NoneLucknow, Nov 24 (PTI) India had great warriors like Ahilyabai Holkar, Rani Lakshmibai and Rani Durgavati when the West could not have imagined having such women, RSS joint general secretary Alok Kumar said on Sunday. Addressing a programme held here to mark the tricentenary celebrations of Ahilyabai Holkar, the 18th-century ruling queen of Indore, Alok Kumar said, "The life of Lokmata Ahilyabai is inspiring for everyone. Her valour was amazing. She was a skilled strategist, valiant and proficient in the art of war. Ahilyabai Holkar was against the practice of Sati. She was the epitome of sacrifice." The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader showered praises on the Maratha queen and credited her with setting up the saree industry in Maheshwar (Madhya Pradesh). She created employment for the soldiers' widows and also developed irrigation resources. Ahilyabai Holkar also started a pension scheme for soldiers who had sacrificed their lives during the war. "At a time when the West could not even think it, India had great warrior women like Ahilyabai, Lakshmibai and Durgavati," Alok Kumar said. Mala Thakur, national secretary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar Trishatabdi Samaroh Samiti (LAHTSS), said the Maratha queen analysed the social conditions of her time and provided support to the needy. While eating, she used to sit together in a row of people from all sections of the society, Thakur said. During her time, no one was ever discriminated against based on caste and there is no greater example of social harmony than this, Thakur said. Presiding over the programme, Uday Raje Holkar, a descendant of Ahilyabai Holkar, said that there was a sense of harmony in her life. She also crossed the boundary of Maheshwar state and worked across the country, Uday Raje said. Patron of LAHTSS of the Avadh region and Ayodhya-based Mahant Baidehi Ballabh Sharan Maharaj said that the committee will organise various programmes on Ahilyabai Holkar throughout the year in all the districts of the Avadh region. He said that big programmes have been planned in Ayodhya and Naimisharanya. Born on May 31, 1725, Ahilyabai Holkar ruled Indore, then within the Maratha Confederacy. After the deaths of her husband Khanderao Holkar, father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar, and son Male Rao Holkar, Ahilyabai took over the affairs of the Holkar dynasty. She died on August 13, 1795. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly insisted she supports Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is focused on her own re-election, but wouldn't explicitly rule out a future Liberal leadership bid, in an interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday. The questions come amid a profile of the minister published in the New York Times on Wednesday, labelling Joly as Trudeau’s “possible successor.” “What I can tell you is, right now, the prime minister is the prime minister,” Joly told host Vassy Kapelos. “He's going to be the candidate for the next election, and I'm 100 per cent supporting him.” “And I've been supporting him from the get-go, when he decided, as a young MP, to become the leader of the Liberal Party, since 2012,” she added. “So I’ll continue to do that.” When pressed on her leadership aspirations, Joly wouldn’t directly deny them. “I'm saying that my goal is to get re-elected in the next election, and to be representing Ahuntsic-Cartierville (Que.), and I think that is a prerequisite to any other political engagement,” she said. Trudeau has repeatedly insisted he plans to stay on as Liberal leader through the next election, whenever that may come. But questions around his leadership and whether he’ll hand over the party’s reins — either before or after an election — have persisted, especially amid consistently lagging polling numbers. Joly also fielded the question about her leadership aspirations on Wednesday, telling reporters at a press conference she is “100 per cent supportive of the prime minister,” as she was when she gave the interview to the New York Times in July. Asked again during that press conference specifically whether she is worried rumblings of her leadership ambitions will step on the toes of the Prime Minister’s Office, Joly said: “My job is to do my job.” “What I'm doing right now is engaging with my counterparts to try to find ways to bring back peace to the Middle East, to support Ukraine and Ukrainians, and at the same time, also to make sure we have a good relationship with the U.S., including having also a very strong stance on the question of China,” she said, before reiterating she stands behind the prime minister. The Sunday Strategy Session regular panel on CTV’s Question Period also weighed in on the issue. Joly told reporters she had no control over the date of the profile’s release, having given the interview months prior. Still, according to Scott Reid — a CTV News political analyst and former communications director to former prime minister Paul Martin — the timing is “damn strange,” especially factoring the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States. “If it had come out in August and September, that kind of era — we're back in the pre-Trump-tariff era, feels like it's an era ago — but if it had come out then in the fall, we were talking about Trudeau’s leadership and whether he was going