China’s Landspace secures state-backed funding for reusable rockets
Aquarius – (20th January to 18th February) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Avoid controversies today Challenges in love life demand more attention. Put in more effort to give the best results at the workplace. Financially you are stronger today. Health is normal. Settle the tremors in the love affair and consider new tasks at the workplace that test your potential. Both finance and health will be good. Aquarius Love Horoscope Today Do not let the emotions fly loose in the love affair. Instead, take a mature and diplomatic approach to settling issues and staying happy. Value the partner’s opinion in the relationship and spend more time together. You may also plan a vacation this weekend where crucial future decisions can be taken. Some love affairs will be toxic and it is wise to come out of it. Married couples may tend to show their emotional feelings towards their partner. Aquarius Career Horoscope Today Keep office politics away and focus on the work. Come up with innovative ideas that may help you perform better in the workplace. You can also update the resume as you may receive interview calls. Some architects, graphic designers, lawyers, salespersons, IT professionals, and mechanics will win accolades from clients. Those who expect a promotion or appraisal will have good news. Some entrepreneurs will be happy to expand the trade to new territories. Aquarius Money Horoscope Today No major monetary issues will be there. However, it is good to have a plan for a rainy day. Some females will get an appraisal while male natives may expect good income from freelancing jobs. You will receive financial help from spouses and siblings. A bank loan will be approved and you will also clear all pending dues. Those who are into business will find good sources to fund money. Aquarius Health Horoscope Today Those who have breathing issues may develop complications. Avoid people with negative attitudes which can affect mental peace. You may also focus on the diet and have control over the lifestyle. Stay away from aerated drinks and junk food. Instead, have a balanced diet plan. Fill your plate with vegetables, fruits, and pulses. You should refrain from the stress of work, love, and other aspects of life. Aquarius Sign Attributes Strength: Tolerant, Ideal, Friendly, Charitable, Independent, Logical Weakness: Disobedient, Liberalistic, Rebel Symbol: Water carrier Element: Air Body Part: Ankles & Legs Sign Ruler: Uranus Lucky Day: Saturday Lucky Color: Navy Blue Lucky Number: 22 Lucky Stone: Blue Sapphire Aquarius Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Good compatibility: Leo, Aquarius Fair compatibility: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Less compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)Electricity supply in some parts of Tavua, Ba and Lautoka has been disrupted. According to Energy Fiji Limited, power supply was disrupted due to fallen power poles. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses in Matawalu village in Lautoka confirm a fallen power pole located near the Matawalu River has also given way. Affected areas include: Tavua College, Ralulu Street, Nabukulu Street, Red Cross, LTA, Goundars Rental, GoldCart Supermarket, Sairan Supermarket, Tavua Primary School, Nands Seafood Restaurant, Tavua Motor Spares, Tavua ICT Centre Uni Fiji, Nationwide Service, Nadi Motor Spares, Michaels Restaurant, Sushil Shopping Centre, Vickys Internet, Westpac, Tavua Central Store, Tavua Seafood, Mobil Service Station, Malas Restaurant, Gold Town Slice Fish Shop, Hydraulic hose service, Prasad Rice and Masala Mill, G. Naidu Rentals, G.S Industrial Supplies, Jacks Fiji, Feroz Khan Furniture Shop, R . Baran and Company, Vinod Patel, BSP Bank, Supercremina Restaurant, Bargain Box Fiji, Jesh Fashion, Avisheks Food Hub, Ali’s Tailoring, S.Kiran Shopping Centre, Leka Street, Amits Investment, Ratilal Brothers, Sanjay’s Barber Shop, Narendras Shopping Centre, Dynamic Electronic Service, Mythillis Investments, Tavua Tyre Centre, Singh Radio and Studio, Valuefone, Meenoos, Singapore Exchange, Gold Town Pharmacy, Payal Jewellers, Home and Living, Roopesh Gift Shop, Kantas Tailoring Centre, Value City, Total Energise, Vatukoula Road, Stylish Variety Shop, Good Day Fashion, Harsh Fashion, Lotus Exchange, Govinds Snax, New World Supermarket, ANZ Bank, Goldfield Shoes, Tavua Cane Growers Limited, Paddys, Bargain Box, Sky Glory, Law Parmendar, R. C Manubhai, Colour Perfect Paints, Golden Appetite, Golden Liquor Planet, Urman Ali and Company, Lautoka