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Ameren's senior executive VP & CFO Michael Moehn sells $598,975 in stockNagpur: Influential persons from across various sectors sharing success stories and presentation of awards to those who worked for social development were the highlights of the inaugural day of the 11th edition of the prestigious Global Nagpur Summit, organised by Nagpur First, at the Indian Institute of Management ( IIM ) at Mihan-SEZ. Prasanna Mohile , the national head for corporate affairs and executive board member at Pernod Ricard India, delivered the inaugural address. Bhimraya Metri, director of IIM Nagpur, welcomed the guests and delegates. Shashank Rao, co-founder and International Chair of Nagpur First Foundation, provided an overview of the organisation's journey, highlighting its achievements and future vision. Karuna Gopal, president of Foundation for Futuristic Cities, centred her discussion on innovation, leadership, and the path forward for India in the global economy. Tanveer Mirza, India Chair for Nagpur First Foundation and Social Track Chair, in his humorous tone, elaborated on the combination of "sarkar, samaj, and bazar (Govt, society and business)" for embracing environmental responsibilities and introduced the Change Makers – individuals and organisations working to revolutionise the social landscape of the region. A range of Change Maker Awards were presented to organisations such as Aroha Multipurpose, Aura Park, Jui Pandharipande, Lifeskill Foundation, TCS CSR Initiative, Asra Foundation, Sistema Bio Carbon Credit, Welspun Foundation for Health, ICICI Foundation, Bajaj Foundation, Smart U Krishi Khata, Pipo LE Pipe, Abhy Gomchi, Jamshed Singh Kapoor, Swapnil Masram, and Orient Foundation. Following the Impact Talk, the Social Track segment began, with remarkable success stories shared by influential figures from across various sectors. Speakers included Manohar Bhojwani, national head of Daal Mill Cluster, Saurabh Lohani, regional head of Spunwell Syntext Ltd, Sunil Kumar, divisional head of Bajaj Foundation, Bombay, and Raju Petkar, along with Richa Singh from the ICICI Foundation. The stories offered a glimpse into the groundbreaking work being done to foster social development in Central India. The Social Track also featured over 50 exhibitors showcasing their work and social initiatives, offering attendees a chance to explore new ideas and innovations aimed at social upliftment. The inauguration ceremony was hosted by Richa Sugandhh, and the summit was attended by key figures from Nagpur First, including founder and chairman Emeritus Dinesh Jain, along with Shashank Rao, Tanveer Mirza, Vivek Nanoti (Environment Track Chair), Rizwan Ahmed (Technology Track Chair), Jayprakash Parekh (Treasurer), Amitabh Khanna, Austria Ambassador Hakimuddin Ali, and NF Ambassador Faiz Waheed. The summit promises to be an enriching platform for discussion, networking, and the sharing of innovative ideas that will shape the future of Nagpur and the wider region. Nagpur: Influential persons from across various sectors sharing success stories and presentation of awards to those who worked for social development were the highlights of the inaugural day of the 11th edition of the prestigious Global Nagpur Summit, organised by Nagpur First, at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Mihan-SEZ. Prasanna Mohile, the national head for corporate affairs and executive board member at Pernod Ricard India, delivered the inaugural address. Bhimraya Metri, director of IIM Nagpur, welcomed the guests and delegates. Shashank Rao, co-founder and International Chair of Nagpur First Foundation, provided an overview of the organisation's journey, highlighting its achievements and future vision. Karuna Gopal, president of Foundation for Futuristic Cities, centred her discussion on innovation, leadership, and the path forward for India in the global economy. Tanveer Mirza, India Chair for Nagpur First Foundation and Social Track Chair, in his humorous tone, elaborated on the combination of "sarkar, samaj, and bazar (Govt, society and business)" for embracing environmental responsibilities and introduced the Change Makers – individuals and organisations working to revolutionise the social landscape of the region. A range of Change Maker Awards were presented to organisations such as Aroha Multipurpose, Aura Park, Jui Pandharipande, Lifeskill Foundation, TCS CSR Initiative, Asra Foundation, Sistema Bio Carbon Credit, Welspun Foundation for Health, ICICI Foundation, Bajaj Foundation, Smart U Krishi Khata, Pipo LE Pipe, Abhy Gomchi, Jamshed Singh Kapoor, Swapnil Masram, and Orient Foundation. Following the Impact Talk, the Social Track segment began, with remarkable success stories shared by influential figures from across various sectors. Speakers included Manohar Bhojwani, national head of Daal Mill Cluster, Saurabh Lohani, regional head of Spunwell Syntext Ltd, Sunil Kumar, divisional head of Bajaj Foundation, Bombay, and Raju Petkar, along with Richa Singh from the ICICI Foundation. The stories offered a glimpse into the groundbreaking work being done to foster social development in Central India. The Social Track also featured over 50 exhibitors showcasing their work and social initiatives, offering attendees a chance to explore new ideas and innovations aimed at social upliftment. The inauguration ceremony was hosted by Richa Sugandhh, and the summit was attended by key figures from Nagpur First, including founder and chairman Emeritus Dinesh Jain, along with Shashank Rao, Tanveer Mirza, Vivek Nanoti (Environment Track Chair), Rizwan Ahmed (Technology Track Chair), Jayprakash Parekh (Treasurer), Amitabh Khanna, Austria Ambassador Hakimuddin Ali, and NF Ambassador Faiz Waheed. The summit promises to be an enriching platform for discussion, networking, and the sharing of innovative ideas that will shape the future of Nagpur and the wider region. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
Costco Stock Rises On Q1 Earnings Beat: Retail’s UpbeatNew Social Security Commissioner under Trump Administration – Here’s What Will Happen in 2025Morgan Stanley has upgraded Intuitive Surgical ( NASDAQ: ISRG ), Tandem Diabetes ( NASDAQ: TNDM ), Stryker ( NYSE: SYK ), Globus Medical ( NYSE: GMED ) and Embecta ( NASDAQ: EMBC ), commenting that it continues to view the medtech sector as attractive moving into 2025. “Despite a volatile year in 2024, we remain bullishAgreement includes collaborative research and development centered on Honeywell Anthem avionics, selection of more powerful engines, and next-generation satellite communications technologies for Bombardier aircraft Aftermarket offerings and new technologies provide Honeywell revenue potential of up to $17 billion over life of agreement All legacy pending litigation between the companies has been resolved CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell HON announced the signing of a strategic agreement with Bombardier, a global leader in aviation and manufacturer of world-class business jets, to provide advanced technology for current and future Bombardier aircraft in avionics, propulsion and satellite communications technologies. The collaboration will advance new technology to enable a host of high-value upgrades for the installed Bombardier operator base, as well as lay innovative foundations for future aircraft. Honeywell estimates the value of this partnership to the company at $17 billion over its life. "This is a tremendous opportunity to co-innovate and advance next generation technologies, including Anthem avionics and engines," said Vimal Kapur , Chairman and CEO of Honeywell. "Growing our long-term collaborative relationship with Bombardier is directly connected to Honeywell's focus on compelling megatrends -- automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition." "This new partnership creates unprecedented opportunities for Bombardier," said Eric Martel , President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier. "Honeywell's differentiated technology is the key reason we decided to collaboratively build a bright future with them." Honeywell and Bombardier will collaborate on the development of Honeywell avionics to provide unparalleled adaptability to specific mission requirements, enabling exceptional situational awareness