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COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by one of the men whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent sitting in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Two of the men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report.COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Victims' families and former colleagues share relief and anger Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by one of the men whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent sitting in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” Decision to leave Roof on death row met with conflicting emotions There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. One inmate's attorney expresses thanks — and his remorse Two of the men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” ___ Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. Jeffrey Collins And Ali Swenson, The Associated PressLetter: Cook Islands passport – personal ambition or national interest?

Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. ( NYSE:GPMT – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, December 19th, NASDAQ Dividends reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.05 per share on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Granite Point Mortgage Trust has increased its dividend payment by an average of 26.0% annually over the last three years. Granite Point Mortgage Trust has a payout ratio of -10.6% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Research analysts expect Granite Point Mortgage Trust to earn ($2.67) per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $0.20 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of -7.5%. Granite Point Mortgage Trust Stock Down 4.3 % NYSE:GPMT opened at $2.87 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $143.38 million, a PE ratio of -0.74 and a beta of 1.83. The business’s 50 day moving average is $3.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.00. Granite Point Mortgage Trust has a 52 week low of $2.46 and a 52 week high of $6.16. Analysts Set New Price Targets Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on GPMT About Granite Point Mortgage Trust ( Get Free Report ) Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc, a real estate investment trust, originates, invests in, and manages senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans, and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments in the United States. The company provides intermediate-term bridge or transitional financing for various purposes, including acquisitions, recapitalizations, and refinancing, as well as a range of business plans, including lease-up, renovation, repositioning, and repurposing of the commercial property. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Granite Point Mortgage Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Granite Point Mortgage Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .YSR Congress president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has criticised the Telugu Desam-led coalition government for halting transformative reforms in education and staging routine parents-teachers' meetings as ground-something unique.

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How Sid Edwards 'broke all the rules' and unseated Baton Rouge mayor Sharon Weston BroomeLifestyle Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. The trend has taken the internet by storm , as social media users discuss the savvy trick . "Check-in chicken" involves flyers waiting until check-in is almost closed until reserving a seat, in the hope of nabbing one with extra legroom or by an emergency exit. The hack was highlighted by travel influencer and cheap holiday expert Chelsea Dickenson on her TikTok channel (below). She claims airlines, which charge to pre-book seats, separate parties travelling together by putting them "in the bad seats" leaving the coveted spots up for grabs. In a video she said: "Essentially, what they do is they palm off the middle seats or the back of the plane in the hope that you will then pay to change your seat. "And if you sit tight and wait, you will see that the only ones left are extra legroom seats and the ones at the front of the plane.” @cheapholidayexpert Was this too last minute?! 😰 🛫 Send this to someone who loves to leave checking in a little too late... 🙈 🐔 WHAT IS CHECK IN CHICKEN? 🐔 Check in Chicken is when you leave your online check in for Wizz Air and Ryanair late in the hope that you get allocated a better seat. 💺 WHY DO YOU GET A BETTER SEAT IF YOU L EAVE CHECK IN LATE? 💺 Wizz Air and Ryanair both do three things: 1. They charge for seats 2. They actively split up people travelling together 3. They often place people in ‘bad seats’ - i.e. middle seats and those away from the exits All of this means that as time ticks on, often the seats that are left available are the ‘good seats’ - i.e. upfront and extra legroom 🤔 DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK? 🤔 Yep! I actually can’t remember the last time I didn’t get an extra legroom seat because of doing this!! ⚠️ BUT WHAT’S THE RISK? ⚠️ The small risk - as you have seen in this video - is that you leave check in too late and there’s no seats left. This is because airlines can overbook planes due to the chance that a small percentage of passengers won’t show up for the flight. Now, technically the airline shouldn’t automatically boot off those that were last to check in - they’re supposed to ask if anyone is willing to give up their seat first (they get another flight plus compensation so some may well go for it) but often they just stick it on those who have left check in chicken a little too late... 