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bookmaker salary Is he a hero? A killer? Both? About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from “Super Mario Brothers” mushroomed online, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione , the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan , a hero. There were posts lionizing Mangione’s physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s for spotting him and calling police. It was all too much for Pennsylvania's governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro — dealing with a case somewhere else that happened to land in his lap — decried what he saw as growing support for “vigilante justice.” The curious case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangione captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation. It also offers a glimpse into how, in a connected world, so many different aspects of modern American life can be surreally linked — from public violence to politics, from health care to humor (or attempts at it) . It summons a question, too: How can so many people consider someone a hero when the rules that govern American society — the laws — are treating him as the complete opposite? Writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward “parasitic” health insurance companies. Bullets recovered from the crime scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” reflecting words used by insurance industry critics, written on them. A number of online posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers — with no mention of the loss of life. “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story!” one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views. On Monday, Shapiro took issue with comments like those. It was an extraordinary moment that he tumbled into simply because Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's comments — pointed, impassioned and, inevitably, political — yanked the conversation unfolding on so many people's phone screens into real life. “We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” the governor said. “In a civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.” But to hear some of his fellow citizens tell it, that's not the case at all. Like Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, D.B. Cooper and other notorious names from the American past, Mangione is being cast as someone to admire. Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Shapiro alluded. She doesn’t see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasn’t linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, it's more akin to domestic terrorism. But Bateson views the threats against election workers , prosecutors and judges ticking up — plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer — as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt. “Americans are voicing more support for — or at least understanding of — political violence,” she said. Shapiro praised the police and the people of Blair County, who abided by a 9/11-era dictum of seeing something and saying something. The commenters have Mangione wrong, the governor said: “Hear me on this: He is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning." Even shy of supporting violence, there are many instances of people who vent over how health insurers deny claims. Tim Anderson's wife, Mary, dealt with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2022. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio, told The Associated Press . The discourse around the killing and Mangione is more than just memes. Conversations about the interconnectedness of various parts of American life are unfolding online as well. One Reddit user said he was banned for three days for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after testifying he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two people in 2020 during protests. “Do you think people are getting banned for supporting Luigi?” the poster wondered. The comments cover a lot of ground. They include people saying the UnitedHealthcare slaying isn't a “right or left issue" and wondering what it would take to get knocked off the platform. “You probably just have to cross the line over into promoting violence,” one commenter wrote. “Not just laughing about how you don’t care about this guy.”Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) done for year

Srinagar, Dec 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday lauded the innovators at the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) including the SIH team at NIT Srinagar through video conferencing. Interacting with young innovators during the 7th edition of the grand finale of the 7th edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, including the SIH team at NIT Srinagar, via video conferencing mode, the PM lauded the innovators. For the first time, NIT Srinagar is hosting the grand finale, which commenced on Wednesday as one of 51 centers across the nation. During the event, the SIH team from BMS Institute of Technology, Bangalore, led by Syeeda Aiemen D Saleem, shared their project ideas with PM Modi. The PM also interacted with Muhammad Ali Muhammad Al, a participant from Yemen and praised the culture and diversity of India. Over 1300 student teams participated in this nationwide event. Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, virtually inaugurated the SIH 2024, highlighting the transformative power of education in fostering innovation and building a self-reliant India. Director NIT Srinagar, Prof Binod Kumar Kanojiya, the chief guest on the occasion, stressed the institute’s commitment to excellence. He underscored the importance of SIH in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world problem-solving. “The institute is dedicated to nurturing a culture of innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and preparing students for a technology-driven future,” Prof Kanojiya said. Chairman of the Core Committee for SIH 2024, Prof G A Harmain said that it was the first time that NIT Srinagar was hosting the grand finale of SIH Software Edition. He welcomed 25 exceptional teams from 21 states, emphasising their potential to shape the country’s future through technology and creativity. Nodal Head 1 for SIH, Pratap Sanap provided an overview of the hackathon, highlighting its role in fostering innovation and collaboration. Registrar of NIT Srinagar, Prof Atikur Rahman presented the vote of thanks. “As one of the 51 nodal centres, NIT Srinagar has emerged as a hub for innovation, hosting 25 teams to develop real-world solutions. The institute is known for its academic excellence and state-of-the-art facilities,” Prof Rahman said. The inaugural ceremony at NIT Srinagar featured a traditional lamp lighting and Isbandh ceremony, symbolising knowledge and purity, and followed by welcome by Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Janani L. Earlier, the event began with a welcome address by the Vice Chairman of AICTE and Chief Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, Abhay Jere. Chairman of AICTE, Prof T G Sitharam emphasised the council’s vision for promoting educational excellence. This year’s edition of SIH has seen a remarkable 240 percent increase in internal hackathons, growing from 900 in 2023 to over 2247 in 2024, making it the largest edition to date. More than 86,000 teams participated at the institute level, with around 49,000 advancing to the national-level rounds. The hackathon addressed 250 problem statements submitted by 54 ministries, departments, state governments, PSUs, and industries. These challenges spanned 17 sectors of national importance, including healthcare, sustainability, smart technologies, education, disaster management, and agriculture. PM interacts with Sayeeda, Ali from ‘Big Brains Team’ The Prime Minister interacted with Sayeeda from the ‘Big Brains Team’ from nodal centre NIT, Srinagar, who worked on a problem statement of building a tool called ‘Virtual Reality Friend’ from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which would cater to children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. She said that the children would use the tool as an interactive skills enhancer which will act as a ‘friend’ to such Divyangjan who can use it on their smartphones and laptops. Sayeeda said that it is an AI-powered Virtual reality solution which would assist them in their day-to-day activities like learning the language or conversing with people. Upon enquiring about the impact of the tool on the social life of Divyang children by PM Modi, she said they would be able to learn what is right or wrong during their social interaction and how to approach people with the help of the tool in a simulative environment which could be then applied in real life. Sayeeda informed the PM that her 6-member team was diverse in terms of technical knowledge and geographical location including a member who is non-Indian. PM Modi enquired whether any of the team members had interacted with children with special needs to understand their difficulties, to which Sayeeda replied that one of the team member’s relatives was suffering from autism and they had also interacted with centres dealing with children affected by autism to address their challenges. Another team member of the ‘Big Brains Team’, Muhammed Ali, a student from Yemen, pursuing his Bachelors in Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering thanked the PM and the Government for a great initiative like Smart India Hackathon. He invited international students to be a part of such great initiatives in times to come. The PM congratulated and thanked the team for understanding the needs and difficulties of Divyang Children and every child had the right to grow and prosper and nobody was left behind in the society. He said that new solutions would be necessary to overcome such challenges and that their solution would be helpful to lakhs of children and although the solution was being developed locally, it would be needed at the global level too and its impact would be global. PM Modi highlighted that solutions which would fit the needs of India would suffice the needs of any country in the globe. He congratulated the entire team for their novel efforts.

Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud chargesWhat Analysts Are Saying About Owens-Corning StockFrankie Muniz has revealed that he still stays in contact with his former Malcolm in the Middle co-star Bryan Cranston . Cranston, 68, played Muniz’s on-screen father on Fox’s popular seven-season sitcom, which ran from 2000 to 2006. Speaking on a recent episode of Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Muniz, 38, recalled first working with Cranston on the show. “I started working with him when I was 11, 12 years old. He really became like a father figure to me,” the Big Fat Liar star said. “And then even still to this day, he’s essentially like a Hollywood god at this point. You know what I mean? He’s done incredible films, incredible shows, won tons of awards. He’s literally it.” Muniz continued: “He still reaches out to me every couple of weeks, check in on me. He really cares about what I’m doing, comes to the races, if my band was playing, came to shows. I mean, he’s such an inspiration, and like I said, that’s what I strive to be that for someone else in the future.” Muniz led the hit series as the titular Malcolm about a dysfunctional working-class family. It also featured Jane Kaczmarek as Malcolm’s mother and Erik Per Sullivan, Christopher Kennedy Masterson and Justin Berfield as his three brothers. In season four, a fourth brother named Jamie was introduced. While he still makes the odd guest appearance in shows like Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens and The Rookie , Muniz has mostly taken a pause from acting to pursue a career in race car driving. According to IMDb, he has three upcoming projects, including the horror movie Reapers Night , a sci-fi titled Renner and a sequel to the unreleased Western Hot Bath and a Stiff Drink . Last month, Reaume Brothers Racing announced that Muniz would be the full-time driver of its No. 33 Ford for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “I’m incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025,” Muniz said in a statement at the time. “My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I’m confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can’t wait to get started.”

Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Battery Market to Grow by USD 11.61 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by Automotive Shift to EVs, with AI Impacting Market Trends - Technavio

BY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Related Articles Nation | Drones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightings Nation | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment Nation | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case Nation | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine Nation | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.”The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the rest of the season after the star wideout played through a shoulder injury for nearly two months. Lamb initially sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on Nov. 3 but has not missed any of the Cowboys' first 15 games this season. "Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb's shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out' for the remaining two games of the season," a team spokesperson said in a statement to media outlets. "He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery." The Cowboys (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, face two division rivals to close the season. They visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and will host the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Lamb, 25, hauled in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns this season. It marked his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, and he may be selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl for his efforts. Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August, covering the 2025-28 seasons. --Field Level Media

Three local teams are set to take part in the Annual Tracy Breakfast Lions/Tom Hawkins tournament at Tracy High this week. The Bulldogs are 2-4 heading into the weekend having lost to Laguna Creek 48-25 last time out at the Manteca Xmas Showcase last week. Trinity Thao (12) and Alyson Aguirre-Hernandez (17) combined for 29 points for the Cardinals in that one. Tracy will kick off its tournament run against Golden Valley on Friday. They will follow that up with two more pool play matchups — against Tokay the following day and Manteca on Monday. The Wolf Pack are 3-9 on the year thus far after going 1-2 at a tournament last weekend. West lost to Patterson 54-29 on Day 1 Thursday before bouncing back to beat Edison 47-35 the following day. The Pack fell to Beyer in a nailbiter 51-50 on Day 3. West will start the Lions Club/Tom Hawkins tourney against Pittsburg on Friday. They will then face El Capitan and Escalon in their remaining games. Kimball will complete the local contingent as one of the favorites to go all the way in the tournament. The Jags are 6-1 on the year after getting back into the win column with a dominant 74-37 win over Bear Creek last week — just 24 hours after being handed their first loss of the winter by Mountain House. The Jaguars will square off against Escalon on Friday. They will then face East Union on Saturday and El Capitan on Monday to wrap up pool play. Elsewhere locally, the Mountain House High hoopers are 8-4 with a 66-57 loss to Riverbank last time out snapping their eight-game win streak. The Mustangs will be at the Pitman Tournament this week, starting Thursday. Contact Arion Armeniakos at aarmeniakos@tracypress.com , or call 209-830-4229.Get ready for a college football bowl season like you’ve never seen. It’s the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff to determine the national champion, with first-round games kicking off Friday, December 20. In the new format, the top four conference champions (Oregon, Georgia, Arizona State and Boise State) receive a first-round bye and automatic entry into the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play in the four-game first round, with matchups held at the home stadiums of the higher-ranked participants. The “New Year’s Six” bowls serve as the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the national championship decided Monday, January 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Of course, there’s still plenty of college football postseason action through early January that doesn’t involve the national championship chase. The parade of bowl games begins Saturday, December 14, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. A great tradition continues in Landover, Maryland, as the Navy Midshipmen take on the Army Black Knights Saturday on CBS at 3/2c. Later on Saturday, the Heisman Trophy is presented to the season’s most outstanding player in a ceremony on ESPN at 8/7c. Finalists are Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (pictured above) and Miami QB Cam Ward. Here’s your complete lineup of College Football Playoff games and other bowl matchups: All times Eastern/Central. Friday, December 20 No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, ABC/ESPN, 8/7c Saturday, December 21 No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, noon/11a c, TNT/Max No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, 4/3c, TNT/Max No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, 8/7c, ABC/ESPN Tuesday, December 31 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona): TBA vs. No. 3 Boise State, (ESPN) Wednesday, Jan. 1 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta): TBA vs. No. 4 Arizona State, 1/noon c, ESPN Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California): TBA