By MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now National Politics | Republicans scramble to fill JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat National Politics | Gaetz’s withdrawal highlights how incoming presidents often lose Cabinet nominees Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.HOUSTON, United States Special counsel Jack Smith announced Monday that he has filed motions to drop all federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump due to presidential immunity laws, according to media outlets. Trump was first indicted in June 2023 on 37 felony counts related to the mishandling of classified documents he took from the White House after he finished his first term in the Oval Office. Federal agents raided his Mar-a-Lago resort in the state of Florida where the FBI confiscated more than 11,000 sensitive government documents and photographs. Trump was also indicted on four felony charges in August 2023 for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in which he lost to President Joe Biden and led to the deadly storming of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. The counts included conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. A series of legal wranglings about the legality of charging a former US president -- with Trump being the first former president in American history to be charged with felony crimes -- put the court proceedings on hold. Trump's lawyers argued that a former president could not be charged with crimes that occurred while he was in office. However, now that Trump will be sworn into his second term of office on Jan. 20, 2025, the laws regarding presidential immunity factored into Smith's decision to dismiss the charges because the Justice Department's position is that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. "That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind," Smith's office said in a statement. "The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have." Trump has claimed from the beginning that the prosecutions were politically motivated. He has never publicly conceded that his rigged election claims were false and he pleaded not guilty in both federal cases. Smith's decision to drop all federal charges comes a little under two months before Trump is sworn into office. The president-elect vowed during his campaign that if reelected, he would fire Smith the moment he began his second term in the White House. "Today’s decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country." Smith's announcement of filing to drop the charges comes amid speculation that he will resign as special counsel before Trump is sworn into his second term in office. In his statement, Smith expressed that following Trump's reelection, the special counsel's office was caught between "two fundamental and compelling national interests." "On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities ... and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law and the longstanding principle that '(no) man in this country is so high that he is above the law,'" said Smith.
‘Disastrous’: Coca-Cola responds to backlashAs the conflict between anti-government armed groups and state forces continues to escalate, experts warn of a potential for internal strife among the various factions. The shifting dynamics on the battlefield, along with competing agendas and deep-rooted grievances, are creating a volatile environment that increases the likelihood of infighting.
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Will Mike Evans play on Sunday vs. New York Giants? | Sporting NewsPep Guardiola will tick past a decade in charge at Manchester City after putting pen to paper on his fourth contract extension at the Etihad Stadium . Guardiola has presided over an unprecedented period of success in east Manchester but this renewal feels different. In 2018, Guardiola bolted a couple more years onto his initial three-year deal in Manchester in the afterglow of City's incredible 100-point season in the Premier League. This latest extension is the third in succession to come during November international breaks, following fresh terms in 2020 and 2022. The latter arrived as City gathered themselves for a push towards the sporting immortality of a 2022/23 treble, a champion team recently enhanced by Erling Haaland's gargantuan goalscoring efforts. MORE: All the latest Man City news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings The mood music is a little different this time around, and not just because of four consecutive defeats across all competitions amid an injury crisis. Guardiola's preference for working with a small senior squad is beginning to look vulnerable as a fantastic group of players who have done it all, especially in midfield, grow old together. If he handed over the City squad in its current state to a new coach, no doubt hasty surgery would follow. The past two summer transfer windows have fallen short overall. There is also the heavy wider context of the Premier League's 115 charges case against City . Guardiola's new deal means he will be around for the aftermath of that seismic verdict, whichever way it tilts. Then there will be the intriguing prospect of refitting the squad alongside incoming director of football Hugo Viana, who will replace Guardiola's great ally Txiki Begiristain. Here, we look at how the land lies with Guardiola's City squad and what issues need to be addressed. These are surely his final years at Eastlands as he looks to secure his overarching goal of a legacy to compare with the one his mentor Johan Cruyff left behind at Barcelona. Pep Guardiola's new contract: Man City rebuild Goalkeepers On the face of it, this shouldn't be much of an area of concern. There is a strong