Not Purdy: 49ers hit Green Bay with backup QB, no BosaGetting smart about car insurance can provide cost savings and peace of mindNoneOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Alex Iacovitti faced up to St Mirren’s packed festive programme and roared: Bring it on! The Buddies face four games in the space of 11 days over the traditionally busy Christmas and New Year period in the Premiership. It all kicks off on Boxing Day when Rangers visit the SMiSA Stadium for a match which will be screened live on Premier Sports (kick-off 5.45pm). Top-six rivals Dundee then arrive at Greenhill Road on Sunday, December 29 to wrap up a memorable year for Saints. Stephen Robinson’s men will first foot Rugby Park for a date with Kilmarnock on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and head to Glasgow’s east end to face reigning champions Celtic on Sunday, January 5. Saints are in great form having notched up five wins from their last eight games and Iacovitti is looking forward to tucking in to more than just turkey alongside his band of brothers who are in for training on Christmas Day. Renfrewshire Live, the new free app dedicated to bringing you around the clock breaking news, is now available to download. Powered by the Paisley Daily Express, Renfrewshire Live is your go-to source for news, features and sport with live coverage provided direct to the app, seven days a week. The dedicated team of experienced journalists, responsible for the publication of the award-winning Express, will focus on breaking news, day and night, across Renfrewshire’s towns and villages. There is also a dedicated St Mirren section that will follow every kick of the ball with the Buddies. Available on both Android and Apple. D ownload here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial He said: “I love playing games and want as many as possible. It’s what you are paid to do as a footballer. We’ve got a game every three or four days and it’s coming thick and fast. “I’ve been in on Christmas Day quite a few times as, down south, we play on Boxing Day quite a lot. “I’ve not had a proper Christmas Day for the last five or six years. It doesn’t bother me and I’ll follow the same routine as during the week and look forward to the game the next day. “It’s a really tight-knit group here. We’ve all got each other’s backs and, when we come in on Christmas Day, it will be a good crack and spirits will be high. I don’t think there will be a Secret Santa, I hope not! Maybe I don’t know about it!” Iacovitti – who scored his third goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Ross County – will enjoy a quiet Christmas with his partner as he gears up to take on Philippe Clement’s Light Blues. “It’s just me and the missus up here,” he said. “My family’s in Nottingham so we’ll just be here having a quiet one. It’s different when you are close to home but when it is just you and your partner, you get used to it.” Buddies boss Robbo gave his players Sunday and Monday off after success over the Staggies and they will begin preparations for the Rangers game on Tuesday. Scott Tanser is suspended for the Boxing Day game after being red-carded in Dingwall with Mark O’Hara (thigh) also out. Toyosi Olusanya returns from a ban while Conor McMenamin will be assessed regarding his availability. Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
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Brian Daboll is now without Daniel Jones for the first time, but it raises the question of how long that era will last. Brian Daboll has had a lot on his plate in the last ten days. The Daniel Jones benching reaction alone has been a lot. However, the Malik Nabers reaction and subsequent drama from the loss to the Buccaneers also has placed headaches on his desk. Put simply, the New York Giants are spiraling. While they aren’t the only New York football team in a tailspin with questions at quarterback and head coach, the New York Jets have a solid head start on the head coach search. If the New York Giants want to beat out the Jets in convincing a new coach to move to New York, the first step to getting toward that end would be to let Brian Daboll go. However, there is a question as to whether the Giants have any intentions with Brian Daboll. NFL insider lays out Brian Daboll’s near future Speaking in a CBS Sports news clip , NFL insider Jonathan Jones addressed what he had heard about Daboll’s future. “I’m not going to sit here and etch this in a stone and promise you my firstborn, that anything in the NFL will or will not happen. ... I expect Brian Daboll to finish out this season. “And while yesterday was bad, I still expect Brian Daboll to come back next year. But that’s based off of what everyone that I talked to has been telling me,” he said. “So again, I know it looks bad... it can get worse. And can things change? Absolutely. But as it stands right now, no, I don’t anticipate that Brian Daboll is going to get fired midseason,” he added. With still six games on the schedule, the Giants could theoretically end up with a 2-15 record. With no quarterback lined up for the 2025 season, that would grant them an opportunity to potentially draft any quarterback of their choosing in the upcoming NFL Draft. Of course, without the correct team placed around said quarterback, the team could be walking into another five years of Daniel Jones-like production. Daniel Jones era in summary Perhaps the most telling statistic about the Daniel Jones era was his record before and after his second contract. The Giants quarterback went 9-6-1 in his contract year, winning a playoff game as well. After signing on the dotted line, the quarterback went 3-13, throwing for ten touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In total, Jones went 24-44-1, throwing for 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. As a free agent, the quarterback now has his pick of the litter. If his goal is merely to join the best playoff contender, he has an incentive to wait another month to see how it all shakes out. Which team will the quarterback elect to join? This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.
