HOUSTON (AP) — The Astros welcomed first baseman Christian Walker to the team Monday, in one of two moves that almost certainly marks the end of Alex Bregman’s time in Houston. Walker signed a $60 million, three-year contract that will pay him $20 million annually just more than a week after the Astros acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from Cubs in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago . “The way I view it right now is Paredes is going to play third base and Walker is going to play first base,” general manager Dana Brown said Monday. “And Bregman’s still a free agent.” The Astros had hoped to re-sign Bregman, the team’s third baseman for the last nine seasons, but Brown said the negotiations stalled. “I thought we made a really competitive offer, showing that we wanted him back,” he said. “But we had to pursue other options. We couldn’t just sit there. We locked in Paredes early in that trade, knowing that he could play third or first and then when the opportunity to add another bat came up we just jumped on it.” The addition of a first baseman was a priority this offseason for the Astros after they released struggling first baseman José Abreu less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract. “We knew we had to get better at first base,” Brown said. “We pursued (Walker) and we’re excited to have him because we know that we’re going to have a really good first baseman that can defend and also hit the ball on the seats from time to time.” Walked was attracted by the sustained success of the Astros, who won their first two World Series titles in 2017 and '22. “I’ve been watching this team for a while now, and that edge, the energy, the expectation, you can tell that they’re going out there with a standard,” he said. “And I’m very excited to be a part of it.” Walker is looking forward playing on an infield with star second baseman Jose Altuve. He’s fascinated by the success and consistency Altuve has had over his 14-year career. “I get a chance to learn from Jose Altuve,” Walker said. “Nothing really gets better than that.” Brown was asked what he would tell fans disappointed to see the Astros lose another star after George Springer and Carlos Correa left as free agents in recent years. “I would just tell the fans that look, we are very focused on remaining competitive,” he said. “We’re very focused on winning division and going back to the World Series, and I think with these additions that we have the ability to do that. So, I feel strongly that we’re going to be picked to win the division first off. And if our pitching holds up, which I feel strongly about, as well, I think we’ll get deep into the postseason.” The Astros won the AL West for a fourth straight year this season before being swept by the Tigers in an AL Wild Card Series. Walker, who turns 34 during the opening week of the season, hit .251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs, 55 walks and 133 strikeouts this year. That was down from 2023, when he batted .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs as the Diamondbacks reached the World Series. Walker played in 130 games this year, down from 157 in 2023 and 160 in 2022. He was sidelined between July 29 and Sept. 3 by a strained left oblique. He spent the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks, where he hit 146 homers with 442 RBIs and a .251 batting average. He didn’t secure a full-time job in the big leagues until 2019. He’s provided consistent power over the past six seasons and has grown into an elite defensive first baseman, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons. Walker played college ball at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He made his big league debut with the Orioles in 2014 but couldn’t stick in the majors and was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona in a five-week span. Walker’s contract has a limited no-trade provision allowing him to block deals to six teams without his consent. He would earn $200,000 for winning an MVP, $175,000 for second, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $100,000 for fifth. Walker also would get $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $75,000 apiece for making the All-Star Game or winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award. Infielder Grae Kessinger was designated for assignment to open a roster spot. AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Q4 2024: North Ammonia AS and Fjord Base Holding AS join forces to develop green ammonia production at Fjord Base in Florø CEO of North Ammonia, says : “The market for green ammonia is continuously developing and with stricter regulations related to emissions, particularly in the maritime sector, it is expected that the demand for zero-emission fuels will increase significantly from 2030”, CEO of Fjord Base Gruppen, says : “Fjord Base has significant maritime activity, and access to locally produced green fuels for shipping will strengthen our position as a maritime hub, while providing positive ripple effects locally in terms of job creation. Production of green ammonia will create a foundation for circular economy value chains and thereby strengthen Fjord Base as a leading industrial cluster in the green transition”, North Ammonia AS and Fjord Base Holding AS entered into a Letter of Intent in 2022 to evaluate the opportunity of establishing a green ammonia production facility at Fjord Base. Earlier this year, the project was assessed as mature by Linja and Statnett and is now in que for a reservation of grid capacity. adds: North Ammonia is a long-term developer of production facilities for zero-emission fuels in Norway. With stable access to renewable energy from the grid, a strong maritime cluster and a significant, land-based process industry, Norway has a strong foundation for the production of competitive green ammonia. The company was established in 2021 and is owned by Grieg New Energy AS – part of Grieg Maritime Group – and Vergia AS – part of Swiss Life Asset Managers. Fjord Base is Norway’s largest supply base with over 1000 acres of land and comprehensive infrastructure. Since the establishment in 1985, the supply base has developed strong experience in property development, logistics and operations. In addition to offshore activities, Fjord Base is actively engaged in facilitating new industry and businesses, including offshore wind, zero-emission fuels and other green initiatives. The company is today owned by the infrastructure company Ancala Partners LLP and Semi AS. the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Q4 2024: North Ammonia AS and Fjord Base Holding AS join forces to develop green ammonia production at Fjord Base in Florø, DL E&C Marks First Entry into Canadian Blue Ammonia Market DL E&C Secures Canada Blue Ammonia Deal; CARBONCO Licenses CCUS Technology Producing Over 1 Million Tons of Eco-Friendly Fertilizer Using Blue Ammonia... Gentari to supply large-scale, carbon-free energy to AMG Ammonia 650 MW firm dispatchable RE supply to power AMG Ammonia’s upcoming green ammonia facilities. ~2,400 MWp RE capacity to be set up, making it the... Yara starts production of renewable-based ammonia in Brazil The first in Brazil, Yara now produces ammonia made from renewable biomethane and has already delivered the first tonnes of lower carbon product to its...jili178 gift code philippines 。

