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Rape allegation against Jay-Z will not affect NFL relationship, says chiefNoneAccording to local news reports, Iran has begun producing its own parts for its airlines’ aircraft as it attempts to mitigate the impacts of Western sanctions. The Iranian aviation fleet is of considerable age, and the availability of spare parts for them is already limited. Over the years, sanctions have been imposed, lifted and imposed once more against Iran and its civil aviation industry, having a major impact on safety and overall operational performance. Quick Links Domestic aircraft parts A brief history: Iran’s sanctions story over the last 15 years Reasons behind recent sanctions The humanitarian consequences of these sanctions A difficult decision: why did the US sanction Iran’s aviation industry? Domestic aircraft parts According to Iran’s Tasnim News , the country has begun manufacturing its own Airbus and Boeing aircraft parts. In an interview with the news agency, the country’s Civil Aviation Organisation Head, Hossein Pourfarzaneh, said the following: "Given the issues of sanctions against Iran in the aviation industry, a plan was made to localize aircraft engine parts. Accordingly, with the cooperation of MAPNA, the process of reverse engineering and localization of Boeing and Airbus aircraft engine parts was implemented in the country over a 9-year period. In this way, Iran has been able to obtain the technology to manufacture important parts for the aviation industry." Pourfarzaneh was appointed to his current position in September. Ch-aviation data shows that 158 Airbus and Boeing aircraft are registered in the country, across a variety of airlines. The summary table below shows more details. Aircraft Number A300 20 A310 14 A319 6 A320 26 A321 6 A330 2 A340 15 Total Airbus 89 B707 7 B737 52 (of which none are beyond the -500 variant) B747 10 Total Boeing 69 As Simple Flying has reported previously, a country manufacturing its own spare parts for Western-made aircraft in the face of sanctions is not an entirely new phenomenon. In November 2023, we noted that Russia’s Aeroflot wanted to replicate parts to continue operating its Airbus and Boeing planes . More recently, it emerged that five cargo Boeing 737 aircraft were being purchased from lessors to be scrapped and used for spare parts for Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda Airlines. Almost 80% of Russia's civil fleet was built in the West. A brief history: Iran’s sanctions story over the last 15 years On October 14, the Council of the European Union announced sanctions against three Iranian airlines in response to their transport of weapons in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine. This was not the first time that the bloc decided to impose sanctions on the aviation industry in Iran: prominently since the 1979 Iranian revolution, several international sanctions (whether comprehensive or targeted) have impacted the country’s aviation industry. Most recently, this included restrictive measures imposed by the UN Security Council in 2008 and 2010, ordering that Iran Air cargo aircraft be inspected by member states. In July 2010, the European Union banned Iranian carriers from operating to EU airports, which was later lifted. In 2011, the United States unilaterally imposed economic sanctions on Iran Air , notably prohibiting the sale of spare parts and commercial aircraft itself and banning US companies from doing business with the carrier. It is worth noting that these sanctions have almost always had an impact on all Iranian airlines as well. This was lifted in 2016 after the establishment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under President Barack Obama, also known as the Iran nuclear deal. This paved the way for aircraft orders by Iran Air, previously inaccessible as aircraft made up of more than 10% American parts required US approval- which Iran did not have. The 2011 sanctions meant Boeing planes were off the table, but also those manufactured by Europe’s Airbus due to the quota of American-made parts. Iran Air placed an order with Boeing for 80 aircraft in December 2016, and with Airbus for 100 the same month (initially committed to in January). After three Airbus deliveries, the order was canceled as Iran Air was blacklisted once more in November 2018. Reasons behind recent sanctions Focusing on the recent cases, we can identify several targeted sanctions (imposed specifically on high-value targets for acting on behalf of the local government) -take the latest EU sanctions as an example- and to some extent, comprehensive sanctions as per the US case in 2011. These concern the use of Iran’s aviation industry for means that support the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, sending soldiers in support of problematic regimes, as well as the hijacking of these airlines for use by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for transporting weapons to countries that have violated international norms (such as Russia). The primary objectives included limiting the military capabilities of either targeted or third-party countries with which the target deals, while secondary aims cover deterrence in all cases, dissuading other countries from hijacking their industries in the same way. They were unilateral in the US cases – with wide-ranging consequences including limiting possible Airbus aircraft orders in Europe- and regional in the EU case. The humanitarian consequences of these sanctions Looking at the consequences of these sanctions, there are several angles of analysis. Firstly, the recent sanctions have most certainly misfired, that is, they have had negative humanitarian side effects. A lack of access to Western parts due to US sanctions has meant that Iran’s aviation industry has had to make do with what it has. This could be through manufacturing its own spare parts or grounding aircraft indefinitely to use them for spare parts. Sanctions have also meant that the amount of qualified technical support for existing planes has dramatically decreased. Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying Several accidents have occurred over the last two decades, often with the primary or contributing factors cited as inadequate training, access to simulators (limited by sanctions), and poor maintenance of onboard systems. They have also somewhat backfired, allowing Iran to argue that the West is against the country’s development and in the US case is not standing by its commitments as part of the nuclear deal. It follows a certain discursive strategy by authoritarian regimes to counter sanctions through reference to the outsiders’ imperialism. It can also be a case of shooting in the foot as the aircraft deals for Boeing and Airbus were worth more than $40 billion at list prices, combined. A difficult decision: why did the US sanction Iran’s aviation industry? The Iran aviation industry case represents an example of selectivity issues with sanctions, especially when it came to the US’ measures in 2018. The first option for the US was to block the sales of aircraft completely (which it did) although this reinforces the aforementioned ideological debate portraying the US as not living up to its nuclear deal relief promises. Iran Aseman Airlines operates a diverse fleet of Airbus, Fokker and ATR aircraft. It also shows European countries that the US’ influence limits business for them, too (Airbus). The other option is to approve the deals while subtly imposing additional restrictions. This, however, would be met with loud complaints from Iran. Foreign pressure therefore has an influence on sanctions cases, as explained through this example. It is particularly relevant in the aviation sector, as by imposing sanctions on an airline, you de facto limit the movement of people. In the EU’s latest sanctions, it claimed: The Union does not intend to impede air traffic or people-to-people contacts between the Union and Iran in general. Iran Air was forced to cancel its entire European operation – including flights to London. At the same time, it is true that one-stop flights (typically via Turkey) are also an option for those wishing to fly between Europe and Iran. Given operational challenges in the Middle East, Austrian has suspended its service from Vienna till February 2, while Lufthansa has done the same for its Frankfurt flight which will resume on February 1. Iranian airlines have faced significant challenges for the past four decades.
