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Wharfedale, despite its charm, tends to get rather packed during the summer months. However, there's a charmingly named North Yorkshire village, slightly off the usual tourist trail that remains somewhat quieter. The narrow and winding two-mile road from Burnsall to Appletreewick doesn't lead anywhere else. You don't pass through Appletreewick unless you intend to or stumble upon it by happy accident. As such, it doesn't see the same level of activity as Burnsall during the peak season. That's not to say it's devoid of tourists in winter. In an age where nearly everyone has a car and a smartphone, no place in the Yorkshire Dales is truly hidden. And visitors have good reason to search for Appletreewick online. It's a typical Dales village with old stone houses overlooking the expansive, green Wharfedale. Noteworthy buildings include the intriguingly named 15th-century Mock Beggar Hall and High Hall, a Tudor mansion, reports Yorkshire Live . The entirety of High Hall, which radiates nobility both inside and out, is available for holiday rentals if you fancy playing pretend as a 16th-century noble family for a week. Who wouldn't? Those on more modest budgets may prefer to stay in one of Appletreewick's holiday cottages or campsites. It's further from the Wharfe than say Grassington or Burnsall, so if you're keen on a dip, you'll need to be prepared and determined. If it's too cold or you simply can't be bothered, Appletreewick boasts two pubs - the New Inn and the Craven Arms - which are open all year round. Richard, a local from the Craven Arms, shares his thoughts on the village: "It's a very historic village and one of the most beautiful villages in the Dales." He adds, "It's a smaller road to get here so it's a bit more isolated – but not a lot." When asked about the name 'Appletreewick', Richard confirms that it does indeed have a connection with apple trees, saying, "The answer is yes to both." He elaborates that the Domesday Book of 1086 records it as æppel-trēow wīc, which translates from Old English to mean 'a farm specialising in apples'. This historical detail might be the reason why Appletreewick boasts its own cider. For those keen to sample some, the Growling Shrew bottle shop in Skipton is known to occasionally stock Appletreewick Cider. For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter Teesside Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we'll send you the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone. To join our community group, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select 'Join Community' . No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Teesside Live team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Click here to join our WhatsApp community .WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InterDigital, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC), a mobile, video and AI technology research and development company, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share on its common stock, payable on January 22, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 8, 2025. About InterDigital ® InterDigital is a global research and development company focused primarily on wireless, video, artificial intelligence ("AI”), and related technologies. We design and develop foundational technologies that enable connected, immersive experiences in a broad range of communications and entertainment products and services. We license our innovations worldwide to companies providing such products and services, including makers of wireless communications devices, consumer electronics, IoT devices, cars and other motor vehicles, and providers of cloud-based services such as video streaming. As a leader in wireless technology, our engineers have designed and developed a wide range of innovations that are used in wireless products and networks, from the earliest digital cellular systems to 5G and today's most advanced Wi-Fi technologies. We are also a leader in video processing and video encoding/decoding technology, with a significant AI research effort that intersects with both wireless and video technologies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on Nasdaq. InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc. For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com . InterDigital Contact: [email protected] +1 (302) 300-1857
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.1. 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Promising review : "Why didn't I buy this sooner? Let me start by saying I drink a lot... A LOT... of seltzer. I was going through multiple cans a day which added up quickly in my garage and was a hassle to return). The Sodastream Terra has been a welcomed change in our household. I keep three 1L bottles cold on hand in the fridge at all times and rotate them around as we use them. The machine itself is so easy to use and fits right under the cabinets in my kitchen with very little footprint. The first canister lasted around a month, depending on how much fizz you enjoy it could last more or less. The CO2 quick connect is very easy to install as well making this item 1000% worth the time and energy to make my own seltzer vs buying at the store." — MM Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors). Check out BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass's full SodaStream review . 4. An indoor herb garden for those who love gardening, but don't have the yard to do so. This compact garden features two different grow modes (for fruit and veggies) and has a built-in LED grow light to help them flourish indoors. Promising reviews: " Easily grow vegetables all year round indoors without having to worry about bugs! I love this product. It looks sleek on my countertop. Inbloom Hydroponic growing systems also make great gifts. Excellent quality and price point!" — Carolyn Davis "I purchased this as a gift for a friend and it was most enthusiastically received. Apparently, it was one of their most requested items, and they were absolutely thrilled to be gifted this hydroponic garden. The product is easy to use and doesn’t take up too much space. Such an ideal gift for new homeowners and those wanting to begin growing their own produce in a small space without being overwhelmed. Highly recommend!" — Samuel Brown Samuel Brown Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two sizes, two styles, and three colors). And grab an herb seed growing kit to complete the gift! 5. An Ember temperature-control smart mug because it can keep their coffee and tea as hot as when they first poured it. It's aaaall controlled through the app where they choose their desired temperature and can even make presets for specific beverages. Fancy stuff, right? Promising review: "Best thing since sliced bread! I hate when my coffee gets cold. I was originally looking for one of those warming coasters, but then, I saw the Ember mugs. ... There was no turning back. I can take my coffee with me into my boss's office, and it still stays hot?? Yes, please. I used that app and have adjusted my temp down to 127 degrees. It stays at that temperature the entire time. I’ve not had an issue with battery life either, doesn’t take me more than an hour to polish off a cup of coffee. I HIGHLY recommend." — Mathews Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in two sizes and 10 colors). 