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John McNulty has described as ‘sad’ the loss of a Fine Gael TD in Donegal for the first time since 1937. Both McNulty and his running mate Senator Nikki Bradley failed to impress at the polls. The duo managed to take just 9% of the overall vote leaving them trailing well behind Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail. Speaking with Donegal Daily , the Kilcar man admitted that the combined vote of the two Fine Gael candidates may have made an impact. Watch the full interview here:Seahawks try for 7th straight win in series vs. Cards in crucial NFC West matchup
GameCenter live: Bemidji State at No. 14 UNDPublished 04:13 IST, December 27th 2024 Israel’s Attorney General has ordered an investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, over allegations of harassment Jerusalem: Israel’s Attorney General has ordered an investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, over allegations of harassment against political opponents and a key witness in her husband’s ongoing corruption trial. The investigation follows a report by the Israeli investigative program Uvda, which revealed WhatsApp messages suggesting that Sara Netanyahu had instructed a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and intimidate Hadas Klein, a critical witness in the corruption case. The Israeli Justice Ministry confirmed the investigation in a brief statement on Thursday evening. However, the statement did not mention Sara Netanyahu by name and declined to give further details. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the Uvda report, calling it false. In a video message, he defended his wife, listing her charitable and kind actions and labelling the claims as “lies.” ‘False Propaganda’: Claims Netanyahu The investigation has drawn significant attention, as it adds to the pressure on the Netanyahu family amid ongoing legal and political challenges. “My opponents on the left and in the media found a new-old target. They mercilessly attack my wife, Sara,” Natanyahu said. He called the programme "false propaganda, nasty propaganda that brings up lies from the darkness". It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus — highlighted by the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial. The pair have also had a rocky relationship with the Israeli media. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favours with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. The report obtained correspondence between Sara Netanyahu and Hanni Bleiweiss, a former aide to the prime minister who died of cancer last year. The messages indicated that Sara Netanyahu encouraged police to crack down violently on anti-government protesters and ordered Bleiweiss to organise protests against her husband's critics. She also told Bleiweiss to get activists in Netanyahu's Likud party to publish attacks on Klein. Klein is an aide to billionaire Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and has testified in the corruption case about her role in delivering tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars and gifts to Netanyahu for her boss. Sara Netanyahu Accused Of Abusive Behaviour Toward Personal Staff According to the report, Sara Netanyahu mistreated Bleiweiss, prompting her to share the messages with a reporter shortly before her death. Sara Netanyahu has been accused of abusive behaviour toward her personal staff before. This, together with accusations of excessive spending and using public money for her own extravagant personal tastes, has earned her an image of being out of touch with everyday Israelis. In 2019, she was fined for misusing state funds. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees police and has repeatedly said Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara should be fired over a series of grievances against her, said the latest announcement was another reason for her to be dismissed. “Someone who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as the attorney general,” he said. And Justice Minister Yariv Levin, another Netanyahu ally and critic of Baharav Miara, accused her of focusing on “television gossip”. “Selective enforcement is a crime!” he said in a statement. Updated 04:13 IST, December 27th 2024
Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz is not coming back to Congress. The Florida Republican said Friday he has no intention of serving another term in the House now that he is no longer President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Gaetz withdrew as the nominee this week amid growing fallout from the allegations of sexual conduct against him. Gaetz denies the allegations. Gaetz didn't lay out his plans now that he's out of office, saying only, “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch." After Gaetz's withdrawal on Thursday, Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department. Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump's most contentious picks WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role. He's been helping Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks try to win confirmation in the Senate, where he has served for the last two years. Vance spent part of Wednesday at the Capitol with Rep. Matt Gaetz sitting in on meetings with Trump’s controversial choice for attorney general. On Thursday, Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings over the coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, but he didn't focus exclusively on large religious voter blocs. He and his allies also wooed smaller religious groups, away from the mainstream. He posted a tribute to Coptic church members on social media and met with members of Assyrians for Trump — two smaller Christian communities with Middle Eastern roots. He visited the grave of the revered late leader of an Orthodox Jewish movement. His allies sought votes from the separatist Amish community. While Trump won decisively, the outreaches reflected aggressive campaigning in what was expected to be a tight race. NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with a hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Ukraine's parliament canceled a session Friday over the security threat. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech Thursday that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik, saying it's so powerful that several of them fitted with conventional warheads could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ education board has voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. The approval Friday follows other Republican-led states that have pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms. The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education is optional for schools to adopt, but they’ll receive additional funding if they do so. Parents and teachers who opposed the curriculum say the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds. Supporters argue the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich learning. 2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury has convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand each faced four charges related to human smuggling before being convicted on Friday. Patel is an Indian national. Shand is an American from Florida. They were arrested after the family froze while trying to cross the desolate border during a 2022 blizzard. Storm inundates Northern California with rain, heavy snow. Thousands remain in the dark in Seattle HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Heavy rain from a major storm prompted evacuation warnings for communities near a Northern California river that forecasters say could break its banks Friday, as the system continued to dump heavy snow in mountainous areas where some ski resorts opened for the season. The storm reached the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands before moving through Northern California, where several roads were closed due to flooding and strong winds toppled some trees. Forecasters are warning about the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in areas north of San Francisco as the region was inundated by this season’s strongest atmospheric river. Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya WASHINGTON (AP) — Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize. The research published Friday in Science Advances shows that long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America’s Yucatan peninsula. The ancient fish canals were used to channel and catch freshwater species such as catfish. These structures were used for around 1,000 years — including during the “formative” period when the Maya began to settle in permanent farming villages and a distinctive culture started to emerge. California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health officials are confirming bird flu in a California child — the first reported case in a U.S. minor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced confirmatory test results on Friday. Officials say the child had mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication and is recovering. The child’s infection brings the reported number of U.S. bird flu cases this year to 55, including 29 in California. State officials have said the child lives in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, and attends day care, but released no other details. Brazilian police formally accuse former President Bolsonaro and aides of alleged 2022 coup attempt SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings are to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.
Where Ambition Meets Opportunity: Best Companies for Business Analysts in India and USSeahawks try for 7th straight win in series vs. Cards in crucial NFC West matchupRice 35, South Florida 28
PM Modi invites Indian diaspora in Kuwait to join global development effortsGoogle parent ( ), a stock and artificial intelligence leader, heads up this weekend's watch list of five stocks near that have remained steadfast as the postelection rally suddenly turns volatile. In addition to Google stock, the list includes network-security play ( ), ( ), an online platform for medical professionals, Singapore-based gaming and e-commerce company ( ) and ( ), a digital business-to-business marketplace for used cars. Google is part of the portfolio of elite stocks. GOOGL stock is also a current position. Doximity is part of the flagship list of leading growth stocks. Fed, Trump Agenda Inject Volatility The stock market finished the week on a strong note, buoyed by a calming . Yet that followed the sharpest three-session drawdown since early August, triggered by concern over the Federal Reserve interest-rate outlook. The median forecast among Fed policymakers was for still-elevated 2.5% core inflation next year, but forecasts went as high as 3.2%. That latter forecast apparently came from the segment of rate-setting committee members who began to incorporate assumptions about President-elect Donald Trump's agenda, including some combination of tax cuts, tariffs and tighter immigration. After delivering a third-straight rate cut, Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that "policy uncertainty" coming from the new administration means the Fed's job in the months ahead will be "like driving on a foggy night." Be sure to read IBD's column after each trading day to get the latest on the prevailing stock market trend and what it means for your trading decisions. While Wall Street is still upbeat about expected tax cuts and deregulation, markets face headline risk from tariffs and immigration restrictions that Trump may announce upon taking office on Jan. 20. However, analysts see political developments playing out favorably for some of the stocks in this weekend's watch list. Google Stock Google CEO Sundar Pichai and founder Sergey Brin dined recently at Mar-a-Lago with