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TALLINN, Estonia -- Belarus has granted asylum to a former Polish judge who faced espionage charges at home following his defection in May to the Kremlin-allied country. A decree published Friday by Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’ autocratic president, described Tomasz Szmydt as being “prosecuted for political reasons” in Poland. The country is an EU and NATO member that has lent vocal support to Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression . Szmydt’s defection to Belarus in May trained the focus on Poland as a key target for Russian intelligence activity and ignited a bitter political row over the circumstances of his rapid ascent through the ranks of the Polish justice system. Poland’s prosecutors and special services launched an investigation the same month after Belarus media reported that Szmydt arrived in the country and asked for protection. Warsaw responded days later by putting Szmydt on a wanted list , a step toward an international arrest warrant on spying allegations that would restrict his ability to travel internationally. Polish officials have been working to determine how harmful Szmydt’s knowledge of any classified information might be to the interests of Warsaw and its Western allies. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly called him a traitor. Szmydt fled to Belarus after resigning from his post as a judge at the Warsaw Administrative Court, saying in a public statement that he was doing so in protest against Poland’s “harmful and unjust” policy toward Belarus and Russia. A short time later, he appeared at a press conference in Belarus, praising Lukashenko’s regime and presenting himself as a victim of repression. A Polish court later that month lifted Szmydt’s immunity, allowing him to be tried in absentia for spying allegations that he has denied. Szmydt was notorious in Poland for having engaged in a 2019 online smear campaign against other judges that was sponsored by the Justice Ministry under the previous right-wing government . Three years later, he appeared to switch sides, appearing in a TV documentary to expose what he said was unethical behavior by judges close to the ruling party. Szmydt’s defection came as a shock in Poland, which has a history of distrust of Russia. Belarus has been one of the Kremlin’s few close allies since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Lukashenko has relied on Moscow's subsidies and support. In return, he has allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops and weapons into the neighboring state, and to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Authorities in Minsk have been ratcheting up repressive measures ahead of a presidential election in January in which the strongman leader is seeking a seventh term, including by arresting hundreds of people who have shown solidarity with Kyiv. Authorities responded to massive protests following the widely disputed 2020 election of Lukashenko with a wide-ranging crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested. Major opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country, and human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners.Slate Office REIT ( TSE:SOT.UN – Get Free Report )’s share price shot up 53.7% on Saturday . The stock traded as high as C$0.65 and last traded at C$0.63. 754,588 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 748% from the average session volume of 88,969 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.41. Slate Office REIT Trading Up 53.7 % The company has a quick ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 329.26. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$0.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.44. The company has a market cap of C$50.64 million, a PE ratio of -0.19 and a beta of 1.35. Slate Office REIT Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Slate Office REIT is an open-ended real estate investment trust. The REIT's portfolio currently comprises 43 strategic and well-located real estate assets located primarily across Canada's major population centres including one downtown asset in Chicago, Illinois. The REIT is focused on maximizing value through internal organic rental and occupancy growth and strategic acquisitions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Slate Office REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Slate Office REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The 1955 Le Mans disaster is considered by and large as one of the worst crashes in Formula 1 racing history. On June 11th on the Circuit de la Sarthe driver Lance Macklin swerved out in front of Pierre Levegh's Mercedes 300 SLR, causing the latter to lose control of the vehicle, careen over the protective barriers at about 125 miles per hour, and subsequently explode in the stands — resulting in the deaths of 77 spectators including Levegh. Since this horrendous incident, Formula 1 has experienced much growth in the advancement of safety procedures to protect the well-being of audiences and competitors alike. While a repeat of the 1955 disaster is unlikely, the industry is still not immune to poor performances from low-grade race-cars or their subsequent spin-outs and collisions that come at a very high price . The term "formula" in Formula 1 denotes a set of strict, clearly defined regulations from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ("FIA") that all competitors must abide by concerning the components and specifications when designing a compliant race car. While these comprehensive recipes have led to some incredible engineering and technology advancements, particularly the high-performance engines that have gone on to power non-F1 commercial cars , there have also been cases of subpar construction and design that have led to a less-than-stellar crossing of the finish line. From the spontaneous combustions of the McLaren MP4-18 to the painfully slow speeds of the Lola T97/30, here is a look at some of the worst vehicles to compete in the F1 championships. Our first stop is with a race car that actually never even made it through the rigorous, three-stage qualification process for the Formula 1 championship because of the number of severe technical issues it encountered. In 2002, the McLaren MP4-18 was constructed by the company's chief designer, Adrian Newey, in the hopes of finally launching an inventive contender to successfully face down rising competitor Ferrari on the world stage. On the outside, the MP4-18 had an aggressive and edgy style, complete with a radically streamlined body