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Washington Commanders release 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes

NMMC orders mandatory audit for Navi Mumbai buildings older than 30 yearsTORONTO , Dec. 23, 2024 /CNW/ - The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank Group" or "TD") announced today that it will exercise its right to redeem all of its 20,000,000 outstanding Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Class A First Preferred Shares, Series 5 (Non-Viability Contingent Capital) (the "Series 5 Shares") on January 31, 2025 at the price of $25.00 per Series 5 Share for an aggregate total of approximately $500 million . The redemption has been approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. On December 5, 2024 , TD announced that dividends of $0.24225 per Series 5 Share had been declared. These will be the final dividends on the Series 5 Shares, and will be paid in the usual manner on January 31, 2025 to shareholders of record on January 10, 2025 , as previously announced. After January 31, 2025 , the Series 5 Shares will cease to be entitled to dividends and the only remaining rights of holders of such shares will be to receive payment of the redemption amount. Beneficial holders who are not directly the registered holder of Series 5 Shares should contact the financial institution, broker or other intermediary through which they hold these shares to confirm how they will receive their redemption proceeds. Inquiries should be directed to our Registrar and Transfer Agent, TSX Trust Company, at 1-800-387-0825 (or in Toronto 416-682-3860). About TD Bank Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27.9 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in The Charles Schwab Corporation; Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth ( Canada ), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD Cowen. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 17 million active online and mobile customers. TD had $2.06 trillion in assets on October 31, 2024 . The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. SOURCE TD Bank Group View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2024/23/c5275.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Maryam Nawaz’s efforts save Parachinar woman’s life

Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market Highlights Tourism Sustainability Goals: A GCC-Wide Focus on UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman,Bahrain And Kuwait: Here’s new facts you need to know