WesBanco, Inc. and Premier Financial Corp. Announce Shareholder Approvals of Merger Agreementretired CIA intelligence official Larry Johnson tells Sputnik. According to Johnson, Trump's "action to correct the abuse is surrounding the incarceration of the January 6 protesters will put the judicial system on notice that it must follow the law and be blind with respect to people’s political views." The CIA veteran believes that the incident was a , carried out by FBI agents and with support from both the CIA and the Pentagon, and coordinated with Democrats. Johnson elaborates that the subsequent Democrat-led was nothing short of a "political show trial that matched anything done during the Stalin era in the Soviet Union." He assesses the persecution of January Sixers as an "overreach by the Department of Justice" aimed at intimidating Trump's base. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to pardon most of January 6th actors, stressing that he would begin addressing this issue "in the first hour" of his presidency. To date, over 1,100 individuals have been convicted, with more than 600 sentenced to prison terms. Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the right-wing Proud Boys movement, received the longest sentence—22 years in federal prison. 6 January, 08:06 GMTIf you’re in the market for a new Kia Cerato , time is running out. Note: This is an updated version of a review first published in June, as there have been no major changes to pricing for specification in the past six months since publication. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available. Read the original version of this review here WATCH: Paul’s video review of the 2023 Kia Cerato GT The cheap and cheerful small car will be replaced by the all-new K4 very soon, ending a production run of four generations and over 20 years. It’s still relatively affordable, still has a long warranty, and still packs power from a petrol four-cylinder. On paper, the Cerato isn’t exactly going out with a bang. No changes have been made in its final year on sale, while prices rose $900 across the range early on in 2024 – despite the price rise, it’s still a lot of metal for the money. You’ll need to pay more for a Hyundai i30 , Toyota Corolla or Mazda 3 , so it’s instead aligned with high-end versions of the smaller Mazda 2 . Is it still worth snapping up a Cerato before they’re gone for good? How much does the Kia Cerato cost? Kia offers nationwide drive-away pricing for the Cerato lineup, with hatchback and sedan body styles costing the same. The test vehicle featured here is a Safety Pack equipped S sedan with no additional options. To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool What is the Kia Cerato like on the inside? The interior of the Cerato is dull, but functional. Hard black plastics dominate the space, including the centre console, door cards, and dash. That’s not unexpected for an economy car, and Kia has been very selective with how its limited budget is distributed across the Cerato S. Included in the Safety Pack is a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which sits satisfyingly in the hands. As does the gear lever, which is also trimmed in leather, and the plastics used in high-traffic areas such as the armrest have a soft touch. Small pieces of plastic aluminium-look trim break up the sea of black, but it’s clear they aren’t the real deal. Similar sentiments apply to the seats. Trimmed in cloth, they don’t look especially premium, but it was easy to get comfortable thanks to supportive side bolstering and well-judged cushioning. The headrests are contoured, which is a pretty neat and uncommon feature that makes them gentler on your head. Behind the steering wheel you’ll find a small screen flanked by an analogue tachometer on the left and a similarly old-school speedometer on the right. There’s no digital instrument cluster here – despite a 10.25-inch unit being available in South Korea – and the Cerato feels older than it is as a result. The puny digital display can be customised to show vehicle settings, fuel economy, and speed information, and feedback for certain safety systems. It’s easy enough to navigate, but the button controls are tacky and unpleasant to use. Moving from the gauges to the infotainment system, it’s like stepping through a time portal from the mid-2000s to 2024. The 8.0-inch touchscreen is befitting of its modern status, complete with wireless smartphone connectivity. Some premium new cars still required a wired connection for smartphone mirroring, so I was pleasantly surprised to see wireless capability on the spec sheet for this little budget sedan. With that said, Apple CarPlay was prone to dropouts during my time with the car, and it’s difficult to exit the mirroring screen without a physical home button. There’s also a noticeable lag between pressing a button and something happening on the screen, which stands out given we spend so much time using lightning-quick phones and tablets in 2024. Although the infotainment system is wireless, there are two USB-A ports and a 12V outlet located under the climate controls, so both front occupants can charge their devices simultaneously. Speaking of climate control, the layout will be familiar to anyone who has driven a car in the last 30 years. All functions are adjusted through three rotary dials, one each for mode, temperature, and fan speed. Air is distributed through four vents up front. Simple and effective, a big plus for any rental-spec vehicle. Storage space benefits from such an uncluttered dash layout – you get two seperate iPhone-sized shelves under the climate dials, so both driver and passenger are looked after. However, elsewhere space is limited. The front door bins are small and poorly laid out, while the armrest cubby and glovebox are similarly tight. Dual centre cupholders are each big enough for a 1L drink bottle, and there’s a drop down holder for sunglasses above the dash. Storage is also at a premium in the second row. Like many other compact cars, the rear door bins are only good for a small drink bottle, tops. Map pockets are absent from the seat backs, although you do get a centre armrest with two fixed cupholders. Connectivity is well covered in the front row and rear passengers aren’t neglected in that domain either, with one USB-C connection point available. When it comes to space for people, the Cerato gets a pass mark. Adults of an average size will fit comfortably, although taller folk may