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VERO BEACH, Florida, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. ARR ("ARMOUR" or the "Company") today announced guidance on the January 2025 cash dividend for the Company's Common Stock of $0.24 per Common share. January 2025 Common Stock Dividend Information Month Dividend Holder of Record Date Payment Date January 2025 $0.24 January 15, 2025 January 30, 2025 Certain Tax Matters ARMOUR has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. In order to maintain this tax status, ARMOUR is required to timely distribute substantially all of its ordinary REIT taxable income. Dividends paid in excess of current tax earnings and profits for the year will generally not be taxable to common stockholders. Actual dividends are determined at the discretion of the Company's board of directors, which may consider additional factors including the Company's results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and capital requirements as well as current market conditions, expected opportunities and other relevant factors. About ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. ARMOUR invests primarily in fixed rate residential, adjustable rate and hybrid adjustable rate residential mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises or guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association. ARMOUR is externally managed and advised by ARMOUR Capital Management LP, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Safe Harbor This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. The Company disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Additional Information and Where to Find It Investors, security holders and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the Company at the SEC's internet site at www.sec.gov , or the Company website at www.armourreit.com , or by directing requests to: ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc., 3001 Ocean Drive, Suite 201, Vero Beach, Florida 32963, Attention: Investor Relations. Investor Contact: Gordon Harper Chief Financial Officer ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. (772) 617-4340 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.United States prosecutors on Tuesday asked a US judge to drop the criminal case accusing president-elect Donald Trump of seeking to overturn his 2020 election defeat, citing his impending return to the presidency following his successful 2024 campaign. Prosecutors working with special counsel Jack Smith cited a longstanding US justice department policy that sitting presidents should not face criminal prosecution. The move represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened US election integrity and national security. It shows how Trump's election victory over Democratic vice president Kamala Harris was not just a political triumph but also a legal one. Trump pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to four federal charges accusing the Republican of...A former city employee and ward boss for Ald. Jim Gardiner pleaded guilty Thursday to a gun charge after prosecutors said he tried to sell an antique machine gun to an undercover ATF agent while he was on the clock for his Streets and Sanitation job. Charles Sikanich, 41, admitted to one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon, but the judgment is deferred per a program for first-time gun offenders. Judge Kenneth Wadas ordered him to a 12-month probation term and to perform community service. Sikanich was arrested by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and Chicago police officers in April 2022 while continually making requests to allow him to contact Gardiner before he was placed in custody . Gardiner, who has had legal troubles of his own, represents the 45th Ward, which includes neighborhoods with a heavy presence of city employees on the Far Northwest Side. He has been the subject of an FBI probe reportedly around questions of whether he retaliated against constituents for political purposes, according to Tribune reporting. He has also been sued by constituents alleging wrongdoing in his role as an elected official. In February 2020, ATF investigators were tipped off by a confidential informant that Sikanich owned an MP 40 submachine gun and was interested in selling it. Sikanich asked the informant to find him a buyer, according to the Illinois attorney general’s office, which prosecuted the case. In May of that year, Sikanich met with the informant and an undercover ATF agent, and they tried to negotiate a sale price, authorities said. Agents staking out the meeting saw Sikanich arrive in his Department of Streets and Sanitation vehicle, prosecutors said. And time sheet records show he was on the clock at his city job during the time he allegedly was set to discuss the gun sale, according to prosecutors. In motion hearings throughout the past year, Sikanich’s attorneys have argued that the weapon was a non-operational war trophy and family heirloom. “If the state wants to charge anybody with a war relic, a war trophy today, what about all the cannons out in front of every VFW hall?” his attorney Jim McKay said at a motion hearing earlier this year. But Assistant Attorney General Jonas Harger countered that “whether they decided to hang it on the wall, it’s still a machine gun.” “I don’t care if General MacArthur himself gave it to his grandfather,” Harger said earlier this year.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Despite dealing with his share of injuries and learning a new offense, Justin Herbert is on one of the NFL's longest streaks without throwing an interception. Herbert enters the Los Angeles Chargers' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday having thrown 335 passes without a pick. That's the fifth-longest run in league history. Aaron Rodgers holds the record of 402 for Green Bay in 2018. “It’s one of those things where you go play quarterback and you’re not worried about it. If I throw an interception, it is what it is,” Herbert said. “I’m doing everything I can to take care of the ball and make sure that I’m not putting the team in harm’s way. At the end of the day, you got to be aggressive downfield and you got to take your shots.” Herbert suffered a sprained left ankle and bruised left leg in last Sunday's 19-17 loss at Kansas City , but was a full participant in practice Friday. He sat out Wednesday on the advice of trainers and took part in some drills Thursday. Herbert — whose last interception came midway through the first quarter on Sept. 15 at Carolina — has also joined Tom Brady as the only players who have not thrown an interception in 11 straight games with a minimum of 15 attempts in each. Brady accomplished the feat with New England in 2010. “It's pretty amazing. I said to him the other day, ‘Thank you for not having us overcome some interceptions.’ It's huge and has kept us in a lot of games,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “You have a smart quarterback that is trying to win the game. He's not trying to win stats and understands the importance of taking care of the football.” Herbert will face a Tampa Bay defense that has only six interceptions, tied for sixth fewest in the league. “He does a great job taking care of the football and understanding the offense," Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “If it’s not there, he can use his legs; if it’s there, he’s got a cannon of an arm. He can zip it in. He trusts his receivers — they do a good job of mixing it up.” The Chargers (8-5) have dropped two of their past three, but hold the second wild card spot in the AFC. The Bucs (7-6) have won three straight since their Week 11 bye, which gave them a chance to regroup following a stretch in which they lost five of six. All of the victories, which have carried them back to the top of the NFC South, have come against last-place teams (Giants, Panthers, Raiders). Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield has already matched a career high with 28 touchdown passes, but he hasn’t done as good a job of protecting the ball as he did a year ago. He’s thrown more interceptions through 13 games (13) than he did in 17 games (10) a year ago. He threw for 295 yards and three TDs during last week’s 28-13 win over Las Vegas , yet also turned the ball over three times to help the Raiders keep it close until the fourth quarter. “We have to understand, especially when we’re in the red zone and we’re in the scoring territory, we can’t turn it over. That’s No. 1,” Bowles said. “You don’t like the turnovers, period. Every now and then they can happen, but we have to do a better job taking care of the football as an offensive staff, period,” Bowles added. “Between the coaches and the players, we need to do a better job of focusing on exactly what we want to get done, how we need to get it done, and make sure we execute it every play. It’s not just on Baker, it’s on everybody.” Los Angeles leads the league in scoring defense, allowing 15.9 points per game. It is also fifth in sacks (39) and three-and-out percentage (24.3%) and seventh in third-down defense. “They’re really gap sound,” Mayfield said. “They don’t get bad eyes down there. Everybody does their part in whatever the play's called. Nobody tries to do too much and then like I said earlier, they fly to the ball. They don’t let you get explosives. Obviously, in the red zone, they’re closing windows pretty quick.” The Bucs are 7-1 in December and January regular-season games dating to last season and 19-5 in those games going back to 2020. The Chargers are the only opponent with a winning record that Tampa Bay will face over the final seven weeks of the season. Tampa Bay's running backs catching the ball out of the backfield. The Bucs are second in the league in receptions by running backs (85), first in receiving yards (726) and tied for the league lead with six touchdowns. Rachaad White is fourth among backs in yards after the catch with 420. He has 41 catches, and Bucky Irving has 36. “They're similar in the sense they can do the same things but different in style. They're both really shifty,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “The goal of offense is to get the ball to people in space with angles on blockers. They do a good of that.” AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Wikipedia at Elon Musk's crosshairs, slams its $50 million DEI budget, calls it 'Wokepedia'

