Simeon Boikov has been variously described as a misinformation spreader, serial pest and Russian pawn or signup to continue reading But he may prove a "useful idiot" for the Australian government in securing the freedom of captured Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins. Mr Boikov has been holed up in the Russian consulate in Sydney's eastern suburbs since December 2022, after being charged with assaulting an elderly man at a pro-Ukraine protest in Sydney's CBD. While the self-styled "Aussie Cossack" is seeking asylum with the Russians of his own accord and is not a prisoner of the Australian judicial system, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said he could be used in an exchange to secure Mr Jenkins' release. "If he potentially proves himself to be, shall I say, a useful idiot in terms of a possibility for a Christmas swap, well that is something for the government to consider as it looks at ways to potentially bring an Australian free and break him from Russian custody," Senator Birmingham told ABC Radio on Tuesday. Mr Boikov volunteered himself to be exchanged with Mr Jenkins in a video posted on social media platform Telegram. "I'm sure the Russians will be happy to accept," Mr Boikov said. "We should bring him home, he shouldn't have been in Ukraine. "Let's do a deal." In a video posted to Russian social media on Sunday, Mr Jenkins is repeatedly slapped and interrogated by a Russian-speaking man assumed to be his captor. The man asks Mr Jenkins how it was he came to be in Kramatorsk, a town 700km east of Kyiv in the Donbas region, near the Russian-Ukrainian frontline. Standing in a forest and dressed in army fatigues, Mr Jenkins tells the man he wanted to help Ukraine. The footage was disturbing, Senator Birmingham said. "Obviously, all Australians would want to see and have confidence that this Australian citizen is going to be treated humanely, fairly, in accordance with the type of rules that should apply to prisoners of war," he said. Parading prisoners of war on social media is a breach of the , which dictates that they must at all times be protected against insults and public curiosity. The Australian government was making representations to Russia about Mr Jenkins, acting foreign affairs minister Mark Dreyfus said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was yet to determine his whereabouts but was first made aware about concerns for Mr Jenkins' wellbeing in November, the ABC reported. People close to the 32-year-old have not known his whereabouts for months. "If that's the case, then what steps has Australia taken to try to ascertain his whereabouts and seek to ensure his well being?" Senator Birmingham said. While Mr Jenkins is believed to be the first Australian captured while fighting against Russia in Ukraine, at least seven Australians are believed to have died in the conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Nationals leader David Littleproud have both implored Australians not to go over. "This isn't some great adventure," Mr Littleproud told Nine's Today Show. "I had to bring back the remains of a young man from my own electorate, Jed Danahay, who was over there as a medic helping Ukrainians in the war zone and was tragically killed. "I never forget the look and the anguish and the pain in his mother's eyes when I handed back his ashes to her." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. 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Advertisement AdvertisementPlayStation 5 owners are being cautioned about a new issue that could potentially lead to a ban from the PlayStation Network (PSN). This issue revolves around the console’s “Game Trials” feature, which allows players to download and try out select games for a limited time. It seems that some users who have legitimately purchased these games after their trial period are being flagged by Sony’s anti-piracy systems and subsequently banned. This has caused a wave of concern and frustration among the PS5 community, with many players worried about being unfairly penalized. The problem appears to stem from how the trial versions of games interact with the fully purchased versions. When a trial is downloaded, it often uses a different license or product ID than the full game. If the trial data isn’t properly removed or overwritten when the full game is purchased, it can trigger a conflict in Sony’s system, leading to a false positive for piracy. This issue has been reported across various titles and regions, with no clear pattern emerging as to which games or users are most affected. Sony has yet to officially acknowledge the problem, leaving many players in the dark about how to protect themselves. Understanding the PS5 Game Trials Feature The PS5’s Game Trials feature is a relatively new addition to the PlayStation ecosystem. It allows players to download and play select games for a limited time, usually ranging from a few hours to a full day. This gives players a chance to experience a game before committing to a purchase, which can be especially helpful for titles with a hefty price tag or those that are difficult to gauge from trailers and reviews alone. While the intention behind Game Trials is undoubtedly positive, the recent issues with PSN bans have cast a shadow over the feature. Many players are now hesitant to utilize Game Trials, fearing that it might jeopardize their PSN accounts. How the Issue Affects PS5 Owners Imagine this: you’ve just spent hours immersed in the trial version of a new game, loving every minute of it. You decide to purchase the full game to continue your adventure, only to find yourself locked out of your PSN account a few days later. This is the reality that some PS5 owners are facing due to this issue. The consequences of a PSN ban can be severe, ranging from temporary suspension to a permanent ban in extreme cases. A ban prevents access to online multiplayer, digital purchases, cloud saves, and other essential PSN features. For many players, this effectively renders their expensive console useless. What Triggers the False Bans? The exact mechanism that triggers these false bans isn’t fully understood, but it appears to be related to conflicting game licenses. When you download a game trial, it’s essentially a separate version of the game with its own unique identifier. When you purchase the full game, this identifier should be replaced, but in some cases, it seems that remnants of the trial version remain on the system. This conflict can be triggered by various factors, including: Personal Experience I haven’t personally experienced this issue, but I’ve been following the discussions on