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Adams puts up 21, CSU Northridge defeats Montana State 72-69 in OTRolling out new criminal laws, CAA major tasks of MHA in 2024How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Saturday, December 14T he “war on woke” has a new target and her name is the Wicked Witch of the West. If you’re a fan of the musical Wicked, you’ll also know her as Elphaba, the moniker imagined by Gregory Maguire in his 1995 prequel to L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As played by Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 movie, she was the nemesis of Judy Garland’s Dorothy; as played this year by the musical theatre star Cynthia Erivo , she has conservative men across Britain and America bursting their blood vessels. Since Maguire came up with his novel – an extravagant piece of fan-fiction that suggests this “witch” might simply have been misunderstood – it has been reinterpreted as a stage musical and now as a movie in two parts. Wicked’ s target market consists of teenage girls who see themselves in this backstory for Elphaba and her college-friend-turned-rival, Glinda the Good Witch. In the 21 years since Stephen Schwartz’s adaptation opened on Broadway, the show has been a cult phenomenon among young musical fans, blithely ignored by everyone else. Now the screen version has brought into mainstream conversation and the land of Oz has become a battleground in America’s culture war. As a musical, Wicked is harmless to the point of vapid. Winnie Holzman’s storyline for the show is a more anodyne affair than Maguire’s hallucinatory fever dream of a book, which included bestiality and orgies. It features Elphaba as a talented girl arriving at a magical college, only to be bullied by Glinda and a clique of rosy-cheeked sycophants because she happens to have been born with green skin. This is Mean Girls meets Hogwarts. It has two songs you’ll remember: Popular, in which Glinda reveals the secrets of social success, and Defying Gravity, in which Elphaba vows to pursue excellence and fight prejudice. Wicked is sweet and fun and ultimately forgettable. All of which makes it sad to watch Jon M Chu’s movie become a flashpoint for grown adults. Since opening last weekend, Wicked has been subject to increasingly rabid media attacks. Some of this follows a familiar pattern: outrage for clicks. It is no surprise that Erivo, a black woman who describes herself as queer, has been the target of particular bile. Yet take a look at the organised and powerful social media accounts pushing attacks on Erivo, and it becomes clear that Hollywood is facing a new type of challenge. Wicked has been released into a landscape in which well-funded political marketeers are adept at turning key cultural moments into wedge issues. These are darker arts than anything conjured by the Wicked Witch of the West. Film studios need to decide whether to respond by leaning into the politics of polarisation, ramping up a strategy that already targets movies at different segments of the US electorate, or by making the case for blockbusters that can still bring progressives and conservatives together. The attacks on Wicked range from the plausible to the overtly ridiculous. British media outlets objected to a British Board of Film Classification note that expounded on its PG rating by explaining that the movie featured “discrimination”. “Seeing beloved characters being mistreated, especially when Elphaba’s skin-colour is used to demonise her as the ‘Wicked Witch’, may be upsetting and poignant for some audiences,” says the advice. Piers Morgan was among those who denounced this as the working of the “woke brigade”. Has he seen Wicked ? Sure, BBFC advice to parents can be po-faced and limiting. But the BBFC has been issuing such warnings since 1912 – following a Daily Mail campaign against an early screen depiction of Jesus – which hardly makes it the cutting edge of wokery. Morgan’s complaint seems to be that it is “nonsense” to claim that a movie about bullying based on skin-colour could be understood as an allegory for racism. Which is a bit like objecting to a note that The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe might be an allegory for Christianity. More serious attacks on the film, however, have emerged from a cluster of high-impact, anonymous accounts on X (formerly Twitter) that have flourished in the era of Elon Musk. One such, an account named “End Wokeness”, was set up a few months after Musk bought the platform and already boasts 3.3 million followers; its banner image is a photograph of a bloodied Donald Trump raising his fist after surviving an assassination attempt. Elsewhere on X, an account named “Defiant L’s” has joined the game. It is linked to a website named “Resist the Mainstream”, which the Bloomberg news agency has traced to a Macedonian-based disinformation network pushing conspiracy theories about Covid-19 and Trump’s 2020 electoral loss. Defiant L’s has been endorsed by Elon Musk as “one of the best accounts on X”. The attacks on Wicked promoted by these accounts have received widespread coverage. They blame Erivo’s casting on “wokeness” and complain about munchkins being played by actors of average height, instead of dwarves as in the Oz movie. A video clip pushed out by the End Wokeness account went viral after it showed Erivo and her co-star, the singer Ariana Grande , holding hands emotionally while a reporter asked them to comment on the LGBT community “holding space” for the song Defying Gravity in the aftermath of Trump’s election victory. (The phrase “holding space” refers to a trend for fans to post lyrics from the song online and reflect on their meaning.) What seems to have been missed by other commentators, however, is the role of such social media accounts in pushing the clip, one of hundreds in a packed press tour, to mainstream attention. These are familiar tricks in Trumpworld. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Back in 2022, it was reported that the Daily Wire website, led by Ben Shapiro, had spent between $35,000 and $47,000 promoting misleading video clips and news articles attacking Amber Heard, during her defamation battle with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. The clear intention was to warn young men that the 21st century had become hostile terrain thanks to the excesses of feminism: Trump is the political solution to this problem. End Wokeness and Defying L’s are part of Shapiro’s shared ecosystem. The open-source analyst Ryan McBeth has alleged that the former account is run by the alt-right activist Jack Posobiec, whom the Southern Poverty Law Centre categorises as an extremist with alleged neo-Nazi connections . Related accounts amplified recent attacks on the black actress Halle Bailey when she was cast in Disney’s remake of the Little Mermaid, and Colombian-Polish actress Rachel Zegler when cast in Snow White. British commentators jumping on the anti-woke bandwagon likely have no idea that they’re doing the work of far-right disinformation specialists. Nor have members of the cast of Wicked helped themselves by gushing through an overexposed press tour. But our culture sphere needs to wake up to the fact that our responses to major movie events are increasingly being shaped by a white supremacist media operating out of Texas – or, in this case, Macedonia. Hollywood studios would do well to call out this misinformation when they see it. Their other option is to cater exclusively to one side or other of the political divide. That would prove bad for business and bad for the rest of us. Kate Maltby writes about theatre, politics and culture
Stock market today: Wall Street ends little changed after giving up a big morning gainThe 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”
Dear Abby: Woman wonders whether to socialize with dinner group members who ignore her daughterOne Hit Wonders: A Rigorous Exploration of Musical EphemeraBEIJING , Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 22, 2024 , the " Global Gen Z Views on Beijing " event organized by China Daily New Media Center and 21st Century Media and Education officially launched. The event will spotlight three key themes: Beijing's cultural legacy, technological innovation, and environmental conservation. During the event, over 20 international influencers will visit notable sites including the Capital Museum and the Zhoukoudian Site Museum to explore the Beijing's rich history. They will also visit Beijing's leading tech enterprises and innovation hubs to experience the city's technological advancements. Additionally, the influencers will visit iconic locations such as the Yanqing Ecological Civilization Exhibition and the Beijing Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park, gaining a firsthand perspective on the integration of environmental conservation and industrial development in the city. Through dynamic and youthful storytelling, the event aims to showcase Beijing's rich cultural heritage and its achievements in sustainable, high-quality development to audiences worldwide. During the first day of the event, Veronica, an Italian exchange student at Tsinghua University, expressed her excitement, saying, "I am delighted to be part of this event. My deep interest in Chinese culture brought me to China for my studies, and I have gained a lot from this experience." This event serves not only as a cultural exploration but also as a key platform for sharing Beijing's historical and modern development with audiences worldwide. Through the influencers' firsthand experiences, Beijing's rich cultural heritage and contemporary achievements will be vividly showcased to worldwide audiences. This event offers an international stage for Beijing to highlight its unique appeal, while promoting cultural exchange and fostering global understanding. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-gen-z-views-on-beijing-a-journey-through-the-citys-culture-innovation-and-ecology-302314744.html SOURCE China Daily
Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fellBarcelona loses at home for the first time this seasonProspera Financial Services Inc lessened its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF ( NYSEARCA:SPHQ – Free Report ) by 87.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 13,791 shares of the company’s stock after selling 94,917 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF were worth $928,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 25.7% in the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 1,016 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 18,422 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,171,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,077 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,082,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank increased its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 11.4% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,428 shares of the company’s stock valued at $163,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 2.2% in the second quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 12,284 shares of the company’s stock worth $786,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Stock Up 0.6 % NYSEARCA:SPHQ opened at $68.34 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $64.84. The company has a market cap of $10.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.60 and a beta of 0.98. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF has a 52 week low of $51.50 and a 52 week high of $68.75. About Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large-cap stocks selected by return on equity, changes in net operating assets and financial leverage. Stocks are weighted by these quality factors, scaled by market cap. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPHQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF ( NYSEARCA:SPHQ – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