It took far longer than anyone in the organization preferred, but the Utica Comets finally ended its winless streak. The Comets notched a 4-3 win Friday at the Syracuse Crunch — eventual American Hockey League Player of the Week Mike Hardman scored the game-winner with 73 seconds remaining — and then showed an opportunistic side less than 24 hours later in a 5-1 road victory over the Rochester Americans. Both Isaac Poulter (26 saves Friday) and Nico Daws (35 saves Saturday) were sharp in earning their first wins of the season. The results snapped the team-record 13-winless streak to start the season (technically 14, dating to the 23-24 season finale). The wins give the Comets a 2-10-2-1 overall record, getting them a step closer to no longer having the worst record in the 32-team league. Saturday's five goals were a season-best. Notably, the team totaled nine goals over the two wins which constitutes 30% of the total goals this season. The offensive outburst is a positive step for the Comets, who were averaging 1.6 goals per game entering the weekend. Hardman earns honor For his play on the weekend, Hardman was named Player of the Week on Monday. It is the first time the 25-year-old winger has earned the AHL's weekly award. Hardman totaled four points, including the eventual game-winners on Friday and Saturday. Hardman, returning from a three-game injury absence, had an assist to help give Utica a two-goal lead on Friday, before scoring two go-ahead goals in the third period, the second one coming with 1:13 remaining to help Utica get the win. Hardman, a fourth-year pro from Massachusetts, has four goals and one assist in seven games with the Comets this season. He signed as a free agent with the parent New Jersey Devils in the offseason. He's is the first Comets player to be named AHL Player of the Week since Dec. 25, 2022 (Graeme Clarke). Hardman is the eighth Comets player to earn the weekly honor since 2013. Holding off Syracuse Comets' captain Ryan Schmelzer ended two other droughts with the game's opening goal in the first period Friday in Syracuse. It was his first goal of the season and it snapped a stretch of 138 minutes the team had gone without a goal over parts or all of four games. While on the power play, Schmelzer circled into the left faceoff dot and took a snap pass from rookie defenseman Seamus Casey and one-timed a rocket past sprawling goaltender Matt Tomkins. The Comets had not scored in a 2-0 loss at home the previous weekend. Utica;s lead doubled when Beckman got his second point of the night, 2:41 into the second period. When the puck came out from along the boards in the offensive zone, Hardman took a shot from far out as Beckman drove the net and tipped it in over Tomkins' glove. It was Beckman's third goal of the season and Hardman's first assist. Syracuse cashed on two power plays in the second and third period to tie the game. Hardman grabbed the lead back with his second goal of the season with just under 10 minutes left in regulation. The puck was pushed to him on a rebound, and he ripped a shot from the right faceoff circle that hit the back of the net, putting the Comets up 3-2. The Crunch's Conor Sheary then tied the game with 4:40 left in regulation. However, a second power-play tally for the Comets was the goal that finally ended the winless streak. Hardman sent a rebound off his own initial shot past Tomkins. After work on special teams leading into the game, Utica finished 2-for-3 on the power play. Though, the penalty kill finished 1-for-3. It was the first AHL coaching win for interim coach Ryan Parent. Rolling past Rochester While it wasn't the prettiest of outings — Utica had six total shots through 26 minutes of game time, for example — Utica was opportunistic Saturday in Rochester. It snapped a three-game winless streak vs. the Amerks. It helped Utica's power play also scored twice, including the first goal of the game 8:44 into the opening period by Brian Halonen. He scored through a mess of bodies in front after a short pass from Xavier Parent. Utica's three-goal second period helped give the team a 4-0 lead and Comets came within 10.8 seconds of shutting out the Amerks before Brendan Warren scored the Amerks' only goal in the 5-1 loss. Utica extended the lead to 4-0 over a less than nine-minute span with goals from Hardman (from the bottom of the right circle), Halonen (one-timer from the left circle on the power play) and Nathan Légaré tapping in the puck on feed from Topias Vilen on the rush. That goal ended Felix Sandstrom’s night (11 saves on 15 shots). Schmelzer scored from the top of the right circle near the midpoint of the third. It was the sixth loss in seven games for Rochester. Casey, points leader Casey, playing in his 11th game with Utica, finished with back-to-back two-point games. He leads the team 13 points, including a team-best 12 assists. His points are tied for seventh among all AHL rookies. Upcoming The Comets have their final home game of November at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Providence. It is the first of two visits for Boston's AHL affiliate. Utica then heads to Springfield for a 4:05 p.m. game Friday in Massachusetts. Then, Utica meets Providence again at 7 p.m. Saturday in Rhode Island to close November.NoneHOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell will miss the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday. Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of his injury Monday before announcing that Dell would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day. “He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL, other things there he’ll have to get repaired," Ryans said. “So he’ll be out for the year.” Ryans didn't have a date for Dell's surgery for this injury, but said it would be soon. Dell was injured on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s 27-19 loss Saturday. He was coming across the back of the end zone and made the spectacular catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud before colliding with Houston teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. Dell immediately grabbed at his knee and Wayne signaled for team trainers, who spent several minutes working on the wide receiver while teammates waited anxiously. Dell was eventually placed on a stretcher and driven in a covered medical cart off the field, and then he was taken to the hospital. He stayed in the hospital overnight before flying back to Houston on Sunday. Stroud, who is so close to Dell that he considers him a brother, cried the entire time the receiver was down on the field and for a while after he was taken away. “It was just not easy for me to sit there and be emotional,” Stroud said Monday. “But it’s something that we all go through in life and it’s easy to be a fake tough guy. It’s easy to go through life acting like everything doesn’t affect you, but deep down we all know we’re going through something.” Some criticized Stroud for crying. But he believes a display of emotion such as that was important to remind people of the human aspect of this game and the toll it can take on players. “It’s good for young men and women out there, kids who are brought up — and I was taught this too as a kid, not from my parents but just from the world, don’t let anybody see you emotional,” he said. “Don’t let anybody see you down and yeah there’s some truth to that in in certain aspects, but there’s also life and I think it was good for people to see me in that light and knowing that there is still a human factor to me and I’m a normal person.