jili super star

Gun found on suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO matches shell casings at scene, police say ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — New York City’s police commissioner says the gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO matches shell casings found at the crime scene. Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said Wednesday that lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione’s prints to a water bottle and a snack bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing. Police had said earlier that they believed the gunman bought the items at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target. Mangione is jailed in Pennsylvania on weapon and forgery charges, but he also has been charged in New York with murder in Brian Thompson's death. His lawyer has noted that Mangione is presumed innocent. Authorities are scrutinizing evidence and the suspect’s experiences with the health care industry. Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer a glimpse into an unusual American moment Memes and online posts in support of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Some cast Mangione as a hero. That's too far, says Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising Democrat who was almost the Democratic vice presidential nominee this year. CEO Brian Thompson's death touched off off these ripples. They offer a glimpse into how so many different aspects of 21st-century life can be surreally connected, from public violence to politics, from health care to humor, or attempts at it. The Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crises WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t think much of Joe Biden’s foreign policy record. He frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term. But the Trump and Biden national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife’s edge. It’s fuzzy how much common ground Biden and Trump’s teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House. FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in January WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray says he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. The announcement Wednesday comes a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the position. His impending resignation will bring him three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations. Trump applauded the news Wednesday, saying it will end the weaponization of what he called the “Department of Injustice.” Syrians flock to morgues looking for loved ones who perished in Assad's prisons DAMASCUS (AP) — Many bodies have been found in Syrian detention centers and prisons since President Bashar al-Assad's government fell. Now Syrians around the world are circulating images of the corpses in hopes that they will see slain loved ones whose fate had been a mystery. At the morgue visited by The Associated Press on Wednesday in Damascus, families flocked to a wall where some of the pictures were pinned in a haunting gallery of the dead. Relatives desperately scanned the images for a recognizable face. Some of the prisoners died just weeks ago. Others perished months earlier. US warns Russia may be ready to use new lethal missile against Ukraine again in 'coming days' WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh cited a U.S. intelligence assessment in telling reporters on Wednesday that an attack could come “in the coming days.” She says the U.S. does not consider the Oreshnik missile a game changer on the battlefield. But that Russia is using the weapon to intimidate Ukraine as both sides wrestle for an advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the war. The Russian Defense Ministry also is warning it may retaliate against Kyiv for an attack on a military base in the Rostov region in southern Russia on Wednesday. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 33 including children, Palestinian medics say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 33 people. One of the strikes hit a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north, killing 19. A separate strike outside nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital killed a woman and her two children, and another strike in central Gaza killed at least seven people. Israel's military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and accuses militants of hiding among them, putting their lives in danger. Local health officials say Israel’s retaliatory offensive after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Hannah Kobayashi, missing Hawaii woman whose disappearance prompted a massive search, is found safe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe. That’s according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles. The missing Hawaii woman's disappearance prompted a massive search and a missing persons investigation. It was not immediately clear where she was found, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico. The LAPD said Wednesday the department will wrap up its investigation. Kobayashi's family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages. Kobayashi’s mother and sister said they are “grateful” she has been found safe. Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled the country is charged after returning to US GREEN LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning and left his wife and three children for Eastern Europe has willingly returned to the U.S. Ryan Borgwardt is charged with obstruction, a misdemeanor. A not-guilty plea was entered by a judge Wednesday, a day after Borgwardt's return. The judge also set bond at $500 for the obstruction charge, though Borgwardt only has to pay if he violates the conditions of his release. Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll says Borgwardt “came back on his own” because of his family. Investigators say the 45-year-old was living in the country of Georgia. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. But when exactly? ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament. Key issues include during which part of the year to stage the tournament, where to play the games, whether alcohol will be allowed at all and how to protect workers rights in the massive construction projects required to host the World Cup.jili super star 。

Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in Principal Financial Group, Inc. ( NYSE:PFG – Free Report ) by 132.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 675 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 385 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $58,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sompo Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sompo Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 6,820 shares of the company’s stock worth $586,000 after acquiring an additional 360 shares during the last quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC raised its position in Principal Financial Group by 2.1% during the third quarter. Palisade Asset Management LLC now owns 6,946 shares of the company’s stock valued at $597,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in Principal Financial Group by 12.3% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 30,042 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,581,000 after purchasing an additional 3,281 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Principal Financial Group by 1.4% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,403,689 shares of the company’s stock worth $120,577,000 after purchasing an additional 18,801 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blackhawk Capital Partners LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $209,000. Institutional investors own 75.08% of the company’s stock. Principal Financial Group Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE PFG opened at $87.09 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $19.92 billion, a P/E ratio of -96.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.20. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $72.21 and a fifty-two week high of $91.97. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $86.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $82.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.30. Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.73 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.35%. This is a boost from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. Principal Financial Group’s payout ratio is currently -320.00%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their target price on Principal Financial Group from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group from $85.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Principal Financial Group from $85.00 to $83.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $87.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Principal Financial Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $85.92. View Our Latest Report on Principal Financial Group About Principal Financial Group ( Free Report ) Principal Financial Group, Inc provides retirement, asset management, and insurance products and services to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients worldwide. The company operates through Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Asset Management, and Benefits and Protection segments. The Retirement and Income Solutions segment provides retirement, and related financial products and services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Principal Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Principal Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.

Jamie O'Hara Says It's 'Time to Go' for Postecoglou at TottenhamMetalNRG plc ( LON:MNRG – Get Free Report )’s stock price was down 8.6% on Friday . The company traded as low as GBX 26.12 ($0.33) and last traded at GBX 26.50 ($0.33). Approximately 436,549 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 70% from the average daily volume of 256,518 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 29 ($0.36). MetalNRG Price Performance The stock has a market capitalization of £135.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.38 and a beta of 0.60. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 11.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 4.30. About MetalNRG ( Get Free Report ) MetalNRG plc operates as a natural resource and energy investing company. The company explores for gold, iron ore, nickel, copper, cobalt, silver, and diamonds deposits. It holds interests in the Gold Ridge project covering an area of 932 hectares located in Arizona, the United States; the Lake Victoria Gold project located in Tanzania; and the Uranium project located in Kyrgyzstan. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MetalNRG Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MetalNRG and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Chandigarh: The Punjab govt has decided to implement the recommendations of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Council across the state, announced minister of social security, women and child development Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday. The cabinet minister said that with the implementation of these recommendations, it is now mandatory for private playway schools operating in the state to register. She stated that playway schools must register with the department of social security, women and child development within six months. She further added that only registered playway schools will be permitted to offer their services in the state. Kaur shared that an online system is being established to facilitate the registration of playway schools. This will ensure that no institution faces any difficulties and the registration process can be completed in a timely and transparent manner. TNN We also published the following articles recently Now, you can register your vehicle at any RTO in state Kerala's Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has revised its vehicle registration policy following a High Court ruling. Now, residents can register their vehicles at any RTO within the state, regardless of their residential address. This change aligns with the Motor Vehicles Act and offers greater flexibility for vehicle owners, especially those relocating for work. Nagpur Schools Seek Parental Consent for Apaar ID Registration Nagpur schools are registering students for the Apaar ID, a 12-digit unique code under the 'One Nation, One Student ID' program. This initiative, linked to the Academic Bank of Credits and DigiLocker, streamlines academic records, enabling seamless credit transfers and secure digital storage of academic achievements. Parental consent is crucial for this transformative system aimed at standardizing educational record-keeping nationwide. Goa to implement NEP for special schools from 2025-26 Goa is gearing up to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) for special schools starting in the 2025-26 academic year. Education Secretary Prasad Lolayekar emphasized the focus on quality, affordability, and accessibility in education. The state aims to fully implement NEP across all levels by 2027-28. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Jayson Tatum Is Not Satisfied After His First NBA Title: 'Kobe Didn't Stop At One...'Jimmy Carter was respectively known as St Jimmy - universally revered for his good deeds in the poorest countries in the world and for the impeccable moral probity of his character, writes JONATHAN AITKEN