to stay, I think it would have been a real thunderbolt, but now it feels like a piece that's out of sync with contemporary political reality,” Reid said. He added Trump being set to head back to the White House in January seems to have “emboldened” Trudeau to stay. Kory Teneycke, who was Ontario Premier Doug Ford's campaign manager and former director of communications for former prime minister Stephen Harper, agreed. He said the profile coming out at this point is actually likely “unwelcome” for Joly, who should avoid becoming the face of another potential insurrection from within cabinet. “I don't think it matters. He's not leaving,” Teneycke said. “There isn't a race to run in, as it stands right now. But it's not a welcome headline in a time of many troubles for these guys.” Kathleen Monk, a former NDP strategist and director of communications to the late Jack Layton, called the New York Times profile “a PR coup, but not a political coup,” especially when accounting for the timing of its publication. “Foreign Affairs is a hard place to run a leadership contest from,” she added. “It's too externally focused. 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Russian Embassy in Tehran condemns West’s anti-Iran actions at IAEA
Romania's far-right candidate Calin Georgescu on Saturday urged voters to go to polling stations despite the country's top court having scrapped the presidential elections over alleged irregularities amid claims of Russian interference. The court's shock ruling, coming just before the presidential run-off which had been due Sunday, opens the way for a new electoral process starting from scratch in the EU and NATO member state bordering war-torn Ukraine. The annulment follows a spate of intelligence documents declassified by the presidency this week detailing allegations against Georgescu and Russia, including claims of "massive" social media promotion and cyberattacks. Georgescu -- who unexpectedly topped last month's first round of voting -- called for voters on Sunday "to wait to be welcomed, to wait for democracy to win through their power", said a statement from his team. "Mr. Calin Georgescu believes that voting is an earned right," said the statement. "That is why he believes that Romanians have the right to be in front of the polling stations tomorrow." Georgescu himself would go to a polling station near Bucharest at 0600 GMT, said his team. Earlier Saturday, police raided three houses in Brasov city in central Romania as part of the investigation "in connection with crimes of voter corruption, money laundering, computer forgery". Among the houses searched was that of businessman Bogdan Peschir, a TikTok user who according to the declassified documents allegedly paid $381,000 to those involved in the promotion of Georgescu, Romanian media reported. Peschir has compared his support for Georgescu to the world's richest man Elon Musk's backing of US president-elect Donald Trump. Little-known outsider Georgescu, a 62-year-old former senior civil servant, was favourite to win the second round on Sunday against centrist pro-EU mayor Elena Lasconi, 52, according to several polls. But the constitutional court on Friday unanimously decided to annul the entire electoral process as it was "marred... by multiple irregularities and violations of electoral legislation". President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday that he had discussed with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, and they agreed on the "need to strengthen the security of social media". The European Commission announced earlier this week that it had stepped up monitoring TikTok after Romania's authorities alleged "preferential treatment" of Georgescu on the platform -- a claim the company has denied. More from this section Following the court's decision, the United States said it had faith in Romania's institutions and called for a "peaceful democratic process". Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., on X branded the vote's cancellation an "attempt at rigging the outcome" and "denying the will of the people". Georgescu called it "a formalised coup d'etat" and said democracy was "under attack". His team on Saturday declined to comment on the raids, saying they "will not comment or provide answers until we have exact data". Georgescu and another far-right party, the AUR, have said they plan to appeal the decision to stop the voting to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. A past admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Georgescu, an EU and NATO sceptic, in recent days had reframed himself as "ultra pro-Trump," vowing to put Romania "on the world map" and cut aid for neighbouring Ukraine. In an interview with US broadcaster Sky News on Saturday, Georgescu said there were no links between him and Russia. Political scientist Costin Ciobanu told AFP that the annulment has "further polarised Romanian society". With trust in institutions and the ruling class already low, the vote's cancellation poses a "major danger that Romanians will think that it doesn't matter how they vote", Ciobanu added. Elsewhere in the EU, Austria annulled presidential elections in 2016 because of procedural irregularities. In Romania, a new government is expected to set another date for the presidential vote. In last weekend's legislative elections, the ruling Social