Notable quotes by Jimmy Carter
The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.
Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the marketTwo University of Arizona faculty members were elected fellows of the National Academy of Inventors in 2024, bringing UA's number of faculty fellows in the academy to 20. Shibin Jiang , an adjunct research professor in the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, is “recognized globally as a pioneer in photonic glasses, fiber amplifiers and lasers.” Shibin Jiang Abhijit Mahalanobis , an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering, conducted research focused on “video and image processing” for defense applications, weapons, sensors systems and automatic target recognition. Abhijit Mahalanobis, standing, with doctoral student Natnael Daba. “Being elected to the National Academy of Inventors is a distinguished honor recognizing both technical innovation and its impact in the world,” said UA President Suresh Garimella, also an NAI fellow, in a UA news release. The honor will be bestowed on Jiang and Mahalanobis at the academy’s annual conference on June 26 in Atlanta. Overall, the NAI 2024 class of fellows includes 170 members from 135 research universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutions worldwide. Jiang, who holds 52 U.S. patents, developed erbium (Er3+)-doped phosphate glass fiber to enhance fiber’s ability to amplify light, a technology which was licensed to NP Photonics, one of the many companies he founded and co-founded. Jiang’s “patents in fibers enhanced with rare-earth elements have enabled the creation of high-peak-power fiber amplifiers and lasers able to deliver high power in short pulses, which are integral to ultrafast lasers, wind detection, space applications and coherent lidar able to determine an object’s velocity and distance,” according to the news release. “It was the hard work of the scientists, engineers and technicians I worked with that earned me this significant award,” said Jiang. “I surely will continue to work hard, hoping to produce more useful inventions and creative works to make a little bit of a contribution to society and humankind.” In addition to NP Photonics, Jiang has founded and co-founded AdValue Technology, AdValue Photonics and Arizona Industrial Lasers. He has also edited 40 books and eight special journal issues as well as published 98 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Mahalanobis has published more than 190 journal and conference publications, is the owner of six patents, has co-authored a book on pattern recognition, contributed several book chapters and edited special issues of several journals. “I am humbled and deeply honored to be recognized by the NAI as a fellow,” said Mahalanobis. “... In this capacity, I hope to foster creativity in our students, and contribute to innovative solutions for challenging problems in my areas of research.” Mahalanobis worked previously at Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, has partnered with numerous small businesses on projects with the U.S. Army and Navy, and has returned to academia to help prepare the next generation of aerospace and defense engineers. "The University of Arizona excels in many areas, but the commitment of faculty to moving inventions from the lab to the world impresses me every day," said Doug Hockstad, associate vice president of Tech Launch Arizona, the UA office that commercializes inventions stemming from university research and innovation. Jiang and Mahalanobis’ selection as NAI fellows “reflects their remarkable achievements in turning ideas into impactful solutions that serve society and inspire the next generation of inventors,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, UA senior vice president of research and innovation. Reporter Prerana Sannappanavar covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com . Email her at psannappa1@tucson.com or DM her on X . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Higher Education ReporterDelhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory ahead of the funeral of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, scheduled for Saturday. The traffic advisory outlines restrictions and diversions on major routes in New Delhi, urging the public to avoid certain roads and use public transport to help ease congestion. "The dignitaries of many of foreign country and other VIPs/VVIPS and the general public will visit Nigham Bodh Ghat on the occasion of state funeral of late Dr. Sh. Man Mohan Singh, Former PM of India on 28.12.2024," Delhi Traffic Police said in its advisory on Friday. According to the advisory, diversion points include Raja Ram Kohli Marg, Rajghat Red Light, Signature Bridge, and Yudhister Setu. Traffic restrictions, regulations, and diversion may be