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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said that his thoughts are with Dr Manmohan Singh’s family, his friends, and his countless admirers. India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” he wrote on X. India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic... pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP “Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi added. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda also expressed condolences over the demise of former PM Singh, calling it a loss for the nation. Nadda said that Singh’s legacy will continue to inspire generations in their pursuit of nation-building. “The passing of Former Prime Minister and Economist Shri Manmohan Singh ji is an immense loss for the nation. A visionary statesman and a stalwart of Indian politics, throughout his remarkable career in public service, he consistently voiced for the welfare of the downtrodden. His leadership earned admiration and respect across party lines. Shri Manmohan Singh Ji’s legacy will continue to inspire generations in their pursuit of nation-building. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and admirers. Om Shanti,” JP Nadda. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha expressed his deepest condolences to Singh’s family and called him blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside him in the Rajya Sabha. “A world-renowned economist and the architect behind the liberalization of the Indian economy, Dr Manmohan Singh Ji steered India through difficult times and into a new era. An Oxford-educated economist, he spearheaded India’s 1991 economic reforms and led the nation as Prime Minister with quiet determination, proving that intellect and integrity can drive transformative change. I join the nation in mourning the passing of one of our most distinguished statesmen. His legacy will endure and inspire generations to come. I consider myself blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside him in the Rajya Sabha. My deepest condolences to his family. RIP, Sir. Om Shanti,” the AAP leader, posted on X. Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving 33 years in the house. Manomohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India—from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of office for the first time in 2004, after Congress won the 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. Comments
Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller , a George Soros protégé , is known for his “top-down” investing style. Druckenmiller’s strategy focuses on making large bets on macroeconomic trends, prioritizing top-performing industries over individual companies. The Bowdoin College and University of Michigan alumnus recently upped his stake in Broadcom Inc AVGO , a $1 trillion semiconductor company based in San Jose, California. Druckenmiller closed his hedge fund, Duquesne Capital in 2010, but still maintains the Duquesne Family Office to manage his wealth. Druckenmiller first bought 51,956 shares in the company in mid-to-late 2023, selling all before the next quarter. The latest Duquesne 13F filing, revealing the firm’s holdings as of Sept. 30, showed Druckenmiller upping his wager on Broadcom to 239,980 shares. The investment — up over 35% since September — represents a market value of almost $56 million, one of his largest holdings. Shares of the company were already trading up over 100% between his first filing and the latest filing. Also Read: History Suggests S&P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There’s Reason For Optimism Druckenmiller previously called NVIDIA Corp ‘s NVDA ascension, buying shares in late 2022 and early 2023, but sold off most of his position before the company’s historic rally in 2024. The investor later called the sale a “big mistake.” Broadcom is a global technology company that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. Its products, which include chips for networking, broadband, wireless communications, and storage, as well as enterprise software for cybersecurity and data management, power a wide range of industries, from telecommunications and data centers to consumer electronics. The company’s shares were trading almost 5% higher at the time of publication Monday following news that the U.S. is opening an investigation into China’s semiconductor industry policies, according to Benzinga Pro . Also Read: Tech Stocks Eye Christmas Gains, Microstrategy Tumbles As Bitcoin Dips To $93,000: What’s Driving Markets Monday? Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.By LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s bid to lead the Justice Department . Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.
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Pandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry Christmas” written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple in a special press event Monday before visitors streamed to the park. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby: Spurs-Knicks Christmas game is also an animated one at Disney World NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. While Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, an alternate animated telecast will have the teams playing in the Magic Kingdom, with some Disney characters participating. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2 The first season of “Squid Game” was Netflix's most-watched series and went on to win a variety of accolades including the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series for Lee Jung-jae and a directing award for Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show returns for its second season on Dec. 26 and is already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama. It's rare for TV shows made in Korea to have more than one season but Lee describes Hwang as “a genius.” A third and final season has already filmed. Netflix is also invested in expanding its “Squid Game” universe with a reality competition series and an English-language version in development. In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones in the ruins of a Catholic church in southern Lebanon that was hit by an Israeli airstrike during the war with Hezbollah. It's a small and modest tree. There are no lights because the war destroyed power lines. The ground is too uneven to set up the Nativity scene. The priest says his blood pressure went up and he lost his balance when he saw the church's destruction. Now he leads Mass in an underground room that serves as a temporary worship space. He tells the community it “is more like the cave where Jesus was born.” Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 The Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, says the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” has died. The aquarium says Burt died over the weekend and was at least 90 years old. A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters long. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile, before being saved by Dundee. Elaborate holiday light displays are making spirits bright in a big way CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow might be enough to brighten some homes this holiday season. But others are adorned with thousands of blinking lights synched to blasting music. In Mesa, Arizona, 14 homeowners have been going all-out on holiday lights for 30 years, and those buying homes in the neighborhood often find the attics full of décor left behind by previous owners. In Santa Clarita, California, residents began coordinating their holiday lights to bring some joy to their community after an earthquake. And in Edmond, Oklahoma, those looking to the western sky will easily spot the Miranda family’s elaborate display featuring images and music from the movie “Wicked.” Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus. The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years. More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat. NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That's nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun's surface. 174 Colorado skiers and snowboarders rescued after a lift cracks WINTER PARK, Colo. (AP) — Officials are investigating what caused a crack in a Colorado ski lift that forced the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The evacuation happened Saturday on a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort. A spokesperson says the lift stopped automatically when a crack was detected in a structural piece of the lift. Passengers were lowered down by ropes over the course of about five hours. No injuries were reported during the rescues, which came at the start of the busy holiday season. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Treysen Eaglestaff's 19 points helped North Dakota defeat Waldorf College 97-57 on Sunday night. Eaglestaff shot 6 of 11 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 6 from the line for the Fightin' Hawks (6-9). Mier Panoam added 13 points and six rebounds. Zach Kraft had 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Gene Noble led the way for the Warriors with 12 points and six rebounds. Emmanuel Ferguson scored 10 and Ugo Ejiofor pitched in with nine points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Ninja's Boxing Day sale has landed and you can get the £30 travel mug for under £4
It's a numbers game: Biden, 82, and Trump, 78, move up as oldest living presidents after Jimmy Carter's death at 100King and PM honour former US president Jimmy Carter after his death aged 100Browns Restructure QB Deshaun Watson's Contract to Create Cap Space, Flexibility, AP Source Says
Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder of health insurance CEOApple recently issued a critical security warning to iPhone users about sophisticated spyware capable of compromising devices without any user interaction. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the tech community, raising concerns about the vulnerability of even the most secure smartphones. This spyware, identified as Pegasus, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, can potentially grant attackers complete access to your iPhone, including your personal data, messages, calls, and even your camera and microphone. This isn’t the first time Pegasus has made headlines. It has been allegedly used in various targeted attacks against journalists, activists, and political figures worldwide. What makes this recent warning particularly alarming is the discovery of a new “zero-click” exploit, meaning the spyware can infect your device without you even clicking a malicious link or downloading a compromised file. This invisible threat has raised the stakes significantly, making it crucial for iPhone users to understand the risks and take necessary precautions. What is Pegasus and how does it work? Pegasus is a highly sophisticated spyware program that can infiltrate iPhones and other devices, turning them into surveillance tools. It exploits vulnerabilities in the device’s software to gain access to a treasure trove of personal information: The recent discovery of the “zero-click” exploit signifies a new level of sophistication. Previously, Pegasus relied on social engineering tactics, tricking users into clicking malicious links or downloading infected attachments. This new method bypasses any user interaction, making it incredibly difficult to detect and prevent. Who is at risk? While anyone with an iPhone can potentially be targeted by Pegasus, the primary targets tend to be: However, it’s important to remember that anyone can become a target, especially with the rise of “zero-click” exploits. What can you do to protect yourself? While the threat of “zero-click” spyware is daunting, there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk: What is Apple doing about it? Apple is actively working to address the threat of spyware like Pegasus. They have a dedicated security team that investigates and patches vulnerabilities. They also collaborate with security researchers and organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats. In response to the recent Pegasus attacks, Apple has released security updates and is actively suing NSO Group to prevent further abuse of their technology. My personal experience: As a tech enthusiast, I’ve always been mindful of online security. However, the news of “zero-click” spyware was a wake-up call. It made me realize that even the most secure devices can be vulnerable. I immediately updated my iPhone and reviewed all my app permissions. I also started using a VPN for added security. While these measures may not guarantee complete protection, they certainly provide an extra layer of defense. What does the future hold? The battle between security researchers and spyware developers is an ongoing arms race. As security measures improve, attackers find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. It’s crucial to stay informed about the latest threats and take proactive steps to protect yourself. The threat of spyware like Pegasus highlights the importance of digital security awareness. By staying informed and taking precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Key takeaways: Remember, staying vigilant and informed is your best defense against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
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Capricorn – (22nd December to 19th January) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, take a long leap to happiness Look for options to be happy in the love affair. Your commitment at work will bring positive results. Handle your wealth smartly and health is also positive. Have a productive love affair today and you both may be involved in exciting activities. New responsibilities in the job make you stronger. Prosperity will come with good health. Capricorn Love Horoscope Today Be specific about your needs to the partner. Your lover prefers spending more time with you. Even while you are traveling; ensure you connect over the phone to share your emotions. It is good to stay away from arguments. Single females can expect a proposal today. Some Capricorns will resolve the issues with the ex-lover to go back to the old love affair. Married females will be happy to have a great day in terms of romance. Capricorn Career Horoscope Today Express your ideas freely at meetings as they will be approved. Be concerned about the team as your behavior will work out during appraisals. Some professionals will see opportunities abroad. Avoid office politics and you should be smart enough to negotiate with the team members while handling team tasks. Businessmen will sign new partnership deals which would bring in good profits today. Some students waiting for admission to a foreign university will see positive results. Capricorn Money Horoscope Today There will also be success in getting a bank loan today. Today is also good to buy jewelry or electronic appliances for the home. You can also try the fortune in stock and speculative business today. Go ahead with the plan to buy a property, or vehicle, or to renovate the home. Businesses will succeed in raising funds through promoters while some females will pick the day to even donate money to charity. Capricorn Health Horoscope Today No serious medical issue will trouble you. However, it is good to have control over the lifestyle. The second part of the day is good to join a gym or a yoga session. Meditate in the early morning to overcome stress and start the day with positive energy. Some Capricorn females will develop migraine, gynecological issues, or viral fever today. Capricorn Sign Attributes Strength: Intelligent, Practical, Trustworthy, Generous, Optimistic Weakness: Persistent, Stubborn, Suspicious Symbol: Goat Element: Earth Body Part: Bones & Skin Sign Ruler: Saturn Lucky Day: Saturday Lucky Color : Grey Lucky Number : 4 Lucky Stone: Amethyst Capricorn Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Less compatibility: Aries, Libra By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)Stocks shook off a choppy start to finish higher Monday, as Wall Street kicked off a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 ended 0.7% higher after having been down 0.5% in the early going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also recovered from an early slide to eke out a 0.2% gain. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Gains in technology and communications stocks accounted for much of the gains, outweighing losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.7%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1%. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 12.7%, while Nissan ended flat. Eli Lilly rose 3.7% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.5% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. All told, the S&P 500 rose 43.22 points to 5,974.07. The Dow gained 66.69 points to 42,906.95. The Nasdaq rose 192.29 points to 19,764.89. Traders got a look at a new snapshot of U.S. consumer confidence Monday. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets closed mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas.
The former lead nurse at the Mendocino County Jail was recently convicted of several sex-related felonies “initiated and perpetrated through an online scam known as catfishing,” the Mendocino County District Attorney reported. According to the office of DA David Eyster, Blake Dylan Bradley Cox, 28, of Ukiah, pleaded “no contest” last week to “eight sex-related felonies and one misdemeanor in one case, and two additional firearm felonies in a second case.” In what the DA describes as a “dogged investigation by the Ukiah Police Department that initially involved an allegation of misdemeanor domestic battery, it was also discovered that the defendant was in possession of eleven illegal assault weapons and twenty-seven other firearms.” While that case was being tried, the DA reports that “the UPD continued analyzing seized evidence,” which included Cox’s cell phone, which reportedly had “overwhelming evidence of sex-related crimes, involving both juvenile and adults, that the defendant had initiated and perpetrated through an online scam known as catfishing.” The DA described catfishing as “when a person, ‘the catfish’, uses false information and images to create a fake identity online with the intention to trick, harass, or scam another person. It is often found on social media or dating apps and websites, and is a common tactic used to form online relationships under false pretenses.” According to the DA, Cox used “naked female images to create a fake female identity/persona (‘Jessica’) to trick male victims online into believing they are in a real online friendship and a developing sexual romance with the mysterious Jessica. The victims were eventually then lured by Jessica into meeting up with ‘one of her male friends’ (defendant Cox) and filmed in the backseat of a vehicle participating in oral and other sex acts with Cox (and the pictures were then) supposedly forwarded to Jessica.” The DA explains that “the lure was that the victim would be sexually rewarded by Jessica for ‘helping out her male friend’ and ‘she’ promised that when they ultimately got together that she would participate in and fulfill any and all of the victim’s sexual fantasies; however, once Cox had a successful ‘meeting’ with Jessica’s suitor, the defendant’s online Jessica persona would disappear and the defendant would then ghost his victims.” The DA notes that along with the “catfish conversation threads, pictures and videos, the defendant’s cell phone also contained images of illegal child pornography, as well as videos from a hidden camera placed to film an unsuspecting under-aged relative in all stages of disrobement.” The DA explains that “the law enforcement agencies that diligently worked the cases against defendant Cox are the Ukiah Police Department and the DA’s in-house Bureau of Investigations, (with) special thanks extended to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for assisting with specialized report review and charging recommendations. Special thanks also to the California Attorney General’s Office working on behalf of the California Board of Nursing, (which) successfully obtained a court order to withhold the defendant’s nursing license while the defendant’s Mendocino County criminal charges are pending.”The saga of Steve Slaton, Pat White and Rich Rodriguez