dota bet site The big pullback Carnival Corporation ( CCL 0.60% ) stock's suffered since 2018 makes enough sense on the surface. The COVID-19 contagion wrecked the leisure cruise industry. So -- like so many other companies at the time -- this one borrowed heavily to survive. Although the pandemic's since faded, it doesn't feel like the economy's ever fully healed. All that debt is also still sitting on Carnival's balance sheet, costing the company money that it wasn't paying out just a few years earlier. However, Carnival is faring far better than it seems like it should be, despite the backdrop. The market's starting to see this. Shares are well up from their late-2022 low. This stock's still down 65% from its 2018 high, however, leaving plenty of room for it to keep rising. Carnival, then and now Carnival Corporation operates a major cruise line of the same name. It owns a fleet of nearly 100 boats when including its lesser-known brands like Costa, Aida, and Princess. The $36 billion company is on track to do $25 billion worth of business this year, up 16% from last year's top line. Of that, roughly a couple billion will be converted into net income. Sales now exceed Carnival's pre-pandemic totals, although profits haven't quite been fully restored to 2019's levels. Blame inflation and interest payments, mostly. The company's now dishing out on the order of $400 million in interest payments every quarter, versus one-tenth that amount prior to the pandemic's onset. Operating costs like fuel and payroll are also disproportionately higher for the timeframe. But don't miss the forest for the trees. Carnival stock is as much of a buy now as it's ever been, if not more so. The bullish argument holds plenty of water As strange as it may sound (given the financial strain most households say they're feeling these days), Carnival's business has never been better. Last quarter's revenue of $7.9 billion was not only 14% higher year over year, but record-breaking for any third quarter. Operating income of $2.2 billion was also a record-breaker. Growth on both fronts extended what have become well-established trends. CCL Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts. In fact, the only thing holding the company back is a lack of boats. Nearly half of the coming year's capacity has already been booked, while 2026's trips are also already reserved at record-breaking levels. This demand has allowed the company to raise its prices, which people haven't balked at. What gives? Take the data at face value. While even higher-earning households are keeping a more careful eye on their spending in this environment, maritime cruises remain an amazingly affordable vacation option. For many people, cruising is a splurge that's worth the cost when the alternative might be taking no trip at all. Things are only apt to keep getting better. Analysts with JPMorgan believe the leisure cruise industry is on pace to serve 34.7 million passengers this year, topping last year's record of 31.7 million en route to 39.7 million in 2027. That's not a ton of absolute growth, nor is it a massive number of paying customers. It's huge for the leisure cruise business' key players like Carnival, though. It now reports a return of a little more than 10% on any newly invested capital. The bulk of this capital investment is, of course, the purchase of new ships that will help soak up demand that can't be served now. To this end, there's little doubt that the company will be able to fill up the three ships scheduled for delivery between now and 2028. There's also little doubt that the three additional boats slated for delivery between then and 2031 will fill up quickly. Increasingly convincing The $26.6 billion in long-term debt just sitting on Carnival's balance sheet ? Sure, that's a legitimate concern. It's costing the company more than a little money on a recurring basis. Look deeper, though. The leisure cruise outfit is slowly but surely chipping away this debt -- and its quarterly cost --- with the real profits it's producing. And much of any debt that can't yet be retired or eliminated is at least being refinanced at lower interest rates, leveraging the company's recently raised credit ratings from Standard & Poor's and Moody's . Fitch also just initiated coverage of Carnival's debt, grading the company's bonds a respectable BB. Mostly, Carnival stock is a buy here because it's becoming increasingly clear that its business model still works, and that its pricing power is resilient. It doesn't appear this will change anytime soon, either. Indeed, after a wobbly 2024, the economy may be headed into better days that generate greater discretionary income. Not only does inflation continue to moderate, but The Conference Board reports that U.S. companies are expanding their 2025 payroll budgets by 3.9% versus this year's 3.8% increase. This will leave more discretionary spending dollars in people's pockets, allowing them to afford a vacation they may not have otherwise taken. Carnival stands ready to be one of the chief beneficiaries of this dynamic. Just don't wait too long to jump in if you're interested. As the chart of Carnival stock above illustrates, other investors are quickly turning into believers. They're likely keying in on the profit recovery that's dramatically outpacing the company's top-line growth.

