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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have the slimmest of playoff hopes and must win out to have any chance of keeping them alive. Figuring out who they are would be a first step in the right direction. The Titans (3-9) also must bounce back from last week's ugly loss at Washington that cost this franchise yet another chance to string together consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years. “We know that this is a big opportunity for us to develop as a team and to create and to continue developing our identity,” quarterback Will Levis said. “And so we’re going to make sure that we do our best throughout these next few weeks to do that.” The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) lost Trevor Lawrence for the rest of the season after the hit he took from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in last week's 23-20 loss to Houston. Their already dim playoff hopes were extinguished Monday night when Denver won. That leaves the Jaguars playing for pride and potentially drafting No. 1 overall for the third time in five years. “It’s all about how you finish,” tight end Evan Engram said. “How we finish probably won’t erase the feeling we have of the season. But as the pride of this franchise, the pride of the team, it’s definitely worth going to finish strong and going to get some wins and fighting for that.” The Titans went into Washington with one of the NFL's stingiest defenses and wound up shredded, giving up a season-worst 267 yards rushing. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said, “We can’t allow what happened last week to happen again.” Wide receiver Calvin Ridley says he's excited to see some old teammates Sunday and downplayed a question about how close Jacksonville's offer to keep him last March might've been when he chose to sign with division rival Tennessee instead. “Doesn't matter right now,” Ridley said. “I'm excited for this week. Jags come in here, play with my boys. I'm excited.” Ridley played one season with Jacksonville after the Jaguars traded for him . He had 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight TDs last season with the Jaguars. So far this season, Ridley has 43 receptions for 679 yards and three TDs. “I just know I'm going to be ready,” Ridley said. Jacksonville has lost 16 consecutive games when tied or trailing at halftime. It’s a complete flip from the 2022 season, in which the Jaguars rallied to beat Dallas, the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee down the stretch to make the playoffs. The 20-16 victory against the Titans in the regular-season finale that year is the last time coach Doug Pederson’s team has come from behind to win after trailing or being tied at the break. Tennessee led 13-7 at the half in that one and was minutes from winning a third straight AFC South title . Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen needs 4 1/2 sacks to break the franchise record of 55 held by Tony Brackens. Hines-Allen has at least half a sack in four consecutive games against Tennessee, which has given up 43 sacks in 2024. “My family knows about it probably more than me,” Hines-Allen said. “My wife tells me all the time, ‘Hey, get that record. All you just need is four sacks.’ Like, you can just (get) four sacks. “I had a couple games last year where I had three, so I can’t say it’s out of the realm. But I never had four sacks; don’t know what it feels like to do that in one game. But hopefully speak it into existence.” Mac Jones will be starting at quarterback and is 0-2 with the Jaguars this season. He has one more interception (three) than touchdown passes (two) in five appearances. The Titans are looking to see if Levis can keep building on his strong play of the past month and start turning those into wins. Levis is 1-3 since returning from a strained throwing shoulder. He has seven TD passes with two interceptions for a 101.3 passer rating in his past four games. He also is completing 61.7% of his passes for 960 yards. “The cool thing right now for Will is that as we’ve corrected things, he’s corrected them,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said . “And that’s been really fun to watch as he’s made adjustments from game to game, sometimes even from in the game made an adjustment to a coverage or a read, and that part’s been good to see.” AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflResorts World Las Vegas Establishes Board of Directors with Jim Murren as Chairman, Appoints Alex Dixon as Chief Executive Officer

MONCTON, New Brunswick, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Major Drilling Group International Inc. (“Major Drilling” or the “Company”) (TSX: MDI), a leading provider of specialized drilling services to the mining sector, today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, ended October 31, 2024. Quarterly Highlights: Revenue of $189.3 million, in line with the $190.0 million generated in fiscal Q1, but down 8.6% from $207.0 million in the same period last year. Adjusted gross margin (1) of 30.5%, consistent with the 31.0% achieved in the same period last year as the Company remained focused on higher-margin specialized drilling. EBITDA (1) of $38.7 million, down from $43.6 million in the same period last year. Net earnings of $18.2 million (or $0.22 per share), down from $23.7 million (or $0.29 per share) in the same period last year. Net cash (1) increased by $23.5 million to $100.4 million, enabling the Company to react to potential growth opportunities. Subsequent to quarter end, completed the acquisition of Explomin, a leading specialty drilling contractor based in Lima, Peru, for an up-front cash payment of US$63 million (approximately C$88 million). “For Q2 of fiscal 2025, Major Drilling’s globally diversified operations and reputation as the driller-of-choice enabled us to maintain our revenue run rate relative to fiscal Q1, despite challenging conditions in certain markets,” commented Mr. Denis Larocque, President & CEO of Major Drilling. “We were pleased once again by our Australasian and Chilean operations, which continue to offset lower activity levels in North America, primarily driven by lower junior exploration expenditures.” “The Company delivered solid financial results for the quarter, supported by an adjusted gross margin of 30.5%. This represented an increase from 28.9% in fiscal Q1 and is in line with the 31.0% achieved over the same period last year as the Company remains focused on profitable operations and our best-in-class specialized drilling services,” commented Ian Ross, CFO of Major Drilling. “As previously disclosed, our 2021 McKay acquisition successfully met all of the EBITDA milestones in the earnout period, with the final contingent payment of $9.1 million made during the quarter. We also continue to modernize our drill fleet, having spent $20.1 million in capex, which includes the addition of 5 new drills and support equipment, while disposing of 4 older, less efficient rigs, bringing Major Drilling’s total fleet to 610 drills. Given another strong operational performance, our net cash position increased to $100.4 million at quarter end, while we continue to retain an industry leading balance sheet, enabling the acquisition of Explomin in early fiscal Q3,” concluded Mr. Ross. “With McKay continuing to demonstrate strong results in Australasia since its acquisition in 2021, our focus now turns to the integration of Explomin – a leading South American driller with operations in Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Spain. I am excited to welcome Explomin and its employees to the Major Drilling team. Their long-standing reputation, strong base of senior mining customers, and focus on specialized drilling, with its well-maintained fleet of rigs, complement our existing operations and offer further potential growth opportunities in South America,” said Mr. Larocque. “As Peru has been on our radar for quite some time given its status as the second largest copper producer, Explomin solidifies our South American presence, supplementing our existing operations in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and throughout the Guyana Shield.” “Looking ahead to our seasonally slower third quarter of fiscal 2025, we are expecting programs in North America to pause for the holiday period slightly earlier than in prior years, although this is expected to be partially offset by ongoing strength in Australia and Chile. While we will be adding revenue from the Explomin operations, we expect them to have the same usual seasonality as the rest of our South American operations. Demand from senior customers for calendar 2025 is expected to remain robust, while we are optimistic regarding the activity levels of juniors following a slight increase in financing activity. The combination of elevated commodity prices, translating to increased free cash flow generation for mining companies, coupled with depleted reserve