As COP29 draws to a close, global civil society is deeply outragedSoutheast Asia's Digital Revolution Kicks Off at DigiTech ASEAN & AI Connect 2024 in Bangkokjilibay vom 。

OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in Hexcel Co. ( NYSE:HXL – Free Report ) by 11.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 4,420 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 584 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Hexcel were worth $273,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Hexcel by 277.9% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,695,343 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $105,874,000 after purchasing an additional 1,246,765 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Hexcel by 307.1% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,079,598 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $67,421,000 after buying an additional 814,402 shares during the period. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. raised its stake in shares of Hexcel by 215.5% in the second quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 865,235 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $54,034,000 after buying an additional 590,975 shares during the period. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Hexcel by 280.7% during the 2nd quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 722,290 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $45,107,000 after acquiring an additional 532,550 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Hexcel by 151.5% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 344,342 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $25,086,000 after acquiring an additional 207,434 shares during the last quarter. 95.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Hexcel Stock Performance NYSE:HXL opened at $61.20 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $4.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.72, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 2.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $60.97 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $63.66. Hexcel Co. has a twelve month low of $57.50 and a twelve month high of $77.09. Hexcel Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 8th. Investors of record on Friday, November 1st were given a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 1st. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.98%. Hexcel’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.80%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have commented on HXL. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $67.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $77.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. StockNews.com raised shares of Hexcel from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Truist Financial cut their price target on Hexcel from $78.00 to $76.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered Hexcel from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $76.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Hexcel presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $71.31. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Hexcel Hexcel Company Profile ( Free Report ) Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HXL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hexcel Co. ( NYSE:HXL – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Hexcel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hexcel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .MoRAC Union Minister attends handover event for conservation of 11 earthquake-damaged pagodas in Bagan

2 / 10 Jay-Z has had a pretty rough week with the sexual assault allegations he’s had to weather. But even though he and the fam seem to be throwing up a united front in celebration of Blue Ivy’s ” the Beyhivye is losing its mind wondering what is thinking. — Noah A. McGee 3 / 10 Jay-Z has had a pretty rough week with the sexual assault allegations he’s had to weather. But even though he and the fam seem to be throwing up a united front in celebration of Blue Ivy’s ” the Beyhivye is losing its mind wondering what is thinking. — Noah A. McGee 4 / 10 As the continues to play out in the court of public opinion, many are wondering if and when the rapper and his ties to the NFL will be severed—if at all. — Shanelle Genai 5 / 10 might find herself in the same boiling hot water as her ex-boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter after the singer was caught on camera fighting with Diddy on the same night of the alleged rape. — Phenix S Halley 6 / 10 Despite the against in a new lawsuit filed over the weekend, 50 Cent seems to be the figure enjoying the controversy these moguls have found themselves in the most. — Noah A. McGee 7 / 10 s of are now against the . The latest to do so is rapper and former collaborator . — Noah A. McGee 8 / 10 The fallout from the Jay-Z allegations continues to rock the world and Black internet at large. Since the rapper was named in a bombshell rape lawsuit on , it seems like is taking to their favorite social media platform (TikTok) to share their opinions, perspectives, and thoughts on Jay, from why they think this has been a long time coming, to how his sudden response to the lawsuit may or may not have hurt his standing in the court of public opinion. — Jared Alexander 9 / 10 Given the shocking lawsuit accusing both , and Sean “Diddy” Combs, of raping a 13-year-old girl, folks have been wondering just how close the two were or how they even came to be colleagues over the years. — Kalyn Womack 10 / 10Smodin Unites Powerful Domains to Deliver an All-in-One AI PlatformUConn snaps ACC curse, beats North Carolina in Fenway Bowl

Hyderabad : The Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGNAB), on Saturday, December 28, kick start the “Drug-Free Wellness” initiative, aimed at empowering teenage students in the state to make informed and healthy choices regarding drug and substance abuse. The TGNAB’s initiative collaborates with Edistys Foundation and Kriyate Edutech. The online awareness programme aims to educate students on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse. TGNAB hopes the programme will empower the vulnerable age group to make responsible life choices. The programme is designed to engage stakeholders including parents and educational institutions to collectively combat the drug menace and create a positive impact on students’ lives. Students who complete the programme will receive a certificate issued jointly by TGANB and other partners. The launch event of the programme was attended by TGNAB director Sandeep Shandilya, who emphasized the critical need to address substance abuse through proactive education and awareness to make drug-free Telangana a reality.Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer glimpse into unusual American moment

