold and Signal provides us with a great deal of confidence in the organization’s ability to execute on its development plans and are excited to add another asset in a Tier-One mining jurisdiction to our growing portfolio.” Advisory Shares In connection with the Arrangement, Fiore Management and Advisory Corp. was issued 638,334 NexGold Shares in consideration for advisory services provided to NexGold. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. will be issued NexGold Shares as partial consideration for financial advisory services provided to Signal Gold in connection with the Arrangement. The number of NexGold Shares to be issued will be determined based on NexGold’s closing share price today and disclosed in NexGold’s material change report to be filed in connection with the closing of the Arrangement. Delisting of Signal Shares The Signal Shares are expected to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (“ TSX ”) and OTCQB Venture Market (“ OTCQB ”) at the close of business on December 16, 2024 and Signal Gold intends to submit an application to cease to be a reporting issuer and to otherwise terminate its public company reporting requirements as soon as possible thereafter. About NexGold Mining Corp. NexGold Mining Corp. is a gold-focused company with assets in Canada and Alaska. NexGold’s Goliath Gold Complex (which includes the Goliath, Goldlund and Miller deposits) is located in Northwestern Ontario. The deposits benefit substantially from excellent access to the Trans-Canada Highway, related power and rail infrastructure and close proximity to several communities including Dryden, Ontario. For information on the Goliath Project, refer to the technical report, prepared in accordance with NI 43–101, entitled ‘Goliath Gold Complex – NI 43–101 Technical Report and Prefeasibility Study’ and dated March 27, 2023, with an effective date of February 22, 2023, led by independent consultants Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. The technical report is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , on the OTCQX at www.otcmarkets.com and on NexGold’s website at www.nexgold.com . NexGold will be advancing the Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, a significant growth project subject to a positive Feasibility Study. For further details, refer to the technical report entitled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia’ dated January 11, 2022, with an effective date of December 16, 2021. The technical report is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . On August 3, 2022, the Goldboro Project received its environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, a significant regulatory milestone, and Signal Gold has now submitted all key permits including the Industrial Approval, Fisheries Act Authorization and Schedule 2 Amendment, and the Mining and Crown Land Leases. The Goldboro Project has significant potential for further mineral resource expansion, particularly towards the west along strike and at depth, and the company has consolidated 28,525 hectares (~285 km 2 ) of prospective exploration land in the Goldboro Gold District. NexGold also owns several other projects throughout Canada, including the Weebigee-Sandy Lake Gold Project JV, and grassroots gold exploration property Gold Rock. In addition, NexGold holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska. NexGold is committed to inclusive, informed and meaningful dialogue with regional communities and Indigenous Nations throughout the life of all our Projects and on all aspects, including creating sustainable economic opportunities, providing safe workplaces, enhancing of social value, and promoting community wellbeing. Further details about NexGold are available on NexGold’s website at www.nexgold.com . Contact: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Bullock, P. Eng., President and CEO of NexGold, a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 - Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “interpreted”, “management’s view”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “potential”, “feasibility”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected delisting of Signal Shares from the TSX and OTCQB and Signal Gold’s application to cease to be a reporting issuer in Canada; expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Arrangement and the ability of the combined company to successfully achieve business objectives; expectations relating to future exploration, development and production activities; expectations regarding growth potential for NexGold’s operations; and the company’s assessments of, and expectations for, future business activities and operating performance Since forward-looking information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the delisting of Signal Shares from the TSX and OTCQB, and Signal ceasing to be a reporting issuer in Canada, may not be on the timing anticipated; the ability of the combined company to realize the benefits and synergies of the Arrangement and the ability of the combined company to successfully achieve business objectives, including integrating the companies or the effects of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; changes to expectations relating to future exploration, development and production activities, and growth potential for NexGold’s operations; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of mineral resource, production and cost estimates; health, safety and environmental risks; worldwide demand for gold and base metals; gold price and other commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits may be derived therefrom and accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Neither NexGold nor Signal Gold undertakes to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Dejounte Murray is rejoining the Pelicans vs. Toronto and drawing inspiration from his mother

