ph. 777

ph. 777 VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV: TBRD, OTCQX: THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”) has granted an aggregate amount of 143,317 restricted share units (the “RSUs”) to its non-executive directors on November 25, 2024, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s equity incentive compensation plan. The RSUs will vest on December 14, 2024. Each vested RSU entitles the holder thereof to receive one common share of the Company. The Company also granted an aggregate amount of 171,606 RSUs to certain members of the Company’s executive management team, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s equity incentive compensation plan. The RSUs will vest over three years, and each vested RSU entitles the holder to receive one common share of the Company. Additionally, 400,412 performance share units (“PSUs”) were granted to certain members of the Company’s executive management team, based on certain performance targets to be met. Subject to the satisfaction of such performance targets, the PSUs will vest on the one-year anniversary of the date of the grant. Each vested PSU entitles the holder to receive one common share of the Company (or can be paid out in cash at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors). Thunderbird Entertainment Inc. (“TEI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has also entered into an Addendum to the Executive Employment Agreement dated July 1, 2021 between TEI and Jennifer Twiner McCarron, the CEO of the Company (the “Addendum”). Under the terms of the Addendum, effective from July 1, 2024, Ms. Twiner McCarron has agreed to forego a guaranteed bonus and has agreed to a bonus structure that ensures eligibility for annual short term incentive payments is driven entirely by performance based on the achievement of AEBITDA targets and strategic objectives established by the Company’s board of directors. For information on Thunderbird and to subscribe to the Company’s investor list for news updates, go to www.thunderbird.tv . ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various content arms, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Unscripted (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include Mermicorno: Starfall, Super Team Canada, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell, Kim’s Convenience, Boot Camp, and Sidelined: The QB and Me . Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands manage global media and consumer products rights, respectively, for the Company and select third parties. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv . Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Thunderbird’s public communications may include written, or oral “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements or information may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “intend”, or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the vesting schedule of the RSUs, the PSUs, and the achievement of certain performance objectives relating to Ms. Twiner McCarron’s performance bonus entitlements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; product capability and acceptance; and other factors set out in the “Risk and Uncertainty” section of the Company’s MD&A dated June 30, 2024. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Thunderbird or that management believes to be less significant may also adversely affect the Company. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this document represent the Company’s views as of the date hereof, and therefore such information should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. The Company’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those ‎expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be ‎given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if ‎any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are therefore cautioned ‎that the foregoing lists of important factors are not exhaustive, and they should not unduly rely on the ‎forward-looking statements included in this news release. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly ‎qualified by this cautionary statement. Thunderbird has no intention, and undertakes no obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125609691/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Contacts: Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital Phone: + 1 905 326 1888 ext 1 Email:glen@bristolir.comMedia Relations Contact: Lana Castleman, Director, Marketing & Communications Phone: 416-219-3769 Email:lcastleman@thunderbird.tvCorporate Communications: Julia Smith, Finch Media Email:Julia@finchmedia.net KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FILM & MOTION PICTURES ONLINE GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT TV AND RADIO SOURCE: Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 05:00 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 05:02 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125609691/en

