NFC Notes: Dak Prescott, Cowboys, Lions, Panthers
In a surprising turn of events, a once overlooked player has emerged as a star in the French Ligue 1. The Red Devil outcast, who was deemed surplus to requirements at his former club, has been lighting up the league with his exceptional performances. With 11 goals in just 14 rounds, he has caught the attention of football fans and critics alike, showcasing his talent and determination on the field.
Title: New Preview of "Bleach: Soul Awakening" - A Glittering Debut of Sosuke Aizen!India News | J-K CM Omar Abdullah Conducts Surprise Checks at Kashmir's Health InstitutionsAs individuals progress through middle age and beyond, they are increasingly susceptible to developing hypertension due to various factors, including sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, genetic predisposition, and chronic stress. High blood pressure often goes unnoticed, as it is a silent condition that can remain asymptomatic for extended periods. However, the long-term consequences of uncontrolled hypertension are severe and can significantly impact overall health and quality of life.
In that moment of redemption, Jake realized that true repentance was not found in the return of stolen goods, but in the acknowledgment of one's mistakes and the unwavering commitment to make amends. As he walked away from the park, the necklace safely tucked in his pocket, a newfound sense of purpose bloomed within him, propelling him towards a future defined not by his past transgressions, but by his capacity for growth and redemption.One of the key highlights of the Amazon Global Selling Cross-border Summit is the success stories shared by local businesses that have leveraged the platform to achieve international success. These inspiring stories serve as a testament to the immense potential of cross-border e-commerce and motivate other entrepreneurs to embark on their own global selling journey. By showcasing real-world examples of businesses that have thrived in the global marketplace, the summit aims to inspire and empower local entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities presented by Amazon Global Selling.
In conclusion, the adjustments at the House Mountain Bus Station signal a positive step towards enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers. By reorganizing bus routes, introducing new amenities, and embracing technological advancements, the bus station aims to provide a more efficient, convenient, and user-friendly environment for all commuters. As a frequent user of public transportation in the area, it is essential to stay informed about the new changes and adapt to the evolving transportation landscape to make the most of your travel experiences. So, next time you visit the House Mountain Bus Station, be sure to check out the new changes and enjoy a smoother and more comfortable journey!
LOVE Island star Tasha Ghouri faced a tough night on Strictly Come Dancing as the judges delivered brutal feedback following a blunder. Tasha landed in the dance-off last week, and tonight her semi-final Salsa routine failed to impress the judges. 4 Tasha Ghouri and her professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec are one of the strongest couples in Strictly Come Dancing 4 The judges refused to go easy on the couples 4 Tasha came under fire from the judges over her first dance of the semi-final Credit: PA The reality TV beauty, 25, delivered a high-energy performance to Girls Aloud’s hit Something New, but left the judges wincing. The star, who has wowed audiences with her moves all season, appeared visibly upset after the routine didn’t go as planned. Judge and former pro Anton Du Beke didn’t hold back, telling her: "It's got to be absolutely seamless, and it wasn't. "There were transitions there that were a bit stumbly. We are talking about the semi-final here" while head judge Shirley Ballas added: "There was a tiny thing, your transitions in your lift." Craig Revel Horwood added: "You need to dance out of every transition smoothly and out of it. That didn't really happen tonight." Motsi Mabusetold her: "That beginning was insane, out of this world. I understand what the other judges are talking about but we are talking about levels of lifts here." Viewers took to social media to defend the star, with many praising her dance. Tasha's semi-final opener won her 35 points. Most read in Showbiz TELLY TRAGEDY The Scheme star dies aged 61 as tributes pour in for 'lovely man' FOOD FOR THOUGHT Joe Swash begs for MasterChef job after Gregg Wallace exits BBC show lucky escape Joe Swash in terrifying car crash as he reveals vehicle was hit by a LORRY lookalike son Nepo-baby DJ poses behind the decks - but can you guess his Britpop star dad? She managed to pull it back for her second dance, and was awarded a perfect score for her waltz