With holiday parties and wintertime jaunts on the horizon, you'll have no shortage of opportunities to bust out — and show off — a new pair of shoes, whether fancy or functional. Luckily for you: The is stocked with delightful deals that'll have head-over-heels with joy. ( .) Seeking out a fresh new pair of ? Need some trusty to get you through the snow and slush? The Zappos extended Black Friday sale has you covered, and then some. We're talking stylish beloved by big names like Meghan Markle and to — all at super discounts. No matter what type of shoe you're after, you can scoop up a pair right now for a fraction of their original price — and you just might be able to cross some names off your holiday shopping list. Check out our faves from Zappos' Black Friday sale below, and remember to act fast! Certain styles and colors are already selling out. And when you're done, take a spin through across the web too. Crocs Classic Clog Hoka Bondi 8 Sneakers Sorel Joan of Arctic Waterproof Boots Hey Dude Wendy Fold Brushed Cozy Asics Gel-Venture 9 Skechers Summits Hands Free Slip-Ins Clarks Ashland Bubble Sperry Torrent Chelsea Crocs Classic Lined Clog SneakErasers Instant Sole and Sneaker Cleaner, 10-Pack If comfy cool is your jam, this is the shoe for you. Beloved by chefs, medical workers and kids alike, Crocs are lightweight, easy to clean, quick-drying and water-friendly. The price depends on the color and size you choose, but you can't go wrong with this neutral off-white option at 40% off. Meet one of Hoka's most popular styles — the Bondis have even made our list of the . Yahoo Commerce Editor Saundra Latham packed them for a cruise during which she walked over 15,000 steps a day. "They're ultra-cushioned, with a flexible upper that's almost sock-like, so it molds to my foot," she said. These sporty, foamy kicks weigh less than 9 ounces, so take them on your next trip. Certain colors and sizes are 20% off right now, the lowest they've been in 30 days. Celebs like have been spotted in these cozy boots, made with waterproof leather and suede. At up to 70% off some colors, you'll be saving royally — and keeping your feet from the winter wet. If you already own (and love) the wildly popular , you probably want to get this cozy version of the comfy shoe for the upcoming winter months. They have the same comfortable design as the classic loafer but are lined with ultra-warm fleece to keep your tootsies nice and toasty. Bonus: they are currently down to just $56 — the lowest price in 30 days! Available in regular and wide widths, these Asics sneakers boast a rubber outsole that helps with traction (perfect for people who regularly navigate slippery floors or love to go on hikes). These ultra-cushioned kicks provide excellent shock absorption, which NYC-based podiatrist Polina Zaydenberg, M.D., appreciates. "The rocker bottom helps with propulsion," she adds. These Skechers are highly-rated for their comfort! Simply slip them on and go — no lacing them up. Tons of shoppers give the shoe a five-star rating, too. "I bought them on a Friday, and Saturday morning left for two weeks to Europe, wearing my brand new Sketchers Slip-ins for the first time. No break-in time," shared one five-star reviewer. "They were a breeze to use going through TSA screening — easy off and on. I wore them for eight of the next 12 days, walking all over Budapest and Vienna in complete comfort. I will be buying another pair soon in a different color!" These flats boast extra cushioning and a small platform heel (hence the in the name). Says Dr. Zaydenberg: "They’re excellent for people with peripheral vascular disease and different toe deformities." Grab a pair in black, brown or navy blue. These sleek black Sperry's prove rain boots don't have to be unattractive. This stylish Chelsea boot will keep you well-insulated during rain showers, slushy messes and whatever else comes your way. Snag the black or olive styles while they are still 25% off. These clogs feature all of the comfort and easy slip-on construction of classic Crocs with a faux fur lining to keep your feet cozy and warm this winter. "I have psoriatic arthritis in my feet and couldn't find a shoe that didn't hurt my feet... until I tried Crocs!" raved a reviewer. "I'm on my feet at work 10 hours a day, and my feet do not hurt at all." Need a trusty way to clean all your new kicks? Check out this clever little : These little doodads are dual-sided: the white side scrubs away the filth, while the orange side wipes away any leftover marks, leaving you with spotless kicks. A gentle rub is all you need for maximum cleaning power. And if the sponges begin to dry while you’re buffing, simply add a bit of water to reactivate them. Before you know it, you’ll be glowing up, whether you’re running errands or jogging around the neighborhood. "Sneakers look like new!" . "I hate getting scuffs/dirt from normal city wear and tear, and although my shoes are well-loved, they don't look like it! I used them on my Vans and Converse — so satisfying to erase all the grind! I find these are more effective than spray cleaners or magic erasers; you can tell they are made specifically for shoes and shoe materials."(Reuters) – OpenAI said on Monday it has released its artificial intelligence model, which creates video from text, to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, expanding its foray into multimodal AI technologies. The Microsoft-backed company, which kicked off a generative AI craze with the launch of its ChatGPT chatbot in November 2022, aims to target similar text-to-video tools from Meta and Alphabet’s Google, along with Stability AI’s Stable Video Diffusion. The AI model, named Sora, was first introduced in February, but its access was limited to safety testers in its research preview phase. It is now available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users as Sora Turbo at no additional cost. “We’re working on tailored pricing for different types of users, which we plan to make available early next year,” the company said in a blog post. Users will be able to generate videos up to 1080p resolution, up to 20 seconds long and in widescreen, vertical or square aspect ratios. OpenAI said while Sora would not yet be available in EU countries, Switzerland and the UK, the AI model would be accessible in other regions where ChatGPT is present. The company also said it will block the creation and upload of damaging forms of abuse, such as child sexual abuse materials and sexual deepfakes, on Sora to prevent its misuse. “Uploads of people will be limited at launch, but we intend to roll the feature out to more users as we refine our deepfake mitigations,” it said. (Reporting by Rishi Kant in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );A VR headset could make a great gift for the gamer in your life, and now you can pick up one of our favorites at a killer price. Sony’s PlayStation VR2 is on sale for $350 right now in a bundle that includes the critically-acclaimed spin-off Horizon Call of the Mountain . That’s $200 off the bundle’s regular price and one of the best Black Friday deals on VR headsets we found this year. We enjoyed this headset and gave it high marks in our official review . The OLED displays are excellent, so the graphics are on point. The headset’s fit is comfortable and it includes built-in haptics for increased immersion. Haptics for your head? That’s a pretty novel concept. Sony PlayStation VR2 Call of the Mountain Bundle $349 $550 Save $201 This is a record low price for the headset and comes with a game. $349 at Amazon The headset also includes eye tracking technology and ships with two dedicated controllers, one for each hand. The company’s Sense controllers are eerily similar to Meta Quest controllers, with a large tracking ring, analog sticks, face buttons, triggers and grip buttons. As for Horizon Call of the Mountain , it’s a new entry in the beloved Horizon franchise, only in VR. There’s a whole lot of climbing, as indicated by the title, but also a refined bow and arrow mechanic that feels just right in virtual space. We hesitated to recommend this headset to everyone at its original price of $550, but it’s a no-brainer at $350. This deal is also available through Sony , if Amazon isn’t your bag. So what’s the catch? There’s only one. This isn’t a standalone headset. It requires a PS5 to work, though Sony did recently release an adapter that lets it connect to a PC . Interested in the headset but don't have a PS5 yet? Luckily the PS5 Slim is also on sale right now for $75 off. It's Black Friday deals drop the console to $375 for the digital-only model and $425 for the disc-based version . Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. In court filings on Monday, the prosecutors cited longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president who firmly won election this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire with Hezbollah BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes are hitting Lebanon with airstrikes as negotiations progress toward a ceasefire between the country and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants. Lebanon reported that at least 12 people were killed Monday as explosions lit up the sky and airstrikes hit targets in Beirut and Tyre, a southern port city. After about a year of exchanging low-level attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, Israeli troops launched a ground invasion of Lebanon in October. More than 3,700 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced since. The fighting has amplified worries about direct conflict between Israel and Iran. International mediators are seeking to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to end the fighting. What's blocking a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? BEIRUT (AP) — Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. Israel’s military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders. Tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from the border months ago are pressuring their government to go home. And the world wants to stop regional conflict from spreading after more than a year of fighting. But there remain sticking points over how Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the border area will be monitored and whether Israel will have freedom to strike the militants. Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike. Scuffles in Serbian parliament as deadly station collapse sparks anger at the government BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Scuffles and fistfights broke out between ruling party and opposition lawmakers in Serbia’s parliament on Monday over a deadly rail station roof collapse that has ignited tensions in the Balkan state. The opposition wanted to discuss who is responsible for the crash that killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad on Nov. 1. The collapse has fueled widespread anger toward the government and protests, becoming a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with Serbia’s authoritarian rule. Judge in LA pushes back decision on resentencing Menendez brothers until late January LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has pushed back to January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago. The judge said he needed time to review 17 boxes of documents. Still he let the brothers' aunts take the stand. They both testified on their behalf as the brothers seek to have their 1989 convictions reexamined in the shotgun murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. They argued the convictions should be reexamined because of new evidence of sex abuse by the brothers' father. The brothers were sentenced to life without parole. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to graphic cigarette warning labels WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to a federal requirement that cigarette packages and advertising include graphic images demonstrating the effects of smoking. The high court declined to hear the case in a brief written order handed down Monday. The warnings include pictures of smoke-damaged lungs and feet blackened by diminished blood flow. Nearly 120 countries around the world have already adopted graphic warning labels. It’s not clear when new labels might appear in the U.S., however. Some legal claims remain and the FDA has said it doesn’t plan to enforce any new requirements until December 2025. Russia reportedly captures a Briton fighting for Ukraine as Russian troops advance Reports say the Russian military has captured a Briton fighting with Ukrainian troops who have occupied part of Russia’s Kursk region. Russia also began launching daylight drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine and its ground forces accelerated gains along parts of the front line. Russian state news agency Tass says the captured fighter was in the British army for four years and then joined the International Legion of Ukraine, formed early on in the nearly 3-year-old war. On the battlefield, a think tank says Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year. Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender A judge has rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she’s transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship in Las Vegas this week. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays NEW YORK (AP) — There’s no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the presidential election, the upcoming marking of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the holiday season could be a boon for some - a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones, hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives, another chapter in a lifetime of memories.For others, though, that same scenario, particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign, is something to dread, with the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words and raised voices looming large.

