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10jili 10jili app login apk StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Top Ships ( NASDAQ:TOPS – Get Free Report ) in a research report issued on Saturday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the shipping company’s stock. Top Ships Stock Up 1.9 % TOPS opened at $7.85 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. Top Ships has a 12 month low of $7.37 and a 12 month high of $18.97. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $8.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.05. Institutional Inflows and Outflows An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Top Ships stock. Cetera Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Top Ships Inc. ( NASDAQ:TOPS – Free Report ) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 14,004 shares of the shipping company’s stock, valued at approximately $196,000. Cetera Advisors LLC owned about 0.30% of Top Ships as of its most recent SEC filing. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 6.72% of the company’s stock. About Top Ships Top Ships Inc owns and operates tanker vessels worldwide. The company’s tanker vessels transport crude oil, petroleum products, and bulk liquid chemicals. As of December 31, 2023, it had a fleet with a total capacity of 1,435,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt) consisting of one 50,000 dwt product/chemical tanker, five 157,000 dwt Suezmax tankers, two 300,000 dwt very large crude carriers, and two 50,000 dwt product tankers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Top Ships Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Top Ships and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .National Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News. Labor’s controversial misinformation laws are in tatters with the federal government withdrawing a planned vote on the friendless proposal, while gambling ad restrictions are put on ice and time is running out to reach a deal on housing and environment bills. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has welcomed the Albanese Government’s decision to dump its “dodgy” misinformation and disinformation legislation, which he described as a “scandalous attack on free speech, with censorship at its core”. The Albanese Government has withdrawn its misinformation and disinformation bill. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Labor failed to secure support from either the Coalition, who argued the bill sought to make “unelected bureaucrats the arbiters of truth” or the Greens who felt the proposal left too much power in the hands of tech companies and unfairly exempted media organisations. Independent senators including David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie, Tammy Tyrrell, Fatima Payman and Gerard Rennick also objected to the bill. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has welcomed Labor dumping the misinformation bill. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Mr Dutton said Anthony Albanese should rule out any future iteration of the misinformation legislation, which had aimed to force tech giants to stop falsehoods spreading online before they caused serious harm. Labor lost significant time and political capital fighting for the changes this term, and will no head to the election – due by May at the latest – with nothing to show for those efforts. The government has a huge to-do list in the final sitting week before the summer break, with changing the HECS indexation rate for university debts, electoral funding reform, aged care changes and raising the minimum social media age to 16 years among the major bills expected to pass parliament. Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has criticised the Greens for blocking Labor’s proposals to help increase rentals and help first home buyers. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman But Labor has kicked plans for gambling ad restrictions into the new year, a move Mr Dutton described as a “cowardly and craven capitulation”. The government will forge ahead with a vote on two of it’s housing proposals, a “Help to Buy” shared equity scheme designed to help first home buyers, and a “Build to Rent” plan aimed at increasing the number of rentals in Australia. The Greens have abandoned demands such as a two-year freeze on rent increases and changes to negative gearing in favour of other asks, including that the government immediately fund 25,000 new home builds and increase the number of affordable rentals under the Build to Rent scheme. But Labor has dismissed the new requests, arguing the new builds would cost upward of $20 billion and the other requests would make the proposals untenable. Housing and Homelessness Minister Clare O’Neil said the Greens had consistently “blocked and delayed action on the housing crisis”. “You get the distinct impression the Greens want Australians to continue to be in housing distress, so Adam Bandt can try to harvest those grievances into votes,” she said. Greens Environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says she wants to work with Labor to pass legislation, but wants native forest logging banned. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Labor’s nature positive laws, which would create an Environmental Protection Authority that would be able to impose much heavier fines for breaches that damage the environment, are also tenuously placed. The Greens dropped their demand for a climate trigger to be included in any environmental approvals, but the party’s Environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young has called on Labor to end native forest logging instead. Ms Hanson-Young insisted the Greens had been “pragmatic” in ongoing talks with the government, and was “trying to get outcomes” in the parliament. Ahead of the final sitting week, Government leader of the house Tony Burke said delivering on cost of living relief had been Labor’s “number one” priority in 2024. “Peter Dutton and the Coalition have tried to block every cost of living measure this year,” he said. “We will continue delivering for Australians despite their obsession with saying no.” More Coverage Withdrawal of creepy, flawed bill double humiliation for weak Labor James Morrow Labor’s misinformation bill dead in the water Angira Bharadwaj Originally published as Labor dumps misinformation laws, delays gambling ad reform, picks fight on housing in final week of parliament for 2024 Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Social Senator lashes ‘outrageous’ call on social ban The industry group was criticised for protecting tech giants after they claimed a social media ban would “compromise the safety of young people”. Read more Breaking News Teacher’s alleged vile Snapchat act Lawyers have revealed the next step for a maths teacher who is facing rape and child grooming offences after allegedly posing as a girl on social media. Read more