imposed on Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg), Nishad Raj Marg, Boulevard Road, SPM Marg, Lothian Road, and Netaji Subhash Marg from 7.00 am onwards, likely till 3.00 pm. The advisory advises people to avoid the mentioned roads and stretches, as well as the area where the procession will take place. Commuters going to Old Delhi Railway Station, ISBT, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, and Tis Hazari Court are advised to leave with sufficient time to accommodate possible delays on the route. It is also recommended to use public transport to reduce road congestion. Vehicles should only be parked in designated parking lots; roadside parking should be avoided as it obstructs the normal flow of traffic. In case any unusual or unidentified object or person is noticed in suspicious circumstances, the public is urged to report it to the Police, they added. The last rites of Dr Manmohan Singh are to be performed at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon. "Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister passed away at 9.51 PM on December 26, 2024 at AllMS Hospital, New Delhi. It has been decided by the Government that State funeral will be accorded to Dr Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11:45 AM on December 28, 2024 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence is requested to make arrangements for State funeral will full military honours," the MHA stated. Dr Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the hospital. Dr Singh's political career spanned several decades, with notable positions including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India's economy. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernizing India's economy. After his second term, Dr Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Nearly two-thirds of manufacturers are adopting a "power-of-two" strategy, ensuring the majority of their direct spending is sourced from two separate regions. Attractiveness of low-cost manufacturing hubs such as India and Brazil for FDI drops by 15%. LONDON , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Economic Forum , in collaboration with global consultancy Kearney , has today released its latest report, Beyond Cost: Country Readiness for Manufacturing and Supply Chains , highlighting that more than 90% of manufacturing executives are prioritizing regional supply chain strategies. Firms have learned to adapt to recent supply disruptions (such as Covid and the Suez Canal blockage) in recent years, but the industrial landscape remains unsettled by a mix of geopolitical and environmental factors, including a year of numerous elections across the globe and the resulting impact of potential protectionist tariffs. As a result, regionalization is becoming a key tactic to safeguard against global trade disruptions. The findings from more than 300 global operations executives show that nearly two-thirds of manufacturers are adopting a "power-of-two" strategy, having the majority of their spend sourced across two separate regions. This shift moves beyond the traditional focus on best cost to include holistic factors such as infrastructure, technology, skilled labor, and sustainability. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in low-cost manufacturing declines as priorities shift The shift from "best-cost" to "value-driven" investment strategies is also playing a key role in foreign direct investment (FDI) trends in manufacturing hubs, with traditional low-cost regions losing their appeal. "Adapter" countries such as Brazil and India , characterized by a GDP per capita that sits below the global average and with a limited contribution of the manufacturing sector to GDP, have experienced a 15% decline in FDI attractiveness as cheap labor alone is no longer enough to sustain long-term investment. In contrast, "connectors" such as Bangladesh and Mexico which (like adapters) have historically traded on their best-cost status but whose contribution of manufacturing to GDP is higher, have seen the appeal of their inward investment improve by 14%. "Scalers" like Singapore and Ireland have, on average, seen steady FDI growth, up 2% thanks to strong infrastructure and favorable regulatory environments. Similarly, "convergers" such as the United States and Denmark have also seen an average 2% increase in FDI, attracting long-term investment by focusing on factors like sustainability and infrastructure. This shift in FDI confidence aligns with actual FDI changes over the same period. Countries with higher GDP per capita have experienced more significant FDI growth, regardless of the manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP. "Convergers" such as the US and Denmark experienced an average 295% rise in FDI in the past 10 years, while "scalers" like Singapore