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Skyward Specialty director Hays sells $4.06m in stockFor almost three years, the Russian civil aviation industry has been largely cut off from the outside world, and now it appears to be warping backward in time. Historians are often quick to point out that not all technological change over time is more sophisticated and advanced - sometimes it goes backward. The same may be said for the current trajectory of Russian commercial aircraft. This appears to be driven by at least four factors - putting obsolete Soviet aircraft back into production, substituting Western parts for less-able Russian parts , bringing previously retired airframes back into service, and retiring the newest Airbus and Boeing jets Russia has first. Russia's stated goal of producing around 1,000 passenger aircraft by 2030 is looking evermore like a flight of fancy . Almost three years into that timeline and no passenger jets have been delivered or appear set to be delivered. All modern passenger jets are built with Western parts Quite simply, no country in the world can produce a modern passenger jet without Western components. This is partly why Russia can't purchase the Chinese COMAC C919 or any Brazilian Embraer aircraft . Look at the engines, flight control systems, and avionics of any modern airliner, and one will find many of the components are provided by Western companies like Safran, GE, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, Collins, Rolls-Royce, and others. Russia's post-sanctions passenger aircraft production: Ilyushin Il-96-400M: 1 (Used for testing) Ilyushing Il-114: 1 (Used for testing) Sukhoi Superjet: 7 (built with pre-sanction stocks) Tu-204/2014: 0 Yakolev MC-21: 0 Production target (2022-2024): 108 (of all types) Even though China and Brazil do not participate in Western-led sanctions on Russia, they are in little position to help Russia in the commercial aviation sector. Perhaps warningly for China, the US may already be close to sanctioning COMAC which could shut the production of the C919 down almost overnight. The sad tale of the Superjet and MC-21 As 2022 rolled around the Superjet was in production and being adopted by airlines across Russia. It was even getting some interest on the export market. The Yakolev MC-21 was also about to go into production and there were high hopes for Russia's commercial aircraft. Then Russia began its "special military operation" that attracted Western sanctions and brought these programs to an end essentially overnight. Other than seven Superjets completed with parts in store before the sanctions, no passenger jets have been produced - none (excluding a single Il-90-400M and Il-114 - both used for testing). The Superjet was meant to resume deliveries in 2024. Instead, Russia has fired the heads of the departments for the "failure of the civil aviation program." It is unclear when Russia will be able to resume deliveries of the Russified aircraft. Example % of foreign parts on Russian passenger jets: Sukhoi Superjet: 80% Yakolev MC-21: 60% Tupolev Tu-214: 13% (Soviet-era aircraft) According to the BBC, the once-touted domestic Russian Sukhoi Superjet was made up of around 80% foreign parts. Meanwhile, the Yakolev MC-21 (a Boeing 737 challenger) has around 60% foreign parts. Most of these parts are from European and US companies. However, while Russia is trying to substitute imported components with domestic components, the end result is hardly the same aircraft. For example, the Russian MC-21 is expected to be six tons heavy, slower, and underpowered. While the C919 airframe is Chinese-built, the engines and much of its avionics and flight control systems are Western-built. Producing older variants of obsolete aircraft Russia is considering restarting production of its Soviet-era passenger jets. Although Russia may possess the legacy of the Soviet Union, it does not possess the engineers and industrial power of the Soviet Union. The two Soviet-era passenger aircraft Russia wants to put back into production are the Ilyushin Il-96 and the Tu-204. These Soviet aircraft were out-competed by Western aircraft 30 years ago—let alone today. There is a reason why the only countries still operating Soviet-era commercial passenger jets are countries with no choice (like North Korea and Cuba). The older Ilyushin Il-96 The Ilyushin Il-96 is a four-engined long-haul widebody airliner that first flew in 1988 (only around 32 of the aircraft have been produced). The aircraft is powered by four Aviadvigatel PS-90 two-shaft turbofan engines (it is used as the main Russian presidential aircraft - the Russian answer to Air Force One). The only remaining commercial passenger operator of the type is Cuba's flag carrier, Cubana de Aviación . The Ilyushin Il-96-400 is the aircraft's more modern version ( it comes with updated avionics and a crew of two). However, according to the BBC , Russia is considering