Former New Orleans priest convicted of raping teen boy dies while serving life sentence

Eaton names Pete Denk president and chief operating officer, Industrial Sector, and Antonio Galvao, president, Mobility

Darts legend Adrian Lewis will lose his PDC Tour Card - 14 years after his maiden World Championship triumph. The 39-year-old is regarded as one of the sport's most talented players having won four major honours. 'Jackpot' won back-to-back world titles at Alexandra Palace in 2011 and 2012. He also emerged victorious at the European Championship and UK Open in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Lewis is also a four-time winner of the PDC World Cup of Darts having won the trophy alongside Phil Taylor on each occasions. But his form has dipped in recent years, and in April 2023, Lewis, who has been caring for his ill wife Sarah, announced he would be taking a break away from the sport. Last year was the first time since his debut 2005 appearance at the World Championship that saw him fail to feature. And his continued absence from darts will see him yet again miss out on competing at the iconic sports venue in next month's tournament. Lewis' current PDC Tour Card runs until the end of the year, but he has decided against entering in the PDPA World Championship qualifier, which starts on Monday. As a result, he will lose his Tour Card due to inactivity - much to the dismay of his adoring fans. Taking to social media, one X user posted: "The streets will never forget the big man!" Another messaged: "No Adrian Lewis at the PDPA qualifier so unfortunately he will lose his tour card. Miss you already king." A third added: "Such a great player to watch. Hopefully he’s well and we can see him back again some time." This supporter commented: "Ah man gutting. My favourite growing up and getting into darts." Meanwhile this fan simply stated: "One of the greatest to ever throw the tungsten." While Lewis will not be competing on the PDC Tour in 2025, he did announce in August he will return to action next year on the MODUS Super Series. And he also stressed he would be willing to enter the PDC qualifying school to earn his spot on the Tour. When asked by darts cult hero Wayne Mardle on when fans will see him back competing in PDC's biggest events, Lewis said: "I'm going to see where I'm at first. "Obviously I'll do the MODUS next year, see where I'm at see where my games at and if I'm enjoying it. Then obviously, I'd love to go to Q-School." Commenting on his time away from the sport, he added: "It was never my intention to put the darts away forever. "You know, I said I was taking a break, I never said I was retiring and there was always a possibility I was going to come back. I didn't really have the hunger, which I knew I needed to have to succeed. My wife has got an incurable kidney disease so we were in and out of hospital a lot of the time. "Then, my daughter, she's disabled, she's got autism and it was just all getting too much for me. That's not going away of course, but we can learn to deal with it."DALLAS — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate. President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. "Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that's going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed," said Gerald Posner, author of "Case Closed," which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. Nov. 22, 1963 When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. The collection In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Withheld files Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. There are about 500 documents that have been completely withheld, Posner said, and those include Oswald’s and Ruby’s tax returns. Those files, the National Archives says on its website, weren't subject to the 2017 disclosure requirement. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. A continued fascination From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”The ceasefire demand in the resolution – adopted with 158 votes in favour – is an escalation by the 193-member General Assembly, which in October last year called for and then – two months later – demanded an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. The United States, Israel and seven other countries voted against the ceasefire resolution, while 13 countries abstained. The world body also threw its support behind the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, adopting a second resolution with 159 votes in favor to deplore a new law that will ban UNRWA’s operations in Israel from late January. It demanded that Israel respect UNRWA’s mandate and “enable its operations to proceed without impediment or restriction.” The US Israel and seven other countries voted no, while 11 countries abstained. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Ismail Shakil and Franklin Paul)

( MENAFN - Chainwire) Victoria, Seychelles, December 27th, 2024, Chainwire Bitget , the leading Cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company has announced the listing of Phala Network (PHA) in its Innovation, AI, and DePIN Zone. This strategic addition reflects Bitget's dedication to offering innovative projects that redefine the boundaries of blockchain technology. Deposits for PHA are now open, with trading slated to begin on 27 December 2024 at 11:00 (UTC). Withdrawals will be enabled starting 28 December 2024 at 12:00 (UTC). The PHA/USDT trading pair will be available to all Bitget users, providing seamless access to this advanced Web3 AI ecosystem. Limited-Time Offer To mark this listing, Bitget is offering a special 7-day promotion. Users can purchase PHA using credit or debit cards with zero transaction fees during this period. This promotion supports over 140 currencies, including EUR, GBP, AUD, TWD, UZS, UAH, TRY, THB, BRL, PLN, IDR, PHP, and CAD. About Phala Network Phala Network is pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence with blockchain technology by functioning as the Execution Layer for Web3 AI. By enabling AI to understand and interact with blockchains, Phala Network removes barriers to adoption, unlocking Web3 for the first billion users. The network's revolutionary multi-proof system addresses the complexities of AI execution, providing developers with the tools to build tamper-proof, unstoppable AI