ASIA-PACIFIC: Mixed economic signals from the Asia-Pacific region left markets in a state of flux on Friday, as investors digested a range of data from China and Japan, with notable developments in inflation and industrial profits. The trading session saw a return to action in Australia and New Zealand following the Boxing Day holiday, while markets across Asia reacted to a mix of economic reports. In a Sharecast news report, Swissquote Bank senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya summed up the sentiment: “Those glued to their screens, hoping for Santa’s arrival, were left disappointed.” Despite a mixed set of U.S. job data showing a rise in jobless claims—the highest in three years—there was no immediate boost for equity markets or dovish sentiment from the Federal Reserve. In China, equities saw some support after the government announced a massive fiscal stimulus plan, including the sale of a record 3 trillion yuan in special treasury bonds aimed at bolstering consumption and investment. However, economic data revealed ongoing struggles, with industrial profits down nearly 5% year-on-year and a major workforce contraction in the property sector, underscoring the bumpy road ahead for the country’s recovery. Nikkei soars while South Korea, and Hong Kong struggle Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged 1.8%, closing at 40,281.16, with notable performances from companies like DeNA and Nidec Corporation, which jumped 15.58% and 4.14%, respectively. The Topix also gained 1.26%. China’s Shanghai Composite managed a slight uptick of 0.06%, closing at 3,400.14, while the Shenzhen Component dipped 0.13%. Stocks like Fujian Dongbai Group and Anyuan Coal Industry Group saw impressive gains, rising over 10%. In contrast, South Korea’s Kospi 100 fell 0.61%, dragged down by sharp losses in Korea Zinc and Samsung Securities. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also saw a minor dip of 0.04%, with declines in Zhongsheng Group, Nongfu Spring, and JD.com contributing to the lacklustre performance. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 managed a modest 0.5% rise, driven by strong performances from Mesoblast and Iperionx, while New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 outperformed with a 1% gain, buoyed by advances from Pacific Edge and Ryman Healthcare. Currency markets, oil prices show small moves In the currency markets, the U.S. dollar showed a mixed performance, slipping 0.16% against the yen to JPY 157.74 but gaining 0.14% against the Aussie to AUD 1.6097. The Kiwi fell slightly by 0.1%, trading at NZD 1.7765. Oil prices saw modest gains, with Brent crude futures up 0.76% to $73.82 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 0.8% to $70.18. In economic news, China’s industrial profits fell at a reduced rate in November, declining 7.3% year-on-year—an improvement over October’s 10% drop. However, industrial profits were still on track for their steepest decline in over 20 years, reflecting persistent weaknesses in domestic consumption and a sluggish housing market. On a more optimistic note, the World Bank slightly revised China’s 2024 growth forecast upward to 4.9%, offering some hope for the year ahead, though the industrial sector remains in a tough spot. Meanwhile, Japan saw its core inflation accelerate to 2.4% in December, up from 2.2% in November, driven by sustained inflation in services. Factory output, however, fell in November, marking the first decline in three months, pointing to weak external demand. Japan’s labour market remained steady, with the jobless rate holding at 2.5%, but the broader economic outlook faces pressure as the government unveiled a record budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This ¥115.5 trillion budget, focused on debt servicing and social security costs, faces political hurdles as the ruling government lacks a parliamentary majority. Looking ahead As markets enter the final stretch of the year, the mixed economic data from China and Japan, coupled with ongoing inflation concerns, leaves investors uncertain about the direction of global recovery. With China’s road to recovery expected to be challenging and Japan’s inflationary pressures mounting, the region remains in a state of economic flux, with markets waiting for clearer signs in the new year.RomoloTavani Main Street Capital ( NYSE: MAIN ) and Capital Southwest ( NASDAQ: CSWC ) are two of the very best BDCs ( BIZD ) in the market. While their performance has largely been correlated over the long term, in recent months, their performances have diverged, with MAIN significantly outperforming If you want access to our Portfolios that have crushed the market since inception and all our current Top Picks, join us for a 2-week free trial at High Yield Investor. 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Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted a very simple question Dec. 7 on his X (formerly Twitter) social media account: “ Why are we doing this when our own country is so deeply in debt?” The object of Musk’s curiosity? International humanitarian aid, which, according to a United Nations estimate , the United States gave more of than nine other countries combined, totaling almost $9.5 billion in 2023. As one of two co-chiefs of the still nebulous “Department of Government Efficiency” ― at this point, “DOGE” it is more of a social media account than an actual federal entity ― all eyes are on Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and what they will focus on as potential areas where the government can save money. But, as the foreign aid example shows, so far Musk appears to be looking at small but headline-grabbing proposals with little potential to meaningfully reduce the federal budget deficit. “They’re not serious about controlling the deficit or the debt. What they’re serious about is helping people that would help them. That’s it,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) told HuffPost. There is