and enhanced safety. In addition, the collaboration's propulsion-based workstreams will focus on evolutions of power, reliability and maintainability, led by the next-generation model of Honeywell's HTF7K engine. "Working together, we will generate significant value for Bombardier's operator base by providing the latest technologies to enable safe and efficient flight," said Jim Currier , President and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. "We are committed to investing in these key technologies with Bombardier, which will not only drive substantial growth for Honeywell, but lead the industry further into the future of aviation." As part of the partnership, Bombardier and Honeywell will work together to certify and offer JetWave X for the Bombardier Global and Challenger families of aircraft for both new production and aftermarket installations. Bombardier will also have access to Honeywell's full suite of next generation L-Band satellite communications products and antennas that will provide future safety services capabilities. Additionally, all legacy pending litigation between the companies has been resolved. Honeywell Updates 2024 Outlook While the commercial agreement impacts near-term Honeywell financials, the company is confident it will lead to long-term value creation for Honeywell shareowners. Given the required investments associated with this agreement, Honeywell has updated its full-year sales, segment margin 2 , adjusted earnings per share 2,3 , and free cash flow guidance 1 . A summary is provided in the table below. TABLE 1: FULL-YEAR 2024 GUIDANCE Previous Guidance Impact of Agreement Updated Guidance Sales $38.6B - $38.8B ($0.4B) $38.2B - $38.4B Organic 1 Growth 3% - 4% ~(1%) ~2% Segment Margin 2 23.4% - 23.5% (0.8 %) 22.6% - 22.7% Expansion 2 Down 10 - Flat bps (80 bps) Down 90 - 80 bps Adjusted Earnings Per Share 2,3 $10.15 - $10.25 ($0.47) $9.68 - $9.78 Adjusted Earnings Growth 2,3 7% - 8% (5 %) 2% - 3% Operating Cash Flow $6.2B - $6.5B ($0.4B) $5.8B - $6.1B Free Cash Flow 1 $5.1B - $5.4B ($0.5B) $4.6B - $4.9B TABLE 2: FOURTH QUARTER 2024 GUIDANCE Previous Guidance Impact of Agreement Updated Guidance Sales $10.2B - $10.4B ($0.4B) $9.8B - $10.0B Organic 1 Growth 2% - 4% (4 %) (2%) - Flat Segment Margin 2 23.8% - 24.2% (2.9 %) 20.9% - 21.3% Expansion 2 Down 60 - 20 bps (290 bps) Down 350 - 310 bps Adjusted Earnings Per Share 2,3 $2.73 - $2.83 ($0.47) $2.26 - $2.36 Adjusted Earnings Growth 2,3 1% - 5% (17 %) (16%) - (12%) 1 See additional information at the end of this release regarding non-GAAP financial measures. 2 Segment margin and adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures. Management cannot reliably predict or estimate, without unreasonable effort, the impact and timing on future operating results arising from certain items excluded from segment margin or adjusted EPS. We therefore, do not present a guidance range, or a reconciliation to, the nearest GAAP financial measures of operating margin or EPS. 3 Adjusted EPS and adjusted EPS V% guidance excludes items identified in the non-GAAP reconciliation of adjusted EPS at the end of this release, including the impact of amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets and other acquisition-related costs, and any potential future items that we cannot reliably predict or estimate such as pension mark-to-market. Bombardier, Global and Challenger are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends - automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition - underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Connected Enterprise integrated software platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world's toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations that help make the world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom . Honeywell uses our Investor Relations website, www.honeywell.com/investor , as a means of disclosing information which may be of interest or material to our investors and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our Investor Relations website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, webcasts, and social media. We describe many of the trends and other factors that drive our business and future results in this release. Such discussions contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Forward-looking statements are those that address activities, events, or developments that management intends, expects, projects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future and include statements related to the proposed spin-off of the Company's Advanced Materials business into a stand-alone, publicly traded company. They are based on management's assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments, and other relevant factors, many of which are difficult to predict and outside of our control. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments, and business decisions may differ significantly from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to material risks and uncertainties, including ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, such as lower GDP growth or recession, supply chain disruptions, capital markets volatility, inflation, and certain regional conflicts, that can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. In addition, no assurance can be given that any plan, initiative, projection, goal, commitment, expectation, or prospect set forth in this release can or will be achieved. These forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the information included in this release, our Form 10-K, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking plans described herein are not final and may be modified or abandoned at any time. This release contains financial measures presented on a non-GAAP basis. Honeywell's non-GAAP financial measures used in this release are as follows: Segment profit, on an overall Honeywell basis; Segment profit margin, on an overall Honeywell basis; Organic sales growth; Free cash flow; and Adjusted earnings per share. Management believes that, when considered together with reported amounts, these measures are useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in the analysis of ongoing operating trends. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as replacements for, the most comparable GAAP measure. Certain measures presented on a non-GAAP basis represent the impact of adjusting items net of tax. The tax-effect for adjusting items is determined individually and on a case-by-case basis. Refer to the Appendix attached to this release for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Appendix Non-GAAP Financial Measures The following information provides definitions and reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release to which this reconciliation is attached to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that, when considered together with reported amounts, these measures are useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in the analysis of ongoing operating trends. Management believes the change to adjust for amortization of acquisition-related intangibles and certain acquisition- and divestiture-related costs provides investors with a more meaningful measure of its performance period to period, aligns the measure to how management will evaluate performance internally, and makes it easier for investors to compare our performance to peers. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as replacements for, the most comparable GAAP measure. Certain measures presented on a non-GAAP basis represent the impact of adjusting items net of tax. The tax-effect for adjusting items is determined individually and on a case-by-case basis. Other companies may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently, limiting the usefulness of these measures for comparative purposes. Management does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitations of these non-GAAP financial measures are that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. Investors are urged to review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Honeywell's business. Honeywell International Inc. Definition of Organic Sales Percent Change We define organic sales percentage as the year-over-year change in reported sales relative to the comparable period, excluding the impact on sales from foreign currency translation and acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the first 12 months following the transaction date. We believe this measure is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in analysis of ongoing operating trends. A quantitative reconciliation of reported sales percent change to organic sales percent change has not been provided for forward-looking measures of organic sales percent change because management cannot reliably predict or estimate, without unreasonable effort, the fluctuations in global currency markets that impact foreign currency translation, nor is it reasonable for management to predict the timing, occurrence and impact of acquisition and divestiture transactions, all of which could significantly impact our reported sales percent change. Honeywell International Inc. Reconciliation of Operating Income to Segment Profit, Calculation of Operating Income and Segment Profit Margins (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions) Three Months Ended December 31, Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 2023 Operating income $ 1,583 $ 7,084 Stock compensation expense 1 54 202 Repositioning, Other 2,3 569 952 Pension and other postretirement service costs 3 17 66 Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 76 292 Acquisition-related costs 4 1 2 Segment profit $ 2,300 $ 8,598 Operating income $ 1,583 $ 7,084 ÷ Net sales $ 9,440 $ 36,662 Operating income margin % 16.8 % 19.3 % Segment profit $ 2,300 $ 8,598 ÷ Net sales $ 9,440 $ 36,662 Segment profit margin % 24.4 % 23.5 % 1 Included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. 2 Includes repositioning, asbestos, environmental expenses, equity income adjustment, and other charges. 3 Included in Cost of products and services sold and Selling, general and administrative expenses. 4 Includes acquisition-related fair value adjustments to inventory. We define operating income as net sales less total cost of products and services sold, research and development expenses, impairment of assets held for sale, and selling, general and administrative expenses. We define segment profit, on an overall Honeywell basis, as operating income, excluding stock compensation expense, pension and other postretirement service costs, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, certain acquisition- and divestiture-related costs and impairments, and repositioning and other charges. We define segment profit margin, on an overall Honeywell basis, as segment profit divided by net sales. We believe these measures are useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in analysis of ongoing operating trends. A quantitative reconciliation of operating income to segment profit, on an overall Honeywell basis, has not been provided for all forward-looking measures of segment profit and segment profit margin included herein. Management cannot reliably predict or estimate, without unreasonable effort, the impact and timing on future operating results arising from items excluded from segment profit, particularly pension mark-to-market expense as it is dependent on macroeconomic factors, such as interest rates and the return generated on invested pension plan assets. The information that is unavailable to provide a quantitative reconciliation could have a significant impact on our reported financial results. To the extent quantitative information becomes available without unreasonable effort in the future, and closer to the period to which the forward-looking measures pertain, a reconciliation of operating income to segment profit will be included within future filings. Acquisition amortization and acquisition- and divestiture-related costs are significantly impacted by the timing, size, and number of acquisitions or divestitures we complete and are not on a predictable cycle, and we make no comment as to when or whether any future acquisitions or divestitures may occur. We believe excluding these costs provides investors with a more meaningful comparison of operating performance over time and with both acquisitive and other peer companies. Honeywell International Inc. Reconciliation of Earnings per Share to Adjusted Earnings per Share (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 2024(E) 2023 2024(E) Earnings per share of common stock - diluted 1 $ 1.91 $2.03 - $2.13 $ 8.47 $8.76 - $8.86 Pension mark-to-market expense 2 0.19 No Forecast 0.19 No Forecast Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 3 0.09 0.17 0.35 0.50 Acquisition-related costs 4 — 0.02 0.01 0.10 Divestiture-related costs 5 — 0.04 — 0.04 Russian-related charges 6 — — — 0.03 Net expense related to the NARCO Buyout and HWI Sale 7 — — 0.01 — Adjustment to estimated future Bendix liability 8 0.49 — 0.49 — Indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment 9 — — — 0.06 Impairment of assets held for sale 10 — — — 0.19 Adjusted earnings per share of common stock - diluted $ 2.69 $2.26 - $2.36 $ 9.52 $9.68 - $9.78 1 For the three months ended December 31, 2023, adjusted earnings per share utilizes weighted average shares of approximately 660.9 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, adjusted earnings per share utilizes weighted average shares of approximately 668.2 million. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, expected earnings per share utilizes weighted average shares of approximately 653 million and 655 million, respectively. 2 Pension mark-to-market expense uses a blended tax rate of 18%, net of tax benefit of $27 million, for 2023. 3 For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, acquisition-related intangibles amortization includes $62 million and $231 million, net of tax benefit of approximately $14 million and $61 million, respectively. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, expected acquisition-related intangibles amortization includes approximately $110 million and $330 million, net of tax benefit of approximately $30 million and $85 million, respectively. 4 For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the adjustment for acquisition-related costs, which is principally comprised of third-party transaction and integration costs and acquisition-related fair value adjustments to inventory, is approximately $2 million and $7 million, net of tax benefit of approximately $0 million and $2 million, respectively. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the expected adjustment for acquisition-related costs, which is principally comprised of third-party transaction and integration costs and acquisition-related fair value adjustments to inventory, is approximately $20 million and $65 million, net of tax benefit of approximately $5 million and $15 million, respectively. 5 For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the expected adjustment for divestiture-related costs, which is principally comprised of third-party transaction costs, is approximately $25 million, net of tax benefit of approximately $5 million. 6 For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the adjustments were a benefit of $2 million and $3 million, without tax expense, respectively. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the expected adjustment is a $17 million expense, without tax benefit, due to the settlement of a contractual dispute with a Russian entity associated with the Company's suspension and wind down activities in Russia. 7 For the the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the adjustment was $8 million, net of tax benefit of $3 million, due to the net expense related to the NARCO Buyout and HWI Sale. 8 Bendix Friction Materials ("Bendix") is a business no longer owned by the Company. In 2023, the Company changed its valuation methodology for calculating legacy Bendix liabilities. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the adjustment was $330 million, net of tax benefit of $104 million, (or $434 million pre-tax) due to a change in the estimated liability for resolution of asserted (claims filed as of the financial statement date) and unasserted Bendix-related asbestos claims. The Company experienced fluctuations in average resolution values year-over-year in each of the past five years with no well-established trends in either direction. In 2023, the Company observed two consecutive years of increasing average resolution values (2023 and 2022), with more volatility in the earlier years of the five-year period (2019 through 2021). Based on these observations, the Company, during its annual review in the fourth quarter of 2023, reevaluated its valuation methodology and elected to give more weight to the two most recent years by shortening the look-back period from five years to two years (2023 and 2022). The Company believes that the average resolution values in the last two consecutive years are likely more representative of expected resolution values in future periods. The $434 million pre-tax amount was attributable primarily to shortening the look-back period to the two most recent years, and to a lesser extent to increasing expected resolution values for a subset of asserted claims to adjust for higher claim values in that subset than in the modelled two-year data set. It is not possible to predict whether such resolution values will increase, decrease, or stabilize in the future, given recent litigation trends within the tort system and the inherent uncertainty in predicting the outcome of such trends. The Company will continue to monitor Bendix claim resolution values and other trends within the tort system to assess the appropriate look-back period for determining average resolution values going forward. 9 For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the expected impairment charge of indefinite-lived intangible assets associated with the personal protective equipment business is $37 million, net of tax benefit of $11 million. 10 For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the expected impairment charge of assets held for sale is $125 million, with no tax benefit. Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. We define adjusted earnings per share as diluted earnings per share adjusted to exclude various charges as listed above. We believe adjusted earnings per share is a measure that is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in analysis of ongoing operating trends. For forward-looking information, management cannot reliably predict or estimate, without unreasonable effort, the pension mark-to-market expense as it is dependent on macroeconomic factors, such as interest rates and the return generated on invested pension plan assets. We therefore do not include an estimate for the pension mark-to-market expense. Based on economic and industry conditions, future developments, and other relevant factors, these assumptions are subject to change. Acquisition amortization and acquisition- and divestiture-related costs are significantly impacted by the timing, size, and number of acquisitions or divestitures we complete and are not on a predictable cycle and we make no comment as to when or whether any future acquisitions or divestitures may occur. We believe excluding these costs provides investors with a more meaningful comparison of operating performance over time and with both acquisitive and other peer companies. Honeywell International Inc. Reconciliation of Expected Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Expected Free Cash Flow (Unaudited) Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024(E) ($B) Cash provided by operating activities ~$5.8 - $6.1 Capital expenditures ~(1.2) Free cash flow ~$4.6 - $4.9 We define free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less cash for capital expenditures. We believe that free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure that is useful to investors and management as a measure of cash generated by operations that will be used to repay scheduled debt maturities and can be used to invest in future growth through new business development activities or acquisitions, pay dividends, repurchase stock, or repay debt obligations prior to their maturities. This measure can also be used to evaluate our ability to generate cash flow from operations and the impact that this cash flow has on our liquidity. Contacts: Media Investor Relations Stacey Jones Sean Meakim (980) 378-6258 (704) 627-6200 stacey.jones@honeywell.com sean.meakim@honeywell.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-and-bombardier-sign-landmark-agreement-to-deliver-the-next-generation-of-aviation-technology-honeywell-updates-2024-outlook-302320054.html SOURCE Honeywell © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Prescription Delivery Service market is Going to Boom | Major Giants PillPack, OptumRx, 12-13-2024 07:49 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Prescription Delivery Service market The Latest Released Prescription Delivery Service market study has evaluated the future growth potential of Global Prescription Delivery Service market and provides information and useful stats on market structure and size. The report is intended to provide market intelligence and strategic insights to help decision-makers take sound investment decisions and identify potential gaps and growth opportunities. Additionally, the report also identifies and analyses changing dynamics, and emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, opportunities, and restraints in the Prescription Delivery Service market. The study includes market share analysis and profiles of players such as PillPack (Amazon Pharmacy), CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance, OptumRx, Express Scripts, Capsule Pharmacy, Medly Pharmacy, NowRx, GoodRx, Alto Pharmacy, Walmart Pharmacy, Kroger Pharmacy, Publix Pharmacy, Rite Aid, LloydsPharmacy, HealthWarehouse.com, If you are a Prescription Delivery Service manufacturer or key player and would like to check or understand the policy and regulatory proposals, designing clear explanations of the stakes, potential winners and losers, and options for improvement then this article will help you understand the pattern with Impacting Trends. Download Sample Report PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3891597-prescription-delivery-service-market?utm_source=Tina_OpenPR&utm_id=Tina According to HTF Market Intelligence, the Global Prescription Delivery Service market is expected to grow from USD 8.0 Billion in 2023 to USD 16.5 Billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 11% from 2024 to 2032. Definition: Prescription delivery services are platforms or services designed to provide convenient home delivery of prescription medications. These services cater to patients with chronic conditions, mobility challenges, or busy lifestyles. They ensure timely timely delivery of medicines, often offering features like automatic refills, medication reminders, and consultations with pharmacists. With the rise of telemedicine and e-commerce, prescription delivery services have gained immense popularity. The market is driven by increasing demand for healthcare convenience, aging populations, and advancements in digital health technologies. Companies in this space focus on user-friendly apps, secure transactions, and compliance with healthcare regulations to build trust and reliability among users. Dominating Region: • North America, Europe Fastest-Growing Region: • Asia-Pacific, Latin America Major Highlights of the Prescription Delivery Service Market report released by HTF MI: Prescription Delivery Service Market Breakdown by Applications: Chronic Care Management, Convenience, Elderly Care, Online Pharmacy Support, Medication Adherence Prescription Delivery Service Market Breakdown by Types: Same-Day Delivery, Automated Refills, Subscription Services, 24/7 On-Demand Service, Remote Areas Delivery Revenue and Sales Estimation - Historical Revenue and sales volume are presented and further data is triangulated with top-down and bottom-up approaches to forecast complete market size and to estimate forecast numbers for key regions covered in the report along with classified and well-recognized Types and end-use industry. Have a query? Market an enquiry before purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3891597-prescription-delivery-service-market?utm_source=Tina_OpenPR&utm_id=Tina SWOT Analysis on Prescription Delivery Service Players In addition to Market Share analysis of players, in-depth profiling, product/service, and business overview, the study also concentrates on BCG matrix, heat map analysis, FPNV positioning along with SWOT analysis to better