sports science course GameStop Q3 Earnings: Revenue Miss, $4B+ Cash, No More Offerings Planned In Fiscal YearPM urges people to make a resolve to annihilate feeling of division, hatred in society NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon the citizens of the country to make a resolve to annihilate the feeling of division and hatred in the society. In the 117th episode of monthly programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi said,”The Maha Kumbh is going to be held in Prayagraj from the 13th January. At this time, mammoth preparations are going on at the Sangam banks there. When we participate in the Kumbh, let us make a resolve to annihilate the feeling of division and hatred in society. ” For the first time, he said, an AI chatbot will be used in the Kumbh event. All kinds of information related to Kumbh will be available in 11 Indian languages through the AI chatbot. ”There is no discrimination anywhere, no one is big, no one is small. Therefore, our Kumbh is also the Maha Kumbh of Unity. Devotees will be provided information about government-approved tour packages, accommodation and homestay on their mobile phones..,” PM Modi informed. Prime Minister Modi said on the 26th of January 2025, India is marking a historic milestone by celebrating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution . ”The Constitution is our guiding light, it is our guide. This year, on Samvidhan Divas, 26th November, India celebrates 75 years of the adoption of its Constitution”, he said, adding that to honour this milestone, a nationwide campaign is inviting citizens to read the Preamble and share their videos, fostering a sense of collective pride and unity. He said a special website http://Constitution75.com has been created to connect the citizens of the country with the legacy of the Constitution, adding that people can read the Constitution in myriad languages and ask questions pertaining to it. Modi said next year, for the first time, the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit i.e. WAVES is going to be organised in the country. ”In the WAVES summit, giants from the media and entertainment industry and people from the creative world will come to India. This summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation..,” he said in the monthly programme. Mr Modi said when the nation is moving towards a 5 trillion dollar economy, he urged the entertainment industry to be part of the WAVES summit. ”I would urge the entire entertainment and creative industry of India – whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming or an innovator in entertainment technology – to be a part of the WAVES Summit.” In this winter season, PM Modi said, several activities related to sports and fitness are being organised across the country. ”From Skiing in Kashmir to kite flying in Gujarat, enthusiasm for sports can be seen everywhere. Campaigns like ‘Sunday On Cycle’ and ‘Cycling Tuesday’ are promoting cycling..,” he pointed out in his last episode of the year. Agencies

NoneMcDonald’s Australia and Netflix have brought the Dalgona Candy Challenge to life with the Squid Game Meal, only in Australia in anticipation of Squid Game 2 . Developed by OMD and Akcelo, the Dalgona Candy Challenge and ‘Dare to Play’ campaign taps into the global popularity of Squid Game, giving fans the chance to engage in an interactive version of one of the show’s most iconic and viral challenges, with exciting prizes to be won. “Squid Game is Netflix’s most-watched show, and we’re thrilled to bring this cultural phenomenon to life at Macca’s,” Amanda Nakad , marketing director for McDonald’s Australia, said. “This collaboration gives our customers and fans the unique opportunity to step into the game and experience it like never before.” The exclusive Squid Game Meal includes a QR code that grants access to the game, where players race against time to complete the Dalgona Candy Challenge. In a unique Australian twist, McDonald’s has replaced the umbrella candy shape with a more challenging Golden Arches ‘M’. Those who succeed will have the chance to win exclusive co-branded merchandise, with a grand prize of $100,000 for one lucky challenger. The mobile game also features an immersive film that reimagines key moments from the iconic scene, including the original voice of Jeon Young-Soo (전영수) as the Game Instructor. Emily Bosler , OMD managing partner for McDonald’s, said: “This golden partnership allows us to deliver an interactive branded experience that captures the excitement of Squid Game while celebrating the fun and playfulness of Macca’s. We can’t wait for fans to join the challenge!” ‘Dare To Play’ demonstrates McDonald’s continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of customer engagement through immersive, cross-platform experiences. The campaign will drive engagement through a range of activations, including restaurant experiences, OOH, social media, fandom pages, and a Dalgona Candy Challenge event at World Square Sydney, where the public can participate in a Squid Game-themed playzone under the watchful eye of the Pink Guards. Aden Hepburn , CEO of Akcelo, said: “As superfans of both Netflix’s Squid Game and Macca’s, we have loved every moment of bringing this unforgettable campaign to life at scale with McDonald’s and OMD. The result is simply unlike any other Macca’s campaign that’s come before and we can’t wait to see how Australia – and the world – will react.” This unique partnership extends beyond the meal itself. McDonald’s will serve as the single-title sponsor for Squid Game 2 in Australia on Netflix’s ad-supported platform, coinciding with the series’ global release on Boxing Day, 26 December. CREDITS McDonald’s Australia Chief Customer Officer – Chris Brown Marketing Director – Amanda Nakad Head of Brand & Menu – Nichole Tsiros Brand Manager – Samantha Lau Digital Experience Manager – Luke Elzerman Netflix (in partnership with Gemba) Head of Partnerships – Harvey Brant Partner Marketing Creative – Eunbee Kyung OMD Emily Bosler – Managing Partner, McDonald’s Zoe May – Head of Strategy – Macca’s Hattie Dinger – Partnerships Director Taylor Hilditch – Account Director Soraya Ghaidan – Account Manager Paige Ye – Diverse Senior Account Manager