to Aretha Franklin's romantic ballad You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman. However, after finding herself in the dreaded dance-off last week fans were worried it wouldn't be enough. Pete Wicks' 'kisses' Jowita on Strictly as he fuels romance rumours after Maura Higgins leaves the I'm A Celeb jungle They also accused the judges of picking holes in her performance while awarding high scores for her fellow contestants. One fan tweeted: "Worried though since her Salsa got no 10’s... just hoping if she’s in the dance-off it’s against Pete rather than JB (won’t be Chris or Sarah). PLEASE VOTE FOR TASHA!" Another said: "I’m still mad about Tasha’s salsa score because worse dances this season has got 10s, but you’re telling me that didnt... do me a favour." A third said: "If Tasha’s salsa was a 9, Chris’ Charleston was a 6, blind or not it doesn’t matter, they’re all judged equally (apparently)." Tasha will now rely on the public vote to secure her place in the grand finale. 4 She danced to Girls Aloud hit Something New with pro AljažResearch published in Physical Review Fluids has revealed the intricate dynamics between raindrops and leaves, shedding light on how plants withstand the force of falling water. The study, titled "Resonance and Damping in Drop-Cantilever Interactions," highlights the mechanics that protect leaves and suggests innovative applications for agriculture and renewable energy. Using high-speed imaging, researchers observed the interaction between water droplets and a plastic beam, which simulated the structural behavior of leaves. According to Professor Sunghwan Jung, from Cornell University's Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, in a statement, the droplet and beam move in opposing directions upon impact. This counteraction reduces vibration, offering protection to the plant . The findings align with unexplained discrepancies previously noted by scientists, which the team analysed by examining the natural frequency alignment of the beam and droplet. Insights into Plant Adaptation Lead author Crystal Fowler, a doctoral candidate in biological engineering, stated that the study confirmed increased damping when the droplet's natural frequency matched the beam's. This phenomenon resulted in a faster reduction of vibrations, potentially reducing stress on plant leaves and contributing to their longevity. The findings may also enhance understanding of water flow through forest canopies and plant morphological evolution. Potential for Renewable Energy Applications The research team proposed that the principles observed could extend to renewable energy. Professor Jung suggested piezoelectric materials could replace the beam to harness energy from rain-induced vibrations. This paper marks a significant milestone for Fowler, a member of the Navajo Nation. Reflecting on her experience, she expressed enthusiasm for exploring biological engineering and its broader implications. The study not only provides a glimpse into plant resilience but also opens avenues for innovative technology inspired by natural processes.South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law"误杀3" Officially Announces Special Appearance by Yiwu Yin!
EVERTEC ( NYSE:EVTC – Get Free Report ) and Life360 ( NASDAQ:LIF – Get Free Report ) are both mid-cap business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, risk, profitability and institutional ownership. Institutional and Insider Ownership 96.8% of EVERTEC shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 20.0% of Life360 shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of EVERTEC shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for EVERTEC and Life360, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Valuation and Earnings This table compares EVERTEC and Life360′′s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. EVERTEC has higher revenue and earnings than Life360. Profitability This table compares EVERTEC and Life360’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Summary EVERTEC beats Life360 on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About EVERTEC ( Get Free Report ) EVERTEC, Inc. engages in transaction processing business and financial technology in Latin America and the Caribbean. The company operates through four segments: Payment Services – Puerto Rico & Caribbean; Latin America Payments and Solutions; Merchant Acquiring; and Business Solutions. It provides merchant acquiring services, which enable point of sales and e-commerce merchants to accept and process electronic methods of payment, such as debit, credit, prepaid, and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. In addition, the company offers payment processing services that enable financial institutions and other issuers to manage, support, and facilitate the processing for credit, debit, prepaid, automated