little dispute the U.S. government debt load has entered nearly unprecedented levels, with fears it could lead to a sharp financial crisis or become an ever-larger drag on economic growth. The federal debt held by investors was 99% of the size of the U.S. economy in 2024, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in June , and projected to hit 122% by 2034. For comparison, the debt load of the U.S. after World War II was almost 109%. And the problem gets worse each year. The annual deficit (the difference between how much the government brings in each year and how much it has spent), and thus how much debt gets added to the government’s ledger, was $1.83 trillion in 2024 . That reflected spending of $6.75 trillion but revenue of only $4.92 trillion. Though the years immediately following the pandemic financial crisis featured low interest rates and sputtering growth, making deficit spending wise and necessary, the high interest rates and steady growth of the years following the COVID-19 upheaval would seemingly be ideal for cutting spending. That’s not what President-elect Donald Trump, who appointed Musk and Ramaswamy as co-chiefs of the advisory panel, has planned. He has focused on extending and expanding the massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations that were passed during his first term, which would explode the deficit even further and risk reigniting inflation. In theory, those tax breaks could be offset by spending cuts proposed by Musk. But the items he has recently posted about would do very little to close the gap. For example, getting rid of the $9.5 billion in international humanitarian aid that Musk questioned would have reduced the 2024 deficit by only about 0.5%. (1% of $1.83 trillion is $18.3 billion.) Likewise, even if all foreign aid and international relations spending were scrapped — an unlikely prospect given U.S. commitments to international organizations as well as allies such as Israel — that would have totaled close to $72 billion in 2024 . Though that may sound impressive on paper, it would have reduced the deficit by only a little under 4%. Similarly, on Dec. 5, the DOGE social media account targeted the National Institutes of Health for spending $759 million on workforce diversity and outreach in 2023. If that same amount had been eliminated in 2024, it would have cut the deficit by less than a quarter of a percentage point. It would not be the first time seemingly simple and politically popular ideas have been proposed that would do little to change the fiscal trajectory. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have long sought to highlight individual instances of potentially wasteful spending, dating back to Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.), who gave out annual “Golden Fleece” awards to what he saw as egregious examples of waste from 1975 to 1987. The phenomenon is familiar to old-time deficit hawks. “We’re probably going to spend so much of our time looking at the things that make headlines — million-dollar hammers, gerbil racing, all of those things ― and it will keep us away from where everyone who’s serious in this area knows the real savings are,” Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), told reporters in November. Those areas are spending on entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and spending through the tax code in the form of rates, credits and deductions. “We will hear a lot of ways to try to avoid the real, hard choices that ultimately are going to have to be part of a budget deal, the same thing many of us have been saying for many years,” MacGuineas said. Indeed, MacGuineas’ group put forward a list of what it called “$700 Billion of Easy Deficit Reduction” in November as a way to jumpstart the discussion. They included ideas like spending more money on the Internal Revenue Service’s tax enforcement (bringing in an extra $130 billion over 10 years), stop paying “excessive” tax credits for businesses still trying to claim money under the COVID-era employee retention program ($80 billion over 10 years), extending the Federal Communications Commission’s auctions of electromagnetic spectrum ($70 billion over 10 years) and extending an existing but small across-the-board cut in entitlement spending set to expire in a few years ($85 billion). A more comprehensive list was dropped Dec. 12 by the CBO . Released once every two years after elections, it’s a list of options for lawmakers on entitlement spending, annual discretionary spending and taxes, describing what changes could be made and how much they would raise revenues or cut spending over 10 years. Little-known outside of budget wonk circles, the report’s options, in keeping with CBO’s nonpartisan advisory to role to Congress, run the gamut, from imposing new taxes to big cuts in entitlement programs. For example, its two biggest deficit-cutting ideas are on the tax side, eliminating all itemized deductions for income taxes (raising $3.42 trillion over 10 years) and imposing a European-style value-added tax (VAT) of 5% on goods and services (raising $3.38 trillion over 10 years). On spending, the biggest option CBO outlined was recalculating what the government pays Medicare Advantage health insurance plans in relation to their participants’ health ($1.05 trillion over 10 years). Other big spending cut options in the report included trimming the annual defense budget by $959 billion over 10 years and capping how much the federal government spends on Medicaid for each person in the federal-state insurance program ($893 billion over 10 years). Bill Hoagland, senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former Capitol Hill Republican budget staffer, said the options used to be looked at closely when they came out. “But once again, there’s not always much new about them.” The problem with the CRFB and CBO ideas is that they would be nonstarters politically. Republicans talked a big game about tax reform in 2017 but ended up keeping most itemized deductions. And neither party is up for imposing a VAT in place of the current income tax system. Similarly, cutting Medicare would be difficult in the wake of Trump’s promises that it and Social Security would be off-limits in his second term. Cuts to Medicaid would draw opposition from states that share the costs of the program, doctors who see Medicaid patients and millions of people who rely on the program. Those are just a few examples of the bigger problem, according