
Popcorn is believed to be one of the world’s oldest snacks. Evidence —6,700-year-old cobs with puffed kernels-excavated by archaeologists in Peru suggests exactly that. For most of the time since antiquity, the humble popcorn did not cause any ruckus. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast Until last week, that is, when it caused significant online chatter, after the Indian gover nment decided to increase the goods and services tax (GST) on caramel popcorn from 5% to 18%. Nowhere was this conversation louder than among movie-goers. There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who watch movies in silence, and those who need the crunch of a fistful of popcorn to engage their taste buds as they stare at the silver screen. Large multiplex chains have since clarified that the change in tax structure is applicable only to packaged popcorn and that it will be business as usual for those freshly popped tubs. 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Why exactly is movie food such an expensive experience? And are alternatives popping up? POPPING MONEY Both multiplexes and audiences have valid arguments on the pricing of items that are available for a fraction of the money outside the cinemas. Though single-screen theatres attempted to make money from almost every inch of space, audiences never felt they got a raw deal, as they do in multiplexes now. With good reason, too. Navendra Singh, AGM at a leading real estate firm, says, “Today, I am paying more than two times the money I incur on ticket prices, on food and beverages. I have to plan my theatre outing carefully. It is no longer a weekend ritual.” According to various estimates, movie ticket prices in multiplexes could be in the range of Rs 260-350, depending on a film’s budget, star cast and the response the film’s trailer has received. A medium-size tub of popcorn could cost anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 500, higher than the average ticket price in multiplexes, which in the case of PVR Inox , the segment leader among multiplexes, was Rs 257 last quarter. Soft drinks may be charged in the range of Rs 200-300, with combopacks starting at Rs 600. This means, for a middle-class family of four, the entire movie-hall experience can be prohibitively expensive. The result? Along with the increasing supply of mediocre and unentertaining films and the proliferation of streaming platforms, audiences have got one more reason to reduce the frequency of going to the movies. This is reflected in a fall in footfalls. According to mall developers, multiplexes used to generate 10% of footfalls in malls. This has fallen to 6-7% in recent years. The total admissions (footfalls) in PVR Inox properties fell to 38.8 million in the September 2024 quarter, from 48.4 million in the same period in 2023. Yogesh Parker, a banking professional with a leading money transfer platform, says, “Today’s audience weighs an outing in multiplexes in terms of a trade-off.” The trade-off he is referring to is whether the cost of an outing in a multiplex can be used to offset the subscription amount of streaming platforms, since most films are available on streaming platforms within two months of theatre release. EXHIBITION EQUATION There are close to 8,500 screens in India. Of these, less than 6,500 are operational after the pandemic. There are 3,500 multiplex screens and the remaining are single screens. PVR Inox, which has 1,747 screens, has recorded a higher growth in revenues from F&B than from the sale of tickets in the past four years; the former has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% to Rs 1,958 crore in FY24. In the same period, revenues from the sale of movie tickets grew at a CAGR of 13.6% to Rs 3,279 crore. This has resulted in the share of F&B in total revenues for PVR Inox increasing to 31.5% in FY24 from 27.8% in FY20. While the share of movie ticket revenues has grown in the same period—from 50.1% to 52.8%—F&B has been outpacing it. That, along with the higher margins from F&B, goes a long way in explaining why multiplexes price it high. Producer and film business expert Girish Johar says, “Operating profit margins in the food & beverage segment are much higher.” Estimates suggest F&B in a cinema costs more than three times outside it. F& B is a stable source of revenue for multiplexes. Girish Wankhede, a movie trade analyst, says, “Exhibitors share revenues from the sale of movie tickets with distributors. Also, they must pay taxes on the sale of tickets. But food and beverage revenues go entirely to the multiplex.” Multiplexes cite the high costs of operations (real estate, staff salaries and various overheads) as a reason for high F&B prices. Rahul Dhyani, founder of Connplex Cinemas, a miniplex (75- seat theatre) chain, says, “Today, a family spends more on dinner at a restaurant than in a multiplex. So, we don’t think F&B costs are very high.” CHANGE IS IN THE AIR But not all multiplexes are sticking to the script. Some are trying to disrupt the established pricing regime in a bid to trigger demand, especially at a time when most Hindi films are failing. Recently, multiplex chain Mukta A2 Cinemas capped its F&B prices at Rs 99. Ask Satwik Lele, COO, Mukta A2 Cinemas why they shifted their strategy and he says, “Our strategy of capping F&B prices under Rs 99 has effectively increased three times our items per head (IPH).” Essentially, Mukta is trying to play the volume game. But can focusing on volume rather than value be a sound strategy? An analyst, who did not wish to be named, says, “Even if a multiplex caps its F&B cost at Rs 99, it will make an operating profit margin in the range of 50-75% from the food and beverages segment.” Multiplexes must now choose between value strategy—high ticket prices and F&B rates but low footfalls—and volume strategy— affordable ticket and F&B prices but high footfalls. Ameya Naik, founder of Fantasy Films, an event management company, is in the latter camp, arguing that more people coming into the movies is the need of the hour. He says there is a large audience seeking affordable movie-going experience. “The audiences who prefer premium services in multiplexes are irregular and smaller in number as they are clear about what they want to watch in theatres,” he says. This strategy can have a broader impact. If F&B costs are relatively affordable, even an average film may do reasonably good business at the box office. So which way will your neighbourhood multiplex swing? 