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New Delhi : The Indian electronics sector is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating the creation of 12 million jobs by 2027 , according to a recent report by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship . This includes 3 million direct jobs and 9 million indirect roles , showcasing the sector’s potential to drive economic development and employment opportunities. Also Read: Tata Group to create 5 lakh manufacturing jobs over next half decade The report outlines the distribution of direct employment opportunities: Additionally, 9 million indirect jobs will stem from non-technical roles, underlining the broad impact of the electronics industry on India’s job market. India’s electronics industry aims to achieve $500 billion in manufacturing output by 2030 , requiring a five-fold growth over the next five years. Currently, domestic production is valued at $101 billion , with contributions from key segments: Emerging areas like automotive electronics (8%) , LED lighting (3%) , wearables and hearables (1%) , and PCBAs (1%) offer immense potential for growth. “India’s electronics sector, currently contributing 3.3% to global manufacturing and 5.3% to India’s total merchandise exports in FY23, is swiftly transforming into a global electronics hub,” said Sumit Kumar , Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship. Despite its modest 4% participation in global value chains , the sector has substantial room for growth by advancing from assembly to design and component manufacturing. As employment opportunities surge, a multi-pronged strategy focusing on apprenticeships, reskilling, and upskilling is essential. With Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) currently operating at only 51% enrollment , enhancing capacity through employer-led initiatives, Work-Integrated Learning Programs (WILP) , and degree apprenticeships is crucial. “Employers can bridge the skills gap by establishing in-house training centers and partnering with academia,” the report noted. India’s electronics sector has experienced rapid expansion thanks to initiatives like: “These policies have catalyzed the sector’s growth, laying the foundation for a future-ready workforce,” added AR Ramesh , CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship.
Environment Canada forecasts mix of freezing rain and rain for parts of MaritimesMUMBAI: Former minister and Dombivli legislator Ravindra Chavan is likely to be next Maharashtra BJP chief. The party on Saturday appointed Chavan as state in charge of its organisational rebuilding initiative, Sanghatan Parv. The move comes amid the speculations over Chavan’s likely elevation as state BJP chief as the incumbent Chandrashekhar Bawankule has been appointed as a minister in Mahayuti 2.0 government. A senior BJP leader said the party leadership wants to appoint a new face as state BJP president. Chavan is a Maratha and did a remarkable job in handling party organisation in Konkan when he had been given the responsibility. He was public works minister in the Mahayuti government but was not picked this time as the BJP led coalition returned to power, he added. “The new state president’s role will be important in the elections to local bodies and municipal corporations across the state that are likely to be held early next year,”said the above mentioned leader. Earlier on Wednesday, Bawankule said in Nagpur: “We will have our organisational elections in January. By January end, presidents of all district and tehsil units will be elected. After that, a new state unit president will be elected.” Bawankule on Saturday announced Chavan’s appointment as state in-charge of Sanghtan Parv. The initiative to rebuild the party organisation was launched in Nagpur on December 21. The party is also likely to replace Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar with a new face. Shelar was recently inducted as a information technology and cultural affairs minister in the Fadnavis government. A state conclave of the party is planned at Shirdi on January 12. Union home minister Amit Shah is liekly to be present for the conclave.The narrative around the state of the Australian team has changed drastically following the first Test horror show against India but the reality is the writing has been on the wall since Justin Langer stepped down. While the condemnation of the team following the three-day demolition job at the hands of India, Australia's fall from grace has been anything but. After Australia offered barely a whimper against an Indian side destroyed 3-0 to New Zealand at home last month, the loss shined a light on the ugly reality that Aussie cricket fans are likely in for a rough few years. So far much of the discussion following the Perth Test has centred around the top five and for good reason. Their aggregate total across both innings (which includes ' night watchman stint in the second innings) was just 57. The last time it was lower was in 1888, some 136 years ago. But the slide hasn't happened overnight, it has been there to see but no one has wanted to look under the bonnet. If you take out , given the fact Perth was his debut Test, every single player in Australia's top five has seen their batting average fall in the last year or so. 