Penumbra ( NYSE:PEN – Free Report ) had its price target boosted by Piper Sandler from $235.00 to $250.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock. A number of other research firms have also issued reports on PEN. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Penumbra from $244.00 to $248.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on shares of Penumbra from $176.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. BTIG Research boosted their target price on shares of Penumbra from $224.00 to $234.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Penumbra from $178.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, Leerink Partnrs raised shares of Penumbra to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $227.92. View Our Latest Analysis on PEN Penumbra Trading Up 1.8 % Penumbra ( NYSE:PEN – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.16. Penumbra had a net margin of 2.97% and a return on equity of 8.99%. The business had revenue of $301.04 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $297.36 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.67 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Penumbra will post 2.79 earnings per share for the current year. Penumbra announced that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, August 13th that permits the company to buyback $200.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 2.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Activity In other Penumbra news, Director Harpreet Grewal sold 782 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.11, for a total value of $159,614.02. Following the transaction, the director now owns 8,863 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,809,026.93. This represents a 8.11 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, EVP Johanna Roberts sold 600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $206.22, for a total transaction of $123,732.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 61,088 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,597,567.36. This represents a 0.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 47,748 shares of company stock worth $10,166,574 over the last 90 days. 5.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Penumbra Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PEN. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in Penumbra by 128.1% in the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 668,873 shares of the company’s stock worth $129,967,000 after acquiring an additional 375,684 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in Penumbra by 3,832.3% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 368,298 shares of the company’s stock worth $71,564,000 after acquiring an additional 358,932 shares in the last quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC grew its position in Penumbra by 20.6% in the third quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,547,972 shares of the company’s stock worth $300,786,000 after acquiring an additional 264,122 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA bought a new stake in shares of Penumbra during the 3rd quarter worth $31,965,000. Finally, Braidwell LP boosted its holdings in shares of Penumbra by 70.0% during the 3rd quarter. Braidwell LP now owns 361,428 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,229,000 after buying an additional 148,834 shares during the period. 88.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Penumbra ( Get Free Report ) Penumbra, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices in the United States and internationally. The company offers peripheral products, including the Indigo System for power aspiration of thrombus in the body; Lightning Flash, a mechanical thrombectomy system; Lightning Bolt 7, an arterial thrombectomy system; and CAT RX. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Penumbra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Penumbra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

No. 24 UCLA is seeking its eighth straight win on Saturday against an Arizona team that is trying to right the ship after dropping four of its last six games. The game is being played in Phoenix, billed as part of the Hall of Fame Series. It's the first meeting between the storied ex-Pac-12 rivals since the conference's collapse last year and will be the first time the teams have met in a nonconference matchup since 1977. UCLA (8-1) is off to a surprisingly hot start after a nightmarish last season. The Bruins have won seven in a row after falling to New Mexico on Nov. 8. They're coming directly off a 73-71 victory over No. 12 Oregon on Sunday on a game-winning 3-pointer by Dylan Andrews with 0.3 seconds remaining. Eric Dailey Jr. led the way with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The Bruins sit at 2-0 in conference play in their first season as a member of the Big Ten. "My analysis early of the Big Ten is that it's so deep," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "I know it probably always was that way, but now it's deeper. You've just got to get better. "I also coach at UCLA where we get the most titles and (have been to) the second-most finals. I didn't come to UCLA to win regular-season games. For us, it's about progression and getting better. "We were able to win (against Oregon) but I thought we got a lot better. We came together. We got more cohesive. The guys played with confidence." Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Bilodeau played his first two collegiate seasons at Oregon State, although his maiden voyage at UCLA is only his second season as a regular starter. Dailey, a transfer from Oklahoma State, doesn't trail too far behind in either category, averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. USC transfer Kobe Johnson leads the Bruins with 3.2 assists while also tallying 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Wildcats (4-4) are in the midst of a dreadful start, needing a 102-66 win over Southern Utah to nurse themselves back to .500. Before that, Arizona was just one for its last five. The Wildcats are winless against fellow power-conference opponents, suffering double-digit losses to Wisconsin and Duke. Arizona also absorbed a five-point loss to Oklahoma and a seven-point overtime loss to West Virginia at the Battle 4 Atlantis. "Great programs are going to stumble once in a while," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "The response is the key. Learning from it and coming back stronger is the objective and that's the challenge. We obviously have been challenged early in the season. "(The emphasis needs to be on) Arizona basketball, because here's the deal: UCLA is a good program. If we go in and all we're worried about is UCLA and we assume that we're going to show up and play well, we're going to get our ass kicked." The Wildcats are led by Caleb Love, who returned for a second season at Arizona and a fifth in college overall after he played his first three seasons at North Carolina. Love is averaging 14.1 points per game on 37.2 percent shooting, down from 18 points per game a season ago. Aside from Love, Arizona has four more players averaging in double figures for the season: Jaden Bradley (12.0 ppg), Trey Townsend (11.3), KJ Lewis (10.3) and Anthony Dell'Orso (10.0). --Field Level Media(BPT) - The holidays are almost here! It means parties and events, hustle and bustle ... and figuring out what to buy for everyone on your list. Sometimes it's hard to get inspired with great ideas that your nears and dears will love at a price you can afford, right? The good news? Inspiration + savings are covered this year. One of the top gifts of Holiday 2024 is technology, and there are a lot of deals out there right now. Done and done! Here are 5 ideas for hot tech gifts for everyone on your list. Smartphones for the family T-Mobile is running a hot deal right now. Get four new smartphones at T-Mobile — this includes Samsung Galaxy S24 and other eligible devices — and four lines for just $100/month . It doesn't get better than that! These new Galaxy phones are tech-tastic, too, with features like AI, Circle to Search with Google, which can be used to help solve math problems and translate entire pages of text in a different language, and Note Assist with Galaxy AI, which lets you focus on capturing your notes and then Note Assist will summarize, format and even translate them for you. High tech spiral notebook for students We've got to admit, this is pretty cool. The Rocketbook looks (a bit) like a regular spiral, paper notebook. Here's the high tech twist: You can take notes, capture ideas, brainstorm, draw — whatever you do on paper — on the pad, and the Rocketbook digitizes your doodles and saves to the cloud device of your choice. Then you simply wipe the pad clean and it's good to go. Look for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales at your favorite online retailer. Wrist-worthy smartwatches for athletes (or those who want to be) Everyone loves smartwatches (if you're not already tracking your sleep and heart rate, where have you been?) and the Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm & 45mm) takes it to the next level with features for athletes or anyone who may be setting fitness goals for the coming year. The watch has workout prompts like Real Time Guidance — audio and haptic cues for when to sprint, cool down or maintain pace. It gives you the ability to program your workouts and even monitors your cadence and stride. It also has Offline Maps, with driving navigation, search and maps. Here's the deal of the century: Get it for free at T-Mobile when adding a qualifying watch line. Cute wireless keyboard for people who are all thumbs Who else is annoyed by typing email or texts or social posts on a smartphone? The Logitech Multi-Device Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard solves that problem with style! It comes in sweet colors like lavender, it's wireless, it's small and portable, and it works with just about any device. Pop it into your backpack or purse and you'll never have to thumb-out a message again. Speakers perfect for hosting and giving Have a music lover in your life or need the perfect hosting gift? T-Mobile has you covered. For a limited time, you can get the JBL Clip 5 for free when you pick up a Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 . The JBL Clip 5 is an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker perfect for those on the go and the Onyx Studio 9's sleek design and booming sound will take care of all your holiday hosting needs. For more tech-tastic holiday gift inspiration, check out T-Mobile's holiday gift guide at t-mobile.com/devices/tech-gifts .Pep Guardiola: It’s my responsibility to solve Manchester City’s poor run

