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0.3ϯȂH$nT.[>\^/̬Ԁ {Ed^q G_RSANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier , which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean. The National Weather Service on Christmas Eve warned of dangerous, large-breaking waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). Its latest high surf warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. “Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches,” the weather service said in a Christmas Eve bulletin. In Santa Cruz, where a municipal wharf under construction partially collapsed on Monday, most beaches were cordoned off as they were inundated with high surf and debris. Residents received an alert on their phones Tuesday morning notifying them to “avoid all beaches including coastal overlook areas such as rocks, jetties or cliffs.” It warned powerful waves could sweep entire beaches unexpectedly. Local officials said there could be further damage to the wharf, but no more pieces broke off overnight. The wharf collapsed and fell into the ocean midday Monday, taking three people with it. Two people were rescued by lifeguards and a third swam to safety. No one was seriously injured. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said in the weeks and months ahead officials will have to assess long-term solutions for protecting the coastal city from the impacts of climate change . “Hallelujah that no one was hurt in this, which could have been orders of magnitude worse in terms of any injuries to human beings and damage to property onshore and offshore,” he said at a media briefing Tuesday. “But I think we have somewhat of a question mark as we move through time,” he added. “And I don't think we're by ourselves. I think this is what coastal communities around the world are probably dealing with.” The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, who was allowed onto the pier on Monday to check on his business, Venture Quest Kayaking. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Building inspectors were looking at the rest of the pier’s structural integrity. Some California cities ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. In Watsonville along the Monterey Bay, first responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The storm’s high surf also likely pulled another man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach, nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. The man remained missing Monday evening. Further south in Carmel Bay, a man remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone was swept off the rocks into the ocean at Pebble Beach on Monday, local emergency responders said. The U.S. Coast Guard will "transition to a recovery search as ocean conditions improve in the coming days,” officials said in a statement. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said, “It will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento and Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed.
Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — Lava is erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano for the second straight day. The eruption has stayed within Kilauea’s summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and no homes are threatened. Molten rock began spewing out of the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and shot lava high into the air. It then oozed across the caldera floor. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption has occurred in an area that’s been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled.None
Hallmark continues to expand on their slate of Hanukkah films with their latest new addition, Hanukkah on the Rocks . This romantic-comedy stars Degrassi ‘s Stacey Farber and The Secret Life of The American Teenager ‘s Daren Kagasoff as two adults feeling lost in life just a week before Hanukkah. Luckily, they both end up finding some solace and purpose in a Chicago bar called Rocky’s, as well as its staff, patrons, and Hanukkah celebrations. But even as the holiday brings the two closer, they ‘ re unsure of the road ahead as the futures they’d planned clash with the new ones they inspire each other to chase. HANUKKAH ON THE ROCKS : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? The Gist: Tory (Stacey Farber) is a driven workaholic who has always been fully committed to her job as a corporate lawyer in Chicago. But when she’s the casualty of a mass layoff, she’s left feeling both unsure and free for the first time since she began her job. Although Tory’s main, and seemingly only, social engagement is her grandma, Francis, AKA Bubby (Marina Stephenson Kerr), she resolves to keep her new unemployed status a secret from both her Bubby and parents who sacrificed so much to help her achieve her dreams. Tory only confides in her sister, Becca (Cora Matheson), who she’s finally able to spend more time with now that her demanding job isn’t weighing her down. With all of this free time on her hands, Tory is also able to spend more time with her Bubby, who soon sends her on a mission to purchase a specific brand of Hanukkah candles. But when just one store seems to have them in stock, she ends up squabbling with a Florida-based radiologist named Jay (Daren Kagasoff) over the last box. Jay ends up victorious, and she ends up following him to Rocky’s, an Old Town neighborhood dive bar with