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Brookline Capital Management started coverage on shares of Palisade Bio ( NASDAQ:PALI – Free Report ) in a report issued on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $38.00 target price on the stock. Separately, Maxim Group decreased their price target on shares of Palisade Bio from $22.50 to $8.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Get Our Latest Report on PALI Palisade Bio Price Performance Palisade Bio ( NASDAQ:PALI – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported ($2.32) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($3.35) by $1.03. As a group, analysts expect that Palisade Bio will post -13.11 EPS for the current year. About Palisade Bio ( Get Free Report ) Palisade Bio, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on focuses on developing therapeutics that protect the integrity of the intestinal barrier in the United States. The company's lead therapeutic candidate is PALI-2108, a prodrug PDE4 inhibitor, currently under pre-clinical development as a therapeutic for patients living with inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD), as well as develops PALI-1908, an oral, selective PDE4 inhibitor prodrug that is locally bioactivated in the terminal ileum of CD patients, currently in the research stage. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Palisade Bio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Palisade Bio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
CHRISTMAS and New Year are some of the busiest times around for people, with travelling often making up a big part of that schedule. That rule also commonly applies to football, with Arsenal being no different in terms of having a busy schedule. But Arsenal have found some nice luck in their Christmas schedule with a surprisingly low amount of travelling on the itinerary for them over their next 13 games. In fact, they will travel outside of London just ONCE before January 22, with three away games all coming in the capital. Their clash with Brighton on January 4 2025 will be the only Premier League game that is not a London derby away from home. Arsenal remarkably play nine games at the Emirates Stadium during the run, starting with Manchester United on Wednesday and ending with Dinamo Zagreb on January 22. The run will see them rack up just under 250 miles of travel on the road. Brighton alone will account for 177.4 miles of this overall figure. Meanwhile, Fulham , Crystal Palace and Brentford will count for 21.2, 26, and 24 miles respectively. Mikel Arteta and co might have feared travel fatigue from an unfavourable FA Cup third-round tie in tonight's draw . BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S However, they were spared any with new travel arrangements in tonight's FA Cup third-round draw as they were drawn at the Emirates against Manchester United . It means they will face Crystal Palace and Man Utd twice during the run. After their 5-2 win over West Ham on Saturday, which in itself was a trip of 11.8 miles, Arsenal are nine points off of league leaders Liverpool. The favourable fixture list of not travelling a lot could help them close that gap. In the same period, Arne Slot 's side travel to Newcastle, Girona, Southampton, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Brentford - none of which are exactly around the corner. Regardless, Arsenal will be aiming to take advantage and chase down the leaders by the end of the season, though a nine-point lead at this stage of the season has never been lost before in Prem history. WEST HAM and Arsenal served up one of the finest London derbies in recent memory on Saturday night, with SEVEN goals in the first half alone. The Gunners sailed into a 4-0 lead in the opening 35 minutes before the Hammers reduced the deficit with two quickfire goals, including a sublime Emerson free-kick. Bukayo Saka's penalty on the stroke of half-time made it 5-2, becoming only the fourth Premier League match in history to see seven goals before the break. A relatively lacklustre second half followed, with Mikel Arteta ringing the changes, particularly with Wednesday night's showdown with Man Utd at the Emirates in the back of his mind. The result pulled the Gunners up to second in the Premier League table, six points behind Liverpool ahead of Sunday's huge showdown between the leaders and a struggling Man City. Read how SunSport's Charlie Pittock rated the Gunners stars.Dec. 5—Jeff Costello, who has served as a Mechanicsburg football assistant coach in various roles for 31 years, is expected to be hired as the head coach at Northern, pending approval at the district's next school board meeting scheduled for Dec. 17. PennLive's Eric Epler reported that Costello was Northern's choice to succeed Bill Miller, who was not retained after the 2024 season, his ninth year at the helm. The Polar Bears went 4-6 this fall. Costello was Mechanicsburg's assistant head coach under Dave Heckard in 2024. The Wildcats finished the season with an 11-1 record and won their first district playoff game since 2008. "Beyond his success on the field, Coach Costello is deeply committed to fostering a culture of champions, focused on responsibility, pride and personal growth," Northern athletic director Angie Gaido said in a press release Thursday. "He believes in the life lessons that football offers and always puts the players, the program and the school first." (c)2024 The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) Visit The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) at www.cumberlink.