The number of Republican women who own guns has jumped from just under one in five to more than three out of ten. Gallup divided decades of survey results into “six-year groups” and found that whereas 19 percent of Republican women owned guns from 2007-2012, now 33 percent of Republican women do. This means more Republican women own guns than do Democrat men, only 29 percent of whom own a weapon. Gun ownership among Independent men shows a five percentage slide, down to 39 percent. On the other hand, six out of ten Republican men own guns, making them the dominate political demographic among gun owners. When viewed outside of political identification, 43 percent of all men and 20 percent of all women are “likely to own guns.” AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins , a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio, a member of Gun Owners of America, a Pulsar Night Vision pro-staffer, and the director of global marketing for Lone Star Hunts. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in 2010 and has a Ph.D. in Military History. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins . You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange . Reach him directly: awrhawkins@breitbart.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left and Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday, likely ending the Buckeyes ’ hopes of returning to the Big Ten title game. Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4) at Ohio State's 17-yard line with two minutes remaining in the game. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot.Pacheco's 18 lead Mount St. Mary's past Howard 79-75

No. 9 Kentucky, focused on getting better, welcomes Jackson St.

The release on parole of convicts in the rice scandal case one after another has sparked speculation about the prospective return of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who fled the country to avoid imprisonment in the same case. Previously, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, formerly a convict on parole, had said his sister could return before the Songkran festival. The discreet release of Boonsong Teriyapirom, former commerce minister in the Yingluck cabinet, from prison for "health reasons" has aroused public suspicion that the process to facilitate Yingluck's return is underway. The former PM was sentenced to five years imprisonment for dereliction of duty concerning burgeoning corruption in the rice-pledging scheme that cost the country enormous economic losses. She fled the day the court issued the ruling. On the same day, Boonsong was handed 48 years in prison for his role in the scheme. Before his release early this month, he had spent only seven years and three months behind bars. With several royal pardons, he was supposed to be in jail until April 2028. But, due to old age and poor health, he could walk out, albeit with an electronic ankle monitoring (EM) bracelet, under an imprisonment suspension programme. As Boonsong's discharge hit the headlines, the public was shocked by reports that two other convicts, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol and Apichart "Sia Piang" Chansakulporn, former top executive of rice exporting firm Siam Indica, had discreetly been released from prison under the same programme. It's an embarrassment for the Department of Corrections. As the agency later confirmed the reports, the way it has handled the cases has drawn heavy criticism. Like Boonsong, Sia Piang was handed 48 years, but according to the Department of Corrections, he was well-behaved and considered an outstanding inmate, and he got five pardons altogether. After serving 12 years and one month, he had 22 more years in prison but was eligible for probation because of his old age and multiple health conditions, including chronic kidney failure. The reduction of hefty jail terms for Boonsong, Apichart and Poom, imposed by the court for such severe corruption cases, raises doubt about the correctional system in Thailand. The public is also curious if it will all set a bad precedent and if the practice compromises the rule of law. Unscrupulous officials could observe it and take note, thinking they could easily get away with such acts, giving more encouragement for them to break the law. Now that the preparation of a new regulation involving detentions outside prison is in its final stages -- it may be in effect by the first quarter of next year -- it's enough to imagine Yingluck coming home before this Songkran, as her brother mentioned. Taking a look at the regulation and its criteria, it seems Yingluck is well qualified, ie she's a first-time convict, has a short sentence time, and has a low possibility of repeating the crime. The government is trying to explain that the regulation, which they say is aimed at alleviating prison overcrowding, has nothing to do with Yingluck's privilege, saying it's the work of the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration. That would sound convincing unless we realise that Somsak Thepsutin, then justice minister, pushed for this regulation. Mr Somsak and Suriya Jungrungreangkit left Palang Pracharath. They returned to Pheu Thai shortly before Gen Prayut dissolved parliament amid speculation that their old boss, Thaksin, was about to return to Thailand. It's believed that Mr Somsak's role in the new regulation earned him a cabinet position as deputy PM and health minister in the Pheu Thai-led coalition. To put it bluntly, it's a political bonus from Thaksin, who influences Pheu Thai. This is also the most convenient time for Yingluck as her niece, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is in office. Therefore, it's no exaggeration to say that Yingluck will probably enjoy the same prison privileges as her brother, who did not stay a single day behind bars but remained on the 14th floor of the police hospital for six months after returning to Thailand in August last year. It could be said that this coming Songkran will be a happy time for the Shinawatras, with a family reunion. But does not bode well for the country and the rule of law? Definitely not. It will impose a heavy cost on the country's justice system. Chairith Yonpiam is an assistant news editor at Bangkok Post.Victory Capital Management Inc. Purchases 8,095 Shares of Carpenter Technology Co. (NYSE:CRS)

Damaged 1840s Bayfield landmark will be rebuiltVerstappen under investigation after surprise pole