bases, should lead to increases in demand for drilling services over the years to come.” “Our well-maintained fleet ensures that we retain utilization capacity which, combined with our optimal inventory levels and experienced crews, puts us in an excellent position to capitalize on these increased levels of demand for our drilling services. Our core strategy is to remain the leader in specialized drilling as new discoveries are made in increasingly challenging and remote locations. Our solid foundation, supplemented by ongoing technological innovation, puts us in an ideal position to take on these new and exciting challenges." “I’m extremely proud to announce that our Canadian team was recently awarded the Safe Day Every Day Gold Award by the Association for Mineral Exploration, Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, and Canadian Diamond Drilling Association. Our Canadian team achieved over 1,146,000 hours without a lost time injury, an achievement that demonstrates our ongoing dedication to maintaining high safety standards across all projects around the world,” concluded Mr. Larocque. Finally, Major Drilling announces the resignation of Mr. Robert Krcmarov from the Board of Directors effective December 5, 2024, to focus on his new role as Chief Executive Officer of Hecla Mining Company. Kim Keating, Chair of the Board, commented: “On behalf of the Board and the leadership team at Major Drilling, I would like to congratulate Rob on this appointment, and thank him for his significant contributions during his tenure on the Board. Rob’s experience and insights were of great benefit to Major Drilling’s Board and leadership team. He was instrumental in the development of Major Drilling’s Decarbonization Action Plan and in strengthening the Company’s health and safety program, as well as his timely advice regarding the most recent acquisition of Explomin Perforaciones earlier this month. We thank Rob for his invaluable advice and wish him all the best in his new role leading Hecla Mining Company.” Second Quarter Ended October 31, 2024 Total revenue for the quarter was $189.3 million, down 8.6% from revenue of $207.0 million recorded in the same quarter last year. The foreign exchange translation impact on revenue and earnings, when comparing to the effective rates for the previous year, was minimal. Revenue for the quarter from Canada - U.S. drilling operations decreased by 20.0% to $85.4 million, compared to the same period last year. While senior and intermediate activity levels increased slightly, this only partially offset the decline in demand from juniors relative to the same period last year as they continued to face challenging financing opportunities. South and Central American revenue decreased by 6.5% to $49.1 million for the quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. While operations in Chile remain robust, this was offset by slowdowns in other parts of the region. Australasian and African revenue increased by 14.4% to $54.7 million, compared to the same period last year as demand for specialized drilling services in Australia and Mongolia continue to drive growth in the region. Gross margin percentage for the quarter was 23.4%, compared to 25.3% for the same period last year. Depreciation expense totaling $13.4 million is included in direct costs for the current quarter, versus $11.8 million in the same quarter last year. Adjusted gross margin, which excludes depreciation expense, was 30.5% for the quarter, compared to 31.0% for the same period last year. Adjusted gross margin remained relatively unchanged as the Company remains disciplined with respect to pricing. General and administrative costs were $18.4 million, an increase of $0.8 million compared to the same quarter last year. This increase primarily relates to inflationary wage adjustments. Other expenses were $2.5 million, down from $3.2 million in the same quarter last year due primarily to lower incentive compensation expenses given the decreased profitability. Foreign exchange gain was $0.5 million, compared to a loss of $0.9 million for the same quarter last year. While the Company's reporting currency is the Canadian dollar, various jurisdictions have net monetary assets or liabilities exposed to various other currencies. The income tax provision for the quarter was an expense of $6.5 million, compared to an expense of $7.4 million for the prior year period. The decrease from the prior year was driven by reduced profitability. Net earnings were $18.2 million or $0.22 per share ($0.22 per share diluted) for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $23.7 million or $0.29 per share ($0.29 per share diluted) for the prior year quarter. Non-IFRS Financial Measures The Company’s financial data has been prepared in accordance with IFRS, with the exception of certain financial measures detailed below. The measures below have been used consistently by the Company’s management team in assessing operational performance on both segmented and consolidated levels, and in assessing the Company’s financial strength. The Company believes these non-IFRS financial measures are key, for both management and investors, in evaluating performance at a consolidated level and are commonly reported and widely used by investors and lending institutions as indicators of a company’s operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies and should not be construed as an alternative to other financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA - earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization: Adjusted gross profit/margin - excludes depreciation expense: Net cash – cash net of debt, excluding lease liabilities reported under IFRS 16 Leases: Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain information that may constitute “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address future events, developments, or performance that the Company expects to occur (including management’s expectations regarding the Company’s objectives, strategies, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and businesses) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by future or conditional verbs such as “outlook”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, and terms and expressions of similar import. All forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by this cautionary note. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management related to the factors set forth below. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this document in light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to: the level of activity in the mining industry and the demand for the Company’s services; competitive pressures; global and local political and economic environments and conditions; the level of funding for the Company’s clients (particularly for junior mining companies); the Company’s dependence on key customers; the integration of business acquisitions and the realization of the intended benefits of such acquisitions; efficient management of the Company’s growth; exposure to currency movements (which can affect the Company’s revenue in Canadian dollars); currency restrictions; safety of the Company’s workforce; risks and uncertainties relating to climate change and natural disaster; the geographic distribution of the Company’s operations; the impact of operational changes; changes in jurisdictions in which the Company operates (including changes in regulation); failure by counterparties to fulfill contractual obligations; disease outbreak; as well as other risk factors described under “General Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s MD&A for the year ended April 30, 2024, available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca . Should one or more risk, uncertainty, contingency, or other factor materialize or should any factor or assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements made in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events, or for any other reasons, except as required by applicable securities laws. About Major Drilling Major Drilling Group International Inc. is the world’s leading provider of specialized drilling services primarily serving the mining industry. Established in 1980, Major Drilling has over 1,000 years of combined experience and expertise within its management team. The Company maintains field operations and offices in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Major Drilling provides a complete suite of drilling services including surface and underground coring, directional, reverse circulation, sonic, geotechnical, environmental, water-well, coal-bed methane, shallow gas, underground percussive/longhole drilling, surface drill and blast, a variety of mine services, and ongoing development of data-driven, high-tech drillside solutions. Webcast/Conference Call Major Drilling Group International Inc. will provide a simultaneous webcast and conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 8:00 