Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportAdd to the saints the name Anthony Campolo, 89. One of the great preachers of the 20th century, Campolo died Nov. 19. An American Baptist pastor, a professor of sociology at a major American university, an entertaining lecturer and a proponent of the social gospel, Tony Campolo was incredibly popular and influential, preaching and speaking 500 times per year. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get news alerts and breaking news stories from the Albany Herald delivered to your email.

US markets continued to rally on Wednesday as investors continued to cheer President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Hedge Fund manager Scott Bessent as treasury secretary. Crude prices fell, as did the treasury yields, while the US Dollar weakened against peers. NSE The Dow Jones rose 1% or nearly 450 points, while the S&P 500 made a new high of 6,020 before closing below that level with gains of 0.3%. A mixed bag day for big tech meant that the Nasdaq Composite underperformed, although it closed with gains as well. The Smallcap-focused Russell 2000 index also ended 1.5% higher, making a new high of 2,466. Bitcoin slipped after a surge toward $100,000 fizzled just shy of the historic level. Oil sank as Israel moved closer to a cease-fire with Hezbollah. The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined 14 basis points to 4.26%. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.5%. “Investors are viewing this nomination as one that will provide a Goldilocks scenario for Mr. Trump’s pro-business proposals,” said Matt Maley at Miller Tabak + Co. A year-end rally will push the S&P 500 to 6,200 points, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s Scott Rubner. Retail euphoria is accelerating just as stocks enter their best seasonal trading pattern. Corporate demand for buybacks is also increasing, adding to the reasons why the rally could start in the coming days, Rubner said in a note to clients on Friday. At RBC Capital Markets, Lori Calvasina says the S&P 500 is set to reach the 6,600 level by the end of 2025 due to what’s likely to be another year of solid economic and earnings growth, some political tailwinds, and additional relief on inflation. Her team’s new price target “does bake in the idea that the S&P 500 will experience a 5-10% drawdown before too long.” Elevated positioning, recent froth in sentiment, and higher valuations leave the S&P 500 vulnerable to bad news and perhaps simply in need of a breather. And Barclays Plc strategists expect further stock-market upside in 2025 amid constructive positioning and a solid macroeconomic backdrop, even though gains are set to slow from the breakneck pace seen this year and last. The team led by Venu Krishna raised its S&P 500 year-end target to 6,600 from 6,500. While the S&P 500 might be a long way away from fumbling a strong year, don’t get too optimistic about a strong, smooth finish to the year, according to Callie Cox at Ritholtz Wealth Management. “Investors are especially upbeat right now, too. We all love a good collective mood before the holidays, but I’m worried we could get caught off guard by bad news,” she concluded. US inflation figures this week that are seen showing stubborn price pressures will reinforce the Federal Reserve’s cautionary posture toward future interest-rate cuts. The personal consumption expenditures price index excluding food and energy — the Fed’s preferred measure of underlying inflation — is projected to have risen by 0.3% in October from September, and by 2.8% from a year earlier, in what would be the largest advance since April. Fed Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee told Fox Business he foresees the central bank continuing to lower rates toward a stance that neither restricts nor promotes economic activity. (With Inputs From Agencies.)Ravens vs. Chargers live updates: LB Roquan Smith inactive for ‘Monday Night Football’

