Categories
Entertainment

Kevin Smith: ‘It’s an incredibly bad look to cancel the Latina Batgirl movie’ | batgirl

Kevin Smith is one of a number of directors who have weighed in on the decision by Warner Bros to cancel the release of its completed Batgirl movie.

Speaking on his YouTube series Hollywood Babble-On, Smith said: “It’s an incredibly bad look to cancel the Latina Batgirl movie. I don’t give a shit if the movie was absolutely fucking dogshit – I guarantee you that it wasn’t. The two directors who directed that movie did a couple of episodes of Ms Marvel, and it was a wonderful fucking show and they had more money to do Batgirl than they had to do an episode of Ms Marvel and stuff.”

Batgirl was scrapped last week by Warner Bros Discovery. No explanation has been given, however, CEO David Zaslav said: “We’re not going to launch a movie until it’s ready.” Speculation that the film’s poor quality was the reason behind the move has been questioned by some in favor of the theory it was more cost-effective for the studio to bury the film.

Theories have been circulating that marketing and promotional costs would have been considerable, and the tax incentive for suppression could have outweighed the goodwill and potential profits that would have come from a release. However, Warner Bros are yet to comment on this speculation.

Batgirl co-director Adil El Arbi revealed on Instagram over the weekend that several high-profile Hollywood names had reached out to him and fellow director Bilall Fallah in the wake of the cancellation.

Arbi shared an email from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who had previously commissioned the pair on Ms Marvel.

“My friends, I had to reach out and let you know we are all thinking about you both,” Feige wrote. “Because of the wonderful news about the wedding (congrats!) and the disappointing news about Batgirl. Very proud of you guys and all the amazing work you do and particularly Ms Marvel of course! Can’t wait to see what is next for you. Hope to see you soon.”

Other directors who had offered their support included Edgar Wright and James Gunn. “Your kind words and experience mean a lot and help us through this difficult period,” wrote Arbi.

Both Wright and Gunn have had unfortunate experiences with superhero movies. Wright was for many years attached to Ant-Man, but left the project shortly before production due to “creative differences.”

Meanwhile Gunn was fired from directing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 after unfortunate tweets by the director resurfaced, for which he later apologised. After many stars and fans voiced their support for Gunn, he was reinstated.

Categories
Sports

Cricket news 2022: Chris Lynn turns back on Big Bash League, signs for United Arab Emirates T20 tournament

Cricket news 2022: Chris Lynn turns back on Big Bash League, signs for United Arab Emirates T20 tournament

Australian cricketer Chris Lynn has officially turned his back on the Big Bash League, signing on for the inaugural International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates.

On Monday, Emirates Cricket announced that 54 international cricketers had agreed to participate in the newly-developed T20 league, which makes its debut in January 2023.

Lynn, one of the sport’s most destructive short-format batters, was the only Australian featured on a list headed by Ashes hero Moeen Ali and West Indies veteran Andre Russell.

Watch The Hundred. Every Match Live & Exclusive to Fox Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The 2023 ILT20 will have 34 matches, with all the teams playing each other twice before four playoffs fixtures across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

It’s understood the UAE league could offer players up to AU$700,000 for five weeks’ work.

“It’s exciting to see how well the squads are shaping up for the first season of ILT20,” Emirates Cricket General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani said in a statement.

“Each team will consist of 18 players including four UAE players and two other players from ICC Associate countries. The quality of the names announced today is outstanding and so is the interest in our league of top players from all around the world.

“We are very excited that a select number of UAE representative-players, from our current pool, will also be considered and signed on to participate in the league. It is also extremely important to note that these (UAE) players will form part of the team’s playing XI.

“One of the key objectives for ILT20 is to provide opportunities for players from UAE and other Associate nations to perform on the big stage, and, ECB extends its deep appreciation to the six franchises for their support of our vision to grow our game and create stronger, more competitive players.”

The announcement effectively confirms that Lynn, the highest run-scorer in Big Bash history, won’t sign for a BBL franchise this year.