AM (EST). To access the webcast, which includes a slide presentation, please go to the investors/webcasts section of Major Drilling’s website at www.majordrilling.com and click on the link. Please note that this is listen-only mode. To participate in the conference call, please dial 416-340-2217, participant passcode 4769038# and ask for Major Drilling’s Second Quarter Results Conference Call. To ensure your participation, please call in approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. For those unable to participate, a taped rebroadcast will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call until Monday, January 6, 2025. To access the rebroadcast, dial 905-694-9451 and enter the passcode 1708283#. The webcast will also be archived for one year and can be accessed on the Major Drilling website at www.majordrilling.com. For further information: Ryan Hanley Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Tel: (506) 857-8636 Fax: (506) 857-9211 ir@majordrilling.com MAJOR DRILLING GROUP INTERNATIONAL INC. NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2024 AND 2023 (UNAUDITED) (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share information) 1. NATURE OF ACTIVITIES Major Drilling Group International Inc. (the “Company”) is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and has its head office at 111 St. George Street, Moncton, NB, Canada. The Company’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”). The principal source of revenue consists of contract drilling for companies primarily involved in mining and mineral exploration. The Company has operations in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. 2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION Statement of compliance These Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting (“IAS 34”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and using the accounting policies as outlined in the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. On December 5, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized the financial statements for issue. Basis of consolidation These Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company. Control is achieved when the Company is exposed or has rights to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the period are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate. Intercompany transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation, where appropriate. Basis of preparation These Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared based on the historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value, using the same accounting policies and methods of computation, with the exception of those detailed in note 4 below, as presented in the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. 3. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRS ® ACCOUNTING STANDARDS The Company has not applied the following IASB standard amendment and standard that have been issued, but are not yet effective: IAS 21 (as amended in 2023) - The Effect of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates - effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, with earlier application permitted. The amendments contain guidance to specify when a currency is exchangeable and how to determine the exchange rate when it is not. IFRS 18 (as issued in 2024) - Presentation and Disclosure of Financial Statements - effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027, with earlier application permitted. The standard replaces IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, and includes requirements for the presentation and disclosure of information in financial statements. The Company is currently in the process of assessing the impact the adoption of the above amendment and standard will have on the Consolidated Financial Statements. 4. MATERIAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES With the exception of the policy detailed below, all accounting policies and methods of computation remain the same as those presented in the Company's annual Consolidation Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. Investment in associate Associates are companies that the Company has significant influence over and are accounted for under the equity method. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control or joint control over those policies. Significant influence is presumed when the Company has an ownership interest greater than 20%, unless certain qualitative factors overcome this assumption. In assessing significant influence and the ownership interest, potential voting or other rights that are currently exercisable are taken into consideration. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method and are initially recognized at cost, inclusive of transaction costs. The Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the Company's share of the income or loss and equity movement of equity accounted associates. The Company does not recognize losses exceeding the carrying value of its interest in the associate. 5. KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGMENTS The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with IFRS, requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that are not readily apparent from other sources, which affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods, if the revision affects both current and future periods. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to the useful lives of property, plant and equipment for depreciation purposes, inventory valuation, determination of income and other taxes, recoverability of deferred income tax assets, assumptions used in compilation of share-based payments, provisions, contingent considerations, impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets and long-lived assets. The Company applied judgment in determining the functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries, the determination of cash-generating units (“CGUs”), the degree of componentization of property, plant and equipment, the recognition of provisions, the determination of the probability that deferred income tax assets will be realized from future taxable earnings, and the determination of whether the Company exerts significant influence with respect to its investment in associate under the equity accounting method. 6. SEASONALITY OF OPERATIONS The third quarter (November to January) is normally the Company’s weakest quarter due to the shutdown of mining and exploration activities, often for extended periods over the holiday season. 7. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Capital expenditures for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 were $20,073 (2023 - $17,443) and $41,324 (2023 - $33,717). The Company did not obtain direct financing for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 or 2023. 8. INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATE On July 22, 2024, the Company purchased shares in DGI Geoscience Inc. (“DGI”) for $15,000 in cash consideration, a 39.8% equity interest (that provides the Company with 42.3% of the voting rights). DGI and its subsidiaries are privately held entities, headquartered in Canada, focused on downhole survey and imaging services as well as using artificial intelligence for logging scanned rock samples. In addition to the equity interest, Major Drilling's representation on the DGI Board of Directors gives the Company significant influence over DGI. While there are special approval rights granted to the Company as part of the investment, these are more protective in nature and therefore, would not result in control, or joint control of DGI. As a result, the Company concluded that the equity method of accounting is appropriate for its investment in DGI. During the prior quarter, the Company incurred costs of $205 for this investment, relating to external legal fees and due diligence costs. These amounts have been recorded as part of the cost of the investment in associate in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the current quarter, the Company's earnings from investment in associate is $27. 9. SHARE BUYBACK During the prior year, for the three and six months ended October 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 875,268 and 1,020,568 common shares, respectively, at an average price of $8.31 and $8.40, respectively, under its Normal Course Issuer Bid. 10. EXPENSES BY NATURE Direct costs by nature are as follows: General and administrative expenses by nature are as follows: 11. INCOME TAXES The income tax provision for the periods can be reconciled to accounting earnings before income tax as follows: The Company periodically assesses its liabilities and contingencies for all tax years open to audit based upon the latest information available. For those matters where it is probable that an adjustment will be made, the Company records its best estimate of these tax liabilities, including related interest charges. Inherent uncertainties exist in estimates of tax contingencies due to changes in tax laws. While management believes they have adequately provided for the probable outcome of these matters, future results may include favourable or unfavourable adjustments to these estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made, or resolved, or when the statutes of limitations lapse. 