ASX 200 falls; DigiCo’s weak debut; Insignia, Iress top gainersSource Energy Services Announces New Credit Facilities and the Redemption of its Senior Secured Notes
JOSH BERMAN JOINS ASSEMBLY AS EVP, ASSEMBLY LEAD IN NORTH AMERICANone
The Lovesac Company Publishes 2024 ESG ReportAQABA, Jordan — Top U.S. officials were in the Middle East on Thursday, pushing for stability in Syria and an end to Israel’s 14-month war in the Gaza Strip in a last-ditch diplomatic push by the outgoing Biden administration before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in a few weeks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Jordan and Turkey for talks on how to ensure a peaceful transition of power in Syria following the ouster of longtime President Bashar Assad , while White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was in Israel in a bid to wrap up a ceasefire with Hamas militants. A ceasefire would give President Joe Biden a final diplomatic victory after a turbulent term in which his administration has been unable to halt a brutal war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Gaza and plunged the territory into a humanitarian crisis. Trump has demanded the immediate release of hostages , threatening on social media that otherwise there would be “HELL TO PAY,” and has urged the U.S. not to get involved in Syria , where some 900 troops are based to combat the Islamic State militant group. Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Sullivan expressed cautious optimism that conditions were ripe for halting the long-running conflict before the Biden administration leaves office. “I wouldn’t be here now if I didn’t think this thing was just waiting until after January 20,” he said. That’s when Trump will be inaugurated. The war erupted with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 others hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed nearly 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, caused widespread displacement and led to severe hunger across the territory. U.S.-led ceasefire efforts have repeatedly faltered throughout the war, with the warring sides blaming each other for the failure. Israel has said it is seeking the destruction of Hamas’ governing and military capabilities, and at times has pressed ahead with the offensive in the face of U.S. calls for restraint. Hamas, meanwhile, has stuck to its demands that any ceasefire include a permanent end to the fighting and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The U.S. has backed Israel with key military and diplomatic support. But at times, it also has appeared helpless in urging Israel to minimize civilian casualties and to enable the delivery of more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Sullivan said the rapid-fire changes across the region have improved the chances for success. He said Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah last month, ending more than a year of fighting, the collapse of Syria’s government and the heavy blow Israel has inflicted on Hamas have all changed the negotiating climate. He also said there has been good cooperation with the incoming Trump administration , with widespread agreement between them. “The surround sound of these negotiations is different today than it has been in the past,” Sullivan told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I got the sense from the prime minister that he’s ready to do the deal,” Sullivan added. “We see movement from Hamas.” Sullivan is now scheduled to head to Qatar and Egypt — two Middle Eastern powers that have served as mediators throughout the war. Any deal would include the release of hostages held by Hamas, an exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and a surge in badly needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel says Hamas is holding about 100 hostages — at least one-third of whom are believed to have died. As Sullivan was in Israel, Blinken was meeting with Jordanian and Turkish leaders to push for a peaceful transition of power in post-Assad Syria. “We’re back in the region at a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors,” Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, after meeting with King Abdullah II. He said the U.S. was working with its partners across the region to help Syria “transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and toward a new government that isn’t dominated by any single religious or ethnic group or by an outside power or the Islamic State militant group. “We’re determined to do everything we can, working in close coordination with partners, to help the Syrian people realize that aspiration,” Blinken said. Syria is home to an array of armed groups with competing interests and allies. In northern Syria, U.S.-backed Kurdish separatists are battling to fend off fighters supported by Turkey. In the country’s center and northeast, the extremist Islamic State group maintains a presence that generates concern for the U.S. And the rebels, hailing mainly from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, face the daunting task of creating a transitional government for the war-ravaged country. The leader of Syria’s biggest rebel faction is a former al-Qaida commander whose Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group is poised to chart the country’s future. The U.S. and the U.N. have designated the hard-line Sunni Islamist group a terrorist organization. The goal of creating a free and pluralistic Syria will be a challenge given the bad blood stretching across Syria’s sectarian lines after over half a century of Assad family rule and more than 13 years of civil war that claimed an estimated 500,000 lives. Blinken started his trip in Jordan, a close U.S. ally whose fragile economy has been strained over the years by an influx of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. Next, he was headed to Turkey — a backer of Sunni rebels but a foe of the Kurds. Israel, meanwhile, has sent troops into Syria — its northern neighbor — and seized a former buffer zone that had been demilitarized since a 1974 truce. Israel has described the move as defensive, meant to protect its border and to prevent armed groups from seizing weapons left behind by Assad’s army. Netanyahu said Thursday that the move was temporary. But he said Israel would remain inside Syria until another party can secure the border, raising the likelihood of a prolonged and open-ended presence. Sullivan tried to play down the Israeli move, noting that Assad was toppled just days ago and it is too early to jump to any conclusions. But Blinken was more cautious as he called for restraint by all regional players with interests in Syria. He said the U.S. is “already talking to Israel” and others about the future of Syria. “Across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed from Washington.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms are firing up in parts of Texas and could trigger high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk stretched from just east of Dallas, and between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour and large hail. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez, citing 'emotional toll,' seeks sentencing delay in wake of wife's trial NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is asking a federal judge to delay his end-of-January sentencing on bribery charges, saying his family would suffer a “tremendous emotional toll” if the New Jersey Democrat was sentenced during his wife's trial. His lawyers told Judge Sidney H. Stein in a letter that Nadine Menendez would face a jury that might find it impossible not to hear about her husband's sentencing if it occurred eight days into her trial. The 70-year-old Menendez was convicted in July of 16 charges, including bribery. His wife, whose trial was postponed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, faces much of the same evidence as her husband. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze.
