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Pelicans' Zion Williamson (hamstring) to practice next weekWhat's New? America's billionaires enjoyed a stellar 2024, their collective net worth soaring by hundreds of billions of dollars on the back of a sustained boom in the tech sector. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which ranks daily the world's wealthiest individuals, nine out of the 10 individuals who saw the largest growth in their net worth since January are U.S. citizens. Elon Musk , the South African-born CEO of SpaceX , Tesla , and X (formerly Twitter), saw his net worth skyrocket by an astounding $222 billion for a total of $451 billion as of December 24. His shares in Tesla, which make up a significant portion of his total fortune, have grown by 81 percent over the same period. Taken together, the 10 centibillionaires—which included perennial frontrunners Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos —notched an additional $730 billion onto their collective net worth in 2024, a few billion shy of Taiwan's GDP. Why It Matters The staggering accumulation of wealth—boosted in early November by the re-election of Donald Trump and a surge in U.S. stocks—sheds light on the dynamics of economic inequality in the U.S. and its broader implications. These debates had already been ignited by the impacts of inflation and wage stagnation as suffered by America's middle- and working-classes, and in the past such high figures have prompted calls for higher taxation on the super-wealthy, as well as examinations into the influence of money in the American political system. What To Know The individuals on Bloomberg's list, ranked by the increase in their net worth over the past 12 months, are: Elon Musk (+$222 billion), Mark Zuckerberg (+$84 billion), Nvidia founder Jensen Huang (+$77.9 billion), Jeff Bezos (+$67 billion), Larry Ellison (+$67 billion), Michael Dell (+$46.6 billion), Larry Page ($46.1 billion), Sergey Brin (+$42.2 billion), and Walmart heirs Jim (+$39.6 billion) and Alice Walton (+$39.0 billion). The nature of the billionaires on Bloomberg's list also highlights the outsized and growing impact of technology on the global economy today, nearly all of the billionaires deriving their wealth from ownership of companies in this sector. The global reach of communication technologies, and the high scalability of companies dealing in cutting edge tech, means that businesses positioned at the forefront of the digital transformation are poised to reap even greater rewards, promising today's billionaires even greater fortunes in the future. On the other end of the spectrum, the continued downturn in the luxury goods sector has seen many well-known billionaires shed significant portions from their net worth. Bernard Arnault, the founder and CEO of LVMH who once held the title of the world's richest person, saw his wealth decline by $32 billion in 2024. Arnault is followed by Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, businesswoman and heiress to the L'Oréal fortune, whose net worth sank by $25.6 billion so far this year. What People Are Saying Peter Oppenheimer , Chief Global Equity Strategist and Head of Macro Research in Europe at Goldman Sachs, spoke to financial outlet Boring Money about the future of the tech boom: "The drivers of this success have reflected their ability to leverage software and cloud computing and to fuel high profitability generated by extraordinary demand growth. But their more recent surge in performance since 2022 owes much to the hopes and aspirations around AI." What Happens Next? Some analysts have likened the tech boom to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and warned that this too could burst, hurting those who hedged their fortunes on the transformative power of AI. For now, however, technology appears to have triggered an unparalleled rise in net worth for those at the pinnacle, leading to levels of individual wealth never before seen in history. Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
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Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Warren Buffett gives away another US$1.1B, announces plans for distributing $147B fortune after death
BLAKE Lively could win an eight-figure sum and save her reputation after filing a 'strong' lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, an expert has claimed. The actress, 37, is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment , aiding and abetting harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress , among other claims. Lively played the lead role of Lily Bloom in the movie, released this year, and was also a producer, while Baldoni directed and portrayed her love interest, Ryle Kincaid. The movie focused on domestic violence and featured sexual scenes. Lively alleges in her lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, that Baldoni, 40, showed her naked videos and images of other women and discussed his alleged previous porn addiction, among a litany of complaints. She claims after she raised her concerns about a "hostile work environment," Baldoni and others set out to destroy her reputation and hired a crisis management team. Blake Lively The complaint already features leaked text messages allegedly between Baldoni's publicist and a crisis management expert. After filing the lawsuit, Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman branded it "shameful" and claimed it was "false, outrageous and intentionally salacious, with an intent to