's slide is the most notable and has led to calls for him to be axed. The 30-year-old is averaging just 30.28 in Test cricket since February last year. And a look at his last 10 innings shows just how badly out of form he is. Labushcagne has scored 10, 1 not out, 3, 5, 1, 2, 90, 6, 2 and 3 for an average of just 13.66 across that period. While Steve Smith has managed just three centuries in his 36 innings since the start of 2023, a far cry from the years under Langer when he was widely regarded as the best batsman in the world. Travis Head has also seen his Test average slide of late and is starting to show signs that his late-career resurgence may have ended and even if it hasn't he is likely to hang up the gloves either at the end of this summer or next. And while most of the attention is on the batting unit, things are also trending down on the bowling side as well. Apart from the fact Australia's top bowlers are all in their 30s, most of their averages are also getting progressively worse. Since taking over the captaincy, Cummins' bowling average has suffered, going from 19.43 before he was skipper to 24.75. Starc is also trending in the wrong direction and while 37-year-old Nathan Lyon continues to perform, the reality is this will either be his last or second last summer of cricket. The overall age of the squad is a serious issue especially given the lack of top emerging talent coming through at Sheffield Shield level. The average age of Australia's team in Perth was 33.11 years old while the Indian side was just 27.10. While the two waiting in line for their shot in the Test side after impressing at Shield level, and Michael Neser, are 35 and 34 respectively. It is a similar story for the batters, with the batsmen in line for a call-up if Labushagne is dropped. But both of them are in their 30s, further showcasing the dire state of Australia's future cricket stocks. The lack of pressure and talent coming through has also led to a certain degree of complacency in the Australian side. And with that comes the sense that regardless of how they perform their spot in the side is safe. This was perfectly illustrated by skipper Cummins saying he'd be shocked if the Test side was changed ahead of the Adelaide Test despite it being clear changes need to be made after the Perth Test. And a lot of that complacency can be dated back to when Langer was pushed out by the Australian team. when Cricket Australia only offered him a six-month contract extension, despite the coach leading his side to Ashes and T20 World Cup glory just months earlier. Langer saw it as a slap in the face considering the success he brought to the side. But the writing was on the wall that he'd lost the dressing room, with Cummins in particular leading the push for a change of coach. The players spoke out about Langer's intensity and passion for the sport going overboard at times, and several players said they were keen to bring in a calming presence. However, has this change led to the Australian side lacking bite and the fighting spirit that has made the team so feared being lost? While following Langer's exit the Aussies won the Ashes on English soil, the World Test Championship and a World Cup, the lack of fight in the side was laid bare in last year's series against the West Indies and again against Pakistan this year. In the ODI decider against Pakistan many found it troubling to see Cummins taking happy snaps at a Coldplay concert as Australia suffered a series defeat. And following the shock ODI loss the Australian side looked out of sorts in the first Test against India. It is something Langer simply wouldn't have allowed and it could spell bad news in the years to come as culture isn't something that can be fixed overnight and the Australian side has seemingly lost the burning desire to win. The lack of determination and aggression is clear for all to see and it is something that commentator Mark Levy is deeply troubled by. "They are not aggressive enough," Levy told on Tuesday. "They are not in your face, the Aussie teams I grew up with under Alan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and even Michael Clarke, they were just combative to the point where they were called a pack of wild dogs at one stage. "We don’t want to go that way again. But they are just a bit too nice in Perth so hopefully they address that." The sad state of the current side was something called out by several pundits during and following the first Test defeat to India. And only added to it. When asked about where the Aussies need to go after the dismal performance on Sunday, Hazlewood replied: “You probably have to ask one of the batters that question probably, I’m sort of relaxing and trying to get a bit of treatment and I’m looking mostly to next Test." It was an answer that underlined the frustrations of the bowling unit and pointed to a disconnect between the batters and bowlers. even started to question whether cracks had begun to appear and suggested there may be a "divide" in the playing group. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri also said Hazlewood's comments showed there were "mental cracks" in the Aussie team and went on to say the current side is the first Aussie team an Indian side wouldn't fear in a long time. "Having come to Australia for 30 or 40 years, this is the first time an Indian team is feeling, ‘you know what, we are better than the opposition in their own backyard’," Shastri said. “Quietly they will be thinking ‘we will have to lose it here’."