It has become more common of late to check the news and see headlines about drought, flooding, hurricanes, groundwater depletion, fire and other climate disasters, the vast majority of which are water-related. According to the , the U.S. now experiences an average of $1 billion in climate disasters every three weeks. The country is also ahead of that number for 2024. , 19 confirmed $1 billion climate disasters had occurred, including 15 severe storms, one tropical cyclone, one wildfire and two winter storms. This alarming frequency underscores the urgent need for action. We live in a new climate where flooding, storms, and fire are no longer “one-off" emergencies. They are consistent and often catastrophic in scale and damage. Within this new reality, state CIOs have an evolving role to play. Leaders responsible for managing agencies must adopt a new mindset focused on resilience, with water challenges at the forefront of their thinking. Questions like, “How might water-related disasters impact my constituents and agency operations?” and “Where is my agency vulnerable to water-related disasters that could affect infrastructure, resources, transportation, emergency services, and constituent safety?” should be central to both short- and long-term planning. Given the breadth and depth of their role, CIOs are uniquely positioned to build resiliency within and across agencies in state government. Technology and information are essential to solving issues and driving outcomes, allowing CIOs to unite organizations through collective understanding and cohesive action. CIOs were forced to adapt quickly during the pandemic, building new systems and tools that kept agencies running as the world adjusted to a “new normal.” This experience not only demonstrated CIOs' adaptability but also their potential to drive significant change. With the same ingenuity and enterprise mindset, we can lead our agencies toward a climate-resilient future, empowering us to make a real difference. Water is fundamental for any community, government, business or individual. As weather patterns become more erratic and severe, CIOs must adopt an innovative, enterprise mindset that leads to novel approaches to solving water-related challenges. They can start with understanding the most pressing community and constituent needs and working backward to build IT solutions rather than starting with technology to fit constituent needs to help ensure a resilient and prosperous future for all.
Why we can’t VERIFY a chart showing UnitedHealthcare denies more claims than other insurers
10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania TrumpCOA: P152-M Tesda tool kits undistributed
Burnham Holdings, Inc. Declares Dividends, Announces Date of Annual Meeting and Director RetirementFormer US President Jimmy Carter died today, he was 100. Chip Carter, a son of the former president, said his father died about 3:40 p.m. on Sunday in his Plains home. Carter had been in declining health for some time. He was US President from January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981. Typically, a sitting US President declares a national day of mourning after the death of a former President and non-essential Federal workers are given the day off and stock and bond markets are closed . Typically, this is 5-7 days after the death of a President so it could be somewhere in the Jan 3 - Jan 7 range. This last happened on On December 5, 2018, when markets were closed in observance of the national day of mourning for George H.W. Bush. Carter lived longer than any other former US president. He was born on Oct. 1, 1924. and was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970 then switching to Federal politics and defeating Gerald Ford to win the Presidency in 1976. In his retirement he worked extensively with Habitat for Humanity building homes. In terms of markets, stagflation was the main theme of his Presidency and why he was defeated in 1980. Ultimatley, though, he appointed Paul Volcker in 1979 who hiked rates to 20% and broke the back of inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average began Carter's term at around 963 points and ended his term at about 950 points Gold rose from $135 per ounce in 1977 to $850 per ounce in early 1980 The dollar suffered during his term forcing the 1978 Dollar Rescue Plan that included higher interest rates and non-USD denominated bonds along with coordinated interventionFormer Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao castigated the Congress government in Telangana over surge in crime rate at a disturbing rate of 22.5 per cent over last year. He pointed out a 28.94 per cent increase in rape cases, with 2,945 incidents recorded in a year averaging eight per day. He said kidnapping and abduction cases have shot up by 82 per cent, which is shameful. “Women’s safety and dignity are at high risk. Public safety under the Congress government is in shambles. This reflects a severe governance failure,” he said. Responding to the annual crime report of the Telangana police on Sunday, Harish Rao raised concern over the State’s deteriorating law and order, citing unresolved heinous