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09 jili 'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors

Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military didn't immediate respond to questions about the WHO chief's statement. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92 NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. The hospital said Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home." He was “being treated for age-related medical conditions,” the statement added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. What is known about a plane crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 of 67 people on board The crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan has killed 38 of 67 people on board. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijani capital Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons that aren’t fully clear yet. It crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying east across the Caspian Sea. Officials in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia haven't commented on a possible cause of the crash pending an official investigation. Some commentators pointed out holes in the plane's tail section pictured after the crash as a sign that it could have been fired upon by air defense systems. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.Celebrity-inspired Thanksgiving recipes, plus last-minute holiday meal ideas

Maleeha Lodhi As the year comes to an end, among the non-fiction books I read in 2024, three were the most interesting and insightful. Let me start with the book The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman. This joins a growing body of literature on one of the defining dynamics of the 21st century – the transformative impact of new technology. There has been a profusion of books in recent years about the promise and peril of technological advances. Suleyman offers a tech insider’s perspective as he is the co-founder of two AI companies, which has done innovative work in this field. He shows how the coming wave of technology will take human history to a turning point. The two core technologies that constitute the coming wave – AI and biotechnology – will bring about unprecedented progress and wealth. But their proliferation will also unleash many adverse effects even “catastrophe on an unimaginable scale.” He calls this the “great meta-problem of the 21st century”, which his thought-provoking book examines by focusing on the bind that exists between risks and rewards and how to deal with it. For Suleyman, human history can be told through a series of waves. A wave he says is “a set of technologies coming together around the same time powered by one or several new general-purpose technologies with profound societal implications.” He argues the coming wave has no historical precedent and is the most consequential. This urges the need to strike a balance between its promise and hard-headed caution. In discussing the ‘Grand Bargain’ between citizens and the state, he describes the threats posed by new technologies to this delicate equilibrium. This he posits is “fracturing the grand bargain.” Given this and other dangers Suleyman gets to the book’s core argument: how to contain technology’s harmful effects without foregoing its enormous benefits. He sees containment as a set of interlocking technical, cultural, legal, political and governance mechanisms to ensure societal control of technology. Containment, the book concludes, is not “a resting place” but “a narrow and never-ending path”. The second book I found insightful given the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East is What Really Went Wrong: The West and the Failure of Democracy in the Middle East by Fawaz Gerges. This examines the contribution of US foreign policy to the chaos and instability found in the region today. Its main thesis is that the Middle East’s instability is not rooted in factors inherent in the region such as ancient hatreds, tribalism and chronic violence. It is mostly the consequence of America’s disastrous foreign policy decisions and interventions during the Cold War that left a lasting legacy. Gerges writes that the Cold War confrontation between the US and Soviet Union turned the Middle East into a battleground for proxy conflicts, marking a continuity with the legacy of “dysfunction” bequeathed by European colonialism. Washington’s obsessive concern with countering Russian communism, efforts to establish a Pax Americana and secure access to cheap oil drove it to ally with repressive autocrats. These regimes were assured American patronage so long as they deferred to US hegemonic aims and ensured uninterrupted supply of oil. This denuded the region of any postcolonial peace dividend and undermined these countries’ independence. In narrating the story of lost opportunities and dashed hopes, Gerges focuses on key flashpoints that “sowed the seeds of discontent, hubris and subsequent conflict.” They include the 1953 CIA-sponsored coup against Prime Minister Muhammed Mossadegh in Iran and confrontation with Egyptian President Gemal Abdel Nasser in the mid-1950s. The author uses these ‘ruptures’ to reinterpret the history of the region and challenge the version popularized by Western scholars. Gerges draws this conclusion from his lucid assessment of covert and overt external interventions during the Cold War. Today’s tragic situation in the Middle East would have been very different if Washington had been tolerant of countries that disagreed with its foreign policy and declined to serve its economic interests at the cost of their own. Another compelling read is Bob Woodward’s latest book War, especially relevant as Donald Trump is set to assume the US presidency for a second term. This draws comparisons between Trump and President Jo Biden in how they dealt with international crises. Woodward considers Trump as “the most reckless and impulsive president in American