646 lodi

DGRS: Good Fundamentals, But Subpar Dividend Growth

The first phase of a Virtual Tour project has been launched offering people around the world an opportunity to explore the sultanate’s landscapes, historical landmarks and modern infrastructure through Google’s Street View. Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), in collaboration with Google, inaugurated the project on Thursday. Street View, an interactive feature of Google Maps, allows users to explore streets and destinations through immersive, 360-degree imagery. An official at MTCIT said, “The service enables users anywhere in the world to explore Oman’s diverse landscapes, historical landmarks and modern infrastructure in an immersive virtual experience.” He added that the project aims to strengthen Oman’s digital presence and boost its influence in sectors such as tourism and business development. Attendees at the launch witnessed a virtual presentation that highlighted key landmarks and natural sites of the sultanate. The first phase of the project features several prominent locations, including Khor Rori in Dhofar, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The MTCIT official informed that images were captured using Street View Trekkers, mounted on pickup truck, covering approximately 36,000sqkm. “The launch of this feature reflects Oman’s commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing digital accessibility,” the official stated.

The Latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City

The S&P 500 index is set to end 2024 with its strongest edge over global equities in nearly 30 years, a remarkable streak fueled by U.S. economic dominance. Yet, Bank of America analysts caution that the rally's days may be numbered, predicting a reversal as early as the second quarter of 2025. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY has surged 25% year-to-date as of Dec. 27, delivering a 21-percentage-point edge over global equities excluding U.S. exposure, tracked by the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF ACWX That marks the widest outperformance of American versus world equities since 1997. This is also the widest performance gap since 1997, driven by investor positioning for “Trump trades” of higher U.S. dollar, equities and bond yields, according to Bank of America’s chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett . Hartnett predicts that an “inflation boom” in the U.S. combined with a “global deflation bust” will drive a first-quarter overshoot in U.S. stocks. “We believe US small cap (Russell 2000) is the best trade to position for overshoots,” Hartnett said in a recent report. Hartnett highlighted that global equity markets are heading into 2025 with significantly weak economic momentum, especially in manufacturing – and this is even before factoring in the potential impact of a trade war. But, as the champagne flows this New Year's Eve, Bank of America analysis suggests a sobering reality may await from the second quarter of 2025. Chart: S&P 500 Sharply Outperformed International Equities In 2024 A Shift To International Markets? By spring 2025, Bank of America forecasts a hawkish Federal Reserve and “policy panic” in Europe and Asia to trigger a peak in U.S. market “exceptionalism.” According to Hartnett a strong U.S. dollar, already near multi-year highs, contributed to U.S. stocks' outperformance but poses risks given that 30% of S&P 500 revenues come from overseas markets. Hartnett projects that aggressive fiscal easing in China, new European stimulus – boosted by potential German election outcomes – and rate cuts by the European Central Bank will create fertile ground for global equities. This could lead to significant rotations into international equities and currencies. "By Q2, we anticipate lower interest rates, cheaper currencies, and fiscal easing in Europe and China," Hartnett said. Emerging markets, battered by a strong dollar and trade uncertainty, may finally rebound as the greenback loses steam. David Hauner , head of global emerging markets fixed income strategy at Bank Of America, remains cautious on emerging markets in the near term but sees buying opportunities as U.S. trade policies become clearer and the dollar reaches a turning point. 