Simon Harris apologises to carer for ‘not giving her the time she deserved’LAWRENCEBURG – Two Dearborn County high school seniors recently learned they are the 2025 recipients of a prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. The Dearborn Community Foundation staff made surprise visits to award the full-tuition scholarships to East Central High School’s Annabelle Black and Lawrenceburg High School’s Nathan Parker. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network, which connects scholars with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and the LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana, and Indiana Humanities. “Annabelle and Nathan epitomize what the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is all about: community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership,” said Fred McCarter, Executive Director of DCF. “They were selected from among a competitive group of applicants for this high honor and our community should be very proud of Annabelle, Nathan, and the other four finalists.” Black is the daughter of Kelly and B.J. Black. She plans to study Optometry at Hanover College. She was shocked and excited to learn she is a Lilly Scholar. “I’m appreciative and grateful,” she said. “I’m excited for the future.” At East Central, Black has been active in many clubs and groups: National Honor Society (Indiana Rising Star Award); Trojan Exchange; Eco Club; and AOK Club. She also participated in soccer, basketball and softball. She also completed a significant number of volunteer service hours. Parker is the son of Amanda and Brandon Parker. He plans to study Computer Science/Computer Software Engineering. He’s undecided, but leaning toward attending Indiana University, Bloomington. “I don’t have any words,” Black said upon learning he was a 2025 Lilly Scholar. “It’s life changing. It’s a blessing and something I’ve been striving toward a lot.” At Lawrenceburg High School, Parker participated in the Hope Squad throughout high school and completed a significant number of community service hours: providing Chromebook onboarding and repair, IT helpdesk support for both students and staff; and working as a teacher’s assistant, helping both students and staff with technological issues/assignments. He also found the time to hold down a job during the school year. DCF administers the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program in Dearborn County. A five-member scholarship committee and the DCF staff annually review each application during Phase I of the scholarship process. During Phase I, committee members assign scores to each blinded application based on an essay written to address a specific question. DCF assigns additional scores based on financial need, cumulative academic scores, and number of family dependents. Based on the highest total scores during Phase I of the process, six Lilly finalists are selected to move on to Phase II of the selection process. In October, the finalists complete Phase II, which consists of a personal interview, including a PowerPoint presentation to the scholarship committee and writing an impromptu essay on a specific topic. The scholarship committee then submits the top-scoring applicants to the DCF Board for approval before sending the nominations to the statewide administrator for LECSP, Independent Colleges of Indiana, for the selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment Inc. created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-1998 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,300 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. The four remaining LECSP finalists are recognized as 2025 Dearborn Community Foundation Scholarship recipients. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship paid directly to the student’s school. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years of secondary education at the college or university of the student’s choice. The Foundation is pleased to award the 2025 DCF scholarships to: Emily Klem, East Central High School; Isabel Pearson, South Dearborn High School (SDHS); Sophie Ferguson, SDHS; and Trinity Taylor, LHS. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.
Dividend Stocks: NALCO, Gillette India, Godfrey Phillips India among others to trade ex-dividend next week; Full listFishing in winter waters
Yogi Adityanath aces UP bypoll test with campaign charisma, sloganAvalon Advanced Materials Inc. ( TSE:AVL – Get Free Report )’s share price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$0.04 and last traded at C$0.04, with a volume of 250050 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$0.04. Avalon Advanced Materials Price Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$0.04 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.71, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 2.13. The firm has a market capitalization of C$19.78 million, a P/E ratio of -7.00 and a beta of 1.86. About Avalon Advanced Materials ( Get Free Report ) Avalon Advanced Materials Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of rare metal and mineral properties primarily in Canada. The company focuses on exploring lithium, tantalum, cesium, indium, gallium, germanium, tin, yttrium, and zirconium deposits, as well as rare earth elements. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Avalon Advanced Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avalon Advanced Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a law that allows those who sign up to fight in Ukraine to write off unpaid debts worth almost $100,000, the government announced. The new legislation will be a strong motivation for some to join up, experts said, as Russia seeks new ways to recruit fighters for the nearly three-year conflict grinding through troops. The new legislation will allow those who sign a one-year contract to fight in Ukraine after December 1 to free themselves of existing bad debts. It also covers their spouses. The law concerns debts where a court order for collection was issued and enforcement proceedings began before December 1, 2024. The total amount of unpaid debt that can be covered is 10 million rubles, around $96,000 at current rates. Parliament approved the bill earlier this month. The legislation will largely concern younger Russians of fighting age, since those in their 30s and younger are most likely to have loans. Russia has extremely high interest rates for loans and many Russians have almost no cash savings, although the proportion of home owners is relatively high. "Previously (for those fighting) there was only provision for taking repayment holidays on loans," Sergei Krivenko of advocacy group Citizen Army Law told Vazhniye Istorii Telegram channel. The new legislation applies to those who are conscripted for national service and those mobilised for the so-called "special military operation", Krivenko said. Conscripts cannot be sent to the front line but can choose to sign a contract to join the professional army and be sent to fight in Ukraine. Russian authorities "are strengthening the motivation to sign a contract," political analyst Georgy Bovt wrote on Telegram. The legislation provides "another way to get rid of an unbearable burden of credit, at least for several hundred thousand people," Bovt wrote. Over 13 million Russians have three or more loans, according to a central bank report released last month covering the first two quarters. This was up 20 percent on the same period last year. The average amount owed by those with three or more loans is 1.4 million rubles ($13,400 at current rates). Many start with a bank loan and then apply for further loans from microfinance organisations. Russians serving on the front line are already paid far more than the national average. Ukraine also has legislation allowing those fighting to get preferential terms for loans and in some cases to write off debts. bur/tw
‘Cheese, chocolate and other sweet treats’: A chef’s diet rated by a dietitianPutin signs law letting Ukraine fighters write off bad debts
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The ball bounced through KaVonte Turpin's legs and stopped at the 1-yard line. He picked it up, made a spin move and was off to the races. Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return touchdown was the highlight of the Dallas Cowboys' 34-26 win at Washington on Sunday that ended their losing streak at five. That came with just under three minutes left, and then Juanyeh Thomas returned an onside kick for a TD to provide a little happiness in the middle of a lost season. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolvedAdobe Stock image A Fresno area nonprofit organization whose goal is to reduce the number of feral and community cats suffering in the area reached a milestone this year, spaying and neutering nearly 12,000 cats over the course of 2024. Through the support of community members and Dogwood Animal Rescue Project, Fresno TNR’s mission — “to reduce the feral cat population through education and targeted Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs” — aims to prevent thousands of unwanted kittens from walking the streets, but also improves the health and well-being of the existing feline population. “A single unspayed female cat can theoretically produce up to 12,000 kittens in her lifetime when accounting for survival rates,” explains a Fresno TNR spokesperson in a news release Thursday. “Our work directly impacts our community by preventing this exponential growth and reducing the strain on local shelters and neighborhoods.” Partnered with the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CCSPCA), Valley Animal Center, Valley Veterinary Services and Fresno Animal Control, Fresno TNR provides spay and neuter services, relying solely on volunteers to reach their goal. The organization does not have a physical facility, but continues to make an impact, motivated by the passion and dedication of its volunteers. Recently, a $10,000 donation from the Lewis-Harlow Foundation will allow the organization to expand its services. Fresno TNR also hopes to one day operate a brick-and-mortar facility, enhancing its service to the region. More information about Fresno TNR can be found on their website. A Fresno area nonprofit organization whose goal is to reduce Fresno County is closing in on its $400,000 goal to (AP) — Several environmental groups are suing California air regulators Marjaree Mason Center officials announced Thursday that a $1 million donation
Gov. Mills establishes task force to study potential impact of AI on Maine
The Albanese government will probe whether Meta has unlawfully promoted scams on its platforms, as the social media giant continues to take advertising money from criminals pushing blatantly fraudulent schemes on Facebook that target vulnerable Australians. Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones said he had asked his department and office to examine whether Meta was breaching existing laws, including its criminal and civil obligations. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones wants to examine if Meta has broken laws. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer “Every hour that a scam ad is live on a Meta platform causes harm,” Jones said. “It’s not good enough that they don’t have a system which enables blatantly criminal material to be removed.” Jones’ comments came after this masthead published an investigation showing Meta was serving up ads promoting notorious sham investment platforms subject to numerous official warnings and easily identified with a simple search. Loading Despite the tech company’s insistence that it had since removed many offending ads and accounts, new ads appeared in recent days using the same techniques and keywords as before. Among the ads published this week were examples misusing the images of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, singer Guy Sebastian, and those linked to a bogus Salvation Army loan offer. There were also numerous ads promoting Quantum AI, which the consumer watchdog has labelled the “most prolific online investment trading platform scam” affecting Australians.
