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Hyderabad: Three individuals have been arrested on Sunday, November 24 for allegedly kidnapping a one-year-old boy from Niloufer Children’s Hospital in Hyderabad. Baby Sauqlain was safely returned to the caregivers. The accused have been identified as Shaheen Begum, 28, Reshma, 30, and Abdulla, 35. According to the complaint, a 27-year-old housewife from Zaheerabad, Haseena Begum gave birth to a baby boy on October 25. The infant was diagnosed with jaundice and was transferred to Niloufer Children’s Hospital for further treatment. On November 23, while Haseena and her mother were in the process of signing discharge papers, a woman in burkha approached them claiming to know everything about the hospital. As the woman distracted Haseena’s mother, the other accused abducted the baby and fled. Upon receiving information, police registered a case. Investigation revealed that Abdulla and his wife, Reshma, already parents to three daughters, were desperate for a male child. Fearing another girl, they hatched a plan to kidnap a male infant. Shaheen Begum, Reshma’s younger sister, was brought to Hyderabad to assist her during her pregnancy and joined the scheme. On November 23, Abdulla and Shaheen Begum visited Niloufer Hospital where Shaheen selected a mother with a baby boy leaving the hospital in Hyderabad. She distracted the mother and kidnapped the baby boy fleeing the scene with Abdulla who waited nearby. They quickly escaped in an autorickshaw. The Nampally police launched a full-scale investigation forming five teams to track the suspects. They examined CCTV footage from the hospital in Hyderabad and traced the suspect’s vehicle, which was seen heading towards Kurnool on National Highway 44. Based on this information, the police coordinated with local authorities, and a team was dispatched to the Kurnool highway. On November 24, a team from the Gadwal police station intercepted the accused’s vehicle at the Pullur Toll Plaza in Jogulamba Gadwal District. Subsequently, the accused were arrested and are currently in judicial custody. Further investigation is ongoing.Gift cards can be a quick and easy present for those who don't know what to buy and offer the recipient a chance to pick out something nice for themselves, but sometimes they can still miss the mark. If you find yourself with a gift card you don't think you're going to use, experts say you have options. Natasha Macmillan, director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, says we've all been in that situation where someone doesn't know you, but still wants to get you something and gives you a gift card for a store that you probably won't use. If that’s the case, she said you have options. "You might be able to use the gift card for a present for a friend or a family member. That will actually help you save money while using the gift card at the same time," she said. Macmillan also said you can look to resell a card through a platform such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or other websites that specialize in buying and reselling gift cards. “You do have to be careful with some of the scams and things out there, but it's also helpful and that way you can get cash for the gift card or even exchange it for another gift card,” she said. If you’re considering that option, she said to always ask for the cash or e-transfer before handing over the gift card. According to Accenture’s 2024 Canadian holiday shopping survey, 64 per cent of consumers received gift cards last year, each of whom received four on average. But despite being a popular choice, the report said four-in-10 recipients failed to redeem the full balance of the card from the holiday season last year. That resulted in an unspent total gift card balance of $136 on average per consumer. The Accenture report noted 31 per cent didn’t use their gift card because it was exclusive to only a few brands or stores and 27 per cent could not find items to purchase. If regifting or selling don't appeal to you, some charities will accept gift cards as a donation. The rules around what kind of gift card a charity might accept can vary and not all charities will accept all gift cards, but if they do, and depending on the amount, it could mean a charitable donation tax receipt that will help reduce your bill come tax time. Mark Aston, executive director at Covenant House Toronto, which helps young people who are experiencing homelessness and trafficking, said the holidays can be tough for a young person who is isolated and does not have the support of family and friends that many of us rely on. A gift card can help a young person buy themselves a treat that they would not