😭 HOW BIG IS THE RISK?! 😭 Wizz Air and Ryanair both have a fairly high average load factor - around 94% - and so planes are often close to full. However, it is true that some passengers don’t show up and there are still plenty of flights that aren’t completely full. Overall, they wouldn’t overbook if they were losing money on the situation - which they would be if it happened often since they’d need to rebook your flight, put you up in accommodation if needed and give you compensation. 💁‍♀️ MY TOP TIP 💁‍♀️ Don’t leave Check in Chicken until the last moment - you need to be checking the seating plan throughout the day and check in when only good seats are left! 📣 LET ME KNOW... Would you do this?! And has anyone ever been on an overbooked plane?! #wizzair #checkin #overbookedflight ♬ original sound - Cheap Holiday Expert But the "chicken" tactic could leave you without a seat if the flight is overbooked, Chelsea warned. It's therefore best not to leave it until the very last minute and keep a close eye on the seats throughout the day, she added. Play your cards right and you might score an exit row, for free. Picture: iStock Leaving check-in until the last minute will also "add stress to your day," travel expert Adam Duckworth told Fox News. It's also difficult to nail the technique and to do it properly requires "regularly monitoring seat maps", which can be very time consuming. Adam said: "For many of us, the time is better spent packing and getting everything in order around the house before our travels, "This trend will suck up a lot of your time, and you should ask yourself, ‘What is my time worth?’ And be very careful, because if you do this wrong and wait too long, you could lose your seat all together." The hack we love at Escape that's a little like check-in chicken? It may seem counter intuitive, but book these seats for you and your travel companion. Myself and some fellow colleagues are fans of the strategy where you book an aisle and window seat for yourself and your travel companion in a row of three seats. The thinking is that nobody will want to select that dreaded middle seat, and you might end up with an entire row to yourself. If somebody does end up booking that middle seat, you can just politely ask them if they would prefer the window or aisle seat if you want to sit next to your partner. This has worked for me three out of the past four times I've tried it, and we've ended up with the row all to ourselves. Give it a whirl. It's not just 'check-in chicken'. This year was also the year 'gate licing' cropped up as a travel term ... Group of people standing in queue at boarding gate. Focus on female hand holding suitcase handle. This follows the rise of "gate licing" another travel hack which grew in popularity at the end of last year. The term is one used by air travel workers to describe passengers who crowd around boarding gates before their designated boarding time. The objective is to be among the first to board the plane and secure bag space in the overhead lockers. It's believed the phenomenon became more popular after the pandemic when passengers had heightened travel anxiety. Similarly, when people see others lining up, they tend to follow suit. Shira Gabriel, a psychology professor at the University of Buffalo, told told The Washington Post : “People will do any weird thing if they think that’s the way to behave. “When you see people lining up, getting ready, it makes you feel there’s a benefit for that”. And let's not be forgetting, raw-dogging ... Raw dogging was the most viral travel trend of 2024. Pictures via TikTok The term 'raw-dogging' has long been slang for unprotected sex, popular with young men. But in 2024, unpredictably, it made its way into the travel space. @manlikeadem new pb unlocked #rawdogging #travel #flight #viral #xyzbca #fyp ♬ original sound - strongsack Around June/July 2024, people on TikTok started joking around, saying they were "raw dogging" flights by sitting in their seat without any kind of aid to get them through their flight, embracing the "raw" experience of the flight without watching any movies, listening to any music or looking at their phone. You had to stay awake too. In more extreme versions, you were not allowed to take bathroom breaks or eat food either, or wear a sleep mask. The basic idea was to watch the flight map and endure the flight in all its spectacular boredom with no protection in the form of audio or visual stimulation, as part of a mental toughness challenge. Nope. We don't get it either. With The Sun UK and Fox News More Coverage 100% success: My airport check-in hack Rebecca Andrews Flight upgrade hack that could save you $1k Dilvin Yasa Originally published as 'Check-in chicken' is the bold new method people are using to nab the best plane seats More related stories Lifestyle The internet’s favourite trad wife Nara Smith opens up about her extreme eczema *Insert ‘from scratch’ joke* Read more Lifestyle What is ‘sensehacking’? The wellness world’s newest obsession Change your environment to change your life Read more