history” unfit for a second term in office. These views are no different from what he previously wrote in his trilogy of books on Trump’s record. The first two, titled ‘Fear’ and ‘Rage’, were about the chaos in the Trump White House and depicted the former president as a self-obsessed and impetuous leader. The principal focus of his new book is on how the Biden Administration handled the wars in Ukraine and Gaza although Woodward’s disclosures about Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin – sending him Covid test kits when they were scarce at home– attracted greater pre-publication publicity for the book. The chapters on the war in Gaza portray a frustrated US president, livid with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his constant lies about his intention to escalate the conflict, which Biden saw as inextricably linked to his political survival. “Defined by distrust” their tense relationship is described in graphic detail. Woodward cites several times when Washington’s advice was willfully ignored, including on a ceasefire deal, Israel’s invasion of Rafah, siege of Gaza, airstrikes on Beirut and on avoiding civilian casualties. He cites Biden as telling Netanyahu that “the perception of Israel around the world increasingly is that you’re a rogue state, a rogue actor.” Despite their disagreements on the conduct of the war, Biden remained firm in his support of Israel. Whatever Woodward’s explanation of his inability to prevent Israel from escalating and broadening the war, this failure was a reflection both of Washington’s strategic compulsion to avoid a rupture with Tel Aviv as well as the limits of a tired superpower’s eroding leverage, with a manipulative Netanyahu getting the better of a lame duck Biden. Courtesy: arabnewsFormer captain Mark Taylor sends serious warning to Aussies ahead of first Test in Perth

Hyaluronic Acid Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report Forecast Period (2024-2031). 12-26-2024 07:17 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Orion Market Research Hyaluronic acid market is anticipated to grow at a moderate CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period (2024-2031). Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found throughout the body's connective tissue. The growing demand for hyaluronic acid for cosmetic procedures is a key factor driving the global market. However, the various side effects such as skin infections, immune-related problems due to an excessive amount of chemicals, and the high amount of acid are hampering the market growth. However, the development of new and natural or low chemical-based and less acidic products is anticipated to create huge opportunities for the hyaluronic acid demand. Get Sample Copy of this Report at https://www.omrglobal.com/request-sample/hyaluronic-acid-market Growing Aesthetic Procedures The growing urge of consumers to look aesthetically appealing with increasing age has driven the minimally invasive aesthetic procedures demand globally. Hyaluronic acid filler injectable replenishes the natural hyaluronic acid in the skin by adding volume and hydration to areas of the face including the lips, cheeks, and under-eye hollows for a radiant look. Thus, the growing number of minimally invasive aesthetic procedures has contributed significantly to the heightened hyaluronic acid demand. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2023, 5.3 million cosmetic minimally invasive procedures were conducted globally with hyaluronic acid fillers including Juvederm Ultra, Ultra Plus, Voluma, Volbella, Vollure, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk, Belotero, Bolvella, Restylane compared to 4.9 million procedures in 2022, depicting an increase of 8.0%. full report of available https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/hyaluronic-acid-market Market Segmentation Based on the grade, the market is segmented into food grade, cosmetic grade, and pharmaceutical grade. Based on the application, the market is segmented into cosmetics, aesthetics (dermal fillers), osteoarthritis, ophthalmic, dietary supplements, and others. Osteoarthritis to Exhibit Significant Growth Based on Application Hyaluronic acid can be directly injected into the joints for instant pain relief and can delay surgical procedures in some cases. The increasing prevalence of orthopedic disorders such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and knee injuries globally has created a heightened demand for hyaluronic acid injections. According to the CDC, 18.9% of adults in the US aged 18 and older were diagnosed with arthritis in 2022, with women more likely to be affected than men. The prevalence of arthritis is projected to increase to 78.4 million adults by 2040. Thus, with the increasing cases of bone and joint-related issues, the market for hyaluronic acid is anticipated to grow during the forecast period. Additionally, several insurance companies cover hyaluronic acid for medically necessary osteoarthritis treatment. This factor is further promoting the growth of this market segment. by Grade (Food Grade, Cosmetic Grade, and Pharmaceutical Grade), and by Application (Cosmetics, Aesthetic (Dermal Filler), Osteoarthritis, Ophthalmic, Dietary Supplements, and Others) Regional Outlook The global hyaluronic acid market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and the Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and the Rest of the World (the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America). China is a Hotspot for Major Investment in the Hyaluronic Acid Market In the past decade, China's aesthetics medicine sector growth has outpaced the global market. The market players in the region are actively adopting various business strategies to leverage the high market potential of China. For instance, Galderma launched its hyaluronic acid injectable filler, Restylane VOLYME in China in May 2023. The company is also introducing its complementary shape-up