GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field. But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather. No. 2 OHIO ST. 38, No. 5 INDIANA 15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. No. 8 GEORGIA 59, UMass 21 ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes, Nate Frazier ran for 136 yards with three scores and No. 8 Georgia overwhelmed Massachusetts as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes. Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday. Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. No. 10 TENNESSEE 56, UTEP 0 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory over UTEP. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee’s defensive line, which had no sacks in last week’s loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. No. 11 MIAMI 42, WAKE FOREST 14 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. No. 13 SMU 33, VIRGINIA 7 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SMU had to get there first, and Jennings led the way again, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. No. 24 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31 PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards.
Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what the Vikings would prefer him to do with the game on the line. He threw the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson. The perfectly placed throw near the sideline beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that put the Vikings back in front with 3:51 remaining in a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday. “It was a great call,” said Jefferson, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two scores, all season highs. “I’m not going to say too much about that play, but something went on where me and Sam were on the same page, and he found me and we went up.” The Vikings were understandably coy about the context around the go-ahead touchdown , when Darnold made a difficult on-the-run pass just over cornerback Tariq Woolen that Jefferson deftly twisted to catch next to his backside hip so he could shield the ball from late-breaking safety Julian Love. Darnold saw Love's shoulders initially shaded inside just enough to believe he couldn't retreat fast enough to prevent Jefferson from getting the ball. Jefferson also applied some improvisation to his route that Darnold clearly and properly read during the play. “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “We do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff.” Darnold's long-delayed breakout performance under O'Connell has been one of the stories of the NFL this season, one that wouldn't have unfolded as neatly for the third overall pick in the 2018 draft without such synergy between him and his superstar wide receiver. If the Vikings (13-2) win their last two games, they will not only be NFC North champions for the second time in three years but also get the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the NFC for the playoffs. “Every single game we’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff defenses have thrown towards us," Jefferson said. “Sam has done a great job being a leader.” What's working The pass rush was strong, with Andrew Van Ginkel recording two sacks and pressure leading to both interceptions of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Vikings were credited with eight hits on Smith. What needs help The Vikings converted only three of 12 third downs, their second-worst rate of the season. Stock up Theo Jackson, who saw significant playing time at safety with Harrison Smith out, had the game-sealing interception with 49 seconds left. Stock down Tight end Josh Oliver has played 47% of the snaps the last two games, his two lowest usage rates of the season. He dropped the only pass he was thrown on Sunday. Injury report The defense ought to get a big boost this week with the expected return of the 13-year veteran Smith from his first absence in two years when he was sidelined at Seattle with a foot injury. Linebacker Ivan Pace, who has missed four games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, is also on track to be back with his return to practice. Backup defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who didn't play against the Seahawks because of a concussion, has made progress through the protocol, O'Connell said. Backup cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was inactive at Seattle with a hip injury, will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. Key number 13.6% — That's the third-down conversion allowance rate for the Vikings over the last two games, with Chicago and Seattle combining to go just 3 for 22. The Vikings rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 33.7% for the season and also rank second on fourth down at 36.7%. Up next The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday, with the kickoff moved to the late afternoon showcase spot on Fox. If Minnesota loses to the Packers, the Lions will clinch the NFC North and the Vikings would open the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed at best. Even if the Lions were to lose at San Francisco on Monday night, the Vikings would need to win at Detroit on Jan. 5 to take the division title. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Dave Campbell, The Associated Press
Percentages: FG .368, FT .857. 3-Point Goals: 14-32, .438 (Taylor 5-13, Cato 3-5, Fagbemi 3-7, Fox 2-3, Evbagharu 1-1, Seixas 0-3). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Cato 2, Fox). Turnovers: 8 (Evbagharu 2, Fagbemi 2, Seixas 2, Cato, Taylor). Steals: 3 (Etim, Fagbemi, Fox). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .475, FT .800. 3-Point Goals: 13-32, .406 (Terry 5-10, George 4-10, O'Brien 2-6, Mustaf 1-2, Powell 1-2, Onwuchekwa 0-1, Souare 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 1 (Terry). Turnovers: 5 (Powell 2, George, Mustaf, Onwuchekwa). Steals: 7 (Terry 3, Mustaf 2, George, Powell). Technical Fouls: None. .
