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LONDON – When voters around the globe had their say in 2024, their message was often: “You’re fired.” Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many incumbents were punished . From India and the United States to Japan , France and Britain , voters tired of economic disruption and global instability rejected sitting governments — and sometimes turned to disruptive outsiders. Recommended Videos The rocky democratic landscape just seemed to get bumpier as a dramatic year careened toward its end, with mass protests in Mozambique and Georgia , an election annulled in Romania and an attempt to impose martial law in South Korea. Cas Mudde, a professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia who studies extremism and democracy, summed up 2024 in Prospect magazine as “a great year for the far right, a terrible year for incumbents and a troublesome year for democracy around the world.” Incumbents battered One message sent by voters in 2024: They’re fed up. University of Manchester political scientist Rob Ford has attributed the anti-incumbent mood to “electoral long COVID” -– lingering pandemic-related health, education, social and economic disruptions that have made millions of people unhappier and worse off. High inflation, fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and mass displacement from that war and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa have added to the global unease. In South Africa, high unemployment and inequality helped drive a dramatic loss of support for the African National Congress, which had governed for three decades since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule . The party once led by Nelson Mandela lost its political dominance in May’s election and was forced to go into coalition with opposition parties. Incumbents also were defeated in Senegal, Ghana and Botswana , where voters ousted the party that had been in power for 58 years since independence from Britain. Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party extended its 34 years in power in December -– but only by a whisker. Uruguay’s leftist opposition candidate, Yamandú Orsi , became the country’s new president in a November runoff that delivered another rebuke to incumbents. In India, the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party lost its parliamentary majority in a shock election result in June after a decade of dominance. It was forced to govern in coalition as the opposition doubled its strength in Parliament. Japanese politics entered a new era of uncertainty after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled almost without interruption since 1955, suffered a major loss in October amid voter anger at party financial scandals. It now leads a minority government. The U.K.’s July election saw the right-of-center Conservatives ousted after 14 years in office as the center-left Labour Party swept to power in a landslide. But the results also revealed growing fragmentation: Support for the two big parties that have dominated British politics for a century shrank as voters turned to smaller parties, including the hard-right party Reform U.K. led by Nigel Farage. Authoritarians advance Britain is not alone in seeing a rise for the right. Elections in June for the parliament of the 27-nation European Union saw conservative populists and the far right rock ruling parties in France and Germany, the EU’s biggest and most powerful members. The anti-immigration National Rally party won the first round of France’s parliamentary election in June, but alliances and tactical voting by the center and left knocked it down to third place in the second round, producing a divided legislature and a fragile government that collapsed in a Dec. 4 no-confidence vote. In Austria, the conservative governing People’s Party was beaten by the far-right, pro-Russia Freedom Party in September, though other parties allied to keep it out of a coalition government. Nepotism and political dynasties continued to exert influence -– and to be challenged. After messy elections in February, Pakistan elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, younger brother of three-time leader Nawaz Sharif. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest democracy, elected President Prabowo Subianto , son-in-law of the late dictator Suharto . Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the world’s longest-serving female leader, won a fourth successive term in a January election that opposition parties boycotted . Months later, her 15-year rule came to a tumultuous end: After mass student-led protests in which hundreds were killed, Hasina was ousted in August and fled to India. In Sri Lanka, voters also rejected a discredited old guard. Voters elected the Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president in September, two years after an island-wide public movement by an engaged middle class removed the long-ruling Rajapaksa clan. Interference allegations Covert meddling and online disinformation were growing concerns in 2024. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said that this year it took down 20 election-related “covert influence operations around the world, including in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the U.S.” It said Russia was the top source of such meddling, followed by Iran and China. In Romania, far-right candidate Călin Georgescu came from nowhere to win the first round of the presidential election in November, aided in part by a flood of TikTok videos promoting his campaign. Amid allegations of Russian meddling, Romania’s Constitutional Court canceled the presidential election runoff two days before it was due to take place after a trove of declassified intelligence alleged Russia organized a sprawling campaign across social media to promote Georgescu. No date has yet been set for a rerun. Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu won a November runoff against her Moscow-friendly rival in an election seen as pivotal to the future of one of Europe’s poorest nations. Georgia has seen huge protests since an election in October was won by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream party, which suspended negotiations on joining the European Union. The opposition and the pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, have accused the governing party of rigging the vote with Russia’s help. Uncertainty reigns Possibly the year’s most seismic result, Donald Trump’s victory in November’s U.S. presidential election, has America’s allies and opponents bracing for what the unpredictable “America-first” leader will do with his second term. And instability already reigns on several continents as the year ends. Venezuela has been in political crisis since a July election marred by serious fraud allegations which both President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition claim to have won. Amid opposition protests and a harsh crackdown, opposition candidate Edmundo González went into exile in Spain. In Mozambique, the Frelimo party that has ruled for half a century was declared the winner of an October election that the opposition called rigged. Weeks of ongoing street protests across the country have left more than 100 dead. South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — weakened after the liberal opposition retained control in an April election -– astonished the country by declaring martial law in a late-night announcement on Dec. 3. Parliament voted to overturn the decision six hours later, and within days voted to impeach Yoon. The crisis in the deeply divided country is far from over. Democracy’s bumpy ride looks likely to continue in 2025, with embattled incumbents facing challenge in countries including Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote on Dec. 16, triggering an early election likely in February. Canada will also vote in 2025, with the governing Liberals widely unpopular and increasingly divided after almost a decade in power. Seema Shah, head of democracy assessment at the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said global surveys suggest support for the concept of democracy remains strong, but the numbers plummet “when you ask people how satisfied they are with their own democracy.” “People want democracy. They like the theory of it," she said. “But when they see it actually play out, it’s not living up to their expectations.” ___ Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this story.The Latest: State funeral for Jimmy Carter will be Jan. 9
Penn State University Police and Public Safety have closed the investigation into an incident involving Jason Kelce that saw the former Philadelphia Eagles center spike a heckler's cellphone and repeat a homophobic slur . A viral video showed an interaction between Kelce and an individual outside Beaver Stadium where Penn State played Ohio State on Nov. 2. Kelce was at the game as part of Pat McAfee's Kicking Contest put on by ESPN's "College GameDay." The fan is heard using a homophobic slur directed at Kelce about his brother Travis, who is dating Taylor Swift . Kelce is seen turning around and grabbing someone's cell phone before spiking it to the ground. Kelce is then heard repeating the homophobic slur towards the person. Penn State confirmed to CNN that the investigation had been closed. "The individual in the video footage circulating on social media has not been identified, and no one has come forward to University Police with a related complaint about damage to personal property," the school said in a statement to CNN. Kelce apologized for the incident on ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown," and then again on his "New Heights" podcast with his brother. "Me reacting gave him the time of day, and it also gave the situation notoriety," he said. "That's what I regret. It didn't deserve attention. It's really stupid. "And if I just keep walking ... it's a nothing burger. Nobody sees it. Now, it's out there, and it just perpetuates more hate. "The thing that I regret the most is saying that word, to be honest with you. The word he used is just (expletive) ridiculous and it takes it to another level. It's just off the wall and (expletive) over the line. "It's dehumanizing and got under my skin. ... I know now that I shouldn't have done it because now there's a video out there with me saying that word, him saying that word, and it's not good for anybody." CNN has reached out to Kelce's representatives for comment.Cryptocurrency markets are trading lower on Tuesday. Cryptocurrency Price Gains +/- Bitcoin BTC/USD $91,912.69 -2.9% Ethereum ETH/USD $3,277.87 -4.8% Solana SOL/USD $226.08 -5.1% Dogecoin DOGE/USD $0.3746 -6.8% Shiba Inu SHIB/USD $0.00002385 -6.7% Notable Statistics: IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume increasing by 77.4% and daily active addresses up by 16.4%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are up from 9,585 to 13,037 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are up by 858.2%. Coinglass data reports 193,074 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $590.74 million. CryptoQuant noted long-term holders offloaded 728,000 BTC in the past 30 days, the highest sell-off since April. Notable Developments: MicroStrategy, Coinbase, And Other Bitcoin-Linked Stocks Tumble As BTC’s March To $100,000 Stalls Pantera Bitcoin Fund Hits 1,000X Return, Predicts BTC At $740,000 By 2028 Crypto Billionaire Justin Sun Pledges $30M Investment In Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial: What’s Happening? Dogecoin Gets Its First Exchange-Traded Product In Sweden Pro-Bitcoin Trump Administration Could See El Salvador Emerging As US ‘Strategic Partner,’ Says VanEck Top Losers : Cryptocurrency Price Gains +/- The Sandbox SAND/USD $0.5954 -18.6% Stellar XLM/USD $0.4344 -14.9% Maker MKR/USD $1,689.37 -11.7% Trader Notes: With Bitcoin’s recent price drop dragging the cryptocurrency market lower, chart analyst Ali Martinez highlights the availability of crypto assets at “discounts.” Black Friday came early! These are pretty good discounts. pic.twitter.com/BJFWCdmR2U According to More Crypto Online, Bitcoin's correction remains in progress. The $92,802 support hasn't been invalidated, meaning bulls could still regain momentum. Key support levels include $88,650, with additional Fibonacci targets at $85,558 and $77,874 if the downward trend persists. CoinDesk senior analyst James Van Straten noted a record-breaking $4 billion in Bitcoin panic sales to exchanges, triggering liquidation cascades that allowed smart money to accumulate at discounted prices. Van Straten believes the correction, which reached 10%, may now be complete. Read Next: Anthony Scaramucci: Trump Win Is ‘The Greatest Political Comeback In US History,’ Crypto Surge Following It Was 3 Years Overdue Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