otherwise be able to afford. “Helping to normalize the experience around the holiday season is really helpful and impactful and to that end, gift cards can be really helpful,” Aston said. He added that Covenant House is open to accepting all kinds of gift cards as donations that it can pass on to those in need to help with the cost of living and offer a little cheer. Gift cards to grocers, drugstores and coffee shops can help with the day-to-day essentials, but he said gift cards for less obvious treats like movie tickets are also welcome. “We're extremely appreciative of any gift card donations,” he said. Meanwhile, Macmillan said donating a gift card that isn't going to be used can be a win-win. "The gift card doesn't go to waste and you get that tax receipt in return, and it does help you save money at the end of the day," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. Craig Wong, The Canadian PressBaker Mayfield mocks Tommy DeVito's celebration as the Bucs embarrass the Giants 30-7
rep0rter A long-awaited shot in the arm With recent news regarding Toyota Motor Corporation's ( TM , TOYOF ) future goal of providing consistent return on equity rates of at least 20% by 2030, the stock is trading higher after Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TM, TSLA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The author is not a licensed financial advisor, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or any other financial professional. The content presented in this article is based on the author's personal opinions, research, and experiences, and it may not be suitable for your specific financial situation or needs. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Former prime minister Scott Morrison has called out the Albanese government after it received scathing criticism from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu over Australia's position on Palestine at the UN. The Israeli Prime Minister accused Australia of inviting "terrorism" by supporting Palestine in UN motions. Mr Morrison took to social media early on Friday morning to lament the straining of relations between Israel and Australia. "Shameful. Labor have betrayed freedom and their own proud heritage on Israel," he posted on X. "They have ended bipartisanship on Israel in Australia and been played the fool by accepting the lie of antisemitism masquerading as progressivism." Foreign Minister Penny Wong supported a UN resolution recognising "permanent sovereignty" of Palestinians in November. The move came as a surprise with Sky News revealing last month Australia's top UN diplomats recommended the government abstain from the resolution, in order to maintain Canberra's position over the past decade, and remain consistent with the views of Canada and the United States. Earlier this week, the Albanese government again backed a UN motion in favour of Palestine, supporting an "irreversible pathway" to Palestinian statehood while also calling for Israel to withdraw its "unlawful presence" from the West Bank, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem. Australia's decision marked a two-decade change in its position on the matter, having last backed the Palestinian statehood resolution under the Howard government. The resolution passed 157-8, with Argentina, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea and key Australian ally, the United States of America, voting against, while seven members abstained from the vote. A statement released from Netanyahu's office condemned Australia's new position, saying Australia's "flip-flop is disappointing". “Awarding anti-Semitism and terrorism with a state in the heart of the Jewish ancient homeland and cradle of civilisation will invite more terrorism and more anti-Semitic riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia," the statement said. “To the contrary, they have embraced those atrocities that included the rape, murder and beheading of Jews. It’s a shame that the current Australian government wants to award these savages with a state. “Thankfully, our key allies support Israel as we strive for true peace and security." The Israeli Prime Minister's criticism comes after Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claimed Anthony Albanese abandoned the Jewish community to win votes in Western Sydney. “He sold the Jewish community out in this country for Green votes in western Sydney and in places like Marrickville (in Mr Albanese’s seat),” Mr Dutton said. “I think we should be standing with allies like the United States. Instead, the Albanese government is chasing Green votes and they’ve been prepared to sacrifice the wellbeing of the Jewish community here in Australia to do so.”
