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Russia missile suspected in Azerbaijani plane crash, Moscow warns against 'hypotheses'
Long before Halo was the original commanding force in the FPS scene, it was a completely different experience. Originally planned as a third-person shooter exclusively for Mac computers, it seemingly went through just a few design changes before it finally hit the market. And randomly, the original beta builds were dropped and are fully playable on a modern PC. What an age we live in, huh? So, the Beta Build for ‘Halo’ Randomly Just Dropped? And It’s Fully Playable? Seeing 1999 Master Chief was one thing, but getting a chance to play this oft-forgotten beta build? That’s something that wasn’t on my 2024 Bingo Card. Or 2025, to be completely honest. While 343 Studios has been working to bring special levels to the Master Chief Collection , including the infamous E3 Levels for Halo 2 , I don’t think anyone ever expected the original beta for the first Halo game to get dropped online. Videos by VICE Yet, here we are. Available for download on Archive.org , the actual, original beta builds for the third-person Halo are now available and able to be played on modern hardware. As the Archive.org piece mentions, run blambeta.exe and blam.exe respectively for each specific beta testing level. It’s wild, and honestly? It’s great for video game preservationists to have access to these particular builds, as it’s a piece of history I never thought we could experience firsthand. Regarding the Halo Beta build, Archive.org user SentienceSnakes164 has also uploaded several pre-release/freeware builds for other games. Included is The Suffering , a free-ware version distributed by the... US Air Force? That may be even more shocking than the random reveal of the 1999 Pre-Xbox Halo build. I’m going to need to look a little further into that to find out what it’s all about. Unfortunately, with every silver lining, there have to be a few clouds that muddy up the blue skies. While the 1999 Pre-Xbox Halo build is a blessing in disguise, it does also appear that hackers have dumped source code information for nearly every other Halo release. There is allegedly nearly 100GB of data floating around on social media sites with this information.Colman Domingo Details Why ‘The Madness’ Is a Drama for Today’s Era of Media Feeding FrenziesNone
Nebraska holds on to beat Boston College 20-15 in Pinstripe Bowl for 1st bowl victory since 2015NoneTens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona
Thousands of protesters marched through Barcelona on Saturday demanding lower rents in Spain's second city. Barcelona, which has already taken action to stop the spread of holiday rental apartments, is the latest Spanish city to see protests for cheaper housing. Backed by left-wing parties and unions, the demonstrators gathered in central Barcelona behind a giant banner declaring "Lower the rents". "Today a new political cycle starts concerning housing," Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Catalan Tenants Union, the main organiser, told reporters. "Investors must not be allowed to come to our cities and play with the apartments like a game of Monopoly," she added. The union would target "profiteers" who are taking "half of our salaries", Arcarazo said. The demonstrators demanded a 50 percent cut in rents, leases with an unlimited term and a ban on "speculative" sales of buildings. They threatened to start a rent strike. An estimated 22,000 people took part in a similar demonstration in Madrid on October 13. Campaigns have been launched in other cities. According to the Idealista specialised website, rental prices per square metre have risen 82 percent across Spain over the past decade. The average salary has gone up by 17 percent in that time, according to the national statistics institute. Facing pressure over a housing crisis, the government in 2023 passed legislation calling for more social housing, greater restrictions on rents in high demand areas and penalties for owners who do not occupy properties. But rents have continued to rise while the government has battled city and regional authorities to get some parts of the law applied. vid-vab/tw/jmNone
Thousands demand lower rents at Barcelona demo
NoneTelangana ACB arrests govt officer for demanding Rs 50k bribe
By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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South Carolina added a veteran cornerback to the roster today with a commitment from Ball State transfer Myles Norwood (6-3 190). The St. Louis native made an official visit to USC late last week. He also took officials to Louisville and Kentucky. Norwood began his career at Iowa State where he played in one game and redshirted in 2022. He was on the team but did not see game action in 2023. He transferred to New Mexico State in February, but then transferred to Ball State to be closer to his home. Norwood joined Ball State for this season and played in all 12 games. On the season he had 38 tackles and broke up eight passes. He also had two tackles for loss. Norwood, for now, is the lone cornerback among the Gamecocks’ 2025 class of newcomers . He should have two seasons of eligibility with the Gamecocks.Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different