The two-minute timeout. The transfer portal as de facto free agency. Collectives generating name, image and likeness (NIL) money for athletes becoming like a payroll. The impending arrival of revenue sharing. It didn't take long for Belichick to envision how a college program should look based on his own NFL experience. "I do think there are a lot of parallels," Belichick said. And that's at least partly why the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is now taking over at North Carolina. Years of rapid change at the have only increased the professionalization of college football across the country, with schools adjusting staffing to handle growing duties once seemingly more fitting for a pro team. UNC just happens to be making the most audacious of those bets, bringing in a 72-year-old who has never coached in college and asking him to build what amounts to a mini-NFL front office. But plenty could follow. "I really think there's going to be some of those guys that maybe don't have a job in the NFL anymore," Kansas State general manager Clint Brown said, "and now that this is going to be structured in a way where there is a cap that that's going to be something they're interested in." A changing college course The rapid changes in college athletics have fueled that, notably with players able to transfer and play right away without sitting out a year and be paid through NIL endorsement opportunities in the past five years. Recruiting is now just as much about bringing in veteran talent through the portal as signing recruits out of high school, mirroring the NFL with free agency and the draft, respectively. And a bigger change looms with revenue sharing, the result of a $2.78 billion legal settlement to antitrust lawsuits. Specifically, that model will allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million for athletes in the first year, with a final hearing in that case set for April 2025. It will be up to schools to determine how to distribute that money and in which sports, though football's role as the revenue driver in college sports likely means a prominent cut everywhere as a direct parallel to a professional team's salary cap. Throw all that together, and it's why coaches are adjusting their staffs like Florida's Billy Napier interviewing candidates to be the Gators' general manager. "We're built to do it now," Napier said. "The big thing here is that we're getting ready to be in a business model. We have a cap. We have contracts. We have negotiation. We have strategy about how we distribute those funds, and it's a major math puzzle. "We're going to build out a front office here in the next couple of months, and it's primarily to help us manage that huge math problem," Napier added. "There'll be a ton of strategy around that. I'm looking forward to it." Still, that also explains why Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, the former head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, said: "This job as a head coach is a juggernaut. There's way more to do here than I had to do in the NFL." The value of a hire And it explains why the Tar Heels are betting on Belichick to be the right fit for today's changing climate. "If I was 16 of 17 years old, a coach who came at you and won how many Super Bowls? And he said, 'Come play for me,'" said New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu, now in his third year out of UNC. "I mean, that's pretty hard to turn down now, especially in this day and age, he's telling you to come play for him and he's offering you some money, too. I mean, you can't go wrong with that choice." The timing worked for UNC with Belichick, who was bypassed for some NFL openings after leaving the New England Patriots last year and instead spent months taking a closer look at the college game. Those conversations with coaches — some in the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, he said Thursday — made him understand how the changes in college aligned with his pro experience. "College kind of came to me this year," Belichick said. "I didn't necessarily go and seek it out." And his mere presence in Chapel Hill makes a difference, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham saying his "visibility" would likely allow the team to raise prices for advertising such as sponsorships and signage. Belichick is also hiring Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager and executive, as the Tar Heels' general manager. Cunningham also said the plan is for Belichick to continue his appearances on former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning's "Manningcast" broadcasts during Monday Night Football as well as ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" — all giving the coach the chance to promote himself and the program. Investing in football Yet these steps to reshape football at North Carolina comes with a rising price. Belichick will make $10 million per year in base and supplemental pay, with the first three years of the five-year deal guaranteed, according to a term sheet released by UNC on Thursday. That's roughly double of former coach Mack Brown, whose contract outlined about $4.2 million in base and supplemental salary before bonuses and other add-ons. Additionally, Belichick's deal includes $10 million for a salary pool for assistant coaches and $5.3 million for support staff. That's up from roughly $8.1 million for assistants and $4.8 million for support staff for the 2022 season, according to football financial data for UNC obtained by The Associated Press. And those figures from 2022 under Brown were already up significantly from Larry Fedora's tenure with the 2017 season ($4 million for assistant coaches, $2.3 million for support staff). There is at least one area where the Tar Heels are set for Belichick's arrival: facilities. UNC spent more than $40 million on its football practice complex with an indoor facility (2018) as the biggest project, while other projects include $3 million in upgrades to the locker room and weight room (2019), $14.5 million on renovations to the Kenan Football Center (2022), even $225,000 on Brown's former office (2021). Now it's up to Belichick to rethink the approach to football here for the changing times. "We're taking a risk," Cunningham said. "We're investing more in football with the hope and ambition that the return is going to significantly outweigh the investment." AP Sports Writers Tom Canavan in New Jersey; Mark Long in Florida; and Eric Olson in Nebraska; contributed to this report.

