Calin Georgescu, the far-right figure who shocked Romania by taking the lead in the first round of the country’s presidential election, is a pro-Russian, anti-vaxxer radical with a gift for social media. Barely known outside Romania, Georgescu’s popularity surged ahead of Sunday’s vote with viral TikTok campaigns calling for an end to aid for Ukraine and sounding a sceptical note on NATO. Georgescu, who ran as an independent, has attracted a sizeable following on platforms such as YouTube for years, away from the mainstream media. In one anti-vaccination video, the 62-year-old can be seen stripping down to jump into a snow-covered lake high in the mountains, while praising his “faith in God” and the strength of his “immune system”. Several of his TikTok videos have been viewed between two and three million times, with messages like “for Romania, for peace” especially resonating with voters worried about the war in neighbouring Ukraine. Few reporters were present when Georgescu cast his ballot on Sunday. Pre-election polls did not see him in the runoff, and even less predicted that he would get 23 percent of the vote to top the candidates. “The Internet is the only place where there is freedom of expression,” he said in a recent video. – ‘Saviour’ – Georgescu’s success can partially be attributed to him flying “under the radar”, sociologist Gelu Duminica told AFP. Unlike his opponents, Georgescu did not participate in debates with other candidates and thus was “not attacked by anyone” or his record “dismantled”, he added. Many undecided voters, who felt disappointed by the established parties, saw him as a “saviour” as there are so few leaders capable of “uniting them”, the expert said. Maria Chis, 70, said Georgescu appeared to be “a man of integrity, serious and patriotic.” A graduate of the University of Bucharest, the agricultural engineer began his career in 1992 in the environment ministry before joining the foreign ministry. In the 2010s, Georgescu had been suggested as a possible prime minister. During the Covid pandemic, he became a vocal vaccine-critic, frequently spreading his conspiracy-laden narratives. Once linked to Romania’s far-right AUR party — which tapped George Simion as their candidate in the presidential ballot — Georgescu distanced himself from it after taking a number of controversial positions. – Admirer of Putin – Georgescu has defended a notorious anti-Semite, Corneliu Codreanu, the leader of the Iron Guard between the wars, and fascist Marshal Ion Antonescu. On several occasions, he has denounced NATO as a “weak” organisation, even though Romania has emerged as a key player on the alliance’s eastern flank. He attacked the alliance’s anti-missile system based in Deveselu — which Russia has slammed as a threat — and opposed aid to Ukraine, refusing to be “dragged into a conflict that is not ours”. Romania has a long border with Ukraine. Although the Kremlin said on Monday that it was not “very familiar” with Georgescu, several years ago he expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin, saying he is “one of the rare leaders” worthy of the name, and known for “Russian wisdom”. For political scientist Remus Stefureac, spectacular rise of Georgescu is “unprecedented” in Romania’s democratic history.
Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC streetAs for Sarah, the experience served as a wake-up call to the importance of being vigilant and assertive in protecting her privacy. While the scars of the incident may linger, she is determined to channel her experience into advocating for greater awareness and accountability in issues related to digital privacy and consent.
So far this season, Tillman has made 9 appearances for Bayern Munich, totaling 292 minutes on the pitch. While he is yet to find the back of the net or provide an assist, his contribution to the team goes beyond just goals and assists. His work rate, ability to cover ground, and willingness to track back and defend have not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff and fans alike.Yoenis Cespedes declares his Mets reunion desires on InstagramRisk & Volatility Holiday Island has a beta of 0.92, suggesting that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Holiday Island’s competitors have a beta of 1.30, suggesting that their average stock price is 30% more volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Holiday Island and its competitors’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Insider and Institutional Ownership 57.6% of shares of all “Business services, not elsewhere classified” companies are held by institutional investors. 15.2% of Holiday Island shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.7% of shares of all “Business services, not elsewhere classified” companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings and Valuation Holiday Island’s competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Holiday Island. Holiday Island is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Holiday Island competitors beat Holiday Island on 5 of the 8 factors compared. Holiday Island Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Holiday Island Holdings, Inc. primarily engages in land development activities. It acquires, develops, manages, and sells income producing commercial and residential real estate properties located in Holiday Island, Arkansas. The company was formerly known as VillageEDOCS, Inc. and changed its name to Holiday Island Holdings, Inc. in February 2014. Holiday Island Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is based in Holiday Island, Arkansas. Receive News & Ratings for Holiday Island Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Holiday Island and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Surge In Used Car Sales: A Key Driver Transforming The Car Care Products Market 2024(Bloomberg) — Investors have a challenge in betting on the usual stock market rally that tends to arrive after a presidential election: With the S&P 500 Index on track for one of its best ever starts to a year, history can’t be a guide this time. Buying US stocks into year-end following a vote is the classic trading playbook. Historically, the S&P 500 has posted a median return of 5% from Election Day in November to the end of the year, according to data compiled by Deutsche Bank AG. Even the riskiest pockets like small-capitalization companies typically catch a bid in the rising tide. But this is hardly a classic election year. The S&P 500 is up 25% in 2024 after leaping 24% in 2023, putting the index on pace for its first back-to-back years of more than 20% gains since the late 1990s. As a result, share prices are high, with the S&P 500 trading at more than 22 times projected 12-month earnings, compared with an average reading of 18 in the last decade. And positioning data shows traders are