DULUTH — The boys hockey team from Mankato West High School arrived at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center early Saturday morning, but they were missing something important for hockey teams — their stick bag. Coach Nate Olsen thought something strange must have happened. Maybe they never made it on the bus or somehow ended up on another team’s bus. The Scarlets had already lost two one-goal games, and they arrived at the Heritage Center for an 8 a.m. game against Anoka to conclude their participation at the annual Holiday Classic tournament. “It’s 7 in the morning, you’re getting the bus unloaded, you have everything there and all of a sudden, when you go to look for the stick bag — there’s no sticks,” Olsen said. The team did their “due diligence,” according to Olsen, but the equipment manager was “adamant” he put the bag on the bus the night before. Officials at the Heritage Center were able to pull up security camera footage to confirm he was correct. “We could see him taking the bag from the locker room and out the door and into the bus,” Olsen said. “Unfortunately, sometime from late yesterday afternoon to early this morning, our stick bag disappeared.” Staying at the downtown Holiday Inn, the Scarlets’ coach bus was parked overnight on West First Street. As they began to suspect theft, they reported the incident to the Duluth Police Department and gave an inventory of what was missing. Duluth police public information officer Mattie Hjelseth confirmed the report and said the investigation remains active. Officers were working to follow any leads, and no further information would be released on Saturday, she said. Officers saw a man walking in the 100 block of East Third Street with a few of the items just before 11 p.m., Hjelseth said in a statement early Sunday morning. The man told officers he found the items behind Chum. He didn’t match the suspect's description but was arrested on an unrelated warrant, Hjelseth said. Police are making arrangements to return the items. Heritage Center Director Jeff Stark put out a call for local help to find the sticks on social media. “We are aware of this theft of property and are assisting the team and law enforcement with trying to locate and recover their stolen sticks,” Stark wrote. “This incident happened while the team bus was parked overnight at their hotel. If you have any information, please contact the Duluth Police Department so we can try and obtain a positive outcome for the Mankato West players and families.” Olsen said he estimated there were 30 to 40 sticks in the bag worth a “rough estimate” of $10,000-$12,000. He said parents are also working with the list to cross-reference what was lost with what is missing, but either way it’s a “big deal,” particularly on the heels of the holiday season. “That’s usually a more expensive month for most families,” Olsen said. “Now try to come up with $6-800 to be ready to practice and play — even if there is a resolution on the back end, that resolution is not going to have cash in people’s pockets by Monday.” The referee scheduled to work the early game Saturday told Olsen he’s been officiating hockey for 37 years and had never seen anything like this, but the veteran coach said they were trying to stay positive. “The dust will settle and we’ll be OK long term,” Olsen said. “It’s just a unique circumstance we’re going to have to fight through and we’ll be better for it, but it’s quite a story — there’s no doubt about it.” This story was updated at 9:44 a.m. Dec. 19, with information about some of the items being recovered. It was originally posted at 8:23 p.m. Dec. 28.Avior Wealth Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co ( NYSE:VRT – Free Report ) by 41.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,195 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,620 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Vertiv were worth $517,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Anchor Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Vertiv in the second quarter worth $26,000. Mather Group LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Vertiv by 132.5% in the 2nd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 351 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Krane Funds Advisors LLC bought a new position in Vertiv during the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vertiv during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in Vertiv in the second quarter worth about $34,000. 89.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Karsten Winther sold 44,924 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.99, for a total transaction of $3,593,470.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,542 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $843,254.58. The trade was a 80.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 5.01% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes View Our Latest Research Report on VRT Vertiv Trading Up 3.1 % Shares of VRT opened at $141.75 on Friday. Vertiv Holdings Co has a twelve month low of $41.01 and a twelve month high of $145.67. The stock has a market cap of $53.20 billion, a PE ratio of 94.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $109.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $94.90. Vertiv ( NYSE:VRT – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $2.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.98 billion. Vertiv had a net margin of 7.72% and a return on equity of 55.33%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.52 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Vertiv Holdings Co will post 2.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. Vertiv Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.0375 per share. This represents a $0.15 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.11%. This is a boost from Vertiv’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Vertiv’s payout ratio is presently 6.67%. Vertiv Profile ( Free Report ) Vertiv Holdings Co, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and life cycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VRT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vertiv Holdings Co ( NYSE:VRT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vertiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Kansas once required voters to prove citizenship. That didn't work out so wellNone