the older Il-96-300 version, the initial Soviet version, to be the more likely candidate to be placed back into production . Tupolev Tu-204/Tu-214 The other Soviet-era passenger jet that Russia is looking to dust off is the Tupolev Tu-204 (broadly the counterpart to the Boeing 757). This is a twin-engined medium-range narrow-body aircraft (able to carry around 210 passengers). The Tu-204 first flew in 1989 but was already considered obsolete in the 2000s. Like the older Il-96, the Tu-214 has a crew of three and a very low level of automation (meaning that everything needs to be done manually). The pilots need to track things like making sure the right wing used the same amount of fuel as the left wing. To fly these aircraft, Russia will need to reopen a school to train pilots how to operate these antiquated systems (Russia doesn't even have these schools anymore). “There is such low automation that everything has to be done manually, all these switches, buttons to switch and monitor everything so that the right wing produces the same amount of fuel as the left wing, so that there is no imbalance. That is, you need a separate person. Given that we don’t train them anymore, we don’t even have schools where these people would be trained.” - Russian aircraft engineer quoted by BBC However, the Tu-204/214 does have a more modern variant - the Tu-204SM (it comes with updated equipment, is lighter, can fly longer distances, and has a crew of two). However, "updated" is often another way of saying that Russia put Western components into its old aircraft. That is why Russia wants to put the older variant back into production. Even so, its simplicity and comparative lack of imported parts (around 13%) does not mean it is easy for Russia to restart production. The BBC stated none of the experts they talked to dared to suggest when it could be placed back into production (or, indeed, if it would happen at all). Another issue is that the Aviaster plant where it was once produced is now busy building the Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter for the Russian military. Herein lies yet another issue. Russian civil aviation is competing with military aviation for limited resources at a time when Russia is in its largest conflict since WWII. Unable to buy new passenger jets internationally, Russia is forced to build its own domestic jets and keep its existing fleet in service for longer. Bringing Boeing 747s back into service Russia is also trying to bring some retired aircraft back into service. The Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky announced in September that it plans to once again start flying Boeing 747-400 Jumbo jets in 2025 (these are to fly with Aeroflot's subsidiary, Rossiya). On 3rd December 2024, Aeroroutes reported , " Aeroflot Russian Airlines since November 2024 added Boeing 747-400 aircraft service, operated by Rossiya Airlines. Since 08NOV24, the 747-400 has been scheduled on Moscow Sheremetyevo – Sochi route on Sundays " Russian passenger aircraft: Foreign aircraft in Russia: 738 in 2022 Forecast foreign aircraft in Russia: 319 by 2030 Planned Russian production of aircraft by 2030: 1,000 Delivered Russian aircraft 2022-2024: 0 (apart from 7 Superjets completed with parts on hand) Planned annual production: 140-270 Realistic annual production: 50-60 (per Kommersant ) These Boeing 747s were retired because of their low efficiency (in 2023, Aeroflot had eight of them). It is unknown what condition they are in and how many Aeroflot will be able to restore. It is also unclear if Russia will try to bring any other previously retired aircraft back into service. Retiring the newest aircraft first At first, it may seem counter-intuitive, but Russia is retiring many of its newest Airbus and Boeing aircraft first. In November 2024, the Russian news outlet, Kommersant reported that half of Russia's fleets of Airbus A321neo and A320neo fleets have been grounded . Half of the grounded aircraft are grounded to preserve their remaining engine lives, while the remaining grounded aircraft are not expected to fly again. The issue for Russia is maintaining its new and complex CFM International LEAP engines produced by General Electric and Safran. Another problematic aircraft type for Russia is the Airbus A350 . There are normally ways to break sanctions, but this is much easier for older, widely used aircraft (there may be plenty of places to shop for Boeing 737 parts). However, the same is not true of new long-range aircraft like the A350 which still only exists in small numbers (and few airframes are likely being striped for parts worldwide). This enables the movement of spare parts to be controlled much more easily and enforce sanctions. That is why Russia is doing a better job maintaining other long-haul aircraft that have been in production for some time (like the A330 and Boeing 777). It is just easier to find spare parts for these aircraft.