Reddit and other forums closely. The stories from affected players are concerning, and it’s made me much more cautious about using the Game Trials feature. I recently wanted to try out a new racing game with a trial, but I hesitated, worried that it might put my account at risk. In the end, I decided to wait for a sale instead. It’s a shame that this issue is preventing players from taking advantage of a feature that should enhance their gaming experience. Steps to (Potentially) Avoid a Ban While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent this issue, there are some steps you can take to minimize the risk: What to Do If You Get Banned If you find yourself banned from PSN, don’t panic. Here’s what you can do: The Community’s Response The PS5 community has expressed widespread concern and frustration over this issue. Many players are calling on Sony to address the problem urgently and provide clearer guidelines on how to avoid bans. Some users have even launched online petitions and social media campaigns to raise awareness and pressure Sony to take action. Here are some common sentiments from the community: The situation with PS5 Game Trials and PSN bans remains fluid. It’s crucial for PS5 owners to stay informed about this issue and take precautions to protect their accounts. Hopefully, Sony will acknowledge the problem soon and provide a solution that restores confidence in the Game Trials feature. In the meantime, it’s essential for the gaming community to continue raising awareness and putting pressure on Sony to resolve this issue fairly and swiftly. Only then can PS5 owners enjoy their gaming experience without the fear of unwarranted bans.Animal cruelty charges after driver runs down kangaroos, mutilates bodyDiageo: Premiumization Drives Future Growth; Initiating With 'Buy'
Georgie Grasso has just been crowned the winner of the Great British Bake Off 2024 competition and said "it's everything" in an emotional speech after she won. Surrounded by her fellow contestants, friends and family, the 34-year-old was visibly moved as she celebrated the win, bouncing up and down, hugging the other contestants before shouting: "I did it!" The Welsh winner was also seen falling over, and almost dropping the trophy after hearing the news. She said: "I cannot believe I won it. It's just everything. It's just incredible. I cannot believe I've won the Great British Bake Off. It just means everything. I've always been so self doubtful - I've got this, I've got that wrong with me. I can't do it and make excuses. "But I just thought for once I'm going to go for it and I'm going to put my everything into it. Working all the hours. I've sacrificed things with the kids, my family and I'm just so proud of myself because I've just proven to myself that I can do something. I am already feeling sad that I'm not coming back here." For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter Paul Hollywood said after she won: "The Welsh wonder Georgie smashed it out of the park." Paul even persuaded her to roll down the hill in a fun moment after she received the unexpected news, following her saying to Prue in the clip shown as she won the competition that she "wasn't expecting it". Georgie said in the final episode that the process has brought her and her husband "closer" as her husband has helped support her more with family life. During the episode, clips of her enjoying time with her family in the Welsh countryside were shown, with her husband speaking of how proud he was of her. He said: "Georgina often thinks of other people before herself. So it will be nice to have a limelight shone on her." Georgie has spoken publicly about some of her mental health struggles, and some of the more challenging life experiences she has faced, noting previously that she is still figuring herself out and finding herself. You can read more about Georgie and who she is here. Her husband added: "Hopefully she'll bring it home for the Welsh." The significance of Georgie being a Welsh contestant didn't go unnoticed by Alison Hammond, who added: "You are the very first Welsh contestant in the final. You're doing it for Wales." During the episode, the contestants were tasked with putting their own stamp on scones for the first round. And despite Georgie criticising her final product, noting: "Mine didn't rise very well at all", the judges were suitably impressed. The technical challenge consisted of creating an afternoon tea display in three hours, made up of small sandwiches, tarts and cakes. Georgie said while baking that although it "wasn't the most difficult thing", it was "a matter of time" that made this section a challenge. But Georgie's show stopper was where she really shone through, as her Summer Garden Celebration Hanging Cake which included elderflower buttercream, champagne elderflower mascarpone chantilly, lemon curd and strawberry and champagne confit. While making it, Georgie said: "You can do this without the champagne, but I'm using champagne because it's the final." Trying Georgie's cake, Prue said it was "utterly delicious". And as the judges weighed up who would be crowned the Bake Off winner for 2024, a clip was shown of them singing the praises of her showstopper. Paul said "I think she did pretty well. She's been pretty constant." When Noel Fielding came over to chat to Georgie as she was baking, she said that she was in full "ADHD spiral", as she juggled all of the different tasks she needed to power through to achieve the best bake possible. Georgie has spoken about being affected by ADHD on her social media channels previously, where she explained: "I’ve lived half my life struggling with the ups and downs and trying to navigate how to live with certain conditions. I have massively struggled and I have been victim to the stigma of especially ADHD.”Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. ( NYSE:PB – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 5,165 shares of the bank’s stock, valued at approximately $372,000. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PB. M&T Bank Corp grew its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 0.3% during the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 45,392 shares of the bank’s stock worth $3,272,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 3.4% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,720 shares of the bank’s stock worth $340,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the period. Tectonic Advisors LLC grew its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 3.0% during the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 7,058 shares of the bank’s stock worth $509,000 after buying an additional 206 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 47.9% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 701 shares of the bank’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the period. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 1.3% during the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 17,967 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,295,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the period. 80.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have weighed in on PB shares. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Prosperity Bancshares from $77.00 to $76.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James lowered shares of Prosperity Bancshares from a “strong-buy” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $80.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, September 17th. Wolfe Research reiterated a “peer perform” rating on shares of Prosperity Bancshares in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $77.00 price target on shares of Prosperity Bancshares in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, DA Davidson lowered shares of Prosperity Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $80.00 to $78.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Prosperity Bancshares has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $81.50. Prosperity Bancshares Stock Down 1.1 % NYSE:PB opened at $75.43 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $7.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.92. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $57.16 and a fifty-two week high of $86.75. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $78.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.99. Prosperity Bancshares ( NYSE:PB – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The bank reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $459.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $299.83 million. Prosperity Bancshares had a net margin of 25.39% and a return on equity of 6.46%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.20 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. will post 5.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Prosperity Bancshares Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be paid a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This is an increase from Prosperity Bancshares’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. Prosperity Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.26%. Insider Activity In related news, Director Harrison Stafford II sold 4,000 shares of Prosperity Bancshares stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.07, for a total transaction of $320,280.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 107,137 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,578,459.59. The trade was a 3.60 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, Director Ned S. Holmes sold 500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.48, for a total transaction of $39,240.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 110,815 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,696,761.20. This represents a 0.45 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 12,100 shares of company stock valued at $1,004,719. Company insiders own 4.28% of the company’s stock. About Prosperity Bancshares ( Free Report ) Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; term loans and lines of credit; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Prosperity Bancshares About the Markup Calculator S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains What is an Earnings Surprise? How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 What is a support level? Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. ( NYSE:PB – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Prosperity Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prosperity Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
The Thrissur district administration’s denial of permission for the fireworks display during ‘Vela Ezunnallippu’, a traditional ritual, at the famed Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples here has sparked a row with the shrine managements viewing it as a “test dose” to destroy the iconic Thrissur Pooram. The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) here on Friday issued an order denying permission for the fireworks display in connection with the annual ritual citing the new amendment to the Union government’s Explosive Rules and based on reports of various State government departments in accordance with that. The Vela Ezunnallippu ritual and the related fireworks display of the two temples are scheduled in January first week. In the order, the district administration stated that there is no physical circumstance to carry out the fireworks display in the area and it may pose a threat to the life and property of the public. The opinion of the investigating officers concerned that the fireworks should not be allowed taking into account the safety of public life has also been considered, said the order. The order was issued on the request for permission to conduct fireworks display submitted by the Thiruvambady Devaswom. Meanwhile, the order denying permission to the fireworks display citing the Central explosive rule guidelines drew sharp reactions from the temple managements. K Girish Kumar, secretary, Thiruvambady Devaswom, vehemently criticised the move and said permission for the fireworks display is being denied citing technical reasons and urged political leaders and Ministers from the district to raise their voice against it. Vela Ezunnallippu “The Vela Ezunnallippu and its related fireworks are held on the same Swaraj Round where the Thrissur Pooram is conducted annually. The present move is a test dose to destroy the iconic Pooram,” he told reporters here. Rejecting the reasons for denying permission for the fireworks display, he said the school, hospital, petrol pump and other such institutions have been there in the area for years and the rituals were held there without any issues in the past. The fireworks display is to be conducted in the midnight after taking all necessary precautions and so it would not pose any security issues as claimed in the order, the Devaswom secretary further said. Without naming anyone, he further alleged that there were attempts to block the parading of jumbos and the apex court granted permission for the same recently. Now-a-days, the temple authorities are forced to approach court for each and everything to protect the traditional rituals, he added. Published - December 28, 2024 08:28 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