case to be made that Ederson has been Guardiola's most important and transformative signing at City and the Brazil international has been in fine form this season as the unfamiliar chaos in front of him has resulted in an increased workload. There was Saudi Pro League interest in the 31-year-old last summer but the most likely disruption to City's goalkeeping department is a potential departure for Stefan Ortega . After arriving on a free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld in 2022, the 32-year-old's stock has risen to the extent he earned a maiden Germany call-up this month. Quite simply, goalkeepers of that pedigree do not remain as a No. 2 for long. Defenders The September 2021 signing of Ruben Dias also ranks as one of Guardiola's most important. Since bringing in the Portugal centre-back from Benfica, City have not failed to win the Premier League. Dias sets the standard for an elite group of centre-backs who are also comfortable in full-back positions. Josko Gvardiol will be a mainstay for years to come and Manuel Akanji has proved to be one of Begiristain's most inspired pieces of business. John Stones and Nathan Ake are also exemplary performers but their repeated injury niggles give pause in the context of Guardiola's purposefully small squad. If one moves on it would create space for rapidly rising youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey . Full-back is a different matter. Club captain Kyle Walker has been an incredible servant to but a heavy workload last season has contributed to him looking his 34 years. Gvardiol and Ake have split left-back duties since the start of last season, with Walker the only true specialist in his position. Teenage protege Rico Lewis has played a lot at right-back this season and feels almost like a lab-grown Guardiola footballer. However, during his time in England, Guardiola has trended towards wanting more physical defenders, meaning the diminutive Lewis probably has a longer-term future in midfield. The City boss' innovations in how he uses full-backs is one of his big legacies in football. It feels like time to dream it all up again with fresh faces. Midfield Guardiola's greatest teams – from the Busquest-Xavi-Iniesta axis at Barcelona to Fernandinho-Silva-De Bruyne in his early years at City, up to and including the recent Rodri -fuelled version — are defined by their midfields. The Ballon d'Or winner being sidelined with an ACL injury this is clearly an issue right now, but in truth, their problems run deeper. Kevin De Bruyne is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning his own glorious time in Manchester might be at a natural end point. Bernardo Silva , Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic are all over 30 and have increasingly found themselves overrun in Rodri's absence. Matheus Nunes has finally enjoyed a run of games on the left wing, which kind of underlines how much it takes for Guardiola to trust players with central midfield duties. Phil Foden 's long-term future is surely closer to the centre of the field and the tenacious Lewis could be a long-term Silva replacement, even though — in a common theme with many of City's acts of squad renewal of late — he lacks the goal threat of the man he would be replacing. Kalvin Phillips is still technically a City player but his Etihad ordeal shows how hard it is to sign specialist cover for Rodri. The alternative bits-and-pieces approach of several players taking on parts of his duties this season has pros and cons. It feels like midfield is where Guardiola will have to most radically re-imagine things, accepting a little less control in possession and granting a little more trust to those in the positions he places the greatest emphasis upon. Those conversations are likely to be Viana's first major challenge. They could also result in his first galactico, as links between Bayern Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz and City refuse to go away. Attack Centre-forward. Next. Erling Haaland is far from the Guardiola archetype but he continues to score goals by the bucketload. It will be fascinating to see the next stage of development in how star player and coach align, while the potential of life without De Bruyne could be Haaland's biggest challenge so far. However, bringing in adequate cover for the most prolific centre-forward in the world is a hard sell. City landed on their feet by getting two seasons of Julian Alvarez, but the Argentina star understandably wanted to go to Atletico Madrid to be the main man. Haaland's pre-eminence basically creates the Ederson-Ortega problem at the other end of the field. Perhaps a natural right-winger also comfortable playing inside would be the way to go. Real Madrid's Rodrygo was fleetingly mentioned in dispatches with City last summer and that would certainly be an earth-shaking acquisition. It might be time for such a big gun because, since losing Riyad Mahrez and then Alvarez, City's goals burden has fallen too heavily on Haaland's hulking shoulders. Jeremy Doku and Savinho are livewire, exciting talents with their best years ahead of them but their goal contributions need to increase. There were high hopes around academy graduate Oscar Bobb before he suffered a broken leg on the eve of this season. He will also look to take some of the weight from his Norwegian compatriot Haaland when he returns. Then there is the curious case of Jack Grealish . City are fairly clearly a better and more complete side with the England international fit and on form on the left flank. However, this increasingly feels like a bogus argument given Grealish's form and fitness have not consistently aligned since the treble season. Now we know Guardiola is staying, the £100million man must prove he deserves to as well.
NORMAN, Okla. — Xavier Robinson ran for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns, and Oklahoma stunned No. 7 Alabama 24-3 on Saturday night to become bowl eligible and deal a severe blow to the Crimson Tide's chances of receiving a College Football Playoff berth. Jackson Arnold ran for 131 yards on 25 carries and completed 9 of 11 passes for the Sooners (6-5, 2-5 SEC), who got coach Brent Venables off the hot seat on Senior Night. It was Oklahoma's first Southeastern Conference home win after leaving the Big 12 this summer. Sooners fans rushed the field with 28 seconds remaining, knocking down both goalposts. After the field was cleared, Oklahoma took a knee, and the fans returned to the field to celebrate. Alabama's Jalen Milroe, who had been one of the nation's best players, had his worst game of the season. He completed 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards with three interceptions and gained just seven yards on 15 carries for Alabama (8-3, 4-3, No. 7 CFP). The Sooners held Alabama to 234 yards. Robinson's 18-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the second quarter put the Sooners up 10-3, a score that held up until halftime. Oklahoma outgained the Crimson Tide 242 yards to 97 before the break. Milroe completed 2 of 7 passes for 62 yards and ran nine times for minus-2 yards before the break. Oklahoma outgained Alabama 118 yards to 15 in the second quarter and kept the ball for just over 11 of the 15 minutes. Oklahoma's Eli Bowen intercepted Milroe on the third play of the second half and returned it 25 yards to the Alabama 14. Robinson's 1-yard touchdown run increased Oklahoma's lead to 17-3. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) is tackled by Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) during the second quarter of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman, Okla. Credit: AP/Alonzo Adams On the next possession, Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis intercepted Milroe and ran it back 49 yards for a touchdown to put the Sooners up 24-3 with 8:05 left in the third quarter. The Takeaway Alabama: The Crimson Tide have been up and down this season, and they picked the wrong night to be down. Alabama lost this game in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Oklahoma: The Sooners found out what happens when they don't hurt themselves. They started to find their identity as a run-heavy offense that complements its defense two weeks ago against Maine and stayed true to it against Alabama. Poll Implications Alabama will take a steep drop for losing to an unranked team it was heavily favored to beat. Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) gestures to his team before a play against Alabama during the second quarter of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman, Okla. Credit: AP/Alonzo Adams Up Next Alabama: Visits Auburn on Saturday. Oklahoma: Visits LSU on Saturday.Broncos hope to continue playoff push when they meet the banged-up RaidersMINNEAPOLIS – Penn State fans, greetings from Huntington Stadium. James Franklin’s No. 4 Nittany Lions are warming up ahead of their Big Ten matchup with P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota Golden Gophers. The weather is incredible for Minnesota at this time of year: 40 degrees and no wind. You can follow along here at PennLive for updates throughout the game. PSU has won two consecutive games since dropping a narrow 20-13 decision to Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. The Lions scored a total of 84 points in victories over Washington (35-6) and Purdue (49-10). Minnesota was off last week. PSU is 4-0 on the road. Penn State wideout Julian Fleming i s listed as questionable on the Big Ten-mandated availability report and young corner Elliot Washington is out with an undisclosed injury. Here’s the big question: What will Minnesota’s defense do to try and stop Penn State star tight end Tyler Warren? Warren, who leads the Lions in catches (67), yards (808) and receiving touchdowns (five). One more note on Warren: He will double his 2023 output in receptions with his next catch. He had 34 receptions for 422 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. THIRD QUARTER PENN STATE 23, MINNESOTA 22 3:43: Penn State moved 57 yards in five plays to take its first lead on a 12-yard touchdown run by Nick Singleton. Penn State tight end Tyler Warren had three catches for 30 yards on the drive. Ryan Barker’s extra point gave the Lions the lead. PENN STATE 23, MINNESOTA 22. 9:59: Penn State’s defense could not get a stop on Minnesota’s first possession. The Gophers drove 51 yards in nine plays to set up a 42-yard field goal by Dragan Kesich. MINNESOTA 22, PENN STATE 16. HALFTIME MINNESOTA 19, PENN STATE 16 The final couple of minutes got crazy here in Minneapolis. Minnesota had all the momentum late, then Penn State and Drew Allar stole it, only to see a crazy special teams play but the Gophers in front, 19-16. First, Minnesota’s Derik LeCaptain deflected a Riley Thompson punt, giving the Gophers’ possession at the PSU 21 with 1:10 left before half. The Gophers then ran a trick play, with running back Darius Taylor taking a handoff, pitching it to wideout Daniel Jackson, who flipped it back to quarterback Max Brosmer. Tight end Jameson Geers was wide open on the right side for a 21-yard touchdown. Minnesota led 17-10, but PSU answered with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that Allar capped with a four-yard rush with 19 seconds left before half. However, Ryan Barker’s point-after try was blocked by Minnesota’s Jack Henderson and teammate Ethan Robinson returned it for a two-point score. It could have been 17-17, but it was 19-16, Gophers. 