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Omnicom is buying Interpublic Group in a stock-for-stock deal that will create the largest ad agency in the world with combined annual revenue of almost $26 billion. The names may be unfamiliar to many Americans, but some of their marketing campaigns are iconic. Those include “Got Milk” for the California Milk Processor Board, “Priceless” for Mastercard, “Because I’m Worth It” for L’Oreal and “Think Different” for Apple. The combined company will be worth more than $30 billion. “Through this combination, we are poised to accelerate innovation and harness the significant opportunities created by new technologies in this era of exponential change, said said John Wren, Chairman and CEO of Omnicom. After African countries struggled to get testing kits during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials vowed to make the continent less dependent on imported medical supplies. Now, in a first for Africa, a Moroccan company is filling orders for mpox tests as an outbreak continues. Moroccan startup Moldiag began developing mpox tests after the World Health Organization declared the virus a global emergency in August. Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 59,000 mpox cases and 1,164 deaths in 20 countries this year. The WHO has also announced a plan to provide mpox tests, vaccines and treatments to the most vulnerable people.
A ‘MUCH loved’ Santa gnome which became stranded in a canal, was rescued just in time for Christmas. Cynthia Bafico, 70, of Rogerstone and her husband have garden gnomes in the back of their garden which backs onto the canal. In the festive period she decorates the gnomes with Christmas lights, but this year the Santa gnome ended up in the canal. In the run up to Storm Darragh, following windy weather, she found them ‘swimming’ in the canal after being swept away – including Santa. But, on Christmas Eve he was rescued following a joint effort by local residents. The Santa gnome who ‘doesn’t float’ was stranded in the canal too far for her or her husband to rescue him. “Oh no, Father Christmas has gone for a swim. The weather is playing havoc with the gnomes this year,” she said in a social media post. A local resident, Charlie Parker commented: “Aw poor gnomes, hopefully the weather will get better, and they can continue to celebrate Christmas soon.” A man lent them some extra strong poles which the couple used with the help of some local residents to rescue him. As the Santa gnome was carried back to the couple's home, other residents waved and honked their car horns. Cynthia Bafico told the Argus Santa told her: “Hurray... I’ve been rescued in time for Christmas. I didn’t know I could hold my breath for so long. "I need to give a big thank you to everyone who has been concerned about me, but a special thanks to Roger who has tried three times to get me out of the water. “I’d also like to thank Colin who lent Roger extra strong poles, to the gentleman who arrived on the scene just when an extra pair of hands was needed and to the people who honked their horns and waved as I was being carried home. Merry Christmas everyone.” In response to the good news, many local residents commented on social media saying they were relieved Santa had been rescued. A local resident, James Moss, who regularly walks his dog Lottie along the canal, said: “Lottie says this is great news, she’s missed him” Another resident, Joyce Thomas said: “Glad he’s home safe, now in a dry place” and Malcolm Morrell Jones added: “Great to see this, well done all.”Cynthia Erivo, Demi Moore, Colman Domingo, Jeremy Strong and more react to Golden Globe nominationsCalifornia to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sitesFriday Local Scores (Nov. 22) And Saturday Schedule
How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbersLINCOLN — Young men, start your engines. Rev ‘em up, too. You’re the 2025 Nebraska football recruiting class — 20 strong — and probably should have been the story of NU’s Signing Day press conference. But you were at least the third story, and maybe fourth, behind the coaches who left, the ex-Huskers who hit the transfer portal and perhaps the players your school might take from the transfer portal. When you started high school, back in 2021, there was still some pageantry around this day, in late December though it may have been. Now, first week of December, you’re practically a doctor’s appointment squeezed into a Wednesday afternoon. You’re rookies in a sea of perpetual free agents. Most of you are enrolling early and that’s a good thing; the quicker you learn the playbook and hit the weight room, the better chance you’ll have to impress coaches. Coach Matt Rhule thinks you’ll succeed in that effort, as well. He likes you guys. For a couple of you, Dawson Merritt and Cortez Mills, he and his staff kept going back to the well again and again to flip you from Alabama and Oklahoma, respectively. How often does Nebraska beat those two schools for any recruit? This could be one of the strongest Husker recruiting classes in years. “We’ve got some guys who can come in and play early,” Rhule said, “because this class is going to have to come in and play early.” Hear that? He means it. Rhule has playing time to offer. For the 2025 team to win big, some of you have to step into major roles. On defense, so many seniors exhausted their eligibility, and so many other guys hit the transfer portal, that the coaches will be choosing between, say, sophomores, redshirt freshmen and, well, you. On offense, your coordinator is Dana Holgorsen, and he surely doesn’t care how old you are. At the skill spots, he’ll play whoever competes the best. Of course, he also said on NU’s in-house Signing Day special that he’s bringing “20 or 30” transfers in for visits and selecting the best from that pool. Maybe Holgo’s exaggerating. Do you want to test him? So you need to impress these guys. In an era of revenue sharing, NIL and unlimited transfers, you might get two spring camps to develop on a roster before you’re asked to be a key contributor. Three, maybe, if