find their hair grazes against the headliner when sitting upright. There’s plenty of room for feet under the front seats. Thankfully, the light headliner and a pair of air vents also prevent the car from feeling claustrophobic in the back. Whether you’re riding solo or travelling with a carload of passengers, the boot in the Cerato sedan provides plenty of cargo room. With 502L of space, the Cerato has the most boot space in the small car segment, although the aperture is on the small side. If you need more room, the rear bench folds 60/40 to unlock extra capacity. Annoyingly, there’s no way to open the boot manually without the key fob. That’s unacceptable in my book, and a real knock on practicality. To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool What’s under the bonnet? All Cerato variants except the flagship GT are powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Our fuel economy figure was measured over 170km of mostly peak-hour commuting, with some short stints on the open road – hence the fairly high indicated readout. To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool How does the Kia Cerato drive? The Cerato is an easy and enjoyable car to drive with a flat learning curve. All the controls are simple to operate, and the small stature of the car makes it easy to place in city traffic and tight suburban streets. That also applies to parking. The Cerato will fit in just about any parking space and a reversing camera is on hand to make the process even simpler. While the S doesn’t claim to have any performance credentials, it feels sporty on quieter roads with smooth, naturally aspirated power and accurate steering. You get 112kW and 192Nm from the 2.0-litre engine, which is more than enough for urban driving. It’s happiest when you’re taking things easy, put your foot down and you get lots of revs, lots of noise, but not all that much performance. The steering in particular surprised me, as some other modern steering systems can be overly light and inconsistent. A forgiving suspension setup ensures that the Cerato manages to be both sporty and comfortable, even over potholes and speed bumps. It’s by no means flawless, though. Some of the additional safety systems included with the Safety Pack are too intrusive in their default settings, namely blind-spot monitoring and forward collision-avoidance. The blind-spot monitoring system has the tendency to warn you if a car is driving alongside in a separate lane, while forward collision-avoidance tech at times brakes and abruptly shudders the Cerato if you pass narrowly between parked cars or try to navigate a tight city laneway. Some of these issues are remedied by adjusting safety settings through the infotainment screen, but not all. I wouldn’t mess with the rear cross-traffic alert feature, however, as it functioned seamlessly and took the anxiety out of reversing into busy streets. Out on the highway the Cerato is comfortable cruising, retaining a cushiony ride at high speeds. The cabin is well insulated from outside noise, so longer road trips don’t become a chore. If you are trying to accelerate uphill with a load on board, however, you get lots of noise from the petrol engine as it strains to get the job done. Adaptive cruise control comes with the Safety Pack, and the technology operates smoothly on those extended journeys. It was hard to get a fair gauge on the efficiency of the Cerato during our test, as most of the kilometres were chalked up in city traffic, but I was still surprised to see a fuel consumption figure of 12L/100km. To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool What do you get? The S is the entry point into the Cerato range, although our tester was fitted with the $1500 Safety Pack – here’s what you get with each variant. Cerato S standard equipment: Cerato Sport adds: Cerato Sport+ gains: Cerato GT adds: To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool Is the Kia Cerato safe? The Kia Cerato was last tested by ANCAP in 2019, with two different ratings covering the range. Standard safety equipment includes: Safety Pack (S and Sport) adds: Sport+ adds: To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool How much does the Kia Cerato S cost to run? All Kia Cerato variants are covered by the brand’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia. The Kia Cerato S, Sport and Sport+ require services every 12 months or 15,000km, while the GT has a stricter schedule with 12-month, 10,000km intervals. To see how the Kia Cerato compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool CarExpert’s Take on the Kia Cerato The Kia Cerato S is a practical and competent economy car that’s ready for a refresh. It has enough infotainment and safety technology to keep up with the pack, and is comfortable to drive both in the city and on the open road. You also get more room in the second row than most similarly priced hatchbacks, while Kia is the class leader when it comes to boot space. Having said that, none of this is new and prices have jumped $6800 since the current model hit the market six years ago. The interior is a relic of that time, as is the inefficient powertrain. Sedan rivals in this price range are hard to come by, but the Hyundai i30 Sedan rolls on a newer platform that offers the option of hybrid efficiency and superior interior polish... if you can stretch your budget. Interested in buying a Kia Cerato? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Kia Cerato Pros Cons Top Line Specs
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate” granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges. “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’” Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater “that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump’s attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump – one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost – citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses – concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts – things they did in the course of running the country – and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. 