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Doughty scores 17 in Indiana State's 83-80 win against Iona
Burlington Stores ( NYSE:BURL – Free Report ) had its price objective raised by Morgan Stanley from $285.00 to $305.00 in a report released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the stock. A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on BURL. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Burlington Stores from $278.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Burlington Stores from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Gordon Haskett upgraded Burlington Stores from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Bank of America upped their target price on Burlington Stores from $275.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 30th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $310.00 price target on shares of Burlington Stores in a research report on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $307.69. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BURL Burlington Stores Stock Performance Burlington Stores ( NYSE:BURL – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 26th. The company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.02. Burlington Stores had a return on equity of 47.52% and a net margin of 4.49%. The business had revenue of $2.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.55 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.98 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Burlington Stores will post 7.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Burlington Stores In other news, Director Paul Sullivan sold 1,705 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $277.05, for a total value of $472,370.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 7,393 shares in the company, valued at $2,048,230.65. This trade represents a 18.74 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . 0.91% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Burlington Stores Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Burlington Stores by 1.7% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,074,960 shares of the company’s stock valued at $282,582,000 after purchasing an additional 18,160 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Burlington Stores by 9.1% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 772,010 shares of the company’s stock valued at $185,282,000 after buying an additional 64,410 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Burlington Stores by 1,048.8% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 730,524 shares of the company’s stock worth $192,478,000 after acquiring an additional 666,934 shares during the period. Anomaly Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of Burlington Stores by 34.6% during the second quarter. Anomaly Capital Management LP now owns 730,175 shares of the company’s stock worth $175,242,000 after purchasing an additional 187,760 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its holdings in Burlington Stores by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 663,527 shares of the company’s stock valued at $159,246,000 after buying an additional 14,080 shares during the period. Burlington Stores Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Burlington Stores, Inc operates as a retailer of branded merchandise in the United States. The company provides fashion-focused merchandise, including women's ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, footwear, accessories, toys, gifts, and coats, as well as baby, home, and beauty products. Read More Five stocks we like better than Burlington Stores How to Invest in the FAANG Stocks The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Best of the list of Dividend Aristocrats: Build wealth with the aristocrat index 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 5 Top Rated Dividend Stocks to Consider FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Burlington Stores Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Burlington Stores and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Fluence Energy ( NASDAQ:FLNC – Free Report ) had its target price lowered by Royal Bank of Canada from $28.00 to $27.00 in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on FLNC. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Fluence Energy from $23.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Fluence Energy in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $26.00 price objective on the stock. BNP Paribas upgraded Fluence Energy from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $22.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, November 8th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Fluence Energy from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Guggenheim upgraded shares of Fluence Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $26.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $26.85. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on FLNC Fluence Energy Stock Up 2.4 % Institutional Trading of Fluence Energy A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its position in Fluence Energy by 3.8% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 24,250 shares of the company’s stock worth $420,000 after purchasing an additional 897 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Fluence Energy by 676.6% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,693 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 1,475 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Fluence Energy by 45.3% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 4,821 shares of the company’s stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 1,502 shares during the period. PARK CIRCLE Co acquired a new position in Fluence Energy in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its stake in Fluence Energy by 164.4% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,842 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 1,767 shares during the period. 53.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Fluence Energy ( Get Free Report ) Fluence Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, offers energy storage products and solution, services, and artificial intelligence enabled software-as-a-service products for renewables and storage applications in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company sells energy storage products with integrated hardware, software, and digital intelligence. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Fluence Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fluence Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Atria Investments Inc Invests $228,000 in SiTime Co. (NASDAQ:SITM)
By Molly Farrar The Connecticut man accused of killing a Massachusetts mother and her 4-month-old baby in a drive-by shooting last week was arrested in Puerto Rico Saturday, officials said. Jessiah Mercado, 20, and her son Messiah were shot in a vehicle Tuesday on New Britain Avenue in Hartford, police said last week. Another occupant of the vehicle was treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound, and the driver was uninjured. Lance Morales, 23, of Waterbury, was arrested in Puerto Rico Saturday after Hartford police identified him as the alleged shooter, the U.S. Marshals Service said. Video showed Mercado’s car parked when Morales allegedly pulled up next to the car and opened fire, according to police. Morales has been charged with two counts of murder, first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, and murder with special circumstances, the Marshals said. Mercado and her son were both from Springfield , but Messiah was in the state’s foster care system, MassLive reported . The agency said they are investigating the situation. When police suspected that Morales had fled to Puerto Rico, the Marshals’ Puerto Rico Violent Fugitive Task Force stepped in and arrested him at a residence in Fajardo, according to the Marshalls. Police there formally charged Morales as a fugitive of justice, and he will be extradited to Connecticut. “This arrest is a testament to the close collaboration between the U.S. Marshals Service and our valued law enforcement partners,” acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Connecticut Lawrence Bobnick said. “It demonstrates the reach these partnerships bring to the pursuit of justice.” Molly Farrar Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.