Salma Hayek's shocking 1995 casting photo goes viral

I’ve Been Trying Not To Get Excited for ‘Exodus,’ but I’m Starting To Feel Those Magical “Peak ‘Mass Effect’” EmotionsShare Tweet Share Share Email The crypto market is buzzing this December. Filecoin (FIL) and Internet Computer (ICP) are testing key support levels, with analysts predicting potential rebounds. Meanwhile, Qubetics ($TICS) is making significant strides with its presale, and EOS (EOS) is gaining traction among developers and investors alike. Qubetics is stepping up to tackle issues that previous cryptos haven’t fully addressed. With its Non-Custodial Multi Chain Wallet, $TICS plans to revolutionize how we use digital assets daily, blending the ease of platforms like Apple Pay with the versatility of crypto. Let’s dive into why these three cryptos are among the best to consider this December. Qubetics ($TICS): Revolutionizing Everyday Crypto Transactions Imagine grabbing your morning coffee and paying with crypto as effortlessly as swiping a card. Qubetics is on a mission to make that a reality. Its Non-Custodial Multichain Wallet aims to streamline crypto transactions, allowing you to manage assets and make payments seamlessly. Integration with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major financial institutions? Absolutely! The wallet also boasts a smart contract conversion feature that automatically swaps crypto into fiat at the point of sale . This means no more fretting over market volatility when making purchases. Whether you’re a business owner or just shopping, $TICS ensures transactions are smooth, stable, and secure. Consider this: if you run an online store, the wallet’s instant fiat conversion could simplify checkout, offering customers a secure way to pay in crypto without worrying about price swings. Or, if you’re a freelancer with clients worldwide, the wallet’s multichain compatibility makes cross-border payments as easy as sending an email. Qubetics Teams Up with SWFT Blockchain to Build Borderless Wallet Solutions Qubetics’ collaboration with SWFT Blockchain ensures that the upcoming Qubetics Wallet will redefine the standard for blockchain wallets. With cross-chain functionality and secure transactions, users can look forward to a top-tier experience. So far, the Qubetics presale has sold over 372 million tokens to more than 11,500 holders, raising over $7.5 million. At $0.0377 per $TICS in the 14th stage, now’s the time to get in before the price jumps by 10% this weekend. Qubetics isn’t just another crypto; it’s setting the stage for the future of digital transactions. Filecoin (FIL): Decentralising Data Storage Filecoin is making waves by decentralizing data storage, allowing users to rent out unused storage space, much like Airbnb does for lodging. This approach enhances data security and reduces reliance on centralized providers. Recently, Filecoin has been testing key support levels, with analysts predicting potential rebounds to midterm targets of $8.30, $11.80, and $28.00. The Filecoin ecosystem has seen significant growth, with developers building more apps on the platform than ever before. Storage providers have expanded their services, and AI teams are collaborating with the Filecoin ecosystem to integrate decentralized storage and compute into their offerings. With secure, verifiable storage now accessible across blockchains, Filecoin simplifies storage for web3 users and opens endless possibilities for developers. Its recent partnerships and technological advancements position Filecoin as a leader in the decentralized storage space. EOS (EOS): Empowering Decentralized Applications EOS is gaining popularity as a platform for building decentralized applications (dApps). Its blockchain architecture aims to eliminate transaction fees and achieve scalability, making it an attractive option for developers. The EOS community has been active, with ongoing developments to enhance the platform’s performance and usability. Recent updates have focused on improving the user experience and expanding the ecosystem. The platform’s governance model allows for flexibility and adaptability, enabling the community to implement changes that benefit the network. As more developers and projects choose EOS for their dApp development, the platform’s ecosystem continues to grow. This increased adoption contributes to EOS’s rising popularity and positions it as a strong contender in the blockchain space. Conclusion The crypto market is buzzing, and Qubetics, Filecoin, and EOS are leading the charge. Qubetics is reshaping digital transactions with its innovative wallet, Filecoin is revolutionizing data storage with its decentralized approach, and EOS is empowering developers to build scalable dApps. Based on the latest research, we recommend considering Qubetics ($TICS), Filecoin (FIL), and EOS (EOS) as some of the best cryptos to buy in December 2024. Don’t miss the chance to be part of their journey! For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://twitter.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetic Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Qubetics Sells 372M Tokens to 11,500+ Holders While Toncoin Breaks $8 and Fantom Launches Sonic Mainnet BlockDAG’s Keynote 3 Set To Be a Hollywood Blockbuster! Ethereum Shows Bullish Trends & Solana Bounces Back Best New Meme Coins to Buy This Week: BTFD Coin On A Roll With Massive Discount while Dogecoin, Dogs Steady Comments

Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

Trump's second term could bring changes for small businessesWizards vs. Thunder Odds, predictions, recent stats, betting trends and Best bets for December 23

