Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch) NUCLEAR COSTINGS DAY The day has finally arrived. Some said it would never happen but here we are — today we get the much-promised, long-awaited nuclear power costings from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton . While nothing says “please pay real close attention to my policy’s details” like an announcement on a Friday 12 days before Christmas, unfortunately for Dutton people have been waiting a mighty long time to hear more information on his plans to build seven nuclear power stations around the country and previews of his big reveal are leading the agenda most places this morning. The Nine papers report Dutton “will ask Australians to support hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending on nuclear energy, including a controversial move to use taxpayer subsidies to build the industry while promising to bring down household electricity bills”. The papers say a key part of the Coalition leader’s plans will be an assumption coal-fired power stations will continue to operate as the nuclear plants are built, despite energy companies planning to stop using coal in the near future. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) reckons 90% of coal-fired plants will be shut down before 2035, with complete closure five years later. Disagreeing analysis over the cost of the nuclear plans compared to Labor’s renewable pledges has filled many column inches recently. A rough summary of The Sydney Morning Herald’s reporting goes a bit like: the Coalition handily cites analysis which claims Labor’s renewables rollout will cost $642 billion while its nuclear plan will come in less than $400 billion. The government rejects those figures and cites other analysis that claims its plan will cost $122 billion. Defending the nuclear plans, the Coalition reckons there will be less renewable energy added to the electricity grid than Labor predicts by 2030 and claims renewables will risk blackouts and raise bills. Meanwhile, the CSIRO says the first potential nuclear plant would be completed by 2040 at the earliest (the coalition says 2035) and “a fully operational fleet of nuclear reactors cannot be expected before 2050”. The Nine papers also say the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis believes power bills would rise by $665 a year to repay the cost of building the nuclear plants, while (as previously flagged ) the CSIRO projects nuclear will cost twice as much as renewable energy. So... a whole load of disagreeing over something that potentially isn’t due to provide any help to people’s power bills for decades — something the ABC has picked up and is leading with this morning. The broadcaster points out “senior Coalition sources” have expressed reservations over the nuclear plans, highlighting the fact they will “not map out an energy future in which households would get any immediate or even long-term relief”. A member of the Coalition is quoted as saying: “The fundamental problem is that whichever way you cost it, nuclear power is not hugely cheap. Nuclear will keep the lights on, but it’s hardly going to bring prices back down to where they were 10 years ago.” The ABC reports Coalition strategists are frustrated at the amount of scrutiny Dutton’s plans are getting, complaining Energy Minister Chris Bowen didn’t receive as much over his target of 82% renewable energy by 2030. One could argue perhaps if they’re annoyed over all the attention, maybe they should have considered telling the country a bit earlier about how they planned to fund their eye-catching plan... Anthony Albanese ( see Wednesday’s Worm ) will be shocked to learn The Australian is keen to sell the opposition’s costings vs Labor’s, claiming “wind and solar will still dominate the grid under the Coalition’s model”. RATES CUT HOPES SLIDE There was significant excitement at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) more dovish interest rates statement earlier this week (even though they were held at 4.35% yet again) but it appears to have already faded. The AAP reports the “drastically stronger than predicted” labour market data yesterday caused economists and traders to scale back their previous predictions of a rate cut finally coming in February. The previous excitement was cut short by the unexpected drop in unemployment to 3.9%. The newswire flags ANZ, Westpac and NAB now reckon the RBA will start its monetary easing cycle in May “given the central bank’s concerns inflation remains too high and unemployment too low”. (Reminder: there’s an election due by May.) Commonwealth Bank still reckons a cut could come in February. For that to happen CBA economist Gareth Aird says trimmed mean inflation (released on January 29) would need to come in below 0.6% (it was 0.8% in September) and the labour market would also need to show signs of softening. The Australian Financial Review says yesterday’s figures cemented Australia’s jobs market “as among the strongest in the developed world”. The paper quotes economists as saying the slowing private sector and employment gains meant “the bulk of the jobs created last month were likely in