CIBC Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in Virtu Financial, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VIRT – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 7,935 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $242,000. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in Virtu Financial during the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Virtu Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Virtu Financial by 55.3% in the 1st quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,193 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 781 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Virtu Financial during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $46,000. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Virtu Financial by 21.0% during the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. 45.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Virtu Financial from $32.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Bank of America cut their target price on Virtu Financial from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Virtu Financial from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $35.00 price objective on shares of Virtu Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Virtu Financial from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, September 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $29.50. Virtu Financial Trading Down 3.0 % NASDAQ:VIRT opened at $36.69 on Friday. Virtu Financial, Inc. has a 1 year low of $16.02 and a 1 year high of $38.09. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $32.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $28.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The company has a market cap of $5.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 0.38. Virtu Financial ( NASDAQ:VIRT – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.03. Virtu Financial had a net margin of 7.29% and a return on equity of 23.22%. The firm had revenue of $388.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $379.18 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.40 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 30.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Virtu Financial, Inc. will post 2.71 EPS for the current year. Virtu Financial Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, December 15th. Investors of record on Sunday, December 1st will be paid a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.62%. Virtu Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.24%. Virtu Financial Profile ( Free Report ) Virtu Financial, Inc operates as a financial services company in the United States, Asia Pacific, Canada, EMEA, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Market Making and Execution Services. Its product includes offerings in execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics and broker-neutral, capital markets, and multi-dealer platforms in workflow technology. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VIRT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Virtu Financial, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VIRT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Virtu Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Virtu Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

— Act to bring uncertainties to bilateral ties next year: expert BEIJING: The US determined to sign into law the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” containing negative content on China, playing up the “China threat” narrative year after year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a routine press conference on Tuesday. The development comes following US President Joe Biden signed into law the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.” China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests to the US, said Mao, while urging the US not to implement these negative articles concerning China. It [the US] has kept trumpeting for military support to Taiwan, abusing state power to go after Chinese sci-tech and economic development, limiting trade, economic and people-to-people exchanges between China and the US, undermining China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and disrupting efforts of the two sides in stabilizing bilateral relations. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests to the US, said the spokesperson. We urge the US to get rid of its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, view China’s development and China-US relationship objectively and rationally, earnestly observe the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, stop arming Taiwan, stop politicizing and weaponizing sci-tech, economic and trade issues, stop finding pretext for increasing military expenditure and maintaining hegemony, and not to implement these negative articles concerning China, said Mao, noting that otherwise, China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests. According to Reuters on December 18, the act steers resources toward countering China. Among other things, the bill authorizes $300 million to help the Taiwan island acquire capabilities from “anti-ship missiles and radars to coastal and missile defense, and measures to enhance diplomatic and economic backing” for the island. It also includes new restrictions on China and Chinese businesses, including requiring reports on China’s economic outlook, biotechnology industry and synthetic opioids. The bill also extends bans on the military purchasing Chinese products, adding bans on drone technology as well as garlic in military commissaries, Reuters reported. Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that “the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 will bring a negative impact and uncertainties to China-US relations next year, because it is an act aimed at meeting the demands of hawkish and anti-China forces to hype the ‘China threat’ rhetoric worldwide and provide pretexts for the US military industrial complex to earn more money.” Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestionCam Carter put LSU ahead for good with a jumper 1:08 into the third overtime and the Tigers came away with a wild 109-102 win over UCF on Sunday in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Carter's make sparked a 5-0 spurt for LSU (5-1), which mounted a ferocious second-half rally that began after Darius Johnson drilled a 3-pointer to put the Knights up 52-34 with 12:57 to play in regulation. UCF (4-2) got back within two in the third overtime, but it never found a way to draw even. Vyctorius Miller and Jordan Sears sealed the victory, combining for three buckets down low that gave the Tigers a 106-99 cushion with 17 seconds remaining. Carter was the late-game hero for LSU, scoring the final four points of regulation to forge a 70-70 tie. He also knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:19 left in the first extra session to give the Tigers a 76-75 advantage. Sears gave LSU a four-point edge with a triple of his own with 2:10 to go, but the Tigers failed to stay in front, and UCF's Keyshawn Hall kept the game going by sinking two free throws with six seconds remaining to make it 82-82. Neither team led by more than three in the second overtime, with Hall again coming to the Knights' rescue. He made two layups in the final 52 seconds of the frame to knot things at 93 and send the teams to a third OT. Few could have predicted 15 minutes of extra basketball after UCF put together a 25-3 first-half run that lifted it to a 38-18 advantage with 2:12 left until the break. LSU responded with seven unanswered points, but the Knights still led comfortably, 40-25, at intermission. Sears finished with a game-high-tying 25 points to go along with nine boards, while Jalen Reed recorded a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double for the Tigers. Carter netted 20 points, Miller had 16 and Dji Bailey chipped in 14. Johnson collected 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals for UCF. Hall totaled 21 points and 10 boards, and Jordan Ivy-Curry supplied 20 points. LSU outshot UCF 43.2 percent to 40.7 percent and had narrow advantages from behind the arc (12 made shots to 10) and the free-throw line (21-18). --Field Level Media

After 36 years reporting the news, 12 of them as ABC foreign correspondent in London and Washington, DC, Lisa Millar never would have dreamt a show about farm dogs would become a career highlight. But for the “little kid from country Queensland who dreamt of becoming a journalist”, Muster Dogs is a joyous homecoming. After narrating two seasons of the reality contest, which crowns the best of five dogs-in-training around Australia, Millar takes an on-screen role in the four-part follow-up, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? Lisa Millar with Zoe and her dog Buddy on Muster Dogs: Where are They Now? “Being in regional Australia feels familiar to me ... When I go out on a Back Roads trip or Muster Dogs , and you can see the stars, you hear the roosters in the morning, I love it,” says Millar, from Bali, where she is “fixing the work-life balance” after exiting ABC News Breakfast in August. It’s the first time she has visited Indonesia without reporting on “terrorist attacks or Australians doing the wrong thing”. Grateful that she accepted what she initially thought was an unusual offer to narrate Muster Dogs in 2022, Millar is blown away by its success. By the second season, which aired in January, more than 1 million Australians were tuning in. Overseas audiences have – pun warning – lapped it up, with fan mail streaming in from the US and the UK. Israeli viewer Shai Lieberman was so inspired he contacted trainer Frank Finger, who owns season one winner Princess Annie the kelpie. Lieberman appears in the special, learning the trade at Finger’s Clermont property in Queensland, with the aim of operating a therapy farm back home. “None of us expected Muster Dogs to take off as much as it has,” says Millar. “We must all desire a bit of kindness. We need people not backstabbing each other. It’s something kids can watch with their families. Whether you’re in the city or the country, people love dogs, and also, their dogs love dogs. The number of videos that I got from people wanting to share their dogs getting excited when it was Muster Dogs time and barking at the television. That happened on the first night it went to air.” Millar travels the length and breadth of the country to check in with the series’ stars, including season two winner, Buddy the border collie, trained by Zoe Miller on a Northern Territory cattle station. Season two contestant Lily with her dog Snow and some new pups. “Of course, people want to know, did the dogs end up working well?” says Millar. “Is Lucifer still a bad boy? What happened to Lucky, the deaf dog? Have the dogs had pups? We’ve also spent time with the trainers to reveal a bit more about what it meant for them to be thrust into the spotlight. “I think the reason Muster Dogs worked is that it’s so authentic. They’re not signing up to boost their Instagram followers. They have some funny stories about how they’ll be in the middle of nowhere and people will stop to get selfies with the dogs.” Living in an apartment in Melbourne, and juggling a hectic filming schedule, Millar doesn’t own a dog. She grew up with a family dog, but not a working one. Back then, she was more interested in honing her interviewing skills on her father, the late National Party MP Clarrie Millar. She treasures a cassette of one such “grilling”, recorded when she was 10 years old. “I’d asked him about the Olympics and politics and boycotts, and he was doing such a lovely job of answering me seriously and trying to help me learn, and I’m cutting him off, like, ‘Well, thanks very much Clarrie!’” Miller will soon head off to shoot another episode of Back Roads , a program she treasured watching with her late mother after returning from overseas postings. With that, season three of Muster Dogs under way, and its second companion book out on December 4, Millar is content doing, “the best job at the ABC”. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and it’s a wonderful feeling.” Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? premieres on Sunday, December 1, at 7.30pm on the ABC. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday .

Crest Whitestrips Are Back At Their Prime Day Sale Price — But Not For Long

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote . The closing of polls started a countdown to the announcement of official results as independent polling firms were preparing to release so-called quick counts. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front. Uruguay's staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the first round. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. His Broad Front coalition oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” ___ Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report. Nayara Batschke, The Associated PressNo. 24 Illinois stuns Rutgers on Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left

Lucknow: A day after by-election results for nine Uttar Pradesh Assembly constituencies were declared, political accusations flared on Sunday as opposition leaders from the BSP and SP alleged electoral malpractice, a charge vehemently denied by the ruling BJP. The BJP and its ally RLD secured seven of the nine seats and the SP grabbed the other two. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) failed to make any mark. Both BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav have now raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process, accusing the ruling party of irregularities. Yadav accused the BJP of “electronic booth capturing”. Calling for a forensic examination of the EVMs used, Yadav claimed that discrepancies in voting patterns would reveal widespread fraud. “Voters were prevented from casting their votes, yet the booths recorded high turnout. This indicates that someone else voted on their behalf,” he alleged. Yadav also accused the administration and police of removing SP booth agents and intimidating voters. Referring specifically to the Kundarki const- ituency, where BJP candidate Ramveer Singh won by around 1.45 lakh votes, Yadav alleged that his party’s candidate Haji Rizwan faced severe electoral malpractices. “This is the new-age electronic booth capturing,” Yadav said, demanding that the Election Commission review booth records and voter turnout data. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, BSP president Mayawati alleged that “fake voting” marred the bypolls. She claimed that malpractices, once prevalent during the ballot-paper era, are now being conducted through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). She added that such irregularities are more prevalent during by-elections than the general election. Citing this issue, Mayawati announced her party’s decision to abstain from contesting by-elections across the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, unless the EC implements strict measures to prevent fraudulent voting. However, she said that the BSP would continue to contest general elections with full preparation. Responding to the opposition’s accusations, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak launched a sharp counterattack. Maurya said Yadav was claiming that the SP would win all nine seats, but they were confined to just two. “They had demanded the cancellation of elections on three seats — Kundarki, Shishamau, and Mirapur. Out of these, the Shishamau seat has been won by the Samajwadi Party,” he added. “I have received information that the BJP candidate from Kundarki won by a margin of approximately 1.5 lakh votes, which has clearly frustrated Akhilesh Yadav,” Maurya said. “In the future, everyone will puncture the Samajwadi Party’s cycle, and Akhilesh Yadav, who dreams of coming to power in 2027, will not be seen anywhere near power not just in 2027 but even in 2047,” he added. Pathak too accused Yadav of being unable to accept defeat and dismissed his allegations as baseless. “The SP has lost its ground, and Akhilesh Yadav cannot come to terms with this defeat. Their allegations of rigging are a mere attempt to cover up their failure,” he said during a press conference. Pathak accused the SP of fostering hooliganism and lawlessness. Referring to incidents in Kannauj, Ayodhya, and Karhal, he said SP leaders have been involved in atrocities against Dalits and OBC women, yet Akhilesh Yadav remains silent. He further alleged that SP leaders focus on mafia, illegal property acquisitions and endangering the dignity and safety of women. He also slammed the Samajwadi Party (SP) for allegedly misleading voters with false promises and pointed out that even in postal ballots, the BJP maintained a significant lead over SP candidates. Pathak added that the SP’s biggest anguish is not just losing elections but also losing their core voter base. “Backward classes, Dalits, and even Muslims have distanced themselves from the SP. For the SP, Muslims are merely voters, not partners,” he said.

A number of festive foods are urgently being pulled from the supermarket shelves over fears they are riddled with a potentially deadly bacteria - which could trigger meningitis and sepsis . According to the Food Standards Agency, cheeses by Wicklow Farmhouse, including festive favourites brie and cheddar, must be recalled due to a potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes — a type of bacteria that causes a disease called listeriosis, which causes flu-like symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea in most people. Wicklow Farmhouse cheeses are currently being sold in independent stores as well as Aldi supermarkets in Ireland. In most severe cases of listeriosis, infections may spread to the bloodstream or brain, potentially bringing on meningitis or life-threatening sepsis. Those most at risk include the elderly, young children and anyone with a weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients. Pregnant women are also considered high risk, with almost one in five that get listeriosis suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth. Ballykilty Baking Brie St Killian Cheese Baking St Killian Cheese Wicklow Ban Wicklow Blue Brie St Killians Wicklow Farmhouse Cheddar Wedge Wicklow Gold Tomato & Herb, and Drunken Saint Stores across Ireland stock these cheeses, which have seen the 150g portions and their use-by dates impacted. The recall specifically affected those in Northern Ireland, The Food Safety Agency said, with buyers urged to return them for a full refund with no receipt required. The food watchdog said: "Point of sale notices will be displayed in the retail stores in Northern Ireland that are selling the products." Just a day prior, several other christmas -dinner> Christmas dinner staples were pulled off the shelves due to concerns over customers' health. Products included cabbage, cooked meats and cheeses made by Dunnes in Ireland which were also feared to contain Listeria. Dunnes Stores Wicklow Smoked Cheddar – 150g Dunnes Stores Wicklow Tomato & Herb Cheddar – 150g Dunnes Stores Wicklow Nettle & Chive Cheddar – 150g Dunnes Stores Wicklow Blue Brie – 150g Simply Better Irish Brie Cheese & Cranberry Quiche – 800g Simply Better Wicklow Ban in Ceramic Dish – 150g Simply Better Double Cream Wicklow Ban – 150g Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Cheese Selection – 735g Simply Better & Neven Maguire Cheese Selection – 705g According to the latest data in England and Wales from 2023, there were 177 cases of listeriosis up from 124 in the previous year. Of the cases reported last year, 32 were fatal.