As one of the top entertainment social media platforms, YouTube provides multiple types of content genres worldwide. From educational to entertainment, this video content platform is an all-in-one place to fulfill all your needs. So, it can be frustrating when your content consumption is interrupted by an error saying that your videos on YouTube won’t play . There are several factors that can cause this problem, like unstable internet, server outage, or cache build-up. Anyhow, fixing the issue is important for content creators to ensure a seamless video creation and consumption experience. To help you solve this issue, we will explore the most effective solutions to fix the “ YouTube video not playing ” issue. Part 1. Why Are YouTube Videos Not Playing? Possible Reasons Part 2. 5 Best Solutions to Fix YouTube Video Not Playing Problem Part 3. How to Fix Corrupted or Damaged YouTube Videos in Ultra-HD Quality? As discussed earlier, due to multiple reasons, your YouTube videos won’t play on the browser. Therefore, let’s look at these reasons in detail and understand the root cause to assist in fixing them later. Now that we better understand what causes the “YouTube videos won’t play” issue, we can look for solutions. Here, you will find the top fixes to eliminate this problem easily. As mentioned, the accumulation of cache and cookies on your browser can lead to a “videos on YouTube won’t play” problem. These are like stored files that interfere with video playback and corrupt them, slowing down YouTube performance. Thus, follow the given steps to learn how you can fix this issue with ease: Step 1. Open your browser and tap the “Three Vertical Dots” to choose the “Settings” option from the drop-down menu. Then, click the “Privacy and Security” tab on the panel on the left-hand side and then press the “Delete Browsing Data” option. Step 2. On the opened “Delete Browsing Data” dialog box, set a “Time Range” under the “Basic” tab and check the cookies and cache options. Once that’s done, hit the “Delete Data” button to resolve the video playback issue. It is important to have a stable Internet connection while watching videos on the streaming platform. Any type of weak or fluctuating problem will buffer the video, and it won’t play on your device. Therefore, to ensure users have a good viewing experience, check if you have a reliable connection by following the instructions below: Instructions: Head to Windows “Settings” and press the “Network & Internet” tab to access the status of the connected Wi-Fi. Here, check if you are connected to the internet and enter the “Properties” window to look for any issue with the connection. When the “ videos on YouTube won’t play” still persists, try updating the Windows entirely. It will fix any hidden software bugs or malfunctions in the device and resolve the playback issue. We have provided the following steps on how to update the Windows firmware: Step 1. Go to the “Settings” application on your device by entering the “Start” menu. From here, click the “Windows Update” option at the top to access the main update screen. Step 2. After that, press the “Check for Updates” button to check if there are any Windows updates. If there are any, choose them and update your Windows to resolve the video issue. Videos tend to buffer or cause issues if the video resolution is at 4K or 1080p resolution. This is because your internet cannot handle such quality, which causes the video not to play. Therefore, to ensure smooth playback and make the video accessible, try lowering its quality. To apply this fix, users can follow the given instructions: Instructions: Navigate to the YouTube website and play the desired video that was buffering or wouldn’t play. Afterward, click the “Settings” icon from the playing options, and in the bottom-up menu, choose “Quality” to choose the one your internet can handle. Besides the excessive cache, the browser is also filled with accumulated extensions and configurations, which causes the “ YouTube video not playing ” problem. That is why restoring the browser to its default state can easily fix the issue. Thus, follow the given steps to understand how to reset the browser’s settings: Step 1. Access your browser’s “Settings” option by pressing the “Three Vertical Dots” at the top right corner of the screen. Step 2. Upon doing that, access the “Reset Settings” tab from the left panel and hit the “Reset Settings to their Original Defaults” option. On the opened window, press the “Rest Settings” button in an attempt to solve this annoying problem. We learned that sometimes, a video uploaded to YouTube can get corrupted during the process. That is why we are introducing you to Wondershare Repairit , which has an excellent video repair feature. It can rescue up to 20 formats of videos in varying quality and resolution. Moreover, its AI technology allows this tool to deal with any type of video-related scenario. Furthermore, its gyroscope solution ensures a high restoration rate with great precision, ensuring a smooth video playback experience. Repairit can also deal with HD, 4K, and 8K videos taken from any camera. It ensures that your videos are repaired without damaging any of the video’s content. You can also access the online version of Repairit to repair your video files on the go. When your YouTube videos not playing on Android and iPhone , you can also use this powerful tool. Finally, let’s look at the following steps to repair the “YouTube video not playing” issue using this video repair software: Download this powerful video repair toolbox on your device and access the “Video Repair” tab from the main interface. Now, click the “+ Add” button and import the desired corrupted video from File Explorer or Finder. Upon adding the corrupted video, click the “Repair” in the bottom right corner and begin the repair. Optionally, you can toggle the “Advanced Repair Mode” if your video is badly corrupted and requires more attention. Since the video is repaired, you must head to the “Preview” window and review the results. When satisfied with the results, hit the “Save” button and export it to your device. In essence, this article resolved the issue of “ YouTube video not playing ” that users are facing with a comprehensive guide. Out of all these fixes, Wondershare Repairit comes at the top due to its intelligent algorithm. Other than that, it comes with an online version, which doesn’t require you to install the software and save space. This way, you can fix any corrupt or damaged video with excellent results.

Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?Shares of Beyond Meat ( BYND -1.54% ) were among the losers last week as the once high-flying growth stock reported disappointing results in its third-quarter earnings report in November. As a result, the stock finished the month down 18%, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence . As you can see from the chart below, the stock fell early in the month on the earnings report and stayed down from there even as the broad market gained on hopes following the election, and generally strong economic data and earnings results. BYND data by YCharts. Beyond Meat's struggles continue Beyond Meat returned to growth in Q3, but the business continued to struggle, and expectations for a meaningful recovery seemed to dim. The stock fell 11% on Nov. 7 on the report. The plant-based meat producer posted revenue of $81 million in the quarter, up 7.6%, which edged out the consensus at $80.7 million. U.S. revenue rose 15% to $49.5 million, while the international segment struggled with revenue down 2% to $31.6 million. Gross profit improved from a loss of $7.3 million in the quarter a year ago to $14.3 million, giving it a gross margin of 17.7%. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ( EBITDA ) loss narrowed from $57.5 million to $19.8 million thanks to cost-cutting efforts like layoffs. On the bottom line, its loss per share narrowed from $1.09 to $0.41, which was slightly ahead of the consensus at $0.44. CEO Ethan Brown noted, "We returned to growth, increasing net revenue on a year-over-year basis, while continuing to expand gross margin and reduce operating expenses on both a sequential and year-over-year basis." Over the rest of the month, the stock essentially traded as it was unable to capitalize on the broader upswing in the market. What's next for Beyond Meat Despite the return to growth, management lowered its full-year guidance, calling for revenue of $320 million to $330 million for the year, down from a prior range of $320 million to $340 million. It did not provide guidance on the bottom line. Beyond Meat's momentum has clearly faded, and the path to profitability and consistent growth has narrowed at this point. Its total number of distribution outlets has fallen from 137,000 in the quarter a year ago to 129,000, which seems to underscore waning demand for the product. Unless it can overhaul its cost structure and tap into a new customer base, the stock seems likely to continue to underperform.NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. Oslo, 9 December 2024: Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published by Vow ASA (the " Company ") on 19 November 2024 regarding the approval by the extraordinary general meeting of the Company of a fully underwritten rights issue of 166,666,666 new shares in the Company (the " Offer Shares "), at a subscription price of NOK 1.50 per share (the " Rights Issue "). In connection with the Rights Issue, a total of 9,910,929 new shares, each at a subscription price of NOK 1.50 (the " Underwriting Commission Shares ") shall be delivered to the underwriters pursuant to the subscription and underwriting agreement dated 27 September 2024 as settlement of their entitlement to commission under said agreement. In accordance with the authorisation granted to the board of directors at the extraordinary general meeting held on 19 November 2024, the board of directors has today resolved to increase the share capital by NOK 926,671.8615 by the issuance of 9,910,929 new shares, each with a nominal value of NOK 0.0935 and a subscription price of NOK 1.50. The subscription price of NOK 1.50 per Underwriting Commission Share is equal to the subscription price in the Rights Issue. The share capital increase relating to the issuance of the Underwriting Commission Shares is expected to be registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises on or about 18 December 2024, and the Underwriting Commission Shares are expected to be delivered to the underwriters on or about 19 December 2024. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. For more information, please contact: Henrik Badin, CEO, Vow ASA Tel: +47 90 78 98 25 Email: [email protected] Tina Tønnessen, CFO, Vow ASA Tel: +47 406 39 556 Email: [email protected] About Vow ASA Vow and its subsidiaries Scanship, C.H. Evensen and Etia are passionate about preventing pollution. The company's world leading solutions convert biomass and waste into valuable resources and generate clean energy for a wide range of industries. Advanced technologies and solutions from Vow enable industry decarbonisation and material recycling. Biomass, sewage sludge, plastic waste and end-of-life tyres can be converted into clean energy, low carbon fuels and renewable carbon that replace natural gas, petroleum products and fossil carbon. The solutions are scalable, standardised, patented, and thoroughly documented, and the company's capability to deliver is well proven. The company is a cruise market leader in wastewater purification and valorisation of waste. It also has strong niche positions in food safety and robotics, and in heat-intensive industries with a strong decarbonising agenda. Located in Oslo, the parent company Vow ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker VOW). - IMPORTANT INFORMATION - This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities of the Company in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The securities of the Company may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act. Any sale in the United States of the securities mentioned in this communication will be made solely to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act. No public offering of the securities will be made in the United States. Any offering of the securities referred to in this announcement will be made by means of the Prospectus. This announcement is an advertisement and is not a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on prospectuses to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended) as implemented in any EEA Member State (the "Prospectus Regulation"). Investors should not subscribe for any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information contained in the Prospectus. Copies of the Prospectus will, following publication, be available from the Company's registered office and, subject to certain exceptions, on the website of the Managers. In any EEA Member State, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation, i.e., only to investors who can receive the offer without an approved prospectus in such EEA Member State. In the United Kingdom, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at Qualified Investors who (i) are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") or (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). These materials are directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this communication must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. This document is not for publication or distribution in, directly or indirectly, Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful, and it does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in such countries or in any other jurisdiction. In particular, the document and the information contained herein should not be distributed or otherwise transmitted into the United States or to publications with a general circulation in the United States of America. The Managers are acting for the Company in connection with the Rights Issue and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice in relation to the Rights Issue or any transaction or arrangement referred to in this announcement. Matters discussed in this announcement may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intends", "may", "should", "will" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date and are subject to change without notice. This announcement is made by and is the responsibility of, the Company. Neither the Managers nor any of their affiliates makes any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this announcement and none of them accepts any responsibility for the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to herein. This announcement is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment. It is not intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities of the Company. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness. Neither the Managers nor any of their respective affiliates accepts any liability arising from the use of this announcement.