NoneThe Vegas Golden Knights will be doing their fair share of welcoming back players to T-Mobile Arena this season. But the San Jose Sharks are preparing to do the same for forward Tomáš Hertl . Hertl will play his first game in SAP Center as an opposing team member when the Golden Knights face the Sharks on Friday at 7:30 p.m. “I’m excited for it. I can’t really tell you the feelings right now,” Hertl said. “It’ll be weird when I am on the other side and on the visiting team because I played 11 years [there.] We have some great rounds. I definitely want to thank the fans because I played there for a long time.” Hertl spent 11 seasons with the Sharks, who drafted the Czech at age 20. He was a long-time franchise cornerstone, helping lead them to five playoff appearances and one Stanley Cup final. Hertl scored 218 goals with 266 assists in 712 career games with the Sharks. He was traded to Vegas along with a 2025 and 2027 third-round pick on March 8 for a 2025 first-round pick, David Edstrom (Vegas’s first-round pick in 2023). The Sharks also retained 17 percent of Hertl’s salary. Hertl has worked towards getting into a groove since arriving in Vegas. His linemates have been shuffled around throughout his time as a Golden Knight. Despite this, he has 12 goals and 16 assists in 40 career games with Vegas. Despite the memories and inevitable “Welcome Back” video from the Sharks, Hertl understands the goal: help the Golden Knights win their first straight and ninth game in 10. “I want to still take the two points from there and have a good time,” Hertl said. “At the same time, I can’t wait to get over with it because I don’t really know what to expect from it. Honestly, I have never been in this situation in my life.” Paul Delos Santos is the Las Vegas sports insider for Dice City Sports. Follow him on X at @PaulDelos_ . This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.Essence Fashion Digest: Jaylen Brown Launches Athleisure Line, Louis Vuitton Footprint Soccer Shoe, And More