Buccaneers looking to beat NFC South-rival Panthers and bolster hopes for a playoff berthAt the beginning of the year, we looked to our correspondents for tips of Among them was hope for change for millions of people who were to vote in elections in 50 countries. At least in the United States, that change turned out to be more of the same. Among the surprises, however, there was the end of a dynasty in Syria and the beginning of another in Indonesia. Here are some of the biggest stories of the past 12 months: If 1992 was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s , then it’s hard to know how she’d have ranked this year for ’s royal family. In January, her son and successor, Charles III, put out a rather benign statement that he would attend hospital the following week for a . The statement was made shortly after it was revealed his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was expected to be in hospital for 10 to 14 days after undergoing abdominal surgery. Things would snowball from there. Weeks later, the King would announce he had been diagnosed with cancer. Catherine’s recovery was kept under wraps until the . A family photo was released, and it was a disaster. Even more questions were asked. Suddenly came an announcement: . Neither have been given the all-clear but have returned to light duties. Charles joined with Queen Camilla for a royal visit to Australia. But his relationships with son Harry and brother Andrew have continued to plague him. Our own Princess Mary, was in January after her mother-in-law, to make way for her son, Frederik. Two decades on from Mary’s fairytale wedding, she waved to the crowds in Copenhagen as the sovereign’s wife. Rumours have swirled about , and the Danish royals showed it ain’t just the Brits who have their problems. But 2024 was the year of the election. In Britain, Labor after 14 years of Conservative rule, with Keir Starmer moving into 10 Downing Street in a landslide victory. Within weeks, however, his popularity would start to tumble in a string of scandals and misjudgments. In the across the continent. ’s after beating Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left SPD to second place in the European Parliament elections with 16 per cent. His problems at home reached a peak in December when he lost a confidence vote. In , the EU results triggered an electoral earthquake. after his party was resoundingly defeated by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally. That result left the country without a clear winner but one clear loser: Macron. He continues to struggle to grasp any real power. But it was another story in France that shocked the nation and the world. Seventy-two-year-old grandmother Gisele Pelicot bravely retold , to stop rape from being swept under the carpet. In mass protests were sparked by the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the EU and push back on Russian influence. In the end, a pro-Russia former Manchester City footballer, . An election in , with the result annulled and voters to go back to the polls next year. In May, ’s Prime Minister attempt, during which he was shot five times. He recovered and is one of many populists slowly diluting Europe’s unity towards Ukraine and against . Another blow for that cause was ’s far-right Freedom Party, as they celebrated an , aligned himself closely with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his self-styled “illiberal democracy”. Kickl had also spoken of becoming Volkskanzler (people’s chancellor), which for some Austrians carries echoes of the term used to describe Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. War continues in after almost three years. Where and when it ends, no one knows. . President Volodymyr Zelensky has laid out a plan for peace. It’s likely many will die before that happens. s Vladimir Putin is scrambling to conquer as much territory as possible before those peace talks begin. Last month, while suffering its highest casualty rates of the war. This year, continued its re-engagement strategy with Australia, and finally agreed to trade and two beef exporters, ending the $20 billion of economic sanctions slapped on Australian industries during the Morrison government. Federal Treasurer when he went to Beijing in September. His trip tapped into ongoing concerns about China’s struggling economy and the flow-on impact on Australia. But the rapprochement has not dimmed security concerns posed by China’s increasingly aggressive tactics in the Indo-Pacific, which included confrontations with Australian naval forces and repeated clashes with Filipino vessels in the South China Sea this year that heightened fears of sparking a full-blown conflict. In the face of a drumbeat of negativity from economic analysts and investors, Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to reverse course in the second half of the year and began pursuing into his beleaguered housing sector. inaugurated drawing the ire of Beijing, which regards him as a “dangerous separatist” and responded by encircling the island. A second round of drills in October piled pressure onto Taiwan’s stretched defence systems. ’s Prime Minister as his government slid to record low approval ratings. His replacement in calling a snap election proved costly, leaving the governing Liberal Democratic Party scrambling to form a minority government. In November, on subversion charges under its Beijing-led national security crackdown, in a case that drew international condemnation for its perceived silencing of political dissent. It also reignited the . And in December, virtually imploded under President Yoon Suk Yeol who misread his electorate and fellow politicians, and only to have to . , he now awaits a court decision to confirm the parliamentary move. The year closed with the future of the Sino-American relationship, and hence global stability, facing a new era of uncertainty under the incoming second presidency of Donald Trump. Trump’s appointment of to key administration positions, and his , has set the stage for more turbulence between the two nations. After two failed attempts against Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto finally realised his decades-long dream of becoming president of . Widodo was constitutionally barred from running for a third term, so when his sniffing around for ways to run again went nowhere, the president and Prabowo teamed up for some win-win. Prabowo, the former son-in-law of late autocrat Suharto, enlisted Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to be his vice presidential running mate. Widodo then turned his back on his own party and threw his considerable political and popular weight behind his former enemy. Never mind his dodgy human rights track record as a military strongman, in a canter. After backroom deals with self-interested politicians and parties in the months leading up to October’s inauguration, the 73-year-old now sits atop a massive coalition, troubling democracy watchers. , too, underwent . Lee Hsien Loong stepped down in May after 20 years as prime minister, handing the reins to his deputy, Lawrence Wong. Wong inherited a middle power punching way above its weight division, a stable and wealthy nation in a region of regular upheaval. He is an erudite statesman and seems eminently capable, but he has shown little interest in loosening the government’s tight grip on free expression. leadership transition, meanwhile, was a bin fire. , which many Thais and observers consider a big-time cog in the self-serving military and royalist establishment. Pita Limjaroenrat’s Move Forward Party won the most votes in the 2023 election but was blocked from forming government by an unelected senate. Amid the chaos, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of controversial and once-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Vice President , President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, crossed into the unhinged. In October, she warned “Bong Bong” she would dig up his old man’s bones and throw them into the sea. Last month, she told the press of her if she was killed first. She really said this. The feud is unfolding amid investigations into Duterte’s alleged misuse of funds and her dad’s bloody “war on drugs”. It is not a great time for toxic politics in the Philippines, which is clashing almost weekly with China in the West Philippine Sea. In , which has its own claims to the South China Sea, To Lam inherited the job of Communist Party secretary-general after 80-year-old statesman . In his 12 years at the top (not to mention nearly three decades in the Politburo), Trong significantly reduced poverty rates, strengthened ties with the United States and implemented a fierce anti-corruption drive dubbed the “blazing furnace”. As is often the case in South-East Asia, and Communist regimes more broadly, he also preferred his dissenters in jail. Meanwhile, those who hoped leader Hun Manet’s considerable Western education might yield democratic changes . He was gifted the job by his ruthless and ageing father Hun Sen, who still pulls strings, only now as president of the Senate. If anything, the intimidation of opposition and arrests of protesters have only increased. The most high-profile arrest was journalist Mech Dara, whose reporting touched on the businesses of Ly Yong Phat, a senator, tycoon and Hun Sen adviser, . Dara was bailed several weeks after his October arrest after a coerced public apology, a typical ploy of the Huns’ regime that they think demonstrates their beneficence. , a nation with so much economic potential, continued to suffer repeated wrecking by military men. Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, still holds onto power through force despite serious losses to myriad armed opposition groups. ASEAN, a wet lettuce leaf among regional blocs, has been unable to bring the general to heel. Underscoring the complexity of this multi-front civil war, one of came at the hands of a group fighting the junta, when the Arakan Army slaughtered hundreds of innocent Rohingya Muslims near the border of Bangladesh in August. In recent weeks, however, two major armed rebel groups – Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and ally the Ta’ang National Liberation Army – signalled they were ready for peace talks. The most tragic case closer to Australia in South East Asia was the methanol poisoning of backpackers in in November, among them. , and investigations continue. The biggest election ever staged delivered a shock result in . Ahead of the national poll, concluded on June 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to romp home. But once the 642 million ballots were counted his , he needed to rely on other parties to control parliament. Modi has dominated Indian politics for the past decade, but now faces a more uncertain era of coalition government. Elsewhere on the subcontinent, 2024 was marked by political turmoil. In , Sheikh Hasina, prime minister for 20 of the past 28 years, was driven out by a vast display of people power on the streets of the capital city, Dhaka. After she made a dramatic escape to neighbouring India on August 5, her government was replaced by military-backed , an 84-year-old Nobel Laureate, economist and social entrepreneur. Yunus has the difficult task of building consensus for much-needed reforms and staging a fair election. There was political change in as well when the little-known former Marxist, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, emerged the surprise winner in a presidential election held in September. The country continues to grapple with the aftermath of a debilitating financial crisis in 2022. In the continues to roil politics and society. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), did surprisingly well in February elections and his supporters have since staged huge and sometime violent protests demanding his release. The power dynamics in the Middle East were dramatically reshaped this year, with on the ascendancy and its bitter rival, , substantially weakened. Iran’s President in May, and things only got worse from there for the hard-line rulers in Tehran. Israel and Iran traded missile fire at several points throughout the year, setting off fears of an all-out regional war. Thanks to Israel’s Iron Dome system and support from Western nations, the Iranian strikes caused minimal damage, while Iran’s missile-production capability was crippled. After the monumental intelligence failure of last year’s October 7 attacks, the Jewish state regrouped and achieved some significant strategic victories. The Israeli military assassinated the mastermind of the October 7 attacks, , in Gaza and Hezbollah leader in Beirut. After a year of tit-for-tat fighting on its border with Lebanon, Israel escalated the fight against Hezbollah. This began with the shock September against the Iranian proxy group and culminated in a ground invasion and air strikes on Lebanon. It ended on favourable terms for Israel, with Lebanese civilians paying a heavy price for a conflict many did not want to be involved in. Meanwhile, the devastating war in Gaza continues and there is still no clear vision for what will come when it is over. Almost 45,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war and over 100 Israeli hostages still remain in Gaza. In November, the against Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, reflecting widespread international horror at the war. At home, though, Netanyahu’s popularity has been creeping up. In the most surprising development of all, in a matter of days in December. Syrian rebels from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took advantage of Assad’s key allies – Russia and Iran – being distracted by fighting elsewhere and stormed into Damascus with remarkable ease. This has injected new uncertainty into the region, with Iran again the loser after losing a crucial ally in Assad. By contrast, ’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is emboldened and empowered after backing the rebel forces. This year was meant to culminate in an election rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. But after imploding on a debate stage in June, the ’ oldest president was forced to withdraw his bid for a second term, setting in motion one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in history. While Biden’s decision to upended the trajectory of the 2024 campaign and sparked fresh enthusiasm among voters, it was not enough to dent the anger millions of Americans felt over soaring cost-of-living pressures or immigration. In a victory so resounding even some Republicans were shocked, Trump not only won all seven battleground states, he also narrowly secured the popular vote and helped Republicans take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. It was a remarkable turnaround for a former president who began the year facing 91 charges and four criminal trials: one in Washington for trying to subvert the 2020 election; one in Georgia for election interference in that state; another in Florida for mishandling classified documents; and one in New York for falsifying business records to cover up a . In the end, only the New York “hush money” trial would eventuate, resulting in Trump becoming the first convicted felon to run for the White House. A US Supreme Court decision to grant presidents substantial immunity for acts conducted in office helped him thwart all the other trials. Trump’s ascendancy was also fuelled by an at a rally in Pennsylvania – an event that shocked the world, reignited the debate over political violence, and created one of the most iconic images in political history. Two months later came – this time by a lone gunman hiding in the bushes of his golfing resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. In other North America news, environmental scientist Claudia Sheinbaum was elected ’s first female president; the war in Gaza sparked student uprisings at elite universities across the US; and Taylor Swift continued her global dominance, concluding her 149-show in after becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history. Interest in South America rose briefly in Australian minds last month owing to Prime Minister , for the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation annual summit, overshadowed by incoming US president Donald Trump’s economic agenda. Albanese then went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for this year’s G20. Neither , except to serve as further demonstration of in the region where it has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure. Take the new $5.6 billion port President Xi Jinping – who arrived pushing for an “orderly multipolar world” – inaugurated in Chancay, north of Lima. The intended continental logistics hub creates a direct route between Asia and South America across the Pacific Ocean. Apart from allowing Beijing to look beyond Australia and Asia for imports such as iron ore, wine and soybeans, the port could also, says the US, . China’s influence in the region could also extend to ground stations for Chinese satellites. In former president along with 36 others in a failed coup to reverse the last election and overthrow the government of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in a US Capitol-inspired takeover of Congress in 2022. He denies the charges, which add to his long list of legal woes. Lula, 79, had emergency brain surgery to relieve bleeding but was back to work in a few days. In the election of right-wing Trump-like disruptor and cloned-dog owner President provided some relief to the US, after to the alternative BRICS – the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa group that has evolved to admit myriad other countries, and hopes to launch an alternative trade currency to the US dollar. In new elections to power, but no one believed the results, which the opposition said were stolen and the UN human rights watchdog is investigating. The crisis-torn country was also in the headlines owing to campaign-mode In December, prominent human rights lawyer Claudio Grossman quit the International Criminal Court in The Hague over what he said was its failure to prosecute members of Maduro’s government for crimes against humanity. In early December, Argentina, Brazil, , and , under the bloc , signed a blockbuster free trade deal with the European Union. If