Funeral Services, Goundars Timber and Hardware, Rup’s Big Bear, Suraj Footwear, Kumars Shopping Centre ( Shop 2), Subrails, Pravins Minimart, Nasivi Street, Bank of Baroda ATM, SME Solutions, Dharam Singh Building, Sigatoka Motors, Koyals Beauty Salon, Tavua Meat Company, Zion Shopping Centre, Post office, Tavua District Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Meganet Café, Mid Town Retail, GoldCart Bakery, Samairas Curry House, Medicore Laboratory, The Fishermen’s Catch, Tandoori Chicken, National Fire Authority, Parts World, Well Care, Howell and Associates, Motorex, AFC Fried Chicken, Shalveen’s Barber Shop, Strides Car Wash, Prasads Timer and Hardware, Tavua Jame Masjid, Water Authority Fiji Customer Care Office, Tabavu Street, Pacific Foods, Totos Restaurant, Singhs Tyre Repair Center, Tavua Club, Nabuna Street, Ba Motor Parts, Loloma Street, Kavika Street, Water Authority Reservoir, Garvey Park, Vatia Street, Tavua Police Station and Police Barrack, TFL, Rups Big Bear, VKS Supermarket, Exotic Fiji, New China Milkbar, Priceline Pharmacy, Courts, Maxvalue, Tavua Municipal Market, Market Road, Udays Technology, Spa Services, Latils General Shop, Kumar Shopping Centre(Shop 1), Ayana Fashions, Cheng Lee Enterprise, Tavua District Secondary School, Shop and Save Supermarket and Bakery, Chicken Fry, Goundars Timber Yard and M R Dayal Quarries Yasiyasi No.1 and No.2 Road, Nadolodolo, Waikona Settlement, Matalevu Road, Natawa Settlement, Tagitagi, Qalela Road, Nasivi Road, Matacawa Road, Lubulubu Road, Vakesa Settlement, Tagitagi Settlement, Qalela Loop Road, Vodafone Repeater Station, Maqere, FM 96 Repeater Station, Vatia Road, Maqere Exports Limited, Lausa, Vatutavui Village, Natanuku Village, Lutua Road, Bulolo Primary School, Navia Settlement and Bulolo Road, Yalandro Road , Part of Lakalaka Road , Malele No.1 Road , Hot spring and part of Masimasi and areas nearby.In a reaffirmation of pro-President Anura Kumara Dissanayake sentiment, the Colombo stock market yesterday reached an all-time high, supported by heavy turnover. The ASPI gained over 170 points to close at 13,511.73 points, surpassing the previous record set on 19 January 2022. Turnover was Rs. 5.2 billion. NDB Securities said high net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Ambeon Capital, Commercial Bank, and Alumex. Mixed interest was observed in Sampath Bank, John Keells Holdings, and Lanka Ashok Leyland, whilst retail interest was noted in SMB Leasing, Lanka Credit and Business Finance, and LOLC Finance. Foreign participation in market activity remained at subdued levels, with foreigners closing as net sellers. The Banking sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank), whilst the sector index gained by 2.07%. The share price of Commercial Bank increased by Rs. 3.50 to close at Rs. 127. The share price of Sampath Bank moved up by Rs. 2.20 to close at Rs. 99.80. The Capital Goods sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover (due to John Keells Holdings), whilst the sector index increased by 2.70%. The share price of John Keells Holdings recorded a gain of Rs. 0.70 to close at Rs. 20.60. Ambeon Capital and Alumex were also included amongst the top turnover contributors. The share price of Ambeon Capital gained Rs. 0.60 to close at Rs. 18.90. The share price of Alumex appreciated by Rs. 0.90 to close at Rs. 13.40.
Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." Analysis: Collapse of Syria's Assad is a blow to Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — For Iran’s theocratic government, it keeps getting worse. Its decadeslong strategy of building an “Axis of Resistance” supporting militant groups and proxies around the region is falling apart. Hamas has been batttered by Israel's campaign in Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli bombardment has crippled Iran’s most powerful ally, Hezbollah, even as Israel has launched successful airstrikes openly inside of Iran for the first time. And now Iran’s longtime stalwart ally and client in Syria, President Bashar Assad, is gone. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world. In the end, though, democracy prevailed. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that he was declaring martial law and giving his government sweeping powers to crack down on protesters, ban political parties and control the media. Members of the military blocked lawmakers from using the legislature's constitutional power to cancel the power grab. But the National Assembly within hours unanimously voted to do so. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.
WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed.MONTREAL — Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored twice and the Montreal Victorie wrapped up their Professional Women's Hockey League pre-season with a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Charge. Gabrielle David, Maureen Murphy, Alexandra Labelle and Kati Tabin, into an empty net, also scored for Montreal. Elaine Chuli and Marlène Boissonnault combined to make 23 saves on 26 shots for the Victoire, who finished 1-1 in pre-season action. Danielle Serdachny, Rebecca Leslie and Tereza Vanisova scored for Ottawa (1-1) while Gwyneth Philips made 28 saves. The two teams meet Nov. 30 in Montreal on the opening night of the PWHL's second regular season. --- SIRENS 5 SCEPTRES 2 At Toronto, Sarah Fillier scored three goals as the New York Sirens downed the Toronto Sceptres. Noora Tulus and Kayla Vespa also scored for New York (1-1) while Kayle Osborne and Abigail Levy combined for 29 saves on 31 shots. Blayre Turnbull and Victoria Bach scored for Toronto (0-2) while Kristen Campbell made 26 saves. Toronto opens its season Nov. 30 against visiting Boston while New York kicks off Dec. 1 at Minnesota. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov, 22, 2024. The Canadian Press
Chicago Bulls star point guard and former lottery pick Lonzo Ball is targeting a return to the court on Wednesday. The Bulls will play the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, and Ball is expected to be on the court. ESPN's Shams Charania shared the news Tuesday via social media. Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, out since Oct. 28 with a wrist sprain, is targeting his return to action on Wednesday against the Magic in Orlando, sources tell me and @ramonashelburne . pic.twitter.com/z39ZHQYhgm Ball has been out of the lineup since Oct. 28 due to a wrist sprain. Ball suffered the injury, then incurred a minor setback along the way. This update means that Ball will be unavailable for the Bulls' matchup on Tuesday, the first leg of a back-to-back against the Washington Wizards. He was ruled doubtful prior to this news. If he does get the green light from the team, the Bulls will likely restrict his minutes. The 27-year-old went through an extensive workout on Saturday in front of Bulls coaches and another session on Tuesday morning. Prior to these sessions, it was reported that Ball had trouble catching passes without pain. That seems to be behind Ball, as he appears healthy and ready to go. The former UCLA Bruin has struggled with injuries throughout his career, especially since arriving in Chicago in the 2021-22 season. In his time as a Bull, Ball has only played 38 games, with 35 starts in Chicago. In only two seasons played with Chicago, Ball has averaged 12.3 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 42 percent from the field and 42 percent from three. This season, Ball has only played in three games and has averaged 4.7 points per game, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 35 percent from the field and 33 percent from the three. Ball was barely getting his feet under him before the wrist injury hampered his play thus far. The former Bruin was the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. His time as a pro looked promising, starting off with the Los Angeles Lakers. In his two seasons in L.A., he established himself as an exciting young player, playing for his hometown team and earning a spot in the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. The Bulls have had a lackluster start to the season. As of Tuesday, they have a 7-11 record, which is good for the 10th seed in the lowly Eastern Conference. The return of Ball should help the Bulls greatly in assists, rebounding, fastbreak, and defensive department. When he does return for Chicago, Ball is set to play in his fourth game of the season. More news: Clippers Star Kawhi Leonard Declared Ineligible for Any NBA Awards For more Bulls and NBA news, make sure to head over to Newsweek Sports .