Hundreds of people showed up outside Queens Park Saturday afternoon to push back against the Ford government's controversial bike lane bill that would remove certain Toronto bike lanes to help address congestion. The Progressive Conservative government has been fast-tracking legislation that would require Ontario municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a lane of vehicle traffic. The bill also goes a step further and would remove three major bike lanes in Toronto on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue. Fight for Bikes co-founder Eva Stanger Ross, which organized Saturday's rally, said she uses the Bloor Street bike lanes almost every day. "They are always packed, so it's targeting the most important bike lanes in the city. It makes absolutely no sense." Zev Godfrey (left) and Eva Stanger-Ross are co-founders of Fight for Bikes, a group that is fighting against the Ontario government's proposed Bill 212. (CBC) Without those protected bike lanes, Stanger-Ross said drivers often don't think about the cyclists around them. "They don't think of them as a hazard that they have to watch out for, and it's way more likely that you'll be hit." The rally comes days after new amendments were introduced to the bill, one of which would protect the province from potential lawsuits if cyclists are hurt or killed after lanes are removed. Stanger-Ross said it suggests the government knows removing the lanes will make roads less safe for cyclists. "To me, it shows that the government knows that they're going to be putting civilians in harm's way and they know that people will be killed or injured," she said. "And instead of doing something about it, instead of keeping the bike lanes, instead of addressing it, they're just covering themselves up." Cyclists listen to a speech during a rally Saturday at Queens Park in Toronto against the Ontario government's proposed Bill 212. (CBC ) Those safety concerns have kept Leah Jaunzem from cycling around the city for nearly a year — and motivated her to show up to Saturday's rally. "It's so straightforward and it's so simple: we need to protect cyclists. We have such a problem in this city with pedestrians and cyclists getting injured," she said. "Like, stop with the politicking. This is actual people's lives. There's some things that are beyond politics, and this is one of them." Some cyclists at Saturday's rally also rejected the government's stance that bike lanes should instead be on secondary roads. "Toronto is not a perfect grid and most of the time there aren't streets that run alongside the primary streets for very long," said Zev Godfrey, another co-founder of Fight for Bikes. Godfrey said he thinks cyclists will continue to use the same major routes but be unprotected from vehicle traffic. "Cyclists likes primary streets for the exact same reason that car drivers like primary streets," he said. "They go for a long time, they are less interrupted and also the destinations that you're going to are often on those primary streets." Hundreds of cyclists attended Saturday's rally at Queen's Park in Toronto. (CBC) Asked about the protest, a spokesperson for Ontario's transportation minister repeated government talking points that bike lanes contribute to gridlock in Canada's largest city. "We are doing everything we can to fight congestion and keep major arterial roads moving," said Dakota Brasier. "We support a common-sense approach to bike lanes, and encourage the city to listen to the thousands of drivers to help clear our major roads and get people out of traffic." Last week, Toronto city council passed a motion to formally oppose Premier Doug Ford's plans, following a report showing it would cost at least $48 million to remove bike lanes. Mayor Olivia Chow said Friday she knows first-hand how dangerous cycling without a bike lane can be. "I've been doored on Bloor Street without a bike lane. Now I ride on Bloor Street with a bike lane, I feel very secure. That is because of the bike lane there," she said at a news conference. Chow said she hopes the city and province can "find the middle ground" when it comes addressing traffic congestion.Kirk Herbstreit Had Classy Message For Ohio State Fans After Week 13 Show
A Kitchener food truck operator is shaking-off the bad vibes after he was forced to shut down operations outside the Taylor Swift concerts in Toronto last week. Sandor Dosman runs the truck, he was elated when he was given permission to sell his jazzed-up, Swift-themed, grilled cheese sandwiches in the plaza at the base of the CN Tower, right where thousands of Swifties would be gathering before and after the show. The owner of the truck said he did his due diligence by checking with CN Tower management about permitting requirements. He was told that because the plaza is owned by the CN Tower, no further permitting would be required. Dosman told 570 NewsRadio that the first night, last Thursday, went off without a hitch. “And then bylaw showed up on Friday and informed us that we indeed need a food truck license for Toronto, which we don’t carry. So, we talked to the CN Tower people, they were as shocked as us. So, there was a miscommunication somewhere between the city and the CN Tower.” Dosman looked into getting a permit but it would cost him somewhere in the neighbourhood of $49,000 and take several weeks to process. Related: So, rather than trying to fight city hall, Dosman decided to shutdown and move on. He said there is no bad blood between anyone involved. “Bylaw is doing their job down there. The CN Tower was just going on the information they had and we used the information we had,” he said. “Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication somewhere. It happens. We’re just going to move on and try to make lemonade out of these lemons we’ve been handed here.” Seeing as he was preparing for several very busy nights, Dosman had a huge quantity of food in stock and no way to use it all. Right off the bat, he donated around 80 loaves of bread to the . He’s also planned a Taylor Swift-themed party for Saturday, Nov. 23 at the old train station on Father David Bauer Drive in Waterloo. The festivities will feature Taylor’s music, Swift-themed sandos, friendship bracelets and a raffle for a giant friendship bracelet used to decorate the food truck. It runs from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
General Hospital fans complain after major Lulu plot hole as they rant 'writers feel that we are all lacking memory'