agents. These agents operate closely with on-chain smart contracts through the AI-Agent Contract feature, enabling powerful and secure AI-driven decentralized applications. Phala Network represents a significant advancement in the convergence of AI and blockchain, delivering a platform that supports the next generation of decentralized intelligence. The project's smart contract address (ERC20) is: 0x6c5bA91642F10282b576d91922Ae6448C9d52f4E . For more information about Phala Network, users can visit the official website and community channels. About Bitget Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price , Ethereum price , and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA , in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency. For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use . MENAFN27122024007842016840ID1109035868 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won't be bothered if free agent Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain's $360 million , nine-year contract. “It ain’t my money. I really don’t care as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can, I’m happy with whatever,” Judge said Friday, a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second AL MVP award. “That's never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322 as New York reached the World Series for the first time since 2009, only to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees and finished third in MVP voting, also trailing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt. Jr. A free agent at 26, Soto has met with the Yankees, Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, and he plans to meet with the Philadelphia Phillies, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the meetings have not been publicly announced. Negotiations are not likely to intensify until after Thanksgiving. The Yankees sent a delegation to meet with Soto on Monday including owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser for baseball operations Omar Minaya. “We had a good meeting. It was a very honest back-and-forth dialogue, a couple hours long,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday. Asked how confident he was about keeping Soto, Steinbrenner said: “No idea. We’ll be in the mix. I’ll leave it at that.” Soto and Judge filled the Nos. 2 and 3 slots in the Yankees batting order in a franchise-record 153 games, topping the 145 of Joe Dugan and Babe Ruth in 1923, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. “I get to see a lot of pitches," Judge said. "He's going to be a tough at-bat in front of me. He’s going to wear down the pitcher right there in the first inning, within the first 15 pitches or so. Yeah, I think that was a big impact just having having a guy like that in front of you. "If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I would love that.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLBKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pick your adjective to describe the Kansas City Chiefs this season — charmed, serendipitous, fortunate or just plain lucky — and it probably fits, and not just because they keep winning games that come down to the wire. Every time they need help at a position, they've found someone sitting on the couch, seemingly waiting for their call. First it was wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned to the Chiefs just before the season after Marquise Brown was lost to shoulder surgery. Then it was running back Kareem Hunt, who likewise returned to his former team when Isiah Pacheco broke his fibula. Left tackle D.J. Humphries came next when other options at the position were struggling, and this week it was Steven Nelson, who came out of retirement to help a secondary that has struggled for weeks. "Just got an opportunity, got a call. Was very excited about it," said Nelson, who spent his first four seasons in Kansas City before stints in Pittsburgh and Houston, and ultimately calling it quits in June so he could spend more time with his family. "I've got two daughters and been spending a lot of time with him," Nelson said, "but still trying to work out. It was kind of the perfect scenario, getting the call, especially where this team has been and this point in the season. Great opportunity." It's been a perfect opportunity for all of them. Perfect fits for the Chiefs, too. Each could have signed just about anywhere else and been able to contribute, yet they were still sitting around when Chiefs general manager Brett Veach reached out. In the case of Smith-Schuster, Hunt and Humphries, there were some concerns about injuries that had kept some teams away, but the Chiefs were willing to take a risk on them. Smith-Schuster, who has dealt with knee trouble for years, missed some time with a hamstring injury this season. But he still has 202 yards and a touchdown receiving, and has provided some veteran leadership in the locker room. Hunt was coming off a sports hernia surgery, a big reason why the Browns — whom the Chiefs visit Sunday — declined to bring him back after five years spent in a one-two punch with Nick Chubb. But when Pacheco went down, Hunt stepped in and their offense barely missed a beat; he has run for a team-leading 608 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. Humphries was still rehabbing a torn ACL at the start of the season, but the former Pro Bowl tackle was cleared just before the Chiefs called him. Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris had struggled to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side, so they brought in Humphries to help out. And while he hurt his hamstring late in his debut last week against the Chargers, the Chiefs still hope he'll be recovered and fully up to speed in time for the stretch run and the playoffs. "I'm in Kansas City, bro. I'm pretty ecstatic. It don't get much better than this," Humphries said. "Everybody is excited for me to be here and that's a really good feeling. You're getting All-Pro guys' arms outstretched, like, 'We're so glad you're here.'" The providential signings don't stop at those four players, either. When the Chiefs lost kicker Harrison Butker to knee surgery, they signed Spencer Shrader off the Jets practice squad, and he promptly kicked a game-winner against Carolina. But then Shrader hurt his hamstring and landed on injured reserve. The 49ers had just waived Matthew Wright, and the Chiefs signed him up. He's gone 8 for 9 on field-goal tries, has been perfect on PATs, and banged the game-winner off the upright and through last week against Los Angeles. Just like Smith-Schuster, Hunt and Nelson, Wright had been with Kansas City a couple of years ago. "It definitely helps, him knowing how we do things, how we practice and what we expect," Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said. "That all helped, for sure. And he's a veteran. He's been a lot of places. It wasn't like he was a rookie off the street." Or off the couch, for that matter. NOTES: Butker planned to kick again Thursday and could come off IR to face the Browns on Sunday. "He looked good," Toub said. "We have to see how he responds." ... Humphries (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) was limited. ... SS Justin Reid will likely handle kickoffs against Cleveland. He has a stronger leg than Wright and also puts another athletic and adept tackler on the field on special teams. 