vs. No. 1 Oregon, 5/4c, ESPN Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): TBA vs. No. 2 Georgia, 8:45/7:45c, ESPN Thursday, January 9 Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Friday, January 10 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington, Texas): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Monday, January 20 National Championship (Atlanta): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Saturday, December 14 Cricket Celebration Bowl (Atlanta): Jackson State vs. South Carolina State, noon/11a c, ABC IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama): South Alabama vs. Western Michigan, 9/8c, ESPN Tuesday, December 17 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas): Memphis vs. West Virginia, 9/8c, ESPN Wednesday, December 18 Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Florida): Western Kentucky vs. James Madison, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN Art of Sport LA Bowl (Inglewood, California): Cal vs. UNLV, 9/8c, ESPN Thursday, December 19 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans): Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston, 7/6c, ESPN2 Friday, December 20 StaffDNA Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Ohio vs. Jacksonville State, noon/11a c, ESPN Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Florida): 3:30/2:30c, ESPN Monday, December 23 Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, South Carolina): Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA, 11a/10a c, ESPN Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho): Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN Tuesday, December 24 Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu): South Florida vs. San José State, 8/7c, ESPN Thursday, December 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit): Pittsburgh vs. Toledo, 2/1xc, ESPN Rate Bowl (Phoenix): Rutgers vs. Kansas State, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama): Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green, 9/8c, ESPN Friday, December 27 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas): Oklahoma vs. Navy, noon/11a c, ESPN Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama): Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30/2:30c, ESPN AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee): Texas Tech vs. Arkansas, 7/6c, ESPN DirecTV Holiday Bowl (San Diego): Syracuse vs. Washington State, 8/7c, Fox SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas): Texas A&M vs. USC, 10:30/9:30c, ESPN Saturday, December 28 Wasabi Fenway Bowl (Boston): UConn vs. North Carolina, 11a/10a c, ESPN Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, New York): Boston College vs. Nebraska, Noon/11a c, ABC Isleta New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, New Mexico): Louisiana vs. TCU, 2:15/1:15c, ESPN Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Iowa State vs. Miami, 3:30/2:30c, ABC Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (Tucson, Arizona): Miami (Ohio) vs. Colorado State, 4:30/3:30c, The CW Go Bowling Military Bowl (Annapolis, Maryland): East Carolina vs. NC State, 5:45/4:45c, ESPN Valero Alamo Bowl (San Antonio): BYU vs. Colorado, 7:30/6:30c, ABC Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana): Marshall vs. Army, 9:15/8:15c, ESPN Monday, December 30 TransPerfect Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tennessee): Iowa vs. Missouri, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN Tuesday, December 31 ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, Florida): Alabama vs. Michigan, noon/11a c, ESPN Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas): Louisville vs. Washington, 2/1c, CBS Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Florida): South Carolina vs. Illinois, 3/2c, ABC Kinder’s Texas Bowl (Houston): Baylor vs. LSU, 3:30/2:30c, ESPN Thursday, January 2 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Florida): Duke vs. Ole Miss, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Friday, January 3 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas): North Texas vs. Texas State, 4/3c, ESPN Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, North Carolina): Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Saturday, January 4 Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas): Buffalo vs. Liberty, 11a/10a c, ESPN2 More Headlines:

The Bangladesh stock (equity) market has experienced significant fluctuations since the 2010 market crash, reflecting a challenging macroeconomic and political environment. Analysing the post-crash period from 2011 onwards provides insights into the volatility and recovery patterns of the market. In 2011, the market experienced a dramatic loss of 32.2 percent (total return), driven by a sharp capital loss of 36.6 percent following the speculative bubble that burst in late 2010. This was compounded by high inflation (10.7 percent), leading to a substantial negative real return of 42.9 percent. Investor confidence remained low in 2012, with a further decline in market returns (by 16.1 percent) and inflation staying elevated (8.7 percent), resulting in another negative real return of 24.9 percent. However, the market began to stabilise from 2013 onwards. Although capital gains were modest at 4 percent, dividend yields provided some cushion, and total market return rose to 7.8 percent. With inflation beginning to taper (7.5 percent), the real return turned positive at 0.3 percent, signalling a tentative recovery. From 2014 to 2017, the market gradually improved, with