Celebrity-inspired Thanksgiving recipes, plus last-minute holiday meal ideasDUBAI: After voting for Donald Trump in anger at the Biden administration’s perceived inaction on the Gaza war, many Arab Americans are now voicing concern as the victorious Republican candidate prepares to return to the White House with top team nominees vocal in their support for Israel. Former senior US intelligence officer Norman Roule, however, says the incoming Trump administration’s policy in this regard will be largely similar to that of President Joe Biden’s. “It is certainly true that many of the Trump senior designees are openly pro-Israel, but their rhetoric as to what they would do to support Israel is no different than the Biden administration itself,” he said on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking.” He believes one positive thing to look forward to is that Trump would avoid embroiling the US, Israel, or the region in an endless conflict in the Gaza Strip. “If there is a difference between the Biden approach and the Trump approach,” he said, “the Trump approach might be more of, to the Israeli government: Do what you feel is necessary, but do it efficiently, humanely, and quickly, we’re not looking to support Israel for an endless war there itself.” Roule stressed that America must end the war and facilitate aid access for the Palestinians in Gaza, who have suffered for over a year from a deepening humanitarian crisis, while at the same time ensuring Israel’s security from Hamas militants. “First, we must provide humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people who have suffered tremendously, largely because of Hamas’ use of this population as human sacrifice, but we must bring in international aid and end the conflict,” he said. “But at the same time, we must end the role of Hamas in threatening Israel. It’s not unfair that Israel seeks its security to prevent another repetition of Oct. 7.” On that fateful day in 2023, Hamas-led Palestinian militants carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 240 others hostage. Israel retaliated by launching a widespread bombing campaign on Gaza, killing at least 44,000 Palestinians within 14 months, according to the local health authority. Saudi Arabia has consistently condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has ruled out normalizing relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established. Roule lauded the Saudi leadership’s consistency and clear stance on the Palestine issue. “The Saudi foreign minister’s position has been consistent, it’s been clear, and it’s been directed to achieve what the entire Arab world seeks — a two-state solution that is fair to the Palestinian people, that allows security for Israel, and does not provide undue diplomatic recognition or other inducements to Israel before that diplomatic solution of the two-state relationship comes about,” he said. “So, I’m a big fan of Prince Faisal bin Farhan. His comments have been appropriate, and the comments of the Saudi leadership have also been quite clear,” he told Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Speaking.” Roule spent 34 years with the CIA covering the Middle East. For nine of those years, he was the national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Drawing on his background, he expressed skepticism about whether all parties would cooperate in reaching a two-state solution. “If that’s going to be difficult with the Israelis, you just have to imagine yourself right now: Is the president of the Palestinian Authority capable politically of bringing the Palestinians to a two-state solution? Will Hamas tolerate that?” he said. “And, indeed, the question that we all should ask ourselves is, if two-state discussions began today, what would Hamas, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Iran and the Houthis say about that? Would they support those talks? Would they try to upend those talks?” According to Roule, the “great unanswered question” is what the international community is doing to ensure that, if a two-state diplomatic approach is reached, it will be protected from “the malign actions of Iran and its proxies.” Asked if parts of the much-talked-about Saudi-US deal could still move forward despite the Kingdom’s stance on not normalizing relations with Israel without the two-state solution being achieved, he said the two countries “have a separate relationship that needs to progress at the same time. “And it’s been doing quite well in recent months,” he said. “Both the Biden administration in its remaining time and the (incoming) Trump administration will seek to implement the parts of the deal that are not related to Israel.” Despite the temporary pause in a comprehensive strategic agreement owing to the Gaza conflict, he sees collaboration continuing in areas like AI, green energy and regional stability. “We have a massive technological cooperation that’s ongoing, particularly in artificial intelligence,” Roule said. “The issue of data centers is coming to the forefront of the relationship, but also, as the Biden administration was working on its strategic agreement with the Saudi government, the sense in Washington is the movement of that deal was quite positive and was only upended by the Gaza conflict.” Roule expects to see continued progress on elements of that deal, which “provides Saudi Arabia and the US with what they need to maintain and build what is a very positive and critical relationship for the US and for the region.” Moving on to Lebanon, Roule said that to bring peace to the war-torn country, “there’s a simple solution with a difficult approach to get there. “We need first to remove Lebanese Hezbollah north of the Litani (River) to empower the Lebanese armed forces to come south of the Litani and do their job — and be able to do so without fear of Lebanese Hezbollah,” he said. Nevertheless, he stressed that the first priority is to “end the conflict” and “end the suffering of the Lebanese people, end the suffering of the Israeli people.” Pointing to the fact that “60,000 Israelis have left their home