Three Indian American tech figures have spoken to Newsweek about the value of bringing skilled workers to the U.S. on H-1B visas amid MAGA attacks on the program. The "blowback reflects a deep misunderstanding of the value that skilled immigrant workers bring the U.S. economy," Prem Bhandari, an entrepreneur and philanthropist based in New York, told Newsweek. "Countries like India have a proven track record of producing top-tier talent in fields like engineering, technology, and medicine," he said, adding that the contributions of such talent "are not a threat, but a critical driver of innovation and economic growth in America." The comments come as a growing rift has emerged between factions of President-elect Donald Trump 's supporters over the H-1B visa program , which allows companies to employ foreign workers in specialist occupations. Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy , who Trump has tasked with findings ways to cut the federal government , have defended the tech industry's need to bring in highly skilled foreign workers. Musk said there were not enough "super talented" engineers in the U.S. and Ramaswamy criticized American culture for venerating "mediocrity over excellence." The debate began when Laura Loomer , a far-right activist and Trump ally with a history of racist comments, criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his incoming administration, saying Krishnan's views were "in direct opposition to Trump's America First Agenda." Krishnan has advocated for raising country-specific caps on green cards and bringing more skilled workers to the U.S. But it has grown into a MAGA civil war, exposing divisions between Trump's supporters in the tech world like Musk who believe skilled legal migration is necessary and boosts the U.S. economy and those in Trump's base who support his hard-line immigration policies and think the H-1B visa program comes at the expense of American workers and want it to be curtailed. Trump told The New York Post on Saturday that he supports H-1B visas . "I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That's why we have them," he said. Bhandari told Newsweek that the anti-Indian and anti-immigrant sentiment from some Trump supporters could discourage some skilled workers from seeking opportunities in the U.S. "It risks alienating future talent who may perceive the U.S. as unwelcoming. To remain competitive, the U.S. needs to reaffirm its commitment to diversity and meritocracy, irrespective of political affiliations," he said. He added that skilled workers from abroad "fill critical gaps" in the U.S. workforce, ensuring the country maintains its competitive edge in industries like artificial intelligence, software development, and biotechnology. "This is not about replacing American workers, but complementing and strengthening the talent pool," he said. Bhandari said the H-1B visa program needs to be "modernized and expanded, not restricted. "It is essential to focus on merit-based reforms that ensure fairness while continuing to attract the best global talent," he said. "Simplifying processes, removing arbitrary caps, and addressing issues like green card backlogs would make the system more efficient and equitable." Entrepreneur B.G. Mahesh also told Newsweek that the H-1B program needs to be expanded, adding that most technology companies "cannot grow" without skilled foreign workers. "Any country needs the best of the best minds, irrespective of the country of origin," he said. "But it is important that those legal immigrants respect the local culture, which the Indian immigrants do." He noted the number of people allowed into the U.S. on H-1B visas is "minuscule" compared to the U.S. population, which is more than 330 million. The U.S. caps the number of H-1B visas at 65,000 new visas each year, but an additional 20,000 can be granted for those with a master's degree or higher. Sam Iyengar, a partner at MetaValue Advisors, a technology advisory and solutions company, told Newsweek that U.S. will continue to need more skilled workers "given that tech innovation lies at the heart of U.S. growth." He said he "didn't entirely agree" with Ramaswamy's comments about American culture. "Innovation is equally about a culture that values boldness, strong vision, deep conviction and independent thinking. Here India and Asia are way behind," he said. Iyengar said that he believes the H-1B visa program "must be selective, not for Indian IT body shoppers, but for qualified folks in specialized fields where the U.S. is falling short." He added that he believes the current online outrage over the program is a "storm in a teacup" that "will give way to a more thoughtful approach to doing what is right for the U.S., long term." Mahesh added that the U.S. needs to source the top talent from abroad to maintain its leading position in the technology sector—or risk losing those individuals to rival nations. "The U.S. economy is the largest in the world," he said. "That directly translates to jobs, especially tech jobs. With digitization on the rise all over the world, every country needs a lot more engineers, especially tech professionals. Engineers from India are largely in the tech field, very less in the non-tech sector." The U.S. wants "to attract the best minds year on year and local universities aren't generating sufficient numbers of engineers to meet their demand," he said. "America has always dominated the technology space and wants to maintain that position of leadership. It is in its best interest to seek and encourage the most talented professionals from across the globe to contribute, live and work in America."Sabrina Ionescu was thrilled to be part of Unrivaled — the The Liberty star guard who helped New York win the first championship in franchise history earlier this year signed a historic agreement on Monday with the league. She'll join the Phantom BC that Saturday night to acquire Natasha Cloud. "It was a huge decision getting me to play or not," Ionescu said in a phone interview Monday night. "I weighed out all my options and decided to do what’s best for me and my career. Being able to take part in a league that is the first of its kind with a historic deal and be on the ownership side of it is important for me.” Ionescu said the league gave her some flexibility in her schedule if she needs to step away for a day or two. The NBA All-Star Game is on Feb. 16, which is in the middle of the Unrivaled season. The league has no team games during the NBA All-Star weekend. There's discussions of her potentially competing in another 3-point contest with Stephen Curry. “I have certain dates that I have to be gone for. They were very accommodating