total returns averaging around 15 percent per year. The highest total return during this period was 26.7 percent in 2017, despite inflation averaging around 5-7 percent, leading to consistent positive real returns. A major setback occurred in 2018 when the market saw a loss of 10.8 percent (total return), coupled with inflation at 5.7 percent, resulting in a negative real return of 16.4 percent. This trend continued into 2019 as the market struggled to recover, with a further 13.1 percent decline in total return. The market showed a sharp recovery in 2020 and 2021, with total returns of 24.4 percent and 29.1 percent, respectively, as post-pandemic optimism boosted performance. However, high inflation and corporate-led corruption have led to a decline in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024 YTD, the market is down by 16.2 percent (capital loss), facing significant headwinds like macro instability, high inflation, and weak investor sentiment. The overall post-crash analysis shows a pattern of recovery but is marked by periods of volatility, inflationary pressure, and ongoing political and economic risks. The Bangladesh stock market typically rebounds after 2-3 consecutive years of correction, as historical patterns suggest. Based on past trends, one might expect a recovery in or by 2025. However, the current situation presents unique challenges, as the market's trajectory is increasingly intertwined with the country's macroeconomic conditions and political landscape. Given these dynamics, the projection for the next two years remains cautious. The Bangladesh stock market is poised to encounter substantial headwinds due to a confluence of macroeconomic and political uncertainties, which could significantly impact its performance. Below is a detailed analysis of the key challenges expected to shape market outcomes in the coming years. To provide a more comprehensive understanding, the article includes historical context that sheds light on the underlying causes of anxiety among minority investors in Bangladesh's stock market, ensuring these issues are neither overlooked nor ignored. Bangladesh's stock market is under strain as high interest rates on government bonds (11-13 percent) pull institutional investors toward safer, risk-free returns, weakening liquidity and investor confidence. Rising inflation, projected to hover around 10 percent for at least the next two years, exacerbates economic instability by eroding consumer purchasing power and corporate profitability while also increasing borrowing costs. Additionally, declining foreign exchange (FX) reserves, driven by reduced export competitiveness, supply chain disruptions, and rising business costs, further undermine economic stability. The weakening taka adds to the strain, raising import prices, feeding inflation, and deterring foreign investment due to the risk of currency losses. Compounding these challenges is Bangladesh's rising foreign debt burden, which is becoming increasingly expensive to service due to the taka's depreciation, diverting resources away from critical development projects and infrastructure investments. Without effective fiscal management, investor confidence and stock market growth are likely to remain subdued. High global interest rates, particularly in the US, are drawing investment flows away from emerging markets like Bangladesh. With US bonds offering safer, more attractive returns, foreign investors are less likely to invest in Bangladesh's stock market, exacerbating capital outflows. Additionally, capital flight driven by export-import manipulation and corruption in large project financing, involving major corporations like S Alam Group, Summit Group, and BEXIMCO Group, continues to deplete foreign exchange reserves. Hopes of recovering these siphoned funds are unrealistic, as they are often held in tax havens with little incentive to cooperate. This capital flight and lack of international legal recourse further weaken the country's economic stability and stock market performance. Bangladesh's stock market faces significant challenges due to weak regulatory leadership, institutional failures, and unresolved margin loan issues. The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) remains under scrutiny. Compounding these concerns, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB), once a major stabilising force in the market, is now struggling under a portfolio of junk stocks and questionable investments. Years of mismanagement and corruption, including dubious investments have left ICB in a weakened financial state, severely limiting its ability to intervene in market downturns. Moreover, the persistent issue of margin loans continues to burden financial institutions. Merchant banks and brokerage firms, plagued by bad debts from margin loans extended during previous market bubbles, are unable to provide fresh loans, stifling market liquidity. The total outstanding margin loans, including interest, have reached Tk 250 billion ($2 billion), with a significant portion in negative equity. Despite efforts to address these issues, powerful individuals with political and social connections have manipulated the system, obtaining unauthorised loans and evading accountability. Without decisive action from the BSEC and a comprehensive cleanup of financial institutions' balance sheets, Bangladesh's stock market will remain vulnerable, limiting its growth potential and undermining investor confidence. Bangladesh's stock market is grappling with a significant lack of "smart capital," as wealthy investors