amazing annual Hanukkah celebrations and an even better cast of characters to welcome her in. In addition to Jay’s grandfather, a lovable longtime Rocky’s patron named Sam ( Double Dare ‘s own Marc Summers!!), there’s also the cook, Lottie (Lauren Cochrane), server Stacy-Lynn (Verity Marks), and aspiring novelist Anthony (Dan De Jaeger). Together, they form a warm community that welcomes Tory with open arms, especially after their bartender suddenly leaves for a romantic last-minute getaway to Cabo, leaving Tory to unexpectedly step in. Drawing on her stint as a bartender in college, as well as her innate love for helping others, Tory ends up being so good as the job that the folks at Rocky’s keep having her back throughout all of Hanukkah. At the same time, Jay, who only came to Chicago to convince Sam to move down to Florida with him and his parents, begins to see that maybe he’s the one who needs to consider moving... Especially as he and Tory start seriously falling for one another. Is there a way for Tory and Jay to make their budding romance work when they still have so many uncertainties in each of their own lives? And does Rocky’s (and its mysterious owner) hold the key to help them unlock the place they’re truly meant to be? What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Hanukkah on the Rocks might remind you of the 2022 Hallmark Hanukkah movie, Hanukkah on Rye , and not just because of their similar titles. Julie Sherman Wolfe actually wrote both films, which each showcase Jewish holiday foods and traditions in their own way. The warm neighborhood pub vibe may also remind you of the beloved sitcom Cheers , especially considering both titles feature a bar owner named Sam. Performance Worth Watching: Lauren Cochrane is very natural and brings a great energy as Lottie. She’s a bit of a scene stealer thanks to her effortless charm and humor. Marina Stephenson Kerr is also pretty lovable and delightfully sassy as Bubby/Francis. Memorable Dialogue: Jay, while donning a gaudy pair of Hanukkah glasses at the Party Store: “I think these sunglasses were designed by Elton John Berkowitz.” Honorable mentions for Bubby’s lines “At least my granddaughter has a job!” and “I’m no snitch.” Now that’s the kind of person you want to have in your corner! A Holiday Tradition: Every year, Sam’s late wife, Celia, would throw incredible Hanukkah celebrations at her favorite bar, Rocky’s, a tradition he still attempts to keep alive even after she’s gone. Does the Title Make Any Sense?: Hanukkah on the Rocks absolutely makes sense. Not only does the story mostly revolve around a bar called Rocky’s, but Tory also creates a seasonal cocktail that’s dubbed a “Hanukkah on the Rocks” which also becomes the business’s new temporary name, so yeah, the title is pretty fitting! Our Take: Although it has been trying to diversify its filmography slowly but surely over the past few years, Hallmark still doesn’t have many Hanukkah movies. With that in mind, I think that the mere existence of this movie is a win for representation, and the writing also shows that care, research, and personal experience went into the portrayal of this Hanukkah story. Especially coming to this movie as someone who was raised Christian, there are plenty of things that may have felt unfamiliar, but that didn’t mean that as a viewer, I cared about them any less. After all, at the heart of Hanukkah on the Rocks is a story about community, tradition, and family, things that anyone can relate to. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy watching the festivities because both the characters at Rocky’s and the movie itself welcome everyone in with open arms. That being said, there are some critiques and gripes that I think viewers of any religion or creed could likely agree upon. First of all, it’s a bit ridiculous to suggest that there would be only one box of a specific Hanukkah candle in a city as big and diverse as Chicago, but hey, that’s just Hallmark movies for you, so we can give it a pass. However, a major part of any Hallmark movie tends to be the romance, and the one here between Tory and Jay was just okay. They had some genuinely enjoyable moments of interaction and chemistry, but these were weighed down by some especially cheesy moments and the somewhat two-dimensional nature of the characters, themselves. You’re telling me that Tory has lived in Chicago her entire life and has zero friends besides her Bubby? I know she’s a workaholic but that seems impossible! But I guess if she didn’t have time for her sister and nephew, she really didn’t have time for any friends, which is a bummer. Really, I just wish the characters were a little more fleshed out so they could feel a bit more real and therefore easier to invest in and connect to. Ultimately, the ensemble nature of this movie as well as the focus on celebrating Jewish culture and traditions help to make it feel worth watching for viewers of all backgrounds. I’m glad to see Hallmark go for something outside of their usual Christmas story, and I hope that they will continue to do so in the years ahead! Our Call: I wouldn’t say that Hanukkah on the Rocks is the most memorable or moving new holiday title streaming this year. Still, we can always use a new Hanukkah movie, especially one with as much genuine care for the traditions and spirit as this one seems to have. It’s just a nice and easy seasonal watch. STREAM IT for Bubby!