It was the first time the two FIFA best women’s coach of the year winners had gone toe to toe on the touchline, and more than two years since the two top-ranked women’s sides in the world had met at the London venue. Wiegman’s European champions were without a shot on target in the first half, while the visitors had a goal chalked off for offside early in the second half. Hayes’ Olympic gold medallists saw a penalty call reversed after a VAR check, and – though England looked brighter in the second half – Wiegman’s side were never able to find a way through a resolute US defence. Wiegman elected to start Paris St Germain keeper Mary Earps, while Chelsea captain Millie Bright was on the bench for a second straight England encounter. Bright’s former Blues boss Hayes fielded a USA line-up that included seven players who featured when the Americans last played at Wembley on October 7, 2022. US men’s boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose single season in charge of Chelsea overlapped with Hayes’ 12-year tenure at Stamford Bridge, was also in attendance and was spotted catching up with Wiegman and Hayes ahead of kick-off. Jessica Naz looked to get England off to an early start with a cross claimed by Alyssa Naeher, who will retire from international football after the Americans’ European trip. Alyssa Thompson unleashed an effort forcing Earps to leap into action, but the game soon settled, England still looking for a breakthrough when Jess Park directed an effort wide. Alex Greenwood could not connect with Lucy Bronze at the back post from a free-kick, while Emily Fox outpaced her Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead, beating her to a good ball from Bronze following a promising break down the right. The world’s top-ranked side continued to enjoy the possession advantage against their hosts, while clear-cut chances remained elusive. Hayes’ side came marginally closer to opening the scoring when Casey Krueger tested Earps with a low attempt through a crowd just after the half hour, and deadlock remained intact after the England keeper smothered Sam Coffey’s off-balance effort late on in the period. USA captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the back of the net shortly after the restart but the offside flag was raised. The Americans continued to threaten, first from substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s cross, picked out by Earps, then another attempt from forward Horan. England finally worked the ball deep into the visitors’ half, where Park’s effort was nodded away and Leah Williamson could only head straight at Naeher from the resulting corner. The pace picked up as the hour approached and a more determined England side started to emerge, but remained frustrated by the American defending. Ryan had just Greenwood to beat when she fired a shot into what appeared to be the chest of the Manchester City defender, but referee Lina Lehtovaara initially awarded the visitors a penalty. With VAR available, the Finnish official was called to the monitor and subsequently reversed her decision. Hayes rang more substitutes, while Wiegman’s first changes came in the form of Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly for Park and Naz in the 75th minute. Mead, surrounded by a trio of blue shirts, sent Naeher leaping, though her attempt looked certain to be wide, and the sides soon had just 10 minutes left to snap the stalemate. Jess Carter did well to track Ryan, who patiently controlled the ball inside the 18-yard box but was denied by a diving Earps and neither side was able to make a difference in four minutes of stoppage time.Vikings have ruled out tight end Josh Oliver. What does that mean for the running game?Russia's economy has had a turbulent few years since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The sharp decline of the ruble's value in recent weeks is just the most recent economic spasm. The Russians are juggling the materiel and manpower demands of the long-running war, punitive Western sanctions, low oil prices, high interest rates, inflation, a labor shortage, endemic corruption, and much more besides. President Vladimir Putin has a long list of economic concerns. But what is the Russian economy's greatest vulnerability at the moment? Newsweek asked experts for their views. Here's what they told us. Sergey Aleksashenko, Co-Founder, Boris Nemtsov Foundation; Former Deputy Chairman, Central Bank of Russia; Former Chairman, Merrill Lynch Russia Inflation, inflation, inflation. Consumer inflation is speeding up slowly and will erode the pensions and incomes of low-income families. Inflation that exceeds budgetary numbers will force the public sector to cut its investment plans. The Central Bank of Russia believes it can freeze inflationary pressure by raising its rate, though I doubt it. Inflation is fueled by the "guns, not butter" policy that is not sensitive to the interest rate. Elina Ribakova, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics Russia economy's greatest vulnerability is overheating. It is like a property bubble, but now it is a morbid war bubble. Budget money and subsidized credit are thrown at the military-industrial complex, but they lack investment, components, males of a working age that are being instead sucked into the war. It also means a huge reallocation of resources towards an activity that won't bring medium-term growth—war. Like with any bubble, it will burst. It is more likely to burst when oil hits $40-50 per barrel. Dr. Alexander Libman, Professor of Russian and East European Politics, The Institute for East European Studies, Free University of Berlin The main vulnerability of the Russian economy appears to be the shortage of the labor force. Russia is now in the state of full employment; there are hardly any possibilities for increasing the output, since it would require new workers—and they are simply not available. Emigration and recruitment of soldiers in the Russian army decrease the labor supply. Importantly, this is not a vulnerability potentially leading to a collapse of the Russian economy; but labor shortage is likely to put an end to the period of economic growth, pushing Russia into stagnation. Maximilian Hess, Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute The Kremlin's greatest vulnerability would be losing its oil exports. But Western policymakers won't proceed down this path given the potential risks to global prices and thus their own markets (unless somehow Saudi Arabia can be convinced to run up production dramatically). Realistically, Putin's greatest vulnerability is that Russia remains in a stagflationary environment over the next year and that the economic outlook from there turns even more negative. But while sanctions are vital to ensuring Russia's war machine is limited in the extent of devastation it can cause across Ukraine, we should not look to them to magically defeat Putin or cause him to abandon his megalomaniacal war in the short term. Nevertheless, maintaining them and tweaking them to be ever more effective is paramount to effectively mitigating against the threat of Putin's aggression. Dr. Janis Kluge, Deputy Head of Research Division, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, ‪German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)‬ Russia is very vulnerable to a drop in export revenues. If the U.S. decides to sanction Russian LNG exports or even oil exports, this could be painful for Russia. As Russia's reserve assets are mostly frozen by sanctions, the central bank cannot mitigate a drop in export earnings, so the ruble would drop much further, Russia would experience a recession and inflation would soar. If global oil prices decline