Trump, who has signaled doubt about the Biden Justice Department's bid to break up the search giant. Analysts see Google as among the beneficiaries if TikTok is banned effective Jan. 19. The Supreme Court granted TikTok a hearing on Jan. 10 to make its case that the law passed by Congress banning Chinese ownership of the social media app violates free speech. Google stock surged 8.7% two weeks ago as release of its Willow quantum computing chip and its updated AI model, Gemini 2.0, won plaudits. Bank of America said the achievements enabled by Willow "underscores ongoing innovation at Google," while Goldman Sachs hailed Gemini 2.0 as proof that Alphabet remains "at the forefront of all aspects" in computing innovation. BofA and Goldman both have buy ratings and 210 price targets for GOOGL. Google fell 3.6% on Wednesday, pulling back into a buy zone from a 182.49 buy point. On Friday, Google rose 1.5% to 191.41. The buy zone runs through 191.61. CyberArk Stock Stifel hiked its price target for CyberArk to 370 from 335 on Wednesday, keeping a buy rating. Analyst Adam Borg said the enterprise software group stands out as a "safe haven" from political shifts amid little or no exposure to China and tariffs. Israel-based CyberArk is the industry leader in privileged access management, controlling access to and monitoring critical systems. CyberArk's efforts to branch out into a one-stop shop, safeguarding not just human identities but machine identities, took a step forward via its Venafi acquisition, which the firm says expanded its total addressable market by $10 billion to reach $60 billion. "Ongoing digital transformation, pervasive cloud computing and the rise of AI are driving an exponential increase in the number of machine identities, which can outnumber human identifies by as much as 45 to 1," CyberArk said in announcing the closing of its Venafi deal on Oct. 1. "If left unprotected and unmanaged, these identities can serve as a lucrative hunting ground for cybercriminals who seek to exploit their vulnerabilities." CyberArk rose 1.3% to 319.15 on Friday, continuing its rally off Wednesday's low of 303.82, which was right at its . The rebound from its 50-day line on slightly above-average volume has carried CYBR past its , flashing an opportunity. Ideally, CYBR would break above the trendline sloping down from its Dec. 5 peak. A move past 326.50 would provide a clear break. CyberArk also has a three-weeks-tight entry at 333.32 CyberArk is ranked No. 2 in the Computer Software-Security industry group, according to . It has an impressive 95 , a single rating that combines technical and fundamental factors. Doximity Stock Doximity has been compared to a LinkedIn site for medical professionals, with a community that includes over 80% of U.S. physicians, 60% of nurse practitioners and 90% of graduating med students. The platform has evolved into much more, including an AI assistant, enabling members to collaborate with colleagues, manage their schedules, streamline administrative paperwork and conduct virtual patient visits. A net revenue retention rate of 116% over the past four quarters is a testament to the platform's indispensability and innovation. That shows members aren't only keeping their subscription but adding features. Having access to most physicians also makes Doximity an attractive advertising platform. Jefferies analyst Glen Santangelo, who has a 64 price target and buy rating on DOCS stock, wrote in a Nov. 27 note that Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services could offer some upside for Doximity. Kennedy has been critical of direct-to-consumer pharma ad spending, which totals around $10 billion. "Regulatory pressure could push some of this spend to other channels," Santangelo wrote. Doximity, which advertises directly to physicians, "would be a natural beneficiary." Doximity surged 4.8% to 57.83 on Friday. The move carried DOCS past a 56.67 buy point from a handle formation. The buy zone runs through 59.50. Sea Stock After going through some struggles, Sea Ltd. now seems to be firing on all three cylinders — with "high growth across all our three businesses," CEO Forrest Li said in the Nov. 12 Q3 earnings statement. The e-commerce business, Shopee, returned to profitability in Asia and Brazil. Free Fire, the hit game from its Garena unit, is expected to see over 30% growth in bookings this year. SeaMoney, the digital payments and financial services provider, saw its loan book grow over 70%. SE fell to the vicinity of its 10-week and 50-day moving averages on Friday, before rallying intraday to finish off 0.9% at 110.64. Ideally, SE would retake its 21-day exponential average before seizing on the early entry opportunity. ACV Auctions Stock ACV Auctions was featured in IBD's on Nov. 15. Although the used car market has struggled, ACV has been gaining market share in the wholesale space, hosting digital auctions for dealer-to-dealer sales. When consumers trade in their old car for a new one or return cars after vehicle leases expire, they may decide to move those used vehicles off their lots, if they have too much inventory or the vehicle isn't a good match for their clientele. ACV lets dealers avoid the cost of transporting vehicles to Mannheim for physical auctions. ACV's selling point isn't just a lower cost. It also has built leading technology and services to facilitate all aspects of used-car auctions, including inspections and pricing. Citizens JMP analyst Nick Jones told Investor's Business Daily that ACV's growth due to market-share gains, even before the used-car market recovers, makes the stock "like a coiled spring." ACVA slid to its 50-day moving average on Wednesday, falling out of a buy zone as , which is a negative for auto sales. But the stock rebounded strongly the past two sessions, including Friday's 4.5% gain to 21.89. ACVA is back in a buy zone, clear of a 21.11 buy point from a cup base. The buy zone runs through 22.17.Too early to celebrate – Arne Slot keeps leaders Liverpool focused
