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Imphal (Manipur) [India], December 14 (AN): Assam Rifles continued its determined fight against the menace of poppy cultivation along the Indo-Myanmar border by successfully identifying and destroying 354 acres of illicit poppy fields in 2024. These operations took place primarily in the districts of Ukhrul, Churachandpur, and Chandel, officials said on Saturday. According to a release, in the year 2024, Assam Rifles, operating under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South), continued its determined fight against the menace of poppy cultivation along the Indo-Myanmar border. Also Read | Manipur: 2 Migrant Workers From Bihar Shot Dead by Gunmen in Kakching District. By eliminating poppy fields and striking at the roots of narco-trade, Assam Rifles has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring stability and security in Manipur and beyond. The battle against poppy cultivation has been a consistent priority for Assam Rifles, as reflected in its sustained efforts over the years. In 2020 the force identified a staggering 8057 acres of poppy fields, of which 1695 acres were destroyed. Also Read | Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: BJP To Keep Home Ministry, Shiv Sena May Get Housing Ministry; NCP To Retain Previous Portfolios. This trend of rigorous action continued in subsequent years with 5610 acres identified and 1976 acres destroyed in 2021. The force intensified its operations in 2022 identifying 494 acres and destroying 715 acres, including previously undiscovered patches. In 2023, 1735 acres were identified and 1488 acres were eradicated. By 2024 the area of identified poppy fields had declined significantly, reflecting the success of the State and Central Government's and Security Forces' multi-pronged strategy, the press release noted. Assam Rifles actively coordinated with state and central agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Manipur Police and other CAPFs deployed in the area. The NCB, as the nodal agency for drug enforcement under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensured synergy among all stakeholders during operations, especially during the opium harvesting seasons. Joint operations have focused on curbing cultivation, disrupting supply chains and dismantling the networks sustaining the illicit drug trade, as per the press release. Assam Rifles deftly incorporated advanced technology, such as drone surveillance in identifying poppy fields in inaccessible terrains. These high-tech measures are complemented by actionable intelligence from local communities and inputs from civil society organizations (CSOs). The Leveraging of Technology and Community Support has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of operations, ensuring a swift and targeted approach. Beyond destruction campaigns, Assam Rifles has also prioritised addressing the socio-economic factors driving poppy cultivation. Under its "Drug-Free Manipur" initiative, the Force has conducted extensive awareness drives to educate communities about the perils of drug addiction and the risks associated with illegal farming. Through regular interactions with villagers and local leaders, the force has actively promoted sustainable livelihood options, encouraging a shift toward legitimate and long-term economic activities, the press release said. Assam Rifles' zero-tolerance policy against narcotics-related activities has led to legal actions against defaulters, including cultivators and financiers. These measures, combined with efforts to restrict cross-border narcotics trafficking, have disrupted the infrastructure supporting poppy cultivation. "As 2024 concludes, Assam Rifles reaffirms its dedication to combating narco-trade and ensuring stability in the region. Through unwavering resolve and continued collaboration with State and Central Agencies, the Force remains committed towards creating a safer, prosperous, and drug-free future for Manipur and its people", the release added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Just when everyone thought the spectacle couldn’t get any more absurd, in March environmental and animal rights activists in Colombo —self-proclaimed saviours of the planet—armed with their placards and slogans. Their battle cry! “Don’t kill the rilawu (Toque macaque monkeys)!” Let’s set the record straight: no one has issued any instructions to kill any monkeys. Not a whisper, not a nudge, not even a coy wink suggesting such a thing. Not even the dreaded term ‘culling’ has been uttered. And for those who need a refresher, ‘culling’ is the policy-speak equivalent of saying, “We need to kill a bunch of animals, but let’s make it sound like we’re doing them a favour.” It’s a go-to term for policymakers, agriculturists, scientists and the like, typically trotted out to justify addressing human-wildlife conflicts by slaughtering hundreds—or thousands—of animals, all in the noble name of balance. Rilawu cry But back to the rilawu. There hasn’t been so much as a fleeting thought of culling the monkeys. Yet, the ever-zealous activists of Colombo weren’t about to let facts ruin their parade. Out they went in full force, turning the streets into a carnival of moral outrage, chanting and waving their signs as if the Toque macaques were moments away from extinction. Cry wolf? Oh no. Cry rilawu. Among them was environmental activist Dr. Ajantha Perera, a female candidate who failed to secure a seat in the last General Election. She has stepped up to be a voice for the nonhuman primates- toque macaques. She vowed to preserve the rights of toque macaques- the natural capital of all environmental and animal rights activists across the globe. Let’s be clear: the Government hasn’t decreed a rilawu genocide. Colombo is not, nor has it ever been, teetering on the edge of any type of monkey massacre, either . But judging by the high drama from Dr. Perera and her fellow environmentalists, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Toque macaques were moments away from starring in a dystopian tragedy. Hundreds of thousands of rural farmers and their families, already struggling to