6. A set of the fanciest olive oil, vinegar, and honey they will be bragging about any chance they get! The olive oil is handcrafted from California olives, the vinegar is made with chardonnay grapes and Valencia oranges, and the honey has a surprising orange blossom twist. How delicious does that sound!? Brightland Co. is a small business based in California. Promising reviews: " Wonderful, flavorful high-quality products. I love it all so much! Bright, interesting, and complex flavors in all three! I sent [this set] to my best friend for her birthday — that's how good it is! :) I will definitely buy again. Highly recommend." — Diane V. "WOW — the flavor, the packaging, ALL OF IT! I received Brightland as a gift, and If I had not received the gift, I would not have known about these amazing oils. The flavor is great, the packaging is great, and just the overall experience was amazing. Will purchase again." — Brittany Shipping info: Orders are typically processed within 1–3 business days. Expedited shipping is available for an additional cost at checkout. Get it from Brightland Co. for $88 . 7. An enameled, cast-iron Le Creuset Dutch Oven I'm positive they'll be cooking out of for years to come (seriously, reviewers say they last forever!). It's easy to clean and won't chip or crack even after years of use. Promising reviews: " Best cooking item I've ever bought . It really pays to buy the absolute best sometimes, and this is it in Dutch ovens. I've used it at least twice a week since I bought it. It's such a delight to use." — Consuela S. , Sur La Table customer " A must-have for your kitchen. Beautiful, high quality. Even temperatures and great for roasting anything. So easy to clean also. The hardest decision is the color and size!" — Gail C. , Sur La Table customer Get a 5.5 qt. from Sur La Table for $419.95 (available in 15 colors) or from Amazon for $399+ (available in 10 colors). 8. A Keurig K-Mini coffee maker for a quick and delicious cup of joe before starting their day. Will they get up early enough to stop at the cafe? Debatable. But will they have an easy, single-serve coffee maker at home? Yep, thanks to you! Need some coffee to go with? Try this variety pack of 60 K-Cups ( $36.09 ) or these reusable K-Cups ( $13.95 ) for a low-waste option. Promising review: "It’s the PERFECT size for my dorm room. Super pretty color and super cute. Nothing bad to say about this product. Shipped quickly and works great. Can’t wait for my 2 a.m. essay coffees with this bad boy!" — Mary Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (originally $99.99; available in six colors). 9. A *mini* KitchenAid stand mixer so they can bake to their heart's desire, without taking up a ton of counter space in the kitchen. This baby comes with over 10 attachments that'll allow them to mix dough for cookies, batter for pancakes, and SO much more. Promising review: "This mini is perfect for everything that doesn't need the capacity of my full size KitchenAid. It's great for beating eggs, whipping cream, etc., but it's also ideal for making small-batch cookie dough, dinner rolls, single loaves of yeast bread, crumble toppings, and on and on." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $279.95+ (available in eight colors). 10. An electric wine opener because opening a bottle of vino should be as stressless as possible. They are, after all, about to sit and relax with a glass, right? The modern and sleek design makes it stylish enough to sit right on top of their kitchen counter, too. They'll love it! Promising review: "Luxurious look. This product has a fancy design and is super quiet! It's easy to use, and within seconds, you will have wine ready to pour. Hassle free and a neat way to open bottles of wine. It lights up blue, easy to recharge, and most definitely a good product to give as a gift." — Babi Gendut Get it from Amazon for $19.80 . 11. A chic and compact Beast Blender — a mini version of the viral original but with *way* more color options. The ribbed design helps things blend faster and more smoothly. And bonus points for the matching to-go drinking lid, straws, and storage cap that's included! Promising review: "I bought this for my husband who has started drinking protein powder drinks every morning. The switch from typical blender to The Beast is a much quieter, cleaner, and more compact process... he's very happy with his Mini Blender, and the color Terra is lovely!" — Jan B. Beast Shipping info: Orders typically shipped within 48-72 hours of purchase. Free standard shipping for all domestic orders over $85+. Expedited shipping options also available. Get it from Amazon for $119+ (available in five colors) or straight from Beast for $84.15+ (originally $99+; available in five colors). Check out BuzzFeed's full review of the Beast Blender for more details. 12. An ~app-controlled~ touchscreen air fryer for make quick and delicious meals! With the help of five cooking presets, this Cosori air fryer can help even the worst of cooks make something great. Reviewers rave about making everything from french fries to whole steaks (and some yummy reheated meals in between). Promising review: "I'm obsessed with it. This Cosori air fryer is incredibly easy to operate and clean. The design is sleek and appealing (I leave it out on my counter). And the results have greatly exceeded my expectations. I'm hooked and I think for the foreseeable future I will be using this almost every day. Here are just a few examples of what I've made so far:- Brussels sprouts: the results of cooking these at home in a normal gas oven have always sucked. While not quite restaurant quality (restaurants use oil fryers) the Cosori comes incredibly close and shaves about 10 min of cooking time. - Reheating french fries: This alone was worth the purchase. They were crispy and just as delicious as the night before. - Reheating steak that I cooked to a rare temp the night before on the pan: no complaints and super easy to clean afterward. - Bacon: Way faster, way cleaner (and can easily save the bacon fat) and turned out perfect. I'm so excited to experiment more with this awesome machine. 