that was considered revolutionary for the industry at the time. However, the unconventional design of the MP4-18 may have landed too far outside the box for racing purposes. The car was plagued by a series of chronic issues ranging from a very sensitive and fickle carbon composite gearbox to frequent spin-outs and crashes. A flawed sensor kept raising problems with the hydraulics, and the exhaust system was so badly compromised that it would cause the car to combust — sometimes even before it entered the track. McLaren only produced four units of this fiery race-car for testing, half of which were completely totaled when undergoing testing by drivers Alexander Wurz and Kimi Raikkonen, who, after getting out of the wreck, firmly stated, "I am never driving that car again." The MP4-18 also suffered from the consequences of poor management decisions. When Newey presented a series of enhancements for the MP4-18 in 2004 to improve safety and quality of performance, such as reconfigured chassis for improved aerodynamics, the managing director Martin Whitmarsh and the majority of the team instead opted to forego corrections and keep the original design. Newey later executed these new concepts throughout his tenure working for Red Bull after departing from McLaren. [Featured image by BYSER via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0 ] A year after the McLaren MP4-18's failure to make it off the test track, the EJ13 would score an underdog victory at the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix driven by Giancarlo Fisichella. While the team may have been owned by Irish businessman and TV personality Eddie Jordan, the team struggled to secure adequate funding, which led to reliance on cheaper, less stable components for the race car. At one point, the team alternated the EJ13's Honda engine for the Ford V10, which quickly proved incompatible with the make-up of the vehicle because if the motor wasn't catching fire, it was puttering along at mediocre speeds. The car's design also wasn't adaptable to change and didn't respond well to adjustments by the technicians, leading to very poor showings in the Australian and Malaysian races. So, given the subpar parts used in the development of the EJ13, how was it able to come from the bottom of the pack and secure its miraculous victory? A lot of the Jordan team's success comes down to severe rainy conditions that resulted in six drivers spinning out at turn three due to a broken drain cover. After that, it was a domino effect as more competitors lost control and spun out, while Fisichella continued to wage a strategy of attrition to see how many other competitors they could outlast. Ironically, the EJ13 ended up catching fire in the pit after Fisichella successfully crossed the finish line, which would serve as the perfect metaphor for the team's trajectory after its first and only victory. In contrast to Jordan scrounging for finances to keep their race car afloat, Lola appeared to be flush with cash in the late nineties, given its estimated $45 million budget courtesy of join sponsors MasterCard and Pennzoil. In fact, Lola's sponsors were so eager to compete that they pushed the entire team to compete in 1997, which was a year prior to their scheduled launch so that they would have enough time to thoroughly test the T97/30. With a timeframe of only four months Lola scrambled to assemble a competent team while also reconfiguring the layout of components like the suspension on the fly. More importantly, unlike previous models, the Lola T97/30 was developed purely via computer-aided design ("CAD") and never saw the inside of a physical wind tunnel to test speed aerodynamics. In the end, neither of the Lola T97/30 race-cars driven by Vincenzo Sospiri and Ricardo Rosset qualified at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix due to issues with downshifting and the engines' abysmal power. With the pole time set at 1:29.369 both cars set a time with roughly an 11 to 13-second difference, meaning that neither vehicle qualified under the F1's rule where all competitors need to set a Q1 time within 107% of the leading contender. The final nail in Lola's track record for the season came shortly thereafter when MasterCard pulled their sponsorship of the organization just before they were to enter into the Brazilian championship. [Featured image by Sporti via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0 ] In 1990, the Italian Life F1 racing team made its debut around the same time that regulations were revamped to prohibit the use of turbocharged engines. In response to this, the team's engineer, Franco Rocchi, developed a customized W12 engine with three banks of four cylinders so that, in theory, the engine would generate the power of a twelve-cylinder. The engine was then placed atop an old chassis purchased from the discontinued First Racing team that failed to qualify for the F1 in 1989. Unfortunately, this heavily reconfigured engine only produced a maximum of 375 bhp according to estimates, which was a good 300 units less than the average for the time. Not only did Life F190 fail to even succeed at the Formula 1 pre-qualification round, but the racer also failed to complete a single lap at the Brazilian championship resulting in the departure of racer Gary Brabham. On average, the race car performed 40 miles per hour slower than the other competitors when handling the speed traps at the Hockenheimring competition. The Life team quickly came to the consensus that the W12 engine was not performing up to racing standards. So, the team decided to switch out the motor with the Judd V8 in order to enhance speed. However, it quickly turned out that the body of the F190 was designed for the proportions of the Judd V8 when the cover flew off when driver Bruno Giacomelli attempted the first turn at the Portugal championship. After that, the team owner, Ernesto Vita, decided to forego any more championships and cut his losses by disbanding the team. 2014 marked a transitional time period in Formula 1 history because, for the first time, the season would feature a rollout of race cars sporting brand-new, regulation-approved turbo-hybrid engines. In the midst of this time of change, Malaysian businessman Tony Fernades was determined to make a change and acquired the Caterham Racing Group. Prior to this point, Fernades owned Lotus Racing, which had been giving a passable yet mediocre performance during the early '10s seasons. However, because the new regulations permitted hybridized engines, the nose-cones on Formula 1 vehicles were whittled and reduced significantly out of precaution for the