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History will be kinder to me...: Remembering Manmohan Singh, architect of India's economic reforms
Krungthai Panich Insurance (KPI) wants to grow its total premiums by 10% next year amid concerns about rising natural disaster risks, the use of new accounting standards, and risks from electric vehicle (EV) insurance. President Suchavadee Sanganong said KPI missed its targets this year, with total premiums expected at 4.5 billion baht and around 500 million baht in net profit. In 2023, the company posted insurance premiums of 5.5 billion baht and a net profit of 600 million baht. The decrease was attributed to the termination of a motor insurance partnership with Roojai, which established a business on its own, as well as rising natural disaster insurance claims, as flooding caused roughly 200 million baht in damages. "For car insurance, the company continues to take care of existing customers, including EV owners, but is offering less EV insurance policies to new customers. We must be careful in setting EV premiums because it is risky," she said. Domestic new car sales this year will tally less than 800,000 units, nowhere near the target of 1 million, said Ms Suchavadee. The property and casualty insurance business grew by 10% this year, but the premiums are smaller than those for motor insurance. Accident and health insurance were flat, but KPI believes the business has ample room for growth in the coming years. The company has an investment portfolio of 7 billion baht, with a return on investment of 4.5-5% per year. Normally the investment portfolio increases by 10-15% annually. This year, profit from the investment portfolio accounts for 60% of total profit. For next year, KPI has concerns about the growing risk of natural disasters, changes in accounting standards, and the instability of EV insurance, she said. Over the next five years, KPI wants to deploy advanced technologies to increase efficiency in business processes, including planning strategies to develop the team's potential, which is the core of organisational development, said Ms Suchavadee. These strategies include strengthening talent retention, reducing skills gaps, building employee engagement and leadership development, all of which are critical for developing a strong and sustainable organisation, she said. In a related development, Roojai Group, the country's leading online insurance company, yesterday announced the acquisition of DirectAsia Thailand from Hiscox Group. With the acquisition, Roojai increases its market share with a combined portfolio of more than 300,000 vehicles insured in Thailand. In 2023, Roojai acquired FWD General Insurance from Boltech and rebranded it to Roojai Insurance earlier this year, becoming the largest full-stack digital insurance company in Thailand focusing on retail insurance products. "DirectAsia and Roojai share the same vision of making insurance simple and bringing competitive prices to good drivers," said Roojai founder and group chief executive Nicolas Faquet. "The consolidation will deliver synergies that support our expansion of the direct insurance model."CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- The Kemper Foundation announced today the expansion of its Read Conmigo Grant Program to include school-wide grants for Title I elementary schools. Building on the success of its educator-focused grants, the new Read Conmigo School Impact Grants aim to further empower schools to advance dual-language education for bilingual students in under-resourced communities. The Foundation will provide up to 22 grants of $10,000 each to schools across Greater Los Angeles, Dallas and McAllen, TX, and Miami, supporting dual-language programs for Hispanic and Latino students. The Read Conmigo School Impact Grants will fund a range of bilingual school-wide initiatives, including library enhancements, educational technology, instructional support, and community engagement initiatives. The new grants provide flexibility to enable schools to innovate and adapt solutions tailored to their unique needs and challenges, ultimately promoting long-term educational success. “We’re excited to expand the Read Conmigo program to support schools in their mission to promote dual-language education,” said Joseph P. Lacher, Jr., Chairman of The Kemper Foundation Board of Trustees and President and CEO of Kemper Corporation. “Read Conmigo’s educator grants have demonstrated the transformative power that quality dual-language education can have on bilingual students’ academic success. By broadening our program to support schools, we hope to amplify this impact and create lasting benefits for students, educators, families and communities." Key Features of the Read Conmigo School Impact Grants: The School Impact Grants will build on the success of the Read Conmigo Educator Grants , which have contributed to measurable improvements in student outcomes, including reading comprehension, writing, spelling, vocabulary, phonics, speaking and technology skills. By expanding to entire schools, the Foundation aims to strengthen the connections within the wider school community and build a lasting legacy of supporting quality, holistic dual-language education. The Kemper Foundation is one of the few private foundations focused on dual-language education, targeting educators and Title I schools to close the opportunity gaps and equip Hispanic and Latino students with essential skills for success in a globalized world. For more information, visit The Kemper Foundation . About The Kemper Foundation The Kemper Foundation is the philanthropic partner of Kemper Corporation and focuses on support for charitable causes and organizations in education, health, and community development. Through our owned programs, key partnerships, financial donations, and Kemper employee volunteerism, we aim to make a meaningful difference in the communities where we live and work. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210167009/en/ CONTACT: Media Contact Jamie Coker-Robertson 310-804-1408 jcoker-robertson@thekemperfoundation.org KEYWORD: ILLINOIS CALIFORNIA FLORIDA TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PHILANTHROPY CONSUMER OTHER EDUCATION PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION FOUNDATION CHILDREN INSURANCE OTHER PHILANTHROPY ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) SOURCE: Kemper Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 02:59 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 03:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210167009/en
The Sterling Group Names Two New PartnersWeek of Live Coverage Brings Free Music to Audiences Anywhere DALLAS , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The JAMBALOO Music Festival is excited to announce a major expansion to its artist lineup and a new partnership with WFAA+ to bring live streaming coverage to audiences nationwide. From February 1st – 8th 2025, the festival will feature performances from a diverse array of local and touring artists across venues throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, with WFAA+ offering free, live streaming of the event to viewers everywhere. The lineup for JAMBALOO continues to grow, with the addition of renowned artists such as The Black Angels, Kolton Moore , RJD2, Mystery Skulls, Lou CharLe$, Black Tie Dynasty, and Daiistar. These new performers will join a diverse selection of local favorites and emerging talent at four iconic venues: Ferris Wheelers ( Dallas ), Club Dada (Deep Ellum), Tulips ( Fort Worth ), and Andy's ( Denton ). Alongside the in-person festival experience, JAMBALOO is partnering with WFAA+ to livestream all shows taking place at the Tulips venue in Fort Worth throughout the festival week. This collaboration ensures that audiences around the