already heavily invested in equities. Meanwhile, familiar foes from the past few years, rising bond yields and the threat of persistent inflation, loom in the background. All of which has the stock market set up for a potentially quiet holiday season — as opposed to the ragers of election years past. “With valuations elevated and the S&P 500 already near 6,000, the market will creep higher from here,” said Eric Beiley, executive managing director of wealth management at Steward Partners. “But I don’t see a big year-end rally because rising yields will keep investors at bay.” No Hurry The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates twice since September. But recently, central bankers indicated that they aren’t in a hurry to go further. At the same time, Treasury yields have jumped to multi-month highs after US president-elect Donald Trump’s election victory ignited bets that his economic plans like large import tariffs and mass deportations of low-wage undocumented workers could stoke inflation and hurt growth, possibly reducing the Fed’s scope to cut interest rates. This explains why Wall Street strategists have been dialing back their rate reduction expectations since Trump’s election victory. The six months from November to April are historically the best part of the year for US equities because companies and pension plans tend to increase their stock buying starting on Nov. 1, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. However, those year-end rallies typically aren’t as robust when the S&P 500 has already risen at least 20%. In that case, since the 1970s the average return from now to Dec. 31 has been roughly 1%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Of course, this bull-market rally has gone far beyond these levels, with the S&P 500 up almost 70% since bottoming in October 2022. That will curb gains into late December, according to Savita Subramanian, head of US equity and quantitative strategy at Bank of America Corp. “Sentiment and positioning based on at least five indicators have grown dangerously bullish, leaving less room for positive surprises,” she wrote in a note to clients on Nov. 15. Heavy Hedging Already, some of the riskiest parts of the market are showing signs of weakness. Small-cap stocks, for instance, have erased most of their post-election rally as concern grows about the Fed’s rate path. And uncertainty over higher borrowing costs is prompting investors to hedge against sharp declines. Demand for far out-of-the-money put options on the S&P 500, technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index and small-cap Russell 2000 Index has risen to levels last seen during the heavy volatility ahead of the election, according to Kevin Brocks of 22V Research. That said, the rally isn’t necessarily in jeopardy simply because there’s growing speculation that the market has run too far. Valuations and investor sentiment can stay frothy for weeks — even months — before stocks suffer a significant drop, said Max Kettner, chief multi-asset strategist at HSBC Bank Plc, adding that there are “very few reasons to suggest a year-end rally has already been front-loaded.” Indeed, investors keep funneling money into stocks: They put $16.4 billion into US equities in the week through Nov. 20, marking the seventh consecutive weekly inflow, according to a Bank of America note citing EPFR Global data. The optimism isn’t entirely surprising. Looking at history, the S&P 500’s advance over the past two years isn’t even half of the 143% average gain in the 16 prior bull runs since 1945, according to Birinyi Associates. What investors most want to see when judging the rally’s strength is the gains broadening beyond the megacap tech that have been powering indexes higher on enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. It’s starting to happen, as the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index is outperforming the regular market-cap weighted version of the benchmark since Election Day, with financials, energy and consumer discretionary shares leading the way. In the end, however, it may be the bond market that sends the loudest signal for stock prices. If Treasury yields stay high and the Fed stands pat, there are serious risks to betting on significant further gains in equities. “A broadening rally is crucial but the one thing standing in the way of a strong advance for stocks the rest of the year is the bond market,” said Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group. “That may ultimately put a lid on a hefty year-end rally.” —With assistance from Natalia Kniazhevich.
The keynote address kicked off the proceedings, delving into the latest advancements in AI and setting the tone for the discussions to come. From machine learning to neural networks, from robotics to natural language processing, the topics covered were as diverse and cutting-edge as the field itself. The audience was spellbound, hanging on every word as the speakers shared their insights and visions for the future of AI.In addition to their improved intelligence and personality, NPC companions have also been designed to communicate more effectively and concisely. Gone are the days of endless, repetitive lines of dialogue that serve little purpose other than to fill the silence. Instead, NPC companions now provide relevant information, guidance, and commentary at opportune moments, enhancing immersion and gameplay without overwhelming the player with unnecessary chatter. This streamlined communication approach ensures that players can fully appreciate the companion's insights and contributions without feeling bombarded with excessive dialogue.In conclusion, the demand for the swift arrest of Yoon Seok-youl and the mounting pressure on President Moon Jae-in to step down underscore the urgent need for accountability and integrity in South Korea's political landscape. The coming days will be critical in shaping the country's future, and it is essential for all stakeholders to uphold the principles of justice and transparency in the pursuit of a fair and just society.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Purchases Shares of 848 RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR)Moreover, Chiesa's inclusion in the squad reinforces Milan's reputation as a club that values talent, discipline, and teamwork above all else. The Rossoneri have long been regarded as one of the most successful and storied clubs in European football, with a rich history of producing top-tier players and achieving success on both domestic and international fronts. By entrusting Chiesa with the responsibility of stepping up in the Champions League, Milan is sending a clear message to their rivals and supporters: they are a team that never backs down from a challenge and always strives for greatness.
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