with things I already accepted and have to be gone for before I committed to the league,” Ionescu said. Ionescu will also be playing with Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson and Satou Sabally. Ionescu was teammates with Sabally at Oregon. “I’m really excited being able to play with her and knowing we’ve wanted to play with each other for a long time since we departed from Oregon,” Ionescu said. The 27-year-old Ionescu is she had earlier this month on her right thumb to stabilize the ulnar collateral ligament. She's not cleared yet, but is on target to be able to play at the start of the Unrivaled season. “I should be cleared and ready to go and be able to be there and be a part of it,” Ionescu said. “The first year was something I wanted to experience and have ownership is a big part in that as well.” Ionescu said she hurt the thumb in the final 90 seconds of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, but there was no way she was going to miss the decisive Finals game which New York won. She went 1 for 19 in against Minnesota but found other ways to help the team win, with eight assists and seven rebounds. “I didn’t know the severity of my injury when I did it. I didn’t care to know and wanted to do whatever I could to play and try to do the best I can for us to win,” she said. “Thankfully I was able to do everything beside shooting which now makes a lot of sense since I couldn’t grip a basketball.” Ionescu took a few weeks to see if the injury would heal on its own after the season was over. She got a few opinions from doctors before deciding that surgery was the best option. This is the first time that Ionescu is taking part in an offseason league. “I’m excited. Obviously it's a great opportunity to be able to play and continue to refine my game in the offseason," she said. “It’s a great opportunity to compete against the best players in the league that are now in Unrivaled.” It has been a busy year for the former Oregon great, who also got married and . “It’s been amazing. When I sit back and think about everything that happened this year, it puts a lot in perspective when things aren’t going as well,” she said. “I've had those years where everything was going wrong and then to have a year like this where you stop and smell the roses and everything you prayed and wished for happens.” ___ AP WNBA: Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
NoneIndependence Message: Barbados Private Sector Association
Defence counsel Charles Petero advised Justice of the Peace John Whitta of this. JP Whitta informed the counsel that the defendant must appear in court. If the defendant is unable to do so due to health reasons, he should liaise with the court to arrange a Zoom appearance. The man, who has an interim name suppression, is charged with nine counts of inducing an indecent act on a girl under the age of 12 years, and indecent assault on a girl under 12 years. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Fairoa Tararo said the file against the accused was serious. The accused is currently on bail. ___________________ Defence lawyer Michelle Tangimama requested the court to allow Marsela Kareroa to travel to Mangaia on December 13 for family reasons. Kareroa is charged with three counts of theft. JP Whitta said the accused could travel to Mangaia, as long as it was within the Cook Islands The prosecution did not object. The matter has been adjourned to February 27, 2025, and the defendant was told not to apply for a new passport. Meanwhile, Tangimama has received the video footage from police in regards to the charges against Kareroa. ___________________ Well-known offender Lucas Kamana, who faces a joint burglary charge, and three counts of burglary, has admitted to all four charges. He will be sentenced on February 19, 2025, by three Justices of the Peace. The 23-year-old was arrested earlier this year and was bailed in July. He is accused of breaking in and entering three different homes in Tupapa on June 21 with the intent to commit a crime. On the morning of June 22, police alerted the public on their social media page that through their swift work, they apprehended an offender after a string of break-ins were reported in Kiikii, overnight. Police had said the first of three complaints came in at 11.23pm when a bag containing cash was stolen from a house. Police had said a 23-year-old male, who is “known to Police”, was caught during a search of the area. He was arrested and remanded into custody. ______________________ Tangata Maru, charged for careless driving and excess breath alcohol, entered a guilty plea and had her case adjourned to February 27, 2025 for sentencing. Maru was represented by defence Tangimama who two months ago, requested for police disclosure and a traffic history of her client. Maru was ordered not to apply for a passport. __________________ Dominic Matapo, whose excess blood alcohol case had been adjourned since March while he sought legal aid assistance, will be sentenced on February 27, 2025 after he entered a guilty plea on Thursday. Three months ago, the matter had been adjourned from March to October, because the application had not been received by the Court, and there was no record of it on file.Dispersal order in force across Manchester city centre amid reports of youths 'gathering to cause trouble'
A pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level MediaWho’s the boss? Chicago School Board members attend teachers contract negotiations as CPS-City Hall conflict persists
Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. ( NYSE:MSM – Free Report ) by 204.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,935 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 6,673 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in MSC Industrial Direct were worth $855,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MSM. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in MSC Industrial Direct by 85.1% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,733,228 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $216,772,000 after purchasing an additional 1,256,706 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB acquired a new position in MSC Industrial Direct during the 1st quarter worth about $16,571,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct by 804.5% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 173,653 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $13,772,000 after acquiring an additional 154,454 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in MSC Industrial Direct by 1,715.2% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 143,400 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $11,373,000 after acquiring an additional 135,500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in MSC Industrial Direct by 458.4% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 119,700 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $9,493,000 after purchasing an additional 98,265 shares during the period. 