The Kimball High girls basketball team is off to a strong start to their winter campaign after improving to 2-0 on the year with a 66-52 win over Liberty Monday night. The Jaguars extended their early season win streak to two games by dominating the visiting Lions over three quarters and seeing out the game with relative comfort in the fourth. The Jags’ red-hot offense was paced by junior Emma Coronado who poured in 27 points – including six three pointers – to go along with three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a pair of blocks. Kimball scored 20+ points in the first and third quarter and took a commanding 58-36 advantage into the final frame. Senior Gabrielle Robinson and freshman Maddie Floyd added 10 points each for the hosts. Floyd also had seven rebounds and seven blocks. Junior Anaiya Garcia (7) and freshman Sienna Arendt (7) combined for 14 points. The visitors were led by a standout performance from Shyanne Smith with 30 points. On Wednesday night, the Jags jumped to 3-0 with a resounding 67-27 win over Manteca, also at home. Kimball kept their foot on the gas all the way through on both ends and even kept the Buffaloes scoreless in the second quarter as they took a 34-5 lead into the break. A 26-point third frame from the hosts all but put the game away. The Jags shared the wealth offensively with Robinson leading the team with 12 points on a 5-5 shooting night. Sophomore Naomi Gee had a breakout performance with 11 points. Coronado added 8 points and four assists. Mtn. House 45, Amador Valley 41 The Mustangs responded expertly to starting their season 0-3 with their road victory over the Dons Tuesday night being their second straight. Mountain House took out Turlock in a 52-24 blowout last week in their first win behind a combined 27 points from senior Jariah Indalecio (12) and senior Erica Foster (15). The ‘Stangs then traveled to Pleasanton in the Bay Area where they held off their hosts down the stretch to improve to 2-3. Millennium 50, Gustine 35 The Falcons have started their winter campaign as they mean to go on as their second solid offensive performance in as many games saw them improve to 2-0 on the road Monday night. Millennium outscored their hosts behind a monster double-double from junior Sarah Digiallonardo who had 21 points and 20 rebounds. Digiallonardo was an efficient 9-14 from the floor. The visitors’ offense was boosted by nice outings from freshman duo Gianna Negrete and Sophia Negron. Negrete stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, five boards, six steals, and four blocks. Negron added 8 points and eight rebounds. Tokay 38, West 36 The Wolf Pack lost their third straight game to drop to 1-4 in the early season when they fell to the Tigers at home Tuesday night. West’s only win thus far came during the season opening tournament game against Ben Holt College Prep Academy where the Pack won 40-24 on Nov. 26 behind 17 points from sophomore Kaliyah Byrd. Contact Arion Armeniakos at aarmeniakos@tracypress.com , or call 209-830-4229.
Trump Encourages Hockey Legend Wayne Gretzky To Run For 'Governor' Of Canada After Joking About The Position With Justin Trudeau: 'You Would Win Easily'Entering one of the biggest games in this storied Vikings-Packers rivalry in recent memory, the Vikings are looking like the healthier team only days before kickoff. The Vikings defense appears set to return three players — safety Harrison Smith (foot), linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (hamstring), and defensive tackle Jalen Redmond (concussion) — after all three practiced fully Thursday, when the team returned from a Christmas Day break. Cornerback Fabian Moreau (hip) was the only player on the active roster held out. Pace, who has missed the past four games, appears in line to get activated from injured reserve prior to Sunday’s kickoff. “The thought of having him back is exciting,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said this week. “Obviously he brings a toughness, a blitz ability, a playmaking ability. ... It kind of opens things up for a lot of other guys. I imagine when an offensive lineman knows he’s in the game, and he could potentially rip downhill and fill a gap, they’ve got decisions to make.” The Packers practiced Thursday without linebacker Quay Walker (ankle), receiver Christian Watson (knee), or left guard Elgton Jenkins (knee). And Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said he doesn’t think top cornerback Jaire Alexander will return from a five-game absence due to a knee injury; Alexander was limited in practice. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson threw some shade on the Packers secondary, whether intentional or not. “I love any competition regardless of if it’s Green Bay or I’m playing the No. 1 corner in the league,” Jefferson said Thursday. “I’m always going to prepare to go out there and play my best regardless of who’s out there. I always say I love these type of games, the games that you really need, the games that are exciting for everyone to watch. ... Everybody’s prepared and looking for me to make a play, and that’s exactly what I’m expected to do.” Jackson’s patience rewarded Flores referenced how well third-year safety Theo Jackson played during training camp, which earned him ... a role on the bench behind a trio of busy safeties in Smith, Josh Metellus , and Camryn Bynum . But Jackson played a season-high 21 defensive snaps for Smith on Sunday at Seattle, where he nabbed the game-sealing interception in the final minute. Metellus, Jackson, and Jay Ward are currently the only safeties under contract in 2025, when Smith and Bynum’s deals expire in March. “A lot of guys would be upset about having a great camp, wanting an opportunity to get in there and play,” Flores said. “I’m sure he was frustrated, been frustrated about that. But he’s very much an unselfish and team guy, and the guys in that room love him, and the guys throughout the team