Well, the holidays are here and the time of giving is upon us. Since giving is such an important part of the season, I started writing an annual gifting column in December to remind you of some of the things to be aware of. I know that it isn’t going to affect all of you, but I still think that is a good idea to remind everyone of the rules. When discussing gifting with clients, the first thing that always comes up is the annual limit. A lot of my clients believe that there is a set limit on the amount of gifts a person can give each year to any one individual. If you take one thing away from this week’s column, let it be this: there is no limit on the amount of gifts a person can make each year. What a lot of people think of as a limit is a triggering amount. Each of us can make gifts of up to $18,000.00 to any individual before any reporting is required. If you give any one individual a total of $18,000.00 in gifts in 2024, you don’t have to report anything. If you gift $18,001.00 to any one individual, you must file a federal gift tax return. Also, each of us can gift $18,000.00 so that a husband and wife could gift $36,000.00 to a favorite child without any reporting. I checked and next year, the gift tax exclusion increases to $19,000.00. Remember that the $18,000.00 gift tax exclusion is a total for the year. There is no Christmas or birthday exception. If you give $18,000.00 at Christmas, it is in addition to all the other gifts made that year. $18,000.00 means $18,000.00. Also, make sure that any gift you make is completed before the end of the year. If you write a sizeable check to a loved one, make sure that they negotiate the check prior to the end of the year. If your son sits on the check until January, it may not be a completed gift for the year that it was intended. Remember that if you make gifts that aren’t cash, make sure that you understand tax basis. When making gifts other than cash, the recipient takes your tax basis in the asset. For example, if you gift $18,000.00 in stock to a son, he takes your tax basis in the stock, not the value at the time of the gift. The stock may be worth $18,000.00, but the tax basis could be considerably less resulting in a capital gain when the stock is sold. Also, if gifting securities, remember that it may take time for the transaction to be completed. Don’t decide to gift stock on December 21, and expect it to be completed this year. Finally, if you make a gift in excess of the gift exclusion, tax will be assessed but you probably won’t have to pay it. Each of us has a lifetime unified credit that can be used to pay any assessed tax. If you owe $1,000.00 in gift tax, you can use $1,000.00 of your unified credit to avoid paying tax. It will reduce your unified credit at the time of your death by that amount but most of us will still be okay. Gifting can be complicated so if you intend to make sizeable gifts before the end of the year, contact your attorney or accountant to discuss the potential pitfalls. Although it’s unlikely that you will have to pay any tax, it’s best to report the gift when required to do so.Hoops star Nurse joins Athletes Unlimited aiming to rebound from ‘rocky’ two years
X owner Elon Musk has delivered a brutal takedown of an Australian newspaper, predicting they will lose their readership over “relentless lying”. The hit targeted Nine Entertainment’s Sydney Morning Herald after it published an opinion piece on Sunday featuring a prediction that irked the billionaire. The outlet published an article by technology editor David Swan in which he shared his predictions for the industry in 2025. One prediction was that Mr Musk would leave electric car manufacturer Tesla to focus on Government work with US President-elect Donald Trump. Mr Swan suggested that the world’s richest man would have too much on his plate. “To be juggling leadership roles at X (formerly Twitter), Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, the Boring Company and Neuralink was already unsustainable,” the SMH article read. “Musk now has wormed his way into Trump’s inner circle, and will jointly lead the president-elect’s DOGE – Department of Government Efficiency – in a bid to slash billions in government expenditure. “After constant controversies and distractions, it will all come to a head in 2025, and Musk will be forced to hand over the reins at Tesla, a company many mistakenly think he founded.” The prediction over Mr Musk’s resignation was not appreciated by the world’s richest man. Replying to a screenshot of the opinion piece, Mr Musk delivered his own prediction for 2025, aimed directly at the publisher of the article. “I predict that the Sydney Morning Herald will continue to lose readership in 2025 for relentlessly lying to their audience and boring them to death Mr Musk’s smackdown was shared with his 209 million followers on the X social media platform. “Easy prediction to make, any legacy media continuing to lie to their readers will face significant decline,” one user added to Mr Musk’s prediction. “Australia, Ireland and the UK are stuck in the woke