2025: Volatility And Opportunity Savita Subramanian, Bank of America’s head of U.S. equity strategy, said potential Trump 2.0 policies could heighten inflation and deficit risks. “Trump 2.0 may drive higher uncertainty around inflation and deficit risks. Immigration and tariffs may be inflationary, but corporate tax cuts are disinflationary as benefits get passed onto the consumer,” Subramanian said. She highlighted the prospects for a strong GDP upcycle, driven by lighter regulations and increased energy production lowering oil prices. Despite predictions of volatility return in 2025, Bank of America analysts remain bullish on the S&P 500. They indicated an ambitious year-end target of 6,666 for 2025, marking a staggering 10x rally from the market's 2009 lows. "Volatility will present opportunities to buy the S&P 500 at lower levels in 2025," said Subramanian, adding that the index is likely to close the year higher than current levels. Read now: Made In China, Paid In America: What Trump’s New Tariffs Mean For The US Economy Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Dancing with the Stars begins on RTÉ One on Sunday, January 5th, at 6.30pm and runs until Sunday, March 16th. The judging panel will expand to four, with the dancer (and 2023 pro winner) Karen Byrne joining the veteran adjudicators Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian . Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy return as presenters. Eleven celebrities will participate in 2025, hoping to succeed the Paralympian Jason Smyth as winner. As is tradition, they range from champion athletes to showbiz veterans. Here’s a rundown of the hopefuls. Joanna Donnelly, the meteorologist and children’s author who has worked with Met Éireann since 1995, became a TV weather forecaster in 2002. She lives in Dublin with her Dutch husband, Harm Luijkx, and their three children. Her pro partner, Maciej Zieba, a Dancing with the Stars newcomer, is a former student of the series regular Robert Rowiński. The gymnast Rhys McClenaghan won gold in the pommel horse in Paris last summer, securing Ireland its first Olympic gymnastics medal. He dances with Laura Nolan, back for her fifth Dancing with the Stars. She will hope to improve on her two semi-final finishes. The journalist and TV presenter Elaine Crowley has been a host of Ireland AM, on Virgin Media One, since 2021. Dancing with the Stars isn’t her first reality series: in 2016 she participated in a celebrity edition of the fitness show Operation Transformation. She has the ideal dance partner in Denys Samson, who reached the final in 2022 and 2024. The celebrity chef Kevin Dundon is best known for cookery shows such as Guerrilla Gourmet and as owner of Dunbrody Country House Hotel, in Co Wexford . He partners with the series newcomer Rebecca Scott, who recently featured in a group dance in the Blackpool special of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Yasmin Seky played the resourceful girlfriend of a self-destructive member of the Kinsella crime dynasty on the hit gangland thriller Kin . The actor, who is from Cabra in Dublin, is paired with the Italian pro Simone Arena, who created a splash with the 2024 finalist Blu Hydrangea. Monaghan comedian Kayleigh Trappe has 400,000 social-media followers thanks to skits in which she impersonates celebrities such as Nadine Coyle, Joanne McNally and Vogue Williams . It’s quite a change from her original job teaching senior infants. She will dance with the pro Ervinas Merfeldas, who previously twirled across the dance floor with Missy Keating, Stephanie Roche and Katja Mia. Donegal singer Mickey Joe Harte represented Ireland at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest with We’ve Got the World, coming a respectable 11th. He joins the series’ new pro dancer Daniela Roze, a five-time All-Ireland Latin dance champion from Maynooth, in Co Kildare. Known for his trademark scorpion kick, the taekwondo champion Jack Woolley , who has represented Ireland at the Olympics, got his first black belt at the age of 11. He dances with another Dancing with the Stars debutante, Alex Vladimirov, who was born in Ukraine and grew up in Germany and Australia. The stand-up comedian Gearóid Farrelly has worked in radio, appeared on TV comedy quizshows and written for The Savage Eye and The Panel. He dances with Stephen Vincent, who reached the final with the Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane in 2022. The model and beauty-pageant winner Aishah Akorede, who grew up in Leixlip, Co Kildare, and has a master’s degree in international corporate governance, represented Ireland at Miss Universe 2023. Earlier this year she appeared on the Discovery+ reality show Beauty and the Geek. Her partner, Robert Rowiński, is a two-time finalist, with Cliona Hagan in 2019 and Brooke Scullion in 2023. Danny O’Carroll, who is best known for playing Buster Brady on Mrs Brown’s Boys, is the latest veteran of the Brendan O’Carroll comedy to grace Dancing with the Stars, on the heels of his aunt Eilish O’Carroll and Rory Cowan. He dances with the two-time finalist Salome Chachua. It’s obviously far too early to take an informed view – but that hasn’t stopped bookmakers from installing Kayleigh Trappe as favourite, followed by Gearóid Farrelly and Rhys McClenaghan. Ed Power, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about television, music and other cultural topics