and Ireland saw an average 215% increase. On the lower end, "connectors" like Mexico and Bangladesh saw FDI growth of an average 144%, double that of "adapters" such as India and Brazil , which recorded just an average 74% increase. Per Kristian Hong , Partner and Americas Strategic Operations and Performance Lead, Kearney, commented: "With over 2 billion voters across 50 countries having cast ballots in 2024, 2025 will be a critical year for every company reliant on cross-border operations. "Plans to accelerate a sweeping range of policies, intended to reset global trade through tariffs and export controls, will require businesses to reassess their network manufacturing footprint beyond merely low-cost alone. A more complex and nuanced decision-making process is needed, one that considers flexibility and a country's ability to deliver environmental change in line with global strategic priorities." Kiva Allgood, Head, Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, World Economic Forum added: "As global value chains undergo a profound transformation, countries and companies have a unique opportunity to redefine their competitive edge. "This report highlights how countries that deploy innovative policies and invest across these seven factors can position themselves as leaders in the evolving manufacturing landscape, driving economic growth and societal progress." The World Economic Forum and Kearney report identifies seven critical readiness factors that drive private sector decision-making and shape the attractiveness of a country amid the global rewiring of supply chains. These factors serve as a guide for policymakers and industries, covering: Infrastructure Resources and energy Technology Labor and skills Fiscal and regulatory Geopolitical landscape Environmental, social, and governance Read the full report here . Notes to editor To understand how businesses are adapting to the changing global value chain landscape, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Kearney, surveyed over 300 global operations executives and conducted 60 consultations on strategies for future-proofing supply chains. This paper evaluates countries' readiness for next-generation manufacturing across seven key factors, highlighting that attractiveness for manufacturing investment now goes beyond just cost. About the World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. ( www.weforum.org ). About Kearney Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm. For nearly 100 years, we have been a trusted advisor to C-suites, government bodies, and nonprofit organizations. Our people make us who we are. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we work alongside our clients to regenerate their businesses to create a future that works for everyone. Press contact (UK) Tom Stewart-Walvin Rostrum – PR consultants to Kearney [email protected] [email protected] Press contact (US) Meir Kahtan MKPR [email protected] +1 917-864-0800 SOURCE Kearney
Musk reaffirms support for AfD, Germany's far-right party, praising its immigration stanceSavion Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards as TCU pulled away from Arizona in the second half, winning 49-28 on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions, starting late in the first half after the Wildcats (4-7, 2-6) pulled within 14-13. Williams carried nine times for 80 yards, scoring on runs of 1 and 20 yards in the first half. Hoover completed 19 of 26 passes, with one touchdown and one interception, before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter when the Frogs were up by 21. TCU took control after leading 21-13 at halftime, going up 35-13 on a 38-yard reception to JP Richardson midway through the third. Arizona kept its hopes alive, ending a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hunter on fourth down on the first play of the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion made it 35-21. But the Horned Frogs responded with another TD drive, capped by a 6-yard run by Cam Cook for a 42-21 advantage. Arizona added a 70-yard fumble return touchdown with one minute to go for the game's final score. Tetairoa McMillan caught nine passes for 115 yards to become the Arizona career leader in receiving yardage with 3,355. He surpassed his receivers coach, Bobby Wade (3,351), at the top spot. The Wildcats' Noah Fifita completed 29 of 44 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, which happened on the game's first snap. TCU promptly scored on a 4-yard run by Trent Battle, and Williams added a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. But the Wildcats fought back, getting a 17-yard touchdown reception by Hunter and field goals of 53 and 43 yards from Tyler Loop to climb within 14-13 with 1:55 go before halftime. That's almost how the half ended, but the Horned Frogs converted third-and-18 on the ensuing drive and then gained 24 yards on third-and-25 to the Arizona 20. That set up a 20-yard run by Williams on fourth-and-1 with 13 seconds left for a 21-13 lead. --Field Level Media
