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Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second termEllie Goulding has expressed her deep admiration for the efforts of homelessness charity Crisis while participating in their Christmas services. The 37 year old singer spent time at a London hotel this Monday, where she welcomed guests alongside the charity, served up warm refreshments, dished out food and engaged in games. With the festive period in full swing, Crisis is braced for twice as many referrals as there are available spaces in their accommodations. At the launch event for Crisis’s Christmas campaign, Goulding shared her sentiments with the PA news agency: "I’m so in awe of Crisis and the volunteers I meet every time I come here. They’ve been doing this for such a long time, and I’ve been supporting for a long time. "I’ve always cared about homelessness since I was really, really young. It was just something that always really affected me. “If I saw people sleeping rough, it just really triggered me and affected me, and so I always said to myself, if I was ever in a position where I could help and support and get involved then I would, which is why I’ve sort of been dedicated to it. "And it’s not like it’s getting any better, homelessness is still on the rise. There’s over 300,000 people homeless without a proper home this Christmas. "So we need more people to get involved with Crisis, and not just at Christmas but throughout the year as well. We need more volunteers, more people to get involved, and just more people to care." Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, has taken a significant step to provide support for those in need by taking over three hotels in London. This initiative will offer over 570 individuals their own room, companionship, and access to numerous Crisis services aimed at helping them establish a stable life after homelessness. Guests at the hotel will benefit from hot meals and health and wellbeing services, including access to GPs, opticians, and hairdressers, as well as professional advice regarding benefits and housing options. The charity highlighted an alarming increase in homelessness, reporting that it had risen by 42% this year. Recent figures reveal a concerning trend with 4,780 individuals observed sleeping rough on the streets of London between July and September—a significant jump of nearly one-fifth (18%) compared to the previous year. Ellie Goulding, the chart-topping artist known for hits like "Love Me Like You Do" and a dedicated supporter of Crisis for over a decade, added: "I’m here to help, I’m here to do whatever is required of me. "I come every year, and I’ve just been serving some tea, coffee, and later on I’ll be doing some other bits and pieces, various things. "Everyone’s working really hard, lots of incredible volunteers here, lots of friendly faces. It’s a very warm and cosy and safe environment, and it’s always a pleasure to be here." Sam Phillips, star of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, and TV fitness guru Joe Wicks were also among those dedicating their time to volunteer at the hotel alongside Goulding. Reflecting on the country's situation, Phillips told PA: "I just feel very passionately that homelessness is a crisis in this country, and more should be done. "Thankfully, the government is doing more now with social housing, but I think ultimately we’d like to see homelessness eradicated from the country." Joe Wicks has spoken out about the plight of the homeless, expressing his strong belief that nobody should be without a home, especially during the festive season. Volunteering with Crisis for the first time, Wicks said: "In this day and age, we shouldn’t have people sleeping rough on the streets. It’s freezing cold, people need to be looked after. "I think naturally, as an empath, I care about people and we’ve been raising money for Crisis ourselves as a business, The Body Coach, this month. So I was invited along to be a volunteer. "I’m going to be serving some food, and just interacting I think more than anything, just socialising with people and giving them a chance to talk. “This is a great campaign that people are actually getting a chance to sleep here in this hotel for two weeks, and a warm bed, shower, food, and it’s just wonderful to see how much it’s going to have an impact on them.”

From multiple explosions to tragic stampedes: 20 most dominant events of 2024MongoDB, Inc. to Present at the Barclays 22nd Annual Global Technology ConferenceRavens superstar Jackson set the overall pace with 44,681 votes followed by teammate Derrick Henry, the running back leader, in second overall at 40,729 votes. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was third overall at 40,602, only 127 votes behind Henry in the rusher's race, with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen fourth overall on 36,574 and Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs fifth on 35,637. The Detroit Lions lead all clubs in total votes received, followed by the Ravens, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL's revamped all-star event will be staged in Orlando, Florida, for the second consecutive year. In all, 88 players will gather on February 2 in skills competitions and a flag football showdown with coaches Peyton and Eli Manning. While other vote totals were not revealed, Washington rookie Jayden Daniels was the top NFC quarterback in the fan voting and top receivers were Minnesota's Justin Jefferson in the NFC and Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase in the AFC. NFL fans can vote as often as they wish through December 23 with selections decided by a consensus of ballots by players, coaches and fans with each group counting for one-third of every player's final total. NFL players and coaches will cast votes on December 27. js/rcw

