Percentages: FG 54.000, FT .714. 3-Point Goals: 8-20, .400 (L'Amoreaux 3-7, Andersen 2-6, Selimovic 2-2, Nicoletti Leite 1-2, J.Brown 0-2, McGruder 0-1) Blocked Shots: 3 (Coe 3) Turnovers: 17 (L'Amoreaux 4, Selimovic 4, J.Brown 3, Nicoletti Leite 2, Andersen 1, Beach 1, R.Brown 1, Team 1) Steals: 3 (Beach 1, J.Brown 1, Selimovic 1) Technical Fouls: None Percentages: FG 45.614, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 7-26, .269 (Theuerkauf 2-8, Williams 2-4, Jones 1-5, Jordan 1-5, Andrews 1-1, Conley 0-1, Sørbye 0-2) Blocked Shots: None. Turnovers: 15 (Hinds 4, Cowles 3, Williams 3, Conley 2, Andrews 1, Jones 1, Team 1) Steals: 8 (Jones 3, Williams 3, Cowles 2) Technical Fouls: None A_788 Officials_Whitney Armstrong, Tom Danaher, Dee KantnerGrieving dad supportive as Australia nears social media ban for children
Ex-Pakistan spy chief indicted on charges of engaging in politicsLuigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
Looking to buy an underappreciated ASX stock with strong growth potential heading into 2025? Then you may wish to run your slide rule over (ASX: XAO) software solutions company, ( ). That's to ECP Asset Management's Damon Callaghan (courtesy of ). Callaghan said he is bullish on the outlook for Fineos. Although at the moment he said the ASX tech stock is still an "unloved, under-followed technology company". But that may well be set to change. "Fineos is leading in the development of modern core systems software for the life, accident and health insurance industry, in both North America and [Australia and New Zealand]," Callaghan said. He noted that investors may have been put off by the lacklustre financial performance the ASX tech stock has reported in recent years. However, he believes that performance is about to lift off. According to Callaghan, "Over the last five years, a slow deal environment ... makes its backward-looking [profit and loss statement] uncompelling. The business, however, is approaching an inflection point." He pointed to Fineos' new AdminSuite product as something the company's competition will find "extraordinarily difficult to replicate". "It has established a reputation as the software leader among major insurers and has recently developed tier-1 consulting partnerships set to drive new deals," Callaghan added. The ASX tech stock reported its September quarterly on 28 October. Fineos reported a 23% year on year increase in cash receipts from customers to 35.5 million euros. The boost was partly credited to the contribution of revenues from a new name customer. Cash receipts were down 2% from the prior quarter, which management noted had benefited from significant upsell wins. And the September quarter saw the launch of Fineos' AdminSuite, which Callaghan mentioned, at both Guardian and NYL. The ASX tech stock reported a closing cash balance at 30 September of 29.1 million euros. Commenting on the latest quarterly performance, Fineos CEO Michael Kelly said: Pleasingly, we secured another new contract win during the quarter and were able to finalise several important contract renewals. Our pipeline remains healthy and given the significant progress we are making with existing clients moving their business to the Fineos Platform, our growth prospects remain strong. The Fineos share price has gained 19% in a year. Much of that lift has come over the last month, with the ASX tech stock up 36% since 11 November.ALTOONA, Pa. — After UnitedHealthcare’s CEO was gunned down on a New York sidewalk, police searched for the masked gunman with dogs, drones and scuba divers. Officers used the city's muscular surveillance system. Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door-to-door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later, those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian's instincts. A Pennsylvania McDonald's customer noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos that New York police had publicized. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, was arrested Monday in the killing of Brian Thompson, who headed one of the United States’ largest medical insurance companies. He remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. He's expected to be extradited to New York eventually. It’s unclear whether Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday's arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after the McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Police in Altoona, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, were soon summoned. They arrived to find Mangione sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers' request, “we knew that was our guy,” rookie Officer Tyler Frye said at a news conference in Hollidaysburg. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Manhattan news conference that Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America." A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and $10,000 in cash — $2,000 of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount. Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a midtown Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9 mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Thompson’s body. The words mimic a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts From surveillance video, New York investigators gathered that the shooter fled by bike into Central Park, emerged, then took a taxi to a northern Manhattan bus terminal. Once in Pennsylvania, he went from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, “trying to stay low-profile” by avoiding cameras, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Mangione was valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, where his 2016 graduation speech lauded his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Luigi Nicholas Mangione worked for a time for the car-buying website TrueCar and left in 2023, CEO Jantoon Reigersman said by email. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of Honolulu tourist mecca Waikiki. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. "There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back," Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. Although the gunman obscured his face during the shooting, he left a trail of evidence in New York, including a backpack he ditched in Central Park, a cellphone found in a pedestrian plaza, a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper. In the days after the shooting, the NYPD collected hundreds of hours of surveillance video and released multiple clips and still images in hopes of enlisting the public’s eyes to help find a suspect. “This combination of old-school detective work and new-age technology is what led to this result today,” Tisch said at the New York news conference. ___
