technics fc188

technics fc188 How often have we heard the age-old investing motto, ‘If you want to earn higher returns, you must take higher risk’? Probably a lot. However, there is clear evidence that this theory is wrong. You can earn high returns by taking low risk — the exact opposite of what is commonly believed. To understand why the high-risk high-return theory is wrong, we need to take a small detour to its origin. In 1964, William Sharpe developed the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), building on the earlier work done by Harry Markowitz. As per CAPM, the expected return from a stock is dependent on its beta, where beta measures the stock’s sensitivity to the overall stock market. CAPM proposed that the return from a stock is dependent on one factor alone – its beta. Higher the beta — higher the sensitivity or volatility of the stock — higher will be its expected return. This model provided the perfect foundation for the high-risk high-return idea. It predicted that high beta stocks, which are risky due to their higher volatility, will earn higher returns. The advent of CAPM led to an outburst of research confirming its findings. But there were also occasional studies which presented counterviews. One of the earliest studies to doubt the findings of CAPM was published in 1972 by Robert Haugen and James Heins. This study concluded that there was actually very little evidence that investing in risky stocks is rewarded with higher return. Such studies, which contradicted CAPM, were mostly ignored. However, a seminal paper by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, published in 1992, dealt a fatal blow to CAPM. In this paper, the authors introduced the Fama-French Three Factor Model, which dethroned beta as the only factor that explains stock returns and added two more factors — the value factor and the size factor. The 1992 paper by Fama-French opened the floodgates for research on what other factors influenced stock returns. In the quest for uncovering new factors, researchers noticed a surprising paradox — low-volatility stocks were exhibiting superior return performance, the exact opposite of what we would expect. The most comprehensive evidence on the low-volatility paradox has been compiled by Pim van Vliet, Head of Conservative Equities at Robeco Quantitative Investments, and a global authority on low-volatility investing. Going all the way back to 1929, Pim compiled a low-volatility portfolio and a high-volatility portfolio. The difference in returns between the two portfolios is astonishing. An amount of $100 invested in 1929 in the low-volatility portfolio grew close to $10 million by the end of 2023. A similar amount invested in the high-volatility portfolio grew to only about $33,000. The difference is staggering. Low volatility delivered a CAGR of 10 per cent, while high volatility barely delivered a 6.5 per cent CAGR. Other researchers have observed the low-volatility paradox in different geographies and different asset classes. A prominent study, “Betting Against Beta”, published in 2011, found this effect in “18 of 19 international equity markets, in Treasury markets, for corporate bonds sorted by maturity and by rating, and in futures markets.” We have evidence of low-volatility paradox in India as well. For our purpose, I have selected two indices — Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 and Nifty High Beta 50. The Low Vol 30 index selects 30 stocks from the Nifty 100 universe displaying the lowest volatility, while the Beta 50 index selects 50 stocks from the Nifty 100 universe with the highest beta. These indices provide a very good head-to-head competition between low-risk and high-risk investing. The gap between Low Vol 30 and Beta 50 is, again, astonishing. Low Vol 30 delivered 17 per cent CAGR over close to a 20-year period, beating Beta 50’s 6.3 per cent CAGR. There are several reasons why, despite the evidence, low-volatility investing remains obscure. The most important reason has to do with investor behaviour. Paul Samelson, who inspired John Bogle to create index funds, had remarked, “Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.” Low-volatility investing is like watching paint dry or watching grass grow — not an easy thing to do. Imagine holding on to a bunch of boring stocks that don’t move much on a daily basis, while your friends could be investing in volatile stocks that promises to be the next big thing. Research suggests that most investors view their investments as a lottery. We invest not to benefit from the slow grind of long-term compounding, but to earn outsized returns in the short term. You must have heard of the hare and tortoise story in your childhood. Unfortunately, as investors, we behave more like the hare rather than the tortoise. Low-volatility investing is for the tortoises amongst us – and yes, as data show, they do win the race! The writer is a SEBI Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and Co-founder of www.samasthiti.in CommentsA ustralia’s landmark legislation banning social media access for under-16s has ignited intense debate here, leaving figures, parental and youth rights campaigners divided over the potential implementation of similar restrictions locally. The world-first law, passed by Australia’s parliament on November 28, mandates tech companies to prevent underage users from accessing social media platforms or face fines approaching AUD$50 million ($64.5 million). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese argues the legislation is crucial for protecting young people from social media’s potential harms. Paula-Ann Moore, spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados, believes the government should stage a national debate to weigh the pros and cons of implementing such a law here. “This type of regulation can be seen as reinforcement of the parental role and the parental responsibility because obviously it’s not meant to be a replacement of that responsibility,” Moore said. She pointed out that a ban on social media for children under 16 raises concerns about balancing parental responsibilities and government intervention. “The dangers of social media and access to the internet. And I think the younger that children are exposed to it, the greater the risk that they may fall victim to whether it’s predators, of course, the access to porn is a huge factor,” she added. You Might Be Interested In CaribNOG Internet conference commences this week in Barbados ASYCUDA