In May, the Brisbane Heat elected not to renew the Queenslander’s $200,000 contract after a couple of underwhelming seasons in the domestic T20 tournament.

Lynn was not only one of the Heat’s foundation players, winning a BBL title with the Brisbane-based club in 2013, he also served as captain for several years.

According to The Agethe 32-year-old was unable to find another club willing to meet his asking price, although he had recently been in talks with the Adelaide Strikers.

The powerful right-hander has scored 3005 Big Bash runs at 34.54 at an imposing strike rate of 148.83.

Lynn has been in impeccable form this winter, recently smacking an unbeaten 113 from 57 balls in the T20 Blast to equal his highest individual score and set up a Northamptonshire victory.

Although the loss of Lynn is a massive blow for the BBL, Cricket Australia is reportedly on the verge of brokering a deal with superstar batter David Warner.

According to AustralianWarner has been offered a groundbreaking BBL contract above and beyond any previous player contract.

“I am very hopeful David will play BBL and I am hopeful that all of our best Australian cricketers will play in it,” Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Todd Greenberg told the Cricket Et Cetera podcast this week.

“There’s a variety of reasons why. There’s absolutely no doubt that someone like David and others of his ilk could earn more in the coming Australian summer if they were to ply their trade overseas, but there’s a much broader discussion and a bigger picture we are trying to solve here and that’s the discussion I am having with several of our players this week.”

CA is desperate to ensure the sport’s biggest names will make an appearance in the BBL this summer; the competition has been starved of international-quality talent after the last two seasons were plagued by Covid-19.

Earlier this year, The Daily Telegraph reported that broadcaster Channel 7 had launched Federal Court action against CA in a bid to terminate its TV rights deal.

According to the News Corp report, Seven is adamant the cricketers that featured in last summer’s BBL were not of a high enough quality for the competition to meet the standard provisions stipulated in CA’s TV rights contract.

However, the Big Bash has already secured the services of former South African captain Faf du Plessis and Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, while Australian stars Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey have also signed for their respective BBL franchises.

“These leagues we are talking about at the moment are competing with our Australian domestic summer and that is the first time we’ve faced this, it is a unique challenge,” Greenberg said.

“The second thing is that the reasons they enjoy the benefits and remunerations that they enjoy under this model is because of those that came before them.

“David and others understand … and are very aware that if they play in this competition it increases the opportunity for the next broadcast deal to be secured at a higher number which maybe doesn’t benefit them specifically, but it benefits the next generation of Australian cricketers coming through.

“This is a real test of our players demonstrating the level of partnership.

“They understand they have to get the best players to play, which includes them and the best players from overseas, which is why we’ve agreed in this one-year deal to ensure that there is an international draft and salary cap – an opportunity to bring the best overseas players in.”

Because South Africa has withdrawn from next January’s three-match ODI series against Australia, the country’s international stars will be available for the second half of the BBL.

However, multi-format paceman Mitchell Starc has already decided he won’t be signing for any franchise due to the sport’s busy calendar, and Australian teammates Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will most likely follow suit.

“I have always enjoyed the BBL when I have played it … but my approach with all franchise cricket hasn’t changed over the last seven years,” Starc told AAP earlier this month.

“My approach to the IPL, BBL, I have looked at the Australian schedule and wanting to be as fit and well-performed for that as I can.

“And franchise cricket has taken a back seat.”

Read related topics:Brisbane

.

Categories
Australia

80th anniversary service of Kokoda campaign honors Queensland’s only surviving veteran of the 39th battalion

Kokoda veteran, George Turns sits looking forward, wearing his military medals and hatand

At 101, George Turner is one of the only surviving veterans of the 39th battalion so all eyes were on him at a ceremony marking 80 years since the Kokoda campaign in Papua New Guinea.

“I got to 101—lucky wasn’t I?” Mr Turner said.

“I was only about 20 when I was up there.