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Streaming services How to watch your favorite films, TV, sports VPN services for legal streaming DealsSydney, Dec. 5: It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history — one that experts say could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success: keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia's new law, approved by its Parliament last week, is an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. And like efforts of the past to protect kids from things that parents believe they're not ready for, the nation's move is both ambitious and not exactly simple, particularly in a world where young people are often shaped, defined and judged by the online company they keep. The ban won't go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That's not clear, nor will it be easy. TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have become so ingrained in young people's lives that going cold turkey will be difficult. Other questions loom. Does the ban limit kids' free expression and — especially for those in vulnerable groups — isolate them and curtail their opportunity to connect with members of their community? And how will social sites verify people's ages, anyway? Can't kids just get around such technicalities, as they so often do? This is, after all, the 21st century — an era when social media is the primary communications tool for most of those born in the past 25 years who, in a fragmented world, seek the common cultures of trends, music and memes. What happens when big swaths of that fall away? Is Australia's initiative a good, long-time-coming development that will protect the vulnerable, or could it become a well-meaning experiment with unintended consequences? Platforms will be held liable The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts. "It's clear that social media companies have to be held accountable, which is what Australia is trying to do," said Jim Steyer, president and CEO of the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Leaders and parents in countries around the world are watching Australia's policy closely as many seek to protect young kids from the internet's dangerous corners — and, not incidentally, from each other. Most nations have taken different routes, from parental consent requirements to minimum age limits. Many child safety experts, parents and even teens who have waited to get on social media consider Australia's move a positive step. They say there's ample reason to ensure that children wait. "What's most important for kids, just like adults, is real human connection. Less time alone on the screen means more time to connect, not less," said Julie Scelfo, the founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, or MAMA, a grassroots group of parents aimed at combatting the harms of social media to children. "I'm confident we can support our kids in interacting in any number of ways aside from sharing the latest meme." The harms to children from social media have been well documented in the two decades since Facebook's launch ushered in a new era in how the world communicates. Kids who spend more time on social media, especially when they are tweens or young teenagers, are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, according to multiple studies — though it is not yet clear if there is a causal relationship. What's more, many are exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age, including pornography and violence, as well as social pressures about body image and makeup. They also face bullying, sexual harassment and unwanted advances from their peers as well as adult strangers. Because their brains are not fully developed, teenagers, especially younger ones the law is focused on, are also more affected by social comparisons than adults, so even happy posts from friends can send them into a negative spiral. What unintended harms could be caused? Many major initiatives, particularly those aimed at social engineering, can produce side effects — often unintended. Could that happen here? What, if anything, do kids stand to lose by separating kids and the networks in which they participate? Paul Taske, associate director of litigation at the tech lobbying group NetChoice, says he considers the ban "one of the most extreme violations of free speech on the world stage today" even as he expressed relief that the First Amendment prevents such law in the United States "These restrictions would create a massive cultural shift," Taske said. "Not only is the Australian government preventing young people from engaging with issues they're passionate about, but they're also doing so even if their parents are ok with them using digital services," he said. "Parents know their children and their needs the best, and they should be making these decisions for their families — not big government. That kind of forcible control over families inevitably will have downstream cultural impacts." David Inserra, a fellow for Free Expression and Technology, Cato Institute, called the bill "about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike" in a recent blog post. While Australia's law doesn't require "hard verification" such as an uploaded ID, he said, it calls for effective "age-assurance" that includes an array of ways companies can estimate someone's age. He said no verification system can ensure accuracy while also protecting privacy and not impacting adults in the process. Privacy advocates have also raised concerns about the law's effect on online anonymity, a cornerstone of online communications — and something that can protect teens on social platforms. "Whether it be religious minorities and dissidents, LGBTQ youth, those in abusive situations, whistleblowers, or countless other speakers in tricky situations, anonymous speech is a critical tool to safely challenge authority and express controversial opinions," Inserra said. "But if every user of online platforms must first identify themselves, then their anonymity is at risk." Parents in Britain and across Europe earlier this year organized on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram to promise not to buy smartphones for children younger than 12 or 13. This approach costs almost no money and requires no government enforcement. In the United States, some parents are keeping kids off social media either informally or as part of an organized campaign such as Wait Until 8th, a group that helps parents delay kids' access to social media and phones. This fall, Norway announced plans to ban kids under 15 from using social media, while France is testing a smartphone ban for kids under 15 in a limited number of schools — a policy that could be rolled out nationwide if successful. U.S. lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings — most recently in January — on child online safety. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook's founding. In July, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable. But the Kids Online Safety Act has since stalled in the House. While several states have passed laws requiring age verification, those are stuck in court. Utah became the first state to pass laws regulating children's social media use in 2023. In September, a judge issued the preliminary injunction against the law, which would have required social media companies to verify the ages of users, apply privacy settings and limit some features. NetChoice has also obtained injunctions temporarily halting similar laws in several other states. And last May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said there is insufficient evidence to show social media is safe for kids. He urged policymakers to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use. (AP)

Judges at the Supreme Court are to consider how women are defined in law in a landmark case brought by Scottish campaigners. It is the culmination of a long-running legal dispute which started with a relatively niche piece of legislation at the Scottish Parliament, but which could have big UK-wide implications. It will set out exactly how the law is meant to treat trans people, and what it really means to go through the gender recognition process. And it could have implications for the running of single-sex spaces and services, and how measures aimed at tackling discrimination will operate in future. At the most basic level, it will address what “sex” actually means in law. Is it about biology and chromosomes set at birth, or does it tie in ideas of gender identity and the gender recognition process? The Gender Recognition Act of 2004 established the process for obtaining a gender recognition certificate - something it states amounts to a change of sex “for all purposes”. When someone gets a gender recognition certificate, "if the acquired gender is the male gender, the person's sex becomes that of a man, and if it is the female gender, the person's sex becomes that of a woman". Then the Equality Act of 2010 came along to set out legal protections against discrimination for specific groups - with “sex”, "sexual orientation" and “gender reassignment” included as protected characteristics. It simply defines a woman as "a female of any age". There has been much dispute about how these two pieces of legislation sit together. When the Equality Act talks about “sex”, does it mean biological sex - or legal, "certificated" sex as defined by the GRA? This case won’t change the letter of the law, but a ruling on how it should be interpreted could have big implications for how all kinds of public bodies and services operate, and whether others might be open to legal challenges. There has been particular controversy in light of the debate about whether the gender recognition process should be streamlined - there was a lengthy wrangle at Holyrood over “self-identification” reforms. Those were ultimately blocked by the UK government , which claimed they would have a "significant impact" on the Equality Act. But it plays into a number of other rows, with Scotland’s Rape Crisis network currently in turmoil about how its centres define women and provide single-sex spaces. Public bodies have expressed frustration about a lack of clarity around interpretation of the law, having been left to work out policy on their own. Police Scotland - which has faced questions over how it treats transgender people - has criticised an “absence of direction” from politicians in Edinburgh and London over how to reconcile the gender recognition process with the Equality Act. With political leaders increasingly wary of the topic and the fierce debates which go along with it, it has ultimately fallen to the courts to adjudicate. MSPs at Holyrood passed the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act in 2018, with the aim of getting more women onto public sector boards. That law’s definition of “woman” included people who were “living as a woman” and were currently or proposing to undergo the gender reassignment process. The campaign group For Women Scotland challenged this in court, and after a series of appeals they eventually prevailed . Judges ruled that the definition used “conflates and confuses two separate and distinct protected characteristics” laid out in the Equality Act - a reserved piece of legislation which MSPs do not have the power to alter. The Scottish government had to amend the bill to remove the definition. But at the same time they issued new guidance alongside the legislation, stating that it would include women as defined by the Equality Act - and also the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), to the effect that a full gender recognition certificate could be taken as a declaration of someone’s sex “for all purposes”. For Women Scotland challenged this guidance in a fresh judicial review, which ended in defeat. Judge Lady Haldane ruled in December 2022 that the definition of sex was “not limited to biological or birth sex” , but included those in possession of a gender recognition certificate. That ruling is what For Women Scotland are challenging at the Supreme Court. They have already lost one appeal in the Scottish courts, but judges in Edinburgh agreed to push the case straight to the Supreme Court in London for a definitive ruling. The issue being considered by the court is whether “a person with a full gender recognition certificate - which recognises their gender is female - is a ‘woman’ for the purposes of the Equality Act”. For Women Scotland say the answer to that question is no. They argue that sex is a “matter of biological fact”, and that “the