ratified, it will create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, covering a market of 780 million people. But in France, the Netherlands and other countries with big dairy and beef industries, critics say it will create unfair competition. In , the year started with a large to discuss action against changes proposed by the new coalition government of Prime Minister Chris Luxon, including the watering down of policies previously designed to elevate Maori language and recognition. Tuheitia said the Treaty of Waitangi was not open for reinterpretation. , with King Charles leading the tributes, saying “a mighty tree has fallen”. His daughter, 27-year-old , was chosen by a council of 12 male elders to succeed him, over her two older brothers, although the crown is not automatically inherited. Tensions over the government’s “race-based” changes, and the introduction of a bill to reinterpret the treaty, spilt over when thousands participated in a , where that made headlines around the world. , in May after an electoral reform approved in Paris triggered protests and the . It sent hundreds of police to help stem the riots, including soldiers to secure the port and airports, which were closed, . . His government later blamed . Continuing its efforts to keep closer to Australia than to China, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese headed to PNG and along with Prime Minister James Marape, did a two-day Kokoda hike, complete with . It was all part of Anzac commemorations and soft diplomacy, which continues with the , helped along by . And a in later December, causing many deaths, hundreds of injuries and crippling the nation’s electricity, water and communications systems. – In , after the vote that ended apartheid and brought it to power. President Cyril Ramaphosa managed to retain his job after a coalition deal with the country’s second-biggest party, the Democratic Alliance. In added to evidence that two human species lived side-by-side 1.5 million years ago, in a closing reminder that humans are capable of getting along.Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
Ravens now in the AFC North driver's seat after 3 convincing wins in 11-day stretchIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military hasn't responded to questions about the WHO chief's statement. Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday., saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aid to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as “lies.” The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92 NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. The hospital said Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home." He was “being treated for age-related medical conditions,” the statement added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose.
See John Legend’s daughter try to negotiate when she’ll get a smartphone during adorable interview with dad | CNNNew DIY kit proves anyone can build gaming consoles and code games
Conor McGregor must pay woman $257,000 in sexual assault civil caseThe process of excision of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) from the existing military area and its merger with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area which has been underway for the past three years may soon get the central government’s approval with the director-general of defence estates’ (DGDE’s) letter dated November 14 to the Maharashtra chief secretary asking the latter to depute an officer at an appropriate level to attend a meeting with the joint secretary (land and works), ministry of defence (MoD), to be held via video conferencing on November 27. Besides Pune, the DGDE has also listed Dehu Road, Deolali, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Kamptee and Khadki cantonments. In a fresh letter from deputy director-general (cantonments) Arvind Kumar Dwivedi to the principal director of defence estates of all commands, Dwivedi has listed out the modalities for the merger of the designated cantonment board areas with the respective municipal bodies. The letter states that the proprietary rights of all assets meant for providing civic amenities and municipal services in the excised area will be transferred to the state government and municipality free-of-cost, assets and liabilities of cantonment boards will be transferred to the state municipality, and the municipal cover over leased and old grant properties in the excised area will be transferred to the state municipality. As per the guidelines, the central government will retain ownership rights over land where it currently has jurisdiction; cantonment areas will be merged with the municipal corporations of the respective states, bringing them under the jurisdiction of the state government; all assets and liabilities of the cantonment boards will be transferred to the state government; and municipal corporations will gain control over properties currently under contract within the cantonment areas. The merged cantonment areas will now be subject to municipal and state government rules and laws. However, areas under the jurisdiction of the MoD or where it functions will be excluded from this merger. According to the ministry, the changes aim to streamline the governance of civilian areas within cantonments, making municipal services more accessible and efficient for residents. The state municipalities will also be empowered to levy local taxes on these areas, integrating them more fully into the urban administrative framework. When contacted, cantonment-based social activist Rajabhau Chavan, said, “We are all hopeful about the forthcoming meeting with the joint secretary (land and works), MoD, scheduled on Nov 27 after which the decks will be cleared once and for all for the merger of Pune and other designated cantonments with the municipal bodies. The citizens of Pune cantonment have been suffering for the past one decade, and their problems are multiplying with each passing day. The merger will bring the desired infrastructural development and change the current infrastructurally-deficient face of the cantonment area.”
