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There are a few more days to go in 2024, but unless something disastrous happens, the stock market will deliver a second consecutive year of impressive gains. The S&P 500 is up 26%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 is up about 30%. Hard to be mad about those returns, especially given those indexes returned 24% and 55% in 2023. Consider this point: $10,000 plopped into the Nasdaq 100 at the end of 2022 would be worth over $20,000 now, using a set-it, forget-it approach. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

Trump allies slam government department over 'woke' pansexual post: 'Sanity is returning in 43 days'Nvidia drags Wall Street from its records as oil and gold rise

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In an era of rising authoritarianism, at the heels of a six-hour martial law decree that unfolded while many South Koreans slept, something noteworthy happened: Democracy held. The past week in Seoul, officials and academics warn, is what a threat to democracy looks like in 2024. It's a democratically-elected president declaring martial law over the nation he leads, asserting sweeping powers to prevent opposition demonstrations, ban political parties and control the media. It's members of the military attempting to block lawmakers from exercising their power to vote on cancelling the power grab. And here's what it took to defeat President Yoon Suk Yeol 's lurch toward government by force: Unified popular support for democracy. Legislators storming the National Assembly past midnight, live-streaming themselves climbing over fences. A politician grabbing at a soldier's rifle and yelling “Aren't you ashamed?” until he retreated. And finally, decisively, Parliament assembling a quorum and voting unanimously to cancel martial law. It was a victory for a hard-won democracy — and for the idea that checks and balances among branches of government must work to counteract each other's ambitions, as the American founders wrote in the Federalist Papers in 1788. But as the drama played out in Seoul, the scaffolding of democracy rattled around the world. In other countries, the grab for power might have worked. Other would-be authoritarians might have been better prepared than Yoon. In deeply polarized societies — the United States, for example, where Republicans are staunchly loyal to president-elect Donald Trump — there might not have been decisive support from the public or the opposition. The military might have used force. And the members of the legislature might not have voted as one to snuff out the attempted takeover. “President Yoon's attempt to declare martial law reveals the fragility of the rule of law in divided societies, especially those with governments in which the chief executive cannot be easily dismissed by the legislature," said Tom Pepinsky, a government professor at Cornell University who studies backsliding among democracies in Southeast Asia. Notably, he said in an email, “No members of President Yoon’s own party were willing to defend his actions in public." Nevertheless, Yoon’s surprise attempt to impose martial law revealed both the fragility and resilience of the country’s democratic system. Within three hours of his stunning announcement to impose military rule — claiming the opposition was “paralyzing” state affairs — 190 lawmakers voted to cancel his actions. In so doing, they demonstrated the strength of the country’s democratic checks and balances. Yoon’s authoritarian push, carried out by hundreds of heavily armed troops with Blackhawk helicopters and armored vehicles sent to the National Assembly, harked back to an era of dictatorial presidents. The country’s democratic transition in the late 1980s came after years of massive protests by millions that eventually overcame violent suppressions by military rulers. Civilian presence was again crucial in shaping the events following Yoon’s late night television announcement on Tuesday. Thousands of people flocked to the National Assembly, shouting slogans for martial law to be lifted and Yoon to step down from power. There were no reports of violent clashes as troops and police officers. “We restored democracy without having a single casualty this time,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a sociology professor at South Korea’s Jeonbuk National University. It’s virtually impossible for any leader of a democracy to pull off a transition toward martial law without a public willing to support it, or at least tolerate it. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, attracted millions of views as he began live-streaming his journey to the National Assembly, pleading for people to converge to the parliament to help lawmakers get inside. The shaky footage later shows him exiting his car climbing over a fence to get onto the grounds. The vote at the National Assembly was also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik, who also had to scale a fence to get in. Yoon’s sense of crisis clearly wasn’t shared by the public, whose opinions, Seol said, were shaped predominantly by the shocking videos broadcast to their devices. “Ultimately, democracy is all about moving public opinion,” he said. “What was most crucial in this case was that everything was broadcast live on smartphones, YouTube and countless other media.” Opposition lawmakers are now pushing to remove Yoon from office, saying he failed to meet the constitutional requirement that martial law should only be considered in wartime or a comparable severe crisis — and that he unlawfully deployed troops to the National Assembly. On Saturday, an