ordinary, biological meaning of sex is necessary to ensure the rights and protections provided to women”. They say the Equality Act consistently refers to sex in terms of “immutable biological criteria”, and that it supersedes the GRA thanks to a subsection of the 2004 Act which nods to it being subject to “provision made by ... any other enactment”. The Scottish government meanwhile essentially argues that the two pieces of legislation are clear in their language, and that MPs knew what they were doing when they passed them. It says there is "no express provision" made in the Equality Act to affect the GRA's wording that a certificate changes someone's sex. Indeed it says there are "clear indications" in the 2010 Act that the GRA "is intended to continue to have full effect" - "namely to reflect, by way of a person having acquired another gender, a change as a matter of law in their sex". For Women Scotland will be represented in court by Aidan O'Neill KC, while Ruth Crawford KC will speak for the Scottish government. Five judges will hear their arguments - headed by the court's president, Lord Reed - and will retire to consider them before issuing a judgement at a later date. This issue has become so emotive because people on both sides see it as a threat to their very identity. The most recent census found there were 19,990 people in Scotland who were trans, or had a trans history - under 0.5% of the adult population. The figure for England and Wales is also around 0.5% - 262,000 people told the last census that their gender identity and birth sex were different. There is uncertainty around the true figures, with census returns thought to be overestimated - but what we know for sure is that 1,088 full gender recognition certificates were granted across the UK in 2023-24, up from 867 the previous year. The figure has been rising since application costs were cut - and in the context of this case, it is people with full GRCs who are central. Beyond this, equalities groups stress that there are a great many minority groups which are protected by the Equality Act, and see this case as potentially being the "thin end of the wedge" which could undermine their rights. For trans people, they say it could erode the protections against discrimination they have under their reassigned gender. If someone has a gender recognition certificate attesting that they are a woman, are they entitled to protection from sex discrimination under the Equality Act? Could they make an equal pay claim as a woman? The UK’s first trans judge - who unsuccessfully applied to intervene in this case - is said to have pursued a pensions claim along those very lines against the Ministry of Justice. Meanwhile women’s groups also say the ruling will have an impact on a large group - literally half of the population. They say it could affect the running of single-sex services and spaces. Things like support groups for victims of sexual abuse can only legally justify excluding men due to the Equality Act’s protections. Campaigners say everything from hospital wards to refuges and sports events might have to change policy or find themselves open to legal challenges based on the court's ruling. Lesbian groups - protected under "sexual orientation" in the 2010 Act - also say it could affect their ability to have exclusive clubs. There could also be political implications. Some groups see the case as a reason to clarify the actual wording of the law, by having MPs amend the Equality Act itself. The Equality and Human Rights Commission - the national equalities regulator, which is intervening in the case - has called for this. They say that MPs did intend to include those with a gender recognition certificate as having changed their sex when they passed the Act in 2010, but that they may not have appreciated consequences which "jeopardise the rights and interests of women and same-sex attracted people". They say this is a "wholly unsatisfactory situation, which parliament should address with urgency". But some other equalities groups oppose "reopening" the Equality Act, seeing it as a move which could see the rights of protected groups watered down. And it's not clear that there is the political will for governments to wade into this topic. The Scottish government previously tried to take the lead, when Nicola Sturgeon led the charge with self-identification reforms. But her successors as first minister have backed away from these issues, with current first minister John Swinney pushing plans for a ban on conversion therapy onto the UK government's desk by calling for a four-nation approach. At a UK level, rewriting the Equality Act was a Conservative pledge during the election campaign - and not one which Sir Keir Starmer matched. Indeed Labour's manifesto promised to "simplify and reform" the gender recognition process, removing "indignities". As well as affecting the interpretation of the law as it stands, the ruling in this case could reignite calls for reform in parliament itself.

A gunman has shot and wounded two children at a California primary school before shooting himself dead, the local sheriff's department says. The shooting occurred on Wednesday at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Oroville, California, located about 90km north of Sacramento, the Butte County Sheriff's office said. Megan McMann, a spokesperson for the Butte County Sheriff's Office, said officers responded quickly to reports of an unidentified adult male firing shots at students on campus at 1.09pm. By the time deputies arrived, the man was dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gun wound, McMann said. "Two students sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to local hospitals for treatment," McMann said, adding that she did not know their conditions. There is as yet no known motive for the shooting nor has the gunman been identified. In a post on social media, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said students were being taken to a nearby church. McMann said an investigation is ongoing and officers are trying to determine whether the suspected gunman had a connection to the school. The Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, serves children from kindergarten to the eighth grade, from ages 5 to 13, according to its website.