to Hoagland. “This isn’t the first rodeo for a lot of us,” Hoagland said. “We’ve been through this a lot, and where is the political will to follow through?” MacGuineas had a similar concern. Though she said some technological changes, like the rise of artificial intelligence, could boost economic growth and make deficit reduction easier, she said those kinds of ideas should not distract from more credible, even if politically tougher, ones. “We know all the policies that are going to fix these fiscal situations. It’s just getting the political will. It’s just ending the polarization and partisanship enough that we can work together on this,” MacGuineas said. That may not be as impossible as it sounds. A few Democrats have joined the DOGE Caucus on Capitol Hill, though its membership is overwhelmingly Republican. On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will reclaim the most powerful seat in our nation's government. HuffPost will continue to fearlessly report on the new administration — but we need your help. We believe vital information during this unprecedented time should be free for everyone. With your support, we can provide critical news without paywalls. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. And though McGovern, the House Democrat, said he doesn’t see the effort as a serious one, he said he was willing to work with DOGE on areas where they might agree, such as defense spending after Musk criticized the cost of the F-35 fighter jet’s development . “If they want to talk about looking at the Pentagon budget, find savings there, I would welcome that,” McGovern said. Related From Our Partner

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.U.S. President-elect Donald Trump smiles at the crowd during the National Guard Association of the United States' 146th General Conference & Exhibition at Huntington Place Convention Center on Aug. 26, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. Emily Elconin | Getty Images News | Getty Images Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have a particularly sketchy past with President-elect Donald Trump . OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is in a heated legal battle with Elon Musk , who became one of Trump's biggest backers and is poised to have an outsized role in his second administration. That all helps explain announcements this week regarding donations to Trump's inauguration fund. "President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead," Altman said in a statement Friday. Altman said he's planning to make a personal donation of $1 million to the fund, the company confirmed. Meta donated $1 million to the inauguration, the company confirmed to CNBC, weeks after Zuckerberg dined with Trump privately at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Amazon is also planning to donate $1 million, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal . Trump has been a vocal critic of tech companies, and he signaled earlier this month that he won't shy away from antitrust enforcement. The incoming president nominated Gail Slater, who advised Trump on tech policy during his first term, to head the Department of Justice's antitrust arm. "Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans, as well as those of Little Tech!" Trump wrote in a Dec. 4 post on Truth Social announcing Slater's nomination. "I was proud to fight these abuses in my First Term, and our Department of Justice's antitrust team will continue that work under Gail's leadership." Some of Trump's most hostile words in the past have been directed at Amazon and Meta. In his first term, Trump repeatedly attacked Bezos and his companies, Amazon and The Washington Post, accusing them of dodging taxes or publishing "fake news," among other things. Trump also repeatedly pointed the finger at Amazon for its use of the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages to customers, claiming the company contributed to the post office's budget problems. The animosity went both ways. In 2019, Amazon blamed Trump's "behind-the-scenes attacks" against the company for its loss of a multibillion-dollar Department of Defense contract, then called JEDI. And prior to the 2016 election, Bezos criticized Trump's behavior, saying it "erodes our democracy." After the then-Republican candidate accused Bezos of using the Post as a "tax shelter," Bezos, who also owns the Blue Origin space company, in a tweet offered to send Trump into space on one of his rockets. Blue Origin competes for government contracts with Musk's SpaceX. watch now VIDEO 2:25 02:25 Jeff Bezos: Blue Origin could be best business I've been involved in News Videos At The New York Times' DealBook Summit on Dec. 4, Bezos said he expects a more friendly regulatory environment in the upcoming administration. "I'm actually very optimistic this time around," Bezos said on stage . "He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I'm going to help him." Trump has called Bezos "Jeff Bozo." His preferred nickname for the Meta CEO is "Zuckerschmuck." Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, he sued Facebook , Twitter and Google , as well as their respective CEOs in class-action lawsuits. All three companies booted Trump's accounts from platforms after the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol. Trump has long accused Facebook of silencing conservative voices. In March, he called the platform "the enemy of the people along with a lot of the media," in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Now that Trump is heading back to the White House and has been cozying up with Musk, the rest of the tech sector seems keen on currying favor. Apple CEO Tim Cook , Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella , Google CEO Sundar Pichai and others all publicly congratulated Trump following his victory in November. Microsoft declined to comment on whether it's contributing to the inauguration. Representatives from Apple and Google didn't immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment. For OpenAI and Altman, the concerns are a bit different. Altman and Musk were co-founders of OpenAI, which initially was a nonprofit. The two have since publicly split, with Altman remaining as CEO of OpenAI and Musk starting a rival artificial intelligence company called xAI . In March, Musk sued OpenAI — and co-founders Altman and Greg Brockman — alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty. He claimed the