Despite the seeming challenges at home, Nigerian Lawyers and Judges have, over the years, distinguished themselves, including at being Prosecutors, Judges and Chief Justices of some African countries. This chain of achievements has not yet ended. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi sought out one of these rare gems who rose from the Nigerian legal sphere, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, the first black and African President of the International Criminal Court, seated at The Hague, Netherlands (ICC). Called to the Nigerian and Canadian Bars, Judge Eboe-Osuji is actually home-grown. He graduated from the University of Calabar, practiced in Port Harcourt before going abroad for his Masters and subsequently, his Doctorate. In 1997, Judge Eboe-Osuji started worked at the UN where he served in various capacities. It was from the UN that he was elected to serve as a Judge of the ICC in 2012. He distinguished himself and earned the confidence of his fellow Judges at the Court, and in 2018, they elected him as the 4th President of the Court where he presided over sensitive international criminal cases during his three year tenure which ended in 2018. The author of a book titled “End of Immunity”, a detailed discussion on the history of international law on immunity, Judge Eboe-Osuji shares his views on several issues, including the ICC issuing an arrest warrant in relation to crimes committed in Gaza and Ukraine Judge, kindly, give us an overview of your career and how you ended up as the 4th President of the International Criminal Court at The Hague To summarise, starting with my educational background: I received my LLB degree from the University of Calabar in 1985. Did the legal professional training course at the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Bar in 1986. And, so, yes, I’m a member of the “notorious” Call Class of ’86. I did my National Youth Service in Port Harcourt and after that, I went to Canada two years later. I did my LLM degree at McGill University in Canada; and eventually, my PhD much, much later at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Regarding my legal work, before going to Canada, I practised law in Port Harcourt from 1986 to 1988. In Canada, I re-qualified, got called to the Bar and practised law in both Vancouver and Toronto. Come 1997, I was recruited to work at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, as a Prosecution Counsel. I was the first Nigerian to be recruited as a Prosecutor, in an International Tribunal. Later, I also worked as a Prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Freetown. I eventually ended up in Geneva working as the Senior Legal Advisor to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was from that last position that I was elected to serve as a Judge of the International Criminal Court, starting in 2012 – the first Nigerian to serve as an ICC Judge. In 2018, my fellow Judges at the ICC, elected me to serve as Court’s President. That was the first and the only time, that a black person and an African served in the position. Why does it appear as if Nigerians/Africans do not play many roles in these international courts unless their springboard is from outside Nigeria, from places such as UK, Europe, USA, Canada etc? I can’t speak to the experience of other Africans. Regarding Nigerians, however, I will insist that a Nigerian is a Nigerian. I don’t accept the mindset of finding reasons to draw distinctions between Nigerians – “What’s her ethnic group? What’s his religion? Is she ‘home-based’ or a ‘Diasporan?” and so on. Nigerians are driven by one circumstance or another, to ply their trades where they do. Naturally, when the time comes to dive into the swimming pool of opportunity, you leap from springboard on which you stand. And, when I speak of swimming pool of opportunity, I must stress that these are veritable swimming pools – often infested with things that can bite you – in which you must swim well, lest you sink or drown. The more interesting question, though, should be why it is that Nigerian Lawyers don’t serve as Judges in the various international courts as frequently as Nigeria’s size commands – given a population of over 220 million people and more than 200,000 Lawyers according to certain estimates. It has been a hit-and-miss; a once-in-a-blue-moon story. The primary reason for the spotty showing, is because these positions are filled through highly competitive international elections. But, more often than not, those who nominate Nigeria’s candidates will brush aside the best candidates available – and then send forward candidates on the basis of other non-professional considerations. The candidate then goes to compete and ends up losing, because they were competing with better candidates from the other countries. And, the cycle is repeated next time. What are the core objectives of the ICC? How well would you say the court has done in achieving same? The core objective of the ICC is to be a court of last resort, which insists on accountability when international crimes – that is, aggression, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes – have been committed and the national authorities with the primary jurisdiction either fail to investigate and prosecute, or fail to do so genuinely. So far, the ICC has done remarkably well, if we all keep in mind what the court was set up to do – also keeping in mind the structures of its jurisdiction. Often, people impose their own interpretations of the court’s mandate – as well as their own expectations upon the court – without having actually read the court’s statute to see what its mandate really is, and the framework that constrains what the court is permitted to do. Here, we must consider that the court can exercise jurisdiction only in any of the following circumstances: first, over nationals of member States wherever those nationals commit international crimes; second, over individuals who commit international crimes on the territory of a member State of the court, even