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The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. A rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show, will not affect the league’s relationship with the music mogul. “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” NFL (National Football League) commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday after the conclusion of the league’s winter meetings. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued musician Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game at Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Mr Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.”Principles Bill debate is not a binary argument

Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury

Military establishment distances itself from ongoing PTI-govt talks During his press conference in May, DGISPR was asked about possibility of deal with PTI and Imran Khan ISLAMABAD: The military establishment has made it clear that it has nothing to do with the ongoing reported behind the scene contacts between the PTI and the government. A source, associated with the establishment, while talking to The News on Friday categorically denied the impression, given or perceived by some people, as if these background contacts are either the consequence of the initiative of the security establishment or there is any interaction between the institution and the PTI. “Our position is clear that the Army will not talk to any political party. It is for the political parties to talk to each other,” the source said, adding that the Pakistan Army will not hold any dialogue with any political leader or political party. The source, while referring to the press conference addressed by the DGISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif in May this year, said that the institution stated position remains unchanged. During his press conference in May, the DGISPR was asked about the possibility of any deal with PTI and Imran Khan. He had stated that the Army has no political role. “The Army is apolitical and its relationship with every government is in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he had clarified. “All political parties are respectable for us. However, if any political group attacks its own army, no one will interact with it. The only way for such an anarchist group is to apologise to the nation, promise to shun the politics of hatred and do constructive politics,” he had said, and stressed, “In any case, such a dialogue should take place between political parties. It is not appropriate for the Army to be involved.” The News, while quoting a senior defence source, had also reported on November 2 that the military’s policy, as announced earlier, remains unchanged and if Imran Khan and the PTI want to seek any relief or concession, the only way forward for them is to talk to the political parties, including those representing the government, and not the army or its chief.Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after chucking a chair off the roof of a Nashville bar and nearly hitting two cops. The 31-year-old country music star made his first in-person court appearance on Thursday. When asked by Judge Cynthia Chappell how he pleaded, Wallen simply responded: “Conditionally guilty.” The “I Had Some Help” singer will be held in a DUI education center for seven days. He will then be on supervised probation for two years. His plea comes after his charges were reduced during a Tuesday hearing. Wallen was arrested in April for tossing a chair off the roof of the six-story Chief’s on Broadway bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers. He was initially charged with disorderly conduct and three counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. However, charges were reduced to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment without a weapon. “Upon the successful completion of his probation, the charges will be eligible for dismissal and expungement,” Wallen’s attorney Worrick Robinson said in a statement. “Mr. Wallen has cooperated fully with authorities throughout these last eight months, directly communicating and apologizing to all involved. Mr. Wallen remains committed to making a positive impact through his music and foundation.” Wallen was initially released from jail on $15,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court on May 3, which coincided with the second Nashville show of his ongoing tour. He later addressed the incident, writing on social media: “I didn’t feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. “I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility,” he added. “I have the utmost respect for the officers working every day to keep us all safe. Regarding my tour, there will be no change.” The chair-throwing incident came after Wallen spent years repairing his image after being filmed using a racial slur in 2021. According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail , the incident at Chief’s was Wallen’s reaction to learning that his ex-fiancée, Katie “KT” Smith, had married her new partner Luke Scornavacco. They claimed that the singer was “crushed” to learn that Smith, with whom he shares his son Indigo, had married Scornavacco just a few days after they announced their engagement. Despite a string of controversies, Wallen has remained one of the most commercially successful artists in the US. Last month, Wallen was nominated for two Grammys alongside Post Malone for their hit song “I Had Some Help.” The two artists received nods for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Meanwhile, Wallen has received numerous accolades, including Favorite Male Country Artist at the 2022 American Music Awards, Album of the Year at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards and both Top Country Album and Top Country Artist at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.