world can experience the energy of JAMBALOO in real time, completely free of charge. Fans can tune in through WFAA+'s innovative streaming platform, available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and other smart devices, bringing the excitement of Tulips' performances directly to their screens. "JAMBALOO is all about celebrating the rich and diverse music scene of the DFW Metroplex, and with the addition of these incredible artists, we're ensuring there's something for every music lover," said Joe Morrison of Mullen & Mullen, a JAMBALOO co-founder. "Partnering with WFAA+ allows us to extend this celebration beyond the venues and into homes across the globe, so everyone can experience the magic of live music, no matter where they are." How to Watch and Attend: About JAMBALOO: The JAMBALOO Music Festival is more than just a music event—it's a celebration of the DFW music scene, with a mission to revitalize the local music community and support independent artists and venues. Kicking off with a JAMBALOO Symposium on February 1 , the festival will offer a week of performances, community engagement, and special events that will leave a lasting impact on the area's cultural landscape. About Our Partners: Mullen & Mullen Law Firm For over 41 years, Mullen & Mullen has been representing injured North Texans, and is committed to supporting the local community and music scene. Website: mullenandmullen.com Spune Productions A leader in Texas music events, Spune Productions curates experiences that bring people together through the power of music. Website: spune.com WFAA+ A next-generation streaming platform, WFAA+ offers live news, special reports, and event coverage. With its cutting-edge technology, it bridges the gap between traditional broadcasting and modern streaming, making it easier than ever for communities to stay connected. Website: WFAA.com KXT 91.7 North Texas' premier public radio station, KXT 91.7 showcases the region's best local and emerging musical talent. Website: kxt.org View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jambaloo-announces-lineup-additions--wfaa-streaming-partnership-302329427.html SOURCE Mullen & Mullen Law FirmFrom health care to education, agriculture to finance, and workforce to civil rights, a new 253-page from the bipartisan House Task Force on (AI) offers key findings and recommendations to support innovation in AI and inform policymaking. The task force, co-chaired by California Reps. Jay Obernolte and Ted Lieu, was and tasked with producing this report. It complements related federal efforts, like the and . The report released Tuesday, which Lieu described as “only the first step,” outlines guiding principles, 66 key findings, and 89 recommendations organized into 15 chapters. It is intended to be a tool to help Congress evaluate future policies. “Collaborating across party lines to find consensus is not easy, and that is especially true for something as far-reaching and complex as AI,” Lieu said in a . “Despite the wide spectrum of political views of members on our task force, we created a report that reflects our shared vision for a future where we protect people and champion American innovation.” The report first offers several guiding principles to act as considerations informing high-level policy: identify AI issue novelty, promote AI innovation, protect against AI risks and harms, empower government with AI, affirm the use of a sectoral regulatory structure, take an incremental approach, and keep humans at the center of AI policy. In the first principle, the report states that policymakers can avoid duplication by considering whether issues raised by AI have precedent in existing laws. Some this, explaining existing privacy and non-discrimination laws can often be applied to AI technologies. The report’s 15 chapters represent different areas of focus for AI issues and innovation, each of which includes findings and recommendations. The report focus areas are government use; federal pre-emption of state law; data privacy; national security; research, development and standards; civil rights and civil liberties; education and workforce; intellectual property; content authenticity; open and closed systems; energy usage and data centers; small business; agriculture; health care; and financial services. On government use, the report advises the federal government to support and adopt AI standards to govern use, reduce administrative burden for AI use, improve systems’ cybersecurity, encourage supportive data governance strategies, and understand and support government workforce AI needs. Its second chapter argues federal legislation pre-empts state AI laws, which can help the federal government accomplish its AI policy goals and address across states. On data privacy, the report advises promoting secure access to data and taking a tech-neutral approach to privacy laws. AI is a critical component of national security, the report posits, and a technology being used by U.S. adversaries; it recommends congressional oversight, more AI training at the Department of Defense, and continued oversight over autonomous weapon policies. International cooperation on AI in military contexts should be supported, according to the report. AI’s impact on different industries and support for research and development deserve continued monitoring, it advises; public-private partnerships are projected to be a key component of this. Small-business research on AI, the report says, should also be supported. Improper AI use can violate civil rights laws, the report acknowledges, though its writers indicate human oversight can help identify and mitigate this risk. They also recommend agencies be transparent about AI in decision-making and take action to protect against the use of AI in decision-making where it has the . When considering education and workforce needs, the report argues more resources for AI literacy are needed, and recommends support for the National Science Foundation in its development of curriculum. Existing workforce development programs, it finds, may need to be re-evaluated to address AI skilling needs. The report recommends clarification on intellectual property regulations and action to counter . In a similar vein, its content authenticity chapter explores how content produced by generative AI systems can be authenticated, arguing no such single technical solution exists right now. The report recommends a risk-based approach, ensuring victims of harmful content of this nature have tools to address the harm. The report supports , with continued monitoring of their risks. AI technology currently uses significant energy, even in the most advanced models, which creates a security risk around grid resilience and . The report recommends new standards and metrics for communicating energy use, and greater exploration of its role in energy-efficiency initiatives. For small businesses, AI literacy and the resources to use the tools may be lacking; efforts to support small businesses' AI literacy and adoption should be considered, the report finds. In agriculture, the report acknowledges the potential for enhanced productivity and resource management, noting the as an impediment. AI can be used in health care to speed drug development and clinical diagnosis but, per the report, its use should be safe and transparent and use a risk-management approach to AI adoption, to prevent . The report finds AI can be transformative for and expand access to financial services, but its adoption should be responsible and protect consumers. A principles-based regulatory approach will allow flexibility and ensure regulations do not hinder adoption by small businesses. More information on the task force's findings can be found in the report, which Obernolte referred to in a statement as “an essential tool” for AI policymaking.