nightmare, and I feel for them,” said another. “They are becoming more and more irrelevant,” a third added. One user shared a screenshot of Nine Entertainment’s share price, which has been in decline since 2022. Back on the Sydney Morning Herald website, Mr Swan appeared to strike a chord with some readers. “I’d love to see Musk on a one-way trip to Mars and stop teaching me how to live my life,” one person commented. “Musk quits Tesla and becomes de facto President of the USA!” wrote another. Mr Musk agreed with one user commenting on his post who said that “legacy media is in a doom spiral”. Mr Swan appeared to brush off the attack on his own X profile, writing, “Damn, roasted” in a post accompanied by a retweet of Mr Musk’s clap back. However, the reaction to Mr Swan’s was split on his profile. “You need to frame this,” one wrote. “How about so-called journalists try and get their dignity back by not reporting lies and gearing the audience towards clickbait,” said another. The controversy ended a week that the Sydney Morning Herald may want to put behind them. On Friday, the newspaper issued an apology after incorrectly identifying Adelaide barrister Ian Roberts as the South Australian fatality in the Sydney to Hobart race. Mr Roberts was not killed in the tragic accident, instead, South Australian Nick Smith lost his life when he was struck by a boom during dangerous weather. “The Sydney Morning Herald incorrectly named Adelaide barrister Ian Roberts as one of the victims in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race,” the Sydney Morning Herald wrote. “This was incorrect. We apologise to Mr Roberts and his family.”
BBC Sport's Liam MacDevitt heads to the McLaren Technology Centre for a look inside one of the biggest names in motorsport. READ MORE: Norris wins to seal constructors' title for McLaren Available to UK users only.The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.
‘Gift of Edu’: Officials to help teach students in Gumla dist
Asana ( NYSE:ASAN – Get Free Report ) had its price objective hoisted by investment analysts at Oppenheimer from $20.00 to $22.00 in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “outperform” rating on the stock. Oppenheimer’s target price would indicate a potential downside of 0.86% from the company’s previous close. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on ASAN. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and issued a $10.00 price objective on shares of Asana in a research note on Friday. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Asana from $13.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. KeyCorp upgraded Asana from an “underweight” rating to a “sector weight” rating and set a $10.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday. DA Davidson increased their target price on Asana from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on Asana from $17.00 to $13.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $16.53. View Our Latest Analysis on ASAN Asana Stock Performance Insider Activity at Asana In related news, insider Eleanor B. Lacey sold 9,308 shares of Asana stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.99, for a total transaction of $111,602.92. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 375,310 shares in the company, valued at $4,499,966.90. The trade was a 2.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, COO Anne Raimondi sold 29,807 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.99, for a total value of $357,385.93. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 761,088 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,125,445.12. This trade represents a 3.77 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 44,092 shares of company stock worth $527,668 over the last 90 days. 63.97% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Asana A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ASAN. Neo Ivy Capital Management boosted its position in shares of Asana by 195.1% in the 3rd quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management now owns 169,454 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,964,000 after purchasing an additional 112,038 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Asana by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,863,703 shares of the company’s stock valued at $21,605,000 after buying an additional 12,055 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Asana by 103.0% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 165,753 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,920,000 after buying an additional 84,114 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in Asana during the third quarter valued at $538,000. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new stake in Asana in the third quarter worth $189,000. Institutional investors own 26.21% of the company’s stock. Asana Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Asana, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a work management platform for individuals, team leads, and executives in the United States and internationally. Its platform helps organizations to orchestrate work from daily tasks to cross-functional strategic initiatives; manage work across a portfolio of projects or workflows, see progress against goals, identify bottlenecks, resource constraints, and milestones; and communicate company-wide goals, monitor status, and oversee work across projects and portfolios to gain real-time insights. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Asana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Asana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .In 2024, there were lots of major housing schemes, plans for offices in the city centre and house extensions. Looking ahead to 2025, it's difficult to predict exactly what developers will be thinking. Clearly, pressures are always mounting when it comes to housing numbers. An overhaul of the National Planning Policy Framework means more and more areas of the countryside could be consumed by housing plans. Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister, unveiled an overhaul of England's planning rules to help deliver Labour's promise of 1.5m new homes by 2029 back in the summer. READ MORE: Major £300m HIF1 road scheme approved by government Oxford North (Image: Contributed) In Oxfordshire, each district has had significant increases. In Oxford city, the target has been set at 1,051 new homes annually – up from the current target of 762 homes a year. For South Oxfordshire, the proposed target has been set at 1,179 new homes annually – up from the current target of 579 homes a year. For West Oxfordshire it is 889 new homes annually – up from the current target of 549 homes a year. And the proposed target for Cherwell has been set at 1,095 new homes annually – up from the current target of 706 homes a year. One area which will almost certainly have more planning applications is Oxford North. Once completed Oxford North will comprise one million sq ft of laboratories and workspaces for science and technology companies, 480 new homes, and amenities including a market square, hotel, nursery, cafe, bar and three public parks. An artist's impression of the Oxford North development (Image: Contributed) Botley Road has also been the subject of lots of plans for labs and offices recently. The retail park is under threat from building work and developers could be eyeing up more space in that area. One plan which is quickly taking shape and is set to open in 2025 is the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for humanities. Some argue it will boost the city's cultural scene in the post-pandemic world and offers a contrast to the West End of the city which is increasingly seeing laboratories and science buildings being built ahead of retail and leisure near Frideswide Square. The centre designed by Hopkins Architects will be home to a 500-seat concert hall and 250-seat theatre. In addition to the concert hall and theatre, the building will also include an 89-seat lecture and film screening facility, a school engagement centre, and a Bate collection of musical instruments and library. SEE ALSO: Boris Johnson could add sauna to nine-bed Oxfordshire home Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for humanities (Image: Ed Nix) A controversial planning application in 2024 was the demolition of Oxford's Odeon cinema. It will be replaced with Oxford's first aparthotel. The aparthotel will feature around 145 rooms, and these will be built on the upper five storeys of the building, with a reception on the ground floor, including a bar and café. Aparthotel rooms are different from those at a normal hotel as they offer furnished apartments, with an en-suite kitchen featuring a cooker and fridge. This could be a common trend over the next year if developers can snap up under-used buildings and get planning permission to either convert them or demolish them to build a replacement. One plan that could emerge in 2025 is the housing development for North Oxford Golf Club, off Banbury Road. North Oxford Golf Club (Image: Contributed) It has been selected as part of a development of 1,180 homes between Cutteslowe and the A34 in Cherwell District Council 's proposals to help Oxford's unmet housing need. However, an outline planning application is yet to be submitted. Despite members leading a campaign over the last few years to save it, they are now resigned to the fact it will close on October 31 2025. More applications could also be coming as part of the huge Crab Hill development in Wantage Outline planning application has already been granted for 669 homes at the Crab Hill site but details around design for different phases of the development are in the process of being approved. The plans are part of the 1,500 home Kingsgrove development which was approved in 2015. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/ As a digital subscriber you will get: About the author Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby
RVNL, IRFC, IRCTC, Ircon, Titagarh, Jupiter Wagons, BEML, Texmaco: Will railway stocks shine in 2025?