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Bowls miss out in 4 CFP teams in latest postseason twistOf all the incentives in the world, money must be among the most powerful. Since its birth thousands of years ago, dosh – chasing it, saving it, and paying it back – has driven us to ruin but also some remarkable feats. So, it shouldn’t be any different when it comes to the “p” word. Before your eyes glaze over at the mention of productivity, you should know that had it improved more in recent years, we’d all probably have a lot less to complain about when it comes to issues such as cost of living – and the Reserve Bank wouldn’t be so worried about wage rises feeding into inflation. What if I told you that boosting our productivity starts with bribing our state governments? In a speech to the Queensland Economic Society of Australia in Brisbane last week, economist and former corporate watchdog boss Karen Chester identified one of the biggest hurdles to lifting our living standards: a problem called “vertical fiscal imbalance”. Economist and former ASIC deputy chair Karen Chester. Credit: Eddie Jim Here’s the issue. Some of our most fundamental needs are taken care of by the state government: education, health, transport, and law and order to name a few. This all requires mountains of cash which the state governments have little ability to raise. It’s the federal government that has the power to raise a lot of money – mostly through taxation, meaning there’s a mismatch: state governments might be tasked with the big asks, but it’s the federal government that has the cash to splash. As Chester puts it: “The states wear the political pain and the budget loss in doing the right thing.” Money can’t buy happiness or solve all our problems, but without it, it’s hard to pay for – or incentivise – fixes in some of our biggest sectors, including boosting productivity. Our productivity improves when we increase the quantity or quality of the goods and services we produce with a given set of resources, such as workers. Making people work longer hours doesn’t count towards improving productivity, but using better technology or other innovations does. The reason we care so much about productivity is that it’s the main way capitalist economies have kept making us better off – at least materially – over the past few centuries. Innovations from the lightbulb to the assembly line to the internet have made us faster and better at doing our jobs. Right now, we’re in a productivity slump. Despite a record-breaking increase in hours worked in 2022-23, the amount we’re producing hasn’t been climbing all that much. In the past, the federal government has paid state governments to implement productivity-boosting reforms. Credit: Louie Douvis Over the long-term, Australia’s productivity has grown by about 1.3 per cent every year. In 2022-23, our labour productivity – the amount of GDP we pump out for each hour we work – actually fell 3.7 per cent. While pay rises are awesome, there’s a problem when we get them without productivity growth as we’ve had recently: it can feed into inflation. Why? Because it means we push up the cost that goes into providing goods and services without much change in how much we’re actually producing. So, how do we push up productivity? And how do we fix the vertical fiscal imbalance problem strangling state governments’ ability to take some bold action? Chester says one way is for the federal government to take over chunks of the states’ existing debt which they’ve used for things such as building roads and other public infrastructure. Why should the federal government scoop up this debt which they aren’t responsible for spending? Because it significantly cuts states’ annual interest bill and boosts their ability to borrow more for new projects. Why is this? Because the federal government can borrow at a lower interest rate than the states – mostly because those who lend to them see a smaller risk of the federal government defaulting, meaning it has a better credit rating. Loading The total amount being borrowed by the public sector can stay the same but the interest paid on it can be squashed down. Now, this transfer of debt has to come with some strings attached. Namely, it should be conditional on the states making progress in implementing agreed reforms. Chester says these reforms should be aimed at resuscitating flat-lined productivity through changes such as tax reform, jack-hammering entrenched disadvantage through measures such as more social housing for people with chronic and debilitating mental health, and relieving structural inflation pressures such as those arising from natural disasters and soaring insurance costs. Instead of the federal government spending 96 per cent of its natural disaster budget on mopping up the mess, it should give states more money (the amount could also be matched by the states) to spend on mitigation efforts: reducing the risk of future harm from natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and bushfires. This would also put a brake on surging insurance costs. Loading It’s not the first time we’ve had the idea to give states more headroom to make meaningful reform. In the late 1990s, there were three tranches of payments from the Australian government to states and territories based on their populations – and only if they made satisfactory progress on their reform commitments. These payments, known as national competition policy payments, cost roughly $1 billion annually (in today’s terms) over six years. But they helped push through reforms such as removing restrictions on retail trading hours, setting up the national electricity market and abolishing price controls on dairy. The Productivity Commission estimates the payments helped lift GDP by at least 2.5 per cent. By comparison, Treasurer Jim Chalmers last month set up a $900 million fund to prod states and territories into enacting productivity-boosting reforms: a baby step forward – especially, as Chester says, because we confront a much bigger to-do list than we did a few decades ago. The idea to transfer debt from the states to the Commonwealth government would be a lot cheaper than the old competition policy payments – and it’s a huge opportunity to make big steps forward in improving productivity and wellbeing. Why do we need this? Because of the sad truth that the vertical fiscal imbalance we’ve talked about has sunken the states into a mentality where they don’t want to make any reforms that the Commonwealth government wants them to make unless they’re bribed into doing so. Chalmers this week said his government was bold and reforming. But reform needs to take foot in some of our most consequential sectors including health and education. To achieve this, we need states to buy into the vision and, most importantly, act on it. The good news? Chester says implementing the buyback program is relatively quick. We just need the guts to do it. Millie Muroi is the economics writer. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Spending Opinion Millie Muroi is the economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Canberra. She was formerly the banking writer based in Sydney. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in Business Loading