The Colorado men’s basketball team has been able to overpower, and out-talent, its first four opponents. The Buffaloes are traveling a long way to face a whole new ball game. On Monday, the Buffs will face Michigan State in the opening round of the Maui Invitational, one of the most highly-regarded of college basketball’s early-season tournaments. It will be a powerhouse field as the tournament returns to Maui after being relocated to Honolulu in 2023 following the Maui wildfire. CU head coach Tad Boyle has described the tournament as a mid-term exam, with three games in three days against teams bigger and more skilled than the ones the Buffs took care of during their 4-0 start. The Buffs are looking at the tournament as an opportunity to show they plan to be much better than the team picked 15th in the 16-team Big 12 preseason coaches’ poll. “(Michigan State) has a good team. I’m not taking that away,” CU forward Assane Diop said. “But it’s not about them. What I feel like is this game can maybe change how people see us as a program. We’re 4-0 right now and just trying to go get a ‘Dub.’” The Buffs essentially had two days of activities, and practice, scheduled after traveling to Maui on Friday. It is the first time CU has played in the Maui Invitational since 2009, but the Buffs have enjoyed plenty of tropical business trips during Boyle’s tenure, now in its 15th season. Boyle’s CU clubs have twice played in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, in 2014 and 2018. More recently, the Buffs played three games at the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands in November 2021. “I want our guys to enjoy the experience. Part of college basketball is enjoying experiences like this,” Boyle said. “Whether you’re going to a warm place or you’re going to New York City or you’re going to wherever. So I want them to enjoy the experience. “But I also want them to compartmentalize and understand when is the time for business and when is the time to relax and enjoy themselves, which I want them to do to a certain degree. We’ve got to do a good job as a coaching staff of being crystal clear on when those times are. Then it’s up to them to concentrate on the task at hand.” A rugged field awaits the Buffs with four of the top 10 teams in the latest Associated Press Top 25 on display. In the second game on Tuesday, CU will play either Memphis, coached by former NBA great Penny Hardaway, or second-ranked, two-time defending national champion UConn. In the opposite bracket, No. 10 North Carolina opens on Monday against Dayton, while No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Iowa State square off in a first round matchup worthy of a title game, or even a Final Four showdown. For the Buffs, the actual results might be secondary to making certain they bring the requisite energy and intensity to the floor against the sort of foes they will see on a regular basis once Big 12 play begins. “Concentration is a skill that not all of our players have,” Boyle said. “The ones that don’t have it, we’ve got to sharpen it. It starts in practice and the film room, and understanding what your job is and going out and doing it.” CU Buffs men’s basketball vs. Michigan State Spartans TIPOFF : Monday, 3 p.m. MT, Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, Hawaii. TV/RADIO : ESPN2/KOA AM 850 and 94.1 FM. RECORDS : Colorado 4-0; Michigan State 4-1. COACHES : Colorado — Tad Boyle, 15th season (302-183, 358-249 overall). Michigan State — Tom Izzo, 30th season (711-296 at Michigan State and overall). KEY PLAYERS : Colorado — F Andrej Jakimovski, 6-8, Gr. (14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .364 3%); C Elijah Malone, 6-10, Gr. (14.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .655 FG%); G Javon Ruffin, 6-5, R-Jr. (11.5 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 rpg); F Trevor Baskin, 6-9, Gr. (10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .571 FG%); G Julian Hammond III, 6-2, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.5 rpg); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-9, Fr. (7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 6-for-9 3-pointers); G RJ Smith, 6-3, R-So. (7.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 6-for-11 3-pointers). Michigan State — G Jaden Akins, 6-4, Sr. (14.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, .468 FG%); F Frankie Fidler, 6-7, Sr. (11.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F Jaxon Kohler, 6-9, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, .500 FG%); G Jase Richardson, 6-3, Fr. (8.4 pgg, 2.6 rpg, .6325 FG%); F Coen Carr, 6-6, So. (7.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .593 FG%); G Jeremy Fears Jr., 6-2, R-Fr. (6.2 ppg, 6.2 apg). NOTES : Colorado played at the Maui Invitational once previously in 2009, going 1-2 with losses against Gonzaga and Arizona before winning the finale against Chaminade. ... CU has gone 1-2 in each of its last four trips to Hawaii, including appearances at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu (2014, 2018), the ’09 appearance at the Maui invite, and a 2008 appearance at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. ... The Buffs are 8-10 all-time in Hawaii. Three of those losses were against the University of Hawaii in true road games. ... CU and the Spartans haven’t met since Michigan State posted a 79-64 win in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament in Tampa, Fla. ... The programs have met just four times overall, with the Spartans holding a 3-1 lead. Like Monday’s contest, three of those four games were played on neutral floors — the 2003 NCAA Tournament, the 1988 Far West Classic in Oregon, and the 1957 Big Seven Christmas tournament in Kansas City, which was the first meeting between the teams and CU’s only win in the series. ... Michigan State is coming off an eight-point home win last week against Samford, holding off Samford’s upset bid after trailing by 13 points early. ... The Spartans are shooting just .221 from 3-point range.