General election, Trump's win, McGregor court case: The top stories of 2024
Occidental Petroleum Co. ( NYSE:OXY – Get Free Report )’s share price shot up 1.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday after Raymond James raised their price target on the stock from $77.00 to $78.00. Raymond James currently has a strong-buy rating on the stock. Occidental Petroleum traded as high as $51.60 and last traded at $51.59. 2,153,531 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average session volume of 9,344,175 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.91. A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on OXY. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $67.00 to $63.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 30th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Occidental Petroleum from $77.00 to $65.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Barclays cut their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $67.00 to $58.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 4th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $76.00 to $72.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $63.70. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Occidental Petroleum Institutional Trading of Occidental Petroleum Occidental Petroleum Trading Up 0.7 % The firm has a market capitalization of $48.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.52 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $51.79 and a 200-day moving average of $57.02. Occidental Petroleum Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 10th will be given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 10th. Occidental Petroleum’s payout ratio is currently 22.92%. Occidental Petroleum Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The company's Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops, and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
US President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to impose sweeping tariffs on imports could counter earlier efforts to cool inflation, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday, warning that consumer prices could rise. Her comments at the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit come as Trump has vowed broad tariffs of at least 10 percent on all imports, and higher rates on goods from China, Canada and Mexico. Imposing broad-based tariffs could "raise prices significantly for American consumers and create cost pressures on firms" which rely on imported goods, Yellen said when asked about Trump's plans. She cautioned that this could weigh on the competitiveness of certain sectors and increase costs to households. "This is a strategy I worry could derail the progress that we've made on inflation, and have adverse consequences on growth," she said. But she defended efforts by President Joe Biden's administration to impose targeted tariffs on Chinese goods to counter unfair trade practices by Beijing. She has previously raised concern over China's industrial overcapacity -- which risks a flood of underpriced goods into global markets and could undermine the development of key US industries. On Tuesday, Yellen also expressed regret that the United States has not made more progress on the country's deficit, saying she believes it "needs to be brought down, especially now that we're in an environment of higher interest rates." She stressed the importance of an independent Federal Reserve too, saying that countries perform better economically when central banks are allowed to exercise their best judgment without political influence. Trump has said that he would like "at least" a say over setting the Fed's interest rate. "I think it's a mistake to become involved in commenting on the Fed and certainly taking steps to compromise its independence," said Yellen. "I believe it tends to undermine the confidence of financial markets and, ultimately, of Americans in an important institution," she added. Yellen noted that she has spoken with Trump's Treasury chief nominee, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, congratulating him on his nomination. bys/bjtAston Villa march on in Champions League after beating RB Leipzig
Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:GDYN – Free Report ) by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,381,429 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 17,763 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned approximately 1.80% of Grid Dynamics worth $19,344,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GDYN. Barclays PLC lifted its position in Grid Dynamics by 173.8% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 111,182 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,556,000 after acquiring an additional 70,579 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Grid Dynamics by 30.9% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,859,808 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,037,000 after purchasing an additional 675,419 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Grid Dynamics by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,446,130 shares of the company’s stock worth $20,246,000 after purchasing an additional 6,938 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in Grid Dynamics by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 79,214 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,109,000 after buying an additional 6,151 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP increased its position in Grid Dynamics by 131.5% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 5,236 shares of the company’s stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 2,974 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.18% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have weighed in on GDYN shares. TD Cowen raised their price target on Grid Dynamics from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Grid Dynamics from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Grid Dynamics from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC boosted their price objective on shares of Grid Dynamics from $20.