BlackRock® Canada reporte l’assemblée des porteurs de parts du iShares Premium Money Market ETF afin d’approuver une modification de l’objectif de placementManmohan Singh Abandoned Pre-Medical Course After Losing Interest, Says Daughter's BookCanada Post says it has removed the deadline for its Santa Claus letter program amid an ongoing national workers’ strike that has halted mail delivery leading up to the holiday season. Some 55,000 workers walked off the job more than two weeks ago, suspending mail service — and a program that helps deliver up to 1.5 million letters from Canadian kids to the North Pole each year. The postal service says in a statement that while the initial deadline to mail a letter to Santa with the iconic H0H 0H0 postal code was Dec. 6, it has now removed the deadline from its website. It says once operations resume, it will ensure that all letters make it to the North Pole and receive a reply, but it cannot guarantee delivery dates. Canada Post says since the program began more than 40 years ago, Santa’s North Pole post office has delivered replies to more than 45 million letters. During the strike, some communities have stepped up to deliver Santa’s mail themselves, offering their own local programming on social media to make sure letter writers receive a reply by Christmas. The strike entered its 19th day as the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekend came to a close. Canada Post said Monday it was waiting for the union to respond to a framework it presented over the weekend for reaching negotiated agreements. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has said it’s reviewed the proposal. It said Canada Post has moved closer to the union’s position on some issues, but the framework “still remains far from something members could ratify.” One of the sticking points has been a push to add weekend delivery, with the union and Canada Post disagreeing over how the rollout would work. The federal government has been under pressure from the business community to intervene in the strike but has said that’s not in the cards.
Micron Technology Inc. stock rises Tuesday, outperforms market
Tiger Woods could not offer much of a timetable Tuesday on PGA Tour negotiations with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf or his own future as a player. Woods is the tournament host of the Hero World Challenge this week, and that’s his only role at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas. He has played the holiday tournament only once since 2019, missing this year while recovering from a sixth surgery on his lower back. “I’m not tournament sharp yet, no. I’m still not there,” Woods said. “These are 20 of the best players in the world and I’m not sharp enough to compete against them at this level. So when I’m ready to compete and play at this level, then I will.” A big part of his time is occupied by PGA Tour business matters. Woods was appointed to the PGA Tour board a year ago with no term limits, and he also is on the board of the commercial PGA Tour Enterprises. There has been movement on negotiations for the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to become a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises — the tour already has a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group and a player equity program. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan played in the Dunhill Links Championship on the European tour with the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Monahan also played golf with President-elect Donald Trump, who had said he could fix golf’s mess in about 15 minutes. “I think all of us who have been a part of this process would have thought it would have happened quicker than this,” Woods said. He suggested any deal still would have required Justice Department approval. “But things are very fluid, we’re still working through it, it’s happening daily,” Woods said. “From a policy board standpoint or from an enterprise standpoint, things are moving and they’re constructive.” In the meantime, Bloomberg reported last week the European tour is talking with PIF separately, leading to suggestions of a shared schedule in which players from the European tour and LIV Golf could play on each circuit. “We all want to get past this and to do what’s best for the tour and in trying to do that, there’s going to be ... some eggs are going to be knocked over and it’s going to be a little bit difficult at times,” Woods said. “But in the end we’re going to get a product that’s better for all the fans and all the players that are involved and get some peace that the game desperately needs.” As for his own future, Woods was not certain. He was not asked if he planned to play in two weeks at the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. It’s a 36-hole event hosted by the PGA Tour Champions, so Woods could ride in a cart. He has played it each of the last four years. He looked back at 2024 as a lost year, primarily because of his ailing back that began to spasm as the year went on. Woods had set a goal of playing a big tournament once a month through the majors season, but that fell apart early when he missed The Players Championship in March. He set a Masters record by making his 24th consecutive cut, but then only played at the next three majors and was gone by the weekend at each of them. He had a microdiscectomy in September to alleviate pain down his legs, but he had no idea how often he could play in 2025. “Whether my commitment going forward is once a month, yeah, I could say that all over again,” Woods said. “But I truly don’t know. I’m just trying to rehab and still get stronger and better and feel better, really give myself the best chance I can going into next year. “This year, I had to toss it away and I wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be and I didn’t play as much as I needed to going into the major championships and I didn’t play well at them,” he said. “Hopefully next year will be better. I’ll be physically stronger and better. I know the procedure helped and hopefully that I can then build upon that.”