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up less than 0.1%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 was pulling 0.7% higher, as of 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 532 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. Nvidia's rise of 1.4% was the strongest force pushing the S&P 500 upward after yet again beating analysts’ estimates for profit and revenue. It also gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that topped most analysts’ expectations thanks to voracious demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Its stock initially sank in afterhours trading Wednesday following the release of the results. Some investors said the market might have been looking for Nvidia's revenue forecast to surpass expectations by even more. But its stock recovered in premarket trading Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it was another “flawless” profit report provided by Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, whom Ives calls “the Godfather of AI.” How Nvidia’s stock performs has tremendous impact because it’s quickly grown into Wall Street’s most valuable company at roughly $3.6 trillion. Its meandering up and down through the day dragged the S&P 500 and other indexes back and forth. The frenzy around AI is sweeping up other stocks, and Snowflake jumped 32.3% after reporting stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, whose platform helps customers get a better view of all their silos of data and use AI, also reported stronger revenue growth than expected. BJ’S Wholesale Club rose 9.1% after likewise delivering a bigger profit than expected. That may help calm worries about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. A day earlier, Target tumbled after reporting sluggish sales in the latest quarter and giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Nearly 90% of the stocks in the S&P 500 were also rising, and the gains were even bigger among smaller companies. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped a market-leading 1.9%. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, helped keep indexes in check. It fell 5.5% after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break up the tech giant by forcing it to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser. In a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice called for sweeping punishments that would include restrictions preventing Android from favoring its own search engine. Regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android but left the door open to it if the company’s oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct. Drops for other Big Tech stocks also weighed on the market, including a 2.4% slide for Amazon. In stock markets abroad, shares of India’s Adani Enterprises plunged 22.6% Thursday after the U.S. charged founder Gautam Adani, 62, in a federal indictment with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The businessman and one of the world’s richest people is accused of duping investors by concealing that his company’s huge solar energy project on the subcontinent was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. Indexes elsewhere in Asia and Europe were mixed. In the crypto market, bitcoin eclipsed $99,000 for the first time before easing back to roughly $98,250, according to CoinDesk. It’s more than doubled so far this year, and its climb has accelerated since Election Day. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make the country “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Bitcoin also got a boost after Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission who has pushed for more protection for crypto investors, said he would step down in January . Bitcoin and related investments, of course, have a notorious history of big price swings in both directions. MicroStrategy, a company that's been raising cash expressly to buy bitcoin, saw an early gain of 14.6% for its stock on Thursday quickly disappear. It was most recently down 10.7%. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 2% to bring its gain for the week to 4.8%. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 1.8%. Oil has been rising amid escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.43% from 4.41% late Wednesday. One report said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest signal that the job market remains solid. Another report, though, said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly shrank. Sales of previously occupied homes, meanwhile, strengthened last month by more than expected. ___ AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Yuri Kageyama contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated PressRefinery upgrades crucial to overcome sector challenges: report A general view shows an oil refinery. — Reuters/File KARACHI: Refinery upgrade projects are essential to alleviate persistent challenges in the sector, which continue to heighten business risks in the absence of modernisation initiatives, says a report by the Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (Pacra). googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The approval and implementation of refinery