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgsThird quarter total revenue of $1,177.5 million , up 3.6% year over year as reported and in constant currency Third quarter Enterprise revenue of $698.9 million , up 5.8% year over year Third quarter GAAP operating margin of 15.5% and non-GAAP operating margin of 38.9% Number of customers contributing more than $100,000 in trailing 12 months revenue up 7.1% year over year Repurchased approximately 4.4 million shares of common stock in third quarter Increased total common stock repurchase authorization by $1.2 billion, resulting in approximately $2.0 billion remaining to be repurchased SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zoom Communications, Inc. ZM today announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024. On November 25, 2024, the company changed its corporate name from Zoom Video Communications, Inc. to Zoom Communications, Inc. "At Zoomtopia we announced major milestones such as AI Companion 2.0 and paid add-ons for AI Companion and industry-specific AI customization, further cementing our vision to deliver a differentiated AI-first work platform that empowers customers to achieve more than ever," said Eric S. Yuan, Zoom founder and CEO. "In Q3, we were pleased to see revenue and enterprise revenue growth improve to approximately 4% and 6% year over year, respectively, and Online monthly average churn reach an all-time low of 2.7%. Additionally, Zoom Contact Center set a record with an over 20,000-seat deal in EMEA, and Workvivo secured its largest deal ever with a Fortune 10 company, showing our success in landing and expanding with global enterprises that recognize the promise of our integrated Workplace and Business Services platform." Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Highlights: Revenue: Total revenue for the third quarter was $1,177.5 million, up 3.6% year over year. Adjusting for foreign currency impact, revenue in constant currency was $1,177.3 million, up 3.6% year over year. Enterprise revenue was $698.9 million, up 5.8% year over year, and Online revenue was $478.7 million, flat year over year. Income from Operations and Operating Margin: GAAP income from operations for the third quarter was $182.8 million, compared to GAAP income from operations of $169.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. Non-GAAP income from operations, which adjusts for stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes, acquisition-related expenses, and litigation settlements, net, was $457.8 million for the third quarter, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $447.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. For the third quarter, GAAP operating margin was 15.5% and non-GAAP operating margin was 38.9%. Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share: GAAP net income for the third quarter was $207.1 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to GAAP net income of $141.2 million, or $0.45 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. Non-GAAP net income, which adjusts for stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes, gains on strategic investments, net, acquisition-related expenses, litigation settlements, net, and the tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments, was $435.1 million for the third quarter. Non-GAAP net income per share was $1.38. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, non-GAAP net income was $401.2 million, or $1.29 per share. Cash and Marketable Securities: Total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, excluding restricted cash, as of October 31, 2024 was $7.7 billion. Cash Flow: Net cash provided by operating activities was $483.2 million for the third quarter, compared to $493.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, down 2.0% year over year. Free cash flow, which is net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, was $457.7 million, compared to $453.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, up 1.0% year over year. Customer Metrics: Drivers of total revenue included acquiring new customers. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, Zoom had: 3,995 customers contributing more than $100,000 in trailing 12 months revenue, up 7.1% from the same quarter last fiscal year. Approximately 192,400 Enterprise customers. A trailing 12-month net dollar expansion rate for Enterprise customers of 98%. Online average monthly churn of 2.7% for the third quarter, down 30 bps from the same quarter last fiscal year. The percentage of total Online MRR from Online customers with a continual term of service of at least 16 months was 74.1%, up 90 bps year over year. Financial Outlook: Zoom is providing the following guidance for its fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and its full fiscal year 2025. Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025: Total revenue is expected to be between $1.175 billion and $1.180 billion and revenue in constant currency is expected to be between $1.174 billion and $1.179 billion. Non-GAAP income from operations is expected to be between $443.0 million and $448.0 million. Non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be between $1.29 and $1.30 with approximately 315 million weighted average shares outstanding. Full Fiscal Year 2025: Total revenue is expected to be between $4.656 billion and $4.661 billion and revenue in constant currency is expected to be between $4.661 billion and $4.666 billion. Full fiscal year non-GAAP income from operations is expected to be between $1.813 billion and $1.818 billion. Full fiscal year non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be between $5.41 and $5.43 with approximately 315 million weighted average shares outstanding. Full fiscal year free cash flow is expected to be between $1.580 billion and $1.620 billion. The EPS and share count figures do not include the impact from the share repurchase authorization discussed below. Additional information on Zoom's reported results, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP results to their most comparable GAAP measures, is included in the financial tables below. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty of expenses that may be incurred in the future, although it is important to note that these factors could be material to Zoom's results computed in accordance with GAAP. A supplemental financial presentation and other information can be accessed through Zoom's investor relations website at investors.zoom.us. Stock Repurchase Authorization: In November 2024, Zoom's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $1.2 billion of Zoom's outstanding Class A common stock. This authorization is in addition to the amount remaining under the prior authorization for the share repurchase program, for a total of approximately $2.0 billion remaining to be repurchased. Repurchases of Zoom's Class A common stock may be effected, from time to time, either on the open market (including pre-set trading plans), in privately negotiated transactions, and other transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. The timing and the amount of any repurchased Class A common stock will be determined by Zoom's management based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors. The repurchase program will be funded using Zoom's working capital. Any repurchased shares of Class A common stock will be retired. The repurchase program does not obligate Zoom to acquire any particular amount of Class A common stock, and the repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time at Zoom's discretion. Zoom Video Earnings Call Zoom will host a Zoom Video Webinar for investors on November 25, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the company's financial results, business highlights and financial outlook. Investors are invited to join the Zoom Video Webinar by visiting: https://investors.zoom.us/ About Zoom Zoom's mission is to provide one platform that delivers limitless human connection. Reimagine teamwork with Zoom Workplace — Zoom's open collaboration platform with AI Companion empowers teams to be more productive. Together with Zoom Workplace, Zoom's Business Services for sales, marketing, and customer care teams, including Zoom Contact Center, strengthen customer relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded ZM and headquartered in San Jose, California. Get more information at zoom.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains express and implied "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Zoom's financial outlook for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and full fiscal year 2025, Zoom's market position, opportunities, and growth strategy, product initiatives, including future product and feature releases, go-to-market motions and the expected benefits resulting from the same, market trends, and Zoom's stock repurchase program. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "project," "will," "would," "should," "could," "can," "predict," "potential," "target," "explore," "continue," or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, these statements are subject to numerous uncertainties and risks, including factors beyond our control, that could cause actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the statements, including: declines in new customers, renewals or upgrades, or decline in demand for our platform, difficulties in evaluating our prospects and future results of operations given our limited operating history, competition from other providers of communications platforms, the effect of macroeconomic conditions on our business, including inflation and market volatility, lengthened sales cycles with large organizations, delays or outages in services from our co-located data centers, failures in internet infrastructure or interference with broadband access, compromised security measures, including ours and those of the third parties upon which we rely, and global security concerns and their potential impact on regional and global economies and supply chains. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2024. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to Zoom at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. Zoom assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Zoom has provided in this press release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Zoom uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing Zoom's financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with Zoom's condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of Zoom's historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation. Non-GAAP Income from Operations and Non-GAAP Operating Margin. Zoom defines non-GAAP income from operations as income from operations excluding stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes, acquisition-related expenses, restructuring expenses, and litigation settlements, net. Zoom excludes stock-based compensation expense because it is non-cash in nature and excluding this expense provides meaningful supplemental information regarding Zoom's operational performance and allows investors the ability to make more meaningful comparisons between Zoom's operating results and those of other companies. Zoom excludes the amount of employer payroll taxes related to employee stock plans, which is a cash expense, in order for investors to see the full effect that excluding stock-based compensation expense had on Zoom's operating results. In particular, this expense is dependent on the price of our common stock and other factors that are beyond our control and do not correlate to the operation of the business. Zoom views acquisition-related expenses when applicable, such as amortization of acquired intangible assets, transaction costs, and acquisition-related retention payments that are directly related to business combinations as events that are not necessarily reflective of operational performance during a period. Restructuring expenses are expenses associated with a formal restructuring plan and may include employee notice period costs, severance payments, and other related expenses. Zoom excludes these restructuring expenses because they are distinct from ongoing operational costs and Zoom does not believe they are reflective of current and expected future business performance and operating results. Zoom excludes significant litigation settlements, net of amounts covered by insurance, that we deem not to be in the ordinary course of our business. In fact, Zoom believes the consideration of measures that exclude such expenses can assist in the comparison of operational performance in different periods that may or may not include such expenses and assist in the comparison with the results of other companies in the industry. Zoom defines non-GAAP operating margin as non-GAAP income from operations divided by GAAP revenue. Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income Per Share, Basic and Diluted. Zoom defines non-GAAP net income as GAAP net income adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes, acquisition-related expenses, restructuring expenses, gains/losses on strategic investments, net, litigation settlements, net, and the tax effects of all non-GAAP adjustments. Zoom excludes these items because they are considered by management to be outside of Zoom's core operating results. These adjustments are intended to provide investors and management with greater visibility to the underlying performance of Zoom's business operations, facilitate comparison of its results with other periods, and may also facilitate comparison with the results of other companies in the industry. Zoom defines non-GAAP net income per share, basic and diluted, as non-GAAP net income divided by the number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted, calculated in accordance with GAAP. Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Margin. Zoom defines free cash flow as GAAP net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Zoom considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors regarding net cash provided by operating activities and cash used for investments in property and equipment required to maintain and grow the business. Zoom defines free cash flow margin as free cash flow divided by GAAP revenue. Revenue in Constant Currency. Zoom defines revenue in constant currency as GAAP revenue adjusted for revenue reported in currencies other than United States dollars as if they were converted into United States dollars using the average exchange rates from the comparative period rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods. Zoom provides revenue in constant currency information as a framework for assessing how Zoom's underlying businesses performed period to period, excluding the effects of foreign currency fluctuations. Customer Metrics Zoom defines a customer as a separate and distinct buying entity, which can be a single paid user or an organization of any size (including a distinct unit of an organization) that has multiple users. Zoom defines Enterprise customers as distinct business units that have been engaged by either our direct sales team, resellers, or strategic partners. All other customers that subscribe to our services directly through our website are referred to as Online customers. Zoom calculates net dollar expansion rate as of a period end by starting with the annual recurring revenue ("ARR") from Enterprise customers as of 12 months prior ("Prior Period ARR"). Zoom defines ARR as the annualized revenue run rate of subscription agreements from all customers at a point in time. Zoom calculates ARR by taking the monthly recurring revenue ("MRR") and multiplying it by 12. MRR is defined as the recurring revenue run-rate of subscription agreements from all Enterprise customers for the last month of the period, including revenue from monthly subscribers who have not provided any indication that they intend to cancel their subscriptions. Zoom then calculates the ARR from these Enterprise customers as of the current period end ("Current Period ARR"), which includes any upsells, contraction, and attrition. Zoom divides the Current Period ARR by the Prior Period ARR to arrive at the net dollar expansion rate. For the trailing 12 months calculation, Zoom takes an average of the net dollar expansion rate over the trailing 12 months. Zoom calculates online average monthly churn by starting with the Online customer MRR as of the beginning of the applicable quarter ("Entry MRR"). Zoom defines Entry MRR as the recurring revenue run-rate of subscription agreements from all Online customers except for subscriptions that Zoom recorded as churn in a previous quarter based on the customers' earlier indication to us of their intention to cancel that subscription. Zoom then determines the MRR related to customers who canceled or downgraded their subscription or notified us of that intention during the applicable quarter ("Applicable Quarter MRR Churn") and divides the Applicable Quarter MRR Churn by the applicable quarter Entry MRR to arrive at the MRR churn rate for Online Customers for the applicable quarter. Zoom then divides that amount by three to calculate the online average monthly churn. Public Relations Colleen Rodriguez Head of Global Public Relations [email protected] Investor Relations Charles Eveslage Head of Investor Relations [email protected] Zoom Communications, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) As of October 31, 2024 January 31, 2024 Assets (unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,273,823 $ 1,558,252 Marketable securities 6,428,214 5,404,233 Accounts receivable, net 458,007 536,078 Deferred contract acquisition costs, current 189,874 208,474 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 182,497 219,182 Total current assets 8,532,415 7,926,219 Deferred contract acquisition costs, noncurrent 113,079 138,724 Property and equipment, net 340,750 293,704 Operating lease right-of-use assets 56,878 58,975 Strategic investments 444,653 409,222 Goodwill 307,295 307,295 Deferred tax assets 730,601 662,177 Other assets, noncurrent 154,198 133,477 Total assets $ 10,679,869 $ 9,929,793 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 8,542 $ 10,175 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 481,492 500,164 Deferred revenue, current 1,363,392 1,251,848 Total current liabilities 1,853,426 1,762,187 Deferred revenue, noncurrent 15,559 18,514 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 37,590 48,308 Other liabilities, noncurrent 93,460 81,378 Total liabilities 2,000,035 1,910,387 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 306 307 Additional paid-in capital 5,241,088 5,228,756 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income 6,787 1,063 Retained earnings 3,431,653 2,789,280 Total stockholders' equity 8,679,834 8,019,406 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 10,679,869 $ 9,929,793 Note: The amount of unbilled accounts receivable included within accounts receivable, net on the condensed consolidated balance sheets was $122.6 million and $124.8 million as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively. Zoom Communications, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue $ 1,177,541 $ 1,136,727 $ 3,481,295 $ 3,380,767 