you’re a quarterback or a raw offensive tackle. After that, you’re a revenue-sharing dollar figure on a spreadsheet that might be replaced by another rookie — or transfer. Yeah, it is cutthroat. This isn’t 1986. Or even 2006, perhaps the golden age of the prep recruiting era, when the recruiting sites got big, the all-star games got max publicity, ESPN had a big blowout special in early February and drama practically dragged into the start of the next spring camp. It was hard to transfer back then even once, particularly if the coach wanted to block your release or you didn’t have a redshirt season to sit out one year of eligibility. In 2006, if seven guys left in December, before a bowl game, it was a mass exodus — cause for concern at the health of the program. In 2024, seven guys leaving is called “Monday and Tuesday.” And here you are in the midst of the chaos, not knowing for sure what the college football system will look like in 2025, much less 2027. You probably wouldn’t have teed it up this way. But here’s your swing. Over the next nine months, you’d be wise to make an impression. Good thing you can, Dawson Merritt. Nebraska needs a versatile edge rusher who can drop into coverage, and Princewill Umanmielen, athletic as he may be, did not quite develop into that guy before hitting the transfer portal. Ditto, Christian Jones. You looked the part at linebacker for years leading the state’s best defense, and Mikai Gbayor just hit the transfer portal. Can you step into a role quickly? Same for you, Jamarion Parker. At running back, you can turn an eight-yard run into an 80-yarder, and that’s a skill Nebraska sorely needs. Malcolm Simpson and Kade Pietrzak, you’ve seen this program is unafraid to plug a freshman defensive lineman into a game. Your frames seem sturdy enough to play. Cortez Mills and Isaiah Mozee, you’re four-star receivers who flashed electric run-after-the-catch skills in high school. Bring those to campus like Jacory Barney did, and you might play as much as Jacory Barney has. TJ Lateef, you’re a quarterback and may have to wait your turn behind Dylan Raiola, but you’ll likely be doing so as Raiola’s backup, given Rhule’s openness to moving Heinrich Haarberg to different spots. Some of you need time with the nutrition and weight staffs — 18-year-old tackles rarely walk into a program ready to block 23-year-olds — but those guys are the exception at every school. Most of you will play, or transfer, by this rule: When you’re getting compensated more than anyone 10 years ago could have imagined, the standards for keeping that salary rapidly change. You’re a recruiting class full of promise and opportunity. You’ll face a heap of the other thing, too, though. “There’s bunch of these guys we expect to play,” Rhule said. “You don’t want to put that on the guys until they get here, but I want them to have the expectation.” Even if you don’t, the coaches will. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
The United States on Saturday announced a new $988 million security assistance package for Ukraine as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump's November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American aid for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be disbursed before he is sworn in next month. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump met in Paris earlier Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said any resolution of the war with Russia should be a "just" settlement that includes "strong security guarantees for Ukraine." The meeting was of huge importance to Zelensky, given fears in Kyiv that Trump may urge Ukraine to make concessions to Moscow. The latest aid will be funded via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, under which military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners rather than drawn from American stocks, meaning it will not immediately arrive on the battlefield. It follows a $725 million package announced on Monday that included a second tranche of landmines as well as anti-air and anti-armor weapons. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden is working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump -- who has repeatedly criticized US assistance for Kyiv and claimed he could secure a ceasefire within hours -- takes over. Trump's comments have triggered fears in Kyiv and Europe about the future of US aid, and Ukraine's ability to withstand Russian attacks in the absence of further American support. "Our job has been to try and put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield so that it is in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Saturday. In the closing weeks of Biden's term, the goal is "a massive surge of assistance and to up the economic pressure on Russia," he said. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday warned that failure to continue opposing Russia's actions would have dire consequences. "We can continue to stand up to the Kremlin. Or we can let (Russian President Vladimir) Putin have his way -- and condemn our children and grandchildren to live in a world of chaos and conflict," said Austin, who like Sullivan was speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California. "This administration has made its choice. And so has a bipartisan coalition in Congress. The next administration must make its own choice." The defense chief also emphasized the importance of US allies and partners in his remarks -- a contrast to Trump's go-it-alone "America first" world view. "Here is the stark military fact: our allies and partners are huge force multipliers," Austin said. "Ultimately, America is weaker when it stands alone. And America is smaller when it stands apart," he said. "There is no such thing as a safe retreat from today's interwoven world." The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging a coalition to back Kyiv after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries. Ukraine's international supporters have since then provided tens of billions of dollars in weapons, ammunition, training and other security aid that has been key to helping Kyiv resist Russian forces. wd/mlm/acbAP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:13 p.m. ESTAustralian market watchers have raised concerns over what another Trump administration and an uncertain Chinese economy could mean for the local bourse next year as markets come off a prosperous 2024. The S&P/ASX 200 grew about 10 per cent in 2024, its best gain since 2021, marking a recovery after two years hampered by inflationary pressures and ballooning interest rates. Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Elon Musk will hold great influence over the fate of global markets in 2025. Credit: Nathan Perri While forecasts in January were optimistic about the year ahead, Tribeca Investment Partners portfolio manager Jun Bei Liu said the ASX “defied all expectations” with the “incredible” returns observed across 2024. “At the beginning, we all thought the Australian market would be strong, but not as strong as it has been,” Liu said. “It’s been thanks to the resilience of our economy and optimism returning to the sharemarket.” Among the best performers was the finance sector – which grew 30 per cent in the past year and was spurred on by Commonwealth Bank – and the IT sector, which enjoyed significant gains as artificial intelligence demand surged. Jessica Amir, market strategist at Moomoo, observed that late annual growth on the bourse came behind the “hot spice” kicked into markets following the US election and release of a new Chinese stimulus. Among the late lifters was Block Inc., the Jack Dorsey-founded financial services firm that emerged as a major beneficiary of the Bitcoin price surge that followed Donald Trump’s election victory. Moomoo market strategist Jessica Amir has backed Block in for a big 2025 amid the Trump-inspired Bitcoin boom. Credit: Louie Douvis “It was a monumental day and showed the changing face of the Australian sharemarket when we saw Block overtake ANZ and Macquarie [in December],” Amir said. “Block will probably become a top-five company in 2025.” Analysts view Trump’s inauguration on January 20 as the first major test for the Australian sharemarket in 2025, likely to be followed by the Australian Reserve Bank’s interest rates decision on February 6. Some of Trump’s policies – including new trade tariffs – spell trouble for global markets. IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said that Trump’s immediate actions following his inauguration would be “very important” for the health of the Australian sharemarket. “Most of the forecasts that I’ve seen say it’ll be a good year for the stock market if Trump does this or that,” Sycamore said. “It depends on whether Trump prioritises tax cuts, regulation and cutting the fat off the US bureaucracy, or whether he goes for the tariffs.” AMP chief economist Shane Oliver has said the Australian dollar could be in for a “rough ride” under Donald Trump’s America-first policies. Credit: Peter Rae While the prospect of increased tariffs has accelerated inflationary fears, Trump’s agenda is also forecast to stimulate growth for big tech, industrial and mining stocks, and the banks, which are expected to enjoy increased borrowing demand as interest rates continue to be lowered in 2025. “Trump is quite supportive of the stock market in general,” Amir said. “Cutting taxes, regulation and red tape is really good for tech stocks, especially the chip sector.” Loading Tesla is among the companies that’s expected to benefit from an expected reduction in the cost of batteries in 2025, and reap reward from chief executive Elon Musk’s tight-knit relationship with Trump. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said the Australian dollar could face a “rough ride” under Trump, though he noted that lower spending in the US could put upward pressure on the Aussie dollar. “It wouldn’t surprise me if as the US economy cools down into next year, that it leads to lower services inflation, which leads to lower inflation,” said Oliver, who expects constrained global growth in 2025. “The Aussie dollar could turn less than 60¢ on the downside, or head towards high 60s if the US Federal Reserve turns dovish, and the Chinese stimulus comes strong.” The RBA is expected to cut interest rates as early as February, as underlying inflation falls further and unemployment rises. The federal election, slated for sometime between March and May, might prompt an increase in government spending although is unlikely to influence short-term economic policies. Weak Chinese economic data released this month renewed calls for an increased stimulus from its government, which could promise increased trade opportunities for Australian businesses. Liu thought investors could expect “more and more” targeted stimulus packages from the Chinese government, as it loosens its policies in a bid to supercharge a slowing economy. “Policymakers have been very clear – they will keep stimulating until they get it right,” Liu said. “Given the underperformance of the [Australian] utilities sector, the stimulus will provide a tailwind for them.” Miners are also expected to benefit from new Chinese stimulus packages, and from movement across global currencies. “You would expect the US dollar to eventually roll over, and the rolling over would allow the pushing up of commodity demand, which is to the benefit of our mining sector,” Amir said. “It will make for – all in all – a pretty good year.” The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Investing Shares Aussie dollar ASX Limited Trump's America Donald Trump More... Daniel Lo Surdo is a reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald. Connect via email . Most Viewed in Business Loading