10-man Botafogo wins its first Copa Libertadores title

10-man Botafogo wins its first Copa Libertadores titleWill Texas A&M deploy on-field loudspeakers for UT rivalry game? - Chron

Traffic citations against Dolphins' Tyreek Hill dismissed after officers no-show at hearingZara Tindall reveals Holiday traditions for Christmas with King Charles

Albury Wodonga Don't miss out on the headlines from Albury Wodonga. Followed categories will be added to My News. Just like in footy, when it comes to cricket, country Victoria continues to produce quality players not only in local competitions but at Premier Cricket and state level. From Victoria Country representatives to state contracted players, the country areas continue to excel. But who are the young guns playing well this season or have put runs and wickets on the board in recent times to get the attention of selectors. This list will hopefully provide all the answers. We’ve looked around the state to find the young guns impressing not only in local competitions but also at Premier Cricket and state level. There’s more than 170 names. We’ve also ranked the best young guns in country Victoria right now who look to be genuine stars of the future. Check out the list below with the top 10 after it. Harvey Abraham, Lucknow (Bairnsdale) Has played a few A-grade games for Lucknow and impressed, making contributions with the bat. Queenscliff batsman Luke Adam. Picture: Mark Wilson Luke Adam, Queenscliff (Bellarine) Has taken eight wickets at an average of 18.5 in A1 this year for Queenscliff — sixth in the aggregate after six rounds. In the Rockets squad last summer, Adam took 15 wickets at 17.6 last summer in the under-17s competition, while hitting 374 runs at an average of 41 per innings. Liam Allen, Lakes Entrance (Bairnsdale) A part of the Gippsland Pride under-21 VCCL side. Allen is a top order batsmen who is averaging 43 in A-grade in Bairnsdale. Fergus Allender, Geelong City (Geelong) An excellent left arm bowler from Geelong City who bowls the quickest of the bunch, his coach says. After winning the under-17s bowling average award in 2023-24 with Barwon Heads, Allender is now taking wickets with City’s second grade in GCA2. Darcy Aitken, East Ballarat (Ballarat) Played for Victoria Country’s under-17 team last season and is currently part of the Central Highlands VCCL team, making a half-century earlier this season. A talented batter who is currently playing for East Ballarat after joining them during the off-season. He has scored 49 runs. Jake Anderson, West Bairnsdale (Bairnsdale) Impressed with the bat last season, making a 50 early in the season, to establish himself as a key A-grade player for his team. Joel Anderson, Koo Wee Rup (Casey Cardinia) The all-rounder is a consistent wicket taker with his accurate medium pace. Handy with the bat and a good fielder. Will Ashton, St Kilda (Premier Cricket) The former Wodonga Cricket Club cricketer recently made 44 for St Kilda in the 3rds in Premier Cricket. It’s his first season of playing Premier Cricket. Zane Attard bowls for Victoria Country during the under-17 national championships. Picture: Dylan Burns Photography. Zane Attard, VRI/Delacombe (Ballarat) Plays for Geelong in Premier Cricket and will represent Victoria Country in under-19 this season. Attard is a specialist off-spin bowler and also played for Victoria Country’s under-17 team last season. This year, he’s taken seven wickets for Geelong’s second XI. Hugh Behrens, Bendigo United (Bendigo) Has similar traits to his father Heath who is the highest leading run scorer ever in Bendigo’s top competition. A left hand batsmen who knows how to play. Behrens will play for Victoria Country in the under-17 national carnival. Liam Biddiscombe, Geelong (Premier Cricket) A handy batter who can also cause damage with the ball with his spin. This season he’s been playing for Geelong’s 3rd XI in Premier Cricket while also playing for Geelong Grammar in the APS. He’s averaging almost 30 with the bat in all formats. Biddiscombe’s form was rewarded with selection in to he Victoria Country under-17 team. Hamish Braden, Mornington (Mornington Peninsula) The all-rounder has been selected in the under-17 Victoria Country team this season. Braden is currently playing for Prahran in Premier Cricket, in under-18s and 4ths. Charlie Boulton, Nyah District (Swan Hill) One of the top openers in the Swan Hill competition. The left hander has scored 116 runs in four games as an opener. Boulton is also handy with the ball and has taken six wickets this season. Jack Bull, Lucknow (Bairnsdale) Is the vice-captain of the Gippsland Pride under-18 team in the VCCL. Has also played a couple of A-grade games, making 20 in his most recent match. Max Bunworth, Laharum (Horsham) An all-rounder who is in good form this season in A-grade cricket. The 17-year-old recently made his first 50 in the Horsham competition and also took four wickets in the game. Bunworth has seven wickets for the year. Flynn Bush, Nagambie (Shepparton) Already playing A-grade despite playing under-14 cricket. Last season he won the batting average in the under-14 competition and on debut in A-grade he made 18 off 78 balls. A talent for the future. Thomas Byers, Avenel (Seymour) A leg spinner who can turn the ball both ways. Byers has played a couple of B-grade games, while playing under-16, and impressed with bat and ball. He’s in the top five of leading wicket takers in under-16. Jake Callow, Shepparton Youth (Shepparton) A Northern Rivers VCCL under 21 player. The opener in A-grade has scored 136 runs this season. Is also a handy wicketkeeper. Dezi Carter, Horsham Saints (Horsham) Had an incredible season last year. Carter not only led the scoring in under-16 in the Horsham competition but also excelled in A-grade. The talented teenager scored two half centuries and had two other scores over 35. Linc Chila, Mirboo North (Latrobe Valley) Not even 15 and is already impressing in A-grade, recently making 32 from 92 balls in a match against Traralgon West. A player for the future. Albie Clark, Paynesville (Bairnsdale) Has plenty of potential and is part of the under-18 Gippsland Cricket League side. Ben Clarke, Western Park (Warragul) An international doing well. Clarke is a 19-year-old left arm spinner, who has played Worcestershire 2nd XI. He has taken seven wickets this season. James Close, Pakenham (Casey Cardinia) An opener bowler who has had a strong season for Pakenham. Has taken seven wickets this season at an average of 18.71. Koby Coffey, Highton (Geelong) An excellent keeper, the Highton product has plenty of determination and is a sound opening bat with huge potential. Currently playing GCA1 third grade with a top score of 23 this summer against St Peter’s. Gisborne bowler Logan Collins. Picture: Alan Barber Logan Collins, Romsey (Gisborne) Represented Victoria in under-15 school sports and is about to play for Victoria Country in the under-17 national titles. A fast bowler who can also bat, he’s been destructive for Assumption in the APS, taking seven wickets in three matches. Alex Cook, Laanecoorie Dunolly (Maryborough) Averages more than 50 with the bat this season and made a century in the first game of the season. One of the best batsmen in the league. Xavier Cooknell, Irrewarra (Colac) The 16-year-old will represent Greenvale Kangaroos in the upcoming Dowling Shield. A left hand batter who has scored 34 runs in three Division 1 matches for Irrewarra. Ewan Congues, Nathalia (Murray Valley) A talented young batsmen in the Murray Valley competition. Has scored 87 runs this season in A-grade. Taj Corben, Lucknow (Bairnsdale) Is one of the two captains of the Gippsland Cricket under-18 team and has also represented the Gippsland Power in under-18 in the VCCL. Corben has also played A-grade this season for Lucknow. Xavier Coutts, Derrinallum (Grenville) A talented 18-year-old in the competition. Recently scored 76 runs in a senior game in the Grenville competition. Zavier Davidson, Karramomus (Shepparton) An Essendon under-18 player in Premier Cricket who has also represented Northern Rivers this season in under-18 in the VCCL. Has also scored 49 runs in A-grade in the Shepparton competition. Hamish Darroch, Birregurra (Colac) Already playing a handful of A-grade matches even though he is 16-years-old. Darroch also plays for Alvie in under-17 cricket. Caleb Debnam, Somerville (Mornington Peninsula) The 18-year-old opens the bowling for Somerville’s First XI and has been the Eagles’ best bowler this season, leading the attack with 12 wickets at 13. Thomson bowler Xavier Dew. Picture: Mark Wilson Xavier Dew, Thomson (Geelong) The Year 11 student has been taking the new rock for Thomson in GCA3 first grade for the past few seasons. The son of GCA stalwart and over 50s national representative Grant, Dew comes from good stock and is a very confident player. Dew took 18 wickets at 16.2 in first grade last year – 14th overall – as the Tigers qualified for the grand final against Bell Park. Can also do it with the bat, compiling 281 runs last summer in the under-17s at an average of 56. Lewis Dichiera, Nichols Point (Sunraysia) One of the rising stars in the competition. Made 37 in his only batting appearance in the 1st Division this season. Jobe Dickinson, West Wimmera (Horsham) Scored his first century last season in A-grade and has continued to play in the top competition in Horsham this season at 16. Joshua Driscoll, Mildura West (Sunraysia) Played for Victoria earlier this year in the under-15 school sports national titles. He was also the vice-captain of the team. This season, he’s played for Mallee Murray in the VCCL, scoring a 50 during the competition. For Mildura West, he’s also impressed, scoring more than 30 runs and taking six wickets. Logan Dunkley, Lindenow South/ Glenaladale (Bairnsdale) A talented