opposition-led impeachment motion failed after most lawmakers from Yoon’s party boycotted the vote. Yet the president’s troubles persist: The vote’s defeat is expected to intensify nationwide protests and deepen South Korea’s political turmoil, with opposition parties preparing to introduce another impeachment motion when parliament reconvenes next Wednesday. Han Sang-hie, a law professor at Seoul’s Konkuk University, said the martial law debacle highlights what he sees as the most crucial flaw of South Korea’s democracy: that it places too much power in the hands of the president, which is easily abused and often goes unchecked. Political scientists call what happened in South Korea an “autogolpe” — a “self-coup” — defined as one led by incumbent leaders themselves, in which an executive takes or sponsors illegal actions against others in the government. Yoon qualifies because he used troops to try to shut down South Korea's legislature. Self-coups are increasing, with a third of the 46 since 1945 occurring in the past decade, according to a study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State University. About 80% of self-coups succeed, they reported. In 2021, a power grab by Tunisian President Kais Saied raised similar concerns around the world after the country designed a democracy from scratch and won a Nobel Peace Prize after a largely bloodless revolution. In the United States, some have expresed worry about similar situations arising during the second administration of Donald Trump. He has vowed, after all, to shake some of democracy's pillars . He's mused that he would be justified if he decided to pursue “the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” That’s in contrast to the oath of office he took in 2017, and will again next year, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” as best he can. Nearly half of voters in the Nov. 5 election, which Trump won, said they were “very concerned” that another Trump presidency would bring the U.S. closer to authoritarianism, according to AP Votecast survey data. Asked before a live audience on Fox News Channel in 2023 to assure Americans that he would not abuse power or use the presidency to seek retribution against anyone, Trump replied, “except for day one," when he'll close the border and “drill, drill, drill.” After that, Trump said, "I'm not a dictator.” Kellman reported from London.By CHRISTINE FERNANDO CHICAGO (AP) — As Donald Trump’s Cabinet begins to take shape, those on both sides of the abortion debate are watching closely for clues about how his picks might affect reproductive rights policy in the president-elect’s second term . Trump’s cabinet picks offer a preview of how his administration could handle abortion after he repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue on the campaign trail. He attempted to distance himself from anti-abortion allies by deferring to states on abortion policy, even while boasting about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down the constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for half a century. In an NBC News interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he doesn’t plan to restrict medication abortion but also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” “Things do change, but I don’t think it’s going to change at all,” he said. The early lineup of his new administration , including nominations to lead health agencies, the Justice Department and event the Department of Veterans Affairs, has garnered mixed — but generally positive — reactions from anti-abortion groups. Abortion law experts said Trump’s decision to include fewer candidates with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement could indicate that abortion will not be a priority for Trump’s administration. “It almost seems to suggest that President Trump might be focusing his administration in other directions,” said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Karen Stone, vice president of public policy at Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said while many of the nominees have “extensive records against reproductive health care,” some do not. She cautioned against making assumptions based on Trump’s initial cabinet selections. Still, many abortion rights groups are wary, in part because many of the nominees hold strong anti-abortion views even if they do not have direct ties to anti-abortion activists. They’re concerned that an administration filled with top-level officials who are personally opposed to abortion could take steps to restrict access to the procedure and funding. After Trump’s ambiguity about abortion during his campaign, “there’s still a lot we don’t know about what policy is going to look like,” said Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law. That approach may be revealed as the staffs within key departments are announced. Trump announced he would nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, which anti-abortion forces have long targeted as central to curtailing abortion rights nationwide. Yet Kennedy shifted on the issue during his own presidential campaign. In campaign videos, Kennedy said he supports abortion access until viability , which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks, although there is no defined timeframe. But he also said “every abortion is a tragedy” and argued for a national ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a stance he quickly walked back. The head of Health and Human Services oversees Title X funding for a host of family planning services and has sweeping authority over agencies that directly affect abortion access, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The role is especially vital amid legal battles over a federal law known as EMTALA, which President Joe Biden’s administration has argued requires emergency abortion access nationwide, and FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All, called Kennedy an “unfit, unqualified extremist who cannot be trusted to protect the health, safety and reproductive freedom of American families.” His potential nomination also has caused waves in the anti-abortion movement. Former Vice President Mike Pence , a staunch abortion opponent, urged the Senate to reject Kennedy’s nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the group had its own concerns about Kennedy. “There’s no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary,” she said. Fox News correspondent Marty Makary is Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, which plays a critical role in access to medication abortion and contraception. Abortion rights groups have accused him of sharing misinformation about abortion on air. Russell Vought , a staunch anti-abortion conservative, has been nominated for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was a key architect of Project 2025 , a right-wing blueprint for running the federal government. Among other actions to limit reproductive rights, it calls for eliminating access to medication abortion nationwide, cutting Medicaid funding for abortion and restricting access to contraceptive care, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUD’s. Despite distancing himself from the conservative manifesto on the campaign trail, Trump is stocking his administration with people who played central roles in developing Project 2025. Trump acknowledged that drafters of the report would be part of his incoming administration during the Sunday interview with NBC News, saying “Many of those things I happen to agree with.” “These cabinet appointments all confirm that Project 2025 was in fact the blueprint all along, and the alarm we saw about it was warranted,” said Amy Williams Navarro, director of government relations for Reproductive Freedom for All. Dr. Mehmet Oz , Trump’s choice to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a former television talk show host who has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products. He voiced contradictory abortion views during his failed Senate run in 2022. Oz has described himself as “strongly pro-life, praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade , claimed “life starts at conception” and referred to abortion as “murder.” But he also has echoed Trump’s states-rights approach, arguing the federal government should not be involved in abortion decisions. “I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves,” he said during a Senate debate two years ago. An array of reproductive rights groups opposed his Senate run. As CMS administrator, Oz would be in a key position to determine Medicaid coverage for family planning services and investigate potential EMTALA violations. Related Articles National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight National Politics | Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection As Florida’s attorney general, Pam Bondi defended abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period. Now she’s Trump’s choice for attorney general . Her nomination is being celebrated by abortion opponents but denounced by abortion rights groups concerned she may revive the Comstock Act , an anti-vice law passed by Congress in 1873 that, among other things, bans mailing of medication or instruments used in abortion. An anti-abortion and anti-vaccine former Florida congressman, David Weldon, has been chosen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects and monitors abortion data across the country. Former Republican congressman Doug Collins is Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid a political battle over abortion access and funding for troops and veterans. Collins voted consistently to restrict funding and access to abortion and celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade. “This is a team that the pro-life movement can work with,” said Kristin Hawkins, president of the national anti-abortion organization Students for Life.Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a clear message to the West following the successful Oreshnik missile launch, Pedro Guanaes Netto, French politician and the host of Fréquence Populaire Média, told Sputnik Africa. He analyzed that the Oreshnik ballistic missile launch demonstrates Russia's capacity for innovation and missile production, even during wartime. This contrasts with Ukraine's reliance on dwindling stocks of external military supplies, the politician stressed. By authorizing the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow to strike Russia, the West "gave Putin carte blanche to be able to revise his doctrine since it becomes a response to a fact and no longer a unilateral action by Russia," Netto noted. He also highlighted the increasing difficulty Western elites face in maintaining their narrative of a weakened Russia destined to lose the conflict. He cited recent polls indicating growing war-weariness among Ukrainians, a shift from earlier unwavering resolve.