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved
The City of Ottawa's integrity commissioner has found West-Carleton March Coun. Clarke Kelly has violated the Code of Conduct for city officials and recommends he be reprimanded following an altercation with a local daycare owner and staff last summer. Integrity commissioner Karen Shepherd in her report found Kelly breached Section 4 General Integrity, which outlines ethics and principles members are expected to uphold, and Section 7 Discrimination and Harassment, which requires councillors to treat members of the public with respect. The investigation looked at three incidents on July 3, 2024 when Kelly confronted staff of the West Carleton Kids Korner Daycare adjacent to his constituency office in Kinburn. Kelly told CTV News during an interview after the incident that issues between the daycare and his office had been going on for several years. While participating in a planning and housing committee meeting in his office virtually, Kelly became frustrated with the noise outside his exterior office windows from children playing outside. He told the investigator that on two occasions, he attempted to speak with staff regarding the noise and had asked that children's toys outside his window to be moved but was met with rude responses. Kelly admitted to the investigator that he was "kind of fired up in that moment" and felt provoked by the situation. Kelly returned to his office to speak with his staff where he used "loud, inappropriate language" inside. A small group of children were working on crafts in the chambers nearby and a witness said she could hear his voice coming from outside the office. Kelly then decided to leave his office to confront the daycare owner, Karen Bolton, outside the daycare entrance where a two-to-three-minute profanity-laden interaction took place. A witness overheard Kelly saying phrases that included: "this is f***ing ridiculous", "the daycare has to go", "staff are rude", "your staff can't control these f***ing kids.” Another witness could not recall what was said but recalled "lots of F-Bombs" and described him as "aggressive" and "angry." She said Kelly “went from loud to shouting” on several occasions. Kelly acknowledged that he had confronted the daycare owner and used inappropriate language in the exchange. He expressed his regret for his use of profanities to investigators. The daycare's owner proceeded to call the Ottawa police who attended the scene but did not lay any charges. "Regrettably, Councillor Kelly’s comments and profanity were overheard by a daycare worker and children in Chambers. While I believe Councillor Kelly did not intend for his comments to be overheard, I believe it is reasonable that he should have known someone could easily hear him given his complaints about the lack of noise attenuation between his office and Chambers. His comments and profanity had a negative impact on the daycare worker who overheard them," Shepherd wrote. Shepherd added that while Kelly took accountability for his actions, he did not act with accountability during the encounters, writing he had the "opportunity to compose himself" and avoid the aggressive confrontation that followed. She also acknowledged Kelly has a “reasonable expectation of a professional work environment.” “Though not an excuse for Councillor Kelly’s conduct that day, it does not appear that any action was taken in response to complaints from the Councillor’s Office about the noise and bathroom issues associated with the summer camp in 2023. It is regrettable that the various parties could not come to an agreement or implement measures that might have mitigated the noise and disruption of the summer camp program for the summer of 2024,” she wrote. Kelly has taken steps to engage with the city’s Employee Assistance Program for “assistance with managing anger and staying healthy” and expressed his commitment to learning from his mistakes, according to the report. The report notes pylons have since been added to the cement area outside Kelly's office to keep children away from the exterior windows. Steps have also been taken to possibly improve sound attenuation between chambers and the councillor's offices. Councillors will decide what consequences Kelly could face, including suspension of pay, but Shepherd believes that action is not necessary. "Councillor Kelly has expressed regret for his actions, acknowledged that his behaviour was inappropriate and has taken proactive steps to avoid a similar interaction in the future. This is the first report respecting Councillor Kelly’s conduct and he fully co-operated with the inquiry," the report said. Councillors will discuss the issue during Wednesday's city council meeting. Ottawa Top Stories Ottawa councillor violated Code of Conduct for daycare incident last summer, integrity commissioner concludes 290,000 speeding tickets and counting: A look at how many photo radar tickets have been issued in Ottawa in 2024 Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal Ottawa Food Bank declares an emergency