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On Saturday, Palestinian militant group Hamas released a video featuring Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who pleads for soon-to-be U.S. President Donald Trump to secure his release. Yael Alexander, Edan's mother, expressed her distress over the 3-1/2-minute clip, which shows a pale Edan sitting in a darkened space against a wall, addressing his family, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Trump. At a Tel Aviv rally advocating for the hostages' freedom, Yael Alexander remarked that the video instills hope yet underscores the severe hardship faced by Edan and other hostages. She urged Israeli leaders to end the Gaza conflict and reach an accord with Hamas for their release, expressing profound yearning for her son. Prime Minister Netanyahu denounced the video as psychological warfare in a statement, informing the Alexander family that Israel is diligently working to bring the hostages home. While Trump's transition team remains unreachable for comment, the Biden administration is striving tirelessly to free U.S. citizens held by Hamas. Talks with Hamas leaders are anticipated in Cairo, aiming to negotiate a ceasefire and exchange hostages for Palestinian detainees. (With inputs from agencies.)
Commentary: President Yoon’s actions have tarnished South Korea’s international reputation
Putin apologizes for crash but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot downFitness fans were impressed by a 'brilliant' sports bra from Next , which was both 'comfortable' and 'supportive'. One happy shopper branded it 'the best' they'd worn, and another was pleased to find it 'held everything in place whilst training'. Next said its high impact sports bra was "perfect for action addicts" and had been "constructed with extra full coverage, durable fabrics and moisture-wicking technology". The non-wired and non-padded bra also featured interchangeable straps to provide a racer back option when needed. The sports bra , currently available in black or white, costs £26. Sizes ranged from 32B to 42G. READ MORE: Dunelm slashes 20% off 'easy to assemble' bookcase with 'extra space for toys' Amanda gave the sports bra five-stars and said: "These bras are excellent. I'm large busted (34FF) and they are really supportive. I am perimenopausal too and can have sore breasts quite often. They help with this massively - I even wear for work. As with all sports bras I've tried they feel very tight around the back when buying normal size so if this would be an issue perhaps size up." Black Next Active Sports High Impact Non Pad Bra An anonymous review read: "Absolutely the best sports bra I’ve worn. I tried a few high impact bras and this Next bra came out tops. I’m 5ft 9ins and low chested. This bra lifts and supports when I’m running. Excellent quality and great value." Kala said: "Holds me secure in all activities, horse riding, jogging, weights and cardio." Lindsey added: "Very comfy and being big chested, holds everything in place whilst training." Joanne's review read: "Brilliant bras, comfortable and keep things from bouncing around while doing exercise." Janet said: "Very comfortable and supportive," while Diane added: "Excellent fit and style great for running." Jacqui wrote: "I found this high impact bra perfect for me as a DD+ lady. It fully encases my bust including up under the arms, preventing any unnecessary bulging and provides full support my HIIT gym workouts." Susan wrote: "Comfortable to wear, doesn't move when exercising. Bit pricey for such a plain design hence 4 stars." Tina also awarded four stars and said: "Great bra , just a little tight in the back. However, I have added a bra extender and it's fine." Elsewhere, GymShark has slashed 50 per cent off its everyday seamless sports bra - now priced at £15 instead of £30. Adidas also has its active seamless micro-stretch scoop lounge bra on sale, down from £23 to £11.50.MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — CJ Donaldson had two short rushing touchdowns and West Virginia became bowl eligible with a 31-21 victory over UCF on Saturday. Garrett Greene threw a TD pass in his final home game and Jahiem White added a short rushing score for the Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3 Big 12). West Virginia avoided losing for the fifth time at home, which hasn’t happened since 1990. Whether the win was enough for embattled coach Neal Brown to keep his job remains to be seen. UCF (4-7, 2-6) is assured of its second straight losing season under coach Gus Malzahn. Donaldson, averaging 53 rushing yards per game, finished with 96 yards. He came out determined with 56 yards on his first four carries, including a 1-yard run on West Virginia's opening series. West Virginia cornerback Dontez Fagan then recovered a fumble by UCF quarterback Dylan Rizk, and Donaldson ran for 28 more yards on the next series that was capped by White’s 3-yard TD run. Greene struggled in the passing game for most of the first half, then went 4 of 6 for 65 yards just before halftime, hitting Rodney Gallagher with a 12-yard TD toss for a 21-7 lead. Rizk went 11 of 21 for 172 yards, including a 45-yard scoring strike to Kobe Hudson. RJ Harvey, the Big 12’s leading rusher, ran for 130 yards and two scores, including a 9-yard TD run that brought UCF within 31-21 with 5:20 left. But the ensuing onside kick didn't go the required 10 yards. Greene then converted a pair of fourth-down passes and West Virginia ran out the clock. Greene finished 13 of 21 for 118 yards. UCF: The Knights outgained West Virginia 348 yards to 318 but now have lost seven of eight games following a 3-0 start. West Virginia: The Mountaineers won despite being stuck in many third-and-long situations on offense against a solid effort from UCF's defensive front. UCF: Hosts Utah on Friday night. West Virginia: Finishes the regular season at Texas Tech next Saturday. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
WASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he will step down “after weeks of careful thought,” about three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year. Wray’s intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump settled on Patel to be director and repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, including in a television interview broadcast Sunday. His departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump’s norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director before his term was up and Wray — by resigning before he could be fired — opting to avert a collision with the incoming Trump administration that he said would have plunged the FBI into political fighting. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The resignation would clear the way for Patel’s ascension, assuming he is confirmed by the Senate. A White House staffer during Trump’s first term, Patel insists the federal government should be rid of “conspirators” against Trump. The comments stirred alarm that he could seek to use the FBI for retribution against perceived enemies despite longstanding guardrails meant to ensure investigations have a proper basis. It’s extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions. Trump said in the recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property, Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, were both dismissed. Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement Wray led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. “ Throughout his seven years on the job, Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. In fact, Wray was quick to distance himself and his leadership team from the FBI’s Russia investigation that was well underway when he took office. On the same day of a harshly critical inspector general report on that inquiry, Wray announced more than 40 corrective actions to the FBI’s process for applying for warrants for secret national security surveillance. He said mistakes made during the Russia inquiry were unacceptable and he helped tighten controls for investigations into candidates for federal office. FBI officials actively trumpeted those changes to make clear that Wray’s leadership ushered in a different era at the bureau. Even then, though, Wray’s criticism of the investigation was occasionally measured — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of it as a “witch hunt” — and there were other instances, particularly in response to specific questions, when he memorably broke with the White House. In 2020, he said that there was “no indication” that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, countering a frequent talking point at the time from Trump. When the Trump White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide, Wray made known his displeasure. Wray also angered Trump for saying that antifa was a movement and an ideology but not an organization. Trump said he wanted to designate the group as a terrorist organization. Then came the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search, which officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction the Justice Department said was gathered. Get local news delivered to your inbox!WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. The topic has become a flashpoint within his conservative base. “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them," Trump said. In fact, Trump has in the past criticized the H-1B visas, calling them “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. During his first term as president, he unveiled a “Hire American” policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants. Despite his criticism of them and attempts to curb their use, he has also used the visas at his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview Saturday. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program," Trump told the newspaper. He did not appear to address questions about whether he would pursue any changes to the number or use of the visas once he takes office Jan. 20. Trump's hardline immigration policies, focused mostly on immigrants who are in the country illegally, were a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and a priority issue for his supporters. But in recent days, his coalition has split in a public debate largely taking place online about the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Hard-right members of Trump's movement have accused Musk and others in Trump's new flank of tech-world supporters of pushing policies at odds with Trump's “America First" vision. Software engineers and others in the tech industry have used H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers and say they are a critical tool for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated.