off-spinner who took his first 10 wicket haul for the match in A-grade. He took seven wickets in one inning and added three in the second dig. He’s also made valuable runs with the ball, when needed. Henry Edwards, Carlton (Premier Cricket) A leg-spinner from Bendigo United. Edwards is part of this year’s Victoria Country under-19 cricket team. He also plays for Carlton in Premier Cricket. Josh Edwards, Frankston YCW (Mornington Peninsula) Dynamic right-handed opening batsman who gets his runs quickly and consistently. Blasted 109 off 62 balls in a T20 match last season and represented the Mornington Peninsula at Country Week. Clancy Ellett, Beechworth Wanderers (Wangaratta) A rising star in the Wangaratta competition. The opener has scored 73 runs this season and has also scored a half century. Tyler Evans, Tooradin (Casey Cardinia) Evans’ ability with bat and ball has shone this season, particularly when he made 65 for South East Sharks in an under-21 VCCL match and took 5-74 in Tooradin’s fFrst XI against Devon Meadows. Bowls fast and accurately. Samuel Farmer, Mildura Settlers (Sunraysia) Has impressed in the couple of 1st Division matches he’s played this season. Farmer has taken four wickets. Sam Field, Flinders (Mornington Peninsula) The 15-year-old is a bright star on the rise. Has all the shots: drives, cuts, pulls — and it was all on display in a fine 89 for Flinders’ first XI in November. Has played state under-age cricket. Jarrod Foster, Alvie (Colac) One of the leading bowlers in A-grade in the Colac league this season. The 18-year-old has taken seven wickets in three games at an average of nine. Rico Fourie, Lucknow (Bairnsdale) A South African international who has done well in the competition. Is the leading run scorer for Lucknow with 151 runs at an average of 37. Darcy Freeman, Tooradin (Casey Cardinia) The under-16 eligible batter has a big appetite for runs; scoring a string of half centuries last season and raising his bat already this campaign. Ashton Frost, Melbourne (Premier Cricket) A part of this year’s Victoria Country under-19 team. A left hand batter and bowler who comes from Old Students in Shepparton. A player for the future. Dillon Furze, Merbein (Sunraysia) The all-rounder has been one of the best for Merbein this season. He’s taken five wickets in 1st Division and also contributed with the bat. Matt Garland, Yarram (Sale-Maffra) Played for Gippsland’s under-21 team in the VCCL. The batter has been one of the top order batsmen for Yarram this season in A-grade. Sam Giles, Lethbridge (Geelong) The harder the contest, the harder the Lethbridge all-rounder goes, and boasts genuine pace. Currently playing GCA4 first grade with the Rosellas, Giles has posted a series of starts this summer while chipping in with three wickets at an average of 30 apiece. Has chipped in with a 2-7 against Teesdale to start the season in second grade then took 3-10 against Gippsland Pride for the Rockets. Sam Gove batting for Frankston Peninsula. Pic: Supplied Sam Gove, Frankston Peninsula (Premier Cricket) A talented batsmen who has already played first XI cricket for Frankston Peninsula in Premier Cricket. Gove has also represented Mornington Peninsula in Country Week. Luke Grady, Casey South Melbourne (Premier Cricket) Returned to cricket this season after 12 months out with an ACL injury. Recently he scored 58 for Casey South Melbourne 3rds and played his junior cricket at Wodonga Cricket Club. Ben Grant, Beaufort (Maryborough) Currently plays A-grade for Beaufort in Maryborough and under-17s in the Ballarat competition. He also represented Central Highlands in representative cricket last season. Xavier Grant, Eaglehawk (Bendigo) An opening batsmen who has been prolific in scoring in the Bendigo competition. Earlier this season he smashed 177 in an under-18 game. Grant will be part of Victoria Country’s under-17 squad for the upcoming national championships. Ben Greenwood, Shepparton Youth (Shepparton) An English import from Reading who has impressed this season. He’s taken nine wickets in A-grade in Shepparton. James Grohman, Wodonga Bulldogs (Albury Wodonga) The leading wicket taker this season in 1st grade in the Albury Wodonga competition. Grohman has taken 14 wickets including three four wicket hauls. Cohen Hall, South Barwon (Geelong) A fearless opening bat, Hall has been a consistent contributor for South Barwon at GCA1 second grade level, with a highest score of 83 against St Peter’s. Currently averaging 63 with the bat at that level. Hunter Hall, Lavington (Albury Wodonga) The leading run scorer in 1st grade with 296 runs at an average of 74. Hall was part of the NSW Country team which won the national under-17 title last year in Ballarat. William Halton, Casey South Melbourne (Premier Cricket) Another wicketkeeper/batsman from country cricket doing well. Halton can score big and bat for a long time. He also plays for Devon Meadows in the Casey Cardinia league and was part of the emerging squad for Victoria Country this year. Emile Haratbar, Pine Lodge (Shepparton) Has scored 155 runs this season in A-grade as part of Pine Lodge’s top order. On two occasions he has scored 49 runs. Jarvis Harvey, Carlton (Premier Cricket) The cousin of current South Australian opener Mackenzie Harvey. Harvey is a Wonthaggi Cricket Club player who has been playing Premier Cricket. After initially playing for Dandenong, he’s now joined Carlton and played 3rds cricket for them. Predominantly a bowler, Harvey can also bat, when needed, just like his cousin. Jack Harwood, who is the son of former Victorian fast bowler Shane Harwood. Picture: Valeriu Campan Jack Harwood, Ballarat Redan (Ballarat) The son of former Australian player and Victorian Shane Harwood. He played in Victoria Country’s under-19 team last season and has played three matches this year for Ballarat Redan in 1st Division. Miles Hemann-Petersen, East Albury (Albury Wodonga) The captain of the team who is also in good form with the bat. Has made two half centuries including a 60 against St Patrick’s. Taj Hill, Mildura West (Sunraysia) A Mallee Murray representative player who is playing 1st Division for Mildura West. The middle order batsmen has scored more than 50 runs in the competition in the handful of matches he’s played. Jackson Hoffmann, Laharum (Horsham) A fast bowler on the rise. Recently took his first five wicket haul and also represented Horsham last year in country week in under-17. Will Holland, Geelong City (Geelong) Another leggie, Holland is a good middle order batter and a team-focused contributor. Holland was picked in Geelong Cricket Club’s Finch Squad back in 2022 for talented youngsters. Made an unbeaten half ton in fourths last month against Torquay, while taking 2-11 in the same game. Fraser Holt, Colac (Colac) The left hand opener is almost averaging 30 with the bat. He moved to the competition this year after playing in Geelong last season. Lachlan Hose, Tyabb (Mornington Peninsula) Left-arm off spinner who has flight and drift, spins it and has great control ... and he rarely bowls a loose delivery. A clever bowler who sets the batsman up and is patient and can bowl long economic spells. Took 49 wickets last season. Hugh Hyde, Cobram (Murray Valley) Averages more than 38 with the bat and has been one of the best this season. Hyde is also a valuable club player, not only does he coach a team, but he was named as best club person last season. Harry Hyland, Barwon Heads (Bellarine) Currently batting number three in Barwon Heads’ A1 team, Hyland is also a talented footballer with the Seagulls. Hyland top scored with 61 not out in Round 5 against Queenscliff, and is averaging 39 with the blade so far. Riley Illingworth, Portarlington (Bellarine) Currently batting number three for the Demons in A2, young Illingworth has taken after his talented father Stephen, compiling 139 runs at an average of 46. Illingworth is expected to play in the Dowling Shield this summer before the family moves to Tasmania in the new year. Max Jackson, Colts Phelans (Maryborough) Has played a handful of A-grade games this season and also impressed in reserves, making 95 recently. Has also taken a couple of A-grade wickets as well. Walter Jackson, Euroa (Shepparton) The opener has been one of the leading run scorers this season in A-grade in Shepparton. Jackson has scored 108 runs. Charlie James, Allansford-Panmure (Warrnambool Moyne) A fast bowler who has been selected for the Victoria Country under-17 team. James has played Premier Cricket in Warrnambool Moyne and has impressed, taking three wickets in one game. He is also part of Footscray’s Premier Cricket team. Rani Jamieson, City United (Colac) One of the stars of the Colac District competition. Last year he won the CDCA Aaron Finch award as the best under-19 player. He also made the team of the year for A-grade. This season, he has made 37 runs at the top of the order. Will Jarvis, Birregurra (Colac) Recently took 8-22 in a B-grade match which showed his talent. The 18-year-old has already played A-grade and should be playing more this season if he continues his form. Riley Jobson, Nichols Point (Sunraysia) Averages more than 50 with the bat this season in Sunraysia 1st division and is third on the run scorers list. Last year he fell short of his maiden century in the 1st division. Mitchell Johnson, Lucknow (Bairnsdale) Not related to the Australian fast bowler, but he is a fast bowler in A-grade. He is also a handy batter, making 89 runs in A-grade this year. Johnson will represent Dandenong at the upcoming Dowling Shield. Harry Jones, St Kilda (Premier Cricket) Selected for this year’s Victoria Country under-19 team. Capable with the bat, Jones is a left arm quick bowler from Wangaratta. He has played for Rovers United Bruck but is currently playing for St Kilda in Premier Cricket. Has played four second