The success of MaoGeping's IPO is not only a win for the brand itself but also a reflection of the overall strength and potential of the Chinese cosmetics market. As more and more homegrown beauty brands gain recognition and market share, the industry is poised for further expansion and innovation, challenging the dominance of international players in the global beauty landscape.
One of the key initiatives put forth by the central government is a focus on stabilizing property prices. In recent years, rapid increases in property prices have raised concerns about housing affordability and financial stability. To address these issues, the government has implemented policies to curb speculation and prevent excessive price fluctuations. By setting a clear goal of keeping property prices stable, the government aims to create a more sustainable and healthy real estate market.In response to the increasing demand for efficient and convenient public transportation services, the House Mountain Bus Station has recently undergone a significant adjustment to better meet the needs of commuters. With the aim of improving the overall transportation experience for residents and visitors alike, the bus station has implemented a number of changes that are set to transform the way people travel in the area.
Mexico and Canada consider retaliatory tariffs on US
Is the NORAD Santa tracker safe from a government shutdown?Steelers believe they're Super Bowl contenders. The next 3 weeks will see if they're right PITTSBURGH (AP) — Preseason's over. Now the real work begins for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Will Graves, The Associated Press Dec 9, 2024 12:29 PM Dec 9, 2024 12:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) celebrates after recovering a fumble on a punt in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Freed) PITTSBURGH (AP) — Preseason's over. Now the real work begins for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the past three months have been promising and productive for the first-place Steelers (10-3), it has come largely at the expense of teams who will likely watch the playoffs on TV. Six of Pittsburgh's victories have come against teams who currently have losing records. The other four wins — Denver , the Chargers , Washington and Baltimore — are solid resume-builders with a small caveat: none of them lead their respective divisions. To be clear, Pittsburgh's play is part of the reason those four clubs find themselves looking up to others in the standings. That will change on Sunday when the Steelers travel across the state to face NFC juggernaut Philadelphia , the start of an 11-day sprint in which Pittsburgh also faces a rematch with the Ravens and spends Christmas Day at Acrisure Stadium against Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs . "It’s just going to show us how good we can be," safety DeShon Elliott said. It's a testament to the weekly tunnel vision Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin creates that wide receiver Calvin Austin III needed to be reminded about the daunting stretch that awaits after Sunday's relatively drama-free 27-14 win over Cleveland. “Who do we play again?" Austin said. When reminded it was three teams that fully expect to be in New Orleans on the second Sunday in February, Austin laughed. “That's a tough little stretch, but at the end of the day it's a five-star matchup as Coach T says because we're in it,” he said. “We know that when we’re out there, it’s going to always be a big-time performance.” One Austin and his teammates believe they're ready for after a workmanlike victory over the Browns in which the Steelers were only too intent to let Cleveland self-destruct behind a flurry of penalties, missed field goals and turnovers. More will likely be required in the coming weeks, which is fine by the Steelers. They have put themselves in a position to do things the franchise hasn't done in a while. And for all the good things they've done since early September, they're only too aware their season will be defined by what comes next. Sure, they'd love a little more time between games to rest up. The scheduling gods didn't give them that option. So be it. “I feel like the league kind of hates us already, man,” Elliott said. “It’s all right. We’re going to go out here, play those games, work our butts off, go out and be 3-0.” What's working Letting everybody eat. Russell Wilson seems to be almost pathological in his determination to get every eligible skill position player involved. A week ago against the Bengals , he connected with 10 different players. In the rematch with the Browns, it was eight, including Mike Williams and Scotty Miller, veterans who have largely been afterthoughts of late. Tomlin greeted Miller after an acrobatic 20-yard third down grab on the sideline in the third quarter with “this isn't a lightning strike,” a popular Tomlin-ism that means simply Miller did all the work necessary to succeed, so it shouldn't be a surprise when it comes. Asked if he felt compelled to mention this to Tomlin the next time Miller is a candidate to be inactive on game days — as he has often been in recent weeks — Miller smiled. “If you could tell him that, that'd be great,” he said with a laugh. What needs help George Pickens' maturity. While Pickens believes opponents haven't found a way to get under his skin, the evidence suggests otherwise. How else to explain why nearly three years into his career, Pickens still frequently finds an envelope in his locker from the league telling him he's been fined for everything from