79.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insider Transactions at MSC Industrial Direct In related news, Director Philip Peller sold 900 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.07, for a total transaction of $80,163.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,044 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $360,199.08. This represents a 18.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, CEO Erik Gershwind sold 50,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.36, for a total value of $4,518,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,402,849 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $126,761,435.64. This represents a 3.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 18.80% of the company’s stock. MSC Industrial Direct Stock Up 1.6 % MSC Industrial Direct ( NYSE:MSM – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.08 by ($0.05). MSC Industrial Direct had a net margin of 6.77% and a return on equity of 19.35%. The business had revenue of $952.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $959.74 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.64 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. will post 3.65 earnings per share for the current year. MSC Industrial Direct Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 13th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.98%. This is an increase from MSC Industrial Direct’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. MSC Industrial Direct’s dividend payout ratio is presently 74.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently weighed in on MSM. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $84.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $87.00 to $73.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $90.20. Read Our Latest Report on MSM MSC Industrial Direct Profile ( Free Report ) MSC Industrial Direct Co, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. ( NYSE:MSM – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for MSC Industrial Direct Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MSC Industrial Direct and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Hawks have little trouble pinning Raptors with 10th straight loss
Processus Wealth & Capital Management LLC Sells 346 Shares of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)South Sudan's President Salva Kiir held an urgent meeting of top security brass on Friday after a shootout at the home of powerful former spy chief Akol Koor, who was sacked almost two months ago amid rumours of a coup plot. Gunfire erupted on Thursday evening in the capital Juba, sparking concerns about the stability of the world's youngest country that is already plagued by power struggles, ethnic infighting and a deep economic malaise. The shooting around the home of Koor, who was fired by Kiir in early October and placed under house arrest, caused panic among local residents before it was contained after about an hour. Following the meeting, South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the incident took place after a "misunderstanding" between security forces attempting to relocate the ex-head of the National Security Services. Koang said Koor had now agreed to the relocation "with his dear wife, one bodyguard, and a cook" elsewhere in the city. He would be provided with additional army protection at his new residence, but Koang emphasised he was not under "their (army) detention." He said four people, two civilians and two soldiers, had been killed during the confrontation. The meeting convened by Kiir included the heads of defence, police, national security and military intelligence. A source in the presidency press unit said Koor was also present. The Sudans Post newspaper quoted a security official as saying the meeting had "resolved all outstanding tensions" and that the spy chief and his family "have been assured of their safety". In an alert to its staff on the ground on Thursday, the United Nations in South Sudan had said the shooting was linked to the arrest of the former spymaster and advised people to take cover. Koang told AFP that Koor "remains at his house", and denied claims circulating on social media that he had fled to the UN compound in Juba. There was a heavy deployment of military forces around his home in the Thongpiny district, an AFP correspondent said, but traffic has resumed and people were going about their daily business. Police spokesman John Kassara said the situation was now calm but that Thongpiny remained sealed off and residents "should remain vigilant". Koor became head of the feared National Security Services (NSS) after South Sudan's independence in 2011 but was sacked in October leading to widespread speculation he had been planning to overthrow Kiir. After his dismissal from the NSS, Koor was appointed governor of Warrap State, Kiir's home state, but this was abruptly revoked by the president before he took the oath of office. Koang said there had been a "misunderstanding" between two security services forces present at Koor's residence when a third unit arrived for the relocation. "That was the start of the armed confrontation that you heard," he said. Four people, two servicemen and two civilians, were killed in the incident, he said, and two civilians were wounded. Koor's sacking came just two weeks after Kiir again postponed by two years, to December 2026, the first elections in the nation's history. The delay has exasperated the international community, which has been pressing the country's leaders to complete a transitional process, including unifying rival armed forces and drawing up a constitution. The NSS was at the centre of controversy in July when parliament approved amendments to legislation allowing the agency to continue to arrest -- without a warrant -- anyone accused of offences against the state, raising alarm among rights groups and South Sudan's international partners. The country has struggled to recover from a brutal civil war between forces loyal to Kiir and his now deputy Riek Machar from 2013 to 2018 that killed about 400,000 people and drove millions from their homes. It remains one of the poorest and most corrupt countries on the planet and continues to be plagued by chronic instability and climate disasters. str-txw-rbu/giv