project had been transformed into a for-profit entity that's largely controlled by principal shareholder Microsoft, and is suing to thwart the change in structure. OpenAI clapped back on Friday, claiming in a blog post titled "Elon Musk wanted an OpenAI for-profit," that in 2017 Musk "not only wanted, but actually created, a for-profit" to serve as the company's proposed new structure. Altman's coming concern is that Musk spent more than $250 million to help boost Trump's campaign, and is now poised to help lead the "Department of Government Efficiency." In that role, Musk could influence how AI is regulated in ways that favor his businesses. On Dec. 5, Trump announced that venture investor and podcaster David Sacks, a friend of Musk's, will join the Trump administration as the "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." WATCH: Trump's Cabinet will have more billionaires than any in history watch now VIDEO 2:07 02:07 President-elect Trump's cabinet to have more billionaires than any in history Squawk on the Street

Pakistan's investment-to-GDP ratio has been enervating. At a meager 13.1% in Fiscal Year 2024 — the lowest in the past 64 years — the country continues to grapple with economic incoherence. This underscores that, despite the much-celebrated “ stabilisation ” following the IMF’s programme, the current recovery is neither sustainable nor sufficient. Economic vulnerabilities remain high unless there is a comprehensive overhaul of the government’s mechanics at both the strategic (policy) and operational levels. Historically, Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio has seen a troubling decline. The 1960s recorded the highest average at 18.7%, followed by the 1980s and 1990s at 18.5%. However, since 2011, the ratio has averaged just 15.2%, reflecting a concerning trend for economic durability as our GDP panorama has remained primarily consumption-driven. Additionally, a regional comparison reveals an even grimmer scenario. While South Asia averages 31.8%, countries like India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam report significantly higher ratios of 33.74%, 30.95%, and 32.75%, respectively. This disparity embodies the shortsightedness of Pakistan’s policy-makers in fostering global competitiveness vis-à-vis our neighbours. Investment is a bedrock for economic growth, fomenting the creation of capital assets like infrastructure, factories, and technology. A low investment ratio signals insufficient capital formation, which hinders long-term productivity and concurrent growth. Low investment also limits modernisation in industries and the adoption of advanced technologies, increasing dependence on imports and exposing the economy to global economic shocks, perennial current account deficits, and volatile exchange rates. Lack of fiscal discipline is another visceral problem in the economic milieu, causing trouble and leading to an informal economy, which in turn deteriorates investment in the economy It also reflects limited private sector participation, driven by an unfavourable business environment, regulatory barriers, high borrowing costs, and weak investor confidence. This is evident from banks' preference to invest in government securities rather than lending to consumers. As highlighted by PwC’s 2024 Banking Publication , credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP is a mere 12% in Pakistan, compared to 50% in India, 38% in Bangladesh, and 47% in Sri Lanka. These figures, coupled with declining business confidence and a deteriorating ease of doing business, paint a dire picture for private sector investment. Bridging The Gender Gap In Pakistan's Climate Finance Lack of fiscal discipline is another visceral problem in the economic milieu, causing trouble and leading to an informal economy, which in turn deteriorates investment in the economy. The government is guilty of incessant current expenditure (an increase of around 30% YoY in Budget-25, with around 56% of the budget allocated to interest payments), sapping the revenue pool and forcing the FBR to heavily tax. Like other governmental machinery, the FBR also has a penchant for taking the easy way out is taxing the taxed , owing this myopia first to the lethargic post-colonial administration and second to the deepening of elitist pockets. There is hostility and a lack of trust between the State and its citizens, causing trouble both for the government in running its affairs and for individuals in thriving like those in business-friendly economies The lack of governance and fruitful policies in revenue mobilisation is obvious from the following instances: Per FBR’s report on 2023-24 performance, an analysis of the income tax collection indicates that withholding tax accounts for 29% of the FBR’s total collection and represents 60% of the income tax collected. Further, B-25 has set an exorbitant target of Rs12.9 trillion in tax revenue (couched within an enormous withholding-station ), representing a 40.2% growth from the previous period. Salaried individuals as well as non-salaried individuals/AOPs are to be taxed heavily under a kaleidoscopic mosaic of the normal tax regime, surcharge, and super tax—one of the most vibrant taxation tapestries worldwide. In other words, a person may end up working for six to seven months just to pay taxes. And not to mention, the exorbitant corporate tax rate of 29% (compared to the worldwide average of 23%), plus additional super tax and tax on dividend distribution. With a myopic taxation landscape and a lack of conducive business clime (obvious from WB’s Ease of Doing Business rankings and Business Ready Report ), the government is warding off corporatisation and dissuading urban high-income and upper-middle-income segments from remaining within the documented economy. Consequently, the informal economy is where savings thrive, as evident from high cash circulation; people prefer keeping savings in gold, real estate, or cash rather than channeling them into the formal economy. There is hostility and a lack of trust between the State and its citizens, causing trouble both for the government in running its affairs and for individuals in thriving like those in business-friendly economies. Imran Khan's Global Leadership And Bridging Borders In South Asia To provide economic opportunities to more than 2.5 million young people entering the labor market annually, there is a need to double investment levels. Another impasse hampering investment is the