crimes such as the murders of retired bank manager Gangareddy and his wife in Amberpet, and BRS leader Sridhar Reddy – both occurring months ago with no arrests till date. “Over 163 major cases remain unsolved, and financial frauds worth Rs 10 crore (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); lack recovery or detection,” he said. He noted that Telangana’s crime detection rate has dropped to a dismal 31 per cent, worse than Bihar’s 39 per cent. “The critical first week after a crime is wasted, leaving victims without justice, while criminal roam free. The police inaction is alarming,” he said. The senior BRS legislator stated that despite the expertise of Telangana police, the governance failure under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who also handles the Home Ministry, is evident. Instead of addressing public safety and justice, he said the Congress government is using police resources for political vendettas, stifling dissent, and harassing opposition voices on social media. For effective policing, Harish Rao suggested for release of the funds to the police department on time, strengthen the force, and focus on crime prevention and ensure swift justice. “Telangana deserves leadership that values safety over petty politics,” he asserted.
The Amazon Omni Mini-LED (2024) delivers a stellar picture and intense audio. Wi-Fi 6E capability and a 144Hz refresh rate help optimize it for gameplay. The remote response and load times seemed a bit sticky. My two foremost considerations for buying a smart TV are price range and performance. Is it within my budget, and how does it stack up to competitors? Assessing those two factors alone can help determine the value you're getting for your purchase. Also: Mini LED vs. OLED: What's the difference, and which TV should you buy? While the 2024 Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED is not a budget model, it's impressive enough to give higher-end, more expensive televisions a run for their money. I tested the 65-inch version at our ZDNET lab -- while surveying the picture quality and experience of other, more premium sets -- to give you this breakdown. Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED (2024) The company's latest model features a Mini LED panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, and useful AI features. What's new with this model Amazon's latest iteration in the Fire 4K TV Omni series ambitiously combines the precise control of brightness and contrast of mini-LED backlighting with the vibrant colors and wide viewing angles of QLED. That, plus its picture-enhancing Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive features, results in images with superb depth and detail. In addition to these visual improvements, Amazon upgraded its audio potential from a pair of 12W speakers to a 2.1 system, meaning it added a subwoofer to complement the Omni Mini-LED's left and right speakers. This better equips the TV to make the most of its Dolby Atmos technology and create a spatial, three-dimensional surround sound experience. Also: Changing these 5 soundbar settings made my living room feel like a movie theater The Omni Mini-LED also has better Wi-Fi support than older models, now able to operate on Wi-Fi 6E. Besides futureproofing, this allows for faster data rates if your router is compatible. (The Amazon Eero Pro is a ZDNET-recommended option, and now it has a new model available.) Speaking of accelerated processing, it shouldn't come as a surprise that this is Amazon's fastest Fire TV ever. The Omni Mini-LED features a tantalizing 144Hz refresh rate for hardcore gamers, and PC gamers especially can take advantage of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to smooth out gameplay and reduce latency. While we're seeing more premium sets hit the 165Hz rating, 144Hz is still a significant step up from the 60Hz we typically see on mid-range TVs. Further, the Fire TV now has two HDMI 2.1 ports in case you'd like to connect devices beyond your Xbox or PlayStation console. It also comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports, an ethernet connection, and an eARC port for a soundbar or peripheral speakers. Also: The best TVs of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed Three features stand out that separate the Omni Mini-LED from lower-end options: motion detection, hands-free operation, and its Ambient Experience, which, according to Amazon, "turns your TV into an all-day useful display." Motion detection is a sweet addition because the TV's integrated radar sensor will notice motion in the room to wake up the unit when idle, displaying a customized screen saver and preferred widgets, like weather information. This feature is part of its Ambient Experience -- a mode in which you can use AI to create your own art to display 24/7, if you so wish. I asked it, for example, to create a "bioluminescent coral seascape." Here is what the AI came up with. A sample of the Omni Mini-LED's generative AI artwork. The hands-free Alexa feature allows you to search for and launch your desired content (and also adjust volume) without even touching the remote. If