The 49ers will do everything they can to finish the 2024 season with a 9-8 record but coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t thinking beyond that. A 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams all but ended their playoff aspirations with games at Miami, at home against Detroit and the regular-season finale in Arizona still to play. For a team that had played in the NFC Championship Game four out of the last five years and played in two Super Bowls, it’s a huge letdown. “I’ll talk about 2025 when we get to 2025,” Shanahan said in a conference call with local media Friday. “But you have hope every year. You put together the best team possible, you go and practice and you go out there and you battle. So that’s what we do every single offseason. “You figure out how to get the best players possible through free agency and the Draft, you try to keep your best players as possible, you go to work and you show up for Week One.” The 49ers are coming to grips with being an also-ran. The reasons for the 49ers’ slide go much further than making a bad choice last offseason to bring in linebacker De’Vondre Campbell as a temporary replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who was rehabbing a torn Achilles. of removing Campbell from the roster either through suspension or release after he declined to play against the Rams. One thing Shanahan has no intention of doing is questioning his team’s want-to and preparation, even of those qualities have resulted in something foreign for the 49ers in terms of playing clean football. “I thought our guys showed up ready to play,” Shanahan said. “I thought we battled and a few key plays were the difference in the game. But I thought our guys sold out and I expect them to sell out the next three games.” While the 49ers’ commitment wasn’t an issue other than Campbell, their execution and playmaking was a huge problem on offense. The 49ers gained 191 yards of total offense, the second-lowest number since Shanahan arrived in 2017 and took control of the offense. It’s only the second time the 49ers failed to gain 200 yards of offense in 141 games with Shanahan as head coach. The only time they gained fewer yards was a 31-7 loss to Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game played for more than three quarters without a viable quarterback since Brock Purdy (elbow) and Josh Johnson (concussion) were injured and Purdy had to re-enter the game unable to pass. The 49ers were so anemic against the Rams they failed to reach the red zone just one week after going 5-for-6 in a 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Asked if he could ever remember that happening as a play-caller, Shanahan said, “I’m not sure. I’ve been doing this a long time.” On the 49ers’ second series, Purdy found tight end George Kittle for a 33-yard gain — the play set up a 53-yard field goal by Jake Moody for a 3-0 lead — and the 49ers didn’t have a snap that gained more than 18 yards the rest of the night. They averaged 3.6 yards per snap and were 3-for-12 on third-down conversions. “I know that we were averaging like three yards a play at halftime. I don’t know what it was after that,” Kittle said. “They came out with some funky looks once in a while, but I just thought as skill positions, whether it was tight end, quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver, I just thought we could have stepped up our game and played better and we didn’t. “ Purdy insisted there were plays there for the taking — rain or no rain. “The weather was the weather in the first half, but even with that, I think there were still some ops for us to convert on third down and move the chains,” Purdy said. “In the second half there were drives where we could’ve stayed on the field. I had to be better for this team and didn’t play my best.” Linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s return was an inspiration to Shanahan and his teammates, with the 49ers’ linebacker registering eight first half tackles and ranging sideline to sideline as if he’d never had a ruptured Achilles. He departed when his leg tightened up, with Monday bringing the news that it had more to do with fatigue than another injury. With the 49ers getting a mini-bye this weekend before visiting Miami in Week 16, Greenlaw could be good to go for another start. “He’s got some soreness. He’s day to day,” Shanahan said. It reminded Shanahan of Greenlaw in Year 3, when he had a groin injury in the opener that needed surgery, and other than 13 snaps in Week 11 against Minnesota, didn’t play again until the regular-season finale against the Rams when he had 12 tackles. “We needed to win that to go to the playoffs,” Shanahan said. “And that game, I thought he had one of the best games I’ve ever seen from linebacker play and it was looking a lot like that last night too. Exactly the same, it was just only a half a football, but it was amazing.” — Left tackle Trent Williams continues to heal slowly from an ankle injury but Shanahan hopes to get him in the lineup before the season is over. “He’s trying to get back, but it’s just been a frustrating injury for him,” Shanahan said. ” t hasn’t healed like he or we would like. Having these 10 more days before our next game, hopefully that gives a better chance” — Defensive end Nick Bosa emerged from the Rams game without any setbacks to his oblique/hip injuries. “It was awesome to get Nick back and he really helped us,” Shanahan said. “It was a good sign that they didn’t tell me about anything today.” — Linebacker Dee Winters is day to day with a neck injury. Linebacker Fred Warner, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and cornerback Renardo Green each played all but one snap on defense. One game after playing a career low 15 snaps, safety Ji’Ayir Brown played 60 snaps with Malik Mustapha missing the game with a chest injury. Brown came out of the game with a groin injury and is day to day. Guards Aaron Banks and Dominick Puni, tackles Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz, center Jake Brendel and Purdy played every offensive snap. Starting split end Jauan Jennings was targeted nine times from Purdy while missing just three snaps but had just two receptions for 31 yards. The 75.9 percent figure of snap counts was the most for Isaac Guerendo in his rookie season after coming in questionable with a foot sprain. Backup Patrick Taylor Jr. played just three snaps. Related Articles Greenlaw made a remarkable return in his first game back from rupturing an Achilles tendon last Feb. 11. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, playing with a sore knee, played 26 snaps mostly after Greenlaw’s departure with Campbell refusing to enter the game. Tashaun Gipson got his first work on defense since rejoining the 49ers on Nov. 7. Edge rusher Ronald Beal Jr., who has had trouble getting traction as a pass rusher all season, played sparingly with Nick Bosa (47), Leonard Floyd (39) and Yetur Gross-Matos (31) getting the bulk of the work.

AP News Summary at 4:42 p.m. ESTColts need help for playoff shot, while Giants seek end to record skid

Returning to the office can disrupt your lifeRaiders' Brock Bowers breaks 2 NFL records, including Mike Ditka's 1961 rookie tight end markAn ex-detective accused of abusing women died in an apparent suicide as his trial was starting