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DNA links man who reported body as suspected killer in 1979 cold case
The trajectory of Senator Godswill Akpabio at 62Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level Media
The Canadian stock market is continuing to rally this year as easing monetary policy amid declining inflation continues to boost investors’ sentiments. One of the top performers of 2024 on the is ( ). The shares of this Montréal-headquartered apparel manufacturer have jumped by 59% so far this year to trade at $69.63 per share, increasing its to $10.8 billion. And the momentum in GIL stock shows no sign of slowing. In this article, I’ll break down two reasons why Gildan Activewear stock could be a smart buy right now. Gildan’s record-breaking financial performance When it comes to numbers, Gildan is putting up nothing short of impressive financial results. In the third quarter of 2024, the clothing company records with US$891 million in sales, reflecting a 2.4% YoY (year-over-year) increase even as the consumer spending environment remains uncertain. What’s even more remarkable is how Gildan has managed to grow its profitability alongside its revenue. In the latest quarter, its gross profit margin jumped to 31.2%, a sharp increase from 27.5% a year ago. This improvement was largely due to lower raw material costs and better manufacturing efficiencies. It shows how Gildan is trying to master the art of keeping expenses low while growing its top line. Clearly, this kind of financial performance boosts investors’ confidence because it shows the company isn’t just growing but doing so profitably. But it doesn’t stop there. The company’s adjusted quarterly earnings also climbed by 14.9% YoY to US$0.85 per share. Similarly, it raked in $149 million in free cash flow during the quarter. And Gildan isn’t letting this money just sit idle as it continues to use this cash to reward shareholders through a combination of and aggressive stock buybacks. For the fourth quarter, it declared a cash dividend of $0.205 per share, payable in mid-December 2024. Gildan’s financial outlook looks brighter than ever If you’re wondering whether Gildan can keep up its momentum, its updated guidance for 2024 should put your mind at ease. Despite an uncertain global economic environment, the company now expects revenue to grow in the low-single digits for the year, and that’s even after factoring in the end of a sock-licensing agreement with Under Armour. Without that headwind, its growth would have been even more impressive in the mid-single-digit range. And it’s not just revenue. Gildan is projecting its full-year 2024 adjusted operating margins to climb above 21%, while adjusted earnings per share are projected to increase between 15.5% and 17.5% YoY. Another key factor that makes Gildan stock so attractive right now is its relentless focus on the future. The company isn’t just relying on past successes, but it’s actively investing in new ideas and rolling out new products to keep its edge in the market. For example, Gildan’s soft cotton technology is emerging as a game-changer in the apparel industry. More importantly, this innovative product line has been well-received by consumers. Foolish takeaway When you take a closer look at Gildan Activewear, it’s clear why this top TSX stock has been such a strong performer in 2024. From record-breaking financial performance to a solid pipeline of innovative products, Gildan stock has all the right ingredients for long-term growth, making it really attractive to buy now and hold for years.Trinity Social: Revamping The Social Media LandscapeTweet Facebook Mail A bipartisan committee has brushed aside concerns about unfairness to back the AUKUS treaty, while urging governments to make nuclear waste storage a "priority". The Senate's joint committee on treaties decided the agreement, and the nuclear-powered submarines it will eventually deliver, would give Australia a "clear advantage" in the "most complex and challenging strategic environment since the Second World War". The inquiry into the broad military alliance with the US and UK heard concerns from Australian National University law Professor Donald Rothwell and others about the wording of the agreement being too heavily in favour of London and Washington. Australia will purchase US Virginia-class submarines under the AUKUS defence pact. (AP) He said AUKUS offered "an enormous amount of flexibility" for the UK to US to withdraw, without giving Australia the same leeway, describing the agreement as "somewhat exceptional". The international law expert argued the deal handed Australia all the risks while indemnifying its allies and also raised concerns about a lack of certain mechanisms to resolve future disputes. The committee put concerns over the wording down to the treaties decades-long lifespan rather than it being "unfairly weighted" against Australia. It anticipated further agreements, called instruments, to emerge in the future and called for parliament to closely scrutinise them. Labor committee chair Lisa Chesters said the committee had determined the agreement was in the national interest. "Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines provides our nation with not only a strategic advantage, but also an opportunity to grow Australian jobs, education and infrastructure," she said, in a statement. "'The successful implementation of AUKUS will require upskilling the Australian workforce. This is an opportunity for our education sector and will create jobs that last for the life of the agreement and beyond. The staggering sums countries spend on defending themselves View Gallery "The 20,000 jobs added by the AUKUS program will diversify Australia's workforce and will provide high-paying jobs for trades and tertiary educated workers alike." She called for an education campaign to plug the deal's benefits and dispel "myths". The deal, signed three years ago with the aim of maintaining a "free and open Indo-Pacific" in the face of China's increasingly muscular stance, provides for a new fleet of eight nuclear-propelled submarines. The initial stage is set to cost up to $368 billion by 2055 to build, with the first vessels operating out of Adelaide by the 2040s. Australia and its AUKUS partners, the United States and Britain present the agreement. (AP) US and British nuclear submarines will deploy out of Western Australia from 2027 until the Royal Australian Navy until the nuclear-powered alternatives, whose advantages include increased range and being able to stay underwater for longer, are ready. The subs are nuclear-powered and won't carry nuclear weapons but running them out of a non-nuclear country will still require outside help for maintenance, raising concerns from some over sovereignty. Maintenance will also produce limited amounts of nuclear waste, something that was a concern at some of the hearings. "The issue of nuclear waste disposal needs to be addressed in a timely and transparent manner," the committee wrote. "While the committee acknowledges that the disposal of the nuclear fuel used to power the submarines will not be required until the 2050s or later, the decision of where to store the small amounts of low-level waste created during routine maintenance of the nuclear-powered submarines needs to be a priority." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .
NoneBanks wary of family trusts' large 'gifts' to NRI members
“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting'”, adding: “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire transition team are grateful for their swift action.” Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretences. The FBI said in a statement that it is “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners”. It added: “We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Among those targeted was Elise Stefanik, Mr Trump’s choice to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations. Her office said that she, her husband, and their three-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. “New York state, county law enforcement, and US Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism,” her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.” In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9am this morning”. While a family member resides at the address, they said “former congressman Gaetz is not a resident”, adding: “The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Mr Gaetz was Mr Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Mr Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by unusual violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The US Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Mr Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a fence while Mr Trump was playing golf.
Workleap Fall Launch: Empowering HR Leaders with New Features for Employee Growth and Engagement
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Corey Stephenson had 21 points in CSU Bakersfield's 68-60 victory over Northeastern at the Homewood Suites Classic tournament in Fort Myers, Florida on Sunday. Stephenson shot 8 of 16 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line for the Roadrunners (4-3). Marvin McGhee shot 4 for 10 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to add 12 points. McGhee went 3 of 7 from the field (3 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points. LA Pratt led the way for the Huskies (5-2) with 15 points and six rebounds. Masai Troutman added 15 points for Northeastern. Harold Woods also had eight points. CSU Bakersfield led Northeastern at the half, 34-29, with McGhee (six points) its high scorer before the break. Stephenson's layup with 4:08 left in the second half gave CSU Bakersfield the lead for good at 56-54. NEXT UP These two teams both play Saturday. CSU Bakersfield visits Southern Utah and Northeastern visits Vermont. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated PressTyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level Media
LOS ANGELES — On election night, a Southern California pastor in a red MAGA hat filmed a message for his Instagram followers, cheering President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Rob McCoy thanked God — and Charlie Kirk, one of the Republican Party’s most influential power brokers. “This is the epicenter of a rebirth of freedom,” McCoy said from the Phoenix headquarters of Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA. Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative firebrand, rallied his millions of online followers to support Trump, prompting conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly to say, “It’s not an understatement to say that this man is responsible for helping the Republicans win back the White House and the U.S. Senate.” The Atlantic dubbed Kirk “the right’s new kingmaker.” And the man the kingmaker calls his pastor is McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park. McCoy gained notoriety during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when he defied public health orders and continued to hold mask-free indoor church services. He sees in Trump a man persecuted by the left, who, while “flawed like the rest of us,” was chosen by God to lead a sinful nation that, in his opinion, allows too many abortions and is too accepting of transgender rights. “God saved us,” McCoy told his congregants in his first sermon after Trump won. “He gave us mercy. We didn’t deserve this.” McCoy, a vaccine skeptic who has been senior pastor at Godspeak for 25 years, told The Times he considers Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist whom Trump has chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, “a good friend.” At his church he has hosted MAGA luminaries like Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, and Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor. And, of course, Kirk. Kirk, a millionaire known for his memes and college campus tours meant to “own the libs,” has credited McCoy for persuading him to meld his right-wing politics, nationalism and evangelical faith. Although Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 as an avowedly secular youth organization, he now declares that God is on the side of American conservatives, and that pastors have a divine duty to preach against progressive policies. There is, he has said, “no separation of church and state.” In a speech to Trump supporters in Georgia last month, Kirk said that “the Democrat Party supports everything that God hates” and that “there is a spiritual battle happening around all of us.” Kirk’s online reach is vast: 1.5 million followers on Rumble, 2.7 million on YouTube, 4 million on X and 5 million on TikTok. His nonprofit, Turning Point Action, largely ran Trump’s ground game in swing states like Arizona and Wisconsin. After Trump’s victory, McCoy joked from the pulpit: “This week, Charlie’s going back to Washington to meet with the president because he’s going to call in his markers.” Kirk, in recent days, has posted to social media from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where the president-elect has been naming MAGA loyalists to his Cabinet. After Trump tapped former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general, Kirk posted a video to X from the passenger seat of a vehicle. Gaetz was behind the wheel and joked that his new job was “Charlie Kirk’s driver.” Asked if Kirk is advising the president-elect or being considered for a role in the administration, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, in a statement, said only that Trump’s appointments “will continue to be announced by him when they are made.” McCoy ran unsuccessfully for state Assembly in 2014. But as Kirk’s reach has grown, so, too, has McCoy’s. In early April 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, McCoy, a former mayor of Thousand Oaks, resigned from the city council, saying he planned to violate public health orders that banned in-person church services because they were deemed nonessential and dangerous. He dubbed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as “Newssolini,” decried government “tyranny” and had his YouTube page shut down — “censored,” he says — when the platform cracked down on misleading and inaccurate content about the virus and vaccines. After a San Diego judge allowed strip clubs to reopen, McCoy followed the suggestion of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and pretended his church was an “essential” adult entertainment venue; in the sanctuary, he danced to striptease music, throwing his tie into the congregation, where worshipers held up dollar bills. Ventura County sued McCoy’s church for defying public health orders. The county eventually dropped its suit, but Godspeak sued back, alleging its 1st Amendment rights had been trampled. In 2022, a state appellate court sided with the county, but one effect of the pandemic, McCoy says, was his congregation quadrupling to about 1,500. Kirk, whose college speaking gigs were hampered by campus closures, was welcomed in churches like McCoy’s. In a 2021 interview, Kirk said that McCoy, in their first meeting, told him: “You’re a Christian, and I want to tell you that not only does the Bible say a lot about civil government, not only does the Bible say a lot about how we should interact with our leaders, but I think you should talk more publicly about that.” Three years ago, Kirk shared the power of his Turning Points brand with McCoy, who helped launch TPUSA Faith, which offers training and networking for pastors wanting to be more politically outspoken. Turning Point USA and TPUSA Faith did not return requests from The Times for comment. Matthew Boedy, a professor of rhetoric and composition at the University of North Georgia, said that “Rob McCoy was the person who turned Charlie Kirk to Christian nationalism, and very specifically the Seven Mountains Mandate,” the idea that Christians should try to influence the seven pillars of cultural influence: arts and entertainment, business, education, family, government, media and religion. Christian nationalism holds that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that Christianity should have primacy in government and law. “Charlie Kirk has tremendous power both in the evangelical world and Trump world and nationally, and he has tremendous resources that he is putting into all seven areas of cultural influence,” said Boedy, who is writing a book about Kirk. “Trump has allowed him to do that, given him space to do it. But Rob McCoy is the person that convinced him to do it.” In an interview with The Times, McCoy insisted he is “not a dominionist” — one who believes the country should be governed by Christians. He said Trump appears to be “searching” and growing in his own faith, but that he has been successful in each of the seven pillars and that God appears to be working through him. “He’s a bull in a China shop,” McCoy said. “But he also keeps his promises. ... I’m not looking for a pastor in chief. I’m looking for a bodyguard for Western civilization.” McCoy, like pastors on both sides of the political aisle, openly flouts the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law that bars tax-exempt organizations from participating in political campaigns and endorsing candidates. (Trump has said he wants to “totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment, which would require an act of Congress.) McCoy said he is disgusted by Christians saying they “don’t do politics because politics is dirty, as though the rest of the world and they