RECAP: Asian stocks nudged higher yesterday while the dollar was firm, keeping the yen rooted near five-month lows in thin year-end trading. China's plans for massive bond issuance in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. The SET index moved in a range of 1,366.71 and 1,410.02 points this week, before closing yesterday at 1,401.46, up 2.7% from the previous week, with daily turnover averaging 30.83 billion baht. Institutional investors were net buyers of 3.1 billion baht, followed by foreign investors at 1.5 billion. Retail investors were net sellers of 3.4 billion baht, followed by brokerage firms at 1.2 billion. NEWSMAKERS: Chinese policymakers plan to sell a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury bonds in 2025, triple the 2024 figure, in a move aimed at bolstering the slowing economy. Policy support late this year has put the Chinese economy on track to hit a growth target of around 5%, officials said on Thursday. They also announced a 2.7% upward revision in 2023 GDP to 129.4 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion). The World Bank has raised its forecast for China's economic growth in 2025 to 4.5%, from 4.1% predicted earlier, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down. US consumer confidence unexpectedly sank in December for the first time in three months, falling to 104.7, on concerns about the outlook for the economy amid uncertainty about the policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration. US retail sales rose 3.8% between Nov 1 and Dec 24, as last-minute shopping was brisk amid intense holiday season promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Thursday. The jump was well above the 3.1% increase seen in the same period last year. The Bank of Japan could see a net loss of up to 2 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) in fiscal 2027 or 2028 if it raises its short-term policy rate, now 0.25%, to 2%, according to an estimate published by the central bank. India expects the economy to grow at around 6.5% in the fiscal year through March, against 8.2% a year before, after the economy slowed unexpectedly in the July-September quarter. Average housing rents in Chinese cities slid to a four-year low last month due to supply gluts and job market weakness. In 100 major cities in China, rents averaged 2,636 yuan ($361) per 100 square metres, the lowest since 2020, data from the research firm Wind shows. Nippon Steel of Japan says there is public support for its proposal to acquire US Steel in the regions where the steel mills are located. A US foreign investment committee has referred the decision on the $15-billion deal to President Joe Biden, who has until Jan 10 to decide. He and successor Donald Trump have both expressed opposition to the purchase. Honda Motor and Nissan Motor on Monday signed a basic agreement to pursue merger talks, envisioning a new entity being listed by August 2026. Mitsubishi Motors, 24.5% owned by Nissan, also signed the agreement and will likely be part of the group. Toyota Motor said global sales were down 0.2% to 984,348 units in November on lacklustre demand and a pause in production at two plants. Production declined 9.4% year-on-year to 966,921 units. Toyota plans to build an EV factory in Shanghai for its luxury Lexus brand, Nikkei reports, at a time when many foreign automakers are struggling in China. The factory is expected to open in 2027. Alibaba has agreed to merge its South Korean operations with the online platform of Seoul-based E-Mart. Meanwhile, AliExpress International and the Korean platform Gmarket are creating a 50-50 joint venture that will own 100% of Gmarket. The new entity could be valued at $4 billion. Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. Turkey's central bank on Thursday lowered interest rates for the first time in almost two years after consumer inflation showed signs of easing. The one-week repo rate was cut to 47.5% from 50%, the first change in eight months. Uber Technologies said it remained committed to Taiwan after the island's antitrust regulator rejected its plan to buy the local Foodpanda business of Delivery Hero for $950 million. China Eastern Airlines will launch the first commercial cross-border service operated by the China-built C919 passenger jet between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Jan 1. The Ministry of Finance needs to propose a new candidate for Bank of Thailand chairman, after the Council of State found Kittiratt Na-Ranong ineligible. The government's legal adviser said he was disqualified because he recently held a political post as an adviser to ex-premier Srettha Thavisin. The Thai banking sector is expected to experience its first loan contraction in 15 years in 2024, driven by higher repayments by borrowers and tighter lending rules, according to Kasikorn Research Center. The Association of Investment Management Companies has placed CP Axtra (CPAXT) shares on a