It's the Law: How the Child Protective Act works
Realty Income ( O 0.10% ) and Agree Realty ( ADC -0.87% ) are two of the largest real estate investment trusts (REITs) focused on freestanding retail properties secured by net leases. Those leases require tenants to cover all operating expenses (including routine building maintenance, real estate taxes, and property insurance). That enables the REITs to collect very stable rental income, which allows them to pay monthly dividends. Given their similar strategies, most investors will likely only want to own one of these REITs . Here's a look at which of these monthly dividend stocks is the better buy for passive income right now . A look at the numbers It's essential to take a closer look at the key financial metrics of these REITs to see how they compare. Here's a snapshot of those numbers: Monthly Dividend Stock Dividend Yield Dividend Payout Ratio Leverage Ratio 2024 AFFO Growth Rate (midpoint) Price to AFFO Agree Realty 3.9% 73% 3.6x 4.6% 18.7x Realty Income 5.5% 75.1% 5.4x 4.8% 13.7x Data source: Realty Income and Agree Realty. From these numbers, we can see that Realty Income has a much higher dividend yield , which is due solely to its much lower valuation since they both have similar dividend payout ratios . At first glance, the only explanation for the valuation difference is that Agree Realty has a much lower leverage ratio , considering that the REITs are growing their adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) at around the same rate this year. That would seem to imply that Agree Realty is a financially stronger company. However, a closer look at their balance sheets suggests things are much tighter than they appear at first glance. Agree Realty's leverage ratio is 4.9x after excluding unsettled forward equity (stock it agreed to sell to fund future investments). Meanwhile, the REIT's credit rating is BBB+/Baa1, which is a notch below Realty Income's A-/A3 credit rating (it's one of eight REITs in the S&P 500 index with credit ratings that high or better). So, clearly, Realty Income is a very financially strong REIT. A look at their portfolios Realty Income and Agree Realty have similar real estate portfolios since they focus on owning freestanding net lease retail properties. However, there are some key differences between their portfolios. Realty Income owns 15,457 properties around the U.S. and Europe leased to 1,552 clients in 90 industries. It's the seventh-largest REIT in the world, with $58 billion of real estate. Retail properties comprise 79.4% of its portfolio. Realty Income also owns industrial real estate (14.6%), gaming properties (3.2%), and other real estate (including data centers). About 32% of its rent comes from investment-grade tenants. Agree Realty has a much smaller portfolio. The REIT owns 2,271 retail properties around the U.S. While net leases make up the bulk of its portfolio, the REIT also has 223 ground leases that supply about 10.9% of its annual base rent. Ground leases are even more stable than net leases and provide bond-like income. The company gets 67.5% of its rent from investment-grade tenants. From this information, we can glean that Realty Income offers investors a much more diversified portfolio (geographically and by property type). However, Agree Realty has a lower-risk portfolio, given its focus on investment-grade tenants and its ground leases. The better REIT to buy right now While both REITs are great options for those seeking a monthly stream of passive dividend income , Realty Income is the better buy right now. It trades at a much lower valuation (and higher dividend yield) even though it's growing as fast as Agree Realty and has a similarly strong financial profile. While Agree Realty has some lower-risk characteristics, Realty Income also has a low-risk profile and offers investors greater diversification and scale. Realty Income gives investors higher total return potential from its higher yield and lower relative valuation, making it the better buy right now .
Louisiana lawmakers pass income and corporate tax cuts, raising statewide sales tax to pay for itIn case you missed it, Black Friday sales are already going strong. As shopping experts, we’re already knocking out holiday shopping before the big rush later this month, and per our trackers, you should do the same. Just make sure one of your first stops is Target because the retailer’s early Black Friday deals are here and actually pretty dang good. We’re clocking record low prices on clothing, tech, skin care, bedding, furniture and more. See our top 25 best early Cyber Week deals below and grab your faves before they sell out (because oh, they will). Check Out All Of The Cyber Week Deals The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount (and when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why). HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability are subject to change If you could use a wardrobe upgrade that doesn't empty your pockets, then run to Target now for these stylish V-neck sweaters sitting prettier than they've ever been at 40% off . With so many colors available (a nice mix of neutrals and personality hues) and the $15 sale price, nabbing these is a no-brainer! There truly is an app for everything, including this mug warmer from Ember . Users can program the app to heat their