When it comes to 2024 in Boise State athletics, the conversation starts with the Broncos’ football team and their run to the College Football Playoff, but it is far from ending there. Another run for the men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament, a Mountain West regular season title in women’s soccer, a late season run in the conference softball tournament and a national controversy involving the Broncos volleyball were all storylines that followed the Bronco athletic program over the past year. BSU FOOTBALL In any event, it was the football team that dominated headlines throughout the year. The hype started at the end of last season, and Boise State lived up to it. The Broncos went 12-1, repeated as Mountain West Champions and not only earned a bid to the College Football Playoff, but earned a first-round bye into the Fiesta Bowl, where they will play Penn State on Tuesday. Bronco running back Ashton Jeanty also caught national headlines with his eye-popping statistics and highlight-reel runs. Those stats and highlights won him both the Doak Walker Award, given to the best running back in the country and the Maxwell Award, given to the most outstanding player, and was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, which was given to Colorado’s Travis Hunter. Due to Boise State’s status as a Group of Five conference member, many across the country argued that the football team was seeded higher than they deserved, at No. 3. BRONCOS HOOPS For Boise State’s men’s basketball team, the Broncos believed they were under seeded. The Broncos brought a 22-10 record in with them to selection Sunday, including a 6-5 record against Quad 1 opponents. Ranked No. 26 in the NET rankings, bracketologists across the country thought Boise State boasted a strong resume, worthy of a No. 7 or No. 8 seed. The Broncos got a No. 10 seed and were relegated to the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, where they lost to Colorado 60-53. Boise State, which had hoped to earn its first-ever NCAA Tournament win in program history, instead fell to 0-10 all-time in the Big Dance, including an 0-for-3 stretch over the last three years. VOLLEYBALL CONTROVERSY Boise State’s volleyball team also made headlines in 2024 for off-the-court reasons that took a political term. The issue surrounded a San Jose State volleyball player, reported to be transgender. The Idaho Press is not identifying the player because she, nor San Jose State have publicly commented on her gender identity. During the regular season, the Broncos forfeited two Mountain West matches against the Spartans. The Broncos never identified a reason for the forfeitures, but the first one in September came after women’s sports activist Riley Gaines reportedly petitioned all Mountain West members to boycott games against the Spartans due to the reported transgender player. Utah State, Wyoming and Nevada all forfeited conference matches, while Southern Utah forfeited a non-conference match. Shortly after Boise State beat Utah State in the opening round of the Mountain West Tournament, the Broncos dropped out of the tournament, with a matchup against San Jose State in the semifinals, effectively ending their season. “The decision to not continue to play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one,” Boise State said in a statement following its third forfeiture. “Our team overcame forfeitures to earn a spot in the tournament field and fought for the win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.” BEST OF THE REST Two other Bronco teams saw their postseason run fall short in championship rounds. In May, the Broncos’ softball team hosted the Mountain West Tournament at Dona Larsen Park, entering the tournament as the No. 5 seed. Against No. 4 Fresno State, the Broncos trailed 4-1 entering the seventh inning before Hollie Farmer and Alycia Flores homered to tie the game and true freshman Sophia Knight had a RBI go-ahead single in extra inning to give the Broncos the 5-4 win. After falling to top-seeded San Diego State in double-elimination play, Boise State topped No. 2 UNLV after Jordyn Hutchins hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in extra innings a Boise State won 5-4 and the Broncos took a 4-1 win against No. 3 Nevada to set up a rematch in the championship against San Diego State. The Aztecs scored two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to win the title, 6-3. In the fall, the women’s soccer team won the Mountain West regular season title, but lost to Utah State 2-1 in the conference tournament title, ending all hope of an NCAA Tournament bid. Elsewhere in Bronco sports in 2024: Former Boise State track and field national champion Marisa Howard represented Team USA in the Olympics in Paris in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase. She finished seventh in her first-round heat. ... Cole Rueck won the men’s golf individual Mountain West championship, the first Bronco to do so since 2017. ... Boise State’s men’s tennis team won the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles. It was the second straight year the Broncos won the tournament title. ... Boise State won the inaugural Mountain West Gymnastics Championship, with Emily Blackson winning the NCAA Regional Meet on bars and finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors.After-hours movers: HPE, lululemon, Ulta Beauty, Docusign and more