TowneBank ( NASDAQ:TOWN – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, November 27th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of 0.25 per share by the bank on Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. TowneBank has raised its dividend by an average of 10.8% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 12 years. TowneBank has a payout ratio of 39.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect TowneBank to earn $2.53 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 39.5%. TowneBank Price Performance NASDAQ:TOWN opened at $34.42 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.30 and a beta of 0.91. TowneBank has a one year low of $25.70 and a one year high of $38.28. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $35.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.77. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised TowneBank from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $35.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Get Our Latest Analysis on TowneBank About TowneBank ( Get Free Report ) TowneBank provides retail and commercial banking services for individuals, commercial enterprises, and professionals. The company operates through three segments: Banking, Realty, and Insurance. It accepts various deposits, including demand deposits, savings accounts, money rate savings, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TowneBank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TowneBank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with murder in New York, court records showAn Innovation Agenda for Addiction | IFP
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) celebrated its annual Alumni Day on Sunday with a grand event recognising remarkable contributions by its alumni and a historic pledge of Rs 21.2 crore by the Silver Jubilee Batch (Class of ’99). The 'Distinguished Service Award', a coveted honour at IIT-B, was presented to three alumni. Rajindra Harcharan Singh, from the Mechanical Engineering batch of 1988, was recognised for his exceptional achievements in his field and continued support to the institute. Sandeep Asthana, from the Chemical Engineering batch of 1990, was lauded for his professional excellence and impactful contributions, while Sudhir Jayram Nikam, from the Chemical Engineering batch of 1993, was honoured for his remarkable career and dedication to IIT-B’s progress. Six alumni received the 'Chapter Service Awards' for their efforts in strengthening alumni networks and supporting the Institute. Recipients included Rajesh Soy, representing the Seattle, USA Chapter; Ranjan Ojha, from the Chicago, USA Chapter; and Shweta Bhandari and Sagar Shah from the Greater New York, USA Chapter. Indian chapters were represented by Sita Mahalakshmi Durvasula, from the Hyderabad Chapter, and Sunay Wagle, from the Pune Chapter. The highlight of the event was the pledge of Rs 21.2 crore by the Silver Jubilee Batch (Class of ’99) for the Legacy Project. The funds will be used to support academic and research initiatives, upgrade infrastructure, and advance IIT-B’s vision of ranking among the world’s top 50 universities by 2030. Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare emphasised the importance of alumni contributions, saying, “Our alumni are a big asset. They not only bring resources but also expertise and industry connections that drive IIT Bombay’s growth,” the institute’s director said. IIT-B also unveiled a "Donor Wall" to honour its top benefactors, whose contributions have established Centres of Excellence, funded Chair Professorships, and enhanced student development initiatives. The day also paid tribute to the Class of 1963, IIT-B’s second graduating batch. Dr. Dhirendranath N. Buragohain, representing the class, shared fond memories of his time at the Institute. The launch of the GO-IIT Bombay Campaign and the presentation of “Project Evergreen,” focusing on student housing, showcased the alumni community’s continued commitment to the Institute. Tribute to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26, was also paid during the celebration of the alumni day at IIT-B.The Bad Guys 2: Here’s trailer, storyline, voice cast and release window
Dalyn Wakely scores pair to lead Colts to 3-1 victory over BattalionConvicted SC killer Alex Murdaugh files appeal of double murder convictionXabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen will host 2023 Champions League finalists Inter on Tuesday in Germany after the two teams had a good start of the League Phase and are aiming to end up in the top eight spots of the first part of the tournament. Inter, in particular, are sitting second in the table with 13 points and are yet to concede their first goal of the competition, while Xabi Alonso's side are currently sixth with ten points Here's our storylines, how you can watch the match and more: How to watch and odds Date: Tuesday, December 10 | Time: 3 p.m. ET Location: BayArena - Leverkusen, Germany Watch: Paramount+ Odds: Bayer Leverkusen +120; Draw +240; Inter +220 Don't miss any of the Champions League. As always, you can catch all of our coverage across Paramount+ , CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network all season long. League phase schedule Bayer Leverkusen: Inter (home), Atletico de Madrid (away), Sparta Praha (home). Inter: Bayer Leverkusen (away), Sparta Praha (away), Monaco (home). Team news Bayer Leverkusen: Bayer are currently suffering some injury issues as Xabi Alonso lost some key strikers ahead of the game against Inter since both Victor Boniface (thigh problem) and Patrik Schick are both injured and won't be able to play agains the Italian giants. Possible Bayer XI: Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Garcia, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Tella. Inter: Coach Simone Inzaghi is dealing with the injuries of defender Francesco Acerbi and Denzel Dumfries who wasn't included in the squad ahead of Tuesday's clash. Former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is expected to join Lautaro Martinez in the attacking duo against Bayer. Possible Inter XI: Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni, Darmian, Zielinski, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco; Taremi, Lautaro. Prediction It should be a close one considering how well these two sides are playing, but Inter are slightly favourites also due to the injuries Bayer is facing. Pick: Bayer Leverkusen 1, Inter 1. Don't miss CBS Sports Golazo Network's Morning Footy, now in podcast form! Our crew brings you all the news, views, highlights and laughs you need to follow the Beautiful Game in every corner of the globe, every Monday-Friday all year long.