Google unveils latest AI model, Gemini 2.0

Google unveils latest AI model, Gemini 2.0AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:36 p.m. EST

By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — In an angry outburst in a New York courtroom, Rudy Giuliani accused a judge Tuesday of making wrong assumptions about him as he tries to comply with an order requiring him to turn over most of his assets to two election poll workers who won a libel case against him. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman responded by saying he’s not going to let the former New York City mayor and onetime presidential candidate blurt things out anymore in court unless he’s a sworn witness. The interruption to an otherwise routine pretrial hearing in Manhattan came as the judge questioned Giuliani’s lawyer about why Giuliani has not yet provided the title to a car he has relinquished in his effort to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment won by two former Georgia election workers. “Your client was the U.S. attorney for this district,” the judge said, referring to Giuliani’s years in the 1980s as the head of the federal prosecutor’s office in the Southern District of New York, as he suggested it was hard to believe that Giuliani was incapable of getting a duplicate title to the car. Giuliani learned forward and began speaking into a microphone, telling the judge he had applied for a duplicate copy of the car’s title but that it had not yet arrived. “The implication I’ve been not diligent about it is totally incorrect,” Giuliani said in a scolding tone. “The implication you make is against me and every implication against me is wrong.” Giuliani went on: “I’m not impoverished. Everything I have is tied up. I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card. I don’t have cash. I can’t get to bank accounts that truly would be mine because they have put ... stop orders on, for example, my Social Security account, which they have no right to do.” Liman responded by warning defense lawyers that the next time Giuliani interrupts a hearing, “he’s not going to be permitted to speak and the court will take action.” The judge said Giuliani could either choose to represent himself or let lawyers do so, but “you can’t have hybrid representation.” If Giuliani wants to speak in court again, he can be put on the witness stand and be sworn as a witness, Liman added. The exchange came at a hearing in which the judge refused to delay a Jan. 16 trial over the disposition of Giuliani’s Florida residence and World Series rings. Those are two sets of assets that Giuliani is trying to shield from confiscation as part of Liman’s order to turn over many prized possessions to the poll workers. Earlier in the proceeding, defense attorney Joseph M. Cammarata asked Liman to delay the trial, which will be heard without a jury, for a month because of Giuliani’s “involvement” in inauguration planning for President-elect Donald Trump. “My client regularly consults and deals directly with President-elect Trump on issues that are taking place as the incoming administration is afoot as well as (the) inauguration,” Cammarata said. “My client wants to exercise his political right to be there.” The judge turned down the request, saying Giuliani’s “social calendar” was not a reason to postpone the trial. Giuliani, who once served as Trump’s personal attorney, was found liable last year for defaming two Georgia poll workers by falsely accusing them of tampering with ballots during the 2020 presidential election. The women said they faced death threats after Giuliani falsely claimed they sneaked in ballots in suitcases, counted ballots multiple times and tampered with voting machines.