plummeting development budget: a decrease of around 156% since FY16. Pakistan could not even spend 50% of the meagre Rs950 billion it allocated for the PSDP in FY 2023-24, as per the last quarterly report (2024) of the Ministry of Planning and Development. The state of planning is so dire that to complete the overall backlog of development projects, the country would need Rs10.7 trillion (more than 14 times the budget allocation of Rs727 billion in 2022-23). There is no silver bullet for Pakistan's current disposition. The only way to address Pakistan’s investment challenges is through a comprehensive reform agenda. The government must prioritise fiscal discipline by cutting current expenditures (this includes sequestration of SOEs bleeding resources, eliminating unfunded pensions, and curbing elitist rent-seeking) and implementing robust debt management strategies to create fiscal space for public sector development programmes (PSDP), which can have a multiplier effect on economic growth. These projects should be free from political maneuvering, be ‘development-based’ rather than purely ‘infrastructural,’ and contribute to the welfare, economic growth, or development of the people. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could also play a significant role by attracting private investment and fostering joint ventures between local and Chinese investors, particularly in export-oriented industries Tax reforms are critical—rather than overburdening the already taxed sectors, efforts should focus on bringing the undocumented economy into the tax net. Pakistan needs a fairer, more transparent, and simpler tax system that encourages compliance, fosters sustainable economic growth, and achieves fiscal sovereignty. Additionally, a national programme to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should be launched to encourage entrepreneurship and safeguard social development indicators. Gender Gap In Climate Leadership: Why COP29 Must Elevate Women And Young Girls In Climate Action Political consensus is equally vital; political parties must recognise the gravity of the economic situation and make swift, informed decisions to enable meaningful reforms. Governance improvements are essential at both political and bureaucratic levels to ensure efficient decision-making and effective resource allocation. Pakistan must prioritise empowering the private sector to engage with interested investors in China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. Government-to-government transactions face complexities stemming from challenges such as limited capacity within ministries, weak audit practices, and legal complications. The government needs to offer a package of financial and regulatory incentives free from rent-seeking and ill-governance. Leveraging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could also play a significant role by attracting private investment and fostering joint ventures between local and Chinese investors, particularly in export-oriented industries. Industry-centric strategies must be adopted to enhance value addition, improve production efficiency, promote technology adoption, and address specific investment needs. To sustain long-term growth, the government should prioritise the development of human capital through investments in education and vocational training, particularly in technology and high-growth sectors. Partnerships with international institutions to enhance skill-building programmes can bridge the gap between workforce capabilities and industry requirements. Lastly, creating a robust framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs) could accelerate infrastructure development and provide shared accountability, ensuring efficient use of resources. These measures, collectively, can pave the way for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan. Without immediate and synchronised efforts from all stakeholders, Pakistan risks falling further behind in global competitiveness, with dire consequences for future generations. Pakistan faces a Rape Epidemic: Has Pakistan failed its women?

Ubisoft is officially discontinuing XDefiant in 2025, the publisher announced Tuesday , with all new purchases and registrations being discontinued immediately. As part of the shutdown, the publisher plans to shut down its production studios in San Francisco and Osaka while ramping down its site in Sydney, with up to 177 employees losing their jobs. Roughly half of the XDefiant team will be assigned roles elsewhere. Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer Marie-Sophie de Waubert revealed the news in an email sent to Ubisoft employees that was subsequently posted online, saying that the shooter was "not able to attract and retain enough players in the long run to compete at the level we aim for in the very demanding free-to-play FPS market." The full message can be found below. Today, I wanted to share with you that we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue development on XDefiant. Despite an encouraging start, the team’s passionate work, and a committed fan base, we’ve not been able to attract and retain enough players in the long run to compete at the level we aim for in the very demanding free-to-play FPS market. As a result, the game is too far away from reaching the results required to enable further significant investment, and we are announcing that we will be sunsetting it. Concretely, that means that as of today, new downloads, player registrations and purchases will no longer be available. Season 3 will still launch, and the servers will remain active until June 3, 2025, out of appreciation for both our dev teams who worked on it and for XDefiant’s active players. Unfortunately, the discontinuation of XDefiant brings difficult consequences for the teams working on this game. Even if almost half of the XDefiant team worldwide will be transitioning to other roles within Ubisoft, this decision also leads to the closing of our San Francisco and Osaka production studios and to the ramp down of our Sydney production site, with 143 people departing in San Francisco and 134 people likely to depart in Osaka and Sydney. To those team members leaving Ubisoft, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your work and contributions. Please know that we are committed to supporting you during this transition. Developing Games-as-a-Service experiences remains a pillar of our strategy, and we’ve achieved significant