The Stadia controller conversion tool will work until late 2025New Hampshire reels off 27-straight points in 27-9 win over Maine
In her new memoir, Angela Merkel writes about the many dilemmas she had to navigate as Chancellor of Germany. Dilemmas her male colleagues never had to sweat. Like, can you wear a pantsuit instead of a skirt in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament? She decided the answer was, yes. Merkel is the only woman ever to rise to the most powerful political post in Germany. She served as chancellor from 2005 to 2021. Angela Merkel has gone toe-to-toe with world leaders like Vladimir Putin, led Germany through times of turmoil and become a role model for other women aspiring to positions of leadership. But her legacy is complex. She gets into all of this in her new memoir, "Freedom." For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for C onsider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at considerthis@npr.org . This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Esme Nicholson, with audio engineering by Andie Huether.It was edited by Courtney Dorning.Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.Blues forward Alexandre Texier returned to the lineup Sunday afternoon against the Sabres after he missed Friday’s game against Nashville due to an illness. Texier went right back in on the top line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, where he played on Monday in Detroit before getting sick. But by the end of the second period, Texier was moved down to the fourth line with Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko. Texier entered Sunday with a point in each of his past two games: a primary assist in Florida on Dec. 20 and a goal in Detroit on Monday. With Texier back in the lineup, Mathieu Joseph sat out as a healthy scratch. Joseph had played seven of the previous eight games, the primary benefactor of Radek Faksa’s absence as he continues to recover from a cut in his leg. Joseph averaged about 111⁄2 minutes of ice time during those seven games but took a third-period tripping penalty against Nashville that allowed the Predators to score on the power play. Faksa was out for the eighth time in the past nine games as he recovers from being cut by a skate close to his groin on Dec. 10 in Vancouver. Faksa was on the ice with the team on Friday for morning skate and Saturday for practice. If Faksa returns for Tuesday’s Winter Classic in Chicago, it will be the second outdoor game of his NHL career. Tucker remains On the back end, the Blues kept the same group together, meaning Tyler Tucker stuck on the blue line. Since the Blues traded Pierre-Olivier Joseph and recalled Tucker from AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts), Tucker has played in four of five games. The only game that Tucker has missed was Dec. 20 in Florida, which would have been his fourth game in four days when combined with the AHL schedule. Tucker made his presence felt on Friday against Nashville, when he fought Jeremy Lauzon in the first period. Earlier in the game, Lauzon boarded Blues forward Jake Neighbours. “He did a great job,” Thomas said of Tucker. “That’s a tough part of the business. Him and other guys were trying to step up. It shows our locker room, how much we care for each other. It’s a great sign for us moving forward.” Blues coach Jim Montgomery: “It was great to see. What was great was our crowd reaction after that fight. They love a good tussle.” Neighbours has consistently found himself in the middle of scrums this season. At the end of the second period on Sunday against Buffalo, Neighbours laid out Rasmus Dahlin along the boards just as the buzzer sounded. On Friday, there was the Lauzon hit. In Florida, Sam Bennett took a run at Neighbours, and in New York, Matt Rempe did. “I don’t think that he’s being targeted, but he goes to hard areas,” Montgomery said. “He’s a guy that you win with, night in, night out. And he sacrifices his body to protect pucks and to win battles. Sometimes, unfortunately, a couple of them (Friday), it just happened real quick, and I think he lost his balance. It’s a shove from behind in the numbers. The one in Florida, I don’t think you can avoid that one. You’re protecting a puck in the corner and you get blindsided.” Jordan Binnington started on Sunday after Joel Hofer got the nod on Friday against the Predators. Montgomery said the Blues went with Hofer in the first game out of the Christmas break because of how he played last season after the break. Last year, Hofer made 39 saves on 40 shots against Dallas in the first game after Christmas.