12. EARNINGS PER SHARE All of the Company’s earnings are attributable to common shares, therefore, net earnings are used in determining earnings per share. The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 excludes the effect of 200,000 options for both periods (2023 - 297,000 and 205,000, respectively) as they were not in-the-money. The total number of shares outstanding on October 31, 2024 was 81,842,086 (2023 - 82,093,486). 13. SEGMENTED INFORMATION The Company’s operations are divided into the following three geographic segments, corresponding to its management structure: Canada - U.S.; South and Central America; and Australasia and Africa. The services provided in each of the reportable segments are essentially the same. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended April 30, 2024. Management evaluates performance based on earnings from operations in these three geographic segments before finance costs, general corporate expenses and income taxes. Data relating to each of the Company’s reportable segments is presented as follows: *Canada - U.S. includes revenue of $25,695 and $34,074 for Canadian operations for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively and $57,543 and $70,762 for the six months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. **General and corporate expenses include expenses for corporate offices and stock-based compensation. *Canada - U.S. includes property, plant and equipment as at October 31, 2024 of $64,041 (April 30, 2024 - $62,991) for Canadian operations. 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Fair value The carrying values of cash, trade and other receivables, demand credit facilities and trade and other payables approximate their fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity of the instruments. The carrying value of contingent consideration and long-term debt approximates their fair value as the interest applicable is reflective of fair market rates. Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories: Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly (i.e., as prices) or indirectly (i.e., derived from prices); and Level 3 - inputs for the assets or liabilities that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs). The Company enters into certain derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to market risks, comprised of share-price forward contracts with a combined notional amount of $8,654, maturing at varying dates through June 2027. The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market inputs whenever such inputs exist. A financial instrument is classified to the lowest level of the hierarchy for which a significant input has been considered in measuring fair value. The Company’s derivatives, with fair values as follows, are classified as level 2 financial instruments and recorded in trade and other receivables (payables) in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. There were no transfers of amounts between level 1, level 2 and level 3 financial instruments for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024. Credit risk As at October 31, 2024, 96.1% (April 30, 2024 - 95.9%) of the Company’s trade receivables were aged as current and 3.5% (April 30, 2024 - 3.5%) of the trade receivables were impaired. The movements in the allowance for impairment of trade receivables during the periods were as follows: Foreign currency risk As at October 31, 2024, the most significant carrying amounts of net monetary assets and/or liabilities (which may include intercompany balances with other subsidiaries) that: (i) are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective Company subsidiary; and (ii) cause foreign exchange rate exposure, including the impact on earnings before income taxes (“EBIT”), if the corresponding rate changes by 10%, are as follows (in $000s CAD): Liquidity risk The following table details contractual maturities for the Company’s financial liabilities: 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENT On November 5, 2024, the Company completed the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Explomin Perforaciones ("Explomin"), a leading specialty drilling contractor based in Lima, Peru. This acquisition provides Major Drilling with increased exposure to the copper market as Explomin is one of the largest South American drilling contractors, with the majority of their operations in Peru, while also servicing markets in Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Spain. The purchase price for the acquisition is valued at an amount up to US$85 million, consisting of: (i) a cash payment of US$63 million payable on closing, subject to working capital adjustments; and (ii) an earnout of up to US$22 million payable in cash over the next three years, based on the achievement of certain milestones. The cash portion of the purchase price has been funded from Major Drilling’s cash and existing debt facilities.

Morrisey brings a serious attitudeOhtani wins third AP Male Athlete of the Year award

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, STEPHEN GROVES and KEVIN FREKING WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth , Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction” amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees’ pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump’s nominees, it became clear after Gaetz’s withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators’ careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump’s picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won’t face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he “shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It’s one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations National Politics | Several of Trump’s Cabinet picks — and Trump himself — have been accused of sexual misconduct National Politics | New study shows voting for Native Americans is harder than ever National Politics | Was it all a joke? How stand-up comedy helped reelect Trump National Politics | California teachers are cursing Donald Trump in the classroom. Is it their right? Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.”

LAS VEGAS , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resorts World Las Vegas LLC announced today the formation of a Board of Directors, with industry veteran Jim Murren as the Chairman, and the appointment of Alex Dixon as its Chief Executive Officer as a key part of the Company's plan to deepen and strengthen its leadership. The new team, with a combined 130 years of experience in the gaming industry, will accelerate the Company's growth strategy and continue its mission to remain Las Vegas's premier resort destination for unmatched luxury and entertainment experiences and unforgettable moments. This announcement underscores Resorts World Las Vegas's path of evolution as the appointments bolster the property's governance structure to help drive the go-forward business strategy. The members of the Board assumed their roles on December 4, 2024 and Dixon will assume his position as CEO effective January 16, 2025 . "As Resorts World Las Vegas continues to establish itself as the premier resort destination in Las Vegas , we are excited to welcome this group of industry leaders overseeing and guiding the Leadership Team to deliver unparalleled guest experiences while fostering our commitment to compliance," said Kok Thay Lim , the Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad. "With over 40 years of collective experience in the global gaming and hospitality industry, we are confident that Alex and Jim, alongside the Board, will help drive the Company forward in pursuing our strategic goals for years to come." Industry veteran Murren will assume the role of Chairman, bringing a depth of expertise in the global gaming and hospitality industries. He previously served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at MGM Resorts, where he led the company through a period of expansion and growth. He currently holds leadership positions with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority in the United Arab Emirates , Cirque du Soleil, and Playstudios, as well as serving as a trustee on Howard University's Board of Trustees. Dixon, a Las Vegas native, will assume his role following his tenure as CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association. He has more than 20 years of combined global gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and banking industries experience across iconic and Fortune 500 businesses, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp., and