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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In light of the present escalation in Syria's civil conflict, the European Court urged the parties to pursue a political settlement while criticising Russia's involvement. Source: Anouar El Anouni, EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in a statement on 2 December, as reported by European Pravda Details: The EU said it was "monitoring closely the latest developments in Syria." Quote: "We urge all sides to de-escalate and to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as unhindered humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law," the statement reads. The EU spokesman also condemned Russia's air strikes on densely populated areas and its persistent support for the Assad regime's repressive practices. "The latest escalation shows once again the need for a Syrian-owned political solution to the conflict in line with UNSCR 2254," said El Anouni. Fighting in Syria, which has been plagued by civil war since 2011, has flared up with extraordinary vigour for the first time in several years. Background: Support UP or become our patron !
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Stock analysts at Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of UGI ( NYSE:UGI – Get Free Report ) in a research note issued on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm set a “buy” rating and a $28.00 price target on the utilities provider’s stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s price target points to a potential downside of 1.75% from the company’s current price. Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on UGI. StockNews.com cut UGI from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of UGI from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded UGI from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $27.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UGI presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $28.33. View Our Latest Report on UGI UGI Stock Up 15.0 % Institutional Investors Weigh In On UGI Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Easterly Investment Partners LLC increased its position in shares of UGI by 0.8% during the third quarter. Easterly Investment Partners LLC now owns 59,238 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,482,000 after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of UGI by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 110,875 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,774,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of UGI by 24.2% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,627 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in shares of UGI by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 7,885 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $197,000 after purchasing an additional 531 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Glenmede Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in UGI by 2.5% in the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 22,034 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $551,000 after buying an additional 541 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.34% of the company’s stock. About UGI ( Get Free Report ) UGI Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, distributes, stores, transports, and markets energy products and related services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: AmeriGas Propane, UGI International, Midstream & Marketing, and UGI Utilities. It distributes propane to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial/industrial, motor fuel, agricultural, and wholesale customers through 1,400 propane distribution locations. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than UGI How to Invest in the Best Canadian Stocks Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot Quiet Period Expirations Explained MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 How to Effectively Use the MarketBeat Ratings Screener 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Receive News & Ratings for UGI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UGI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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The recently released Royal Commission of Inquiry about New Zealand’s COVID response highlights the harmful impact of misinformation and disinformation on public health. While the report offers no solutions, it notes that disinformation campaigns fuelled division and loss of trust in government. It’s an age-old problem that has proved extremely difficult to counter. Indeed, the practice of disinformation and propaganda has , with some of the earliest recorded use of these techniques dating back to antiquity. The Greeks were among the first to study and formalise the art of rhetoric, a cornerstone of effective propaganda. In 2010, colleagues and I published that analysed vaccine narratives for the use of logical fallacies defined by Aristotle. We highlighted many common techniques of manipulation. It was a fun exercise in a more innocent time. Understanding and analysing these manipulative tactics has evolved alongside their use in both political and military strategies. So have the tactics of mitigating the impact of such strategies. Early approaches to counteract these effects typically involved promoting transparency, education and critical thinking. This still stands today, but the time for merely talking about the problem has passed. What’s required now is decisive action and robust policy to address misinformation and disinformation as we navigate the ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic. How to recognise misinformation and disinformation Misinformation refers to inaccurate information spread without harmful intent, often due to a misunderstanding or mistake. Disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately deceptive and crafted to manipulate public sentiment or promote discord. Research has meticulously mapped the contours of . Experts highlighted that the before the pandemic. Identifying misinformation and disinformation involves a critical evaluation of content and its source. A first question is the source credibility. Is the information from a recognised authority or reputable news source? The next bit, logical consistency, is harder to detect. Does the information contain contradictions or logically impossible claims? Many false narratives are internally inconsistent or implausible. Often there will also be at least some level of emotional manipulation. Disinformation frequently exploits emotions such as fear or anger to enhance engagement and sharing. The subtle art of rhetoric Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument. For example, the fallacy attacks the person making an argument rather than the argument itself. This is a common tactic to undermine credible sources. Cherry picking is the practice of selecting data that support a particular argument while ignoring data that contradict it. This is harder to spot if you are unfamiliar with the topic. Conspiracy theories are another major tool in the propaganda kit. During the pandemic, numerous conspiracy theories have misrepresented scientific evidence and the intentions of health authorities and experts. The claim of cover-ups is often the final go-to when there is no other convincing argument. Studies have repeatedly shown how and how this influences public perceptions and behaviours . From myths about vaccine ingredients causing harm to conspiracy theories about global surveillance, these untruths have a real impact. Surveys have repeatedly highlighted a worrying trend: a segment of the public, including some health professionals, , fuelled by unmitigated misinformation. How to counter disinformation The consequences of disinformation campaigns are not abstract or random. It is crucial to recognise that such campaigns are meticulously designed and executed with specific goals in mind. One of the most insidious is the erosion of social cohesion. This is achieved by injecting divisive and false narratives into public discourse. They exploit socio-political fissures, amplifying scepticism and opposition to public health measures such as vaccination. These campaigns leverage sophisticated strategies and technologies to manipulate public perception. They exploit societal divisions and foster distrust in authoritative sources, particularly in science and medicine. Once consensus on basic facts is eroded, effective action becomes difficult. Significant research efforts have aimed to understand how best to counter misinformation and sophisticated disinformation campaigns. These emphasise the importance of clear, consistent and credible communication from trusted sources. Public health campaigns that engage directly with community leaders and employ tailored messaging have shown promise in . “ ”, which involves educating people on how to spot misinformation before they encounter it, is gaining traction. Authorities and public health leaders must prioritise transparency to rebuild and maintain public trust. Being open about the uncertainties and evolving nature of science can help mitigate the impact of disinformation that exploits gaps in public knowledge. Increasing media literacy is also important. By understanding the common tactics used in disinformation campaigns, people can become less susceptible to their influences. Collaboration between governments, international organisations and tech companies is essential. These stakeholders must work together to detect and limit the spread of harmful content and promote accurate information appropriate to the audience (right message, right messenger, right platform). Time to act Despite these insights, a coordinated, large-scale and multi-pronged strategy to combat misinformation remains elusive. Governments and health organisations often react to misinformation rather than being proactive, or worse, leave a vacuum. The challenge of misinformation is not insurmountable, but it requires more than ad-hoc responses. We need a strategic, well-resourced commitment from the highest levels of government and health leadership. It takes courage and the ability to walk a tightrope between freedom of speech and protecting public health. Both are human rights. As we continue to navigate the repercussions of the COVID pandemic, let us prioritise the integrity of our public health communications and bring all the facets we need to do this together. This includes media, tech companies, academics and community leaders. Only through a united front can we hope to restore and maintain the public trust essential for overcoming this crisis and future public health challenges. To remove this article -
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MOVE over mince pies and pass on the Christmas pud – this year it is all about ending your meal with showstopper Yuletide desserts. With most supermarkets offering ready-made and pre-frozen options, they are a great way to save yourself a bit of time and money. Laura Stott tastes and rates a selection of sweet treats in stores. A FESTIVE-themed sponge made with dates, caramel and an oozing, thick toffee sauce that seeps out when you spoon into it. This decadent dessert is extremely sweet and designed to serve two people. There’s plenty to go around and it heats up quickly in the microwave, or you can steam cook it more slowly the old-fashioned way. A nice alternative to the traditional Crimbo pudding, especially if you don’t have lots of diners over. It is quite pricey for the amount you get, though, and does not offer much wow factor. BRONZED icing and golden dusting certainly looks festive – and it would make a lovely alternative pudding when you don’t have many mouths to feed. Delicious choux pastry filled with whipping cream and topped with salted caramel sauce, it is very rich so you only need one or two pastries. No one would blame you if you demolish the whole stack, though. Extremely tasty and well-priced, especially for a more artisan-style patisserie product. Ideal for rounding off a romantic Yuletide dinner for two. Yummy. TRIES hard to bring the wow factor to your Christmas table but falls short of being a complete showstopper. A sleigh-shaped mousse is a nice idea but unfortunately it doesn’t really resemble Santa’s wheels as much as you’d hope. Once it is turned out on to the plate it is more like a big brown blob. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, a slice of this isn’t going to be your top pick and it’s all a bit one flavour. A fun idea, especially for families, and a great alternative to cake. But ultimately a little bit boring to look at and eat. IT looked gorgeous on the table with its jewelled raspberry colours, splashes of vibrant passion fruit and appetising nibs of pistachio nuts. The tasty meringue was light, crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle then topped with cream, fruit and berries. Not overly filling if you don’t want to completely overindulge. You could add extra berries on top and some holly, but it’s a nice centrepiece served straight out of the box. Effortless, and there is plenty to go around. SHIMMERY and sparkling, looks fab on the table and tastes rather yummy as well. Made with layers of choux pastry, chocolate fudge sauce and praline cream, it’s extremely indulgent but manages to stay just the right side of being overtly sickly. It’s then topped with chocolate ganache, more milk chocolate shavings and hazelnut pieces. Buy frozen and remove from the freezer 90 minutes before you want to scoff. Perfect for social media snaps and guaranteed to get a great reception. A LITTLE bit different and excellent value for a dessert that will feed four people. A buttery base with Sicilian lemon curd, lemon oil and meringue pieces, the citrus aroma of this yellow sponge is fresh, although a bit artificial. Heat it up in the microwave or on the hob and serve on a platter. A December dessert for any evening you want something festive but inexpensive. However, the promised snowflake effect on the top, shown on the box, wasn’t replicated on the pud I turned out, which was disappointing. A FAFF to prepare but worth the effort if you want to bring a bountiful centrepiece out at the end of your Christmas meal. Once you have prised it from packaging, pop the pud on the wire rack on the grill pan. Warm for two minutes to achieve colour on the top, then remove the outer tray – which was fiddlier than it sounds. Defrost for 25 minutes then it’s ready to serve. Very sweet but moreish, and it does look great on the table. A useful, affordable and tasty pud to have in the freezer. IF you enjoy Black Forest-style cherry flavours, then you’ll love this seasonal showstopper. It hits that sweet-sour spot nicely with a boozy kick too. It is made of crispy and chewy meringue topped with sloe gin and cherry cream, adorned with blackberries, sour cherries, sloe gin and cherry sauce, plus dark chocolate shavings. Fresh, tasty and a nice alternative to a heavy Christmas steamed pudding. Hassle-free too. Just get it out of the freezer a couple of hours before you want to serve.
South Korean markets have had a dismal 2024, with the so called "Korea discount" in its stock markets widening compared to other global peers. Analysts that spoke to CNBC say that the efforts to oust Yoon might distract from and delay efforts for capital market reform, entrenching the "Korea discount" further. South Korean markets have had a dismal 2024, with the so-called "Korea discount" in its stock markets widening compared to other global peers. The recent political upheaval is expected to entrench this phenomenon. > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are The country's benchmark stock index, Kospi, has lost over 7% this year and the underperformance of the South Korean market signals its "Corporate Value-Up" program, announced in February this year , has failed to address the " Korea discount. " The "Korea discount" refers to South Korean securities trading at lower valuations relative to regional peers due to investors' concerns over issues such as corporate governance at large family-owned conglomerates that have an outsized influence over the country's economy. The political turmoil in the country has further worsened investors' sentiment, with the Kospi underperforming the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index by 2.3 percentage points since Dec. 3 when President Yoon Seok Yeol imposed and then revoked martial law within hours. The attempt at martial law has sent the risk premium for Korean assets higher, thereby dealing a setback to the "Value-Up Program," Vishnu Varathan, managing director and head of macro research for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Securities said in a Dec. 10 note. South Korea under Yoon had strived to boost the country's stock markets and combat the "Korea discount" via a Japan-style program that sought to improve corporate governance and increase investor engagement, among other things. Money Report European Central Bank set to deliver final rate cut of the year: Live updates European markets set for mixed open ahead of expected ECB rate cut According to data from the Korea Exchange , the Kospi has a price-to-book ratio of 0.86, while its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 13.65 as of Dec. 12. Both the metrics, which indicate how much the investors value the index, have declined from a year earlier . For comparison, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock benchmark has a price-to-book ratio of 1.44 while its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 15.90 as of Dec. 11. While Japan stocks surged as it implemented measures to lift its markets , South Korea has been struggling. For instance the "Korea-Value Up Index," launched in September, which consists of 100 listed "best practice" companies that comply with the "Value-Up" program, has price-to-book ratio of 0.99 and a price-to-earnings ratio of just 10.29. "The distractions of ousting Yoon amid fragile government and fragmented politics is likely to dilute and delay policy efforts to boost equity valuations," Varathan said, adding that power balance in South Korea could shift in favor of large and influential conglomerates, which could entrench the "Korea discount" even more. South Korea has several large family-owned global conglomerates, known as "chaebols," usually controlled by the founder's family. These may consist of a group of companies or several groups of companies. Notable chaebols include market heavyweights such as Samsung Electronics, LG, SK and Hyundai. While they are a huge contributor to the country's GDP, the complex shareholding structure of chaebols mean that investors hold little sway over the company's strategic direction. The four conglomerates mentioned above make up about 40% of South Korea's GDP, according to South Korean media. Market reforms could receive a setback due to the political turmoil, said Lorraine Tan, director of equity research for Asia at Morningstar, while adding that the reforms will not be "derailed." "I think the longer the leadership change takes, the more likely investors will be sidelined. President Yoon is unpopular and a peaceful transition away from his leadership would help," she pointed out. The embattled Yoon has survived an impeachment vote over the weekend after members of his ruling People's Power Party walked out of the country's parliament, but opposition parties have vowed to continue efforts to impeach him. Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation said that the "Korea discount" is still likely to persist into 2025 due to weak economic conditions, slower exports, and a weak Korean won. "Investor confidence may return in the medium-term, but a swift resolution of the domestic uncertainty looks unlikely at this stage." Also on CNBC India's ReNew Energy offered to be taken private in $2.82 billion deal BNP Paribas: Indian market showing "high level of resilience" India's economy might not grow by 7-8%, but there still are attractive sectorsThe military's tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his gravity-defying sweep across the globe will carry on this Christmas Eve, even if the U.S. government shuts down , officials said Friday. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online . Recommended Videos “We fully expect for Santa to take flight on Dec. 24 and NORAD will track him," the U.S.-Canadian agency said in a statement. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year's Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” The endeavor is supported by local and corporate sponsors, who also help shield the tradition from Washington dysfunction. Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, told The Associated Press that there are "screams and giggles and laughter” when families call in, usually on speakerphone. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, "Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early." NORAD's annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here's how it began and why the phones keep ringing. The origin story is Hollywood-esque It started with a child's accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy's mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80-foot (18-by-24-meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from "those who do not believe in Christmas.” Is the origin story humbug? Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup's story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy's call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child's call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. "When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,'" Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. "People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” A rare addition to Santa's story NORAD's tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa's story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That's when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.
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