you don't want your smart TV to hear everything you say, you can turn this off via a manual switch buried at the bottom of the unit's frame. Or, holding down the single blue button on the remote allows you to communicate your requests more discreetly. Setup and performance The Omni Mini-LED's initial setup required jumping through the usual hoops: setting up Wi-Fi, adding apps, opting in or out for Amazon-specific ad features, and so on. One of the first options while setting up included changing the default Picture Mode to a different mode for better picture quality. Do this. Making the switch only invokes a minor increase in power consumption, which adds up to spending a few more pennies per month, so it's worth it. I tried all the picture options and found "Movie Bright" looks best on the Omni Mini-LED. Notably, the Netflix app wasn't an available option in the initial setup, but when I logged into my Prime account, it included all the apps I downloaded there. That process, after attaching the unit's two metal feet to its base, was fairly swift and breezy. Also: LG's G4 OLED TV is my pick for best picture quality, and it's $800 off for the holiday season With Prime's extensive library at my fingertips, I chose to watch Outer Range (in 4K) to get a first impression. And I was impressed by its 1,400 nits of peak brightness and 768 dimming zones which yield a sharp, bright picture and superb contrast, even in a well-lit room. As I always do when setting up a TV for testing, I experimented with the Omni Mini-LED's settings to maximize (in this case) its QLED potential. It's interesting to note that its UX allows access to settings with two different menus: one from the Home screen, and one within each app. For example, pressing the remote's gear icon Settings button while watching a movie gives you limited menu options compared with clicking on the gear icon from the Home screen. Navigating through the options, I turned on AI Picture and Adaptive Brightness under the "Intelligent Picture" option. This purportedly adapts the picture according to your room's current light and color, and the AI upscaling will fine-tune details to keep high-res images sharp. Under Advanced Picture Settings, I further turned on Super Resolution and set both Edge Enhancer and Noise Reduction on high. Also: Changing these 6 TV settings instantly sped up its performance The Omni Mini-LED's native volume is intense, partly thanks to the inclusion of that subwoofer upgrade. Dolby Atmos support and its new 2.1 speaker system also help bring richness and clarity to the sound. While testing, I was more than comfortable with the volume set at 23 out of 100. For comparison, I often need to push the volume on my 2018 Samsung up to 70+ to get comprehensible dialogue. For this Omni TV, in the Advanced audio settings, I found the option called Clear Voice to be best, and I went ahead and turned on Volume Leveler: High. With these settings in place, I was satisfied that I was getting the most out of the Omni Mini-LED in terms of sound and vision. Overall, I only have a couple of minor gripes, and they are persnickety. The network speed at our lab checks out at a respectable 130 Mbps. Despite that, I found the load times lagged a bit when switching between shows and apps, implicating the Fire TV OS as dragging its feet. With a strong Wi-Fi signal, I was surprised to see what was ostensibly buffering between transitions. My other gripe is even more nitpicky. I noticed a delay in the TV's response to pressing any button on the remote. Granted, we're talking about a matter of one or two seconds. If you're impatient like me, though, you might be tempted to hit a button twice when you don't get an instant, immediate response, toggling you back to where you were. This drives me crazy, but I know it's no big deal. ZDNET's buying advice Looking for a mid-range TV that rivals brands with a higher price tag but similar qualities? The Omni Mini-LED is a worthy contender at its list price of $1,089. It offers convincing upgrades from prior Fire TV models and exceeds the needs of many viewers and game players with its lofty specs. If you're keen on Google TVs, consider the Hisense Class U8 -- the company's flagship version of a mini-LED panel. ZDNET's Taylor Clemons suggests it may eclipse the Omni Mini-LED in terms of gaming performance, but its list price is generally higher when not on sale. Specifications (compared to competitors) Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED (2024) Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2022) Hisense U8N (2024) Display type QLED, Mini LED QLED QLED, Mini LED Resolution 4K UHD 4K UHD 4K UHD HDR formats HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10+ Gaming HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Advanced HDR Refresh rate 144Hz in gaming mode 60Hz 144Hz HDMI ports 2x HDMI 2.0 / 1x HDMI eARC 2.1 / 1x HDMI 2.1 3x HDMI 2.0 / 1x HDMI eARC 2.1 2x HDMI 2.0 / 2x HDMI 2.1 Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet Sizes 55", 65", 75". 85" 43" (LED), 50", 55", 65", 75" 55", 65", 75". 