correlate market competitiveness. Demand from top-notch companies and government agencies is expected to rise as they seek more information on the latest scenario. Check the Demand Determinants section for more information. Regulation Analysis • Local System and Other Regulation: Regional variations in Laws for the use of Prescription Delivery Service • Regulation and its Implications • Other Compliances Market Factor Analysis Macro Economic Factors Impact of Inflation on Demand Cycle Ukraine War and Its Analysis FIVE FORCES & PESTLE ANALYSIS: In order to better understand market conditions five forces analysis is conducted that includes the Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, and Threat of rivalry. • Political (Political policy and stability as well as trade, fiscal, and taxation policies) • Economical (Interest rates, employment or unemployment rates, raw material costs, and foreign exchange rates) • Social (Changing family demographics, education levels, cultural trends, attitude changes, and changes in lifestyles) • Technological (Changes in digital or mobile technology, automation, research, and development) • Legal (Employment legislation, consumer law, health, and safety, international as well as trade regulation and restrictions) • Environmental (Climate, recycling procedures, carbon footprint, waste disposal, and sustainability) Buy Now Latest Edition of Prescription Delivery Service Market Report 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3891597 Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated: • APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and the Rest of APAC; the Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) • Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) • North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) • South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) • MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa) Some Extracts from Global Prescription Delivery Service Market Study Table of Content: Global Prescription Delivery Service Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2024 Global Prescription Delivery Service Market by Application/End Users Global Prescription Delivery Service Sales and Growth Rate (2024-2032) Global Prescription Delivery Service Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type, and Application Global Prescription Delivery Service (Volume, Value, and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined. Supply Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain Analysis ........and view more in the complete table of Contents Get 10-25% Discount on Immediate purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/3891597-prescription-delivery-service-market?utm_source=Tina_OpenPR&utm_id=Tina Thanks for showing interest in Prescription Delivery Service Industry Research Publication; you can also get individual chapter-wise sections or region-wise report versions like North America, LATAM, United States, GCC, Southeast Asia, Europe, APAC, Japan, United Kingdom, India or China, etc Contact Us: Nidhi Bhavsar (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Phone: +15075562445 sales@htfmarketintelligence.com About Author: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting is uniquely positioned to empower and inspire with research and consulting services to empower businesses with growth strategies, by offering services with extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events, and experience that assist in decision-making. 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Cibus director Prante Gerhard sells $9,579 in stockZerodha founder Nithin Kamath has a stark reminder for market enthusiasts chasing easy money: “If something is too good to be true, it almost always is.” His post on X comes on the heels of SEBI uncovering two audacious scams that siphoned off a staggering ₹61 crore from unsuspecting investors. One scam spun a web of lies around a small company’s IPO, while the other featured a flashy financial influencer selling hollow promises. Both expose the dark side of greed and gullibility in the markets. A small company launched an IPO to raise funds for “revolutionary software” essential for smart city projects. Investors piled in, oversubscribing the IPO by 345 times. But the dream unraveled when SEBI dug deeper. The software vendor? A shell company with no real operations. SEBI found its office empty, its financial records fabricated, and its client list pure fiction. Worse, the vendor was handpicked in a shady deal with no tendering process. In the end, SEBI halted the IPO and ordered the company to refund the ₹44 crores raised, leaving investors to question if they were victims of negligence or outright fraud. Enter the self-styled “Baap of Chart,” a financial influencer who turned market advice into a spectacle. Promising guaranteed returns, he raked in ₹17 crores by selling overpriced courses and offering direct investment advice under the guise of education. SEBI’s findings laid bare his strategy: He wasn’t just losing money on his own trades; he was concealing those losses while touting success. His advice wasn’t authorized, turning his operation into an illegal investment scheme. The regulator barred him and his associates from market activities and ordered them to repay every rupee collected. These scams underscore Kamath’s point: shortcuts in the stock market lead nowhere but ruin.Stock market today: Domestic equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty 50 logged their best week since June in the previous session, led mainly by financials after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) boosted liquidity by cutting the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points (bps) in its December monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting. Nifty 50 ended the session with a minor loss of 0.12% at 24,677 but posted a sharp weekly gain of 2.27%. Meanwhile, the Sensex closed with a slight drop of 0.07% at 81,709, wrapping up the week with a notable uptick of 2.39%. The Nifty and Sensex added 2.3% and 2.4%, respectively, this week, their best since early June when the country's national election results confirmed policy continuity. On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered the CRR by 50 basis points to 4% for the first time in four years, while keeping interest rates unchanged. "Equity markets got what they wanted from the RBI and have taken the policy outcome in their stride," said Dhiraj Relli, chief executive of HDFC Securities. Analysts said that the central bank's concerns over a recent growth slump as well as elevated inflation could keep markets in consolidation mode, with a positive bias in the coming days. The BSE Sensex also ended its five-day bull run, closing the session with a slight drop of 0.07% at 81,709, but wrapped up the week with a notable uptick of 2.39%. Notably, this marks the third consecutive week of gains for both indices. Financials gained 3% in the prior four sessions in anticipation of the cut in the CRR, which is expected to support the margins of lenders. The index closed little changed on the day. "The CRR reduction will release about 1.16 trillion rupees ($13.71 billion) into the banking system and is a big positive for the banking sector specifically," Abhishek Goenka, founder and CEO of IFA Global said. Other domestic rate-sensitive sectors such as realty rose 5.3% this week, while auto gained 2.5%. The weekly jump in the benchmarks was also supported by IT stocks, which rose this week on the back of comments from the Federal Reserve Chair, signaling strength in the U.S. economy. Commenting on the market performance, Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services said, “Though benchmark indices concluded on a flattish trend, Indian broader indices displayed optimism as the RBI acknowledged the downward growth trend while last-mile inflation persisted.” "By lowering the CRR and injecting ₹ 1.16 lakh crore into the financial system, the RBI aims to stimulate economic growth amid increased liquidity. The overall market exhibited a mixed outlook, reflecting a cautious yet resilient stance, with sector rotation and specific stock movements shaping market sentiment," he added. IT firms, which earn a significant share of their revenue from the U.S., gained 