World’s implementation postponed until Sep 9 Smart Barbados Week launches Monday Moore also cited research linking social media use to negative impacts on mental health: “Then all of what we’ve seen, the data and the research have come out on how those social media platforms can impact negatively on children’s self-esteem, fear of missing out, anxiety, and unfortunately cyberbullying that’s also a great risk as well.” June Moe, acting principal of Springer Memorial Secondary School, applauded Australia’s decision and emphasised the dangers of unregulated screen time. “As educators, we see firsthand the dangers that increased screen time, exposure to platforms that are not monitored. We see the dangers daily that it has on students under 16,” Moe said. She praised Australia’s proactive approach: “I applaud Australia for removing devices for children whose minds are not yet fully developed. These devices not only promote a sedentary lifestyle but also lead to an anti-social one.” The principal noted that while children may appear social online, they often struggle with interpersonal interactions. “Younger persons have lost the ability to engage one-on-one or in small groups because they’re accustomed to interacting with a screen.” Moe urged parents to become more informed and involved. “Parents are the ones providing the devices. I urge them to read, research, and understand the dangers of excessive screen time. Many platforms expose children to harmful situations, from psychological harm to meeting strangers with dangerous intentions,” she said. But youth advocate Caleb Brathwaite opposed the idea of a ban while insisting on greater parental control instead. Brathwaite, the president of the Barbados Youth Development Council (BYDC), said: “There should be more parental control... greater rules in terms of monitoring their children’s use of social media, as well as educating them of the correct use of social media, and also to see how that information technology being taught within the educational system can also play that role, so that it is constant, and that is the correct use of social media.” He argued that age restrictions already exist on most platforms and suggested that additional rules may not be necessary. While Moore believes the idea of enforcing a similar ban has merit, she noted significant challenges. She said: “For you to implement the age limit and then enforce it, there’s certain data that you would have to provide. So, the argument could be made, I think, with some success, but if already we’re having data breaches on several different elements of our life, do we wait, until we have some assurance that we are ready from a technological point of view, to ensure that those data breaches are minimised, are we even ready?” louriannegraham@barbadostoday.bb

The London Knights Booster Club (LKBC) is ready to break an OHL record for most teddy bears tossed onto the ice. “I think we’re going to hit from that 4,000 mark just within the club,” said Sav Neth, president or the LKBC. During every bus and beach trip, as well as BBQ the club hosted this past year, they asked their members to bring a stuffed animal in anticipation of this year’s Teddy Bear Toss game. Neth, known as the Knights Super Fan, knows how the importance of the game and its donations for underprivileged children in the city. “When I was a child, we went to a place and the Salvation Army provided me with a teddy bear,” said Neth. “I was just given that hope and the inspiration. When I was young, my mom was a single mother of five children, and I gave her that teddy bear. In my mid-forties, she passed away and she had that bear ever since, so it's definitely meaningful.” When the bears are thrown onto the ice, they will be counted, sorted, and delivered by the Salvation Army. The London Knights Booster Club has collected more than 4,000 stuffed animals for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game at Canada Life Place on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “This year we're serving over 6,000 children,” said Nancy Kerr, executive director of Salvation Army London. “Every little piece of toy we get, some of the bears are big, some of them are small, and it goes a long way to helping us make sure that the children get something under the tree.” The Knights are encouraging fans to bring a new stuffed animal to Wednesday’s game at Canada Life Place. Their goal is to surpass their own OHL record achieved last year of 11,924. “It's a fun game to be a part of and one of the first games to sell out,” said Alex Brown, Knights’ director of marketing. “We had almost 12,000 bears last year and hoping for more this year.” A year ago, it was defenceman Jared Woolley who made history when he opened the scoring. Nancy Kerr, executive director of London’s Salvation Army seen on Dec. 3, 2024, says they will service 6,000 children with stuffed animals collected during this year’s Teddy Bear Toss. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “I think everyone wants to score that goal and doing that and it being my first career goal, I thought it was pretty fun,” said Woolley. He added that it has become an internal competition in the dressing room, as everyone wants the one who makes the bears rain down. “Everybody's chirping and saying that they're going to score it, so everyone's giving each other a hard time about it,” added Woolley. “I think everyone just wants to be the one to bring them down for sure.” No matter who scores London’s first goal Wednesday, Neth knows from personal experience, it is a very special night for those donating and those receiving. “It is such a remarkable thing that this fan base, and this community is doing to help the Salvation Army,” said Neth. “It’s great giving and be able to receive and hopefully inspire those kids to have something to hug or something to hold that might not have anything for Christmas.” 