Men’s basketball: CU Buffs get back to work confident in recent improvementThroughout the year, in our Women, Money, and Mindset columns , we have tackled some of life’s most pressing financial challenges. Every month, we have delved into a financial issue that touches the lives of our readers, offering, each week, a distinct insight from the differing viewpoints of a Certified Financial Planner, an attorney, a CPA, and an executive business coach. From navigating the financial markets and business strategies to estate planning and tools to cut taxes, our goal has always been to provide clear, practical, actionable advice to take to your trusted professionals so you take the next steps to grow your wealth and increase your financial security. In this final installment of the year, the issue is giving, and the topic this week is Charitable Gift Annuities. It is a strategy that can address multiple financial and tax planning issues while supporting the causes that matter most to you. Unlike giving away cash or assets and not receiving anything in return, with a CGA, if you donate to a 501(c)(3) qualified charity, in return, you receive two powerful benefits. First, you can qualify for an immediate tax deduction for part of the contribution. Second, you receive a dependable, fixed income from the charity for the rest of your life. The minimum contribution is usually only $5,000, so it is an accessible planning tool for most people. Before diving into more specifics, let’s see how a CGA can help with some specific financial and tax planning concerns you might have: —You want to give more to your house of worship or favorite charity but are concerned about not having enough income in the future. With a CGA, you can receive guaranteed income for life. —You need a last-minute tax deduction and have maxed out on your IRA or 401k plan contribution for the year. A CGA can act as an alternate retirement plan if you itemize deductions on your return. —You are interested in giving away more to charity but do not want the complications of setting up a charitable trust or naming a trustee. A CGA can be set up in days directly with the charity at no cost to you. —You intend to leave some or all of your estate to charity and would like to have all of your estate planning finalized now. CGAs are especially helpful if you would like to leave your estate to several charities because you can set up annuities with each charity. —You have adequate income now or are not yet retired, but you are concerned about costs later in life, like long-term care. You can receive a larger monthly payment later if you choose a deferred annuity and start the payments at a later date. —If you are concerned about paying capital gains taxes on assets you want to sell, you can avoid or defer taxes if you contribute the asset to the CGA. —If you would prefer your church or favorite charity to have access to some of your contribution now, a CGA is preferable to a charitable remainder trust or bequest that funds after you have died. —If you want to secure the financial future of your spouse, child, or another loved one, CGAs can be set up for the lives of two individuals. This could be especially helpful if you have a child in their 50s or older, and you are concerned about them not having enough guaranteed retirement income. —If you keep most of your funds in the bank but would like to earn a higher return, the charity invests your CGA funds (and generally considered safe) with usually a fixed rate of return that is higher than you would receive on a CD. —You would like to avoid paying taxes on a required minimum distribution, so you are planning on doing a Qualified Charitable Rollover (QCR). New rules will allow you to fund your CGA with a one-time $53,000 QCR. The QCR amount to your CGA will not be included as income on your return, but you can still receive the monthly income benefit from the CGA, and you can defer income further if you choose a deferred CGA. As you can see, a charitable gift annuity checks many financial and tax planning boxes, and it is easy and cost-effective to set up. Now to the specifics. First, you set up the CGA and donate the asset to the charity. The gift is set aside and invested by the charity. You (and also your spouse or other person if you choose a two-person annuity) will receive fixed monthly or quarterly payments for the rest of your lives. The charity can utilize the remaining funds after your death. How much is the tax deduction? The income tax deduction is equal to the amount of the contribution minus the present value of the payments that will be made to the donors during their lives. The charity will handle these calculations for you. How much income will you receive? Current suggested annuity rates range from 4.6-10.1% for those 50 and older, dependent primarily on your age. (In other words, you would receive $4,600 to $10,100 a year on a $100,000 contribution.) For recommended rates and how they are calculated, go to acga-web.org/current-gift-annuity-rates . The amount you would receive is generally fixed and will never fluctuate or adjust for inflation. But it’s also secured by the charity’s entire assets and will continue regardless of how the investments of the annuity perform. Here is an example. Dennis, 75, and Mary, 73, fund a $50,000 charitable gift annuity with appreciated stock that they originally bought for $20,000. They are eligible for an income tax charitable deduction of $17,584. They will then receive a payment rate of 6%, or $3,000 each year for the remainder of their lives. If you contact your church or charity, they will provide you with information regarding the minimum age, contribution requirements, and rates for their annuities. As you can see, a charitable gift annuity is more than just a financial tool-it’s a way to make a lasting difference while providing for yourself and your loved ones. As you plan for the year ahead, I hope this inspires you to take the next step. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year filled with peace and purpose! Michelle C. Herting is a CPA, accredited in business valuations, and an accredited estate planner specializing in succession planning and estate, gift, and trust taxes. She is also the past president of the Charitable Gift Planners of Inland Southern California.
Pay first, deliver later: Some women are being asked to prepay for their baby
1 2 Kolkata: To help students avoid missing classes due to various reasons, several city schools are encouraging them to continue their education with live online classrooms . They are introducing apps for submitting classwork and taking online tests as well. South City International School is allowing children to attend live classes if they are not in the city or country, or if there is an emergency. Principal Satabdi Bhattacharjee said, "Earlier, if children had emergencies, including health and family-related matters, they had no other option choice but to miss classes. So, we decided to provide online support that allows them to attend classes along with other students. They can communicate during classes, ask questions to the teachers, and experience the classroom atmosphere while away from the school." From this year, South City International has introduced online admission tests for different classes. Conducting exams, interactions, and publishing results are all done online. "There are many students from outside the city who wanted to take exams but could not because they were unable to attend physically. So, we made it more flexible through our online platform, and several students from outside Bengal were able to participate," Bhattacharjee said. There are several other schools in and around the city are using digital platforms if a child misses classes. Ashok Hall Girls' Higher Secondary School, GD Birla Centre for Education, and Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar have introduced mobile applications to provide class assignments, homework, performance updates, and real-time attendance updates. GD Birla Centre for Education principal Craig Lucas said, "The new website is designed to be more informative, illustrative, and interactive, while our ERP will facilitate better communication, accurate information, and a closer connection between our parents and the school team of teachers and leaders. The changing times demand that we reimagine, reinvent, and redefine the way we transact education. Students will get all the class updates even if they are not in the classroom and will receive details of homework even if they miss attending classes for some reason. Everything will be uploaded immediately after classes are over. Parents can monitor their wards while they are in school through technological support." Ashok Hall Higher Secondary School's principal Atreyee Sengupta emphasised that these tools enhance collaboration and streamline communication for a brighter future.Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. This image provided by Pull Start Fire shows the matchless fire igniter in use. Made of 89% recycled materials, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. This image provided by Souper Cubes shows No Mess Utensils held upright on pot edges. The No Mess Utensil lives up to its name. The utensils, a serving spoon and a ladle, have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot. The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. This image provided by FeatherSnap shows a female cardinal bird perched on a FeatherSnap Wi-Fi Solar Powered Camera Smart Bird Feeder. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. This image provided by FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo shows a smartphone printer. Fujifilm Instax's Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the printer with film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. Fujifilm's Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. This image provided by easyplant shows a Marxii Calathea plant in a small, beige, self-watering pot. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. This image provided by Nama shows the M1 plant-based milk maker. If you've got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid unnecessary ingredients like sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. This image provided by QelviQ shows a wine bottle chiller. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses "smart" technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. This image provided by Uncommon Goods shows a 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set. Uncommon Good's 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.Trastuzumab rezetecan by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine for Transitional Cell Carcinoma (Urothelial Cell Carcinoma): Likelihood of Approval