significantly, this could happen as well. Dr. Vladislav Inozemtsev, Director, Center for Post-Industrial Studies; Special Advisor to MEMRI's Russia Media Studies Project I would say that Russia's weakness—as well as its strength—lies in the actions undertaken by the ruling bureaucracy. In 2024, the dissociation between the financial authorities and the top leadership has significantly increased compared to, would one say, 2022. If the government undertakes both market and non-market actions (like another selloff of currency proceeds, a freeze of the tariffs of state-own monopolies, and increasing pressure on the banks for lowering the deposit rates), it may succeed in another round of adjusting the economy to war-time realities (similar to one that was made in 2022). If it decides to stick only to liberal market measures, the economy may face dangerous imbalances. Sergei Guriev, Dean and Professor of Economics, London Business School The fiscal situation. Sanctions work and force difficult decisions (raising taxes and interest rates). But Russia continues to circumvent oil sanctions. If the West is serious about defunding Putin's war machine, sanctions enforcement should be tightened. Vladimir Milov, Former Russian Deputy Minister of Energy; Economist and Opposition Politician As to vulnerabilities, it's easier to ask if the Russian economy has any strength left. The inflation/interest rate spiral is killing business confidence, as most Russian enterprises can't survive for too long with current extreme interest rates. Russia is currently 12th in the world by central bank interest rate, we may well enter the worst 10 countries after December 20. On top of that, rapid depletion of the state's financial reserves, wild budget deficits, massive tax hikes effective from January 1 that would further undermine investment and business confidence, plus sanctions, etc. Russia survived for nearly three years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine due to accumulated reserves and military-driven economic bounce-back, but there are no miracles, sanctions and international isolation are finally beginning to bite. I agree with the central bank that the root problem of inflation is the output gap, supply's inability to catch up with demand—which is a direct result of supply constraints driven by war and sanctions (labor shortages, lack of access to technology and investment).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a new chapter for Syria can begin that's free of terrorism and suffering for its people. In a social media post on X on Sunday, Trudeau said the fall of the Assad dictatorship "ends decades of brutal oppression." Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country on Sunday and is now reported to be in Moscow, bringing to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto control as his country fragmented in a brutal civil war. The toppling of Assad comes after opposition forces entered the Syrian capital of Damascus, ending half a century of rule by his family. Trudeau said Canada is monitoring the transition closely, and he urged "order, stability, and respect for human rights." Ottawa is urging Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria and to consider leaving the country if it's safe to do so. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told a news conference on Sunday that Assad "was a puppet for the tyrants of Tehran." "He has carried out genocides against the Sunni people in his own country, and now he appears to have been toppled," Poilievre said in Ottawa. Poilievre said it's unknown who will replace Assad, adding it isn't Canada's fight and that he doesn't believe Canada should get involved. "We should stand with our allies, including Israel, against the terrorists. We should focus on protecting our own country." Ottawa describes the security situation as volatile, and said the Damascus and Aleppo airports as well as some border crossings are closed. An updated travel advisory from the Canadian government warns people to avoid the Middle Eastern country due to what it calls "ongoing armed conflict, terrorism, criminality, arbitrary detention, torture and forced disappearance." Canada has urged its citizens to leave Syria since November 2011, and its embassy in Damascus suspended its operations in 2012. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press. The Canadian Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell says it was a really easy decision to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the presence of three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani played a part, too. Snell was introduced Tuesday at Dodger Stadium accompanied by his agent Scott Boras. The left-hander finalized a $182 million, five-year contract last Saturday. “It was really easy just cause me and Haeley wanted to live here, it’s something we’ve been talking about for a while,” Snell said, referring to his girlfriend. “Then you look at the team. You look at what they’ve built, what they’re doing. It’s just something you want to be a part of.” Last month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after he was slowed by injuries during his lone year with the San Francisco Giants. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus, payable on Jan. 25, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13.2 million each year will be deferred . Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. “It just played out the way that people around me felt comfortable with, I felt comfortable with, they felt comfortable with,” Snell said. “We talked and found something that could work for both of us. You want your worth, you want your respect, and you want enough time to where you can really make a name for yourself. I've made a name for myself outside of LA, but I'm going to be invested.” Two-way star Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year deal a year ago, had a historic first season with the Dodgers. He helped them win the franchise's eighth World Series while playing only as designated hitter and became MVP in the National League for the first time after twice winning the award while in the American League. “It helps with him in the lineup for sure. That’s big motivation,” Snell said. “You want to be around players like that when you’re trying to be one of the best in the game. Yeah, it played a big part.” Snell joins Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation. All-Star Tyler Glasnow will be back after having his first season in LA derailed by a sprained elbow. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but is expected back on the mound in 2025. The rest of the rotation includes Tony Gonsolin, Landon Knack, Dustin May, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. “I pitched on six-man, five-man, four-man rotations,” Snell said. “I'm good with it all as long as we have a plan, we'll execute it.” Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. He has known Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, since he was 18. In the aftermath of winning the World Series and discussing how the Dodgers could repeat next year, Friedman said, “All conversations kept coming back to Blake.” “Usually in major league free agency, you're buying the backside of a guy's career, the accomplishments that they have had,” he said. “With Blake, one thing that's really exciting for us is, as much success as he's had, we feel like there's more in there." Snell was 2-2 against the Dodgers in his career. “We couldn’t beat him, so we’re going to have him join us,” Friedman said. .___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Beth Harris, The Associated PressExeter City take credit as they end Wycombe's winning run