government-funded industries such as public service, healthcare and education”. Betashares chief economist David Bassanese is quoted as saying: “A low unemployment rate alone should not stand in the way of lower official interest rates next year if inflation continues to decline. Instead, falling inflation and still-low unemployment — were that to occur — should force the RBA to reconsider what it deems to be the non-inflationary rate of unemployment — from its current assumption of 4.5%.” Treasurer Jim Chalmers tried to maintain the enthusiasm at the start of the week by saying: “More jobs and better pay are key parts of our plan to help ease cost of living pressures.” Elsewhere, the AFR provides a few more details on yesterday’s announcement about the payments facing tech firms if they don’t agree to deals to pay news publishers. The paper reports: “Apple and Microsoft could also be caught by the new policy with their Apple News and LinkedIn products respectively if they meet the threshold of having Australian revenue greater than $250 million a year.” The paper also flags AMP has invested $27 million in bitcoin, becoming the first major superannuation fund to buy into cryptocurrency. Finally, The Wall Street Journal flags Meta has donated US$1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The Guardian says the donation “appears to be the latest effort by the social media company and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg , to improve relations with the incoming president, and comes just weeks after Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago”. ON A LIGHTER NOTE... If you’ve ever wanted diamante-encrusted spectacles in the shape of the Sydney Opera House, have we got the auction for you! In February next year, Christie’s in London will auction 250 items from the personal collection of the late Barry Humphries. As well as the pair of glasses from his infamous Dame Edna Everage character, paintings by artist Charles Conder and a first edition copy of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest are also being sold at the auction, the Press Association reports. Benedict Winter , associate director of private and iconic collections at Christie’s, said: “ Barry Humphries is best remembered for his comedic genius, but behind his famous figure was a true polymath and connoisseur. “This refined and engaging collection provides compelling insights into the private world of this very public performer.” Say What? I will not touch bread if it is moist. Kemi Badenoch The Conservative Party leader claimed this week “lunch is for wimps”, sandwiches are not real food and she sometimes has steak brought to her while she works. The UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said in response that the PM enjoyed a sandwich lunch (tuna, in case you were wondering) “and occasionally a cheese toastie”. The row continues. CRIKEY RECAP Australia’s media movers and shakers on the biggest threats to journalism DAANYAL SAEED Joe Aston, Kate McClymont, Waleed Aly, Janine Perrett and Sue Chrysanthou (Image: Private Media) It has been a dire, unpredictable year for the Australian media. Jobs have been cut en masse , outlets grappled with ideals of objectivity, newspapers prosecuted campaigns that could see wholesale changes to how audiences interact with news, new outlets formed , others died , there were landmark defamation decisions and investigations into newsroom culture, and an executive allegedly shoulder-charged a reporter. After a year of volatility, job cuts, uncertainty and brilliance, Crikey chased down Australia’s biggest media figures — from journalists to editors to defamation lawyers to academics — to pick their brains about our industry. What they shared has formed the backbone of a multi-part Crikey series, Movers and Shakers , holding a mirror up to the industry and asking it to reflect on itself. Labor elevates early childhood education as Coalition tells regions: less childcare for you BERNARD KEANE It’s hard to know whether the Coalition’s support for retaining the activity test is driven by fiscal discipline — difficult to believe given the hundreds of billions it plans to waste on nuclear power — or by hostility to low-income families. It is, after all, the Dutton style to prefer identifying people to demonise rather than make policy work better. But the Coalition’s formal position is now that children — and, in the long-term, the community — should be deprived of the benefits of early childhood education because their parents are assessed as not worthy. The fact that the Coalition will go to the election telling outer suburban and regional communities that it will be withdrawing funding for more childcare services is likely to be something Labor will constantly draw attention to. Indeed, the Coalition will go to the election as the first party in decades actively promising to cut childcare and childcare funding. On the other hand, Labor, backed by the Productivity Commission and even the business community, is investing in “long-term economic benefits” and “maximising the human talent pipeline of our nation”. Even this shambolic outfit can’t mess that