5/5" — Nolan S. Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in three colors). 13. OR, a Dash compact air fryer that won't take up much space, but will make (or reheat) some amazing meals. Promising review: "Fantastic kitchen tool and well deserving of the hype. It’s helped me immensely when cooking meals in my kitchen, especially with side dishes such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and the ubiquitous fried potato. The Dash has removed all the stress of trying to get the timing right when preparing multiple dishes and cooks everything perfectly crisp on all sides. Getting tofu crisped has always been a struggle...but with this, I’ve been able to get results that I’ve been trying to for years. ... Highly recommended. It looks cool and doesn’t take up too much counter space either." — User of Consumer goods/bads Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in five colors). 14. A 12-piece ceramic, nonstick Caraway cookware set to give their kitchen a ✨pop✨ of color with topnotch quality to match. The sauté pan alone is 100% worth the investment because of how many things you can use it for! Bonus points: This bestselling set is oven-safe, has nontoxic coating, AND is easy to store (a lid holder and pan rack are included!). I started out with just the cream-colored sauté pan and loved it so much I knew I *needed* the entire set. TL;DR the hype is absolutely real. This cookware is gorge in person, but I love that it's actually non-stick! It's so easy to cook on, it's easy to clean , and it's cute enough to leave on top of the stove for all (i.e. me) to see. I also love the pan and lid storage that comes with the set. They each fit inside my kitchen cabinets perfectly and really help with keeping things tidy and organized. I'd say it's definitely worth the investment! Learn more about this cookware set in our full Caraway Pan Set review ! This set includes a 10.5" frying pan, 3-qt. saucepan and lid, 6.5-qt. Dutch oven and lid, 4.5-qt. sauté pan and lid, four modular magnetic pan racks, and a canvas lid holder with hooks. Caraway shipping info: Orders shipped through ground usually take between 2-4 business days to deliver once processed. On select products, customers may choose expedited shipping. Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $355.50+ (available in six colors) or straight from Caraway for $355.50+ (originally $545; available in 12 colorways). You can also shop the pots and pans individually on Amazon or Caraway starting at $85. 15. A ✨best-selling✨ wine purifier perfect for wine-lovers (especially wine-lovers prone to headaches). This purifier will even get their cheap wine tasting like they paid the big bucks. When attached, it allows the perfect amount of oxygen into your wine, allowing you to taste the nuances, and enhancing the flavor. Üllo is a wine-focused small business based in Chicago. Promising review: "Life-changing for my wife. Before this, she was not able to drink red wine at all. She has not had a problem at all since." — FLted , Williams Sonoma customer Williams Sonoma shipping info: Standard shipping is 3-5 business days (or $26 for next-day shipping); orders must by placed by December 19 for guaranteed delivery by December 24. Get it from Amazon for $55.99 or Williams Sonoma for $79.95 (also available as a wine decanter and purifier combo ). 16. An automatic grinder that can grind herbs and spices with just a push of a button. It comes with three spice pods that are easily interchangeable, making seasoning while cooking so much easier. BTW, this grinder is battery-operated. Make sure to get a few AA batteries , too! Promising reviews: "Nothing like freshly ground spices to add a little snap to your cooking. The pods snap on and off with ease, and the grind size is very easy to adjust from barely ground to pulverized. ... The ability to group commonly used spices together in threes and carry them across the kitchen or outside to the grill just adds to the usability." — Todd Tittle "I love this thing!!! It works beautifully. I ordered more pods and trays so I could use my various salts. It's easy to switch pods, and the triangular tray is perfect!" — cindybeadlady "My sons bought me this set for a gift and I love it! I use this set every time I cook. I have arthritis in my hands that tends to come and go. The ease of use is fantastic. One-handed wonder! " — MrsMcPatriot Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in seven colors, comes with grinder and two interchangeable pods). 17. A handheld mixer complete with three different attachments for whisking, frothing, and blending. The design is fully electric with a copper motor, which means no tired arms when they're making their favorite meals. It also features an ergonomic, comfy, nonslip handle! Reviewers use this handheld blender for everything from making salsa and soups to beating eggs and frothing milk for coffee! The possibilities are endless with this kitchen gadget. Promising reviews: "I LOVE it! I've intended to get a hand blender for years and finally just did it. I looked at ones that were much more expensive and was worried that this would be cheaply made (because you often get what you pay for). However, I have been pleasantly surprised with this one. At 500 watts, it has serious power, and it is super easy to use. I made tomato soup, and it blended it in under a minute; then, I just popped the bottom off and washed it! Super simple. Super happy with my purchase!" — amazonaddicted "Worked great, feels sturdy, took on boiling temperature to blend, but the top of the shaft stayed cool. Great buy!" — Nol Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (also available with three or seven accessories). 18. An Instant Pot 7-in-1 pressure cooker because it really does it all. Perfect for the cooks with limited space and even better for non-cooks with limited experience. It features 13 pre-programmed and customizable cooking settings for things as simple as soup or rice, to more complicated ventures like slow cooking and sautéing. It's a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and food warmer all rolled into one nifty appliance. Read our full review of the Instant Pot ! Promising review: "This is quite possibly the coolest, most versatile kitchen gadget I’ve ever owned. I love it so much that I’ve purchased two more for friends and relatives. What can it do? I think the real question is, 'What can’t it do?' I truly believe you could replace every cooking appliance (including your oven and stovetop) and do EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot. I purchased two sizes for my own use: the 3-quart (which is my almost-every-day workhorse for two-person dishes) and the 8-quart (which I bring out to handle my dinner party dishes). Everything I’ve tried has been fabulous. In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is no better investment than the Instant Pot. Highly recommended!!!" — Stereoman Get it from Amazon for $79.99 . AND a very handy pressure cooker magnetic cheat sheet set that'll be perfect as a stocking stuffer or matching bonus gift. It's got TONS of useful information like suggested cooking times, liquid ratios, and more. Cooking anything with an Instant Pot will be so much easier (and faster) with this! Promising review: "These magnets assisted me in using my Instant Pot for the first time and I love it. It was very helpful with the cooking time and very accurate. The different items I've made in the pot have come out perfect. The instructions were easy to follow for my older children to use as well. [The magnet on the refrigerator is convenient because] you don't have to go far to look for instructions, just turn around and peek. I recommend using this product for anyone who likes easy quick instructions when preparing food. I also have instructions for the air fryer, and everything has turned out perfect with the instructions as well. Helpful tool." — iverygirl Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in two sizes and in an Airfryer version ). 19. A rapid egg cooker for quick eggs in tons of different styles: hard/medium/soft boiled, poached, scrambled — you name it! This gadget does it all EGGcellently. It also features an auto-shutoff function! It can boil up to six eggs at a time, poach up to two eggs at a time, or make an omelet! There's a poaching tray, omelet tray, a six-egg holder tray, a measuring cup, a recipe book, and access to a recipe database. All nonelectric parts are dishwasher-safe! BuzzFeed's own Samantha Wieder absolutely loves this egg cooker: "I love cooking, I really do, but there are two very inconvenient times that my cooking laziness strikes, and that is first thing in the morning when I wake up, and at the end of the day when it's time for dinner. Thankfully, in the morning, I now have this rapid egg cooker which allows me to make soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or an omelet, all without having to stand over the stove. It's also a great way to whip up a high-protein snack during the day when you're busy with work, school, or just in the middle of a very important Netflix binge. The egg maker will let out a sound when your eggs are cooked, and then, all you have to do is enjoy them!" Promising review: " I didn't believe the hype until I bought it for myself. My boiled eggs come out perfect EVERY TIME. Trust me, this is not one of those kitchen products you buy to make life easier that just ends up sitting on top of the cabinet collecting dust. If you are a deviled egg/hard boiled egg/omelet lover, YOU NEED THIS." — M. Brown Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in seven colors). 20. A sous vide precision cooker so they can have restaurant-quality meals at home, minus all of the effort. This cooker can be controlled right from their phone and even provides cooking notifications from up to 30 feet away! Multitasking has never been so easy. The temperature range is 32-197 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, you get access to over 1,000 recipes, so you'll have inspiration for yummy meals! Get the Anova app here . Promising reviews: "After years of hearing about how great sous vide cooking is, I finally pulled the trigger on this unit, and it really does live up to the hype. Super easy to set up, and the app provides a ton of recipes to use." — PL "Since I started cooking sous vide, my family says my cooking has gone to a new level. I started with the original Anova, and just recently, picked up this Nano. The Nano is awesome because it's much smaller vs. the first Anova, making it easier to store in a drawer or something. It sounds trivial, but by making it easier to grab, setup is so much quicker, and I can cook a beef roast for 30 hours without adding ANY water. If you're just starting out in sous vide, I recommend this cooker." — Jeff Nichols Get it from Amazon for $64.99 . 21. An automatic bread maker , the perfect gift for those who still love their newfound quarantine hobby but hate the time it takes. This bread maker handles the entire baking process from start to finish and allows you to make other things such as cake and jams. Yum! This machine has 12 settings: French, quick bread (no yeast), sweet, 1.5-pound express, 2-pound express, dough, jam, cake, whole grain, and bake. It allows you to select your loaf size and between a light, medium, or dark crust setting. Includes an interior pan and two kneading paddles that are all dishwasher-safe! Promising review: "The machine is perfect!!!! I already made two loaves of bread yesterday and am getting ready to make another loaf today. If you are lazy like me and would rather put all the ingredients into a machine and let it do all the work, this is the bread maker for you. " — Pam Charmley Get it from Amazon for $89.99 . 22. A cold brew pitcher if they're strictly an iced coffee fan. All they need to do is put grounds into the filter, add some water, and let it sit overnight. The next day, they'll have some yummy cold brew and ~you'll~ have a phone full of thank you texts! Promising reviews: " Believe the hype! This thing is the real deal. I bought a second one because I love this iced coffee maker so much! This thing is a game-changer. If you love iced coffee, BUY IT NOW! You won’t regret it. So easy to use and clean. Unbelievable!" — Connie Howard "I am a HUGE believer in the Takeya cold brew coffee maker for several reasons. I have two, one that I use at home, and one that I use in the field doing Army work or on deployments. It requires no electricity to make my delicious cold brew, it is plastic, and it is water-tight. This means in a pinch, I can throw it into the vehicle or into a bag and run out to a new location with no worries about breaking, spilling, or leaking. ... Overall, awesome investment and no real gripes." — electronmods Get it from Amazon for $19.94 (available in two sizes and two styles). 23. OR, a HyperChiller beverage cooler a cool gadget that turns a hot beverage — like coffee, soda, or wine — ice cold in 60 seconds (yes, seconds) flat. All they'll need to do is fill the container with water and keep it in the freezer so it's always ready when needed. The dishwasher-safe container can also be used to chill tea, juice, wine , or whatever else you feel like drinking. No water comes into contact with your beverage, so you don't have to worry about dilution, either. Promising reviews : "Wow. Believe the hype. It really works and is easy to use. So much better than just waiting for your coffee to cool or putting it in the freezer. Great item. Had to wait months for it to be in stock." — Mary E. Burnett Get it from Amazon for $17.49+ (available in five colors). 24. A Breville waffle maker that adjusts the temperature as it cooks and works so well it'll make even to crankiest giftee a morning person. It can make up to four thick and delicious 4-inch waffles at a time, has an auto-temperature adjuster with Smart technology, AND has nonstick coating for easy cleanup. Promising review: "Yes, it's pricey...but so worth it! Having the preset options and timer make it so easy. Our waffles have turned out great every time. The moat is awesome, too, as my husband often overfills, and the batter will spill out, making for easy cleanup." — hkatem Shipping info: Standard shipping is 3-5 business days (or $26 for next-day shipping); orders must be placed by December 16 for guaranteed delivery by December 24. Get it from Williams Sonoma for $219.95+ (available with two or four squares). 25. A soft-serve dessert maker to turn their favorite fruits into a creamy, sorbet treat! It's the perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, but especially for that one person who loves ice cream even in the dead of winter. Promising review: "This deserves 50 stars! Oh my gosh, why did it take me so long to find this amazing gadget! Ice cream lovers, fruit lovers, sorbet lovers — THIS IS THE BEST INVENTION! So easy, quick, delicious, and magical!!" — Jackie Get it from Amazon for $34.49 (available in six colors). 26. A manual food ch o pper so they can quickly and easily chop up fruits, veggies, and even ice in a flash. It's also dishwasher-safe (top rack only!), so cleanup is super simple. Promising reviews: "Great purchase — believe the hype! Makes chopping up veggies super quick!" — Amalia "This is great for cutting lots of veggies super fast . All you have to do is rough chop down your veggies, toss them in, and give it four to five pulls for perfectly diced chunks for salsa or toppings on eggs or tacos. It comes with a handy cover, too, so all you have to do is rinse the blade and toss the container in the fridge or cooler." — Kevin B. Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors). 27. A Toshiba voice-controlled microwave that'll allow them to multitask in the kitchen or stay put on the couch for five more minutes (whichever they prefer). This microwave can also be controlled through an app. ... No wonder it's got 36,000+ 5-star reviews! BTW, the voice control feature on this microwave is Alexa-powered, so you'll need an Echo Dot to get her going. Promising review: "I love this microwave!! I needed one that was the same size for a specific space on my counter. Most larger microwaves are extremely expensive if they're of good quality. However, this one was very reasonable, and it's surpassed my wildest expectations. Besides being the perfect size and not being overly heavy, it also connects to my Alexa. I can be doing other things in my kitchen and just talk to Alexa, and she will automatically start the microwave. If you don't have an Alexa, there is an app for the microwave that works with your Wi-Fi. So, that is another option that works really well! I'm extremely impressed by all of the functions available to me! You won't be disappointed if you buy this one!" — Sweetthang Get it from Amazon for $143.99 . 28. A Fellow electric gooseneck kettle to make preparing hot beverages an effortless task. The stainless-steel gooseneck actually makes pouring much smoother and more precise, while the balance handle (see where the thumb goes?) gives you a better grip and less chance of overflow. I've been using my Fellow kettle for yeaaars now (that's mine above on the right!), and it's honestly heaven-sent. Easy coffee in the morning, matcha in the afternoon, and tea before bed. It heats up very quickly, the stainless steel interior makes it easy to clean , and it just looks really sleek on my kitchen counter. All you need to do is add water and place the kettle on the included base, press the 'on' button, set your desired temperature on the LCD screen (it goes up to 212 degrees F), and it heats up in *seconds* . It can also keep the water hot for up to an hour which is extremely convenient for when you know you'll be back for more in a short period of time. TL;DR: It's a must for anyone who loves making hot beverages at home! Fellow is a San Francisco-based small biz that's aaall about coffee, creating high-end coffee grinders, brew systems, mugs, and more. Get it straight from Fellow for $132+ (originally $165+; available in seven colors and four handle finishes) or from Amazon for $156 (available in black only). 29. An electric indoor grill for when they're in the mood for grilling meat or veggies, making a panini, or barbecuing right in their kitchen — any time of year👏 ! The grill plate is completely removable, so it's also super easy to clean, too. Promising review: "Seriously, I love this grill. Recently moved into the city and can't use my grill, so thought I'd give this a try. Man, it's amazing how well this works considering what it is and what it costs. I really can't see why anyone would have ANYTHING negative to say about it. The first two meals I cooked on it looked fantastic and tasted even better. Seriously, if you've been on the fence about this grill, get off and just buy it. You won't be disappointed." — AdventureChuck Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available with or without a viewing window). 30. A NutriBullet blender set complete with not one, but two travel cups! This baby has some ultra powerful blades that can whip up anything they need, from protein shakes and smoothies to homemade salsa and (most importantly) frozen margs. They'll love it! It comes with a regular large blender container and two travel cups. Promising review: "I use this to make smoothies and cashew cream and any other job that calls for a blender. It's powerful and has a specific button for extracting. ... It does a good job for what I need a blender for. Love that it comes with separate blade and cups for personal smoothie to go." — Amazon shopper Get it from Amazon for $67.99 . 