A Taylor Swift fan is spinning on his highest heels a year after catching part of the singer's shoe during her Eras Tour and using the media attention to help his cousin, who is battling cancer. On Nov. 20, 2023, Swift proved her line from "Long Story Short" possible: "If the shoe fits, walk in it 'til your high heels break." Her right Louboutin boot heel busted during her "Lover" era. Before performing the title track, Swift stopped along the stage catwalk to grab the spike and pull it from the red sole. She tossed the glimmering memento into the Rio de Janeiro crowd and the hands of Felipe Conrado. "It was such an unexpected moment − I didn’t understand what was happening when Taylor crouched down in front of me and seemed bothered by something," Conrado, 33, tells USA TODAY. "My instinct was: Raise your hand and catch it! It was like a perfect baseball throw, because the shoe landed perfectly in my hands mid-air." Perfect Christmas gift for Swifties: Celebrate Taylor Swift's unprecedented Eras Tour with USA TODAY's enchanting book Aside from the coveted "22" hat , which Swift gifts to one lucky fan every night, this is the only instance that a concertgoer has received a historic piece of the singer's Eras Tour garb. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "I'm still speechless to this day," Conrado says. As the once-in-a-lifetime moment blew up on social media − one video posted to Instagram garnered more than 102 million views − an idea came to Conrado. I spent a year covering the Eras Tour: Here's what it was like. "I thought, how can I help my cousin?" he says of Ângela Conrado, who is fighting melanoma. "The family had been working to raise money for her treatment for weeks, and I thought this could shed some light on it." Ângela's diagnosis happened two months before Swift brought her foot-tapping show to Brazil. In a news interview, Conrado said he would sell the heel to pay for chemo. Swifties were split on the decision: On social media, thousands rallied behind his generous heart. The other half advocated for him to #KeepTheHeel. And the story reached the shoe's designer, Christian Louboutin. "(Louboutin) sent me a handwritten letter saying he would help with the treatment," Conrado says. "It was a beautiful and emotional ending to the story. My cousin was thrilled with the incredible support from the fans and is deeply grateful for Christian’s generosity." After 12 chemo sessions spread over a year, Ângela has finished her treatment and is in remission. Conrado was able to keep the red-coated heel. "I plan to create a display frame so I can look at it every day in a secure and protected way, alongside the rest of my Taylor Swift collection ," he says. For now, the shoe piece is hidden in a secret spot. Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat . Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram , TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV .The Sharks joined the competition way back in 1967 and they struggled early on, taking out the wooden spoon twice in their first three years in the big time. In the end they had to wait some 50 years for their first premiership in 2016, after finishing runners-up in 1973, 1978 and 1997. Since those humble beginnings some great players have turned out for the Sharks, including Englishmen Tommy Bishop and Cliff Watson, the incomparable Steve Rogers and Andrew Ettingshausen, and hard men in Ken Maddison, Gavin Miller, John Maguire, Steve Kneen and the Sorensens. Their greatest ever team is right up there with the best of them, but who makes their greatest team of the NRL era? This team wasn’t easy to select, particularly in the three quarters, where some long-serving players like Ben Pommeroy, Ricky Leutele and Sosaia Feki had to make way for players who spent most of their time at the Sharks on the wing. Here’s my team, showing the number of games they played for the Sharks in the NRL era, and the only selection criteria is that they must have played a minimum of 50 top grade games for the club from the 1998 season on. More League 1. David Peachey (176) One of the best running fullbacks of the NRL era and a prolific try-scorer for the Sharks, Peachey was a freakish player who could terrorise a lazy defence and his broken-field running was a sight to see. 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo (112*) Mulitalo is a superb finisher with both speed to burn and great aerial skills, and it’s sometimes easy to forget that he’s yet to celebrate his 25th birthday. There’s a lot more to come from Ronaldo. 