“I was a truck driver… one of two truck drivers… the other one was sergeant by rank. He got killed [in] the first bombing raid. He was sleeping beside me about six feet away.”

On Monday, Mr Turner attended a commemoration service at the Gold Coast, that marked the second engagement of the campaign 80 years ago.

During that battle, the 39th battalion advanced to retake Kokoda, but retreated two days later.

an elderly man in a wheelchair sits beside a smiling younger woman in a marquee.
39th battalion veteran George Turner with Moncrieff MP Angie Bell. (ABC Gold Coast: Kimberley Bernard)

Mr Turner attended the service with his sons and grandsons who have also had careers in the military.

“Many of the family have been in the military. We have five generations, four of them here,” said Ian Turner, Mr Turner’s son.

“There has always been a tradition of serving and to understand what that meant for the nation.

“It’s the whole battalion that Australia is recognizing more today than they ever did.”

Colorful wreaths lay on the green grass next to the foot of a guest at the 80th commemorations
Floral wreaths were laid during the 80th anniversary commemorations. (ABC Gold Coast: Kimberley Bernard.)

military importance

Governor-General David Hurley emphasized the importance of Kokoda to Australia’s military history.

“That battalion stood between Australia and the Japanese during the Second World War,” he said.

About 600 Australian soldiers were killed and 1600 wounded.

“It’s good to remember history … we shouldn’t forget what we’ve been through and the cost that was paid to allow us to be as we are today,” he said.

“We’re reflecting on that sacrifice, that service and what it’s allowed us to do as a nation.”

Two teenage boys sit and stare at the camera, dressed in army fatigues in front of a small wall of sandbags
Students participated in the anniversary service.(ABC Gold Coast: Kimberley Bernard)

Both flags flying

For Merv Wilkinson, the service was about remembering his father, warrant office John Dobell Wilkinson, who was a medic in the 39th battalion.

“Very brave and courageous soldier,” he said.

“He was a great man of great courage, integrity and service.”

Mr Wilkinson noted the Papua New Guinean flag flying at the ceremony.

“It’s absolutely crucial … that there’s a blend of not just the 39th but the Papua New Guinean soldiers as well,” he said.

“Being of mixed Australian-Papuan descent, I’m so pleased that both country’s flags are flying.”

a large stone sculpture with wreaths in front of it.
The commemorative service was held at the Kokoda Memorial at Cascade Gardens on the Gold Coast. (ABC Gold Coast: Heidi Sheehan)

Acting Consul-General of Papua New Guinea Jimmy Ovia said he was honored to be part of the 80th anniversary commemorations.

He spoke about the shared challenges of the Australian and Papua New Guinean soldiers.

“The carriers of Papua New Guinea played a very, very key role,” he said.

Mr Ovia said the treacherous mountain terrain was new for the Australian soldiers “so the carriers and those who knew the bush tracks helped guide the Australians” during the campaign.

.

Categories
US

Trump Says FBI Raided His Mar-a-Lago Home: Live Updates

Trump Says FBI Raided His Mar-a-Lago Home: Live Updates

Former President Donald J. Trump said on Monday that the FBI had searched his Palm Beach, Fla., home and had broken open a safe — an account signaling a dramatic escalation in the various investigations into the final stages of his presidency.

The search, according to multiple people familiar with the investigation, appeared to be focused on material that Mr. Trump had brought with him to Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence, when he left the White House. Those boxes contained many pages of classified documents, according to a person familiar with their contents.

Mr. Trump delayed returning 15 boxes of material requested by officials with the National Archives for many months, only doing so when there became a threat of action being taken to retrieve them.

Credit…MediaPunch, via Associated Press

The FBI would have needed to convince a judge that it had probable cause that a crime had been committed to obtain a search warrant, and proceeding with a search on a former president’s home would almost surely have required sign-off from top officials at the bureau and the Justice Department.

A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment, and Justice Department officials did not initially respond to requests for comment.