up... surely? Nicolette Boele ‘gave up’ on politics over Labor’s climate inaction. Now she wants to win a Liberal seat RACHEL WITHERS Did the backlash to the speech contribute to Fletcher throwing in the towel? “I don’t know what was in Mr Fletcher’s mind,” Boele tells me. “If you can see your main opponent, and it’s a two-horse race, has been in the field for that long ... Maybe the 12 letters to The Sydney Morning Herald as soon as he insulted everybody was a feedback loop that he needed.” Boele has been critical of the speech, arguing it showed little respect for Fletcher’s constituents. Her statement about it was titled , “Bradfield voters aren’t dopes, Paul”. When I ask how it made her feel, she gives a very teal answer. “It was disappointing, but it wasn’t a surprise. I get very protective, kind of a mum instinct, with the constituents. Like, hang on a second, what do you mean we’re dim-witted? Obviously there were some overtones about the gendered part of it, too, which I didn’t take very nicely to.” READ ALL ABOUT IT John Pesutto defies calls to resign after being ordered to pay $300,000 for defaming Moira Deeming ( Guardian Australia ) Sydney street artist revealed as man found not guilty of two counts of rape ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) ($) Donald Trump 2024 TIME Person of the Year ( TIME ) Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency (Associated Press) Trump’s Middle East adviser pick is a small-time truck salesman ( The New York Times ) ($) Mystery New Jersey drones not from Iranian ‘mothership’ — Pentagon (BBC) THE COMMENTARIAT Peter Dutton’s nuclear policy would have coal-fired power stations operating for a lot longer — Michelle Grattan (ABC): The release of the costings unleashes a tsunami of claims and counterclaims about numbers. That debate will be eye-glazing for many voters. Not to worry. We are talking the span of a generation. Numbers that stretch out to 2050 don’t mean a great deal. Hundreds of things — in technology and politics, for starters — can and will change as the years pass. Moreover, numbers from modelling have an extra layer of complexity and uncertainty. They depend heavily on assumptions that are, in many cases, necessarily arbitrary. Anyone inclined to take modelling at face value should reflect on the Labor experience. Before the 2022 election, it released modelling that gave it the basis to promise a $275 reduction in household power bills by next year. We all know what happened to that. Regardless of the problems in attempting to be precise, the broad debate about nuclear’s cost will be intense. Social media gorged itself on a free lunch of news. The buffet could be over — James Massola ( The Sydney Morning Herald ): In an age when hot-takes and “feelpinions” abound, the federal government’s levy on social media giants is designed to shore up the future of news outlets across the country. In regional areas in particular, where local newspapers are part of the fabric of small communities, the measure could slow or halt their retreat. At their press conference announcing the policy, Rowland and Jones argued it was vital that Australians who accessed news through social media had access to “fact-checked information”. One need only look at the spread of dis- and misinformation about vaccines during the pandemic to see why. In the dispute between social and legacy media, it’s clear the government has picked a winner. Now the ball is in Meta’s court to respond.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday already ended, many of the best deals we've ever seen are still available. Such is the case of the iRobot Roomba Combo Essential , which is $115 off at Best Buy, bringing its price down from $275 to only $160. This is the lowest price we've seen on this Roomba, which is an entry-level robot vacuum and mop combination. Also: Better than Ring? This video doorbell has all the benefits, no monthly fees, and is on sale The Essential line is iRobot's most affordable lineup of robot vacuums. These devices feature top of the line technology with simplified operation. While they don't have the flagship Roomba's dual rubber brushes for suction, they have an innovative v-shaped roller brush that prevents tangles and doesn't get stuck as easily as traditional brushes. iRobot built on the Roomba 600 Series to give the new budget-friendly Essential vacuum 20 times more suction power and 25% better pickup on hard floors. The Roomba Combo Essential also features a 120-minute battery life and the ability to clean in neat rows for better efficiency. While $160 doesn't buy a fully autonomous, hands-free cleaning experience that you'd get when paying over $1,000, you still get iRobot technology and customization power in a budget-friendly package. The Roomba Combo Essential lets you customize suction and liquid settings, view Clean Map reports, and access iRobot OS automations. Also: Get an Arlo 2K battery-powered security camera at 60% off The Combo Essential does vacuum and mop but it requires user intervention to manually empty the dustbin and add water, as well as to wash and dry the mop pad after each cleaning. For most, this is a small inconvenience for one of the most affordable yet valuable robot vacuus on the market. The $160 deal is unbeatable for the Roomba Combo Essential , so if you have a lot of hard floors in your home and want to put away the mop and bucket, this is one way to get the most bang for your buck. When will this deal expire? While many sales events feature deals for a specific length of time, deals are on a limited-time basis, making them subject to expire anytime. ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best offers to help you maximize your savings so you can feel as confident in your purchases as we feel in our recommendations. Our ZDNET team of experts constantly monitors the deals we feature to keep our stories up-to-date. If you missed out on this deal, don't worry -- we're always sourcing new savings opportunities at ZDNET.com . Best Cyber Monday deals Best Cyber Monday TV deals Best Cyber Monday streaming deals Best Cyber Monday AirPods dealsOpenAI is aiming to reach 1 billion users by 2025 as it rolls out new artificial intelligence products, builds its own data centres, and strengthens its partnership with Apple. The San Francisco-based company, known for its ChatGPT chatbot with 250 million weekly active users, plans to introduce AI “agents,” a proprietary AI-powered search engine, and deepen integration of ChatGPT with Apple devices. “We are coming into our own as a research lab serving millions and aiming for billions of consumers worldwide,” Financial Times cited Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s chief financial officer, as saying. The company recently raised more than $6 billion in funding at a valuation of $150 billion, making it the highest-valued startup in Silicon Valley’s history. Friar said OpenAI plans to continue raising both equity and debt to fuel its growth, including constructing data centres in the US Midwest and Southwest. “We’re in a massive growth phase,” she said, adding that advancing AI models remains a costly endeavour. Expanding AI reach OpenAI’s strategy includes launching “agents” — advanced chatbot-like assistants that perform web tasks, such as booking services or gathering information. Friar said 2025 could see the first highly successful agents helping users with everyday needs. Integration with Apple devices, which began last month in the US, is expected to significantly boost user numbers. A venture capital investor said OpenAI could quickly reach its goal of 1 billion users, using Apple’s global base of 2 billion iPhones. “If you get to that threshold, you’re competing with Google and Facebook,” the investor said. OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit to a for-profit business has seen the company expand its headcount to more than 2,000 employees and focus on monetising AI products to offset costs exceeding $5 billion annually. Navigating political hurdles OpenAI’s growth comes as it navigates a politically charged environment. Chris Lehane, the company’s policy chief and a veteran political strategist, is engaging with US policymakers to position OpenAI as a leader in “democratic” AI, countering Chinese-led technological advancements. Lehane said the company has been in discussions with the incoming Trump administration about AI’s role in national security and economic competitiveness. While tensions with former co-founder Elon Musk persist — including a lawsuit filed by Musk accusing OpenAI of deceit — Lehane stressed alignment with federal priorities on AI leadership.
India poised to capture 10-12% of global MedTech market in 25 years: EYBeirut, Dec 7 (AP) Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated on Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumours that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader's base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria's third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began November 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria's state media denied social media rumours that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a UN resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkiye and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians”. They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began November 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said on Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkiye, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkiye is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country's underlying problems. “Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria's “territorial integrity”. He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