7:50: Penn State’s offense turns an interception by linebacker Dom DeLuca into three points. Allar took another big sack on a drive, but Ryan Barker connected on a 45-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. PENN STATE 10, MINNESOTA 10. 10:48: Well, the Lions’ offense answered the Minnesota field goal with a quick score. Allar connected with wide-open speedy wideout Omari Evans on a 45-yard bomb. Barker with the extra point. MINNESOTA 10, PENN STATE 7. 12:56: Minnesota’s offense moved the Gophers into scoring territory again, and Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich connects from 48 yards on a field goal to give the hosts a 10-0 lead with 12:56 left before halftime. Minnesota only had to drive 25 yards in seven plays after Allar’s sack on fourth down. MINNESOTA 10, PENN STATE 0. FIRST QUARTER MINNESOTA 7, PENN STATE 0 Penn State’s offense has to get its act together as the Lions trail 7-0 after one quarter. The Lions managed just 30 yards total on their first two drives. And on the third drive, Allar, facing a fourth-and-five play from the Minnesota 33, was sacked for a 12-yard loss. 8:57: The game could not have started much worse for Penn State. First, starting right tackle Anthony Donkoh left the game on the Lions’ first offensive series with an apparent leg injury. He was replaced by Nolan Rucci. Then tight end Tyler Warren, aligned as the wildcat QB, got stuffed for no gain on a third-and-one try from the PSU 35. Minnesota took possession on its 30 and drove 70 yards in nine plays, the last one a 20-yard scoring run by backup running back Marcus Major with 8:57 left in the first quarter. Dragan Kasich with the extra point. MINNESOTA 7, PENN STATE 0. ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Mutual of America Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in Helen of Troy Limited ( NASDAQ:HELE – Free Report ) by 74.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,431 shares of the company’s stock after selling 10,203 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Helen of Troy were worth $212,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Helen of Troy in the second quarter valued at approximately $289,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Helen of Troy by 37.9% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 124,834 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,721,000 after purchasing an additional 34,318 shares in the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Helen of Troy by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 666,256 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,789,000 after purchasing an additional 17,741 shares in the last quarter. Algert Global LLC acquired a new position in shares of Helen of Troy in the 2nd quarter valued at $829,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in Helen of Troy by 1,178.7% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 51,302 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,758,000 after buying an additional 47,290 shares in the last quarter. Helen of Troy Stock Performance NASDAQ:HELE opened at $73.33 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $65.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $71.96. Helen of Troy Limited has a fifty-two week low of $48.05 and a fifty-two week high of $127.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.68 billion, a PE ratio of 12.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.77. Helen of Troy declared that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, September 5th that permits the company to repurchase $500.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 39.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have weighed in on HELE. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $84.00 price objective on shares of Helen of Troy in a research report on Monday, October 7th. DA Davidson upped their price target on Helen of Troy from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Helen of Troy Helen of Troy Profile ( Free Report ) Helen of Troy Limited provides various consumer products in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates in two segments: Home & Outdoor and Beauty & Wellness. The Home & Outdoor segment offers food storage containers, kitchen utensils for cooking and preparing salads, fruits, vegetables and meats, graters, slicers and choppers, baking essentials, kitchen organization, bath, cleaning, infant and toddler products, and coffee preparation tools and electronics; and insulated beverageware, including bottles, travel tumblers, drinkware, mugs, food and lunch containers, insulated totes, soft coolers, outdoor kitchenware, and accessories. See Also Five stocks we like better than Helen of Troy Technology Stocks Explained: Here’s What to Know About Tech The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Investing In Preferred Stock vs. Common Stock 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 3 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Now FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Helen of Troy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Helen of Troy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Survivors of sexual violence in Haiti face worsening risks and dwindling support amid the growing influence of armed gangs, a collapsed healthcare system and a frozen justice system, a report warned on Monday. Nearly 4,000 women and girls reported being victims of sexual violence in the first ten months of 