ACCUSED assassin Luigi Mangione is in for a culture shock contrary to his glamorous "old money" upbringing as he prepares to spend his first Christmas inside a prison hellhole, an expert has said. Mangione , the man charged with executing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , is facing two separate indictments related to the cold-hearted, calculated December 4 shooting in Midtown Manhattan . After being extradited from Pennsylvania to New York on December 19, Mangione was immediately turned over to FBI officials. Federal prosecutors unsealed a four-count indictment charging Mangione, 26, with murder through the use of a firearm, stalking, and firearm offenses. Mangione now finds himself jailed in the notorious federal lockup in Brooklyn - the Metropolitan Detention Center - a place he "never expected to himself in," a prison expert said. "Luigi, he's like right now, his mind is a little f**ked up. He never thought that he'd be in the feds," prison expert Larry Levine, founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants, told The U.S. Sun. "He's acclimating himself to his new surroundings. His lawyers are thanking God he's in New York, and they don't have to travel to Pennsylvania to visit him. So, he's just adjusting to where he's at. "He'll be there for a week or so, maybe two weeks. Then maybe in a month, they'll move him where Diddy is. "But [Diddy] can handle his s**t. I just know [Mangione] is f**king scared, and now they're probably trying to force-feed him. "They're gonna offer him psych meds. He's gonna be like a f**king zombie. That's a given." You're talking old, old, million old money. Now he can have cheese crackers, and maybe a bottle of a plastic bottle of soda. Levine, who served 10 years in federal prison on racketeering, securities fraud, obstruction of justice, and narcotics trafficking charges, said Mangione is in a situation unlike anything he's experienced before. The Metropolitan Detention Center is plagued with inmate death and violence, rodents, raw sewage, understaffing, and a deteriorating infrastructure. Cameron Lindsay, a former warden at the infamous federal building, told The New York Times in 2019 that the site is "one of the most trouble, if not the most troubled facility in the Bureau of Prisons." Mangione was born to a prominent, well-established Italian-American family in Baltimore, Maryland . Nicholas Mangione Sr., the family patriarch and the young Mangione's grandfather, left his 10 kids and 37 grandchildren an extensive multi-million dollar real estate portfolio, including country clubs, nursing homes, and a radio station. Luigi Mangione came from a privileged upbringing , attending the prestigious high school Gilman School in Baltimore, where tuition is currently $37,690 per year. He was on the wrestling and soccer teams and was valedictorian of his graduating class of 2016. After high school, he continued his academic success, attending the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate and graduate studies. Then, after college, Mangione landed several internships with tech companies and found a job as a software engineer at TrueCar, an online marketplace based in Santa Monica, California . The perks of his job allowed Mangione to work remotely, and he eventually found himself living in a shared space in a high-rise apartment in Honolulu, Hawaii , where he paid about $2,000 per month. During a trip to Thailand in April, Mangione boasted to another traveler that he was making "lawyer money" as a coder for TrueCar and claimed to have $6 million in his bank account thanks to his wealthy family, according to TMZ . However, Mangione's elite lifestyle was upended when he was arrested on December 9 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 280 miles west of where he allegedly assassinated the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare . "You're talking old, old million, old money," Levine told The U.S. Sun. "Now he can have cheese crackers and maybe a bottle of a plastic bottle of soda. "He'll buy a honey bun. It's like all knock-offs, too. They don't sell the real s**t in the feds. "What is it called, Mrs. Freshly - I never heard of it until I went in. I saw it once at a $.99 store. "So, he'll be eating like off-brand, knock-off convenience, snacks, and s**t when he finally gets to get that." Levine added, "So, different life, different world, you know. It's not like he's in the state where you can buy your own TV set. "He's gonna have to deal with inmates, and he's not gonna be making the decisions. "So yeah, that's a mindf**k." Levine compared Mangione's living conditions in the Metropolitan Detention Center to "living in your bathroom." "You know, if he's living in a cell like Diddy was for a while, you know how big those cells are? Picture living in your bathroom with no TV, no computer as well," Levine said. "That's what his cell life will be like. You got nothing to read. "Here's your Bible, though. So, he'll be reading the Bible, he'll be getting discovery, but what real discovery is there. "He didn't commit a sophisticated crime. So, they'll give him discovery, 'We found this, and we found that this were his movements,' for the next whatever period of time. "The guy already admitted that he did it, so you know what kind of big investigation do you need on that." On Monday, Mangione pleaded not guilty to 11 state criminal counts, including a first-degree murder that brands him as a terrorist. A grinning Mangione appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, where his attorney raised issues with the New York City Police Department's "staged" perp walk of her client. "He's a young man, and he's being treated like a human ping-pong ball by two warring jurisdictions here," defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo argued. "They're treating him like a human spectacle." Agnifilo questions Mayor Eric Adam's presence at the December 19 perp walk, where dozens of heavily armed police officers and FBI officials waited for Mangione to arrive at a heliport near Wall Street. "What was the New York City mayor doing at this press conference - that is utterly political," the attorney added. "The New York City mayor should know more than anyone the presumption of innocence." Despite her concerns, Judge Gregory Carro assured Agnifilo that Mangione would receive a fair trial, saying, "We will carefully select a jury." Mangione's next court date in state court is scheduled for February 21. Before then, he is expected to appear in federal court on January 18. BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing. Here is everything we know about Thompson's murder so far. Monday, December 2 - Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan. Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am - Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter . The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin. 11:30 am - Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out. 12:00 pm - Thompson's estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot. 2:45 pm - Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it's unclear when he stopped by. December 5, 6 am - Reports claim the words "deny," "dispose," and "defend" were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports. 8 am - Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It's believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there. 11 am - A person of interest in Thompson's murder is pictured . He's wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation. Afternoon - Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It's also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting. December 6, 3 pm - Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. December 9 - Luigi Mangione, 26, is arrested as a "strong person of interest" at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was carrying a three-page manifesto, fake IDs, and a gun similar to the one used in Thompson's murder.
The Thai beer market is expected to grow at a rate surpassing the country's projected GDP growth in 2025, supported by government stimulus measures, a robust tourism sector and a wave of new product launches, says Chang International. The National Economic and Social Development Council projects Thailand's economy to grow by between 2.3% and 3.3% in 2025, with a midpoint estimate of 2.8%. Thai beer consumption is anticipated to exceed 2 billion litres next year, said Songwit Sritham, chief executive of Thailand beer business at Chang International Co Ltd. He said the mainstream beer segment, priced from 55-60 baht per 490-millilitre can, accounts for 60-70% of total market value. "For the mass market, we expect Thai mainstream beer sales to grow slightly faster than the country's GDP growth," said Mr Songwit. The company also anticipates its mass beer business will outpace industry growth. The "mainstream plus" segment, with an average price of more than 60 baht per bottle, accounts for about 20% of the market. It is projected to achieve double-digit growth next year, according to Chang. The company knows consumers have different preferences and are shifting towards more premium beer options, driving the robust growth of the mainstream plus segment, while the mainstream segment has not grown dramatically. He said mainstream plus represents a single-digit proportion of the company's portfolio, but Chang wants to expand this share. "We want to grow more than the market and increase the proportion of this segment in our portfolio," said Mr Songwit, without specifying a timeline. The economy beer segment, priced cheaper than the mainstream segment, continues to decline, accounting for less than 5% of the total market, compared with 10% 15 years ago. The remaining market share is held by foreign beer or speciality beer. To tap the premium trend, the company introduced "Chang Unpasteurized Screw-top Aluminum Bottle" two years ago in select markets such as Chiang Mai. Starting Dec 19, Chang plans to begin distributing this product at 10,000 branches of 7-Eleven convenience stores nationwide.Home Federal Bank of Tennessee lessened its stake in shares of Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) by 42.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,316 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock after selling 971 shares during the quarter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee’s holdings in Amazon.com were worth $245,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 1.9% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 785,811,114 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $141,744,609,000 after buying an additional 14,724,687 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in Amazon.com in the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,239,757,000. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in Amazon.com by 64.6% in the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 29,359,677 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $5,295,899,000 after acquiring an additional 11,524,463 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in shares of Amazon.com by 8.5% during the 1st quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 86,982,857 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $15,689,968,000 after purchasing an additional 6,810,145 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Financial Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 13,606.7% during the second quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC now owns 3,932,580 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $759,971,000 after purchasing an additional 3,903,889 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.20% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently weighed in on AMZN. Loop Capital increased their target price on Amazon.com from $225.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Amazon.com from $225.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Itau BBA Securities lowered shares of Amazon.com from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $186.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Amazon.com from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Amazon.com from $213.