make ends meet, have taken their grievances to Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister Kuragamage Don Lalkantha. Crop raiders The culprits? A motley crew of crop raiders, including wild elephants, monkeys, peafowls, porcupines and giant squirrels. But none match the destructive prowess of the toque macaques, whose enthusiasm for destruction is unparalleled. These mischievous monkeys destroy an estimated 100 million coconuts annually, with overall losses climbing to over Rs. 30,000 million. Yet, the problem doesn’t stop at ruined crops. These monkeys have become increasingly hostile—not to the placard-waving activists in Colombo, of course but to the villagers living in agricultural districts such as Ampara, Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Kandy and Kurunegala. Their complaint? Crops painstakingly cultivated—coconuts, king coconuts, paddy, vegetables, mangoes, papayas, plantains, and chillie—are under relentless attack by wild animals. But the menace doesn’t stop at the fields. Farmers also report primates entering gardens and even homes, sometimes injuring villagers, particularly juveniles and women. “The monkeys seem to target juveniles and females,” one farmer said. These incidents have not only inflicted economic losses but also instilled fear in rural communities. Many villagers now avoid leaving their children at home unattended while working in their cultivations. Farmer organisations across the country have described the protests—better known as ‘monkey-backups’ staged by environmentalists under the banner of protecting as sheer buffoonery. On a deeper sociological footing, however, one could classify it as a non-governmental group-aggression of primates over time spent on food and distance between resources. The president of the Nuwara Wewa Project Joint Farmer Organisation, Ven. Rathgama Samitha Thera, voiced the frustration of farmers. “What do these environmentalists have to say about the livelihoods affected by this monkey menace? They have carried away our incomes, putting our lives in jeopardy.” “These environmentalists, who try to stop the Government from taking measures to address the ever-increasing rilawu menace, had better come from their Colombo homes to our villages, compensate the farmers and show their compassion by taking the rilawu away from our cultivations to their cosmopolitan abodes,” said Ven. Rathgama Samitha Thera. In short, farmer organisations have voiced a clear message to animal rights activists: “Please stop displaying your Colombo-style animal kindness to the world at the expense of the suffering of millions of people whose lives depend on crop cultivation.” Sri Lanka has long been a safe haven for all living beings, including toque macaques, a tradition rooted in Buddhist teachings introduced by Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera. The Buddhist principle of sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta (May all beings everywhere be happy and free) has guided generations to abstain from killing animals and to extend loving-kindness to all creatures. Naturally, the people of this country would expect environmentalists to keep their voices down about their commitment and contribution to animal welfare. Led by the Buddhist clergy, Sri Lankans have done more for the protection of animals than any modern movement in the world – preserving wildlife for centuries. It is no surprise under these circumstances that the populations of wild animals such as toque macaques, giant squirrels, porcupines, and pea fowls have more than doubled over the years. While conservationists raise alarms when an elephant or two die due to incidents such as electrocution, the Department of Wildlife reports that the elephant population has grown significantly—from 5,600 to over 7,000—without notable intervention by animal rights activists. According to a research paper published in the International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), attacks by toque macaques on humans are more frequent than those by Sri Lanka’s other two diurnal monkey species—the purple-faced langur (Semnopithecus vetulus) and the gray langur (Semnopithecus priam thersites). However, it is worthwhile to ask how Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation Minister Lal Kantha came to be labelled an ‘enemy of rilawu’. This curious title stems from the selective narrative spun by environmentalists, who have launched a vociferous campaign to defend the rights of these monkeys. Ongoing dispute One could argue that the minister had taken a partial stance in addressing the ongoing dispute between humans and monkeys. But let’s not forget: it was the humans who went to him first, not the monkeys, pleading for solutions to their crop losses and food security issues. As for the monkeys, they haven’t exactly stepped up to take responsibility for the food security crisis, crop destruction, or property damage they’ve caused across farming districts. The minister was left to respond to the concerns of those who feed the nation—and understandably so. Minister Lal Kantha told Parliament that the extent of crop damage caused by rilawu in agricultural districts as nothing short of rila thrasthavaadaya — crop-raiding terrorism by monkeys. The Minister said that there are no legal restrictions preventing individuals from taking measures to protect their cultivations from these animals. Farmers, he said, are free to defend their crops as needed. Minister Lal Kantha made no mention of killing animals but emphasised that while farmers may take appropriate action, the Ministry is working towards a firm and sustainable resolution to the issue. As activist Dr. Ajantha Perera remarked last Thursday, in response to Minister Lal Kantha’s speech: “If farmers come across wild animals—say, a wild elephant—and if they have a gun, they would kill it. Lal Kantha’s speech is so dangerous that, on the one side, elephants will die; on the other, wild boar, deer and toque monkeys will perish because of his statement.” This brings to mind the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale of Clever Elsie. In the story, Elsie, hailed as ‘clever’ by her parents, imagines