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No, Voice of America is not a new government organizationNone
UK Under Pressure to Slash More Than 10,000 Civil Service JobsVictorian Liberal leader John Pesutto defamed exiled party member Moira Deeming in a series of media appearances following her involvement with a controversial rally, a court has ruled. Ms Deeming, who remains a sitting MP, was ousted from the Liberal Party, after promoting and speaking at a rally in March last year. Organised by British activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally was gatecrashed by white supremacist groups who performed a Nazi salute outside Parliament House. On Thursday, the Federal Court in Melbourne ruled Mr Pesutto’s commentary in the wake of the controversy had defamed Ms Deeming in five publications, and awarded her $300,000 in damages. Justice David O’Callaghan ruled in the Federal Court on Thursday that across the publications, there were six defamatory imputations, including that Mrs Deeming was ‘unfit to belong to the Victorian parliamentary Liberal Party because she knowingly associates with neo-Nazis”. “The imputation found to be conveyed is that Mrs Deeming participated in a rally and knowingly worked with Ms Keen and other organisers to help them promote their odious Nazi agenda and their white supremacist and ethno-fascist views. “I’ve also found that has caused and is likely to cause serious harm to her reputation”. While Justice O’Callaghan declined to award Mrs Deeming aggravated damages, he did rule that “the appropriate award of damages to Mrs Deeming for non-economic loss is $300,000.” Mrs Deeming sat smiling in the front row of the court as the ruling was read out, while Pesutto did not attend today’s ruling. Looking defeated after the ruling, a member of Mr Pesutto’s legal team was heard simply saying “Court of Appeal”. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the party in May 2023 after attending an anti-transgender ‘let women speak’ rally gatecrashed by a white supremacist group who performed Nazi salutes outside the state parliament. Now a crossbencher, Ms Deeming had argued in court she was defamed by the Liberal leader in media interviews, an expulsion motion, a press conference, and a media release which her lawyers had argued contained 20 imputations painting her as a neo-Nazi sympathiser. Lawyers for Mr Pesutto had disputed all of the imputations alleged by Ms Deeming, arguing that she alone was responsible for her reputational damage after failing to distance herself from the rally. In their closing submission, lawyers for Ms Deeming claimed Mr Pesutto “undertook a relentless and ongoing campaign to convince fellow parliamentarians, the media and the public, that Ms Deeming was associated with and shared platforms with Nazis.” “By these allegations, the further message that was conveyed about Mrs Deeming was that she herself was a Nazi sympathiser or a person who shared or agreed with views espoused by Nazis ... such that she could be fairly described as a Nazi herself.” Mr Pesutto’s lawyers relied on honest opinion and contextual truth defences, arguing also that he was protected by common law qualified privilege due to the fact his comments concerned “the discussion of government and political matters.” Justice O’Callaghan’s ruling found that none of these defences were adequate. Following the ruling, Mrs Deeming said she was very grateful to the court for its prompt ruling. “Now we’re just going to get back out there and continue to get safe space rights for women and safeguards rights for children.”, she said. In a statement posted to social media immediately after the decision, Ms Deeming said she was relieved and vindicated. “It has been an incredibly tough 22 months for me and my family but I can now start to move forward with the judgment today clearing my name,” she said in the X post. “The organisers and attendees of the 2023 Melbourne “Let Women Speak” Rally did nothing wrong and it is shameful that they were treated without fairness or respect by so many in public office. “I will continue to fight for the rights of parents, women and children - and I know I won’t be alone.” Ms Deeming pointed out “every single one of Mr Pesutto’s defences, failed”. “This judgment is a public acknowledgment that there was never any justification - legal, moral or political - for what the Opposition Leader did to me and to my family.” Ms Deeming thanked supporters “despite personal and political differences and regardless of the cost”, including friends, strangers, opponents, Liberal members and colleagues. “And finally, thank you to my family, especially my husband.” Originally published as Court finds John Pesutto defamed Moira Deeming after rally appearance
2024 Concludes with Positive Update On Current Initiatives TOMBALL, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2024 / QS Energy, Inc. (OTCQB:QSEP), a leader in advanced crude oil transport efficiency technologies, is pleased to announce a significant progression in its commercial activities and strategic initiatives as the year comes to a close. Building on the strong foundation established throughout 2024, the company has achieved key milestones that position it for accelerated growth in 2025. Expansion into Global Markets Over the past year, QS Energy has made notable strides in deploying its Applied Oil Technology (AOT) systems across new and high-demand markets in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Through partnerships formalized earlier this year, the company has moved from exploratory phases to contract issuance that will enable the rollout of AOT units across critical energy infrastructure in key regions. These developments reflect QS Energy's ability to meet the growing global demand for technologies that enhance pipeline efficiency and reduce operational costs. Financial Backing to Support Customer Expansion and Growth To support these contracts and ensure smooth execution, QS Energy is advancing discussions with a leading U.S. government-supported financial institution specializing in global trade financing. This institution offers a comprehensive suite of financing solutions, including working capital, buyer-backed financing, and funding opportunities designed to enable manufacturing scale and expansion within the United States. These financial pathways allow QS Energy's customers to adopt AOT technology with minimal upfront capital barriers, streamlining the deployment process. As customers adopt and expand their use of AOT, this financing structure positions QS Energy to scale operations, including the necessary expansion of its U.S.-based assembly capabilities to meet growing demand. "Our progress with this trusted export financing partner reflects our ability to align innovative technology with practical financial solutions," says CEO, Cecil Bond Kyte. "This support framework enables us to help our customers adopt AOT systems while also preparing to meet future growth opportunities through scalable manufacturing." Addressing Legacy Licensing Fees with Temple University In support of our positive momentum to clean up our final balance sheet items, QS Energy and Temple University are in discussions to rectify our past obligations to our mutual future economic benefit. Reflecting on a Year Throughout 2024, QS Energy has demonstrated its ability to evolve from technology development to commercialization. Key milestones this year include: "As we reflect on the successes of 2024, we are proud to have reached these milestones while staying true to our vision of enhancing energy efficiency worldwide. The momentum we've built sets the stage for even greater achievements in 2025." says CEO Cecil Bond Kyte. For further information about QS Energy, Inc., click here and read our SEC filings at https://ir.qsenergy.com/sec-filings . To stay connected, subscribe to Email Alerts at https://ir.qsenergy.com/news/email-alerts to receive Company filings and press releases, and subscribe to our new QS UPDATES email service here to receive timely updates on the Company's latest news and innovations. Safe Harbor Statement Some of the statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. Please click here for our complete cautionary forward-looking statement. About Applied Oil Technology QS Energy's patented Applied Oil Technology (AOT) is a solid-state turn-key system which uses a high volt / low amp electric field to reduce crude oil viscosity. AOT installs inline on crude oil pipelines, operates unattended without interrupting pipeline flow, with full remote monitoring and control. More information is available online here . About QS Energy QS Energy, Inc. (OTCQB: QSEP), develops and markets crude oil flow assurance technologies designed to deliver measurable performance improvements to pipeline operations in the midstream and upstream crude oil markets. For further information about QS Energy, Inc., visit www.qsenergy.com . Company Contact QS Energy, Inc. Tel: +1 844-645-7737 E-mail: investor@qsenergy.com Sales: sales@qsenergy.com SOURCE: QS Energy, Inc. View the original on accesswire.comNone
Luigi Mangione gave advice on how to game the system he believes failed him
AUSTIN, Texas — For the second time this month, Bevo will have to watch the Texas Longhorns on a screen instead of in Atlanta. On Monday, officials with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl said Bevo will not be allowed on the sidelines, once again citing space concerns. Bevo was barred from the SEC Championship game against Georgia for the same reason, despite the history between Bevo and the University of Georgia's mascot, Uga. Peach Bowl officials said the 1.9 million-square-foot Mercedes Benz Stadium doesn't have enough sideline space to make sure Bevo, the players and everyone else on the field are safe. "We love all of the great traditions of college football and no doubt, Bevo is one of the best," bowl officials said in a statement. "The unfortunate reality is there simply is not enough room on the sidelines ... We unfortunately will not be able to have Bevo on the field." Reaction pours in after the Benz bans Bevo Outgoing Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly immediately reacted to the news, asking the Peach Bowl to " stop messing with tradition " and to let Bevo "BE LEGENDARY." Others also poked fun at the vast on-field terraces offered by the stadium, akin to the size of someone's backyard, as the perfect place to put Bevo. Some people even floated conspiracy theories on social media that Bevo is still being punished for nearly spearing Uga X in January 2019 ahead of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Regardless of Bevo's status for the New Year's Day game against Arizona State University, the game has already been sold out. Currently, tickets on resellers start at around $59. More Longhorns coverage:Do American carmakers dream of electric autonomous taxis? Not any more. General Motors has decided to shut down Cruise, its autonomous taxi unit, and concentrate on self-driving and driver assistance technology instead. Currently GM owns 90 per cent of Cruise. Other investors include Microsoft, Walmart, and Honda, which has spent around US$1 billion (A$1.6 billion) to build up its minority stake since 2018. Thanks to Honda’s investment, Cruise had planned to launch robotaxi services in Japan from 2026. GM aims to buy out Cruise’s remaining shareholders, and fold the company into existing GM teams working on advanced autonomous vehicle and assisted driving technologies. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today There’s no word yet on job losses, but they are expected. By shutting down Cruise, the carmaker hopes to save US$1 billion (A$1.6bn) a year starting in 2025. It’s unclear how Cruise’s robotaxi technologies will be integrated into GM’s autonomous driving systems, which currently include Super Cruise, a hands-free self-driving function available on high-end models in the US and Canada. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . With the system on, the car can drive itself on large selection of highways in North America, but still requires driver attention and monitoring to take over in case of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. Cruise has had a tough year-and-a-half plagued by accidents, traffic jams, and a pause in on-road testing and its taxi services. The division’s most prominent accident occurred in October 2023 when a Cruise self-driving taxi hit a pedestrian that had previously been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. The car erroneously classified the accident as a side-on collision and executed a pullover manoeuvre, dragging the pedestrian along the road. To make matters worse, Cruise lied to Californian authorities, telling them the car performed an emergency stop. California suspended the company’s licence to operate fully autonomous vehicles . Subsequently, Cruise suspended all robotaxi activities across the US. At company’s peak, it was operating trial services in San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston, and the inner suburbs of Austin. On-road trials resumed this year, but in some cities Cruise’s vehicles – highly modified Chevrolet Bolt hatchbacks – had human operators on board who could take over in the case of emergencies. Despite these setbacks, and the departure of one of the division’s founders , GM continued to back Cruise, with the autonomous taxi division receiving a US$850 million (A$1.285bn) cash infusion in June. Founded in 2013, GM bought Cruise in 2016. Since then the unit has lost over US$8 billion (A$12.6bn). The General invested heavily in Cruise in the hope that it would one day be a cash cow, with GM CEO Mary Barra claiming Cruise would generate up to US$50 billion (A$75.6bn) annually by 2030. In a call with investors this week to discuss Cruise’s demise, Ms Barra said: “Given the considerable time and expense required to scale a robotaxi business in an increasingly competitive market, combining forces would be more efficient and therefore consistent with our capital allocation priorities”. Despite GM’s largesse, Cruise has struggled to keep up with Waymo, Google’s robotaxi project. At the time of writing, Waymo operates in driver-free taxi services in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. It will soon launch to the general public in Austin, Miami, and Atlanta. The decision to close Cruise follows on from GM restructuring and writing down the value of its Chinese operations . Thanks to the popularity of Buick, GM was once of the top carmakers in China, but interest in EVs and the resulting surge in popularity of local brands has seen the American carmaker plummet down the charts.