The 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. 🆚 Ipswich Town.🏟️ Portman Road.⏰ 16:30 GMT. 🫡 We will be there. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0eHCSDYmhE — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2024 The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”
The 39-year-old takes charge for the first time in Sunday’s Premier League trip to promoted Ipswich having been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at the beginning of November. Amorim has made a positive impression since starting work at the United in an international fortnight that ended with an impressive first appearance in front of the media. 🆚 Ipswich Town.🏟️ Portman Road.⏰ 16:30 GMT. 🫡 We will be there. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0eHCSDYmhE — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2024 The Portuguese was gregarious, engaging and smiley throughout Friday’s press conference but that warmth comes with a ruthlessness edge if players do not adhere to his approach. “You can be the same person,” head coach Amorim said. “Be a positive person that can understand this is one place to be, then there is the dressing room, there are some places to have fun, there are some places to work hard. “So, I can be ruthless when I have to be. If you think as a team, I will be the nicest guy you have ever seen. If there is someone just thinking about himself, I will be a different person. “I’m not that type of guy that wants to show that he is the boss. “They will feel it in the small details, that I can be the smiling one but then when we have a job to do I will be a different person, and they understand that.” ‘The Smiling One’ follows ‘the Special One’ as United’s second Portuguese manager, with Jose Mourinho one of five managers to try and fail to reach the heights scaled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 and the Red Devils have failed to launch a sustained title bid since adding that 20th top-flight crown. Asked about whether he will lean on Ferguson to understand the history of United and whether he has met him, Amorim said: “No, not yet. I didn’t have that opportunity. “It’s hard to copy someone, so I have to be me. Of course I’m not the best person in here to show the history of Manchester United. “It should be the club first and also me because I’m always paying attention on those details and try to focus our players in the history of the club, not the recent history. “You have to be very demanding. This is a club that needs to win, has to win, so we have to show that to our players but it’s a different time. “I cannot be the same guy that Sir Alex Ferguson was. It’s a different time. “I have to have a different approach, but I can also be demanding with a different approach, so that is my focus.” Like Ferguson in 1986, Amorim starts life at United in the November of a season that started with a paltry points tally. The 39-year-old acknowledges the timing makes “it’s so much harder” for him to imprint his style at a club whose youth foundations look in safe hands. “It’s the project of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “Nowadays, you need young guys, guys from the academy for everything. “To bring that history of the club because they feel the club in a different way. “And also because you have all these rules with financial fair play, when a player from our academy is so much different to the players that we bought and then we sell. “So, everything is connected. I will try to help all the players, especially the young ones.” Amorim’s first match will be a fascinating watch for onlookers, who have kept a particularly close eye on his work during his farewell to Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese managed three final matches after being confirmed as United head coach, including a 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated English football in recent years and the City boss this week signed a new deal until 2027. “I think it’s a problem for everybody here, but we have so much to do, we cannot focus on anyone,” Amorim said. “We just have to focus on our club, improve our club and not focus on the other clubs, so let’s focus on Manchester United. “It’s amazing (the test) – if you can beat that team it’s a good sign but, like I said, we are focused on Manchester United.”New public bus management firm set to ease transport - Minister Gasore
A large area of land of Bharani canal has allegedly been grabbed illegally in front of the Begum Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mahila Kamil Madrasa in Mirukhali union under Pirojpur's Mathbaria upazila for setting up a market. Locals alleged that Abul Kalam Sharif, former principal of the madrasa, is behind the land grabbing. Kalam also allegedly constructed a permanent road and iron bridge in front of the madrasa and another concrete bridge nearby. He has been encroaching on the canal since 2010, after a cross dam was constructed on the canal around 20 years back by Mosharraf Hossain Akan, former chairman of Dhanisafa union parishad, to connect the Phuljhuri and Patakata villages. Later, Local Government Engineering Department constructed a paved road on the embankment, and another by Roads and Highways Department. A total of four such cross dams have been constructed on the Bharani canal, and several more dams on other connecting canals, which have been hindering flow of water through the canals