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a "tragic incident" following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. Putin's apology came as allegations mounted that Russian air defenses shot down the plane while attempting to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference Saturday at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. An official Kremlin statement issued Saturday said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner "repeatedly" attempted to land there on Wednesday. It did not explicitly say one of these hit the plane. The statement said Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace." The readout said Russia has launched a criminal probe into the incident, and Azerbaijani state prosecutors have arrived in Grozny to participate. The Kremlin also said that "relevant services" from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while attempting to land. There were 29 survivors. According to a readout of the call provided by Aliyev's press office, the Azerbaijani president told Putin that the plane was subject to "external physical and technical interference," though he also stopped short of blaming Russian air defenses. Part of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane lies on the ground Thursday near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Aliyev noted the plane had holes in its fuselage and the occupants sustained injuries "due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight." He said that a team of international experts began a probe of the incident at Azerbaijan's initiative, but provided no details. Earlier this week, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's office confirmed that investigators from Azerbaijan are working in Grozny. On Friday, a U.S. official and an Azerbaijani minister made separate statements blaming the crash on an external weapon, echoing those made by aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defense systems responding to a Ukrainian attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, responding Saturday to a reporter asking whether he thought Putin should take responsibility for the crash, said: "Apparently he did but I haven't spoken to him." Biden made the comment after leaving church in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Passengers and crew members who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it circled over Grozny. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic. Yadrov said after the captain made two unsuccessful attempts to land, he was offered other airports but decided to fly to Aktau. People attend a funeral Saturday for Mahammadali Eganov, who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crash near the Kazakhstan's airport of Aktau at the age of 13, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Earlier this past week, Rosaviatsia cited unspecified early evidence as showing that a bird strike led to an emergency on board. In the days following the crash, Azerbaijan Airlines blamed "physical and technical interference" and announced the suspension of flights to several Russian airports. It didn't say where the interference came from or provide any further details. If proven that the plane crashed after being hit by Russian fire, it would be the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014. Russia denied responsibility but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base. The grave of Mahammadali Eganov, 13, who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crash near the Kazakhstan's Aktau airport, is seen Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan. Following Wednesday's suspension of flights from Baku to Grozny and nearby Makhachkala, Azerbaijan Airlines announced Friday that it would also halt service to eight more Russian cities. Several other airlines made similar announcements since the crash. Kazakhstan's Qazaq Air on Friday said it would stop flying from Astana to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains for a month. Turkmenistan Airlines, the Central Asian country's flagship carrier, on Saturday halted flights to Moscow for at least a month, citing safety concerns. Earlier this past week, Israel's El Al carrier suspended service from Tel Aviv to the Russian capital, citing "developments in Russia's airspace." Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Ranchi, Nov 23 (PTI) In a stunning comeback, Hemant Soren’s JMM-led alliance on Saturday stormed to power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, winning 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, despite an all-out blitz by the BJP-led NDA which managed only 24 seats. The majority mark in the state assembly is 41 seats. The BJP was confident that it could turn the tide in its favour through an aggressive campaign that targeted CM Soren’s leadership, and raised issues like "infiltration" from Bangladesh and the government’s alleged "corruption." Though the BJP failed to replicate the Maharashtra triumph, where it secured a landslide, its vote share in the eastern state was more than the JMM. The BJP contested 68 seats and registered a 33.18 per cent vote share as compared to JMM’s 23.44 per cent. The BJP won 21 seats and emerged as the second largest party. JMM contested 43 seats and won 34, the highest-ever seats won by the party. The Congress got 16 seats, RJD 4 and the CPI (ML) secured 2 seats in the INDIA bloc. The aggressive BJP campaign by its top