policies are critical for the sector’s growth, as these measures would not only enhance gross refining margins (GRMs) but also provide much-needed tax relief to the struggling industry. GRM, a key indicator of a refinery’s operational efficiency, represents the difference between total revenue from refined product sales and the cost of crude oil. Higher GRMs indicate greater value addition per barrel of crude processed, underscoring the importance of policy support to achieve operational improvements. The government is also exploring collaboration with Saudi Arabia to establish a new greenfield refinery. This facility, capable of producing hydrocarbons and renewables, would significantly bolster Pakistan’s refining capacity and align the country with global energy consumption trends, according to industry insights. Although local petroleum product production increased by 7.7 per cent year-on-year in FY24, revenue per metric tonne (MT) of refined products grew by 27.6 per cent, a slowdown compared to the 44 per cent growth recorded in FY23. Local refineries, constrained by outdated hydro-skimming technology, have faced reduced refining margins. Between CY2017 and CY2022, the average refining margin stood at 23 per cent, significantly lower than refineries equipped with advanced deep-conversion technologies like cracking and coking. To address these inefficiencies, the government has mandated all refineries to transition from hydro-skimming to deep-conversion technologies under the Brownfield Policy. This upgrade must be completed within six years from August 2023. Refineries are currently engaging with the government for further policy clarity and have expressed willingness to expand operations. The Petroleum Division has required refineries to align their production processes with Euro-V specifications within the stipulated six-year period. To support this transition, the government has offered incentives and tariff protections a minimum customs duty of 10 per cent on imported motor gasoline and high-speed diesel for six years from the policy’s notification date; customs duties exceeding 10 per cent will be deposited into the Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM) pool, while duties on crude oil will be reimbursed to refineries via IFEM; and a 10 per cent tariff protection (deemed duty) will be applicable to the ex-refinery price of motor gasoline and diesel for six years from the policy notification date. These measures aim to modernise the refining sector, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the country’s

Aneesah Morrow had 20 points and 18 rebounds as No. 6 LSU rallied to an 83-61 victory over Albany.CAR owners have been warned against a DIY windscreen de-icing hack that could result in an expensive repair bill. Winter weather has begun to blanket parts of North, Central, and West Texas with ice and snow , meaning many motorists across the state - and indeed, the country - will need to de-ice their windscreens before hitting the road. Thankfully, AAA Texas has revealed their best tips to prevent and remove windscreen ice. The easiest method is to simply use your car’s automatic climate control system and set it to defrost. If your car has an electrically-heated windscreen, turn it on to quickly clear the ice. However, for those who can’t use this type of technology , drivers can opt for a commercial glass de-icer spray, which typically contains methanol. Read more Motors News Although these products can be pricey and may contain pet-hazardous ethylene glycol, they are effective. A homemade de-icing solution works just as well and is made of one part isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and two parts water. Adding a few drops of dish soap can help the mixture spread more evenly. After spraying this mixture onto the windscreen, drivers can use a plastic scraper, a rubber squeegee, or a soft bristle brush to remove the ice as it begins to melt. Most read in Motors However, AAA Texas advises against using metal scrapers, as they can scratch the glass and damage the wiper blades. They also suggest avoiding the use of hot water, which can crack the glass due to thermal shock. Moreover, tapping on the ice with a hammer or other tool can also damage the windscreen, and using a torch is an incredibly bad idea. Other, less obvious ways drivers can damage their vehicles in the winter include using vinegar-based pretreatments, alcohol-based de-icing solutions, and dishwashing soap. While not directly harmful to car paint, these substances can remove car wax and leave the finish exposed to the elements and corrosive chemicals, such as road salts used in the winter. In general, repairs to cars, from bodywork to windscreen replacement, can be costly - especially at this time of year. In some cases, drivers may be forced to pay out $1,000s to repair their vehicles this winter by making silly, de-icing mistakes. This comes as another car expert has shared their top tip to quickly clear ice from vehicle windows on cold winter mornings. In the colder months, drivers are faced with the daily challenge of de-icing their cars - leaving them running the risk of being late for work or school. Ed Colley, Head of Brand and Marketing at UK-based window repair and replacement service Autoglass, shared a method that he said works great - using a simple rain-repellent spray on the car’s windshield the night before temperatures drop. "The best bet for clearing the frost is to use a proper ice scraper, which can remove the ice efficiently without scratching the glass," he said. Read More on The US Sun "For those who are really prepared, applying a rain repellent to your windscreen the night before will limit the water sitting on the glass and can make de-icing your windscreen much easier and quicker." Drivers can find the product Rain-X Original Treatment in a 3.5 oz bottle at stores such as Walmart for less than $4.