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in the report, noting that many people do not report due to fear of retaliation and poor prospects of receiving help. Those who do seek care often cannot do so within the critical 72-hour window to access drugs to treat HIV exposure or emergency contraception, the report said, as many cannot afford private healthcare and as public clinics shut down due to violence. In October, the UN warned that just 24 per cent of health facilities were operating in Port-au-Prince’s metropolitan area. This month Doctors Without Borders, a major free healthcare provider, halted operations, citing rape and death threats from police. Haitian feminist organisation Neges Mawon said it has this year received reports of some 230 rapes in just two neighbourhoods outside the capital, and four pregnant women died due to poor healthcare and blocked medical supplies. Abortion is illegal in Haiti. A 25-year-old mother of four told HRW that she was raped by four men in Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil area while looking for water. “Now they do whatever they want to all of us,” she said. “I couldn’t go to the doctor. I didn’t have money.” In a separate report released on Monday, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GITOC) said outgunned police, a “woefully” under-resourced international mission, political infighting and violent vigilantism are aggravating Haiti’s general crisis. “It is difficult to identify any meaningful inroads on the part of law enforcement,” it said, adding that the transitional presidential council’s recent ouster of the prime minister resulted in the council’s “reigning over a mountain of ashes.” The prime minister’s replacement saw the two women who previously held senior cabinet positions – foreign affairs and economy – removed from their posts. “More than 150 feminist and human rights groups have endorsed an action plan to ensure the full participation of women,” said Neges Mawon on X. “It is clear fighting violence against women and girls is not a priority for this government.”
In a quiet week for economic data, Wall Street’s focus shifted to the possibility of witnessing a "Santa Rally," the seasonal tendency for stocks to rise in the final days of December. Historically, the S&P 500 has gained 64 times in the past 96 years during the Dec. 24–Dec. 31 window, averaging a 0.85% return. The market began the week attempting a recover from the Federal Reserve's hawkish signals of fewer rate cuts in 2024. Yet, renewed volatility resurfaced on Friday, casting doubt on the Santa rally's resilience. Investors remain cautious, as markets weigh Fed policy outlook against uncertainty surrounding the incoming Trump administration's economic plans. Still, 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year. The S&P 500 is on track to match last year's 24% surge, setting up a two-year gain of 55%, the strongest since 1999. U.S. stocks are also outperforming global markets by the widest margin since 1997, driven by the enduring strength of U.S. economic fundamentals. On the leaderboards, Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR has surged 360%, overtaking Nvidia Corp. NVDA , last year's top performer, which gained 175% in 2024. Consumer Confidence Slips U.S. consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, declined in December, highlighting rising concerns about economic conditions . A deeper drop in the expectations index, a key forward-looking measure, signals potential weakness in 2025 amid fears of persistent inflation and steady, high interest rates. Tesla's Robotaxi Bet Elon Musk envisions a Tesla Inc. TSLA ’s robotaxi fleet allowing owners to earn $40,000 annually. Despite the bold prediction, experts question the feasibility of the technology and regulatory challenges, suggesting Musk's vision remains aspirational rather than immediately achievable in the near term. Trump's Tariff Impact Goldman Sachs projects the Trump administration will raise tariffs on Chinese imports, averaging a 20% hike, with higher rates for non-consumer goods. This could increase consumer prices by 1%-2%, strain industrial margins, disrupt supply chains and ignite Chinese retaliatory measures, the Wall Street firm says. Cadillac EV Success General Motors Co. GM ’s Cadillac Lyriq, priced at $60,000, became its best-selling EV in 2024 through the third quarter. The premium EV's success highlights a potential shift toward luxury electric vehicles as automakers target higher margins and affluent buyers. Read now: Veteran Investor Bets Big On S&P 500 Hitting 7,000 By End Of 2025: These Sectors Could Lead The Charge Photo by Marek Maskin on Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.This is a transcript of the Premium Politics newsletter. To sign up, click here , select Inside Politics with Audrey Young and save your preferences. For a step-by-step guide, click here . Welcome to Inside Politics at the end of scrutiny week at Parliament. Fireworks erupted in the health select committee after former Labour Health Minister Ayesha Verrall accused Health Commissioner Lester Levy of having a reputation for “cooking the books” . He deserves an apology unless she can produce something more substantial than a glib observation that health entities he previously chaired went from surplus under him to deficit when he left. Verrall was entitled to criticise Health NZ for an unacceptably late publication of its annual report – the day before it appeared – and to interrogate its failed plan to make the previous year’s deficit bigger than the current year’s. But that is a long way from what she accused Levy of.