publicly hurt." The U.S. Sun spoke to attorney Camron Dowlatshahi, partner at MSD Lawyers , who feels Lively has a very strong case against her former employer, and could walk away with millions of dollars. He said, "It's absolutely reputation-related. She has, between her and her husband, all the money in the world. Most read in Celebrity It's rare to have this much evidence from a third party pre-filing." "I don't think this is a money issue. I think this was her needing to change the narrative, and already it has. "Already it's had positive effects for her reputation, and I expect that it will continue for her. "You know, 99 percent of cases settle in advance of trial. "These type of cases, though, I will say are the outliers. "So with Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard, because there's so many emotions, and there's money on both sides ... they're willing to really litigate it to the fullest. So I wouldn't be shocked if that happened here. "In terms of settlement, I mean, obviously you're looking in the seven figures into the eight figures potentially." He predicted, "This is just the start. We haven't even gone through the discovery process. I'm sure there's more text messages to be had." Asked how Lively's team managed to get hold of the texts so quickly in the court process, Dowlatshahi said, "It's absolutely skilled lawyering. "Blake Lively's attorneys came up with a very targeted strategy of subpoenaing records through a kind of not very commonly used statute, is likely how they went about it." He added that it's rare to have this much evidence from a third party pre-filing, and doesn't look good for Baldoni, who has already been dropped by his talent agency, WME . "It's already having pretty serious consequences on his career. Having WME drop you is obviously a huge issue. "They did so because obviously Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are huge clients and they have to take care of their bigger clients, but the allegations are very serious and the evidence is strong. "So he's going to have to come up with a strong, targeted campaign and with legal defenses to back it up, to essentially revive his career because it's looking like it's dead." 'ALL-HANDS MEETING' The complaint claims Lively attended an "all-hands" meeting with Baldoni and others in January 2024 to discuss the "hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production of the film." Her husband, Reynolds , was also in attendance. Lively alleges to have asked for "no more adding of sex scenes, oral sex or on camera climaxing outside the scope of the script approved when signing onto the project." The lawsuit names six other defendants, including Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath and its cofounder Steve Sarowitz. "Ms. Lively never sought out conflict with Wayfarer, Ms. Baldoni, or Mr. Heath, but instead consistently attempted to speak up for a safe and respectful workplace privately in the hopes of protecting herself, as well as the cast and crew, without jeopardizing a film that she believed could make a difference in people's lives," the complaint alleges. "In response, Mr. Baldoni, Mr. Heath, and those working for them, sought to destroy Ms. Lively and anyone else who knew the truth." Rumors about Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni not seeing eye-to-eye began earlier this year during the promotional tour for their movie, It Ends With Us. The film had a budget of around $25 million and was a box office hit, grossing a worldwide total of $351 million. But despite its success, Lively and Baldoni were hardly seen together during the promo tour. Internet sleuths noticed the pair didn't follow each other on social media, and many of the cast only followed Lively. TMZ then alleged that they fell out over "fat-shaming", and Baldoni supposedly kissing for too long during scenes. Baldoni hired a crisis management firm before reports began to emerge of Lively not being nice to interviewers and she was slammed for 'tone-deaf' comments about the movie. The film was released on Netflix days before Lively filed her lawsuit, which includes texts between Baldoni's publicist and a crisis management expert. Lively's team claims they were obtained through a subpoena, and one alleges Baldoni wanted the actress's career to "be buried." Asked what he feels the next steps will be for the lawsuit, Dowlatshahi said, "I would certainly expect him [Baldoni] and his team to circle up and think about potential claims, absolutely, to go on the offensive, and to release some evidence that could be potentially helpful for him in order to change the narrative because so much of this is about the PR." Colleen Hoover , the author behind the best-selling book ''It Ends With Us'' has also spoken out following the claims . In a post shared online, Hoover said Lively had been "nothing but honest, kind, supportive, and patient since the day we met." The author added: '"Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.'' Dowlatshahi went on, "I'm sure it was very difficult for her [Lively] to bring on this lawsuit. "This is not something that I think she took on lightly. This is her personal life on paper. What she experienced for many many months on paper documented. "There's going to be discovery. She's going to be deposed. She had to have known that by filing. Read More on The US Sun "So this is a lot of work for her, taking attention away from her other endeavors. "So she had to have taken this very, very seriously. She had to have been very, very harmed."