Cost of revenue 283,881 270,988 842,272 801,494 Gross profit 893,660 865,739 2,639,023 2,579,273 Operating expenses: Research and development 222,980 196,832 635,294 597,905 Sales and marketing 361,703 374,378 1,068,481 1,170,255 General and administrative 126,137 125,140 347,016 454,364 Total operating expenses 710,820 696,350 2,050,791 2,222,524 Income from operations 182,840 169,389 588,232 356,749 Gains on strategic investments, net 6,324 (25,471 ) 26,785 8,474 Other income, net 91,248 41,908 250,248 114,206 Income before provision for income taxes 280,412 185,826 865,265 479,429 Provision for income taxes 73,362 44,614 222,892 140,799 Net income 207,050 141,212 642,373 338,630 Net income per share: Basic $ 0.67 $ 0.47 $ 2.08 $ 1.13 Diluted $ 0.66 $ 0.45 $ 2.04 $ 1.10 Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share: Basic 307,529,696 302,493,182 308,443,893 299,037,999 Diluted 314,191,269 310,389,905 314,514,244 306,852,190 Zoom Communications, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 207,050 $ 141,212 $ 642,373 $ 338,630 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Stock-based compensation expense 240,995 258,934 708,370 802,788 Amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs 71,227 65,164 211,040 203,908 Depreciation and amortization 32,290 26,977 88,041 77,179 Deferred income taxes (14,269 ) 6,081 (72,135 ) 20,056 (Gains) losses on strategic investments, net (6,324 ) 25,471 (26,785 ) (8,474 ) Provision for accounts receivable allowances 4,521 6,858 17,039 29,062 Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses (2,428 ) 18,598 4,801 23,281 Non-cash operating lease cost 5,904 5,184 17,861 15,841 Amortization of discount/premium on marketable securities (18,925 ) (15,293 ) (54,765 ) (33,307 ) Other 4,643 (1,836 ) 3,418 (5,251 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 66,635 58,362 74,272 71,993 Prepaid expenses and other assets (66,789 ) (40,567 ) (5,754 ) (124,455 ) Deferred contract acquisition costs (56,076 ) (53,427 ) (166,795 ) (146,354 ) Accounts payable (1,714 ) (7,257 ) (1,447 ) (2,258 ) Accrued expenses and other liabilities 50,999 58,936 (2,968 ) (15 ) Deferred revenue (27,381 ) (54,414 ) 106,248 1,918 Operating lease liabilities, net (7,141 ) (5,830 ) (22,072 ) (16,931 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 483,217 493,153 1,520,742 1,247,611 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of marketable securities (1,520,851 ) (1,137,431 ) (3,702,166 ) (2,963,597 ) Maturities of marketable securities 1,046,249 814,958 2,690,418 2,358,078 Sales of marketable securities 47,482 — 47,482 — Purchases of property and equipment (25,484 ) (39,987 ) (128,226 ) (108,413 ) Purchases of strategic investments — (1,800 ) (13,500 ) (52,800 ) Proceeds from strategic investments 200 — 4,854 107,244 Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired — — — (204,918 ) Net cash used in investing activities (452,404 ) (364,260 ) (1,101,138 ) (864,406 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from exercise of stock options 1,897 650 3,752 8,336 Proceeds from issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan — — 34,263 32,513 Proceeds from employee equity transactions (remitted) to be remitted to employees and tax authorities, net (669 ) (6,156 ) 2,190 (4,897 ) Cash paid for repurchases of common stock (301,618 ) — (739,311 ) — Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (300,390 ) (5,506 ) (699,106 ) 35,952 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 3,126 (17,492 ) (3,020 ) (21,273 ) Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (266,451 ) 105,895 (282,522 ) 397,884 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of period 1,549,309 1,392,232 1,565,380 1,100,243 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of period $ 1,282,858 $ 1,498,127 $ 1,282,858 $ 1,498,127 Zoom Communications, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 GAAP income from operations $ 182,840 $ 169,389 $ 588,232 $ 356,749 Add: Stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes 246,764 266,090 733,749 813,458 Litigation settlements, net 18,000 — 16,250 52,500 Acquisition-related expenses 10,190 11,660 31,702 35,439 Restructuring expenses — — — 72,993 Non-GAAP income from operations $ 457,794 $ 447,139 $ 1,369,933 $ 1,331,139 GAAP operating margin 15.5 % 14.9 % 16.9 % 10.6 % Non-GAAP operating margin 38.9 % 39.3 % 39.4 % 39.4 % GAAP net income $ 207,050 $ 141,212 $ 642,373 $ 338,630 Add: Stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes 246,764 266,090 733,749 813,458 Litigation settlements, net 18,000 — 16,250 52,500 (Gains) losses on strategic investments, net (6,324 ) 25,471 (26,785 ) (8,474 ) Acquisition-related expenses 10,190 11,660 31,702 35,439 Restructuring expenses — — — 72,993 Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (40,614 ) (43,197 ) (99,484 ) (140,494 ) Non-GAAP net income $ 435,066 $ 401,236 $ 1,297,805 $ 1,164,052 Net income per share - basic and diluted: GAAP net income per share - basic $ 0.67 $ 0.47 $ 2.08 $ 1.13 Non-GAAP net income per share - basic $ 1.41 $ 1.33 $ 4.21 $ 3.89 GAAP net income per share - diluted $ 0.66 $ 0.45 $ 2.04 $ 1.10 Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted $ 1.38 $ 1.29 $ 4.13 $ 3.79 GAAP and non-GAAP weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share - basic 307,529,696 302,493,182 308,443,893 299,037,999 GAAP and non-GAAP weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share - diluted 314,191,269 310,389,905 314,514,244 306,852,190 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 483,217 $ 493,153 $ 1,520,742 $ 1,247,611 Less: Purchases of property and equipment (25,484 ) (39,987 ) (128,226 ) (108,413 ) Free cash flow (non-GAAP) $ 457,733 $ 453,166 $ 1,392,516 $ 1,139,198 Net cash used in investing activities $ (452,404 ) $ (364,260 ) $ (1,101,138 ) $ (864,406 ) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities $ (300,390 ) $ (5,506 ) $ (699,106 ) $ 35,952 Operating cash flow margin (GAAP) 41.0 % 43.4 % 43.7 % 36.9 % Free cash flow margin (non-GAAP) 38.9 % 39.9 % 40.0 % 33.7 % Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2024 Revenue YoY Revenue Growth (%) Revenue YoY Revenue Growth (%) GAAP revenue $ 1,177,541 3.6 % $ 3,481,295 3.0 % Add: Constant currency impact (213 ) — % 5,710 0.1 % Revenue in constant currency (non-GAAP) 1,177,328 3.6 % 3,487,005 3.1 % © 2024 Benzinga.com. 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Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Police believe the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO left NYC on a bus after the shooting NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials say the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer three days ago may have quickly left New York City on a bus after escaping on a bicycle and hopping in a cab. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN on Friday that video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday’s shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson showed him riding through Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal, directly across from New Jersey. Kenny said police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting, leading them to believe he left the city. Investigators also believe the shooter left his backpack in Central Park and are trying to find it. Trump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled choice to lead the Pentagon. Hegseth's ability to win confirmation by the Senate is wavering as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat. Trump posted on social media that Hegseth is a winner “and there is nothing that can be done to change that.” Hegseth spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead the Pentagon. IAEA chief: Iran is poised to 'quite dramatically' increase stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Iran is poised to “quite dramatically” increase its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium. That's according to comments by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday. Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke in Bahrain, on the sidelines of the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue. He says Iran had begun preparing advanced centrifuge cascades to spin at nuclear facilities to increase its supply of 60% enriched uranium. That kind of material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Grossi says this is “very concerning." Iran did not immediately acknowledge the preparations, which Grossi said had begun on Friday. Inspectors hope to examine what’s going on. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's immigration and border team is filling out. Trump has announced a former Border Patrol chief, Rodney Scott, to head the Customs and Border Protection agency. Scott is a career Border Patrol agent who rose to head the agency during Trump's first term. He's been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures. At CBP he'll head a department of roughly 60,000 employees responsible for protecting the country’s borders while also facilitating trade and travel. Trump also said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that, among other things, arrests migrants in the U.S. illegally. Vitello is a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency. Romania's top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court has annulled the first round of the country’s presidential election, days after declassified intelligence alleged Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round. Friday's unprecedented and final decision by the Constitutional Court came after President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence on Wednesday that alleged Russia ran a sprawling campaign comprising thousands of social media accounts to promote Calin Georgescu across platforms like TikTok and Telegram. Despite being a huge outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner on Nov. 24. He was due to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a runoff on Sunday. Crews recover the body of a woman from a Pennsylvania sinkhole after a 4-day search Police say the remains of a woman who fell into a sinkhole have been recovered four days after she went missing while searching for her cat. Trooper Steve Limani said Friday that the body of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard was sent to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy. Pollard disappeared while looking for her cat on Monday evening, and authorities found her car close to what is thought to be a newly opened sinkhole above a long abandoned coal mine a few hours later. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Jury will consider lesser charge in NYC subway chokehold case, judge dismisses manslaughter charge NEW YORK (AP) — The judge overseeing the trial of a man accused of using a deadly chokehold on an unruly subway passenger has dismissed the top charge in the case at the request of prosecutors, allowing the jury to consider a lesser count after the panel indicated it was deadlocked on whether Daniel Penny was guilty of manslaughter. The judge’s decision on Friday came hours after Manhattan jurors sent him a note saying they were unable to agree on a manslaughter verdict. Penny is facing charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, who Penny held in a chokehold for about six minutes on a New York City subway in 2023. Vance tells residents in hurricane-stricken North Carolina that they haven't been forgotten FAIRVIEW, N.C. (AP) — Vice President-elect JD Vance is surveying hurricane damage in western North Carolina in one of his first public appearances since the November election. Vance and his wife, Usha, visited the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, which was flooded with 4 to 6 inches of water in the storm. They heard that roughly a dozen people contracted walking pneumonia while responding to the hurricane's destruction and that power outages prevented some first responders from talking with their families. Vance said, “My simple message to the people of Appalachia is that we haven’t forgotten you — we love you.” Vance has largely stayed out of the public eye since the election aside from shepherding Trump’s Cabinet nominees around Capitol Hill.