Mr. Trump was not at his home in Florida at the time of the raid, and was in the New York area.

Mr. Trump, who campaigned for president in 2016 criticizing Hillary Clinton’s practice of maintaining a private email server for government-related messages while she was secretary of state, was known throughout his term to rip up official material that was intended to be held for presidential files. One person familiar with his habits said that he included classified material that was shredded in his bedroom and elsewhere.

“After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Mr. Trump said, maintaining it was an effort to stop him from running for president in 2024. “Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries.”

“They even broke into my safe!” he wrote.

Mr. Trump did not share any details about what the FBI agents said they were searching for.

The search took place on Monday morning, a person familiar with it said, although Mr. Trump claimed agents were still there many hours later.

The search was at least in part for whether any records remained at the club, the person familiar with the search said.

Aides to President Biden said they were stunned by the development and had learned of it from Twitter.

“After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Mr. Trump said, maintaining it was an effort to stop him from running for president in 2024. “Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries.”

“They even broke into my safe!” he wrote. “What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democratic National Committee? Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States.”

The reported search came at a time when the Justice Department has also been stepping up questioning of former Trump aides who had been witnesses to discussion and planning in the White House of Mr. Trump’s efforts to remain in office after his loss in the 2020 election.

Mr. Trump has been the focus of questions asked by federal prosecutors in connection with a scheme to send “fake” voters to Congress for the certification of the Electoral College.

The current FBI director, Christopher A. Wray, was appointed by Mr. Trump.

The law governing the preservation of White House materials, the Presidential Records Act, lacks teeth, but criminal statutes can come into play, especially in the case of classified material.

Criminal codes, which carry jail time, prohibit anyone who “willfully injures or commits any depredation against any property of the United States” and anyone who “willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates or destroys” government documents.

Samuel R. Berger, a national security adviser to President Bill Clinton, pleaded guilty in 2015 to a misdemeanor charge for removing classified material from a government archive. In 2007, Donald Keyser, an Asia expert and former senior State Department official, was sentenced to prison after he confessed to keeping more than 3,000 sensitive documents — ranging from the classified to the top secret — in his basement.

In 1999, the Central Intelligence Agency announced it had suspended the security clearance of its former director, John M. Deutch, after concluding that he had improperly handled national secrets on a desktop computer at his home.

In January of this year, the archives retrieved 15 boxes that Mr. Trump had taken with him to Mar-a-Lago from the White House residence when his term ended. The boxes included material subject to the Presidential Records Act, which requires that all documents and records pertaining to official business be turned over to the archives.

The items in the boxes included documents, mementos, gifts and letters. The archives did not describe the classified material it found other than to say that it was “classified national security information.”

Because the National Archives “identified classified information in the boxes,” the agency “has been in communication with the Department of Justice,” David S. Ferriero, the national archivist, told Congress at the time.

Federal prosecutors subsequently began a grand jury investigation, according to two people briefed on the matter. Prosecutors issued a subpoena earlier this year to the archives to obtain the boxes of classified documents, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

The authorities also made interview requests to people who worked in the White House in the final days of Mr. Trump’s presidency, according to one of the people.

Jonathan Martin contributed reporting.

Categories
Business

ASX set to open lower as Wall Street wavers

ASX set to open lower as Wall Street wavers

Major stock indexes on Wall Street gave up early gains and ended a choppy day of trading little changed Monday.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq each slipped 0.1 per cent after shedding gains of 1 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.1 per cent higher. The Australian sharemarket is set to start the day lower with futures at 5.04am AEST pointing to a fall of 17 points, or 0.3 per cent at the open.

Wall Street has made an uncertain start to the week.

Wall Street has made an uncertain start to the week.Credit:NYSE

Small-company stocks outpaced the broader market in a sign that investors were confident about the economy. The Russell 2000 rose 1 per cent.

