#mnl168
Commvault Systems director sells $212,520 in stockNEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time this week as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . Bitcoin fell back below the $100,000 by Thursday afternoon, sitting above $99,000 by 4 p.m. ET. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but most daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. And the industry has made sizeable investments along the way. Back in August, Public Citizen, a left-leaning consumer rights advocacy nonprofit, reported finding that crypto-sector corporations spent more than $119 million in 2024 to back pro-crypto candidates across federal elections. Trump made his latest pro-crypto move when he announced his plans Wednesday to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto custodian Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary . That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs, particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. “It is hard to overstate the magnitude of the change in Washington’s attitude towards crypto post-election,” Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, said via email Thursday, reiterating that prices could keep rising if trends persist. “There is a lot more demand than there is supply, and that’s usually a pretty good recipe for success.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Today’s excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren’t already in the space want to get in on the action. For those in a position to invest, Hougan says it's not too late — noting that bitcoin is still early in its development and most institutional investors “still have zero exposure.” At the same time, Hougan and others maintain that it's important to tread cautiously and not bite off more than you can chew. Experts continue to stress caution around getting carried away with crypto “FOMO,” or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. This story has been corrected to refer to Anchorage Digital as a crypto custodian, not a crypto asset manager.
Winners of 3 straight, UTEP takes aim at short-handed LouisvilleWinless in rivalry, Dan Lanning, No. 1 Oregon determined to tame Huskies
#16to365: New resources for year-round activism to end gender-based violence and strengthen bodily autonomy for allMcGill runs for 2TDs and North Texas becomes bowl eligible by beating Temple 24-17Citigroup Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF ( NYSEARCA:PCY – Free Report ) by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 387,186 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 11,824 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. owned about 0.53% of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF worth $8,324,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Tidal Investments LLC increased its stake in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 35,027 shares of the company’s stock valued at $717,000 after buying an additional 1,916 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 7.4% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 14,652 shares of the company’s stock valued at $300,000 after acquiring an additional 1,012 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 1.1% during the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 130,739 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,615,000 after acquiring an additional 1,368 shares during the period. Stewardship Advisors LLC boosted its position in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 5.4% in the second quarter. Stewardship Advisors LLC now owns 340,238 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,805,000 after purchasing an additional 17,558 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simplicity Wealth LLC grew its stake in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 198.1% in the 2nd quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC now owns 81,645 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,633,000 after purchasing an additional 54,258 shares during the period. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Trading Up 0.4 % NYSEARCA PCY opened at $20.78 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $20.83 and its 200-day moving average is $20.67. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF has a one year low of $19.33 and a one year high of $21.69. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Company Profile The Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks a tier-weighted index of US-dollar-denominated sovereign debt in emerging markets with at least 3 years to maturity. PCY was launched on Oct 11, 2007 and is managed by Invesco. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70- In its continued support of those experiencing food insecurity, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles helps launch the holidays with its 4th Annual Turkey Drive - LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 3, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The bright yellow tents of the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles had something special at their weekly food drive on the Saturday before Thanksgiving: 300 turkeys for local families. The economic impact of the pandemic in 2020 marked the beginning of widespread unemployment and financial hardship. Although lockdowns have been over for several years, and many people have regained or found new employment, food insecurity remains a growing concern. A 2023 study by USC Dornsife Public Exchange revealed that nearly one-third of Los Angeles County residents experience food insecurity. According to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank , more than half of the parents surveyed in May 2024 reported difficulty accessing food, particularly as pandemic-era benefits phased out. It also reported that L.A. County has more food-insecure children than any other county in the U.S. In response to this urgent need, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles began providing a weekly food drive in 2020 and has continued to offer this service, helping hundreds of families each week. The Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by L. Ron Hubbard. It constitutes one of the world’s largest independent relief forces. A Volunteer Minister’s mandate is to be “a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.” Their creed: “A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.” Their motto is no matter the circumstances, “Something can be done about it.” For more information on the technology used by the Volunteer Minister, watch Scientology Tools for Life and the documentary Operation: Do Something About It on the Scientology Network on DIRECTV 320 or at www.Scientology.tv . LEARN MORE: https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/ https://www.scientology-losangeles.org VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo?si=DDYMrYdRbb-XAG-1 https://www.scientology.tv/watch/series/inside-scientology/inside-a-church.html PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-1203-s2p-COS-TurkeyDrive-300dpi.jpg PHOTO CAPTION: Cars line up at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles for a special addition to its weekly food drive. TAGS: #ChurchOfScientologyLosAngeles #TurkeyDrive #FoodDrive #Thanksgiving #ScientologyVolunteerMinisters NEWS SOURCE: Church of Scientology International Keywords: Religion and Churches, Church Of Scientology Los Angeles, Turkey Drive, Food Drive, Thanksgiving, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Church of Scientology International) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122625 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/church-of-scientology-food-drive-makes-thanksgiving-special-for-300-local-families/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
My love of movie scoundrels has been sorely tested this year. When I was young, I daydreamed of exotic heists, slick con artists and lovable crooks I’d seen on screen. For most of my moviegoing life, I’ve been a sucker for larceny done well. Most of us are, probably. But now it’s late 2024. Mood is wrong. In the real world, in America, it’s scoundrel time all the time. Maybe Charles Dickens was right. In “American Notes for General Circulation” (1842), the English literary superstar chronicled his travels and detected a widespread, peculiarly American “love of ‘smart’ dealing” across the land. In business and in politics, Dickens observed, slavish admiration of the con men among them “gilds over many a swindle and gross breach of trust.” And here we are. It’ll pass, this scoundrel reprieve of mine. In fact it just did. All it took was thinking about the conspicuous, roguish outlier on my best-of-2024 list: “Challengers.” It’s what this year needed and didn’t know it: a tricky story of lying, duplicitous weasels on and off the court. The best films this year showed me things I hadn’t seen, following familiar character dynamics into fresh territory. Some were more visually distinctive than others; all made eloquent cases for how, and where, their stories unfolded. “All We Imagine as Light,” recently at the Gene Siskel Film Center, works like a poem, or a sustained exhalation of breath, in its simply designed narrative of three Mumbai hospital workers. Fluid, subtly political, filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s achievement is very nearly perfect. So is cowriter-director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel “The Nickel Boys,” arriving in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 3, 2025. “Nickel Boys,” the film, loses the “the” in Whitehead’s title but gains an astonishingly realized visual perspective. If Ross never makes another movie, he’ll have an American masterpiece to his credit. The following top 10 movies of 2024 are in alphabetical order. Both a mosaic of urban ebb and flow, and a delicate revelation of character, director and writer Payal Kapadia’s Mumbai story is hypnotic, patient and in its more traditional story progression, a second feature every bit as good as Kapadia’s first, 2021’s “A Night of Knowing Nothing.” Mikey Madison gives one of the year’s funniest, saddest, truest performances as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who takes a shine to the gangly son of a Russian oligarch, and he to her. Their transactional courtship and dizzying Vegas marriage, followed by violently escalating complications, add up to filmmaker Sean Baker’s triumph, capped by an ending full of exquisite mysteries of the human heart. As played by Adrien Brody, the title character is a visionary architect and Hungarian Jewish emigre arriving in America in 1947 after the Holocaust. (That said, the title refers to more than one character.) His patron, and his nemesis, is the Philadelphia blueblood industrialist played by Guy Pearce. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s thrillingly ambitious epic, imperfect but loaded with rewarding risks, was shot mostly in widescreen VistaVision. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. Opens in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 10, 2025. Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play games with each other, on the tennis court and in beds, while director Luca Guadagnino builds to a match-point climax that can’t possibly work, and doesn’t quite — but I saw the thing twice anyway. In Bucharest, production assistant Angela zigzags around the city interviewing people for her employer’s workplace safety video. If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. llinca Manolache is terrific as Angela. Like “Do Not Expect Too Much,” director Agnieszka Holland’s harrowing slice of recent history was a 2023 release, making it to Chicago in early 2024. Set along the densely forested Poland/Belarus border, this is a model of well-dramatized fiction honoring what refugees have always known: the fully justified, ever-present fear of the unknown. A quiet marvel of a feature debut from writer-director Annie Baker, this is a mother/daughter tale rich in ambiguities and wry humor, set in a lovely, slightly forlorn corner of rural Massachusetts. Julianne Nicholson, never better; Zoe Ziegler as young, hawk-eyed Lacy, equally memorable. I love this year’s nicest surprise. The premise: A teenager’s future 39-year-old self appears to her, magically, via a strong dose of mushrooms. The surprise: Writer-director Megan Park gradually deepens her scenario and sticks a powerfully emotional landing. Wonderful work from Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Maria Dizzia and everybody, really. From the horrific true story of a Florida reform school and its decades of abuse, neglect and enraging injustice toward its Black residents, novelist Colson Whitehead’s fictionalized novel makes a remarkable jump to the screen thanks to co-writer/director RaMell Ross’s feature debut. Cousins, not as close as they once were, reunite for a Holocaust heritage tour in Poland and their own search for their late grandmother’s childhood home. They’re the rootless Benji (Kieran Culkin) and tightly sprung David (Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed). Small but very sure, this movie’s themes of genocidal trauma and Jewish legacy support the narrative every step of the way. Culkin is marvelous; so is the perpetually undervalued Eisenberg. To the above, I’ll add 10 more runners-up, again in alphabetical order: “Blink Twice,” directed by Zoe Kravitz. “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. “Dune: Part Two ,” directed by Denis Villeneuve. “Good One ,” directed by India Donaldson. “Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater. “Joker: Folie a Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips. “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, opens in Chicago-area theaters on Dec. 25. “The Outrun,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” directed by Johan Grimonprez. “Tuesday,” directed by Daina O. Pusić. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.Home | Strong quake strikes off California, tsunami warning cancelled A large magnitude 7 earthquake hit off a sparsely populated stretch of northern California coast on Thursday, prompting coastal towns to evacuate low-lying areas amid a tsunami warning that was later cancelled. No deaths or injuries were reported. The National Weather Service said that the tsunami warning that extended along 800 km of the California and Oregon coasts was called off about 90 minutes after the earthquake struck at 10:44 am Pacific Time (1:44 p.m. ET/1844 GMT). The quake, which hit at a shallow depth of 10 km, was centered about 63 km west of the town of Ferndale, a sparsely populated portion of the northern California coast, the US Geological Survey said. In Ferndale, a town of about 1 400 people, residents and business owners were cleaning up broken crockery and merchandise after the quake struck. “It was a big quake, it made you evacuate the building as fast as you could,” said Troy Land, a member of the Ferndale’s Volunteer Fire Department, who also owns a hardware store and said lumber and cans of paint went tumbling across the shop’s floor. In San Francisco, where the quake was not felt, hospitality worker Nicole Steinberg, 25, said she was grabbing a coffee when an alert about the possible tsunami was sent to her phone, along with all the other patrons around her. “I got a call from dad asking me to find higher ground immediately,” Steinberg said. “But no one else was freaking out too much. I took a while to decide whether to go back to the office or not. I decided to go to the Salesforce Park, which is higher up, and I waited there for an update.” Some 4.7 million residents of California and Oregon had been under the tsunami warning before it was canceled, the National Weather Service said. The City of Berkeley Police Department issued an evacuation order for parts of the city on the San Francisco Bay, but later sent an alert to residents saying that “no tsunami danger presently exists.” In northern California, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office downgraded its evacuation warning for a tsunami to “situational awareness” in low lying areas. About 19 000 clients were without power in Humboldt County – up from near zero before the earthquake struck, according to data from PowerOutage.us. The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on social media that the governor “is now meeting with state emergency officials and working to ensure Californians are safe.” SABC © 2024None