Bucharest: A senior official at Romania’s telecoms regulator called on Wednesday for TikTok to be suspended pending an investigation into the platform’s potential role in Sunday’s shock far-right victory in the first round of a presidential election. Having polled in single digits before Sunday’s vote, independent far-right politician Calin Georgescu, 62, surged to a victory that raised questions over how such a surprise had been possible in the European Union and NATO member state. Shock win: Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. Credit: Getty Images He will face centrist contender Elena Lasconi in a run-off on December 8. Georgescu gained many votes from young voters and Romanians living abroad, and his campaign relied heavily on the video-sharing platform. “I call for the TikTok platform to be suspended in Romania as of November 28 until state institutions finalise an investigation concerning the manipulation of the electoral process,” telecoms regulator deputy chief Pavel Popescu was quoted saying by the news website profit.ro. “I will start the official process to that end tomorrow.” A man with the Romanian and EU flags takes part in a protest against Calin Georgescu in Bucharest. Credit: AP The government’s press office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (NAC) had already called on the European Commission on Tuesday to investigate TikTok’s role in the vote, due to “suspicions of manipulation of public opinion”. Loading NAC vice president Valentin-Alexandru Jucan said the council believed the platform’s algorithms had amplified material favourable to a single candidate and that it had lacked transparency about who was sponsoring election content. A TikTok spokesperson dismissed such concerns. “These ... reports about the Romanian elections are inaccurate and misleading, as most candidates have established a TikTok presence and the winners campaigned on other digital platforms beyond ours,” the spokesperson said. TikTok did not immediately respond to a further request for comment about Popescu’s comments. The European Commission confirmed by email that it had received a request to launch a probe. “If the Commission suspects a breach on the basis of the evidence at our disposal, it can open proceedings to look into TikTok’s compliance ... We are closely monitoring developments.” In a further sign of the level of concern in the nation of 19 million people, the president’s office said Romania’s top security body would meet on Thursday to discuss possible risks to the country and its electoral process stemming from social media. Meanwhile, two candidates eliminated in the first round have challenged the election round at Romania’s top court asking it to recall the result on the grounds Georgescu did not declare any campaign funding sources. Georgescu’s team has yet to comment on the challenge. Georgescu has said his campaign budget was zero and backed entirely by volunteers. Analysts and politicians have said his surprise win relative to his pre-election polling data indicated foreign interference in the election. Before the vote, Romania’s intelligence agency told lawmakers it had not detected signs that national security was breached. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Bucharest on Tuesday evening, chanting: “No Putin, no fear, Europe is our mother,” and “Young people ask you not to vote for a dictator.” Protests were also held in other major cities. Georgescu has previously praised 1930s Romanian fascist politicians as national heroes and martyrs, has been critical of NATO and Romania’s pro-Ukraine position, and has said the country should engage, not challenge Russia. But in a stream on Facebook on Tuesday evening, he said: “I do not want to leave NATO, I do not want to leave the European Union. What I want, however, is to take a stance, not to kneel over there, not to take everything. Like I said, we should do everything in our national interest.” Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Social media World elections Romania Influence campaigns TikTok Most Viewed in World LoadingIn the latest episode of Newshour Agenda, Madhavdas GK discusses demise of former PM Manmohan Singh. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday passed away after he was admitted to the emergency department of AIIMS Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders from across political parties paid tributes to the former Prime Minister. Watch the show to know more. #sampitroda #manmohansingh #manmohansinghdemise #congress #timesnowFollow Madhavdas G:On X(Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/madhavgk On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madhavgk?igsh=MTg5eWdwMTZ4cndtcw==
(Bloomberg) — Investors have a challenge in betting on the usual stock market rally that tends to arrive after a presidential election: With the S&P 500 Index on track for one of its best ever starts to a year, history can’t be a guide this time. Buying US stocks into year-end following a vote is the classic trading playbook. Historically, the S&P 500 has posted a median return of 5% from Election Day in November to the end of the year, according to data compiled by Deutsche Bank AG. Even the riskiest pockets like small-capitalization companies typically catch a bid in the rising tide. But this is hardly a classic election year. The S&P 500 is up 25% in 2024 after leaping 24% in 2023, putting the index on pace for its first back-to-back years of more than 20% gains since the late 1990s. As a result, share prices are high, with the S&P 500 trading at more than 22 times projected 12-month earnings, compared with an average reading of 18 in the last decade. And positioning data shows traders are already heavily invested in equities. Meanwhile, familiar foes from the past few years, rising bond yields and the threat of persistent inflation, loom in the background. All of which has the stock market set up for a potentially quiet holiday season — as opposed to the ragers of election years past. “With valuations elevated and the S&P 500 already near 6,000, the market will creep higher from here,” said Eric