7 eleven bet

Beyond Bank and Cognizant join forces to lead the future of customer-owned banking

'What are we doing': Zachary City Council considers restriction on residential developmentWell, it's December, and the year is winding down to its inevitable conclusion. December and January are normally fairly sleepy months in terms of big ASX news. Saying that, investors do sometimes enjoy the fabled 'Santa rally', as was the case last year. However, even though 2025 is nearly upon us, there are still a few ASX 300 shares that will trade ex-dividend before the year is out. Many of the ASX's biggest shares and ( ). The latest dividends from these ASX 300 shares will arrive later this month. But even so, new investors are no longer eligible to receive these payments as these stocks have already passed their ex-dividend dates. However, the three ASX 300 shares named below, which are scheduled for dividend payments in January, have not. As such, those who want to secure their latest payouts still have time to buy the shares before the ex-dividend date. 3 ASX 300 dividend shares trading ex-dividend in December As of yesterday's close, Elders was trading on a of 4.71%. Next replete with full franking credits. Clearly not a superstitious ASX 300 share, Metcash has selected Friday, 13 December, as the ex-dividend date for this upcoming payment. Payday for those eligible investors will then roll around next month on 29 January. Metcash last traded on a dividend yield of 5.07%. Finally, let's discuss another ASX 300 share and agricultural stock in ( ). This pays out its dividend distributions on a quarterly basis rather than the typical bi-monthly schedule. Rural Funds' latest quarterly dividend distribution is set to arrive on 31 January, right at the tail end of next month. However, the company will trade ex-dividend for this payment on 30 December. This payment will be worth 2.93 cents per share and, as is typical with a REIT, will not include franking credits. Rural Funds' current dividend yield is 6.36%.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she doesn’t believe she’ll need to invoke the Charter's notwithstanding clause to shield her government's three transgender bills from legal challenges. The bills passed third and final reading in the legislature this week and are set to become law. Two LGBTQ+ advocate organizations — Egale Canada and Skipping Stone Foundation — say they plan to file a legal challenge. It's anticipated the challenge will be on grounds the bills violate Charter rights, including equality rights. "I don’t want to prejudge the court," Smith told reporters at an unrelated news conference Wednesday when asked if she would use the notwithstanding clause. "We will put forward a robust case — that this (legislation) is reasonable in a free, democratic society, that it's evidence based, and that we're protecting children and their right to be able to make adult decisions as adults." One bill would require children under 16 to have parental consent if they want to change their names or pronouns at school. A similar law governs school policy in Saskatchewan, where the government invoked the notwithstanding clause last year, a measure that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years. The Alberta bills go further, encompassing a range of topics from sex education to transgender surgery and sports. One bill compels parents to opt-in for their children to receive lessons in school on sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity. Outside resources or presentations would also need to be pre-approved by the Education ministry, unless they're part of a religious school program. Physicians would be banned from offering gender-affirming treatment, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for those under 16. There would be a prohibition on gender-affirming "top" surgeries for minors. Transgender athletes would no longer be allowed to compete in female amateur sports, and sports organizations would be required to report eligibility complaints to the government. Bennett Jensen, Egale’s legal director, said the bills and the months of debate that preceded them have already hurt transgender children and athletes. Jensen said when political leaders discriminate against one segment of the population, it communicates that there is something wrong with that identity. “The consequences of having your identity debated in the public sphere for months is devastating,” Jensen said in an interview. "Anxiety is way up, depression is way up, bullying is way up, and this is without anything (legal) being in effect.” Jensen also took issue with Smith’s assertion that banning puberty blockers prevents children from making irreversible life decisions. "Puberty blockers do exactly what she is claiming to be wanting to protect for young people, which is afford them time and prevent irreversible changes," he said. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association said it may seek to be an intervener in the legal challenge. “This is a dark time for freedom in Alberta,” Harini Sivalingam, director of the association’s equality program, said in a statement. “The passage of these intrusive laws will severely erode the liberty of individuals and families to make deeply personal decisions about their lives.” NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said he expects some of the United Conservative Party government's legislation will be deemed unconstitutional by the courts and wondered why Smith believes her bill is different. “(Saskatchewan Premier) Scott Moe knew it was unconstitutional and used the notwithstanding clause pre-emptively,” Nenshi told reporters. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press

Janet Yellen departs from office — as she leaves a trail of mess behind her

NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”Brazil's lower chamber of Congress has taken a decisive step towards banning abortion in all circumstances, including situations currently allowed, such as fetal deformation, rape, or danger to the mother's health. The amendment received a 35-15 vote from the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, dominated by conservative members. The proposed legislation, championed by Chris Tonietto of the right-wing Liberal Party, would expand the right to life from conception rather than birth. This controversial bill now heads to a special committee for further discussion, which is slated for early next year. Progressive leaders have strongly opposed the measure, labeling it a major setback for women's rights and warning of its potential to halt stem cell research and exclude procedures like in vitro fertilization. Samia Bomfim of the Socialism and Liberty Party described the proposal as a 'shameless and perverse' provocation. (With inputs from agencies.)

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Government Accountability Office says leadership is needed to fully define quantum threat mitigation strategy. A new report released by the agency emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive federal leadership to address the emerging cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computing, warning that without prompt and coordinated action, adversarial nations might exploit quantum technology to undermine national security. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.