Altria Group ( MO 0.72% ) has emerged as a surprising stock market winner in 2024, propelled by an impressive earnings rebound. At the time of this writing, its shares had surged by 41% this year to their highest level since 2019. There's a lot for investors to like about this tobacco giant, including the stock's 7% dividend yield as a compelling income opportunity. That being said, are there enough positives in the outlook to keep the rally going? Let's discuss whether Altria stock is a buy, sell, or hold in 2025. The case to buy or hold Altria stock The tobacco industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Even as smoking rates continue to decline worldwide, consumers are increasingly turning to smoke-free alternatives. These include electronic cigarettes and oral tobacco, seen as less-harmful replacements, which are proving to be highly popular. Altria, the leading U.S. cigarette manufacturer known for iconic brands like Marlboro and Parliament, appears to be successfully navigating these shifting market dynamics by diversifying into smoke-free products. In the company's third quarter (for the period ended Sept. 30), the story was the 7.8% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS), through a better than expected top-line figure and efforts at cost controls. Altria's NJOY e-cigarette brand posted a 16% climb in shipment volume for the consumable device cartridges, which allowed the company to capture a 6.2% retail market share, up from 3.2% in the third quarter of 2023. The other standout is ON! nicotine pouches posting a 46% volume increase. On the cigarette side, Altria managed to balance lower sales volumes with higher pricing, particularly in the premium category, supporting company-wide cash flows. For the full year 2024, management is targeting adjusted EPS in a range of $5.07 to $5.15, representing growth of 2.5% to 4% from 2023. That's great news for investors when thinking about the sustainability of the $1.02 per share quarterly dividend. The company is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased its annual payout for the past 55 years, with management reaffirming a commitment to continue that streak through at least 2028. Investors who are confident in Altria's ability to remain profitable and execute a long-term strategy have a good reason to buy or hold the stock today. MO dividend yield , data by YCharts. The case to sell Altria stock It's important to examine Altria's outlook critically to understand what could go wrong with the investment idea. The main challenge the company faces likely comes down to the intensely competitive industry environment. While ON! nicotine pouches contribute to growth, they struggle to match the success of ZYN from Philip Morris International . The category market share of 19.1% for ON! fell by 3.8 percentage points from last year, in contrast to ZYN's dominant 73% market position. There's also a question surrounding Altria's NJOY brand positioning and how the category will evolve given that consumers have many alternative technologies to choose from. For instance, Philip Morris plans to launch its Iqos Iluma heat-not-burn tobacco product across the United States late next year, which could potentially erode NJOY's market share if users decide to make the switch. All of this exists against a backdrop of complex federal and state-level regulations, adding another layer of risk that could undermine Altria's growth prospects. Investors skeptical of the company's relevance over the next decade may want to consider exiting their positions or reducing exposure. The decision: I'm bullish For all the uncertainties investors need to balance, my takeaway is that Altria's business is alive and well heading into 2025. The growth from the smoke-free products portfolio provides a financial runway while opening new doors of strategic flexibility. What I like about the stock as a buy right now is its attractive valuation. Besides the high-yield dividend, shares are trading at just 11 times the consensus 2024 EPS as a forward price-to-earnings ratio ( P/E ). That is well below Philip Morris' forward P/E of 19. My interpretation is that the stock is undervalued reletive to its bigger competitor. Ultimately, Altria stock offers excellent value that can work for investors within a diversified portfolio.KU VC calls for focusing on research that addresses industrial and social issues Vice Chancellor University of Karachi Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi delivering the inaugural speech in the opening ceremony of the ISNPC-15 held at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK) — NNI/File We have failed to establish a connection between industries and academia because we cannot solve their problems. We often talk about individual excellence instead of institutional excellence. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); There is a need to focus on institutional excellence rather than individual brilliance. Our prime responsibility and duty is to provide quality education and nurture our student’s abilities, and we must assess how successful we have been in promoting our students’ professional growth. These views were expressed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi, Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, while addressing the DCS-UBIT Career Connection ‘24 held on Tuesday on the lawn of the Department of Computer Science. “As educators, we must reflect on whether we are fulfilling our duties. The best standard of individual training is self-accountability because a society enriched with trained individuals forms the foundation of a healthy nation and a prosperous society.” He highlighted that our dilemma is that we still conduct research not to solve social and industrial problems, but to add to our research papers. We need to change this mindset and focus on research that addresses industrial and social issues. Dr Khalid Iraqi mentioned that industries seek collaboration with academia, but for that we need to find solutions to their problems. He said the time has gone when only a degree was supposed to be enough, it used to be 23 years ago, but now we are facing a vibrant market, and the dynamics of business have changed a lot. So, we need people with innovative ideas, creativity, and the will and confidence to excel in the market. He added that educational institutions and faculty members have to play a very important role in shaping the product that can be utilized in the market.