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Jayud Global Logistics Regains Compliance with Nasdaq’s Minimum Bid Price RequirementNoneSANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) (the "Company” or "Macerich”) announced today that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of 18,000,000 shares of common stock. The Company expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 2,700,000 additional shares of its common stock. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of this offering together with cash on hand, including from recent sales under the Company's "at the market” offering program, to repay the $478.0 million mortgage loan with a fixed effective interest rate of approximately 9.0% and which is secured by its Washington Square property. Pending such use, the Company may invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing deposit accounts. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as the lead bookrunner and representative of the underwriters of the offering. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, by contacting: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by email at [email protected] . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any such offer or sale will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement relating to these securities. About the Company Macerich is a fully integrated, self-managed, self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). As a leading owner, operator, and developer of high-quality retail real estate in densely populated and attractive U.S. markets, Macerich's portfolio is concentrated in California, the Pacific Northwest, Phoenix/Scottsdale, and the Metro New York to Washington, D.C. corridor. Developing and managing properties that serve as community cornerstones, Macerich currently owns 45 million square feet of real estate, consisting primarily of interests in 41 retail centers. Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the federal securities laws, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which reflect the Company's expectations regarding future events and plans, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's potential grant to the underwriters of an option to purchase additional shares of common stock and the Company's anticipated use of net proceeds from the offering. Generally, the words "expects,” "anticipates,” "projects,” "intends,” "plans,” "believes,” "seeks,” "estimates,” "scheduled,” "predicts,” "may,” "will,” "should,” "could,” variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and involve a number of known and unknown assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be difficult to predict and beyond the control of the Company, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC”), which are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. INVESTOR CONTACT: Samantha Greening, AVP, Investor Relations, [email protected]Cupertino: City Council race heads to recount
Interview: Maria Bakalova finds ‘Triumph’ in the craft of actingAirports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: People are also reading... Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Citi Trends Stock Rallies Ahead of Q3 ResultsThe city of College Station will host a public open house on the Rock Prairie Road East Widening project Thursday night in the Bush 4141 Community room at City Hall from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Rock Prairie Road East Widening is the next phase of the widening of that road from Bird Pond Road to William D. Fitch Parkway. The widening will convert Rock Prairie from a two-lane asphalt road to a three-lane concrete road with a center turn lane and bike lanes. The widening project has been done in two phases. The first phase is nearing completion and will make Rock Prairie a four-lane road from Scott and White Road to Bird Pond Road. Work on the first phase of the widening began in December 2023. Work on the next phase between Bird Pond and William D. Fitch is scheduled to begin sometime in 2025. The College Station City Council approved a contract with Brazos Paving in August 2023 to do the widening project with an appropriation of $8,232,856.15. For more information on Thursday’s public or the project the public is encouraged to reach out to project manager Raquel Gonzales at ragonzales@cstx.gov .InspireMD Announces Appointment of Accomplished Medical Technology Executive Scott R. Ward to its Board of DirectorsAirports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: 2.2 billion packages are expected to ship between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve U.S. airlines are preparing for a Thanksgiving holiday rush, and so are the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FedEx. Shipping companies will deliver about 2.2 billion packages to homes and businesses across the U.S. from Thanksgiving to Dec. 31, said Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics expert and president of ShipMatrix. That’s down from 2.3 billion packages last year. Because the shopping period is a week shorter than in 2023, consumers are shopping further ahead of Black Friday and more purchases are taking place in physical stores, he said. The number of holiday package shipments grew 27% in 2020 and by more than 3% the following year during the pandemic. The numbers have been falling since then, with a projected decline of about 6% this holiday season. Does your airport offer therapy dogs? Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. What the striking airport workers are saying “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” What are striking Charlotte airport workers’ demands? Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. US flights are running normally Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. Cutting in line? American Airlines’ new boarding tech might stop you now at over 100 airports In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Tips to make holiday travel a bit easier Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel The timing of this year’s holiday shapes travel patterns Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Advice for drivers Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. FAA staffing shortage could cause flight delays Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. Thanksgiving travel, b y the numbers 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Charlotte airport workers strike over low wages Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Northeast should get needed precipitation Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts More rain expected after deadly ‘bomb cyclone’ on West Coast Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts The Associated Press
The world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”
The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants stumble onto center stage for a Thanksgiving Day battle of backup quarterbacks, as the out-of-contention NFC East rivals have served up a combined six wins and 16 losses in 2024. Cooper Rush helped the Cowboys (4-7) return to the win column at Washington before the three-day prep for playing holiday host to the Giants (2-9), who have shuffled plans amid another potential quarterback switch. New York lugs a six-game losing streak and some emotional drama to the table Thursday afternoon. "The fight has definitely been there," Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. "But we're still pretty far down in the valley of adversity right now. We've made one step in the right direction, so we've still got a lot of climbing to do." The playoffs are an afterthought at the moment. Dallas is tied for 4th in the NFC and the Giants are dead last with the final third of the season ahead. Beating the Commanders 34-26 on Sunday helped the Cowboys exhale, if only briefly, and they will now try to win at home for the first time in six tries. The Cowboys are shooting for a season sweep of the Giants for the fourth consecutive season. "It was great to get some wind under our wings, but this Thursday's game comes on you so fast. That's really where my mind is and my heart is, too," McCarthy said. Last in the NFL in scoring (14.8 points per game) and 28th in passing offense at 187.9 yards per game, the Giants are devoid of highlighter-worthy names on the offensive scouting report. They traveled to Texas on Wednesday without last week's starting quarterback, Tommy DeVito, who was officially listed as questionable because of a forearm injury. The last win for the Giants, 29-20 at Seattle, came one week after losing 20-15 to the Cowboys in September. New York is 0-4 against the NFC East including two losses by a combined eight points to the Commanders. Rookie Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers flashes big-play ability. He's also not shy about sharing his opinion. Nabers received a good talking to from head coach Brian Daboll after he blasted the Giants' effort and felt New York was "soft" in a 30-7 whipping at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence shared the sentiment only days after openly pondering why and how the Giants decided to hand the starting quarterback job to the undrafted DeVito at the expense of 2019 first-rounder Daniel Jones. "When you lose a game like that, there's frustration," Daboll said. "Certainly, you'd like to keep it in house. But you understand them, and I've been doing this for a while. There's conversations that you have to have if comments like that are made. I respect the opinions of the players and of the coaches. We'll work as hard as we can to get this fixed." In Sunday's loss, Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey virtually folded DeVito in half on a first-quarter sack and staggered him again with a jarring hit in the fourth quarter as he released a pass. Banged up in the aftermath, DeVito wasn't asked to complete a full practice the past three but did throw a few times Monday and Tuesday. He didn't practice Wednesday and didn't accompany the team to Arlington, Texas, leaving Drew Lock to get the call for the Giants if DeVito doesn't get transportation to Texas and medical clearance by Thursday afternoon. In front of DeVito, offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) was ruled out. Evan Neal (hip) was on the long list of injury concerns for the Giants but had no injury designation Wednesday. Eluemunor left last week's game in the first half and couldn't return. Extra blockers likely are mandatory to keep Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons from feasting. Parsons had two sacks at Washington, his second game with multiple sacks in three outings since returning from a high-ankle sprain. He had two sacks of Jones the last time the Giants visited for Thanksgiving in 2022. Nabers caught 12 passes for 115 yards from Jones in defeat against the Cowboys Week 4. That was before the QB switch. Nabers wasn't targeted in the first half last week. Giants running back Tyrone Tracy enters the week in the proverbial doghouse because of another costly fumble, after his fumble in Week 10 at London gifted the Carolina Panthers a game-winning field goal in overtime. "Blood is in the water now," Tracy said. "You've got to understand this is the NFL and ball security is job security." Beyond their 0-5 home record, the Cowboys are 2-1 in the NFC East but have been outscored by 98 points on the season. The nine-loss Giants own a minus-89 scoring margin. Dallas was 8-0 at home in the 2023 regular season, then started a streak of six consecutive losses -- including the wildcard blowout by the Packers -- by an average of 22.3 points. Rush was not special at Washington, but he threw a pair of TDs, completed 75 percent of his passes and didn't throw an interception. He was limited Monday with a knee injury, but McCarthy appeared confident the QB would be available over current backup Trey Lance. Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle handled a career-high 19 carries, for a career-best 86 yards last week, erasing his previous best -- 12 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown -- against the Giants last season. He caught a 15-yard TD pass in the Cowboys' win over the Giants in September. New York gave up 156 rushing yards to the Buccaneers, the fifth consecutive game of allowing at least 140. A win would bring the Cowboys' record to 5-7, good enough to find the fringe of playoff chatter. The Cowboys are hopeful for the return of key players, including tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion), guard Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) and No. 1 cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) after they sat out Week 12. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is expected to be back for the first time since Week 4, but left guard Zack Martin (shoulder, ankle) won't play. Cooks was activated to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, when the Cowboys moved rookie cornerback Caelen Carson (shoulder) and second-year offensive lineman Asim Richards (ankle) to injured reserve. Defensive backs Andrew Booth and Kemon Hall were elevated from the practice squad. --Field Level Media
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This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are New highs for S&P and Nasdaq U.S. markets were mixed on Monday . The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite climbed to new highs, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped. Asia-Pacific stocks traded higher on Tuesday . Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped around 2.1%, buoyed by chip-related stocks such as Tokyo Electron and Lasertec , which shrugged off new rounds of U.S. export curbs . Intel CEO ousted Intel ousted CEO Pat Gelsinger over the weekend. The decision, made public Monday, was motivated by the board's lack of confidence in Gelsinger's plans, said a source. Replacing him as interim co-CEOs are CFO David Zinsner and products CEO MJ Holthaus. Gelsinger was named CEO in 2021, but couldn't turnaround the struggling company. Trump pledges to block U.S. Steel acquisition U.S. President-elect Donald Trump vowed to block the acquisition of U.S Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel , in a Monday post on his social platform Truth Social. The two companies reached a $14.9 billion deal in December. The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment is reviewing the deal to ensure it doesn't incur national security risks. $56 billion package for Musk denied Tesla CEO Elon Musk failed to get his $56 billion 2018 pay package reinstated. A Delaware judge upheld her prior ruling that the compensation plan was improperly granted. Tesla shareholders had voted in June to "ratify" the package. The judge, however, wrote in her opinion that "Even if a shareholder vote could have a ratifying effect, it could not do so here." [PRO] Goldman's refreshed conviction list Goldman Sachs maintains a "Conviction List," which contains stocks it expects to perform better than the S&P. The Wall Street bank just refreshed its list of global stocks, including three it gave potential upside of more than 40% . Money Report European markets set for higher open but France's political upheaval is in focus Trump repeats vow to ‘block' Nippon Steel's bid for U.S. Steel Investors are still buzzing with positive sentiment, pushing stocks up to new records, but some analysts are concerned the good feelings are on frail footing. The S&P 500 added 0.24% and the Nasdaq Composite , electrified by Tesla's 3.5% rise and Super Micro Computer's 29% surge , climbed 0.97%. Both indexes closed at fresh highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.29%, though it briefly breached the 45,000 level during the day. "The holiday season is in full swing and spirits seem bright, at least among investors," UBS wrote in a Monday note. Indeed, 56.4% of consumers expect stock prices to rise over the next year, according to a survey by The Conference Board. That's the highest level on record. Not to be a downer this holiday season, but analysts see signs that optimism might have some roots in wonderland. Stocks might have had an incredible rally in November , but that was probably investors "pric[ing] in the upside from the new, pro-business administration," Jay Hatfield, founder and CEO of InfraCap, told CNBC. Now, investors "need to get details — not just tweets — but details of what the policy is," Hatfield added, suggesting the upward momentum might take a pause for now. Investment bank Oppenheimer also noted that stocks are still expensive. "Benchmarks [are] showing forward PE multiples that are higher than their five-year averages," wrote chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus on Monday. UBS thinks the exuberance among investors is "raising concern about the markets getting frothy." Froth implies that things will settle down, which is not necessarily a bad thing in the long run. Oppenheimer, though, thinks the bull market is "driven by fundamentals" that will steer it higher in the next year, despite high valuations. Likewise, Savita Subramanian, head of U.S. equity and strategy at Bank of America, sees "ample reason to stick with stocks over bonds for the long-term." The layer of frothy milk adds to a cappuccino's delight, after all, and doesn't detract