unsportsmanlike conduct to unnecessary roughness? Pickens' teammates respect his talent and understand his importance — look at how disjointed the offense looked on Sunday for proof — but will he “cut out the stupid stuff” before the playoffs arrive? That will be entirely up to Pickens. Nothing seems to have gotten through so far. Maybe watching the team win without him while nursing a hamstring injury — as Pickens did on Sunday — will do the trick. Stock up The Steelers may have found their heir apparent to the seemingly ageless Cam Heyward in second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. While Benton will likely never come close to matching Heyward's impact as a pass rusher, he can do just about everything else and his first career interception on Sunday — a leaping pick of an ill-advised screen pass by Jameis Winston — showcased his spiking football IQ. Stock down Everyone who put money down during the offseason on the Steelers missing the playoffs . It looked like a good investment over the summer with two new quarterbacks, a new offensive coordinator, no second big-play wide receiver to complement Pickens and playing in what was viewed as the best division in the league. Not so much anymore. Pittsburgh has a 99% chance of reaching the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Injuries Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi — selected as the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last week — left in the second quarter with a groin injury. Defensive tackle Montravius Adams (knee) is trending toward playing for the first time since October and could be available in Philadelphia. Key number Plus-28 — the Steelers' turnover margin since the start of the 2023 season, tops in the NFL. Next steps Try to do something they haven't done in nearly 60 years: beat the Eagles on the road. Pittsburgh's most recent victory in Philadelphia was on Oct. 24, 1965. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Saquon Barkley is chasing Eric Dickerson's NFL season rushing record. Can he do it? Dec 9, 2024 1:01 PM Jets still struggling to secure wins and stop blowing late leads in another playoff-less season Dec 9, 2024 1:00 PM Mayfield says streaking Bucs will have to play even better down the stretch to return to playoffs Dec 9, 2024 12:59 PM
After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union and the Southern Common Market, commonly known as Mercosur and comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, signed a free trade and cooperation agreement. If ratified, it will create a market of nearly 800 million citizens, reduce consumer prices, and boost investment. This landmark deal also signals that two like-minded continents can still champion rules-based trade liberalization amid rising protectionism, de-globalization, and geopolitical fragmentation. Q1: What has been agreed? A1: Negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur—two of the world’s largest trade blocs—began in 1999. In 2019, the European Commission reached a preliminary agreement with Mercosur countries. At its core, the deal reduced tariffs on manufactured goods in Mercosur countries while liberalizing agricultural trade in the European Union—a sector long protected by European policies. However, the agreement stalled for years due to opposition from France and other EU countries, who demanded environmental guarantees from Brazil and expressed concerns over the potential losses to European farmers. Simultaneously, the protectionist governments of Brazil and Argentina did not prioritize ratification. On December 6, 2024, a new agreement was signed in Montevideo. This landmark deal is the largest ever concluded by the EU and the only one Mercosur has with a major trading bloc—which means that European products will enter its market under much better conditions than U.S. or Japanese products. It eliminates tariffs on over 90 percent of bilateral trade, saving European exporters EUR 4 billion annually while granting South American products preferential access to European markets, particularly for agricultural goods where Mercosur holds a strong comparative advantage. Until now, trade relations between the two regions have underperformed relative to their potential, especially in merchandise trade (and less so in investment). The agreement is set to change this dynamic, opening Mercosur’s highly protected market to European industrial goods. For instance, previous tariffs on automobiles, textiles, and machinery ranged from 14 percent to 35 percent. The agreement also ensures the protection of 357 European geographical indicators, boosting exports of specialty agricultural products like wines and cheeses. Additionally, European companies will gain better access to Mercosur’s public procurement markets, high-value service sectors, and critical raw materials like lithium. In return, the European Union will reduce tariffs on agricultural products and other goods and contribute EUR 1.8 billion through the Global Gateway initiative to support Mercosur’s green and digital transition. Beyond the economic aspects, the deal includes commitments to high labor standards and reinforces adherence to the Paris Climate Agreement . Measures to prevent deforestation—a key demand of the European Union—are also part of the agreement. Overall, the deal seeks to increase trade and investment by creating a predictable economic environment, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and fostering growth and prosperity, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Q2: Why was the agreement