Democrats came top. But far-right parties made big gains, securing an unprecedented third of the ballots on mounting anger over soaring inflation and fears over Russia's war in Ukraine. In a joint appeal on Wednesday, the Social Democrats and three other pro-EU parties -- together making up an absolute majority in parliament -- signed an agreement to form a coalition, promising "stability". bur-jza/jjStocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda’s U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Major stock indexes rose on Wall Street in afternoon trading Monday, after a choppy start to a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered from an early slide to gain 29 points, or 0.1% as of 3:40 p.m. Eastern time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%. Gains in technology and communications stocks helped outweigh losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.3%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1.2%. Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 13.4%, while Nissan slipped 0.2%. Eli Lilly rose 3.5% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.6% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets were mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas. Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga, The Associated Press
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Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, giving the market its fifth gain in a row and notching another record high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The Dow added 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tacked on 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts’ estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks rose on Wall Street in afternoon trading Friday, keeping the market on track for its fifth straight gain. The S&P 500 was up 0.2% and was solidly on track for a weekly gain that will erase most of last week's loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 333 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite was essentially flat with a gain of less than 0.1% as of 3:07 p.m. Eastern. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 10.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 1.5% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.4% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 were gaining ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.3%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.6%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.8% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, Bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December. Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga, The Associated Press‘Tis the season to pick the perfect gift. And with less than two weeks until the holidays, Page Six’s expert editors are making their lists and checking them twice. In addition to asking stars what they’re gifting , we’ve broken down all of our own go-to present picks for 2024 below — from the “perfect” fragrance to some of the best jewelry we’ve tried all year. Parachute Percale Sheet Set “These are the best sheets, period. Cool to the touch and soft yet crisp. I’m asking for a second set this Christmas because I keep re-making my bed with the sheets I already own right after washing them.” — Melissa Minton, Page Six Style Senior Writer/Editor Jenny Bird Tome Hoops “Jenny Bird’s jewelry is my biggest hack for instantly elevating an outfit. Even jeans and a T-shirt look infinitely more polished when paired with these expensive-looking earrings, making them an incredible gift. After all, who can’t use another pair of hoops?” — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer Mar Soreli Ginger Mary Jane Flats “Slippers always make stellar holiday gifts, but why not go a step further (pun intended) by giving a pair they can wear out of the house, too? I fell in love with friulane — the traditional velvet slippers worn by gondoliers in Venice — when I visited Italy last year, and these Mary Janes are a beautiful twist on the classic style. They’re also incredibly comfortable and feel festive enough for any holiday party.” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum “I’ve tried almost every Phlur fragrance and have a steady rotation of over three that I can’t get enough of. My favorite is the beloved Missing Person; it’s perfectly subtle yet addicting and plays well when layered with other scents. If you can get your hands on it, it’d make the perfect gift for anyone.” — Melissa Minton, Page Six Style Senior Writer/Editor Minted Hand-Painted Custom Ornament “This hand-painted home ornament is perfect for people like my parents who are transitioning from our childhood home to life in retirement. It’s also so beautiful that it won’t clunk up the tree like an actual chunky home ornament.” — Caroline Blair, Page Six Reality TV Reporter Snif Old Saint Wick Candle “This candle makes such a great gift. It smells amazing, and it’s so aesthetically pleasing that it can fit in with anyone’s home decor. We also use this candle all season long (not just for the holidays) as it’s the perfect winter scent.” — Tori Schneebaum, Page Six Photo Director Ugg Tasman Slippers “I got a pair of cozy Ugg slippers a few months ago and have worn them nonstop since. They’re the perfect present for the homebody on your list.” — Kelsey Stewart, Page Six Style Writer Pat McGrath Labs Mini MatteTrance Lipstick Trio “Beauty sets are some of my favorite gifts to give, and nobody makes better lipsticks than Pat McGrath. This trio of minis includes the perfect red Elson, the coral rose Beautiful Stranger and the peach sienna Fever Dream — a fab present for anyone who appreciates a statement lip.” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director Shani Darden Skincare Cleansing Serum “Shani Darden is one of the most celeb-loved aestheticians out there — and while you might not be able to treat your loved ones to an appointment, her products make great gifts. My mom’s a fan of her whole regimen, including this serum-like cleanser that emulsifies on the skin, adding a little luxury to her nighttime routine. I’m planning to slip a refill in her stocking, along with the brand’s Jennifer Aniston-loved Retinol Reform .” — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer Vrai Baguette Cluster Studs “If you’re in the market for something small and sparkly this season, Vrai makes some of my favorite lab-grown diamond designs on the market. How cool are these baguette-cut studs?!” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director Alo Yoga Make Waves Hoodie “Not all hoodies are created equal — and this fleecy French terry-lined design is by far the coziest I own. It single-handedly gotten me through plenty of winter WFH days, and it’ll definitely be on heavy rotation all season long. The perfect gift for anyone who loves to stay cozy. (One note: I’d recommend sizing down if you’re in between sizes, as it’s meant to fit oversized).” — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer Louis Vuitton Pre-Loved Vavin Chain Wallet “Come holiday time, my husband knows the way to my heart: fine jewelry and beautiful bags. I’m obsessed with the trunk-inspired clasp and detailing on this Vuitton design, which can be carried as either a clutch or a crossbody. Hint, hint!” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director Monos Compressible Packing Cubes “Holiday break is coming up and the Monos packing cubes are a must have for all holiday travel. These packing cubes saved my life during our Euro trip and they are the perfect practical gift for the jet-setter in your life. They come in a variety of different colors so you can match the cubes to their luggage set!” — Tori Schneebaum, Page Six Photo Director Jenny Bird U-Link Earrings “My sister-in-law has an unfortunate habit of misplacing earrings, so I try to replenish her stash when special occasions roll around. I’m currently eyeing these Jenny Bird beauties for her; they’re the perfect blend of classic and modern, and right in line with her personal style. Crucially, they also open and close with a hinge, which means no earring backs to lose!” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash “This Aesop hand wash is to die for and so divine. I never feel like splurging on it for myself, so I’m asking for it for the holidays! It also makes a fabulous stocking stuffer, because who doesn’t love some great soap?” — Caroline Blair, Page Six Reality TV Reporter Fossil Plated Stainless Steel Ring “This chain-link style is one of my new everyday go-tos (and as someone who wears at least three rings every day, that’s saying something). Bonus: It’s stretchy, so you’ll have a little bit of leeway if you don’t get your giftee’s ring size exactly right.” — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer Adoore Alba Blazer “I have this blazer in black, and when I tell you I live in it all fall and winter, I’m not exaggerating! When I saw Adoore came out with it in another color, it was an immediate add to my Christmas list.” — Kristin McNamara, VP of Influencer Marketing & Franchise Growth Banana Republic Baroque Pearl Pendant Necklace “I have plenty of fun jewelry and basic pieces, but I want to spice up my everyday accessories. Pearls never go out of style, and the chain is a perfect length for me.” — Caroline Blair, Page Six Reality TV Reporter Dairy Boy The Barn Jacket “Barn jackets are having a major moment right now, and this cute cropped version’s one of my favorites. As a born-and-raised New Englander, I love Paige Lorenze’s Vermont-inspired designs . While the brown color I have is currently sold out, it’s still in stock (for now) in pale pink with the same cute zippered pocket and embossed back.” — Hannah Southwick, Page Six Commerce Writer Vince Feather-Appliquéd Italian Cable-Knit Sweater “I’ve been obsessing over this Vince cable-knit sweater with feather appliques. It’s perfect for a holiday gathering or winter weekend getaway.” — Kristin McNamara, VP of Influencer Marketing & Franchise Growth Alo Runner “These are seriously the best, most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I’m not even a runner but I have been living in these sneakers for long walks, errands, etc. If someone in your life needs new sneaks, look no further than these. Plus, they are high quality and at a great price point!” — Brooke Matalon, Page Six Social Media Marketing Manager Fancy Feast x Jenny Lyons Set for Delight Collection “I couldn’t possibly leave my fur baby, Liz Lemon, out of my gifting picks! Fellow cat lady Jenna Lyons’ collaboration with Fancy Feast is as, well, fancy as you’d expect, with eight plates — four for felines, four for humans — featuring whimsical illustrations by the fashion icon herself. Just the thing for a holiday dinner pawty!” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director SaySo Cocktail Tea Bags “The perfect stocking stuffers! For the person who loves a good cocktail, these are super cute cocktail mixers in a tea bag. They are shockingly flavorful, easy to make and low-cal.” — Brooke Matalon, Page Six Social Media Marketing Manager Scotch & Soda Wool Blend Peacoat “I typically gift my husband clothing of some sort for every major occasion — mostly because he hates shopping for himself, but also because I have a ton of fun styling him! He’s been wearing the same old peacoat for close to a decade and could really use an upgrade, and this coffee-colored number might be just the ticket.” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style & Shopping Director Vitamin A Terra Triangle Top “Bathing suits are one of my favorite articles of clothing — and since my family travels to warm weather every year during Christmas, I often like to gift swim! It’s something my entire family needs around that time of the year, and the trip always sneaks on us. I’ll be gifting my sister this Vitamin A triangle bikini because the print is super chic and fun — plus Vitamin A’s quality is completely unmatched!” — Kelly Laske, Page Six Senior Social Media Editor Vince Herringbone Wool-Blend Cardigan Jacket “Who doesn’t love a good, high-quality sweater? Vince is the brand for a cozy, luxurious sweater that can be dressed up or down. This wool cardigan is perfect for a day in the office or over a slip dress during a night out. I should be buying this for someone else but I may have to get it for myself!” — Kelly Laske, Page Six Senior Social Media Editor The Well Gift Card “There is nothing better than treating someone you love to a day of wellness! From cold plunges and infrared saunas to massages and facials, my favorite place that has it all is The Well. It has quickly become a staple in my ‘treat yourself’ routine and it’s the best way to combat the winter blues.” — Tori Schneebaum, Page Six Photo Director Roller Rabbit Jemina Toiletry Case “I have to replace my makeup bags pretty often because of how damaged they get from travel and makeup going in and out. I am obsessed with this one from Roller Rabbit because it has a water-resistant lining that’ll be be much easier to clean and keep nice over time. And to top it off, it’s the cutest pattern that’s the perfect vibe for a sunny travel destination! Who doesn’t love a fresh makeup bag? This is the perfect gift for anyone or a good item to treat yourself to.” — Kelly Laske, Page Six Senior Social Media Editor Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping This article was written by Hannah Southwick , Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles , puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.
Dwayne Johnson has said fans should feel free to sing in the cinema, as he attended the UK premiere of Moana 2. "Especially if you love music, that's the fun part," the US star, aka The Rock, told BBC News on the red carpet. Auli'i Cravalho and Johnson are reprising their roles as the voices of Moana and Maui respectively in the film, a sequel to 2016's musical adventure. Recently, there has been a debate on social media around whether people should sing along in cinemas, sparked by the release of Wicked a few days ago. Some have argued fans should be able to express their enjoyment as they like, while others say singing ruins other people's experiences. Johnson, however, made his views on cinema etiquette clear. “Sing! You’ve paid your hard earned money for a ticket, and you've gone into a musical, and you’re into it. Sing," he said. The original film followed an adventurous Polynesian teenage girl who sets on a mission across the ocean to save her people. Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years later for a new voyage alongside a crew of “unlikely seafarers”, Disney has said. On Sunday evening, London's Leicester Square was transformed into a Polynesian island, complete with palm trees, a beach, and dancers. And, while the weather was distinctly untropical, scores of fans turned up hoping to catch a glimpse of Cravalho and Johnson. Cravalho, who was just 16 when she made her acting debut as Moana, has since starred in films including 2024's Mean Girls as well as appearing on stage. But she said she was still "so excited" to be returning to the role of Moana. “I think Moana is at the forefront of a conversation where the word princess and the word hero are now interchangeable," she told BBC News. "She is strong, she is brave, she is not afraid to grab a demigod by the ear. She looks strong as well, at the helm of her ship." Johnson, a 52-year-old ex-wrestler, voices the part of gregarious demigod Maui in the animation. When asked about the similarities between the two roles, he said there is a clear difference. “Maui [is] actually is a demigod," he said. "The difference is wrestlers think that they’re demigods, but they’re not. I know that because I was one of them," he said with a laugh. Johnson, who is also starring as Maui in the upcoming live-action Moana remake, said that his three daughters "love" seeing him take on the role. "Because they see themselves in Moana, they feel they’re represented and they feel a