Pearl was working as the South Asia bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal in 2002 when he was kidnapped in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, while reporting on Richard Reid, the British terrorist known as the “shoe bomber.”
The high profile abduction drew international attention, amid growing concern over the threat posed by radical Islamic terrorism.
Assailants later filmed Pearl’s beheading and sent it to United States officials. It was among the first propaganda videos targeting hostages created by extremists, and helped to inspire other terror groups to film horrific and egregious acts of violence.
Four men were arrested in 2002, and convicted of the kidnap and murder of Pearl. One, British national Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, was given the death penalty.
In April last year, a high court in Sindh province, where Karachi is located, overturned the convictions of three of the four men and reduced Sheikh’s sentenced to seven years in prison, meaning he was eligible for release on time served.
The court said the men had “suffered irreparable harm and extreme prejudice” after spending 18 years behind bars prior, and in December ordered all four to be set free, but both the Pearl family and the Pakistani authorities appealed to the country’s Supreme Court, which on Thursday ruled against them.
According to a statement from lawyer Faisal Siddique Said, the family was “in complete shock” at the majority decision, which they described as a “complete travesty of justice” which would endanger journalists and the people of Pakistan.
The statement urged the US government “to take all necessary actions under the law to correct this injustice” and added that the family hoped the Pakistani authorities would also act.
ADDITIONAL ONE-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOSES WILL BE SENT OUT TO STATES NEXT WEEK. PATRICK: WISCONSIN REPORTED MORE THAN 1300 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES TODAY, AS WELL AS 54 MORE DEATHS CONNECTED TO THE VIRUS. THE STATE’S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE NEW CASES DROPPED AGAIN TODAY TO 15
COVID-19 in Wisconsin: 5,753 deaths
Get the latest information on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Wisconsin and resources to keep you and your family safe and prepared.
Updated: 2:24 PM CST Jan 26, 2021
Get the latest information on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Wisconsin and resources to keep you and your family safe and prepared. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in WisconsinStatistics:At least 5,753 patients have died so far At least 362,505 vaccines have been administered as of TuesdayAt least 535,218 patients have tested positive for the coronavirus in Wisconsin since the outbreak began.93,768 patients in Milwaukee County — 1,122 deaths38,608 patients in Waukesha County — 429 deaths37,352 patients in Dane County — 240 deaths28,956 patients in Brown County — 190 deaths19,623 patients in Racine County — 293 deaths18,128 patients in Outagamie County — 176 deaths16,376 patients in Winnebago County — 166 deaths14,057 patients in Kenosha County — 265 deaths 13,597 patients in Rock County — 137 deaths 13,162 patients in Marathon County — 169 deaths13,125 patients in Washington County — 119 deaths12,358 patients in Sheboygan County — 112 deaths11,439 patients in Fond du Lac County — 80 deaths11,417 patients in La Crosse County — 70 deaths 11,071 patients in Dodge County — 142 deaths 10,389 patients in Eau Claire County — 97 deaths8,503 patients in Walworth County — 116 deaths7,462 patients in Jefferson County — 68 deaths7,241 patients in Ozaukee County — 70 deaths6,839 patients in Manitowoc County — 60 deaths6,710 patients in Chippewa County — 77 deaths6,280 patients in Wood County — 65 deaths6,052 patients in Portage County — 58 deaths6,034 patients in St. Croix County — 39 deaths5,158 patients in Calumet County — 39 deaths5,043 patients in Barron County — 69 deaths 5,007 patients in Sauk County — 35 deaths 4,757 patients in Columbia County — 39 deaths4,574 patients in Waupaca County — 104 deaths 4,467 patients in Shawano County — 67 deaths 4,425 patients in Grant County — 78 deaths4,115 patients in Oconto County — 45 deaths4,016 patients in Monroe County — 30 deaths 3,972 patients in Dunn County — 26 deaths 3,872 patients in Marinette County — 58 deaths3,506 patients in Polk County — 41 deaths 3,495 patients