Holistic Individualized Treatment (HIT) in the country, which addresses aging concerns caused by loss of structural support in the mid-face. The availability of these targeted solutions for the mid-face region is demonstrative of Galderma's commitment to meeting patient and injector needs in China. Further, in July 2024, LG Chem introduced its single-injection osteoarthritis treatment, Synovian in China through its Chinese partner Yifan Pharmaceutical under the brand name Hyruan One. Synovian is a cross-linked hyaluronic acid treatment for knee osteoarthritis developed using LG Chem's proprietary technology. The company intends to expand its presence in China, with this launch. Market Players Outlook The major companies serving the hyaluronic acid market include AbbVie Co. (Allergan Plc), Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA, Zimmer Biomet, Smith & Nephew Plc, Galderma, and Sanofi SA among others. The market players are increasingly focusing on business expansion and product development by applying strategies such as collaborations, mergers and acquisitions to stay competitive in the market. Recent Development In May 2023, Evolus, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to be the exclusive US distributor of a line of five unique dermal fillers currently in late-stage development. The addition of a filler line expands the company's total addressable US market by 70.0% by adding a $1.6 billion US filler market opportunity to the existing $2.3 billion aesthetic neurotoxin market, with both markets expected to nearly double by 2028. The Report Covers Market value data analysis of 2023 and forecast to 2031. Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment. Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions. Key companies operating in the hyaluronic acid market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new products, and relevant news is also available in the report. Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future. Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies. Competitive strategies by identifying 'who-stands-where' in the market. For More Customized Data, Request for Report Customization https://www.omrglobal.com/report-customization/hyaluronic-acid-market Media Contact: Company Name: Orion Market Research Contact Person: Mr. Anurag Tiwari Email: info@omrglobal.com Contact no: +91 780-304-0404 About Orion Market Research Orion Market Research (OMR) is a market research and consulting company known for its crisp and concise reports. The company is equipped with an experienced team of analysts and consultants. OMR offers quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, consulting and other research-based services. The company also offers Digital Marketing services through its subsidiary OMR Digital and Software development and Consulting Services through another subsidiary Encanto Technologies. This release was published on openPR.NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J. Blucas of Erie was hospitalized in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak.” Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to IMDb.com, including 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” starring John Cusack. Haddon left modeling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to reenter the workforce after her husband's 1991 death. This time she found the modeling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’” Haddon told The New York Times in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estée Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company's anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s “The Early Show.” "I kept modeling, but in a different way," she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organization aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalized communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.' Haddon was born in Toronto and began modeling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes — she began her career with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, according to her website . Haddon's daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.” “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said. The Associated PressLucid Is At Risk Of Becoming A Penny Stock (Technical Analysis)

INVESTOR ALERT: Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KYTX); DiCello Levitt LLP Encourages Investors with Losses to Discuss Their Options with CounselThe One Thing Americans Need to Stop Doing With Their Money in 2025Nandan Nilekani BENGALURU: Nandan Nilekani said he stands by his view that India need not spend resources building another large language model (LLM). He was responding to a question from us on the view expressed recently by Google Research India director Manish Gupta that India will benefit from building a foundation model . "Foundation models are not the best use of your money. If India has $50 billion to spend, it should use that to build compute, infrastructure, and AI cloud. These are the raw materials and engines of this game," he said. Foundation models like the ones that OpenAI and Meta are building often cost billions of dollars because they are being trained on vast amounts of data using very expensive infrastructure. Nilekani has in the past stressed that India should focus on building use cases for AI on top of the LLMs that are available globally. Last month, Gupta had said at the Bengaluru Tech Summit that he "respectfully disagreed" with Nilekani's advice on prioritising use case building over building foundation models around AI. "He is not preaching what he practised. He revolutionised India's technology landscape by starting with the basics. With Aadhaar, he did not start with use cases, he started with building foundations. We too must, using our constraints as ingredients for innovation," he said. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET’s Workshop is just around the corner!

Published 00:05 IST, December 27th 2024 Rahul Gandhi shocked India by publicly tearing up a controversial ordinance supported by Manmohan Singh's government in 2013 New Delhi: Manmohan Singh, a man of intellect and integrity, remained steadfast in his leadership despite facing insults and challenges, particularly from within his own party. As he breathed his last on December 26, Republic World remembers how, despite Rahul Gandhi's insults, the isolated PM continued to stand firm in his commitment to the nation. In a dramatic moment that shook the corridors of Indian politics, Rahul Gandhi, the then Vice-President of the Congress Party, publicly tore up a crucial ordinance supported by his own government in 2013. The ordinance, aimed at protecting convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification, was a controversial piece of legislation that had already been passed by the Union Cabinet and was presented as a way to address the issues faced by politicians with pending criminal cases. However, it was Rahul Gandhi's shocking move that turned the ordinance into one of the most discussed moments in Indian political history. This event took place just days before the Congress-led government’s proposed ordinance was to be introduced in Parliament. The ordinance, seen as a protectionist measure for politicians facing charges, had been endorsed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several members of the cabinet. Singh, known for his calm demeanour and technical approach to governance, was caught in a political storm when Gandhi made an unexpected announcement on the matter. Later at a press conference, Rahul Gandhi not only condemned the ordinance but also took the bold step of publicly tearing it up, declaring it as “complete nonsense.” His fiery stance shocked many, including his party colleagues, and revealed a clear rift between the Congress leadership. Gandhi’s actions were seen as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Singh’s authority and his government's decisions, sending a clear signal of the young leader's growing discontent with the old guard and his desire to chart a new political course for the Congress Party. AIIMS informed that Manmohan Singh breathed his last on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of the office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then suceeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 00:05 IST, December 27th 2024Unfair to pin Washington Commanders' loss all on kicking woes | Sporting News

Akeredolu’s widow knocks Gov. Aiyedatiwa over memorial lecture for late husband

AP News Summary at 1:45 p.m. EST

India's economic transformation over the past two decades has lifted millions out of poverty. But this growth has not been evenly distributed. Persistent disparities in income, expenditure and savings highlight a fragile narrative of inequality. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping Income In 2005, income Gini coefficient was 0.48, indicating high inequality. This declined to 0.40 by 2014 and 2016 due to welfare programmes and rising rural incomes. But Covid pushed Gini to 0.53, its highest during the period undertaken by the PRICE ICE 360° income survey, as informal sector workers faced challenges while wealthier households benefited from asset price increases. By 2023, cash transfers and food subsidies reduced Gini to 0.41, reflecting partial recovery. Brazil's experience parallels India's. The Bolsa Familia cash transfer programme reduced its income inequality from 0.60 to 0.53 by 2014, but recessions and Covid reversed these gains, with inequality rising to 0.57. Both India and Brazil highlight the vulnerability of progress to external shocks and the need for sustained social policies. Expenditure This has been lower than income inequality, reflecting consumption-smoothing mechanisms like subsidies and remittances. Expenditure Gini declined from 0.36 in 2005 to 0.31 in 2011, showing improved access to essential goods and services for low-income households. But between 2014 and 2016, it plateaued at 0.33. Covid caused a spike to 0.46 in 2021, as wealthier households maintained consumption levels, while poorer households cut back. By 2023, expenditure inequality fell to 0.36, indicating recovery. South Africa provides a comparable example. While its income inequality is among the highest globally, programmes like Child Support Grant and Old Age Pension have stabilised expenditure inequality at lower levels. However, these efforts demonstrate that addressing consumption disparities alone can't resolve underlying structural inequalities. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Savings This remains India's most pronounced and persistent challenge. In 2005, savings Gini coefficient was 0.78, highlighting severe disparities in wealth accumulation. By 2014, it improved to 0.60 due to financial inclusion programmes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which brought millions into the formal financial system. Covid disrupted this progress, pushing savings Gini to 0.73 in 2021 as wealthier households saved more while poorer households struggled. By 2023, it improved to 0.56, but wealth accumulation gaps persist. Indonesia's experience echoes these challenges. Despite progress in financial inclusion, wealth disparities endure due to unequal access to investments like real estate and equities, concentrated among the wealthy. This underscores the need for policies that address systemic barriers to wealth creation. Dimensions of inequality are interconnected, influencing broader economic outcomes. Income inequality directly drives savings inequality, as higher-income households can save and invest more, compounding wealth disparities. Expenditure inequality reflects disparities in access to goods and services, further amplifying income and savings gaps. Experiences from Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia reveal that addressing only one dimension of inequality is insufficient. Policies must focus on income generation, equitable consumption and wealth accumulation to achieve inclusive growth. Structural factors underlie India's inequality trends. Economic changes have disproportionately benefited high-skilled and urban populations, leaving low-income and rural households behind. The pandemic widened these disparities, particularly for informal sector workers and marginalised groups. Financial inclusion has improved banking access, but wealth-building barriers persist. Redistribution policies like rural employment schemes and direct benefit transfers reduce inequality but require scaling up to tackle systemic challenges effectively. Expanding MGNREGA to urban areas can offer a crisis safety net. Progressive taxation, including wealth and luxury taxes, could fund redistributive programmes. Investing in education and skills is vital for low-income workers in growth sectors like tech and manufacturing. Financial inclusion must foster wealth creation via credit and investments. Targeted rural development in infra, healthcare, and education is key to reducing regional disparities and driving inclusive growth. The PRICE ICE 360° surveys reveal that while progress has been made, external shocks like the pandemic expose the fragility of these gains. Policymakers must prioritise resilience and inclusivity to ensure economic growth benefits for all. Reducing inequality is not only a moral imperative but also a prerequisite for sustainable development.US-listed shares of Toyota surged 9% Thursday to trade at an intraday high of $197.44. The rise came after Nikkei reported the company aims to double its ROE target to 20%, citing an unnamed executive. The stock has cratered since reaching an all-time high in March amid slowing demand growth and tariff risks. Toyota 's stock is skyrocketing as investors look to cash in on the company's reported efforts to increase profitability. US-listed shares surged 9% as of Thursday afternoon to trade at an intraday high of $197.44. The company's Tokyo-listed shares, meanwhile, rose 6% for an 11% gain over two days, its biggest two-day advance since August. The stock's rise comes after the Nikkei newspaper reported the company aims to double its return on equity target to 20%, up from market forecasts of 11% for the year ending in March. The report cites a company executive who asked not to be named. Toyota's surge brings the company's gains to just over 8% this year, underperforming the S&P 500 's 26% year-to-date rally. The stock's latest rise helps pare recent losses after it had skyrocketed as much as 40% on a year-to-date basis in March. It's largely cratered since amid little demand growth compared to other auto giants like Honda , Nissan, and Mazda , despite being the world's biggest automaker after Germany's Volkswagen AG. The Japanese carmaker's global sales plateaued in November amid slowing demand and a pause in production at two of its facilities. The automaker's production process has also faced high exposure to tariff risks, with 19% exposure to Canada and 8% to Mexico, Citi analysts said in a note last month. President-elect Donald Trump has floated tariffs as high as 25% on both countries, though it remains uncertain if he will fully follow through on the policies or if his proposals are merely negotiation tactics . Other carmakers have similarly surged in recent weeks, with reports of a merger sending Honda and Nissan's stocks skyrocketing. If finalized, the merger would make for the world's third largest automaker by volume, helping the companies better compete with Toyota. Honda and Nissan would have a combined light vehicle volume of 7.4 million units, compared with Toyota's 10.3 million, according to a recent Morgan Stanley note. The merger would also mark the largest in the Japanese auto industry's history and could be the start of a trend as automakers face an increasingly competitive landscape, the analysts said. "Given the industry dynamic, there could be more consolidation to come, in our view. Legacy auto companies that don't find new partners must face the prospect of being smaller companies with higher capex/R&D spend per unit," they wrote.

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The Horwich Showcase took place in The Bridge Hotel where more than £1,270 was raised for the work of women's refuge and outreach service, Fortalice. The Horwich Showcase all started three years ago when local woman Donna Powell decided to run a raffle for the charity, mainly through social media. Family, friends and Horwich businesses helped with donations of items and the event – held in Donna's front-room – brought a welcome donation for the charity. This year, when Donna approached The Bridge Hotel to use a room there for it, the manager Danny Fishwick suggested she take over the whole pub. Donna approached as many Horwich businesses and groups as possible about taking part, each providing a... Saiqa ChaudhariA wanted man when he took a dive down a chimney to evade police with a search warrant. or signup to continue reading The man, 33-year-old Robert Langlais from Fall River in Massachusetts, got wedged in the narrow passage forcing firefighters to pull apart the chimney's brickwork to retrieve him on December 10. "Due to his , Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared," Fall River Police Department said. Footage of police executing a search warrant at the Fall River home was released showing two suspects on the roof attempting to evade officers. One suspect escaped on foot by jumping from the house's roof to a parked car and police received a tip that the second suspect had hidden in the chimney. Mr Langlais was arrested over drug possession and multiple charges from outstanding warrants, Fall River Police said. Police said the tricky arrest was "proof that going down chimneys is really best left to the expert, Santa". Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementIt was always one of the many problems inherent in the provincial NDP’s so-called gas tax holiday: eventually the tax has to be reinstated. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * It was always one of the many problems inherent in the provincial NDP’s so-called gas tax holiday: eventually the tax has to be reinstated. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion It was always one of the many problems inherent in the provincial NDP’s so-called gas tax holiday: eventually the tax has to be reinstated. That’s what the government did this week by announcing the tax will be charged again at the pumps, effective Jan. 1. In an attempt to find a compromise, or to try to save face, Premier Wab Kinew decided to knock 1.5 cents off the tax, bringing it down to 12.5-cents-per-litre from the 14 cents it was prior to the temporary cut. Manitobans will again be paying a gas tax when they fuel their cars. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files) Manitobans likely won’t notice the 1.5-cent “savings,” but they will notice gas prices going up by 12.5 cents a litre next week. The Kinew government said it brought in the tax holiday to reduce inflation growth and to help Manitobans with “affordability.” In reality, it did very little to reduce inflation. The consumer price index was already coming down across Canada, owing to high interest rates set by the Bank of Canada and the easing of global supply chain disruptions that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever small inflationary benefits were gained during the gas tax holiday throughout 2024 will only be reversed come Jan. 1 when the 12.5-cent fuel price spike will put upward pressure on Manitoba’s consumer price index. Meanwhile, most of those in need of financial support when inflation was high did not benefit from the gas tax holiday, since most low-income people don’t own vehicles. The people who benefited the most were those who drive gas-guzzlers. The biggest downside to the gas tax holiday was the hit to the public treasury. It was grossly irresponsible to cut taxes when the government is posting massive deficits and struggling to find resources to fund front-line services in health care, education, justice, child welfare and other areas. The Kinew government had to borrow the estimated $340 million it lost in revenue from the gas tax cut in 2024. That liability will be added to government’s ballooning provincial debt. The province will continue to borrow to pay for the 1.5-cent-per-litre gas tax cut, which represents a loss of about $28 million a year. That will also be tacked on to the province’s net debt, which future generations will have to repay. The Kinew government revealed it is on track to post one of the province’s largest-ever deficits in 2024-25 at $1.3 billion, $513 million higher than projected in the 2024 budget. Worse, the NDP has provided no specifics on how it plans to balance the budget. It continues to claim it will eliminate the deficit during its first term in office, yet has shown no evidence of how it hopes to achieve that. Cutting taxes by any amount under those fiscal circumstances is bad governance. There continue to be long wait lists and staff shortages in health care and pressures in other front-line