teller machines, and EBT card programs; credit and debit card processing, authorization and settlement, and fraud monitoring and control services to debit or credit issuers services. Further, it provides business process management solutions comprising core bank processing, network hosting and management, IT professional, business process outsourcing, item and cash processing, and fulfillment solutions to merchant, fintech, financial institutions, and corporate and government customers. Additionally, the company owns and operates the ATH network, a personal identification number debit networks. It manages a system of electronic payment networks that process approximately six billion transactions. The company sells and distributes its services primarily through direct sales force. It serves financial institutions, merchants, corporations, and government agencies. EVERTEC, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. About Life360 ( Get Free Report ) Life360 Inc. is a family connection and safety company. Its business category includes mobile app and Tile tracking devices with a range of services, including location sharing, safe driver reports and crash detection with emergency dispatch. Life360 Inc. is based in SAN FRANCISCO. Receive News & Ratings for EVERTEC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EVERTEC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Caocao, better known as Cao Cao, is a prominent figure in Chinese history, particularly for his military prowess and strategic acumen during the Three Kingdoms period. Recently, a controversial topic has emerged surrounding a fictional event where Cao Cao allegedly wields a modern machine gun modified with artificial intelligence technology in a popular video game. This has sparked debates about the boundaries of historical accuracy and creative license, as well as potential copyright infringement issues.
Furthermore, as the regulatory landscape for personal pension services evolves, commercial banks need to demonstrate compliance with industry regulations and ensure the security and integrity of customer data. Effective marketing strategies that emphasize transparency, trust, and regulatory compliance are essential to building credibility and confidence among customers in the personal pension services offered by banks.Services are the new road to development
As the release date for "28 Years Later" approaches, anticipation is reaching fever pitch among fans who are eager to immerse themselves in the gripping world of the franchise once again. With its groundbreaking storytelling, compelling characters, and unrelenting tension, the sequel is poised to solidify its place as a modern classic in the pantheon of horror cinema.
China's Table Tennis Team Leads the Way as World Number One in Four Categories, Showcasing Dominance in the Sport
Four new-age tech stocks – PB Fintech, Zaggle, Zomato and CarTrade Tech – ended 2024 with gains in excess of 100% Eleven out of the 19 new-age tech stocks that listed before 2024 ended the year in the red, including Nykaa, ideaForge, Delhivery, due to lacklustre financials, sectoral headwinds, among others Meanwhile, the 13 new entrants to the bourses had a positive 2024, with most of them listing at a premium to their respective IPO price and a majority of them ending the year above listing price It was an eventful year for new-age tech companies on the IPO front, with 13 startups going public in 2024 . These companies cumulatively raised a staggering INR 29,000 Cr ($3.4 Bn). However, the going wasn’t all easy for the 19 new-age tech companies which listed on the bourses before 2024. While the shares of eight out of these 19 companies gained this year on the back of improving financials, sectoral tailwinds, and strength in the broader market, 11 ended the year in the red. Zomato emerged as a multi-bagger this year, while Paytm made a remarkable turnaround. Four stocks – PB Fintech, Zaggle, Zomato and CarTrade Tech – ended the year with gains in excess of 100%. The losers this year included Nykaa, ideaForge, Delhivery, MapmyIndia , among others, as they were impacted by varied reasons ranging from lackluster financials to sector-specific issues. Overall, the market sentiment was positive throughout the year on account of large inflows into the domestic mutual funds and strong economic activity. However, the benchmark indices saw a decline towards the end of 2024 as selloff by foreign institutional investors (FII) and the US Fed’s outlook of fewer rate cuts in 2025 triggered a slump. Notwithstanding the volatility, which is expected to persist till at least Budget 2025, listed Indian startups emerged from the shadows in 2024 and investors will keep a keen eye on them in 2025. As we near the end of the year, let’s take a look at the top gainers and losers among the listed new-age tech companies in 2024 as part of Inc42’s ‘Year In Review’ series. Now, let’s deep dive into the performance of some of the top new-age tech companies on the bourses this year. PB Fintech, the parent entity of insurtech major Policybazaar, emerged as the top gainer among the 19 new-age tech stocks which went public before 2024. Its shares surged over 170% to surpass the INR 2,000 mark from around INR 800 at the end of 2023. The upswing came on the back of the company’s profitability streak, starting from the December quarter (Q3) of the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), and its foray into the healthcare space . As a result of this, PB Fintech’s market cap zoomed to $11 Bn by the end of 2024 from $4.2 Bn a year ago. The company posted a net profit of INR 50.98 Cr in Q2 FY25, with operating revenue zooming over 43% year-on-year (YoY) to INR 1,167.2 Cr. Shares of fintech SaaS company Zaggle jumped over 150% in 2024 on the back of strong financial performance and strategic acquisitions to expand offerings. While the stock was on an uptrend since the beginning of the year, it saw a spike in early September after the company bagged an order from HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company. The uptrend continued as Zaggle announced two acquisitions in the same month. While it announced acquiring a 98% stake in Span Across IT Solutions for approximately INR 32 Cr, it bought a 26% stake in Mobileware Technologies (now ‘86400’) for INR 15.6 Cr. In Q2 FY25, the company posted a net profit of INR 20.29 Cr as against INR 7.58 Cr in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. While the company continued to bag contracts from enterprises throughout 2024, it also partnered with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to facilitate the issuance of prepaid payment instruments to customers. In its Q2 earnings release, Zaggle said it is actively seeking more strategic alliances and M&As with a combined strategy of small tuck-ins and larger investment opportunities in the SaaS fintech sector, including areas like NBFC and payments. The company raised nearly INR 595 Cr through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) in December and is eyeing three more investments and acquisitions by March 2025 . Zomato continued the momentum of 2023 into 2024, with its shares surging 136% to touch almost INR 300 mark. It was an eventful year for the Deepinder Goyal-led company, as it took a number of new initiatives to strengthen its position in the competitive market. While it bolstered its quick commerce business Blinkit amid intensifying competition, it launched ‘District’ to further strengthen its ‘going-out’ vertical. As part of this, Zomato acquired the entertainment ticketing business of Paytm . The company not only managed to retain its leading position in the food delivery and quick commerce markets but also saw an increase in its profits. Zomato posted a consolidated net profit of INR 176 Cr in Q2 FY25. Though it was a decline of 30% from INR 253 Cr in the preceding June quarter, it was 389% higher year-on-year (YoY). The company ended the year with its inclusion in the benchmark index BSE Sensex . Currently, 23 out of the 26 analysts covering the stock have a ‘buy’ or higher rating on it. The average price target (PT) for the stock is INR 302.58. Prashanth Tapse, senior VP (research) at Mehta Equities, said he recommends investing more in Swiggy. However, both Zomato and Swiggy should be part of the portfolios of investors. “Having said that, the valuations are expensive because the sectors in which these companies operate are new and lots of money is coming in. Though Zomato has more than doubled this year, the performance wouldn’t be the same going ahead as it’s an index stock now,” Tapse added. CarTrade Tech, which saw its share price double on the D-Street this year, largely traded sideways throughout the year and saw a breakout only in October due to improving fundamentals. The online classifieds and auto auction platform recorded a massive 509% YoY jump in its consolidated net profit to INR 30.72 Cr in Q2 FY25 from INR 5.04 Cr in the year-ago period. On the rise in its share price, JM Financial said in a research note that while increasing understanding of the company’s business model and its growth drivers, along with the operating leverage story, justifies the uptick, it has caught further strength with the company twice sharing guidance on Q3 FY25 – a 30% YoY growth in consumer group and 25-30% PAT growth sequentially. “While PAT growth guidance was in line with JM Financial’s estimate, 30% growth in New Auto considering the relatively muted auto sales environment was a positive surprise. We expect these to drive sharp upgrades in consensus estimates,” the brokerage said while reiterating its ‘buy’ rating and PT of INR 1,655 