FORT WORTH, Texas — Frankie Collins scored 16 points, Brendan Wenzel added 15 and TCU beat Xavier 76-72 in a Big 12/Big East Battle game on Thursday night. Collins also had a game-high seven rebounds plus five assists while Wenzel hit a trio of 3-pointers for the Horned Frogs (5-3). Ernest Udeh Jr. added 13 points and Trazarien White and Micha Robinson had 10 each. Ryan Conwell scored 17 points to lead Xavier (7-2), though it come on 6-of-18 shooting, including 4 of 13 on 3-point attempts. Zach Freemantle added 16 points and Dailyn Swain 12. TCU led nearly the entire first half, going up 37-29 at halftime. The Musketeers took their first lead of the second half with 12 minutes to go. There were seven lead changes after that before TCU went on a 9-0 run with 1:21 remaining. Wenzel started the decisive run by tying the game with two free throws, Vasean Allette, who started in place of Noah Reynolds (wrist), scored off a steal by Udeh for the lead and then made his own steal, was fouled and sank two free throws with 46 seconds to go. David Punch blocked Dayvion McKnight at the hoop leading to another Collins free throw before Udeh's emphatic dunk completed the run. Xavier missed three shots and turned the ball over twice during TCU's run before Swain hit a 3-pointer at game's end. TCU will host Vanderbilt in a neutral site game at Dickies Arena while Xavier is home against Morgan State on Tuesday. Xavier guard Dayvion McKnight (20) leap to the basket to take a shot as TCU's Frankie Collins (11), Ernest Udeh Jr. (8) and Brendan Wenzel (0) defend in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Credit: AP/Tony GutierrezChevron Announces 2025 Capex Budget & 4Q24 Interim UpdatesSundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Shares of International Business Machines ( NYSE: IBM ) were on track to snap seven straight sessions of gains, as the stock fell more than 1.7% to $224.94 in afternoon trade. The American technology company gained 9.97% in the last seven trading sessions. The stock
The union representing striking postal workers says most provinces, including New Brunswick, turned down a free offer for its members to voluntarily deliver welfare cheques to those in need at their homes. Critics say the New Brunswick Liberal government’s decision could force hundreds, if not thousands, of the most impoverished people in rural areas to travel many kilometres to get their monthly social assistance cheques from government offices. On Friday, Premier Susan Holt told reporters at the legislature that government staff had worried the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, or CUP-W, wouldn’t deliver the Dec. 1 cheques on time. “Originally, the reason for the rejection was because of the timing. There was concern that CUP-W wouldn’t be able to deliver the cheques in as timely a way as the department felt they could, and there was an urgency to making sure those cheques were getting out to the people who need them.” In the face of criticism, the premier said the department is re-evaluating its position. “They perhaps do have the ability to deliver to the timelines that we want to see and help get those cheques to people as soon as possible. So the conversation is happening.” The day before, the minister of social development, Cindy Miles, told reporters at the legislature she didn’t know why her department had turned down the offer, but insisted that welfare recipients could visit with their case workers to get the monthly social assistance cheques in person or set up automatic bank deposits. When it was pointed out that some of people in rural New Brunswick live very far away from government offices, she said civil servants could travel to the recipients in person to deliver their cheques. The revelation about the spurned offer raised concerns in question period on Thursday, with opposition Progressive Conservative critic Margaret Johnson demanding answers. “We’re talking about serving our vulnerable populations who struggle with transportation and financial insecurity. How could the department ignore this reality?” Johnson is the Tory MLA for Carleton-Victoria, a sprawling riding in the northwest of the province. She said for many poor people, it would be tough to get to a provincial office. “For some in my riding, getting their cheques means finding a way to get from Juniper to Woodstock or Perth-Andover – that is 71 kilometres or 53 km – and then back home again,” she said Thursday in the House. “If they live in Plaster Rock, that means driving 39 km and back. If they’re in Nackawic, they have the choice of 64 km to Fredericton or 47 km to Woodstock and back home. “As I said, we’re talking about serving vulnerable populations who struggle with transportation and financial insecurity. “Gas costs money. We all know that, which is why it causes me to shake my head.” In an open letter sent to supporters last week, the CUP-W’s Atlantic national director, Jeff Callaghan, said the union’s striking postal members had delivered cheques to communities around the country, as outlined in the “Socio-Economic Cheque Memorandum of Agreement” with Canada Post. The document states that unionized workers have agreed to voluntarily process and deliver government payments to senior citizens, low-income people and others who receive pension cheques and other forms of social assistance. “Despite our offer to continue this service during the strike, there were no provincially issued cheques included in these deliveries from the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island,” Callaghan wrote. “Canada Post reached out and offered the Socio-Economic Cheque service to all provinces and territories. Only three accepted, and one has since backed out.” Brunswick News contacted the union’s Atlantic office to learn more details, but no officials were made available. Miles provided no insight as to why the provincial government turned down the offer. “That’s something I’d have to get back to you on,” the Liberal minister told reporters on Thursday. “I don’t know what that conversation looked like. But as I said before, relationships are so important. And folks have relationships with the folks in the central office or their regional office. There will be accommodations for folks in order to receive their cheques that they so