BorgWarner Inc. stock falls Friday, underperforms marketEAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route, determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep, but he's hardly angry. The double and triple coverage he continually faces, after all, is a sign of immense respect for his game-breaking ability. The strategy also simply makes sense. “I would do the same," Jefferson said. "It’s either let everybody else go off or let Justin go off. I’m going to let everybody else go off. That would be my game plan.” When the Vikings visit Chicago on Sunday, they're expecting the usual heavy dose of split-safety coverage designed to put a lid on the passing attack and force them to operate primarily underneath. “We see that every week: Teams just have different tendencies on film, and then when we go out on the field they play us totally different,” Jefferson said, later adding: “I don’t really feel like anyone else is getting played how I’m getting played.” Jefferson nonetheless is second in the NFL in receiving yards (912) behind Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase, his former college teammate at LSU. Last week, Jefferson set yet another all-time record by passing Torry Holt for the most receiving yards over the first five seasons of a career. Holt logged 80 regular-season games and accumulated 6,784 yards for St. Louis. Jefferson has 6,811 yards — in just 70 games. “I want to go up against those single coverages. I want to go have my opportunities to catch a deep pass downfield, just one-on-one coverage, like a lot of these other receivers get," Jefferson said. "It’s definitely difficult going up against an extra person or an extra two people, but it is what it is and the concepts that we’re drawing up and the ways that we’re trying to get me open, it definitely helps.” With fellow tight end Josh Oliver ruled out of the game on Sunday because of a sprained ankle, T.J. Hockenson is certain to have his heaviest workload since returning from knee surgery four weeks ago. He's also certain that Jefferson will continue to see persistent double-teams. “It puts it on us to make some plays and do some things to get them out of that,” Hockenson said. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has been forced to dig deeper into the vault of play designs and game plans to help keep quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense on track. O'Connell said after Minnesota's 12-7 win at Jacksonville, when Darnold threw three interceptions to precipitate a safer strategy down the stretch, that he superseded his play-calling role with the wisdom of a head coach to help win that game. "Not just the egomaniac of wanting to score points and constantly show everybody how smart we are. There was a mode that I think you have to go into sometimes to ensure a victory,” O'Connell said on his weekly show on KFAN radio. Taking what the defense gives is usually the shrewdest strategy. “You’ve got to really implement some new things and some things that maybe you didn’t come across during your early coaching years whether as a coordinator or position coach or even when you’re responsible for a small area of the game plan as a younger coach," O'Connell said. "You really have to kind of look outside the lens of always what you see on tape.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLCapitals star Alex Ovechkin has fractured fibula, out 4-6 weeks

NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. Chris Pizzello, Associated Press It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. John Locher, Associated Press Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Chris Pizzello, Associated Press “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce Chris Pizzello, Associated Press And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Scott A Garfitt, Invision Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Jordan Strauss, Invision It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Sakchai Lalit, Associated Press Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Frank Franklin, Associated Press This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Charles Sykes, Invision One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. Stefan Jeremiah, Associated Press “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Seth Wenig, Associated Press Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. Fernando Llano, Associated Press “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go.bluebird bio Presents Positive Long-Term Data On LYFGENIATM (lovotobegligene autotemcel) Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease at 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and ExpositionAlgorhythm Sending Singing Machine To Early Year Trade Shows