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $18.33. Insider Activity at Grid Dynamics In related news, CFO Anil Doradla sold 3,000 shares of Grid Dynamics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.66, for a total value of $52,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 380,282 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,715,780.12. The trade was a 0.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Leonard Livschitz sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.56, for a total value of $218,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 3,460,901 shares in the company, valued at $50,390,718.56. This represents a 0.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 25,000 shares of company stock worth $399,260. Company insiders own 7.20% of the company’s stock. Grid Dynamics Trading Up 7.7 % Shares of NASDAQ:GDYN opened at $22.70 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.87 billion, a PE ratio of 756.92 and a beta of 1.06. Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $9.07 and a 12-month high of $24.16. The business has a 50 day moving average of $18.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.63. Grid Dynamics ( NASDAQ:GDYN – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.01. Grid Dynamics had a net margin of 0.74% and a return on equity of 0.15%. The firm had revenue of $87.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $85.09 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.08 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. will post 0.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Grid Dynamics Company Profile ( Free Report ) Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides technology consulting, platform and product engineering, and analytics services in North America, Europe, and internationally. It offers cloud platform and product engineering services, such as architecting, designing, and building scalable and secure cloud-based platforms and business applications; and AI/machine learning and data platform engineering services that build platforms to facilitate batch and streaming data ingestion, quality governance, orchestration, semantic modeling, observability, and analysis at scale. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Grid Dynamics What is a buyback in stocks? A comprehensive guide for investors Buffett Takes the Bait; Berkshire Buys More Oxy in December High Dividend REITs: Are They an Ideal Way to Diversify? Top 3 ETFs to Hedge Against Inflation in 2025 Short Selling: How to Short a Stock These 3 Chip Stock Kings Are Still Buys for 2025 Receive News & Ratings for Grid Dynamics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grid Dynamics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back C.J. Baskerville called foul on Arkansas Razorbacks Fernando Carmona over an allegedly "dirty" play during the Liberty Bowl on Friday. Baskerville made the claim in a post on X on Saturday. He accused Carmona of stepping on the back of his ankle after a play and shared two videos as proof. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Nov. 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive safety C.J. Baskerville (9) is honored on senior day before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. (Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images) "There’s no denying that Arkansas played a great game last night, I am not taking that away from them. But #55 Fernando Carmona blatantly stepping on my ankle and pressing down on it on purpose is straight up dirty," Baskerville wrote on X. "Proceeds to say "got your b**** a***." Do better." Carmona, who is listed at 322 pounds, didn’t immediately respond to Baskerville’s post. The incident in question occurred in the fourth quarter of Arkansas’ 39-26 win over Texas Tech. Sept. 21, 2024; Auburn, Alabama: Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Fernando Carmona (55) celebrates with fans after the Razorbacks beat the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (John Reed-Imagn Images) MIAMI'S CAM WARD OPTS OUT OF BOWL GAME IN 2ND HALF AFTER SETTING TD RECORD, IGNITES SOCIAL MEDIA DEBATE Baskerville led the Red Raiders with 10 total tackles, and he had one pass deflection in the game. The senior wrapped up his 2024 season with 52 total tackles and four interceptions on the season. The defense got to Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green twice. Green managed to avoid most of the pressure and was 11-of-21 with 341 passing yards and two touchdown passes. The Razorbacks finished the season 7-6 and are on a three-game bowl winning streak under head coach Sam Pittman. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) runs the ball against Texas Tech defensive back C.J. Baskerville (9) during the second half of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Red Raiders fell to 8-5 on the year. The team’s own three-game bowl winning streak was snapped with the defeat. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .WASHINGTON , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Danaher Corporation DHR announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share of its common stock, payable on January 31, 2025 to holders of record on December 27, 2024 . ABOUT DANAHER Danaher is a leading global life sciences and diagnostics innovator, committed to accelerating the power of science and technology to improve human health. Our businesses partner closely with customers to solve many of the most important health challenges impacting patients around the world. Danaher's advanced science and technology - and proven ability to innovate - help enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and help reduce the time and cost needed to sustainably discover, develop and deliver life-changing therapies. Focused on scientific excellence, innovation and continuous improvement, our approximately 63,000 associates worldwide help ensure that Danaher is improving quality of life for billions of people today, while setting the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow. Explore more at www.danaher.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/danaher-announces-quarterly-dividend-302328121.html SOURCE Danaher Corporation © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.ESPN's 'College GameDay' Hints At 'Tough Day' For Lee Corso
Brazil coup attempt: Bolsonaro and 36 others face chargesDartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict.
Fresh off of an incredible season, Prairie girls basketball is back on the hardwood. Last week, they opened their 2024-25 slate with a tight loss to Caliche before turning around to pummel Peetz. In their first appearance, the Mustangs played neck-and-neck with the Buffaloes in the first half, tying at 10 apiece by halftime, before the Buffaloes tapped into a little something extra. Caliche scored 17 points out of the break, while stymying the Mustangs to just 12 points, before carrying on to a 34-31 victory. Whatever offense woes plagued them in the first game evaporated overnight. The Mustangs then made the trip to Peetz, where they beat the Bulldogs 58-22. They took control from the very beginning, outscoring the Bulldogs 14-9 in the first quarter, then continued that double-digit scoring pace through every frame that followed. The Mustangs found some rhythm on both ends of the floor in the third quarter when they put up 19 points to Peetz’ two. They’ll enter Friday’s contest against Lone Star with a 1-1 record. The boys basketball team wasn’t nearly as successful, but it came tantalizingly close in both of its first two games. The Mustangs opened their season with a 43-39 loss against North Park, then turned around the next day to fall to Caliche by a similar, 49-45 margin. The Mustangs took control in the first quarter against the Wildcats, holding a 12-7 advantage by the time the clock hit zero, but relinquished the momentum to North Park from there on out. They kept play tight in the second and fourth quarters, but lost that offensive spark during a 10-4 third. Their loss to Caliche followed a similar pattern to start, when they ended the first eight minutes with a 16-9 lead, then ceded all of that momentum and then some to the Buffaloes over the next two quarters. The Mustangs found one last spark in a fourth quarter they held a 12-10 advantage in, but by that point, it was too little, too late. The boys will head into Lone Star with an 0-2 record.
the suspect in in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. sparked widespread discussions about unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione's family and upbringing Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione's education and work history Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. Time in Hawaii and reports of back pain From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Police report a darker turn Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. ___ Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. Sean Murphy, The Associated PressZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic has a sweeping lead in Sunday’s election and could win the five-year presidency in the first round, according to an exit poll released immediately after the voting. The poll by the Ipsos polling agency and released by the state HRT television showed Milanovic winning over 50% of the votes, while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the conservative HDZ ruling party trailed far behind with 19%. Milanovic thanked voters in a post on social networks. The first official results are yet to be published. Pre-election polls predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of all 8 presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Left-leaning Milanovic is an outspoken critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communication with political opponents. The most popular politician in Croatia, 58-year-old Milanović has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, he has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and continuous sparring between the two has lately marked Croatia’s political scene. Plenković, the prime minister, has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO. He has labeled Milanović “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him and Milanović is quite simple: Milanović is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander. Milanović has criticized the NATO and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, though it is a member of both NATO and the EU. Milanović has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war.” His main rival in the election, Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East.” His presidency bid, however, has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and featured prominently in pre-election debates. During the election campaign, Primorac has sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanović as divisive. “Today is an extremely important day,” Primorac said after casting his ballot. "Croatia is going forward into the future. Croatia needs unity, Croatia needs its global positioning, and above all Croatia needs peaceful life.” Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudić, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.Bit Digital (NASDAQ:BTBT) Receives “Buy” Rating from HC Wainwright
Barclays PLC Has $1.38 Million Stake in Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:IAS)The San Francisco 49ers will start Brandon Allen at quarterback Sunday against the Green Bay Packers in place of an injured Brock Purdy , coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. This will be the first time Purdy has missed a start because of an injury since taking over as the 49ers' quarterback in December 2022. Editor's Picks 49ers' 36-game favorite streak in jeopardy 35m Doug Greenberg Torn PCL could sideline Packers' Alexander longer 23h Rob Demovsky Allen has started nine regular-season games since entering the league as a sixth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. Three of those starts were for the Denver Broncos in 2019, with the other six for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 and 2021. He has been with the 49ers since 2023 and has yet to start a game in San Francisco but has been running the scout team against the defense for much of that time. Purdy, who is dealing with soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder, has been limited in practice this week. He first appeared on the injury report Monday when Shanahan discussed injuries coming out of Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks . Shanahan said then that Purdy would be considered day-to-day because of the shoulder injury. Joshua Dobbs will be the backup on Sunday. Information from ESPN's Nick Wagoner and The Associated Press was included in this report.
Mikel Arteta returned from a visit to see Arsenal’s owners over the international break determined to turn up the temperature and ignite his side’s stuttering title challenge. The head coach was in an animated mood as he warmed up for a crucial run of fixtures, with the emphasis on playing with fire in the belly in Saturday afternoon’s home game against Nottingham Forest. Arteta talked of the intensity going up in training this week and he has emerged from a trip to the USA for talks with the club’s hierarchy confident that Arsenal, whose injury problems have eased after four games without a win in the league, can cut a nine-point gap to Liverpool at the top. “It’s a joy to have the owners that we have,” Arteta said. “I’m very open and critical with myself and try to put things on the table straight away. I think it’s very important that we all feel comfortable and uncomfortable. “And this sport and the demands that we have sometimes put the temperature up a little bit, sometimes bring it down and everybody needs it. I’m the first that needs that. And not only from the owners – from the coaches, from the players, media, it’s great to have that. So you are always seeking to be the best and evaluate and judge yourself in the right way.” Arteta does not mind the pressure going up. He grinned when he was asked about the temperature at the club now. “Very good,” Arteta said. “Like Mallorca in June.” Expectations have gone up and Arteta suggested he would be in trouble if he did not live up to them. “It’s about delivering with that expectation time and time and time again. Which is only one way to fulfil that expectation: winning big trophies, that’s it. Anything else is going to be ...” Arteta trailed off and made a choking sound. Arsenal hope to have Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard available, and Riccardo Calafiori is back training after a knee injury. But Ben White faces an extended spell on the sidelines after surgery and Takehiro Tomiyasu has a knee problem. It has been a challenging period and Arsenal have been rocked by the , their sporting director. Edu is expected to join the network of clubs spearheaded by Evangelos Marinakis, Forest’s owner. “I can talk about what we are doing right now,” Arteta said, “and I’m going to be very much involved in that process because we want to find the right person first of all. The right person has to be someone who is able to cooperate and make each other better and take us to a different level.” Arteta had urged his players to show their teeth after the two weeks ago. He saw a mentality shift in that game. “Last year we were losing 2-0 [at Chelsea] and we score for 2-2,” he said. “Just watch the footage of how we celebrate the goal. This season you go out there and score 1-0 and look how we celebrate the goal. It is about raising expectations higher. You are not satisfied. This team wants more and more, that even if we win and win and win they are going to be willing to do more.”DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad , but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. “You will see there are skills" among the rebels, al-Sharaa said in a video shared on a rebel messaging channel. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Assad , a decision made by President Vladimir Putin . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons , security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. “Don’t be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!” In southern Turkey , Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he’s alive.” Prime minister says government is operational, but UN official says it's paralyzed Jalali, the prime minister, has sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a U.N. official said some government services had been paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” Britain, U.S. considering removing insurgent group from terror list Britain and the U.S. are both considering whether to remove the main anti-Assad rebel group from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began as an offshoot of al-Qaida but cut ties with the group years ago and has worked to present a more moderate image. The group's leader, al-Sharaa, “is saying some of the right things about the protection of minorities, about respecting people’s rights,” British Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said, adding that a change would be considered “quite quickly.” But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking later during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said it was "far too early” to make that decision. In Washington, a Biden administration official noted that HTS will be an “important component” in Syria's future and that the U.S. needs to “engage with them appropriately.” Another administration official said the U.S. remains in a “wait and see” mode on whether to remove the designation. Both officials requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing internal deliberations. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that such designations are constantly under review. Even while it is in place, the designation does not bar U.S. officials from speaking with members or leaders of the group, he said. The U.S. also announced it was sending its special envoy for hostage affairs to Beirut to seek information about the whereabouts of Austin Tice, a journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago and who President Joe Biden has said is believed to be alive. Israel confirms it struck suspected chemical weapons and rockets Israelis welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, while expressing concern over what comes next. Israel says its forces temporarily seized a buffer zone inside Syria dating back to a 1974 agreement after Syrian troops withdrew in the chaos. “The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters Monday. Saar did not provide details about the targets, but the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they included weapons warehouses, research centers, air defense systems and aircraft squadrons. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are military sites related to Iran and Hezbollah . Israeli officials rarely comment on individual strikes. Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in 2013, after the government was accused of launching an attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people . But it is widely believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in subsequent years. Turkey says its allies have taken northern town Officials in Turkey, which is the main supporter of the Syrian opposition to Assad, say its allies have taken full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij from a U.S.-supported and Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. The SDF said a Turkish drone struck in the village of al-Mistriha in eastern Syria, killing 12 civilians, including six children. Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The SDF has also been a key ally of the United States in the war against the Islamic State group. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday warned against allowing Islamic State or Kurdish fighters to take advantage of the situation, saying Turkey will prevent Syria from turning into a “haven for terrorism.” ___ Mroue reported from Beirut and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Mehmet Guzel at the Oncupinar border crossing in Turkey, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP's Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syria Sarah El Deeb, Bassem Mroue And Tia Goldenberg, The Associated Press