in Douglas County — 18 deaths3,259 patients in Pierce County — 32 deaths 3,253 patients in Trempealeau County — 34 deaths3,109 patients in Oneida County — 55 deaths 3,068 patients in Clark County — 56 deaths 2,856 patients in Juneau County — 17 deaths 2,771 patients in Lincoln County — 54 deaths2,636 patients in Green County — 12 deaths 2,535 patients in Jackson County — 21 deaths 2,328 patients in Door County — 18 deaths 2,317 patients in Kewaunee County — 26 deaths 2,033 patients in Waushara County — 25 deaths1,882 patients in Langlade County — 31 deaths1,877 patients in Vilas County — 31 deaths 1,779 patients in Iowa County — 9 deaths1,741 patients in Taylor County — 20 deaths1,715 patients in Vernon County — 33 deaths 1,629 patients in Crawford County — 15 deaths1,480 patients in Green Lake County — 14 deaths1,473 patients in Adams County — 11 deaths1,390 patients in Sawyer County — 17 deaths 1,355 patients in Lafayette County — 7 deaths 1,243 patients in Marquette County — 21 deaths1,239 patients in Buffalo County — 7 deaths 1,217 patients in Rusk County — 14 deaths 1,209 patients in Richland County — 13 deaths 1,206 patients in Washburn County — 16 deaths 1,125 patients in Ashland County — 16 deaths 1,086 patients in Burnett County — 23 deaths1,079 patients in Price County — 7 deaths1,028 patients in Bayfield County — 18 deaths901 patients in Forest County — 22 deaths783 patients in Menominee County — 11 deaths774 patients in Pepin County — 7 deaths471 patients in Iron County — 19 deaths417 patients in Florence County — 12 deaths Deaths have been reported in all 72 Wisconsin counties.At least 415 coronavirus cases have now been reported in all 72 Wisconsin counties.As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 507,760 people in Wisconsin have recovered from the coronavirus. At least 2,481,735 patients have tested negative in Wisconsin.4.5% of patients have ever been hospitalized.There were no patients in the 530-bed Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park on Tuesday.As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 25,362,700 Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus.At least 423,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, as of Tuesday afternoon.What’s New: Week of Jan. 25, 2021:Top aides to President Joe Biden have begun talks with a group of moderate Senate Republicans and Democrats on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Biden’s plan calls for making direct $1,400 payments to Americans, but senators from both parties raised questions about the stimulus checks. Biden will formally reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom and 26 other European countries that allow travel across open borders, according to two White House officials. South Africa is expected to be added to the restricted list because of concerns about a variant of the virus that has spread beyond that nation.The Miami Heat basketball team will be attempting to have fans at the American Airlines Arena with an assist from some dogs. The Heat will use coronavirus-sniffing dogs to screen fans who want to attend their games. They’ve been working on the plan for months, and the highly trained dogs have been in place for some games this season where the team has allowed a handful of guests.15 Days to Slow the Spread: CLICK HERE to read the CDC guidelines on coronavirusMobile app users, click here to view the map.PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iaW5mb2dyYW0tZW1iZWQiIGRhdGEtaWQ9Il8vMVRDRGV0V0ZJZ1FWWmxqalJrWUwiIGRhdGEtdHlwZT0iaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUiIGRhdGEtdGl0bGU9IldJU04gVFJBQ0tJTkcgVEhFIENVUlZFIEFVVE9NQVRJT04iPjwvZGl2PjxzY3JpcHQ+IWZ1bmN0aW9uKGUsaSxuLHMpe3ZhciB0PSJJbmZvZ3JhbUVtYmVkcyIsZD1lLmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKCJzY3JpcHQiKVswXTtpZih3aW5kb3dbdF0mJndpbmRvd1t0XS5pbml0aWFsaXplZCl3aW5kb3dbdF0ucHJvY2VzcyYmd2luZG93W3RdLnByb2Nlc3MoKTtlbHNlIGlmKCFlLmdldEVsZW1lbnRCeUlkKG4pKXt2YXIgbz1lLmNyZWF0ZUVsZW1lbnQoInNjcmlwdCIpO28uYXN5bmM9MSxvLmlkPW4sby5zcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC1sb2FkZXItbWluLmpzIixkLnBhcmVudE5vZGUuaW5zZXJ0QmVmb3JlKG8sZCl9fShkb2N1bWVudCwwLCJpbmZvZ3JhbS1hc3luYyIpOzwvc2NyaXB0Pg==PCEtLSBzdGFydCBBUCBlbWJlZCAtLT4KPGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iRGVhdGhzIGZyb20gQ09WSUQgaW4gdGhlIFVTIiBhcmlhLWxhYmVsPSJJbnRlcmFjdGl2ZSBsaW5lIGNoYXJ0IiBpZD0iZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItY2hhcnQtSDd3VDEiIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlcmFjdGl2ZXMuYXAub3JnL2VtYmVkcy9IN3dUMS8yLyIgc2Nyb2xsaW5nPSJubyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIHN0eWxlPSJib3JkZXI6bm9uZSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI0MDAiPjwvaWZyYW1lPjxzY3JpcHQgdHlwZT0idGV4dC9qYXZhc2NyaXB0Ij4hZnVuY3Rpb24oKXsidXNlIHN0cmljdCI7d2luZG93LmFkZEV2ZW50TGlzdGVuZXIoIm1lc3NhZ2UiLChmdW5jdGlvbihhKXtpZih2b2lkIDAhPT1hLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgZSBpbiBhLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKXt2YXIgdD1kb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50QnlJZCgiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItY2hhcnQtIitlKXx8ZG9jdW1lbnQucXVlcnlTZWxlY3RvcigiaWZyYW1lW3NyYyo9JyIrZSsiJ10iKTt0JiYodC5zdHlsZS5oZWlnaHQ9YS5kYXRhWyJkYXRhd3JhcHBlci1oZWlnaHQiXVtlXSsicHgiKX19KSl9KCk7PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gZW5kIEFQIGVtYmVkIC0tPg== PCEtLSBzdGFydCBBUCBlbWJlZCAtLT4KPGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iTmV3IGRhaWx5IENPVklELTE5IGNhc2VzIiBhcmlhLWxhYmVsPSJNYXAiIGlkPSJkYXRhd3JhcHBlci1jaGFydC1Pdzc0dCIgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlcy5hcC5vcmcvZW1iZWRzL093NzR0LzIyLyIgc2Nyb2xsaW5nPSJubyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIHN0eWxlPSJib3JkZXI6bm9uZSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1MzEiPjwvaWZyYW1lPjxzY3JpcHQgdHlwZT0idGV4dC9qYXZhc2NyaXB0Ij4hZnVuY3Rpb24oKXsidXNlIHN0cmljdCI7d2luZG93LmFkZEV2ZW50TGlzdGVuZXIoIm1lc3NhZ2UiLChmdW5jdGlvbihhKXtpZih2b2lkIDAhPT1hLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgZSBpbiBhLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKXt2YXIgdD1kb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50QnlJZCgiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItY2hhcnQtIitlKXx8ZG9jdW1lbnQucXVlcnlTZWxlY3RvcigiaWZyYW1lW3NyYyo9JyIrZSsiJ10iKTt0JiYodC5zdHlsZS5oZWlnaHQ9YS5kYXRhWyJkYXRhd3JhcHBlci1oZWlnaHQiXVtlXSsicHgiKX19KSl9KCk7PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gZW5kIEFQIGVtYmVkIC0tPg==What are the symptoms of COVID-19/coronavirus?Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these are the symptoms you should watch out for:Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigueMuscle or body achesHeadacheNew loss of taste or smellSore throatCongestion or runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrheaThis list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as they learn more about the virus.Should I get tested for COVID-19?The CDC recommends that you should consider taking a COVID-19 test if you:have symptoms of COVID-19.have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local/external icon or state health department.The FDA has also approved a test for COVID-19 that you can take at home. The test kits are available for purchase on Amazon with a turnaround time for results of 24 to 72 hours after the sample is shipped and received.Emergency care for COVID-19 symptoms:The CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:Trouble breathingPersistent pain or pressure in the chestNew confusionInability to wake or stay awakeBluish lips or faceThis list is not all possible symptoms. Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.Who is most at risk for coronavirus?Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19, according to the CDC.Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from the virus.Flu or COVID-19. What’s the difference between them?Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. That’s when testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.There are some key differences between flu and COVID-19. The CDC says it seems COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms of COVID-19 and people can be contagious for a longer period of time than the flu.Another difference is there is a vaccine to protect against the flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.Educational resources for online learning in Wisconsin during coronavirusGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
MILWAUKEE —
Get the latest information on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Wisconsin and resources to keep you and your family safe and prepared.
Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin
Statistics:
At least 5,753 patients have died so far
At least 362,505 vaccines have been administered as of Tuesday
At least 535,218 patients have tested positive for the coronavirus in Wisconsin since the outbreak began.
93,768 patients in Milwaukee County — 1,122 deaths
38,608 patients in Waukesha County — 429 deaths
37,352 patients in Dane County — 240 deaths
28,956 patients in Brown County — 190 deaths
19,623 patients in Racine County — 293 deaths
18,128 patients in Outagamie County — 176 deaths
16,376 patients in Winnebago County — 166 deaths
14,057 patients in Kenosha County — 265 deaths
13,597 patients in Rock County — 137 deaths
13,162 patients in Marathon County — 169 deaths
13,125 patients in Washington County — 119 deaths
12,358 patients in Sheboygan County — 112 deaths
11,439 patients in Fond du Lac County — 80 deaths
11,417 patients in La Crosse County — 70 deaths
11,071 patients in Dodge County — 142 deaths
10,389 patients in Eau Claire County — 97 deaths
8,503 patients in Walworth County — 116 deaths
7,462 patients in Jefferson County — 68 deaths
7,241 patients in Ozaukee County — 70 deaths
6,839 patients in Manitowoc County — 60 deaths
6,710 patients in Chippewa County — 77 deaths
6,280 patients in Wood County — 65 deaths
6,052 patients in Portage County — 58 deaths
6,034 patients in St. Croix County — 39 deaths
5,158 patients in Calumet County — 39 deaths
5,043 patients in Barron County — 69 deaths
5,007 patients in Sauk County — 35 deaths
4,757 patients in Columbia County — 39 deaths
4,574 patients in Waupaca County — 104 deaths
4,467 patients in Shawano County — 67 deaths
4,425 patients in Grant County — 78 deaths
4,115 patients in Oconto County — 45 deaths
4,016 patients in Monroe County — 30 deaths
3,972 patients in Dunn County — 26 deaths
3,872 patients in Marinette County — 58 deaths
3,506 patients in Polk County — 41 deaths
3,495 patients in Douglas County — 18 deaths
3,259 patients in Pierce County — 32 deaths
3,253 patients in Trempealeau County — 34 deaths
3,109 patients in Oneida County — 55 deaths
3,068 patients in Clark County — 56 deaths
2,856 patients in Juneau County — 17 deaths
2,771 patients in Lincoln County — 54 deaths
2,636 patients in Green County — 12 deaths
2,535 patients in Jackson County — 21 deaths
2,328 patients in Door County — 18 deaths
2,317 patients in Kewaunee County — 26 deaths
2,033 patients in Waushara County — 25 deaths
1,882 patients in Langlade County — 31 deaths
1,877 patients in Vilas County — 31 deaths
1,779 patients in Iowa County — 9 deaths
1,741 patients in Taylor County — 20 deaths
1,715 patients in Vernon County — 33 deaths
1,629 patients in Crawford County — 15 deaths
1,480 patients in Green Lake County — 14 deaths
1,473 patients in Adams County — 11 deaths
1,390 patients in Sawyer County — 17 deaths
1,355 patients in Lafayette County — 7 deaths
1,243 patients in Marquette County — 21 deaths
1,239 patients in Buffalo County — 7 deaths
1,217 patients in Rusk County — 14 deaths
1,209 patients in Richland County — 13 deaths
1,206 patients in Washburn County — 16 deaths
1,125 patients in Ashland County — 16 deaths
1,086 patients in Burnett County — 23 deaths
1,079 patients in Price County — 7 deaths
1,028 patients in Bayfield County — 18 deaths
901 patients in Forest County — 22 deaths
783 patients in Menominee County — 11 deaths
774 patients in Pepin County — 7 deaths
471 patients in Iron County — 19 deaths
417 patients in Florence County — 12 deaths
Deaths have been reported in all 72 Wisconsin counties.
At least 415 coronavirus cases have now been reported in all 72 Wisconsin counties.
As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 507,760 people in Wisconsin have recovered from the coronavirus.
At least 2,481,735 patients have tested negative in Wisconsin.
4.5% of patients have ever been hospitalized.
There were no patients in the 530-bed Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 25,362,700 Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus.
At least 423,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, as of Tuesday afternoon.
What’s New: Week of Jan. 25, 2021:
Top aides to President Joe Biden have begun talks with a group of moderate Senate Republicans and Democrats on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Biden’s plan calls for making direct $1,400 payments to Americans, but senators from both parties raised questions about the stimulus checks.
Biden will formally reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom and 26 other European countries that allow travel across open borders, according to two White House officials. South Africa is expected to be added to the restricted list because of concerns about a variant of the virus that has spread beyond that nation.
The Miami Heat basketball team will be attempting to have fans at the American Airlines Arena with an assist from some dogs. The Heat will use coronavirus-sniffing dogs to screen fans who want to attend their games. They’ve been working on the plan for months, and the highly trained dogs have been in place for some games this season where the team has allowed a handful of guests.
15 Days to Slow the Spread: CLICK HERE to read the CDC guidelines on coronavirus
Mobile app users, click here to view the map.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19/coronavirus?
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these are the symptoms you should watch out for:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as they learn more about the virus.
Should I get tested for COVID-19?
The CDC recommends that you should consider taking a COVID-19 test if you:
have symptoms of COVID-19.
have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local/external icon or state health department.
The FDA has also approved a test for COVID-19 that you can take at home. The test kits are available for purchase on Amazon with a turnaround time for results of 24 to 72 hours after the sample is shipped and received.
Emergency care for COVID-19 symptoms:
The CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Bluish lips or face
This list is not all possible symptoms. Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
Who is most at risk for coronavirus?
Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19, according to the CDC.
Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from the virus.
Flu or COVID-19. What’s the difference between them?
Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. That’s when testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.
There are some key differences between flu and COVID-19. The CDC says it seems COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms of COVID-19 and people can be contagious for a longer period of time than the flu.
Another difference is there is a vaccine to protect against the flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
Educational resources for online learning in Wisconsin during coronavirus
Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app. Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Starbucks on Tuesday reported that its U.S. same-store sales fell 5% during its fiscal first quarter after a surge of new Covid-19 cases led to harsher dining restrictions.
The company also announced that COO Roz Brewer will be leaving Starbucks at the end of February to become chief executive of another publicly traded company. Her responsibilities will be split up among other members of the existing leadership team.
Shares fell more than 1% in extended trading.
Here’s what the company reported for the quarter ended Dec. 27 compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
Earnings per share: 61 cents, adjusted, vs. 55 cents expected
Revenue: $6.75 billion vs. $6.93 billion expected
The company reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $622.2 million, or 53 cents per share, down from $885.7 million, or 74 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the coffee giant earned 61 cents per share, topping the 55 cents per share expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
Net sales dropped 5% to $6.75 billion, falling short of expectations of $6.93 billion. Worldwide, the company’s same-store sales fell 5%. The chain saw 19% fewer transactions during the quarter, but the average ticket jumped 17%.
In the U.S., same-store sales fell by 5%. The company’s recovery in its home market was hampered by another surge of new Covid-19 cases as the temperatures grew colder. The number of Starbucks Rewards members who have been active in the last 90 days rose 15% to 21.8 million people.
In China, Starbucks’ second-largest market, same-store sales turned positive for the first time since the health crisis started. Its same-store sales rose 5%, although transactions still declined compared with the same time a year ago.
The company opened 278 net new cafes during the quarter and now has a footprint nearing 33,000 locations.
Next quarter, Starbucks is forecasting U.S. same-store sales growth of 5% to 10%. In China, same-store sales are expected to nearly double. It expects to earn 36 cents to 41 cents per share. On an adjusted basis, it’s projecting earnings per share of 45 cents to 50 cents.
The company also raised its outlook for its fiscal 2021 earnings. It now expects earnings per share between $2.42 to $2.62, up from its prior forecast of $2.34 to $2.54.
Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz are riding an 8-game win streak to begin the week.
It’s Week 6, the time where we hit the halfway mark of the first-half schedule (on Wednesday) and when 25% of the full, 1,080-game, 2020-21 schedule will have been played. That will be Friday, unless several more games are postponed.
The quarter pole is usually when teams can make a real determination of where they stand. But things are obviously different this season. Not only have there been postponements and extended absences due to the coronavirus, but this is the first season of the new play-in rules.
So instead of drawing just one line after the top eight teams in each conference, we have to imagine two lines: one that separates the top six from the rest of the group, and another for the play-in teams from seventh to 10th place. That makes everything more cloudy, especially in the East, where the defending conference champs currently sit in 13th place at 6-9. Only five East teams have winning records and those 13th-place Miami Heat are just a game and a half behind the sixth-place Cleveland Cavaliers.
The situation in the West is a little more clear and perhaps a lot more sobering for the 5-10, 14th-place New Orleans Pelicans. Where things are really interesting is at the top, where the LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz all have just four losses.