The US Open's first female tournament director will step down in 2025
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Mark Zuckerberg (Image: AP/David Zalubowski) PAYING FOR NEWS Despite the prime minister experiencing yet another bruising week of news coverage, the announcements show no sign of letting up (perhaps there’s an election looming or something). Yesterday we got the childcare subsidies news and today the Albanese government is set to provide details on a plan to force big tech companies to pay for Australian journalism. The Nine newspapers first reported the plans, saying the scheme “seeks to punish platforms such as Facebook for refusing to sign content deals, raising the prospect of a financial penalty if they do not contribute to local news”. The papers say Anthony Albanese is expected to release the plan today with the hope it will pressure social media companies to honour a “bargaining code” with publishers or face the risk of being forced to pay to keep operating in Australia. Meta has previously warned it will no longer pay Australian news companies for content after deals signed with media companies expired earlier this year and threatened to block news content if forced to pay. Google has voluntarily renewed previous agreements but Meta has said it will not, Guardian Australia recalls. The Australian reports that in order to stop platforms from pulling news content to avoid the levy, the proposed scheme will capture companies based on revenue rather than whether or not they use Australian news content. The paper says it understands the threshold for turnover being considered is in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. It also says a lengthy consultation period is expected after the announcement. With many places reporting Albanese’s latest social media announcement, the wait goes on for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear power costings which we were promised this week. My colleague Anton Nilsson points out the Coalition leader is running out of time if he wants to show us his workings before the weekend. Anton reported yesterday : “One well-connected journalist at a major publication speculated to Crikey that if the news is indeed to be communicated this week, it will have to be done on Thursday with an embargo to lift for publication on Friday.” So who knows, we may be able to finally reveal those sought-after costings in tomorrow’s Worm . Or perhaps not. As we wait, Guardian Australia has led overnight on energy experts claiming the cost of building nuclear power plants in Australia could be more than double what the CSIRO has previously suggested. The experts have flagged CSIRO’s estimate is benchmarked to costs in South Korea, a country with a long-running nuclear program, which is “likely to substantially underestimate the ultimate costs of building reactors in Australia”. Tennant Reed , climate and energy director at the Australian Industry Group, is quoted as saying: “The actual costs in these Western countries are a great deal higher [than GenCost’s estimate]. We should have that in mind when looking at what the costs might turn out to be here.” Some journalists have speculated that Dutton may wait until next week to make his nuclear announcement given the news cycle this week has once again been bad for the PM. On that theme, the AFR reports the Albanese government has “no chance” of hitting its migration target this financial year and is expected to revise its net migration forecast next week. Abul Rizvi , a former deputy secretary of the Immigration Department, is quoted as saying that in October net migration was about 100,000 people higher than it needed to be to meet the target of 260,000 for the year. The paper said that “students, who make up around half of the net migration total, continue to arrive in large numbers, although that is expected to start moderating in the coming months”. Speaking to Guardian Australia , Rizvi predicted a “very embarrassing” time for the government, with data today expected to show the 2023-24 net overseas migration forecast was “missed by a long, long way”. “In next week’s [mid-year economic and fiscal update] they’re going to have to revise the net overseas migration projection upwards very significantly,” he said. BANNING PROTESTS Albanese has received continuing criticism over his government’s response to the Melbourne synagogue attack last Friday. Following anti-Israel vandalism in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday, the PM announced $8.5 million would be spent on the redevelopment of the Sydney Jewish Museum, the ABC reports. He added: “There’s no place for antisemitism in this country or anywhere else for that matter. This is an attack on people because they happen to be Jewish.” As part of his response he also said he would back state governments banning protests outside places of worship, which according to Guardian Australia was quickly criticised by civil liberties groups. “I certainly support the banning of demonstrations outside any place of worship. I cannot conceive of any reason, apart from creating division in our community, of why someone would want to hold a demonstration outside a place of worship,” Albanese said Countering, Timothy Roberts , president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, said he was concerned “kneejerk reactions” were being offered in response to negative media coverage instead of providing “measured leadership”. “With all due respect [Albanese] hasn’t given this a moment’s thought. The prime minister’s comments do not reflect what are often highly complex issues that intersect with power,” he said. The AFR flags even widely supported measures are not without their headaches for Albanese, with the Coalition saying it is unlikely to back the removal of the activity test that requires parents to have a job, look for work or study, in return for childcare subsidies. Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor claims the proposal would add demand to a sector where supply was already a problem. “Australia needs solutions to our collapsing economy, not more subsidies and more big government,” he said. “Families are already struggling to access childcare. This risks making the situation worse.” Elsewhere, AAP flags the Australian Bureau of Statistics will release an update on the Australian jobs market today. The jobless rate in October was at 4.1% for the second month in a row, with the newswire stating: “The 15,900 employment gain was below expectations, and followed consistently strong employment growth in months prior. In November, Westpac economists expected the labour market to continue its very gradual unwinding.” Meanwhile, Bloomberg reckons Elon Musk’s net worth has now surpassed $400 billion (A$630 billion). ON A LIGHTER NOTE... A whale has made global headlines after making one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded. In 2017, the male humpback whale was spotted off Colombia in the Pacific Ocean and then in 2022 it was seen near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, the BBC reports, a distance of 13,000km. Ekaterina Kalashnikova from the Tanzania Cetaceans Program called the journey “truly impressive and unusual even for this highly migratory species”. Experts think the reason for the epic trip could be due to food stocks being depleted by climate change or a very long search for a mate. Ted Cheeseman , co-author of the research published in Royal Society Open Science , said the odyssey was almost twice the typical migration, The Guardian reports. In terms of how the whale would have been received after travelling so far out of its usual area and population group, Cheeseman said: “When he showed up, was it like, ‘Oooh, sexy foreigner with a cool accent’?” Say What? It’s beyond human scale, so we need to start to lean in heavily on AI, and we’re using it across a number of areas. Benjamin Lamont The Australian Federal Police’s manager for technology strategy and data said the AFP had “no choice” but to lean into using AI to search seized phones and emails. CRIKEY RECAP Reserve Bank declares war on facts, along with the economy BERNARD KEANE and GLENN DYER Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock (Image: AAP/Steven Saphore) This is not a central bank that understands what’s going on in the economy. It is not a bank that understands (from the vantage point of its comfortable Martin Place digs in Sydney) how ordinary Australian workers and small businesses without the security of a government job and generous pay and super are struggling. It is not a bank genuinely curious about what is driving phenomena like inflation. It is not a bank that wants to know if its ideological model of the world accords with reality. It is, however, a bank that is actively harming the national interest. Surely Rupert and Lachlan won’t roll the dice again STEPHEN MAYNE We’re all used to the Murdoch empire’s endless holy wars against perceived enemies or progressive causes. But when it comes to his own children, surely Rupert Murdoch has a limit to abusing his power and stripping their privileges. After copping a 93-page shellacking from Nevada probate commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr , Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch should give this scandalous family control grab a rest and instead embrace the peace sentiment from James, Elisabeth and Prudence, who jointly said yesterday they hope they can “move beyond this litigation to focus on strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members”. And what does Rupert’s big-noting celebrity lawyer Adam Streisand do in response? He immediately declares a plan to appeal. Talk about tone-deaf. It’s fair to say that James Murdoch , who turns 51 on Friday, won’t be getting any birthday wishes from father Rupert and older brother Lachlan, who reportedly spent some time together in Australia. Paul Fletcher’s retirement took local Libs by surprise, as party faithful play down teal threat ANTON NILSSON “There’s never a good time to go, but as he signalled in his statement, he’s just looking to take a holiday and then go into the private sector,” one Liberal said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal party matters. Nevertheless, the sudden announcement struck some local party colleagues as curious. “It was very surprising — he had already begun campaigning for reelection and has been working the local crowds very hard,” one source said. “He’s invested a lot into this so it came as a shock.” Boele managed to cut the Liberal margin in Bradfield by 12.3% at the 2022 election after the party previously held it on a very safe 16.6% margin. READ ALL ABOUT IT Greens staffer reprimanded for suggesting synagogue arson may have been ‘false flag’ ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) ($) How Saudi Arabia steamrolled Australia’s 2034 World Cup hopes ( The Age ) ($) Former female employees detail alleged sexual harassment in class actions against Rio Tinto and BHP (ABC) Labor to pay $2.3bn to controversial US prison operator subsidiary to run onshore detention ( Guardian Australia ) Syrian rebel fighters set fire to tomb of Bashar al-Assad’s father (BBC) Argentina: Has Javier Milei proved his critics wrong? ( The Financial Times ) ($) THE COMMENTARIAT The PM has been shown how to respond to antisemitism, but not by Peter Dutton — Alexandra Smith ( The Sydney Morning Herald ): News Corp did not hold back in attacking Albanese’s tennis match, although Opposition Leader Peter Dutton did. After all, the Coalition does not have a great track record when it comes to going missing in action. Albanese’s hit of tennis was no match for Scott Morrison’s family holiday to Hawaii as Australia burnt. But it does bring into question the prime minister’s political judgment and his ability to be agile when it matters. The roles of prime minister and premier are very different. While the leader of Australia needs to respond to issues of national and international significance, state leaders are more practised in day-to-day crisis management. Bushfires, flood, train breakdowns. They are bread and butter for a premier. Regardless, Albanese looks increasingly flat-footed compared with Minns’ quick reactions. Women in immigration detention are trapped in a system designed for men. Many have not hugged a family member in years — Lorraine Finlay ( Guardian Australia ): Picture this. It has been months since you last saw or hugged a loved one, including your children. You are a survivor of domestic violence but are now living next door to men who are sex offenders. You speak little English. And your life in detention has no end date. This is a common experience for women in Australia’s immigration detention system. Their visas have either lapsed or been revoked, or they never had one in the first place after arriving here in a way deemed to be illegal. In Australia, women make up a small number, roughly 6%, of people in immigration detention. These women are wedged into a system which operates predominantly with men in mind, with their separate and specific needs widely overlooked.