3.6% for the week. The broader, more domestically-focused smallcaps and midcaps rose 0.8% and 0.5% on the day. They ended the week about 4.3% higher. Commenting on the policy, Dr. Vikas Gupta, CEO and Chief Investment Strategist, OmniScience Capital said, “The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to maintain the repo rate at 6.5% for the eleventh consecutive meeting, coupled with a neutral policy stance, reflects a prudent approach to balancing inflation management with economic growth support. The 50-basis-point reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is a strategically timed measure to ease liquidity constraints, injecting over ₹ 1 trillion into the banking system. This move enhances banks’ capacity to extend credit and invigorates economic activity across sectors. With inflation projections for FY25 revised to 4.8%, the RBI’s cautious outlook underscores its commitment to maintaining durable price stability while fostering sustainable growth. Notably, the real GDP growth forecast for FY25 has been revised downward from 7.2% to 6.6%, reflecting recent economic challenges. Headline CPI inflation spiked to 6.2% in October from 5.5% in September and sub-4% levels earlier in the fiscal year, driven by a sharp rise in food inflation and a modest uptick in core inflation. Encouragingly, food inflation is expected to ease in Q4 FY25 as seasonal vegetable price reductions and kharif harvest arrivals bring relief. Meanwhile, the robust performance of private consumption and the services sector continues to underline the Indian economy’s resilience. Temporary headwinds, such as monsoonal disruptions and election-related factors, are anticipated to wane, paving the way for a recovery in the coming quarters. For investors, this period presents an opportune moment to recalibrate strategies. Sectors with strong earnings visibility, manageable debt levels, and sustainable competitive advantages are likely to drive the next growth cycle. Diversified portfolios focused on emerging growth themes can capitalize on India’s medium- to long-term growth potential, which is underpinned by domestic economic resilience and favorable global trends. The RBI’s policy adjustments, emphasizing stability and liquidity, position the economy and markets for sustained growth while providing a foundation for strategic, long-term investment opportunities.” What should be your trading strategy? Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd. Markets traded within a narrow range and ended the day nearly unchanged despite an eventful session. After a flat opening, the Nifty remained confined to a tight band, as the MPC meeting outcome aligned with market expectations and failed to evoke a significant reaction. Sectoral trends were mixed, with gains in metal and auto stocks, while IT, banking, and energy sectors remained subdued. On the broader front, midcap and smallcap indices continued to exhibit strength, posting gains of 0.44% to 0.85%. We maintain our bullish outlook and recommend adopting a "buy on dips" strategy, emphasizing selective stock picking. While the strong performance from key sectors such as banking and IT is likely to persist, we anticipate selective contributions from other sectors as well. Additionally, the broader indices, particularly midcap and smallcap segments, are presenting promising opportunities, making selective investments in this space worthwhile." Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst, LKP Securities said, “The Nifty continues to sustain above the breakout from an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern, indicating underlying market strength. In such conditions, adopting a buy-on-dips strategy seems prudent, especially with the potential for an upward move toward 25,500 in the short term." However, he said minor pullbacks following a sharp rally are possible, emphasizing the effectiveness of buying on dips to capitalize on this According to analysts, Looking ahead, the likelihood of a rate cut in the next two MPC meetings has increased considerably. However, the macroeconomic environment has become more volatile and uncertain. For example, in October, a rate cut for December was almost fully priced in, but hawkish comments from Governor Das and a CPI inflation print above 6% tempered those expectations. These discussions resurfaced recently after a disappointing GDP print. These experiences have been humbling, serving as useful learning guidelines for the future. Analysts expect a rate cut in February, but we acknowledge that the events leading up to that decision—such as political developments in the US, the February budget, and the outlook for vegetables over the next two months—will play a critical role in determining the final outcome. This copy is being updated. 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Sunderfolk , a four-player co-op turn-based RPG, is looking like the next game to encourage folks to experience the joy of tabletop games. It sees players fight together through a story where every NPC and player choice is narrated by a game master, allowing a group of friends to party up for weekly game nights to play through a campaign together. Sunderfolk doesn't offer the same level of narrative freedom as a game like Baldur's Gate 3 (or playing an actual tabletop game with a real person as the game master); instead, it honors binary choices in a curated narrative. Even if that means Sunderfolk's game master is technically always railroading the players (a major faux pas in the tabletop community), I still think this feature sounds incredibly cool, potentially doing enough to still emulate what it's like to play in a story-driven tabletop campaign with your friends. In Sunderfolk, each player can pick from six different classes: the spell-slinging Arcanist, support-focused Bard, frontline fighter Berserker, area-of-effect specialist Pyromancer, sharpshooter Ranger, and slippery Rogue. You play as the titular Sunderfolk, anthropomorphic animals who reside in the Sunderlands, which have come under attack by the corrupting influence of shadowstones. You can play Sunderfolk with everyone in person or virtually with some or all players in different locations. While the action happens on one TV or computer screen (meaning someone will have to stream the game if you're playing virtually), each player interacts with their phone (sort of like a Jackbox Party game), allowing you to dictate what your character does next from anywhere. Sunderfolk uses its own system, but it's built on the backbone of existing tabletop games. "The game that had the biggest inspiration on us, gameplay-wise--I think even some of the audience has kind of seen it in the way that the game plays out--is Gloomhaven, which is a board game. Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are kind of our biggest inspirations," game director Erin Marek told me. "We at the studio love tabletop RPGs, but we also love board gaming and especially tactics-turn-based board games, and we know they're not super accessible for a lot of folks. There are some challenges that board games can have around long setup times, lots of reading to understand what the rules are, but there's also something really magical about getting together in person and playing in-person that is kind of that synergy, like can we make something that's like this but is more accessible to either folks who aren't familiar or maybe have opted out in the past from that experience for whatever reason and create it as that entry point. So that was our early inspiration. We've diverged from it over time, but I still think you can see it in some of the design." One of those diversions is a relationship tracker, which allows each of the players to befriend and/or romance NPCs. "[We've made] some of the NPCs romanceable, and I think that that's a particularly exciting feature if you're somebody who loves dating sims and stuff," Marek said. "We have this cast of NPCs in town that you can engage with, learn about them, and then choose to either go down a more platonic path or choose to go down a more romantic path. And you get some really awesome rewards too if you get all the way to the end of their path." Like Gloomhaven, Sunderfolk is divided into two repeating phases. "You have the mission phase, which is high intensity, everybody's working