Akcelo Group Executive Creative Director – Louise McQuat Creative Partner – Oskar Westerdal Creative Team – Ilya Aronovich & Misha McDonald Account Management – Max Bennett, Gabriel Montalban, April Tunstall & Brody Blinkhorn Production – Stephanie Ceccaldi, Dan Burns & Dave Bourke Design – Paul Critchley, Dan Martin, Cath Roberts, Justin Bellchambers & Richard Spencer Head of Craft – Jon Foye Motion – Benny O’Shea, Mike Ashburner, Jamie Muscat & Denys Michele Digital Experience – Mark Berry, Helen Turner, Jason Woods, Alwyna George, Kim Tang & Minho Baek Event Production – Lea Nguyen & Ben Turner Chief Strategy Officer – Dave Di Veroli Chief Executive Officer – Aden Hepburn Production Director – Alex Roberts, FINCH Producer – Bryce Lintern, FINCH DOP – Ross Giardina Post Production – Heckler Sound Design – Squeak E. Clean Photography – Mat Baker, Louis&Co Social – Reel Focus Films PR – Mango Communications Ashleigh Vallance – Senior Account Director Ian Lizardo – Senior Account Manager Gunjan Kaur – Account Manager CRM – Digitas Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox.

Over the last half-century, the number of children who die before reaching the age of five has fallen dramatically, from around 20 million in 1960 to 4.9 million in 2022, largely owing to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1974, the EPI has been extraordinarily successful in providing the youngest people with access to vaccines, saving more than 150 million lives. But while such progress is worthy of celebration, there is still much work to do, because newborns comprise half of all deaths in children under five each year, many of which are caused by infection. Progress on reducing neonatal mortality has historically been much slower than for children under five, and has begun to stall in recent decades, despite significant reductions in mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis. That is because many of these deaths are caused by treatable -- but untreated -- bacterial infections. To reverse this trend, the international community must ensure that all children -- especially in the African countries where most of these deaths occur -- can access antibiotics, much like the EPI has done for vaccines. Infants are particularly susceptible to infections in the first 28 days of life. As a paediatrician, I saw this firsthand when I was younger, working in the neonatal ICU at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. It is possible to ward off some kinds through infection prevention and control; access to water, sanitation, and hygiene; and vaccines. But for those that cannot be prevented, antibiotics are needed to avert further complications such as sepsis, which affects up to three million newborns per year. Unfortunately, most African countries lack access to existing and new antibiotics, putting already-vulnerable babies at a much higher risk of dying from treatable infections. Shortages of generic versions can be largely attributed to the steady exit of pharmaceutical companies from the antibiotic market in recent decades, owing to low returns. Similarly, new antibiotics are often sold in only the wealthiest countries or priced out of reach for most African governments and citizens. For example, less than half of the new antibiotics approved between 1999 and 2014 were registered in more than ten countries. Worse, only four of the 40 new antibiotics approved since 2000 are labeled for paediatric use. When drug development is driven primarily by profitability, rather than public-health needs, infants in poorer countries -- one of the world's most vulnerable populations -- get the short end of the stick. If clinicians cannot access the right first-line antibiotics or use them because of a drug-resistant infection, they often turn to those that are specialised or kept in reserve as a last resort. These substitutes can be less effective, and reliance on them increases the risk of drug resistance developing, making infections more difficult to treat in the long term (although African countries are often priced out of these last-resort antibiotics, too). As a result, children under five account for one in five deaths caused by drug-resistant infections, with 99.7% of them living in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, the failure to treat these infections in newborns is fuelling the rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is already associated with 4.7 million deaths annually. No country can tackle this problem alone. To ensure that all infants are protected from infection requires an EPI-scale global initiative to help developing countries build their capacity and surveillance, identify the necessary antibiotics, and bolster their health systems. Equally important, we must dramatically increase the availability of existing antibiotics and spur the development of new ones that are safe and effective for children. Both imperatives require prioritising public health over profit. The United Nations High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance recently produced a political declaration committing countries to reduce global AMR-associated deaths by 10% per year until 2030. Donor governments can begin doing this -- and saving the lives of newborns -- by supporting organisations like mine, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, which are working to improve access to and encourage the development of antibiotics. The WHO's Paediatric Drug Optimisation exercises have made a shortlist of antibiotics that should be prioritised above all others for paediatric use. But stakeholders, including the WHO, regulatory agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, non-profit developers, and paediatric experts, must collaborate to shepherd such treatments through development and approval. Preventing infant deaths from treatable infections would go a long way toward stopping the spread of AMR and safeguarding our future. ©2024 Project Syndicate Glenda Gray is Board Chair of the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership.FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men on Friday of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found the Patel family later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.” Goldberg reported from Minneapolis.