31. An espresso machine that's *truly* worth the investment (and the hype). No more Starbucks lines, messed up orders, and hundreds of dollars spent every year on coffee! This baby brings barista-level caffeine right into their home. And BTW, it's a best seller with over 14,000 5-⭐️ reviews! If you're someone who buys a specialty cup of coffee every single day (what's that, like $4 a cup now??), add in the cost of gas/transportation, and you're spending way more on coffee every year. This is definitely worth the investment in the long run! Promising reviews: " This thing lives up to the hype! ... The actual espresso pull mechanism looks and acts exactly as you would see at your local $18-per-cup coffee place just without a barista to spell your name wrong. The steamer attachment also works well and does the job. I literally have a cup (or two) of cafe-quality coffee every morning now, and it is even more gratifying than I thought it would be. ... [It's] an amazingly delicious, dare I say bliss-inducing, coffee experience every day. Absolutely recommend this splurge!" — K Clark "I really love the way this machine works and the espresso and latte that I can make. It makes the espresso easily and much quicker than any machine I have used. The taste and texture of the lattes are beyond compare. " — Tom T. (Make sure to check out the entire review, they give TONS of advice on use, benefits of the machine, and more.) Get it from Amazon for $549.95 (available in black and stainless steel). 32. A Levo II to make cooking from scratch a much more realistic (and fun) possibility for your giftee. They'll be making infused butter, oil, honey, and even salad dressing or gummy candy (among a ton of other things) with ease. PS: You can even make soaps and bath bombs with the Levo. All you have to do is fill the herb pod and set your dry or activation cycle, add oil or butter, set your infuse cycle, dispense, and enjoy. Levo is a woman-owned small business founded in 2016 by Christina Bellman and based in Denver, Colorado. Promising review: "We love our Levo II! Can't imagine a better way to spend time than learning how to make my own infused oils that help our whole family, whatever the need. Want to add zest to a recipe? Make a concoction to help your loved one sleep? Try a new salad dressing without the mess? Whatever the need, LEVO II will help make an oil, a botanical, a new soap, tea, or a lotion that is perfect. The app is abundant with recipes and ideas, so I feel supported with each and every step. Easy, fast cleanup. End-to-end customer experience is exceptional!" — Kendall E. Coleman Get it from Amazon for $299 (available in five colors). 33. An electric matcha maker that will grind and whisk the matcha for them. This cool gadget even comes with matcha leaf packets so they can have the freshest, cafe-level matcha lattes every morning and afternoon. Just select the preferred strength and go! Cuzen Matcha is an Asian-owned small business with the goal to make authentic, fresh matcha available in homes all over the world in a sustainable way. Promising review: " This machine will change my life, not only health-wise but also saving money from buying so many matcha lattes from cafes. Obviously, for the price point, you want incredible matcha, and let me tell you, this product is worth every penny. ... The design is beautiful. It’s the most beautiful device I have in my apartment, but the most impressive thing is how quickly it creates a perfect and delicious shot of matcha. I like my matcha strong so the two times strength is beyond perfect for me. I can drink the premium blend straight, and it tastes smooth and not bitter. Watching the machine do its thing is so much fun. Knowing that it’s grinding the leaves and then producing fresh matcha powder is so cool and fun, and when you drink it , you know you’re experiencing this tea the way it was meant to be experienced." — Lisa , Cuzen Matcha Customer Cuzen Matcha shipping info: All orders received before noon in PST will be fulfilled on the same day. The rest will be fulfilled on the next day. Expedited shipping is available. Get it from Cuzen Matcha or from Amazon for $299 (available in two colors). How I'd describe your gift-giving skills: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa has dispatched his top envoy, Sydney Mufamadi, to Mozambique as the country grapples with violent protests following contentious election results. The unrest erupted after Mozambique’s Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling FRELIMO party’s victory in the October elections despite acknowledging significant electoral irregularities. The ruling revised FRELIMO candidate Daniel Chapo’s victory margin from 71% to 65%, while opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane’s share rose to 24% from 20%. Mondlane denounced the decision as legitimizing election fraud, rejected the results, and called for mass protests, sparking chaos across the country. Since October 21, over 100 deaths have been reported as demonstrations escalated in Maputo and other regions. Protesters have clashed with police, who responded with tear gas, while fires, barricades, and destruction have brought parts of the capital to a standstill. Adding to the turmoil, Mondlane has gone into exile, citing threats to his life following the murders of two close aides. From abroad, he has rallied his supporters to initiate a national shutdown, intensifying tensions. Mufamadi’s visit to Maputo underscores South Africa’s commitment to fostering stability in Mozambique. Although details of his meetings remain undisclosed, the envoy reiterated South Africa’s readiness to support Mozambique during this challenging time. The intervention comes as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) also signals its willingness to mediate. Calls for regional assistance have mounted amid fears that the crisis could destabilize neighbouring countries. Mozambique’s post-election unrest highlights the fragility of its political landscape, with the ruling party accused of clinging to power at the expense of democratic processes. As protests continue, all eyes are on regional powers like South Africa to broker peace and prevent further bloodshed.
Indonesian internet companies must dominate locally before expanding globallyLuke Littler roared in a wild celebration at a pivotal moment during his tense victory over Ian White. Littler was this time taking on tour veteran in 'Diamond' Ian White, who was hoping to record a huge upset against the teenage prodigy to halt his World Championship run. 