Beiley, executive managing director of wealth management at Steward Partners. “But I don’t see a big year-end rally because rising yields will keep investors at bay.” No Hurry The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates twice since September. But recently, central bankers indicated that they aren’t in a hurry to go further. At the same time, Treasury yields have jumped to multi-month highs after US president-elect Donald Trump’s election victory ignited bets that his economic plans like large import tariffs and mass deportations of low-wage undocumented workers could stoke inflation and hurt growth, possibly reducing the Fed’s scope to cut interest rates. This explains why Wall Street strategists have been dialing back their rate reduction expectations since Trump’s election victory. The six months from November to April are historically the best part of the year for US equities because companies and pension plans tend to increase their stock buying starting on Nov. 1, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. However, those year-end rallies typically aren’t as robust when the S&P 500 has already risen at least 20%. In that case, since the 1970s the average return from now to Dec. 31 has been roughly 1%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Of course, this bull-market rally has gone far beyond these levels, with the S&P 500 up almost 70% since bottoming in October 2022. That will curb gains into late December, according to Savita Subramanian, head of US equity and quantitative strategy at Bank of America Corp. “Sentiment and positioning based on at least five indicators have grown dangerously bullish, leaving less room for positive surprises,” she wrote in a note to clients on Nov. 15. Heavy Hedging Already, some of the riskiest parts of the market are showing signs of weakness. Small-cap stocks, for instance, have erased most of their post-election rally as concern grows about the Fed’s rate path. And uncertainty over higher borrowing costs is prompting investors to hedge against sharp declines. Demand for far out-of-the-money put options on the S&P 500, technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index and small-cap Russell 2000 Index has risen to levels last seen during the heavy volatility ahead of the election, according to Kevin Brocks of 22V Research. That said, the rally isn’t necessarily in jeopardy simply because there’s growing speculation that the market has run too far. Valuations and investor sentiment can stay frothy for weeks — even months — before stocks suffer a significant drop, said Max Kettner, chief multi-asset strategist at HSBC Bank Plc, adding that there are “very few reasons to suggest a year-end rally has already been front-loaded.” Indeed, investors keep funneling money into stocks: They put $16.4 billion into US equities in the week through Nov. 20, marking the seventh consecutive weekly inflow, according to a Bank of America note citing EPFR Global data. The optimism isn’t entirely surprising. Looking at history, the S&P 500’s advance over the past two years isn’t even half of the 143% average gain in the 16 prior bull runs since 1945, according to Birinyi Associates. What investors most want to see when judging the rally’s strength is the gains broadening beyond the megacap tech that have been powering indexes higher on enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. It’s starting to happen, as the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index is outperforming the regular market-cap weighted version of the benchmark since Election Day, with financials, energy and consumer discretionary shares leading the way. In the end, however, it may be the bond market that sends the loudest signal for stock prices. If Treasury yields stay high and the Fed stands pat, there are serious risks to betting on significant further gains in equities. “A broadening rally is crucial but the one thing standing in the way of a strong advance for stocks the rest of the year is the bond market,” said Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group. “That may ultimately put a lid on a hefty year-end rally.” —With assistance from Natalia Kniazhevich.
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Bhopal, Dec 26 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath were among several leaders from the state who condoled the death of former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday. Dr Singh died in AIIMS Delhi late evening. He was 92. Asserting that he was fortunate enough to work with the renowned economist, Nath in a post on X said, "Dr. Manmohan Singh is a respected economist of the world and one of the Prime Ministers of India who focused on public welfare. Many achievements are recorded to his credit like loan waiver for farmers, right to education for children, right to information, and forest rights law for tribals etc. His demise has caused irreparable loss to the entire nation." Dr Singh's demise is an irreparable loss for the political world, CM Yadav said. "While performing the duties of RBI Governor, Finance Minister and Prime Minister, he participated in the efforts for the economic prosperity of the country with his efficient and farsighted policies and faced various challenges boldly. He will always be remembered for his contribution to the economic development of the country. I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief," the CM said on X. Madhya Pradesh BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma said Dr Singh's death was a big loss for the political world. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Tevogen Bio to Host Panel Discussions “AI In Biopharma: Next Frontier of Medical Innovation” ...