XI games this season. Jobe Kennedy, St Kilda (Premier Cricket) Recently made 51 in the St Kilda 3rd in Premier Cricket. The batter is a former Yarrawonga/Mulwala Cricket Club player and has been part of Victoria’s emerging talent squads. Beau Kiel, Mildura Settlers (Sunraysia) The teenager currently opens for Mildura Settlers and has started to find form in recent weeks. Kiel also represented the Mallee Murray in the VCCL this season. The cricketer is also a handy footballer, kicking 47 goals in the under-18 Sunraysia competition. Lincoln Koliba, Brown Hill (Ballarat) Has been selected for Victoria Country under-19 this season after playing in under-17 last year. He made 100 against Victoria Metro. Koliba is currently Premier Cricket for Geelong and is playing in second grade. Ed Kreutzburger, St Patrick’s (Albury Wodonga) An opener who is also a wicketkeeper. He will do both roles for Victoria Country in under-17 at the nationals this year. Kreutzburger is also playing for Melbourne University in under-18 Premier Cricket. Sam Lalor, Northcote (Premier Cricket) If Lalor wasn’t the number one draft pick in the AFL, heading to Richmond, he’d be one of the best prospects in cricket. Has already played Premier Cricket for Northcote and represented Victoria Country at the under-17 nationals. Jay Lavis, Corowa (Albury Wodonga) Has represented Riverina this season in representative cricket as well as playing A-grade for Corowa. Last year he was named in New South Wales Country’s under-17 national team pathway squad. Pat Lavis, Corowa (Albury Wodonga) A rising star in the competition. Made his first half century in A-grade last year. Oscar Lambourn, Old Students (Shepparton) Another strong batsmen who has played for Northern Rivers this season in under-18 in the VCCL. He has scored 99 runs in A-grade in Shepparton this season. Lachlan Laursen, Koondrook-Barham (Swan Hill) An aggressive top order batsman. Has scored more than 60 runs in A-grade this season. Joe Lovel, Laanecoorie Dunolly (Maryborough) Has represented the Central Highlands representative side in recent years and has been playing A-grade in the Maryborough competition for the past few years as a teenager. This year he’s taken a couple of wickets and made 30 runs. Kepler Lukies, Katamatite (Murray Valley) The top order batsman is one of the best in the competition, averaging more than 40 and recently smashing 107 from 99 balls against Finley. Lukies has also represented Northern Rivers in the VCCL under-18 competition this season. Oscar Lyons, Lavington Panthers (Albury Wodonga) Made a century recently for the Panthers in 1st grade. Also represented Riverina at the country championships this season. Cody Mannix, Tooradin (Casey Cardinia) Mannix has impressed as a right-arm spinner, coming to notice with a match-winning spell of 5-19 off 8 overs against Clyde this season. Colby Marr, Nichols Point (Sunraysia) The 15-year-old has played 1st Division the past two seasons while also representing the Mallee Murray in the VCCL. The left hander averages almost 30 with the bat in under-16. Jordy Mathews, Centrals (Latrobe Valley) Despite only making 50 runs in A-grade, Mathews has impressed elsewhere. He made 61 recently for Latrobe Valley in representative cricket against Warragul. Luke McCann, Richmond (Premier Cricket) Helped Richmond last year to win the Dowling Shield and has played for their 3rd XI this year in Premier Cricket. The opening bowler will play for Victoria Country under-17 in the upcoming nationals. His junior club is Beaconsfield Cricket Club. Jack McConachy, Meerlieu (Bairnsdale) Made an impressive 40 in A-grade this season and has also taken four wickets. Charlie McGuane, Irrewarra (Colac) Made the Colac District team of the year two season ago. McGuane, who can bat and is a fast bowler, has scored 66 runs this year and taken three wickets. Bohden McKnight, Wandella (Swan Hill) Has been a key player for Wandella for the past couple of years. The all-rounder helped the team to win the under-16 premiership in 2022 before becoming a vital part of the A-grade team. Owen McLoed-Agland, Trafalgar (Warragul) A bowling all-rounder who has worked his way to Division 1 in the past 12 months. He also plays in the Gippsland Pride under-21 team. Hamish Melville, Tallarook (Seymour) A solid all-rounder who has plenty of potential for the future. Melville has made a couple of appearances for the senior team this season and has also represented his region in different age groups in country week. Archie Millar, Colac (Colac) He might be just 16 but Millar has now been playing Division 1 for the past two season. The left hander made his high score of 41 last season. Logan Millar, Colts Cricket (Horsham) Made two centuries last year in A-grade. Millar is also a handy bowler, taking key wickets in the Horsham competition. Luke Miller, Homers (Horsham) Impressed with both bat and ball in the competition as a teenager. Has scored one 50, opening the batting, and also taken 10 wickets this season. Kylan Mitchell, Langwarrin (Mornington Peninsula) The leg-spinner took 15 wickets in Langwarrin’s firsts last season as well as being a standout performer with bat and ball in the MPCA under-18 side. He flights his leggies, has variations and excellent control. Jordan Monahan has become a regular in Queenscliff's First XI and he can still play in under-17. Jordan Monahan, Queenscliff (Bellarine) Another Queenscliff bowler with talent in last year’s Rockets squad. A talented footballer, Monahan took 13 wickets at 10.4 in the under-17s last summer with his outswing and can also be relied upon to make runs in the middle order. Hit 458 runs at 50 last summer in the under-17s. Declan Mugavin, Geelong City (Geelong) The youngster bowls steady leg spin and tosses them up. He’s Geelong City’s under-17 vice-captain of last year has been plying his trade in the Sharks’ second grade this season, picking up 2-26 against Geelong West. He also snared 4-25 from 12 overs against Leopold last summer in the twos and also hit 403 runs at an average of 80 in the under-17s last year with the bat. Darcy Murnane, Irrewarra (Colac) The 18-year-old has worked his way to being an opener for the team through his impressive performances over the past 18 months. Has made a high score of 31 this season. Toby Naughton, Bridgewater (Upper Loddon) Took an impressive 4/29 recently and has been one of the best for Bridgewater this season. Declan Newbound, Karramomus (Shepparton) The top order batsman has been one of the best for his club this season. He has scored 131 runs including three scores over 35. Sam O’Brien, Old Students (Shepparton) Last season he made 100 for Northern Rivers in the VCCL and he also added 78 this season in the under-18 competition. A handy batter who has also scored 91 runs in A-grade in the Shepparton. Christian Papi, Avenel (Seymour) Won the bowling award last year for Avenel and was impressive in A-grade for them, taking 12 wickets. This season he’s continued his form. He’s described as a natural swing bowler who just keeps improving in pace. He will also represent Seymour District in rep cricket later this season in under-17. Kyle Parrott, Melbourne (Premier Cricket) A top-order batsman from the Mornington Peninsula who knows how to score big. Parrott has played a in Melbourne’s firsts and seconds in Premier Cricket and will also represent Victoria Country in under-19. Max Parrott, Melbourne (Premier Cricket) The keeper-batsman made 16 runs recently for Victoria Country in a hitout against Victoria Metro in under-17s. He will represent Victoria Country at the upcoming under-17 nationals after impressive performances with Melbourne’s thirds. Nicholas Pastras, Upper Beaconsfield (Casey Cardinia) A busy cricketer with bat and ball, he hits the ball hard and bowls at a good pace — and is a gun in the field. Played at Melbourne in Dowling Shield and is making his way in senior ranks. Corey Paull, Grovedale (Geelong) One of two keepers in the Barwon Rockets squad, Paull is also a natural leader and has been opening the batting for Grovedale in GCA1 first grade, producing a series of starts in 2024-25 so far. Known as “CP”, Paull recently made 34 against Newtown & Chilwell and is a good mover behind the pegs. Gibson Perry, Homers (Horsham) A Western Waves representative player. Has also scored almost 50 runs and taken a couple of wickets for Homers in A-grade. Xavier Power, Bridgewater (Upper Loddon) A young bowler who is impressing in seniors and juniors for Bridgewater. Power has taken four wickets in a handful of seniors games this season. Will Prebble, Beechworth Wanderers (Wangaratta) A talented batter who has played a couple of games in A-grade as a 16-year-old. This year he has scored 49 runs. Jett Price, Colac (Colac) A right arm off-spinner who played for Barwon in the VCCL this season in under-21. At club level, he has taken a couple of wickets in the T20 and one day competitions in A-grade. Akshay Ramkumar batting last season. Picture: Andy Brownbill Akshay Ramkumar, Casey South Melbourne (Premier Cricket) An off-spinner who once took 8-0 in a game. Has been selected in Victoria Country’s under-17 team this season and plays for Casey South Melbourne in the Premier Cricket. This year he’s played a couple of games in 3rds. Brodie Reaper, Melbourne (Premier Cricket) A left handed batter from Bendigo Cricket Club. Last season he made three centuries, including one for Melbourne’s under-18 team in Premier Cricket. Has been named in the Victoria Country under-19 team this season. Abhilasha Ridrigo, East Ballarat (Ballarat) A young star on the rise. Played in the last two 1st division premierships in Ballarat with East Ballarat and also represented Victoria Country in under-17. He made almost 200 runs last season. Expect him to play Premier Cricket next year. Jez Rigoni, Camberwell (Premier Cricket) A part of Cricket Victoria’s emerging pathways program. A talented all-rounder who dominated in APS last season. He made more than 700 runs and took more than 30 wickets. Gavin Roulston, Western Park (Warragul) A 19-year-old batting all rounder who played for Ireland at the World Cup earlier this year, scoring 82 against New Zealand. In the Warragul competition he has scored more than 60 runs and taken three wickets. Lucas Ruddell, Colac (Colac) Has represented Barwon in the VCCL in under-18 this season and made 44 in one game. The 16-year-old has also played A-grade for Colac, making 36 runs. Matt Rulach, Sorrento (Mornington Peninsula) The right-hander has all the shots and he plays them with power and panache. Rulach announced himself with a superb 103 against Long Island in Provincial Firsts last season and bats at No. 3 for Sorrento. Lachlan Russell, Geelong Grammar (APS) The batter has been selected for the Victoria Country under-17 team after strong performances in APS for Geelong Grammar and for Sydney University in grade cricket in Sydney. Louis Sabbagh-Holt, Kyabram (Shepparton) The English player has impressed for Kyabram this season. The left arm spinner has taken seven wickets in A-grade. Kane Scott, Prahran (Premier Cricket) A keeper-batsmen who comes from the Wodonga Raiders and is playing for Prahran in Premier Cricket. This season he’s played four games in the second XI and is also part of the Victoria Country under-19 team. Oscar Scott-Waters will play for Victoria Country at the upcoming nationals in under-17. Picture: Valeriu Campan Oscar Scott-Waters, Prahran (Premier Cricket) The Mount Eliza cricket has recently been making runs for fun with Peninsula in APS cricket. He recently made 128 and has also 71 in another match. Scott-Waters is a talented cricket who has recently been selected to play for Victoria Country in under-17 at the upcoming nationals. Jordy Shields, Moe (Latrobe Valley) One of the standouts in the competition. The leg spinner, still a teenager, is second in wickets with 12 at an average of 14.5. Bailey Simpson, Katandra (Shepparton) The all-rounder has contributed with both bat and ball in A-grade this season. Simpson has scored 96 runs and taken six wickets. Liam Simpson, Tooradin (Casey Cardinia) A hard-hitting right-hand bat, Simpson also bowls handy medium pace. He’s shown his clean striking ability with a couple of strong displays for Tooradin this season, including 39 off 29 balls in a T20. Ollie Simpson, Meerlieu (Bairnsdale) Is a player of the Gippsland Cricket league side in under-18. He has also represented Gippsland Power in under-16 previously. Simpson has also played well in A-grade this year, scoring 51 runs and taking six wickets. Jaskabeer Singh, Dandenong (Premier Cricket) A talented batter with a bright future. Last year, Singh made two centuries in under-18 for Dandenong and a 97 in 3rds. This year, in 2nds, he’s made an 84. Singh is part of Victoria Country’s under-19 squad. Jordan Seers, Pakenham (Casey Cardinia) The leggie has already nabbed 11 wickets at 10 this season including 4-29 against Clyde when he dismissed former Test opener Michael Vandort. Tosses them up, has good control and spins it sharply. Joshua Slater, Mortlake (Warrnambool Moyne) The talented teenager has impressed for the Western Waves and his clubside to be selected for the under-17 Victoria Country team for the nationals. Capable of batting and bowling, Slater’s performances in particular with the ball, with his pace, has attracted plenty of attention. Slater also plays for Geelong in Premier Cricket. Angus Smith, Merbein (Sunraysia) Was named in last year’s Sunraysia team of the year and is an all-rounder on the rise. The off-spinner has taken eight wickets and scored a half century this season. Seth Smith, Lindenow South/Glenaladale (Bairnsdale) Is tied as the leading wicket taker in A-grade. The all-rounder has 18 wickets at an average of 7.56. He has also scored 34 runs. Shaun Smith, Corowa (Albury Wodonga) Joined Corowa this year from Gundagai and is a talented batter for the future. Smith has made a half century for Corowa and also made 86 for Riverina in a representative colts game. The batter is also a New South Wales Country rep player. Jaidon Snyman, Alexandra (Seymour) Developed into one of the best wicket keepers in the Seymour senior competition. Snyman is also quite handy with the bat, opening the batting for Alexandra in seniors and B-grade. Snyman, who is keen to learn, will play in the under-17 Seymour District representative team later this season. Murphy Stephens, Barooga (Murray Valley) Averages more than 40 with the bat and made a half-century earlier this season. A talented cricketer who is still playing under-16 and also represented Southern Riverina in different age groups. Jack Stewart, Wodonga Raiders (Albury Wodonga) Been in good form recently. The top-order batsman has scored two half centuries to be one of the leading run scorers in the Albury Wodonga 1st grade competition. Samuel Stewart, West Bairnsdale (Bairnsdale) The best run scorer in A-grade in Bairnsdale of those aged under 21. He has 220 runs at an average of 40. Matteo Surace, Barwon Heads (Bellarine) Also playing in Barwon Heads’ A1 team with Hyland (above), top order batter Surace has a highest score of 51 this year for the Seagulls. Surace also made an unbeaten 100 against Highton in the under-17s last round. Liam Sutton, Tocumwal (Murray Valley) Was selected recently to play in the Bradman Cup. One of the leading bowlers in the A-grade competition despite being a teenager still. He’s taken seven wickets this season. James Thewlis bowling for Camberwell. Picture: Valeriu Campan James Thewlis, Camberwell/St Kilda (Premier Cricket) The Wangaratta Magpie is part of Victoria Country’s under-19 squad. Thewlis is not only a good batsman but he bowls off-spin as well. He’s played a couple of games for St Kilda and Camberwell in Premier Cricket in recent seasons. Billy Thomson, Carrum (Mornington Peninsula) The teenage all-rounder has got stronger and bowls right-arm spin, and bats well through the middle-order, happy to either drop anchor or hit the ball hard. Max Thompson, Nyah District (Swan Hill) A teenage sensation who has impressed this year. Thompson represented Victoria in the under-15 school sport nationals and was also part of the Mallee Murray Suns last season. In A-grade, in Swan Hill, he is the fourth leading run scorer and has also taken four wickets with the ball. Will Trower, Waaia (Shepparton) A talented bowler. Currently in the top-10 in wickets taken this year in A-grade in Shepparton. Trower has taken 14 including one five-wicket haul. He also represented Northern Rivers in under-18 in the VCCL. Braxton Tucker, Seymour (Seymour) At just 11-years-old, Tucker is one player for the future. He played his first senior cricket this season, taking wickets with his accuracy. He will represent Seymour District in rep cricket later this year. Ned Uren, Derrinallum (Grenville) A talented all-rounder in the competition. The 20-year-old is in the top three in wickets and top-10 in runs. Has taken 13 wickets this season in the competition. Edison Waghorn, Yea (Seymour) Plays for three clubs, Yea, Euroa (Shepparton) and Preston (JG Craig Shield) and is a talented spinner. Waghorn is also handy with the bat, making big scores in country week, when representing Seymour. This season he has made 63 runs in A-grade for Yea and taken seven wickets, which makes him the joint leader in bowling. Tighe Warburton, South Portland (Hamilton) Made the Hamilton District team of the year last year and is currently part of the Western Waves VCCL team. Has made more than 100 runs in A-grade and also played for Port Fairy in the under-17 Warrnambool Moyne competition. Angus Webb, Greenvale Kangaroos (Premier Cricket) Recently made his first ever century in 1st XI Premier Cricket with 105 for the Greenvale Kangaroos. Been an impressive player in the competition. Webb is a former player in the Wangaratta competition, playing for the Wangaratta Magpies. Max Welsh, Stratford (Sale-Maffra) A superstar in the Sale Maffra competition. The opener has already made two half centuries and is one of the leading run scorers in the competition. Matthew Whelan, Berrigan (Murray Valley) A left arm swing bowler who recently took a five-for against Finley. Has taken eight wickets this season to be one of the leading wicket takers. Nathan Whitford, Collegians (Premier Cricket) The fast bowler has moved to Premier Cricket this season to play for Dandenong in first XI. He has played a few matches and has also taken his first wicket for the season. Whitford last year represented Victoria Country in under-17. Xavier Wishart, Camberwell (Premier Cricket) A quick fast bowler from Cohuna. Wishart can also bat, making more than 100 runs for Nondies Cohuna in A-grade. The teenager will also represent Victoria Country in under-19 at the upcoming nationals and has played Premier Cricket for Camberwell. Kaiden Withers, Belvoir (Albury Wodonga) The opener has scored almost 100 runs for the season including a 68 in a one dayer. Max Woodall, Mirboo North (Latrobe Valley) Was last year’s young cricketer of the year in the Latrobe Valley. Is handy with both bat and ball and made 37 in one A-grade match this season. Ashton Wright, Rosedale-Kilmany (Sale-Maffra) The batter has impressed this season in A-grade while also representing Gippsland in under-18 in the VCCL. He averages 32.5 with the bat and also made 49 for the Pride against Barwon. Jack Young, Torquay (Geelong) A big lad, headstrong with a desire to succeed, and always seen proudly in club gear, Young is a top order bat currently playing in the Tigers’ GCA2 second grade team. Has put his name up for higher honours after successive scores of 79 and 82 against Geelong West and Murgheboluc respectively in the lower grades. The top 10 Geelong's Oliver Peake is one of the best young talents in the game. . Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP 1. Ollie Peake, Geelong (Premier Cricket) On track to be a genuine star of Australian cricket. Peake played a vital role in Australia’s success at the recent under-19 World Cup, which saw the team make the final. Recently he made 100 in both a test and one dayer against India in India. This season he’s made 31 and 71 for Geelong’s first XI in Premier Cricket and is one of best young batters in the country. 2. Liam Blackford, Geelong (Premier Cricket) The third best Victorian wicketkeeper and is part of the state team. The 20-year-old has played a couple of second XI matches this season for Victoria, scoring 37 and 29 in separate games. Has also played Premier Cricket for Geelong. 3. Austin Anlezark, Boisdale-Briagolong (Premier Cricket) A left arm bowler who has risen up the ranks in the previous few months to earn a rookie contract with Victoria. The teenager took 6/27 earlier this year for Victoria’s under-19 team against New South Wales to show his talent. His raw speed and swing bamboozled the opposition. Anlezark has also represented Australia and will be looking to impress this season for Richmond in Premier Cricket and whenever he can play for Victoria’s second XI. 4. Harkirat Bajwa, Melbourne (Premier Cricket) The 20-year-old has played for Australia in the past two under-19 World Cup’s and is one of the state’s best young prospects in spin. Bajwa has played a couple of matches for Melbourne in Premier Cricket this season, taking six wickets for the season. Casey South Melbourne’s Harry Hoekstra bowling during the Victorian Premier Cricket match between Carlton and Casey South Melbourne. Picture: Andy Brownbil 5. Harry Hoekstra, Leongatha (Premier Cricket) Currently in the under-19 Australian cricket team and recently toured India. A left arm pace bowler who has risen up the ranks to play with Casey South Melbourne in Premier Cricket. He’s taken a couple of wickets for Casey South Melbourne in first XI and is also part of the Victoria Country under-19 team for this year. 6. Archie Lalor, Bacchus Marsh (Ballarat/Premier Cricket) The brother of Sam Lalor, who went number one in the AFL draft last Wednesday night. Unlucky to miss the under-19 Australian World Cup squad, just missing the cut. Lalor is a tall fast bowler who is expected to get better over the next couple of years. Is currently playing Premier Cricket for Northcote and is part of the Victoria Country under-19 team for second year in a row. 7. Xander Buxton, Melbourne (Premier Cricket) The wicketkeeper just missed the main squad for the under-19 World Cup, being named as a reserve. Buxton impressed last year in first XI Premier Cricket but hasn’t played a game yet this season. Noah Hurley was a leading wicket taker last year in Premier Cricket. Photo by Josh Chadwick 8. Noah Hurley, Dandenong (Premier Cricket) One of the best bowlers in Premier Cricket. Last season he took 25 wickets and has already started this season in similar form. He also represented Victoria’s 2nd XI against South Australia and could be considered for more games this season. He played his junior cricket at Collegians in the Sale-Maffra competition. 9. Jobe Fraser, Yarrawonga Mulwala (Wangaratta) A member of the under-19 Victoria Country emerging team. Fraser not only has played for Yarrawonga Mulwala but competes for Caulfield in APS and Camberwell in Premier Cricket. Earlier this season he scored 130 against Haileybury in the APS competition. A talented left handed batsmen who can also bowl spin very well. 10. Lucas Cavigan, Essendon (Premier Cricket) An attacking batsman who will play in under-19 again for Victoria Country after competing for the team last season at the nationals. Cavigan is an ex-Beechworth Wanderers player who has also played for Gisborne and Wallan in recent years. Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? 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Federal prosecutors moved Monday to dismiss the criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump that accused him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election and to abandon the classified documents case against him, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him and is headed back to the White House. The decision, revealed in court filings, also amounts to a predictable but nonetheless stunning conclusion to criminal cases that had been seen as the most perilous of the multiple legal threats Trump has faced. It reflects the practical consequences of Trump’s victory, ensuring he enters office free from scrutiny over his hoarding of top secret documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Smith’s team emphasized that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Smith's team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated, and had vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. But it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of using “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story.He is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China -- a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world's major economies. For Washington-watchers with memories of the Republican's first term, the impromptu policy volley on Monday evening foreshadowed a second term of startling announcements of all manner, fired off at all hours of the day from his smartphone. "Donald Trump is never going to change much of anything," said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "You can expect in the second term pretty much what he showed us about himself and his methods in the first term. Social media announcements of policy, hirings and firings will continue." The first of Trump's tariff announcements -- a 25 percent levy on everything coming in from Mexico and Canada -- came amid an angry rebuke of lax border security at 6:45 pm on Truth Social, Trump's own platform. The United States is bound by agreements on the movement of goods and services brokered by Trump in a free trade treaty with both nations during his first term. But Trump warned that the new levy would "remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country" -- sowing panic from Ottawa to Mexico City. Seconds later, another message from the incoming commander-in-chief turned the focus on Chinese imports, which he said would be hit with "an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs." The consequences were immediate. Almost every major US automaker operates plants in Mexico, and shares in General Motors and Stellantis -- which produce pickup trucks in America's southern neighbor -- plummeted. Canada, China and Mexico protested, while Germany called on its European partners to prepare for Trump to impose hefty tariffs on their exports and stick together to combat such measures. The tumult recalls Trump's first term, when journalists, business leaders and politicians at home and abroad would scan their phones for the latest pronouncements, often long after they had left the office or over breakfast. During his first four years in the Oval Office, the tweet -- in those days his newsy posts were almost exclusively limited to Twitter, now known as X -- became the quasi-official gazette for administration policy. The public learned of the president-elect's 2020 Covid-19 diagnosis via an early-hours post, and when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Trump's order, the Republican confirmed the kill by tweeting a US flag. The public and media learned of numerous other decisions big and small by the same source, from the introduction of customs duties to the dismissal of cabinet secretaries. It is not a communication method that has been favored by any previous US administration and runs counter to the policies and practices of most governments around the world. Throughout his third White House campaign, and with every twist and turn in his various entanglements with the justice system, Trump has poured his heart out on Truth Social, an app he turned to during his 20-month ban from Twitter. In recent days, the mercurial Republican has even named his attorney general secretaries of justice and health via announcements on the network. "He sees social media as a tool to shape and direct the national conversation and will do so again," said political scientist Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University professor. cjc/ft/dw/bjtWelcome to F1 Hangover , a new series where I take you inside the events, parties, panels and pop-ups happening off-track over the race weekend. I’ll give you the inside line behind-the-scenes and share some insight into how celebrities spend their time when the track is cold, what the drivers get up to when they aren’t in the paddock, and everything in between. My Las Vegas Grand Prix got off to a particularly chaotic start when I moved my flight to 6am the Sunday before the race in preparation for a last-minute shoot with Liam Lawson and his partner Hannah St. John. The pair (very kindly!) allowed me to join them for the last leg of their Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip in a Ford F-150 Raptor. We talked about the "Cars" movie (obviously), his brief emo songwriting career and his future in F1 — but I won’t share too much because the full video of our chat is dropping later this week. Oscar Piastri, Bianca Bustamante, McLaren, Abercrombie Photo by: McLaren On Tuesday , McLaren hosted a takeover at Abercrombie & Fitch, inviting fans to meet Oscar Piastri and F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante while shopping new merch. I was told that fans started lining up outside the store at 9am for a 5pm photo op with the 23-year-old Aussie, though he was in-and-out