Check out this great movie before it leaves Amazon Prime Video next week (December 2024)Quest Partners LLC cut its holdings in IQVIA Holdings Inc. ( NYSE:IQV – Free Report ) by 55.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,070 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 2,550 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC’s holdings in IQVIA were worth $491,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in shares of IQVIA by 733.3% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 125 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in IQVIA during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in IQVIA during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Park Place Capital Corp bought a new stake in IQVIA in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in IQVIA in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors own 89.62% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In IQV has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen decreased their target price on IQVIA from $270.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on IQVIA from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on IQVIA from $280.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of IQVIA from $286.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, BTIG Research reduced their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $290.00 to $260.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $256.50. Insider Activity at IQVIA In related news, insider Eric Sherbet sold 1,300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.33, for a total value of $320,229.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 19,536 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,812,302.88. This trade represents a 6.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. IQVIA Trading Up 2.1 % Shares of IQV opened at $201.82 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81. The company has a market cap of $36.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.49, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.51. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $222.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $227.16. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $187.62 and a 52-week high of $261.73. About IQVIA ( Free Report ) IQVIA Holdings Inc engages in the provision of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IQV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for IQVIA Holdings Inc. ( NYSE:IQV – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for IQVIA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IQVIA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Netanyahu is getting his prostate removed as he faces crises on multiple fronts TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to have his prostate removed. The procedure Sunday comes he manages multiple crises including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption. The procedure shines a light on the 75-year-old Netanyahu's age at a time when he has tried to project strength while Israel is at war. Doctors say the procedure is routine and recovery is quick. An acting prime minister will temporarily take over during the prostate procedure. Netanyahu has previously faced health issues, including a heart condition requiring a pacemaker and a hernia operation earlier this year. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. 2024 was a year of triumphs and setbacks for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Here's how it unfolded The year 2024 saw President Vladimir Putin further cement his power as he sought to counter Russia's isolation over the war in Ukraine. He won a fifth term that will keep him in office until 2030 following an election with only token opposition. He tightened a political crackdown on Russian society, and his top opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison under still unknown circumstances. But gunmen massacred scores of people in a Moscow concert hall, and a bomb killed a top general in attacks that underscored security flaws. Ukrainian forces swept into the Russian region of Kursk, Putin boasted about a lethal new hypersonic missile, and a new Trump administration raised concerns about continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Russian man arrested for allegedly running LGBTQ+ travel agency found dead in custody A Russian man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers has been found dead in custody in Moscow. That's according to independent news outlet Mediazona on Sunday. According to OVD-Info, Andrei Kotov of the Men Travel agency was in pretrial detention facing extremism charges. An investigator told Kotov’s lawyer that her client had died by suicide and was found dead in his cell. Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ+ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist. The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison. Syria's dwindling Jewish community can visit one of the world's oldest synagogues again JOBAR, Syria (AP) — Syria's civil war left one of the world's oldest synagogues partially destroyed. Now Syria's handful of remaining Jews are making pilgrimages to the synagogue in a Damascus suburb where people from throughout the region once came to pray. Syria used to have one of the world's largest Jewish communities, but in past decades their numbers dropped to nine in the capital. The head of the Jewish community there says Jewish personalities are offering to rebuild the Jobar synagogue that dates back nearly 3,000 years. It was badly damaged by bombardment when the neighborhood was controlled by opposition fighters. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career.

Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

This week sees a five-hour debate in Parliament that could lead to one of the most consequential laws this century when MPs hold a free vote on a Private Members’ bill to allow medically assisted suicide in Britain. The reform has previously been backed by Sir Keir Starmer, enjoys popular support and is often claimed to be progressive. It has been promoted by the admirable Dame Esther Rantzen, suffering terminal cancer, with her usual campaigning zeal. There are strong arguments on both sides of this moral minefield that merit respectful examination. Yet there should be no delusions over the impact of unleashing state-sanctioned killing in our healthcare system. I would have preferred to write on almost any other issue this week, returning to work after the anguish of my own daughter’s death. But I have investigated assisted dying in Europe and North America , as well as campaigned on patient safety and for the rights of citizens with learning disabilities, inspired by her. So it felt wrong to duck such a seismic proposed change to society. However the legislation is framed, however limited the intention, this reform would tip Britain over a slippery slope. Already some campaigners argue that the bill’s proposal to allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to obtain medical help to end their lives is too limited. Read Next The assisted dying bill answers few questions - but raises bigger, scarier ones Experts expect challenges under human rights laws from patients whose terminal conditions leave them unable to take their own lives, rightly arguing this is discriminatory. There will be emotive cases of parents pleading that suffering children cannot access similar “treatment”. We have seen elsewhere how the number of assisted deaths keeps rising after legalisation. And how rules can get widened over time – to include children, couples wishing to die together, old folks with dementia and young people suffering mental illness – despite initial promises to the contrary. As one prominent ethicist said in the Netherlands, which pioneered reform in 2002, their desire to help patients suffering the most agonising of deaths led them to launch “something that we have now discovered has more consequences than we ever imagined”. Legalised euthanasia frees a genie from the bottle, while fundamentally altering the nature of doctoring with its oath of first do no harm. It sends a message that killing is an acceptable form of treatment. Yet we know doctors find it difficult to predict the timing of death with terminal illnesses – and that they, along with judges, are fallible humans who can make mistakes, be swayed by pressure or fail to detect coercion amid daily clinical stresses. Some will become zealots for the cause – such as a former maternity specialist in Canada that I interviewed earlier this year who has assisted more than 400 deaths since they introduced euthanasia eight years ago. Canada exposes the danger – and political irresponsibility – of inserting such procedures into a struggling health system such as our own with its long waiting times, poor treatment outcomes and inadequate care support. I have spoken to patients pushed by doctors to accept medically assisted death when life-saving treatment was available – and to an analyst who warned British MPs euthanasia is used to cut healthcare costs. Almost two-thirds of their assisted deaths involve cancer – yet they have shorter waiting times and better outcomes for this disease than Britain. The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, bravely opposes this bill on the grounds that it might harm existing services, while pointing out how the state of end-of-life care means the NHS cannot always deliver “a real choice on assisted dying”. I have seen the incredible support offered in times of distress and pain by palliative care medics. Yet one in four patients fail to get such help – and as the palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke argues, it is “unconscionable” to offer citizens a choice to die if we fail to offer them also the care that can make life worth living. Studies show places that permit assisted death increase provision of palliative care significantly less than other states. If Westminster really wants to demonstrate it is progressive, how much better to boost this brilliant branch of medicine pioneered in Britain – along with the shamefully underfunded hospice movement – to ensure decent end-of-life care for everyone. And perhaps our politicians might finally like to fix the overwhelmed social care system instead of continually sweeping it aside? Then there is the issue of trust – and whether we can really have faith in politicians and regulators to protect sick, elderly or disabled people who might face pressure to end their lives after so many disturbing scandals revealing abuse of the weakest in society. Bert Keizer, a Dutch practitioner of assisted dying, has said that British experts were right to be sceptical when Holland pioneered reform since their predictions came true. “Those who embark on euthanasia venture down a slippery slope along which you irrevocably slide down to the random killing of defenceless sick people” he wrote in a medical journal. Bear in mind we live in a nation where several of the worst negligence scandals involved mass killing of elderly patients and the care system has been allowed to rot. A land that still locks up autistic people and