Those three teams lead this week’s rankings, with the champs remaining at the top for the sixth straight week after a big win in Milwaukee. They’ll play the other two teams at the top of the East standings this week, while the Jazz will have a few big games within the conference.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
Make It Last Forever: Philadelphia (3-0) — The Sixers are 9-0 when they’ve had both Seth Curry and Joel Embiid available, and the Lakers are coming to town.
Something Just Ain’t Right: New Orleans (0-3) — The Pelicans lost two games to the red-hot Jazz, but they finished their six-game trip with a loss in Minnesota, trailing by as many as 18 points to a team that was 3-11 and missing its two former All-Stars.
East vs. West
Schedule Strength through Week 5
Toughest: 1. Charlotte, 2. Oklahoma City, 3. Memphis
Easiest: 1. Orlando, 2. Philadelphia, 3. Atlanta
Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
Movement in the Rankings
High jumps of the week: Denver (+6), Five teams (+5)
Free falls of the week: New Orleans (-9), Phoenix (-6), Three teams (-4)
Week 6 Team to Watch
Dallas — The ninth-place Mavs should be getting some bodies back this week as they face the most important stretch of their first-half schedule. They host the Nuggets on Monday before heading out for a pair of games in Utah on Wednesday and Friday. Then they’re back home for two games against the Suns on Saturday and next Monday.
Previous Power Rankings
Stats Key
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank) OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank) DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank) NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league has averaged 100.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 109.8 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
Despite the prevalence of get-rich-quick schemes, those looking to grow their capital need not reinvent the wheel. Investing in stocks remains one of the best ways to do that. But not all securities are created equal. With an unlimited number of investment options on the market, picking the wrong ones could mean waving goodbye to your hard-earned money.
Investing in shares of great companies is the key to achieving your financial goals. With that in mind, here are three excellent stocks that should make you richer over the long-run if you buy today: Bristol Myers Squibb(NYSE:BMY), Veeva Systems(NYSE:VEEV), and Eli Lilly(NYSE:LLY). Here’s why each of these companies deserves a place in your portfolio.
BMY data by YCharts
1. Bristol Myers Squibb
Pharma giant Bristol Myers has a strong lineup of medicines, a rich pipeline, and a juicy dividend, all of which can help drive revenue and earnings higher while rewarding investors with dividend increases.
The company boasts at least eight blockbuster drugs, including multiple myeloma treatment Revlimid, which saw sales in the third quarter of 2020 jump by 10% year over year to $3 billion. Bristol Myers got its hands on Revlimid thanks to its 2019 acquisition of Celgene in a cash and stock transaction valued at $74 billion.The deal bolstered the company’s lineup with other products like Pomalyst, another multiple myeloma drug. During the third quarter, sales of Pomalyst increased by 17% year over year to $777 million. Bristol Myers also markets anticoagulant Eliquis, which brought in revenue during the third quarter of $2.1 billion, a 9% increase from the year-ago period.
Turning to Bristol Myers’ pipeline, the company has more than four dozen clinical compounds in development and at least as many ongoing clinical trials, including a raft of phase 3 studies. Newly approved products (or new indications for existing products) are likely to boost the drugmaker’s financial results in the coming years.
Despite its stock underperforming the broader market of late, Bristol Myers’ prospects look enticing. The company’s revenue and earnings are set to keep growing at a good clip. Three of its drugs, Revlimid, Eliquis, and Opdivo will be among the five best-selling drugs in the world in 2024, according to research firm Evaluate Pharma.
Bristol Myers also closed its latest acquisition in November: a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company called MyoKardia in an all-cash transaction worth $13.1 billion. MyoKardia’s leading pipeline candidate is mavacamten, a potential treatment for a chronic heart disease called obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Management believes “mavacamten has multibillion-dollar potential,” and it could be yet another long-term growth driver.
Lastly, with a dividend yield of 2.80% (compared to a 1.55% yield for the S&P 500) and a low cash payout ratio of 31.8%, investors can count on Bristol Myers to continue increasing its dividends. All these factors make this pharma stock an excellent pick for 2021 and beyond.
Image source: Getty Images.
2. Veeva Systems
Veeva Systems’ mission is to help companies in different sectors, including the life sciences industry, bring their products to the market faster and more efficiently while ensuring regulatory compliance. The company works with many of the top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, including AstraZeneca, Merck, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Veeva’s founder and CEO Peter Gassner is a former executive of the cloud-based software giant salesforce.com. Veeva Systems and Salesforce have a long-standing partnership that allows the former to utilize Salesforce’s platform to run its cloud-based services.
Veeva’s list of products includes Veeva Vault, which helps drugmakers sail through the complex process of clinical trials. The company’s largest segment by revenue is subscription services. During the first nine months of its fiscal year 2021, which ended on Oct. 31, Veeva Systems reported $1.07 billion in revenue, representing a 34.8% year-over-year increase. The company’s subscription services revenue accounted for about 80% of its total revenue.
Veeva has an excellent retention rate for its services. For its 2017, 2018, and 2019 years, its retention rate was 127%, 121%, and 122%, respectively. On top of that, the company is developing newer products to better assist its clientele. Veeva Systems has branched out beyond the life sciences industry and into other regulated ones, namely, consumer packaged goods (CPG), chemicals, and cosmetics.
The company’s vision for these sectors is the same as it is in the life sciences industry. During the first three quarters of its fiscal year 2021, Veeva Systems generated about $30 million in revenue from these spaces, which represented nearly 8% of its total revenue.
It also has more than 60 customers from these three sectors, and the company sees a growing opportunity, especially given the changing environment of the CPG, chemical, and cosmetics industries brought about by the pandemic. Veeva Systems looks to be on a solid path to consistent revenue and earnings growth for the foreseeable future, and its stock price should continue to climb too.
3. Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly is another pharma giant with a rich suite of drugs. Some of the company’s top sellers include Trulicity, a diabetes medicine that had sales of $3.6 billion for the first nine months of 2020, a 22% jump. Other top performers include insulin product Basaglar and oral diabetes drug Jardiance. For the first nine months of 2020, revenue from the former rose by 5% to $842.3 million, while sales of Jardiance increased by 24% year over year to $840.3 million.
Lilly also has well over three dozen ongoing clinical trials. One of the company’s pipeline candidates is a potential drug for Alzheimer’s disease called donanemab. The company recently reported positive results from a phase 2 clinical trial for it.There are more than 5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the U.S., and there are no approved drugs that can treat the cognitive declines associated with it. While there is still a long road ahead for donanemab, investors would do well to monitor its progress.
It is worth noting that Biogen‘s aducanumab is currently being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this indication. Both aducanumab and donanemab look to treat the disease by removing amyloid-beta plaques from patients’ brains, which some professionals believe could help those who suffer from Alzheimer’s. But considering that an advisory panel of experts strongly recommended the FDA not approve the drug, Biogen’s prospects look unfavorable.
Eli Lilly recently beefed up its pipeline with its planned acquisition of Prevail Therapeutics, a biotech that focuses on developing gene therapies, in a cash transaction valued at around $880 million. Lilly already had a lot going for it, and this move only made its long-term prospects even more appealing thanks to potential drugs that target Parkinson’s disease and dementia, conditions for which there are no standard treatments. In short, adding shares of this pharma giant to your portfolio would be a great move for your money.
Spain’s Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Miguel Ángel Villarroya, resigned from his position after reports that he received the coronavirus vaccine ahead of other priority groups, according to a report from Reuters.
Villarroya resigned on Saturday after receiving public backlash for allegedly skipping the line to get inoculated. Like many other countries, including the United States, Spain has prioritized health care workers and the elderly, two of the most exposed and vulnerable groups to the virus.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles reportedly talked to Villarroya after reports of his vaccination emerged on Friday to ask if they were true, according to the wire service.
Robles did not explicitly say if Villarroya got the vaccine in the statement about his resignation but did say that Villarroya “never intended to take advantage of unjustifiable privileges which damaged the image of the Armed Forces and put in doubt the honour of the general,” according to Reuters.
Villarroya was at daily media briefings to represent the military and update the public on how troops were helping care for citizens last year when the pandemic began.
The wire service reported that the general’s actions had damaged the image of the armed forces in Spain.
Robles’s statement said Villarroya “took decisions which he thought to be correct” but those decisions “damaged the public image of the Armed Forces.”
The news comes as several public figures have made waves in the country for jumping the priority line in Spain.