Titan Mining Co. ( TSE:TI – Get Free Report ) shot up 7.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.30 and last traded at C$0.30. 1,291 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 97% from the average session volume of 39,502 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.28. Titan Mining Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.88, a current ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1,058.24. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.26. The company has a market capitalization of C$40.91 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.29 and a beta of 0.05. About Titan Mining ( Get Free Report ) Titan Mining Corporation, a natural resource company, acquires, explores, develops, produces, and extracts mineral properties. It primarily explores for zinc. The company's principal asset is the Empire State Mine project covering an area of approximately 80,000 acres located in the Balmat Edwards mining district in northern New York. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Titan Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Titan Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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ALTOONA, Pa. — The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted while being led into court Tuesday as new details emerged about his possible motivation behind the ambush. In his first public words since a five-day search ended with his arrest at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car shouting about an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside a courthouse. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family is fighting attempts to extradite him to New York to face a murder charge in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione carried a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to increase while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin. In social media posts, Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski — who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology — a “political revolutionary,” according to the bulletin. Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors began to take steps to bring Mangione to New York, but at a brief hearing Tuesday, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said his client will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released. “You can’t rush to judgment in this case or any case,” Dickey said afterward. “He’s presumed innocent. Let’s not forget that.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday night on the social platform X that she will sign “a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure the suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson is held accountable in New York.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of New York City, after a McDonald’s customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. An image of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. New York police officials said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. A law enforcement official who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said a handwritten document found with Mangione included a line in which he claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus. Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege. His grandfather was a real estate developer and philanthropist. Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. Mangione Mangione Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Several members of Donald Trump's incoming US administration have received threats including bomb alerts, the FBI said Wednesday, with one nominee reporting a pipe-bomb scare sent with a pro-Palestinian message. The President-elect's picks for UN ambassador and head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as his former choice to be US attorney general, said they were among those who had received the threats. "The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners," the agency said in a statement. Swatting refers to a practice in which police are summoned urgently to someone's house under false pretenses. Such hoax calls are common in the United States and have seen numerous senior political figures targeted in recent years. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said that several appointees and nominees "were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them." Outgoing President Joe Biden "has been briefed" on the threats, the White House said. "The White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and the President-elect’s team, and continues to monitor the situation closely," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The president and the administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence." Biden has vowed a smooth and peaceful presidential transition -- in contrast to when Trump riled a mob that attacked the US Capitol in January 2021 with false claims of election fraud. - 'Pro-Palestinian' - Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist congresswoman tapped to be UN ambassador, said her residence in New York was targeted in a bomb threat. She said in a statement that she, her husband, and small son were driving home from Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday when they learned of the threat. Lee Zeldin, Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said his home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat sent with a "pro-Palestinian themed message." The former congressman from New York said he and his family were not home at the time. Matt Gaetz, who dropped out as Trump's pick to be attorney general after facing opposition over sexual misconduct allegations, reposted Zeldin's message on X and said: "Same." Scott Turner, the nomine for Housing Secretary and a retired NFL player, and Trump's pick for Labor Secretary, meanwhile also said they had also received bomb threats at their homes. Fox News Digital quoted unidentified sources saying that John Ratcliffe, Trump's nominee to head the CIA, and Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary pick, were additionally targeted. Ahead