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To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today. Chart of Palantir Technologies Inc PLTR . Note the following: This article is about the big picture, not an individual stock. The chart of PLTR is being used to illustrate the point. The chart shows that PLTR stock has gone vertical. The chart shows that the Arora core position was bought at $20.15. The chart shows when the Arora trade around position signal was given. A trade around position is a technique used by billionaires and hedge funds that can dramatically increase returns and reduce risks. As full disclosure, The Arora Report system is close to giving another signal for a new trade around position on PLTR. Palantir is a defense contractor providing mostly AI-based software. Being a defense contractor is a complex business. Historically, it has taken defense contractors a very long period, many acquisitions, and storied histories to become large. With Palantir, it is the first time that a company has become the largest defense contractor by market cap in the blink of an eye. More remarkable is that Palantir has achieved this feat not through a long storied history and not through acquisitions. Palantir has reached this status through a momo crowd and meme crowd stampede. The chart shows that money is to be made by taking advantage of momo crowd and meme crowd stampedes. Over the years, we have helped our members make money from these stampedes on a number of stocks. Of course, prudent investors should have risk controls in place and be patient. As full disclosure, PLTR was recently added to the ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio. As full disclosure, Rtx Corp RTX is also in the ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio. RTX is the second largest defense contractor now by market cap. Here is a comparison of a few key metrics between PLTR and RTX. PLTR trailing PE is 354. RTX trailing PE is 34. PLTR forward PE is 151. RTX forward PE is 19. PLTR price/sales is 65. RTX price/sales is 2. Based on the ZYX Change Method quantitative screen , the highest reasonable valuation of PLTR is under $40. PLTR is trading at $71.74 as of this writing in the premarket. The very long term Arora target for PLTR is $123 – $136. The foregoing also illustrates the extreme positive sentiment in the stock market. This morning, the stock market is front running Fed Chair Powell. Powell will be speaking later today. The hopium is that Powell will be dovish and indicate a rate cut is coming in spite of a large set of data showing that it is imprudent to cut rates at this time. Buying in the early trade is largely focused on large cap tech stocks as well as speculative junk stocks. Also adding to the buying are comments on Salesforce Inc CRM and Marvell Technology Inc MRVL conference calls regarding AI. In the early trade, money flows are positive in Apple Inc AAPL , Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN , Alphabet Inc Class C GOOG , Microsoft Corp MSFT , NVIDIA Corp NVDA , and Tesla Inc TSLA . In the early trade, money flows are negative in Meta Platforms Inc META . In the early trade, money flows are positive in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 QQQ . Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ. Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil. The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust GLD . The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust SLV . The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF USO . Bitcoin BTC/USD is range bound. It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror. The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular. The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors. Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time. You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges. The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive. If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges. A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash. A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling. It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash. When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks. High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market. Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time. Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less. Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time. The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever Generate Wealth Newsletter . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Share Tweet Share Share Email Early Bitcoin investors turned small bets into life-changing fortunes—proof that spotting the next big thing early pays off. Now, as the cryptocurrency market evolves, savvy investors are eyeing their next game-changer. Enter Lightchain AI (LCAI), a rising star priced at just $0.0041 during its presale . Combining the power of artificial intelligence and blockchain, LCAI is already outshining heavyweights like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL). With its cutting-edge innovation and massive potential, forward-thinking investors are betting big on what could be the next Bitcoin-level success story. Will you be one of them? Why Ethereum May Lose Its Edge Ethereum’s position as a leader in the blockchain space is facing some challenges. The rise of Layer-2 solutions has been great for scalability, but it has also reduced Ethereum’s revenue by 99% after the Dencun upgrade, as transaction fees have dropped significantly. At the same time, Ethereum’s market share has slipped to 13.1%, its lowest since 2021, as alternative Layer-1 blockchains like Solana gain traction with faster and more affordable transactions. Scalability issues have also led to a dip in network activity and user engagement, while new token types within its ecosystem have shifted some value away from Ethereum. These challenges highlight the need for strategic improvements to help Ethereum maintain its leadership in the ever-changing blockchain world. There’s still plenty of potential for innovation and growth ahead! Solana’s Speed vs. Lightchain AI’s Versatility Solana is famous for its super-fast transaction speed, handling an average of 1,504 transactions per second (TPS)—way ahead of many competitors. This is thanks to its unique Proof of History (PoH) system, which makes transactions quick and affordable. On the other hand, Lightchain AI focuses on flexibility by blending artificial intelligence into its blockchain setup. With tools like the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) and Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus, it’s built to handle real-time AI tasks across industries like healthcare, finance, and supply chain management. If you need speed for high-frequency transactions, Solana has you covered. But if you’re looking for a platform built for smart, data-driven applications, Lightchain AI offers a versatile solution in the ever-changing blockchain world. Why Lightchain AI Is the Next Big Bet Lightchain AI is making waves with its unique Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism, which rewards nodes for handling AI tasks like model training and optimization. This not only strengthens the network’s security but also makes it more efficient, setting it apart from traditional blockchain models. With a clear and ambitious roadmap, Lightchain AI has big plans for growth. Key milestones include the testnet launch in January 2025 and the mainnet activation in March 2025—showcasing a strong commitment to innovation and scalability. The LCAI token also has a thoughtful and sustainable tokenomics model, with a total supply of 10 billion tokens allocated smartly: 40% for presale, 28.5% for staking rewards, 15% for liquidity, 5% for marketing, 6.5% for the treasury, and 5% for the team. By combining AI with blockchain technology, Lightchain AI takes on challenges like scalability, governance, and privacy head-on, establishing itself as a leader in decentralized intelligence. Its strategic vision and focus on real-world applications—spanning industries like healthcare, finance, and logistics—showcase its huge potential for widespread adoption. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Related Items: Lightchain , press release Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you These Undervalued Digital Assets Could Offer 4000% Returns by December, Even if the Crypto Market Enters a Bearish Phase – Invest $600 Now AI Picks 5 Tokens That Will Boost Your Portfolio 28,000% in the Upcoming Bull Run XRP and Avalanche Investors Eye This Altcoin for Explosive Potential Comments
Fritz Heinemann (My Turn, Dec. 19) makes some observations about how different people deal with challenges to their perception of how things should be. He noted a lack of “resilience” and “maturity” ascribed to people seeking “safe spaces” and “refusing service” to members of the new administration, as if such things were commonplace. Have such occurred? Yes. Are such things commonplace? No. Heinemann implies that such actions are due to those whose party lost the election. He conveniently ignores the petulance and immaturity of Mr. Trump who claimed (with little to no evidence) about a rigged election system in 2020 (but not 2024). Heinemann ignores the hateful and divisive rhetoric that continues from Trump’s political supporters even after the election. And Heinemann also misses the proposed approach to “rebuilding” our democracy using retribution against supposed enemies and acts to stifle honest debate and free speech. Such things are much more damaging to the future of our system of government than reports of people seeking safe spaces. I largely agree that we need more people to act as adults. We should “return to the principles of courtesy and respect.” But we should not make this return while wearing political blinders. So, when I see Trump and his team step away from divisive rhetoric, insulting those who disagree, using the legal system to silence dissent and, instead, take up actions that works for all, I’ll agree we are moving ahead to rebuild our resilience and maturity. Jim Maneval, LewisburgAfter a long and winding journey, three-star quarterback Bekkem Kritza finally signed with Penn State. Kritza, the No. 37 quarterback in the country, committed to Penn State on Nov. 11, 2023, as one of the longest-tenured commitments in this 2025 class. As the only quarterback in Penn State’s class as of now, he visited campus 12 times over the years. The QB was Penn State’s 13th signee on signing day Wednesday. At 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Kritza hailed from Colorado when he made the commitment to Penn State, but he moved back home to Florida for his senior season and started the year at Miami Central. He lost the starting quarterback job at Miami Central and wound up transferring to Chaminade-Madonna Prep midseason, where he led an upset win over St. Thomas Aquinas in his early October debut. Despite the adversity-filled path to becoming a Lion, things have worked out for Kritza. He’ll be leading Chaminade-Madonna in the state semifinals this weekend against Trinity Christian Academy. He’s a talented thrower of the football who has struggled with accuracy at times, but coach James Franklin was excited to get Kritza officially on this recruiting class. “Once you get on campus, we’ll be there to support you every step of the way,” Franklin said Wednesday. “It’s not always going to be easy. It’ll be challenging. But you’re built for that, and it’s going to be awesome to watch you grow and thrive here under the Penn State umbrella.” All-time Penn State passing leader Sean Clifford, currently with the Green Bay Packers, welcomed Kritza to Happy Valley. “Welcome to the Penn State family,” Clifford said. “Can’t wait to see you become the next great Penn State quarterback.” Penn State signed 26 players Wednesday, including five from WPIAL schools — Imani Christian defensive lineman Dayshaun Burnett, Aliquippa running back Tikey Hayes, North Catholic offensive lineman Brady O’Hara, Latrobe linebacker Alex Tatsch and Central Catholic defensive back Xxavier Thomas. Burnett, a four-star and the No. 11 player in Pennsylvania, is expected to become an edge rusher. Franklin called Hayes, a three-star prospect and the No. 12 player in Pennsylvania, one of the more underappreciated running backs in the country. He is also the nephew of cornerbacks coach/associate head coach Terry Smith, who leads Penn State ’s recruiting efforts in the Pittsburgh area. Originally recruited as a tight end, O’Hara will enroll as an offensive lineman. He’s a three-star and the No. 15 player in Pennsylvania. Tatsch, a four-star recruit and No. 7 player in Pennsylvania, had an injury that limited him to five games this year but is expected to be a big part of the future linebacking corps. Thomas visited Penn State 17 times and never went anywhere else in the process, according to On3. He’s ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 14 player in Pennsylvania. Another notable signing was LaVar Arrington II, the son of “Linebacker U” legend LaVar Arrington. He is a four-star linebacker from Charter Oak High School (Calif.). Arrington is ranked as high as the No. 9 linebacker and the No. 127 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to 247 Sports. The elder Arrington was a two-time first-team All-American who racked up 173 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in his Penn State career. Arrington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Penn State signed 23 recruits who were rated four stars or higher by 247Sports, On3, ESPN or Rivals. The class has players from 10 different states. There are 13 offensive players and 13 defensive players.
Steward Surprise, Continuation of Shelter Stress Top Press Corps Ballots Maybe the word of the year should be "upheaval." This time last year, we were reflecting on how much the tone had changed in 2023 as new pressure points erupted on Beacon Hill. That dynamic only deepened in 2024, as power players swerved from dealing with one crisis to another. A stretch of rocky state tax collections manifested into a $463 million budget gap. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu spent months sounding the alarm about the property tax outlook in the capital city, only for senators to kill her response plan, citing shifting math and economic competitiveness concerns. The Cannabis Control Commission still doesn't have a permanent top leader in place, and the termination of its former chair is tied up in court. And the emergency shelter crisis that topped last year's chart? Still here, bumped down to number two only by something as enormous and shocking as the collapse of Steward Health Care. Several entries on the State House Press Association's 2024 ranking featured in some form on last year's iteration, a sign of how many problems persist and how much remains unresolved. Even some of the ostensible milestones of the year bear asterisks, like the sweeping new gun law that faces multiple court challenges and a repeal campaign. Here's the State House Press Association's democratically selected top 10 stories of 2024: 1. Steward Health Care Bankruptcy Steward Health Care's disintegration about 14 years after it took over the faith-based Caritas system drew the state into a protracted and occasionally cutthroat bankruptcy proceeding, forced thousands of patients to make new arrangements for care and resulted in significant shuffling among the health care sector's tier of operators just below the two juggernauts of Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Lahey Health, which have dominated the Boston-area landscape under various names for years. The realignment tilted the state's health care world towards greater regionalization, with Lawrence General Hospital taking over the Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen, Boston Medical Center taking on St. Elizabeth's in Brighton and Good Samaritan Brockton, and Rhode Island-based Brown University Health expanding into the Bay State to take over St. Anne's in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton. As Steward's bankruptcy dragged on through the summer, Massachusetts state government put up $72 million to keep the system's hospitals here open through August and September, and the state also committed to providing at least $417 million to help keep the Steward-sold hospitals open as their new owners take over. Despite the cost and the fact that Steward shuttered hospitals in Dorchester and Ayer, Gov. Maura Healey has repeatedly defended her administration's handling of the situation and frames it as a success story. "In other states, Steward hospitals just closed. They went away. And in Massachusetts, we were able to save six of the eight hospitals," she told the News Service in December. - Colin A. Young 2. Emergency Shelter Crisis Facing an astronomical price tag and waitlist for the emergency family shelter system fueled by the migrant crisis, Gov. Healey and lawmakers continued to reshape eligibility parameters in 2024. Meanwhile, homelessness prevention advocates repeatedly decried changes that they said were eroding the state's right-to-shelter law and warned more families could end up sleeping on the streets. A major change came in April, when the Legislature approved a nine-month limit on family shelter stays, with the possibility of two 90-day extensions. In July, the state began enforcing a ban on families sleeping overnight at Logan Airport, which had become one of the most visible signs of the migrant crisis here. Healey's team in late July said it would prioritize shelter for certain Massachusetts families, a controversial move that appeared to curtail access for newly arriving families; the administration also rolled out a policy to limit overflow shelter stays to five days and then disqualify affected families from seeking longer-term placement for six months. The shelter system has since undergone a significant revamp, partly building on recommendations from a commission tasked with making the EA system more sustainable. The system now has two tracks: one path is tailored for families who can stay in overflow sites for 30 days and are then expected to find stable housing, while the other is for families with more complex needs who will be allowed to stay for months longer. Healey wants to further slash traditional shelter stays to six months, though that will require legislative approval. - Alison Kuznitz 3. DiZoglio Gets Voters' Backing In Legislative Audit Push Auditor Diana DiZoglio has made auditing the Legislature her raison d'être. And as a political brand, it's winning acclaim from the voters — 71 percent of them this fall, 2.3 million citizens who said they believe DiZoglio's office should have the power to probe her former colleagues in the legislative branch. As the Methuen Democrat ramped up her years-long crusade, she carted literal piles of dusty 19th century audit books into a committee hearing as evidence in support of her quest, went ahead and launched an initial audit knowing top House and Senate Democrats would not comply, and then traveled the entire state on foot. DiZoglio's "Walking For Sunshine" tour was a 141-mile march from the Berkshires to Boston. She was joined on various legs by conservative and progressive activists, highlighting the scope of the coalition calling for more transparency under the Golden Dome. After all that, and the approbation of the voters, it's still unclear if DiZoglio will ever actually get the chance to make a full performance audit of the Legislature. The audit issue could be headed for a legal battle in the courts, but it didn't make it that far in 2024. DiZoglio and other top Beacon Hill Democrats spent the final month of the year squabbling over the new law's effective date, with most other pols telling the auditor they don't think she can force the question until January. - Sam Doran 4. End-of-Session Dysfunction, Possible Rules Changes Long disagreements between the House and Senate Democrats who control supermajorities are nothing new. But in 2024, it reached one of the lowest points in recent memory. Tensions between House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka might have peaked when, after Mariano suggested the Senate was "not really serious about passing" a bill soon after releasing it, Spilka made a point of writing down his exact words and then working them into her own public response on a different topic a day later. The duo kept what was supposed to be the July 31 final formal session of the term going well after sunrise on Aug. 1 for the second consecutive cycle, then adjourned without compromising on major bills favored by both branches. Lawmakers did get on the same page in the ensuing months, producing accords on seven bills that had been left in mid-summer limbo. To accomplish that, top Democrats circumvented their rule that requires only informal sessions with no controversial business after July 31 in even-numbered years, and pushed legislation to Gov. Healey's desk close to or after the election. That workaround might provide a template for next session: top Democrats appear to be thinking about a permanent change that would more easily allow them to take up big bills during election season, or at least those that already cleared both chambers in one form or another. - Chris Lisinski 5. Boston Property Tax Bill Collapses A home rule petition of particular political importance to its filer exposed bitter tensions between the House and Senate, city and state, and business interests and community residents in a rancorous clash during the waning months of the legislative session. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s petition, which sought to temporarily shift a larger share of the city's property tax levy from residential to commercial properties, became a focal point in the second half of 2024. The proposal was at the center of a spat between House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka in July, when Spilka refused to bring it to the floor before formal sessions ended. Spilka publicly criticized the House for introducing the bill without sufficient discussion, turning Mariano's earlier comments about a Senate proposal back onto him. Wu's team and industry groups brokered a compromise and it easily passed the House again. But when brought before the Senate a second time it failed to gain enough support and two key Boston Democrats publicly opposed it. The debate was colored by new property valuation data, which made some lawmakers more comfortable with the rising residential tax bills. Without action, Wu’s team now projects residential property taxes in Boston will increase by 10.5 percent in 2025, as the mayor launches her campaign for a second term. - Sam Drysdale 6. Gun Law Approved, Repeal Effort Begins It turns out that overcoming their own intraparty strife was only the first hurdle for Massachusetts Democrats looking to transform the state's gun laws. Much of last year's focus fell on the way legislative leaders jabbed at one another about the process for bringing forward legislation -- as we recounted in the top stories of 2023 -- and the page turned in 2024 when the Senate approved its own package of reforms. After a few months of private talks, the Democrat majorities in the House and Senate enacted a sweeping compromise measure that provided new tools for cracking down on ghost guns, banned firearms in more public places like schools and polling places, expanded the 2018 "red flag" law that allows courts to temporarily take firearms away from those deemed threats, and more. But the story did not end with Healey's signature on the bill. Opponents including the National Rifle Association signaled plans to challenge the law in court, and several cases have already begun moving, contending that various reforms are unconstitutional. While those proceedings unfold, gun owners are fighting the measure on another front: they collected the tens of thousands of signatures necessary to put a repeal question on the 2026 ballot, teeing up a two-year campaign that will culminate in voters deciding whether to leave the law in place or spike it from the books. - Chris Lisinski 7. MassGOP Scores Electoral Successes, Local Trump Gains The MassGOP and its new chair Amy Carnevale had a good year. The fall elections were a sort of referendum on her shepherding of the party after unseating controversial party leader Jim Lyons in 2023. Carnevale has focused on getting the GOP back on solid financial footing, brought its headquarters back to Boston, and emphasized a big-tent approach supporting moderates and conservatives alike. She managed to stop the recent bleeding of legislative seats and Republicans flipped three districts red with wins from Ken Sweezey of Pembroke, Justin Thurber of Somerset, and Kelly Dooner of Taunton. The GOP did lose one seat, retiring Bridgewater Rep. Angelo D'Emilia's district, but eked out a net-positive election. Meantime, Republicans Donald Trump and JD Vance got just 36 percent of the vote here, but compare that to Trump's 32 percent share in 2016, and 32 percent again in 2020. Despite felony convictions, the Jan. 6 revolt in Washington, and hometown pols in Massachusetts constantly hammering the former (and now incoming) president, more Bay Staters considered him the right choice this year than ever before. And in communities like Lawrence -- a city of immigrants -- his popularity shot up. Fall River, another Gateway City, voted for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time in a century. Fall River's former mayor, Will Flanagan, announced he was switching to the Republican Party. And 45/47 picked up close to two dozen Massachusetts towns that had voted for Biden in 2020, including municipalities in Worcester County and on the South Shore and South Coast. - Sam Doran 8. Healey Makes First 9C Cuts Since 2016 Budget belt-tightening was the first controversial order of business for Gov. Maura Healey to kick off 2024. On Jan. 9, Healey announced $375 million in unilateral spending reductions, also known as 9C cuts, from the fiscal 2024 budget after six months of below-benchmark revenue collections and soaring costs from the migrant crisis. Despite Healey saying a month earlier that she was not considering budget cuts, she took the first 9C action since Charlie Baker did in 2016. Healey made cuts to 66 line items, including a gross $294 million reduction in MassHealth fee-for-service payments. The Lift Our Kids Coalition criticized Healey's move that trimmed more than $17 million in public benefits. Progressive groups blamed the cuts on the tax relief package that Healey signed into law months earlier, which critics assert disproportionately benefited wealthy Bay Staters. To close a budget shortfall totaling $1 billion, Healey's team also tapped into investment earnings that aren't typically used in budgeting, measures that Administration and Finance Secretary Matt Gorzkowicz said were creating a "glide path" to fiscal 2026. - Alison Kuznitz 9. MCAS Ballot Question, Teachers Union Politics Massachusetts voters in November approved Question 2 with 59% support, agreeing with teachers' unions that the state should no longer require students to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam to graduate. The measure, heavily pushed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, repeals the test passage requirement and shifts the responsibility for assessing student competency in math, science, and English to local districts. Supporters argued the MCAS is a "one-size-fits-all" test that doesn’t accurately measure student achievement and shouldn’t prevent the 1% of students each year who fail the exam from graduating, despite meeting other requirements. They also claimed replacing the MCAS with district-certified assessments would end "teaching to the test." Opponents, primarily business groups and some top elected officials, warned that Question 2 would remove the state’s only statewide graduation standard, devaluing the Massachusetts high school diploma. They also feared it could increase inequality if some districts lowered their standards to help students graduate, while others maintained higher requirements. The campaign drew substantial funding and media attention, dividing top Democrats. Gov. Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Senate President Karen Spilka, and House Speaker Ron Mariano all opposed the measure, while Education Committee Chair Sen. Jason Lewis and some members of the federal delegation supported it. The year is ending with legislators, districts and the state’s education department circling in muddy waters as they look for a new graduation requirement system. Reform to the education accountability system is likely to remain a key issue in 2025. - Sam Drysdale 10. Treasurer Goldberg vs. CCC A judge said in December 2023 that suspended Cannabis Control Commission Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien could come back to the courts with a lawsuit challenging Treasurer Deborah Goldberg's handling of her termination if or when she was actually fired. This December, that challenge is awaiting court action as the now-former CCC chair continues her fight to return to the job from which she was suspended in September 2023 and fired a year later. O'Brien tried to have the Supreme Judicial Court listen to her complaint, but Justice Gabrielle Wolohojian kicked the case down to Superior Court jurisdiction. Wolohojian was in the headlines herself early in the year when Gov. Healey nominated her to the high court bench. The nomination of a 16-year Appeals Court jurist with a sterling reputation normally would not land in the top 10 stories of the year, but Healey and Wolohojian were in a long-term relationship and lived together in Charlestown until a few years ago. "There's no one more qualified or more prepared," the governor said as she faced heat for the nomination. "You know, I don't want the fact that she had a personal relationship with me to deprive the commonwealth of a person who's most qualified for the position." While the choice of a former partner for a lofty perch on the SJC raised eyebrows around Beacon Hill, Wolohojian was confirmed to the bench on a 6-1 vote and seems to have fit right in at the SJC. - Colin A. Young Runners-Up: Housing Crisis and Bond Bill; MBTA, Phil Eng's Turnaround; Vineyard Wind's Shattered Turbine Blade; Pols and Law Enforcement The housing crisis remained a major issue, with affordability challenges cresting and the state continuing to rank among the highest in median home values. Lawmakers and Gov. Healey touted a $5.16 billion housing bond bill passed in the summer, which introduced 49 new housing policies. However, critics felt the bill fell short, as many measures intended to help the poorest residents were left out. Meanwhile, the MBTA made progress on its long-awaited turnaround, led by General Manager Phil Eng. Subway slow zones were cleared, repairs were made to the T’s core system, and speeds on the Blue and Orange Lines improved. However, looming financial challenges threaten to undo this progress unless state leaders can find solutions. Vineyard Wind faced a setback when a wind turbine blade shattered and broke off, littering Nantucket with debris and leading the company to remove several blades for quality checks. A few pols ran into trouble with law enforcement this year: Rep. Christopher Flanagan was caught violating campaign finance laws and lying about it. Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson also found herself in hot water, accused of running a kickback scheme with a staffer to pocket thousands of dollars. - Sam DrysdaleCrypto.com and Mastercard Collaborate to Scale the Digital Payments Industry in GCC Region
Police say searchers don’t expect to find woman in Pennsylvania sinkhole alive UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania has become a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but that the search for her remains continues. Limani says crews have seen "no signs of any form of life or anything.” Pollard was last seen alive Monday evening when she went out looking for her cat in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing it WWE will perform on a stage next month that could be vastly larger than its current home on cable television when it makes its “Raw” debut on Netflix. The sports entertainment company is moving to a platform with about 283 million subscribers worldwide as it departs its current home on the USA Network, which averaged 688,000 viewers in prime-time last year, according to the Nielsen company. For Netflix, onboarding the WWE is part of strategic move to air more live events on the heels of a hugely successful fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that was viewed by more than 60 million people. Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder. Prosecutors said Megan Imirowicz was upset when her father couldn’t drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Imirowicz was sentenced to only a year in jail in 2023. She actually spent more than a year in custody because she was locked up before trial and while awaiting her punishment in suburban Detroit. Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as the sport has an international moment LONDON (AP) — London’s Royal Albert Hall is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Wrestlers put on an exhibition of heavyweight grappling to promote a tournament scheduled for next October. It marks only the second time an elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was held in 1991 at the same venue. Organizers are hoping to whip up the kind of excitement that was generated three decades ago, when the deeply ritualistic sport attracted sell-out crowds and a national television audience. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. Jury revisits key videos in NYC subway chokehold death trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have asked to review police and bystander video at the heart of the New York City chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny. The request came during a second day of deliberations Wednesday. The anonymous jury also asked to rehear part of a city medical examiner’s testimony. The request included testimony about her decision to issue a death certificate without getting toxicology test results for Jordan Neely. He was the agitated subway rider whom Penny held him around the neck for roughly six minutes. Penny has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Prosecutors say he recklessly killed Neely. Penny's defense maintains he was justified in acting to protect fellow subway riders from Neely. Relatives hunt for the missing after Guinea stadium crush amid fears official death toll is too low CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Kambaly Kouroumah was searching a local morgue for his teenage brother, Adama, who died after chaos erupted at a soccer game in southern Guinea’s Nzerekore city. Adama, 15, was among 56 people that officials said were killed in Sunday's crush, although rights groups reported a death toll nearly three times higher. Local media, rights groups and witnesses say security forces used tear gas to respond after fans began to throw stones to protest a referee's decision during the soccer game that was organized in honor of Guinea's junta leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, videos showed. Power shortages in Ecuador are melting away the future of a small town’s ice-cream industry SALCEDO, Ecuador (AP) — Ice-cream production in this quiet Ecuadorian town began in the mid-20th century in a convent for Franciscan nuns. The nuns sold their creamy popsicles in town to gather funds for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began experimenting with new flavors and techniques, establishing a thriving popsicle industry that has made their small town famous among ice-cream lovers. But now, the South American nation is struggling with a relentless wave of power cuts that threaten the future of Salcedo’s ice-cream industry, melting away its dreams of a more prosperous future. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For the artistic and cultural elites of the West African nation of Senegal, the monthlong Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was. Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, but its role has declined in recent years. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, Chinese-imported products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69 Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his song lyrics, has died. She was 69. Eminem’s longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson’s death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Nelson’s fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star. Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem’s statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she attempted to set the record straight.
Popcorn is believed to be one of the world’s oldest snacks. Evidence —6,700-year-old cobs with puffed kernels-excavated by archaeologists in Peru suggests exactly that. For most of the time since antiquity, the humble popcorn did not cause any ruckus. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast Until last week, that is, when it caused significant online chatter, after the Indian gover nment decided to increase the goods and services tax (GST) on caramel popcorn from 5% to 18%. Nowhere was this conversation louder than among movie-goers. There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who watch movies in silence, and those who need the crunch of a fistful of popcorn to engage their taste buds as they stare at the silver screen. Large multiplex chains have since clarified that the change in tax structure is applicable only to packaged popcorn and that it will be business as usual for those freshly popped tubs. 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Why exactly is movie food such an expensive experience? And are alternatives popping up? POPPING MONEY Both multiplexes and audiences have valid arguments on the pricing of items that are available for a fraction of the money outside the cinemas. Though single-screen theatres attempted to make money from almost every inch of space, audiences never felt they got a raw deal, as they do in multiplexes now. With good reason, too. Navendra Singh, AGM at a leading real estate firm, says, “Today, I am paying more than two times the money I incur on ticket prices, on food and beverages. I have to plan my theatre outing carefully. It is no longer a weekend ritual.” According to various estimates, movie ticket prices in multiplexes could be in the range of Rs 260-350, depending on a film’s budget, star cast and the response the film’s trailer has received. A medium-size tub of popcorn could cost anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 500, higher than the average ticket price in multiplexes, which in the case of PVR Inox , the segment leader among multiplexes, was Rs 257 last quarter. Soft drinks may be charged in the range of Rs 200-300, with combopacks starting at Rs 600. This means, for a middle-class family of four, the entire movie-hall experience can be prohibitively expensive. The result? Along with the increasing supply of mediocre and unentertaining films and the proliferation of streaming platforms, audiences have got one more reason to reduce the frequency of going to the movies. This is reflected in a fall in footfalls. According to mall developers, multiplexes used to generate 10% of footfalls in malls. This has fallen to 6-7% in recent years. The total admissions (footfalls) in PVR Inox properties fell to 38.8 million in the September 2024 quarter, from 48.4 million in the same period in 2023. Yogesh Parker, a banking professional with a leading money transfer platform, says, “Today’s audience weighs an outing in multiplexes in terms of a trade-off.” The trade-off he is referring to is whether the cost of an outing in a multiplex can be used to offset the subscription amount of streaming platforms, since most films are available on streaming platforms within two months of theatre release. EXHIBITION EQUATION There are close to 8,500 screens in India. Of these, less than 6,500 are operational after the pandemic. There are 3,500 multiplex screens and the remaining are single screens. PVR Inox, which has 1,747 screens, has recorded a higher growth in revenues from F&B than from the sale of tickets in the past four years; the former has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% to Rs 1,958 crore in FY24. In the same period, revenues from the sale of movie tickets grew at a CAGR of 13.6% to Rs 3,279 crore. This has resulted in the share of F&B in total revenues for PVR Inox increasing to 31.5% in FY24 from 27.8% in FY20. While the share of movie ticket revenues has grown in the same period—from 50.1% to 52.8%—F&B has been outpacing it. That, along with the higher margins from F&B, goes a long way in explaining why multiplexes price it high. Producer and film business expert Girish Johar says, “Operating profit margins in the food & beverage segment are much higher.” Estimates suggest F&B in a cinema costs more than three times outside it. F& B is a stable source of revenue for multiplexes. Girish Wankhede, a movie trade analyst, says, “Exhibitors share revenues from the sale of movie tickets with distributors. Also, they must pay taxes on the sale of tickets. But food and beverage revenues go entirely to the multiplex.” Multiplexes cite the high costs of operations (real estate, staff salaries and various overheads) as a reason for high F&B prices. Rahul Dhyani, founder of Connplex Cinemas, a miniplex (75- seat theatre) chain, says, “Today, a family spends more on dinner at a restaurant than in a multiplex. So, we don’t think F&B costs are very high.” CHANGE IS IN THE AIR But not all multiplexes are sticking to the script. Some are trying to disrupt the established pricing regime in a bid to trigger demand, especially at a time when most Hindi films are failing. Recently, multiplex chain Mukta A2 Cinemas capped its F&B prices at Rs 99. Ask Satwik Lele, COO, Mukta A2 Cinemas why they shifted their strategy and he says, “Our strategy of capping F&B prices under Rs 99 has effectively increased three times our items per head (IPH).” Essentially, Mukta is trying to play the volume game. But can focusing on volume rather than value be a sound strategy? An analyst, who did not wish to be named, says, “Even if a multiplex caps its F&B cost at Rs 99, it will make an operating profit margin in the range of 50-75% from the food and beverages segment.” Multiplexes must now choose between value strategy—high ticket prices and F&B rates but low footfalls—and volume strategy— affordable ticket and F&B prices but high footfalls. Ameya Naik, founder of Fantasy Films, an event management company, is in the latter camp, arguing that more people coming into the movies is the need of the hour. He says there is a large audience seeking affordable movie-going experience. “The audiences who prefer premium services in multiplexes are irregular and smaller in number as they are clear about what they want to watch in theatres,” he says. This strategy can have a broader impact. If F&B costs are relatively affordable, even an average film may do reasonably good business at the box office. So which way will your neighbourhood multiplex swing? Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )MUAN COUNTY, South Korea >> The deadliest air accident ever in South Korea killed 179 people on Sunday, when an airliner belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew on board, was trying to land shortly after 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) at the airport in the south of the country, South Korea’s transport ministry said. Two crew members survived and were being treated for injuries. The deadliest air accident on South Korean soil was also the worst involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades, the transport ministry said. The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 was seen in local media video skidding down the runway with no visible landing gear before crashing into navigation equipment and a wall in an explosion of flames and debris. “Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognize,” Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told a press briefing. The two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane, Lee said. They were being treated at hospitals with medium to severe injuries, said the head of the local public health center. Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors, Lee said. Yonhap news agency cited airport authorities as saying such a strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction. The crash was the worst for any South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that killed more than 200 people, transportation ministry data showed. The previous worst on South Korean soil was an Air China crash that killed 129 in 2002. Experts said the bird strike report and the way the aircraft attempted to land raised more questions than answers. “At this point there are a lot more questions than we have answers. Why was the plane going so fast? Why were the flaps not open? Why was the landing gear not down?,” said Gregory Alegi, an aviation expert and former teacher at Italy’s air force academy. Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and automatically involve the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States where the plane was designed and built. The NTSB said later it was leading a team of U.S. investigators to help South Korea’s aviation authority. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration were also taking part. ‘MY LAST WORDS’ Hours after the crash, family members gathered in the airport’s arrival area, some crying and hugging as Red Cross volunteers handed out blankets. Many victims appeared to be residents of nearby areas returning from vacation, officials said. Family members screamed and wept as a medic announced the names of victims identified by their fingerprints. One relative stood at a microphone to ask for more information from authorities. “My older brother died and I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. Mortuary vehicles lined up outside to take bodies away, and authorities said a temporary morgue had been established. A transport ministry official said the control tower had issued a bird strike warning and shortly after the pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land from the opposite direction the plane had come in. A passenger texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing, the News1 agency reported. The person’s final message was, “Should I say my last words?” Jeon Je-young, the 71-year-old father of one woman on board, played and replayed a video of the crash. “When I saw the accident video, the plane seemed out of control,” said Jeon . “The pilots probably had no choice but to do it. My daughter, who is only in her mid-40s, ended up like this. This is unbelievable,” he said. “She was almost home.” The Boeing model involved in the crash, a 737-800, is one of the world’s most flown airliners with a generally strong safety record. It was developed well before the MAX variant involved in a recent Boeing safety crisis. The aircraft was manufactured in 2009, the transport ministry said. Boeing said in a emailed statement, “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.” The two CFM56-7B26 engines were manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, the transport ministry said. A CFM spokesperson said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jeju Air flight 2216. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those on board.” CHALLENGE TO COUNTRY’S NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologized for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. He said the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction. The airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority, Kim said. No abnormal conditions were reported when the aircraft left Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, said Kerati Kijmanawat, president of Airports of Thailand. The passengers included two Thai nationals and the rest are believed to be South Koreans, according to the transportation ministry. It was the first fatal flight for Jeju Air, a low-cost airline founded in 2005 that ranks behind Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines as the country’s third-largest carrier by passenger numbers. The accident happened only three weeks after Jeju Air started regular flights from Muan to Bangkok and other Asian cities on Dec. 8. Muan International is one of South Korea’s smallest airports but it has become much busier in recent years. All domestic and international flights at the airport were canceled after the accident, Yonhap reported. South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok, named interim leader of the country on Friday in an ongoing political crisis, arrived at the scene of the accident and said the government was putting all its resources into dealing with the crash. Two Thai women were on the plane, aged 22 and 45, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said. The Thai foreign ministry later confirmed both were among those killed. The embassy in Seoul was coordinating with the South Koreans and arranging for family members to travel from Thailand, the ministry said in a statement. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sent condolences to the families of the dead and injured in a post on X, saying she had instructed the foreign ministry to provide assistance.
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EDMONTON — The latest checkup on famed Edmonton elephant Lucy finds her in good shape ahead of her 50th birthday -- but not healthy enough to be relocated to join a herd. Gary Dewar, the director of Edmonton Valley Zoo, says experts have determined the 49-year-old elephant's respiratory issues won't allow her to travel short or long distances. He says the gentle giant's overall health is good considering her age and says she continues to enjoy her retirement. The Asian elephant arrived at the zoo when she was two years old. In recent years, Lucy has made international headlines as protesters have been calling for her to be moved so she could spend the final years of her life with other elephants. Among the advocates for Lucy's freedom was famous U.S. television game show host Bob Barker, who said before his death in 2023 that elephants were not meant to brave Canada's harsh winter climate. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Fakiha Baig, The Canadian PressDonald Trump, T20 World Cup, Monkeypox: Top 10 Most Searched Topics On Google In 2024Kuwait to open support offices for students abroad
PRESBYTERIAN 67, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 42