amid record-breaking usage Orleans man calls for changes after service guide dog attacked by another dog Woman seriously injured in October house fire dies in hospital, Ottawa police say What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Nov.22-24 Ottawa police officer acquitted in death of Abdirahman Abdi testifies at inquest CTVNews.ca Top Stories Joly, Blair condemn anti-NATO protest in Montreal that saw fires, smashed windows Federal cabinet ministers condemned an anti-NATO protest in Montreal that turned violent on Friday, saying 'hatred and antisemitism' were on display. Canada's top general takes on U.S. senator in defending womens' role in combat units Canada's top general firmly rejected the notion of dropping women from combat roles — a position promoted by president-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary — at a security forum underway in Halifax today. Transit supervisor assaulted with 'torch' made of hairspray can and lighter: police A Winnipeg man has been charged after a transit supervisor was assaulted with a makeshift torch in the city’s downtown area Friday morning. NEW | Thinking about taking an 'adult gap year'? Here's what experts say you should know Canadian employees are developing an appetite for an 'adult gap year': a meaningful break later in life to refocus, refresh and indulge in something outside their daily routine, according to experts. 'Her shoe got sucked into the escalator': Toronto family warns of potential risk of wearing Crocs A Toronto family is speaking out after their 10-year-old daughter's Crocs got stuck in an escalator, ripping the entire toe area of the clog off. Walking pneumonia is surging in Canada. Is it peaking now? CTVNews.ca spoke with various medical experts to find out the latest situation with the typically mild walking pneumonia in their area and whether parents should be worried. Canada's tax relief plan: Who gets a cheque? The Canadian government has unveiled its plans for a sweeping GST/HST pause on select items during the holiday period. The day after the announcement, questions remain on how the whole thing will work. Prime Minister Trudeau attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Toronto with family Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a Swiftie. His office confirmed to CTV News Toronto that he and members of his family are attending the penultimate show of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' in Toronto on Friday evening. Canada's new income tax brackets in 2025: What you need to know The Canada Revenue Agency has released updated federal income tax brackets for 2025, reflecting adjustments for inflation. Here’s the breakdown. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 24 Of The Best Host And Hostess Gifts You Can Find Online Right Now The Best Advent Calendars For Women In 2024 All The Best Beauty Stocking Stuffers That Ring In Under $25 Home Our Guide to the Best Jewellery Boxes You Can Find Online Right Now 16 Home Gadgets That'll Make Your Life Easier The 5 Best Drip Coffee Makers In Canada In 2024, Tested and Reviewed Gifts 23 Gifts, Add-Ons, And Stocking Stuffers For Anyone Who Spends A Lot Of Time In Their Car The Ultimate 2024 Holiday Gift Guide For Nature Lovers And Outdoor Adventurers 27 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Men Beauty 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit If You Suffer From Dry Skin, You'll Want To Add At Least One Of These Hydrating Moisturizers To Your Cart Deals These Apple Products Are Majorly On Sale On Amazon Canada Right Now, So It Might Be Time To Upgrade Your Tech Black Friday Has Begun On Amazon Canada: Here Are The Best Deals Black Friday Is Almost Here, But These Deals On Mattresses And Bedding Are Already Live Atlantic 'We need answers': Protest held at RCMP detachment for missing N.B. man A crowd of over 20 people stood in the pouring rain Saturday in front of the RCMP detachment in Hampton, N.B., to bring awareness to a missing person’s case. Canada Post down eight million parcels amid strike as talk carry on over weekend Canada Post says it has seen a shortage of more than eight million parcels amid the ongoing strike that has effectively shut down the postal system for nine days compared with the same period of 2023. 17-year-old dies following single-vehicle crash in Turtle Creek: N.B. RCMP A 17-year-old boy from Petitcodiac, N.B., has died following a single-vehicle crash in Turtle Creek, N.B. Toronto 'Her shoe got sucked into the escalator': Toronto family warns of potential risk of wearing Crocs A Toronto family is speaking out after their 10-year-old daughter's Crocs got stuck in an escalator, ripping the entire toe area of the clog off. 'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger. Swifties live-streaming Eras Tour concerts say they're part of a 'community' Live streams of Taylor Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour concerts in Toronto give devoted fans a window into the spectacle of outfits, surprise songs and elaborate stages from one of the biggest