Ten years after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared, when people ask me what happened, my answer remains, “I don’t know, and it’s a sign of strength to admit you don’t know.” Assumptions and speculation create unrealistic expectations and needless anguish. A single, accurate data point can dismantle the most elaborate theories, underscoring the importance of patience and evidence. So it is with Jeju Air Flight 2216, which tragically crashed in South Korea on Sunday, claiming 179 lives. I do not know what happened inside the aircraft. Firefighters carry the body of a passenger from the wreckage of a passenger plane at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images Only two flight attendants, seated at the rear of the Boeing 737-800, survived. These seats are the safest in a head-on collision, which is why we can expect the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), located at the back of the aircraft, to be intact and reveal facts about what happened during this crisis. I was piloting Qantas Flight 32 in 2010 when an engine failed soon after take-off from Singapore. We landed safely with none of the 469 passengers and crew injured. However, The world immediately erupted with misinformation and flawed analysis and false deductions. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau made the courageous decision to publish the facts immediately, quelling conspiracy theories and inaccurate deductions. While the US National Transportation Safety Board initially criticised this approach, it eventually adopted a similar strategy following the Asiana Airlines 214 crash in San Francisco, which killed three and injured about 200 people. Transparency builds teamwork and trust and enables constructive learning from tragedy. I expect the investigators on the Jeju Air tragedy to answer the following questions: Was there a bird strike? Videos show a right engine event. If a bird strike occurred, to what extent was that engine and its associated systems compromised. Why did the transponder fail? The aircraft’s ADS-B transponder, which broadcasts data including location, speed, and altitude twice per second, ceased transmissions shortly after the engine event. What caused this failure? Why were the landing gear and flaps not deployed? The aircraft turned northward before attempting a reciprocal approach to land. However, it landed with both the landing gear and flaps up. Did the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) issue the “too low gear” warning? Why did the aircraft touch down so late along the runway? It touched down in the latter half of the 2900-meter runway, leaving insufficient distance to stop. I think this approach suggests the pilot may have assumed the landing gear to be down. However, the landing gear was up, and so the aircraft “floated”, decelerating slowly in what’s called “ground-effect”, which acts like a cushion close to the ground and led to a late touchdown. Did the pilots attempt to take off again before reaching the end of the runway? Videos show the left engine airborne before the runway’s end. Perhaps they did attempt to take off. Fear Response? Were the pilots affected by the fear response – fight, flight or freeze? The amygdala in our brain triggers this response within 20 milliseconds of sensing threats, releasing adrenaline and cortisol, which supercharge our cells, increase our breathing and heart rates, and tense our muscles to be ready to fight – all of which impair precise actions. To avoid the disastrous effects of the fear response, pilots are trained to “aviate, navigate, communicate”. This is critical in the first 30 seconds. Aviate – fly the aircraft (and keep it in the air), stay alive. Navigate – find a safe place in the air to consider your next steps. Then communicate – tell others the situation, your plans and requirements. Those actions keep you safe from the fear response while waiting those 30 seconds for the brain’s slow cortex (with its habits, intuitions and reasoning) to slowly come online. Did the pilots hear critical warnings? The human brain monitors 4 million senses using just 20 watts of power. It runs five times faster than the latest Nvidia Blackwell processor using just 1 per cent of the chip’s power. It achieves this monumental feat by load-shedding unnecessary senses. The brain sheds non-essential sensory input when overloaded, with sound being the first to shed. Why is this important? Did the pilots fail to hear and respond to the “too low gear” warning or other GPWS alerts. Was the cockpit crew an effective team? Team dynamics play a crucial role in aviation safety. No individual is infallible – mistakes are part of the human condition. This is why effective teams have pilots accomplishing their tasks while monitoring the tasks of others. It is essential that all pilots have the responsibility, authority and psychological safety, to challenge one another, regardless of rank. In cultures with high “power distance” – a measure of hierarchical deference identified by Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede – subordinates may hesitate to correct their superiors. This dynamic contributed to accidents such as Korean Air 801 (1997) and Asiana Airlines 214 (2013). Did a similar dynamic affect Jeju Air Flight 2216? The aircraft exploded when it crashed into a concrete barrier beyond the end of the runway. Was that barrier necessary? The 2900m runway at Muan airport is long enough for continuous 737 operations. The instrument landing system localiser radio transmitters sit atop a high concrete-earth mound, 290-metre after the end of the runway. While it is not ideal to have a hard antenna structure, this is clear of the 240-metre runway safety area required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s runway specifications. Were proper procedures followed? Did the crew adhere to established procedures, and were those procedures fit for purpose? Learning from tragedy: We will have to wait for the investigative authorities to release facts before drawing conclusions about this heartbreaking event. Until then, speculation serves no one. Instead, we must focus on asking the right questions, identify all contributing factors and then learning and adjusting from the findings, so that this type of disaster never happens again. Boeing 737-800: This aircraft is a safe and successful aircraft. Over 7100 have been built since 1996, for commercial aviation (till 2020) and still for the military today. The 737-800 has no links connecting it to the problems beset by the newer 737 Max derivatives. Aviation remains the safest form of transport: Aviation is the safest form of transportation. Not a single person died in a commercial jet accident in 2023. And no one goes to work intending to have an accident. We will learn from Jeju Air Flight 2216, identifying all contributing factors, and implement changes to prevent a recurrence. This relentless pursuit of continuous improvement is why flying remains the safest way to travel. Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny was an A380 captain and the pilot in command of Qantas flight QF32 that suffered an engine failure over Singapore on November 4, 2010. He is the author of two books, QF32 and FLY! – The Elements of Resilience.

Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

Houston Astros welcome 1B Christian Walker to team; say negotiations with Bregman stalledAn Oklahoma man who pleaded guilty to the 2003 shooting deaths of a Texas couple in southeastern Oklahoma is among those whose federal death sentences were commuted to life without parole on Monday by President Joe Biden. Biden, who stopped federal executions during his term, said he commuted the 37 death sentences because he expects President-elect Donald Trump to resume them once he is sworn in next month. Biden allowed three death sentences to remain in place. Federal officials said Edward Leon Fields Jr. confessed to killing Charles and Shirley Chick in the remote Winding Stair Campground of the Ouachita National Forest. He was sentenced to death at the recommendation of a federal jury in Muskogee in 2005. People are also reading... Muskogee board rejects Matt Hennesy's return as Roughers' head football coach The 12 best new restaurants of 2024 Berry Tramel: Barry Switzer's 1980s players salute their lion-in-winter coach. Read their letter Mike Gundy appears headed for complete turnover among coaching staff Daughter of country music star Wynonna Judd pleads guilty to drug, theft charges Where to eat on Christmas Day Berry Tramel: Another OU-Navy game and another historically inept Sooner offense Four northeastern Oklahoma educators' teaching certificates suspended Loren Montgomery: An inside look at Bixby's record-setting football coach OU releases depth chart for Armed Forces Bowl vs. Navy; Here are notable changes Tulsa school board votes to proceed with Jennettie Marshall, E’Lena Ashley lawsuit Muskogee board set to vote on Wagoner's Dale Condict as head football coach Bible, Christianity feature heavily in proposed social studies standards for students Gov. Kevin Stitt orders state agencies to end most remote work Sink your teeth into 20 of Tulsa's best sandwiches Fields, a former prison guard living in his pickup at the time of the murders, later tried unsuccessfully to have the sentence overturned, claiming mental impairment and improper jury instructions. No firm motive for the murders was ever established. According to court documents and testimony, Fields spotted the Chicks at a scenic overlook on the Talimena, then followed them to their campsite. After putting on camouflage gear, Fields observed the couple for about 20 minutes until Charles Fields told his wife he was going to their tent. Fields shot Charles Chick in the face, then shot Shirley Chick in the foot when she tried to run for cover. Fields advanced on Shirley Chick, shot her twice in the head, and shot Charles Chick again in the head. Authorities said they believed Fields left the scene, but came back several hours later and took several items, including cash and a credit card. Fields used the credit card several times and the other items were found in his possession. The Tulsa World is where your story lives.Transrail Share Price Today, December 30: Transrail Lighting Limited Stock Opens in Green Today After Making Debut With Nearly 37% Premium