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 19 Of The Best Stocking Stuffers For Teenagers 13 Of The Best Self-Care Gifts You Can Find On Amazon Canada The Ultimate 2024 Holiday Gift Guide For People Who Love Working Out Home Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Hydroponic Gardens In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts Here Are All The Gift Wrapping Supplies You Should Order Before The Holidays 17 Sweet Treats And Snacks That Make Great Stocking Stuffers 15 Gifts That'll Pry Their Eyes Away From Screens For A Bit Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday London Top Stories 'A real gamut': LHSC highlights number of serious seasonal injuries ahead of the holiday season Tire shops 'spinning' with winter tire changeover demand Mayor worried about flooding following conservation dam decision 'We can’t wait for perfection': Local advocates respond to AG’s criticism of province’s plan to fight homelessness and addiction Charges laid after 'shelter in place' in Tillsonburg 'Hopefully inspire those kids': London Knights Booster Club collects thousands of stuffed animals for Teddy Bear Toss game Nearly $300,000 worth of drugs seized in Oxford County, Kitchener School closures and bus cancellations, more squalls expected Tuesday morning CTVNews.ca Top Stories Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues. Singh won't support Conservative non-confidence motion that uses his own words NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he won't play Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's games by voting to bring down the government on an upcoming non-confidence motion. Calgary man who drove U-Haul over wife sentenced to 15 years A Calgary man who killed his wife in 2020 when he drove over her in a loaded U-Haul has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Freeland says it was 'right choice' for her not to attend Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was 'the right choice' for her not to attend the surprise dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night. Opposition leaders talk unity following Trudeau meeting about Trump, minister calls 51st state comment 'teasing' The prime minister’s emergency meeting with opposition leaders on Tuesday appears to have bolstered a more united front against U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Canada Post strike: Kids no longer need to mail their letters to Santa by the end of the week Canada Post says it has removed the deadline for its Santa Claus letter program amid an ongoing national workers' strike that has halted mail delivery leading up to the holiday season. Man severely injured saving his wife from a polar bear attack in the Far North A man was severely injured Tuesday morning when he leaped onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled in the Far North community of Fort Severn. Another case of 'zombie deer' disease confirmed in B.C.'s Kootenays Health officials have confirmed a fourth case of chronic wasting disease in B.C.’s Kootenay region, prompting calls for a swift cull to prevent further spread. Video shows 'completely unprovoked' stranger attack in Vancouver, police say Police in Vancouver are searching for witnesses after a seemingly random and unprovoked assault was captured on video in the city's downtown core. Kitchener Why Wilmot is proposing a $580 tax increase in its 2025 draft budget The Township of Wilmot has released its 2025 draft budget which included a one-time capital infrastructure investment. Teddy Bear Toss happening tonight at the Aud Calling all Kitchener Rangers fans! The Teddy Bear Toss returns for tonight's game against the Brantford Bulldogs. Guelph Police looking for missing pregnant woman Guelph Police are asking for help as they search for a missing pregnant woman. Barrie Snow-clearing efforts stalled due to tractor-trailers stuck on many roads along Highway 11 Snow-clearing efforts continue on secondary roads that remain closed along Highway 11 on Tuesday. Woman dies in two-vehicle crash on Highway 118 in Haliburton An 87-year-old woman has died following a collision on Highway 118 in Haliburton County on Monday afternoon. Crown pushes for 6-year sentence for supervisor convicted in fatal crash case Victim impact statements were read in a Barrie courtroom on Tuesday ahead of sentencing for a man convicted of criminal negligence causing the death of a dump truck driver four years ago. Windsor Survey raises concerns about cannabis-impaired driving in Ontario A recent survey conducted by CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) highlights an increase in cannabis use among Ontario drivers, sparking some concern about impaired driving. 'Times are tough and we're feeling the stretch': Still time to give this Giving Tuesday Dec. 3 is Giving Tuesday and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHAF) is calling on the community for support to help purchase a new fluoroscopy machine for Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). Leamington man facing several firearms charges Essex County OPP have charged a 42-year-old man with firearms-related offences following the execution of a warrant in Leamington. Northern Ontario Man severely injured saving his wife from a polar bear attack in the Far North A man was severely injured Tuesday morning when he leaped onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled in the Far North community of Fort Severn. Insults on social media lead to real-life assault in northern Ont. A Mississauga First Nation woman has been charged with assault after she took offence to comments about her on social media. Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches. Sault Ste. Marie Shooting on Manitoulin Island leads to attempted murder charges Two people have been charged – one with attempted murder – following a shooting in Wikwemikong last week. Insults on social media lead to real-life assault in northern Ont. A Mississauga First Nation woman has been charged with assault after she took offence to comments about her on social media. Snow squall warning in the Sault, heaviest snowfall expected tonight Sault Ste. Marie's run of severe winter weather will continue Tuesday, with Environment Canada issuing another snow squall warning. Ottawa TRAVEL ADVISORY | Winter weather travel advisory in effect as Ottawa expects first notable snowfall The first winter weather travel advisory of the season is in effect for Ottawa as the city's first dump of snow expected this week. 1 teen, 4 adults injured in crash involving school bus and vehicle in south Ottawa Ottawa paramedics say five people were injured following a collision between a school bus and a van in south Ottawa. Jewish pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Ottawa Parliament building A group of Jewish-Canadian activists protesting Israel's ongoing armed offensive in Gaza have occupied a parliamentary building in Ottawa on Tuesday morning. Toronto Walking pneumonia cases in Ontario have nearly tripled since 2019: report The number of walking pneumonia cases seen in