successes, like Rainbow Six, The Crew, and For Honor, among others. It’s a highly competitive market, and we will apply the lessons learned with XDefiant to our future live titles. Globally, we are determined to take the necessary steps to put the company back on a path to growth, innovation and creativity and make sure we can set you up for success. This means continuing to radically evolve our mindset for Production and Business practices, which we will share more about soon, and doing targeted restructuring when necessary. I know that the situation brings questions and expectations, and we will share regular and transparent updates. My sincere thanks for your continued dedication as we navigate these trying times together. XDefiant Executive Producer Mark Rubin also shared a message thanking fans and saying he was "heartbroken." He also shared refund details, saying that any purchases made within the last 30 days will be fully refunded and that those who purchases the Ultimate Founder's Pack will also get their money back. Refunds should happen automatically with 8 weeks, he said. I am unfortunately here today to announce that XDefiant will be shutting down. Starting today (December 3, 2024), new downloads and player registrations will no longer be available. We will still release our Season 3 content in the near future (exact date TBD) and the servers will remain active until June 3, 2025. More like this Ubisoft Call of Duty Rival xDefiant 'Absolutely Not Dying,' Dev Insists For those who purchased the Ultimate Founder’s Pack, you’ll receive a full refund. Players who made any purchases within the last 30 days will also be fully refunded. Those refunds should happen automatically within 8 weeks of today and you can find more details on our official website, http://XDefiant.com . A few years ago, Ubisoft and the SF Dev team embarked on a bold adventure to develop a new arcade shooter called XDefiant. It was from the start, an incredible challenge. Not only were we trying to shake up the genre by removing Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) while bringing back a more “old-school” arcade shooter experience, but we were also diving into the high-risk, high-reward realm of free-to-play. And for that I want to applaud not only the Dev team but also Ubisoft leadership for taking that chance! Free-to-play, in particular, is a long journey. Many free-to-play games take a long time to find their footing and become profitable. It’s a long journey that Ubisoft and the teams working on the game were prepared to make until very recently. But unfortunately, the journey became too much to sensibly continue. I am, of course, heartbroken to have to be writing this post. Yes, this game has been a personal passion for me for years and yes, I know that not all challenges lead to victory, but I also want to recognize all of the developers who are being affected by this closure. Each and every one of them is a real person with a real life separate from our own and they have all put so much of their own passion into making this game. And I hope that they can be proud of what they did achieve. I know that I will always be proud and grateful to have worked with such a great team! A team that really punched above its weight class. And what they achieved is truly remarkable. The early response from players when XDefiant launched was amazing—we broke internal records for the fastest game to surpass 5 million users and in the end we had over 15 million players play our game! That is something to be extremely proud of, especially considering how tough this genre is. So, thank you to all of the developers who put their passion into making this game! If there’s one thing, I hope we can all take away from this experience, it’s the importance of open, honest communication between developers and players. This “player-first” mentality along with respectful, non-toxic conversations between developers and players has been one of the standout differences that made XDefiant so special. From my very first post about XDefiant, this was the vision I wanted to champion, and I hope it leaves a positive mark on how the game industry treats its players and communities. To our players, THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible community that has grown around XDefiant. Your passion, creativity, and dedication have inspired us every step of the way. With the utmost of love and respect, Mark XDefiant joins Concord as the latest service game to abruptly shutter not long after launch. Unlike Concord, though, XDefiant will be given a bit of grace, with its servers not due to shut down until June 3, 2025. Ubisoft also plans to go forward with releasing Season 3, though downloads and purchases will no longer be available. Hello XDefiant Fans, I am unfortunately here today to announce that XDefiant will be shutting down. Starting today (December 3, 2024), new downloads and player registrations will no longer be available. We will still release our Season 3 content in the near future (exact date...— Mark Rubin (@PixelsofMark) December 3, 2024 First announced in 2021, XDefiant endured several delays before finally launching in May. We wrote in our review , "XDefiant joins the free-to-play shooter crowd as a respectable competitive FPS built around various Ubisoft franchises, but little makes it really stand out." Despite middling reviews, XDefiant got off to a fast start, pulling in a million unique players within two and a half hours, but its momentum soon dissipated. In October, Rubin acknowledged that players numbers were down while denying persistent shutdown rumors . XDefiant's impending shutdown adds to Ubisoft's woes in 2024 , which has included lower-than-expected sales for major releases , delays , and other setbacks. Its share price collapse reportedly has the Guillemot family and Tencent considering taking the company private . It's far from the only publisher to struggle in 2024 though as game developers of all sizes have been racked by abrupt shutdowns and layoffs . Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Latest celebrity voted off I’m A Celebrity after 18-day stintThe crypto market has made many investors unhappy this festive season with the recent drops in the market and liquidations of futures. Markets that had been on a bull run on expectations of a more crypto-friendly government, lowering Fed rates, and rising crypto ETFs went crashing after the FOMC meeting. Bitcoin and its not being used as a Reserve currency, as well as cautionary statements, turned the markets red as bear forces took over. Most coins lost huge momentum, and current market darling XRP’s price also went for a dive. XRP had proved resilient during earlier scares, both during the South Korean conflict and earlier market dips. The recent bearish sentiment is making it difficult for XRP price to regain lost ground as it trades 9% lower in the weekly charts. Many investors are now moving more of their holdings to DTX Exchange to exploit its bullish momentum. This hybrid trading platform is set to launch a layer-1 blockchain, has already launched its Phoenix Wallet, and is listed on CoinMarketCap. XRP Price Down 9% At $2.17 Ripple is an open-source and decentralized technology. The major benefits of Ripple are its XRP Ledger. This offers low-cost, high-speed, scalable operations combined with inherently green attributes like its carbon-neutral and energy-efficient operations. Ripple made its investors rich, as the XRP price rose in double digits until last week. However, recent crypto market issues have led to a drop in XRP’s price after it touched a new ATH of $2.89 in early December. The market cap for Ripple is down to $124 billion, and its market volume is $4.79 billion. Experts hope the market will soon recover as its technical soundness wins over the markets. However, many investors are moving to a sure upside option. They are opting to pick up the DTX Exchange presale, where 200x growth can occur soon. DTX Exchange: $10.55 Mn In Presale Wins More Investors DTX is the first hybrid trading exchange to let its users trade in crypto, forex, stocks, and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) through one platform. The platform features unparalleled trading options and cutting-edge infrastructure to facilitate smooth trading operations. This next-generation hybrid platform’s 1,000x leverage feature enables traders to increase their trading potential significantly. Security features like two-factor authentication and cold storage protect users’ funds. The platform also has a non-custodial wallet, Phoenix Wallet, which gives users full ownership of their assets. DTX Exchange (DTX) is a standout launch of 2024, raising $10.57 million with strong investor interest and community backing. Due to its ability to revolutionize the entire trading sector, it is a compelling choice for investors looking for a high-return alternative to major cryptos like Ripple. With DTX priced at just $0.12 in its 6th presale stage, it is expected to gain at least 200% once it lists on Tier-1 exchanges. More gains are anticipated as the presale continues, and after its listing on Tier-1 exchanges, it is among the best altcoins to invest in. Conclusion DTX Exchange (DTX) is one of the promising new crypto projects with plenty of room for growth. In addition to its growth prospects, its future transformation of the crypto trading scene makes it a solid altcoin to hold on to. It combines CEX and DEX and bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi. Buy Presale Visit Website Join Community Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.

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Will New Year's Eve be loud or quiet? What are the top 2025 resolutions? AP-NORC poll has answersNick Rolovich is set for a return to college football three years after his dismissal at Washington State. Rolovich was hired Friday as a senior offensive assistant at the University of California, joining the staff of coach Justin Wilcox. Rolovich has been out of college football since being fired at Washington State midway through the 2021 season for not complying with the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state employees . Rolovich was 5-6 in his 11 games in charge of the Cougars during the 2020-21 seasons that were impacted by the pandemic. He was fired after Washington State beat Stanford 34-31 on Oct. 16, 2021, and was replaced by current Cougars coach Jake Dickert. Rolovich contended he should have been provided a religious exemption to a law requiring state employees to get the vaccine — a requirement that was later rescinded. WSU contended that Rolovich did not raise religious concerns about the vaccine’s development until the deadline approached to get vaccinated. The school said its denial of an exemption was based on its inability to accommodate his coaching under pandemic-related guidelines and skepticism about the sincerity of his beliefs. Rolovich filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Spokane against the university that was originally schedule to go to trial in December. The trial was struck from the court calendar this past summer as both sides filed motions for summary judgment. That is still pending. Rolovich's lawsuit originally included specific claims against Gov. Jay Inslee and then-Washington State athletic director Pat Chun. Those were dismissed in 2023. Rolovich was hired in Pullman as the replacement for the late Mike Leach when he left to take the head job at Mississippi State after the 2019 season. Rolovich was coming off a 10-win season at Hawaii where he went 28-27 in his four seasons in charge. Known for his offensive background and high-scoring teams, Rolovich's hiring at WSU was seen as a continuation of what Leach created during his tenure on the Palouse. But the pandemic arrived just a few months after Rolovich was hired and led to a truncated first season where the Cougars played just four games and the season didn't begin until November. His second season became defined by the lingering vaccine debate which came to light when Rolovich didn't show up in person for Pac-12 media day in Los Angeles where a vaccine mandate was in place. From there, his vaccination status clouded the Cougars season and whether the school would have to move forward with termination. It finally arrived on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, the day Inslee set as the deadline for state employees to be vaccinated or have an exemption. At the time of his firing, Rolovich was the highest-paid state employee with a contract paying more than $3 million. Rolovich has long connections in the Bay Area and began his coaching career as an assistant coach at San Marin High School in nearby Novato. With the Golden Bears, he'll work on a staff that includes former Boise State and Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin, who was hired as Cal's offensive coordinator earlier this week.