beverage to the exact degree of their choosing. Winter is coming and so is the time for cozying up on the couch under a blanket with one of these high-tech mugs on sale for 20% off. If you've been hoping to upgrade your seating this year, this is your moment. This velvet wing arm accent chair more than fits the bill for ultimate comfort while relaxing at home. It's got a wide seat, padded arms and a wide, cushioned back for support. Best of all, it's 30% off for a limited time in the beige color only. Promising review: "The chair is very wide which is so great! Plenty of room to sit in it. Very stylish and beautiful. Takes some time to break in for comfort- but it does get softer! Perfect color for fall right around the corner! But could also be dressed up for any season. Great quality and texture!" — LisaMR If you're looking to invest in an artificial Christmas tree this season, there are a multitude of options on sale at Target right now . (The pre-lit palm tree is kind of irresistible.) Our pick for a classic crowd-pleaser is this spruce-style tree that comes pre-lit with a multitude of incandescent lights. We've listed the price for the 6-foot tree because it's over half off , but you can get it in a variety of other sizes. If you're looking for a solid 4K TV that won't break the bank, TCL is known across the internet for offering quality options at decent prices. Thanks to this 29% off Black Friday deal, the cost is even better. This 55-inch model is one of the smaller ones on sale right now (you can find the 65-inch here ), and offers a high-resolution image with optimal brightness for a clear, visible picture, and an increased motion rate of 240 for perfectly capturing action in real-time. Many avid readers tore through the pages of the best-selling "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series and with a TV adaptation in development, it's likely only going to rise in popularity. This paperback box set can be a gift for fans of fantasy or anyone looking to stay up-to-date on pop culture. Other popular series like "Harry Potter" and "Game of Thrones" are on sale too. Collecting physical media is popular again and the holidays are the perfect excuse to start building a vinyl collection. Some vinyl at Target is part of a "buy 2 get 1 free" sale (along with games and books) but other releases like this 28% off Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" are individually on sale. This Target-exclusive variant includes a bonus track called "The Manuscript,” which makes it a must-have for any Swiftie in your life. You'll be hard-pressed to spot the HuffPost team recommending many tote bags. The reason? They kinda come a dime dozen. However, this Lands' End canvas tote is a true standout. Why? It has pockets galore (inside and outside!), it's made of thick canvas material that won't easily snag or tear, the straps are the perfect thickness for carrying a day's worth of essentials with snapping AND it's wide enough to fit a small laptop or tablet. This is the ultimate everyday bag and it's on sale for 40% off . Get it in two colors. Whether you're loving your current mattress or thinking of a replacement — you might want to consider a mattress pad for extra support. This cotton Casaluna version is 40% off can elevate a comfy bed and help transform an uncomfy one. It fits mattresses up to 20 inches deep and it's water-repellant. Get the pad in full, queen and king sizes. Promising review: " I was truly impressed with the softness that this brought to a hard mattress in our guest bedroom. It’s a very firm mattress and people have a hard time sleeping. While it doesn’t take away all of the firmness, it did provide some softness and comfort to the bed. I was surprised at the thickness of the down. For the price, you can’t beat this. Great buy. " — Shellie The ninth-generation Apple iPad is 39% off right now, meaning you can nab it for less than $200 — the best price we've seen all year, including on Prime Day. This iPad has 64 GB of storage, a 10.2-inch retina display, an A13 bionic chip for optimal graphics performance and an all-day battery life. With near-perfect reviews (a 4.7-star average rating or better on Amazon , Target and Walmart), you really can't go wrong with this one. Wave goodbye to that one corner of your bed with the sheet popped off because the soft, deep-pocket options from beloved CGK brand are 20% off right now. They're available in a set with one flat sheet, one fitted and two pillowcases. They come in a gang of colors and bed sizes — including the standard queen size. Promising review: "Absolutely love this set particularly the deep pockets for my king size bed the sheets dont come off in the middle of the night lol 😂 super comfortable and soft." — Starlight87 If you've had your eyes on the Samsung Frame TV but wanted to wait until you could justify it with a discount, then welcome to your moment. Right now, the beloved TV (which people love for aesthetic purposes and its great no-glare screen quality) is finally 20% off , which knocks off a whopping $300 from the price tag. This mini blender doesn't just whip up smoothies and shakes. You can also use it to enjoy breakfast or a snack on the go thanks to an airtight lid and a lightweight, compact design. Grab it for 20% off today. ( Heads up that this blender was indeed voluntarily recalled by the Blendjet brand in 2023. The brand issued new bases and lids and based on reports from people who boug and used it afterward, it looks like it's back in business.) Promising review: "I got mine earlier this year (2024), so it wasn't included in the recall, and I LOVE it so much! It's so convenient to use and clean, and the battery lasts a long time. I use mine to make smoothies with frozen berries and the only time it wouldn't blend because it thought something was stuck in the blades there WAS something stuck in the blade, so not a false positive. I should honestly get sponsored by Blendjet I've raved about this blender so much to everyone I know, but it's just so convenient to use and clean it makes sticking to healthy habits so much