and thereby causing shortage of water for irrigating the Aman paddy fields there. Despite protests from local farmers, local authorities went on with constructing the dams over the years. The local farmers have since then been facing untold sufferings with their paddy cultivation. "The dams remain closed all year round. During dry season, we don't get any water in the canal, while in monsoon, the dams cause waterlogging in the adjacent croplands. As such, we face difficulties to cultivate paddy on our lands," said Shahid Farazi, a local farmer. According to locals, Kalam was among those on the forefront demanding construction of the dams. He did so in a planned move to eventually grab the canal's land, they alleged. Mahbubur Rahman, another local, alleged that Kalam used his political influence during the then Awami League government to get the dam constructed with a motive to grab the canal's land. "After the dam's construction, Kalam began grabbing land on the embankment by planting betel nut and timber trees. Now he has taken hold of a good chunk of land to set up a market," he also alleged. Omar Faruq, another local, echoed him. Kalam, who had previously claimed his madrasa will sustain damages due to erosion unless the dams are constructed, later changed his tone after the fall of the AL government. Acknowledging the fact that many people are facing trouble for the dam, he said, "I have requested Mathbaria's upazila nirbahi officer for constructing a box-culvert in place of the dam." Kalam, however, denied grabbing the canal's land, adding that he earlier planted trees to protect the embankment from erosion. Contacted, Abdul Kaium, UNO of Mathbaria, said he was aware of the issue. "We are planning to construct a bridge on the canal to replace the dam. This will keep the connectivity unaffected while mitigate the adverse impact of the dam on agriculture. Higher authorities of LGED and RHD have been informed in this regard," he said. The UNO, however, could not confirm when the plan will be implemented.EPL: Postecoglou explains why Tottenham beat Man City 4-0Asian shares were mixed on Monday after stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. U.S. futures were lower while oil prices were little changed. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.6% to 2,418.80. But shares of Jeju Air Co. lost 8.8% after one of the company’s jets skidded off a runway , slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea as its landing gear failed to deploy. 179 people died in the crash. Political turmoil continued as South Korean law enforcement officials requested a court warrant on Monday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are investigating whether his martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.9% to 39,914.21 as the dollar gained against the Japanese yen, trading at 157.83 yen, up from 157.75 yen. The Tokyo market will wrap up trading for 2024 with a yearend ceremony as Japan begins its New Year holidays, the biggest festival of the year. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 0.3% to 20,030.63 while the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.3% at 3,408.72. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.9% to 8,191.50. On Friday, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 1.5%, to 19,722.03. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil picked up 1 cent to $70.61 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 1 cent to $73.78 per barrel. The euro fell to $1.0427 from $1.0433.
Listing: TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) Symbol: CMR TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (" BlackRock Canada ”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (" BlackRock ”) (NYSE: BLK) announced on November 8, 2024, that it called a special meeting of unitholders (the " Meeting ”) of the iShares Premium Money Market ETF (the " iShares Fund ”), to originally be held on or about January 22, 2025 to approve a change to the investment objective of the iShares Fund to permit investments in asset-backed commercial paper (the " Proposal ”). As a result of the Canada Post labour disruption, BlackRock Canada is postponing the Meeting to February 3, 2025. BlackRock Canada is holding the Meeting solely as a virtual (online) meeting by way of live audio webcast. In accordance with applicable securities laws, a management information circular relating to the Proposal (the " Circular ”) will be made available to unitholders in advance of the Meeting. Notice of the Meeting and information outlining the procedures for accessing the Circular online (or requesting a copy thereof) will be mailed on or about January 3, 2025. Unitholders of record of the iShares Fund at the close of business on December 5, 2024, will be entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the Meeting. The Circular will also be made available on www.sedarplus.ca and www.blackrock.com/ca and will include additional details regarding the Proposal. Unitholders of record are entitled to vote: (i) by completing, signing and dating their voting instruction form and returning it by mail following the directions provided in the voting instruction form; (ii) via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com ; or (iii) by calling the applicable number listed on the voting instruction form. Unitholders of record may experience significant delays in mail delivery due to the impacts of the Canada Post labour disruption. Unitholders of record are encouraged to use the alternative methods to submit voting instructions to avoid any delay. Unitholders of record who have not received their control numbers as a result of the Canada Post labour disruption may contact their brokers in order to obtain their control numbers in order to vote their units. If the change