NoneArticle content JASPER — This year, Kim Stark’s kids took responsibility for decorating the family Christmas tree. Ornaments include toy cars, puzzle pieces, string and a pair of binoculars — things her three young daughters had handy after the family lost their home in summer’s devastating Jasper wildfire. “I have the most wonderful tree on the planet,” said Stark. “It’s part of our story and part of who we are. “If (the kids) are happy, I’m happy.” Stark is part of the fabric of the Jasper townsite, a 10-year member of the fire department and owner of a coffee shop and bakery. Her family, plus three furry pets and a fish, are living in a condo as they navigate rebuilding their home. “(The kids) miss our house, and we talk about our house,” said Stark. “We make sure we go to our neighbourhood, so that it doesn’t become somebody else’s neighbourhood.” Stark and other residents are anxious and nervous for the future following the fire that hit the town July 24. About 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors were safely evacuated before the fire breached the western edge of town and destroyed 350 homes and businesses, including 820 housing units. The Insurance Bureau of Canada pegged the damage at $880 million. Six months after the fire, debris is still being cleared — lot by lot. Locals including Stark are quick to say things could have been worse. But anxiety over temporary living situations and what may be a long and slow rebuild process has many residents and municipal leaders feeling unsettled heading into 2025. For Sabrina Charlebois and David Leoni, the top concern is the Alberta government’s $112-million modular housing project. It’s to put up 250 pre-built rental units in the town and rent them to those displaced by the fire. Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said the first homes should be ready by late January or early February, with the rest in April. The majority are to be multi-bedroom suites to accommodate families. “If we can get all of our approvals on time, we definitely are on time to be able to build in the context of what we promised,” Nixon said. It’s complicated, he added, given there are layers of government with an Alberta town in a national park. Charlebois was born and raised in Jasper. The fire destroyed her childhood home, which her late father built, as well as the salon where she worked. “It’s better than nothing,” she said of the housing project, noting at least 2,000 residents were displaced so demand could outnumber the new units. Charlebois, who has been staying in a hotel, said it’s understandable projects like this take time. But “we’re six months into this, and there’s no homes for anyone.” “My fear is not finding a place to live, because I have to be out of my hotel by the spring,” she said. Leoni, a dentist and former Olympic biathlete, and his family also lost their home, as did seven staff at his clinic. He said the April cutoff date Charlebois is facing also applies to his staff staying in hotels. “Hopefully that’s concurrent with the provincial government’s opening of these modular units that they’re putting in, because we’re going to lose staff,” said Leoni. “Without them I can’t do anything.” The clinic needed to replace $160,000 worth of equipment and required a top-to-bottom scrub before appointments resumed in October. Leoni estimates his patient list is down one-third because of the fire. Whether those patients return remains to be seen. Charlebois and Leoni both said their anxiety is heightened when they consider the unpredictable nature of the town’s tourism economy and how it could complicate the pace of rebuilding. It’s a catch-22: residents need houses in order to rebuild and restart the economy, but they can’t restart the economy without tourists. And tourists require services, which require workers, who require housing. Bill Given, the town’s chief administrator, said he’s optimistic the municipality can “thread the needle.” But he has his own anxieties when it comes to rebuilding, namely the complexity of Jasper operating under both federal and provincial oversight. “An associated risk of that is that individual agendas from different orders of government overtake the public interest in delivering on what Jasper needs,” Given said. “I think there’s also a risk, maybe somewhat smaller, that private interests overtake the broader public interest.” Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, who lost his home in the fire, said they have to find a way. “Failure is not an option for anybody,” said Ireland. “We have one chance to get this right, and that’s what we have to do.” In the meantime, Stark and her daughters watch from behind a fence as what’s left of their home is cleared away. “I’m super excited just to have a hole instead of a burnt spiral staircase that was coming up in my backyard. “Now,” she said, “it’s just this beautiful dirt. “There’s future there.”
Barry Odom begins Purdue career with larger NIL budget and questions about payment dispute at UNLV
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell in morning trading Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4%, with more than 80% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. Still, the index is managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 402 points, or 0.9%, to 42,945 as of 10:41 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 2%. Both the Dow and the Nasdaq are also holding on to weekly gains. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 3.2%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2.2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 2.2% and Best Buy slipped 1.9%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy was the only sector within the S&P 500 rising. It gained 0.5% as crude oil prices rose 0.8%. Investors don't have much in the way of corporate or economic updates to review as the market moves 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. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.59% from late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.32% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.
A year ago, a gripping ITV drama triggered outrage over the Post Office scandal. Lead campaigner Sir Alan Bates hoped a new Government would at last deliver compensation. Sadly, he was wrong...