LOS ANGELES — Go to Phoenix on Monday, play Tuesday. Fly to San Antonio late Tuesday and play the next day. Back to Los Angeles late on Thanksgiving eve, off for the holiday and then play the Thunder on Friday. Fly to Utah the next day, play the Jazz on Sunday. Then off to Minnesota on Sunday night, land late and play the Timberwolves on Monday. Then go to Miami for a game Wednesday. Then go to Atlanta for a game Friday. Off for a day, then host Portland on Sunday. And then, for the first time in weeks, exhale for 48 hours. The Lakers practiced Wednesday after two full days off, a rare oasis in an early schedule that featured them playing six preseason games outside of Los Angeles only to begin the season with the second-most road games in the Western Conference through their first 24 contests. The time off is a benefit of elimination from the NBA Cup, the Lakers idle during the knockout games this week. While the more than $500,000 in prize money eluded them, they got something that could be more valuable. JJ Redick said the team used the time to first relax and then regroup. The Lakers coach met individually with players Tuesday as the team begins an advantageous stretch of schedule. Wednesday the Lakers tried to maximize it with the kind of practice, Redick said, they haven’t had in two months. “We have a great opportunity the rest of the month. Today was one of six potential practice days that we have and we got a lot done today,” Redick said. “And I think the group came with a good, workmanlike approach and yeah, we’re going to try to get better. We’re going to try to get better. I thought coming off of Friday, coming off of Sunday — where we played the right way where we were competitive, we were together, connected, all of those things — we have something to build on.” The building, though, didn’t begin with a whole team. LeBron James didn’t meet with Redick on Tuesday and didn’t practice Wednesday, an excused absence for personal reasons keeping him away from the court. Redick said he was unsure whether James would travel with the team to Minneapolis. Austin Reaves, who has missed the Lakers’ last five games after a scary fall during the loss to Oklahoma City, returned to practice and is trending toward a return. “Both of them, it seems like, are sort of day to day and just kind of wait and see how it looks tomorrow and see how it looks Friday,” Redick said when asked about James and Reaves. After games with Minnesota on Friday and Memphis at home Sunday, the Lakers again have another three-day stretch between games, giving them more chances for physical practices like Wednesday’s workout. “It’s good, honestly, just to get to bump against each other, I think, because that’s how it is in a game, right?” guard Max Christie said. “You’re going to be bumping against guys and bruising against guys. So it’s good to kind of feel that competitive level and competitive energy — even against each other as teammates — because it makes it that much easier to compete with each other when we’re out playing in a real game. So I think it’s advantageous, for sure.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Architectural Services Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 20, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! The architectural services market has experienced significant growth in recent years, thanks to strong economic growth in emerging markets, the rise in construction activities, an increase in disposable income, and robust government support. It is projected to grow from $192.53 billion in 2023 to $205.47 billion in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 6.7%. What Will Be The Future Size Of The Architectural Services Market? The architectural services market is anticipated to witness strong growth in the coming years, reaching $263.05 billion in 2028 with a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 6.4%. This boom can be credited to increasing infrastructure expenditures by governments, rapid urbanization, a growing global population, and the evolution of smart cities. For instance, the rise in digitized commerce architecture, progressive advancements in technology, the use of blockchain for enhancing efficiency and data security, a sharp focus on partnerships and alliances for a diversified product portfolio and geographic presence, and an increasing inclination towards metaverse architecture for a virtual world experience are some of the major trends forecasted to transform the market landscape. Grab a free sample of this detailed market report here: What Factors Are Driving The Growth Of The Architectural Services Market? An increasing demand for construction activities has been a critical driver for the growth of the architectural services market. A surge in building activities and a rise in residential sectors worldwide have further propelled the demand for architectural services. Domestic building activities rose by 4.3% in 2021 as compared to 2020, and the value of construction activities grew by 10.2% from $1,626.4 billion in 2021 to $1,792.9 billion in 2022, contributing positively to market growth. You may wish to prebook the full report of this comprehensive research study here: Who Are The Key Players Contributing Towards This Growth? Key industry players in the architectural services market include AECOM, Jacobs Solutions Inc., Fluor Corporation, HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft, Stantec Inc, Arcadis NV, Perkins Eastman, HDR Inc, Gensler, Architecture BRIO, Cadence Architects, CP Kukreja Architects, Design Plus Architects, Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl, PTW Architects, Harry Seidler and Associates, Peter Stutchbury Architecture, Shigeru Ban Architects, among others. How Is Innovation Paving The Future Of The Architectural Services Market? Technological advancements are significantly impacting the architectural services market. Companies are adopting innovative solutions to remain competitive. For instance, in December 2021, COBOD International, a Denmark-based company, and CEMEX, a Mexico-based company launched a unique 3D concrete printing technology to improve construction projects. This innovative technology lowers construction costs, allows new customization and complex designs of structures, improves the production of higher-quality elements through machine-perfect fabrication, and helps builders speed up construction. How Is The Global Architectural Services Market Segmented? The architectural services market covered in this report is segmented on the basis of: 1 By Service Type: Architectural Advisory Services, Construction And Project Management Services, Engineering Services, Interior Design Services, Urban Planning Services, Other Service Types 2 By End-User: Education, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality, Residential, Industrial, Retail, Other End Users What Regions Are Covered in The Architectural Services Market Report? Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the architectural services market in 2023, followed by Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Design, Research, Promotional And Consulting Services Global Market Report 2024 Powder Coatings Global Market Report 2024 Architectural Metal Coatings Global Market Report 2024 To learn more about The Business Research Company visit: . The Business Research Company has published over 15000+ reports across 27 industries, spanning 60+ geographies. The reports draw on 1,500,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. You may contact us at The Business Research Company Americas: +1 3156230293 Asia: +44 2071930708 Europe: +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. 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U.S. releases possible plans for managing Colorado River shortages
President-elect Donald Trump is slated to be named TIME magazine’s “Person of the Year,” according to a report. According to Politico , which cited three anonymous individuals familiar with the plans, Trump will “celebrate the unveiling of the cover” Thursday morning by ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Other individuals who were in the running for the magazine’s “Person of the Year” include Vice President Kamala Harris, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, X owner Elon Musk, Russian economist Yulia Navalnaya, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, podcast legend Joe Rogan, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg. Trump was named TIME magazine’s Perso n of the Year in 2016, as well, after his upset victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. TIME , detailing its shortlist of nominees, had this to say about Trump: In a stunning political comeback, Donald Trump won the 2024 election. He has reshaped the American electorate, activating young male voters who propelled him to a decisive victory that saw him win the popular vote for the first time and turn every swing state red. Trump’s remarkable victory comes after he lost the 2020 election to Biden and repeatedly refused to accept the results. His 2024 win is history-making in multiple ways: he will be the oldest President in U.S. history, and he was convicted earlier this year by a New York jury of 34 counts of fraud, making him the first convicted felon to be elected President. During his 2024 campaign, he identified the economy and the border as his top priorities. He’s promised to implement tariffs on America’s top trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and China—once he takes office, worrying economists, and has announced several controversial Cabinet appointments . Trump was previously named TIME’s Person of the Year in 2016 , the year he won the presidency for the first time. In 2020, President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were named as the magazine’s Person of the Year, followed by Musk in 2021, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022, and pop star Taylor Swift in 2023.
Advanced Analytics Market Size, Share, Latest Trends, Growth Factors, Industry Opportunities, Advance Technology And Forecast – 2028
Resort and parking fees at the Las Vegas Strip’s largest casino operator are going up on Wednesday. MGM Resorts International said it will increase the fee schedules for the two charges at all of its properties on and along the resort corridor. The changes will go into effect at 10 a.m. on Dec. 4. Resort fees at Bellagio, Aria, Vdara and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will increase $5 to $55 per day. The daily resort fee at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Delano, Park MGM, Nomad and The Signature will go up to $50, an increase of $5 for the first three and $8 for the latter trio. New York-New York, Luxor and Excalibur will charge a resort fee of $45, which represents a $3 increase for New York-New York and an $8 jump for the other two. Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts last raised resort fees in January. Resort fees pay for unlimited local and domestic long-distance phone calls, in-room Wi-Fi access, digital newspaper and magazine downloads through PressReader, access to the fitness center, Paramount+ with Showtime On Demand and boarding pass printing. MGM says pricing decisions are based on local and nationwide marketplace standards, including the bundled costs of amenities and services included with a stay. The gaming giant said fees are sometimes adjusted as offerings evolve and to stay competitive with other resorts in Las Vegas and elsewhere. Parking fees for certain visitor segments will also be increasing. Self-park visitors will pay $20 Monday through Thursday (currently $18) and $25 on the weekends (Friday through Sunday; currently $23). Self-park hotel guests will be charged $20 on all days, up $2 from the current pricing. Valet parking for hotel guests and visitors will be $40 at all properties. Presently, valet parking charges range from $25 to $40, depending on the property and day of the week. MGM Rewards members with pearl tier status or higher can self-park for free, and free valet parking is earned at the gold tier status or above. Parking remains free for all active United States military, veterans and spouses through MGM Rewards Military & Veterans Program (MVP). Locals with a valid Nevada identification card can continue parking for free for up to three hours at all MGM Resorts properties.Speculation, not facts, used against terrorism suspect Harkat, his lawyer tells judge