The past few years have been among the toughest for businesses in living memory, but you would be hard-pressed to guess that based on the jubilant atmosphere at the 2024 Smart50 Awards . The event, which counts down 50 of the fastest-growing Australian small and medium businesses, is always a high point on the calendar. And it really kicked things up a notch this year, thanks to the generosity and support of our sponsors: Optus Business , the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Asana , and Lightspeed Commerce . Of course, these awards wouldn’t exist at all without the small business owners themselves, whose unrelenting adaptability and drive are a constant inspiration. Indeed, as SmartCompany ’s editor-in-chief Simon Crerar noted in his welcome speech, the extraordinary “hustle and smarts” of Aussie SMEs are making the awards harder to judge every year. So, without further ado, let’s look back at a fun-filled evening where Australia’s best and brightest SMEs were dressed to impress and ready to celebrate. A new venue provides an elevated experience This year’s Smart50 Awards were held at Metropolis Events in Southbank—a swanky venue that boasts spectacular panoramic views of the Yarra River and Flinders Street Station. Passing the big, strapping bouncers in their smart black suits and riding the escalator up to the entrance even felt a bit like trotting the red carpet at the Logies. As the guests started to arrive, waiters circled with tasty canapés, and the sense of slightly nervous anticipation was diffused with a drink (or two). Meanwhile, one of the evening’s first surprises was DJ-slash-saxophonist Tom Bunnett, who set an upbeat, almost electric vibe with his mix of funky dance beats layered with smooth, soulful saxophone riffs. Even Melbourne’s notoriously fickle climate seemed enthusiastic about the Smart50 this year, putting on a show of bright sunshine that made the city sparkle through the 9-metre-high windows. Such beautiful weather was slightly at odds with the current business landscape, however. As Crerar observed, the latest ACCI numbers paint a grim picture , revealing a record high of 1,245 insolvency appointments in the July quarter. This is a 44% bump from the mid-2023 figures, and a staggering 122% increase on 2022. Then again, maybe the weather was appropriate after all, since the morning had been grey and gloomy before the clouds parted. And, with the drinks flowing and interest rate cuts in sight, attendees clearly felt they had reason to celebrate. Not only surviving, but thriving Perhaps that’s the biggest takeaway of the night – and business leaders seem fired up for 2025. This is a testament to what the evening’s MC, SmartCompany ’s senior technology journalist, Tegan Jones described as the “scrappy” nature of Aussie entrepreneurs. And it’s a quality that our nation’s economy depends on. As Crerar pointed out in his speech and follow-up article , an overwhelming majority (99.8%) of the 2.6 million businesses in Australia have under 200 staff. Yet they employ more than 75% of all our workers and generate more than 50% of our GDP. Despite these very challenging times, those who attended the awards last Thursday are not only surviving but thriving. In fact, as a group, they made nearly a billion dollars in sales in the last financial year. “This year, those making the Top 50 list made a total of $912 million in revenue in FY24 alone, up from $495 million last year,” Crerar told the room. “This growth points to green shoots of recovery after what we know have been a very turbulent few years,” he added. A real sense of community The incredible resilience and creativity of Aussie SMEs was on full display throughout the countdown and category award presentations . And, once again, the sense of optimism in the room was palpable and infectiously uplifting. By now, you probably know Pay.com.au was the evening’s main prize-winner, having achieved a remarkable 385% growth over the past three financial years. But a few other businesses deserve an honourable mention: There were a lot of laughs when Paire co-founders Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang each took an opportunity during their acceptance speeches to spruik their Black Friday sale. And a sweet exchange when they riffed with The Laundry Lady CEO and founder Susan Toft about their respective appearances on Shark Tank . This moment really highlighted the sense of community that exists among Aussie SMEs. Meanwhile, Yun’s unprompted shoutout to Optus Business and SmartCompany underscored the important role of the organisations whose success is tied up in theirs. After some more mingling, networking and photo ops, the evening was drawing to a close. And thanks to the unwavering support from Optus Business, ASBFEO, Asana, and Lightspeed Commerce, guests left not only with swag bags full of local artisan treats, but also with a renewed sense of possibility for what’s next.Thomas Sorber collected 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to pace Georgetown to an 83-53 win against shorthanded Coppin State on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C. The Hoyas pulled away from the Eagles with a 21-2 run early in the second half. Georgetown held Coppin State to 22 percent shooting in the second half and 18 percent from behind the arc. Georgetown (11-2) is off to its best start since the 2011-12 season. Drew Fielder recorded 20 points and 13 rebounds while Malik Mack had 15 points and 11 assists for the Hoyas. Georgetown played without its leading scorer Jayden Epps, who missed the game with a lower-body injury. Toby Nnadozie scored 22 points and Julius Ellerbe III added 12 to go along with six steals for the Eagles (1-13). The Hoyas' decisive second-half run started with Caleb Williams' steal that led to a Fielder lay up as Georgetown took 49-37 lead. Moments later, Fielder's turnaround in the lane put the Hoyas up 56-37. Sorber's jam with 6:36 left gave Georgetown a 67-41 advantage. The pesky Eagles rattled off a 7-0 run but got no closer than 19 points the rest of the game. The Eagles played without three of their top four scorers but forced 14 Georgetown turnovers in the first half and hit 5-of-8 3-pointers. Ellerbe corralled a loose ball near half court and distributed it to Nnadozie who converted a contested layup to pull CSU within 12-11. But the Hoyas held a 24-10 rebounding edge in the first half as Sorber and Fielder were a force inside the paint. The Hoyas created separation as Sorber worked the high-low game with a catch in the lane and a left finger roll for a 25-15 Hoyas' lead with 8:40 left in the first half. Zahree Harrison's 3-pointer kept the dogged visitors close and capped a 5-0 run that cut the Georgetown lead to 25-20. Nnadozie closed the first half with a 3-pointer and the Hoyas held a 37-30 lead. --Field Level Media