a far-fetched tragedy to Hans, her suitor. She says “O my dear Hans, if we marry and have a child and it grows up and we send it down here to draw beer, perhaps that pickaxe, left sticking up there, might fall on the child’s head and kill it. And how can we help crying at that!” With this imagined catastrophe, Elsie, Hans, and her family all found a reason to weep—and so, they wept. Similarly, the activists’ warnings about Lal Kantha’s speech seem to conjure up an exaggerated doomsday scenario. They said that while the Minister has created this situation, if a farmer kills a wild animal on their property, it’s the farmer—not Lal Kantha—who will face the courts and possible jail time. For elephants, the law leaves no ambiguity. Harming these majestic creatures has long been a punishable offence and no farmer dare cross that line. But when it comes to toque macaques, the narrative takes a different turn. Perhaps it’s this distinction that has shifted the tune of the environmentalists from the upbeat rhythm of ‘Dancing Monkeys’ to the mellow jazz of ‘Baby Elephant Walk’. The focus, once firmly on the monkey menace, now seems to have pivoted to the plight of elephants—adding yet another layer of complexity to the ongoing human-wildlife conflict. Despite being classified as an endemic primate, the toque macaque receives no protection under Sri Lanka’s Animal and Plant Protection Ordinance (Law No. 22 of 2009). While listed on the IUCN Red List as a species of concern and protected internationally under CITES Appendix II, these monkeys are considered pests in Sri Lanka due to their destructive impact on crops such as coconuts, paddy, bananas, maize and orid dhal. The gap in legal protection leaves farmers to grapple with the ever-growing rilawu menace, while environmentalists cry foul over any measures proposed to address the issue. Veteran environmentalist Dr. Jagath Gunawardane has shed light on the issue of the escalating conflict between farmers and wildlife. According to him, the toque macaque is one of five mammals in the country that is not protected under the law. Farmers are permitted to take action against non-protected animals which trespass and destroy their crops, he said. Real issue The real issue is ensuring that efforts to address crop damage don’t lead to harm against wildlife that is safeguarded by the Law, said Dr. Gunawardane. Environmental activists contend that human encroachment on forest lands is the root cause of the escalating human-rilawu conflict. They said that widespread deforestation and settlement—driven by numerous construction projects—have led to the loss of natural habitats for toque macaques. This displacement, they say, has forced the primates into closer contact with humans, intensifying adverse encounters. While activists blame deforestation and human encroachment for the human-rilawu conflict, others argue that the dynamic might be the reverse. Could it be that monkeys have abandoned their forest habitats, drawn by the abundance of food near human settlements? “What if monkeys built homes and started cultivating bananas, mangoes, paddy and corn?” asked one farmer. “Wouldn’t they have cleared forests for that too?” Instead, it seems they’ve opted for the easier route—raiding crops and stealing food from human settlements. This is what the monkey-human conflict is all about,” he said. We asked former Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera why his administration failed to solve the rilawu issue. He was quick to shine a spotlight on what he called an “ambitious yet misunderstood” solution from his tenure. “I proposed exporting one million Toque macaques to China’s zoos and wildlife parks last year,” he said. “But the effort failed due to interference from environmental pressure groups”, he added. Apparently, his grand plan to ship off 100,000 Toque macaques as the first phase of the program was thwarted by conservationists who, inconveniently, didn’t share his enthusiasm for turning monkeys into international exports. Amaraweera also sprang to the defence of current Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha, insisting that his parliamentary remarks about the rilawu were perfectly justified. “Environmental organisations shouldn’t block Government efforts to protect farmers from crop damage caused by monkeys,” he said, before throwing down the gauntlet to his critics: “If they oppose the Government’s approach, perhaps they should propose a viable solution instead of simply protesting.” But not one to take it lying down, Dr. Ajantha Perera has struck back, lodging a police complaint to unearth the details of Amaraweera’s monkey export project. Speaking to the media, she accused him of attempting to profit from what she called a ‘monkey business’. According to her, the plan involved selling each Toque macaque for a neat Rs 32,000 to a private Chinese company. Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyaratna said that complaints from farmers about the monkey menace have become so overwhelming that he now sees monkeys even in his dreams. Upon waking, however, he is faced with a pile of proposals on his desk, each attempting to tackle the rilawu crisis. One particularly creative suggestion involved selecting 50-acre plots of dense forest from various locations and enclosing them with nets to ensure the monkeys couldn’t escape. The plan would then separate male monkeys on one side and females on the other, with an additional net between them to prevent cohabitation. The Government is actively exploring solutions to the escalating problem of crop-raiding by wild animals, particularly the expanding toque macaque population. Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyaratna clarified that while some proposals, including one involving segregating monkeys into forest enclosures have been tabled, none have been officially accepted yet. “This issue has been neglected for over seven decades by previous administrations,” Vidyaratna said, emphasising the urgent need for action. Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has acknowledged the severe impact of crop-raiding wild animals, particularly toque macaques, in rural areas. “The ministries of Agriculture, Science and Technology and Environment are collaborating to explore all possibilities for a long-term, scientific solution to this issue,” Dr. Jayatissa said. The Agriculture Ministry is rolling out a short-term program to mitigate immediate crop damage. This effort involves the active participation of all stakeholders, including local farmer organisations. Dr. Jayatissa said that while the Government aims to devise a solution that considers all perspectives—including those of environmentalists—priority will be given to addressing the urgent concerns of affected farmers. In an effort to address the rilawu problem, the Agriculture Ministry has rolled out a sterilisation pilot project targeting Toque macaques in Matale. Interestingly, even environmentalists—often vocal critics—have given their nod of approval to the initiative. With a Rs. 4.5 million budget, the program has brought several veterinarians on board to carry out the procedure. The plan is straightforward: monkeys will be captured and transported to the Wildlife Research and Training Centre in Giritale, where they will undergo sterilisation before being released back into the wild. According to the ministry, this is just the beginning. If the project is successful, the pilot project will be rolled out islandwide in the near future. Whether this initiative will solve the crop-raiding crisis or become yet another contested policy remains to be seen.

BERWYN, Pa. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Envestnet, Inc. (the " Company "), yesterday announced that, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 11, 2024 , by and among the Company, BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc. (" Parent "), a Delaware corporation, and BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc. (" Merger Sub "), a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger Agreement"), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company (the " Merger "), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of common stock, par value $0.005 per share, of the Company (the " Common Shares ") (other than any Common Shares (i) owned by Parent (or any of its affiliates), Merger Sub or the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Parent (or any of its affiliates), Merger Sub or the Company, (ii) that are Rollover Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (iii) held in treasury of the Company, and (iv) as to which appraisal rights have been properly exercised in accordance with Delaware law) was automatically cancelled, extinguished and converted into the right to receive $63.15 in cash per one Common Share. As a result, a Share Exchange Event and a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurred under each of the Indenture, dated as of August 20, 2020 , among the Company, the guarantor party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the " Trustee "), which governs the Company's 0.75% Convertible Notes due 2025 (the " 2025 Notes ") (such indenture, the " 2025 Indenture ") and the Indenture, dated of November 17, 2022 , among the Company, the guarantor party thereto and the Trustee, which governs the Company's 2.625% Convertible Notes due 2027 (the " 2027 Notes ", and together with the 2025 Notes, collectively and individually, the " Notes ") (such indenture, the " 2027 Indenture ", and together with the 2025 Indenture, collectively, the " Indentures ", and each, an " Indenture ", as applicable), triggering the adjustments to the conversion rights as described below. The effective date of the Share Exchange Event and Make-Whole Fundamental Change was November 25, 2024 (the " Effective Date "). Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the applicable Indenture. The Company announced that, pursuant to the terms of the respective Indenture, in connection with the consummation of the Merger which constitutes a Share Exchange Event under each Indenture, the Company and the Trustee entered into supplemental indentures to each Indenture providing that, following the effective date of the Merger, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes into shares of common stock of the Company at the then applicable conversion rate shall be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes solely into a number of units of Reference Property in an aggregate amount equal to the applicable conversion rate in effect on the conversion date (as may be increased by any Additional Shares), multiplied by $63.15 , the price paid per share of Common Stock in the Merger. Because the Merger constituted a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Notes are convertible, at the option of the Holder, at any time from the Effective Date until 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Purchase Date to be determined by the Company and separately announced to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Indentures as a result of the Merger (the " Conversion Period "). Also because the Merger constituted a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the conversion rate for the 2027 Notes will be temporarily increased during the Conversion Period. Such conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of the 2027 Notes increased by 3.2973 units of Reference Property from 13.6304 units of Reference Property to 16.9277 units of Reference Property. The Company's conversion obligation with respect to Notes that are converted prior to the end of the Conversion Period will be fixed at an amount in cash equal to $591.602 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2025 Notes validly surrendered for conversion, and $1,068.984 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2027 Notes validly surrendered for conversion. The right of the Holders to convert their Notes is separate from the right, at the Holder's option, to submit their Notes for purchase upon a Fundamental Change. If a Holder submits a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice, such Holder may not surrender such Notes for conversion unless the Holder validly withdraws such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time. Holders should review