The market’s latest gyrations came as investors prepare for a busy week of economic updates that could help answer whether the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool the economy and quell inflation are working, or whether the central bank will continue aggressively raising interest rates. Wall Street is worried that the Fed could hit the brakes too hard and cause a recession.

“Early indications of inflationary pressures appear to be easing, which will be an important catalyst for the market,” said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial.

The S&P 500 fell 5.13 points to 4,140.06, while the Nasdaq slid 13.10 points to 12,644.46. The Dow added 29.07 points to close at 32,832.54. The Russell 2000 rose 19.38 points to 1,941.21.

loading

The benchmark S&P 500 index is coming off three consecutive weekly gains. Investors remain focused on inflation and its impact on businesses and consumers, along with the Federal Reserve’s efforts to fight higher prices. The central bank has been aggressively raising interest rates to pump the brakes on economic growth and rein in record-high inflation. The Fed is expected to hike short-term interest rates by another 0.75 percentage points at its next meeting.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday released a survey of consumer expectations from July showing that there were “substantial declines” in inflation expectations for everything from food and gas to home prices.

Categories
Technology

Classic Ford Falcon John Goss Special Uncovered In Australian Farm Shed

Classic Ford Falcon John Goss Special Uncovered In Australian Farm Shed


A rare Ford XB Falcon John Goss Special has been discovered in an Australian farm shed and is bound to get local enthusiasts talking.

Ford Australia introduced the John Goss Special to celebrate John Goss’ win at the Bathurst 1000 endurance race in 1974. It was based on the XB Falcon 500 Hardtop of the time and while Ford has never said how many examples it built, production is thought to have only run from July 1975 to November 1975. Estimates suggest that between 260 and 800 units were built.

This particular Falcon John Goss Special was found in South Australia by The Muscle Car Shop. Apparently, the car had been sitting in a shed since 1988 and has never been started since.

Read Also: Australia’s Fun Police Takes Issue With Mad Max Interceptor Replica, Fines Owner For Defective Car

The exterior of the car is finished in Polar White that is contrasted by Emerald Green across the hood, front bumper, rocker panels, wheel arches, rear bumper, and rear fascia. Various bright orange accents are also found across the exterior.

Photos shared to Facebook of the car show that it was covered in a thick layer of dirt but apparently doesn’t have any rust, something that will no doubt make it much easier to sell. No mention is made about any work that the car may need in order for its engine to start and for it to be driven, although The Muscle Car Shop is open to offers for those wanting to buy it.

Powering the Ford is a 302 cubic-inch (4.9-liter) Cleveland V8. This V8 was good for approximately 240 hp and 305 lb-ft (414 Nm) of torque when it was new and came coupled to either a four-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic driving the rear wheels. It is unclear which transmission this particular John Goss Special has but the car is certainly valuable. In fact, a restored example recently sold for AU$250,000 ($172,000).

PHOTO GALLERY

more photos…

Categories
Entertainment

Vanessa Amorosi stops Sunrise interview after Olivia Newton-John’s death

Vanessa Amorosi stops Sunrise interview after Olivia Newton-John's death

Australian singer Vanessa Amorosi appeared overcome with emotion and had to bow out of her live interview on Sunrise this morning, having only just learned of the death of Olivia Newton-John.

Amorosi was booked to appear on the program to discuss her new single, having just performed at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

But with Newton-John’s death aged 73 after a long cancer battle being the biggest news of the morning, Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch were keen to first ask Amorosi about her memories of the star.

“It is an incredibly sad day – Vanessa, what are your memories?” Barr asked as they crossed to the Aussie singer in Birmingham.

Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends October 31, 2022 >

“Uh… I don’t know. I don’t particularly want to think about it, because I’ll get very emotional,” Amorosi began. “I just literally had one of the highest endorphins that just happened out there (at the closing ceremony), to being extremely sad coming offstage and checking my phone. I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet.”

Koch said he’d give Amorosi a chance to “compose” her thoughts about the late music legend, and changed tack to discuss her Commonwealth Games performance and new single.