India, Pakistan share climate challenges but not solutions Two neighbouring nations get suffocated every winter by haze of pollution traversing their border ISLAMABAD: Choking smog, scorching heat and ravaging floods -- India and Pakistan share the same environmental challenges, offering a rare but unrealised opportunity for collaboration, according to experts. The neighbouring nations are suffocated every winter by a haze of pollution traversing their border. The countries, together making up a fifth of the world’s population, frequently blame each other for smog blustering into their respective territories. But this year pollution reached record highs in Pakistan’s eastern and most populous province of Punjab, prompting the regional government to make a rare overture calling for “regional climate diplomacy”. India did not comment and whether they will unite to face a common foe remains to be seen. However, experts agree the two countries cannot tackle climate threats in isolation. “We are geographically, environmentally and also culturally the same people and share the same climatic challenges,” said Abid Omar, founder of the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI). “We have to work transboundary,” he told AFP. India and Pakistan are at the mercy of extreme weather which scientists say is increasing in frequency and severity, owing to climate change. In both countries, nearly half of people live below the poverty line, in a state of precarity where climate disasters can be devastating. “One would like to think that an urgent shared threat would bring the two sides together,” Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at the Washington-based Wilson Center, told AFP. “The problem is that this hasn’t.” But India, one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and Pakistan, one of the smallest, have never aligned their environmental laws, school or traffic closures, or shared technology and data. Indian economist and climate expert Ulka Kelkar highlighted the potential to collaborate on electric vehicle technology suited to South Asian needs. “In our countries, it’s two wheelers and three wheelers which most people tend to use,” she told AFP. “So research and development of vehicular technologies, battery technologies that are suited for our road conditions, warmer climates, our passenger use -- that’s the sort of discussion and common development that can happen.” Experts say the geopolitical rivalry runs so deep that distrust undercuts any prospects of cooperation. The PAQI partnered with an Indian counterpart in 2019 to reconcile findings by installing matching air pollution sensors in each other’s countries. While breathing toxic air has catastrophic health consequences the one-year project was not renewed. They do hold regular discussions on one critical climate issue: sharing rights to the Indus River which bisects Pakistan but is fed by tributaries in India. However geopolitical posturing in September saw New Delhi lobby Islamabad for a review of their water-sharing treaty, citing cross-border militant attacks, according to Indian media.Ottawa police arrest suspect in Mooney's Bay area shooting

Trump sent JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to voicemail when he called to congratulate him on Election Day win: report

Digital Storytelling with Namo Author: A Comprehensive eBook Creation ToolCHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem all outstanding shares of its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series MM (CUSIP No. 060505FR0), liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), and the corresponding depositary shares each representing a 1/25 th interest in a share of the Preferred Stock (CUSIP No. 060505FQ2) (the "Depositary Shares"). The Depositary Shares will be redeemed simultaneously with the Preferred Stock on the upcoming dividend payment date on January 28, 2025 (the "Redemption Date"), at a redemption price of $1,000 per depositary share. Declared dividends of $21.50 per depositary share in respect of the outstanding Depositary Shares for the full current semi-annual dividend period from, and including, July 28, 2024 to, but excluding, January 28, 2025 will be paid separately on January 28, 2025 , to holders of record on January 1, 2025 , in the customary manner. Accordingly, the redemption price of $1,000 per depositary share does not include any accrued and unpaid dividends. Dividends on the redeemed Depositary Shares will cease to accrue on the Redemption Date. The Depositary Shares are held through The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and will be redeemed in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. Payment to DTC for the Depositary Shares will be made by Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively, as redemption agent. The address for the redemption agent is as follows: Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Attn: Corporate Actions 150 Royall St. Canton, MA 02021 This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the certificate of designation governing the Preferred Stock or the deposit agreement governing the Depositary Shares. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States , serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States , its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 , and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts . www.bankofamerica.com Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire , Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 lee.mcentire@bofa.com Jonathan G. Blum , Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 jonathan.blum@bofa.com Reporters May Contact: Jocelyn Seidenfeld , Bank of America Phone: 1.646.743.3356 jocelyn.seidenfeld@bofa.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-of-america-announces-full-redemption-of-its-series-mm-preferred-stock-and-related-depositary-shares-302338391.html SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

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B.C. NDP government, Greens forge confidence agreement with 'shared priorities'

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Mikel Arteta hailed the best away European performance of his Arsenal reign after watching his side dismantle Sporting Lisbon 5-1. The Gunners delivered the statement Champions League victory their manager had demanded to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Inter Milan last time out. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track, lifting them to seventh place with 10 points in the new-look 36-team table. It was Arsenal’s biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter by the same scoreline in 2003. “For sure, especially against opposition we played at their home who have not lost a game in 18 months – they have been in top form here – so to play with the level, the determination, the purpose and the fluidity we showed today, I am very pleased,” said Arteta. “The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live they are so good! They were all exceptional today. It was a big performance, a big win and we are really happy. “The performance was there a few times when we have played big teams. That’s the level that we have to be able to cope and you have to make it happen, and that creates belief.” A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners took the lead after only seven minutes when Martinelli tucked in Jurrien Timber’s cross, and Saka teed up Havertz for a tap-in to double the advantage. Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Declan Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Viktor Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after David Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved. A miserable night for prolific Sporting striker Gyokeres was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.