cultural events in recent memory. Montreal Lucien-L'Allier train station to reopen Dec. 21 after renovations Exo announced that Lucien-L'Allier train station will reopen on Dec. 21, with three commuter train lines – Vaudreuil/Hudson, Saint-Jérôme and Candiac – resuming service to the station. Residents in Verdun evacuated after suspected arson Montreal police (SPVM) said a dépanneur in Verdun was targeted in a suspected arson attack early Saturday morning. Canada's new income tax brackets in 2025: What you need to know The Canada Revenue Agency has released updated federal income tax brackets for 2025, reflecting adjustments for inflation. Here’s the breakdown. Northern Ontario Northern Ont. First Nation files claim against Ontario and Newmont mining Taykwa Tagamou Nation, a Cree First Nation located within Treaty 9, has filed a statement of claim against the Province of Ontario and Newmont, a mining company that owns properties in Timmins. Senior killed in dog attack in northern Ont. An 81-year-old was killed in a dog attack this week in Bonfield, Ont. Police believe three dogs were involved. Whole Foods carrots pulled in expanded recall for E. coli: CFIA The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced an expanded recall on carrots over risks of E. coli O121 contamination, according to a notice issued Friday. Windsor Truck fire on the Ambassador Bridge Windsor fire responded to a transport truck fire on Friday afternoon on the Ambassador Bridge. Highway 401 off ramp reopens The OPP have confirmed an off ramp off Highway 401 has reopened. 4 Windsor, Chatham-Kent councillors oppose use of notwithstanding clause on encampments Four councillors from Windsor and Chatham-Kent are among 72 municipal leaders opposing a letter from 15 Ontario mayors that supports Premier Doug Ford's push to use the notwithstanding clause to clear homeless encampments. London Nuclear operator helps fund affordable housing project in Goderich The operators of the Bruce Nuclear Plant near Kincardine just donated $1 million towards Huron County’s largest affordable housing project in years. Thousands endure heavy rain to take in Hyde Park Santa Claus parade Nearly 15,000 people lined Gainsborough Road in the pouring rain to take in the 16th Hyde Park Santa Claus parade and support a great cause. Wingham area raises $3.6 million for new CT scanner Wingham will be getting its first ever CT Scanner thanks to a multimillion dollar fundraising campaign that just came to a close. Kitchener Advocates push for anti-renoviction bylaws as Waterloo Region reports affordable housing progress On National Housing Day, housing advocacy group ACORN continued to push for anti-renoviction bylaws. Man charged in Kitchener crash involving Grand River Transit LRT Charges were laid after a crash between an LRT train and a Dodge vehicle shut down a busy Kitchener street for more than eight hours on Thursday. How University of Waterloo researchers could help charge your devices by moving your body Imagine being able to charge your devices through your body’s movements. Barrie New Orillia Christmas tree shines bright After Orillia’s underwhelming Christmas tree-lighting ceremony last year became a viral sensation, the City lit a new, bigger, brighter and healthier tree Friday evening. Highway 400 reopens in Muskoka Lakes after fatal propane truck rollover Highway 400 reopened late Friday night in Georgian Bay Township after emergency crews tended to a fatal tanker truck rollover Friday morning. Drug trafficking investigation results in largest fentanyl seizure in Simcoe County: OPP Two people are facing drug trafficking charges after what provincial police are calling the largest fentanyl seizure in Simcoe County. Winnipeg Have you seen George? RCMP search for missing senior Spruce Plains RCMP are asking the public to help find 81-year-old George Haslen who has been missing since Friday afternoon. The Thriftmas Special: The benefits of second-hand holiday shopping The holidays may be a time for family, joy and togetherness, but they can also be hard on the wallet. Perimeter Highway reopens after semi-truck leaves overpass, collides with train The 56-year-old semi driver was airlifted to hospital by STARS and is in stable condition with serious injuries. Calgary Snowfall warning for Calgary and southern Alberta expected to continue throughout Saturday A snowfall warning for Calgary remained in effect early Saturday morning and looks poised to be hanging around all weekend. Calgary activates transit detours amid snowfall warning The City of Calgary's transit snow detours will be activated on Friday night, with the city expected to receive dozens of centimetres of snow. ‘Pinch me I’m dreaming:’ Calgary drummer pulled from crowd to play with the Arkells For young musicians, to be up on stage in front of thousands of people, would be a dream come true. That’s exactly what happened to a Calgary girl, after being invited to play with Canadian rock icons The Arkells. Edmonton From Instagram to IRL: Where to find this year's trendy treats in Edmonton From globally-inspired pastries to vegan fast food and Connor McDavid-themed culinary delights, Edmonton has a lot to offer anyone looking to try something trendy. Man armed with knife arrested in west Edmonton: EPS A man armed with a knife was arrested in west Edmonton Friday afternoon, police said. Afraid of losing the U.S.