brass, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, failed to resonate in front of the 'Adivasi' card played by the JMM, which also sought the people's sympathy over the arrest of chief minister Soren. The JMM’s campaign also focused on promises of welfare schemes and accused the BJP-led Centre of using the ED and CBI as tools against rival parties. Both Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana managed to create a wave of sympathy among the tribal electorate, and despite the anti-incumbency sentiment, the BJP failed to capitalise on it, according to poll analysts. Soren, who retained the Barhait seat by defeating BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes, had to resign as the CM in January before being arrested by the ED in a money laundering case. He was released on bail by the high court in June, and in July, he returned as the chief minister of the state, replacing Champai Soren. In his first reaction to the poll outcome, Soren termed the INDIA bloc’s strong performance in the Jharkhand elections as a “passing of the exam of democracy.” “I express my gratitude to the people for this stupendous performance,” he said. Assam chief minister and Jharkhand BJP election co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma described the BJP’s loss as “painful.” Sarma aggressively campaigned against the JMM and accused it of sheltering "infiltrators". “The loss in Jharkhand is deeply painful for me personally, even though we secured victory in all five by-elections in Assam,” Sarma said. Internal bickering within the BJP, especially over nominations for turncoats, seemed to have further hampered the party’s prospects. The RJD also made a surprise showing, winning four of the six seats it contested. The CPI(ML) Liberation secured two out of four seats. The LJP (Ram Vilas) won its lone contested seat, and the JD(U) won one of the two seats it fought. The AJSU party, which contested 10 seats, was almost wiped out, retaining only one seat in Mandu by a slender margin of 231 votes. Its leader, Sudesh Mahto, lost the Sili seat. Soren’s wife, Kalpana, who played a key role in revitalising the JMM following her husband’s arrest, won from Gandey by a margin of 17,142 votes defeating BJP’s Muniya Devi. Kalpana won the seat in a bypoll on June 4 this year after it fell vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad. Kalpana’s political journey, which was never her initial choice, began in earnest after her husband's arrest by the ED in connection with a money laundering case. Despite the personal and political challenges posed by her husband's legal battles, Kalpana has proven to be a resilient and dynamic leader. Another key plank of the BJP's campaign was the removal of Champai Soren as chief minister shortly after Hemant Soren’s release on bail in June. The BJP framed this as an issue of how a tribal leader had been insulted by the JMM-led coalition. Hemant Soren also accused the BJP of spending over Rs 500 crore on "malicious campaigns" against him. JMM’s populist schemes like Maiyan Samman Yojna, which provides financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to women in the 18-50 years age bracket and promises to increase it to Rs 2,500 post results, went well with the masses across the state. Soren waived farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh aimed at benefiting over 1.75 lakh farmers. Additionally, his government waived outstanding electricity bills and introduced a scheme providing free electricity for up to 200 units besides introducing welfare schemes like a universal pension. Babulal Marandi, state BJP president, won the Dhanwar seat by 35,438 votes, and former CM Champai Soren won in Seraikela by 20,447 votes. However, Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri faced a crushing defeat in Chandankiyari, losing by 33,733 votes. The elections recorded a voter turnout of 67.74%, the highest since the state’s formation in 2000. In 2019, the JMM-led alliance won 47 seats, snatching power from the BJP. JMM had won 30 seats, while Congress bagged 16, apart from the one seat bagged by the RJD. The BJP had secured 25 seats, JVM-P three, AJSU Party two, and CPI-ML and NCP one each, besides two Independents emerging victorious. PTI NAM SAN BDC SBN SOM RBT BDC NN RG MNB (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Published 5:38 pm Saturday, November 30, 2024 By Data Skrive Sunday’s game at XFINITY Center has the Maryland Terrapins (6-1) squaring off against the Alcorn State Braves (0-8) at 12:00 PM ET. Our computer prediction is a one-sided 84-56 victory, as our model heavily favors Maryland. According to our computer prediction, Alcorn State should cover the point spread, which is listed at 32.5. The two teams are projected to exceed the 137.5 total. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Place your bets on any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Sign up today using our link. Both Maryland and Alcorn State are 3-4-0 against the spread (ATS) so far this season. The Terrapins are 5-2-0 and the Braves are 2-5-0 in terms of going over the point total. The teams score an average of 140 points per game, 2.5 more points than this matchup’s total. Bet on this or any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Rep your favorite players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman whose disappearance in Los Angeles launched a desperate search by family and friends, has been found safe about a month after being reported missing, her family's attorney said Wednesday. The 30-year-old Maui woman has been described by the Los Angeles Police Department as voluntarily missing. According to police, she was seen on surveillance video crossing the U.S. border into Mexico and did not appear to be the victim of foul play. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell made the announcement on Dec. 2, about three weeks after family members say they last heard from her. Her phone last pinged at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 11, when she missed an LAX flight to New York and was later seen boarding the Metro in LA, according to her family. Several relatives flew in from states such as Hawaii and New York, handing out fliers and speaking with local news outlets in Los Angeles as they searched the city for Kobayashi. The weekend after Thanksgiving, a little less than three weeks after she was reported missing, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead near LAX in what police have described as an apparent suicide. He had flown in to join the search for her. On Wednesday, her family released a statement through their attorneys announcing she had been found. "We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," reads the statement released by the LA-based Law Office of Sara Azari, on behalf of her family. "This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through." "We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us," the statement continues. When family members couldn't reach her last month, they said Kobayashi would have indicated if she was planning to go off the grid voluntarily. Her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, said she had sent a series of cryptic texts just before she stopping communicating with her family. "Things started to get nefarious and scary on Monday when it went from 'I can't see you. I'm so excited,' to texts about people stealing her identity," Pidgeon said last month. "That she was scared. That she felt unsafe. That people were going to steal her funds -- and that doesn't make sense. Using pet names she's never used before." Pidgeon said the family later learned she did leave LAX on Nov. 11 and was seen boarding the LA Metro with someone. "She was not alone. She was with an unidentified person. That causes us extreme alarm because that correlates with the timeline of her going missing," Pidgeon said. Marissa Wenzke is a journalist based in Los Angeles. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara and is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School.BBC Casualty fans predict shock exit twist as new character causes trouble
The All Blacks have finished their last test of the season with a messy win, 29:11 over Italy. They went into Sunday's game as overwhelming favourites, thanks to a very strong team named by Scott Robertson. However, the weather in Turin was very cold, with a chance of snow, and there was speculation that could affect their play. The start saw plenty of penalties blown by the ABs, which set the tone for a dour, underwhelming run through the rest of the game. Kick-off was at 9.10am (NZT). Team lists All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cam Roigard 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele'a 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Tupou Vaa'i 20. Peter Lakai 21. TJ Perenara 22. David Havili 23. Damian McKenzie Italy: 1. Danilo Fischetti 2. Gianmarco Lucchesi 3. Marco Riccioni 4. Federico Ruzza 5. Dino Lamb 6. Sebastian Negri 7. Manuel Zuliani 8. Ross Vintcent 9. Martin Page-Relo 10. Paolo Garbisi 11. Monty Ioane 12. Tommaso Menoncello 13. Juan Ignacio Brex (c) 14. Jacopo Trulla 15. Ange Capuozzo Bench: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Leonardo Marin 23 Marco Zanon
No matter how much a financial system is fortified against scams, there is always a fraudster, a conman, or a swindler aiming to game that system. Financial crimes, a la white-collar crimes, are committed, interestingly, by those working closely with the system or those having the innate skill to justify the art through the framework of ‘fraud triangle’, that is in the terms of opportunity, incentive and rationalization. Scams, mainly the pecuniary ones, involve conduct of dishonest practices leading to perversion, depravity and debasement of the entire morals of the social fabric. Financial scandals, like any other scandal, have a story of their own and, of course, the denouement. The truth of the scandals appears to be a drama at times, and at times an enthralling thriller. Vijay Narayan Govind, in his book Fraudster Tales, promises to tell select 10 true stories of financial scams, spread across centuries and continents, and in his own words, “these frauds were significant enough at the time to send major ripples through the systems they challenged, with many of them serving as the catalyst for key legal and regulatory reforms.” The book introduces 10 swindlers, each with their own story of fraud in a separate chapter with a suitable story-title to it. In Govind’s fraudster tales, Hegestratos’s tale emerges as the ‘First Fraudster’, circa 300 BCE, in Athens. He, along with his crime partner Zenosthemis, working as ship merchants, planned to steal the cargos, sink the vessel, and con the vessel’s insurers of shipload of valuable goods through enforcement of the clauses of bottomry and respondentia contracts. However, the plans went awry due to the alert captain and crew members and Hegestratos