the applicable Indenture carefully and should consult with their own financial and tax advisors. None of the Company, Merger Sub, Parent or any of their respective affiliates, or any of its or their respective boards of directors, employees, advisors or representatives or U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in its capacity as trustee, paying agent or conversion agent with respect to the Notes, is making any representation or recommendation to any Holder as to whether or not to surrender or convert that Holder's Notes. The Trustee, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent is: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Corporate Actions 111 Fillmore Avenue St. Paul, MN 55107-1402 Telephone: (800) 934-6802 Email: cts.specfinance@usbank.com Any questions or requests for assistance in connection with the conversion of the Notes may be directed to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in accordance with the contact information listed above, or the Company. About Envestnet Envestnet is helping to lead the growth of wealth managers and transforming the way financial advice is delivered through its ecosystem of connected technology, advanced insights, and comprehensive solutions – backed by industry-leading service and support. Serving the wealth management industry for 25 years with more than $6.5 trillion in platform assets—more than 111,000 advisors, 17 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 48 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, more than 500 of the largest RIAs -- thousands of companies, depend on Envestnet technology and services to help drive business growth and productivity, and better outcomes for their clients. Data as of 9/30/24. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envestnet-inc-announces-make-whole-fundamental-change-and-supplemental-indentures-under-its-0-75-convertible-notes-due-2025-and-2-625-convertible-notes-due-2027--302317032.html SOURCE Envestnet, Inc.Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appeals

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024-- Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (“FGIC”) today announced that it had received notice from the New York State Department of Financial Services (the “NYSDFS”) that, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the First Amended Plan of Rehabilitation for FGIC, dated June 4, 2013, the NYSDFS has approved an increase of the cash payment percentage (CPP) of permitted policy claims that FGIC is required to pay under such Plan from 61.11% to 64.50%, effective November 25, 2024. The 2024 Annual CPP Revaluation Notice, which is posted on the Policyholder Information Center at , provides additional information concerning the 2024 CPP Revaluation. FGIC is a New York stock insurance corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of FGIC Corporation. FGIC emerged from rehabilitation on August 19, 2013, and is responsible for administering its outstanding insurance policies in accordance with the terms of the First Amended Plan of Rehabilitation for FGIC, dated June 4, 2013. Please visit . View source version on : CONTACT: Investor and Media: Investor Relations: Winston Wohr +1 212.312.3423 Press Relations: +1 212.312.2775 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT STATE/LOCAL INSURANCE FINANCE BANKING SOURCE: Financial Guaranty Insurance Company Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/26/2024 06:00 PM/DISC: 11/26/2024 06:00 PM

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UPDATES: 3 Magic Valley football teams battle in state championshipsMetal Machining Market To Grow By USD 18.43 Billion (2024-2028), Rising Oil And Gas Industry Demand Boosts Revenue, AI-Powered Report - TechnavioThere is a fierce debate in the United States and among its allies about the impacts of export controls, and nowhere is that debate more heated than in the semiconductor equipment manufacturing industry. Too often, however, this debate occurs without any grounding in real-world data or relevant historical Chinese policy context. This paper seeks to provide some of that grounding through a combination of Chinese policy document analysis and new financial and market share data for leading semiconductor equipment firms in China, the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands. What follows are a set of 10 key judgments based on the author’s analysis. 1. China’s ambitions for eliminating dependence on foreign semiconductor manufacturing equipment started long before America’s expanded usage of technology export controls. The first and most important argument among critics of U.S. export controls is that they weaken U.S. technology leadership by incentivizing China to eliminate U.S. technology from its semiconductor supply chain. However, reducing dependence on foreign semiconductor and semiconductor manufacturing equipment suppliers was official Chinese policy before the Trump administration’s April 2018 export controls restricting sales of U.S.-designed chips to ZTE, a Chinese telecommunications firm, launched the new era of semiconductor export controls. “ The Roadmap of Major Technical Domains for Made in China 2025 ,” which was published in September 2015 and covered semiconductors and other sectors, included goals such as “replacement of imports with Chinese-made products basically achieved in key industries” by 2025. It set specific targets and deadlines for the degree of market share that Chinese companies were supposed to reach and by what date. Targets for the semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector include the following: As the Made in China 2025 technical document roadmap stated , “meeting domestic market demand, improving the self-sufficiency rate of integrated circuit products, meeting national security needs, and occupying the strategic product market have always been the greatest demand and driving force for the development of the integrated circuit industry.” Even earlier policies, though less well resourced, sought to dramatically reduce use of foreign semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. For example, the 2006 “Medium Long