ozgurdonmaz Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify This is an abridged transcript of the podcast. Our top story so far. Morgan Stanley says Apple ( AAPL ) remains its top pick heading into 2025 , and the firm maintained its overweight rating and $273 price target. Analyst Erik Woodring said they're still bullish on Apple Intelligence accelerating iPhone replacement cycles starting in fiscal 2026, double-digit services growth, and gross margins expanding. The Overweight thesis is that Apple is on the cusp of its largest device upgrade cycle ever, as the launch—and limited backward compatibility—of Apple Intelligence improves upgrade cycles and new user acquisition and accelerates replacement cycles. This should result in a record-breaking fiscal 2025/fiscal 2026 cycle that is underappreciated by the market today. All of this should lead to Apple earnings around $8.52 per share in fiscal 2026, about 4% above consensus, he said. Apple has outperformed the S&P 500 by 10 points over the last month, with the tech giant now trading at all-time highs. While the recent outperformance may be linked to market factors and short covering, the analysts are still bullish on Apple's ability to drive over $8.50 of earnings power in fiscal 2026, which they think is also a factor helping to support near-term outperformance. Woodring said they discussed five key topics with investors and are bullish on Apple Intelligence starting to accelerate iPhone replacement cycles in fiscal 2026, limited risk to China import tariffs, sustained double-digit services growth, and potential for further iPhone gross margin upside. Looking to the economy. S&P Global's U.S. Composite PMI rose to 56.6 in December's flash estimate from 54.9 in November. That indicates the fastest expansion of business activity since March 2022 amid strength in the services economy but further deterioration in manufacturing production. A rise in service sector activity (services PMI: 56.6 vs. 55.1 consensus and 54.9 prior) contrasted with a steeper fall in manufacturing production (manufacturing PMI: 48.3 vs. 49.4 expected and 49.7 prior). Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: "The service sector expansion is helping drive overall growth in the economy to its fastest for nearly three years, consistent with GDP rising at an annualized rate of just over 3% in December." Among active stocks. J.P. Morgan upgraded Okta ( OKTA ) to Overweight from Neutral, noting that the company is well positioned for increased demand. Analyst Brian Essex said Okta reset expectations with a conservative initial look at fiscal 2026 revenue growth this quarter, and now the risk/reward is attractive as they see Identity moving up the priority stack. Honeywell ( HON ) said its board continues to explore additional strategic alternatives, including the potential separation of its aerospace business . The board has made significant progress, and the company plans to provide an update when it reports Q4 results, it said. Activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which has called for a split of Honeywell's aerospace and automation businesses after taking a $5 billion-plus stake in the company in November, praised the move. And Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) is the biggest decliner in the S&P after news that it is looking to raise capital and would be replaced in the Nasdaq 100 ( QQQ ). In other news of note. “Kraven the Hunter,” the latest Spider-Man spinoff, flopped at the box office this weekend while “Moana 2” finished at the top for the third straight weekend. “Kraven,” featuring Spider-Man’s nemesis, made just $11 million in its opening days, well below “Moana 2,” which earned $26.6 million, and “Wicked,” which brought in $22 million in its fourth weekend to take second position. “Gladiator II” added $7.8 million in its fourth weekend to finish in fourth place. “Red One,” which made $4.6 million, finished out the top five. And in the Wall Street Research Corner. Bank of America issued its call for next year's top semiconductor stocks , with the list including some of the usual heavyweights. Nvidia ( NVDA ), Broadcom ( AVGO ), and Marvell Technology ( MRVL ) are on the list, as are Lam Research ( LRCX ), On Semiconductor ( ON ), and Cadence Design Systems ( CDNS ). Analyst Vivek Arya says, "We see 2025 as a year of two different trends.” “In the first half, AI investments and NVDA Blackwell deployments driven by US cloud customers sustain momentum in AI semis. However, in the second half, interest could shift to less-crowded auto/industrial chipmakers on inventory replenishment and pick-up in auto production, assuming a global economic recovery." Overall, sales are forecast to grow 15% to $725 billion in 2025, a "strong pace," albeit a decline from the 20% growth seen this year, Arya added. Nvidia, Broadcom, and Marvell should benefit from AI exposure, while Lam Research should benefit from the spending recovery in flash memory and China. On Semi is poised to benefit from the "eventual" recovery in the automotive and electric vehicle space (likely in the second half of the year), while Cadence is the leader in the electronic design automation space.