Pep Guardiola: It’s my responsibility to solve Manchester City’s poor runIn the final days before Romania’s parliamentary elections this weekend, the governing parties’ leaders both quit, pollsters gave up on projecting the results and the nation’s top court cast serious doubt on the integrity of the voting process. And the stakes couldn’t be higher. Sunday’s parliamentary contest pits the pro-European establishment against far-right insurgents and will help to determine whether a critical NATO member and Ukrainian ally lurches closer to Moscow. It takes place in an atmosphere of scarcely believable chaos and confusion. Romania is in the middle of three consecutive weekend ballots for both a new parliament and a new president. Events spun off the rails in the first round of the presidential election on Nov. 24, when a Russia sympathizer with barely any public profile emerged as the shock winner. Calin Georgescu reported zero spending on a campaign that was mainly driven by social media videos on TikTok recorded from his living room. His victory sparked fears that Romania’s democratic process had been hacked by the Kremlin. In the country’s biggest political crisis since the communist regime collapsed over three decades ago, the constitutional court has ordered a recount of the presidential ballots, but it won’t have the fresh results until Sunday night and there is mounting speculation that it may order a rerun. As voters prepare to return to the polls on Sunday, there are major questions hanging over the process that they simply do not have answers to. The prospect of a far-right surge has sent hundreds to take the streets in freezing temperatures. In Bucharest, demonstrators chanted “We want freedom, not fascism.” For all the concerns about Russian interference, there’s also deep frustration, especially outside the major cities, with the mainstream candidates who were ejected in the first presidential ballot. Romania’s two most established parties, the Social Democrats and the Liberals, have governed in coalition for the past three years and the country has suffered rising inequality and rampant inflation. The vote puts 19 million Romanians at the heart of the struggle between the democratic institutions of the European Union and Russia’s expansionary ambitions. To the north, Romania borders Ukraine, where the Russian army has been fighting for almost three years to restore what President Vladimir Putin says is his country’s historic territorial rights. To the east is Moldova, where a pro-Western president survived another election earlier this month amid widespread reports of Kremlin interference. Putin’s ally Viktor Orban governs Hungary to the west. Romania, too, an EU member, could soon have a pro-Russian president and a far-right government, if the next two weeks of voting break in their favor. Many Romanians only began to learn after the vote about 62-year-old Georgescu, the agricultural engineer who languished in the single digits in polls just weeks before the election. A one-time ally of ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, Georgescu has denounced military support for Ukraine, called for a quick end to the war and cast doubt on the benefits of the country’s NATO membership. “I do not want to leave NATO, I do not want to leave the European Union,” he said on Tuesday, pushing back against his characterization by the local media. “I am a Romanian — I have no connection with Russia, I’m not a legionnaire, I’m not an antisemite.” Some of the comments collide with previous statements, in which he laid blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with NATO — and raised the prospect of leaving the military alliance if it didn’t guarantee peace. In 2020, Georgescu praised Putin as one of the worlds few true leaders. The alarm deepened after Georgescu said he had no campaign funding — and that supporter financing had been donated. The claim raised hackles from critics who pointed out that the candidate’s high-resolution videos, including some with sweeping landscape shots — featuring him on horseback, performing judo moves, dipping into a mountain lake — could only have been produced by professionals. An investigation by local news website G4media suggested the effort was artificially amplified by foreign interference. Georgescu’s profile was heavily promoted by a volunteers who were prompted to spread posts in exchange for “undisclosed rewards,” the website reported. A similar scheme took place during the vote in Moldova. Romania’s Supreme Defense Council, which includes top government and intelligence officials, issued a statement Thursday saying that one candidate — it didn’t name Georgescu — benefited from “massive exposure and preferential treatment.” The panel cited Russian influence operations that aimed to shift public opinion in Romania — and accused TikTok of failing to label the candidate’s videos as election material as required by Romanian law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who has frequently misled the media over previous disinformation campaigns, said Friday that allegations of Russian interference in Romanian elections are unfounded and unsupported, according to the Interfax news agency. TikTok said it was “categorically false” to claim that it treated Georgescu’s account differently from other candidates. Adding to the sense of a country spinning out of control, Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned his party’s leadership while his coalition partners, the Liberals, ousted their leader. After pollsters completely missed Georgescu’s victory last week, they’ve opted not to release any further surveys, so voters, candidates and officials are all essentially flying blind ahead of Sunday’s vote. Before the voluntary polling blackout, the ultranationalists tied to another candidate George Simion, had been making steady gains and were running second place behind the Social Democrats. Now though, no one is really sure where they stand. “The situation is very fluid,” said Remus Stefureac, the director of research firm INSCOP. He predicted that Romania’s pro-European would still get between 50% and 60%, enabling them to form a government, but without much conviction. “In a background of increased social tensions, a sovereign movement can get a temporary boost,” he said. ——— (With assistance from Slav Okov and Demetrios Pogkas.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Virginia Beach and Something in the Water contract includes $500K support, dependent on transparencyEx-Andhra CM Jagan sends legal notice to media outlet for 'false' report on 'cheapest power agreemen

STOCK MARKET SNAPSHOT FOR 26/11/2024

The mayor of Steelton Borough is calling for a forensic audit into its finances, citing concerns of overspending, “outdated and continual” contracts and potential misappropriation of funds. Mayor Ciera Dent said those concerns revolve around contracts with well-connected political consultant Mike Musser II, as well as his employer, the law firm McNees Wallace & Nurick, and other companies he’s worked with. Stories by Juliette Rihl Dauphin County agency to end ex-official’s questionable $60K NRA show contract Dauphin County official criticizes contracts to political consultant worth $870K Ex-Dauphin County commissioner stripped of board positions, NRA funding following controversies

MONTOGMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man who detonated a homemade explosive device outside the state attorney general's office was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Thursday. Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 27, plead guilty in August to the charge of malicious use of an explosive device. Calvert admitted to constructing the bomb out of nails, firecrackers and screws, and then blowing it up outside Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 24, prosecutors said. No people were hurt, and nearby buildings in downtown Montgomery were not damaged. Remnants of the bomb were not discovered until the following Monday, according to a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Law enforcement arrested Calvert two weeks later. “Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Calvert's attorneys did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Thursday. Prosecutors said that Calvert had placed stickers reflecting a wide range of political ideologies around the area, some of which included the phrase, “Support your local antifa.” But Calvert said he does not have any “affiliation with antifa" in his plea deal.With all the uncertainty that continues to persist in the market and economy, it makes sense for investors to be cautious and consider adding low-volatility stocks to their portfolios. Not only are policymakers still lowering interest rates and hoping for a soft landing, but now, with uncertainty about a new administration south of the border and potential tariffs and trade wars, there is plenty to be cautious about. The problem is that many industries also have significant potential. So, if policymakers do achieve a soft landing, you don’t want to miss out on the rally by keeping your cash on the sidelines. Therefore, if you’re looking to put your cash to work but are cautious about the heightened uncertainty in the market and economy today, here are three low-volatility stocks you can buy and hold with confidence. One of the best low-volatility stocks on the TSX Typically, the best way to find low-volatility stocks is to find companies that are highly defensive with stable and reliable cash flows. That’s why utilities are always some of the lowest volatility stocks on the market, and of all the utilities in Canada, ( ) is easily one of the best. Not only is Fortis a massive company with a market cap of more than $30 billion, but it also operates in jurisdictions all over North America. That means its already low-risk business providing essential utility services, which is also well-diversified, helps to mitigate risk even further. In addition, because Fortis pays out the majority of its earnings back to investors through its dividends, most of its investors hold Fortis for the long haul, especially since it increases its dividends every single year. Therefore, Fortis is one of the best low-volatility stocks to buy now because it won’t just protect your capital in times of turmoil, it can also provide you significant and growing passive income for years to come. A top consumer staples stock Another great place to find defensive businesses and low-volatility stocks is in the consumer staples sector. However, while many of the largest consumer staples stocks have low , in my view ( ) is the best to buy. North West operates grocery stores and supermarkets in remote and underserved communities across Canada, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Therefore, not only is it a defensive business, but by providing essential goods and services to areas with limited access to other retailers, the stock has a dominant position in the regions it operates. Furthermore, over the years, North West has continued to vertically integrate to optimize its operations and improve its margins. Plus, just like Fortis, North West also pays a significant and reliable dividend funded by its consistent free cash flow generation, which is a main reason its beta is well below 1.0. So, although North West still has a beta higher than Fortis’ unbelievably low beta of 0.25, at just 0.63, the consumer staple is still one of the best low-volatility stocks you can buy today. A top defensive stock to buy now and hold for years In addition to two companies in the most common industries in which to find defensive and low-volatility stocks, another excellent investment to consider today is ( ), a massive waste management company with a north of $67 billion. Waste management is another prime industry in which you can find low-volatility stocks because the services these companies provide are also highly essential. Furthermore, the industry has significant growth potential as stocks like Waste Connections rapidly grow by acquisition, limiting competition and finding synergies to lower costs and improve margins. So even though Waste Connections’ dividend only has a yield of 0.67% today, the stock’s beta is still well below 1.0 at just 0.58 times, showing how stable it can be. Furthermore, as you would expect with a stock that only pays a small dividend, Waste Connections has a tonne of growth potential, especially for such a massive company. In fact, after growing revenue by more than 10% each of the last three years, analysts expect another 11% jump in sales this year, which should push earnings even higher as its margins continue to strengthen. Therefore, if you’re looking for a low-volatility stock that still has significant long-term growth potential, Waste Connections is a top stock to consider.