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Police in Georgia on Saturday fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse pro-EU protesters rallying for a ninth consecutive day against the prime minister's decision to shelve talks on joining the bloc. The Caucasus nation has been engulfed in turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party declared that it had won a disputed October 26 election. The party's critics have accused it of creeping authoritarianism and of steering the country back towards Russia. Thousands of defiant pro-EU protesters in Georgia rallied Friday after the prime minister claimed victory in a "battle" against the opposition. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets since the election to protest against alleged electoral fraud. Fresh rallies took place across the country after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced last week that Georgia would not hold talks on European Union membership until 2028. Police have fired tear gas and water cannon against pro-EU protests in Tbilisi and hundreds of arrests have been made, triggering outrage at home and mounting international condemnation. France, Germany and Poland condemned what they called the government's "disproportionate" use of force against protesters and opposition leaders in a joint statement Friday. - 'Save my country' - On Saturday, riot police moved in with water cannon to disperse the rally outside the parliament building, making arrests as the crowd retreated a few metres (yards), an AFP reporter witnessed. Tear gas was later deployed and groups of protesters reportedly spread across the city, blocking traffic along the capital's key thoroughfare. Georgia's rights ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani, said police "had no legal grounds for the dispersal of peaceful rally." He called on the interior ministry "to immediately halt the dispersal of the protest, cease the detention of participants, and refrain from using special measures, ensuring that protesters can continue their demonstration peacefully." Thousands blocked the street outside parliament on Friday, with some blowing whistles and others setting off firecrackers. "People will continue the protest," said one demonstrator, 23-year-old Giorgi, wearing a Georgian flag and a back scarf pulled over his nose. "They're patient, I will be here for the rest of my life if it is necessary to save my country." Separate protests were held outside Georgia's public broadcaster -- accused of being a government propaganda tool -- as well as the education ministry and the country's tourism administration offices. - 'Form of resistance' - Thousands have also staged anti-government rallies in the second city of Batumi on the Black Sea coast. On Friday, a court in Tbilisi put a 19-year-old youth activist in pre-trial detention on charges of "organising, leading, and participating in group violence". Zviad Tsetskhladze told the judge "the rule of law has been crushed. "Our actions are a form of resistance, aimed at preserving the rule of law, defending democracy, and protecting the rights of every individual." The prime minister on Friday praised his security forces for "successfully neutralising the protesters' capacity for violence". "We have won an important battle against liberal fascism in our country," he told a news conference, using language reminiscent of how the Kremlin in Russia targets its political opponents. "But the fight is not over. Liberal fascism in Georgia must be defeated entirely," Kobakhidze said. With both sides ruling out a compromise, there appeared to be no clear route out of the crisis. The leader of the opposition Lelo party, Mamuka Khazaradze, said the government "has resorted to arresting young activists and political opponents out of fear of relentless public protests and growing civil disobedience by public servants." - Arrests of opposition - Masked officers have raided several opposition party offices and arrested opposition leaders earlier this week, while around 300 people have been detained at rallies. On Friday Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Akhali party, was sentenced to 12 days in prison. Alexandre Elisashvili, leader of the Strong Georgia opposition group, was remanded in custody for two months of pretrial detention. More trouble is expected after December 14, when Georgian Dream lawmakers elect a loyalist to succeed pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili. She has vowed not to step down until the parliamentary polls are re-run. Local media has also reported protests across the country, including in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Rustavi and Telavi. Critics of Georgian Dream are enraged by what they call its betrayal of Tbilisi's bid for EU membership, enshrined in the constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population. Several ambassadors, a deputy foreign minister, and other officials have resigned over the suspension of EU talks. Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, has advanced controversial legislation in recent years, targeting civil society and independent media and curbing LGBTQ rights. Brussels warned such policies were incompatible with EU membership, while domestic critics accuse the government of copying Russia's playbook. Rights ombudsman Ioseliani has accused the police of "torture" against those arrested. ub-im/rscNRL 2024: top 10 rugby league stories on foxsports.com.au, State of Origin, NSW Blues, Michael Maguire, Brisbane Broncos, Las Vegas, Spencer Leniu
The rising wave of cybercrime in Telangana has reached alarming levels, with a 24% surge in cases reported under the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate this year. Across India, financial losses due to cybercrime have soared to a staggering ₹1,866 crore, with 114,174 cases registered nationwide. Majority of Private Employees in Hyderabad are Victims of CyberCrime , falling prey to scams like “investment fraud” and “digital arrest fraud.” Men, particularly private sector employees, are the most frequent victims, followed by businesspersons, homemakers, students, government employees, and farmers. Also Read: Majority of IT employees in Hyderabad are at risk of developing NCDs The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau’s 2024 annual report reveals concerning figures: Majority of Private Employees in Hyderabad constitute 56% of all cybercrime victims in Hyderabad. This group’s vulnerability stems from frequent online interactions, lack of cybersecurity awareness, and exposure to scams targeting their financial stability. Other demographics include: The impact of cybercrime is evident in several high-profile cases: Cybercriminals in Hyderabad employ sophisticated methods to target victims. The most common scams include: These scams not only result in financial losses but also erode trust in digital systems. The regions most affected by cybercrime in Telangana include: DCP D Kavita of the Hyderabad Cybercrime Unit emphasizes the ease with which fraudsters exploit minimal personal details like Aadhaar or phone numbers to access sensitive financial information. “By impersonating law enforcement, these criminals manipulate and intimidate victims into compliance,” she stated. Senior officials underscore the urgent need for public awareness and robust cybersecurity measures to counter these threats. Law enforcement agencies in Hyderabad have intensified their efforts to combat cybercrime: To tackle cybercrime effectively, experts recommend: The surge in cybercrime, particularly as Majority of Private Employees in Hyderabad are Victims of CyberCrime , poses a significant threat to both individuals and the economy. Addressing this challenge demands a unified approach, integrating robust law enforcement actions, public education, and enhanced digital security measures. Victims of cybercrime include older adults, who are targeted for their financial resources and lower tech literacy, often losing significant amounts to scams. Young adults under 25 are also common victims, falling prey to social engineering and online scams due to their digital habits. Businesses and organizations face threats like ransomware and data breaches, resulting in financial and reputational losses. Additionally, general internet users who neglect cybersecurity best practices, such as using weak passwords, are highly susceptible. Cybercriminals include black hat hackers, who exploit vulnerabilities for illegal activities, and organized crime groups, which conduct large-scale financial fraud and identity theft with high technical expertise. Insider threats, such as disgruntled employees, misuse access to company systems, while phishers and scammers use deceptive tactics like fake emails and websites to steal sensitive information. India reported over 740,000 cybercrime cases to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as of April 2024. A significant 85% of these cases involved online financial fraud, highlighting the urgency of improving digital security in the country. Cybercrime in India includes hacking, phishing, cyberbullying, online theft, and child solicitation, driven by rapid digitization. It is governed by the Information Technology Act, allowing victims to file complaints at cyber cells, though enforcement faces challenges due to unclear operational guidelines. Investigations involve collecting digital evidence and conducting search operations under legal provisions, but limited awareness among users continues to fuel rising cases.