citizens with learning disabilities in psychiatric hellholes with the connivance of doctors. Meanwhile, there are confirmed cases abroad of people euthanised as a consequence of their autism or learning disabilities. And significant evidence – even from places such as Oregon praised for stringent protections – suggesting people choosing to die often feel a burden on families. As an atheist and a liberal, my concerns over euthanasia are practical rather than ethical. But having seen the stark realities of assisted death abroad and reported on health scandals at home, I have deep fears over the consequences of introducing it here with our inept legislators, creaking public services and societal contempt for groups that might find themselves in the crosshairs. Fix the NHS, fund palliative medicine properly, sort out social care – and then we can debate this issue with less fear.RECENT efforts of the Philippine government to push for greater digitalization is expected to lead to greater use of electronic commerce and information communication technology services, according to an international think tank. BMI Country Risk & Industry Research, a Fitch Solutions Company, noted the World Bank’s recent announcement of a $750-million loan to support the Philippines Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP). However, in its latest economic brief, BMI expressed its concern that this could also be a major risk for the financial and banking sector through cybersecurity threats. “We forecast the usage and value of e-commerce and ICT services in this market to grow,” BMI said. “However, the shift to digital platforms exposes banks to cybersecurity threats, raising concerns about financial system stability.” BMI also noted that mobile data use and penetration continue to increase, leading to a growth in demand for digital solutions and the expansion of mobile payments platforms. “Favorable regulatory policies and government investments aim to address the unbanked population and enhance financial inclusion,” BMI said. The think tank said advancements in technology have encouraged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace digital payments and other tools that could improve their businesses. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) disclosed that, BMI said, digital payments have shown significant growth with merchant payments, Business-to-Business (B2B) and Person- to-Person (P2P) transactions leading the market with a 27.4 percent year-on-year growth in 2023. Based on the data shared by BMI, there was a 12.85-percent growth in merchant payment transactions; 68.6 percent growth in person to person transactions; and 220.64 percent growth in B2B transactions. BSP has also been active in promoting the use of the Paleng-QR (quick response) PH Plus which is now present in 151 local government units (LGUs) nationwide. (https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/11/19/paleng-qr-ph-initiative-gains-traction-in-151-lgus/). The latest LGUs that did so include the municipalities of Apalit in the province of Pampanga, Agoo in La Union and the province of Palawan. All three LGUs now have policies and have launched the Paleng-QR Plus. BMI noted that QR transactions soared 2,714 percent to 58.6 million in 2023 from 2.1 million in 2022. The think tank said operators such as Globe Telecom have also diversified their mobile payment platform GCash to capitalize on the rise of digital payments. “This growth indicates that consumers are increasingly embracing digital payments for everyday use, presenting opportunities for digital transformation,” BMI said. “Economic, demographic and technological trends are driving the demand for digital financial services in the Philippines,” it added. Earlier, the BSP disclosed that it expects to complete its investigation on the GCash fiasco next month. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/11/20/bsp-steps-in-to-maintain-trust-after-gcash-glitch/) BSP Payments and Currency Management Sector Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan told reporters here it will take another 15 days to complete the investigation. Tangonan said, however, that executives of GCash operator G-Xchange Inc. (GXI) have assured the BSP that all account holders affected by what the firm says as a “system glitch” have been “made whole” and all the funds that were deducted have been returned to affected accounts. Tangonan said based on their estimate, the glitch affected 0.002 percent of all fraudulent transfers reported to the BSP as of 2023. Depending on the gaps found during the investigation, Tangonan said among the actions that could be done by BSP is to create additional regulation. However, he said the creation of additional regulation is the last resort for the BSP. The central bank also has the option to make adjustments to its enforcement of regulations. Tangonan also said that should violations be identified, it is within the purview of the BSP to impose sanctions. Cai U. Ordinario writes macroeconomic and urban development stories. She has received awards for excellence in reporting on the macroeconomy and statistics. Ordinario is also a Jefferson Fellow of the East West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. She completed her Masters degree in Communication at the University of the Philippines and Bachelor of Arts Major in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas.Soviet Lessons China Watching

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