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Hundreds of homes were left under water, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across parts of the UK. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has been asked to review “incompetence” at the Met Office that led to a “clear underestimation” of the impact of Storm Bert. Labour MP for Cardiff West, Alex Barros-Curtis, said warnings should have been “amber or red”, as Mr Reed told MPs that more flooding is “likely”. Hundreds of homes were left under water, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across parts of the UK. More than 130 flood warnings and 160 alerts remained in place across the UK on Monday. In the Commons on Monday, Mr Barros-Curtis asked: “Can I ask that the Secretary of State speak to his Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) colleagues to carefully look into the role of the Met Office here? “It is clear that their response was slow and that there was a clear underestimation of the impact of Storm Bert. “They put it yellow rather than amber or red. Our constituents have been let down by this incompetence before, and it cannot keep happening.” Mr Reed said: “In most parts of the countries that were affected, warnings were given with adequate time for people to prepare and I would encourage people to sign up on the Defra website, or the Environment Agency website for warnings and alerts if they live in an area that could be affected by flooding. “I’m aware of the particular concern that he mentions regarding the Met Office, and I will indeed be speaking to colleagues in DSIT as they review the circumstances of that and look at how the situation can be improved for future events of this kind.” A Met Office spokesperson said: “Storm Bert was well forecast, with first signs of disruptive weather signalled a week ahead and the first warnings issued on Wednesday November 20. “A number of warnings were in place ahead of the system reaching the UK. “We work closely with partners to assess the potential risks of extreme weather and warnings covering Wales highlighted the potential for homes and businesses to flood with fast flowing or deep floodwater possible, causing a danger to life. “Observed rainfall totals were broadly in line with the forecast and the severe weather warnings issued in advance.” During his update to the House, the Environment Secretary said that more flooding this week is “likely” but its impact “should be less severe” than has been seen. He said: “Around 28,000 properties are being protected by Environment Agency flood defences. “Unfortunately, an estimated 107 properties have flooded across England, principally from river and surface water flooding.” He added: “The Environment Agency and local responders have also been busy protecting properties elsewhere in England, including flooding from the River Teme in Tenbury Wells where around 40 properties have flooded. “The river has now peaked and local responders will be focusing on the lower reaches of rivers over the next few days.” He further stated: “Further flooding is sadly likely over the next few days as water levels rise in slower flowing rivers such as the Severn and the Ouse. “The Environment Agency anticipates that any impacts should be less severe than we have seen in recent days.” Mr Reed also described the flood defences they inherited from the previous government as being “in the worst condition on record following years of underinvestment”. He added: “Over 3,000 of our key flood defences are below an acceptable standard. “That is why we are investing £2.4 billion over the next two years to build and maintain flood defences.” Elsewhere in the session, Labour MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana, was among the MPs to call for a legal duty on fire services to respond to flooding. She said: “I want to express my solidarity and thanks to all of our emergency services, including firefighters on the front line. “Extreme weather events are on the rise and becoming ever more frequent due to climate change, highlighting the urgent need for proper funding and resources. “England is the only part of the UK without a statutory duty for flooding, leaving fire services underfunded and under-resourced to respond effectively. This must change, as the FBU (Fire Brigades Union) has long called for.” “When will the Government finally provide a statutory duty for Fire and Rescue authorities to respond to flooding incidents in England?” Mr Reed replied: “The fire and rescue authorities have the powers to intervene, but she’s quite right to point out there’s not a duty, and officials in my department, working with the Home Office, will review that to see that that remains appropriate.” Conservative MP for Mid Buckinghamshire Greg Smith said some communities in his constituency are flooding “for the first time in decades” as he accused the Government of wanting to “concrete over the countryside”. He said: “That is a result of some of the big infrastructure we are seeing being built, particularly HS2 where they will concrete over a field completely, it seems, unaware that that will have a knock-on effect to farmland next door. “So will the Secretary of State commit to working with the Transport Secretary (Louise Haigh) and I also suggest the Deputy Prime Minister (Angela Rayner) given their plans to concrete over the countryside to ensure that where construction takes place proper, and I really mean proper, flood mitigation measures are put into place.” Mr Reed replied: “This needs to operate across Government, and we will have those conversations and ensure that measures are put in place to support communities as much as is possible from the more severe weather events that we’re seeing as a result of climate change.”
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HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Ashlon Jackson scored a career-high 30 points and No. 14 Duke defeated No. 10 Kansas State, 73-62 on Monday, in the semifinals of the Ball Dawgs Classic. The Blue Devils (6-1) overcame an early 11-point deficit behind Jackon’s shooting hand to advance to Wednesday’s championship game against the winner of the game between No. 9 Oklahoma and DePaul. Jackson, who has scored in double figures in all six of Duke’s games, shot 12 of 19 (63.1%) from the floor, including 6 of 9 (66.7%) from 3-point range. Reigan Richardson added 16 points for the Blue Devils. Kansas State (5-1) was led by Ayoka Lee, who had 16 points. Serena Sundell scored 15 and Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to add 11 for the Wildcats. Kansas State: With her 16-point performance, Lee needs 48 points to pass Kendra Wecker (2001-05) for the Kansas State career scoring record. Wecker scored 2,333 points. Lee, the 2024-25 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, is averaging 15.3 points. Duke: Jackson hit her season average of 13.3 points by the 3:54 mark of the second quarter when her pull-up jumper gave her 14. The junior guard was 8 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and had 20 points by halftime. With the Blue Devils trailing by six midway through the second quarter, Jackson triggered a 15-0 run with 13 of the team’s points to help Duke take a lead they’d never relinquish. Duke will face the winner of No. 9 Oklahoma-DePaul on Wednesday in the championship game, while Kansas State will face the loser in the consolation game. Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballAvon football cherishes path to first state championship