jumped and drowned himself in the sea. Zenosthemis was arrested, tried and imprisoned in Athens for a long time. The author picks stories, random perhaps, from Athens and other countries, including India. Haridas Mundhra in the tale of ‘The Great Investor’ and Natwarlal in ‘The Master Manipulator’ are the two Indians figuring in the book. The Mundhra scandal, first of its kind in independent India, not only was embroiled with the stock markets and financial institutions but was an expose of the wicked nexus between political party, bureaucracy, ministers and business class, perhaps a prototype of ‘crony capitalism’. The conman Mudhra duped Life Insurance Company (LIC) by forging share certificates, using them as collateral for loans, and amassing huge loans to the tune of Rs 15.60 crore by the mid of 1957. It was Feroz Gandhi, the law maker, who brought this scam to public attention that led to nationalization of LIC, resignation of TT Krishnamachari – then finance minister, indictment of finance secretary and some senior LIC officials, and, of course, sentencing of Haridas Mundhra to 22 years in prison. In the Mithilesh Kumar alias Natwarlal’s case, the story, though intriguing, is simple. From forging signatures and withdrawing money from banks, he graduated to nefarious crimes such as decamping cash from merchants and siphoning off goods from the cargo areas while using more than 50 aliases. Natwarlal even sold, impersonating himself as government official, the Taj Mahal thrice, the Red Fort twice, and the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Parliament once. He had developed this shrewd art of escaping prison, and one heard him saying quite often that ‘no jail is enough to hold me for too long’. Then, there is a story of how an expert William Chaloner counterfeited coins, notes, and lottery tickets, in the 1600s, but finally got caught by Sir Issac Newton, and sent to gallows for he was guilty of multiple currency frauds. Hugh Cameron’s story is about his conspiracy to cheat Royal British Banks and its customers, eventually which led to the Bank’s collapse. However, in due course, it triggered major legislative reforms in the corporate governance systems in Britain. Oscar Hartzell, a brazen rook, in another story, swindled millions of dollars from investors in a popularly known Sir Francis Drake estate scam. Another story, rather smutty and historical, called the ‘necklace scandal’, involves one French noble woman Jeanne de valois as the key conspirator. It became one of the scandals that led to French Revolution. US major Enron bankruptcy, led by Kenneth Lay, and the Ponzi scheme by Charles Ponzi, the two white-collar financial crimes, rocked the financial systems in the US. The 10 tales are fun, and a riveting read and, in the tales, the readers would find themselves in the murky world of scandals. The criminals of the stories have two things in common, one they dreamt of becoming filthy rich in a trice, and when caught they tried to justify that all is done in good faith, and second, all of them are caught and punished, which the author seems to lay down as the moral of the book.Invesco Advisers, Inc. Announces Final Results of Tender Offers for Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals and Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income TrustBelmont Capital LLC lessened its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM ) by 30.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,738 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 5,198 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for 0.4% of Belmont Capital LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Belmont Capital LLC’s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $2,475,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the third quarter worth $37,000. Institutional investors own 71.55% of the company’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance Shares of JPM stock opened at $248.56 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $223.14 and its 200 day moving average is $211.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The stock has a market cap of $699.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.83, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.10. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a twelve month low of $152.71 and a twelve month high of $249.15. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 4th were given a $1.25 dividend. This is a boost from JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s payout ratio is currently 27.82%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently weighed in on JPM. Morgan Stanley cut JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $220.00 to $224.00 in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Robert W. Baird cut JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and set a $200.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $215.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $235.00 target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Finally, Oppenheimer downgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $229.31. View Our Latest Research Report on JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile ( Free Report ) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services to consumers and small businesses through bank branches, ATMs, and digital and telephone banking. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .