‘A ship on the ocean of reality’: New maps show universe is even weirder than we thought

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:20 p.m. ESTStunning rally in Big Tech drives Nasdaq to 20,000

"Home for the Holidays: Quarry Apartment Homes Offers $999 Rent Special Amid Atlanta's Housing Need"Shares of (VIL) are in focus on Monday morning after the telecom operator received a letter from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), regarding the waiver of bank guarantees . In another development, the promoter entity Vodafone Group settled Rs 11,650 crore as part of its outstanding dues secured against its shares in the domestic telecom operator. Vodafone Idea shares fell 0.93 per cent to close at Rs 7.49 on Friday. The VIL stock is down 56 per cent in 2024 so far. "We wish to inform you that DoT vide its communication dated 27 December 2024, has dispensed with the requirement of submission of Financial Bank Guarantees for the Spectrum acquired in Spectrum Auction held in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021, subject to certain terms and conditions," Vodafone Idea said in a BSE filing. Prior to the recent reform, bank guarantees aggregating to Rs 24,800 Crore were required to be provided by VIL against each spectrum instalment, 13 months prior to the installment falling due for the auctions. Vodafone Idea said, as per its understanding of the terms and conditions, out of all the 5 auctions, no BGs will be required to be provided by VIL for the 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2021 auctions. However, VIL said there would be a one-time partial shortfall for the 2015 auction, where the NPV of all payments made would be less than the pro-rated value of spectrum used. The telecom operator is in discussion with the DoT to determine the final amount of this partial shortfall for the 2015 auction. In the case of Vodafone Group pledge, the group had raised the debt on almost the entire stake in VIL. The pledge was created in favour of HSBC Corporate Trustee Company (UK) and the debt was raised by Mauritius and India-based entities of Vodafone Group. “On 27 December 2024, HSBC Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited acting as the security trustee for the lenders has released the pledges pursuant to repayment of the outstanding dues owed to the lenders by the Vodafone Promoter Shareholders,” as per the filing. “Consequently, the indirect encumbrance on 15,720,826,860 equity shares of the target company held by the Vodafone Promoter Shareholders representing 22.56 per cent of the equity share capital of the target company on a fully diluted basis has been released,” the filing said. While the recent hike in tariffs increased Vodafone Idea's average revenue per user (ARPUs), revenue rose only marginally. Vodafone Idea expects the impact of the tariff increase to continue to be seen in ARPU and revenue for the next two quarters, Geojit Financial Services said in a recent note. "However, it expects the subscriber base to grow with the expansion of its 4G coverage and roll-out of 5G in key geographies Q4FY25 onwards. Further, its fund-raising proposal through the issuance of equity share or convertible securities are expected to support its expansion plan as well as pay down debt," Geojit Financial said. The domestic brokerage has maintained its 'Hold' rating on the stock, with a revised target price of Rs 8.60, based on 11.9 times FY26E EV/Ebitda.It wasn't since Week 1 that the Dolphins' standout receiver duo had as productive a game as they did in the win over the Jets.

The Lagos State government through the Office of Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE) has taken a significant step toward advancing sustainable development by signing an Expression of Interest (EoI) to partner with the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce (EUACC) during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy for Lagos State, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, said the strategic partnership aims to unlock climate financing, foster technology transfer and promote green economic growth in Lagos State. According to her, the move aligned with the vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led the administration to position Lagos as a sustainable and resilient mega city. Speaking at the signing ceremony at the COP29 Climate Innovation Zone, Mrs. Oshodi emphasised the importance of the partnership, saying, “This collaboration with the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce is a key step in advancing our vision for a sustainable future in Lagos. “With the EUACC’s extensive network and expertise, we are better equipped to accelerate the deployment of innovative climate solutions, position Lagos as a global leader in sustainable development, and attract meaningful green investments. “Our participation in COP29 has been transformative, strengthening our position as a frontrunner in global climate action by forging strategic partnerships and showcasing Lagos’ pioneering projects.” She added that the partnership is set to deliver key outcomes, including enhanced access to climate finance through green bonds and concessional funding, market promotion of Lagos State’s Article 6-compliant projects, and attracting funding for clean technology and sustainable infrastructure development. “It also aligns with the ongoing strategic partnership between the OCCE, Access Bank—a leading African financial institution with operations across Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia and Carbonivity, a leading carbon asset development firm, to accelerate climate investment initiatives for Lagos State,” she added. The Chief Executive Officer of Carbonivity, OCCE’s carbon asset development partner, remarked, that the projects championed by OCCE demonstrate how African cities can lead the way in green economic transformation, climate innovation and adaptation, leveraging ESG-compliance and UNFCCC Articles 6.4ER/6.2 methodologies.” Also highlighting that with strong partnerships as demonstrated by the ecosystem with EUACC and Access Bank PLC, Lagos is well-positioned to deliver measurable improvements in climate adaptation and green economic outcomes. Head of Accra Office EUACC, Nele Lahrmann-Muniru said, “If Lagos successfully scales its climate action programmes, it could serve as a model for sustainable and resilient circular economies across Africa. With a focus on creating strong incentives for citizens and including climate programming strategically into the state’s budget, it could become a blueprint for how to make climate action and the circular economy work for Africa.” Lahrmann-Muniru stressed, that committed to innovation and practical solutions for Africa’s development, the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce looks forward to supporting these initiatives in Lagos and beyond.A takeaway business near Wānaka had to rush out to borrow a generator this morning as a power cut left it and hundreds of other customers without power. Power was cut to 1156 properties around Albert Town and Lake Hāwea about 5.40am. Aurora Energy said the cause of the power cut was being looked into. At noon the number without power had been reduced to fewer than 40 properties. One of those was Ravi Singh, who owns Wingin' It takeaways in Lake Hāwea. He said the power cut had led to a busy morning. "They are causing problems. We have two fridges, two freezers which are not working right now. We had to go and get a new generator. So everything is turned on now, just now. "But it has been off for a little while, and we were worried about our stock. We don't even know if we will be able to open and serve people." He said they could not fully operate with the generator, so were hoping to get the power restored as soon as possible. Aurora Energy said it took longer to restore power because of fire restrictions currently in place. The automatic reclosers that help get the power back on quickly after a short outage could potentially create sparks if the network had been damaged during a fault, it said. When a prohibited fire season is declared, Aurora disables the automatic reclosers to reduce the fire risk. When the reclosers were disabled the fault crews had to manually check the lines to make sure everything was safe before they could turn the power back on. It was a trade-off between getting power restored faster, and the risk of fire, Aurora Energy said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Dec. 11 he was stepping down as head of the bureau, just days after Republicans expressed a loss of confidence in him. Wray, 57, told FBI employees in an afternoon town hall that “after weeks of careful thought,” he had decided to resign in January at the end of the current administration, caving to pressure from GOP senators and President-elect Donald Trump. NY Post Politics Reporter Josh Christenson shares this story.Expelled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s whereabouts have been revealed after fleeing Syria. Assad, along with his family, have arrived in Moscow on Sunday and granted asylum, according to the TASS news agency, which received the information from a Kremlin source. “Assad and his family members have arrived in Moscow. Russia, for humanitarian reasons, has granted them asylum,” the source said. In Syria, celebrations are taking place after rebels captured the capital of Damascus, triggering the collapse of Assad’s government and the end of his 24-year reign. Assad left with his wife and two children, their location remaining unknown until now. “At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice,” U.S. President Joe Biden said after the overtaking. “It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty as we all turn to the question of what comes next.” A popular LA radio host has died at 44 years old, loved ones said. Robin Ayers, a personality on KBLA 1580 Talk, died on Thursday, according to fellow broadcaster Tavis Smiley .Her cause of death has not been released. “Robin was a bright light. You could see her radiant smile through the radio. We all respected her immense talent, loved her jovial spirit, celebrated her love of family, and honored her faith in God," Smiley wrote on X. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Robin’s entire family, most especially her husband Rob and her twin daughters Brooklyn and Madison.” On Friday, KBLA Talk 150 opened up phone lines and listeners could call in and talk about Ayers and their memories of the star, who was also an entertainment reporter. Prior to being a host for “The RA Report with Robin Ayers,” she was a stylist in Hollywood for 15 years. Her last Instagram post showed Ayers spending time with her family in New York City, where they celebrated Thanksgiving and her twin daughters' 18th birthday. If you’re trying to pick up gifts for the loved ones on your list, here’s a tip: everyone appreciates the gift of softer and more manageable hair and skin. The Avon Company, North America has been in the beauty industry for over a century and stocks some of the trendiest skin care, fragrances, and personal care items on the market. These curated picks ensure your giftee will be glowing even on the dullest winter day. This moisturizer tackles one of winter’s biggest annoyances—chapped lips. It has a hydration-boosting formula that counteracts dry air while visibly softening lips and adding a glossy hint of color. Free Shipping Cold air strips away the skin’s natural moisture, which leads to cracking and flaking. The Beyond Glow Serum uses vitamin B3 to strengthen the skin’s barrier against colder temperatures and even out skin tone. Free Shipping This replenishing hair mist uses rice water—a popular traditional beauty treatment in Asia—to revitalize and nourish dull and damaged hair. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. Even middling songs can’t seem to stop Moana 2. The Disney sequel won the box office for the second week in a row, earning $52 million over the post-Thanksgiving weekend. It’s the largest total ever for the post-holiday weekend, besting Disney’s own Frozen 2 ($35.1 million) for the crown. Wicked followed its fellow musical for the No. 2 title, earning $34.9 million throughout the weekend. The film, the first in the two-part tale, became the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time. Gladiator II completed the trifecta for a second week in a row, earning $12.4 million. The weekend also saw the return of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, which played in various IMAX theaters for its 10th anniversary. The film scored at No. 6 for the weekend with $4.5 million. New York Police Department detectives arrived in Atlanta on Saturday as the search for the UnitedHealthcare assassin continues. Officers traveled to the Georgia city after receiving a large number of tips linked to the yet-to-be unidentified suspect wanted in the murder of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, ABC News reported . The Atlanta Police Department confirmed the arrival of NYPD officers, but reportedly declined to provide additional details. The suspected shooter allegedly arrived in New York on Nov. 24 on a Greyhound bus from Atlanta . On Dec. 4, the masked gunman shot Thompson at point-blank range outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where the insurance executive’s company was holding an investors conference. After the shooting, police say that the suspected gunman boarded a bus out of New York City. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the murder as “brazen” and “targeted.” And, while the suspect remains at large, authorities released new images of the suspected shooter on Saturday and investigators are said to have followed leads in multiple states. 🚨UPDATE: Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4. The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public's help—if you have any information about this case, call the... https://t.co/U4wlUquumf pic.twitter.com/243V0tBZOr Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. As any true audiophile already knows, Amazon Music Unlimited has long been a reliable destination for an elevated listening experience. With millions of high-quality songs and an unparalleled collection of top ad-free podcasts, the platform’s catalog is curated to capture both your attention and your imagination. Now, Amazon is raising the bar with an exciting update: Audible is officially joining Amazon Music Unlimited, cementing the brand’s status as an all-in-one audio hub . Audible’s industry-leading catalog of audiobooks features an expansive selection of can’t-miss bestsellers, hot-off-the-press exclusives, and timeless classics to immerse yourself in. As an Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber, you’ll be free to select one book each month (of any length) and listen to it directly in the Amazon Music app . Whether you’re a fiction buff ready to dive into a thrilling new adventure or a non-fiction enthusiast looking to expand your horizons, Audible’s expansive collection is sure to have the right title that matches your tastes. Plus, when you’re ready to take a break from the book, you can seamlessly swap back to your favorite tunes and podcast episodes —all without having to leave the app. It’s all the audio that you’ll ever need, all in one place! Best of all, this game-changing update is arriving just in time for the holiday season: start a new subscription , and enjoy your first three months of Amazon Music Unlimited, completely for free. Audio art, conversation, and storytelling—all in one place. What’s not to love? Sign up today and get lost in the sound . Mariah Carey shut down rumors that her new Christmas video was generated by artificial intelligence, claiming bad lighting and red lipstick were to blame for the odd visuals. Carey, who filmed a Christmas-themed video thanking her fans, had commenters questioning if the video was actually real with one user writing, “that is AI for sure!!” Another chimed in, “Definitely AI. It’s always something off with the eyes.” The clip, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of her album, “Merry Christmas,” was made for Spotify Wrapped, and shown to users who counted Carey as one of their most-listened artists. Carey responded to the backlash from the video, saying it was the red lipstick and lighting throwing viewers off. “Bad lighting and a red lip have you all thinking this is AI?? There’s a reason I’m not a fan of either of those things,” she wrote on X. One fan responded, “It must be hard being so gorgeous that nobody believes you’re real.” . @MariahCarey with an exclusive message for her top fans on Spotify Wrapped. pic.twitter.com/ODo5DHW5ih A $2 million dollar home in Nantucket was broken into by high schoolers after the homeowner ignored their AirBnB request. The owner, Edith Stone Lentini, received rental request for the home for Oct. 28 about a Halloween party for 14-15 year olds. “My daughter wants to throw a little Halloween party for her and her friends and I was wondering if that’s possible,” the AirBnB rental request message read, obtained by the Nantucket Current . “I would be there to monitor the kids and it would just be a fun get together.” After ignoring the “sketchy” request, a police officer called her one night informing her a rager was being thrown at the house. Police told Lentini that the high