together, taking turns, trying to beat monsters, etc.," Marek said. "That's where you might see things like cinematics or the game master voiceover. Kind of at the tail ends and beginning of those missions, you'll get the story content that Anjali [Bhimani] helped voice. And then once you're in town, it's a little bit more of a breathing moment. It's the opportunity where it's like, 'Oh, I've got [a chance to] take a break. I'm going to go grab a snack.' And you're not hindered by other people not being there to continue your experience. So in that [phase], you can go on your phone, you can talk to different characters, have your own stories happening. And one of the things that is my favorite feature of the game is--we call it Mad Libs--you can name things. [You name things] in the plot, in the game, and it'll pop up in other places. ...And so it provides this opportunity for each group to leave little surprises and gifts for the other players, create inside jokes or feel like they have some sense of agency over some of the pieces of the world." There is some semblance of choice beyond these Mad Libs, but Sunderfolk isn't a huge branching RPG, so the degree of agency that players have is curated by the game master's narration. "There are main story missions, which hit at certain points in the progression that you will always play," Marek said. "But in between those, you're provided with three to four different mission options and you'll get to pick which ones you want to play or don't want to play. So there's a little bit of agency [there]. ...And then once [a mission] is selected, the [game master] helps bridge the gap, [going] 'Okay, so you chose to go there and here's why you're choosing to go there.' So a little bit is reactive, a little bit is more railroad-y. There's a little bit on both of those sides, and I think it's a decent balance. We've also tried really hard on the writing side not to have the game master put actions into the players, not to enforce an action upon a player." To enforce how hands-off the game master is in dictating the player characters' motivations, those characters do not speak. The game essentially leaves it up to the players to roleplay their characters as they see fit. However, every other character is voiced by the same person, and that person is also the sole narrator of the action and the player characters' choices: the game master. Actor Anjali Bhimani (a game master in her own right, and the voice behind roles like Overwatch's Symmetra and Apex Legends' Rampart) is the narrator and game master in Sunderfolk. "What appealed to me the most about this job was the actual make of the game," Bhimani told me. "When Chris [Sigaty] from Dreamhaven hit me up, and we sat and talked about it, and he explained to me exactly what they were trying to do with the game, how they were trying to reinvent game night, essentially, for families, for people all over the globe, and bring the simplicity of turning on a video game to the collaborative nature of tabletop, combining those two parts, those really, really wonderful parts of gaming to each other, just made so much sense to me. And I, like them, have had a similarly difficult time getting some of my friends to play a TTRPG, because there's a lot of setup and there's a lot of learning. And convincing friends that you don't have to worry about all the rules, it's an open-book test--even sometimes that doesn't get them over the finish line." "We knew we wanted somebody who had experience in the tabletop RPG space," Marek said. "It's so hard to describe, but there's this nuance between when you're narrating something versus when you're talking to your friends at a table. And I feel like anybody who plays a tabletop RPG kind of intuitively knows that difference. They experience it enough to get it. And so when we were looking at our own script, there are these moments where the narrator is a narrator, but there are also moments where they're a game master at the table talking to their party, and that is so hard to parse through without really knowing the space." "Before we even started, I asked to sit down with them and see all of the characters that I was going to be voicing this whole time, so that we could plot out [voices], and I could plot out in my head, which voices I was going to use," Bhimani said. "And not even for each one of them, but just in a sense of where in my range certain ones would live, and make sure that I really was being distinct with each one's voice. You don't know if all five of them are going to be in the same scene at any given time, right? We want to make sure that they sound a little bit different. So, we can go through and take a look at all of those and see which ones we're going to be around a lot more, and which ones we're going to be doing scenes with each other more often, and stuff like that." If you can't bring a group of people together to play even over a Discord call, you can play Sunderfolk solo. "It's not really our intended experience. I wouldn't say it's the best experience [to play solo], but yeah, absolutely you can," Marek said. "So we know some folks also might struggle to get their groups together or maybe they don't have groups that they want to play with, and so we didn't want to prevent them from being able to experience this game as well. So the only caveat is they have to control at least two heroes. You can't play it as a solo hero. You have to play at least two heroes. And you can always, if you start solo, somebody else can join you, they can leave, you can pick up their character. So there's a lot of flexibility too in just making sure if something happens to you partway through the campaign or to your group partway through the campaign, there are lots of options to continue to play without that hindering." Sunderfolk is set to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC in 2025.
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BENSON — There is a sense of optimism for the Benson boys basketball team. The Braves, who were 0-14 in the West Central Conference and 11-17 overall last year, nearly retain the entirety of their roster. Two key contributors, Blake Brehmer and Joey Pagel, graduated. “We will look to improve as a team and build on last year’s success,” Benson head coach Mike Felt said. “Our guys put a lot of time in during the offseason, both individually and as a team. I can’t wait to get back in the gym with them and get our season underway.” Harold Habben and Lanadreon Goodwin return and are looking to lead it. Both averaged double-doubles as underclassmen. Habben, a 6-foot-6 junior center who averaged 14.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, set the Benson record for most rebounds in a season with 295. He was a WCC Honorable Mention. Goodwin, a 6-6 sophomore power forward, posted 13.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Two experienced juniors, who are both three-year starters, are back. Looking to help guide the Braves are Tayte Antolick and Landon Skarsten. Antolick, a 6-4 power forward, averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Skarsten, a 5-10 shooting guard, led Benson in three-pointers and three-point percentage at 9.3 points per game. Jaden McCarter, a 5-7 senior, is a defensive stopper and will steer Benson as its point guard. “All of these players were key contributors to our team last year,” said Felt, who will have three assistant coaches: Adam Jensen, Brady Dokkebakken and Alex Fountain. “They return hoping to make a bigger impact this year.”While the horror in Palestine continues, political drama has suddenly flared in other parts of the world, namely South Korea and France. At the same time, the bloody Ukraine War in Eastern Europe grinds on with very powerful contesting military forces dangerously poised in that region. Numbed as we are from constantly watching the sick bloodletting in Gaza, we Sri Lankans could wonder whether, equipped as we are with a most stable and proficient Government in Colombo, we should offer our ‘good offices’ to the West. Sri Lanka’s recent record of most peaceful elections that has placed a reformist national leadership surely qualifies us to mediate in the volatile politics of those very centres of power that, for decades, preached to us about ‘peace’ and ‘democracy’. Sri Lankan civic organisations