sense of representation from the film too," he said. Cravalho, meanwhile, said that when she was cast as Moana, she "never could have expected... just how impactful this character would be". "I knew it would change my life, but it seems to have also changed many other people’s lives as well," she said. "So sometimes when I meet kids who are at that really special age, I feel like Santa, where they look at me and say, 'You’re Moana!' And they believe it! And it warms my heart.” Many fans of the film, who were children when the original was released eight years ago, will now be teenagers or adults. Disney will therefore be hoping the film appeals both to the nostalgia audience as well as a new generation of children. But it faces tough competition, coming just days after Wicked was released. The original Moana made $687m (£540m) at the box office worldwide, and scored two Oscar nominations. It was the most streamed movie of 2023 in the US, according to Disney. A sequel was previously in development as a Disney+ series, but the company surprised fans in February when it revealed it would take the film to cinemas instead. Songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda - who was nominated for an Oscar for the original - has not returned to work on the music for the sequel. Instead, the songs have been created by four composers, including songwriting duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, who rose to fame in 2022 after creating an unofficial Bridgerton musical on TikTok. Moana 2 is in UK cinemas on 29 November.NoneBofA Securities reports that the Life Sciences Tools sector struggled in fiscal year 2024. Spending by pharmaceutical and biotech companies dropped after pandemic-related overspending, and demand in China stayed weak. This led some Life Sciences companies to lower their already-conservative fiscal year revenue forecasts as the year progressed. For most of fiscal year 2024, Life Sciences company valuations remained higher than pre-COVID levels but declined after the U.S. elections. Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025, initial forecasts and management comments suggest a mixed outlook. The first half of the year is expected to mirror the challenges of late fiscal year 2024, while the second half could see improvement due to easier year-over-year comparisons, potential economic stimulus in China, and a broader market recovery. After being cautious for most of the past year, the analyst sees some positive signs. The bioprocess market, important for certain Core Tools vendors, has been improving steadily and is expected to stabilize in 2025. Although China’s stimulus has taken longer than expected, it is starting to lead to some new orders. Valuations are still higher than the historical average, but they aren’t as high as in previous years, creating some good opportunities for stock picking. BofA upgraded Danaher Corp DHR to Buy from Neutral, maintaining the price target of $290 . In 2024, Danaher struggled with challenges like reduced bioprocessing inventory, a slowdown in China, and lower spending from biotech and pharma customers. Also Read: Danaher’s Q3 Earnings Boosted By Bioprocessing Order Growth, Analyst Maintain Stock Rating Analysts believe that bioprocessing, an important market, is nearly back to normal and should see steady demand in 2025. Although China is still facing difficulties, BofA expects a strong increase in orders in the fourth quarter due to stimulus efforts, with positive effects likely starting in 2025. BofA has also upgraded Revvity RVTY from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $138 . The company is at a turning point after making significant business changes in recent years. While management did not provide guidance for fiscal year 2025 at the recent Analyst Day, the long-term strategy remains largely the same. Even though the market is stabilizing in FY25, Revvity’s growth is expected to be below its 6-8% target range. As short-term industry challenges continue to lessen, BofA expects Revvity to perform well, bolstered by recent acquisitions. Price Action: At last check Friday, DHR stock was down 0.15% at $234.14, and RVTY stock was down 1.56% at $114.21. Read Next: Drug Price Hikes Unsupported By Evidence Cost US $815 Million: ICER Report © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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By DEVNA BOSE One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used “physician work time values,” which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it’s unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It’s not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . Related Articles National News | The next census will gather more racial, ethnic information National News | As data centers proliferate, conflict with local communities follows National News | NASA’s stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go National News | Imprisoned Proud Boys leader balks at answering a prosecutor’s questions about Capitol attack National News | 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. “If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem’s announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn’t affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City.Anna Jaques Hospital notifies 316,300 people about 2023 ransomware attack