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero says she's committed to protecting Tucson children and families from separation, calling President-elect Donald Trump's planned mass deportations "cruel and immoral." "I will work with our police chief to make sure that our focus remains on protecting and serving Tucsonans," the Democratic mayor said in a statement published Friday on the mayor's social media accounts. "Here in Tucson, we know how to stand up and fight against hate and racist laws. Part of our history is coming together with our faith leaders and other organizations to protect children and families from separation. I am unwavering in my commitment to this fight." Tucson Mayor Regina Romero Nationwide about 4.4 million U.S.-born children live with an unauthorized immigrant parent, according to the Pew Research Center . In Arizona, there are about 149,000 children of undocumented immigrants, including U.S.-born children and undocumented children, according to a 2016 analysis of U.S. Census data by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. Local officials say it's still unclear what exactly mass deportations will look like on the ground once Trump takes office and what steps local governments will take in response. Neither Romero, nor Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar, were available for interviews Monday. But a Tucson Police Department spokesman said for now, the agency will continue the current policy of not detaining people solely for suspected immigration violations, nor prolonging a detention, such as a traffic stop, to investigate immigration status. Tucson police ask about immigration status if there is a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is in the country illegally, but only if that person has been detained for another reason, Sgt. Richard Gradillas told the Arizona Daily Star on Monday. Gradillas said he could not speculate on how the department would respond to potential new orders from the Trump administration, which he said would have to be reviewed by the city's legal office. Local officials may also have to deal with the recent passage of ballot measure Proposition 314 , which allows, but does not compel, local police to arrest people for immigration violations. The measure won't take effect unless a similar Texas law survives a court challenge. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democrat who faces a recount in his narrow Nov. 5 election victory, told the Star last week that local sheriff’s deputies will not participate in immigration enforcement, which he said is a federal matter, nor will the Pima County jail provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, with detention space. Tucson not officially "sanctuary city" In 2019, Tucson voters rejected Proposition 205, which would have prohibited Tucson police from asking about immigration status and would have made Tucson the only city in Arizona to formally limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, the Star reported at the time. Then-Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, a Democrat, and the Democratic City Council opposed the measure, saying it could have resulted in Tucson losing millions in state and federal funding. Opponents also said the measure was unnecessary, as Tucson essentially operates as a sanctuary city. In 2012, the City Council designated Tucson as an “immigrant welcoming city,” stopping short of the sanctuary city designation, the Associated Press reported. The Arizona ACLU was among the groups that supported Proposition 205, arguing it was necessary to prevent ongoing racial profiling and discrimination. The group's executive director said Tucson police officers were, in practice, prolonging traffic stops to investigate individuals' immigration status under SB1070, in a 2019 submission to the Star. SB1070 is Arizona's "show-me-your-papers" law, passed in 2010, that has been largely nullified by the courts. A provision requiring police to ask about immigration status if there's "reasonable suspicion" someone is in the country illegally remains on the books. TPD's Gradillas said a section of the agency's General Operating Procedures for officers, updated in 2020, states that when investigating a detained person's immigration status, "The detainee shall not be detained any longer than necessary to complete the officer’s initial reason for the stop or detention." Trump's named "border czar" Tom Homan, former acting director of ICE in Trump's first term, said the administration will slash federal funding for sanctuary cities and states that don't cooperate with its mass deportation push. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Homan said, "That's gonna happen. I guarantee Trump will do that," in response to a question about the funding cuts from host Mark Levin. Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has pushed back on Trump's mass deportation plans, but pledged to cooperate with the administration on "border security," such as efforts at the Arizona-Mexico border to interdict fentanyl, which is most commonly smuggled through official ports of entry by U.S. citizens. “I will not tolerate misguided policies that don’t actually help with the critical work that’s happening here, that you’re seeing here today, that actually keeps our communities safe and secure,” Hobbs said at a Nov. 18 news conference at the border in Nogales. Regarding mass deportations, she said, “I will not tolerate terrorizing communities or threatening Arizonans.” To the disappointment of Tucson immigrant-rights advocates, Hobbs has declined to join a group of Democratic governors formed to actively oppose some of the incoming Trump administration’s policies. Border security vs. interior enforcement About 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., including 273,000 in Arizona, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Nearly two-thirds of them have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years. In Arizona, 30% of undocumented residents have lived in the U.S. for at least 20 years , data compiled by the institute shows. Trump and his supporters often conflate "interior immigration enforcement," carried out by ICE, with "border security," which is carried out by Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers at or near the border, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at immigrant-rights research group American Immigration Council. Border agents have more discretion to quickly remove recent migrant arrivals through an expedited removal process, he said. Still, it is currently legal under U.S. law to request asylum once on U.S. soil, regardless of how one entered the country. Last year, a surge in migrant arrivals at the border resulted in border agents releasing large numbers of asylum seekers into the U.S. to await asylum hearings before immigration judges, in what critics call "catch-and-release." Those asylum seekers are in the U.S. legally as they await their hearings. But due to a 3.7 million-case backlog in the underfunded and understaffed immigration court system, some have court dates five years from now or longer. "So when Trump talks about, 'We’re going to deport all these people who came in under Biden,' they’re already in the process of potentially being deported," Reichlin-Melnick said. "But the U.S. government can’t deport them until they get a formal legal order." Interior immigration enforcement impacts undocumented residents who are already living here and often are deeply embedded in U.S. communities and the economy, Reichlin-Melnick said. Undocumented immigrants without a previous deportation order would generally have the right to a hearing in front of a judge before a deportation could happen, and they would join the line of millions of others waiting for their hearing, he said. "Constitutions protections apply to them more strongly than people who just arrived at the border in the last 24 hours," he said. Contact reporter Emily Bregel at ebregel@tucson.com . On X, formerly Twitter: @EmilyBregel In a Friday Instagram video , Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, a Democrat, said: " I want to reassure every single resident that I am committed to do all we can to keep our community safe. I am deeply troubled by President-Elect Trump’s plans for mass deportation. I believe they are cruel and immoral. I will work with our police chief to make sure that our focus remains on protecting and serving Tucsonans. Here in Tucson, we know how to stand up and fight against hate and racist laws. Part of our history is coming together with our faith leaders and other organizations to protect children and families from separation. I am unwavering in my commitment to this fight. While we do not have specific details about how mass deportations will be carried out by President-Elect Trump’s administration, we do know that it will be painful to children, families and our immigrant community. We do not have the exact details as to when and if Proposition 314 goes into effect, we know that this hate-filled proposition draws from SB1070 — the "show me your papers" law. We are a compassionate city that knows we are stronger together and that values our multi-racial heritage. Justice will prevail. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Border reporter