The country has also been one of the hardest hit in Europe after France and has seen a death toll of more than 55,000 since the pandemic began, with cases still going up. The country is at almost 2.5 million coronavirus cases.
The top US intelligence officer for North Korea has warned the country sees diplomacy only as a means to advance its nuclear weapons development, even as the new Biden administration says it will look for ways to bring Pyongyang back to talks.
Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Tuesday the new administration planned a full review of the US approach to North Korea to look at ways to increase pressure on it to return to the negotiating table.
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki reiterated that on Friday, saying North Korea’s nuclear weapons were a serious threat to peace and Washington had a vital interest in deterring Pyongyang.
Sydney Seiler, the US national intelligence officer for North Korea, told the Center for Strategic and International Studies thinktank earlier that Pyongyang’s weapons development had been a consistent policy for 30 years.
“Every engagement in diplomacy has been designed to further the nuclear programme, not to find a way out … I just urge people not to let the tactical ambiguity obstruct the strategic clarity about North Korea that we have,” he said.
“So we should not be overly encouraged if suddenly (North Korea leader Kim Jong-un) proposes dialogue tomorrow, nor should we be overly surprised, or discouraged, if there’s an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) launch by Sunday.”
Seiler also said humanitarian aid – which Blinken said the United States should look at providing to North Korea if needed – was not something of interest to Pyongyang.
The force North Korea seeks to develop, while part aspirational and part years away, was far more than that needed by a country that simply wanted to be left alone, Seiler said, adding: “That is where the real risk of inaction comes in.“
On Tuesday, Blinken had spoken of the review plan in response to a question by Democratic senator Ed Markey, who asked whether Blinken would, with the ultimate aim of North Korea denuclearising, support a “phased agreement” that offered tailored sanctions relief to Pyongyang in return for a freeze in its weapons programmes.
Biden’s top Asia official, Kurt Campbell, has said the administration must decide its approach quickly and not repeat an Obama-era delay that led to “provocative” steps by Pyongyang that prevented engagement.
Campbell also had some praise for former President Donald Trump’s unprecedented summits with Kim, although these made no progress in curtailing a North Korean nuclear weapons programme that expanded in the meantime.
Pennsylvania has moved smokers to the top of its list for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has added “persons ages 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions” to phase 1a of its vaccine allocation plan. Smoking is listed as a high-risk condition.
Health care personnel, long-term care facility residents and people 65 years old and older are also included in Pennsylvania’s phase 1a. The state is now in phase 1a of its allocation plan.
A spokesperson for the department told WTAE-4 in Pittsburgh that “Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommendations and include smoking among the list of medical conditions putting individuals at greater risk.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health didn’t immediately return a request for comment from The Hill.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices currently recommends those aged 16-64 with medical conditions that increase their risks of severe COVID-19 to be included in phase 1c, but states are free to modify their distribution plans to their discretion.
The CDC says that smoking increases one’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Smoking weakens the immune system, which lowers the body’s ability to fight off disease.
The move comes as states expand eligibility in a rush to vaccinate more of its residents. CNN reported that New Jersey and Mississippi currently offer the vaccine to smokers, and several other states have smokers next in line.
Margaret Court, a tennis legend who won each of the sport’s four major tournaments multiple times and has created controversy over her anti-LGBT views, is set to be honored on Australia Day.
However, the decision to give her the Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia, which is “awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large,” sparked a massive backlash. The award is set to be given Tuesday, on Australia Day.
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Views on Court have changed since her playing days on the tennis courts. Court, now a Pentecostal minister, has been outspoken about her disagreement with LGBT rights and same-sex marriage in Australia. Her criticisms sparked calls for Australia to rename the Margaret Court Arena, which is one of the venues for the annual Australian Open.
The decision to award Court the honor on Australia Day received criticisms from Australian politicians. Former tennis star Martina Navratilova didn’t outright criticize the decision but retweeted Court scrutiny.
“I don’t give out those gongs. That’s not a matter for me; that’s for others. You might want to speak to them about why they think those views, which are disgraceful, hurtful and cost lives, should be honored,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said Friday, via The Guardian.
SPANISH TENNIS PLAYER SAYS SHE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Andrews added more in a tweet.
Anthony Albanese, of the Australian Labour Party, also tweeted about the decision.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison didn’t comment on Court’s honor.
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“I can’t comment on an award that is done through an independent process that hasn’t been announced or I have no official knowledge of those things,” he said.