3. Valentine Holmes (105) Holmes debuted for Cronulla as a 20-year-old in 2014 and by the time he left to try his hand at NFL in 2019 had a premiership under his belt and was firmly established in both the Queensland and Australian teams. 4. Mat Rogers (60) Like his famous father and Sharks legend Steve, Mat Rogers was a superbly gifted athlete who scored tries and kicked goals for fun. He could play almost anywhere in the backline and was one of the first players picked for both Queensland and Australia during his time with Cronulla. 5. Sione Katoa (116*) What Katoa gives away to some opponents in height he sure makes up for with speed, determination and positional play that’s seen him cross for 76 first grade tries in his career so far, including 11 try doubles and three hat-tricks. Sione Katoa celebrates with teammates (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images) 6. Greg Bird (106) Tough, versatile, fiery and controversial, Bird wasn’t everyone’s favourite player, but as competitors go there were few better. He debuted for the Sharks as an 18-year-old in 2002 and went on to represent both NSW and Australia with distinction. 7. Brett Kimmorley (140) Kimmorley was one of the best halfbacks of the NRL era and he joined the Sharks in 2002 from the Northern Eagles after previously winning a premiership with Melbourne. He played the best football of his long career while at the Sharks, was a very effective leader, and a regular selection for both NSW and Australia. 8. Jason Stevens (150) Before launching his multimedia career, Jason “The Pastor” Stevens was a big, uncompromising, ball-playing forward who was the rock in the Sharks’ pack for nearly a decade, during which time he also played 18 Tests for Australia and eight games for NSW. 9. Blayke Brailey (139*) Brailey took over the Cronulla No.9 jersey from older brother Jayden in 2020 and hasn’t looked back, rapidly building a reputation as one of the best dummy-halves in the country. 10. Andrew Fifita (213) The Tigers’ loss was the Sharks’ gain when Fifita headed to Cronulla in 2012, and no one did more than the big man to define the uncompromising, grinding style of football that was to characterise the club over the next ten years. He was everybody’s player of the match in the Sharks’ 2016 grand final victory over Melbourne, except for the Clive Churchill Medal judging panel, and he also represented NSW, Australia and Tonga with distinction during his career. Up, up Cronulla (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images) 11. Wade Graham (255) After debuting with the Panthers in 2008, Graham joined Cronulla two years later and never looked back, spending 12 years in the Shire and establishing a reputation as a hard-working and rugged forward with outstanding ball skills. There were few better than Wade Graham. 12. Luke Lewis (117) Lewis began life as a winger with the Penrith Panthers, but by the time he joined the Sharks in 2013, he had transitioned into an outstanding and versatile back rower, not only for Cronulla, but also for both NSW and Australia. No one got over the top of Lewis. 13. Paul Gallen (c) (348) Paul Gallen was a polarising figure, not that he could care less, but finished his incredible career as the Sharks favourite son after leading the club to its first premiership in 2016. A captain who led by example, he played 348 games for Cronulla in a relentless 19-year career, never taking a backward step, and he also lined up 32 times for Australia and 24 times for NSW. 14. Cameron McInnes (78*) After joining the Sharks from the Dragons in 2022, McInnes has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Gallen, Graham, Lewis and Fifita and has become the club’s forward leader. McInnes is a rugby league machine who never leaves anything on the paddock. 15. Briton Nikora (138*) If there’s a better ball-running back rower in the game at the moment than Nikora then I haven’t seen him. The Kiwi international always seems to be on the spot when a try is in the offing and he runs superb lines, reaping 43 tries from his 138 games. 16. Luke Douglas (146) There was nothing flash about the big front rower, just guaranteed hard graft, big metres and strong tackles each and every week. Douglas was a perfect fit for the Sharks’ grinding style of play. 17. Matt Prior (133) Prior won a premiership with the Dragons in 2010 and then backed up with the Sharks in 2016 for a second. He was a no-nonsense forward who was equally at home either in the middle or on an edge and he gave great service to the Sharks during the six years he was there, rarely missing a game. Now that’s a strong side, with plenty of skill and pace in the backs, and a forward pack that no one would want to play against. Did I leave anyone out?
