New Delhi, December 28: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday met prominent leaders in the national capital to invite them to the grand Mahakumbh 2025, set to take place in Prayagraj, an official said. Among those the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister met were former President Ram Nath Kovind, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President J.P. Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Mizoram Governor Gen (retd) V.K. Singh. Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: South Central Railway To Run 16 Special Trains for Devotees, Check Details and Train Routes Here. A statement mentioned that Adityanath presented each dignitary with an official invitation along with symbolic gifts. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was in Delhi on Saturday to invite these dignitaries for the Mahakumbh to be held from January 13 to February 26, 2025. His first meeting was with Mizoram Governor Gen (retd) V.K. Singh at Uttar Pradesh Bhawan, where he extended the invitation. Following this, Adityanath met former President Ram Nath Kovind at his official residence to invite him to the grand event. Mahakumbh Mela 2025: Yogi Adityanath Led-UP Government To Invite All Chief Ministers Across Nation for Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. He then visited the official residences of Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to extend the invitation. "Today I had a courtesy meeting with Union Minister of Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah ji in New Delhi. Thank you very much for providing your valuable time!" the Uttar Pradesh CM later wrote on X. After meeting J.P. Nadda, CM Adityanath posted on X: "Today I had a courtesy meeting with National President of BJP and Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda ji in New Delhi. Thank you very much for providing your valuable time!" As part of the courtesy meetings, the Uttar Pradesh CM presented each dignitary with symbolic gifts, including a logo of Mahakumbh 2025, a Kalash (sacred urn), literature about the event, and a New Year desk calendar and diary, the statement read. On his social media platform, Yogi Adityanath also shared pictures of these meetings and expressed gratitude to the dignitaries for their valuable time. With just 15 days until Mahakumbh begins, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath is intensifying efforts to invite distinguished personalities and the general public from across states. As part of this initiative, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit to Delhi aimed to encourage widespread participation in the grand event, the statement mentioned. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2024 11:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).The Best Stocks to Invest $500 in Right Now
Giants star WR Malik Nabers (toe) says he's a game-time decision(Image: Canva) This Christmas we learn that it is not just a trait that humans have, but birds also have the habit of gift-giving. Some birds have the habit of giving gifts to their partners that are basically moss or sticks. While we might not be happy with the gifts that we receive on some special days, we certainly can be happy that we are not female scorpionflies , as all you will receive is just a ball of spit from your partner. However, they are never dejected by it and even relish that as a treat as a reward for their male suitors. Not just flies, even animals like snails, earthworms, great grey shrikes, and squids also give gifts like thorns, and twigs to their partners. This phenomenon is also most common among insects and arachnids. What do birds gift their partner? Birds often give gifts to their partner as a gesture of mating. Bowerbirds Male bowerbirds build elaborate structures of bowers and decorate them with colorful objects like flowers, berries, or shiny items to attract females. Albatrosses They engage in intricate courtship dances and may exchange small items like pebbles or shells as part of their bonding process. Crows and Ravens These birds sometimes give shiny objects or food to their mates. Kingfishers Male kingfishers often present fish to females as a courtship gift to demonstrate their ability to provide. Penguins Male Adélie and Gentoo penguins present pebbles to their potential mates, which the females use to build their nests. According to a report on BBC, nursery web spiders present their potential mate with a prey wrapped in silk to make it more attractive and impress the female. However, these male spiders are said to be cheaters as they make the wrapping of the gift very special and in the time while the females are busy unwrapping it, the spiders immediately mate and leave before the female even realises that the gift is nothing but just a fake wrapping of silk, explained ecologist Drryl Gwyne in his interview with BBC. A publication in 2022 mentioned that Chinese entomologist Chufei Tang of China's Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences uncovered an example of insect gift-giving preserved in 99-million-year-old amber. She revealed that inside the ancient amber, a male fly of the genus Alavesia grasps an empty, frothy balloon made of mucus between his legs - which is a nuptial gift given by the male fly to the female to mate with them. The female flies benefit from these gifts as it has nutritional value, a study noted. Gift-giving in the animal kingdom is often linked to survival, reproduction, and social bonding, making it a fascinating parallel to human practices.
TELECOMMUNICATION giants PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. said on Thursday they are stepping up initiatives to safeguard customers and enterprises from malicious online activities, as cyber threats and scams continue to proliferate in the Philippines. In separate statements, both companies said they have developed comprehensive measures to counter cybercrime, underscoring their commitment to create a safer digital environment. PLDT Enterprise First Vice President John Gonzales said the group is focusing on cutting-edge technological solutions to combat cybercrime, particularly as mobile transactions dominate the digital landscape. “The Philippines is a mobile-first country. Today, 64 percent of transactions here are conducted on mobile devices, and because of the high volume of transactions, the Philippines has become a major target for malicious actors,” Gonzales said. He said PLDT has aligned with GSMA’s Open Gateway Initiative, which fosters standardized APIs for secure and seamless digital experience. He cited the rollout of three key services in 2024: silent authentication to replace OTPs, device location validation for fraud detection, and enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) processes to ensure secure transactions. “PLDT and Smart fully understand the critical role of telcos in fighting fraudulent activities. We are very thankful for GSMA who has been driving anti-fraud measures globally by uniting telcos, app developers, enterprises and other stakeholders to create mechanisms against fraud,” Gonzales said. In addition to technological advancements, PLDT and Smart are proactively collaborating with industry stakeholders and government agencies to tackle scams like SMShing and the use of illegal cell towers. The group has already blocked nearly two billion malicious text messages and blacklisted almost a million scam-related numbers in 2024. “Our role in continuously educating consumers and enterprises is also something we take seriously. Together, we must continue to build awareness of cybercrimes and ways to prevent them, putting in place a comprehensive defense against fraud and scams,” he said. Globe Telecom, meanwhile, is using its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) to educate Filipinos on digital citizenship and cybersecurity. The program reached 6,196 participants in 2024, including students, parents, and community members all over the country. “With the accelerated digital transformation comes growing online threats, particularly fraud, to which more and more Filipinos fall victim every day. These threats rob online customers of their hard-earned money, impacting their mental and physical health,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe. In November alone, the DTP reached 450 participants in areas like Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Rizal, and Davao del Norte, offering workshops on recognizing scams, ethical internet use, and AI ethics. These sessions are part of Globe’s broader efforts to promote digital safety and responsibility, particularly among young Filipinos. “Globe believes the antidote is education, that’s why we are bringing DTP to schools across the country. If our young people are aware of what to look out for and how to protect themselves online, they will get to enjoy the benefits of technology safely, spared from becoming another scam statistic,” she added. Globe’s impact extends beyond education, with its active blocking of threats such as spam, scam SMS, and harmful websites. By the third quarter of 2024, Globe had blocked 162.7 million scam texts, 167,408 malicious URLs, and 20,509 scam-linked SIMs, among others. Sources regularly see Lorenz at telco and transport conferences. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas, and has been covering the beat since 2013. He likes to featurize stories, and tries to find another angle for spot news. He travels during his spare time, and likes his coffee black -- no cream, no sugar.
Egypt Daily News – Numerous demands and proposals were presented by a number of major investors in Egypt, during their meeting yesterday evening, with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, which constitute a road map for reviving the Egyptian economy, achieving targeted growth rates, and eliminating various crises. The meeting was characterized by frankness regarding concerns about inflation rates, the dollar deficit, interest rates, domestic and external debt, in addition to competition from the state, energy provision, etc. The Prime Minister’s responses and comments were also very frank and clear about the plans to deal with all these files and which are as follows: Engineer Ahmed Ezz, Chairman of the Ezz Steel Group, called for the necessity of reconsidering policies aimed at increasing growth rates in various sectors, including the construction and real estate development sector, which in turn will contribute to increasing the activities of the building materials industries. He said, “It is not possible for a country the size of Egypt to have its construction sector grow by only about 3.5% next year.” Taking the iron sector as an example, where the average annual consumption of iron in 2010 was approximately 9.9 million tons, while in the last three years it reached 6.5, 6.4, and 6.2 million tons, respectively. While a country like Vietnam, similar to Egypt in terms of its population, its iron consumption exceeds 13 to 14 million tons annually. Ezz blamed this decline in iron consumption on “harsh” building controls and requirements, which prevent 70% of citizens from being able to build their own homes. Explaining that he does not demand the return of random construction; but “by setting rules that stimulate the return of construction activity again.” He also called for opening the door to appointments in the state’s administrative apparatus. “To introduce a new generation and new ideas,” especially since we have 40,000 Egyptian students studying at foreign universities. The CEO and Managing Director of Talaat Moustafa Holding Group, Hisham Talaat Moustafa, confirmed that the hard currency crisis is the biggest challenge that Egypt is currently facing, due to its serious effects on inflation, in addition to the rise in interest rates. Mustafa stressed the need for the government to seek specialized expertise that has proven successful in certain sectors, noting that the private sector will not be able to bear the high interest rates, which have reached 32%. He explained that the private sector bears burdens for which it is not responsible, noting that the liberalization of energy prices and increased liquidity were among the main factors behind the rise in inflation rates, which requires radical solutions. He also pointed out that corporate financing structures were established based on interest rates ranging between 13-14%, while doubling these rates within one year puts great pressure on companies, raising questions about their ability to continue. Mustafa called for the formation of a ministerial committee that includes the Central Bank to review the impact of high interest rates on the private sector, and to follow up on the sustainability of companies’ financing structures in light of these challenges. He stressed the need to also look at the state budget and the problems of the banking sector, which were exacerbated by the high interest rates. He added that the dollar deficit crisis is considered one of the biggest economic obstacles facing Egypt, explaining that international investors are looking for stability in the local currency to ensure their returns. He stressed that the continued decline in the value of the Egyptian pound negatively affects the internal rates of return (IRR) in foreign currency, which weakens confidence and hinders attracting foreign investments. Mustafa stressed the importance of developing sustainable solutions to the hard currency crisis through thoughtful financial and monetary policies that ensure macroeconomic stability, which restores confidence to investors and contributes to achieving long-term stability for both the private sector and the national economy in general. Yassin Mansour, President of Palm Hills, described the exchange rate of the dollar against the pound as “the basis of the inflation problem” in Egypt, calling for ideas “from outside the box” to solve this dilemma. He focused on the need to strengthen the country’s two most important sources of hard currency, the first of which are remittances from Egyptians abroad. “Incentives must be introduced to double it, including unifying the exchange rate.” As for the second source, tourism, he pointed out the importance of conducting more comprehensive studies of international markets, to attract more visitors from them. He also considered that granting residency, or even citizenship, to foreigners in exchange for buying a property in Egypt is “insufficient.” Rather, priority should be given to canceling some taxes to attract buyers mainly from Europe and England. Ahmed Al-Suwaidi, Managing Director of El-Suwaidi Electric Company, called for focusing on industrial investments, setting clear goals for industrialization and providing a stable investment environment by installing laws and regulations for a period that allows investors to plan. Al-Suwaidi pointed out the availability of competitive advantages enjoyed by industrial investment in Egypt, such as low production costs, considering that not requiring companies implementing infrastructure projects to rely on local products missed an opportunity to localize the industry, similar to the experience of Saudi Arabia, which was able, for example, to attract investments exceeding $30 billion wind turbine industry. Hani Berzi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Edita Food Industries, in turn stressed the danger of high interest rates on investment, calling on the government to find a mechanism to provide low-cost financing to the private sector. He said: “Absorbing the high interest rates has become very difficult for us and the food industry sector, and placing these burdens on the consumer by increasing the prices of products has also become difficult because it affects purchasing power.” Berzi pointed out that there was a shock to the export sectors due to the reduction of the budget for reimbursing export burdens this year to 23 billion pounds instead of 40 billion pounds according to a previous government promise. He expressed his objection to this reduction, and called for a new program to support exports starting in the next fiscal year. During the meeting, businessman Hassan Heikal criticized the increase in local and foreign debt rates, and the state’s general budget bearing a greater interest. “The local public debt on the budget reached 10 trillion pounds. When an interest rate of 30% is added, the interest on the debt becomes 3 trillion pounds. In my opinion, there are no resources for the Egyptian state that can convince a financial man that there will be a balance in the next visible term,” according to Heikal. He pointed out that the Egyptian state has $140 billion in debt in the budget, with an interest rate of 6%, which means that the state has a dollar debt interest of about $15 billion annually, and the ratio of external public debt to gross domestic product may be low, but with regard to our net dollar resources, there is a problem.” Heikal presented several proposals during the meeting, including transferring state assets to the Central Bank of Egypt, zeroing out debts in pounds, and establishing a sovereign fund affiliated with the Central Bank that includes companies, real estate, and lands of all governmental and sovereign agencies. He said: “The state’s general budget sells these assets to the central bank, which leads to the zeroing out of its debts and interest on them, and the central bank owns this fund by a majority percentage compared to a percentage of the sovereign entities that place their private companies in it.” Heikal added: This fund can be exploited to achieve the goal of budget unity at the state level, and benefit from the returns to finance development projects and state plans. This idea was implemented before in a similar manner in Spain, Italy, and Greece to save them during the debt crisis. Sherif El-Khouly, partner and regional director of ACTIS, pointed out that there are opportunities to attract international investors to manufacture in Egypt for the purpose of export, especially with a geopolitical situation that represents challenges to major global economies, following the new US administration. Al-Kholy called for the inclusion of representatives of the Egyptian private sector in the Supreme Council for Investment, and suggested focusing on manufacturing components of renewable energy plants. Mirna Arif, General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, called for giving priority to the private sector in any projects that will be proposed, and pointed out that the investor needs to deal with a single port whose parts are controlled by modern technology, such as the “one-stop-shop” mechanism, which needs major development to overcome the surprises that arise. The investor meets her on his way. Arif stressed the importance of reconsidering any new laws that may create sudden financial burdens on investors, hindering their ability to properly plan financially for their projects. Omar Muhanna, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Bank, said that the private sector’s share of credit declined to 24% due to the economic crises to which Egypt was exposed, including the rise in interest rates. He added that the challenges facing the private sector must be addressed, noting that it represents 70% of economic activity in Egypt. He explained that the investment climate in Egypt still faces many problems that prevent attracting investments, such as the slow implementation and application of decisions issued by the state. He stressed that Egypt needs to accelerate the pace of the state’s exit from many economic activities, especially in specific sectors. He stated that despite the efforts made to support foreign investment, foreign investors are still hesitant to enter the market, due to concern about competing with the country, which enjoys advantages that the private sector may not obtain. He said that despite the efforts also being made to deepen the industry, such as improving industry licenses and developing industrial zones, the current trend towards import substitution must be re-evaluated. “We focus a lot on deepening the industry and it has improved a lot over the past period, but this does not have to be at the expense of the policy direction.” Industrial products are for export, not to replace imports. We have been saying for a while that we will do import substitution, and this does not make any difference in the end, because an essential part of my imports is an essential commodity, and the part that I replace Imports are very simple, it will not make a difference at all, and it will not have any positive effects.” Mohamed Al-Etreby, CEO of the National Bank of Egypt, said that 2,360 companies left Egypt for the Emirates in the first half of this year 2024, due to the facilities in the business environment there. He added that Egypt is a country that has all the capabilities, and that inflation will decrease and interest rates will fall between 3 and 6% during the year 2025. He stressed that two foreign exchange rates cannot be allowed again, because of its negative repercussions on dollar resources and the investment climate in Egypt in general, he pointed out that the unification of the exchange rate contributed to a tremendous growth in the National Bank’s proceeds from waiving the currency during the past months, in addition to a significant growth in remittances from Egyptians abroad. Khaled Abu Al-Makarem, Chairman of the Export Council for Chemical Industries and Fertilizers, confirmed that achieving the state’s goals to reach Egyptian exports to 145 billion dollars requires working to double the allocations for the Export Burdens Refund Program by no less than 50 billion pounds as a minimum. He said that what happened this year in terms of reducing allocations for reimbursing burdens to 23 billion pounds, including 20 billion pounds in cash support and 3 billion pounds in support for exhibitions, missions and other services, is insufficient, and that reducing support rates by 70% may have a negative impact until the end of June and the beginning of the new fiscal year. Abu Al-Makarem pointed out that Egyptian exports, despite the challenges facing the export sector, including reduced support, were able to achieve an increase of $4 billion during the first 11 months of 2024 to reach $36.3 billion, compared to $32 billion during the same period in 2023, and there is an opportunity to exceed $38 billion. dollars by the end of the year and achieving a good growth rate of 10% compared to last year. He noted that there are some challenges that can be solved quickly that will contribute to increasing Egyptian exports by an additional 5% during the first quarter of 2025, the most important of which is solving the problem of supplying gas to Egyptian factories and its regularity, especially since there are a number of industries that depend on it as a main raw material for industry, and what happened There is a supply deficit during 2024, which is expected to continue to some extent during the next year, causing a contraction in production. Abu Al-Makarem called on the government to have a clear vision regarding gas supplies to factories, saying, “We are aware of the problem and we are all trying to deal with it, either by importing or by being content with what is currently available, but a clear vision is required that reveals to us the extent to which the problem will remain.” He also called for the necessity of activating the decision to cancel vacations at customs ports to facilitate customs clearance operations, stressing the burdens that businessmen bear as a result of delays in customs clearance, amounting to half the value of the exported or imported counter or letters, stressing the necessity of working 7 days a week in Customs ports because until now the decision has not been implemented in some ports. Growth rates over the past two years were not as hoped and targeted, but the state’s vision and continued implementation of steps for economic reform gives more hope for achieving growth rates exceeding 4% next year and then reaching 6 and 7%. -We, as a country, were destined to exist in a very hot and very turbulent region, which imposed on us many major direct and indirect repercussions on the Egyptian economy. We are keen to maximize the role of the private sector in the economy, as a greater regulator of markets, while the state is present in some strategic sectors in which states adhere to a clear and specific role. -The Egyptian state attaches great importance to the debt file, whether domestic or foreign, and Egypt is committed to that and is working to continue the downward trend of the debt. The dues for refunding late export burdens have been settled until January 2023, and we have set the start of the new program from July 1, 2024. Currently, the numbers have been tentatively estimated at around 60 billion pounds. The Cabinet approved a contract from the International Finance Corporation to offer all Egyptian airports for management and operation in partnership with the private sector. -There are proposals to offer infrastructure, such as roads, treatment and desalination plants, to the private sector for management and operation. We expect gas production to gradually return after it was affected by the economic crises, and in 2025 we will be able to meet not only needs but also expansions. -Customs will work for 7 days starting from the new year to facilitate customs clearance operations. Local gas is sold at less than the real market value, and the state prefers to sell gas locally to the Egyptian industry that supports the economy through job opportunities and economic growth rates, even if at a price lower than the export price, which brings greater returns to the state. -Forming advisory groups from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, to discuss each of the investors’ proposals, and the government will follow up on the implementation of those decisions and overcome any challenges. -Regarding the dues for refunding late export burdens, the settlement was made until January 2023, and we set the start of the new program from July 1, 2024, and currently the numbers have been tentatively estimated at around 60 billion pounds, and the Minister of Finance obtained the approval of the Council of Ministers today to pay in more than one way. Between two and three years for all those eligible, and we will announce this in detail. -This year, despite the current crises, we will reach about 15.5 million tourists in the tourism sector, and we aim to reach 18 million tourists next year. -We expect growth in the tourism sector this year to be in the range of 10 to 11%, but we want this rate to reach 15% next year. -The final touches are being put on two very large projects in the tourism sector, with the aim of doubling the number of tourist rooms in the area surrounding the Pyramids Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the old downtown area. The Council of Ministers approved a contract with the International Investment Corporation (IFC) to offer all Egyptian airports to the private sector. -We encourage the private sector to enter the field of establishing airline companies, through alliances or partnerships with the state, to implement this proposal, which contributes to increasing the Egyptian aviation fleet. -Terminating all licenses for tourism projects within a period not exceeding one month by granting them a golden licence -We are working on two new initiatives, the first to finance working capital for expansions of new lines and factories, and the second is another initiative to create hotel rooms. -2024 is the heaviest year for debt repayment, and despite this, nearly $39 billion has been repaid. -We aim to increase tourism revenues to break the usual figure of $20 to $22 billion, which represents the dollar deficit in the country.PHL economy: Resilient or barely surviving rough waters?
India’s former PM Manmohan Singh dies aged 92Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly battling leukaemia and has been given a 50 percent chance of survival. According to a report by the Britiah daily The Telegraph, Asma is said to be undergoing treatment and has been isolated to prevent infection and was prohibited from sharing a room with others. In May this year, Syrian presidency announced that the then-first lady has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, following her 2019 complete recovery from breast cancer. However, the report suggests that Asma’s leukaemia has resurfaced after a period of remission. She has been under the care of her father Fawaz Akhras, a London-based cardiologist, for six months, initially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and now in Moscow. Bashar al-Assad and his family fled Syria and sought refuge in Moscow on Sunday, December 8 , following an 11-day rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), following years of civil war. Assad is facing severe Russian restrictions, including being barred from leaving or engaging in political activities, and his assets have been frozen, a claim denied by the Kremlin. Since the start of the Syrian uprising, she has been reportedly planning to exile herself and her children to London. According to the latest reports, she has also filed for divorce from Bashar al-Assad due to dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow and is seeking treatment in London. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denied the claims, saying that they do not align with reality. Asma, born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents, currently holds dual British and Syrian citizenship. Asma and Bashar al-Assad married in December 2000. The couple has three children—Hafez, Zein, and Karim.Radhika Merchant celebrated Christmas 2024 in style, hosting a grand party with the Ambani family in Jamnagar. The star-studded affair saw celebrities like Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Orry, Shanaya Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and many more in attendance. However, it was the Ambani choti bahu who stole the show with her stunning outfits. From elegant dresses to cosy nightwear, Radhika's wardrobe served endless fashion inspiration. Let's decode her looks and take some inspiration. (Also read: Radhika Merchant proves she can make even a pyjama set look stylish at Ambani Christmas party; it costs just ₹ 5.4K ) Red mini dress A post shared by Bollywood Celebrity Style (@bollywoodwomencloset) For her first look that made a splash on social media, Radhika embraced Christmas vibes in stunning red mini dress by Celine. Made from luxurious shimmery velvet, the dress featured a turtleneck, full sleeves, a flowing silhouette, and a mini hemline. She styled it with black stockings and a white furry half-coat, adding a cosy touch. Radhika accessorised her look with black Jimmy Choo boots and diamond drop earrings. Glam makeup and a chic curtain bangs haircut perfectly completed her look. Golden fringe gown A post shared by EatTweetBlog (@eattweetblog) In another look, Radhika turned heads in a glamorous golden shimmer gown. The stunning outfit featured a deep plunging neckline and signature metallic cords all over, creating a bold statement. The figure-hugging silhouette accentuated her curves perfectly. Her gown is from the label Rimzim Dadu and is priced at ₹ 3.5 lakh. She elevated the look with diamond stud earrings, a sleek bracelet, metallic stiletto heels, dewy makeup, and loose waves, exuding elegance. Pink satin pyjama set A post shared by Bollywood Celebrity Style (@bollywoodwomencloset) For her third look, Radhika opted for a cosy pink satin pyjama set. It featured a chic button-down top with long sleeves paired with matching pyjamas. The adorable candy cane print made it a perfect choice for Christmas celebrations. Her outfit is from Pretty Little Thing and is priced at $65 (approximately ₹ 5,400). She kept it simple with minimal makeup and open tresses.2024 has been a rough year for Celsius Holdings ( CELH 1.00% ) . The maker of healthier sugar-free energy drinks posted a revenue slump last quarter amid increasing competition and a changing strategy with its largest distribution partner. Shares have fallen a whopping 70% from all-time highs set just a half-year ago, causing immense pain for shareholders who have held on this year. This short-term pain should be seen as an opportunity for patient investors focused on long-term gains. Here's why growth stock Celsius Holdings is a buy for investors as we head into the holiday season. Market share stagnation, PepsiCo distribution headwind Celsius stock has gone in the tank for a few reasons. First, we should note that the stock was trading at a price-to-earnings ratio ( P/E ) of over 100 earlier in 2024. Any stock trading at a nosebleed P/E is going to be risky, no matter how fast the company is growing sales. Speaking of which, that brings us to the second reason Celsius stock has faltered this year: slowing revenue growth. After posting huge double-digit revenue growth figures for many years, Celsius went into a big slowdown in 2024. Each quarter saw successive deceleration in revenue growth, with revenue actually falling 31% year over year last quarter. Now, this huge revenue drop is not as bad as it seems. Celsius has a major distribution deal with PepsiCo , which decided to trim its inventory levels for the energy drink brand this year. Ingesting less inventory meant a temporary hit to Celsius's revenue. The brand didn't lose 30% of its market share in one quarter. The market share story is not pretty, though. After years of market share gains in the energy drink category, Celsius seems to have stalled out at around 12% market share in the United States in 2024. Time will tell whether this stagnation is a ceiling for Celsius, but investors are clearly worried. There is increasing competition from upstart brands like Alani Nu and Ghost that are eating into the sugar-free energy drink market once dominated by Celsius. Long-term international growth, category tailwind Celsius is facing headwinds in multiple areas right now. That doesn't mean they will be permanent. The inventory issues with Pepsi should resolve within the next few quarters. Then, the company's revenue will line up with actual sales from retailers to fans of the product. Brand competition is fierce, and investors shouldn't bank on Celsius gaining market share like it did before 2024. No consumer packaged good category is a monopoly -- there will always be other energy drink brands out there. There are some long-term tailwinds that should help Celsius grow over the next five years. The brand is only just expanding to international markets, which now include English-speaking countries and France. International revenue grew 37% year over year last quarter, which investors should expect to continue in upcoming years. Overall energy drink sales keep growing, taking share from traditional drink sources such as coffee, fruit juices, and soda. If Celsius keeps its market share, this sector tailwind should help it grow revenue over the next few years. Last, we shouldn't forget the steady price increases consumer packaged food brands can implement year after year. A pack of 12 Celsius cans is currently going for around $20 on Amazon . Celsius will be able to raise prices to $21, $22, and eventually higher on its energy drink packs in the years to come and will likely get little customer pushback. These are simply not expensive items if people incorporate such products into their daily lives. CELH PE Ratio data by YCharts . Why the stock is a buy right now Add up these three growth drivers -- international expansion, category growth, and pricing power -- and I think Celsius can produce 10% annual revenue growth over the next five years. Extrapolating from its current trailing revenue of $1.37 billion, Celsius will be doing $2.2 billion in sales five years from now. Assuming the company can reach similar profit margins to Monster Beverage of 25%, Celsius will be generating $550 million in annual earnings in five years, which would bring its P/E down to 12.4 compared to the stock's current market cap of $6.8 billion. The average P/E ratio for the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 0.25% ) is 31 today. If you believe in the Celsius growth story, the stock is likely a buy for those looking to hold for at least five years or longer, after falling 70% from highs.
Saturday 155 Years Ago Pay your taxes. The Delinquent Tax List, for 1867, 1868 and 1869 are now in the hands of the District Attorney of this county, who will make trouble, unless delinquents pay up in a very limited period. “A word to the wise is sufficient.” 140 Years Ago The citizens of Paradise have offered a $650 reward for the capture of Clarence Grey for the murder of Scott and have petitioned Gov. Adams to add $1,000 to it. 120 Years Ago C. Quinlan, a laborer at Derby was robbed and murdered at that place Monday evening and his body was found lying at the side of the railroad tracks a few yards from the Ark Saloon by Thomas Holmes, a track walker. The remains were taken in charge by Coroner Updike. A Coroner’s jury decided that Quinlan had been murdered by persons unknown. — Journal 60 Years Ago The traffic death toll pushed upward steadily Saturday, tending to uphold the tradition that Christmas is the worst of all holidays on the streets and highways. The count was at 382 fatalities for this season. 40 Years Ago Continued cuts in federal payments for health care could eventually bring a reduction in the quality of care, two local experts say. President Regan confirmed Thursday his administration is eyeing a freeze on Medicare payments as part of its effort to reduce the federal budget deficit. Sunday 155 Years Ago Virginia City — earthquake: There were many heavy and alarming earthquake shocks with persons remaining in the streets all night while those who stayed in their dwellings were unable to sleep. They were dressed and prepared for a rush in case of a heavy shock. At Steamboat Springs there seems to have been more severe earthquakes than any other place. Jets of water, 15 or 20 in number and those of great volume were thrown up to 20 feet. The house at the Springs is a perfect wreck, but still standing. At the foot of Geiger Grade, everything was demolished in Wright’s bar, and people were thrown to the ground while the valley seemed to fall in waves like waters of a lake. 140 Years Ago The girls ahead: Great skating at the rink northeast of town — on Christmas Day nearly a hundred people enjoyed it. Gentlemen are charged 50 cents and ladies are free. A young man took his girl out to have a moonlight glide and fell into an air hole and got his clothes wet. His girlfriend pulled him up, and when he stood up, his pants were frozen to the ice. 130 Years Ago Not dead: Old Yank writes the Appeal that he is not dead. When the doctor went up the other day, Old Yank met him at the wharf and said Yank was good for another 20 years. 70 Years Ago New construction/Nevada prison: Eleven major construction projects were completed during 1954 at the state prison and prison farm as reported by A.E. Bernard, Warden. Projects ranged from a potato cellar to five, two-bedroom homes for prison guards and their families. 60 Years Ago Snow: Old Man Winter left a 100-inch snow on the summit. The last portion of Interstate 80 between Nevada and Sacramento over the Donner Summit was hailed as a transportation-milestone when it opened in the fall. In the winter the four-lane highway was closed for more than 20 hours with heavy snow. Monday 155 Years Ago Advices from Aurora: A brilliant meteor was seen in Aurora. It started in the southwest and did not appear to be more than a mile long. It took an upward course at a direct angle, leaving a trail of about 12 feet. R. McDonald left from Aurora on foot for Bodie 12 miles from here. When he arrived there in the evening, both feet were badly frozen. 140 Years Ago In brief: The mills on the Carson River are laid up during the cold spell. The plumbers are reaping a bundle on busted water pipes. Sleighing is good in Virginia City. Tariff on sleighs is $10 an hour, and you bring your own horse. 130 Years Ago Social gossip: Mr. Ernest Folsom and Miss Florence Meder selected Christmas Eve for their nuptials, and the occasion was celebrated by a large and brilliant gathering. The Christmas tree and entertainment given by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church was one of the best amateur entertainments. The tennis drill given by 16 young ladies under the management of John Meder and Miss Annie Martin was successful. The children of the Orphans Home had a Christmas tree. Nearly 60 children sat at their little desks and gazed at the tree with open mouths, and dancing eyes. There were dollies and books and horses and jumping jaw candy and nuts, and all the bright pretty and useful things that make children happy. ‘Tis said that no state in the union is as kind and generous to its orphans, it’s insane and its convicts as Nevada. 70 Years Ago Statehood bills: A bill calling for the admission of Hawaii as the 49th state of the union will be introduced on the opening day of the new congress. Mrs. Joseph R. Farrington, Republican delegate from Hawaii, will touch off a new light over the admission of Hawaii and also of Alaska. 60 Years Ago Advertisement: “Carson Theater — Now showing: ‘The Fall of the Roman Empire’ with Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd and Alex Guinness.” Tuesday 155 Years Ago All sorts: Another earthquake occurred with a shock sufficiently severe to awaken many and send the occupants of brick buildings out into the streets. The Ball: The Citizens’ Ball to be held this evening at the Carson Theater Hall bids farewell to the finest affairs of the kind. The bountiful preparation and the occasion will call out the lovers of dance in full force. Supper will be provided by P. Cavanaugh & Sons. We are informed that Carl York from Virginia (City) will aid with his bugle. 140 Years Ago In brief: A large water pipe in the upper rooms of the Mint burst and flooded the second floor to the depth of three inches. A large force of workman were requested during the water break. 130 Years Ago Entertainment: The ladies of the Methodist Church gave their entertainment at the Odd Fellows Hall, a full house greeted them, and all were well pleased with the manner in which the young children rendered their part of the Cantata. The Myosotis Tennis Club gave a pleasant and cheerful party at the Odd Fellows’ new hall. Besides dancing, singing and eating, games were played. There was an opportunity for sleigh riding. Judging by the continual jingle of sleigh bells, everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. 70 Years Ago Advertisement: “Carson Theater — ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,’ with Jane Powell and Howard Keel. One of MGMs top musical comedies. We guarantee this one.” 60 Years Ago Railroads blocked: Rail routes over the Sierra were blocked due to slides and washouts. Heavy rain in the Sierra blocked the SP Overland route. The Western Pacific was closed near Beldon and the Southern Pacific’s Shasta Line into Oregon was blocked in Oregon’s high Cascade mountains. Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.Massive Surge in Short Interest: What Investors Need to KnowA Preferred Share Worth Scrutinizing From Chimera