from the coffee below. — CNBC's Lisa Kailai Han, Alex Harring and Pia Singh contributed to this report. Also on CNBC Investors are filled with the holiday spirit The stock market had a November to remember November was a month to remember for stocksThe National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has identified what it describes as complex challenges in the African insurance market space to include low insurance penetration, fragmented regional markets, unstable economic policies, trust and credibility concerns, poor product innovation, and inadequate technology adoption. Mr Segun Omosehin, the Commissioner for Insurance (CFI), who described the challenges as complex, stressed that by tackling these challenges, there’s need for practitioners across the continent to unlock the African insurance sector’s full potential, foster sustainable growth, and position them strategically within the global insurance landscape, thereby enabling African insurance companies to compete favourably with their international counterparts. According to him, the challenges transcend gender and regional boundaries which necessitate collaboration and synergy among all and sundry. To drive growth and development, he stresses that it is imperative for industry practitioners to prioritize the development of young professionals, unhindered by gender or age constraints, and foster expertise across markets. He warned that insurance sector in Africa must evolve beyond traditional ownership and embrace innovation asserting that with vast growth potential existing across the region, not just Nigeria, unity and industry development can significantly contribute to the continent’s economic prosperity. “The African insurance market faces complex challenges that transcend gender and regional boundaries, necessitating collaborative efforts and synergy across the continent. “To drive growth and development, it is imperative that we prioritize the development of young professionals, unhindered by gender or age constraints, and foster expertise across markets. “The insurance sector must evolve beyond traditional ownership and embrace innovation. With vast growth potential existing across Africa, not just Nigeria, unity and industry development can significantly contribute to the continent’s economic prosperity”. “I encourage the African Insurance Women Association (AIWA) to capitalize on these opportunities, leverage innovative solutions, and promote educational advancement to propel the African insurance sector forward saying that, these trends also exacerbate existing challenges hindering insurance development on the continent. “To remain competitive globally, urgently address these pressing issues, including low insurance penetration, fragmented regional markets, unstable economic policies, trust and credibility concerns, poor product innovation, and inadequate technology adoption”. “By tackling these challenges, we can unlock the African insurance sector’s full potential, foster sustainable growth, and position ourselves strategically within the global insurance landscape, thereby enabling African insurance companies to compete favourably with their international counterparts.” Omosehin added. The CFI emphasised that Insurance is evolving rapidly across Africa in response to technology and demographic shifts while digital innovation is reshaping customer experience, making insurance more accessible, personalised and mobile and internet-based solutions are helping insurers reach untapped markets, bringing coverage to rural communities that were once hard to serve. Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions, pointed out that the widespread adoption of mobile money in regions, East and West Africa has demonstrated the transformative power of technology in enhancing financial inclusion. Abiru, stated that as part of their effort as legislators was to advocate for policies that enhance regulatory alignment and foster regional cooperation, as this is crucial for the expansion and competitiveness of African insurers on the global stage. He noted that this has also created a model for micro insurance, where small premiums are accessible to millions, offering protection against health issues, crop failures, and more.” “We see a growing interest in inclusive insurance products that cater specifically to the diverse needs of Africans. Health insurance, agricultural insurance, and products that support small and medium-sized enterprises are emerging as essential offerings, underscoring the role of insurance as a vehicle for social and economic empowerment. “The conference provides a platform to discuss how we can collectively shape this future, especially as we empower women—who play an instrumental role in this industry— to lead and thrive,” said the Senator. Abiru, lamented that the African insurance sector faces notable challenges, stressing that low insurance penetration remains a pressing concern across the continent, with several factors contributing to this, including limited awareness, affordability issues, and regulatory inconsistencies. The senator frowned at individuals and businesses who still view insurance as a luxury rather than a necessity, saying that there is work to be done to build trust and communicate the value of insurance to the broader public. “Another challenge is regulatory alignment across borders, which limits insurers’ ability to operate efficiently across Africa’s diverse markets. Consistency in standards and frameworks would facilitate cross-border offerings and support growth within the industry” “The industry is also grappling with the impacts of climate change, which introduces new risks and complexities, especially for sectors like agriculture that are fundamental to African economies,” said the distinguished Senator.