easier. " — Mariann "I finally gave in and bought a pair and now, I must join in on the praises for these these Jlab earbuds . I never thought I'd be an earbuds person but I've enjoyed wearing mine for walks, in the airport, around the house to block out my noisy family and more. They've got impressive sound quality, they're easy to use and I love being able to keep them on my keychain. I've already given away two pairs as gifts and they'll be in several stockings this season." — Marquaysa Battle, HuffPost deputing managing editor Get them on sale for 25% off in black and mint while supplies last. You don't need millions of dollars or an official title to feel like royalty. You just need to step out of the tub and wrap yourself in a warm towel. SereneLife's large bucket towel warmer will make every day in your home feel like a spa day and it's a whopping 41% off . We could all use that kind of self-pampering or know someone who does. This stylish, wool-upholstered pouf measures 17 square inches and is just the right size for tucking next to a sofa or alongside a coffee table for some much-needed extra seating when you're having guests. Few of us have the barista skills or the counter space to brew up an espresso with one of those complicated machines that cost an arm and a leg. Reviewers love how easy the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is to use and the taste of the finished product. Gift one to yourself and another to your coffee-loving friend. While the deal isn't as sexy as hundreds off of a TV, I'll have you to know that of all the mouthwashes dentists hope you stop using, this alcohol-free Listerine Total Care is one of only FIVE they recommend to HuffPost in a previous report . Today, for Target Circle memberships (def just get the free one already), it's 20% off along with all Listerine mouthwash products. Target's 400-thread count performance sheets will require little introduction to our audience. Their sturdy and shockingly high-quality construction combined with an impossibly reasonable price makes them an irresistible purchase for... well, practically anyone with a bed. The sturdy 100% cotton construction enables them to “wash beautifully,” in the words of one HuffPost editor's mom, and the sateen finish will make you feel like you're sleeping in a fancy hotel bed. (We speak from experience — multiple HuffPosters own this set.) They're available in 11 solid colors and sizes twin/twin XL-California king, and printed sets are also available at the same discount. You can buy these sheets piecemeal and get an individual fitted sheet or pillowcase set . Anyone who has ever owned a Bose personal audio product knows the comfort and sound quality are unparalleled. Folks who want the earbud experience without having to shove them into their ears will be thrilled with their Ultra Open concept . They offer full, vibrant sound without completely blocking out your surroundings like some other headphones. If you do prefer an immersive sound experience, these r eviewer-adored noise-canceling headphones by Apple's Beats could be just the ticket. The cushioned headphones are designed to feel comfortable and lightweight on the ears, and the brand promises an 80% improvement in audio when compared to the predecessor model, the Studio3. Multiple listening modes offer sound transparency or precise noise cancelling, and internal sensors work to provide responsive spatial audio. Today, they're 29% off so grab them while you can. This compact, hardworking toaster oven is hugely popular with customers and HuffPosters alike. (Shopping writer Erica Kam has a model very similar to this one that “makes sure she gets fed most of the time.”) This 7-in-1 appliance has the ability to air fry, warm food, and toast, along with baking and broiling on both regular and air-circulating convection settings. It can accommodate a 4-pound chicken or a 12-inch pizza and comes with a drip tray, frying basket and oven rack. Grab it while it's over 50% off — a massive deal for an appliance you'll get huge value out of starting Day 1. A Lego set is a fairly foolproof gift for a school-age kid, and given their increasing popularity with adults , it’s common for certain sought-after models to sell out around the holiday season. That's why we were so excited to find an assortment of crowd-pleasing Legos marked 20% off at Target. It's definitely worth scrolling through the landing page that we linked below to see the multitude of Star Wars- and Minecraft-themed options, but we're highlighting two of our favorites here: A Star Wars Advent calendar that features 24 miniature buildable sets from the science-fiction franchise, and a parrot-themed set that you can build in three different ways. We regret to inform you that this parental nightmare is going to make your “Frozen”-loving children very, very happy. We've spotted this portable karaoke machine in the homes of numerous real-life children and have found that it's a consistent crowd-pleaser. Use the machine to play songs from the “Frozen 2“ soundtrack, or use an external device to play your own music. The carrying handle and simple buttons make it easy for small hands to operate, and the attached microphone will ensure that your child's vocal stylings can be heard from every corner of your living space. (Insert melting-smile emoji.) Hey, at least it's 25% off ! Olay Super Eyes daily eye serum is meant to firm, brighten and de-puff the skin around the eyes thanks to ingredients like caffeine, niacinamide, amino-peptide and calming aloe vera. Heads up: This is a Target Circle membership deal only (it's free to join , my friends). Be sure to clip the $5 on-page manufacturer coupon for the savings to show up at checkout. Check Out All Of The Cyber Week Deals Related From Our Partner
Asian shares were mixed on Monday after stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. U.S. futures were lower while oil prices were little changed. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.6% to 2,418.80. But shares of Jeju Air Co. lost 8.8% after one of the company’s jets skidded off a runway , slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea as its landing gear failed to deploy. 179 people died in the crash. Political turmoil continued as South Korean law enforcement officials requested a court warrant on Monday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are investigating whether his martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.9% to 39,914.21 as the dollar gained against the Japanese yen, trading at 157.83 yen, up from 157.75 yen. The Tokyo market will wrap up trading for 2024 with a yearend ceremony as Japan begins its New Year holidays, the biggest festival of the year. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 0.3% to 20,030.63 while the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.3% at 3,408.72. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.9% to 8,191.50. On Friday, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 1.5%, to 19,722.03. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil picked up 1 cent to $70.61 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 1 cent to $73.78 per barrel. The euro fell to $1.0427 from $1.0433.1 of 3 2 of 3 Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter . As Vancouver music obsessive Jonathan Simkin readily agrees, to be a long-time disciple of the West Coast music scene is to accept that there has been no shortage of injustices over the decades. That’s the motivator for 604 Decades, a new endeavour that the sometimes entertainment lawyer, and endlessly passionate record-label mogul, describes as the biggest passion project of his life. The goal is a simple, albeit long-overdue one: to introduce Vancouver bands that never got their due to new generations. The multi-format (vinyl, compact disc, streaming) archival series will feature unreleased material from bands you might have heard of, like Pure. And just as importantly, it will also be devoted to chronicling underheard Vancouver bands from the 1990s and 2000s. Up first will be a collection of demos and rarities titled Then & Now from long-departed local shoegaze unit Movieland, set to drop in December; the album’s single “I Relate” was released last month alongside the announcement of the 604 Decades project. As suggested by the name, 604 Decades is unapologetically rooted in the past. Simkin started making a name for himself as a lawyer able to land bands major label record deals—the Holy Grail back in an era when Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, and social media were still years away from revolutionizing the music industry. “At that time, in the sort of early ’90s, mid ’90s, early 2000s, if you weren’t on a major label, your odds of succeeding as a musician were kind of zero if you were hoping to have some mainstream, bigger success,” he reflects. “That meant, even with the batting average that I had, which was actually quite good, most bands that I represented didn’t get deals.” That was something Simkin ended up taking personally. “I never repped a band that I didn’t love—I would never rep a band just because I thought they were going to get a deal,” he says. “If I didn’t really love a band, if I didn’t really see some value in them, if I didn’t respect the music, I wasn’t interested in them.” As he’d discover later on, there was also a downside to loving the bands that he did take on. “There’s this whole trail of bands that I’ve left behind me that didn’t get deals, whose stories never got told, who never had a spotlight shined on their music,” he says. “That’s something that I’ve thought about constantly throughout my career. It kept bubbling up, bubbling up, and bubbling up.” The nagging regrets started to become a full-blown obsession during the pandemic. Like many of us, Simkin was often alone with his thoughts, not all of them positive. “I found myself going back to old records, and old bands that I had worked with,” he recalls. “And I was increasingly bothered. I found myself going, ‘Fuck—there were all these great bands that nobody ever even really heard of. But maybe it’s not too late. Maybe there’s a way that I can shine a bit of a light on some of these bands who I feel deserve to have a light shone on them.’ And that was kind of it. So I made a list.” Jonathan Simkin. Laura Moore. TO UNDERSTAND WHY 604 Decades is important, think of all the Vancouver records that should be regarded and revered as landmarks, but instead have been largely lost to time. That list might start with the Nasty On’s unrelenting CitySick ; Hard Rock Miners’ infectiously old-timey The Final Frontier ; I, Braineater’s art-punk mindwarp I, Braineater ; and Perfume Tree’s enchantingly ethereal Feeler . Need more examples? Consider Death Sentence’s punishing Not a Pretty Sight , the Enigmas garage-psych freakout The Enigmas , Ten Days Late’s riot-grrl grunger Sticky Flytrap , and then add to that list the following: Go Four 3’s Go Four 3 , House of Commons’ Patriot , Sons of Freedom’s Sons of Freedom , Female Hands’ Female Hands , Secret V’s No Life Like It , and Myths’ Myths . And then there’s the immediately-shelved (and quite frankly fucking incredible) album the Scramblers recorded for Bruce Allen’s short-lived Penta Records. All of the above are findable, to some degree, whether it be on Discogs, Bandcamp, YouTube, or blogs that haven’t been active since Kurt Cobain was the most important rock star on the planet. The question is whether anyone except those who were there at the time are actually looking for them. 604 Decades is out to champion bands that aren’t getting all the love they deserve today—acts that Simkin fell hard for back when he entered the music business. His journey has been something of a storied one. While first devoting his energy to helping bands land major label deals, he later formed 604 Records with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, the venture acting as an imprint and production company for artists ranging from Carly Rae Jepsen and Theory of a Deadman to Marianas Trench and Jakalope. Operations under the Simkin umbrella today also include the indie-oriented imprint Light Organ Records, 604 Podcast