-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts Mexico has been taking a bashing lately for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America, and officials here are afraid a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could try to leave their country out of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Regina City of Regina releases snowfall response plan ahead of next blast of wintery weather Many parts of Saskatchewan will be hit with another round of wintery weather on Saturday, and Regina is no exception, with up to 25 centimetres of snow expected to accumulate. Here's a look inside the Globe Theatre before it reopens The format is the same, but the venue looks very different from the last time audiences were inside Regina's Globe Theatre after extensive renovations. B.C. man dies in collision on Sask. highway A man from British Columbia has died in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 6 near Milestone, Sask. Saskatoon 'I'm excited to take it on': Saskatoon businesses weigh in on GST exemption Some local businesses say the federal government’s recent plan to pull back GST on several items is a positive initiative, but it should have been rolled out earlier in the holiday season. Watermain break closes Saskatoon road The City of Saskatoon is advising motorists of road closures due to a watermain break that caused flooding on Millar Avenue near Circle Drive. Why isn't Saskatoon's new downtown shelter open yet? Saskatoon's new downtown shelter must undergo renovations before it can open, according to the operator of the site. Vancouver Fall legislative sitting scrapped in B.C. as Speaker Chouhan confirmed to serve again There won't be a sitting of the British Columbia legislature this fall as originally planned. SPS one week away from taking over Surrey policing It’s been a long and drawn out process, but we are now a week away from Surrey’s new municipal force formally taking over policing responsibility in that city. 'My wife's going bonkers': Abbotsford residents fed up with overnight construction noise Residents of a rural Abbotsford neighbourhood are fed up with the noise from a provincial project that has meant hundreds of dump trucks rumbling up and down their street in the middle of the night. Vancouver Island Fall legislative sitting scrapped in B.C. as Speaker Chouhan confirmed to serve again There won't be a sitting of the British Columbia legislature this fall as originally planned. Victoria police face being understaffed amid proposed budget cuts Layoffs could be imminent for the Victoria Police Department if it adheres to the requests of the City of Victoria, and cuts over $2 million from its budget. Campbell River high school closure extended due to fire Carihi Secondary school in Campbell River is closed due to a fire on the property overnight – drawing a firefighting response from multiple departments and a crowd of onlookers. Kelowna Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail. Stay Connected
BJP builds a broad caste coalition, garnering Maratha and OBC votesAs CY24 draws to a close, it is good time to assess how major global indices fared. Of course, when compared to the around 170 per cent returns delivered by Argentina’s benchmark index – MERVAL, all other global indices pale in comparison. Nevertheless, it has been a good year for all benchmark indices of major economies in the world. Even China’s SSE composite, which has seen underwhelming performance in recent years, gave double-digit returns for the year. While Nifty 50’s close to 10 per cent returns in CY24 is half of the 20 per cent returns it delivered in CY23, investors do not have much to complain given on a five-year basis, Nifty 50 is second best-performing index after the Nasdaq Composite. Here are four charts comparing the global indices. The returns here are in local currency and excluding dividends. Driven by the AI frenzy and Magnificent 7 stocks, the Nasdaq Composite is the best performing index for the second year in a row. On a five-year basis too, Nasdaq Composite leads, with Nifty 50 bettering S&P 500 for the second spot. However overall, the quality of Nifty 50 returns can be termed superior, given its PE multiple has marginally contracted in the last five years. Thus its entire upside has been on the back of stellar earnings growth. Germany’s DAX and UK’s FTSE 100 are the other indices that have witnessed multiple contraction. As compared to this, Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 have witnessed significant multiple expansion in the last five years, reflecting the weight of AI expectations loaded in at current levels. Any miss vs expectations can result in multiples contracting. CommentsNotable quotes by Jimmy Carter