that already share their expertise on election conduct with other Asian states, such as PAFFREL (People’s Alliance for Fair and Free Elections) and CMEV (Centre for Monitoring Election Violence), may now be needed to help out further afield, perhaps Westwards. After all, do we not want competence and decency in those centres of world power that could, at their nefarious whim, upturn what is left of the so-called ‘World Order’? Political intrigue Former French Premier Michel Barnier French President Emmanuel Macron Those familiar with the history of political intrigue and debauchery at the heart of the ancient Roman Empire during its long decline, now keenly note the similar features increasingly characterising the United States, the latest geopolitical hegemon in decline. The world today watches bemused as Washington’s future Government appoints new top officers already known for their sordid sexual decadence, opportunism and constitutional antics. ‘Bemused’, it might be, but the world community, whose sensibilities are lacerated by the public Gaza genocide and the openly cynical posturing of the perpetrators, may no longer care if those perpetrating States and their societies are tied up in knots. A weaker hegemon is possibly better than a strong, efficient one, some of its victims could argue. The problem is that some of America’s incoming Government officials, with pasts of near-criminality and obvious mediocrity, may soon be in charge of the world’s dominant economy and most powerful and most globally interventionist military. How will such ‘governance’ in Washington impact on the rest of humanity? To realise possible impacts, people need to read up, for example, on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for Washington’s Departments (equivalent to Government Ministries in other countries) of Defence, Justice, Homeland Security, and Education among other vital arms of the American Government. Just query the internet on these nominees to learn of their ‘qualifications’. Their various antics could make entertaining reading if not for the serious implications of their assuming office. Wise to the governance implications, the electorally triumphant Republican Party (GOP) has already rejected some other Trump nominations. But, still, Americans are faced with the possible appointment of a head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) who has previously vowed to disband some of that world famous Bureau’s most vital intelligence and investigative units. Another nominee wants to ‘abolish’ the entire Department of Education. And, whether the world’s richest man, Elon Musk of Tesla, X and SpaceX fame will accept a non-existent ‘Department for Government Efficiency’ (GOE) remains to be seen, though it has no Cabinet rank. Surely, by now, he must realise that national governance is very different from business. Perhaps his Artificial Intelligence (AI) apps could advise him. Meanwhile, in an act of classic nepotism, outgoing US President Joe Biden has given a pardon to his already convicted son (on gun and tax evasion charges) Hunter Biden. Of course, Hunter Biden had not committed murder like some Sri Lankan political assassins who have been favoured with Presidential pardons here. Bemused as we are with all these goings-on in some of the ‘Great’ powers, the sudden political drama in South Korea briefly diverted attention. South Korea Last Tuesday evening, elected President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, suddenly publicly announced ‘Martial Law’ status in his country. However, after a brief period of shock and alarm, the political Opposition rallied and forced through a vote in the National Assembly that overruled the Presidential Declaration. It all happened within about six hours, according to news agencies. By late morning Wednesday, Koreans were learning that President Yoon had withdrawn the Martial Law status and normal Government had been restored, removing the prospect of a revival of military dictatorship for which South Korea was notorious just over 40 years ago. Yesterday, the President apologised to the Korean nation for imposing Martial Law. He was due to face an Impeachment Motion yesterday. By Wednesday evening, even as things began to calm down, demonstrators continued to crowd the stairways of the National Assembly building in Seoul with posters reading, ‘Impeach Yoon Seok Yeol’. Giving a sudden televised address to the nation, President Yoon had proclaimed the need to “protect the country from North Korean communists and eliminate anti-State elements”. Yoon, known to be facing possible prosecution for governance irregularities, and rapidly losing popularity, had claimed a need to “rebuild and protect the country from falling into ruin”. News agencies reported that by deploying troops to blockade the National Assembly building overnight, Yoon attempted to stop Parliamentarians from interfering in his plans. But backed by angry massed supporters, Legislators entered Parliament and voted to lift Martial Law, which eventually lasted for only around two hours. By Wednesday morning, South Korea had survived its first attempted coup in more than 40 years. National life resumed a semblance of normality. But hundreds of protesters and citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly to join demonstrations led by members of the Opposition Democratic Party who, a few hours earlier, had put forward a Bill to impeach Yoon. Previously, South Korean Presidents have been impeached for mis-governance, especially massive corruption and the Korean Supreme Court has upheld such decisions. Analysts said that the Korean Armed Forces, one of Asia’s most powerful and with a long history of political authoritarianism in the past, had carefully remained largely neutral. However, the Korean Defence Minister, who has resigned, is regarded as being involved in Yoon’s coup attempt and is expected to face criminal prosecution along with Yoon. Yoon was expected to resign by yesterday but many democracy activists are remaining vigilant for any further disruptions. Business circles were happy that the Korean economy, one of the world’s strongest, was able to resume business without serious interruption. South Korea, a close US military ally since the Korean Civil War in the early 1950s and during the entire Cold War, has a history of decades of brutally repressive military rule that ended only in 1988. The establishment of democracy took decades of struggle, including the famous Gwangju uprising, a mass protest in May 1980, in the southern city of Gwangju. Hundreds of protesters were killed in the subsequent crackdown by the military dictatorship. France Last week also saw France, Europe’s strongest economy after Germany, thrown into political instability when French Legislators on the Right and Left combined to vote out the Centre-Right Government appointed a few months ago by Centrist President Emmanuel Macron. Last Wednesday evening, 331 French Legislators from Left and Right-wing parties, out of 577 Legislators in the National Assembly, voted in favour of removing the European Union’s (EU) former Brexit negotiator Premier Michel Barnier, 73. Barnier’s resignation came just as he was presenting the National Budget for 2025. French Legislators from the country’s Left-wing alliance, New Popular Front (NFP), tabled the vote in opposition to Barnier’s austerity budget. This was supported by the far-Right National Rally (RN) led by nationalist firebrand Marie Le Pen, when the Premier tried to push the Budget through the Assembly without a vote. Both the Right and Left forces are alert to the immense unpopularity of Barnier’s economic policies that are essentially the policies of the French President who is notorious for his neo-liberal outlook. The Budget included more cuts in social welfare spending and higher taxation. Macron himself is rejecting calls to resign. President of France since 2017, he has a mandate until 2027, when the country’s next Presidential Elections are due to take place. He is now expected to appoint a stop-gap Government to push through a modified Budget shorn of the social spending cuts that would otherwise provoke another negative vote in the Assembly. Analysts see this as a political triumph for both the French Right and Left groups.
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