services that will require additional resources to solve. Where will the money come from to fund the demand for those services? To make matters worse, the NDP is also freezing Manitoba Hydro rates effective Jan. 1, robbing the Crown utility of much-needed revenues to reduce crushing debt loads and to pay for expensive upgrades. The rate freeze will also have a negative impact on the deficit, since the finances of Crown corporations are included in the province’s bottom line. Finance Minister Adrien Sala says the combined gas tax cut and Hydro rate freeze will make life more affordable for Manitobans. Perhaps. But it will also result in a deterioration of public services, a weakening of Hydro’s financial position and a larger provincial deficit and debt. The same Manitobans who will enjoy more “affordability” will be paying more in servicing charges on the provincial debt, will be waiting longer in emergency rooms to see a doctor and will spend more time on wait lists to get surgery or access diagnostic tests. It doesn’t seem like a reasonable or smart trade-off. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The province could hire a lot of doctors and nurses for $28 million a year. The gas tax holiday was a political gimmick from the moment it was announced by the NDP during the 2023 provincial election campaign. The party didn’t need to adopt such careless promises to win the election. The former Progressive Conservative government imploded long before the election and was headed to the opposition benches whether or not the NDP promised to cut taxes. What Manitobans want more than anything right now is for government to fix the province’s broken health-care system so patients can access medical services in a timely manner and have access to a family doctor. Cutting taxes and freezing Hydro rates does nothing to contribute to that priority. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. . Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The ’s editing team reviews Tom’s columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the ’s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. . Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The ’s editing team reviews Tom’s columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the ’s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement

Middle East latest: WHO chief says he was at Yemen airport as Israeli bombs fell nearbyErin Levi Tracing a medieval trade route through the Swiss Alps and valleys, the GoldenPass Express isn’t just one of the world’s most scenic train rides; it’s an engineering marvel. As I sink into the plush, cream-coloured leather recliner, a glass of Champagne in hand and hiking boots raised, I’m ready for a three-hour spectacle where nature takes centre stage. But the stage isn’t just in front of me – it’s all around. I’m not in a theatre; I’m in Switzerland aboard the GoldenPass Express: a state-of-the-art panoramic train where floor-to-ceiling windows reveal stunning views of the Swiss countryside – from turquoise lakes that mirror towering mountain peaks to rolling meadows dotted with storybook chalets – that rival the grandest cinematic experiences. Sitting in the nine-seat Prestige Class carriage in a specially designed heated, swivelling chair feels both private and personal – as if I’ve got the snowcapped Alps, wildflower-laced pastures and bell-adorned cows to myself. Opened in December 2022 and fully relaunched in June 2023 after addressing problems with track wear, The GoldenPass Express (GPX) is one of Europe’s newest (and most luxurious) high-tech trains. Its 115km journey follows a medieval trade route connecting Interlaken’s glaciers to Montreux’s terraced vineyards, and thanks to a technological innovation, the GPX allows travellers to take one of the world’s most scenic train routes without transferring, as passengers did previously. The GPX is one of five premium panoramic trains within the Swiss Travel System. Individual tickets range from 56-145 Swiss francs (roughly £50-130). It’s also included in the Swiss Travel Pass (starting from 244 Swiss francs – roughly £219 – and children under 16 ride free of charge) which offers unlimited access to all public transportation (trains, trams, buses and passenger ferries), 50% off mountain railways and gondolas, and free admission to more than 500 museums. The train’s midnight-blue exterior and classic design evoke the bygone era of the original Orient Express that still connects Paris to Istanbul. Inside, the interior is crisp and cutting-edge, the Prestige Class specially designed chairs are by Ferrari-designer firm Pininfarina and are the only such rail seats in Europe. Need lower back support? There’s a button for that. Tired feet? Elevate your legs. Feeling chilly? Just press the seat warmer. Want a different view? Simply pivot your seat to face the direction of your choice. Just don’t fall asleep! But what truly sets the GPX apart from other luxury trains is something you can’t see: it can seamlessly jump between