Ontario this year is triple the amount of what was reported in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Process around Ontario Place redevelopment was 'unfair' and didn't follow rules: AG Ontario's auditor general is slamming the Ford government for failing to follow proper process around the redevelopment of Ontario Place, including a revelation that senior staff communicated directly with Therme Canada and other applicants while proposals were still being accepted. Winter weather travel advisory: Toronto expected to see its first snowfall Wednesday Toronto is expecting its first snowfall of the season this week. Environment Canada has issued a winter weather advisory for the city, advising of snow accumulations near five centimetres on Wednesday. Montreal Despite devastating poll, Quebec Premier Legault confident he’s here to stay Despite a devastating poll, Premier François Legault is confident that he will lead the CAQ troops into the next electoral battle in two years' time. Quebec doctors who refuse to stay in public system for 5 years face $200K fine per day Quebec's health minister has tabled a bill that would force new doctors trained in the province to spend the first five years of their careers working in Quebec's public health network. Quebec prisons on lockdown after correctional officer severely beaten Quebec prisons were in lockdown on Tuesday after a correction officer at the Sorel-Tracy detention centre was attacked this week. Atlantic Snow, rain, and wind expected for Maritimes this week with early December storm A developing low pressure skirting colder air in place across eastern parts of the country will bring snow, rain, and wind to the Maritimes on Thursday. Cape Breton investigating last year of municipal credit card transactions The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is investigating more than a year of transactions on a legislative credit card due to a lack of documents. N.B. woman dies after hit and run in Notre-Dame: RCMP A 40-year-old New Brunswick woman has died after she was struck by a vehicle in Notre-Dame, N.B. Winnipeg Manitoba opening trade office in Washington, D.C. The Manitoba government is opening a trade office in Washington, D.C., next year. Every Winnipeg driver pulled over during checkstop program must give breath sample: police Every driver pulled over in Winnipeg as part of the police’s annual festive season checkstop program will have to provide a breath sample. Young Manitoba woman dies after medical emergency during dental appointment The Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) said it is investigating a critical incident where a young woman from the Morden-Winkler area died following a dental appointment. Calgary Person found dead in Taradale home with high CO levels: CFD A person was found dead in a Taradale home where emergency crews discovered high levels of carbon monoxide. Calgary man who drove U-Haul over wife sentenced to 15 years A Calgary man who killed his wife in 2020 when he drove over her in a loaded U-Haul has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Calgarians need to make more money to avoid homelessness than other Canadians: study New research suggests Calgarians need to make more money than people in other major Canadian cities in order to keep their homes. Edmonton Ex-Alberta teacher convicted of sex crime involving child for 2nd time Former Alberta teacher Brian Davison has been found guilty of one count of sexual exploitation in connection with an incident involving a child. U of A team repurposes culinary device to improve frostbite injury outcomes University of Alberta researchers have created a device they believe could significantly reduce the number of frostbite cases that end in amputation. Gibbons man charged with child pornography offences A 23-year-old Alberta man has been charged in connection with a 10-month-long child pornography investigation. Regina Regulations around foreign ownership of Sask. farmland need better enforcement, auditor finds The Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan is recommending that the province improve its system of monitoring sales of farmland to foreign entities. Formal expectations needed for answering 911 calls: Sask. auditor reports The Provincial Auditor assessed the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s (SPSA) 911 call taking and dispatching processes for fire emergencies, focusing on the Provincial Emergency Communications Centre. Attempted murder charge laid after home invasion, series of hit and runs in Regina Two people in Regina are facing a list of charges following a series of alleged acts that include a home invasion, multiple collisions and attempted murder. Saskatoon Major power outage hits much of Saskatoon's west side A large power outage is affecting much of Saskatoon’s west side and portions of the east side of the city on Tuesday afternoon. Saskatoon city council raises property taxes 4.96% next year Saskatoon city councillors approved a municipal budget that will raise property taxes 4.96 per cent in 2025. Teenage girl among two killed in Saskatchewan First Nation house fire Vancouver BC SPCA to rescue up to 30 stray cats from one Kamloops home The BC SPCA is warning of the consequences of feeding stray cats after a person accidentally lured over 25 felines to their home in Kamloops, B.C. BREAKING | New Vancouver Art Gallery plan scrapped, board seeks new design The Vancouver Art Gallery has decided to start all over again and shelve plans for a new nine-level tower made of wood and glass, CTV News has learned. Taylor Swift fans flock to BC Place, days before Eras Tour lands in Vancouver Security fencing is going up around BC Place stadium in preparation for the final days of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour this weekend, while dozens of Swifties gather near by to feel the vibe and "breathe the same air as Taylor Swift." Vancouver Island Canadian military drones enter production, though Arctic modifications will be required Canada's first combat drones have now entered production, though the remotely piloted aircraft will require years of testing and significant modifications before the first units are delivered in 2028. Taylor Swift fans flock to BC Place, days before Eras Tour lands in Vancouver Security fencing is going up around BC Place stadium in preparation for the final days of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour this weekend, while dozens of Swifties gather near