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce spotted on double date with close friends Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce enjoy double date night with Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift spent some quality time on a double date with Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley. The two couples were spotted arriving at New York City’s BondST Restaurant on Friday, December 27th, as per fan-posted pictures on social media. The Anti-Hero hitmaker was seen sporting a brown oversized blazer, paired with sheer black tights and matching platform boots. Swift’s beau stayed by her side, holding her hand in a matching brown cardigan over a black shirt, brown pants and a black baseball cap. The second couple dressed up just as cosy, as Qualley was seen sporting a burgundy coat with black stockings, while Swift’s longtime friend and creative partner Antonoff wore a yellow top, jeans and a black puffer jacket on top. The star-studded dinner reportedly lasted for four hours as they arrived at the NYC eatery at 8pm and left around midnight. The date night comes after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end created a record on receiving the most touchdowns in his last match on Christmas day. The pop superstar celebrated the record by dropping a ‘like’ on the official post announcing the big news. Justin Bieber hints at struggles with faith amid Sean Diddy drama Rihanna lights up NYC streets with sparkling glam Jennifer Lopez 'happy again' for the first time after Ben Affleck split Taylor Swift doppelganger responds to fan outburst at Chiefs game
Hyderabad: A deputy tehsildar (naib tehsildar) of Shankarapatnam mandal Siddipet district was caught red-handed by Telangana’s anti corruption bureau (ACB) for demanding a bribe of of Rs. 6000 for doing official work. The deputy tehsildar demanded the bribe money from the complainant to forward a file of Nala conversion of agriculture land measuring 2.25 guntas to Tahsildar. ACB officials recovered the bribe money from the possession of the accused government officer. The fingers of his right hand yielded positive in a chemical test. The deputy tehsildar was produced before the Special Judge for SPE & ACB cases in Karimnagar. Earlier in the day, ACB arrested another government officer in Bhadradri Kothagudem district for demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 for performing official duties. The arrested official, identified as Merugu Rathnam, has been working as the deputy surveyor at Dammannapet Mandal in Kothagudem. He was caught taking the bribe money for conducting a land survey and submitting an official survey report at the property owned by the complainant’s sister. Citizens can report incidents of bribery by calling the hotline 1064.
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Tina Knowles is fiercely defending her daughter Beyoncé after the pop superstar’s NFL Halftime Show performance on Christmas Day. On Friday (Dec. 27), the proud mother took to social media to respond to the criticism surrounding Queen Bey’s stunning performance at the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game at NRG Stadium. The 12-minute set, now available for streaming on Netflix, had generated some backlash, prompting Knowles to speak out in her daughter’s defense. Knowles began by reposting a fan’s message on Instagram that called out those who had negative things to say about the performance.“Irrespective of whether you like Beyoncé’s music or not, it is PROOF and motivation that no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say,” the fan’s comment read. In her caption, Knowles agreed with the fan, writing, “My sentiments exactly! It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later.” She continued, “Obviously you are so obsessed with them , addicted to them , and secretly admire them , wish you could be them, that you cannot help but to watch and critique and comment and say dumb ridiculous stuff that makes you look like a joke !! So go to another channel when it’s halftime watch goofy cartoons or Bozo the clown or something you can relate to and see yourself in. Said with love.” Knowles also reflected on her daughter’s strength, adding, “I have learned so much from her warrior spirit, of when they go low I work harder ‘No weapon formed against me shall prosper’ one ,two , three waiting for the fake bots to come’.” She followed up with several posts celebrating the positive reactions to Bey’s performance, including a comment from Bun B , who praised the superstar’s career: “I think quietly, this entire time we’ve watched her rise. She’s probably the single most intentional performer, musician and entertainer in our culture. Beyoncé knows exactly who she is, and she understands that when she does something, things change,” the rapper said. The Houston-born superstar’s halftime show featured songs from her latest album Cowboy Carter , a country-infused project that topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks. The performance included collaborations with Shaboozey, Post