85", 100" Price $819 - $2,099 $449 - $1,099 $798 - $4,997 How we test TVs While testing and researching the TVs featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind: Price: Not all budgets are created equal. And if you're working with a limited budget, that shouldn't mean you have to settle for a sub-par TV. Each TV model on this list has been chosen across a variety of price points to help accommodate different needs. Screen size: The most important factor to consider, after price, when shopping for a new TV is whether or not it will fit into your space. Each best TV on this list was chosen because they are available in a wide variety of sizes to suit different rooms. Picture and audio quality: A new TV doesn't mean much, even if it costs an arm and a leg, if it doesn't provide a great picture and clear audio. Each TV on this list has been ensured to support various HDR codecs, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, as well as enhanced audio software like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and object-tracking sound. For a more detailed look, check out our extensive TV testing methodology . Why I pick this ultraportable Lenovo tablet over the iPad Air for multimedia consumption I tested the new Kindle Scribe for two weeks, and it beat my ReMarkable in several ways One of the best QLED TVs I've tested isn't made by Samsung or Hisense These Beyerdynamic earbuds delivered glorious sound for any kind of music I playedThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Markets in the red U.S. markets retreated on Thursday as investors assessed hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation numbers. The pan-European Stoxx 600 saw a 0.14% decline amid a rate cut by the region's central bank. Shares of Brunello Cucinelli jumped 8% after the Italian luxury brand raised its annual forecast for 2024. U.S. producer prices still hot U.S. producer prices rose 0.4% in November, higher than the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 0.2%. On an annual basis, PPI advanced 3%, the most since the 12 months ended February 2023. The hotter-than-anticipated increase in producer prices comes after headline consumer prices rose at a sharper annual rate in November compared with the prior month. Inflation in India cools India's headline inflation rate came in at 5.48% in November, lower than the 5.53% expected by a Reuters poll and the 6.21% in October. The reading follows a disappointing quarter of economic growth for India and a new central bank governor , raising hopes that the Reserve Bank of India might cut rates at its next meeting in February. ECB cuts rates On Thursday, the European Central Bank lowered its key interest rate to 3%, reducing it by an expected 25 basis points. The bank also lowered its forecast for euro zone economic growth in 2024 to 0.7% from a prior forecast of 0.8%, and growth in 2025 to 1.1% from 1.3%. [PRO] Tom Lee makes his 2025 predictions Fundstrat's Tom Lee has a history of correct calls. Not only did he nail this year's rally, he also saw the S&P 500 rebounding in 2020 after the pandemic-caused crash earlier that year. Lee lays out his predictions for the stock market — and bitcoin — for 2025. The U.S. producer price index, which measures the increase in wholesale prices, came in higher than expected on Thursday. A day earlier, the U.S. consumer price index showed annual inflation in November ticked up from the previous month. Those numbers might have been a tad uncomfortable to handle, and the markets didn't want to take inflation hot to go. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note — which affects longer-term rates such as mortgages and corporate loans — jumped to 4.334%. Major indexes also fell. The S&P 500 lost 0.54% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.53%, its sixth consecutive day in the red. The Nasdaq Composite dipped below the 20,000 level after retreating 0.66%, weighed down by losses in tech stocks. Adobe shares slumped 13.7%, their steepest drop in more than two years, after the company gave disappointing guidance for its fiscal first-quarter revenue. That said, the Nasdaq might find some reprieve the next day. Broadcom shares popped 14% in extended trading after releasing its earnings, which showed the chipmaker increasing its artificial intelligence revenue by 220% for the year. Even prior to announcing its better-than-expected earnings, Broadcom had been earning praises from analysts. "Broadcom was previously considered a value stock, but it could now be seen as a growth stock. However, it appeals to both, thanks to its continued dividend payments and growth," Nancy Tengler, CEO and chief investment officer of Laffer Tengler Investments, said in a note to clients. Indeed, the company's stock has surged 66.5% year to date — a figure that puts Broadcom in the league of the Magnificent Seven companies: Shares of Amazon are up 52.7% and that of Apple have risen 33.6% for the year. It's important, then, to keep stocks' sterling performance this year in mind even as investors wonder what it'll take to get inflation numbers below the U.S. Federal Reserve's target of 2%. — CNBC's Pia Singh, Sean Conlon and Lisa Hakyung Kim contributed to this report.