when the State of nationality of the culprit is not a member State of the court. The court’s jurisdiction over Russian nationals for alleged crimes committed in Ukraine- and the jurisdiction over Israeli nationals for alleged crimes committed in Gaza – come under this rubric. A third way to seise the court of jurisdiction is when the UN Security Council refers a case to the ICC, regardless of the nationality of the territory or of the accused person; and it doesn’t matter that the State concerned is not a party to the Rome Statute. The record of the court’s activities, shows that it has generally done quite well in discharging its mandate. The court’s biggest image problem, comes from two primary sources. The first is that, when the court seeks to subject the leaders of a country to accountability – as it must when the occasion requires – those people invariably unleash the most ferocious propaganda campaigns against the court, regardless of the truth. The second source of image problem comes from the failings of the court’s member States, who fail to play their own parts – often due to their own political choices. In a strange, unexplained phenomenon, the court gets blamed for those failings of the States. Take for instance, arrest warrants. The court issues two arrest warrants in legally identical circumstances: one against the leader of an ally, the other against the leader of an adversary State. What often happens is that an ICC member State – or a State with interest – will cheer the court for the arrest warrant against the adversary, and then simultaneously vilify the court for the arrest warrant against the ally. We see this phenomenon in the arrest warrants against Mr Putin and Mr Netanyahu. And, the vilification is based on nothing more than political gas fire – not on the facts and the law. No one ever says, “No the facts do not support the arrest warrant”. It is always other arguments – mostly political noises. And, some gullible people end up believing the tripe. Even some of the questions in this interview, reveal the extent to which the unwary seem to believe or unintentionally relay these campaigns against the court. It is on record that the USA, UK, Russia and a few other major countries are neither members of the ICC, nor signatories to the enabling statutes, particularly the Rome Statute. This appears to lend credence to the assumption that the court was set up mainly to hound African leaders and leaders from third world countries. To what extent would you say this assumption is justified? The UK is a member State of the court. So is France, Germany, Italy, Spain and all of Western Europe. By regional distribution, there are 33 African States, 28 States from Latin America and the Caribbean, 25 from Western Europe and their kindred States (including Canada, Australia and New Zealand), 19 from the Asia-Pacific region, and 19 from Eastern Europe. All for a total of 124 States. That number is 47 States more than the 77 States that have accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. So, the premise of concern is not borne out, when it is contended that the preferences of any State – such as US, Russia, China or India – to not ratify the Rome Statute lend credence to the argument that the ICC was set up “mainly to hound” the leaders of developing countries. But, even in itself the concern that the court “hounds” the leaders of African States is a mistaken view. For one thing, there are arrest warrants now out for the President of Russia and one of his Ministers; as well as for the Prime Minister of Israel and his former Defence Minister. These are not African leaders. Finally, I was not impressed with the concern, which was rife at some point, that the Court was too focused on Africa. The complaint was not impressive, because the argument was never that the crimes never occurred. Nor was the concern lodged from the perspective of the African victims of atrocities. No one ever pointed out one African victim of atrocities, who complained that the ICC should not be doing the cases it was doing. I remember a discussion I once had in 2018 or 2019 with a Rwandan official who complained that the ICC was “too focused on Africans.” It turned out that the official was Tutsi. I asked him whether he realised that the logic of his complaint would have meant that the Rwandan Genocide Tribunal should not have done its work, because that work was “too focused on Africans.” But, we cannot ignore the fact that the crimes we are talking about here, are crimes which Africans committed against Africans. ICC takes them up, only because the national system concerned did not investigate or prosecute. You recently authored a Book ‘End of Immunity’. Tell us briefly about the Book which we are told is a must read, and whether you agree that certain leaders are not accountable for their actions. Some have said that if an African leader did a quarter of what Netanyahu has done to the Palestinians or Putin to the Ukrainians, they would be facing sanctions by now, if not, arrest for offences like genocide and crimes against humanity. Take Charles Taylor of Liberia for example; he bagged a 50 year jail sentence for his crimes against humanity etc, while some countries are defending Netanyahu for his own atrocities. Why the double standards? Will the stronger world leaders ever be made accountable? I’m grateful to those who see my new book, End of Immunity, as a must read. A family member who is a medical doctor and a friend who is an engineer, both of whom have read the book, said very much the same thing about the book. I intentionally wrote the book in a style and