driver's safety. The result was a new line of aesthetically unappealing racers, of which the Caterham CT05 was by far the ugliest. In fact, because the team had inadequate funds to invest in quality design, they painted the front black in an attempt to hide the unfinished portions of its silhouette from the public onlookers. The Caterham CT05 was also incredibly slow, with neither of its drivers, Marcus Ericsson and Kamui Kobayashi, scoring zero points and unable to break any higher than 11th place during the 2014 season. The team tried to rally and gave the CT05 a total makeover to reduce the unsightly, slap-dash design, but sadly, the attempt was too little too late. Like many of the other vehicles in this list, the Caterham CT05 was not immune to chronic defects and mechanical failures, particularly with the suspension. During a race in Sochi, problems flared up with the suspension, and because there was no replacement part, the team instead wrapped it in carbon as a temporary band-aid, leaving then-driver Kobayashi deeply uneasy. The Caterham Group soon disbanded at the end of the 2014 season due to a lack of finances, although it did make an appearance at the season finale due to an atypical crowdfunding attempt.World reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29
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(BPT) - Every year, roughly 20-30% of older Americans head to warmer climates for the colder winter months. Snowbirds are often retirees on fixed incomes, though flexible work environments now provide more opportunities for anyone to spend several months escaping the chill. Whether on a fixed income or an empty nester with disposable income, consumers are interested in saving money where they can. With this in mind, snowbirds can look to their AARP membership to take advantage of relevant discounts and offerings as they fluff their feathers and get ready for takeoff. From savory breakfast options while driving to your seasonal destination, to home and auto protection, and even resources to support mental and physical health, AARP member benefits offer deals and savings that will help snowbirds take flight this winter. "Spending winters in warmer places has so many benefits that come with being able to be outside more often. Warmth and sunlight not only increase serotonin levels , which can result in more positive moods and a calm, focused mental outlook, but they also stimulate vitamin D production and may even boost immunity ," said Elvira Christiansen, Director of Retail and Loyalty for AARP Services. "An AARP membership makes it even better by offering savings as you plan your trip, as well as at many dining, entertainment and retail locations you will come across in your winter getaway destination, helping you to enjoy it to the fullest." 1. Order Up Road trips are often the preferred way to travel to a winter home for the flexibility of having a car once there. Whether your drive will have you behind the wheel for hours or days, you'll want to make sure you have your meals planned out. Fill up with a tasty breakfast or lunch with a stop at Denny's, which is easy to spot from most major highways. AARP members can save when heading to Denny's . With over 1,500 locations nationwide, members save 15% on everything from diner classics to breakfast items every day; maximum discount not to exceed $10. Restrictions apply. 2. Primary Care from Almost Anywhere Feeling under the weather can put a damper on your winter travels, so it's a good idea to make sure you can access quality healthcare even when you're at your winter destination. If you are on Medicare, you can check whether there is an Oak Street Health primary care clinic near you. Oak Street Health , the only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health clinic. 3. Wellness Checklist Once you check off primary care needs for your winter destination, don't overlook other priorities like maintaining your prescriptions and protecting your vision. Start by making sure your prescriptions are up to date before you head out of town. If you do need a refill while you're away, you have access to a free prescription discount card from AARP ® Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx ® that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. You do not need to be an AARP member to take advantage of these benefits, though AARP members receive additional perks, including deeper discounts on medications, home delivery, coverage for your dependents and more. If you're having trouble with your vision, want to update your sunglass prescription, or simply want to maintain your annual visits to an optometrist or ophthalmologist while away, AARP members have access to information on vision insurance options that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. 4. Home (Safety) Away from Home One thing that should always be a priority is keeping your home safe while you're away for the winter. While Neighborhood Watch is always helpful, long periods away from a home require additional security systems. With an AARP membership, homeowners can secure their homes for less. Members save 5% on monthly home security monitoring with ADT Home Security , which covers smart home security systems including intrusion monitoring, connected smoke and CO detection, and smart automation for video doorbells, security cameras and smart locks. 5. Pack Auto Coverage in Your Luggage Driving south for the winter? Utilize AARP member benefits to save on auto care so you can road trip worry free. AARP members save up to 20% on annual membership fees for Allstate Roadside Assistance plans, which provides access to assistance for towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout assistance, fuel delivery and more. Allstate Roadside plan benefits can be used 24/7 in any car you drive, including rented and borrowed ones. And, if you want to bring any personal items with you but don't have room to squeeze them in your car, Budget Truck Rental has a variety of trucks for you to choose from. AARP members can save 20% on local or one-way truck rentals on Sunday through Thursday and 10% on Friday and Saturday, plus receive a $10-per-day Physical Damage Waiver. Regardless of how you're traveling or spending your winter months, AARP member benefits can help you maximize your budget while you prioritize the things that matter. To learn more about the benefits and discounts for AARP members to help you prepare for your relaunch, please visit aarp.org/save . AARP member benefits are provided by third parties. AARP receives a royalty fee for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.