and prior to the Lebanese recent conflict, 100,000 Lebanese were not going into their homes, and now we have a million displaced Lebanese,” Roule said: “We’ve got to make that our first priority.” Achieving peace in Lebanon, according to Roule, hinges on one key factor: “The Lebanese people must be willing to stand up against Lebanese Hezbollah.” Elaborating on the point, he said: “This isn’t something that we’re going to be able to do. And I’ll close by saying that one bit of diplomatic guidance that in the intelligence community we often give to diplomats is: We can’t want a solution more than the people on the ground. “The Lebanese people must appoint a president, empower their armed forces, push back on Lebanese Hezbollah.” He is sure that once the Lebanese decide on the political solution, the US “will assist them and support them and provide them with billions of dollars of aid. “But, at a certain point, the political solution must be their own.” Asked about the outlook for the war in Lebanon, especially after Israeli official Michael Freund told the Jerusalem Post that southern Lebanon is actually “northern Israel,” Roule said “harsh rhetoric” is “coming from all sides — Lebanese Hezbollah, elements of the Israeli government, and Palestinians themselves — on all of these issues.” President-elect Trump pledged throughout his campaign to quickly end the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Roule believes that Trump, who opposes “endless wars,” will pursue this goal by surrounding himself with people who share his worldview. “President Trump does see himself as a deal maker and he assigns to key positions around him individuals with the same worldview,” he said. “So, you’re going to get individuals who are generally sympathetic toward Israel, confident of the strong US relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council states, willing to deter Iran, willing to do what it takes to keep the US out of regional conflicts, but willing also to push back on adversaries.” While Trump does not want to see the US in a war in the Middle East or in Europe any more than President Biden, the two administrations’ approach to these issues in significantly different ways, according to Roule. “President Trump’s goal appears to be how do we bring some sort of agreement together that stops the killing and restores the diplomatic channels so that we can bring about peace in Europe,” he said. He added that Trump’s goal in regard to Iran is “probably” similar. “Iran needs to reduce its nuclear program, cease its regional adventurism, and act like a normal nation,” Roule said. “If Iran is willing to do this, as we’ve seen in the previous Trump administration, they will offer engagement. “But if not, in either of these cases, what you’re going to see is likely the Trump administration not unwilling to provide Ukraine with more weapons, because Russia won’t cooperate — and also to conduct significant pressure against Iran.” When asked whether Ukrainians and Europeans fear that Trump’s policies might prioritize Russia in a deal and pressure Kyiv, the EU, and NATO to accept it — much like the withdrawal from Afghanistan — Roule responded that the US approach would ultimately depend on whether the issue is deemed existential to its interests. “The Trump administration’s position is going to be: If this is an existential issue for Europe, then it must act accordingly. And there are some countries in Europe which still will not meet their NATO obligations,” he said. “The Trump administration’s position is going to be, not unreasonably, if this is existential for us and we must participate accordingly, why isn’t it existential for you?” Turning to Ukraine, Roule said this has been “a costly, bloody war” within the country. “They’ve lost many of their people to Russian aggression. This is a criminal invasion of another country,” he said. “That said, if you’re interested in stopping the violence, at some point all wars come to a diplomatic solution. They may not be attractive, but that solution is needed.”Former Boise State coach Chris Petersen still gets asked about the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma on the first day of 2007. That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. "Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things," Petersen said. "But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win." Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. "They just needed consistency of leadership," said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. "This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level." But Koetter referred to "an unfortunate chain of events" that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. "One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program," Koetter said. "Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here." But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. "As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they've pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint," Koetter said. "So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure." Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. "I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada," Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. "That team would've done some damage." There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal. Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship. Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal. Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy. "Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here," Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It's because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven't been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, 'We're going to get that done.' They went to work." As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. "It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, 'Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,'" Petersen said. 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