language that make it accessible to everyone – and not only to Lawyers. My engineer friend told me that his copy was delivered to him at 11:30 pm and he made the “mistake” of starting to read it then – he couldn’t put it down. Regarding the subject-matter, there are some people who mistakenly think that international law had recognised immunity for Heads of State alleged to have committed international crimes. The book is an in-depth exposé of the history of international law on that question. And, it reveals that, at no point had international law ever recognised immunity for even Heads of State who are under investigation or prosecution before an international court for international crimes. Quite the contrary, at every opportunity – since 1919 – the international community had rejected such immunity. That, in a nutshell, is the central story of the book. But, it needed telling with all the historical records that demonstrate the proposition. How can we make our own Nigerian leaders accountable? It depends on the subject-matter. In relation to ordinary crimes, immunity is often provided in the Constitution of nations. Many national Constitutions – not only Nigeria’s – provide that while in office the Head of State may not be prosecuted for ordinary crimes. That privilege is exclusively reserved, for Heads of State within national law. But, for international crimes, there is no immunity for anyone including heads of State. So, any Nigerian – including the President – who is implicated in a genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, should expect to be tried at the ICC. There is no immunity. It is that simple. There was no ICC during the Nigerian civil war. I have no doubt at all that, had the court existed at the time, Nigeria’s leaders would have found themselves under investigation and prosecution at the ICC. There’s no doubt at all about that. So, it is important to ensure that that national experience is never repeated. Kindly, share with us a few cases which you adjudicated upon at the ICC that impacted on global diplomacy in any way. There was the Kenyan case involving Ruto and Kenyatta, even before you became President of the ICC. One matter that I adjudicated at the ICC that remains topical, was the question of immunity in relation to President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan. I was the presiding Judge of the appellate chamber of the ICC, when the question was presented to the Appeals Chamber for the first time. The question was whether there was immunity for a Head of State in international law. Following an extensive research and analysis, we unanimously answered the question in the negative: no, there never was immunity in international law for anyone – including Heads of State – when facing charges of international crimes before an international court. There have been quite a number of complaints that the ICC since its inception in 1998, with tens of billions of Dollars , has only been able to secure very few convictions so far. What could be responsible for this state of affairs at the court? For one thing, I don’t know where the statistics of “tens of billions of dollars” comes from. You better verify the actual figure. Then again, every Lawyer knows that you don’t judge the performance of a legal system, by the number of convictions its criminal courts have rendered. I cannot not imagine how anyone could see it as a good thing, for a legal system to be renowned for a high rate of convictions. That was the hallmark of the inquisition! Some may reasonably worry about the opposite problem, in the event of a high rate of acquittals. But, an old legal aphorism may well tell us where the right mark should be. You will recall that old saying by William Gladstone, that it is better to acquit 10 guilty persons than to convict one innocent person. But, the statistics of the ICC comes nowhere close to a 10:1 ratio of verdicts in favour of acquittals. Although there have been some acquittals, there are more convictions than acquittals. Then again, I insist, that should not be the measure of justice. There are applications before the court that the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu be arrested and tried by the court. How can this be achieved since Israel isn’t a member of the ICC? Can the sam e call for arrest be extended to Vladimir Putin, given the alleged crimes being committed in Ukraine? Does such a call for arrest bear upon the sovereignty of these countries? As I indicated earlier, the ICC has jurisdiction over nationals of its member States regardless of where those individuals commit crimes. ICC also has jurisdiction over crimes committed on the territory of its member States, even when the accused is a citizen of a State not party to the Rome Statute. It is on the latter ground, that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant in relation to crimes committed in Gaza and Ukraine. Beyond the foregoing considerations, there is an old doctrine of international law – going back to the time of the Roman Empire – to the effect that, States are entitled to punish persons or other States who violate legal norms that serve to preserve the international community or its member States. You don’t need the States being punished to give their consent, or to be members of the court doing the punishing. It was on that basis that nationals of Germany and Japan were prosecuted at the end of World War II in international courts established under legal instruments, to which Germany and Japan were not parties. The same goes for the ICC, in relation to nationals of Russia and Israel. Thank you Judge.