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, forty have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $235.77. Amazon.com Stock Performance Shares of AMZN stock opened at $197.12 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.07 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.21, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.14. Amazon.com, Inc. has a one year low of $142.81 and a one year high of $215.90. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $193.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $186.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.09. Amazon.com ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The e-commerce giant reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.29. Amazon.com had a return on equity of 22.41% and a net margin of 8.04%. The company had revenue of $158.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $157.28 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.85 EPS. Amazon.com’s quarterly revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Amazon.com, Inc. will post 5.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Jonathan Rubinstein sold 4,766 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.85, for a total transaction of $1,000,145.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 94,630 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,858,105.50. This represents a 4.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, SVP David Zapolsky sold 2,190 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $195.00, for a total value of $427,050.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 62,420 shares in the company, valued at $12,171,900. The trade was a 3.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 6,011,423 shares of company stock valued at $1,249,093,896 over the last 90 days. 10.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Amazon.com Company Profile ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. See Also Five stocks we like better than Amazon.com Why Are These Companies Considered Blue Chips? Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot How Investors Can Identify and Successfully Trade Gap-Down Stocks MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 Low PE Growth Stocks: Unlocking Investment Opportunities 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMZN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
The most recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) focused on finance, but it fell short in more ways than one. The contentious negotiations -- representatives from several developing countries walked out in protest -- defied the odds to produce a commitment -- the "Baku Climate Unity Pact" -- from developed economies to deliver $300 billion in climate funding annually to their poorer counterparts by 2035. That is triple the target agreed in 2009 (and reached, for the first time, in 2022), but it is nowhere near the estimated $1.3 trillion in annual financing that developing economies will need over this period. Although the agreement represents progress, we must recognise it as merely a starting point. But insufficient financing is only part of the problem. The reality is that as world leaders clashed in Baku amid unprecedented international tensions, the true battle being waged was for the future of climate finance -- and women's role in it. Women and children are 14 times more likely to die in climate-related disasters than men, and women comprise 80% of those displaced by extreme weather. These disparities are not incidental but are rooted in systemic inequalities. Yet the so-called New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance includes just one reference to women and girls: in paragraph 26, it "urges parties and other relevant actors to promote the inclusion and extension of benefits to vulnerable communities and groups in climate finance efforts, including women and girls". Women and girls' greater vulnerability to climate change reflects systemic inequality of access to education, economic opportunities and decision-making power. These differences are also apparent at climate-related forums. While this year's COP was heralded as the most gender-balanced in terms of registrations, women accounted for just 35% of delegates (up from 34% at COP28). Of the 78 world leaders who attended, a mere eight were women, and only four addressed gender-specific issues in their statements. Climate initiatives that explicitly include women have been shown to produce better outcomes for entire communities. Moreover, women are already leading some of the most innovative and effective climate initiatives globally in areas ranging from sustainable agriculture to renewable energy deployment. The conclusion should be obvious: the potential for gender-responsive climate finance to unlock more efficient pathways for decarbonisation, adaptation, and resilience makes it a strategic necessity. And yet for every US$100 (3,378 baht) of climate finance deployed globally, only 20 cents goes towards supporting women, and only 0.01% of climate finance addresses both climate action and women's rights. Even so, COP29 was not a total loss for women and girls. The enhanced Lima work programme on gender was extended for another decade, though without additional funding for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat to support implementation. In addition, the 27 gender-specific provisions in the final "Presidency text on gender and climate change" emphasised the vital role of women's full, meaningful and equal participation in climate action and the critical importance of incorporating gender considerations into all policymaking domains. The "gender action plan" that countries agreed to develop for adoption at COP30 provides a framework for progress. Despite these commitments, COP29 fell short in addressing critical intersectional issues such as the links between gender equality, peacebuilding, and climate action. Similarly, calls to address gender gaps in skills -- such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics training to access green jobs -- and the care economy as part of climate action failed to make it into the final document. While the text encouraged gender-responsive climate finance and simplified access for grassroots women's organisations and indigenous