Malone, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer and others, showcasing tracks like “16 Carriages” to “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “Levii’s Jeans” and “Jolene.” Beyoncé’s 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter also joined her on stage as a dancer, just as she did on the Renaissance World Tour. Following the performance, Beyoncé teased a new project set for release in 2025. In a cryptic post on social media, she shared a video of herself riding a majestic white horse while waving an American flag. The clip ended with a black screen featuring the message: “1.14.25.” She simply captioned the post with, “Look at that horse.”Elections Alberta has released the official results of the by-election in Lethbridge-West. Voters took to the polls on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, to decide the riding’s next MLA. Advance voting was held the week prior. The agency has confirmed that a total of 13,615 people voted in the by-election for a voter turnout of 36 per cent. That compares to the general provincial election in 2023, which saw a turnout of 61.5 per cent, or 22,547 ballots cast. Elections Alberta says the Alberta NDP’s Rob Miyashiro won the race with 7,238 votes, or 53.3 per cent. The United Conservative Party’s John Middleton-Hope was in second place with 6,093 votes, or 44.9 per cent. Layton Veverka with the Alberta Party secured 237 votes, or 1.7 per cent. Nearly half (49 per cent) of ballots were cast during advance voting while 40.8 per cent were submitted on the general election day. Approximately 7.7 per cent voted by special ballot and 2.5 per cent took part in a mobile voting opportunity. The mobile voting opportunities were for people in supportive living and long-term care facilities, hospitals and treatment centres, emergency shelters, and community support centres. Elections Alberta did not state when the official swearing-in ceremony for Miyashiro would take place. For more information about the Lethbridge-West by-election, visit elections.ab.ca, email info@elections.ab.ca , call 1.877.422.VOTE (8683), or visit @ElectionsAB on social media. Please note that Elections Alberta’s offices will be closed until January 2, 2025. READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now — If you have a news tip, question or concern, please email Lethbridge.newsroom@Pattisonmedia.com .
FANS of The Great British Bake Off claimed one finalist was 'robbed' of the win. The Channel 4 series faces backlash from viewers as the hit show made history with its first ever Welsh winner . Advertisement 8 Bake Off viewers thought that Dylan was 'robbed' in the final Credit: Channel 4 8 He made it to the final with Christiaan de Vries (centre) and Georgie Grasso (left) Credit: Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon 8 The former retail assistant struggled during all three rounds Credit: Channel 4 Paediatric nurse Georgie Grasso, 34, was awarded the coveted glass cake dish that was presented by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding . This was despite never receiving one the highly sought after handshakes from Paul Hollywood, 58. She impressed Prue Leith, 84, with her incredible three tier lemon and elderflower hanging cake after she performed solidly in the technical. By comparison, fan favourite Great British Bake Off contestant Dylan Bachelet, 20, was having an off week. Advertisement READ MORE ON BAKE OFF STAR BAKER Great British Bake Off winner revealed as baker makes history with epic win BAKE OFF Where to shop Alison Hammonds Bake Off looks and they are all from the high street Throughout the show, he won acclaim for his innovative flavours and impeccable presentation. The retail assistant won the title of star baker twice, and was in the top two on three additional occasions. He failed to impress the judges with his scones, he came third in the technical and Paul Hollywood critiqued the proportions of each element of his showstopper. Viewers were left utterly devastated at the unfolding scenes as they took to social media in droves. Advertisement Most read in News TV BALLSED UP Lorraine apologises on air for using phrase she 'didn't know' was a swear word BEACH BABE Jean Johansson flaunts incredible toned figure & endless legs on Barbados beach HOST'S PAIN BBC's Glenn Campbell makes shock admission as he gives tumour battle update COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle Writing on X - formerly known as Twitter - one fan stated: "I demand a recount. Dylan was robbed." A second user simply put: "Dylan. Robbed." First look at this year’s Bake Off finale as TWO bakers are forced to remake their creations in a race against time "Dylan was robbed. Gutted," wrote a third viewer. As someone else noted: "So gutted for #Dylan he has been the winner all the way through the competition then stuffed it up in the final." Advertisement Meanwhile, a fifth fan commented: "The story of Dylan in the final is a story ripped straight from ancient Greece . I've never watched a show about baking with such abject dread." And