schoolers broke in through an unlocked window, and threw the party despite the ignored request. The teenagers took extraordinary caution, however: rolling up the white rug, taking all the pictures off the walls, moving furniture aside and more. “As much as I’m upset about this, they did take care of the house,” Lentini told the Nantucket Current. “The most damage was just sticky floors. They even put ‘do not enter’ tape around the TV stand.” The house rents for $5,500 a week in the summer, and was worth an estimated $2.3 million. Photos of the home can be seen on realtor.com , with the last sale in 2012 for $1.3 million. CNN political commentator Alisyn Camerota announced on Sunday she would leave the network. “Big News, Everyone! — today is my last day on CNN,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing that her sign-off would be early Sunday evening. Camerota joined the network in 2014 after a 16-year stint at Fox News, hosting its New Day morning show for years alongside Chris Cuomo before a move to afternoons in 2021. After Warner Bros. Discovery assumed control of CNN, Camerota floated through various positions at the network, including as its 11 p.m. host before an eventual floating role as a political commentator and fill-in anchor. Camerota disclosed in July that her husband of nearly 23 years, Tim Lewis, died after a battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. “I cannot imagine any human being soldiering through a devastating diagnosis with more humor, humility and bravery than Tim,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “He was a phenomenal father, husband, friend and role model and the rest of us are left trying to follow in his footsteps.” Aside from her role at CNN, where she won two Emmys and an Edward R. Murrow award, Camerota is a best-selling author, publishing both a children’s book and a memoir. Her memoir, Combat Love, is being adapted for film and television. Barry Keoghan addressed his abrupt departure from Instagram after he deactivated his account on the platform Friday night. The actor took to X asking fans be “respectful” of him and his loved ones after his name was “dragged across the internet” following news of his breakup with Sabrina Carpenter on Tuesday. Since their split, internet rumors have swirled that Keoghan cheated on the pop star. Some suggested he had a tryst with influencer Breckie Hill, a claim Hill seemingly confirmed when she re-posted a TikTok about their speculated romance. Keoghan, however, made no mention of Hill in his statement. “The messages I have received no person should ever have to read them. Absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent, and every other inhumane thing you can imagine,” the actor wrote , accusing trolls of “Knocking on my grannies door. Sitting outside my baby boys house intimidating them.” Keoghan, who has a young son, also pleaded with social media users to think of his child before they post about him. “I need you to remeber (sic) he has to read ALL of this about his father when he is older,” he said. Please be respectful x pic.twitter.com/N03eHAIbC8 Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Oppenheimer star Emma Dumont confirmed to TMZ via a rep that they are now using they/them pronouns as a trans-masculine and non-binary person. “They identify as a trans masculine non-binary person. Their work name is still going to be Emma Dumont, but they will go by Nick with friends and family,” said the rep, adding that Dumont will go by Emma professionally. Dumont is best-known for portraying Oppenheimer’s sister-in-law Jackie Oppenheimer in the 2023 Oscar-winning blockbuster. They have also portrayed Lorna Dane/Polaris in Fox’s 2017 X-men adaptation series The Gifted , also scoring a role in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s Licorice Pizza . Next they are set to star in a film called The New Me , about a young mother struggling to connect with her baby and husband, according to IMDb . The film does not have a release date yet, but Dumont has updated their listed pronouns on Instagram to reflect their life update. “Only call me Nick if ur cool okay?” they wrote on their updated Instagram profile. The family of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, 78, said he is in the “early stages” of Alzheimer’s and battling another blood-born disease that is “causing problems with his entire body.” Robertson’s son Jase broke the news Friday on an episode of the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast. “Phil’s not doing well. We were trying to figure out the diagnosis, but according to the doctors, they are sure that he has some sort of blood disease causing all kinds of problems,” said Jase, 55. He added, “And he has early stages of Alzheimer’s. So, if you put those things together, he’s just not doing well.” Robertson rose to fame with the popularity of the hit 2012 A&E show, which followed the Louisiana family of seven as they operated their lucrative duck call and decoy business, Duck Commanders. When the show ended in 2017, Robertson became a conservative figurehead with his support of President-elect Donald Trump . According to Jase, Robertson is hoping to return to hosting the podcast. “I’m like, ‘Well Phil, you can barely walk around without crying out in pain, and your memory is not what it once was,’” said Jase. “He’s like, ‘Tell me about it.’”

“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” NFL (National Football League) commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday after the conclusion of the league’s winter meetings. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued musician Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game at Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Mr Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.”