'The Nuke' at points looked supremely confident playing with the crowd and being the real entertainer we have come to expect. But it wasn't all routine, and with White trying his best to spoil the party, he was forced to get his head down and produce some more scintillating oche magic. He did just that at a key moment in the fourth set, winning a deciding set to take a 3-1 lead. And he went on to see out the match, ousting the 54-year-old by a deficit of 4-1 eventually on the night despite the cagey moments. Reacting to the win, Littler said: "It was tough. "Ian threw everything at me. If I hit a 180, he would hit back with one, too. I had to stay switched on. “I didn’t have nerves. I had to settle in quickly. The first set was okay. The second set after the first break, I was up for it. “At 3-1, the 70 was massive. I don’t think double ten or double 20 like me – and I don’t like them." A memorable moment was when the Ally Pally crowd were singing White's name, only to be silenced by Littler who recorded a 180 before jokingly taunting them with a cheeky smile. Asked about the moment, Littler said: "The crowd were good for me and Ian. If they chant Ian White’s name, I will hit a 180!" Littler will now play Ryan Joyce in the Round of 16 cementing his place in the tournament for another day, a contest that he knows will be difficult for him. The Nuke said: "I watched Ryan Joyce’s game. He was very good. "I know I have got to hit those doubles, 35% tonight won’t get me anywhere. I need to get those doubles. "Most importantly, though, I've won." Tune into talkSPORT 2 for coverage of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, as we bring you exclusive live commentary from Alexandra Palace. Listen via our web player , app, on DAB, or through your smart speaker.
The ongoing has reached the three-week mark as the two sides through a government-appointed mediator. The work stoppage centres around a variety of issues, including disputes over wages and weekend delivery. Here’s a snapshot of the issues underpinning the standoff between the Crown corporation and union. Wage increases The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents 55,000 Canada Post workers, said at the start of the strike that wage increases must be kept in line with inflation, with cost-of-living adjustment payments rolled into the basic wage rate. The union initially called for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years. CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant said that figure has moved since the start of negotiations, but declined to comment on the union’s latest proposal. “We have just lived through the worst cost of living crisis in a generation,” the union’s national president Jan Simpson said in a post on Tuesday. Canada Post says it has offered what it calls “competitive” wage increases totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and more paid leave. It notes labour costs rose by $242 million in 2023, or about 6.5 per cent, compared with 2022. The organization declined to comment on Thursday. Weekend delivery One of the main snags in negotiations has been a push to expand delivery to the weekend, but the two sides are at odds over how to staff the expansion. Canada Post has pitched seven-day-a-week delivery as a way to boost revenue and “secure the future of the company” as it struggles to compete with other delivery companies. The Crown corporation says it would staff weekend delivery shifts with a mix of new permanent part-time positions and some full-time, which would “create flexibility while not adding significant long-term fixed costs.” But the union characterizes Canada Post’s proposals as “attacks on full-time work,” accusing the Crown corporation of wanting to increase the part-time mix to more than 50 per cent of the workforce. It says it is concerned some part-timers could be scheduled for as few as eight hours per week and wouldn’t be eligible for benefits until they reach 1,000 hours. “Canada Post has every ability today to deliver parcels on the weekend, inside our collective agreement at straight time,” Gallant said in an interview. “We think it can be done with full-timers ... We’re just saying, ‘Instead of hiring 10 part-timers, you can hire three full time.” Job security and retirement The union has highlighted a number of its demands for better job security, including a request for “improved protections against technological change.” Gallant said Canada Post is “always looking for new technology” that could threaten workers’ duties. “This loading and unloading of trucks by robots is one that they’re really, really looking at (and) forklifts that drive themselves through a plant,” he said. “We’re always afraid.” When it comes to retirement, CUPW says Canada Post wants new workers to accept a defined contribution pension plan, even though its defined benefit pension plan is overfunded by 140 per cent. “All workers deserve the right to retire with dignity, and for us, that means postal workers — present and future — maintain their defined benefit pension plan,” Simpson said. Canada Post says its proposals are “focused on protecting and enhancing what’s important to current employees ... while protecting the defined benefit pension and their job security.” Rural service The union has said it wants job security rights for rural and suburban mail carriers in line with those granted to urban postal workers. It has outlined a number of issues affecting its Rural Suburban Mail Carrier bargaining unit, saying it wants an hourly rate system with appropriate time values, union involvement and “safeguards against (Canada Post’s) unilateral change.” The union says Canada Post must maximize and maintain eight-hour routes for rural workers, grant improved rights for on-call relief employees, and uphold paid meal and rest period rights. It says the Crown corporation must also ensure the bargaining unit’s involvement in service expansion projects. Earlier this week, Simpson called on Canada Post to commit to working with the union “to expand services at the post office including postal banking and electric vehicle charging stations.” Safer working conditions The union has demanded the full elimination of Canada Post’s “separate sort from delivery” system, which entails certain employees spending the entirety of their shifts sorting mail for letter carriers to go out and deliver — as opposed to carriers performing both tasks. It says this system overburdens carriers, who as a result spend more time outdoors and potentially exposed to extreme weather events. “Postal workers suffer the second highest rate of disabling injury among workers under federal jurisdiction, behind only the road transportation sector,” Simpson said. “Growing neighbourhood mail volumes and changing work methods like separate sort-from-delivery are only making things worse.” The union has also proposed increases to short-term disability program payments and injury on duty payments, along with more paid medical days. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5,2024.