Range Plan for the Development of Science and Technology” explicitly called for self-sufficiency in semiconductor technologies and initiated so-called “mega projects” to drive toward that goal. For more than a decade, China’s government has provided lavish subsidies in the form of tax breaks, free land, government grants, and equity infusions to a number of Chinese semiconductor equipment companies. Naura, one of China’s leading domestic semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies received $1.3 billion in state support in 2021, even before the imposition of the Biden administration’s export controls. AMEC, another leading Chinese semiconductor equipment company, received a similar equity investment from the “Big Fund” in 2015. Simply put, China’s goal of semiconductor equipment industry localization and robust policy support predated any modern effort to impose meaningful export controls on China’s chip fabrication capabilities. 2. There is not a simple relationship between export controls and China’s rate of technological progress. China’s greatest progress came in sectors with no export controls. A September 2024 analysis by Bernstein Research , an equity research firm, included a review of China’s semiconductor self-sufficiency goals from the 2015 roadmap and found that “China has made impressive progress and likely will beat the ‘Made in China 2025’ targets for integrated circuit (IC) Design and Manufacturing, but may miss the goals for IC equipment and Materials.” As the Bernstein analysis shows, the rate of China’s progress toward self-sufficiency is best predicted by the market and technological complexities of each semiconductor market segment, not by the extent to which export controls were applied. It is certainly not the case that the segments in which China has made the most progress—or even devoted the most resources—are the areas in which the United States has applied export controls most forcefully. That there is not a simple relationship between export controls and China’s technological progress should be obvious given that China has made rapid progress in other technological domains—such as solar cells and electric vehicles (EVs)—where the United States applied no export controls and in some cases actively supported the rise of a Chinese supply chain. The United States applied no export controls in the case of the equipment used to manufacture silicon solar cells, yet today China dominates both production of solar cells and production of the equipment used to make them. This equipment is in many ways similar to (though less sophisticated than) the equipment used to make and process silicon wafers for semiconductors. In fact, one Chinese company, Naura, is a domestic leader in both manufacturing equipment for both solar cells and semiconductors. The biggest difference in Chinese outcomes between those two industries is not the presence or absence of export controls but the far greater technological complexity of producing semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The EV maker Tesla made a major push into Chinese manufacturing in late 2018, launching deep partnerships with many local Chinese suppliers, such as battery-maker CATL. As a November 2024 commentary in a major Chinese state-run newspaper stated : "Tesla’s rapid growth in sales, fueled by its technological and branding advantages and backed by China’s massive consumer market, has driven the rapid development of upstream and downstream supply chains. Today, the localization rate of parts for Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory exceeds 95%, with more than 60 suppliers integrated into Tesla’s global supply chain." The Chinese EV supply chain, which Tesla helped dramatically increase in both scale and technological sophistication, is now also supplying Tesla’s competitors . Defections of Tesla-trained skilled employees are also a challenge. An April 2024 New York Times report claimed that most of Tesla’s early Chinese employees now work at competing Chinese firms. In a January Tesla earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said “The Chinese car companies are the most competitive car companies in the world. . . . Frankly, I think if there are not trade barriers established, they will pretty much demolish most other companies in the world.” The point here is not to suggest with unwarranted certainty that export controls would have definitively prevented China’s rise in the solar and EV industries. Rather, it is to caution the reader against relying too heavily on cursory anecdotal evidence to reach conclusions about when export controls do or do not work and what the counterfactual outcome would have been if export controls were or were not applied. Much depends upon the state of the global market landscape, the complexity of the controlled technology, the current technological sophistication of the targeted country, the design of the export control regulations, and the robustness of the controls’ implementation and enforcement. Only a detailed analysis can hope to reach anything approaching insight. 3. Semiconductor export controls—as implemented thus far—have in different ways and at different times both helped and hindered Chinese firms. Just as foreign firms have supported Chinese competitor growth in solar cells and EVs in the absence of export controls, so have they done in semiconductor manufacturing. The major semiconductor manufacturing equipment providers all have major service businesses, where, among other things, they train customer companies on how to get the most out of their equipment. Prior to the October 2022 changes in U.S. export controls, this could include assisting with the facility planning, installation, repairs, and operational troubleshooting of equipment as part of advanced chip manufacturing operations. Industry sources told CSIS that this sometimes included contract research and development (R&D) of advanced node semiconductor process technology on behalf of or in partnership with Chinese clients. At least as of November 2024, this is still legal in the case of providing support to Chinese legacy chip manufacturing operations. By contrast, earlier