Dawson Garcia posts a double-double as Minnesota holds off Central Michigan, 68-65 for fifth winD.R. Horton director Barbara Allen sells $921,515 in stockNEW YORK, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ilustrato Pictures International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) (“ILUS” or the “Company”), a diversified holding company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the previously disclosed Stock Purchase Agreement with Fusion Fuel Green PLC (NASDAQ: HTOO) (“Fusion Fuel”) and certain other shareholders of Quality Industrial Corp. (OTC: QIND) (“QIND”). Under this agreement, Fusion Fuel has acquired a 69.36% stake in QIND. On November 26, 2024, all material closing conditions were satisfied, and ILUS delivered the necessary documentation to its transfer agent to finalize the share transfer to Fusion Fuel. Concurrently, Fusion Fuel’s transfer agent has been instructed to issue its Ordinary and Preferred Shares as consideration to ILUS. As part of the transaction, ILUS receives a combination of ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares in Fusion Fuel. Upon conversion of these preferred shares, subject to Fusion Fuel’s shareholder approval and successful clearance of an initial listing application with Nasdaq, ILUS will hold a 55.38% stake in Fusion Fuel on an as-converted, fully diluted basis. Transformative Milestone for ILUS Commenting on the transaction, ILUS CEO Nicolas Link stated: “We are pleased to confirm the closing of this transformative transaction, which sets the stage for the next phase of ILUS’s growth. We believe QIND’s integration into Nasdaq-listed Fusion Fuel will accelerate its development and create significant value for all stakeholders. This transaction also lays the foundation for Emergency Response Technologies (OTC: SAML) to follow a similar trajectory and for ILUS itself to evolve into a resilient and diversified mini-conglomerate.” Fusion Fuel: A Leader in Green and Industrial Energy Solutions Fusion Fuel, a leader in energy engineering and advisory services, specializes in green hydrogen and industrial gas solutions. With the acquisition of QIND, Fusion Fuel has expanded its portfolio to include the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of energy systems, as well as the transportation and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas. The Company’s services cater to a broad range of industries, including commercial buildings, heavy industries, mixed-use developments, and the food service sector. As Fusion Fuel continues to innovate in the renewable energy space, this acquisition reinforces its commitment to advancing the global energy transition through sustainable and reliable energy solutions. About ILUS Ilustrato Pictures International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) is a diversified holding company focused on acquiring and growing businesses in sectors such as industrial, renewable energy, and emergency response technologies. The Company is dedicated to creating long-term value for its shareholders by strategically positioning itself as a leader in high-growth markets. For further information on ILUS, please see its communication channels: Website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: @ILUS_INTL Email: IR@Ilus-Group.com Source: ILUS Related Links https://ilus-group.com Forward-Looking Statement Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcasts also may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social & media channels: website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: ILUS_INTLAcademy Award nominee Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) chatted about starring in “The Apprentice” and the Bulgarian film “Triumph.” Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” This quote applies to Maria Bakalova. The synopsis is: A young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry second son of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win. Bakalova portrays Ivana Trump, his first wife “It was very demanding as a shoot, because we didn’t have a lot of time,” she admitted about “The Apprentice.” “To be completely honest, there is never enough time to shoot a movie; you always wish you have more time. It was all shot in Toronto during the winter.” “It was cold, even though we were playing different seasons,” she said. “We were shooting in different times, and it was challenging in the physical level of it, and it was also challenging in the memory level of it. “We had to know what was happening in different years and in different times because it takes place over a ten-year period, pretty much,” she acknowledged. “At the end of the day, when you have a great team of such dedicated people (all of them in their craft), it feels like a celebration,” she