tracks of different gauges and voltages. Built by Montreux-Oberland-Bernois Railway (MOB) in collaboration with BLS AG (BLS) in Bern, the train winds its way down from the heights of the Bernese Alps, passing the luxurious town of Gstaad, beloved by A-listers for its exclusivity and isolation, and Château d’Oex, famous for its hot air balloon festival (25 January-2 February 2025), before snaking through vineyards as it makes its dramatic descent towards the Vaudois Riviera. Finally, it reaches sun-soaked Montreux, where palms sway on the glistening shores of Lake Geneva. In 1905, when MOB set out to build the GoldenPass line, the aim was to connect Francophone Montreux to German-speaking Interlaken – two big touristic and economic hubs – with a single trainline. But somewhere along the way, MOB noticed the rail wasn’t the same width; the gauges varied. It took 120 years to find a system bridging the gap. The world’s railroads use a patchwork of varying gauges – mainly broad, standard and narrow. Railway development lacked industry standards in the 19th Century, leading to varied gauges to suit terrain, transport purpose and political influences. This is one of the main reasons why we often need to change trains when we’re travelling. As Trains magazine senior editor David Lassen tells the BBC, “countries slow to settle on a single gauge paid the price with operating challenges”. Case in point: Switzerland. The idea of directly connecting Lake Geneva to Lakes Thun and Brienz in Interlaken dates to the late 1800s. Since 1916, the Lucerne-Interlaken-Zweisimmen-Montreux route, known as the GoldenPass line, allowed travel between these destinations, but required two train changes because of the tracks’ differing gauges. In 1928, the concept of adding a third rail was discussed. “That would have required building tunnels,” said MOB product manager Fanny Moix. She explained that this was “technically impossible” because of a combination of bureaucracy and the complexity of building dual-gauge tracks through a busy, complicated junction. Still, as Interlaken Tourism markets manager Celina Finger maintains: “Changing trains is a huge hassle for tourists.” It’s also a reason why the GoldenPass line hasn’t been as popular as its panoramic counterparts, like the Glacier Express. Now, instead of requiring travellers to change trains in the middle of the journey, the GPX can make the three-hour-15-minute journey directly, thanks to the revolutionary “variable gauge bogie”. The technology, developed in 2022 after 15 years of research and costing 89m Swiss francs (£80m), was publicly funded by the cantons of Vaud, Bern, Freiburg and the Swiss Confederation. This innovation facilitates seamless transitions between narrow and standard gauges and voltage changes within seconds, effectively enabling a train to jump tracks while moving. It’s a groundbreaking new standard in rail travel – not just in Switzerland, but globally. “[The GPX] is a link to our past and our future,” said Frédéric Delachaux, MOB marketing director, explaining that it realises the centuries-old dream of linking Switzerland to Europe by rail via the Alps. As I made the historic journey for the first time, approaching Zweisimmen station, I hesitated to leave the comforts of my warm seat where I was nibbling on local cheeses (there is no full-service dining on board but there are local snack options). I stretched my legs and peered out the window as we briefly paused for the locomotive change, which allows the train to adapt to the electrical voltage change. A few minutes later, we were travelling towards Schönried, a ski resort town neighbouring Gstaad, and as the train carried on, I barely felt a thing. Meanwhile, as the train’s elevation shifted ever so slightly (rising about 200 mm) to accommodate the gauge attrition and platform height, an engineering marvel was happening right below my feet – even if only a discerning train aficionado would notice it. “It’s a big frustration for us in marketing because you don’t feel anything!” lamented Delachaux. Perhaps the engineers did too good a job. Because of this, the gauge change is displayed on a screen to passengers as it’s happening. While there are other trains in France and Japan that can move a few centimetres, “this is the only train in the world that moves 43cm”, said Delachaux. It’s perhaps no surprise that the Swiss were able to pull off this engineering feat. Living in a landlocked nation that’s 70% mountainous and filled with some 1,500 lakes, people here have long had to negotiate the obstacles posed by their challenging terrain – and along the way, exemplified a certain determination and ingenuity that is decidedly Swiss. As Clarence Rook wrote in his 1907 book Switzerland and Its People: “There are bigger mountains in the world than may be found in Switzerland. But you will nowhere find in so small a space so many triumphs of engineering. The Swiss roads and railways stand as a monument to the victory of human skill over physical obstacles.” Courtesy: BBC