by to feel the vibe and "breathe the same air as Taylor Swift." Coroners inquest set for B.C. woman with Down Syndrome who starved to death The BC Coroners Service will hold an inquest into the death of Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome who died of starvation in 2018. Stay ConnectedIt’s that time of the year again! Time to save some serious money on some of the best tech on the market. Black Friday is slashing prices left and right, so now is the best time to load up your cart. LG is selling its stellar UT70 4K smart TV for an incredible $200 off for Black Friday. This knocks the price down from $499.99 to just $299.99. Everyone should be familiar with LG’s superior display technology. The company’s smart TVs are some of the best that you can get on the market. With the UT70, you’re getting 55 inches of goodness. That is large enough for the whole family to enjoy. Everything you watch will suck you right into the action. LG is one of the top LED screen makers on the market, and it shows with this TV’s display. You can expect bright and vivid colors. Everything you watch will just jump out of the screen at you. No matter what you like to watch, it will all look amazing. From movies to cartoons to documentaries, all of the content you watch will captivate. Adding to the amazing visuals is the resolution. You’re looking at a crisp 4K screen. You’ll see all of the fine details, especially if you’re watching HD content. What makes the picture better is the HDR10 Pro compatibility. This leads to higher contrast and more vivid colors. It enhances the video-watching experience. The only thing that makes the video experience better is the incredible audio. LG’s in-house 7th-gen A54 chip enables true 5.1 channel audio. This means that the audio will sound full and immersive. The UT70 has much better speakers than most other TVs. With its robust set of features, great picture, amazing audio, and $200 discount, this is one of the best TVs that you can buy during Black Friday. Buy at Best Buy

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg man has been extradited to New Jersey to face a murder charge in the death of a woman in 1997. Robert Allen Creter, who is 60, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of 23-year-old Tamara Tignor, whose body was found on a dirt access road near Washington Valley Park. Officials believe she was strangled. Prosecutors say a break in the long-unsolved case came last year, when evidence originally collected was resubmitted for DNA testing that was not technologically possible at the time. They say that pointed them to Creter, who had moved to Winnipeg in 2002. Creter was arrested in June and held in custody until his extradition. He was transferred last week to the United States Marshals Service at the Winnipeg airport, and officials say he is being held in custody pending a detention hearing. “The arrest of a suspect in this decades-old case is a testament to the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to seek justice, no matter how much time has passed,” Col. Patrick Callahan with the New Jersey State Police said in a news release. Tignor disappeared after getting into a van. The investigation is ongoing and officials would not say whether she and the accused knew each other or comment on a possible motive. A prosecutor told reporters Monday that Tignor's mother had been hoping for a breakthrough. "Tammy's mom called our office on Nov. 4 of every year — the anniversary of Tammy's death — looking for an update," said Somerset County assistant prosecutor Mike McLaughlin. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024. Steve Lambert, The Canadian PressSight Sciences Announces the Results of a Budget Impact Analysis for its TearCare® System for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Disease (“MGD”) Showing Cost Savings Over Existing Reimbursed Treatment Options

NEW YORK (AP) — An early rebound for U.S. stocks petered out by the end of the day, leaving indexes close to flat. The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% Thursday, coming off one of its worst days of the year after the Federal Reserve said it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates in 2025 than earlier thought. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up by less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%. Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market following reports showing the U.S. economy may be stronger than expected, but manufacturing may be contracting again. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are stabilizing Thursday following one of their worst days of the year . The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in late trading, a day after tumbling 2.9% when the Federal Reserve said it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than earlier thought. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 136 points, or 0.3%, with less than an hour remaining in trading, following Wednesday’s drop of more than 1,100 points. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Wednesday’s drop took some of the enthusiasm out of the market, which critics had already been warning was overly buoyant and would need everything to go correctly for it to justify its high prices. But indexes remain near their records , and the S&P 500 is still on track for one of its best years of the millennium . Traders are now expecting the Federal Reserve to deliver just one or maybe two cuts to interest rates next year, according to data from CME Group. Some are even betting on none. A month ago, the majority saw at least two cuts in 2025 as a safe bet. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they give the economy a boost and goose prices for investments, but they can also provide fuel for inflation. Darden Restaurants, the company behind Olive Garden and other chains, helped lift the market after leaping 15.1%. It delivered profit for the latest quarter that edged past analysts’ expectations. The operator of LongHorn Steakhouses also gave a forecast for revenue for this fiscal year that topped analysts’. Accenture rose 6.7% after the professional services company likewise topped expectations for profit in the latest quarter. CEO Julie Sweet said it saw growth around the world, and the company raised its forecast for revenue this fiscal year. Amazon shares added 1.8%, even as workers at seven of its facilities went on strike Thursday in the middle of the online retail giant’s busiest time of the year. Amazon says it doesn’t expect an impact on its operations during what the workers’ union calls the largest strike against the company in U.S. history. They helped offset a tumble for Micron Technology, which fell 16.7% despite reporting stronger profit than expected. The computer memory company’s revenue fell short of Wall Street’s forecasts, and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said it expects demand from consumers to remain weaker in the near term. It gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that fell well short of what analysts were thinking. Lamb Weston, which makes French fries and other potato products, dropped 22.6% after falling short of analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue in the latest quarter. It also cut its financial targets for the fiscal year, saying demand for frozen potatoes is continuing to soften, particularly outside North America. The company replaced its chief executive. In the bond market, yields were mixed a day after shooting higher on expectations that the Fed would deliver fewer cuts to rates in 2025. Reports on the U.S. economy came in mixed. One showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The economy has remained remarkably resilient even though the Fed held its main interest rate at a two-decade high for a while before beginning to cut them in September. A separate report showed fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, an indication that the job market also remains solid. But a third report said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly contracting again despite economists’ expectations for growth. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.57% from 4.52% late Wednesday and from less than 4.20% earlier this month. But the two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for action by the Fed in the near term, eased back to 4.31% from 4.35%. The rise in longer-term yields has put pressure on the housing market by keeping mortgage rates higher. Homebuilder Lennar fell 4.8% after it reported weaker profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Stuart Miller said that “the housing market that appeared to be improving as the Fed cut short-term interest rates, proved to be far more challenging as mortgage rates rose” through the quarter. “Even while demand remained strong, and the chronic supply shortage continued to drive the market, our results were driven by affordability limitations from higher interest rates,” he said. A report on Thursday may have offered some encouragement for the housing industry. It showed a pickup in sales of previously occupied homes. In stock markets abroad, London’s FTSE 100 fell 1.1% after the Bank of England paused its cuts to rates and kept its main interest rate unchanged on Thursday. The move comes as inflation there moved further above the central bank’s 2% target rate, while the British economy is flatlining at best. The Bank of Japan also kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7%. Indexes likewise sank across much of the rest of Asia and Europe. ___ AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Presshen the two Voyager probes launched into space in 1977, they were headed to uncharted territory. It was the humanity had sent robot spacecraft to study up close the four giant outer planets of our solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Stunning images and scientific data captured by the probes over the next few decades of the cosmos. Through the Voyagers, we learned of Jupiter’s , the tilted magnetic field of , a rotating storm on Neptune called the Great Dark Spot, and Saturn’s dynamic rings. We also discovered 23 new moons of the outer planets and found that these moons were not the dead, frozen worlds scientists had suspected. Saturn’s moons appeared to be composed mostly of water ice, while active volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io spewed lava dozens of miles high. Eventually, the two spacecraft would not just the four giant planets, but 48 of their moons, as well as the rings, atmospheres, and magnetic fields those planets possess. Once the Voyagers’ tour of the four planets was complete in 1990, the world’s attention faded; but the probes continued to provide remarkable insights into the dynamics of the solar system, including ultraviolet sources among the stars and the boundary between the sun’s influence and interstellar space. Even today, both probes continue sending back data about the interstellar medium, the space between the stars, says Linda Spilker, NASA’s project scientist for the Voyager missions—including precise measurements of the density and temperature of the thin ionized gases it contains and the incidence of high-energy cosmic rays. Some experts give the Voyagers only about five years before we lose contact. More than 45 years after they first launched, the Voyagers are now NASA’s and the most distant human-made objects from the Earth—but they will one day soon go offline and drift silently into the final frontier, perhaps for eternity. NASA has been progressively shutting down the instruments and cameras on the spacecraft for decades, to extend their working lives to the limit by using as little electricity as possible. One of Voyager 1’s last photographs, for example, was the famous “ ” taken in 1990, shortly before its cameras were powered off forever. And since the late 1990s, engineers have commanded both Voyagers to shut down instruments related to plasma science, the strength of electromagnetic fields, and the analysis of starlight. Some experts give the Voyagers only about five years before we lose contact. “There’s been a big push to try to keep the mission going until the 50th anniversary of their launches,” in 2027, says Johns Hopkins space scientist Ralph McNutt, who witnessed the Voyager 1 launch from Florida’s Cape Canaveral in 1977 and has been involved with the Voyager missions throughout his career. “We’ll see.” , Voyager 1 is now more than 15 billion miles from Earth, about three times the average orbit of Pluto, where radio signals take about 23 hours to reach it; while its twin Voyager 2 is almost 13 billion miles away. The probes are still in fragile radio contact with Earth, and their instruments show both have passed the “heliopause”—the theoretical outer edge of the solar system, where the wind of charged particles from the sun finally comes to an end. They are now drifting through interstellar space. But the