Intech Investment Management LLC Takes $796,000 Position in Nuvalent, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVL)For 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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Looking At Accenture's Recent Unusual Options ActivityLuigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death

Democrats look to governors to lead them to promised landLuigi Mangione pleaded not guilty in the assassination of UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson on Monday. Following the plea, an uptick in donations to Mangione’s legal defense fund rolled in on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. At present, the sum sits at a staggering $212,426. “We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation,” a statement on the crowdfunding page reads. GoFundMe, another popular crowdfunding site, previously pulled all campaigns supporting Mangione. While the public response to the alleged killer has ranged from utter vitriol to admiration, the fact that so many have rushed to donate to Mangione’s defense further demonstrates how many feel sympathetic to the alleged killer, or even agree with the cause he’s become the face of. So does a recent survey from NORC at the University of Chicago, which found that, while 8 out of 10 U.S. adults believe the person who killed Brian Thompson bears the responsibility for the murder, 7 in 10 shared the belief that healthcare companies are also to blame. They said that proceedings like healthcare denials for coverage bear “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 slaying. Regardless of public opinion, the 26-year-old Maryland man now faces 11 counts, including three murder charges, and a terrorist charge. Last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office is prosecuting the case, said the crime “was a killing that was intended to evoke terror.” Prosecutors have also brought a four-count criminal complaint that could invoke the death penalty. | Anna Schecter, who covers crime and safety for CBS News , told the outlet in an on-air interview that there is a possibility under a Trump department of justice that the death penalty could be sought, though it would be “highly unusual.” Schecter pressed that the death penalty is typically reserved for terrorist charges, and “interestingly, the only terrorism charge he’s facing is coming from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office—that first degree murder charge,” rather than any federal charges. In court on Monday, Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told the judge that, although her client has cooperated with law enforcement every step of the way, Mangione is being treated like a guilty man before his trial has begun. The attorney blasted the New York City Mayor Eric Adams for joining Mangione’s perp walk alongside armed NYPD, which she pressed was purely “political fodder.” “There was no reason for the NYPD and everybody to have these big assault rifles (during his extradition) that, frankly, I had no idea was in their arsenal,” Friedman Agnifilo told the judge. “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career.” Schecter says that, given how much evidence is stacked against Mangione, including DNA evidence and surveillance footage, she doesn’t see “any other pathway” than an insanity plea. “There’s no question that prosecutors think he pulled the trigger,” she explained. The question for his attorneys, she pressed, will be “how is his defense team going to try and get the lightest sentence possible?” While the public will certainly be watching Mangione’s case closely, healthcare companies, which have received increased scrutiny since Dec. 4, are also under the microscope. Even before Thompson’s murder, recent pointed criticisms of UnitedHealthcare were making headlines. In October, a Senate subcommittee report criticized UnitedHealthcare, and insurers CVS and Humana, for using technology to limit coverage while boosting profits. “Medicare Advantage insurers are intentionally targeting a costly but critical area of medicine—substituting judgment about medical necessity with a calculation about financial gain,” the report reads.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay’s team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don’t stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they’ve mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other’s weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay’s fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What’s working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams’ offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford’s 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday’s weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn’t play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA’s first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon’s recent play when asked why Durant didn’t get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams’ improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee’s successful season debut. Key number 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. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can’t clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC’s third seed, but that doesn’t matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North’s two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementSouth Carolina looks to steady ship against South Carolina UpstateDemocrats look to governors to lead them to promised land