another added: "Watching Dylan lose the bake off after a great season was gutting." Great British Bake off cast 2024 The Great British Bake Off is back for another series of the heartwarming Channel 4 show. Legendary judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back to give their expert opinion, while hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond are on hand to lift the bakers spirits. Here are the amateur bakers all taking part in 2024. Andy, 44, car mechanic. Christiaan, 33, menswear designer. Dylan, 20, retail assistant. Georgie, 34, paediatric nurse. Gill, 53, senior category manager. Hazel, 71, former nail technician. Illiyin, 31, birth trauma specialist midwife. Jeff, 67, former university lecturer. John, 37, NHS directorate support manager. Mike, 29, farmer. Nelly, 44, palliative care assistant. Sumayah, 19, student. 8 The judges were not completely enamoured with his scones Credit: Channel 4 8 Dylan looked absolutely devastated as he came third in the technical challenge Credit: Channel 4 Advertisement 8 Paul criticised the proportions of the different elements of his showstopper Credit: Channel 4 8 Georgie became the first ever Welsh winner of the hit show Credit: Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon 8 She stunned the judges with her lemon and elderflower hanging cake Credit: Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon You can watch all the episodes of The Great British Bake Off 2024 on Channel 4 on demand. AdvertisementSorber scores 22 as Georgetown beats Coppin State 83-53Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate banking products to write unbiased product reviews. Instead of making vague new years resolutions, break down large financial goals into specific actions. if you haven't already, saving at least a month's worth of emergency savings is more important than rushing to pay off your debt. Before January 1, take time to review your personal or family financial wellness. The holidays are already emotionally loaded, with complicated family reunions and fraught travel plans. On top of that, the emotional aftermath of Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes through with a vengeance. One minute, you might feel like a badass for finding the best sales on the internet, and the next you might feel guilty for spending too much or splurging on something luxurious. Holiday spending emotions can lead to making unrealistic financial New Year's resolutions. Financial planner Mamie Wheaton of LearnLux shares four common financial New Year's resolutions about money that never work, and what to do instead. Mistake 1: Swear you pay down all your debt this year "You really have to ask yourself why you want to pay down that debt," says Wheaton. "Sometimes, it's emotional. People get attached to becoming debt-free." Wheaton says that before you focus all your energy on paying off debt, it's more urgent to secure at least one month worth of emergency savings. An emergency fund can help you and your family survive financial hardship while keeping you from accruing even more debt. Wheaton suggests keeping your emergency savings in a high-yield savings account that you can easily access during emergencies. One month is the bare minimum, but experts generally recommend aiming to save at least three months' worth of living expenses. If you already have an emergency fund, take a closer look at the interest rates on your debts. "Any debt with interest rates above 4%, like credit card debt, should be prioritized," says Wheaton, "but otherwise, your money might be used better in other areas such as investments or retirement." The average 10-year stock market return is about 10%, which means your investments could grow significantly faster than your debt over time. While debts with high interest rates can easily snowball, it's more feasible to take your time paying off debts with sub-4% rates and let your money grow elsewhere instead. Compare Today's Rates Mistake 2: Vague financial resolutions Break down a large goal into bite-sized microgoals with shorter deadlines and six-month milestones to track your progress, Wheaton suggests. Once you have specific and measurable steps toward that large goal, it's easier to keep the momentum. Instead of saying, "I'm going to save $100,000 for retirement," Wheaton suggests, say "I'm going to increase my 401(k) contribution by 5% this year." You can even break it down to how much you plan on adding to your 401(k) every three months. Or, instead of saying, "I'm going to pay off all of my debt in one year," she continues, try "I'm going to stop using all of my credit cards, and pay off the card with the lowest balance." Mistake 3: Starting your resolutions on January 1 There's no automatic switch that goes off at midnight on January 1 that magically changes your behavior. Building new habits requires a bit of planning. Wheaton suggests setting a few days aside to review your 2021 finances, to enter the new year with a solid plan in place. Here are a few questions to ask yourself while looking at your numbers for the year: Am I cash-flow positive every month? Do I bring in more cash than my spending? Am I spending too much money on my credit card then relying on an end-of-year bonus to pay them off? Did I end the year with more debt than I started with? Which monthly subscriptions can I cut out? Am I on track to meet my retirement goals? Mistake 4: Keeping money goals out of your relationship "One thing I've seen in my 14 years of experience is that couples need to have open conversations about their goals," says Wheaton. "If one partner wants to save up for a house, and the other wants to save for retirement, it's best to sit down before the beginning of the year and see how you can both prioritize goals as partners." In a similar vein to the end-of-year review for individuals, couples can ask each other the following questions to get clear on new-year goals: How do you feel about our finances this year? (This question is especially important for couples who don't make the same amount of money but contribute an equal amount to household spending.) How did your credit score change this year? Are we on the same page about our retirement goals? Are we still on track to meet our previous retirement goals? Are we utilizing the best benefits our employers have to offer? Should we switch to one joint health insurance policy? Instead of making a vague resolution you and your partner probably won't keep past February 1, base your resolutions on your end-of-year review and make them easier to stick with. Don't know where to start? Consider a financial advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors who serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Start your search now. This article was originally published in December 2021.
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Handle rice issue diplomaticallyMumbai, Dec 28 (PTI) The Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) should work as a guiding force for boosting priority sectors so that the state maintains its reputation of being the leader in the country, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday. During a meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House in south Mumbai, he listed mining, group farming, solar energy projects and bio-fuel as among the priority sectors, a government press release said. MITRA should work as a guiding force for giving a fillip to the priority sectors, it said, quoting Fadnavis. The state has set up MITRA along the lines of NITI Aayog. The CM talked about group farming and said there are presently 400 such groups in the state and most of them have performed well. The integrated benefits of the schemes under the agriculture, water resources, horticulture, marketing and other allied departments will be passed on to farmers to make them economically and socially capable, he said. Fadnavis called for efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit and pitched for consolidation of assets, convergence of various schemes, expediting water conservation projects, and state data and mining policies for Maharashtra’s overall development, the release said. The CM also took stock of the Jayakwadi solar project, the production of biogas from agricultural waste, and the international zoo at Gorewada in Nagpur district, it added. PTI MR NR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Shares of Hershey ($HSY) rose more than 10% on Monday after larger fellow confectionery company Mondelez International ($MDLZ) was reportedly said to be exploring an acquisition of the former, dampening retail sentiment. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Mondelez, which makes Oreos, was in talks to buy the "Hershey Kisses" maker in a potential deal that would create a combined company with nearly $50 billion in annual sales. A potential deal would be the largest one in the sector this year. Retail sentiment on the Hershey stock turned ‘extremely bearish’ (6/100) from ‘neutral’ (46/100) a week ago, with some users skeptical of the deal going through. However, sentiment on the Mondelez stock was optimistic, with message volumes climbing into the ‘extremely high’ zone. According to the Bloomberg report, Mondelez is seeking to expand its chocolate and snack businesses. The company made a “preliminary approach” and talks are reportedly in early stages. Mondelez previously launched a takeover bid for Hershey in 2016 but scuttled the deal after Hershey didn’t accept the offer. Hershey’s North America Confectionery segment net sales grew 0.8% to $2.48 billion during its most recent quarter while North America Salty Snacks segment’s net sales declined 15.5% to $291.8 million. A stocktwits poll on the merger pointed to users doubting Hershey shareholders would approve the deal. Wall Street analysts were similarly skeptical about the deal’s prospects, with one firm, Jefferies, reportedly believing a potential deal has a "higher probability than in 2016." HSY stock is up 0.71% year-to-date. For updates and corrections email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<
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