His neighbours have cats and dogs, but when 72-year-old Philippe Gillet settles down to watch television there is usually an alligator dozing beside him. His bungalow in western France is also home to a venomous Gabonese viper, a spitting cobra, a python, alligator turtles that can bite off a finger, tarantulas and scorpions. When someone unfamiliar enters Gillet’s living room, Gator, a two-metre (6ft 6-inch) alligator, growls from under a coffee table. “Calm down,” says Gillet, and Gator goes back to his snooze near Alli, another dozing alligator. “When there is a storm he comes to sleep in my bed,” said Gillet. “People think I am mad.”UK leader Starmer heads to Gulf to talk trade, Mideast
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Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsElon Musk wants to turn SpaceX's Starbase site into a Texas city
Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictionsThe Little Foxes review: Just in time for Christmas, a back-stabbing family feud, writes PATRICK MARMION By PATRICK MARMION and GEORGINA BROWN Published: 23:47 GMT, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 00:12 GMT, 13 December 2024 e-mail View comments The Little Foxes (Young Vic, London ) Verdict: Sibling cesspit Rating: Anne-Marie Duff has become widely celebrated as the mousey housewife who roared in the hilariously chaotic revenge comedy Bad Sisters on Apple TV+. And here she goes again, at London’s Young Vic theatre, only this time as a seemingly downtrodden sister in a wealthy family fighting for control of an Alabama cotton plantation. Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes, written in 1939, is a bitter domestic melodrama in which one brother Ben (Mark Bonnar) seeks to swindle his sister Regina (Duff) out of a potential multi-million dollar fortune by plotting with another, Oscar (Steffan Rhodri). But Regina already has the measure of her conniving siblings. She plans to thwart them by withholding money kept by her mortally ill husband, Horace (John Light). Just in time for Christmas , this is a tasty but cheerless exercise in family feuds. The back-stabbing brothers even seek marriages between their own children - first cousins - to secure a medieval-style alliance (a subject debated by MPs this week, in one of those weird overlaps of art and life). Rhodri’s Oscar is a nasty piece of work who beats his alcoholic wife (Anna Madeley, Mrs Hall of All Creatures Great And Small) and manipulates his feckless son Leo ( Piers Morgan ’s son Stanley, who passed out on Press Night this week, causing a half-hour halt, before manfully carrying on). Anne-Marie Duff (pictured) has become widely celebrated as the mousey housewife who roared in the hilariously chaotic revenge comedy Bad Sisters on Apple TV+. And here she goes again, at London’s Young Vic theatre, only this time as a seemingly downtrodden sister in a wealthy family fighting for control of an Alabama cotton plantation Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes, written in 1939, is a bitter domestic melodrama in which one brother Ben (Mark Bonnar) seeks to swindle his sister Regina (Duff) out of a potential multi-million dollar fortune. Pictured: Mark Bonnar as Ben and Eleanor Worthington-Cox as Regina’s virtuous daughter Alexandra Only Regina’s virtuous daughter Alexandra (Eleanor Worthington-Cox) emerges with any credit. Regina was originally played on Broadway in 1939 by the formidable Tallulah Bankhead, and here Duff works hard to be less of a monster. But when she stands by, watching her husband have a heart attack on the stairs, her self-serving moral depravity can no longer be denied. Bonnar’s Ben, an opportunist in a tailored tweed suit, notes that soon all America will be this way. Lyndsey Turner’s slick production transposes the original 1900 action to the 1960s, with Lizzie Clachan’s peculiarly bland set of beige hessian panels and G Plan furniture arranged around a grand, four-seater green velvet Chesterfield sofa. Perhaps this is an attempt to say something about the civil rights era, as black servants played by Freddie MacBruce and Andrea Davy lurk in silent judgement of their masters’ complacent supremacism. Rhodri’s Oscar is a nasty piece of work who beats his alcoholic wife (Anna Madeley, Mrs Hall of All Creatures Great And Small) and manipulates his feckless son Leo (Piers Morgan’s son Stanley) But it’s too vague a gesture. Despite top-of-the-range acting and portentous sound effects, urging us to feel the tension, Hellman’s writing is simply too schematic to make us care about the outcome. Ballet Shoes (Olivier, National Theatre) Verdict: Girls’ Own epic Rating: Noel Streatfeild’s children’s classic Ballet Shoes, by contrast, is a jolly riot of wishful family thinking suitable for children aged seven and over. It’s a zany story about three orphaned sisters growing up in 1930s London in the home of itinerant palaeontologist Great Uncle Matthew (‘GUM’). A Girls’ Own fantasy reminiscent of Enid Blyton, it sees the three siblings follow their own creative stars. Pauline discovers a talent for acting, Posy wants to be a ballerina, and Petrova dreams of being an aviator. They’re assisted by GUM’s niece Sylvia (another, older orphan), and seen-it-all housekeeper Nana. Daisy Sequerra (pictured) brings dedication and tantrums as dancer Posy, while Yanexi Enriquez embodies cast-iron certitude as the mechanically minded Petrova But when the sisters run out of money after GUM fails to return from his travels, they are forced to take in lodgers: a lesbian English teacher, a jazz