AP News Summary at 7:43 a.m. EST
Dorchester Minerals, L.P. ( NASDAQ:DMLP – Get Free Report ) insider Minerals Operating Dorchester purchased 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 26th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $32.86 per share, with a total value of $131,440.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 32,728 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,075,442.08. The trade was a 13.92 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Minerals Operating Dorchester also recently made the following trade(s): Dorchester Minerals Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of NASDAQ:DMLP opened at $33.28 on Friday. Dorchester Minerals, L.P. has a 12-month low of $28.41 and a 12-month high of $35.74. The business has a 50 day moving average of $32.92 and a 200-day moving average of $31.56. The stock has a market cap of $1.58 billion, a PE ratio of 11.97 and a beta of 1.10. Dorchester Minerals Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 28th were issued a $0.996 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 28th. This represents a $3.98 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.97%. This is an increase from Dorchester Minerals’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. Dorchester Minerals’s payout ratio is currently 143.17%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Atomi Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Dorchester Minerals by 7.3% during the second quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,743 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $208,000 after purchasing an additional 459 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its holdings in Dorchester Minerals by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 23,802 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $734,000 after acquiring an additional 688 shares during the last quarter. GraniteShares Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Dorchester Minerals by 14.2% during the second quarter. GraniteShares Advisors LLC now owns 60,742 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,874,000 after purchasing an additional 7,576 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. grew its stake in shares of Dorchester Minerals by 1.6% in the second quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 101,911 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $3,144,000 after purchasing an additional 1,611 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC acquired a new stake in Dorchester Minerals in the second quarter valued at $308,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.21% of the company’s stock. About Dorchester Minerals ( Get Free Report ) Dorchester Minerals, L.P. engages in the acquisition, ownership, and administration of royalty properties in the United States. Its royalty properties include producing and nonproducing mineral, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests in 593 counties and parishes in 28 states; and net profits interests represent net profits overriding royalty interests in various properties owned by the operating partnership. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Dorchester Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dorchester Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Browns sticking with QB Jameis Winston down the stretch as dismal season heads into final weeksWatch emotional moment that Barry McGuigan breaks down in tears over father’s death and family trauma on Unpacked
Electoral reform: money out of politics or a gift for the major parties?Publishing Market to expand by USD 19.37 Billion (2024-2028), fueled by rising demand for diverse content; report explores AI-driven market transformation - Technavio
Manyawu, Stirtz lead Drake to 81-70 win over Vanderbilt, Charleston Classic titleFERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men on Friday of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found two parents and their young children later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.”
Mesoblast Limited ( NASDAQ:MESO – Get Free Report )’s share price rose 6.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $18.07 and last traded at $18.06. Approximately 92,091 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 88% from the average daily volume of 738,914 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.02. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on MESO shares. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Mesoblast from $11.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. StockNews.com cut Mesoblast from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Mesoblast from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, December 23rd. Finally, Maxim Group upgraded Mesoblast from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $12.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $13.50. Check Out Our Latest Report on MESO Mesoblast Stock Performance Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Signaturefd LLC grew its position in Mesoblast by 128.7% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,506 shares of the company’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 3,099 shares during the last quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co bought a new position in shares of Mesoblast in the second quarter worth approximately $80,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Mesoblast by 15.0% in the third quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 11,500 shares of the company’s stock worth $94,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares during the period. Rathbones Group PLC bought a new stake in Mesoblast during the 2nd quarter valued at $95,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in Mesoblast during the 2nd quarter valued at $103,000. 1.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Mesoblast Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Mesoblast Limited engages in the development of regenerative medicine products in Australia, the United States, Singapore, and Switzerland. The company offers products in the areas of cardiovascular, spine orthopedic disorder, oncology, hematology, and immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases. Its proprietary regenerative medicine technology platform is based on specialized cells known as mesenchymal lineage cells. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mesoblast Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mesoblast and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men on Friday of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found two parents and their young children later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.”Women investors in mutual funds grow 2.5 times in 2024: Groww report