within a strict 30 minute window. During a race week, the drivers’ time is scheduled — quite literally — down to the minute, and it never ceases to amaze me how many brand events and Q&As they can cram in between sessions on-track. This is especially true for the McLaren crew given how many sponsors the final boss of marketing, Zak Brown , has brought onto the team. They’ve cast a wide net across multiple sectors, attracting everyone from Goldman Sachs to Gopuff, which seems to have resulted in them finding some of the best merch partners of any team on the grid (I’m talking style, quality, and price point). Abercrombie has undergone a pretty stunning image rehab in recent years, and as someone who never had a strong affinity for the brand (I grew up in Australia), the McLaren partnership has really endeared me to them. Anecdotally, I’ve heard a lot of people had similar experiences with the brand, which seems to indicate that the once-surprising partnership is proving fruitful for all parties! Wednesday — I made a quick pit stop in the paddock to speak with Franco Colapinto . We discussed his newfound fame, why he deleted Twitter and his love for engineering — he seems very down-to-earth and well-liked by the team, so I’m curious to see what his future holds in 2025 and beyond. I then headed back to the Strip for dinner at Caesars Palace’s Stanton Social Prime, hosted by WhatsApp, Mercedes and George Russell ’s partner, Carmen Montero Mundt. I overwhelmingly find myself in rooms surrounded by men (often of the older, British variety), so it was extremely refreshing to walk into a space full of diverse young women. There were a few female drivers in attendance, but most of the guests were content creators who have attracted millions of views across multiple social media platforms. Carmen Montero Mundt, Toni Breidinger Photo by: Jojo Korsh-BFA.com I’m very aware that some long-term fans can be dismissive of F1 influencers and content creators, but I’m here to say their power shouldn’t be underestimated. I spent some time with Lissie Mackintosh, who I’ve gotten to know over the past few years, and you would think I was standing next to Lewis Hamilton based on the reaction she garnered from strangers on the street. I lost count of the number of people who thanked her for getting them into F1 — several people said she was the sole reason they discovered the sport, and decided to fly to Vegas for the race. Lissie Mackintosh Photo by: Jojo Korsh-BFA.com But back to the dinner itself! WhatsApp is such a great partner for an F1 team because a LOT of motorsport business gets done via the messaging app. In fact, I don’t think there’s a single person in the F1 paddock who doesn’t use WhatsApp (including us!). I also really enjoyed the ‘short film’ they released during the US Grand Prix starring Hamilton, and I think there’s still a lot they could do to highlight how essential WhatsApp is to Mercedes’ day-to-day functioning. Mundt told me it meant a lot to partner with the two brands “to celebrate the incredible female fandom of Formula 1 — which is an often under-appreciated but absolutely vital part of this community.” She continued, “What I love about WhatsApp is how they spotlight and unite diverse communities, and in this case, the women within F1. Each person at this dinner has played a key role in elevating F1's global influence and expanding its reach. I’m truly proud to be surrounded by such strong, empowered change-makers. These women, in my opinion, are the unsung heroes who have been pivotal in driving the sport forward.” Emily Ratajkowski Photo by: Jojo Korsh-BFA.com Speaking of women in F1, the Female Quotient partnered with F1 Academy to host a series of panels featuring the likes of Susie Wolff and Tommy Hilfiger. It was a very inspiring morning by all accounts, and I’m excited to ramp up coverage of F1 Academy next season. Another event I wasn’t able to attend due to scheduling conflicts was the PUMA Speedcat celebration, attended by Emily Ratajkowski and Paris Hilton. The brand welcomed Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc into the flagship store earlier in the week, too, with the Monegasque rocking a pair of custom sneakers paying tribute to his puppy, Leo. Paris Hilton Photo by: Jojo Korsh-BFA.com If you’ve noticed a pattern so far, it’s that just about every brand involved in the sport decided to activate in Sin City. IWC Schaffhausen, a longtime Mercedes sponsor, hosted a Q&A with Toto Wolff, which I was eager to attend as I’m intrigued by how the team plans to approach its partnerships in the post-Hamilton era. Wolff is a business man after all, and wasn’t shy about reminding the high-rollers in attendance that the Vegas GP is, at least somewhat, for them. “If a driver doesn’t like the circuit, so be it,” he candidly told the group when asked about racing on the streets of Vegas. “They’re not the client, you are.” I then darted across town to the MGM Grand where McLaren was highlighting its partnership with Mastercard via a Cirque du Soleil performance. It was certainly one of the more... unique F1 events I’ve attended, but the theatre was filled primarily with guests of Mastercard so I’m sure they enjoyed the excerpt from the spectacular KÀ show (as did I, for the record). Friday , I caught up with Gordon Ramsay: we talked about tuna, his enviable car collection and the $35,000 per person ‘Ramsay’s Garage’ experience he was hosting in the paddock. Before I wrote about F1 full time I covered pop culture, meaning I’ve spent a lot of time speaking to celebrities on red carpets and as such, have a pretty good radar for who seems like a decent person. I’m happy to report Ramsay was just as engaging in-person as he is on-camera, and seemed genuinely interested in the people around him which you don't find too often. Ramsay's Garage in the Paddock Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images Sticking to the culinary theme, I headed over to the Bellagio Fountain Club where some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, David Chang, Wolfgang Puck, Alain Ducasse and Mark Wahlberg, were preparing to serve up fine fare. I spoke to Mario Carbone, an A-list chef whose spicy rigatoni has garnered a cult following, about his friendship with Max Verstappen . “He comes to Carbone a bunch. I love what he does, and he likes what I do, so it's nice to feed him,” he told me. As for how the four-time word champion celebrates? “He sticks to the classics. He wants his pasta, he's here for carbs. He wants to cheat a little bit [because] it's usually after a win.” I also checked out the Shoey Bar at the Bellagio, where fans could purchase one of just 2500 specially designed, collectible Sparco boots. It's a great concept, I just can't help but wonder if the feeling in the air would be slightly different if Daniel Ricciardo hadn't lost his seat on the grid a couple of months ago. Actor Brad Pitt, with director Joseph Kosinski look onto parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, filming for the upcoming "F1" film. Photo by: Getty Images Later that night, Brad Pitt’s “F1” crew hit the streets to film some of the 2025 summer blockbuster’s final scenes. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently revealed the movie will premiere in Monaco at a private screening for drivers and team personnel before it becomes available in cinemas worldwide. Meanwhile, I went to an intimate Hilton Hotels event hosted by its namesake spokesperson, Paris Hilton. The party itself was pretty standard fare (cocktails, canapés and dancing) but I want to take this moment to briefly discuss “Selling Sunset” stars Jason and Brett Oppenheim, along with Mary Fitzgerald and her husband Romain Bonnet, who were dancing into the early hours of the morning. The foursome are regular fixtures at F1 races, often seen in the Alpine garage with headsets on, or posing for snaps with drivers. If I were a B-list reality star (to be clear, I say that without a hint of shade) who happened to love F1, I would absolutely be milking that fame to get the best seat in the house. You simply have to respect the hustle, and their genuine love for the sport! Sylvester Stallone waves the chequered flag Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images Ironically, race day ( Saturday ) itself is often pretty quiet until the lights go out, but the highlight of every weekend is the starting grid. Plenty of my fellow reporters have written eloquently about the magic of those 45 minutes leading up to the race start (Luke Smith’s upcoming book paints a full picture of the pre-race pomp and circumstance), but there’s nothing like rubbing shoulders with A-listers while trying to avoid ending up in the background of Martin Brundle’s grid walk. On this occasion, I spotted Nina Dobrev and Shaun White, the entire Stallone family, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Noah Lyles and multiple members of the billionaire Arnault family, whose company, LVMH, recently inked a historic deal with F1. I’m also intrigued by which celebrities manage to sneak into a race undetected. Last year, Rihanna fans didn’t even realize she was on the premises until she was spotted on the broadcast in the Ferrari garage. This time, Bradley Cooper and Adele were both pictured in the McLaren garage at points throughout the weekend, but almost nobody saw them coming in or out. The one downside of the Vegas GP is that the lights go out at 10pm, meaning you’re not making it to an after party until 3am (if you’re lucky). I ended my night at XS at the Wynn, where Swedish House Mafia were DJing in front of a very packed crowd. Typically I’d put in a few calls to find out how race winner Russell or newly-crowned champion Verstappen were celebrating, but at this point in my Vegas trip (we're now on day 7) I was all partied out. Until next year!