Utah Hockey Club walks to arena after bus gets stuck in Toronto trafficWorld is about to see off the biggest election year in history. Almost half of humanity was involved in election exercises across continents, ranging from large democracies like India , USA and Indonesia to island nations like Tuvalu with 11,000 population. Citizen voters, in over 70 countries, millions of them first timers, attempted to address their own situations at the voting booths. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for The last of the national elections came this Sunday in Chad in central Africa amidst an opposition boycott.Universal suffrage remains the spine that holds a dithering democratic fabric whose other ingredients are in constant debate. BR Ambedkar linked elections to political democracy, ushering conditions for equality and justice. But if elections are undermined by impurities, process glitches, fake narratives, boycotts, competing claims, street protests, violence or even abandoned midway, that could be the proverbial last nail. The Stockholm-based International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), in its report 'Global State of Democracy 2024', points to a certain erosion of credibility of elections compared to five years back, owing to declining turnout and other pathological conditions. The experience in India's neighborhood as elsewhere has been mixed at best. Declining interest Elections continue to be democracy's beautiful action play, especially the view of ordinary folks queuing up to vote. The average turnout of voters in elections this year is estimated to be at 61%. During the 15 years from 2008 to 2023, there has been a disconcerting decline of about 10% in voting across the world. India, with its electoral list inching towards a billion, has successfully reversed the trend by hitting the 65%-mark third time in a row, starting from 2014. Women turned out at a higher rate again in 2024 like in 2019. The best part of this year's last two assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra is the record turnout. Not a family show Campaigns have made elections a spectacle, an ugly one off late. Electioneering is developing as a democracy malfunction with misinformation, racist references, outright abuse and misogyny becoming its part. Poll time divisive narratives from top leaders could leave unremedied scars and dent unity. Champions of unbridled freedom do not find a problem with campaign rhetoric even of the most repelling imagery; that's what democracy and rights are about, they would say. But hate speech amplified by social media and made potent by artificial intelligence, is becoming a bigger concern because it is seen yielding electoral victories. Reasonable restrictions, enforced by India's model code, have been of partial help. Top-notch campaigners and party bosses must take the responsibility, a point hammered by Election Commission of India in recent polls.It is surprising that elections of the 21st century still veer around identity: in US elections, the segments read as: coloured women, white workers, Hispanic, Asian, college goers or dropouts and in Indian context it is: OBC, SC, ST, minority and majority religion. Each one is a vote bank, the contesting candidate reduced to a mascot. For the USA that swears by individual worth, one commentary after November polls was that it is not ready for a woman president yet and a coloured one at that. 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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 Outcomes bite, limit the bitterness Worse is the growing trend of political contenders hesitant to accept statutorily derived results. One in five elections between 2020-2024, was challenged by the defeated candidates. Even as votes were getting counted to decide the 47th Presidency in the United States, the world was worriedly recalling the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Donald Trump notched an emphatic victory, but a moot question is what if it was otherwise. Joe Biden exuded the ultimate grace of democracy when he asked supporters to "bring down the temperature". On the electoral system, Biden further said, "It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted, win or lose."Disappointment over electoral outcomes can be provoking. But polity and politicians in India and everywhere have an urgent obligation not to fall into a trap that could erode public trust. It will be myopic to shift blame to voting equipment or a standard procedure after an electoral loss. Well Commissioned India The Constitution of India has imaginatively raised certain institutions to serve as guarantors for the country's democratic arrangement. The ECI is the critical one which gathers the franchise, counts and delivers the result that is convertible to legislative and executive leadership. Its conduct of 18 Lok Sabha and over 400 assembly elections has been rated highly by all stakeholders and by the wider world, irrespective of seasonal grievances. One sufficient pointer to performance is the negligible re-polling in only 40 out of 10.5 lakh polling stations in the last Lok Sabha polls. Smooth conduct of both parliamentary and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, with high people's participation is another impressive statement.Election management bodies (EMBs) across countries are reforming and acquiring tech-backed efficiencies but voting and counting remain points of vulnerability. Safeguarding voters against lies, fakes and inducements is another ever expanding task. Unlike ECI, which has a staggering capacity for execution, others may require collaboration for ensuring electoral integrity. India clearly has a role to play. Last Defence The 2024 Economics Nobel recognises the role of democracy and its institutions like free and fair elections in upholding prosperity. Voting rights and correctness of representation have witnessed sizeable compromise in parts of the globe, but there have been elections this year, which immaculately embodied expression of people's will. The International IDEA underlines that India, and some other countries have "allowed the voters to have an effective voice". Good elections look like the last sure wall to not only prevent any democracy downslide, but also to enhance its promise. (The writer is former Director General, Election Commission of India) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Subscribe Search Search Sort by Relevance Title Date Subscribe