of his return to the White House in January, Trump has already swiftly assembled a cabinet of loyalists, including several criticized for a severe lack of experience. The Republican, who appears set to avoid trial on criminal prosecutions related to attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, was wounded in the ear in July in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. The shooter was killed in counter-fire. In September, authorities arrested another man accused of planning to shoot at Trump while he played golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Leavitt appeared to reference the previous incidents, saying that "with President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us." bur-dk/smsPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering," Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga in overtimePHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / December 10, 2024 / abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American:AEF) announces results of a strategic review conducted by the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board") at a meeting held today. The Board has approved multiple changes to the Fund including: (1) changes to the Fund's name and 80% non-fundamental investment policy; (2) a 20% tender offer to be offered in the first quarter of 2025; (3) a new 3-year performance-based conditional tender offer policy commencing on March 1, 2025; and (4) an increase to its annualized distribution rate from 6.5% to 10% effective with the distribution that will be declared in March 2025. Fund Name Change and Changes to Non-Fundamental Investment Policy The Fund's Board has approved changes to the Fund's name, its non-fundamental 80% investment policy, and its benchmark, as set forth below. There will be no change to the Fund's investment objective and the Fund will continue to trade on the NYSE American under ticker symbol "AEF". The name change and change to the 80% investment policy will be effective on or about February 24, 2025 (the "Effective Date") following 60 days' notice to Fund shareholders and may only be changed thereafter by the Board of the Fund following the provision of at least 60 days' written notice to the Fund's shareholders. Current New Fund Name abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. 80% Investment Policy The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in emerging markets equity securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in emerging markets (excluding China) equity securities. Benchmark MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Daily Total Return) MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China Index (Net Daily Total Return) In approving the strategy and name change, the Board considered, among other factors, that as the only U.S. closed-end fund currently offering the emerging market ex-China strategy, the Fund will be less driven by the policy actions of the Chinese government, and more driven by stock fundamentals, which aligns with Management's style of bottom-up investing. The Fund will remain a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company whose objective is to provide both current income and long-term appreciation. Tender Offer The Fund is also announcing approval by the Board to pay a cash tender offer which will purchase up to 20% of the Fund's issued and outstanding shares at a price per share to be equal to 98% of the Fund's NAV per share as determined by the Fund on the next business day following the expiration date of the tender offer (the "2025 Tender Offer"). This 2025 Tender Offer will replace the Fund's current conditional tender offer policy announced in May 2023. Further details and timing will be announced ahead of the Effective Date of the Fund's investment strategy changes. Update to the Fund's Conditional Tender Offer Policy As part of the Board's commitment to shareholders relating to the investment strategy changes, the Board has adopted a policy (the "Policy") pursuant to which it will cause the Fund to conduct a one-time tender offer for twenty percent (20%) of its then issued and outstanding shares of common stock on or before June 30, 2028, if the Fund's total return investment performance measured on a NAV basis does not equal or exceed the total return investment performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China Index (Net Daily Total Return) during the period commencing on March 1, 2025 and ending on February 28, 2028. The price at which shares are to be tendered and other terms and conditions of such tender offer would be determined by the Board in its discretion based on its review and consideration of the then-current size of the Fund, market conditions and other factors it deems relevant. Annualized Distribution Rate Increase and Declaration of Next Distribution The Fund is also announcing that, as part of the strategic changes, the Board approved an increase to its annualized distribution rate from 6.5% to 10%, commencing with the quarterly distribution payable in March 2025. The actual amount of the distribution will continue to be based on the average daily net asset value ("NAV") for the previous three months as of the month-end prior to declaration. The Fund intends to maintain the increased distribution rate for at least the 12 months following the effective increase, unless there is a significant and unforeseen change in market conditions. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board. The policy is expected to provide a steady and sustainable quarterly cash distribution to Fund shareholders that may help reduce any discount to NAV at which the Fund's shares trade. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve these results. Important Information At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of the Fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the distributions. Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the NAV of the Fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. www.abrdnaef.com ### For More Information Contact: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds Investor Relations 1-800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. View the original on accesswire.com