End of the Eras Tour, with Taylor Swift to take final bow in Vancouver

CORNELIUS, N.C. and NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Modus Holdings, Inc. ("Alpha Modus" or the “Company”), a technology company with a core focus on artificial intelligence in retail, is pleased to announce that the business combination between Insight Acquisition Corp. and Alpha Modus Corp. has closed, and Alpha Modus’s common stock and warrants will begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbols “AMOD” and “AMODW”, respectively, on Monday, December 16, 2024. In connection with the closing of the business combination, the combined company consummated and issued a secured convertible promissory note to an investor, in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $2.6 million, which will be used primarily to cover transaction costs and for working capital. The structure of the financing does not include commitment or warrant shares and is structured with the potential for an additional $5 million capital infusion for working capital purposes in the future. Advisors Maxim Group LLC served as capital markets advisor to Alpha Modus. Brunson Chandler & Jones, PLLC acted as legal counsel to Alpha Modus. Loeb & Loeb LLP served as legal counsel to Insight Acquisition Corp. About Alpha Modus Alpha Modus engages in creating, developing and licensing data-driven technologies to enhance consumers' in-store digital experience at the point of decision. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina. For additional information, please visit alphamodus.com . About Insight Acquisition Corp. Prior to the closing, Insight Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INAQ) was a special purpose acquisition company formed solely to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Insight Acquisition Corp. was sponsored by Insight Acquisition Sponsor LLC. For additional information, please visit insightacqcorp.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Insight's and Alpha Modus' actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Insight's and Alpha Modus' expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the Business Combination. Insight and Alpha Modus caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Insight and Alpha Modus do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Contacts: Alpha Modus Shannon Devine MZ Group +1(203) 741-8841 shannon.devine@mzgroup.usPublished 3:50 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 By Submitted Freeborn County District Court Sept. 4 Dustin Lee Schlaak, 31, 13850 215th Ave., New Richland. Count 1: Theft – take, use or transfer movable property – no consent. Local confinement for ten days, stay nine days, credit for one day served. Restitution $717.35. Fees $130. Supervised probation for one year. Count 2: Theft – take, use or transfer movable property – no consent. Dismissed. Count 3: Theft – take, use or transfer movable property – no consent. Dismissed. Count 4: Theft – take, use or transfer movable property – no consent. Dismissed. Count 5: Theft – take, use or transfer movable property – no consent. Dismissed. Jose Luis Sifonte, 36, 303 Park St., Freeborn. Count 1: Aiding and abetting third-degree assault – felony. Commit to Commissioner of Corrections – adult MN Correctional Facility-St. Cloud for 15 months, stayed for five years. Supervised probation for five years. Local confinement for 60 days. Serve as work release. Restitution $12,406. Fees $500. Marisa Elezabeth Walderon, 30, 308 Euclid Ave., Albert Lea. 4/30/24 offense. Count 1: Domestic assault – misdemeanor. Unsupervised probation for one year. Fees $75. 5/9/24 offense. Count 1: Fish and game – take fish without angling license. Fees $180. Dawson James Heuer, 26, 31950 870th Ave., Blooming Prairie. Count 1: Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Dismissed. Count 2: Traffic – DWI – second-degree gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol – two or more aggravating factors. Local confinement for 180 days, stay 180 days. Supervised probation for two yeast. Fees $980. Jeffry John Mauer, 46, 23336 790th Ave., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – driver must carry proof of insurance when operating a motor vehicle. Fees $280. Dustin Lee Schlaak, 31, 13850 215th Ave., New Richland. Count 1: Traffic – driving after suspension. Stay of adjudication. Unsupervised probation for six months. Fees $75. Count 2: Traffic – driver must carry proof of insurance when operating a motor vehicle. Dismissed. Alice Kousaynon Boduo, 37, 3350 SE Glenstone Dr., Grimes, IA. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 90/70. Fees $220. Heather Marie Brigston, 34, 1510 Academy Ave., Albert Lea. Count 2: Traffic – no proof of insurance. Fees $280. Felicia Michelle Burciaga, 28, 456 Mound St., Owatonna. Count 1: Traffic – driving after revocation. Fees $280. Quintex Javonte Calhoun, 32, 1710 1st Ave. NE, Austin. Count 1: Traffic – driving after suspension. Fees $280. Count 2: Drugs – cannabis open package in motor vehicle. Fees $100. Grelisa Maldonado, 36, 41 Irene Ct., Chicopee, MA. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 95/70. Fees $220. Hugo Moran Rios, 48, 2617 81st Ave. N., Brooklyn Center. Count 1: Traffic – no Minnesota driver’s license. Fees $180. Nicole Mari Schmitz, 48, 700 W. Ridgeway Ave., Cedar Falls, IA. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 94/70. Fees $220. Sept. 5 Jeffrey Lynn Doyle, 63, 1019 James Ave., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – driving after revocation. Fees $280. Thin Ha Oo, 29, 300 10th Ave. NW, Austin. Count 1: Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Dismissed. Count 2: Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle – alcohol concentration .08 within two hours. Local confinement for 180 days, stay for 180 days. Supervised probation for two years. Fees $605. Jamie Valdez, 1224 James Ave., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – driving after revocation. Fees $280. Count 2: Traffic – failure to obey traffic control device. Fees $50. Angel Marie Leonard, 41, 810 Troy Rd., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – driving after revocation. Fees $280. Sept. 6 Adrienne Lark Bryan, 47, 201 N. 8th St., Kiester. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 76/55. Fees $220. David Moon Chung, 80, 186 Cordero Lane, Hot Springs V Garland, AR. Count 1: Traffic – no Minnesota driver’s license. Fees $180. Zyveair Christell Dorn, 24, 9411 Stark Ave., Kansas City, MO. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 84/70. Fees $130. Count 2: Traffic – no Minnesota driver’s license. Fees $100. Elvin Manuel Jimenez Rivera, 26, 317 Court St., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – no Minnesota driver’s license. Fees $180. Count 2: Traffic – hands free law. Fees $50. Fatu Yatta Sheriff, 22, 308 Court Ave., Des Moines, IA. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 92/70. Fees $220. Kylie Lynne Syverson, 24, 120 Oak Ave. SW, Bagley. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 94/70. Fees $220. Sept. 9 Michael Thomas Benner, 21, 836 Newton Ave. S., Albert Lea. Count 1: Drivers license – driving without a valid license for vehicle class or type. Fees $180. Count 2: Traffic – no insurance driver. Fees $200. Dacia Jean Clark, 23, 707 Water St., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – driving after suspension. Fees $280. Brittany Elizabeth Gade, 33, 2306 Main St. E., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – uninsured vehicle – owner violation. Fees $280. Jeanne Ellen Penhollow, 51, 1786 Tiger Ridge Dr., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 39/30. Fees $120. Count 2: Traffic – driver who is not owner must later produce proof of insurance. Fees $200. Matthew Bryant Santee, 23, 522 College St., Albert Lea. 9/27/23 offense. Count 1: Restraining order violation within ten years of previous domestic violence conviction/adjudication. Local confinement for 364 days, stay 359 days, credit for five days served. Supervised probation for one year. Fees $75. Sentence to service for 40 hours. Concurrent with other case. 10/7/23 offense. Count 1: Possess manor or any firearm –subject to an order for protection. Local confinement for 364 days, stay 361 days, credit for three days served. Supervised probation for one year. Fees $75. Sentence to service for 40 hours. Concurrent with other case. Kristal Lee Hooks, 21, 2475 Welch Ave., Garner, IA. Count 1: Traffic – uninsured vehicle – owner violation. Fees $280. Count 2: Traffic – speeding 87/70. Fees $60. Elizabeth Lee Johnson, 29, 111 5th St. SE, Geneva. Count 1: Domestic assault – misdemeanor. Stay of adjudication. Local confinement for one day, credit for one day served. Supervised probation for one year. Fees $150. Joel Gene Alberts, 58, 22120 Bracketts Rd., Excelsior. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 90/70. Fees $220. Sept. 10 Justin Chales Jean, 40, 216 2nd St., Hayward. Count 1: Traffic – DWI – misdemeanor. – Fourth-degree driving while impaired. Dismissed. Count 2: Traffic – DWI – misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle – any amount of schedule one or two drugs, not cannabis. Local confinement for 60 days, stay 59 days, credit for one day served. Supervised probation for one year. Fees $480. Count 3: Traffic – open bottle law. Dismissed. Perry Flowers Black, 33, 802 Fountain St., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle while under the influence. Dismissed. Count 2: Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle – alcohol concentration .08. Local confinement for 150 days, stay for 120 days, credit for one day served. 28 days on electronic home monitoring. Supervised probation for two years. Fees $680. Count 3: Traffic – driving after revocation. Dismissed. Julius Deandre Hill, 33, 609 Ruble Ave., Albert Lea. Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Dismissed. Traffic – DWI – gross misdemeanor – operate motor vehicle – alcohol concentration .08 within two hours. Local confinement for 180 days, stay for 178 days, credit for two days served. Supervised probation for two years. Fees $655. Count 3: Traffic – driving after revocation. Dismissed. Dante Malcom Lewis, 33, 4315 Grace Ave., St. Louis, MO. Count 1: Traffic – speeding 90/70. Fees $220. David George Topp, 79. 1010 11th Ave. NE, Faribault. Count 1: Over legal tandem axle weight. Fees $180. Sept. 11 Timothy Abrego Jr., 38, 635 6th St. E., Albert Lea. Count 1: Traffic – uninsured vehicle –driver violation. Fees $280. Kyle Andrew Anderson, 38, 205 1st St. SE, Clarks Grove. Count 1: Gross misdemeanor – 911 interference. Dismissed. Count 2: Domestic assault – misdemeanor. Local confinement for 90 days, stay 60 days, credit for five days served. Serve as work release. Supervised probation for one year. Adult sentence to service for 50 hours. Count 3: Domestic assault – misdemeanor. Local confinement for 90 days, stay 60 days, credit for five days served. Serve as work release. Supervised probation for one year. Adult sentence to service for 50 hours. Fees $75. Vernon LeRoy Frydenlund, 71, 18351 810th Ave., Hayward. Count 1: Assault – fifth-degree misdemeanor. Local confinement for 90 days, credit for 16 days served. The Tribune publishes all convictions where the financial obligation to the court is $180 or greater, or resulted in jail time, probation or community service.