Dolphins get some encouraging news on Jaylen Waddle the day after Christmas
Hello and welcome to Yahoo's live news blog this Friday. The recently-released Bali Nine members have returned to their home states in time for Christmas. See photos of their return below. has defended its smart gate technology after the security feature closed on a boy and injured his face at a Victoria store. The six-year-old child was taken to hospital, with the boy's mother exclusively telling Yahoo he's lucky his eye wasn't damaged. Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day. Luigi Mangione could face the death penalty if he is found guilty of murdering healthcare insurance CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione was extradited to New York on Thursday (local time) and later appeared in court where his charges were read to him. They include murder through a firearm, which opens up the possibility of the death penalty. Mr Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after Mr Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO, was shot and killed in Manhattan. Read more . Police are investigating a disturbing act of animal cruelty after pet ducks that belonged to a NSW high school were mutilated, tortured and killed on school grounds. Hume Police District officers were called to the school on Smith St in Harden, about 30km south of Young, on Thursday following reports two ducks had been killed at the education facility. The ducks were secured in an enclosure on the school grounds and were cared for by the school community. The school issued a statement on social media pleading for anyone with information about the horrific incident to contact authorities. “Overnight, individuals gained unauthorised access to our school grounds and tortured, mutilated and killed our school ducks,” the statement read. “This follow repeated incidents of damage to the school sprinkler system at night.” Police allege the incident occurred between 6pm on Wednesday and 8.30am on Thursday. Acting Inspector Mark Lake said it was a deeply disturbing act. “These animals have been subjected to an horrific act of cruelty,” he said. - We take you to an exclusive Yahoo News story now where Coles has defended their security gates used in stores after one closed on a child, hospitalising the boy. Despite the glass door striking the boy above his eye as he ran through, Coles has stressed the gates "operated correctly". "This smart gate technology is designed and tested to meet global and Australian standards and has inbuilt sensors to detect any objects nearby, ensuring the gates re-open automatically to avoid closing on customers," they said. Read the full story from Sophie Coghill . The remaining members of the Bali Nine are returning to their home states for the first time following their transfer from an Indonesian prison. After landing in Darwin on Sunday - touching down on Australian soil for the first time in 20 years - all five remaining members then flew to their home states of Queensland, NSW, and Victoria on Friday morning. The eight men and one woman were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.7kg heroin into Australia. The ringleaders of the drug smuggling plot were Andrew Chan, then 21, and Myruan Sukumara, aged 23 at the time of the arrest. Accomplices included Matthew Norman, 18, Scott Rush, 18, Michael Czugaj, 19, Si Yi Chen, 20, Tan Duc Than Nguyen, 22, Renae Lawrence, 27, and Martin Stephens, 28. After spending nearly 20 years behind bars in an Indonesian prison, the remaining five members returned to Australia on Sunday, following a top-secret deal between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The men landed in Darwin on Sunday and spent several days in the Howard Springs quarantine facility, where they stayed until Thursday, ready for their flights back home. Two of the five members landed in Brisbane in the early hours of Friday morning, another two touched down in Melbourne and the final member landed in Sydney. Two other remaining members, Mr Chen and Mr Norman boarded a flight from Darwin to Melbourne at midnight, arriving shortly after 6.30am Friday. Mr Czugaj was spotted boarding a flight from Darwin to Brisbane on Friday morning. Wearing a mask, blue shirt and khaki trousers, flanked by AFP officers and refusing to speak to media, Mr Czugaj stood at the back of the plane, quietly sipping a beer Mr Rush was also on the flight home to Brisbane. When he was arrested in 2005, Queensland Police issued a warrant for his arrest for allegedly stealing money from Commonwealth Bank. It is not known whether he will be taken into custody when he arrives on Queensland soil. The final member, Mr Stephens, arrived this morning at Sydney Airport and surrounded by AFP officers as he walked off the tarmac and to his car. - NCA NewsWireWhich focal length is best for street and travel photography: 28mm or 35mm? If you've been thinking about buying a compact camera but you're not sure if 28mm or 35mm suits your style better, hopefully, this article will help. In March 2024, I took two compact classics with me to China for a week: the and the . I shot both cameras side by side during an 8-day trip. Although there doesn't seem to be a huge difference with the focal lengths, you'll see through the photos below just how much of a difference 7mm makes. I must confess that I've always been a 35mm guy—or so I thought. Before I bought the Ricoh GR III Diary Edition camera, I'd always loved 35mm-equivalent lenses. The wonderful for Fujifilm X Series is one of my all-time favorite lenses. I'm also a huge fanboy of the X100 line with its 35mm-equivalent focal length. Since the launch of the original X100 in 2010, I've owned every camera in the series apart from the X100S. In March 2024, I impulsively bought the despite telling myself I wouldn't. A week later, I took it and the on a trip to Beijing, Suzhou, and Shanghai. I was looking forward to this match up, as I'd already come to the conclusion that the . It was a lot of fun using both cameras, but I did get a little sick of swapping back and forth all the time. Soon I'll write an article about which of these you should buy, but for now, we're just looking at how the difference in focal length affects different scenes. In the photo comparisons below, the Ricoh 28mm image is on the left, and the Fujifilm 35mm image is on the right. When taking the comparison images, I tried to stay in the same spot for both photos so I could compare and contrast the shots. All images are JPGs, with only minor cropping and exposure corrections in Lightroom. The Ricoh shots used the camera's Positive Film simulation, and the Fujifilm shots used the new Reala Ace simulation. If you're keen to see how Reala Ace stacks up against four other color film sims, make sure you check out my Fstoppers article That's pretty much down to personal taste and the story you'd like to tell. The wider view of 28mm is ideal for street photography as it allows you to tell a more layered story, including more of your surroundings. The 35mm view can be better for focusing on a main subject in an image, with less distraction. The 28mm vs 35mm choice also depends on which camera brand you want to shoot with, as the X100 line is strictly 35mm-equivalent focal length, unless you use the somewhat hefty wide and tele