Network, and 604 Studios recording and production building in Railtown. For all that he’s accomplished, though, it’s the acts that never got the attention they deserved that have been his obsession over the past few years. Simkin, who turned 60 earlier this fall, said the milestone proved something of a big one, not because he cares about birthdays (he doesn’t), but because it brought a sense that there’s only a finite number of years left to get things done. “I wake up every day, and all I hear is, ‘Tick-tick-tick-tick,’” he says. “All I hear is the passage of time, and I realize how little time I have left. So I want to accomplish some things.” Movieland in some ways makes for the perfect kick-off project for 604 Decades. Even if you were there back in the day, chances are the band flew entirely under your radar. “Movieland was part of a very specific scene,” Simkin recounts, “and that’s part of what I’m trying to spotlight as well. The scene they came from centred around a place called Downtown Sound—an old CBC studio located right across the street from The Penthouse on Seymour. There was this whole group of bands that really became part of that scene: Movieland, a band called Wicked Swimming Dog, and others that I’m forgetting, even though there’s a lot of great footage of stuff that happened in that building. So I’m as excited by that aspect of things as I am by the music.” A big part of the series is, of course, giving bands the attention they deserved, but never got, back in the day. That will start with the remastering of songs that have been lost for decades, and the gathering of vintage videos and photos for important contextual purposes, the aim being to make the artwork as beautiful as possible. “I’m trying to treat this music with a lot of respect,” Simkin shares. “That’s really important to me, and I hope that comes through. Not just in the music itself, but in all the sort of accompanying material that we’re putting out to go with these releases ... I want to be able to give context so, again, I’m not just celebrating the music, but also the scenes these bands came from.” Looking forward, dream releases for Simkin included an unreleased 1999 record by the Grapes of Wrath that never saw the light of day—the label it was recorded for went bankrupt before the album’s release. And there’s also the now-notorious debut from Copyright—the post-Slow project from Tom Anselmi and Christian Thorvaldson. “I would do anything to get the rights on that Copyright album,” Simkin says. “I’m one of the few people who actually owns the CD of it, because of course it got deleted the day it came out. Unfortunately, Interscope is not playing ball on that one, which is very disappointing, because I did happen to deliver them the biggest single ever [Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”]. So I thought they’d be nice and maybe do me a solid and let me put out a record that hasn’t been released ever, and is now 30 years old—one that they are clearly never going to put out. But I guess they like to horde their masters.” In the meantime, Simkin has been thrilled that Vancouver musicians and fans have been reaching out to him with suggestions of bands that they’d love to see get their due. As proven by projects ranging from Searching for Sugar Man to Anvil! The Story of Anvil , sometimes, injustices end up being rectified, even if one has to wait decades for that to happen. Simkin is thrilled to be doing his part. “I’m having a blast with it,” he says. “It’s definitely a vanity project, but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think the music deserved it.” Kicking off 604 Decades, Movieland’s Then & Now is out on December 13. Video of MOVIELAND - "I Relate" - Official VideoTrump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?
MUNICH: A second-half Harry Kane hat-trick took Bayern Munich to a 3-0 home win over Augsburg on Friday, sending them eight clear atop the table ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern, still yet to lose in the league in 2024-25, were dominant throughout but kept at bay by some dogged defending from their Bavarian neighbors. With 61 minutes gone, the ball connected with Augsburg’s Mads Pedersen’s outstretched arm in the box, bringing the England captain to the spot after a VAR review. Kane cooly converted to give Bayern the lead. In stoppage time, Kane went down in the box after contact from Keven Schlotterbeck and Bayern were again awarded a penalty after a VAR review, which the 31-year-old converted. Schlotterbeck was sent from the field after picking up a second yellow for his challenge. Kane then added a third, this time controlling a cross and heading in, his seventh hat-trick since joining Bayern. “We knew it would be difficult to break them down. We knew we had to be patient,” Kane told DAZN. “At halftime that’s what we said, ‘we just have to keep doing what we’re doing’. Thankfully we got the penalty to open the game up and then did well to kill the game off.” The England captain now has 14 goals in 11 league games for Bayern this season, five of which have come from the spot. “I work on them a lot. They’re a big part of the game. They helped us again today. Of course I’ve missed many at training, but that’s the time to miss them,” Kane laughed. Neuer boost Leipzig can cut the gap back to five when they play at struggling Hoffenheim on Saturday, while defending champions Bayer Leverkusen host Heidenheim. The German giants received a boost pre-match, with captain and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer cleared to start after missing training with a rib issue. Bayern were in control of possession and field position but could not break through. Augsburg offered little in attack but defended stoutly, holding Bayern’s glittering attacking riches at bay. Augsburg goalie Nediljko Labrovic held firm to snuff out first-half chances from Jamal Musiaia and Leon Goretzka. The Bavarian giants, still smarting after going trophyless for the first time in 11 seasons last campaign, eventually broke through with half an hour remaining, breaking Augsburg’s