dancer from New York and an Indian mechanic with a fabulous Citroen. Director Katy Rudd previously staged an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Ocean At The End Of The Lane at the National Theatre, and again produces an impressive exhibition of stagecraft. Frankie Bradshaw’s set is an edifice of archaeological curiosity, but also transports us from ballet schools to film sets, around London and across continents. A doughty cast is led by Justin Salinger doubling as the studiedly eccentric GUM and Russian ballet teacher Madame Fidolia. Grace Saif straddles bolshiness and ambition as budding actor Pauline. Daisy Sequerra brings dedication and tantrums as dancer Posy, while Yanexi Enriquez embodies cast-iron certitude as the mechanically minded Petrova. Noel Streatfeild’s children’s classic Ballet Shoes, by contrast, is a jolly riot of wishful family thinking suitable for children aged seven and over. Pictured: Pearl Mackie, as Sylvia, left, and Sid Sagar (Jai Saran) The whole enterprise could collapse like a house of cards. But Pearl Mackie, as Sylvia, the girls’ surrogate mother, helps maintain continuity. It’s spirited, wholesome and hearty, and you’ll either love it already, or — like me and my 14-year-old daughter — be captivated by its ambition. The Little Foxes until February 8; Ballet Shoes until February 22. Pinocchio (Watermill Theatre, Newbury) Verdict: The ordinary becomes extraordinary Rating: Carlo Collodi ends his 19th-century morality tale about the fibbing Pinocchio with his death by hanging. There are neither ropes nor strings in Michael Morpurgo’s whimsical fantasia about a puppet who is not so much wicked as thick, as might be expected in a boy carved from a cherry log with eyes made from pine... which is what gave him his name. Morpurgo’s point, pithily made in Simon Reade’s adaptation, is that Pinocchio is a unique individual, as are we all. Carlo Collodi ends his 19th-century morality tale about the fibbing Pinocchio with his death by hanging His knuckle-headedness means he is easily lead astray by more wily characters but, supported by his parents’ unconditional love, he will find his own path through life. The charm of this show comes from the ordinary becoming extraordinary. Gepetto is inspired by the shape of a log to create a son for his childless wife. In a truly magical moment, Pinocchio (Jerome Yates) appears, stock still, his limbs gradually coming to stiff life. Occasionally he lies, but it is Pinocchio’s laddish stupidity that gets him into trouble. He doesn’t understand that a careless blow can kill a friendly cricket, any more than that his toes will burn if he puts them too close to the fire. Under Indiana Lown-Collins and Elle While’s breezy direction, nothing is irredeemable. There are neither ropes nor strings in Michael Morpurgo’s whimsical fantasia about a puppet who is not so much wicked as thick, as might be expected in a boy carved from a cherry log with eyes made from pine... which is what gave him his name That includes Pinocchio’s scorched extremities, thanks to Gepetto’s expert emergency surgery, involving a drill and screwdriver, and his ingeniously extending lying hooter — which gets pecked off by a flock of woodpeckers. The cast keep the show moving splendidly through a series of merry musical misadvantures, but the real show-stealers are Marc Parrett’s puppets, including a poo-shooting pig with a head made from a watering can, a gang of ginger weasels as slinky as can be and, best of all, a giant lantern suggesting a luminous whale, in which Pinocchio and his dad are reunited over a lunch of tuna and anchovies. Delightfully diverting. Until January 5, watermill.org.uk Alabama London Share or comment on this article: The Little Foxes review: Just in time for Christmas, a back-stabbing family feud, writes PATRICK MARMION e-mail Add comment
For the second time in ten months, former Bears kicker Robbie Gould was introduced as the new head football coach at an area high school. Gould resigned from Rolling Meadows on Dec. 3 and was hired by St. Viator, the Catholic high school four miles northeast, on Dec. 10. The school held a news conference to introduce him on Thursday. “I’m truly honored to be in this position,” Gould said. “I want to thank everyone involved in this hiring process. It was thorough and thoughtful, and it made it clear that St. Viator is a place where core values and hard work are prioritized. This is a school that places an emphasis on education, character development and service — values I personally believe in and that I see reflected in this football program.” St. Viator was 4-5 this fall, losing five of its last six games, and didn’t make the playoffs. Coach David Archibald then resigned. The Lions’ starting quarterback this year was senior Cooper Kmet, the younger brother of Bears tight end Cole Kmet. And there’s another significant connection to the Bears — Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton’s son, Jarrett, attended St. Viator. Gould guided Rolling Meadows to the playoffs in his one season, improving them from two victories to five. His move to the Catholic League comes at a time of heightened attention around the public school vs. private school debate. Gould emphasized St. Viator’s facilities in his comments Thursday. “The strength and conditioning program here is outstanding, and it’s a critical part of developing our athletes,” he said. “But it’s not just about physical strength. This program is about developing mental toughness, perseverance and teamwork. These core values will be the