US announces Ukraine weapons package worth $725 million

BOSTON — Forty years ago, Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie rolled to his right and threw a pass that has become one of college football’s most iconic moments. With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. A statue commemorating Doug Flutie's famed "Hail Mary" pass during a game against Miami on Nov. 23, 1994, sits outside Alumni Stadium at Boston College. Famous football plays often attain a legendary status with religious names like the "Immaculate Reception," the "Hail Mary" pass and the Holy Roller fumble. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie rejoices in his brother Darren's arms after B.C. defeats Miami with a last second touchdown pass on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie evades Miami defensive tackle Kevin Fagan during the first quarter of a game on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami, Fla. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.” Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Get local news delivered to your inbox!Advocacy groups are urging Cambridge city leaders to take bold action to stop the affordable housing crisis from worsening. “Cambridge is struggling to house its most vulnerable residents, with far too few supportive housing units to meet growing demand,” said Brian Paul, a Cambridge resident and executive director of Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW). “The math is not adding up for Cambridge,” he said. “There’s more need, and there’s not enough units. We’re not in a good place right now.” Cambridge has fewer than 25 supportive housing units across Preston, Hespeler, and Galt combined, which Paul said is far below the needs of the population. In contrast, SHOW operates 64 units in Waterloo alone, offering a model Cambridge desperately needs to follow, he added. Alongside Paul, local advocates from Citizens for Cambridge have joined the call for action. The group sent a letter to city officials on Nov. 13 urging them to prioritize the construction of affordable housing. Attempts to get a comment from the city about the letter have gone unanswered. “We’ve been raising the alarm about this issue for a long time,” said Dan Clements, a representative of Citizens for Cambridge. “It’s time for the city to listen to its residents and make housing a top priority.” The letter also points to rising rents and long waiting lists for subsidized housing as key issues facing residents. “People are struggling to find housing that they can afford. It’s a crisis,” Clements said. “Families are being forced into difficult living situations, and that needs to change.” The local organization agrees that the city must take immediate steps to address the problem. “We need more affordable units, and we need them now,” Clements said. “The longer we wait, the harder it will be for people to secure stable housing.” Paul highlighted the growing number of people on the streets. “There’s a lack of affordable housing options and an incredible lack of supportive housing. It’s not just about putting people in homes — it’s about helping them recover.” Supportive housing provides affordable rents — around $700 per month — alongside round-the-clock on-site staff to help residents with addiction recovery, mental health support, and life skills. “These services can mean the difference between life and death for some people,” Paul said. The problem is compounded by recent closures of encampments in Cambridge. For many, the loss of temporary shelter has left them with no clear options. “These individuals have nowhere to go,” Paul said. “They’re somebody’s kids, somebody’s siblings, somebody’s parents. We need to treat them with dignity and compassion.” The citizens’ letter also emphasizes the importance of a co-ordinated response, with local government, community groups, and businesses working together to find solutions. “It can’t just be one group solving this problem. It takes everyone,” Paul said. “We need a community-wide effort to create long-term solutions that meet the needs of people who are struggling.” But Paul worries about the lack of support for Indwell, a Christian charity group “who are actively trying to build supportive housing in Preston.” Indwell has purchased the old Grand River Hotel which has been prepared for construction of a 46-unit affordable housing project, which is now in the financing phase. “It’s frustrating to see that an organization with such an incredible reputation throughout the province has been stalled at this development,” he said. “Supportive housing is the answer — it’s a solution that works.” Beyond compassion, advocates argue that supportive housing also makes financial sense. Supportive housing “saves money for the health-care system, the justice system, and social services,” Paul said. “It’s the kind of investment that benefits everyone in the community.” For residents, he urged unity and continued advocacy. “There’s a way out of this. We just have to take action — and take it together.”