watch list for Thai ESG and Thai CG mutual funds, given concerns over governance following its recent multibillion-baht investment in an affiliate's property venture. The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed an agreement between the central bank and the Ministry of Finance to keep the inflation target in a range of 1% to 3% for 2025. Car production in Thailand fell 28.2% in November to 117,251 units due to weak sales and exports, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Tuesday. The year-on-year drop was the 16th straight month that production had declined. Thailand's manufacturing production index dropped 3.58% in November from a year earlier, the industry ministry said on Friday, missing analysts' forecasts. Thai exports are on track to achieve a historic high of US$300 billion this year, up 5.2% from 2023, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday. Shipments reached $25.6 billion in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth with an 8.2% year-on-year gain. The Thai Food Processors Association expects the ready-made food market in 2025 to continue to grow by 5-7%, especially in competitively priced products that can compete globally, but warned of unclear US tax increases and their potential impact on Asean. The Excise Department is studying a tax on salt, initially planning to impose it on snack foods, after success in modifying sugar consumption behaviour through a sugar tax. The cabinet this week approved economic stimulus measures, including a second phase of the 10,000-baht handouts to senior citizens in January, and the Easy e-Receipt 2.0 programme running from Jan 16 to Feb 28. The latter allows consumers to deduct up to 50,000 baht in approved spending from taxable income. The national wage committee approved minimum wage increases to 400 baht a day in Phuket, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong and Koh Samui, and to 372 baht in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Other provinces will see a 2% increase from the current range of 330 to 370 baht. The government had pushed for a 400-baht rate nationwide, but the committee said that was unrealistic. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates tourism revenue over the year-end holiday period from Dec 28 to Jan 1 at 62 billion baht, with 4.41 million domestic tourist trips and 1.56 million foreign visitors. The Thai General Insurance Association expects total insurance premiums in 2025 to grow between 1.5% and 2.5%, better than this year, supported by increased vehicle registrations, e-commerce logistics growth, the ageing society and tourism recovery. PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) will allocate 60.4 billion baht for new investments between 2025 and 2029, aiming to maintain its status as a top oil retailer, support non-oil businesses and embark on more investment overseas. COMING UP: On Monday, the US releases monthly pending home sales and China reports manufacturing and composite purchasing managers' index (PMI). On Tuesday, the US reports and the monthly house price index and the American Petroleum Institute reports US crude oil inventories. On Thursday, the US reports manufacturing PMI and price updates. On Friday, Germany releases unemployment data and the US reports the weekly Baker Hughes oil rig count, a leading indicator oil production and demand. STOCKS TO WATCH: Bualuang Securities says tourism-related stocks have strong growth opportunities for 2025. AOT will see increased flight activity, driven by the opening of a new terminal and runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. CENTEL is a top pick in the hotel sector. Its share price is down 19% this year, reflecting temporary impacts from hotel renovations and startup costs for a new Maldives resort. The company is projected to achieve 11% profit growth in 2025. Among other hotel players, AWC is expected to post 17% profit growth in 2025, driven by a hotel revenue recovery. Earnings for MINT are projected to grow 8%, with potential upside if debt restructuring progresses faster than anticipated. Krungthai XSpring recommends stocks in the services, retail and financial sectors for 2025. CPN and CPALL are well-positioned to capitalise on robust consumer spending and favourable economic conditions. BDMS is recommended in healthcare for strong fundamentals and a resilient performance. Recommended finance plays are KBANK, SCB, TTB and KKP as they are poised for growth, benefiting from rising US bond yields. BLA has strong potential to capitalise on favourable economic and financial trends. Both securities firms emphasise the importance of strong fundamentals and the potential for growth in sectors aligned with global economic recovery and consumer demand in 2025. TECHNICAL VIEW: Trinity Securities sees support at 1,390 points and resistance at 1,455. CGS International Securities (Thailand) sees support at 1,385 points and resistance at 1,420.