probes are running critically short of electricity from what are called their “nuclear batteries”—actually radioisotope thermoelectric generators that make electricity from the radioactive decay of plutonium. The fading power of the probes and the difficulties of making contact over more than 10 billion miles means that, one day soon, one or other of the Voyagers won’t answer NASA’s daily attempts to communicate via the Deep Space Network of radio dishes. Both probes use heaters to keep key instruments warm and keep the hydrazine in the fuel lines liquid: When the fuel freezes up, the probes won’t be able to use their thrusters to keep their main radio antennae pointed at the Earth, and their communications will come to an end. Newer space probes are now exploring the outer reaches of the solar system, including the . McNutt is overseeing an instrument on that probe, which is now heading for the “termination shock” where the solar wind first impacts the interstellar medium, about 5.5 billion miles from the Earth—almost twice the distance from Earth to Pluto. He’s also one of the principal scientists behind the proposal, which could launch as soon as 2036. Its technology will be 50 years more advanced than the Voyagers, and it could reach the same distance in half the time. For McNutt, it’s a “pleasant surprise” that the Voyagers are still working after all these years: “I joke with people: If you go back and look at the original papers, the Voyagers were designed to work for four and a half years,” he says. “We’ve outlived the warranty by a factor of 10.” Even when the Voyagers can no longer communicate with Earth, it will not be the end of their mission. Both probes bear the famous 12-inch “ ” of the sounds of Earth, greetings in more than 50 languages, music by Mozart and Chuck Berry, and a star map showing how to get here. The designers of the probe hoped that one day these records might be played by alien spacefarers far from Earth. And their hopes may someday come true: Voyager 1 will get relatively near a star in the constellation Camelopardalis in about 40,000 years, while Voyager 2 will near a star in the constellation Andromeda at about the same time. It’s possible that the Voyagers may one day be overtaken by newer probes from Earth, but for now they are humanity’s ambassadors to the stars; when their communications to the Earth cease, that will become their final mission. Posted on Tom Metcalfe is a science journalist based in London, where he writes mainly about space, energy, archaeology, Earth, and the oceans. He has written for and others. 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For 36-year-old Farhan Pauzi, who spent time in prison for drug charges, securing a job was tough when he was released. SINGAPORE – More employers are giving former offenders a chance in the workplace, but social stigma remains a hindrance for some in their reintegration journey. The number of employers that have hired former offenders in partnership with Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) rose from 5,603 in 2019 to 6,516 in 2023. Close to 700 employers also benefited from a government scheme that was rolled out in April 2023, to offer firms that hire former offenders wage offsets for their first nine months on the job. Between April and December 2023, about $2 million was disbursed to these employers for hiring more than 1,500 former offenders as part of the Uplifting Employment Credit scheme, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in response to queries from The Straits Times. While there seem to be more opportunities now for former offenders to gain employment after their release, other issues such as social stigma and personal challenges can affect how long they stay on. The career retention rate among former offenders who got a job with the help of YRSG has dropped over the years. The percentage of former offenders who remained employed for three months dropped from 87 per cent in 2020 to 79 per cent in 2023. Those who remained employed for six months also dipped from 70 per cent in 2020 to 60 per cent in 2023. YRSG told ST it does not have sufficient data to accurately identify the specific reasons behind the lower retention rates among employed former offenders. Challenges in gaining and retaining employment YRSG career coach Ashish Ben said former offenders may need more time to relearn old skills, which have become rusty, or learn new skills when returning to work after a long time in prison. Some employers may not have the capacity to give them time to gain proficiency due to operational and industry demands. Ingeus Singapore, an agency that offers career retention support to former offenders, said they may need a longer learning curve than a typical three-month adjustment period. The agency has eight career coaches dedicated to supporting former offenders, each managing an average caseload of 65 people. Mr Ashish said some former offenders may also have difficulty expressing themselves, and employers may mistake that for a lack of commitment or suitability for a role. They are also subject to more scrutiny, which may lead to quick assumptions. In one incident, a former offender was seen taking a white tablet when he arrived at work. During the day, he overheard a senior colleague commenting that he looked “stoned”. The company’s management, which heard about the incident, jumped to the conclusion that he might be using drugs. It was later discovered that the white pill was Panadol, recounted Mr Ashish. The former offender had taken it as he had been dealing with family issues that disrupted his sleep, and he wanted to alleviate a headache when he arrived at work. “A released ex-offender will leave the first physical prison and find himself entering a second social prison,” Mr Ashish said. “The stigma of incarceration might mean they are looked upon with suspicion.” For 36-year-old Farhan Pauzi, who spent time in prison for drug offences, securing a job was tough when he was released, as employers would turn him away when they learnt he was still under a supervision order, which requires former drug abusers to report for regular urine tests. One pest control company also rejected him as it was afraid his criminal record would affect his access to government offices that may hire its services. He managed to land a job months later with a carpark management company. “It gave me its trust and we had mutual respect. I finally felt like I met people who didn’t just judge me for my