Malayalam actor Dileep Shankar found dead in Thiruvananathapuram hotel room

As the autumn chill sets in, warm up with a comforting twist on a classic British dish. As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, we often turn to familiar comforts to brighten up our evenings after a long day at work. A hot, satisfying meal is just the thing to warm the cockles of our hearts, and this time of year, many of us reach for traditional British fare like roast dinners and hearty cottage pies. One quintessential British dish that never fails to hit the spot is the humble pie and mash. While it's often served with a side of veggies and a rich gravy, the authentic London version consists of a minced beef pie, creamy mashed potatoes, and a tangy parsley sauce known as liquor. In fact, this beloved dish is so deeply ingrained in British culture that a campaign is currently underway to grant it Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) status; an honour already bestowed upon other British classics like Bramley apple pies and Cornish pasties. While variations of pie and mash are enjoyed throughout the UK, a clever recipe has been making waves on TikTok, offering a fresh spin on this comforting classic. Shared by Amy Sheppard, this innovative recipe combines the pie and mash into a single, mouth-watering dish that's been hailed by many as the "nicest pie they've ever eaten". By merging these two comforting elements, Amy's recipe creates a truly unforgettable culinary experience that's surprisingly easy to make. In her mouth-watering video, Amy enthused: "Imagine a big bowl of creamy mashed potato, topped with sausages followed by a big puddle of red onion gravy. Really comforting, right? Now imagine that same dinner but with golden, crispy puff pastry on top. That is what my sausage, red onion gravy and mashed potato pie is, and I'm not sure any dinner will ever be as comforting.", reports the Express . The recipe she shared is delightfully simple. Kick off by frying the sausages in a bit of oil until they're nicely browned and no longer pink. Set them aside, then soften the onions in the pan for five minutes, stirring away. Toss in the cavolo nero for another five minutes of cooking. Blend in the flour until it's well incorporated, then gradually pour in the stock "a little at a time", allowing each addition to boil before adding more. Once all the stock is in, mix in honey, Dijon mustard, and thyme, seasoning with salt and pepper to your liking. Slice each sausage into six and return them to the pan. Transfer everything into a large ovenproof dish. Whip up your mashed potato as per the packet's instructions, then dollop even balls of mash on top of the sausage mix using an ice cream scoop. Let it cool slightly before crowning with pastry. Preheat your oven to 190C (fan), glaze the pastry with beaten egg for that perfect golden sheen, and bake for 25-30 minutes. Amy's pie recipe video has set the internet on fire, with viewers in raptures over her dish, complemented by a side of broccoli. Droves of fans are eager to try their hand at baking the pie, while some enthusiasts have already whipped it up and are lavishing it with accolades. Astonished by its cozy charm, one admirer shared: "That looks perfect for the winter weather we're having right now! " In a flurry of excitement, another fan recounted: "Saw this this morning, immediately got ready and got the bus to Asda to buy the ingredients! Tea sorted! " Meanwhile, a satisfied foodie exclaimed: "I cooked it this evening. Possibly the nicest pie I've ever eaten, I'm in a food coma."The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner. The Associated PressBlackhawks blown out again in final game before Winter Classic

Stock market today: Nvidia drags Wall Street from its records as oil and gold riseTaylen Green leads Arkansas to 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl

Top table tennis players from across Nigeria have expressed their interest in participating in the 10th Elcris Table Tennis Cup, set to take place from December 23 to 24, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. Organised by the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) and sponsored by the Babatunde Abayomi Adejobi (BAA) Foundation, the tournament aims to discover new talents and empower the less privileged in society. According to Babatunde Adejobi, the founder of the BAA Foundation, the event is designed to assist the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) in identifying talents and engaging players ahead of major competitions. “As a foundation, we want to put smiles on people’s faces and support young individuals in realizing their dreams. As a former table tennis player, we chose to focus on this sport. Our foundation believes that helping the less privileged through sports can also empower them. The tournament has grown significantly, and being the 10th edition, we aim to make it even bigger and eventually take it national,” Adejobi stated. In addition to talent identification, Adejobi noted that the tournament helps players bond during the festive season, with former winners now part of the national teams. LSTTA Chairman, Tunji Lawal, praised the foundation for its consistent support of the tournament and called on other individuals and corporate bodies to follow the BAA Foundation’s example in supporting youth sports development. “We are thrilled that the sponsors have decided to expand the tournament and aim to make it national. This is a positive development for the sport in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole, providing more opportunities for national handlers to identify talents and keep players in shape, especially for the upcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State. We are grateful to the sponsors and look forward to an exciting tournament this year,” Lawal added. Among the top stars expected to participate in the two-day tournament are African Games silver medallist Matthew Kuti, and the 2024 African Championship men’s doubles champions, Muiz Adegoke and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.