converters. With Ricoh, you have the choice of 28mm equivalent lens on the GR III or 40mm with the . If you'd like to see example street and travel photos with the 40mm lens, make sure you check out . I'll be including all three cameras in an upcoming comparison article. If you'd like to see even more photo comparisons between the and the , make sure you check out the video at the top of this article where I compare more than 50 side-by-side images. After spending a week shooting two compact classics side by side in China, I've gained a deeper appreciation for how these two focal lengths shape storytelling in street and travel photography. I can't help but feel that for fast-moving travel and street photography, 28mm feels more natural for me. It excels at creating a sense of place and including more elements in the frame to build a richer narrative. However, this wider field of view demands careful composition to avoid clutter or distraction. The 35mm focal length seems to shine more when isolating a subject is key. With a slightly narrower view, it helps simplify compositions and can lend immediacy. It's a much better choice for close-up portraits or if you want to focus attention on a specific detail. Ultimately, the best focal length comes down to personal taste, shooting style, the story you want to tell, and which camera brand you like. Both have their strengths, and choosing one over the other depends on what resonates with you as a photographer. Which is your pick for street and travel photography: 28mm or 35mm? Let me know in the comments. Matt Murray is a travel and portrait photographer from Brisbane, Australia. Matt loves shooting with compact cameras: both film and digital. His YouTube features reviews of film cameras, film stocks, and travel photography with the Ricoh GR III, Fujifilm X100V, and Olympus OM-1. See more of Matt's photography and writing on his Substack.
Payment Processing Solutions Market Future Trends, Scope, Size, Share, Advance Technology, Demand And Forecast - 2028 12-20-2024 12:04 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire PayPal (US), Fiserv (US), FIS (US), Global Payments (US), ACI Worldwide (US), Square (US), Mastercard (US), Visa (US), Adyen (Netherland), Stripe (US), PayU (Netherland), Jack Henry & Associates (US), Paysafe (UK), PhonePe (India), Razorpay (India). Payment Processing Solutions Market by Payment Method (Debit Card, Credit Card, ACH, eWallet), Vertical (BFSI, Retail, Healthcare, Telecom, Travel & Hospitality, Real Estate), and Region(North America, Europe, APAC, RoW) - Global Forecast to 2028. The payment processing solutions market [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/payment-processing-solutions-market-751866.html?utm_campaign=paymentprocessingsolutionsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] is anticipated to expand from USD 103.2 billion in 2023 to USD 160.0 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. The surge in online shopping and the proliferation of e-commerce platforms have driven a substantial rise in digital payments. Payment processing solutions are crucial for enabling secure and seamless transactions, addressing the increasing demand for online payment options. Download PDF Brochure@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=751866 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=751866&utm_campaign=paymentprocessingsolutionsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] Based on payment method, the credit card method to hold the largest market during the forecast period. A credit card is a payment card issued by banks or financial institutions to individuals, allowing them to make purchases from merchants and incur agreed-upon charges. It provides a revolving line of credit, enabling cardholders to borrow money for payments or cash advances. Credit cards offer convenience and flexibility, eliminating the need for cash or checks. Cardholders have the option to carry a balance from month to month, subject to interest charges. Different types of credit cards, such as business, secured, prepaid, and digital cards, cater to various needs and preferences. While credit cards provide benefits like rewards programs and enhanced purchasing power, responsible credit management is crucial to avoid excessive debt and interest accumulation. Based on region, Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest market size during the forecast Asia Pacific consumers in the region prefer seamless and secure digital payment transactions, driving the demand for advanced payment processing solutions. With a growing retail market in Asia Pacific, global payment processing solution providers increasingly focus on this region to offer sophisticated solutions. Countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia witness a high volume of daily mobile transactions, prompting respective governments to prioritize convenient payment methods. The GSMA's "The Mobile Economy 2021" report highlights that Asia Pacific has a 42% mobile internet penetration rate, with 1.2 billion people connected to mobile internet by the end of 2020, marking an addition of 200 million new subscribers compared to the previous year. Request Sample Pages@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=751866 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=751866&utm_campaign=paymentprocessingsolutionsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] Unique Features in the Payment Processing Solutions Market Payment processing solutions are designed to integrate effortlessly with a variety of platforms, including e-commerce websites, mobile applications, and point-of-sale systems. This interoperability ensures smooth transactions and a consistent user experience across channels. A key feature of payment processing solutions is their emphasis on security. These systems incorporate robust technologies such as tokenization, encryption, and fraud detection mechanisms to safeguard sensitive customer data and ensure secure transactions. Modern payment processing solutions support a wide range of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and even cryptocurrencies. This versatility caters to diverse customer preferences and enhances accessibility. Real-time processing is a standout feature in this market, enabling businesses and customers to complete transactions instantly. This capability is particularly critical for e-commerce and on-demand services, where speed is paramount. Payment processing solutions are built to scale alongside business growth. Whether a company is managing a small local operation or expanding globally, these systems adapt to increasing transaction volumes without compromising performance. Major Highlights of the Payment Processing Solutions Market The rapid rise of e-commerce platforms and online shopping has significantly boosted the demand for digital payment solutions. These ecosystems rely heavily on payment processors to facilitate smooth and secure transactions, supporting their global scalability. A key highlight of the market is its focus on advanced security protocols, such as encryption, tokenization, and fraud prevention technologies. These measures ensure data protection and bolster customer trust in digital payment systems. The increasing popularity of mobile wallets and