Vladislav Goldin and Nimari Burnett each scored 17 points to lead Michigan to a 112-64 win over Western Kentucky in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sunday. Sam Walters scored 13 points off the bench, Tre Donaldson had 12 points and 11 rebounds, Danny Wolf had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Roddy Gayle Jr. added 11 points for Michigan (10-3). The Wolverines tied a program record with 19 made 3-pointers (on 40 attempts) and held a 54-27 rebounding advantage. Don McHenry scored 18 points, Julius Thedford had 11 points and Enoch Kalambay added 10 points in defeat for Western Kentucky (9-4), which shot just 5 of 25 from 3-point range. Michigan set the tone with a dominant first half, taking a 59-31 lead into the intermission in a sterling offensive performance. The Wolverines shot 57.6 percent from the field overall (19 of 33) and made 11 of 21 shots from 3-point range (52.4 percent) in the first half. It was season high for both points and 3-pointers made in a half for the Wolverines. Michigan also had a 27-9 rebounding advantage at intermission. The second half was more of the same, with Michigan opening up a 72-37 lead with 16:11 remaining in the game after a 3-pointer by Wolf. Michigan later took a 41-point lead at 87-46 with 10:23 to go after a 3-pointer by Walters. With 6:05 left, Wolf hit a 3-pointer to put Michigan over the 100-point mark and give the Wolverines a 50-point lead at 102-52. Michigan jumped on Western Kentucky from the beginning, taking a 13-2 lead just 2:41 into the game. Western Kentucky managed a run to cut its deficit to 18-14, but Michigan answered with a 10-2 run to take a 28-16 lead with 11:56 to go in the first half. The Wolverines built a 49-27 lead with five minutes remaining until halftime. --Field Level MediaPeople living in Minnedosa are being asked to reduce their sewage usage or risk a sewage backup in their homes and businesses. On Sunday, the Town of Minnedosa issued an advisory on social media. It said the town is down resources due to the winter storm and won’t be able to maintain the levels at the lift station. “We are working diligently to repair the emergency pump,” which broke earlier this weekend, the town’s post reads. “This is a serious ask to reduce your usage,” it emphasized. The town didn’t say how long the restriction will be in place. On Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued several winter weather warnings for southern Manitoba. By Sunday afternoon, the winter storm warning in the Rural Municipality of Minto-Odanah, which includes Minnedosa and Moore Park, was still in effect. The area can expect to see snowfall totals between 10 and 20 centimetres, freezing rain, and wind gusts of up to 50 to 60 kilometres per hour.
Geoffrey Hinton says he doesn’t regret the work he did that laid the foundation for artificial intelligence, but wishes he thought of safety sooner. The British-Canadian computer scientist says the technology has now progressed so fast that he thinks it could achieve superintelligence in the next five to 20 years. Superintelligence is intelligence that surpasses even the smartest humans. When superintelligence happens, Hinton says humanity will have to seriously worry about how it can stay in control. His remarks came at a press conference in Stockholm, where Hinton is due to a receive the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday. Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield are being given the prize because they developed some of the underpinnings of machine learning, a computer science that helps AI mimic how humans learn. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian PressNow Syria's long-ruling Baath party is collapsing, too
December 2024 Monthly Dividend of $0.12 Per Share of Common Stock RMBS Portfolio Characteristics as of November 30, 2024 Next Dividend Announcement Expected January 8, 2025 VERO BEACH, Fla., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: ORC) announced today that the Board of Directors of the Company declared a monthly cash dividend for the month of December 2024. The dividend of $0.12 per share will be paid January 30, 2025 to holders of record of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2024, with an ex-dividend date of December 31, 2024. The Company plans on announcing its next common stock dividend on January 8, 2025. The Company intends to make regular monthly cash distributions to its holders of common stock. In order to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), the Company must distribute annually to its stockholders an amount at least equal to 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain. The Company will be subject to income tax on taxable income that is not distributed and to an excise tax to the extent that a certain percentage of its taxable income is not distributed by specified dates. The Company has not established a minimum distribution payment level and is not assured of its ability to make distributions to stockholders in the future. As of December 10, 2024 and November 30, 2024, the Company had 79,849,645 shares of common stock outstanding. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 78,082,645 shares of common stock outstanding. RMBS Portfolio Characteristics Details of the RMBS portfolio as of November 30, 2024 are presented below. These figures are preliminary and subject to change. The information contained herein is an intra-quarter update created by the Company based upon information that the Company believes is accurate: RMBS Valuation Characteristics RMBS Assets by Agency Investment Company Act of 1940 (Whole Pool) Test Results Repurchase Agreement Exposure by Counterparty RMBS Risk Measures About Orchid Island Capital, Inc. Orchid Island Capital, Inc. is a specialty finance company that invests on a leveraged basis in Agency RMBS. Our investment strategy focuses on, and our portfolio consists of, two categories of Agency RMBS: (i) traditional pass-through Agency RMBS, such as mortgage pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, and (ii) structured Agency RMBS. The Company is managed by Bimini Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s distributions. These forward-looking statements are based upon Orchid Island Capital, Inc.’s present expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. For further discussion of the factors that could affect outcomes, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Contact: Orchid Island Capital, Inc. Robert E. Cauley 3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963 Telephone: (772) 231-1400Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutions
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is cautioning Iowans to be aware of sweepstakes scams after helping a central Iowa couple save more than $16,000 from a scamming attempt. Sweepstakes scams are when scammers use the promise of a prize to get someone’s money or personal information. These scams typically take place over the phone where scammers usually ask individuals to pay money or provide personal and financial account information to receive prize, which is actually nonexistent. Last month, Bird’s office helped the couple after a scammer called the 72-year-old husband, telling him he won a Publishers Clearing House prize of $3.5 million, plus $5,000 a week for life, according to a release put out by the office on Monday. People are also reading... Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird speaks during a town hall campaign event for Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on May 17, 2023, in Ankeny, Iowa. He was instructed to pay $16,340.18 in upfront fees and taxes, leading him to mail a cashier's check to a Miami address provided by the scammer. The man’s wife and daughter learned what happened and contacted their son-in-law, who was at a training for Iowa county attorneys, the release said. The son-in-law spoke with an investigator from the Iowa Attorney General’s office about the scam and they were able to intercept the package and return it to the couple after working with a local postal inspector. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Bird said in the release. “I am so glad that we saved this Iowa couple their $16,000. Sweepstakes scams are evil and manipulative. And con artists will do everything they can to exploit Iowans’ emotions, like the excitement of hitting the jackpot, in order to steal from you.” Bird encourages Iowans to call her office at 1-888-777-4590 if they or someone they know is suspicious of a sweepstakes scam. Here are ways to spot a sweepstakes scam, according to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office: New money scams are popping up: Here are the ones to look out for New money scams are popping up: Here are the ones to look out for Financial scams are an unfortunate reality of life for consumers. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians reported $530.4 million (CND) in financial fraud losses in 2022, a 170.2% increase in just one year. And the situation in the U.S. is even bleaker, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting Americans lost more than $10 billion (USD) from financial fraud in 2023. While some scams are obvious, others can be rather convincing. It doesn't help that scams are constantly evolving, and new types of fraud are invented daily. A quick slip-up, and you could be giving away some of your vital information. To protect yourself, Money.ca shares tips to think like a thief and stay current with the most common scams. Facebook Scams While Facebook is a great place to connect with people, it's almost become a prime hunting ground for thieves. One common scam involves fraudsters who set up a group or fan page that looks identical to an authentic brand. For example, it could be an airline or a popular retailer. They'll then advertise a contest where all you need to do is enter your personal information or bank details for your chance to win. As soon as any "brand" starts asking for specific information about you, red flags should be going off. It's okay to give your name and email, but if they're asking for your government ID numbers, bank account, or copies of your ID, it's probably a scam. Note that there are other scams on Facebook, including account cloning, where someone poses as a relative or friend and asks for financial help. There are also romance scams where the end game is getting you to send them money. If something doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to call the brands or your friends in person to see if what they're advertising or asking for is legit. AI Scams Artificial intelligence, or AI, is seemingly everywhere nowadays, so it's only fitting that AI is now making its way into consumer financial scams. Fraudsters are using AI for a whole host of