A few minutes later, and with the interview nearing its end, the hosts moved the topic of conversation back to Olivia Newton-John.

“We know it’s a sad day for you and so many people, but we wanted to show this photo from quite a few years ago of you, Olivia Newton-John and Tina Arena,” Barr said, as a photo of the three Aussie singers at the Sydney 2000 Olympics appeared on screen.

“Can you talk us through those memories, that time, Vanessa?”
Amorosi gave it her best – but soon became overcome with emotion.

“Both of these women I have looked up to since (I was) a kid… I don’t know. I’m actually very sad about Olivia, to be honest. It’s..”

With that, she bowed her head and raised her hand, signaling the interview to stop.

Barr and Koch thanked her for her time – and Barr noted how hard it must’ve been to learn the news between a live performance and a live TV interview.

“I’m horrible. I feel for her, after coming off that.”

It’s been an emotional morning on breakfast television as friends, colleagues and fans of Newton-John have reacted to the news of her death in real time, after it broke at around 5:30am AEST.

Over on Nine, veteran entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins at first held it together as he reported the sad news on Today – but later in the morning, he was overcome with emotion, sobbing as host Karl Stefanovic rushed to comfort him.

And back on Sunriseanother emotional live interview, this time on the streets of Los Angeles with Grease casting director Joel Thurm, who wept openly as he described his fond memories of Newton-John.

The British-born, Melbourne-raised entertainer had waged a decades-long battle against cancer, which returned again in 2013.

In May 2017, she announced her breast cancer had returned and metastasized to her sacrum, and in 2018, it was revealed she was again battling the disease.

In October last year, Newton-John revealed that she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer but was managing the pain with medical marijuana.

Then today came the news fans had been fearing for years: Newton-John had died at her Southern Californian ranch, surrounded by loved ones, including her husband, John Easterling, and daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.

Chloe has today paid tribute to her late mum on social media – who she just days ago referred to as her “best friend.”

.

Categories
Sports

Essendon skipper tempted by bold Gold Coast offer

Essendon skipper tempted by bold Gold Coast offer

Gold Coast is prepared to offer Dyson Heppell a four-year contract to join the club.

The Essendon skipper is being tempted by the Suns’ bold pitch, which would most likely involve a two-year agreement to play and another two years to work as an assistant coach.

The Bombers had been slow to offer Heppell a new contract beyond this year – raising some interest among rival clubs – before presenting him a one-year extension for 2023.

Gold Coast has not formally tabled an offer and there is a feeling at the Suns that despite how attractive their pitch might look on paper, they believe they remain the outsiders.

But if Heppell was to accept, he would be free to join the Queensland club as an unrestricted free agent without the need for a trade.

The 30-year-old has played 211 games since being taken by the Bombers with pick 8 in the 2010 national draft. An Essendon supporter growing up, he has been captain since 2017.

While there have been some queries on his form and place in the Bombers’ best 22, Heppell has played every game this year.

Coach Ben Rutten last week said he had no concerns that Heppell was yet to recommit to Essendon.

“‘Hepp’ knows how much of a valuable player and person he is at this footy club,” Rutten said.

“He knows how much we love him and want him here next year. That’s all we can do at the moment and feeling confident and hopeful that it will work itself out.

“I don’t have a timeline on it, don’t want to speculate on that at the moment. These things can take a bit of time.”





.

Categories
US

Alex Jones’s Text Messages Turned Over to House Jan. 6 Committee

Alex Jones's Text Messages Turned Over to House Jan. 6 Committee

WASHINGTON — A lawyer for plaintiffs who are suing the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Monday turned over more than two years’ worth of text messages from Mr. Jones’s phone to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, including messages that show Mr. Jones was in touch with allies of former President Donald J. Trump.

But the files do not appear to include text messages from the time most of interest to the committee: the day of Jan. 6, 2021, and the weeks building up to the attack, according to people familiar with the document production.