Goldman Sachs & Co. Additionally, Dixon brings extensive experience in building winning teams, developing underutilized real estate, re-invigorating legacy brands, and driving clarity of purpose from the Boardroom to front-line operations. "Resorts World Las Vegas has transformed the Vegas Strip with its unceasing focus on providing the ultimate guest experience, which is why I'm thrilled to join the team and help continue setting the standard for premier hospitality," said Murren. "The Board and I are excited to continue building on the strong foundation set by the Executive Leadership Team and driving continued growth and innovation to benefit all of RWLV's key stakeholders." In addition to Murren as Chairman and independent member, the newly established Board of Directors includes three additional, prominent members, two independent and one non-independent from diverse backgrounds: Dixon added, "We have a bright future ahead of us, and I look forward to supporting and collaborating with Resorts World Las Vegas's leadership alongside the Board to continue showcasing the best the Strip has to offer. We have an incredible team of talented and committed employees throughout the organization and are confident we can achieve amazing things together." For more information about Resorts World Las Vegas, please visit www.rwlasvegas.com . About Resorts World Las Vegas Resorts World Las Vegas LLC is the owner and operator of Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), a world-class integrated resort with over 3,500 hotel rooms and suites, and includes a multitude of gaming, convention, retail, food, beverage, and entertainment amenities. Located on approximately 86 acres on the northern end of the Strip, RWLV brings state-of-the-art technology and distinctive entertainment and experiential amenities to Las Vegas . Additionally, the Resort has over 42 acres of undeveloped land, which offers significant growth potential which few of its peers can match. Resorts World Las Vegas LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, an investment holding and management company focused predominantly on the global gaming and hospitality industry. The Genting Group has a track record of close to six decades relating to sourcing, developing and operating integrated resorts in various parts of the world, including in highly rated and regulated jurisdictions such as Malaysia , Singapore , the U.K., the United States and the Bahamas . The Genting Group comprises Genting Berhad (KLSE: Genting) and its listed companies including Genting Malaysia Berhad (KLSE: GENM), Genting Plantations Berhad (KLSE: GENP) and Genting Singapore Limited (SGX: G13), as well as principal unlisted subsidiaries Genting Energy Limited and Resorts World Las Vegas LLC. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resorts-world-las-vegas-establishes-board-of-directors-with-jim-murren-as-chairman-appoints-alex-dixon-as-chief-executive-officer-302324364.html SOURCE Resorts World Las VegasUniversity of Nevada Reno volleyball captain Sia Liilii on the fight for fairness in women's sports as San Jose State University reaches the playoffs due to teams forfeiting matches to avoid facing their transgender team member. Las Vegas is set to host one of the most controversial women's college volleyball tournaments in the sport's history this week. This year's Mountain West Tournament will feature San Jose State trans athlete Blaire Fleming , and multiple teams that have already forfeited to the Spartans this season amid a national controversy over Fleming's presence. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo condemned the notion of trans athletes competing against women just days before Fleming will likely compete in his state under a national spotlight. Lombardo released a statement on Wednesday saying he believes that student athletes should "only compete with and against members of the same biological sex." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo speaks during a news conference after the country music festival mass shooting on Oct. 4, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) "Every student, regardless of gender, is entitled to fair and safe competition in high school and collegiate sports. For the well-being of students and the integrity of competition, I believe students should only compete with and against members of the same biological sex," Lombardo said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "As a father of two daughters, I firmly believe in protecting the sanctity of women's sports. Despite attempts to politicize this issue, my philosophy is simple: women should participate in women's sports and men should participate in men's sports. No matter what sports team a student plays on or what extracurricular activities a student participates in, every student deserves to be treated with the utmost kindness and respect – on and off the field, in and out of the classroom." Lombardo previously weighed in on the San Jose State controversy when it involved women athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno in October. The university's volleyball team was scheduled to play San Jose State's on Oct. 26, but Nevada players told their athletic department that they didn't want to compete against Fleming. SJSU TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: TIMELINE OF ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL IMPACT AND A RAGING CULTURE MOVEMENT However, the university initially did not respect the players' wishes, and publicly stated its intention to proceed with the match against San Jose State. A Nevada spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the university was doing this to avoid violating Democratiic-passed state law that prevents trans discrimination. Lombardo praised the players for taking a stand in a statement on Oct. 15. "As I’ve said previously, I believe there are competition and safety concerns with this issue, and it’s irresponsible for the NCAA to put student athletes in a position of balancing their personal safety against the schools, competition and sports they love," Lombardo’s statement read. "The student athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno have determined that they do not want to play against San Jose State, and I wholeheartedly respect the decision of the players. No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe – period. The NCAA has a responsibility to address this issue in a consistent way that protects the integrity of women’s sports and the student athletes who participate." The players then spoke out publicly and alleged the university was pressuring them to compete against the Spartans. Nevada then officially forfeited the match the day before it was set to be played, claiming it didn't have enough players to compete. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Blaire Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans attempts to block a shot during the Air Force Falcons match on Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images) Four other teams, including three conference rivals, forfeited games against San Jose State this season. Those forfeits yielded the Spartans six additional conference wins, as it ended up earning the No. 2 seed in the upcoming tournament and a first-round bye. Now, San Jose State is guaranteed to face a team that previously forfeited to them in the semifinal round of the tournament. Utah State and Boise State, which each refused to face the Spartans, will face off in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night for the right to advance to the semifinals. A San Jose State spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the conference is currently preparing for all teams and players that qualified for the tournament to compete, but it has a plan in the event of forfeits. That plan includes a willingness to recognize San Jose State as the conference champion if its opponents forfeit en route to a victory in the final. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

Maeda saves point for Celtic against Club Brugge after Carter-Vickers errorNEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jose D. Hernandez was suspended for next year's Arizona Complex League season on Wednesday following a positive test for boldenone and nandrolone under baseball's minor league drug program. The 21-year-old Hernandez hit .302 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 26 games this year for the ACL Dodgers. The Venezuelan agreed to a contract with the Dodgers in 2019 that included a $10,000 signing bonus. Twenty players have been suspended this year for positive drug tests, including nine under the minor league program and nine under the new program for minor league players assigned outside the United States and Canada. Two players have been suspended this year under the major league drug program. Noelvi Marté , a 22-year-old infielder who was considered Cincinnati's top prospect, missed the first 80 games following a positive test for boldenone. Toronto infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games on June 23 following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major league debut . AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