love him, for that.” ‘Positive future’ for rookie Rookie defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez made his NFL defensive debut Sunday, replacing Redmond with six snaps late in the game. He managed to stand out in the limited run, tackling Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III near the goal line for no gain. “He’s a guy we’re pouring into obviously for the long term,” coach Kevin O’Connell said of Rodriguez, a seventh-round pick out of Division II Texas A&M-Commerce. “We think he’s got a lot of upside from a versatility standpoint: rushing the passer, continuing to grow and defending the run. ... He’s been impactful whenever he’s gotten opportunities and very, very much a positive future for us. I know that for sure.” The Vikings still added defensive line depth Thursday by signing sixth-year defensive tackle Jonathan Harris , who was let go by Carolina on Monday. The team released cornerback Kelvin Joseph to make room.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jaden Green and Geoffrey Jamiel scored on long plays in the fourth quarter and unseeded Lehigh rallied to defeat No. 9 Richmond 20-16 on Saturday in a first-round game of the FCS playoffs. Lehigh advances to a second-round game at eighth-seeded Idaho on Dec. 7. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekPhiladelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Brooklyn Nets and Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, per ESPN's Shams Charania . Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports initially reported Embiid would miss Friday's game for left knee injury management. According to Charania, the 76ers revealed the veteran is dealing with swelling in his knee. The 2022-23 MVP missed the first six games of the season due to maintenance on his surgically repaired left knee. He was out for another three games due to a suspension for shoving a reporter in the locker room. Before the season tipped off, Embiid and the Sixers signaled that the team would be even more proactive in handling his workload in an effort to keep him healthy for the playoffs. The plan made sense in theory because Philadelphia needs the seven-time All-Star at his best in the postseason to have a realistic path to a championship. However, his absence early on pointed to one risk with the strategy. By the time Embiid made his debut on Nov. 12, the Sixers had dropped seven of their first nine games. It became eight out of 10 when Embiid wasn't enough to help Philly avoid a 111-99 defeat to the New York Knicks. The fact he's not playing back-to-backs then left the team short-handed in a 114-106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers the following night. Signing Paul George was supposed to give the 76ers a bit of a buffer when Embiid is out of the lineup. However, George also missed the start of the year and is on a similar plan in terms of load management. How Philadelphia fares in the playoffs will be the ultimate barometer for how this year is judged. Maybe everything is clicking for the Sixers once April rolls around. For now, a lot of the excitement coming out of the summer has probably dissipated in the City of Brotherly Love.
Verstappen stripped of pole after ‘super dangerous’ act; McLaren match point in title: Qualifying talking pointsKarnataka has a rapidly growing corrugated packaging industry and with a market size of approximately ₹50,000 crore annually and a growth rate of 10-12%, India’s corrugated box manufacturing sector is poised to continue its upward trajectory for the next 5 to 10 years, said industry players. Corrugated cartons are made up of a few layers of material rather than just a single sheet like cardboard. Defence Economist and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, who spoke at the 52nd Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the Federation of Corrugated Box Manufacturers (FCBM) held in Bengaluru highlighted the significant role of the sector in driving sustainability, efficiency, and innovation across various industries, including food and beverage, e-commerce, and more. The event saw participation from leading industry experts, manufacturers, and policy makers, who discussed the key drivers and future trends shaping the industry. FCBM is the apex body of India’s corrugated packaging industry with a membership of over 2000 corrugated box manufacturers. According to industry experts who spoke at the event, India has over 600 automated plants and another 7,000 semi-automatic plants in the corrugated box manufacturing space. The industry employs over half a million people and processes about 2 million tons of kraft paper annually into corrugated boxes. Dharmendra V. Pandya, President of FCBM said, the corrugated box industry in the country was witnessing unparalleled growth, driven by strong demand in key sectors and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. The global corrugated packaging Industry is estimated to be at $300 billion and is growing at a CAGR of 4.3% fueled by expansion of e-commerce consumer preference for biodegradable packaging and innovations in lightweight materials. The Indian packaging industry is estimated to grow at 22 to 25% annually and the corrugated packaging Industry is expected to grow at 10-12%. ‘’As we look ahead, we anticipate significant shifts toward larger automatic plants and advanced machinery, which will not only enhance productivity but also meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses alike,’‘ added Pandya. Some of the key factors fuelling the growth of the industry include the increasing demand for packaging solutions in the food and beverage industry, the rapid rise of e-commerce, and favorable government initiatives aimed at boosting manufacturing capabilities and sustainability. Published - December 21, 2024 10:18 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
Maharashtra Cabinet: Fadnavis keeps Home, Shinde gets Urban Development, Ajit Pawar gets Finance