scams, including deepfakes, a process in which scammers employ AI to create convincing voice clones, making it difficult for victims to distinguish between real and fake emergency situations. But the threat of AI scams also extends to phishing attacks, with fraudsters using AI bots to create sophisticated emails, text messages, and social media accounts. These bots are highly personalized and can bypass traditional spam filters, increasing the likelihood of users falling for the scam. Online Shopping Scams Online shopping scams have become a prevalent issue in today's digital age. Scammers have honed their skills and are now specifically targeting online shoppers, who are particularly vulnerable to fraud. These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers creating fake websites and launching social media campaigns to deceive unsuspecting consumers. What makes these scams even more dangerous is that they often impersonate well-known brands, luring shoppers with unbelievably low prices that are simply too tempting to resist. What makes these scams even more dangerous is that they often impersonate well-known brands, luring shoppers with unbelievably low prices that are simply too tempting to resist. Because of this, it's important to be cautious when encountering too-good-to-be-true offers, especially when shopping online , as they can have devastating financial consequences. Revenue and Tax Scams Tax scams are a very common form of fraud that prays on a collective fear of the tax man. These scams come in many forms, but follow one basic pattern: Someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency or the Internal Revenue Service will call or email and claim you owe back taxes. If you don't pay immediately, you'll be arrested or deported. The claim seems far-fetched, but it targets seniors or new immigrants who may not know any better. You'll know it's a scam when they ask you to pay by gift cards or Bitcoin. They'll also tell you that you'll be arrested or deported right away if you say anything to anyone. Just hang up if you ever get one of these calls. Tax authorities will never call you with aggressive language or threats. They'll also never ask for immediate payment. If you're not sure if a call you received is fraudulent, call the agency directly and ask them if an agent has been trying to contact you. Package Delivery Scams Package delivery scams have become increasingly prevalent in recent times. Individuals are receiving fake messages, supposedly from reputable companies such as Amazon, UPS, FedEx, or the post office, regarding upcoming or missed deliveries. These scams aim to deceive you into clicking on links that direct them to fraudulent sign-in pages or websites infected with malware. It is crucial to remain vigilant and exercise caution when encountering such messages. Rental Scams With the cost of rent rising in many parts of the country, many people are looking to cut back on their living expenses. Thieves know that and are starting to exploit people by putting up fraudulent ads about apartments or rooms for rent on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. The price will usually be a touch below market price, which will drive up interest. These listings will look legit as there will be plenty of pictures, but once you reach out, you'll know that it's a scam as they won't do a face-to-face showing. While it's easy for locals to verify if the rental available is real or not, fraudsters target people who don't live in the area, but need affordable housing. Also, note that this scam doesn't apply to just monthly rentals. The same scam has been used for short-term rentals in popular tourist destinations. The fraudster will demand the first and last month's rent via wire or e-transfer. Once you've made the deposit, you'll never hear from them again. To avoid this scam, always view the property in person and verify the person is the owner. The easiest way to do this is to ask to see a property tax bill with their name on it. You could even check with the city's public records to verify ownership. Fake Employment Scams Many job postings online look legit, but are clearly fake. One of the most common job scams involves working from home. Your new employer will send you a cheque. You'll use part of that money to set up your home office. The rest of the money will be sent back to your employer via e-transfer. The cheque will seem legit at first since some of the funds become available right away. However, the cheque will eventually bounce after a week or two. While you could return any items you purchased, there's no chance of recovering the funds you sent via e-transfer. So although you're clearly a victim of fraud, your financial institution won't be returning any money to you. Protect Yourself From Financial Scams Fraudsters are constantly coming up with new scams, so it's important to take steps to protect yourself. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Remember, being proactive and cautious is key to protecting yourself from financial scams. Stay vigilant and follow these guidelines to safeguard your personal and financial information. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! 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Neuroshop Introduces Next-Generation Electronic Shelf Labels Across the U.S. and the Middle East, Aiming to Redefine In-Store Efficiency and Customer Experiences