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans reduced its stake in shares of Banc of California, Inc. ( NYSE:BANC – Free Report ) by 6.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 108,153 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 7,085 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.07% of Banc of California worth $1,593,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BANC. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in Banc of California by 146.3% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,143 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273 shares during the period. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banc of California during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Banc of California by 32.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,005 shares of the bank’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 734 shares during the period. Mendon Capital Advisors Corp purchased a new stake in Banc of California in the 2nd quarter worth about $102,000. Finally, Simplicity Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Banc of California in the 2nd quarter valued at about $132,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.88% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on BANC. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of Banc of California from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Banc of California from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Banc of California from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Raymond James lifted their price target on Banc of California from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Banc of California from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banc of California currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $17.30. Insider Transactions at Banc of California In related news, Director Richard J. Lashley sold 75,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.00, for a total value of $1,050,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 719,826 shares in the company, valued at $10,077,564. The trade was a 9.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . 7.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Banc of California Price Performance Shares of NYSE BANC opened at $17.26 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $15.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.24. Banc of California, Inc. has a twelve month low of $11.36 and a twelve month high of $18.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.74 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.04 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Banc of California ( NYSE:BANC – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.11. Banc of California had a negative net margin of 20.75% and a positive return on equity of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $431.44 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $229.46 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.30 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Banc of California, Inc. will post 0.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Banc of California Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. Banc of California’s dividend payout ratio is currently -9.37%. About Banc of California ( Free Report ) Banc of California, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California that provides various banking products and services in California. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, savings, money market, demand, and time deposits; certificates of deposit; retirement accounts; and safe deposit boxes. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Banc of California Golden Cross Stocks: Pattern, Examples and Charts The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing What Percentage Gainers Tell Investors and Why They Don’t Tell the Whole Story 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Should You Add These Warren Buffett Stocks to Your Portfolio? FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Banc of California Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banc of California and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:46 p.m. EST

How Jimmy Carter became the first rock’n’roll president

Pandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry Christmas” written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple in a special press event Monday before visitors streamed to the park. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby: Spurs-Knicks Christmas game is also an animated one at Disney World NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. While Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, an alternate animated telecast will have the teams playing in the Magic Kingdom, with some Disney characters participating. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2 The first season of “Squid Game” was Netflix's most-watched series and went on to win a variety of accolades including the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series for Lee Jung-jae and a directing award for Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show returns for its second season on Dec. 26 and is already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama. It's rare for TV shows made in Korea to have more than one season but Lee describes Hwang as “a genius.” A third and final season has already filmed. Netflix is also invested in expanding its “Squid Game” universe with a reality competition series and an English-language version in development. In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones in the ruins of a Catholic church in southern Lebanon that was hit by an Israeli airstrike during the war with Hezbollah. It's a small and modest tree. There are no lights because the war destroyed power lines. The ground is too uneven to set up the Nativity scene. The priest says his blood pressure went up and he lost his balance when he saw the church's destruction. Now he leads Mass in an underground room that serves as a temporary worship space. He tells the community it “is more like the cave where Jesus was born.” Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 The Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, says the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” has died. The aquarium says Burt died over the weekend and was at least 90 years old. A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters long. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile, before being saved by Dundee. Elaborate holiday light displays are making spirits bright in a big way CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow might be enough to brighten some homes this holiday season. But others are adorned with thousands of blinking lights synched to blasting music. In Mesa, Arizona, 14 homeowners have been going all-out on holiday lights for 30 years, and those buying homes in the neighborhood often find the attics full of décor left behind by previous owners. In Santa Clarita, California, residents began coordinating their holiday lights to bring some joy to their community after an earthquake. And in Edmond, Oklahoma, those looking to the western sky will easily spot the Miranda family’s elaborate display featuring images and music from the movie “Wicked.” Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus. The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years. More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat. NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That's nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun's surface. 174 Colorado skiers and snowboarders rescued after a lift cracks WINTER PARK, Colo. (AP) — Officials are investigating what caused a crack in a Colorado ski lift that forced the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The evacuation happened Saturday on a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort. A spokesperson says the lift stopped automatically when a crack was detected in a structural piece of the lift. Passengers were lowered down by ropes over the course of about five hours. No injuries were reported during the rescues, which came at the start of the busy holiday season. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales.For Jimmy Carter, the presidency was prologue