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a clear message to the West following the successful Oreshnik missile launch, Pedro Guanaes Netto, French politician and the host of Fréquence Populaire Média, told Sputnik Africa. He analyzed that the Oreshnik ballistic missile launch demonstrates Russia's capacity for innovation and missile production, even during wartime. This contrasts with Ukraine's reliance on dwindling stocks of external military supplies, the politician stressed. By authorizing the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow to strike Russia, the West "gave Putin carte blanche to be able to revise his doctrine since it becomes a response to a fact and no longer a unilateral action by Russia," Netto noted. He also highlighted the increasing difficulty Western elites face in maintaining their narrative of a weakened Russia destined to lose the conflict. He cited recent polls indicating growing war-weariness among Ukrainians, a shift from earlier unwavering resolve.Huge boost to Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky to be handed £1bn in vital weaponsI've generally been very bullish of digital assets and crypto-proxy assets during the majority of 2024. There have been a few exceptions to that bullishness, however, with Grayscale funds that trade at large premiums being an area where I've recommended caution. My Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ETH-USD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I'm not an investment advisor. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Duke's Cooper Flagg thrives in first true road environment, quieting Arizona crowd with 24 points TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg got his first taste of a true college road atmosphere on Friday night, playing in front of a raucous announced crowd of 14,634 at Arizona’s McKale Center. For a few early moments, he looked a little nervous. It was fleeting. Flagg scored 16 points in the second half, finishing with a game-high 24 as No. 12 Duke pulled away for a 69-55 win over No. 17 Arizona. The preseason All-American shot 10 of 22 from the field, grabbed six rebounds and had three assists, two blocks and a steal. 76ers center Joel Embiid sidelined due to swelling in his left knee and will miss two games PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers say center Joel Embiid is managing swelling in his left knee and will miss a second consecutive game Sunday. The Sixers issued a statement on the condition of the 2023 NBA MVP at halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, saying the decision to sideline Embiid was made along with the team’s medical staff. Embiid was ruled out prior to Friday’s game against the Nets due to what the team described as left knee injury maintenance. The Sixers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Austin Hays, Kyle Finnegan, Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Romano among 62 new free agents NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Austin Hays, right-hander Kyle Finnegan and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents when their teams failed to offer 2025 contracts. Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielders Michael Tauchman and Ramón Laureano also were among the players cut loose, many of whom would have been eligible for salary arbitration. Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions. Finnegan and Hays are former All-Stars. US ski star Shiffrin leads World Cup slalom after 1st run and closes in on career win No. 99 GURGL, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin closed in on what would be the American ski star’s career win No. 99 by setting the pace in the opening run of a women’s World Cup slalom. Shiffrin wasn’t clean going into the steep of the Kirchenkar course but gained time on all competitors with a near-flawless finish section. Wendy Holdener was fastest at the first two splits and the Swiss racer trailed Shiffrin by 0.13 seconds at the finish. Shiffrin says she was feeling "a little bit funky on some spots.” A victory would give Shiffrin five chances to compete for win No. 100 during a North American sweep of the World Cup starting next week. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Russell puts Mercedes on pole at Las Vegas and Verstappen nips Norris in championship battle LAS VEGAS (AP) — George Russell put Mercedes on the pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in an upset over teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions with Russell fastest in Friday night’s third and final session. But come qualifying, Hamilton made two mistakes in the final group and wound up a distant 10th. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc seemed to sweep the front row until Russell’s late lap pushed Sainz to second. Pierre Gasly slid into third, and Leclerc wound up fourth. Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull qualified fifth for Saturday night's race. Verstappen needs only to score three points more than challenger Lando Norris to win his fourth straight world championship. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. Chase Elliott named NASCAR's most popular driver for 7th straight season CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chase Elliott has been named NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh straight year. He was announced Friday at NASCAR's annual season-ending awards ceremony. It's the only major NASCAR award determined solely by the vote of race fans. Elliott beat out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, per results released by the National Motorsports Press Association. Bill Elliott, Chase's father who is nicknamed “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” was named NASCAR’s most popular driver a record 16 times before removing his name from the ballot. Either an Elliott or Earnhardt has won NASCAR’s most popular driver award for 34 consecutive years. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.”

Pakistan’s budget process, while clearly defined in the 1973 Constitution, subordinate legislations like the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA), 2019 and guided by detailed manuals e.g. Budget Manual 2020, suffers from several strategic and procedural inefficiencies that hinder fiscal sustainability. Despite the existence of a well-structured framework, the budgetary mechanism remains predominantly reactive and lacks a strategic top-down approach. The current methodology involves a bottom-up budget process that relies heavily on outdated fiscal projections and resource ceilings, often disregarding economic fluctuations and emerging fiscal pressures. Consequently, this leads to budgetary submissions based on past figures rather than forward-looking assessments, exacerbating economic vulnerabilities and resulting in misaligned fiscal priorities. ‘Technical Assistance Report Pakistan—Improving Budget Practices’ (August 2024) by International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlights one glaring weakness that is the disconnect between budget preparation and timely dissemination of macro-fiscal data. The Mid-term Budget Strategy Paper, containing vital projections and fiscal policies, is only released three months after budget formulation begins, creating a misalignment with economic conditions. The delay in strategic planning not only compromises the accuracy of budget allocations but also affects the federal government’s ability to make informed decisions. Coordination lapses between the Budget Wing and the Macro-Fiscal Policy Unit (MFPU) hinder real-time data integration, limiting the efficacy of economic forecasts. There are also challenges in ensuring efficient inter-ministerial collaboration, with ministries often working in silos rather than towards cohesive fiscal objectives, further weakening budget execution. The current budgets of federal and provincial governments amplify concerns as these have set ambitious revenue targets for tax and non-tax sources without adequately assessing their strategic viability and collection capacity. Consequently, reliance on multilateral and bilateral financial assistance to address fiscal deficit, especially at federal level, has been an historic impediment, rather a necessary evil, from the outset, reflecting a persistent and concerning vulnerability in public finances. In the wake of autonomy granted to provinces under the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010 [18th Amendment] along with right to levy many progressive taxes, a significant share of national revenue is allocated to provincial governments every year. This allocation leaves the federal government with inadequate financial resources, insufficient to meet essential expenditures, including those related to defence. As a result, the federation continues to grapple with substantial fiscal pressures, high borrowing, and constrained financial flexibility, emphasizing the urgent need for a more balanced and sustainable revenue-sharing framework. Instead of levying agricultural income tax as per the 1973 Constitution and imposing progressive taxes like inheritance tax (estate duty), gift tax, wealth tax, property tax and capital gain tax on the wealthy class, the four provinces collectively received Rs 5264 billion in fiscal year 2023-24 from the federal government under the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. At their own, they collected a meager amount of total revenues of Rs 997 billion, with tax revenue of only Rs 774 billion. Collection under the head of agricultural income tax by all provinces in total tax collection of the country in FY 2024 was mere 0.3 percent! During the last decade the provincial governments in Pakistan have performed poorly in streamlining their tax collection, which does not align with their economic potential. While they have been very keen to launch projects for political gains, the mismanagement of taxpayers’ money and short-term funding has resulted in discontinuation of many projects or incurring enormous overrun costs. The real sufferers are citizens as no worthwhile social welfare programmes were implemented and there was complete apathy in empowering local governments as envisaged in Article 140A of the Constitution. In Punjab, though tax collection increased from Rs 98,054 million in 2014-15 to Rs 326,282 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, it was through regressive sales tax on services rising significantly from Rs 58,662 million in 2015-16 to Rs 224,440 million in FY 2023-24. However, property tax witnessed a decline from Rs 7,812 million in FY 2014-15 to Rs 6,335 million in FY 2019-20. It disappeared as an independent head in fiscal operations reported by Ministry of Finance from FY 2020-21 onwards—merged under “others” showing total collection at Rs 35,504 million in FY 2023-24. Similarly, excise duties and stamp duties grew modestly, reaching Rs 4,058 million and Rs 41,793 million, respectively, by FY 2023-24. In Sindh, the total tax collection grew from Rs 93,807 million in FY 2014-15 to Rs 363,733 million in FY 2023-24, with sales tax on services rising from zero to Rs 222,750 million in the same period. Property tax stagnated, and excise duties grew from Rs 3,820 million to Rs 7,004 million. Stamp duties showed an impressive rise from Rs 6,550 million to Rs 17,122 million. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tax collection increased from Rs 11,369 million in FY 2014-15 to Rs 53,787 million in FY 2023-24, with sales tax on services reaching Rs 35,911 million. However, property taxes fluctuated, and excise duties remained modest. In Balochistan, tax collection grew from Rs 2,593 million in FY 2014-15 to Rs 30,392 million in FY 2023-24, with sales tax on services rising from zero to Rs 21,516 million. While the growth is commendable, collection still falls short of the province’s economic potential. Reliance on a narrow range of taxes, particularly sales tax, highlights inefficiencies in the tax system across the provinces, with all of them underperforming relative to their economic capacity. The performance of the present government of Punjab in managing its economy and administrative duties has been a subject of significant concern, despite ambitious goals set for FY 2024-25. The provincial revenue target of Rs 960.3 billion, with Rs 471.9 billion from taxes and Rs 488.4 billion from non-tax sources, is termed a bold attempt to boost the financial capacity having current population of 128 million. However, the early signs of fiscal year have raised doubts about the feasibility of these targets. The Punjab government posted a deficit of Rs 160 billion in the first quarter, only to later on revise it into a surplus of Rs 40 billion. While this may appear to be an improvement, it is important to note the alarmingly high statistical discrepancy of Rs 177 billion reflected in the revised figures pointing to the Punjab government’s continued inability to generate accurate and reliable financial information. The continuous existence of such discrepancies highlights a fundamental weakness in the province’s financial management, which raises questions about the government’s ability to meet its long-term revenue goals. The Punjab government also struggled with poor law and order management, as seen in its failure to control student protests that escalated into violence, highlighting a lack of administrative competence. The government’s response to health crises like smog and Dengue remains inadequate, with reactive measures like lockdowns and no long-term solutions, such as tackling crop burning or promoting green initiatives. Additionally, the government has shown a lack of preparedness and foresight in managing these recurring issues. Despite ambitious fiscal targets, the government’s reliance on short-term solutions, overwhelming reliance on federal receipts, and its inability to generate reliable financial data undermine its capacity to effectively govern and maintain public trust. Performance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government under Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been sharply criticized by political figures, particularly regarding management of the substantial Rs 1200 billion allocated under the NFC Award. Critics argue that the government has failed to provide transparency about the use of this money, raising questions about its effectiveness and accountability. Additionally, the PTI government, which once positioned itself as an advocate for provincial rights, did not take essential steps to assert those rights when they held power at the federal level, undermining their credibility on the issue. Sindh’s performance has raised concerns with the IMF, particularly due to its failure to implement the National Fiscal Pact, despite discussions, thus, undermining fiscal accountability. Similarly, despite its vast resources and strategic location, Balochistan has faced significant challenges under its government, including a deteriorating law and order situation and widespread illiteracy. Mismanagement and a lack of effective governance have hindered the province’s ability to capitalize on its economic potential. This failure to utilize its financial capacity and geographic advantages has left the people underserved and unable to reap the benefits of its position and resources. The challenges are substantial and cannot be effectively tackled by the federal government alone. Rather than focusing on short-term political projects, provincial governments should prioritize long-term structural reforms aimed at building sustainable cash flow, embracing digitization, and curbing wastage across all sectors. Additionally, as outlined in IMF’s technical assistance report on improving budget practices in Pakistan, the federal government must adopt a more strategic, top-down budgeting approach that emphasizes policy coherence and data-driven decision-making. One key recommendation is to release the Budget Strategy Paper concurrently with the Budget Call Circular, integrating up-to-date macro-fiscal projections and establishing binding budget ceilings. This would provide ministries with a clearer resource envelope and promote discipline in budget submissions. Strengthening of coordination between the Budget Wing and MFPU, enhancing data exchange protocols, and regularly updating fiscal forecasts are also vital steps. Furthermore, increasing the Budget Wing’s involvement in development project negotiations would ensure that capital expenditure is aligned with national priorities and fiscal realities. Expanding the Budget Call Circular’s scope to include best international practices, and issuing it jointly with the Planning Division, could create a more comprehensive budgeting framework. Organizational reforms within the Finance Division to reduce fragmentation and improve decision-making are crucial for strengthening fiscal governance. These strategic reforms are fundamental to building a resilient, transparent budgetary system that supports sustainable economic growth. (Huzaima Bukhari & Dr Ikramul Haq, lawyers and partners of Huzaima & Ikram, are Adjunct Faculty at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), members Advisory Board and Visiting Senior Fellows of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) and Abdul Rauf Shakoori is a corporate lawyer based in the USA and an expert in ‘White Collar Crimes and Sanctions Compliance’) Copyright Business Recorder, 2024The holiday season is often filled with joy, connection, and celebration, but it can also be a time when tensions rise and conflicts emerge, especially during conversations with loved ones. Whether it's differing opinions, long-standing disagreements, or stress from holiday preparations, the atmosphere can sometimes shift from festive to tense. However, with a little mindfulness and preparation, it's possible to navigate these conversations with care, ensuring that the time spent together remains warm and meaningful. Here's how to avoid conflict and foster positive communication during the holidays. Expectations tend to be higher during the holidays than other times of the year. People often have more to check off of their to-do list when they may already feel stretched thin to begin with. It is also a time where larger groups of people come together who aren’t always on the same page about things whether it’s food preferences, alcohol consumption, parenting, politics, or religion. With the potential for this whirlwind of conflicting principles in one room, there is a higher potential to feel some tension. “Taking time to identify your own boundaries, meaning what you are and aren’t willing to discuss, can help to set the foundation for how you engage during holiday engagements,” says Lisa Eggebeen, Vice President of Specialty Clinics at Centerstone. This doesn’t mean that other people in the room won’t bring up potentially controversial topics, but leaning away from rather than into those conversations can save you a great deal emotional energy. Setting boundaries for yourself and the things you can control through the holiday season is important as we can only control so much. “Identifying our own positive coping skills prior to any stressful situation is key to mental wellness all the time, but especially during the holidays,” adds Eggebeen. Whether you need to take a breather and walk around the block or find your favorite person in the room to talk privately, do whatever you need to bring your stress level down. Non-verbal ques and how you are communicating can be incredibly helpful in leading the conversation in a more positive way. Things like keeping your voice in your regular tone, maintaining eye contact, and refraining from showing big emotions is a good place to start. You can often tell when a conversation is no longer productive when people are only listening to respond, are unwilling to hear the other person out, or are just talking in circles. In these cases, it may be best to agree to disagree and move on. Let it be known that all parties are entitled to their beliefs and feelings, even if they differ. The holidays can be a joyful yet stressful time. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and in need of additional support for your mental well-being consider contacting Centerstone at 877-HOPE123 (1-877-467-3123) to learn more.

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Transcript: Kyle Shanahan shares final updates ahead of 49ers-Lions Week 17 matchupVance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksGeek culture is more popular than football in modern Britain, new data shows. Nerdy hobbies like -fiction, and superheroes have overtaken the nation’s interest in the beautiful game. A whopping 61% of Brits are keen on sci-fi, 59% are gamers, but those who follow footie are now outnumbered at just 57.6%. And the trend is set to soar, with three quarters of under-35s listing computer games as their major leisure time pursuit, followed by fantasy (64.6%), superheroes (62.6%) and sci-fi (62.1%), with football lagging behind in fifth place (61.5%) for younger generations. Half of younger respondents said they loved Japanese anime, like the Pokémon cartoons, and a quarter were keen on Korean music, found the survey of 2,000 Brits aged 18 to 65. The poll shows soccer boasts a hardcore of die-hard fans, but pursuits once considered dorky now appeal to a wider range of people, catapulting them into the mainstream and threatening to turn football into a niche interest. When it comes to gaming, Call of Duty, Super Mario, Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft and Sonic top the list. More than nine in 10 Brits said they had turned to video games, sci-fi and other nerdish hobbies to escape the stresses of life. And the same number said geek culture provided them with a strong sense of community. The How Nerdy is Britain? report said: “Gaming is now more popular than football in the UK, thanks to the appeal of nostalgia, an escape from daily stress and the rise of anime and K-culture.” Toan Nguyen, founder of Jung von Matt NERD, which published the study, said: “There’s a shift happening in British culture where traditional pastimes like following and watching football are now competing with global phenomena like gaming and science-fiction. “The insights from our study emphasise how geek culture has not only grown in acceptance but has also created deep emotional connections with fans.”

Bioinformatics Services Market 2024 Opportunity Assessment, Production Analysis, Segmentation And Forecast To 2033 11-23-2024 01:23 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: The Business Research Company Bioinformatics Services Market Growth The Business Research Company recently released a comprehensive report on the Global Bioinformatics Services Market Size and Trends Analysis with Forecast 2024-2033. This latest market research report offers a wealth of valuable insights and data, including global market size, regional shares, and competitor market share. Additionally, it covers current trends, future opportunities, and essential data for success in the industry. According to The Business Research Company's, The bioinformatics services market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.68 billion in 2023 to $4.24 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to genomic research advancements, rise in personalized medicine, pharmaceutical r&d investments, biological data explosion, government initiatives in healthcare, increasing adoption of next-generation sequencing (ngs). The bioinformatics services market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.83 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expanding role in clinical diagnostics, growing importance in agriculture and environmental sciences, increasing collaboration in research, rising demand in drug repurposing. Major trends in the forecast period include digital health initiatives, technological advancements in sequencing, ai and machine learning integration, cloud-based solutions, personalized medicine and genomic analysis, integration of blockchain for data security. Get The Complete Scope Of The Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/bioinformatics-services-global-market-report Market Drivers and Trends: The increasing use of information technology in healthcare is expected to propel the growth of the bioinformatics services market going forward. The increased use of information technology in healthcare has assisted healthcare practitioners in improving the quality of treatment they provide to patients, improving patient safety, increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and improving communication among healthcare professionals. Bioinformatics services, which involve the use of computer science and statistics for analyzing biological data, depend heavily on information technology (IT). For instance, in August 2021, according to the and Life Sciences Experience Survey, a Europe-based company specializing in information technology consulting and services, only 7% of consumers had a virtual consultation with a provider in early 2020, compared to 32% this in 2021. There was also an increase in the use of electronic health records, with 31% of patient group using EHR in 2021. Remote patient monitoring also increased since the previous pre-pandemic assessment. Therefore, the increasing use of information technology in healthcare is driving the growth of the bioinformatics services market going forward. Technological advancements are a key trend gaining popularity in the bioinformatics services market. Companies operating in the bioinformatics services market are adopting new technologies to sustain their position in the market. For instance, in July 2022, bitBiome Inc., a Japan-based microbiome analysis company, launched the Enzyme Discovery service. Enzyme Discovery Service is based on the globe's largest microbial genome database (MMGDB) and unique bioinformatics technologies. To create the MMGDB, bitBiome employs its fundamental technology, bit-MAP, a microbial single-cell genome analysis technique, to analyze the human microbiome as well as the environmental bacteria living in soil, the ocean, and hot springs. With its unique bioinformatics and 3D structural modeling technologies, BitBiome provides enzyme discovery services such as searching for optimal sequences from the MMGDB. Key Benefits for Stakeholders: • Comprehensive Market Insights: Stakeholders gain access to detailed market statistics, trends, and analyses that help them understand the current and future landscape of their industry. • Informed Decision-Making: The reports provide crucial data that support strategic decisions, reducing risks and enhancing business planning. • Competitive Advantage: With in-depth competitor analysis and market share information, stakeholders can identify opportunities to outperform their competition. • Tailored Solutions: The Business Research Company offers customized reports that address specific needs, ensuring stakeholders receive relevant and actionable insights. • Global Perspective: The reports cover various regions and markets, providing a broad view that helps stakeholders expand and operate successfully on a global scale. Ready to Dive into Something Exciting? Get Your Free Exclusive Sample of Our Research Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=10110&type=smp Major Key Players of the Market: QIAGEN Digital Insights; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; Illumina Inc.; DNAnexus Inc.; PerkinElmer Inc.; Biomax Informatics AG; Life Technologies Corporation; BGI Group; Eurofins Scientific SE; NeoGenomics Laboratories Inc.; CD Genomics Inc.; MedGenome Labs Pvt. Ltd.; Fios Genomics Ltd.; Geneva Bioinformatics SA; GVK Biosciences Private Limited; Accelrys Inc.; Macrogen Inc.; GENEWIZ Inc.; Source BioScience Limited; Microsynth AG; BaseClear B.V.; DNASTAR Inc.; GATC Biotech AG; Partek Incorporated; Seven Bridges Genomics Inc.; Omixon Inc.; BioTeam Inc.; BioBam Bioinformatics S.L.; Biomatters Limited; Genomatix GmbH; DNASTREAM Limited; Genalice B.V.; Golden Helix Inc.; Strand Life Sciences Private Limited Bioinformatics Services Market 2024 Key Insights: • The bioinformatics services market size will grow to $7.83 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.6%. • Rising Adoption Of Information Technology Fuels Growth In Bioinformatics Services Market • Cutting-Edge Technologies Reshapes Bioinformatics Services • North America was the largest region in the bioinformatics services market in 2023 We Offer Customized Report, Click @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/Customise?id=10110&type=smp Contact Us: The Business Research Company Europe: +44 207 1930 708 Asia: +91 88972 63534 Americas: +1 315 623 0293 Email: info@tbrc.info Follow Us On: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrc_info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessResearchCompany YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24_fI0rV8cR5DxlCpgmyFQ Blog: https://blog.tbrc.info/ Healthcare Blog: https://healthcareresearchreports.com/ Global Market Model: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/global-market-model Learn More About The Business Research Company The Business Research Company ( www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com ) is a leading market intelligence firm renowned for its expertise in company, market, and consumer research. With a global presence, TBRC's consultants specialize in diverse industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, chemicals, and technology, providing unparalleled insights and strategic guidance to clients worldwide. This release was published on openPR.

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