for CarTrade shares. Paytm arguably had the most happening year among the new-age tech companies. From hitting rock bottom in the early months of the year after a regulatory crackdown to scripting a successful turnaround, Paytm saw the worst and the best in 2024. The horror for Paytm started when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on January 31 this year, clamped down on Paytm Payments Bank , barring it from taking any deposits or credit transactions or top-ups in any of its customer accounts. The central bank stopped Paytm Payments Bank from providing any other banking services, such as UPI facility and fund transfers. Following this, shares of Paytm plummeted to around INR 300 from INR 800-INR 1,000 levels earlier. The Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led company then decided to focus on its core payments and merchant lending business . Paytm has also been actively leveraging AI to save costs and time. As part of this, the company announced cutting more than 5,000 jobs this year. The company also took some other steps like selling the entertainment ticketing business to Zomato and s tock acquisition rights in Japanese digital payments firm PayPay Corporation to SoftBank to focus on its core business and boost cash reserves. With the worst likely behind, shares of Paytm are expected to continue their momentum. Though there could be some profit booking, Mehta Equities’ Tapse believes that the stock can see another 20-30% growth if the company manages to post net profit in Q3 FY25 like it did in Q2. Paytm posted a consolidated PAT of INR 930 Cr in Q2, largely on the back of the sale of Paytm Insider to Zomato. Nazara Technologies doubled down on its acquisition spree in 2024. It started the year with the announcement that its subsidiary NODWIN Gaming will buy Comic Con India for INR 55 Cr. Soon NODWIN Gaming announced an investment of €8 Mn (around INR 71.8 Cr) in Freaks 4U Gaming GmbH, a German marketing services company for gaming and esports. Nazara also acquired a 100% stake in its subsidiary Nextwave. Its subsidiary Absolute Sports acquired Pennsylvania-based entertainment news site Soap Central for $1.4 Mn in an all-cash deal. Nazara also bought an additional 48.42% stake in Paper Boat Apps from its promoters Anupam and Anshu Dhanuka. Most recently, its subsidiary NODWIN Gaming announced acquiring another 93% stake in gaming and esports media company AFK Gaming . The acquisitions and market expansion this year were followed by Nazara raising funds from Zerodha’s Kamath Brothers, ICICI Prudential MF, and Plutus Wealth. Despite major announcements, the stock didn’t see any significant growth. After a fall in the March-May period, the shares largely traded sideways. Overall, the stock gained 22% in 2024 and is currently trading at around INR 1,000 level. Despite its foray into new verticals, shares of traveltech platform EaseMyTrip remained under pressure throughout 2024. The stock fell more than 16% during the year. The company posted a loss of INR 15 Cr for the March quarter of 2024 due to a one-time expense. However, EaseMyTrip posted a net profit of INR 33.9 Cr in the next quarter – Q1 FY25. It also said it would enter the ebus manufacturing segment and announced its foray into the hospitality vertical with plans to build a five-star hotel in Ayodhya. It also acquired a non-controlling stake of about 13% in Eco Hotels and Resorts Limited. However, its shares slumped significantly after CEO Nishant Pitti sold shares worth INR 920 Cr. EaseMyTrip also made its third bonus share issue this year. Ex-bonus, currently its shares are trading at INR 16.6 on the BSE. EaseMyTrip reported a 42.8% YoY decline in its consolidated PAT at INR 26.8 Cr in Q2 FY25. Analysts believe that significant competition in the traveltech market, with many unlisted companies also operating in the segment, and ixigo’s debut on the bourses are among the factors hindering EaseMyTrip’s growth. The year 2024 was not great for EaseMyTrip’s competitor Yatra as well. It slipped into the red and posted a consolidated net loss of INR 4.5 Cr in FY24 as against a net profit of INR 7.6 Cr in the previous fiscal year. In October, Ezeego Travels & Tours Ltd filed an insolvency petition against Yatra’s subsidiary TSI Yatra. However, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) recently stayed the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) order to initiate a corporate insolvency resolution process against TSI Yatra. Meanwhile, Yatra’s shares, which were on a downward trend since September, sharply declined to touch multiple all-time lows in October and November. The stock touched an all-time low at INR 102.4. In the September quarter of FY25, Yatra swung back to profit and posted a consolidated net profit of INR 7.3 Cr. Its shares are down around 21% this year. Amid severe