exclaimed. “It feels like making movies and making magic. It was wonderful, at the end of the day, I wish we would do it again,” Bakalova added. On playing Ivana Trump, Bakalova said, “I liked everything about her. Ivana became a role model to me, to a degree. The fact that she always kept getting back on her feet — no matter what was happening in her life — was quite inspiring.” Bakalova continued, “Ivana knew that there was always a way of coming back and coming back stronger, and I love to be able to play somebody that has been so outspoken, so bold and so daring to be opinionated, especially in the ‘70s and the ‘80s.” “Ivana was outspoken back in the ‘70s and the ‘80s,” Bakalova said. “Ivana wanted to be seen as an equal and she wanted to be a partner in this. She didn’t want to just be in the shadow even though she decided to take a step back and allow him to shine more than her,” Bakalova elaborated. “I feel that Ivana was just as important in building his business as himself,” he added. This movie has been generating awards buzz this Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG season, with critics praising the acting performances of Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Bakalova. “I hope everybody in this movie gets a lot of recognition because everybody deserves to be seen,” she said. “What our director, Ali Abbasi, has managed to do, and the entire team, is just incredible. Also, what Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong have done with their acting work is just amazing,” Bakalova acknowledged. Bakalova stars as Slava Platnikova in the new international film “Triumph.” In “Triumph,” she took on the dual roles of lead actress and producer. “It has been a magical experience,” she said about “Triumph.” “I’ve been wanting to collaborate with the duo of directors (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov) for a long time. They were some of my teachers back in my university days.” “I loved their work and how they managed to create such an interesting genre between drama (heavy and emotional drama) mixed with satire, absurdity and social commentary of the environment,” she noted. “Triumph is a part of a trilogy, and these things really happened in my country of Bulgaria,” she said. “It’s strange to think about the fact that back in the ‘90s, a country like mine decided to trust a psychic to lead a mission of digging a hole underground by the Bulgarian Army and wasting a lot of money and wasting a lot of time in search of alliance intelligence,” she elaborated. “It has been interesting to mix this mystical story in the environment of a very difficult time for my country back in the ‘90s after the fall of communism, feeling fragile and not knowing what to do and which side to take,” she explained. “My country has been the only one to choose a communistic dictator after not having to be part of a communistic environment anymore. If you mix the social environment with the mystical side of it, you have ‘triumph,’ which is a beautiful mixture of life and absurdity in life,” she added. Bakalova stated that the international film “Triumph” is that it is a co-production between Bulgaria and Greece. It has been selected as Bulgaria’s candidate for the 97th Academy Awards in the “Best International Feature Film” category. “My dream is for people to see this movie and to get a sense of that place because it’s very authentic at the end of the day,” she said. “It is also very universal, so I just wish for a lot of people to watch the movie and be open-minded and open-hearted to experience this comical tragedy because that is what ‘Triumph’ is,” Bakalova elaborated. “If you look at it closely, you see it as a drama, if you look at it from afar, it looks like a satire,” she added. On being a part of the digital age, Bakalova responded, “I don’t really know. We are having this beautiful interview on Zoom and it’s working in my favor because I am in Canada right next to the Rocky Mountains far away from where you are in New York, and we can do this because of technology thanks to the digital age.” “On the other hand, it’s a bit of a sacrifice of art in general... It is easy to get information, and if you manage to use it in a smart way, you can find a lot of benefits in it... but if you get soaked into the idea of using it only to make yourself lazy and not putting in the effort, then it’s working against you,” Bakalova explained. Bakalova noted that the digital age is a double-edged sword. “It’s good and it’s not good,” she noted. “Some movies are made to be seen on streaming platforms, where some shows and some movies work better at home,” she said. “During the COVID lockdown, the only hope and escape from these four white walls was through digital and the streaming platforms... so it’s just as equally crucial,” she noted. Bakalova continued, “On the other hand, a lot of movies don’t work at home... you need an audience and this contagious feeling of the audience’s reaction and how they perceive the scenes. If the audience loves a scene, then you understand that maybe it’s okay to love at the scene. If the audience gasps, then maybe it’s okay to gasp.” “It’s a shared experience,” she admitted. “For me, it is always better to go to a theater and to experience something on the big screen, as a cinematic lover. You can also see a lot of details such as the music, the sound, and the sound design... it is always more influential in a theater.” In 2021, Bakalova was nominated for the “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” Oscar for her acting work in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” “It has been wonderful,” she exclaimed. “It’s the biggest thing that can happen to you, and I was lucky enough to have this happen to me when I was working and surrounded by some incredibly talented people from something that I really cared about.” “I was shooting a movie called ‘The Bubble’ with Judd Apatow directing it,” she recalled. “I was in the middle of a scene with Pedro Pascal, and Judd just stopped the scene and told me ‘you just got nominated for an Academy Award!'” “Having that experience shared with somebody like Pedro was an even better feeling because he is exceptionally talented, and on top of that, he is one of the nicest human beings that I’ve met,” she acknowledged. “It has been incredible, and it has been so important because ‘Borat’ is a satire; it’s a political satire comedy, and usually, comedies are underrated and overlooked, even though they can manage to send a message even more widely simply through the power of comedy and through the tools of entertainment, which manage to make this world a better place,” she elaborated. On the title of the current chapter of her life, Bakalova revealed, “Triumph.” “I feel that title is very accurate right now,” she said. “I’ve been very lucky to be able to work and to be able to do what I love. ‘Triumph’ is a movie that I am really proud of, and as we say in the movie, ‘every day is a triumph.’ For young and aspiring actors, she said, “Coming from a place that doesn’t really get a lot of attention and hasn’t been given a lot of chances, and that’s why I will always be grateful to Sacha Baron Cohen for opening a possibility for somebody like me to take a role that is so widely seen in the face of Tutar (Borat’s teenage daughter). “Also, I am grateful to Ali for choosing somebody like me... someone from that region of the world that feels authentic to represent somebody as Ivana, who is coming from communistic Czechoslovakia and I’m coming from communistic Bulgaria,” she said. “Of course, I am fully aware that Czechoslovakia is not Eastern Europe; it’s considered an Eastern country because it has been under the Eastern Bloc... it’s Central Europe but it feels relevant,” she clarified. “I will always be grateful to both of them (Sacha and Ali) for choosing me to portray characters that feel authentic,” she added. On the best advice that she has ever been given, she shared, “One of the first pieces of advice I ever got, was to go and watch a lot of independent films, and I keep following that advice. Also, I go to a lot of festivals, and I go see movies that are not necessarily Blockbusters. “A lot of times, these movies are even more moving and more powerful and they give you the opportunity to expand your cinematic culture by seeing different regions of the world and obtaining different tastes and different tools. Get to know directors from all over the world,” she elaborated. “Just pay attention to the films that don’t immediately get all the attention; if you find these gems, it is just as inspiring for you to know them,” she acknowledged. “Get a lot of gemstones of how to do your acting and how to build a show. One day, you might be behind the camera and you might want to participate in the producing, writing, and directing teams,” she said. “Get a lot of tools of how to do this, not only by saying your lines, but get to know the craft and the art of acting. This was the advice that I wish I was given,” she concluded. Track and field running legend Wilma Rudolph once said: “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” Maria Bakalova is a woman, actress, and storyteller that embodies this wise quotation. To learn more about Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova, follow her on Instagram . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 21,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.
Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics LAB Announce Plans to Launch 'X-ble Shoulder' at Wearable Robot Tech Day