HOUSTON (AP) — E.J. Warner threw three touchdown passes and Rice survived a late rally by South Florida to take a 35-28 victory on Saturday in a regular-season finale. Warner was 27-of-42 passing for 430 yards and had 294 yards and two TD throws in the first half when the Owls (4-6, 3-5 American Athletic Conference) rolled up 367 yards offense and 19 first downs for a 27-7 lead at the break. Trailing 35-14 with five minutes left, USF quarterback Bryce Archie had to leave the game after taking a late hit. Backup Israel Carter threw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes to cut the lead to seven. Rice recovered an onside kick and got the clock down to 27 seconds on six straight Christian Francisco runs before turning the ball over on downs at the USF 28. A final hook-and-lateral play loaded with laterals went deep into Rice territory but was nullified in any case by a penalty. Rice’s Matt Sykes had 118 yards receiving and Dean Connors 91 yards and a score. The other TD passes went to Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Drayden Dickmann. Archie was 19 of 35 for 227 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception for USF (6-6, 4-4). Sean Atkins with 110 went over 2,000 career receiving yards and Keshaun Singleton had 107 yards receiving with a score. USF came in having four of its last five games but was outgained by Rice 550-431. With the game tied at 7-all, Quinton Jackson scored on a 12-yard run three plays after Francisco returned a kickoff 45 yards to the USF 38. Tim Horn added a field goal in the final minute of the first quarter for a 17-7 lead after Josh Pearcy recovered a fumble in USF territory. Connors’ 23-yard scoring reception and another field goal with 12 seconds left in the half made it a 20-point lead. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25HOUSTON (AP) — E.J. Warner threw three touchdown passes and Rice survived a late rally by South Florida to take a 35-28 victory on Saturday in a regular-season finale. Warner was 27-of-42 passing for 430 yards and had 294 yards and two TD throws in the first half when the Owls (4-6, 3-5 American Athletic Conference) rolled up 367 yards offense and 19 first downs for a 27-7 lead at the break. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Kulusevski goal allows Spurs to snatch 1-1 draw at Rangers
DANBURY, Conn., Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Allen recently held its 2024 International Convention live at the Company's headquarters and livestreamed across the world. With the theme of Focused on the Future , the program honored the Company's 92-year history, reviewed current and future initiatives in manufacturing, logistics, technology, marketing and retail, and celebrated its annual Spirit Awards, honoring interior designers both for achievement in written sales and design excellence. Led by its Chairman, President and CEO Farooq Kathwari, the convention highlighted five key areas of focus for Ethan Allen: talent, service, marketing, technology, and social responsibility. "It was good to review all areas of our vertically integrated enterprise, to share new products and initiatives, and to celebrate the work and achievements of our team members. We take pride in sharing this special event with about 4,000 in attendance both watching and participating each year." Ethan Allen's annual convention is an important, decades-long tradition that gives its associates the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from all over the world while they review the progress the Company has made over the past year. The Spirit Awards highlight Ethan Allen's interior design network, one of the world's largest, and emphasize the Company's unique combination of technology and personal service. The celebratory event concluded with Mr. Kathwari saying, "We are just getting started," as the Company is Focused on the Future . ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN Ethan Allen ETD , named America's #1 Premium Furniture Retailer by Newsweek for the second year in a row, is a leading interior design destination combining state-of-the-art technology with personal service. Our design centers, which represent a mix of independent licensees and Company-owned and operated locations, offer complimentary interior design service and sell a full range of home furnishings, including custom furniture and artisan-crafted accents for every room in the home. Vertically integrated from product design through logistics, we manufacture about 75% of our custom-crafted products in our North American manufacturing facilities and have been recognized for product quality and craftsmanship since 1932. Learn more at www.ethanallen.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. CONTACT: Catherine Plaisted Senior Vice President, Marketing catherine.plaisted@ethanallen.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03602b41-d7d5-4e48-89b9-c4cf8d11a28f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f03d7cf2-d8e6-433e-afb3-45d6616ed037 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6dd9c843-54d2-4f8e-970f-e8a2d90d71ae © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.DETROIT (AP) — Starting in September of 2027, all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. will have to sound a warning if rear-seat passengers don't buckle up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that it finalized the rule, which also requires enhanced warnings when front seat belts aren't fastened. The agency estimates that the new rule will save 50 lives per year and prevent 500 injuries when fully in effect, according to a statement. The