contactless payment methods, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, has become a major trend. Payment processors are adapting to this shift by enabling seamless integration with mobile devices. As businesses expand globally, the need for cross-border payment processing has grown. Solutions that support multi-currency transactions and comply with international regulations are becoming essential for businesses targeting global markets. The proliferation of subscription-based business models in industries like entertainment, SaaS, and fitness has highlighted the need for automated recurring payment solutions. Payment processors are meeting this demand by offering features tailored to streamline subscription billing. Inquire Before Buying@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=751866 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=751866&utm_campaign=paymentprocessingsolutionsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] Top Companies in the Payment Processing Solutions Market The major vendors covered in the payment processing solutions market include PayPal (US), Fiserv (US), FIS (US), Global Payments (US), ACI Worldwide (US), Square (US), Mastercard (US), Visa (US), Adyen (Netherland), Stripe (US), PayU (Netherland), Jack Henry & Associates (US), Paysafe (UK), PhonePe (India), Razorpay (India), Secure Payment Systems (US), Worldline (France), Spreedly (US), Fattmerchant (US), North American Bancard (US), Dwolla (US), CCBill (US), Authorize.Net (US), Alipay (China), PayProTec (US), SignaPay (US), Klik & Pay (Switzerland), Finix Payments (US), Due (US), Pineapple Payments (US), Modulr (UK), MuchBetter (UK), Paykickstart (US), AeroPay (US), and Sila (US). PayPal is a globally recognized digital payment platform that provides online payment solutions to individuals and businesses worldwide. PayPal is a leading technology platform and digital payments company that enables digital and mobile payments on behalf of consumers and merchants across the globe. The company operates through two segments: the business segment and the reportable segment. It offers a range of payment solutions, including PayPal, PayPal Credit, Braintree, Venmo, Xoom, and Paydiant products. The company has established itself as a popular payment platform due to its ease of use and security features. PayPal allows customers to send and receive payments online quickly and securely, making it a preferred payment option for online transactions, particularly in eCommerce. Additionally, PayPal's payment processing fees are transparent, and the platform is compatible with various currencies, making it an attractive choice for businesses that require a flexible payment processor. PayPal's business model is centered on charging fees for its payment services, typically a percentage of the transaction value and a fixed fee per transaction. Fiserv is a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions. The company offers a wide range of software, hardware, and professional services to banks, credit unions, investment firms, and other financial institutions. Fiserv's solutions are designed to help these institutions improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience. The company engages in the provision of financial services technology. It operates through the Payments, Financial, Corporate, and Other segments. The Payments segment primarily provides electronic bill payment and presentment services, internet and mobile banking software and services, account-to-account transfers, person-to-person payment services, debit and credit card processing and services, payments infrastructure services, and other electronic payments software and services. The Financial segment provides financial institutions with account processing services, item processing, source capture services, loan origination and servicing products, cash management and consulting services, and other products and services supporting numerous types of financial transactions. The Corporate and Others segment consists of intercompany eliminations, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, unallocated corporate expenses, and other activities that are not considered when management evaluates segment performance, such as gains on sales of businesses and associated transition services. Adyen is a prominent player in the Payment Processing Solutions Market, providing a comprehensive, end-to-end platform that supports a wide range of payment methods and currencies globally. Adyen's solutions are designed to facilitate seamless, secure transactions for merchants both online and in-store, enhancing the customer payment experience. The platform integrates with various payment methods, including credit cards, mobile wallets, and local payment options, ensuring broad acceptance and flexibility. With advanced fraud detection, data analytics, and scalable infrastructure, Adyen empowers businesses to optimize their payment processes, reduce operational complexity, and drive growth in the rapidly evolving digital commerce landscape. Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=payment-processing-solutions-market-future-trends-scope-size-share-advance-technology-demand-and-forecast-2028 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Florida State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/payment-processing-solutions-market-751866.html This release was published on openPR.
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street got back to climbing after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 gained 0.8% Wednesday to break a two-day losing streak and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged with a dip of 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that the Fed will deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are rising Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 gained 0.9% and is on track to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.8% and was heading for a record. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a 95% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Wednesday’s report said U.S. consumers paid prices in November that were 2.7% higher than a year earlier. That’s a slight acceleration from October’s inflation rate of 2.6%, but it was exactly what economists were expecting. Another report on inflation at the wholesale level will arrive on Thursday. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. On Wall Street, Stitch Fix jumped 47.8% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. Albertsons edged down by 0.6% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 0.6%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Mondelez, the company behind Oreo and other food brands, climbed 2.2% after announcing a plan to send cash to shareholders by buying back up to $9 billion of its own stock. The program replaces a prior $6 billion plan, which had about $2.8 billion of capacity remaining and would have otherwise expired at the end of next year. On the losing end of Wall Street, Macy’s fell 2.3% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment sank 18.7% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, rose to 4.16% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. ___ AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Press