competition in the D2C beauty and personal care space and changes in its business model, Mamaearth faced massive pressure in scaling its business this year. This also impacted its share price. The company also lost its unicorn status soon after it posted a consolidated net loss of INR 18.6 Cr in Q2 FY25 . Mamaearth’s revenue from operations declined nearly 7% YoY to INR 461.8 Cr during the quarter. Mamaearth parent Honasa’s cofounder and CEO Varun Alagh said in an analyst call that the company did not anticipate the high impact on margins from the renewed offline distribution strategy under ‘Project Neev’, introduced in November 2023. Emkay Research downgraded Honasa to ‘sell’ from a ‘buy’ rating and gave a PT of INR 300. “Limited offline presence and slower growth in the core brand may pave the way for the competition, where recouping in the long term would be daunting,” the brokerage said. “We await proof of execution as the management aims for a business turnaround.” Though JM Financial maintained its ‘buy’ rating, it said, “More work needs to be done to sharpen the focus in core categories, increase allocation to hero SKUs (salience of top-10 SKUs is 40-45% for Mamaearth vs 70-75% for other HPC brands), improve product superiority/proposition and execute better in 200K outlets (80% of weighted distribution for mass-premium brands).” Honasa’s shares fell over 40% this year and are trading at around INR 250-INR 260 levels. Of the 12 analysts covering the stock, 4 have a ‘sell’ rating currently and 6 recommend ‘buy’. Shares of NSE Emerge-listed blockchain and IT development company Yudiz Solutions took the biggest hit this year. After listing at a 12% premium to its IPO price in August last year, shares of Yudiz touched INR 150-INR 160 level in January this year. However, amid its weak financials, the stock slumped over 50% in 2024 and was trading at around INR 70 level by the end of the year. In between, the company also saw HDFC Bank freezing its bank account in which it stashed its IPO proceeds. The account was unfreezed after over a month. Yudiz slipped into the red in FY24 with a net loss of INR 2.9 Cr, hurt by a slump in its revenue in the second half (H2) of the fiscal year and a sharp rise in employee costs. In H1 FY25, the company reported a standalone net profit of INR 5,000 as against a profit of INR 1.34 Cr in the year-ago period. While the year was a mixed one for new-age tech stocks listed before 2024, the 13 new entrants on the bourses largely had a positive 2024. Most of the new-age tech stocks that went public this year listed at a premium to their respective IPO price. By the end of the year, only FirstCry and Unicommerce were trading below their listing price. Now, it remains to be seen what 2025 has in store for them. [Edited By Vinaykumar Rai]MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country’s presidential election, with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote. The closing of polls started a countdown to the announcement of official results as independent polling firms were preparing to release so-called quick counts. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front. Uruguay’s staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the first round. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren’t compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation,” said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates’ lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere. “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy,” said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn’t exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government.” While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou’s government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor’s pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. “We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay’s international profile as one of the region’s most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. His Broad Front coalition oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. “He’s my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children’s,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they’ll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer, was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay’s unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital’s upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday’s democratic exercise as “an incredible experience” as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.
So mark your calendars and prepare for the return of Death - "Final Destination 6" is coming soon to a theater near you. Get ready to face your fate and see if you can cheat death one more time in this eagerly anticipated installment of the beloved horror franchise.