Global stocks pressured ahead of Fed decision

TCU leading scorer Frankie Collins will miss rest of season after breaking left footAP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:36 p.m. ESTDefensive back Treydan Stukes withdraws from NCAA transfer portal, will return to Arizona for 6th season

The selection committee made a few tough choices before they revealed the final bracket for the College Football Playoff on Sunday. One of the most contentious choices for the committee was deciding if a 9-3 Alabama team deserved to receive the final at-large bid over an 11-2 SMU team that lost the ACC Championship Game to Clemson on a walk-off field goal on Saturday night. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

End of the Eras Tour, with Taylor Swift to take final bow in VancouverNoneNets vs. Grizzlies Best bets: Odds, expert picks and predictions, recent stats, and trends for December 13

Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsWhile Christmas is typically a time of joy and celebration for many, it can also be a period of stress for others. The preparations for guests, cooking a large meal, and buying numerous gifts can be overwhelming. According to scientists, this can have a negative impact on the body. A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2018 revealed that Christmas Eve is one of the most common times of the year for heart attacks. As part of their research, a Swedish team analysed data from a heart attack registry collected between 1998 and 2013. They were particularly interested in whether factors such as national holidays, major sports events, the hour of the day, or the day of the week could increase the risk of a heart attack. READ MORE - Kyran Durnin suspect told taxi driver he didn’t kill the boy - but named those who did READ MORE - New Year's Day snow fears grow as new weather maps turn dark purple The data set included information on 283,014 heart attacks reported to a coronary care unit over that 16-year period. It was found that during the Christmas and New Year period, the risk of a heart attack increased by 15 per cent compared to the control period. However, this significantly rose on December 24, when the risk shot up to 37 per cent. The peak time for heart attacks on Christmas Eve was 10pm, reports Surrey Live . The researchers attributed this increase to the fact that Swedes hold most of their festive celebrations on Christmas Eve, unlike in the Ireland where they are held on Christmas Day. They suggested that emotions tend to peak at this time of year. The study also found that individuals over the age of 75 and/or those with diabetes and pre-existing heart conditions were at the greatest risk. Midsummer, considered the second most significant holiday in Sweden, was identified as a perilous period for heart attacks, with a 12% increased risk. Apart from holidays, Monday mornings at 8am were also associated with a higher incidence of heart attacks. The research builds on earlier studies linking heart attacks to holidays and major events. "In Western countries, cardiac mortality and hospital admission due to myocardial infarction [heart attack] has been observed to peak at the Christmas and New Year holiday," the study stated. "The risk of myocardial infarction has also been linked to football championships, hurricanes, and stock market crashes. "It is therefore conjectured that factors associated with emotional stress, physical activity, and lifestyle changes may modulate the onset of myocardial infarction by acting as short term triggers." The study concluded: "In this large study covering 16 years of clinical myocardial infarction data, a higher risk of myocardial infarction was observed during Christmas/New Year and Midsummer holidays but not during the Easter holiday." "The highest risk was during Christmas Eve and in patients over 75, and those with previous diabetes and coronary artery disease. Sports events were not associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction." Per HSE guidelines, typical symptoms of a heart attack include an overwhelming sense of anxiety (akin to having a panic attack); chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest; pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy; feeling lightheaded or dizzy; sweating and shortness of breath; feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting). If you suspect that you or someone else is experiencing a heart attack, it's crucial to dial 999 straight away. Factors that increase your risk of a heart attack include: Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .