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jili369 casino login register philippines MULGRAVE — With expanded services and a renewed commitment to community good works in the new year, Eastern Counties Regional Library (ECRL) is re-writing the rulebook on building relationships with the municipalities it serves, says its chief executive officer. “I think everybody is interested in doing better and more for the community,” Laura Emery told The Journal in a recent year-end interview. “I think the province has a real understanding of the reach of public libraries. Strengthening relations with [our] municipal partners [ensures] that we [bring] the best that we can to the community.” According to ECRL’s 2023-24 annual report, released last month, the signs are promising. In one year, the number of new users at its nine branches in Cape Breton and northeastern Nova Scotia communities – including Guysborough, Canso and Sherbrooke – has jumped by 871, which included 57 at the Cyril Ward Memorial Public Library in Guysborough town, 41 at the Canso Public Library and 89 at the Sherbrooke Public Library. As well, the report shows, circulation (books and other reading materials) was 16 per cent higher in all locations – to 95,000 units, from 80,000, in 2022-23. That included a 20 per cent increase in Guysborough alone – to 11,131 from 9,207. Meanwhile, branch hours increased to 14,227, from 13,041, system wide. Even more notable was the growth in the number of public library programs – to 328 from 164 – and their growing attendance – to 2,000 from just more than 1,000 between 2022-23 and 2023-24. Wrote ECRL board chair Clair Rankin in the annual report: “Increased in-person programming [provided] more opportunities for community members to engage and learn ... demonstrating the value of flexible learning options. Increasing partnerships and better supporting local library staff helped to make these changes happen. Clearly, working with the community and our municipal partners is the way foreword.” This hasn’t always been easy. The oldest and one of the largest regional library systems, by geographic area, in Nova Scotia – catering to more than 32,000 residents the counties of Guysborough, Inverness, and Richmond, as well as the Town of Port Hawkesbury – ECRL receives two-thirds of its roughly $1-million annual budget from the provincial government. It gets the rest from four municipal councils, with which it’s in regular contact but, historically, not always in agreement. One well-publicized dispute with the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s council over funding, for example, actually went to provincial mediation in 2022. The issue was resolved in April of this year when both parties signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration and communications between them. “To create such a specific agreement with one of our partners and really formalize ways that we can always be working together, always be communicating and bringing the best to the community, is historic,” Emery told local media at the announcement in Mulgrave at the time. Today, she’s even more adamant about making things work collaboratively. “Positive actions organically lead to a more positive and encouraging environment,” she told The Journal. “I think we’re certainly heading in a good direction.” Much of that may have to do with the provincial government’s growing realization that at a time of rising costs and housing shortages, rural libraries in general and ECRL, in particular, have important roles to play in shoring up the social and even economic well being of their communities. Additional provincial funding – not related to core programming – is helping ECRL position itself as a community hub. Over the past year, Rankin noted in the annual report, “Eastern Counties Regional Library expanded its role in supporting community well-being. Special funding from the province [has] allow[ed] ECRL to give away menstrual products, diapers and incontinence pads to help with the increasing cost of living. We’ve been distributing COVID-19 test kits for a few years, so these new offerings easily fit into our library locations. Items are on display, and people can drop by and pick up what they or their family and friends need.” The library has also established seed banks at its branches and recently received a $42,000 contribution from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage to conduct strategic planning and community engagement on potential, new initiatives. “It is a tremendous example of how public libraries can do so much more to benefit the community if they have the funding,” Rankin concluded in his message. “My hope is this trend of special project funding will continue.” Certainly, ECRL’s efforts have not gone unnoticed among some of its municipal partners. At the Nov. 20 Municipality of the District of Guysborough regular council meeting, Councillor Mary Desmond (district #2) praised the “vibrancy” and “informative” content of this year’s annual report. Warden Paul Long added: “There seems to be a greater sense of cooperation and collegiality between the library and municipalities.” Said Emery: “I am very happy to hear that. I think provincial funding for community initiatives ... has demonstrated the additional value that a library can bring to a community. And, that’s probably helping with the positive perception of the Eastern Counties Regional Library. Things are starting to turn around and, you know ... that’s great.”The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Syria’s prime minister said that most cabinet ministers were back at work on Monday after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad. However, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali for the first time. Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonised by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Mr Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.First electrically pumped, continuous-wave semiconductor laser advances silicon photonics integration

THE shock departure of heart-throb dancer Giovanni Pernice left Strictly Come Dancing with a vacancy for a “smouldering womanising hunk” in urgent need of filling. But luckily, Beeb producers catering to women of a certain age did not have to travel to Italy to find a replacement — they just had a short drive down the A13 to Essex . Pete Wicks , the heavily-tattooed former bad boy of reality show The Only Way Is Essex , has been billed “the new Giovanni” by Strictly bosses — and it is not because of his dance moves. Indeed, Gio 2.0 Pete, who at 36 is just two years older than his counterpart, has become a huge hit with middle-aged female viewers. He is the new “bit of rough” they can gawp at on a Saturday night — and he has certainly been up for the task. From gyrating in tight pink PVC trousers to thrusting his schlong in a George Of The Jungle leopard-print outfit and choosing risqué songs, like Right Said Fred’s I’m Too Sexy, Pete has been hamming it up. Read more on Pete Wicks A show insider said: “Strictly have turned Pete into the new Giovanni , there’s no doubt about that. It’s been quite deliberate. “Women are swooning over him and it’s keeping him in the competition, week after week. “It wouldn’t be wrong to say many viewers had no idea who Pete was before this series. They certainly do now. “With their matching brooding looks, tanned, rugged features , chiselled physiques and muscles on display, Pete has been a like-for-like swap for Gio. Most read in News TV “He has even amassed an entirely new fanbase. Plus there are no dark tales of bad behaviour or bullying .” Strictly bosses, who consist of mostly women, have been clever in moulding Pete into Giovanni and they share many parallels — even when it comes to their romances. Pete currently has an on-off relationship with Irish Love Island beauty Maura Higgins , a contestant on the new series of I’m A Celebrity , who also happens to be Gio’s ex after the pair dated in 2021. He also had a relationship with former Towie co-star Jess Wright, who Giovanni dated in 2018. Plus, Pete is growing increasingly close to his current dance partner Jowita Przystal , 30, who was linked to Gio last year. Of course, when Giovanni stepped down earlier this year — amid the bullying investigation into his treatment of former dance partner and actress Amanda Abbington , 50 — the biggest outcries came from his army of middle-aged female fans. Amanda became the target of trolls and even received death threats. As with Giovanni in previous series, Pete’s outfits have certainly been the most eye-catching out of all the male stars’. Namely, the barely-there leopard-print outfit for his samba routine in Movie Week, which made a lasting impression on judge Craig Revel Horwood , and last weekend’s Cha Cha costume, featuring the tightest (hot pink) PVC trousers the dance series has ever seen. He even appealed to acid-tongued Craig with a fake tattoo of the judge’s face on his body and proudly flashing his abs to the cameras. Those who know Pete well will appreciate he has stepped out of his comfort zone to embrace his risqué fashion choices, which has pleased show bosses. The insider added: “Pete made it clear he’s up for anything. He would never have dreamed of wearing outfits such as these previously “He knows he’s not the best dancer, but is well aware voters appreciate a trier. “Bosses have deliberately assigned Pete as this year’s hunk in Giovanni’s absence and want to dress him as sexy as possible. “He would never have dreamed of wearing outfits such as these previously, but Pete’s just got on with it — no questions asked. “Albeit he does joke he’s been made to look outrageous at times, but that’s just part of his ‘moody’ character. “He knows what he’s doing.” Pete’s signing to Strictly came as a surprise to those in the industry. He has only ever been associated with reality shows, which is usually a Strictly no-no, and has no real previous connection to the BBC . But his likeness to the controversial Italian and willingness to step out of his comfort zone secured his place on the show. Newfound love And his progression to the latter stages of the competition should not come as a surprise to those who follow Pete outside of Strictly. His association with I’m A Celebrity 2023 winner Sam Thompson , who he met on E4 show Celebs Go Dating , has been a career booster of epic proportions. The best friends’ Staying Relevant podcast is so popular that they sold out a UK tour, and their TikTok videos bag millions of viewers. And it is their vocal young fanbase, who voted in their droves to secure Sam’s jungle win, coupled with Pete’s newfound love from middle-aged Strictly fans, which has kept him away from the dreaded dance-off. Pete’s chemistry with his dance partner Jowita is also a contributing factor to their success. The pair have sparked romance rumours, with one source saying: “Pete loves Jowita, he has the utmost respect for her.” Whether it is enough to secure him a spot in the final remains to be seen, but he has certainly made his mark on the hearts of millions. BLIND comedian Chris McCausland has revealed he calls pro partner Dianne Buswell “Nicole Kidman”. READ MORE SUN STORIES The 47-year-old said that he and Australian dancer Dianne, 35, are always swamped by fans when they are seen in public, leading him to compare the experience to socialising with another famous Aussie red-head – Hollywood actress Nicole, 57. Speaking on the Graham Norton Show about popping out with Dianne for lunch, he said: “It has got to the point that, for two months, I have been saying, ‘Come on Nicole, let’s go get some spaghetti bolognese’.” MONTELL Douglas has joked that pro partner Johannes Radebe’s bum is too big for PVC trousers like the ones worn by Pete Wicks. The 38-year-old, aka Fire on BBC’s Gladiators, said she would love to see him in skin-tight bottoms like the pink ones fans believe helped save Pete on last week’s show. It came after Montell and Johannes, 37, inset, ended up in the dance-off while Pete and Jowita Przystal sailed through as fans swooned over his revealing strides. Asked if she and Johannes need a pair of pink pants to win extra votes, Montell said: “They’re not going to fit Johannes’s behind. But we all want to see it though, right? “We would pay to see that! I would, I would just stand there and watch.” Meanwhile, the former Team GB athlete said she has dropped two dress sizes training for up to ten hours a day. She added: “I’m shredded and I’m 38 years old. I haven’t looked like this since I was 20, before my first Olympic Games. “I’ve dropped two dress sizes. I’ve lost a stone – it’s wild. It’s changed my whole physique. “Even the Gladiators have mentioned it and said, ‘Oh, my gosh, you look insane’. “Legend was like, ‘Mate, you look shredded’. It’s a different body type. But it’s been nice because I still feel really strong. “Usually, if you would lose that muscle tone and mass as a Gladiator, you would feel it. But I still feel like I could take someone on right now. “I will be going back to the gym after Strictly.”In her new memoir, Angela Merkel writes about the many dilemmas she had to navigate as Chancellor of Germany. Dilemmas her male colleagues never had to sweat. Like, can you wear a pantsuit instead of a skirt in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament? She decided the answer was, yes. Merkel is the only woman ever to rise to the most powerful political post in Germany. She served as chancellor from 2005 to 2021. Angela Merkel has gone toe-to-toe with world leaders like Vladimir Putin, led Germany through times of turmoil and become a role model for other women aspiring to positions of leadership. But her legacy is complex. She gets into all of this in her new memoir, "Freedom." For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for C onsider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at considerthis@npr.org . This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Esme Nicholson, with audio engineering by Andie Huether.It was edited by Courtney Dorning.Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.Manmohan Singh: technocrat who became India's accidental PM

Remembering Jimmy Carter: The president who set the standard for national-disaster responseDelay in deciding mercy plea violates convict's rights: Supreme Court

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The PGA Tour is making the most sweeping changes to its eligibility in more than 40 years by eliminating 25 tour cards, along with shrinking the size of its fields. The all-exempt tour had been in place since 1983, meaning the top 125 players from the official money list — now the FedEx Cup standings — kept a full PGA Tour card the following season. That changes in 2026 after the PGA Tour policy board approved a new priority list on Monday. Only the top 100 players will earn full tour cards for the following year. The top 30 from the developmental Korn Ferry Tour used to advance to the PGA Tour. That number now goes to 20. Five players from qualifying school will get cards — it previously was the top five and ties. The tour also is doing away with 156-man fields except for two tournaments held on multiple courses. Most tournaments will have 120 players before Daylight Saving Time, then 132 players in spring and a maximum of 144 players in the summer months. Here’s a look at what’s behind the changes and what it means: Why is there a need to reduce the number of full PGA Tour cards? The all-exempt tour led to a bloated membership in which nearly 200 players were on the membership rolls through one exemption or another, and those toward the bottom of the priority list could not get into all the tournaments they wanted to play. Those who graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour, for example, could only get in three or four tournaments over the first few months of the season, giving them a disadvantage. The PGA Tour believes that limited full status to the top 100 instead of the top 125 will give everyone who earns a card a fair chance at getting into regular tournaments. How does the PGA Tour priority list work? Priority to get into tournaments starts with winners of the majors and The Players Championship over the last five years; winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial and Genesis Invitational the last three years; tournament winners the last two years and career money leaders. Next are the top 125; players who have been given a medical extension; and then the 45 players who earned cards from the Korn Ferry Tour, European tour and Q-school. After that are those who finished from No. 126 to No. 150 in the FedEx Cup. All of them have PGA Tour cards. But there’s not room for them in every tournament. Who benefits from the PGA Tour changes? The most common refrain in golf is to play better to get better status. Those who perennially finish in the top 100 should have no trouble keeping their cards, and they will have fewer players to beat because the fields will be smaller. It also helps newcomers from the Korn Ferry Tour, European tour and Q-school. They can expect to get into every regular tournament, increasing their odds of getting into some of the $20 million signature events. The PGA Tour, already the strongest circuit in golf, is likely to be even more competitive with a greater chance of the top names in contention. The tour also hopes — this is still to be determined — it will improve the pace of play and keep rounds from spilling over into the next day. Who is hurt by the new PGA Tour rules? Players like Peter Malnati and Taylor Pendrith come to mind. Under the new system, neither would have had a full PGA Tour card this year and likely would not have been in the fields for the tournaments they won — Malnati at the Valspar Championship and Pendrith at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Those wins make them exempt through 2026. Players who have not performed consistently well, who seem to struggle each year just to finish in the top 125, will have to be at their best to stay on tour. What happens to the dreamers of pro golf? The PGA Tour also is reducing the four spots from Monday qualifiers at open tournaments. Now there will only two spots for the 132-man fields and none for fields of 120 players. One of golf’s charms is how one week can change a career. Then again, there has been only one Monday qualifier to win in the last five years — Corey Conners in the 2019 Texas Open. When do the PGA Tour changes start? The new eligibility starts in 2026, so that puts a huge emphasis on playing well this year knowing that only the top 100 will keep full status. Does this affect golf’s majors? The four majors are not run by the PGA Tour. The Masters has the smallest field, typically fewer than 100 players. The U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship have 156-man fields. The Players Championship, the premier event run by the PGA Tour, is reducing its field from 144 players to 120. ___ AP golf:

Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE:GVA) Declares $0.13 Quarterly DividendWant to know what Star says for November 27, 2024? Find out what astrology says about your career, financial fortune, love life and health here. Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20): You might feel worried when you have to talk to people or go to events. Make yourself feel better about yourself to avoid this trouble. Your peace of mind will be disturbed by an unexpected rise in costs. Stay away from people who have bad habits that could hurt you. Today, you'll be in charge of your love life because your partner is ready to make your loving dreams come true. Now is a great time to connect with people in other countries for business. Know how much your time is worth; staying with people whose words you don't understand is wrong. You will have trouble in the future if you do this. If you and your partner haven't been happy lately, things might get better today. Today is going to be great for both of you. Taurus (Apr 21–May 20): Allow the good things in life to fill your heart and mind with love. The first step to getting there is to let go of fears. Given the wants of the house, you and your partner can buy an expensive item today, which could make the money situation a little tight. Your younger brothers might ask what you think. Everyone in the world is drunk, except for the lucky people who are in love. You really are that lucky person. A part-time job can be helpful for some people. Today you want to spend time alone in a peaceful place, away from all of your friends and family. You might get a nice gift from your partner. Gemini (May 21–Jun 21): Some of you may be forced to make important decisions today, which may leave you stressed and worried. You may be able to earn money without anyone's help, you just need to believe in yourself. Today is a good day to talk and connect with people you meet only occasionally. A sudden romantic encounter may leave you confused. You may notice an improvement in the atmosphere at the office and an improvement in the level of work. Your communication skills will prove to be your strong point today. Today you will realise how important you are in your spouse's life. Cancer (Jun 22–Jul 22): There is a good chance that your illness will go away, which means you can soon play sports again. Even though money is important to you, don't let it get in the way of your relationships. The housework that has been put off for a while may take some of your time. Giving flowers is a great way to show your love. Today, people born under this zodiac sign may have to travel for work without wanting to. This trip might make you feel stressed. Today, people who are working should not talk about unimportant things at work. You will do things today in your free time that you often want to do but can't. Today you and your partner can have one of the best nights of your life. BY Dr. Sohini Sastri Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23): Think good ideas because you might have to face the monster called "fear." If you don't do anything, you could become its target. People who are doing business with family or close friends need to be very careful today, or they could lose money. You won't be able to keep your feelings in check but don't fight with the people around you, or you'll be left alone. Do not worry too much about your love dreams because they are most likely to come true today. People might get angry if you put too much pressure on them at work. Think about what other people need before you make a decision. Today you'll have a lot of free time because you know how to take care of yourself. You can play sports or go to the gym when you have free time. Today is special because of the food, the time spent with your partner, and the romance. Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23): You can play sports today, which is good for your health. You could have an old illness today that makes you feel bad. You might have to go to the hospital and spend a lot of money there. Your partner will look after you. Your love life will be good today, even though there will be some problems. You will be able to make your partner happy. Business partners will work together, and the tasks that need to be done can be finished. Today, a family member may really want to spend time with you, which will waste some of your time. You can have a very private talk with your partner today. Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23): Help someone who is having a hard time. Remember that this body will be buried one day, so what is the point of keeping it? You will be able to get out of debt with the help of your parents. A gift received from a relative living abroad will bring happiness. By expressing your heart, you will feel very light and excited. People of this zodiac should avoid speaking too much in the workplace; otherwise, your image may be affected badly. Businessmen of this zodiac are likely to suffer losses today due to some old investments. People who live outside the home will like to spend time in a park or a secluded place in the evening after completing all their work. You will be able to feel the good fortune of having a wonderful life partner. Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22): People over 60 should take care of their health. Putting money into jewellery and old things will pay off and make you rich. A happy mood at home will help you relax. Additionally, you should take part in it and not just watch it happen. Today, being away from the person you love will hurt you even more. Don't do any work, or someone might say bad things about you. You should not talk to someone about getting together at work if you want to get connected with them. This evening, you'll feel like you should give your partner more time while you're together. In bed, you or your partner could get hurt. Take care of each other. BY Dr. Sohini Sastri Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21): An anxiety attack can make it harder to think clearly and can also hurt your body's defense system. Think positively to get rid of this trouble. Keep your extra cash somewhere safe so you can get it back next time. People can come to your house for a fun and happy evening. Things outside of love no longer have any special value for you because you are always drunk on love. In the office today, you won't get much done. Today, someone close to you could betray you. the reason for which you might feel bad all day. You can take the kids to a park or a shopping mall today. There are also many good things about being married, and you can get them today. Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 21): Get rid of your negative thoughts before they turn into a mental sickness. You can do this by doing good deeds for other people, which will make you feel good. Today will be a good day for money matters. You can also get rid of your bills today. People in your family will be very important to you. Your partner may feel stressed out by how tired and sad you are. You can make a big business deal and work with a lot of other people on a leisure project. Things that have to do with taxes and insurance need to be taken care of. The things your partner wants can be stressful. Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19): You'll feel better from the stress and tiredness you've been having for a long time. Now is the time to make changes to your life that will help you with these problems for good. Be smart about your investments. Your friends and family will cheer you on. Plan a lovely evening and do your best to make it happen. Now is a great time to connect with people in other countries for business. You forget to take time for yourself sometimes when you're busy taking care of your family. But you can take some time for yourself today by not being around anyone. You and your partner will be able to remember the good old days when you were in love. BY Dr. Sohini Sastri Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20): There will be good health. Your ability to think creatively has been hampered by money worries. Invite your close friends to the party you want to throw. A lot of people will make you feel better. For your loved one, being with you makes life worth living. At work, you might get to do something you've always wanted to do. Though you'll have time, you won't be able to do something that makes you happy. Your partner is happy and full of love today.Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. ( NYSE:ARI – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 10th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.25 per share by the real estate investment trust on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.24%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has raised its dividend payment by an average of 21.3% annually over the last three years. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a dividend payout ratio of 117.6% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Research analysts expect Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance to earn $0.76 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 131.6%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Stock Down 1.8 % ARI opened at $8.90 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 46.13, a quick ratio of 46.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $9.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.65. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a 1-year low of $8.52 and a 1-year high of $12.25. The stock has a market cap of $1.23 billion, a PE ratio of -9.67 and a beta of 1.75. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Check Out Our Latest Report on ARI About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance ( Get Free Report ) Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Kakko's late goal lifts Rangers past Canadiens 4-3NEW YORK — U.S. stocks climbed Thursday after market and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher after flipping between gains and losses several times during the day. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 461 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%. Nvidia rose just 0.5% after for profit and revenue yet again, but it was still the strongest force pulling the S&P 500 upward. It also gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that topped most analysts’ expectations due to voracious demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Its stock initially sank in afterhours trading Wednesday following the release of the results. Some investors said the market might have been looking for Nvidia’s revenue forecast to surpass expectations by even more. But recovered in premarket trading Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it was another “flawless” profit report provided by Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, whom Ives calls “the Godfather of AI.” The stock meandered through Thursday as well, dragging the S&P 500 and other indexes back and forth. How Nvidia’s stock performs has than any other because it’s grown into Wall Street’s most valuable company at roughly $3.6 trillion. The frenzy around AI is sweeping up other stocks, and Snowflake jumped 32.7% after reporting stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, whose platform helps customers get a better view of all their silos of data and use AI, also reported stronger revenue growth than expected. BJ’S Wholesale Club rose 8.3% after likewise delivering a bigger profit than expected. That may help calm worries about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. A day earlier, after reporting sluggish sales in the latest quarter and giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Nearly 90% of the stocks in the S&P 500 ended up rising Thursday, and the gains were even bigger among smaller companies. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped a market-leading 1.7%. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, helped keep indexes in check. It fell 4.7% after U.S. regulators asked a judge to by forcing it to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser. In a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice called for sweeping punishments that would include restrictions preventing Android from favoring its own search engine. Regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android but left the door open to it if the company’s oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct. All told, the S&P 500 rose 31.60 points to 5,948.71. The Dow jumped 461.88 to 43,870.35, and the Nasdaq composite added 6.28 to 18,972.42. In the crypto market, bitcoin eclipsed $99,000 for the first time before pulling back toward $98,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s more than doubled so far this year, and its climb has accelerated since Election Day. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make the country “the of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Bitcoin got a further boost after Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said Thursday he would . Gensler has pushed for more protections for crypto investors. Bitcoin and related investment have a notorious history of big price swings in both directions. MicroStrategy, a company that’s been raising cash expressly to buy bitcoin, saw an early Thursday gain of 14.6% for its stock quickly disappear. It finished the day with a loss of 16.2%. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 2% to bring its gain for the week to 4.8%. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 1.8%. Oil has been rising amid war. In stock markets abroad, shares of India’s Adani Enterprises plunged 22.6% Thursday after the U.S. charged founder Gautam Adani in a with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The businessman and one of the world’s richest people is accused of concealing that his company’s huge solar energy project on the subcontinent was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. Stock indexes elsewhere in Asia and Europe were mixed. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.43% from 4.41% late Wednesday following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. One said last week in the latest signal that the job market remains solid. Another report, though, said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly shrank. Sales of previously occupied homes, meanwhile, than expected. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Yuri Kageyama contributed.

Authorities in Pakistan launch operation to clear Khan supporters from capital

The former Geordie Shore star, who is nearly eight months pregnant, thanked a security company “for all the hard work this week” after adding the protections to her home. “Trebling our security measures, worth every penny to feel safe again in my own home,” the 34-year-old said in a post to her Instagram story. “Scumbags are gunna get a big shock the next time they even step foot on any perimeter of my land.” It comes after her fiance, Jake Ankers, said on social media that a group of men carrying a machete entered their home on Thursday evening while they were in the house with their two-year-old daughter. The businessman said one of the four men “had a red balaclava on” and was carrying the weapon at the top of the stairs. Durham Constabulary were alerted at 7pm on Thursday to reports of an aggravated burglary in Houghton-le-Spring, a town in the Sunderland area. A spokeswoman for the force said: “Officers attended the area, however the suspects left the scene before their arrival. “Nobody was injured in the incident and no items are believed to have been taken.” She added that an investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to contact police. After the incident, Crosby was admitted to hospital after experiencing “serious pains” in her stomach, but confirmed her baby is “all fine”. Ankers appeared with the reality star on BBC Three reality show Charlotte In Sunderland. Crosby is best known for appearing in the MTV reality series Geordie Shore and winning the 12th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. She and Ankers got engaged in October 2023 after she gave birth to their first child in 2022.

'Younger generation should understand why Pakistan was created, what it aimed to achieve'