ALBAWABA - China State Railway Group, the national passenger and freight railroad corporation of the People's Republic of China, unveiled a prototype of CR450 high-speed train. The train is considered the world's fastest bullet train and will travel at 400 kilometers per hour. Also Read Toyota plans to produce Lexus electric vehicles in China, despite potential tariffs China’s CR450 high-speed train According to China State Railway Group, the train can travel at 450 kilometers per hour during its testing phase, surpassing the current CR400 Fuxing high-speed trains currently in use, which travel at 350 kilometers per hour. China State Railway Group will conduct a series of tests to guarantee the efficiency and performance of the new train, ensuring its readiness as soon as possible. The bullet train is designed with attention to operational speed, energy consumption, interior noise, and braking distance. (China Railway) “The train will further shorten travel time and improve connectivity, making travel more convenient and efficient for the country's vast passengers,” according to China State Railway Group. Notably, the prototype of the CR450 was able to reach 450 kilometers per hour. The bullet train is designed with attention to operational speed, energy consumption, interior noise, and braking distance. Additionally, the CR450 will lower operational resistance by 22 percent, reduce weight by 10 percent compared to CR400 bullet train, and boost China's railway technological innovation and independence. Also Read Apple to introduce AI tools for China, partnering with Tencent and ByteDance Reema Tuqan is a passionate writer, translator, and content creator. With a background of social media, content creation and music, Reema writes Business Articles for Al Bawaba. Subscribe Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content Subscribe Now Subscribe Sign up to get Al Bawaba's exclusive celeb scoops and entertainment news Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content Subscribe Also Read Top 10 Indian Billionaires in 2022

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Wall Street stocks surged to fresh records Wednesday on hopes about easing US monetary policy, shrugging off political upheaval in South Korea and France. All three major US indices scored records, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing above 45,000 for the first time. "The market at this point is looking for excuses to go up, and there's not really anything that might work against that narrative," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "Over the last couple of days, it's managed to ignore all sorts of inconvenient things and decided that the situation in France doesn't matter for them," Sosnick said of the stock market. "The situation in Korea doesn't matter." South Korea's stock market fell less than feared and the won rebounded from earlier losses after President Yoon Suk Yeol swiftly reversed a decision to impose martial law. In Europe, Paris stocks managed to advance as France's government faced looming no-confidence votes. Late Wednesday in Paris, French lawmakers voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months in office, pushing the country further into political uncertainty. For the first time in over sixty years, the National Assembly lower house toppled the incumbent government, approving a no-confidence motion that had been proposed by the hard left but which crucially was backed by the far-right headed by Marine Le Pen. "Political turmoil in both France and South Korea provide a uncertain backdrop for global markets, with the likely removal of both Barnier and Yoon bringing the potential for both countries to find a fresh direction," said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets. Thomas Mathews, head of Asia-Pacific markets at Capital Economics, said the losses in Seoul could have been "much worse" had the president not aborted his plan. "Rarely does a combined sell-off in a country's stocks, bonds and currency feel like a relief rally," he said. Oil prices turned lower after surging around 2.5 percent Tuesday, mainly after the United States sanctioned 35 companies and ships it accused of involvement with Iran's "shadow fleet" illicitly selling Iranian oil to foreign markets. Major producers at the OPEC+ grouping led by Saudi Arabia and Russia were set to meet Thursday to discuss extending output limits. Back in New York, major indices were led by the Nasdaq, which piled on 1.3 percent to finish at a third straight record. Wednesday's gains came after payroll firm ADP said US private-sector hiring in November came in at a lower-than-expected 146,000 jobs, while a survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed weaker sentiment than expected in the services sector. But the lackluster data boosts expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this month. At a New York conference, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell refrained from tipping his hand, but he "didn't say anything that would scare the market," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare. O'Hare noted that Wednesday's gains were led by large tech names such as Nvidia and Microsoft, which are major AI players. The boost followed strong results from Salesforce, which was the biggest gainer in the Dow with an 11 percent jump. New York - Dow: UP 0.7 percent at 45,014.04 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 percent at 6,086.49 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.3 percent at 19,735.12 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,335.81 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.7 percent at 7,303.28 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.1 percent at 20,232.14 (close) Seoul - Kospi Index: DOWN 1.4 percent at 2,464.00 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 39,276.39 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 19,742.46 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,364.65 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0510 from $1.0509 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2702 from $1.2673 Dollar/yen: UP at 150.56 yen from 149.60 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.71 from 82.92 pence Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.8 percent at $72.31 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.0 percent at $68.54 per barrel burs-jmb/jgc

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