The stock market has been hitting new highs this year as excitement continues to build with respect to artificial intelligence (AI) and the opportunities that may open up for many businesses. But while retail investors have been eagerly buying up stocks, Warren Buffett has been fairly quiet and doing more selling than buying. The Oracle of Omaha has cautioned investors in the past "to be fearful when others are greedy," which reflects his overall cautious approach to investing. Minimizing losses are a priority for him, and AI likely wouldn't fall into his circle of competence, which is what he focuses on when deciding which stocks to buy. Should investors take Buffett's conservatism in the markets this year as a red flag? Valuations are high based on historical levels In the third quarter, Buffett continued selling stocks, and Berkshire Hathaway 's cash balance reached more than $325 billion, which is higher than the nearly $277 billion it reported a quarter earlier. He has been selling shares of Apple and Bank of America for multiple periods, two top holdings in the Berkshire portfolio, and hasn't been making big moves with that money, resulting in a growing cash balance. But given how expensive the stock market has become these days, it's perhaps little wonder that he's taking a cautious position. One metric investors should pay close attention to is the S&P 500 Shiller price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which averages inflation-adjusted earnings over the past decade. Today, the ratio is well above what it has averaged since 2000. The previous times it has been this high, there have been significant declines in the market the following year. S&P 500 Shiller CAPE Ratio data by YCharts. The Shiller P/E ratio was higher in 2021. The following year, in 2022, the S&P 500 would crash by more than 19%. In the early 2000s, the market underwent a significant dot-com crash due to the tech bubble. Many value-oriented investors may be concerned that the same could be happening with AI stocks today; many of them are trading at egregious multiples. Shareholders of Palantir Technologies , for example, don't seem to be balking at its massive earnings multiple of more than 300. A value-focused option for investors to consider Even if you're worried about valuations or the possibility of a crash in the markets, it may not necessarily mean that you should sell all of your stocks and pull all of your money out. If a correction takes place, some stocks will inevitably be hit much harder than others. Stocks trading at more reasonable valuations could weather the storm better than stocks which are at obscene multiples. Meanwhile, trying to time the market and waiting for ideal investing conditions is not an optimal strategy as it could result in you missing out on gains along the way. An alternative for investors is to consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) which prioritizes value investments. A good example of that is the Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares ( VTV 0.73% ) . The fund has a low expense ratio of 0.04% and tracks the U.S. Large Cap Value index. With the average holding in the ETF averaging an earnings multiple of just over 20, investors are getting exposure to more attractively priced stocks than the overall S&P 500 index, which is averaging a multiple of nearly 26. The top holding in the Vanguard fund is Buffett's own Berkshire Hathaway, but at just 3% of the fund's weight, it doesn't represent a huge chunk of the overall portfolio. Investors will also get access to many other blue chip stocks with the ETF, including UnitedHealth Group and Home Depot . Historically, the fund has underperformed the S&P 500, but in a possible downturn, it could be the better buy, especially given how expensive many growth stocks are right now. ^SPX data by YCharts. Investors should prepare for a possible correction Timing the market is risky, but what can be even riskier is holding stocks which trade at extremely high premiums because they can be vulnerable to a sell-off at a moment's notice. When stocks are highly valued, expectations will also be high, and any sign that a company could face difficulty could prompt investors to hit the sell button. It doesn't have to be a bad earnings report, as corrections could happen at any time investors start to smell trouble ahead. That's why it's important to consider valuations and potentially move money into cheaper stocks which may not only provide more protection during a downturn but may possess more upside in the long run. And if you aren't sure which stocks to buy or sell, a good option is to consider the Vanguard Value ETF or similar types of investments which prioritize value stocks .

SEBI Issues Governance Guidelines, Asks MIIs To Resolve Whistleblower Complaints In 60 Days

No. 10 Georgia scores nearly at will, destroys UMassUnited Airlines travelers with lost luggage have a new tool to track their bags. If the lost bag has an Apple AirTag in it, that information can now be passed directly to United, the airline announced Thursday. The new feature, called Share Item Location, allows travelers with an AirTag or other Find My network accessory to share the location with the airline’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event it’s misplaced. United says more than 99% of its customers pick up their luggage without a hitch. The feature is now available with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2. “Apple’s new Share Item Location feature will help customers travel with even more confidence, knowing they have another way to access their bag’s precise location with AirTag or their Find My accessory of choice,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer. Travelers on United whose bags do not arrive at their destination can file a delayed baggage report with United and share the link to the item’s location either through the United app or via text message. After the report has been submitted, customer service agents will be able to locate the item on an interactive map alongside a timestamp of a recent update. The shared location will be disabled after a customer has the bag, and customers can also stop sharing the location of the item at any time on their own. The location link will also automatically expire after seven days. Using AirTags or other tracking devices on luggage is increasingly popular among frequent travelers, with a significant boom following the 2022 Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown , which displaced thousands of travelers over Christmas and into 2023, alongside much of their belongings. United says lost bags are rare, with more than 99% of its customers arriving with their bags. It says the new technology will help those with lost bags to recover them more quickly because the airline will have more information about them. Apple previously announced the new service will also be integrated at other air carriers, including Delta Air Lines. Others include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