new rule will apply to passenger cars, trucks, buses except for school buses, and multipurpose vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds. Before the rule, seat belt warnings were required only for the driver's seat. Under the new rule, outboard front-seat passengers also must get a warning if they don't fasten their belts. Front-center seats will not get a warning because NHTSA found that it wouldn't be cost effective. The agency said most vehicles already have warnings for the outboard passenger seats. The rule also lengthens the duration of audio and visual warnings for the driver's seat. The front-seat rules are effective starting Sept. 1 of 2026. Rear passengers consistently use seat belts at a lower rate than front passengers, the agency says. In 2022, front belt use was just under 92%, while rear use dropped to about 82%. About half of automobile passengers who died in crashes two years ago weren’t wearing belts, according to NHTSA data. The seat belt rule is the second significant regulation to come from NHTSA in the past two months. In November the agency bolstered its five-star auto safety ratings to include driver assistance technologies and pedestrian protection. Safety advocates want the Department of Transportation, which includes NHTSA, to finish several more rules before the end of the Biden administration, because President-elect Donald Trump has said he’s against new government regulations. Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, urged the department to approve automatic emergency braking for heavy trucks and technology to prevent impaired driving.
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House Republicans will select new leaders for several powerful committees this week, with the chairmen inheriting both a gavel and the task of advancing President-elect Donald Trump 's agenda through a united GOP Congress . With the new members' swearing-in on Jan. 3, 2025, and Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, the newly selected House committee leaders will have the power to deliver on the president-elect's top priorities, including a tax bill, government spending , and border security, among other policies. The new chairmen will be selected by the House GOP Steering Committee, a panel of over 30 Republican leaders and regional representatives that recommend the committee chairs for approval from the full Republican conference. The Steering Committee is meeting Monday to make their selections, with some of the most influential committees attracting multiple challengers. Unless they receive a waiver, Republican committee leaders can not serve more than three consecutive terms as the head of the committee. Many current GOP committee leaders, such as Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), did not seek a waiver to remain chairman, while others, such as Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), were approved to stay as the top GOP lawmaker on the committee. Several committees also have leaders who decided ahead of the 2024 election that they would retire or seek another office off Capitol Hill, leaving many vacancies . The Washington Examiner will update this story as the Steering Committee announces its selections. MEET THE NEW CONGRESS: THE HOUSE AND SENATE FRESHMEN ELECTED TO SERVE NEXT YEAR Foreign Affairs Committee - Brian Mast Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) defeated Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), and Joe Wilson (R-SC) in a four-way contest to replace McCaul on Monday. With Mast's selection, House Republicans are on track to have zero chairwomen on any committee. The House Foreign Affairs Committee, which led the high-profile investigation of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, had a vacant chairmanship because McCaul is terming out and did not seek a waiver to remain chairman. Mast, a Purple Heart recipient and U.S. Army veteran, became a staple in the GOP conference after he wore his Israeli military uniform to the Capitol to show solidarity for the Jewish state following the 2023 Hamas attacks. Sources told Punchbowl News he gave a great presentation to the Steering Committee to make his case that he should lead the committee next Congress. Wagner, the vice chairwoman of the committee, touted her foreign policy experience as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg during former President George W. Bush’s administration and co-chairwoman of the Abraham Accords Caucus as a reason for seeking the gavel. As chairwoman, she had vowed to crack down on Russia, Iran, and China and touted a key GOP talking point about securing the border. Issa, however, also campaigned on his foreign affairs experience, having visited over 100 countries, and his prior experience as chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Similar to Issa, Wilson pitched himself as the senior lawmaker equipped to lead the committee after leading 70 congressional delegation trips to over 80 countries. The Hill reported that Wilson was giving members of the Steering Committee pieces from the Berlin Wall that he brought back from Germany in 1990. DEMOCRATS SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AS BARACK OBAMA’S INFLUENCE WANES Energy and Commerce Committee - Brett Guthrie The Steering Committee selected Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) as the next House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a powerhouse who led the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, did not seek reelection in 2024, setting off a competitive race between Guthrie and Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH). The Energy and Commerce Committee will be a key panel moving into the Trump administration, holding jurisdiction over healthcare, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Energy Department — all areas that have been targeted by Trump and Republicans over the last two years due to Biden administration-era rules and regulations on everything from electric vehicles and appliances to the aftermath of COVID-19. Despite Guthrie's selection, Latta will still be the most senior GOP lawmaker on the Energy and Commerce Committee, holding experience on all six subcommittees and having 33 bills signed into law. Guthrie has sat on five of the six subcommittees and is currently chairman of the health subcommittee. The newly-selected chairman said his top priorities are permitting reform and the United States beating China to developing 6G, the latest wireless communication network expected to arrive in the 2030s. Financial Services Committee - French Hill Rep. French Hill (R-AR) will be the new Financial Services Committee chairman once approved by the full GOP conference. Hill will replace current Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who had a brief stint as speaker pro tempore after Kevin McCarthy's ouster and is retiring after this term. The chair-elect beat out Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Frank Lucas (R-OK), and Bill Huizenga (R-MI) for the gavel to succeed McHenry as the top GOP lawmaker on the Financial Services Committee, a panel that holds hearings regarding the Federal Reserve, cryptocurrency, and Wall Street. All three areas, particularly the Fed and crypto, will likely be top priorities of the Trump administration. Hill is vice chairman of the Financial Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion. His selection as the new chairman will be a significant asset for the cryptocurrency field. Barr was originally considered to be the favorite in the race. He is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy, writing in a letter to colleagues he can "build a bridge between those traditional Chamber of Commerce, Wall Street Republicans, and the America First populists who elected Donald Trump.” Lucas is the longest-serving GOP lawmaker on the committee and had touted his three decades in the House, while Huizenga had campaigned on his relationship with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is expected to become chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs next year. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS, AND UNIONS TRY TO ‘TRUMP-PROOF SCIENCE’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Graves, the current chairman, will seek his fourth term as the top Republican on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee after the Steering Committee approved his waiver to surpass the third-term rule. Graves is facing a challenge from Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), who put out a blueprint focusing on investments in the most-used methods of transportation, including highways, railways, ports, and airways. Rumored to be in the running for transportation secretary for the incoming administration, Graves is campaigning on his experience in the role — particularly the five-year Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that passed earlier this year. Education and the Workforce Committee Outgoing Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) received a waiver to seek a fourth term but declined to run for reelection, opening up the race for Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Burgess Owens (R-UT). Whoever serves as the next chairman will play a significant role in the House GOP's reconciliation process to push bills to Trump's desk for approval, including on the subject of student loans. Walberg, as one of the senior Republicans on the committee, outlined his top priority as supporting parents' rights, as well as fighting back against antisemitism on campus, which has continued to rise during the Hamas-Israel war. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Owens is also running on combatting antisemitism on campuses and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements in schools, hiring practices, and school choice. The Steering Committee will hear presentations from challengers on Monday and Thursday, with selections expected by the end of Thursday. The full conference vote to approve the committee chairmen-elect will likely be held next week.Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rivalNorris defies orders to help Piastri and Verstappen loses the Qatar pole to Russell
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