desperately need.” Miles said she’d speak with her staff about the possibility of allowing the union workers to deliver the cheques. She also said special arrangements could be made for government employees to travel to recipients who have no vehicle or gas money. “We can have staff go out and meet them where they are at.” But such a task would be a logistical nightmare if every welfare recipient wanted their cheque delivered personally to them. The latest statistics for November show that 24,709 cheques went out, helping more than 37,500 people and their families. Green Deputy Leader Megan Mitton also criticized the Liberal government’s decision to turn down the offer. “That’s unacceptable. It’s putting the burden on the most vulnerable to travel to get their cheques. I think that’s wrong.” In a news release on Wednesday, the Department of Social Development said that due to the postal strike, December’s social assistance payments had been sent to its regional offices for preparation by staff. The release also encouraged clients who do not receive their monthly payments by direct deposit to pick up a form at their local office to set it up. About 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike Nov. 15 over wage and benefit demands. The two sides – Canada Post and The Canadian Union of Postal Workers – are said to be far apart on the issues. Negotiations broke down Wednesday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Uruguay on Thursday, aiming to conclude long-delayed negotiations for a landmark trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur bloc. The agreement could create a trans-Atlantic market of 700 million people but faces opposition from EU member states and farmers. "The finish line of the EU-Mercosur agreement is in sight. Let's work, let's cross it," von der Leyen said, sidestepping objections from some EU countries, in particular France. French President Emmanuel Macron called the current proposal "unacceptable," citing concerns about unfair competition for European farmers. Macron vowed to defend agricultural independence, reflecting resistance from France's politically influential farming community. What's at Stake in the EU-Mercosur Agreement? The EU-Mercosur trade pact would establish an economic area encompassing nearly 25 percent of global GDP. It aims to reduce tariffs and trade barriers, facilitating the exchange of goods between Europe and South America. German automakers including Volkswagen, Audi , and BMW support the deal, because it would lower costs for exporting vehicles to Latin American markets. A provisional agreement reached in 2019 stalled over disputes related to environmental standards and agricultural competition. Mercosur, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, could see its producers gain market access to the EU for beef, poultry, and sugar, raising concerns among European farmers. Critics argue that Mercosur products don't meet stringent EU environmental and animal welfare standards, providing them with an unfair price advantage. Can Protests Derail the Agreement? Farmers across the EU have staged protests to highlight their grievances. Belgian farmers blocked border crossings on Thursday, warning that the deal could flood European markets with cheaper South American goods, undermining EU producers who must comply with stricter standards. Last year, mass demonstrations underscored the depth of opposition to the deal. Despite these challenges, von der Leyen's visit suggests that technical disputes between the EU and Mercosur have been resolved. "The road is open for the top political level to make the final compromises to try to get a deal over the line," said European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill. What Happens If a Deal Is Reached? If von der Leyen secures an agreement at the Mercosur summit , the next steps would involve translating the deal into legal text. The ratification process could reveal whether unanimous approval by all 27 EU member states is required or if a special majority would suffice. As negotiations reach a critical stage, the deal's outcome will depend on whether von der Leyen can balance the EU's economic ambitions with the concerns of its member states and citizens. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
Supply Chain Network Summit Hosts Transforming Warehouse Management with Control Towers, Digital Twins, and AI Webinar with AutoScheduler.AIApple Cash: How to use it to send and receive money
California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sitesRuud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with LeicesterBargain hunters looking to pick up a new vacuum cleaner this Black Friday do not need to wait until November 29 to make their purchase. That's because Wowcher has slashed the price of a powerful Dyson vacuum by a whopping 51%. The refurbished Dyson DC50 Multi Floor Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner typically retails for £249.90 but it has been slashed to £122 as part of Wowcher's massive Black Friday sale. That's an unmissable saving of almost £128. As one of Dyson's smallest upright models , the DC50 is designed for easy manoeuvring and storage, offering high performance without the bulk. It weighs just 5.4 kg but has the performance of a full-size upright. The technology inside has not simply been ‘shrunk’, but concentrated – every angle and dimension re-engineered. READ MORE: Get a Tonies Toniebox for £44 instead of £80 in limited time WH Smith deal READ MORE: Sky will give you its 'lowest ever price' if you change how you watch TV Graded as good, the Dyson vacuum cleaner will have a few signs of wear-and-tear but will be in overall good shape. "There might be a few surface marks, but it’s still aesthetically sound," Wowcher says. Functionality isn’t affected in the slightest, though - everything works perfect. The lightweight cleaner boasts Dyson's patented ball technology to overcome the steering limitations of fixed wheels. Even more of the machine’s key components are located inside the ball itself, which reduces clutter on the outside of the machine for even easier steering into difficult places. Ordinary vacuum cleaners rely on bags to trap dust and dirt and the more that you use them, the tiny holes in the bag clog with particles of dust, losing to a restriction in air flow and loss of suction over time. But the DC50 Multi Floor uses cyclone technology instead, spinning air at incredibly high speed flinging dust, dirt and pet hair straight into the bin, without the use of a bag and no loss of suction. As one of Dyson's smallest upright models, the DC50 Multi Floor offers high performance without the bulk (Image: Amazon) Other things to note is the DC50 Multi Floor's advanced brush head which adjusts automatically to different floor types, and the brush bar that contains carbon fibre filaments for removing fine dust from hard floors. Plus, the removable star tool is designed for cleaning stairs and hard to reach areas. While Wowcher's listing doesn't have any reviews as of yet, it has over 90 five-star reviews on Amazon . Giving it a glowing five stars, one shopper said: "This is brilliant, excellent suction for hard floors and carpets. It's so good to have a vacuum that can get everything done in the home." A second wrote: "Incredibly light. Very easy to manoeuvre. Good suction as expected. Does a good job of hovering up all the pet hair. Stairs are quick and easy to do now because the hoover is so light. Very quick and easy to empty and clean - a fantastic buy." Dyson's DC50 Multi Floor has a bagless design (Image: Amazon) Somebody else didn't like the Dyson's DC50 Multi Floor as much, however, giving it a three-star review. They said: "If this vacuum was £100, I would give it five stars. At full price, it fails to impress. it's made with cheap and lightweight plastic. it clogs easily, and needs to be picked up and placed directly over small objects, such as a paper clip, in order to pick it up." But another loved their latest home purchase , adding: "This is exactly what we wanted - it's light, very portable and easy to use. We were amazed at the amount of dust in our carpets when we first used it. Would highly recommend." Shark has also released its Black Friday deals, with up to £100 off its bestselling vacuums. The Deluxe Black Anti Hair Wrap Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Lift-Away, Pet Model is now £169.99 down from £269.99 and the Classic Anti Hair Wrap Upright Pet Vacuum is now £189.99. At Currys, the Bosch Unlimited Auto Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is on sale with a £150 discount, now £249. Or a classic Henry Vacuum Cleaner is now £119 instead of £159.Popular but problematic plan
Citigroup Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF ( NYSEARCA:IXJ – Free Report ) by 46.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 86,307 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 27,221 shares during the quarter. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in iShares Global Healthcare ETF were worth $8,472,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Activest Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF in the third quarter valued at $39,000. Stonebridge Financial Planning Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Stonebridge Financial Planning Group LLC now owns 6,810 shares of the company’s stock worth $668,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its position in iShares Global Healthcare ETF by 10.3% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 18,432 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,809,000 after acquiring an additional 1,722 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares Global Healthcare ETF by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,674 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,931,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lynx Investment Advisory increased its holdings in iShares Global Healthcare ETF by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Lynx Investment Advisory now owns 2,929 shares of the company’s stock worth $288,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. iShares Global Healthcare ETF Stock Up 0.4 % Shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF stock opened at $92.45 on Friday. iShares Global Healthcare ETF has a 52 week low of $82.64 and a 52 week high of $101.31. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $94.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $95.12. The company has a market cap of $4.00 billion, a PE ratio of 24.61 and a beta of 0.56. About iShares Global Healthcare ETF iShares Global Healthcare ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of companies that Standards & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P) deems to be a part of the consumer staples sector of the economy. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IXJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Global Healthcare ETF ( NYSEARCA:IXJ – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Global Healthcare ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Global Healthcare ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites
Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with LeicesterTop 10 movies of 2024: In a time of scoundrels, ‘Brutalist,’ ‘Challengers’ and the movie about the exotic dancer
- Previous: mnl168
- Next: mnl168 free 100