resolve. Riding high in the league, Bayern have struggled in the Champions League format, sitting 17th after four games — six behind leaders Liverpool. Tuesday’s home match with PSG, who are even further down the Champions League table, could be crucial for the German side in their top-eight bid to avoid the extra playoff round. Kane backed his team to get through a tough phase, which includes a trip to Borussia Dortmund and a home German Cup clash with holders Bayer Leverkusen. “Big week ahead of us but the team is feeling good, we just have to keep going with this momentum,” added Kane. — AFP... Proposes N8.6bn To Repair Air Navigational Equipment ... NSIB Plans N2bn For Construction Of Yola, Delta Offices LAGOS – The Federal Government has appropriated a total sum of N55,545,673,512 for the presidential fleet in the 2025 Appropriation Bill sent to the National Assembly. This also includes the appropriation of N8,646,336,653 for the repair of air navigational equipment for the presidential fleet. The further breakdown of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, checked by Daily Independent , showed that the government earmarked the sum of N5,514,000,000 for the engine overhaul of one of the aircraft in the presidential fleet with the registration number, 5N-FGW. The document indicated that this was already “ongoing.” Also, the government planned to carry out overhaul of engines of another two aircraft, Falcon 7X, in the presidential fleet with the sum of N3,132,336,65. The document also showed that the project was “ongoing.” The Federal Government also earmarked the sum of N8,766,181,315 each for rehabilitation/repair of fixed assets in 2025. The rehabilitation/repair of fixed assets included the presidential building, N119,844,662 and air navigational equipment, N8,646,336,653. Also, the government intends to spend the sum of N1,550,000,000 as aircraft fuel cost in 2025 and another N1,255,700,000 on maintenance of aircraft in the presidential fleet. The government also set aside the sum of N1,900,206,000 for fuel and lubricants for the presidential fleet, which included N100,860,000 for motor vehicle fuel cost for the fleet. The sum of N311,145,300 was set aside for insurance premium for aircraft in the presidential fleet in the 2025 financial year. Besides, the sum of N149,000,000 was appropriated for security operation (overhead) and additional N7,500,000 on cleaning and fumigation services for the presidential fleet. An additional N30,500,000 was proposed for other transport equipment fuel cost and N207,000,000 was planned for plant/generator fuel cost for the presidential fleet within 2025. The government in the budget further appropriated the sum of N96,669,330 for local training and another N463,933,900 for international training, totalling N560,603,230. For utilities, the government earmarked the sum of N224,787,194, which was distributed as follows: electricity charges, N120,000,000; telephone charges, N10,514,622; internet access charges, N18,000,000; satellite broadcasting access charges, N15,000,000; water rates, N50,672,572 and sewerage charges at N10,600,000. The proposed budget further showed that the government earmarked the sum of N3,325,000 for corps members kitting, transport and feeding allowance in the presidential fleet in the forthcoming year. Besides, the government proposed the total sum of N108,800 for miscellaneous with N6,850,000 earmarked for honorarium and sitting allowance; N18,678,000 for medical expenses; postages and courier services will gulp N49,000,000; subscription to professional bodies, N30,000,000 and another N550,800 for sporting activities. Besides, the government planned the total of N60 million for the purchase of three Hilux utility vehicles in 2025 with the inscription that the project was “ongoing.” Also, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) earmarked the sum of N2 billion for two of its regional offices in the country. The appropriation bill indicated that the bureau planned to spend N1 billion each on Yola and Delta offices. It said the projects were “new.” Apart from this, NSIB also budgeted another N1,850,000,000 for the upgrade and acquisition of flight data recorder download equipment and procurement of maritime voyage data downloader for its operation. This is also a “new” project by the bureau. The agency also planned N2,517,500,000 for the purchase of safety equipment, maintenance and support. This is also “ongoing.” Besides, the appropriation bill showed NSIB would spend N608,000,000 on purchase of safety investigators response kits, which is “ongoing”; N839,119,462 for its mobile office; N500,000,000 for equipping of material science laboratory at Abuja airport and another N700,000,000 as infrastructural works at its Abuja complex. All the aforementioned projects are “ongoing.” Others are proposal of N1,000,000,000 for the construction of/provision of office buildings, which is “ongoing;” N3,372,585,500 as electronic document management system, accessories, support, IT software and training; N570,000,000 for equipping of library, support and subscription training of ANSIB offices, marked as ‘ongoing;” N836,000,000 for equipment, hardware, software, subscription and renewals; N1,495,091,000 for post-contract supervision for the construction and equipment of NSIB training school in Abuja. The project is also “ongoing, according to the proposal to the National Assembly. The Federal Government in the 2025 budget to the National Assembly had appropriated N105,953,496,365 to the aviation industry in the 2025 budget. The breakdown of the N106 billion appropriation bill for the ministry in 2025 showed that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development would have N71,123,368,069; Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), N9,819,554,829, and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, N7,975,364,319. Others are the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has N10,035,209,148 in the budget and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is allocated N7,000,000,000 in the 2025 budget.