NoneNo. 16 South Carolina 17, No. 12 Clemson 14

NoneCitigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of Qualys, Inc. ( NASDAQ:QLYS – Free Report ) by 40.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 60,146 shares of the software maker’s stock after buying an additional 17,440 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in Qualys were worth $7,726,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Qualys by 294.7% during the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 225 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Qualys by 149.0% during the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 239 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the period. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Qualys during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $40,000. DT Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Qualys during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its stake in shares of Qualys by 53.6% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 639 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $82,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.31% of the company’s stock. Qualys Stock Performance NASDAQ:QLYS opened at $153.60 on Friday. Qualys, Inc. has a one year low of $119.17 and a one year high of $206.35. The stock has a market cap of $5.62 billion, a PE ratio of 33.83 and a beta of 0.47. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $134.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $135.08. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently commented on QLYS. Northland Securities restated a “market perform” rating and set a $140.00 price target (down previously from $150.00) on shares of Qualys in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Westpark Capital restated a “hold” rating on shares of Qualys in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Qualys from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Qualys from $130.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC began coverage on Qualys in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $152.80. View Our Latest Research Report on QLYS Insider Activity at Qualys In related news, CEO Sumedh S. Thakar sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.21, for a total value of $876,470.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 179,649 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $22,493,851.29. This trade represents a 3.75 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CFO Joo Mi Kim sold 616 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.54, for a total value of $76,100.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 86,576 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,695,599.04. This represents a 0.71 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 21,919 shares of company stock valued at $2,993,000. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Qualys Profile ( Free Report ) Qualys, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud-based platform delivering information technology (IT), security, and compliance solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers Qualys Cloud Apps, which include Cybersecurity Asset Management and External Attack Surface Management; Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response; Web Application Scanning; Patch Management; Custom Assessment and Remediation; Multi-Vector Endpoint Detection and Response; Context Extended Detection and Response; Policy Compliance; File Integrity Monitoring; and Qualys TotalCloud, as well as Cloud Workload Protection, Cloud Detection and Response, Cloud Security Posture Management, Infrastructure as Code, and Container Security. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QLYS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Qualys, Inc. ( NASDAQ:QLYS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Qualys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Qualys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Signing with Dodgers was really easy decision for 2-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell

Stanley Black & Decker Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors

Law and order crackdown won’t make Jews saferVeteran forward Bruce Brown's return a boost to flagging Toronto Raptors' lineup

Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”