Why Was Elon Musk’s Tesla Pay Package Of $56 Billion Rejected Again By Delaware Judge?Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughing HOUSTON (AP) — Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in corporate fraud and greed in America after it went bankrupt in 2001, is coming back. But the infamous company's return seems to be an elaborate joke. If its return is comedic, some former Enron employees who lost everything in the company’s collapse aren’t laughing. They're angry at a publicity stunt they say minimizes what they went through. Enron was once the nation’s seventh-largest company, but it went bankrupt amid massive accounting fraud. On Monday, a company representing itself as Enron announced it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” But a paper trail of legal documents points to the comeback being parody and performance art. Sean Penn accuses Academy Awards of cowardice at Marrakech Film Festival MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Sean Penn has blasted the organizers of the Oscars of being cowards who, in effect, limit the kind of films that can be funded and made. The 64-year-old actor said Tuesday he gets excited about the Academy Awards only on the rare occasion that films he values are nominated. Penn’s remarks dovetail with longstanding criticisms of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for lacking diversity. The institution has in recent years tried to adopt more proactive steps to reform and rebrand itself, but has faced criticism for not going far enough. Penn's comments came at the Marrakech Film Festival. Kendrick Lamar and SZA announce 2025 North American stadium tour NEW YORK (AP) — “Not Like Us,” it’s like them. Kendrick Lamar and SZA will hit the road together in 2025. Lamar and SZA announced Tuesday the Grand National Tour, which will hit 19 stadiums across North America next spring and summer. The tour kicks off on April 19 in Minneapolis before going to Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington state, California, Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan and Washington, D.C. Tickets go on sale Friday. A pre-sale for Cash App Visa Card holders will launch Wednesday. The news arrives less than two weeks after Lamar released his latest album, “GNX,” which features SZA on two tracks. Authorities fear a Pennsylvania woman was swallowed by a sinkhole while looking for her cat Authorities fear a grandmother who disappeared while looking for her cat may have been swallowed up by a sinkhole that recently opened up in a western Pennsylvania village. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole in Marguerite on Tuesday morning but detected nothing. A second camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe. Police say the family of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard called police at about 1 a.m. to say she hadn't been seen since going out Monday evening to search for Pepper, her cat. They found her 5-year-old granddaughter in her parked car near the manhole-sized opening. It’s not clear what happened to Pepper. Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games without pay after violent hit on Trevor Lawrence HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL without pay for three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following his hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion. Al-Shaair’s punishment was announced by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, he noted that he has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons. Runyan says “video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide.” Last 2 defendants in Atlanta's Young Thug trial are acquitted of murder and gang charges ATLANTA (AP) — The long-running gang and racketeering trial in Atlanta that led rapper Young Thug to plead guilty in October has ended with a jury finding the last two defendants not guilty of racketeering, murder and gang-related charges. Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, was acquitted of all charges and Shannon Stillwell was found guilty only of a gun possession charge. Jury selection in the trial began nearly two years ago after prosecutors indicted 28 defendants. They said YSL was a criminal gang co-founded by Grammy-winning Young Thug. The Atlanta-born rapper’s given name is Jeffery Williams. He was released on probation after pleading guilty to gang, drug and gun charges. Great Lakes region braces for more snow while cleaning up after lake-effect storms Cleanup work is still taking place around parts of the Great Lakes region socked by lake-effect snowstorms that dropped several feet of snow over the weekend. Forecasters are warning that another storm system could add a few more inches and maybe even more later this week. Many school districts in western Pennsylvania remained closed Tuesday as the storms were finally slowing after several days of lake-effect snow that also fell on parts of western New York, Ohio and Michigan. Snow totals since Thanksgiving in some places are nearing six feet. New women's baseball league names 97-year-old AAGPBL alum honorary chair on advisory board Former baseball pitcher Maybelle Blair will be an honorary chair on the advisory board of the Women’s Professional Baseball League, which last month announced plans to launch in 2026 as a six-team circuit for female players. The 97-year-old Blair helped inspire the baseball film “A League of Their Own” with her play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She will chair a board of women who have worked in sports and business. The list includes a leader from the upstart Professional Women’s Hockey League, a longtime ESPN executive, and baseball pitcher and six-time World Cup winner Ayami Sato. Search suspended for man believed to have gone overboard from cruise ship off California's coast SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says it has suspended the search for a man believed to have gone overboard from a cruise ship as it was returning to San Francisco after a voyage to Ensenada, Mexico. The Ruby Princess arrived in San Francisco at 6:50 a.m. Monday following the five-day trip. Officials searched the ship several times for the missing passenger. They also scoured CCTV videos, but there was no sign of the man. Princess Cruises says the 72-year-old American citizen was traveling alone. The Coast Guard began aerial searches that were suspended around 5:30 p.m. Chicago house party shooting kills 3 men and wounds five other people, police say CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say eight people were shot at a house party, three of them fatally. Others fled as gunfire erupted. Police Chief of Patrol Jon Hein says officers responded Monday afternoon to the “social gathering” at a home in the city's southwest Chicago Lawn neighborhood. He says four men and four women between the ages of 20 and 35 were shot. Police say a 26-year-old man and two other men were pronounced dead. A 27-year-old woman was in critical condition, a 24-year-old woman was in serious condition and three other shooting victims were in good condition.