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last," Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania's highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter
A circle of corroded bronze, measuring 12 inches (30cm) across, adorned with golden shapes, was unwittingly discovered in 1999 in Nebra, Germany, now famously coined the Nebra Sky Disc. More than 3,600-years-old, it is widely considered to be the oldest known depiction of the cosmos. It is currently the subject of a new study, where metallurgical analysis has indicated that it was manufactured using a complex, hot-forging process, with ten cycles of heating up to 700°C! Bombshell Study Calls Astronomical Theories of the Nebra Sky Disk “Obsolete” Why a Replica of the 3,600-Year-Old Nebra Sky Disk Was Sent into Space Hardly any suitable scientific method was omitted to study the Nebra hoard. (© State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt ) An Elusive Manufacturing Process Part of the UNESCO "Memory of the World" register since 2013, the Disc is considered one of the best-researched archaeological objects. The new study, published in the latest edition of the journal Scientific Reports , finally points us in the direction of the elusive manufacturing process. Based on its material composition and previous research, it seems that the process would be to heat to 700°C over 10 cycles, then forging, and then annealing to relax the metal structure again. This affirms what was earlier believed based on the material composition, which indicated that the disk couldn’t have been simply cast in its final size. Consider this: a bronze disk with a diameter of around 31 centimeters, a few millimeters thick – forging this during the Bronze Age without any of the modern tools and technologies available to us today was quite an achievement. "That the investigations continue to produce such fundamental new findings more than 20 years after the Sky Disc was found not only once again demonstrates the extraordinary character of this find of the century, but also how highly developed the art of metal processing was already in the Early Bronze Age," says State archaeologist Prof. Dr. Harald Meller in a press release . Goseck Circle: The Oldest Known Solar Observatory World of Stonehenge Exhibition Is a Stunning Treasure Hall of Fame The Nebra Sky Disc with the marked sample extraction point ((c) (Reproduced with permission by State Office for Heritage management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt—State Museum of Prehistory, photo: J. Lipták, Munich/ Nature ). From Disc-Rescue to Crafting Discovered in 1999 on the Mittelberg hill near Nebra, Germany, Henry Westphal and Mario Renner made this find when illegally treasure-hunting with a metal detector. The total loot included 2 bronze swords, axes, a chisel, and fragments of spiral armbands, sold to a private dealer. The police led a sting operation and recovered the disc in 2002, now on display in the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Archaeologists have placed the disc, with a blue-green patina (probably originally a deep bronze hue), and adorned with gold inlays, to the Únětice culture, emerging at the start of the Central European Bronze Age around 2300 to 1600 BC. It was likely made over 4 stages, and eventually deposited into the ground in the form of a ritual offering. Previous studies have pointed to how the arrangement of the cosmos indicated its deep relevance to agricultural communities – likely what it alluded to. "In addition, the Sky Disc shows how important it is to re-examine seemingly well-known finds when new methods become available," says Dr. Meller. After its recovery, a small sample was temporarily taken from the outer area of the Disc in 2002 (since re-inserted), and then temporarily removed again for archaeometallurgical research. It was subject to ‘microstructural analyses on color-etched surfaces with a light microscope’, with modern imaging methods used: energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction – the most modern metallurgical analyses available. Following this, the disk was subject to hardness measurements and parallel experimental tests. The renowned coppersmith Herbert Bauer then made a replica from a cast blank, which was actually subject to many more forging cycles to produce the copy; the original cast blank was probably larger and thinner. “The latest research results make it clear that the early Bronze Age craftsmen were not only outstanding casters, but also mastered complex bronze processing techniques, for example hot forging, at the highest level. With their extensive experience and knowledge, they were not only able to produce numerous axes in series production, but also to forge a workpiece that is unique from today's perspective, such as the Nebra Sky Disc,” reports the press release. The research was conducted by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt in cooperation with the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Chair of Metallic Materials (Prof. Dr. Thorsten Halle), and the company DeltaSigma Analytics GmbH, Magdeburg. Top image: The Nebra Sky Disc. Source: Juraj Lipták/ State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt By Sahir Pandey References Dieck, S., Michael, O., Wilke, M. et al. 2024. Archaeometallurgical investigation of the Nebra Sky Disc . Scientific Reports . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80545-5 . Milligan, M. 2024. Study uncovers the secrets of the Nebra Sky Disk . Available at: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/11/study-uncovers-the-secrets-of-the-nebra-sky-disk/154009 . White, K. 2024. Decoding the Nebra Sky Disc, an Ancient Vision of the Cosmos . Available at: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/nebra-sky-disc-facts-2474678 . Artifacts News Nebra sky disc metallurgy Germany Until today, the Nebra Sky Disk was known as the oldest concrete depiction of cosmic phenomena worldwide. Scholars believed it was a 3,600-year-old artifact depicting a sun or full moon, a lunar... A team of archaeologists and forensics experts studying the remains of the 'Prince of Helmsdorf,’ dated to around 1940 BC, who was discovered in Klopfleisch in 1877, have announced that ‘he was...
S&P/TSX composite rises on morning of Christmas Eve, U.S. stock markets also upShare Tweet Share Share Email If you’ve purchased a new or used vehicle in California and are struggling with persistent mechanical issues that just don’t seem to get resolved, you may be wondering whether you are entitled to a remedy under California’s Lemon Law. This law exists to protect consumers from vehicles that repeatedly fail to meet standards of quality, safety, and usability. Los Angeles Chevrolet lemon law attorneys are here to help you navigate this process and determine if your car qualifies as a lemon. California’s Lemon Law, formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, is designed to provide protection for consumers who purchase or lease cars that have substantial defects. If your car is under warranty and has been repeatedly repaired for the same or similar issues, you may have grounds for a lemon law claim. In this article, we’ll explore the key factors that determine whether your car qualifies under the law and what steps you can take if you think your vehicle might be a lemon. What Is California’s Lemon Law? California’s Lemon Law is a consumer protection law that covers the repair or replacement of defective vehicles. If you purchase a new or used car that is under warranty, and that car has a significant defect that cannot be fixed within a reasonable number of repair attempts, you may be entitled to a buyback or replacement vehicle. The law is designed to ensure that consumers are not stuck with faulty vehicles that impair their safety, use, or value. The Lemon Law applies to new vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and SUVs. It also applies to used vehicles if they are still under the manufacturer’s warranty at the time of the purchase. Defects covered under the Lemon Law typically affect the vehicle’s safety, use, or value, such as problems with the engine, transmission, brakes, electrical system, or airbags. Cosmetic issues, like paint chips or small scratches, do not usually qualify. If your car has been in the shop multiple times for the same issue or has been out of service for an extended period, you may have a valid claim under California’s Lemon Law. Los Angeles Chevrolet lemon law attorneys are here to help determine whether your car fits the criteria and guide you through the process. How to Determine If Your Car Qualifies Under California Lemon Laws To qualify under the California Lemon Law, your vehicle must meet specific criteria. Below are the most important factors to consider when determining whether your car qualifies: 1. Warranty Coverage The first key factor in determining whether your car qualifies under California’s Lemon Law is whether the car is still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. If your car is no longer covered by a warranty, it may not be eligible for lemon law protection. However, some used vehicles may still be under a manufacturer’s warranty, in which case you may still qualify. New Cars: If you bought a new car, it is almost certainly under warranty. These warranties typically last 3 years or 36,000 miles, but this can vary by manufacturer. The warranty should cover most defects that occur within that time period, including repairs to major systems such as the engine, transmission, and safety features. Used Cars: If you bought a used car, it must be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty at the time of purchase. Certified pre-owned cars often come with a manufacturer’s warranty, which may provide lemon law protection. Check your warranty documentation to see if your used car qualifies. If your vehicle is out of warranty, it may still be eligible for other forms of legal action, but it will not be covered by the Lemon Law. 2. Repeated Repair Attempts for the Same Issue One of the most important criteria under California’s Lemon Law is whether the car has been repaired multiple times for the same issue. The manufacturer or dealership must be given a reasonable number of chances to fix the problem before the car is considered a lemon. California law typically requires that the vehicle be repaired at least two times for the same defect without success. However, there are certain situations where a single repair attempt may be sufficient. For example, if the defect is severe (like an issue with the braking or steering system), even one repair attempt may be enough. Additionally, if the vehicle has been in the shop for four or more attempts for different problems, this could also be grounds for a lemon law claim. Another important factor is if the car has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 days or more due to defects. If your car has been in the shop for an extended period, it may be eligible for lemon law protection. 3. Serious Defects Affecting Safety, Usability, or Value To qualify under the Lemon Law, the defects must be substantial enough to affect the vehicle’s safety, usability, or overall value. Minor cosmetic defects, such as scratches or small dents, are generally not covered. However, if the defect impairs the car’s ability to function properly or poses a safety risk, it is likely to qualify. Some common defects that may qualify under the Lemon Law include: Engine problems (e.g., stalling, overheating, or loss of power) Transmission issues (e.g., slipping, failure to shift, or inability to engage gears) Brake system defects (e.g., brake failure, reduced braking power, or issues with anti-lock braking systems) Electrical problems (e.g., issues with the battery, lights, or electrical wiring) Safety system defects (e.g., airbags failing to deploy or seatbelt malfunctions) If the defect makes your car unsafe to drive or diminishes its value significantly, it is more likely that your vehicle will qualify under California’s Lemon Law. 4. Reasonable Opportunity for Repair The manufacturer or dealership must be given a reasonable opportunity to fix the defects. This typically means that the vehicle must have been brought in for repairs at least two or three times for the same issue before pursuing a Lemon Law claim. In the case of more serious safety issues (such as defects affecting the brakes or airbags), one repair attempt might be sufficient. If the car has been out of service for 30 or more days, you might also have a claim under the law. What Should You Do If You Think Your Car Is a Lemon? If you believe your car qualifies for a Lemon Law claim, the first step is to document the defects and the repairs made. Keep all receipts, invoices, and service records that show the repairs, including dates and descriptions of the defects. Next, it’s important to contact a lawyer who specializes in lemon law cases. Los Angeles Chevrolet lemon law attorneys are here to help guide you through the process and help you understand your legal options. An attorney will help you determine whether your car qualifies and can assist in filing a claim with the manufacturer. Once your attorney determines that you have a valid claim, they may send a demand letter to the manufacturer requesting either a buyback or a replacement vehicle. In many cases, the manufacturer will offer a settlement without the need for a lengthy court battle. If the manufacturer does not offer a satisfactory solution, your attorney can help you take the case to court. How to Choose the Right Lemon Law Attorney in Los Angeles If you’re facing issues with your vehicle and believe you may have a lemon law case, it’s crucial to choose the right lemon law attorney in Los Angeles. Here are some tips for selecting an attorney: Experience: Look for an attorney who has handled lemon law cases before and is familiar with the specific details of California’s Lemon Law. They should understand how the law applies to various types of vehicles and defects. No Upfront Fees: Many lemon law attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. This can make it easier for you to pursue a claim without worrying about upfront costs. Client Reviews : Look for reviews or testimonials from past clients to get an idea of the attorney’s success rate and customer service. Communication : Choose an attorney who communicates clearly and promptly, as lemon law cases can involve complex legal issues that require close attention. Conclusion If you’re experiencing recurring issues with your car that affect its safety, value, or usability, you may be entitled to a refund or replacement under California’s Lemon Law. Determining whether your car qualifies requires evaluating several key factors, including the severity of the defect, the number of repair attempts, and whether the vehicle is still under warranty. If you believe your car may be a lemon, Los Angeles Chevrolet lemon law attorneys are here to help you understand your rights and guide you through the legal process. Choose the right lemon law attorney in Los Angeles to help you navigate this process, ensuring that you are treated fairly and receive the compensation or replacement vehicle you deserve. Don’t let persistent defects ruin your driving experience—take the necessary steps to protect your consumer rights today. Related Items: Car , Lemon Laws Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you The Benefits of Renting a Car in Dubai: A Guide for Travellers Top Applications of Satellite Technology for Cars Scrapping a car: How will I dispose of my old car in 2025? Comments
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