mistakes,” he said. “Having a stable job helped me to stay on the right track and not go back to prison.” The Industrial and Services Co-operative Society, a group that helps former offenders, said they may feel inherently “flawed” or “unworthy”, which creates a mental barrier when applying for jobs or prevents them from interacting with colleagues. For 35-year-old Hirzi (not his real name), being very careful about what he shares with colleagues is important to him. He was previously jailed for 10 months on drug-related charges, and considered lying about his past to secure a job. He decided to be honest with his managers about his history, but refrained from telling his colleagues. “One day, I asked some of them about what they thought of ex-offenders generally and got a negative response. I immediately knew I couldn’t tell them about my past as I felt some of them were not ready to work with an ex-offender.” Singapore After-Care Association director Prem Kumar said that despite the significant progress made in terms of societal acceptance, many former offenders will always be worried about how they are viewed by colleagues. “The desire to keep as low a profile as possible and hope that no one at work finds out about their past continues to hold true to this day,” he said. Overcoming negative perceptions For John (not his real name), his view of former offenders changed only after he himself was jailed for criminal breach of trust. “Before I went to prison, I was also someone who had a negative opinion of ex-offenders. I doubted that they could really be trusted,” said the 54-year-old. “But when I was inside (prison), you get to see how life is there, what their stories are, and that changed my perception a lot.” For John (not his real name), his view of ex-offenders shifted only after he himself was jailed for criminal breach of trust. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Chia & Thai Food Supplies director Samuel Koh said his company started employing former offenders in 2006 owing to a tight labour market. Hiring from traditional sources had been challenging, so it decided to tap the pool of candidates among former offenders, he said. “We were concerned about theft, violence, poor attitude and performance at work, but we recognised that these issues are not specific to ex-offenders,” he said. The company made efforts to ensure harmony between the former offenders and other employees, which included not mentioning the former offenders’ background at work. After 18 years, the company went from hiring two to three former offenders a year to hiring 12 to 15 now. Sociologist Julia Wong from the Singapore Institute of Technology said it can be challenging for the public to accept that society needs to help former offenders, and this includes taking personal action. “It is common to hear people saying, ‘Yes, we should help ex-offenders’, but when asked whether they would be willing to work or live with an ex-offender, the answer may be less encouraging,” she said. Among the small gestures one can make are treating former offenders like any other new colleague instead of prying into their past, and getting back in touch with them after their incarceration, she noted. “Society needs to recognise that ex-offenders have already paid their dues and served their punishment,” she said. “You’ll be surprised how such small acts can make a difference to another person’s life.” Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads. 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koto_feja Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) recently surpassed the $100,000 mark for the first time ever, proving naysayers wrong. I do not own Bitcoin, but I have exposure to cryptocurrencies through my investment in Coinbase Global Inc. ( COIN ). Bitcoin Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of COIN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.The BRICS nations will be hit with 100% tariffs on their goods if they try to introduce a reserve currency to rival the dollar, US President-elect Donald Trump has warned. Trump has repeatedly threatened to use tariffs to achieve his geopolitical goals. ”The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday. Trump went on to say that he would ask the BRICS nations to promise not to create a common currency, “nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar,” or they will face 100% tariffs. ”They can go find another ‘sucker!’” he continued. “There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America.” BRICS previously comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was expanded in January to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Around 30 other nations have expressed interest in joining the group of emerging economies. Russia, which currently holds the group’s rotating presidency, floated the idea of introducing a BRICS currency in 2022. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva echoed Moscow’s proposal last year, arguing that having the option of trading in another reserve currency would reduce the BRICS countries’ “vulnerability” to fluctuations in the dollar’s exchange rate. BRICS leaders stopped short of announcing plans for such a currency at their summit in the Russian city of Kazan last month. Instead, the group pledged to set up a cross-border payment system to function alongside the Western SWIFT network, and to increase their use of local currencies in international trade. ”Cooperation within BRICS is not directed against anyone or anything – neither against the dollar nor against other currencies,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in October. “It pursues the main goal of ensuring the interests of those countries that participate in this format.” Using local currencies to settle bilateral trade bills “helps to keep economic development free from politics,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the time. Trump has vowed to use tariffs to settle US trade deficits, force offshore manufacturers to return, and achieve a range of geopolitical goals. In addition to proposing a blanket tariff of 20% on all incoming goods, Trump has threatened Canada and Mexico with additional 25% tariffs if they fail to reduce the flow of migrants and drugs into the US. Trump also declared this week that “we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs,” until Beijing “follows through” on punishing the producers and smugglers of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law