If you’re looking to make your eyes pop over the festive season, the MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Giga Black Lash designed to create “beautiful defined lashes with a petite brush” could be just the thing for you. Reduced from £20 to £15 on Debenhams, now is also the perfect time to buy it if you want to save some pounds in the run up to Christmas . The long-wearing mascara lasts up to 16 hours , yet the washable formula removes easily with warm water thanks to an innovative thermal-sensitive technology and has a unique slim-type brush that reaches and grips even the tiniest hairs with an advanced lifting formula in a saturated blackest black colour. Marketed as having an “extreme defining composition” to enhance length and produce prominent lashes , it’s no surprise that shoppers have been raving about it. One person said: “Love how this mascara really makes my eyes look better and bigger”, while another person said in a separate review: “I absolutely love this product! It is so easy to apply and leaves minimal mess! It also made my lashes stay looking good all day.” Although one person was unsure about the size at first, it seems they have never looked back after trying. They wrote: “I was a little sceptical about this mascara because is smaller than my usual mascaras, but it did a great job. I would suggest it for a light make up, more natural looking style. Definitely not for a full glam look.” Another happy customer added: “MAC Extended Play Gigablack Mascara delivers long-lasting, smudge-proof wear with intense black color. The slim brush coats each lash evenly, adding length and definition without clumping. Perfect for an everyday look, it stays put all day, yet removes easily with warm water. A reliable choice for dramatic lashes.” In other news, you could also buy the Maybelline Mascara Lash Sensational - Very Black for £9.99 on LOOKFANTASTIC , or the ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara for £14 . Alternatively, you could also buy the GLOSSIER Lash Slick Lift and Lengthening Mascara for £20 on SEPHORA.The Reds were handed a significant boost before kick-off as both Manchester City and Chelsea dropped points earlier in the day—City drawing with Everton and Chelsea suffering a 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Stamford Bridge. This presented Arne Slot’s side with the perfect opportunity to solidify their position at the top, and they got the job done. Leicester City took a surprising early lead at a foggy Anfield, with Jordan Ayew finding the back of the net inside the opening 10 minutes. However, Liverpool quickly asserted control over the game, creating a number of chances and twice striking the woodwork in the first half. The equaliser came in first-half stoppage time when Cody Gakpo produced a moment of brilliance. Picking up the ball on the left flank, he cut inside a defender and unleashed a trademark curling shot into the top-right corner to make it 1-1 heading into the break. Liverpool resumed the second half with relentless pressure, and it took just four minutes for them to take the lead. Curtis Jones calmly slotted home from close range after being set up by Alexis Mac Allister, putting the Reds 2-1 ahead. Cody Gakpo appeared to score a third soon after, but a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal out. Nevertheless, the result was sealed in the 82nd minute when Mohamed Salah produced a sensational strike from a tight angle, ensuring all three points for Liverpool. Mo Salah continues to shine amid contract uncertainty Salah’s goal capped off another remarkable individual performance, taking his Premier League tally this season to 16 goals and 11 assists in just 17 appearances—an astonishing 27 goal contributions. Across all competitions, the 32-year-old now boasts 19 goals and 15 assists in 25 matches. ( ) After the game, he was once again asked an update on his future, and while he has twice previously made public statements about his contract situation, this time he decided to remain tight-lipped. He simply said (quotes via ): “I wish fans a Happy New Year and I will see them at the next home game,” There was a at the club last month but the recent reports suggest that the club is . Fans are growing increasingly anxious about his future, as his contributions this season underline his continued importance to the team. Liverpool will not get a replacement for this kind of numbers and if they end up allowing him to leave, it will surely result in a major backlash from fans.Ruben Amorim impressed with Arsenal’s corners after first defeat as Man Utd boss

(The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers may pay a high price for the school board’s decision to fire Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recently appointed school board members voted, 6-0, to end Martinez’s tenure next June, even though Martinez has a contract through June 2026. The board consisted of Sean Harden, who was just appointed president of the school board by Johnson last week, Mary Gardner, Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, longtime Chicago Teachers Union activist Debby Pope and Frank Niles Thomas. CTU Vice President Jackson Potter posted on social media Monday that board members have joined CTU in labor negotiations. Potter advocated for Martinez’s firing at the board meeting last Friday. “I want to thank this board for lighting a fire and pushing both CPS and the CTU to move with all deliberate speed to come to what will become a historic agreement ... and this process must continue to accelerate, because we can’t afford to slow down or stall before [President-elect Donald] Trump’s inauguration," Potter said. "Critics will claim, and have, that the board should not act too soon. We say that you cannot act soon enough.” Board member-elect Jennifer Custer urged the current board members to wait until members elected by the public were seated. “As a unified board, we asked that we talk about these decisions and what the future looks like before you cut it off at the knees,” Custer said. Elementary school principal Jeff Finelli told board members they took an oath to advocate for students and work with the CEO. “In my opinion, firing the CEO at this time would go directly against those parts of your oath,” Finelli said. Finelli reminded board members that more than 700 school leaders had asked them not to fire Martinez. Alderman Nicholas Sposato, 38th Ward, opposed Martinez’s firing and referred to the board members as “political hacks.” Alderman Silvana Tabares, 23rd Ward, also addressed the board. “Politics aside, there is still a difference between right and wrong, and you know this is wrong. By carrying out the political orders of a mayor who will personally benefit from a costly union contract, you’re not just firing a CEO. You are intentionally clearing a way to saddle taxpayers with billions in costs and a district and yourselves personally with costly litigation,” Tabares said. "You are being used." Martinez’s attorneys have filed a lawsuit on his behalf against the Chicago Board of Education and its individual members in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging “violation of the clear terms of his contract.” The mayor and his allies may also suffer political damage. The Illinois Latino Agenda released a statement expressing dismay at the treatment of Martinez, citing CPS’s proficiency gains in reading, graduation rates, scholarships, college credits and certifications. “As a CPS graduate and parent of two CPS students, Martinez brought a personal commitment to the success of Chicago’s diverse student body, 47% of who identify as Latino. Martinez fostered stability and equity in a district long challenged by leadership turnover,” the statement read. "Nearly 700 principals and assistant principals, representing 80% of district campuses, expressed confidence in Martinez, citing his capable and collaborative leadership." The last contract between CPS and CTU expired last summer. Martinez sent CPS families a message with an update on negotiations last Wednesday. “Given that CPS is facing structural deficits for the foreseeable future, there is still work to be done to ensure the eventual contract is affordable both in the short and long term,” Martinez wrote. Martinez said the latest CTU proposal called for over 5,000 new employees to be hired gradually over four years, at a total cost of $1.3 billion. Martinez said CPS maintained its current proposal of 4% raises for CTU members in the first year and 4-5% raises in the next three years, depending on inflation. CTU has revised its proposed cost-of-living adjustments from 9% every year of the agreement to 6% the first two years and 5% in the final two years.