Mend ways or face more curbs: RBI to banks, NBFCsJennison Associates LLC lifted its stake in The Buckle, Inc. ( NYSE:BKE – Free Report ) by 28.3% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 32,626 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 7,205 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC’s holdings in Buckle were worth $1,435,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise grew its position in Buckle by 158.4% in the 3rd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 6,054 shares of the company’s stock worth $266,000 after purchasing an additional 3,711 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Buckle in the third quarter valued at about $86,000. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Buckle during the third quarter worth about $473,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in shares of Buckle during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $691,000. Finally, Meritage Portfolio Management boosted its stake in Buckle by 10.4% in the 3rd quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 23,944 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,053,000 after buying an additional 2,251 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 53.93% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have issued reports on BKE shares. UBS Group upgraded Buckle from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $31.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Buckle from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Buckle Trading Up 2.5 % NYSE:BKE opened at $48.86 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.92 and a beta of 1.14. The Buckle, Inc. has a 1 year low of $34.87 and a 1 year high of $49.78. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $44.17 and a 200-day moving average of $40.88. Buckle ( NYSE:BKE – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 22nd. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.89 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $293.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $293.60 million. Buckle had a net margin of 16.69% and a return on equity of 46.17%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.04 EPS. Buckle Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 11th were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.87%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 11th. Buckle’s dividend payout ratio is currently 34.15%. Insider Buying and Selling at Buckle In other news, CEO Dennis H. Nelson sold 24,666 shares of Buckle stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.44, for a total value of $1,046,825.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,924,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $81,688,978.84. This trade represents a 1.27 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, SVP Brett P. Milkie sold 16,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.35, for a total value of $661,600.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 80,170 shares in the company, valued at $3,315,029.50. This trade represents a 16.64 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders sold 142,931 shares of company stock worth $6,080,458. 39.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Buckle Profile ( Free Report ) The Buckle, Inc operates as a retailer of casual apparel, footwear, and accessories for young men and women in the United States. It markets a selection of brand name casual apparel, including denims, other casual bottoms, tops, sportswear, outerwear, accessories, and footwear, as well as private label merchandise primarily comprising BKE, Buckle Black, Salvage, Red by BKE, Daytrip, Gimmicks, Gilded Intent, FITZ + EDDI, Willow & Root, Outpost Makers, Departwest, Sterling & Stitch, Reclaim, BKE Vintage, Nova Industries, J.B. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Buckle, Inc. ( NYSE:BKE – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Buckle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Buckle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