Herbert tosses 3 TD passes and Chargers secure a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of PatriotsHuskers become bowl-eligible with dominant 44-25 win over WisconsinIndia News | Akhilesh Yadav Extends Heartfelt Congratulations to Priyanka Gandhi for Emphatic Win in Wayanad
Aecon Group ( OTCMKTS:AEGXF – Get Free Report ) and Bird Construction ( OTCMKTS:BIRDF – Get Free Report ) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, valuation, risk and earnings. Profitability This table compares Aecon Group and Bird Construction’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Aecon Group and Bird Construction, as reported by MarketBeat. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Aecon Group and Bird Construction”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Bird Construction is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aecon Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership 45.8% of Aecon Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of Bird Construction shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Dividends Aecon Group pays an annual dividend of $0.35 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. Bird Construction pays an annual dividend of $0.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. Aecon Group pays out 95.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Bird Construction pays out 111.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Summary Bird Construction beats Aecon Group on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Aecon Group ( Get Free Report ) Aecon Group Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provide construction and infrastructure development services to private and public sector clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Construction and Concessions. The Construction segment focuses on civil infrastructure, urban transportation solutions, nuclear power infrastructure, utility infrastructure, and conventional industrial infrastructure market sectors. The Concessions segment engages in the development, building, financing, and operation of construction projects by way of public-private partnership contract structures. This segment also provides development of domestic international public-private partnership; private finance solution; developing strategic partnerships; leading and/or participating in development teams; and operations and maintenance of infrastructure assets services. The company was formerly known as Prefac Concrete Co. Ltd. and changed its name to Aecon Group Inc. in June 2001. Aecon Group Inc. was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. About Bird Construction ( Get Free Report ) Bird Construction Inc. provides construction services in Canada. The company primarily focuses on projects in the industrial, and institutional, and infrastructure markets. It constructs large, complex industrial buildings, including manufacturing, processing, distribution, and warehouse facilities; and provides electrical and instrumentation, high voltage testing and commissioning services, as well as power line construction, structural, mechanical, and piping, including off-site metal and modular fabrication. It also engages in the civil construction operations, such as site preparation and earthworks, underground piping, utilities and foundation, drilling, blasting, and other concrete services, as well as contract mining, mine support, and greenfield and brownfield hydroelectric facilities; steel modular construction; and civil infrastructure operations comprising road, bridge, rail, and underground utilities installation. In addition, it constructs and retrofits institutional facilities, include healthcare facilities, post-secondary education facilities, K-12 schools, public safety and defence facilities, recreation facilities, transportation, courthouses, government buildings, and long term care and senior housing facilities; offers industrial maintenance, repair, and operations services; and constructs new construction and retrofit of warehousing, laboratories, manufacturing and processing facilities, data centers, office buildings, retail spaces, film studio infrastructure, hotels, and mixed-use mid- to high-rise residential buildings. Further, it offers electrical and related system services, such as electrical and mechanical infrastructure design and installation, data communications, telecommunications, security, and lifecycle services. It serves oil and gas, chemicals, liquefied natural gas, natural resources, nuclear, power, renewable energy, and water and wastewater sectors. The company was founded in 1920 and is based in Mississauga, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Aecon Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aecon Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein leaves game with left leg injury against LouisvilleRIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 26, 2024-- Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) plans to report its Fourth quarter 2024 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. The earnings release will be available through Discover's Investor Relations website at https://investorrelations.discover.com . A conference call to discuss the firm's results and related matters will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Central Time and will be limited to prepared remarks. The live audio webcast will be accessible to the general public through Discover’s Investor Relations website at https://investorrelations.discover.com . An audio replay will be available on the website following the call. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover® card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network® comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchants and cash access locations; PULSE®, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International®, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241226401237/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Erin Stieber Investor Relations 224-405-4555 investorrelations@discover.comMedia Contact: Matthew Towson Public Relations 224-405-5649 matthewtowson@discover.com KEYWORD: ILLINOIS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PAYMENTS OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY FINANCE FINTECH BANKING SOURCE: Discover Financial Services Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/26/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/26/2024 04:16 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241226401237/en