The right of transgender minors to access gender-affirming care has sparked debate in many parts of the United States, and it’s now heading to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court heard oral arguments Wednesday on a challenge, brought by young people who identify as transgender and their families, to a law in Tennessee that bans gender-affirming medical care for minors. It’s one of 26 states that have passed bans on gender-affirming health care for transgender children and teenagers, according to a CNN analysis of data from the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank that advocates for LGBTQ rights. Gender-affirming care is a multidisciplinary approach that includes medically necessary and scientific evidence-based practices to help a person safely transition from their assigned gender – the one a clinician assigned them at birth, based mostly on anatomic characteristics – to their affirmed gender – the gender by which the person wants to be known. Although the term gender-affirming care came into the public’s lexicon fairly recently, Dr. Madeline Deutsch, director of the UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program in San Francisco, said the practice has been around for some time and is based on decades of scientific research. Major mainstream medical associations – including the American Medical Association , the American Psychiatric Association , the Endocrine Society , the American Psychological Association , the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – have affirmed the practice of gender-affirming care and agree that it’s the gold standard of clinically appropriate care that can provide lifesaving treatment for children and adults. “While we are always assessing the strength of the evidence for this kind of care, every major US medical association has found that the medical evidence is strong and in support of centers that provides this kind of care and have been doing so for decades,” said Dr. Kellan Baker, executive director of the Whitman-Walker Institute, a health care organization that works on LGBTQ+ issues. This year, an extensive but controversial research review in the UK called the use of puberty-delaying medications into question, saying that the rationale for early puberty suppression was “unclear” and that any benefit for mental health was supported by “weak evidence.” The review — known as the Cass Review for Dr. Hilary Cass, the pediatrician who conducted it — has prompted providers in the UK to scale back their use of the treatment. However, its methodology have come under sharp criticism from some scholars and practitioners. The process typically starts with a conversation between a clinician and the individual. If the patient is a child, the conversation will also include the family when possible. “It’s to really get a better sense of what’s bringing them into the clinic,” said licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Melina Wald, co-founder and former clinical director of the Columbia Gender Identity Program at Columbia University Medical Center. “We are also looking to understand the child’s understanding of their own gender, gender expression and a history related to that.” After experts determine what the person needs, a multidisciplinary group of clinicians will design a plan for them. Depending on the person’s age, care can include mental health and support groups, legal help and sometimes medical help like hormones or surgery when a person is past puberty. “This is individualized care, not some one-size-fits-all-plan,” Baker said. A transition plan can be as simple as offering support to someone when they start using different pronouns, change their hairstyle or clothing, or use a different name. “When we support and allow people to do these things, their lives get better,” Deutsch said. Mental health care: Often, gender-affirming care will include counseling. A 2018 study found that the prevalence of mental health problems among transgender youth was seven times higher than among their cisgender peers. Mental health problems don’t necessarily stem from a person’s identity; a growing number of studies show that they often occur because of social discrimination and what’s known as minority stress. Stigma, marginalization , discrimination, bullying, harassment and violence can lead to feelings of isolation and rejection. People who identify as transgender may also need mental health help just to determine what their identity is, to come to terms with it and to find self-acceptance. Mental health care can also help people come out to their family and friends and develop coping mechanisms so they can be who they are in a world that isn’t always friendly or accepting. Gender-affirming care, studies show, lowers a person’s odds of depression and suicidality and is associated with improved well-being. Medication and surgery: Some people may also receive age-appropriate medical care like hormone treatments, puberty blockers, voice and communication therapy, gynecologic and urologic care and reproductive treatments. Typically, surgeries are offered only to adults. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s guidelines , which are considered the gold standard for gender-affirming care around the world, say this kind of care should provide a person “safe and effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves with the aim of optimizing their overall physical health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment.” When children get to a certain stage of puberty – diagnosed by a medical provider – and still have a persistent, well-documented sense that their gender does not align with the sex assigned at birth, doctors and family may decide to move forward with reversible pubertal suppression , commonly called puberty blockers . Although not all patients choose this treatment, some research shows that gender-incongruent youth may feel increased distress when they start to develop secondary sex characteristics. These gonadotrophin-releasing hormone drugs were first used to delay puberty for people with what’s known as precocious puberty , when a child’s body changes into that of an adult too soon. Puberty blockers can keep secondary sex traits from developing for a few years, to give the child time to access support, explore their gender identity and develop coping skills, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If a patient decides to stop treatment, puberty resumes. “That just basically puts everything on pause, and children can be on that for a couple of years without any ill effects, and it’s totally reversible,” Deutsch said. “If it’s stopped, then everything just continues where you left off.” Studies show that puberty blockers can reduce the distress that may happen when a child develops secondary sex characteristics such as breasts, an Adam’s apple or voice changes. Studies show that transgender adolescents who used puberty blockers were less likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who wanted the treatment but did not get it. Puberty blockers can also make a transition later in life easier, since the person did not develop these secondary sex characteristics. At this stage in the gender-affirming care process, after a thorough evaluation by a medical professional, a patient may also receive hormone therapy that can lead to gender-affirming physical change. Puberty blockers can carry some risks, and more long-term studies are needed, according to the Pediatric Endocrine Society . Long-term studies on fertility and bone health are limited and provide “varied results,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines say that before giving puberty blockers, the provider must make sure the person has demonstrated a sustained and persistent pattern of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence; they must have the emotional and cognitive maturity to provide informed consent; any coexisting mental health problems that could interfere with treatment or consent need to be addressed; the person needs to be told that there could be reproductive effects, and fertility preservation options should be discussed; and the child must have reached Tanner Stage 2 of puberty, which is when a girl starts to develop breast buds and a boy’s scrotum and testicles begin to increase in size. A pediatric endocrinologist must agree with this decision. Professional medical guidelines, with some rare exceptions, do not recommend puberty blockers, hormone therapies or surgery for children who have not gone through puberty. If such treatment is indicated, the clinician would first do a thorough evaluation in collaboration with the patient and their caregiver to understand the child’s unique needs. “I think one of the big myths out there is that there’s a sense that kids are rushed into decisions related to medical care, like hormone therapy or surgery. That’s just not the case,” Wald said. Deutsch agreed: “Kids don’t make stuff up about this, wanting to become trans because it’s trendy or something,” she said. “Trans youth and trans people in general do not have access to a hormone vending machine.” Some critics point out that youth who take puberty blockers may change their minds about their gender identity later in life. Several studies have shown that most people who opt for gender-affirming care don’t later regret their choices — including an October 2022 study in the Netherlands that found 98% of transgender youth who had started gender-affirming medical treatment in adolescence continued to use those hormones around five or six years later in adulthood. Among 3,306 UK Gender Identity Development Service patients included the Cass Review analysis, fewer than 10 patients detransitioned to their birth-registered gender. Questions about the benefits of puberty-blocking medications gained fresh attention in October when the author of a federally funded study was quoted as saying she had delayed publication of some of her results because of fears that they would be “weaponized” in a heated political climate. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, medical director at the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, said that in the study , which she helped lead, puberty blockers did not appear to improve the mental health of 95 children ages 8 to 16 who were followed for two years to understand their mental and physical functioning as doctors used the medications to delay the physical changes associated with puberty. Some advocates for gender-affirming care for youth said this is a typical level of caution taken by researchers to carefully present and interpret scientific data. However, researchers said it remains critical to publish data; puberty blockers may have prevented a decline in mental health, even if they didn’t lead to improvement in mental functioning, but it’s impossible to know if the data isn’t released. If a child identifies as transgender or gender-diverse, research suggests that they know their gender as clearly and consistently as their peers who identify as cisgender or the gender they were assigned at birth, even if it conflicts with other people’s expectations about what a typical “boy” or “girl” is. Some critics of the process suggest that children should wait until adulthood to transition, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says in its guidelines that this approach is “outdated,” in part because it assumes that gender identity becomes fixed at a certain age, and the approach is based on “binary notions of gender in which gender diversity and fluidity is pathologized.” The group also argues that the approach was based on early studies with methodological flaws, limited follow-up and validity concerns. More recent research shows that “rather than focusing on who a child will become, valuing them for who they are, even at a young age, fosters secure attachment and resilience, not only for the child but also for the whole family.” Wald says that waiting to transition can create additional psychological distress for a child and can raise their risk of depression, suicidality, self-harm or substance misuse. “Withholding intervention means that the child is going to go through a puberty that is discordant with their gender identity and would ultimately mean that later, at the age of 18, there would be changes to their body that they would make it even more difficult,” she said. “These children and teens can be incredibly resilient,” Wald added. “With support and access to care, they will thrive and can be just as successful as any kid.” A 2022 analysis of data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and its Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that a tiny fraction of people in the United States – about 0.6% of those 13 and older, or about 1.6 million people – identify as transgender, according to the Williams Institute , a think tank at UCLA Law that provides scientific research on gender identity and sexual orientation. While the percentage of adults who identify as transgender in the US has remained basically the same, the number of young people who identify as such doubled – to 300,000 – from the last time the Williams Institute did the research in 2016 and 2017. It may not be a direct comparison, however, as the Williams Institute’s previous survey did not have survey data for younger teens and had to use statistical modeling to extrapolate based on adult data. The report cannot explain why more young people may be identifying as transgender, but it notes that more data has become available about this population. CNN’s Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell and Kristen Rogers contributed to this report.A FURIOUS shopper has accused Kroger of fraud after their items went up in price before being delivered - after ordering his groceries just the night before. The shopper took to X to blast the chain for the move which forced them to pay more than they thought they were when placing the order. On Thursday, X user John posted: "@kroger literally I ordered groceries last night, paid for them, had them delivered today, and before delivery the price went up? "I got charged again today because the price went up before delivery happened? "That's called fraud. I agreed to pay the price on my receipt." Kroger responded: "Hello John. We're sorry to know about this. read more in kroger "This is not the experience we want for our customers. "Kindly call us at 1-800-576-4377 or send us a DM with your shopper's card number, name, and email address so we can make things right. "Looking forward to hearing from you." KROGER DEALS Customers can expect lots of deals at Kroger this Christmas. Most read in Money The store has launched its 12 Merry Days of deals , which began on Wednesday. The grocery chain is offering customers a new daily discount until December 15th. Each offer will be available to clip within this period, for redemption on December 17th. "12 Merry Days of deals are just two days away and we can't wait to surprise customers each day with a new way to save big this holiday season," said Mike Murphy, Kroger's vie president of Merchandising. "During this special event, in addition to enjoying great savings, we hope customers have as much fun discovering daily offers as we did coming up with a festive lineup of incredible deals to help save during the busiest time of the year." Offers may be redeemed up to five times each in a single transaction. Products set to be included in the daily deals include goods for holiday hosting, seasonal merchandise, and fresh produce. And to participate in the 12 Merry Days, customers should visit the Kroger app on the select dates. Customers can avail of more than $600 in savings weekly using the digital coupons. There are more than 30,000 possibilities for customers to swipe through. KROGER FURY This is not the only time that Kroger have come under fire recently on social media . On November 29 , an angry shopper took to the social media p-platform X to complain about the supermarket always being out of the items they need. This forces them to go to other places when they are in need of a few bits. The post read: "Every single time I go there they are always out of something I need, so I end up driving 3x as far to Walmart . "I just ran to Kroger for two items, and they are out of both. From now on I'm just going to Walmart ." Kroger offers same day delivery via Instacart Shoppers can pay $6.95 for delivery within two hours. Those who need something quicker can get items in as little as 30 minutes. Orders must be a minimum of $10 to get quicker delivery. Customers can save $15 on their first delivery order of $75 or more Kroger replied: "Hi! Thank you for bringing this to our attention. "We Suggest you sending us private message to provide you with the best assistance, Thank you. Looking forward to hearing from you." The customer was quick to hit back at the response, saying that it was pointless , and not completely their fault. He wrote: "Why bother? I have been assured the issues are on the distribution side. Stores order product that doesn't show up." The post sparked responses from similarly annoyed customers. Read More on The US Sun One person said: "Yeah our Kroger used to be amazing. Had great butchers and everything. It's done totally downhill." Another commented: Made that bold move years ago."

The Titans have issues to fix and hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they host the JagsThe world’s biggest podcaster Joe Rogan and the world’s richest man Elon Musk have responded to a National Press Club address given by ABC chair Kim Williams. Speaking in Canberra yesterday, Williams was asked about Joe Rogan’s influence on the US election, and if the ABC should be trying to capture the “bro market”. Williams opened by saying he was not well placed to answer the question because he is “not a consumer or enthusiast of Mr Rogan and his work”. The ABC boss then launched an attack on the popular podcaster: The clip of the attack was shared to X by an account called @wideawake_media, where it caught the attention of Rogan himself. Rogan shared the clip with the caption “LOL WUT”. Musk then weighed in, adding his own message to Rogan’s post. Musk wrote, “From the head of Australian government-funded media, their Pravda”. Pravda was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Children younger than 16 are all but set to be banned from social media, with federal parliament poised to enact the world-first legislation. The Senate is expected on Thursday to pass the laws that would ban young people from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with bipartisan support. However, there has been concern that the proposal has been rushed through parliament without proper scrutiny, given that Australia would be the first country to implement such a ban. The ban would come into effect one year after the laws pass the parliament, with trials of age-verification technology still being carried out by the federal government. Criticism had been levelled at the ban after an inquiry into the laws ran for just three hours, with people only given one day to hand in submissions and a lack of consultation with young people themselves. While the bill has enjoyed bipartisan support, several coalition members have broken ranks to raise concerns. Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to vote against the ban in the House of Representatives, while coalition senator Matt Canavan has also criticised the laws. A number of President-elect Donald Trump ’s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretences. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action,” Leavitt said. Among those targeted were Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity amid the ongoing investigation. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and was “working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Good morning and welcome to the national news blog. My name is Josefine Ganko, and I’ll guide our coverage through the early afternoon. It’s Thursday, November 28. Here’s what’s making news this morning.Look back on 2024: Stories with a big impact in Denton this year