Government secrecy protects sources and methods. And liars and errors. And obsolete military procurement contracts that are too politically important to challenge or change. That may be the story behind government secrecy about UFOs, more recently called Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs. On Nov. 13, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, chaired a hearing by two House Oversight subcommittees on UAPs, seeking to determine whether information about them has been withheld from Congress and the American people. One of the witnesses was journalist Michael Shellenberger. He recently revealed in a report for his online news site Public that the U.S. government has an “Unacknowledged Special Access Program” about UAPs. It’s called “Immaculate Constellation,” and it has collected high-resolution images, sensor data and first-hand reports about UAPs for decades without any authorization from Congress, without even informing Congress of the existence of the program. Shellenberger obtained an 11-page report on Immaculate Constellation from a whistleblower and turned it over to Mace and the House Oversight subcommittees. Mace made the report available to the public on her congressional website. “This document is the result of a multi-year, internal investigation into the subjects of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Technologies of Unknown Origin (TUO), and Non-Human Intelligence (NHI),” the report begins. It’s wild reading. According to the report, the U.S. government possesses full-motion video and forward-looking infrared imagery of a formation of a dozen “metallic orbs,” 3-6 meters in diameter, “skimming the ocean surface at high speed before dispersing in multiple directions.” Their maneuvering was “rapid and agile” and in the infrared footage they were “white-hot against the black-cold ocean.” Then there was a report of a “small-medium oval UAP” flying fast and low over a “sensitive coastal facility.” And there was another report of a “large equilateral-triangle UAP” that was “hovering and slowly rotating” directly over a grouping of ships that were engaged in intelligence collection in the Pacific Ocean. A report in the government’s files described a saucer-shaped UAP that ducked in and out of the clouds as if it “had become aware that it was under observation.” Another report told of a “boomerang UAP” that was observed “rapidly decelerating to a stationary hover, followed by the sudden emission of a sphere of light from the junction of the two ‘wings’ which expands to partially engulf the craft in a rotating sphere of light, at which point the available footage ends.” In 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reviewed reports of UAPs and concluded that some of the flying objects appeared to have technological capabilities that the U.S. and its adversaries couldn’t match. Congress has been pressing the executive branch for more information. In March, the Department of Defense released a report stating that in decades of investigations, no evidence had been found that these UAPs were extraterrestrial spacecraft piloted by non-human intelligence from another planet. But what are they and why are they here? Former Department of Defense official Luis Elizondo testified at the November hearing that the government has a secret program to retrieve the wreckage of crashed UAPs and reverse engineer them. “Advanced technologies not made by our government, or any other government, are monitoring sensitive military installations around the globe,” Elizondo testified. Last December, swarms of mystery drones buzzed Langley Air Force Base for 17 days, raising significant concerns. A Langley spokesman told the publication The War Zone that the “uncrewed aerial systems” didn’t “exhibit hostile intent, but anything flying in our restricted airspace can pose a threat to flight safety.” U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets are based at Langley, where they are part of the nation’s defense forces protecting Washington, D.C. In March, the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from U.S. Air Force General Gregory Guillot, who had recently become the head of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORTHCOM and NORAD. Guillot told the committee that drone incursions over the U.S. southern border numbered “in the thousands,” describing it as “alarming.” Since at least 2017, military experts have been warning of the danger presented by swarms of unmanned drones armed with surveillance equipment or weapons. “Imagine a world where somebody flies a couple hundred of those and flies one down the intake of my F-22s with just a small weapon on it,” General James Holmes said in a speech to the Air Force Association. The War Zone noted that the greater danger might be to fighter jets sitting “idle and vulnerable on the flight line.” One swarm of armed drones could destroy “a whole squadron of tightly packed fighters” without any chance to fight back. Non-hypothetical drone warfare is happening right now in the Russia-Ukraine war, and separately, a Pentagon spokesman acknowledged a series of drone incursions over U.S. air bases in England over the last 10 days. That raises a question: What has the Pentagon been doing all this time while the threat of inexpensive weaponized drones was developing? Is it possible that U.S. presidents, defense contractors, intelligence agencies and Pentagon officials intentionally hid from Congress and the public, for decades, all evidence that military drones were gradually becoming a reality, in order to protect existing defense procurement contracts that otherwise might have been questioned or rejected? To carry out a plan like that, multiple U.S. administrations would have to impose strict secrecy on every report of an unidentified flying object, then refuse to declassify the reports, or release them only with heavy redactions. In addition, the people making the reports would have to be ridiculed and marginalized to the point where they question their own sanity, making others afraid to report what they themselves have seen. If that sounds like a description of exactly what has happened, we may finally have solved the unsolved mystery of Unidentified Flying Objects. Sorry. I was rooting for it to be space aliens, too. Write Susan@susanShelley.com and follow her on X @Susan_Shelley