themselves are pure.” He also bristles at the term “Christian nationalist,” saying there’s nothing wrong with loving God and his country at the same time. Trump — who, polls show, won the support of 8 in 10 white evangelical voters in this election — is one of many Republican politicians who have courted evangelicals. But Trump, more than most others, has cast himself as a divinely chosen and wrongly persecuted protector of Christians, telling his supporters that he’s “standing between you and the secular left that is out to get you,” said Barry Hankins, a history professor at Baylor University who has written books about evangelicalism. As the United States has become more progressive and secular — at the same time congregations are shrinking and aging — Christians have lost much of their cultural power, leaving many to feel under assault, Hankins said. “Trump is brilliant at just picking up on this and marketing it and branding it for his own political purposes,” he said. The Republican Party platform, while vague on many topics, specifically says the GOP will champion prayer and reading the Bible in schools. McCoy, citing Trump’s ability to weather indictments, setbacks and assassination attempts, called his election a “miracle.” He likens Trump to Samson, a flawed biblical figure who was used by God for a greater purpose. “He’s got iconic hair and a propensity for women,” McCoy said of Samson. “Trump’s got iconic hair and a propensity for women.” As for restricting abortion, Trump — who has vacillated on the issue — is not exactly where the pastor would like him to be, but “has done more for the life movement than any other president in modern history, period,” McCoy said. Evangelical activists say they expect him to do more. In a letter to the Trump transition team, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention urged the Trump to take steps to curtail access to the abortion pill mifepristone. McCoy said that with Trump returning to the White House, he sees a golden era for his efforts and those of TPUSA Faith to “remove wokeness” — including diversity initiatives and critical race theory — from the American church. He said he plans to start a podcast in which he discusses politics. And in July, he will step down as senior pastor at Godspeak (though he will still have a speaking role), because of his growing role with TPUSA Faith. Days before the election, McCoy had preached that if Trump lost “life is going to take on catastrophic conditions” because of the evil espoused by the left. But after Trump’s victory, he changed his tune. “People who disagree with us are not the enemy,” he posted on Instagram. “They are the opportunity.”
AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:17 p.m. EST
New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Sunday that his government considers India’s eastern region as the country’s growth engine, while the area was considered backward earlier. Addressing a gathering at the “Odisha Parba” event here, the prime minister said investments of Rs 45,000 crore have been approved within 100 days of the formation of a new government in the state. “Odisha has always been a land of seers and scholars. The way the scholars there took our religious texts to every household and connected the public with those, it has played a crucial role in the cultural prosperity of India. “There was a time when India’s eastern region and the states there were called backward. However, I consider the eastern region as the country’s growth engine. That is why we have prioritised the development of the region,” he said. “The budget that we now allocate to Odisha is three times higher than what it was 10 years ago. We are working rapidly in every sector for Odisha’s development and the budget has been increased by 30 per cent this year,” Modi added. The prime minister said the Centre is committed to promoting ease of doing business in Odisha and added that investments of Rs 45,000 crore have been approved within 100 days of the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. “Last year, the G20 Summit was held in India. During the summit, we showcased the photo of the Sun Temple (in Konark). I am also glad that all four doors of the Jagannath temple (in Puri) are open now. Besides, the Ratna Bhandar of the temple is also open,” he added. “Odisha Parba” is a flagship event conducted by the Odia Samaj, a Delhi-based trust engaged in providing valuable support towards the preservation and promotion of Odia heritage. This year, “Odisha Parba” was organised from November 22 to November 24 to showcase the rich heritage of Odisha, displaying colourful cultural forms and exhibiting the vibrant social, cultural and political ethos of the state. Noting that cashew, jute, cotton, turmeric and oilseeds are produced in abundance in Odisha, Modi said the government’s effort is to ensure that these products reach big markets and thereby, benefit the farmers. “There is also a lot of scope for expansion in the seafood-processing industry of Odisha and the government’s effort is to make Odisha seafood a brand that will be in demand in the global market,” he added. Modi said by channelising Odisha’s potential in the right direction, the state can be taken to new heights of development. Emphasising that Odisha can benefit from its strategic location, he said access to domestic and international markets is easy from the state. “Odisha is an important hub of trade for East and South-East Asia. Odisha has immense potential to promote urbanisation,” the prime minister said, adding that his government is also creating new possibilities in the tier-two cities of the state, especially in the districts of western Odisha where development of new infrastructure can lead to the creation of new opportunities. Touching upon the abundant heritage of architecture and science of Odisha, Modi said science, architecture and the vastness of ancient temples like the Sun Temple, the Lingaraj and Mukteshwar temples amaze everyone with their exquisiteness and craftsmanship. PTI GJS BJ RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );BEIJING , Dec. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the end of 2024, we take a look back at the Chinese economy's performance this year. China's domestic GDP grew by 5.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, 4.7 percent in the second quarter and 4.6 percent in the third quarter this year, with an average growth rate of 4.8 percent in the first three quarters. Since September, as a package of incremental policies continues to yield its effects, China's economy maintains an upward trend. Overall, we are fully confident in achieving our economic growth goal this year. The country's economic performance has been hard-won. Externally, transformations around the world unseen in a century are unfolding at a greater pace, with global economic growth remaining sluggish, and the complexity, severity and uncertainty of the external environment on the rise. At home, domestic demand is insufficient, social expectations remain weak and there are difficulties associated with structural adjustments. The situation is severe and complex, and the task is difficult and weighty. However, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Chinese localities and government agencies are more confident and are taking solid steps to deliver outcomes. The results underscore that "fundamentals of the Chinese economy, and favorable conditions such as a vast market, strong economic resilience and great potential remain unchanged." Huge market, vast space Markets are the scarcest resource. The modernization achieved by 1.4 billion Chinese people has resulted in the addition of a new super-large market larger than those of all developed countries combined. The new development paradigm will enable China to fully unlock its market potential and create greater demand for other countries. With a new car rolling off production line on November 14 , China's annual production of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surpassed the 10 million milestone, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Behind the number is China's robust supply and demand. In the first 10 months, China's production and sales of NEVs grew by 33 percent and 33.9 percent year-on-year, respectively. China continues to take the lead in the electrification and intelligence transformation of the automotive industry, which is attributed to the supply, policy support and demand advantage in the ultra-large market. Markets bring valuable business opportunities. Take cars for example. By the end of June, China had 345 million cars, but the country's car ownership level per 1,000 residents is less than half of that in developed countries. Additionally, China's NEV ownership is only 24.72 million, which means continuous demand in the future. Markets breed competition advantages. China's vast market contributes to the formation of "economy of scale" and "economy of scope," which generates greater profits for enterprises and reduces innovations costs, and also helps provide a large number of application scenarios and boost the large-scale application of innovations. China leads the world in batteries, motors and electronic control technologies, while its intelligent cockpits and intelligent driving are internationally advanced. Thanks to the benign interactions between supply and demand, the industrialization of new technologies and new products is speeding up. Strong resilience, solid basis Resilience strengthens self-belief. China has come to where it is today after overcoming all kinds of difficulties and challenges. Foreign trade is an important barometer in this regard. In the first 10 months of the year, China's foreign goods trade rose by 5.2 percent year-on-year to reach a new high compared with the same period historically. The improvement in the quality and efficiency of the country's foreign trade against the backdrop of shrinking external demand reflects China's economic resilience. This resilience originates from China's solid manufacturing basis and industrial chain advantages. "We could not do what we do without them," Apple CEO Tim Cook said of Chinese suppliers during his third visit to the Chinese mainland this year, as over 80 percent of Apple's 200 major suppliers have set up factories in China . China has the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, with the scale of manufacturing industry ranking top for 14 consecutive years. The high-end, intelligent and green development of the manufacturing sector continues to strengthen the stability of the country's industrial and supply chain. In the first three quarters, the manufacturing industry contributed 32.2 percent to the country's economic growth, up 11.2 percentage points. China moved up to 11th place in the ranking of the world's most innovative economies. The basis is solid, and risks and challenges are not to be feared. Resilience also comes from excellent policy adjustments. The nation has been strengthening counter-cyclical adjustments, accelerating the implementation of major national strategies and the development of securities capabilities in key areas while supporting large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-in policies for consumer goods with robust measures, boosting the stabilization of the property market and galvanizing the capital market. The government has also put forward a package of measures to dissolve local government debt risks. This year, a series of existing policies continue to produce effects and incremental policies are being effectively implemented, jointly helping the economy stabilize. Vast potential, strong momentum China's economy has vast potential and many advantages and favorable conditions for sustaining long-term development momentum. China has been the world's second-largest economy for many years, but still has vast development potential in terms of per capita and structure. China's per capita GDP remains relatively low, and the country's amount of infrastructure per capita is only 20-30 percent of that of developed countries. In 2023, China's urbanization rate, which measures the ratio of permanent urban residents relative to the total population, reached 66.2 percent by the end of 2023. Estimates show that each percentage point increase in the urbanization rate could drive 1 trillion yuan ( $137.55 billion ) in investment. Currently, both China's fiscal deficit ratio and government debt ratio are low, and the country's policy toolbox remains well-stocked. The potential also lies in elementary resources. China's human resources in science and technology ranked first in the country and the average length of education received by new entrants into the workforce has increased to 14 years, turning the demographic dividend into a talent dividend. In addition, overall sufficient social capitals, vast room for the highly efficient use of land and the vast unleashing of the potential of digital elements provide solid foundational support. This potential also comes from the huge market. The country's population of over 1.4 billion and middle-income population of over 400 million support a large-scale, diverse and huge domestic market. Accelerating the building of a unified national market will improve overall economic operation efficiency and continuously unleash the potential of domestic demand. Overall, China is a country with vast territory, a large population and unbalanced and uncoordinated development. This is a shortcoming, but also represents potential and a driving force for future development. Sparking vitality and building synergy through reform is essential to continuously unleashing development potential. From implementing regulations for fair competition reviews, accelerating the legislative process of the law on the promotion of the private economy and formulating normal communication mechanisms between governments and enterprises, to releasing a new national negative list for foreign investment and removing all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector, China's reforms in key fields continue to deepen this year and high-level opening-up advances in an in-depth way. The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization. Driven by reform of the economic system, China is correspondingly boosting reform in other fields, and the internal development momentum and vitality will continue to strengthen. Reviewing allows a clear understanding of the situation and better moving forward. While some major economies experience low growth rates and high inflation this year, China is expected to achieve its economic growth target of around 5 percent, and continue to contribute around 30 percent to world economic growth. This stable performance underlines the fact that China's economy will continue to remain on a positive trajectory over the long run. The story was originally published on the front page of the People's Daily on December 8, 2024 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-peoples-daily-article-says-favorable-conditions-for-chinas-economic-development-remain-unchanged-302325568.html SOURCE Global Times
SYDNEY — Australia has ditched plans to fine social media companies if they fail to stem the spread of misinformation, the country's communications minister said Sunday. The proposed legislation outlined sweeping powers to fine tech companies up to five percent of their yearly turnover if they breached new online safety obligations. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.
N.C. A&T State University will be the first public university in the state to offer a bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence (AI). While some other North Carolina universities have an artificial intelligence concentration within a computer science degree, A&T will be the only institution to offer the standalone bachelor’s degree. The UNC Board of Governors recently approved the program, and the school hopes to enroll its first students in Fall 2025, according to a news release. “Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are increasingly part of everyday life with the potential for profound and far-reaching impact on virtually every facet of society,” said Chancellor James R. Martin II. "Our new bachelor’s degree will prepare students for immediate impact, especially in the critical area of human interaction with AI.” The program will allow students to enroll in one of two concentrations: Advanced AI Systems, offered through the College of Engineering, and Applied AI in the College of Science and Technology. “Our bachelor’s degree will enable our graduates to help create real world solutions to complex global issues and shape a brighter future through science and technology," said Abdellah Ahmidouch, dean of the university's College of Science and Technology. AI has been a quickly growing industry nationally. According to the most recent Hannover Research report on the AI workforce, “The AI labor market in North Carolina is projected to expand more than three times as fast as the overall labor market, creating over 20,000 new jobs.” “It’s nearly impossible to overestimate the impact of AI in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, dean of the College of Engineering. camdyn.bruce@greensboro.com 336-373-7094 Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.“Is this legal?” — SG restaurant worker asks after their manager forces them to pay $10 for each food tray that a customer throws out in the trashBob Ferguson continues fight against abortion pill restrictions
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