Thousands of Afghans on Thursday attended the funeral of the refugees minister, AFP journalists saw, after he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul the day before in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bombing at the ministry's offices in the Afghan capital. Thousands of men, many of them armed, gathered for Haqqani's funeral in his home village of Sarana, in a mountainous area of Paktia province, south of Kabul. The funeral included heavy security, with armoured vehicles, snipers and personnel manning the area and the road from Kabul, which was jammed with hundreds of cars as mourners travelled from surrounding provinces. Senior Taliban officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, and Maulawi Abdul Kabir, political deputy of the prime minister's office, attended the funeral, according to an AFP team on site. The deceased's nephew, the powerful interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, also attended, along with foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. In a speech there, Muttaqi said the latest IS attacks had been planned "abroad", denouncing, without naming them, "countries harbouring" the organisation. "We call on all nations to work together to stop the common enemy, which does not recognise any kind of morality." In September, the Taliban authorities said IS had training camps in Balochistan province of Pakistan, which also regularly faces jihadist attacks. - 'Protect our other leaders' - Haqqani, the highest ranked member of the Taliban government to be killed in an attack since their return to power, "was a big loss for us, the system and the nation", said Paktia resident Hedayatullah, 22. "May God protect our other leaders and keep them victorious." "Our leader... who had his life brutally taken away, achieved martyrdom," said Bostan, 53, haranguing the "cowardly attack" that killed Haqqani. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack on Thursday, offering condolences to the victims' families. "There can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on X. The European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack, along with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. Haqqani -- who is on US and UN sanctions lists and never appeared without an automatic weapon in his hand -- was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the feared Haqqani network responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the ministry, according to a statement on its Amaq news agency, as translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Taliban authorities had already blamed IS for the "cowardly attack" -- the first targeting a minister since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban forces took over the country that year, ending their war against US-led NATO coalition forces. However, the regional chapter of IS, known as Islamic State Khorasan, is active in Afghanistan and has regularly targeted civilians, foreigners and Taliban officials with gun and bomb attacks. bur-qb-sw/nro“Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * “Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? “Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. The apparent targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the menacing threats that followed have sent a shudder through corporate America and the health care industry in particular, leading to increased security for executives and some workers. In the week since the brazen shooting, health insurers have removed information about their top executives from company websites, canceled in-person meetings with shareholders and advised all employees to work from home temporarily. An internal New York Police Department bulletin warned this week that the online vitriol that followed the shooting could signal an immediate “elevated threat.” Police fear that the Dec. 4 shooting could “inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence,” according to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “Wanted” posters pasted to parking meters and construction site fences in Manhattan included photos of health care executives and the words “Deny, defend, depose” — similar to a phrase scrawled on bullets found near Thompson’s body and echoing those used by insurance industry critics. Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told NBC News last week that he told her some people had been threatening him and suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Investigators believe the shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione, may have been motivated by hostility toward health insurers. They are studying his writings about a previous back injury, and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Mangione’s lawyer has cautioned against prejudging the case. Mangione, 26, has remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday. Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge. UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said this week it was working with law enforcement to ensure a safe work environment and to reinforce security guidelines and building access policies, a spokesperson said. The company has taken down photos, names and biographies for its top executives from its websites, a spokesperson said. Other organizations, including CVS, the parent company for insurance giant Aetna, have taken similar actions. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. has announced that its investor day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said last week it was temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and would have its employees work from home. Heightened security measures likely will make health care companies and their leaders more inaccessible to their policyholders, said former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. “And understandably so, with this act of violence. There’s no assurance that this won’t happen again,” said Potter, who’s now an advocate for health care reform. Private security firms and consultants have been in high demand, fielding calls almost immediately after the shooting from companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing and finance. Companies have long faced security risks and grappled with how far to take precautions for high-profile executives. But these recent threats sparked by Thompson’s killing should not be ignored, said Dave Komendat, a former security chief for Boeing who now heads his own risk-management company. “The tone and tenor is different. The social reaction to this tragedy is different. And so I think that people need to take this seriously,” Komendat said. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and top executives. Of those, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to just under $100,000. Hours after the shooting, Komendat was on a call with dozens of chief security officers from big corporations, and there have been many similar meetings since, hosted by security groups or law enforcement agencies assessing the threats, he said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “It just takes one person who is motivated by a poster — who may have experienced something in their life through one of these companies that was harmful,” Komendat said. ___ Associated Press reporters Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco, contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Advertisement Advertisement