Arsenal make Mikel Arteta proud after smashing Sporting Lisbon
In a major fillip for retailers, nearly 12 million shoppers are poised to hit the stores on Christmas Eve for their last-minute festive buys. This year is set to see a merry increase for the high street with an anticipated 11.6 million people expected to flood brick-and-mortar establishments, marking sales up by a whopping 17% from the previous year, as reported by VoucherCodes.co.uk. The company highlighted that stores have £1.08 billion in sales to look forward to, just from footfall on that single day, while online purchases are predicted to add another £0.22bn, totalling an impressive forecast of £1.31bn in consumer spending. Michael Brandy, Senior Commercial Director at VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: "This Christmas consumers are leaving their shopping to the very last minute, panic buying their last few Christmas essentials on Christmas Eve. This is good news for retailers who can expect sales to be up 17% compared to last year." Anita Naik, the firm's savings expert added: "Christmas Eve can be a great day to head out and find a Christmas bargain - if you don't mind the crowds. "With retailers starting their Boxing Day sales earlier and earlier each year, you can often find discounted Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve as stores try to shift unsold stock before the festive season is over. Preparation is key when time and money are tight, so plan which stores you want to go to, and things you need to buy ahead of time." The RAC also predicts Christmas Eve will be the busiest day of the week for travel, with about 3.8 million individual journeys planned by car as folks gear up for either shopping expeditions or trips to spend the holiday with relatives, reports the Mirror . The hospitality sector is poised for a revival, with payments tech company Dojo reporting that reservations for Christmas Day meals and drinks in pubs, bars and clubs have surged by 273%, while restaurants are also experiencing a significant boost, with bookings climbing by 115%. However, the festive season is not without its challenges, as over 9 million people in the UK anticipate falling into debt due to the hefty price tag associated with Christmas festivities, according to research from the ethical lender Creditspring. Neil Kadagathur, CEO of Creditspring, said: "Christmas is a period we should all look forward to but millions of people approach it with dread due to the crippling impact it has on their finances. "A new year often marks a time when we look to get our finances in order, but many people are going to enter January on the back foot and already under intense financial strain." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community Join our Court & Crime community Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community Join our Northumberland community Join our County Durham community Join our Sunderland community Join our NUFC community Join our SAFC community Join our Great North Run community
Frankel’s free throws help Northeastern hold off Colgate late, 78-75
Old mill, new tricks: 118-year-old Union Bridge structure disassembled this week will get new life at Carroll County Farm Museum
At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocketLeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday's doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens' 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA's five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” While the NBA's Christmas lineup has its best viewer numbers in five years, the NFL has made Christmas one of its tentpole events during the regular season, joining Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving. “The numbers speak for themselves and LeBron can have his own view, and I’m sure more people will look at that because of this," said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media. "But, you know, we’re focused on the NFL and we’re thrilled with the results this year with the Christmas on Netflix and we’re excited to continue to build that over the next couple of years.” Both NFL games surpassed the previous mark of 23 million for last season’s AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs on Peacock. Viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with the Beyoncé Bowl. The 20-minute halftime performance averaged over 27 million viewers. The viewer figures include the audience on Netflix, mobile viewership on NFL+ and those who tuned in on CBS stations in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Houston. Global ratings and final U.S. numbers are expected to be available on Tuesday. The NFL's Christmas numbers decreased from last season, but not at the rate that usually happens when something goes from broadcast to streaming. Last year’s three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million on CBS. Once global and Netflix's first-party data is released, both Christmas games should surpass 30 million. The NBA's lineup saw an 84% rise over 2023. One reason for the increase is that all five games were on ABC, compared to two last year. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBAPresident Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met on Tuesday with the leaders of several prominent international industrial companies participating in the third edition of the annual International Industries Forum and Exhibition, held in Egypt from 25 to 27 November. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, and Mohamed Zaki El-Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Federation of Egyptian Industries. The discussion brought together heads of companies across diverse sectors, including automotive manufacturing, feed industries, home appliances, engineering, wood and furniture industries, food industries, textiles, cosmetics, construction, and desalination plants. During the meeting, President Al-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s commitment to boosting its industrial sector. He outlined the government’s efforts to localize industries, promote the use of technology in production, develop specialized technological industries, and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The President highlighted the measures Egypt has taken to improve the investment climate, address obstacles faced by investors, and enhance the overall business environment. He reaffirmed that the government would continue to implement necessary policies and decisions to remove any barriers to investment. Al-Sisi also stressed Egypt’s desire to establish strong partnerships with both regional and international entities, ensuring that these partnerships align with the country’s and investors’ mutual interests. He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the industrial sector and fostering cooperation with the foreign private sector through joint projects that would transfer expertise to Egyptian workers. Furthermore, the President emphasized the importance of increasing the local component in final products and localizing production requirements within industries. He also pointed to key sectors, such as water desalination and recycling, as critical areas in Egypt’s efforts to localize industry and support national development projects. Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesperson for the presidency, reported that the company heads commended Egypt’s substantial efforts to improve the investment climate and enhance private-sector partnerships. They discussed potential opportunities for cooperation and expressed their eagerness to strengthen collaboration with Egypt in ways that would benefit both sides.