Though the phone data was retrieved in mid-2021, the most recent message is from mid-2020, according to Mark Bankston, who represents Sandy Hook parents suing Mr. Jones for defamation for lies he spread about the 2012 school shooting. That time period is before Mr. Jones became involved in plans to amass a pro-Trump crowd in Washington to march on the Capitol as Mr. Trump fought to remain in office despite his defeat of him at the polls.

The text messages received by the committee on Monday — contained in a large file of documents and other information from Mr. Jones’s phone — include some that indicate Mr. Jones was in touch with Trump allies, a person familiar with the messages said.

Mr. Bankston has said they included texts with the political operative Roger J. Stone Jr. Mr. Bankston received the phone data from Mr. Jones’s lawyers, who had sent it to him mistakenly.

Of the nearly 250 recipients of the texts, most are employees of Mr. Jones’s Infowars business and contractors and members of his family, some of whom are involved in his company.

The delivery of the text messages was reported earlier by CNN. In court last week in Texas, Mr. Bankston said he planned to turn over the texts to the committee, which had contacted him about obtaining them, unless Judge Maya Guerra Gamble objected. Late on Friday, the judge said she had no objection.

Mr. Bankston said at the time that he had heard from “various federal agencies and law enforcement” about the material.

The House committee has been pushing to obtain Mr. Jones’s texts for months, saying they could be relevant to understanding his role in helping organize the rally at the Ellipse near the White House that preceded the riot. In November, the panel filed subpoenas to compel Mr. Jones’s testimony and communications related to Jan. 6, including his phone records of him.

The committee also issued a subpoena for the communications of Timothy D. Enlow, who was working as Mr. Jones’s bodyguard on Jan. 6.

Mr. Jones and Mr. Enlow have filed suit in an attempt to block the committee’s subpoenas. Mr. Jones eventually appeared before the panel in January and afterward said he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination nearly 100 times.

Even though Mr. Jones refused to share information with the committee, he said the committee had already obtained text messages from him.

According to the Jan. 6 committee, Mr. Jones helped arrange a donation from Julie Jenkins Fancelli, the heiress to the Publix Super Markets fortune, to provide what he described as “80 percent” of the funding for the Jan. 6 rally and indicated that White House officials told him that he was to lead a march to the Capitol, where Mr. Trump would speak.

Mr. Jones and Mr. Stone also were among the group of Trump allies meeting in and around, or staying at, the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, which some Trump advisers treated as a war room for their efforts to get members of Congress to object to the Electoral College certification.

Categories
Business

BHP too late to the OZ Minerals party: JPM

BHP too late to the OZ Minerals party: JPM

Just as BHP quibbles about its $25 a share offer being turned away too soon by OZ Minerals’ board, JPMorgan’s sell-side analysts were chiding the bigger miner for waiting too long to make a move.

BHP could have made a move on OZ Minerals in 2020, when the latter’s shares were half BHP’s $25 rejected bid. Will Willitts

“We are surprised how late BHP has left it to bid for OZL. Prior to 2020, OZL consistently traded below $12ps [per share],” JPMorgan’s Lyndon Fagan, Al Harvey and Devwrat Vegad said in a research note sent to clients on Monday afternoon.

“From 2020 onwards, OZL released study after study on its growth projects, which forced the market to value them, re-rating the stock. However, we believe there was a line of sight on these projects prior to 2020.”

The trio said the $25 per share rejected bid was a 43 per cent premium to their $17.45 per share net present value.

They said OZ Minerals would have been 4 per cent odd of BHP’s $US135 billion market capitalisation, and could go from 2 per cent of BHP’s EBITDA to about 10 per cent in the long term.

“Aside from potentially making the Carrapateena block cave bigger, it’s hard to see the value uplift that BHP can create on OZL’s asset base.

“…But it does make strategic sense. OZL’s Prominent Hill underground asset is potentially sub-scale for BHP, however, should the company successfully convert the large, inferred resource into reserves, then at least it’s long life,” they said.