U.S. export controls meaningfully reversed progress in some segments of the Chinese semiconductor sector, such as NAND memory manufacturing and smartphone chip design , though the durability of those setbacks, even if temporary, will depend on many factors. More recent export controls have also made life harder in many ways for Chinese semiconductor equipment firms, who can no longer legally obtain U.S. subcomponents or technical expertise. Thus, it is simply wrong to say that export controls always, in isolation, accelerate Chinese technological indigenization and that making it easier for U.S. firms to export will always slow Chinese indigenization. At the same time, it is unambiguously the case that the United States’ use of semiconductor export controls, beginning with ZTE in April 2018, made a massive impression on both political and corporate leaders in China. Speeches at the time by Chinese leadership, including General Secretary Xi Jinping , indicate that ZTE was viewed as a turning point and justified China’s aggressive pursuit of “self-reliance” in science and technology. Pony Ma, the chairman of Tencent, one of China’s largest technology firms, said in May 2018, “The recent ZTE incident made us see clearly that no matter how advanced our mobile payment is, without mobile devices, without microchips and operating systems, we can’t compete competently.” The evidence goes beyond talk to specific actions. China made significant changes to its semiconductor policy in the years following ZTE, and China’s central government directed local governments to “do everything in their power” to promote the semiconductor sector. Some Chinese companies also took drastic measures to respond after ZTE. For example, Nikkei Asia reported that Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation (YMTC)—one of China’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturers—began a full-blown de-Americanization campaign in 2019 involving the full-time work of more than 800 staff (both YMTC and its suppliers). This included the establishment of multiple new major partnerships with domestic Chinese equipment producers. Of note, at the time when YMTC began this de-Americanization initiative, no significant U.S. export controls applied to the company. YMTC began their work based on fear of future controls, not the reality of current ones. Combined, this provides strong evidence that the export controls did increase the desire of both the Chinese government and Chinese companies to increase the capabilities of local semiconductor equipment providers, but that is not the same thing as saying that export controls caused accelerated indigenization, which depends upon more than just desire. 4. The Biden administration’s 2022 export controls strengthened a policy approach to semiconductor equipment controls that began in 2019 during the first Trump administration. As with chip export controls, the first Trump administration launched the U.S. government’s modern approach to semiconductor manufacturing equipment export controls. According to reporting by Reuters , the U.S. government successfully persuaded the Dutch government in July 2019 to cancel the export license of EUV lithography equipment to SMIC, China’s most advanced logic chip foundry. In December 2020, SMIC was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List, prohibiting the company from buying certain kinds of U.S. equipment, specifically, “items uniquely required for production of semiconductors at advanced technology nodes (10 nanometers and below, including extreme ultraviolet technology).” In October 2022, the Biden administration significantly expanded U.S. export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including not only Entity List and end-use restrictions but also some country-wide export controls that applied to China as a whole (including a use of the U.S. persons rule). Just as importantly, the Biden administration made some of these controls more multilateral in nature, engaging Japan and the Netherlands to overhaul their export control policies for advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Even though these controls did not entirely align with U.S. controls, this was important to ensure that Dutch and Japanese companies did not provide China with alternative sources for the items that the United States was no longer willing to sell. 5. Chinese semiconductor equipment firms started very small but have grown rapidly. However, this rapid growth occurred both before and after export controls and took place during a period of massive Chinese equipment demand growth. China’s domestic semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry has long been both small and technologically inferior to the global state of the art. To understand the growth trajectory of the Chinese semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector, CSIS gathered market data on how China’s global semiconductor manufacturing equipment market share has changed over time across both supply and demand (see Table 1).

A SURVEY conducted this year by a leading insurance company in the Philippines reveals that 82 percent of 1,050 Filipino respondents cited rising health care costs as a top threat; this percentage rises to 86 percent among those ages 50 to 60. The illnesses that worry them the most — and the leading causes of death in the country — are heart disease (46 percent), diabetes (42 percent), stroke (34 percent) and cancer (31 percent). The broader concerns about their physical well-being and rising medical costs are not unique to the respondents. They are actually serious causes of anxiety for military retirees who are battling more infirmities than fellow Filipinos of their age do, owing to deployments in harsh and demanding field environments requiring physical, emotional and psychological stamina. Hence, physical and mental health issues are not uncommon among Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retirees, who mostly rely solely on their pensions for treatment and medication for the many illnesses that manifest long after they hang up their uniforms. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.