and corporations either move funds abroad or hold back investments due to uncertainty. This absence of new, well-capitalised investors leaves the market dependent on a small group of players, increasing the risk of manipulation and volatility. Foreign investors, too, are deterred by poor transparency, particularly under the previous leadership of the BSEC, further stalling capital inflows. Additionally, tax policies provide little incentive for companies to list on the stock exchanges, with the tax differential between listed and non-listed firms being too narrow to justify the costs of going public. As a result, many well-established companies avoid the stock market, depriving it of the quality listings needed for growth and stability. Combined with the regulatory failures that allow debt-ridden companies to remain listed, these factors prevent the market from attracting both local and international long-term investors, ultimately stifling its development. Without reforms, the Bangladesh stock market will struggle to achieve sustainable growth and liquidity. Given these challenges, a conservative investment strategy focusing on government bonds is advisable. Allocating 60-70 percent of funds to government bonds ensures capital preservation in uncertain times. Until a stable government is established and market conditions improve, focusing on low-risk investments is a prudent approach. It's important to remember that in a stormy sea, keeping your ship steady is far more vital than rushing toward the horizon. In such dangerous waters, ensuring your vessel stays afloat matters more than chasing quick profits.

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BETHESDA, Md. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock for December 2024 . The dividend is payable on January 10, 2025 to common stockholders of record as of December 31, 2024 . For further information or questions, please contact Investor Relations at (301) 968-9300 or IR@AGNC.com . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.In the latest quarter, 10 analysts provided ratings for Public Service Enterprise PEG , showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives. In the table below, you'll find a summary of their recent ratings, revealing the shifting sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the previous months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 0 6 4 0 0 Last 30D 0 0 0 0 0 1M Ago 0 0 0 0 0 2M Ago 0 2 2 0 0 3M Ago 0 4 2 0 0 Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $94.0, along with a high estimate of $100.00 and a low estimate of $85.00. This current average has increased by 7.77% from the previous average price target of $87.22. Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Public Service Enterprise. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Nicholas Campanella Barclays Lowers Overweight $88.00 $98.00 Ross Fowler UBS Raises Neutral $98.00 $94.00 James Thalacker BMO Capital Raises Market Perform $89.00 $86.00 Neil Kalton Wells Fargo Raises Overweight $100.00 $85.00 Nicholas Campanella Barclays Raises Overweight $98.00 $80.00 Greg Gordon Evercore ISI Group Raises Outperform $95.00 $92.00 Nicholas Campanella Barclays Raises Overweight $98.00 $80.00 Ross Fowler UBS Raises Neutral $94.00 $87.00 David Arcaro Morgan Stanley Raises Overweight $95.00 $83.00 Paul Zimbardo Jefferies Announces Hold $85.00 - Key Insights: Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Public Service Enterprise. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company. Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Public Service Enterprise compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Public Service Enterprise's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time. Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Public Service Enterprise's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Public Service Enterprise analyst ratings. About Public Service Enterprise Public Service Enterprise Group is the holding company for a regulated utility (PSE&G) and other nonregulated businesses such as nuclear power generation and clean energy projects. PSE&G provides regulated gas and electricity delivery services in New Jersey to a combined 4.3 million customers. Public Service Enterprise Group also operates the Long Island Power Authority system. In 2022, the company sold its gas and oil power plants in the mid-Atlantic, New York, and the Northeast. Financial Milestones: Public Service Enterprise's Journey Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence. Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Public Service Enterprise's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 7.57% as of 30 September, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Utilities sector. Net Margin: Public Service Enterprise's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 19.68% . This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health. Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 3.26%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital. Return on Assets (ROA): Public Service Enterprise's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 0.98% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns. Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.37 . Analyst Ratings: What Are They? Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors. Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. Click here for urgent details . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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