foundation of our football team moving forward.” A few other ex-Bears are coaching high school football in the area. Former safety Tom Nelson is at Hersey, former fullback Jason McKie is at Carmel, and former running back Jordan Lynch is at Mount Carmel. “As a former Penn State Nittany Lion, I understand the importance of tradition, and the alumni here are incredibly supportive,” Gould said. “I look forward to building a strong community of former players and supporters who will continue to help shape this program for years to come.”Rein Entertainment stuns global audiences with 'Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence' at ATF 2024The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “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,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff after most local surveys predicted he would win less than 10% of the vote. Georgescu, 62, was ahead after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.95%. According to local media, Georgescu in the past has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state.” He has also sparked controversy for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes. Lasconi, of the progressive Save Romania Union party, or USR, followed with 19.17%. She beat by a slim margin incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, who stood at 19.15%. Lasconi on Monday warned that Romania is now in “a historical confrontation between preserving Romania’s young democracy ... and those who want to return Romania to the Russian sphere of influence.” She added: “Let us be very clear, Calin Georgescu is an open admirer of Vladimir Putin. He is open against NATO and the European Union ... He is for Romania’s isolation, which he calls neutrality ... And without NATO we are at the mercy of Russia.” Georgescu on Monday denied charges of being an extremist as “false, totally fake” and said he is “completely dedicated” to the Romanian people. “We remain directly linked to European values, but we must find our (own) values,” he said. “I’m not an extremist, I’m not a fascist, I’m a Romanian who loves his country.” Many observers have attributed Georgescu’s success to his TikTok account , which has 3.7 million likes and 274,000 followers. He gained huge traction and popularity in recent weeks. It is the first time in Romania’s 35-year post-communist history that the country’s most powerful party, the PSD, doesn't have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race, underscoring voters’ anti-establishment sentiment. Ciolacu's shocking defeat prompted him to submit his resignation as party leader on Monday. After polls closed on Sunday, the Central Election Bureau said 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots. Georgescu won 43.3% of the vote in Romania's large diaspora, while Lasconi got 26.8%. Romania's president serves a five-year term in the European Union and NATO member country and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. According to his website, Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. His campaign positions included supporting farmers, reducing import dependence and ramping up local energy and food production. Georgescu's rising popularity will be tested when he faces Lasconi, who may attract more moderate voters who initially choose other candidates. Lasconi, a former journalist, told The Associated Press ahead of the vote that she saw corruption as one of Romania's biggest problems and expressed support for increased defense spending and continued aid to Ukraine. If she wins the final vote, she will be the first female president in Romania's history. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister.BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.
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Empowered Funds LLC Increases Holdings in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ)Michigan coach Sherrone Moore let Ohio State fans have it after leading his team to a shocking 13-10 win over the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Oh. FOX cameras caught Moore turning around and waving to Buckeyes fans immediately after Ohio State was stopped on fourth down in their last-ditch comeback attempt. Moore even took off his headset and walked toward the stands a bit to really double down on his taunting. SHERRONE MOORE WAVES GOODBYE. INCREDIBLE. ( : @CFBONFOX ) pic.twitter.com/nUom6EbTwP — theScore (@theScore) November 30, 2024 Moore was not done there. According to Austin Meek of The Athletic, the Michigan coach was even yelling “we own you” in the direction of Buckeye fans. Sherrone Moore: “We own you!” pic.twitter.com/OAsmwuTUqh — Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) November 30, 2024 Moore certainly earned the right to gloat. The Wolverines were huge underdogs against a playoff-bound Ohio State team, and took advantage of a host of Buckeye mistakes to pull off the huge road upset. It also marks the Wolverines’ fourth consecutive victory in their most important rivalry game. One could argue that Michigan got a bit too disrespectful in the aftermath of Saturday’s win, but Moore certainly has the right to get the last laugh here. He is 2-0 against Ohio State if you count his victory last year while coaching for the suspended Jim Harbaugh, and despite some tough sledding this season, he got his team to a bowl game with a 7-5 record and a rivalry win. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.Raiders win the Class C State Championship; thump Hermon 28-0
AP News Summary at 3:38 p.m. EST