The business sector is calling for multiple government stimulus measures, especially tax incentives and a household debt reduction scheme, to revive the economy and give the public a New Year's gift. Nath Vongphanich, president of the Thai Retailers Association (TRA), said the group sees public investment as a key driver for economic expansion in 2025. The government should expedite budget disbursement and public spending for 2025 to align with its targets, he said. Efforts should be made to ensure a broad distribution of government funds through investments, procurement and stimulus measures to drive Thailand's economy forward, said Mr Nath. To support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and counter the influx of cheap Chinese goods, the government should facilitate access to low-interest loans or funding sources, expand trade opportunities, and increase marketing channels for Thai product distribution, he said. "Next year, TRA will implement the 'TRA GREAT' initiative by providing spaces within member retailers such as Makro, Lotus's, Central, Go Wholesale and Thai Watsadu for micro-SMEs to sell their products throughout the year," said Mr Nath. Moreover, TRA wants government measures to stimulate consumer spending, such as the "Shop Dee Mee Khuen" programme, Easy e-Receipt, and incentives for private sector investments. The association also proposes the government offer tax incentives for tourists. "We could adopt a tax-free shopping scheme for tourists similar to Japan, which allows tax-free purchases exceeding ¥500,000 per day. In Thailand, we may begin with value-added tax [VAT] exemptions for purchases exceeding 5,000 baht per day in a single store," he said. White paper Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber submitted a white paper outlining urgent economic stimulus measures to the government. "The government should implement policies aimed at lowering the cost of living for people and expenses for businesses," he said. Key recommendations include controlling the prices of essential goods and services, freezing electricity and diesel prices, and establishing an energy board. In addition, the private sector recommends adjusting the minimum wage through the tripartite wage committee. The chamber said the second phase of the 10,000-baht handout next year may be insufficient to stimulate the economy. The group proposed a "multiplier measure" that could double the circulation of funds in the economy. Initiatives such as the Easy e-Receipt programme could inject an estimated 30-50 billion baht into the economy via roughly 1 million participants, without burdening the state budget, according to the chamber. Addressing the debt overhang among individuals and SMEs is also critical. The government should adopt integrated monetary and fiscal policies alongside income redistribution to reduce inequality, said the group. Proposed measures include debt moratoriums and extensions for housing, vehicles and SMEs, especially to ensure work-related vehicles like pickups are not repossessed. There is also an urgent need to reduce interest rates and improve access to credit, said Mr Sanan. He emphasised the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of Thai businesses to better compete with imported goods. Essential strategies include ensuring fair trade practices, preventing market-damaging practices such as dumping, and maintaining product quality standards. The chamber called on the government to attract both domestic and foreign investments. One suggestion is to designate Prachin Buri as part of the Eastern Economic Corridor, which could significantly boost investment in that area. This initiative would bolster the competitiveness of key sectors such as food, tourism and wellness, said Mr Sanan, while also increasing the potential to become a hub for logistics and connectivity as well as education. As Thailand enters its peak tourism season, the chamber sees a prime opportunity to leverage major festivals such as New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Songkran. "If the government can promote Thailand's soft power by organising various events and ensuring that Thai festivals are included in the global calendar, it will enhance awareness among foreign tourists and attract high-potential visitors to travel to and reside in Thailand. This would generate substantial income for the economy," he said. CONSUMPTION BOOST Rakpong Chaisuparakul, senior vice-president at KGI Securities (Thailand), said the government is expected to announce a consumption package as a New Year's gift on Dec 12. "In our view, the New Year package may include a 38-billion-baht cash handout for farmers, a 40-billion-baht cash handout for the elderly, and an Easy e-Receipt programme effective for the first quarter of next year," he said. In addition, the market is keen to hear details of the Bank of Thailand's plans to ease nationwide household debt, which is due to be announced on Dec 11, said Mr Rakpong. According to KGI, the measures are expected to cover 2.3 million loan accounts with a combined value of 1.3 billion baht, mainly in housing and consumer loans. The assistance package will set a payment timeline of three years to allow debtors to waive interest rates and pay monthly instalments of 50% in the first year, 70% in the second year, and 90% in the third, noted the brokerage. The government expects the measures to require a budget of 80 billion baht, of which 40 billion is funded by reducing the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) fee for banks to 0.23% of deposits, with the balance coming from money injected by banks. Under these measures, banks can reduce their FIDF costs, but may need to contribute more money to raise the 80 billion baht needed for the assistance measures. "We remain positive on Thai consumer plays, which entered their high earnings season in the fourth quarter, as well as the non-bank finance sector, which could benefit from the household debt bailout plan," said Mr Rakpong. CAR TRADE-IN The state plan to launch a car trade-in programme to stimulate purchases in the auto market is a good initiative, but will be difficult to translate into action, said Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the spokesman for the FTI's Automotive Industry Club. The government must devise other new stimulus measures that can increase people's income, which is a crucial factor in their vehicle purchasing decisions, he said. Mr Surapong said he wants to learn more details about the trade-in programme, recently announced by Industry Minister Akanat Promphan to deal with months of sluggish car sales in the country. Authorities must clarify the car types, the age of used cars and price issues for the scheme, he said. "This measure still depends on loans being granted by banks and car financing companies. If they don't want to participate, the scheme will not work," said Mr Surapong. Banks' strict auto loan criteria amid high levels of household debt is a key factor causing the plunge in domestic car sales. The slowdown caused the club to downgrade Thailand's total car manufacturing target for 2024 to 1.5 million vehicles, dipping from 1.7 million, which is the lowest target since 2021. From January to October, vehicle manufacturing fell by 19.2% year-on-year to 1.24 million units, the club reported. He called on the government to craft appropriate solutions to debt problems so that banks and financing companies will relax their lending criteria. "We want people to have more money and job security. This will lift their confidence, giving them more courage to spend money to buy cars," said Mr Surapong. "Many people want new cars, but they have to save money in a stagnant economy." Wallop Treererkngam, executive vice-president of Suzuki Motor (Thailand), agreed with Mr Surapong on the need for measures to deal with household debt. "If the government can ease debt problems, including non-performing loans among SMEs, banks will certainly grant auto loans," he said. "The result would be car and auto parts businesses would recover from the slowdown." LASTING MEASURES Chaiyaporn Nompitakcharoen, managing director of the research department at Bualuang Securities, said the government should support the installation of solar rooftops for individuals and SMEs. Thailand relies on imported oil for use in transport and electricity production, both of which are critical for the economy. When the oil price rises, the business and household sectors are stunted, he said. Mr Chaiyaporn said the government should also offer soft loans for new businesses in trendy fields, such as those focused on the environment, social and governance issues, or sustainable development. He added there should be state support for products from local communities, such as beverages and other items that are deemed outstanding, assisting in the development of brands to enable growth. "These measures can increase the potential of SMEs, which are an important foundation for future growth. Lowering electricity costs by installing solar rooftops will help the government to reduce its support for Oil Fund subsidies," said Mr Chaiyaporn. However, long-term solutions often lack political will from government officials, he said. The government should prioritise easing loan problems in the household and SME sectors, said Mr Chaiyaporn. "Commercial banks have acted on their own to address debt concerns, such as lowering interest rates and extending debt repayment periods. I would like to see government measures," he said. In addition, it is vital to help people laid off because of the economic slowdown, the impact of the US-China trade war, and production relocation away from Thailand, especially in the automotive industry, said Mr Chaiyaporn. Singapore organised free training courses for employees in many professions to upgrade their skills, enabling them to have more stable jobs, he said. Somchai Sittichaisrichart, managing director of SIS Distribution Plc, said the government should offer tax expense exemptions to corporations that bought solar systems and IT systems to support sustainability and digital transformation. Tax incentives can spur spending without a government cash injection, he said. The VAT needs to be raised from 7% to 10% to increase state revenue, as VAT rates in neighbouring nations are 9-10%, said Mr Somchai.Figure Technology Solutions Appoints Macrina Kgil as Chief Financial OfficerNone
The Cantillon Effect Explained: Why Inflation Helps The State At Your ExpenseNEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.