Bengaluru, Nov 30 (IANS): Reacting to the Karnataka police notice summoning him for questioning over his demand for disenfranchisement of Muslims, Vokkaliga seer Chandrashekaranatha Swami stated on Saturday that he was ready to go to jail and had left the matter to God. The seer told the media on Saturday, "I am ready to go to jail if they want me to. I had taken part in the pro-farmer protest and spoken against the alleged snatching of their lands by the Waqf Board. I can't go to the police station for questioning. If they come to my mutt, I will give clarification for my statement." "The statement against Muslims was a slip of the tongue. It was not intentional. Expressing regret, I had made the statement the very next day. Let's leave the matter here," he stated. "Our Mutt has Muslim devotees too. I also attend marriage functions of the Muslim community. I don't understand why the complaint was registered against me," the seer stated. "I don't know about the notice issued by the police summoning me for questioning. I am not in a good state of health. Many leaders have met me and expressed their solidarity with me. I am not bothered about consequences," the seer maintained. "I have never stated anything regarding banning of the Waqf Board. I have demanded that farmers’ lands must not be taken away. Why is the government acting in such a fashion? The appeasement of one community by the government is not good," he opined. “Many statements were made earlier. My statement won't make a difference and there is a Constitution. My whole intention is the farmers should not be exploited. Let me see the legal consequences," the seer maintained. Swami heads the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt and the statements were made at a protest on Tuesday in Bengaluru, organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, a farmers’ organisation linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to condemn the Waqf Board’s alleged move to take away farmers’ lands. Swami stated, “Politicians indulge in vote bank politics and appeasement of Muslims. Hence, Muslims should be deprived of exercising their voting powers. This should be done and the end of vote bank politics would help the progress of the country.” Upparpet police have registered a FIR against the seer following the complaint in this regard. The police have lodged an FIR under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the seer. The complaint stated that the statement by the seer was provocative and threatens to disturb communal harmony in society. The filing of the FIR against him has taken a serious political turn with a Karnataka BJP delegation visiting him on Friday and warning of “serious consequences” if he was booked by the police. The BJP delegation’s visit to the powerful Vokkaliga seer was headed by Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and former Deputy CM and BJP MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan.Harnessing AI potential crucial for progress: Kh Salman LAHORE:Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has stressed that harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) potential is crucial for progress and it will open up new pathways for development. He said this while speaking at the Annual International Medical, Educational and Research Scientific Conference 2024 of Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) on Thursday. The provincial minister highlighted the significance of AI in revolutionising medical education and practice. He emphasised that AI will greatly benefit students in their learning journey and doctors in their profession. The minister announced that Fatima Jinnah Medical University will soon launch an artificial intelligence programme, underscoring the institution's commitment to embracing this advance technology. The conference was organised in collaboration with Alumni Associations Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of North America (FJMCAANA) and Association of Fatima Jinnah Old Graduates (AFJOG), UK. This international conference brought together renowned medical professionals, educators, and researchers from around the world to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices in medical education, research, and healthcare. Several guests, including Parliamentary Secretary Health Medium Rushda Lodhi, Vice Chancellor (KEMU) Prof Mehmood Ayaz, Prof Aamir Zaman Khan, Dr. Warda Shafi, Syndicate Member Mr. Syed Farrukh Ali Shah, Prof Abdul Majeed Chaudhry, Prof Sajid Maqbool, President (KEMCAANA) Dr Shehzad Khan, Prof Aftab Chaudhry, Prof Kamran Khalid Khawaja, Prof Shamsa Humayun, Prof Munazza Iqbal, Prof Noreen Akmal, and Dr Munira Ahmed attended the inaugural ceremony. Prof Ayesha Malik, Principal Prof Abdul Hameed, Prof Bilqis Shabbir, Prof M Nadeem, Deans Prof Alia Zahid, Prof Naveed Akbar Hotyana, Dr Saima Chaudhry, faculty members and a large number of students participated from the university. Their active participation in the inaugural ceremony of the Annual International Scientific Conference 2024 showcased the university's commitment to medical education, research, and innovation. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal acknowledged the significance of artificial intelligence in assisting medical experts, rather than replacing them. He expressed gratitude for the unparalleled services of the Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Associations. Dr Khalid Masood Gondal highlighted the pre-conference workshops organised by Fatima Jinnah Medical University, focusing on the latest aspects of medicine, education, and research. He delivered a comprehensive lecture on the importance of career counselling in Pakistan. He enables the students to align their decision-making, skills, and interests with emerging opportunities in the country. He emphasised the need for career counselling services in Pakistan, particularly in the context of the country's growing youth population and evolving job market. Rushda Lodhi said that educational institutions have a lot to teach us. The use of artificial intelligence is increasing day by day and man is progressing through innovation, but artificial intelligence would be nothing without humans. Prof Mahmood Ayaz acknowledged the significance of artificial intelligence in today's era. He emphasised the vital role of affiliates and Alumni in providing valuable insights and expertise to organisations. He credited Prof Khalid Masud Gondal's vision and efforts for putting the university on the world map, making him a role model for others.
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