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EPD to install smog clean tower in City LAHORE : Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has planned to install a smog clean tower, first of its kind across the country, in the provincial capital to control air pollution. The smog clean tower, developed by the EPD will eliminate smog and will be installed at the area of Mehmood Booti, where most of the pollution generating industries situated and the location was selected due to the high level of air pollution. A senior EPD official said the department was carrying out different experiments after which the installation and calibration of the tower will be done. He said the project will be fully functional by December end. The smog clean tower has the ability to clean toxic particles in the air and will play an important role in reducing air pollution in the city. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has termed this initiative as a revolutionary step towards environmental protection. She said that the use of modern technology to control a serious problem like smog was the need of the hour and this tower will prove to be a model not only for Lahore but also for the entire country. The government is taking all possible steps to address environmental challenges, she concluded. Meanwhile, the average AQI of the city was 177, which came in the category of unhealthy while the PM2.5 concentrations was currently 18.5 times the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline value. The most polluted city localities included Polo Ground Cantt (250), Hiking & Mountaineering Club GCU (221), Shahdara (215), Valencia Town (209), University of Management and Technology (204), Askari 10 (191), Bedian Road (188) and MM Alam Road (184). The cold wave continued to persisted in the city while Met office predicted similar weather conditions for the next 24 hours.It's all eyes on artificial intelligence PC demand and tariffs for HP Inc. ( HPQ ) CEO Enrique Lores entering 2025. "Some of that [cost of potential tariffs] will have to go to consumers given what is the overall margin that we have in the categories. But again, we need to wait and see what the final tariffs are for us to define what the exact plan is going to be," Lores told Yahoo Finance on Tuesday (video above). The comments on prices to consumers echo some of those made by Best Buy CEO Corie Barry today on her call with reporters. Lores said he is looking forward to working with the incoming Trump administration and prefers smooth trading relationships between countries. "We are a global company that does business in many parts of the globe, and that does development in many parts of the globe, and that has manufacturing in many parts of the globe. So for us, an easy way of trading across countries is the preferred option," Lores added. Read more: How do tariffs work, and who really pays them? As tariff convos whipsaw markets, HP released mixed fiscal fourth quarter sales results after the market close. Sales of consumer PCs fell 4% in the quarter, while commercial sales improved 5%. Operating margins in the PC division fell sharply year over year. Similar to the previous quarter, commercial clients are upgrading their computers ahead of Microsoft ( MSFT ) ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025. Consumer PCs are under slight pressure as people await new AI computer releases and spend more money on experiences. Worldwide shipments of traditional PCs in the calendar year third quarter hit 68.8 million, down 2.4% year over year, according to data from IDC . Sales were hurt by rising costs and inventory replenishment in the prior quarter, IDC explained. Net sales: $14.1 billion (+1.7% year over year) vs. $13.9 billion estimate Personal systems sales: $9.6 billion (+2% year over year) vs. $9.7 billion estimate Consumer personal system sales: -4% Commercial personal system sales: +5% Printing sales: $4.5 billion (+1% year over year) vs. $4.2 billion estimate Consumer printing sales: +3% Commercial printing sales: -1% Diluted earnings per share (EPS): $0.93 (+3% year over year) vs. $0.93 estimate (guidance: $0.89-$0.99) Weak margins: Quarterly operating margins dropped to 8.5% from 9% a year ago Personal systems operating margins fell to 5.7% from 6.7% a year ago Printing operating margins rose to 19.6% from 18.9% a year ago Fiscal first quarter EPS guidance: $0.70 to $0.76 vs. $0.86 estimate Full-year EPS guidance: $3.45 to $3.75 vs. $3.60 estimate "Demand, without a doubt, has returned for PCs amongst consumers and commercial buyers," IDC research manager Jitesh Ubrani said. "However, much of the demand was still concentrated at the entry-level thanks to a recovering economy and the back-to-school season in North America. That said, newer AI PCs such as Copilot+ PCs from Qualcomm along with Intel and AMD's equivalent chips as well as Apple's expected M4-based Macs are expected to drive the premium segment in coming months." Where HP surprised favorably for the first time in a while was its printing business. Printing sales rose 1% from the prior year and came in ahead of expectations. The upside could stem from struggles at rival Xerox ( XRX ), which is smack in the middle of deep restructuring that pros say is causing market share loss. "On print, results from peers such as Xerox came in below expectations, with Xerox's printing equipment sales declining double-digits year over year due in part to an increase in competitive activity in certain markets," Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani said in a client note. Lores said HP is "gaining share" in the printing business, though declined to call out Xerox and cautioned the industry remains volatile. "We think that the overall print market in 2025 will slightly decline. The decline will be less than what we saw this year, but our goal continues to be to perform better than the market," Lores said. Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn . Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com. Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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