to the investment objective is approved by unitholders of the iShares Fund, BlackRock Canada expects that the Proposal will be effective as of February 7, 2025. For more information about the iShares Fund, please visit www.blackrock.com/ca . About BlackRock BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate . About iShares iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1400+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.2 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock. iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. Contact for Media: Sydney Punchard Email: [email protected]Supreme Court may free Catholic Charities from paying state unemployment taxes for their employeesIf you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. From and the latest to limited-edition holiday sets and celebrity collaborations, here is your one-stop gifting shop for the buff in your life. Whether you’re looking to spend $20 or $2,000, there’s something perfect for even the most discerning recipient. Below, check out our top 22 premium beauty products of the year for . This year’s ‘it’ perfume. Upgrade their home spa with Solawave’s with LED light therapy, which has been proven to effectively reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. (For a limited time, buy one kit and get one free.) Two viral favorites packaged in a glittering beauty bag. Augustinus Bader has no shortage of fans, and director Sofia Coppola just so happens to be one of them. So much so, in fact, that she with the celebrity-backed luxury skincare company on a in three sheer yet buildable washes. For the beauty buff who loves to be their own glam squad, Dyson’s best-selling transforms wet tresses into red carpet-ready manes. Plus, through Dec. 15, Sephora Beauty Insiders get 20 percent off any purchase. to claim your discount. The woven pouch is so classically Chanel. Made of flexible medical-grade silicone, HigherDose’s is equipped with 124 red and near infrared diodes for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, boosting collagen and elastin and minimizing redness. The third head strap helps to keep the mask in place while moving, making this device one of the best LED masks to use while working out or doing chores. Choose 10- or 20-minute treatment times; the brand suggests using the mask three to five times a week to see results. The epitome of luxe gifting. This is ‘ go-to and Sofia Richie Grainge’s “holy grail” product. The is the first-ever air straightener multi-styler, meaning it’s the only multi-styler on the market that can be used to straighten wet hair. Learn more about . Santa Maria Novella can do no wrong. This is the perfect gift for the friend who has it all. NuFace’s is an award-winning skin-care device with innovative, interchangeable treatment attachments. Touting a “five-minute facial lift,” the FDA-cleared device works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, brows and lips. (Jennifer Aniston, Miranda Kerr and Kate Hudson are among the stars who have used NuFace at home.) This went viral for good reason. Snag the for nearly half the normal price. Prevent frizz, avoid breakage and minimize creasing. Joanna Czech regularly uses the on her celebrity clients (including on Grace Gummer for the 2024 Oscars), while celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg tells that the facial device is her “go-to tool [for] rejuvenating the skin and reducing wrinkles, skin pigmentation, redness, blemishes and scarring.” According to Lyma, the beauty-focused laser is the first FDA-cleared clinic-grade laser skin-care device that can reach the base laser of the skin, and it’s 100 percent more powerful than other red light therapy tools. A sampler of the luxury house’s signature scents. Shopping for a standalone bottle? Check out . A go-to for Brie Larson, Victoria Beckham and Kelly Ripa. Valued at $868, Augustinus Bader’s is stocked full of skin-care favorites — from serums and face masks to hair care and more — infused with the brand’s signature ingredient, TFC8, that supports cellular renewal and moisturizes, protects and nourishes the skin. The is coveted by A-Listers like Bad Bunny and Jessica Chastain. Beauty professionals are already well-acquainted with Bio-Therapeutic, the high-tech skin-care company known for providing FDA-approved, medical-grade microcurrent devices to the industry. The brand’s is designed to sculpt, lift and firm the face and skin by stimulating the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cells, which the company says helps to “provide energy for key cellular functions” that help boost collagen and elastin production. What we especially love is that the two sets of prongs are adjustable, while the electrical current constantly readjusts based on your skin’s feedback for a truly personalized and targeted routine. (Celebrity makeup artist recently the tool on client, actress Molly Gordon.) Score $900 worth of mini luxuries with the Bloomingdale’s filled with beloved brands such as Diptyque, Charlotte Tilbury, Clé de Peau, Creed, Augustinus Bader, Kiehl’s, SK-II, U Beauty, Laura Mercier, La Prairie and many others. Treat them to on-demand, DIY luxury facials with the — the same beauty tech company behind celebrity facialist Shani Darden’s device. It offers six treatment modes and “four clinically-proven wavelengths” (red and near-infrared, green and blue lights) for addressing sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles, oiliness, redness, acne, scars, loss of firmness, hyperpigmentation, bruises and dullness, and can aid the skin in post-procedure recovery. A 10-minute treatment two to three times per week is enough to see results, per the brand. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter
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