possible? A2: After 25 years of stalled negotiations, many doubted the prospects of an EU–Mercosur partnership. Resistance from European farmers, especially in France, Poland, and Ireland, played a major role. These groups feared fierce competition from more competitive Latin American agricultural producers. Proponents, including Spain, Portugal, Germany, and some Nordic countries, struggled to counter this opposition. However, three elements have made the agreement possible. First, the rise of protectionism, exemplified by Donald Trump's reelection, pushed the European Union and Mercosur to act. Both blocs, as advocates of an open, rules-based economic order, saw the agreement as a way to reaffirm their commitment to rules-based free trade. Second, both Brazil’s President Lula da Silva and Argentina’s President Javier Milei have strongly supported the agreement, while Uruguay has always been in favor of a small export-oriented economy. And third, there were important strategic considerations on the EU side, whose leaders were concerned about the rapid expansion of Chinese trade and investment in Latin America. Moreover, the new European Commission, which took office on December 1, wanted to start its mandate by delivering quick results. Q3: What are the next steps? A3: The ratification process poses significant challenges, particularly on the European side. In Mercosur, the agreement must be approved by the national parliaments, but even if some countries fail to ratify it, the deal will still apply to others that do. In the European Union, however, the process is more complex . After the agreement is translated into all EU member state languages, it will go to the European Council for ratification, where EU countries are represented by their trade ministers. A minimum of four states representing at least 35 percent of the EU population could block the agreement. France, Austria, and Poland have stated that they oppose the agreement, but they would need another large country to reject the agreement at the European Council. Italy could join them, but it is also possible that in the next months, the guarantees that the European Commission is offering European farmers would be enough to convince the more skeptical countries. If the agreement is not blocked, it then must be ratified by the European Parliament. This approval only applies to the ratification of those provisions that fall within the exclusive competence of the European Parliament, mainly those related to trade liberalization, and do not require ratification by national parliaments. The rest, those provisions involving aspects of jurisdiction and sovereignty, such as dispute settlement mechanisms or investment protection, must be unanimously approved by national parliaments to enter into force. The provisions of the agreement related to political dialogue and cooperation also require unanimous approval by national parliaments. Therefore, even if the European ratification process runs smoothly, the tariff reductions will take some months to be applied, and the rest of the elements could take more than a year. But in any case, the signing of this partnership agreement demonstrates the strong interest in trade liberalization among countries that favor maintaining an open economic order based on stable and predictable rules in the context of threats to cooperation and potential trade wars. Federico Steinberg is visiting fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.The discrepancy in prices quoted by different institutions further added to the confusion and dilemma faced by the woman. At the lower end of the spectrum, some clinics offered the procedure for a mere $300, while others justified the $5000 price tag based on the use of advanced technology, experienced specialists, and additional services bundled with the treatment.
And so, our adventure reaches its climax as we stand on the brink of greatness, ready to make our mark on the annals of history. With the Samsung Monitor as our loyal ally and "The Lion King: Mufasa's Legend" as our guiding light, we set out to conquer new frontiers, defy the odds, and emerge victorious in the ultimate quest for glory.As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche. Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke, and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara said, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body.” Lara, an avid runner and gym-goer couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” said the 50-year-old mom from North Miami and former high school math teacher. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved-nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke, with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System — the device implanted in Lara’s chest — could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Lara underwent the procedure. The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger,” Lara said in September. “I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand.” Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivistim therapy program and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors usually can recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years after their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10 to 15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression. For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge, so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Cleveland Browns' cornerback throws shade at George Pickens: ‘Guy that cares more about himself’