communities, it lacked the structural push necessary to ensure implementation at scale. To transform COP29's promises into reality, we need clear international guidelines for gender integration backed by allocated budgets, measurable targets and participatory approaches to ensure effective, transparent and accountable climate finance. High priority should be given to financing local initiatives, particularly in informal settlements, where women often lead climate-resilience efforts. Robust tracking systems -- which monitor not only how much money is pledged but also where it goes and who it benefits -- are essential. Of course, international action alone cannot close the gender gap in climate action; national policy frameworks are also vital. And here, too, women continue to be sidelined. According to the latest analysis from the UNFCCC, 82% of countries mention gender in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), but fewer than 26% include meaningful gender considerations in their long-term strategies and investments. As countries prepare their updated NDCs -- to be submitted this February and assessed at COP30 in November -- they must take care to incorporate gender-specific programmes and policies. We do not know whether the international environment will be any less tense when countries gather in Brazil for COP30. But we do know that the failure to pursue meaningful climate action would carry astronomical costs, as the proliferation of deadly climate disasters results in lost lives and trillions of dollars in lost output. We also know that if the fight against climate change is to succeed, it must be as inclusive as it is transformative. That is why COP30 offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on our priorities and align gender equality with the Paris climate agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The climate crisis is not gender-neutral, so our solutions cannot be. Without a consistent focus on gender-responsive climate finance, we risk perpetuating cycles of vulnerability. Thirty years after the UN's Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action established gender equality's place on the global agenda, we must achieve another leap forward for women's rights, this time as a vital part of the fight against climate change. ©2024 Project Syndicate María Fernanda Espinosa, a former president of the UN General Assembly, is Executive Director of GWL Voices and Co-Chair of the Debt Relief for a Green and Inclusive Recovery Project. She was a member of the COP29 International Advisory Committee.How long can US stocks keep up this momentum?
Saturday Night Live pulled out all the stops for Election Season this year. Maya Rudolph returned to play Kamala Harris alongside fellow series alum Andy Samberg, who played Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff. Another exciting surprise was Dana Carvey returning to the show to play a perfect Joe Biden, and SNL also utilized the impressionist to do other characters, with one being Elon Musk . Now, Carvey is sharing an honest take on his performance as the tech mogul, and one point he made could potentially resonate with Musk himself. In the post-election cold open , SNL kicked off with the cast glibly expressing their support for former President Trump after he was re-elected. Towards the end of the sketch, Dana Carvey came out as Elon Musk in his signature blazer with an ironic T-shirt under it and a MAGA hat. He started jumping around the stage, imitating Musk’s actions at a rally and doing his unmistakable voice. Carvey admitted that his impression isn't that solid and told David Spade on their Superfly podcast just why it's so challenging: I can't do Elon Musk very well. But I can do something that sounds not like anything. He has an incredible accent... South Africa via Canada, via Pennsylvania. It's almost like, it's a little bit of Australian in there, a little bit of British. But it’s not totally that. Due to the various places Elon Musk has lived, his accent is a mix of a bunch of different regions, making his voice very unique. He’s from South Africa, but his parents are from other areas as well, and Musk has lived in the States for a large part of his life. The Wayne's World alum noting the singular nature of Musk’s speaking voice and calling it “incredible” would likely flatter the famous billionaire, and it may not be the only point he'd agree with the comic on. As the Master of Disguise star mentioned, he can't impersonate the businessman "very well," and Musk disliked Carvey’s impression of him . In Musk's estimation, "Dana Carvey just sounds like Dana Carvey." Via another social media post, the Space X founder then insulted the late-night show for its inclusion of Kamala Harris herself on the pre-election installment. Given that, it's possible that Musk would co-sign the shortcomings of Carvey's impersonation. This can be included in the line of conflicts that the NBC mainstay has had with Musk over the years. For example, most recently, series cast member Bowen Yang claimed a guest host made some cast members cry. Sometime later, Chloe Fineman said it was Elon Musk who made her cry when hosted back in 2021. Musk didn’t deny the accusation and responded by saying the writing was not funny at the time. Despite the conflict surrounding Dana Carvey's impression, the bit seems to have been received well by a number of viewers, based on the social media reactions. While the accent may not have been spot on, one could argue that it was apparent what Carvey was going for. Given the comedian's latest thoughts, it's hard not to wonder tell whether the Tesla bigwig will feel compelled to weigh in. You can revisit Dana Carvey’s impression of Elon Musk by checking out Saturday Night Live 's post-election episode, which is now streamable with a Peacock subscription . The late night show is also bringing back more former cast members, as well as exciting hosts and musical guests for its 50th anniversary season . So make sure to check out new episodes when they air on NBC on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET. CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
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