In response to an ultimatum from the Pinellas County (Fla.) Commission last week, Tampa Bay Rays ownership said in a letter Monday that its deal to build a new $1.3 billion ballpark is still "in effect." The letter was the latest salvo in a verbal back-and-forth between the MLB franchise and the county. Rays presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman wrote to the County Commission on Nov. 19 and suggested the team would not agree to a deal for a new stadium. The Rays claimed they had spent more than $50 million toward building that new stadium, but the county had allegedly "suspended work on the entire project," making its targeted 2028 opening unfeasible. Last Monday, Pinellas County Court Commission Chairperson Kathleen Peters replied in a letter to Auld and Silverman requesting they declare by Dec. 1 whether they are in or out. "In response to your question regarding the status of the various agreements, they are in effect until a party terminates or outside dates are reached," Silverman responded Monday, with Dec. 1 now past. "The Rays have fulfilled its obligations to date and continue to wait for decisions and actions by the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County." "We would not have gone forward with the project if a future Pinellas County Commission had the ability to revoke the approval we all celebrated in July or to unilaterally delay the project's completion into 2029." Silverman also fired back at Peters for bringing up a conversation Auld had with Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott last month, prompting the county to allege that Auld was not committed to following through on the project. "The conversation primarily concerned the near-term challenges to our business given the damage to Tropicana Field as well as the dynamics related to the location of our home games in 2025," Silverman wrote Monday. "Brian Auld did not waver from our commitment to the new ballpark project." It is unclear how the county will proceed. The Pinellas County Commission already voted 6-1 last month to put off its final decision on whether to approve bonds until Dec. 17. Regardless of what happens in the Rays' long-term planning, the club will not play its 2025 home games in St. Petersburg after Tropicana Field was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton in early October. The team will instead welcome opponents to Tampa's George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. --Field Level Media

Get ready for a game-changer in the world of mini PCs! ASUS is preparing to launch its highly anticipated ROG NUC 2025, a powerful and compact gaming system that promises to push the boundaries of performance and cooling. Equipped with Intel’s upcoming “Arrow Lake-H” processors and NVIDIA’s awaited “RTX 50” series, this new model promises to cater to demanding gamers and tech enthusiasts. The ROG NUC 2025 is the latest evolution in ASUS’s prestigious lineup of gaming PCs, featuring top-of-the-line components. An exciting detail leaked on Chinese platform Weibo shows a design slightly revised from its predecessor. With rumors hinting at an enhanced cooling solution, possibly due to an additional fan, this NUC model ensures optimal performance without overheating issues. Under the hood, the ROG NUC 2025 is expected to sport the Core Ultra 200H series CPUs, potentially the flagship Core Ultra 9 285H processor, a step up from the Meteor Lake architecture. Complementing the CPU is the move to NVIDIA’s desktop RTX 50 series, replacing the RTX 4060 and 4070 used in prior models. This shift symbolizes a leap in graphical prowess, hinting at the inclusion of an RTX 5060 or 5070. Notably, the front panel of the ROG NUC 2025 reveals modern connectivity options, including USB Type-A and Type-C ports. Missing, however, is the card reader available in earlier versions. As anticipation builds for CES 2025, details like release dates and pricing are yet to be announced. Nonetheless, expect a price tag north of the previous model’s $2000, given the advanced specifications and features. Unveiling ASUS ROG NUC 2025: A Compact Powerhouse Poised to Revolutionize Gaming The ASUS ROG NUC 2025 is emerging as a groundbreaking mini PC, set to redefine performance and efficiency in the world of compact gaming systems. This highly anticipated release boasts cutting-edge specifications that align with evolving tech trends, promising to cater to both discerning gamers and tech aficionados. Features and Specifications The ROG NUC 2025 is equipped with Intel’s next-generation “Arrow Lake-H” processors, specifically the Core Ultra 200H series, potentially featuring the powerhouse Core Ultra 9 285H processor. This latest advancement offers a significant improvement in performance over the previous Meteor Lake architecture. Complementing this CPU innovation, the mini PC houses NVIDIA’s upcoming “RTX 50” series GPUs—likely incorporating the RTX 5060 or 5070—ushering in superior graphical performance and visual fidelity. Additional innovations in the ROG NUC 2025 include a slightly redesigned chassis as per leaks on China’s Weibo platform. The system incorporates enhanced cooling mechanisms, potentially through an additional fan, to ensure peak performance under heavy loads without overheating. Connectivity and Design The front panel design emphasizes modern connectivity. It includes both USB Type-A and Type-C ports, providing versatile options for peripheral compatibility. However, this iteration forgoes the card reader found in previous models, aligning with the trend towards wireless and cloud-based data solutions. Market Predictions and Pricing Insights As we approach CES 2025, anticipation for the ROG NUC 2025 grows, with enthusiasts eager for official announcements on release dates and pricing. Given the anticipated high-end components and performance capabilities, market experts predict a starting price exceeding $2000, surpassing its predecessor. This follows a general trend in the rising costs of advanced gaming hardware given the increasing demand for powerful, compact systems. Trend Analysis and Market Position The ROG NUC 2025 is expected to set new standards in the mini PC market, appealing to a niche segment of gamers seeking desktop-grade performance in a compact form factor. This release underscores ASUS’s commitment to innovation and performance, reinforcing its position as a leader in the gaming technology space. By marrying compact design with uncompromising power, the ROG NUC 2025 not only caters to the immediate needs of the gaming community but also anticipates future gaming and multimedia demands. To learn more about ASUS’s technological innovations, visit the ASUS official website . Conclusion The ASUS ROG NUC 2025 is shaping up to be a transformative product in the mini PC landscape. Equipped with state-of-the-art components and designed for optimal cooling, it promises to deliver an unrivaled gaming experience. As more details emerge, gamers and tech enthusiasts worldwide await what could be a new benchmark in compact gaming innovation.NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are pulling Wall Street toward another record amid mixed trading on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in afternoon trading after closing its best month of the year at an all-time high . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 86 points, or 0.2%, with a little more than an hour remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 31.1% to lead the market. Following accusations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 2.9% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 1.1% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 3.7% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.6%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.3%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.3%. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday's headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October's lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Investar Holding Co. ( NASDAQ:ISTR – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, December 18th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of 0.105 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, January 31st. This represents a $0.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Investar has increased its dividend payment by an average of 16.5% per year over the last three years. Investar has a dividend payout ratio of 21.9% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Investar to earn $1.83 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.42 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 23.0%. Investar Stock Performance NASDAQ ISTR opened at $21.98 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.30. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market cap of $216.06 million, a PE ratio of 12.28 and a beta of 0.79. Investar has a twelve month low of $14.60 and a twelve month high of $24.81. Insider Activity at Investar In other Investar news, Director Scott G. Ginn acquired 8,475 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $23.68 per share, for a total transaction of $200,688.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 8,475 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $200,688. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Company insiders own 8.73% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Investar from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. View Our Latest Report on ISTR About Investar ( Get Free Report ) Investar Holding Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Investar Bank that provides a range of commercial banking products to individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in south Louisiana, southeast Texas, and Alabama in the United States. The company offers various deposit products and services, such as savings, checking, money market, and individual retirement accounts, as well as various certificates of deposit; debit and credit cards; internet, mobile, and video banking services; and reciprocal deposit products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Investar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Investar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .All-star Scottie Barnes returns to Raptors lineup vs. Timberwolves

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