Probation for Kamloops RCMP constable who tackled woman after snatching her phone (Kamloops)

WooCommerce: Simplify Your Store Management with the Hippoo App2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animals

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 24, 2024 A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Christmas celebrations organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in Delhi, the Orthodox Bishop of the Thrissur diocese, Yuhanon Mar Meletius expressed anguish over reports of some VHP activists disrupting an event in a Kerala school. Speaking to IANS, the bishop remarked that while the Prime Minister was bowing before the Christmas crib at the CBCI headquarters in New Delhi, leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were reportedly involved in anti-Christmas activities in Palakkad, Kerala. The bishop referred to allegations that a group of VHP activists had disrupted a school event in Nallamangalam, Palakkad district, where children were dressed as Santa Claus and paraded on the streets. According to him, the activists made derogatory remarks during the incident. Additionally, there were reports of Christmas cribs being vandalized at two other schools in Palakkad district, with allegations pointing towards the involvement of RSS and VHP members. Bishop Meletius accused the BJP and RSS of a dual strategy — engaging with Church leadership while targeting Christian symbols and celebrations at the grassroots. He said the BJP, as the political arm of the RSS, promotes an ideology aimed at establishing upper-caste Hindu dominance in the country. “India is a secular democratic country with immense diversity. The ideology of the RSS cannot be easily implemented here,” the bishop said. He further emphasized the significant contributions of the Christian community in India, particularly in the education, healthcare, and social service sectors. He added that the BJP’s attempts to win over Christians at the leadership level while undermining their beliefs at the grassroots are evident and unacceptable. The bishop also mentioned that Hindu organisations have started making claims over some established churches after claiming that ancient Hindu idols were once present in those churches. Bishop Meletius expressed his belief that Prime Minister Modi’s act of bowing before the Christmas crib at the CBCI headquarters was a symbolic gesture inconsistent with the actions of RSS and VHP at ground level.(Agency)DIY Home Improvement Market in Europe to Grow by USD 48.33 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by Rising DIY Project Interest, with AI Redefining Market Landscape - TechnavioDeep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards MARA Holdings MARA , and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MARA usually suggests something big is about to happen. We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 22 extraordinary options activities for MARA Holdings. This level of activity is out of the ordinary. The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 50% leaning bullish and 18% bearish. Among these notable options, 10 are puts, totaling $639,202, and 12 are calls, amounting to $540,795. Projected Price Targets Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $7.5 to $50.0 for MARA Holdings over the recent three months. Volume & Open Interest Development Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in MARA Holdings's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to MARA Holdings's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $7.5 to $50.0 over the preceding 30 days. MARA Holdings Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume MARA PUT TRADE BEARISH 01/17/25 $5.55 $5.55 $5.55 $25.00 $149.8K 18.0K 309 MARA PUT SWEEP BULLISH 12/27/24 $2.15 $2.09 $2.1 $22.00 $105.0K 3.3K 1.0K MARA CALL SWEEP BULLISH 03/21/25 $5.0 $4.7 $5.0 $18.00 $100.0K 2.4K 200 MARA PUT SWEEP NEUTRAL 03/21/25 $7.95 $7.8 $7.86 $25.00 $78.7K 9.3K 102 MARA PUT TRADE BEARISH 01/16/26 $9.15 $9.1 $9.15 $22.00 $73.2K 991 93 About MARA Holdings MARA Holdings Inc leverages digital asset compute to support the energy transformation. It secures the blockchain ledger and supports the energy transformation by converting clean, stranded, or underutilized energy into economic value. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding MARA Holdings, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Where Is MARA Holdings Standing Right Now? Trading volume stands at 12,463,116, with MARA's price up by 4.35%, positioned at $20.09. RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching oversold. Earnings announcement expected in 64 days. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access . Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest MARA Holdings options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.CM discusses staff training initiatives with Capacity Building Commission chief