F1 Don't miss out on the headlines from F1. Followed categories will be added to My News. The guillotine has fallen on Sergio Perez. Red Bull is reportedly set to officially cut Sergio Perez following a meeting of the team’s shareholders next week — giving the Mexican driver one final ride at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend. The year has been a nightmare for Perez, who will finish eighth in the world championship despite teammate Max Verstappen fending off Lando Norris to defend his crown. Perez has been made a laughing stock in recent months. Not since Michael Schumacher blew his teammate Jos Verstappen away in 1994 has a driver finished so far below a championship-winning teammate. He signed a contract extension — through to the end of the 2026 season — earlier this year after Daniel Ricciardo ruined what was rumoured to be a plot from Red Bull boss Christian Horner to get the Australian into Perez’s seat. Every F1 qualifying session and race LIVE in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. According to ESPN , Red Bull senior figures have made the decision that enough is enough after watching Perez cost the team the constructor’s championship. The report claims Perez will likely still have a role with the team because the contract extension he signed earlier this year came with some guarantees. The contract was cleared with the Contract Recognition Board, leading to speculation sacking Perez could cost the team $10m to buy out his deal. The decision to cut Perez will send shockwaves around the sport with the team now having the difficult decision of finding the best option to replace him. VCARB driver Yuki Tsunoda has had an impressive second half of the year for the Red Bull junior operation, but Kiwi Liam Lawson has put a strong case forward since he replaced Ricciardo. According to motorsport.com , no final decision has been made — but the two VCARB drivers are the only options the team is considering. It makes next week’s final testing event in Abu Dhabi a shootout between the pair. Max Verstappen has ruined Sergio Perez’s career. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images. That will then leave a vacant seat at VCARB with Red Bull again reportedly likely to promote from within its junior nursery of rising stars. According to ESPN, Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar will likely be the one promoted to join VCARB. Red Bull product Franco Colapinto, who drove in his rookie season for Williams in 2024, looked like a strong candidate to join the Red Bull junior team, but senior Red Bull officials have reportedly gone cold on that option. Horner was diplomatic when speaking after Perez failed to finish Monday morning’s Qatar Grand Prix. It was the sixth time this season that Pérez had not scored a point . Horner said Pérez was “old enough and wise enough to know what the situation is”. “I’m going to let Checo (Pérez) come to his own conclusions, nobody’s forcing him one way or another,” he said, per ESPN. “It’s not a nice situation for him to obviously be in.” He went on to say: “Look, Checo has had a very tough year. “Obviously the points table are what they are. We’re very much focused on really supporting him to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, and then obviously it’s not an enjoyable situation for Checo, being in this position with speculation every week. It has been a turbulent year for Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB. Photo by Mark Thompson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA. “He’s old enough and wise enough to know what the situation is, and yeah, let’s see where we are after Abu Dhabi.” When asked what he would do if Pérez wanted to stay put at Red Bull after next week’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Horner said he would wait until the end of the weekend to see where the team was placed. It seems Perez’s failures at last month’s Las Vegas Grand Prix also lost him plenty of support — including from senior advisor Helmut Marko. “We have to have two drivers who finish in the points,” Marko told DAZN at the time. “Max is more than 200 points ahead of Sergio [in the driver standings]. For our employees, it is a disappointment because they will not receive their bonuses, as they depend on our position in the Constructors’ Championship.” Marko had essentially let the cat out of the bag on Monday, already speculating about Perez’s replacement. Marko told ViaPlay on Monday the team will make decisions next week. “There is a meeting Monday after Abu Dhabi,” he said. “All the major people are there, all of the shareholders, and there a decision will be done. “We always — or most of the time — brought our own drivers through the Red Bull program and I think it’s a philosophical decision: do we stick to that? And what I got from the shareholders is it will be in this direction.” More Coverage ‘Lost all respect’: Max gives rival both barrels Matthew Sullivan Star’s blunt admission after AFL scandal Originally published as Bombshell Red Bull report sends shockwaves across Formula 1 More related stories F1 Red Bull ready to swing the axe after nightmare year The guillotine has fallen at Red Bull with the world champion outfit set to transform what the grid looks like in 2025. Read more F1 ‘Bitter’ figure behind $23m Schumacher plot Eye-opening details behind the plot to blackmail F1 legend Michael Schumacher and his family have been revealed. Read more

Ravens QB Jackson leads first NFL Pro Bowl fan voting results