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Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has initiated a partnership with the Ministry of Education to revolutionise Nigeria’s educational system. This is part of its mandate to foster digital literacy, cultivate talents and empower Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed. This effort to integrate digital literacy comprehensively into Nigeria’s educational framework came to light during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, by DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa and his management team recently. This initiative seeks to embed digital literacy across all levels of education in Nigeria, starting from the foundational stages in kindergarten through to secondary schools and tertiary institutions, in order to achieve short-term target of 70 per cent and long-term target of 95 per cent digital literacy by the year 2030. During the meeting, Inuwa highlighted the urgency of fostering a digitally literate population, highlighting the potential of digital skills to transform lives and economies. “The future is digital, and the world is evolving faster than ever. If we are to prepare our youth for tomorrow’s challenges, we must begin with today’s education. This collaboration with the Ministry of Education is a bold step toward ensuring that no Nigerian child is left behind in this journey toward global competitiveness and innovation,” he said. According to the NITDA boss, the initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that every child in Nigeria is adequately prepared to participate in a global economy increasingly defined by digital transformation. In his response, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa praised NITDA’s forward-thinking approach and affirmed the Ministry’s unwavering support for the initiative. “Education remains the foundation upon which national development is built. We are ready partner with relevant stakeholders to embed digital literacy into our educational framework, empower our children with the tools and skills they need to not only adapt to change but to drive it,” he said. With CISCO, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), and other stakeholders involved, there is already shared commitment to creating an inclusive and technology-driven educational ecosystem. This ecosystem will empower young Nigerians to not only consume technology but to innovate, lead, and compete on the global stage as the nation progresses into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The collaborative effort is set to tackle various dimensions of digital literacy, ranging from curriculum development to teacher training and capacity building. It will also involve the deployment of state-of-the-art digital tools and infrastructure across educational institutions. This holistic approach is designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to technology, encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills from an early age. Furthermore, the partnership aims to create a ripple effect that goes beyond the classroom, it sets to empower educators with the requisite skills to teach digital literacy effectively, and transform the entire teaching and learning process in Nigeria. It will also focus on addressing regional disparities by ensuring equal access to digital resources in underserved and rural communities, leaving no child or teacher behind. The involvement of key stakeholders like CISCO, NBTE, NUC, NTI, NMC, and UBEC further strengthens the initiative. Their combined expertise and resources will provide a robust framework for implementing the partnership’s goals. From introducing cutting-edge technology in schools to fostering a culture of innovation, the collaboration is poised to redefine what education means in Nigeria. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (ICYMI) 2024: Google, Meta, X, others paid N2.55trn taxes to FG in six months — NITDA Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowPresidents Biden, Trump, and Clinton laud the legacy of former President Jimmy CarterCebu biology students learn to create popularized science content
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Israeli drone strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital on Tuesday, wounding three medical staff at one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza , the facility’s director said. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said the drones were dropping bombs, spraying shrapnel at the hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In Lebanon, a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has held despite Israeli forces carrying out several new drone and artillery strikes on Tuesday, killing a shepherd in the country's south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed keep striking “with an iron fist” against perceived Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire. Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into Israel last year in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,500 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . Here's the Latest: WASHINGTON — U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike Tuesday in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Euphrates, a U.S. base in eastern Syria, against three truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers, a T-64 tank and mortars that Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said presented “a clear and imminent threat” to U.S. troops. The self-defense strike occurred after rockets and mortars were fired that landed in the vicinity of the base, Ryder said. The Pentagon is still assessing who was responsible for the attacks — that there are both Iranian-backed militias and Syrian military forces that operate in the area. Ryder said the attack was not connected to the offensive that is ongoing in Aleppo, where Syrian jihadi-led rebels taken over the country’s largest city. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. CAIRO — Israeli drone strikes hit the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday, wounding three medical personnel, the facility’s director said. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said the drones were dropping bombs, spraying shrapnel at the hospital, located in the town of Beit Lahiya. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In comments released by Gaza’s Health Ministry, Abu Safiya said one of the injured was in critical condition and was undergoing a complex surgery. “The situation has become extremely dangerous,” he said. “We are exhausted by the ongoing violence and atrocities.” Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months as Israeli forces have waged a fierce offensive in the area, saying they are rooting out Hamas militants who regrouped there. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. Abu Safiya was wounded in his thigh and back by an Israeli drone strike on the hospital last month. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli court has ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the stand next week in his long-running corruption trial, ending a long series of delays. Netanyahu’s lawyers had filed multiple requests to put off the testimony, arguing first that the war in Gaza prevented him from properly preparing for his testimony, and later that his security could not be guaranteed in the court chamber. In Tuesday’s decision, judges in the Jerusalem district court said that following a security assessment, his testimony will be moved to the Tel Aviv district court. Israeli media said the session would take place in an underground chamber. His testimony in the trial, which began in 2020, is expected to begin on Dec. 10 and to last at least several weeks. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. NABATIYEH, Lebanon — In destroyed areas of southern Lebanon, residents clearing away rubble on Tuesday said they didn’t trust Israel to abide by the week-old ceasefire with Hezbollah. “The Israelis are breaching the ceasefire whenever they can because they are not committed,” said Hussein Badreddin, a vegetable seller in the southern city of Nabatiyeh, which was pummeled by Israeli airstrikes over several weeks. “This means that they (can) breach any resolution at any time.” Since it began last Wednesday, the U.S.- and French-brokered 60-day ceasefire has been rattled by near daily Israeli strikes, although Israel has been vague about the purported Hezbollah violations that prompted them. Imad Yassin, a trader who owns a clothing shop in Nabatiyeh, said Israel was constantly breaching the ceasefire because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the displacement of residents of southern Lebanon. “The Israeli enemy was defeated and the truth is that he is trying to get revenge. Netanyahu is trying to displace us as citizens of southern Lebanon,” Yassin said. They spoke as bulldozers cleared streets strewn with rubble and debris from destroyed buildings. Electricians worked to fix power lines in an effort to restore electricity to the city. Both men were displaced by the war and returned to Nabatiyeh on Wednesday, the day the ceasefire went into effect. Yassin found his clothing shop had been destroyed. He said he would wait to see if the state will dispense compensation funds so that he can repair and reopen his business. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two separate Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in Gaza City on Tuesday, Palestinian medical authorities said. Six people, including two children, who were killed when an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people Tuesday afternoon in the Zaytoun neighborhood, according to the Health Ministry’s emergency services. A second strike hit a residential building in the Sabra neighborhood, killing at least three people, the services said. Israeli forces have almost completely isolated northernmost Gaza since early October, saying they’re fighting regrouped Hamas militants there. That has pushed some families south to Gaza City, while hundreds of thousands more live in the territory's center and south in squalid tent camps, where they rely on international aid. JERUSALEM — Israel's military confirmed it killed a senior member of Hezbollah responsible for coordinating with Syria's army on rearming and resupplying the Lebanese militant group. Syrian state media said a drone strike on Tuesday hit a car in a suburb of the capital Damascus, killing one person, without saying who was killed. Israel's military said he was Salman Nemer Jomaa, describing him as “Hezbollah’s representative to the Syrian military,” and that killing him “degrades both Hezbollah’s presence in Syria and Hezbollah’s ongoing force-building efforts.” Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years. Israel rarely acknowledges its actions in Syria, but it has said that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups. Iran supports both Hezbollah and the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad, which is currently fighting to push back jihadi-led insurgents who seized the country’s largest city of Aleppo . TUBAS, West Bank — Israeli soldiers opened fire inside a hospital in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during a raid to seize the bodies of alleged militants targeted in earlier airstrikes, a Palestinian doctor working at the hospital told The Associated Press. Soldiers entered the Turkish Hospital complex in Tubas after the bodies of two Palestinians killed and one wounded in airstrikes in the northern West Bank on Tuesday were brought there, said Dr. Mahmoud Ghanam, who works in the hospital’s emergency department. The troops briefly handcuffed and arrested Ghanam and another doctor. “The army entered in a brutal way, and they were shooting inside the emergency department,” said Ghanam. “They handcuffed us and took me and my colleague.” The military confirmed that its troops were operating around the hospital searching for those targeted in the airstrikes, which they said had hit a militant cell near the Palestinian town of Al-Aqaba in the Jordan Valley. It denied that troops had entered the hospital building or fired gunshots inside. The soldiers left after learning that the wounded man had been transferred to another hospital, Ghanam said. The soldiers wanted to take the bodies of the two men killed in the strike, but the hospital’s manager refused to hand over the bodies, Ghanam said. Israeli raids on hospitals in the West Bank are rare but have grown more common since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In Gaza, Israeli troops have systematically besieged, raided and damaged many hospitals. About 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis — attacks which have also been on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three territories for an independent state. CAIRO — Palestinian officials say Fatah and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to appoint a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war . It would effectively end Hamas’ rule and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel. The rival factions have made several failed attempts to reconcile since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007. Israel has meanwhile ruled out any postwar role in Gaza for either Hamas or Fatah, which dominates the Western-backed Palestinian Authority . A Palestinian Authority official on Tuesday confirmed that a preliminary agreement had been reached following weeks of negotiations in Cairo. The official said the committee would have 12-15 members, most of them from Gaza. It would report to the Palestinian Authority, which is headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and work with local and international parties to facilitate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. A Hamas official said that Hamas and Fatah had agreed on the general terms but were still negotiating over some details and the individuals who would serve on the committee. The official said an agreement would be announced after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, without providing a timeline. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media on the talks. There was no immediate comment from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is dismantled and scores of hostages are returned. He says Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza , with civilian affairs administered by local Palestinians unaffiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas. No Palestinians have publicly volunteered for such a role, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with the Israeli military. The United States has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood. The Israeli government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed. NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip — Palestinians lined up for bags of flour distributed by the U.N. in central Gaza on Tuesday morning, some of them for the first time in months amid a drop in food aid entering the territory. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, gave out one 25-kilogram flour bag (55 pounds) to each family of 10 at a warehouse in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as well as further south in the city of Khan Younis. Jalal al-Shaer, among the dozens receiving flour at the Nuseirat warehouse, said the bag would last his family of 12 for only two or three days. “The situation for us is very difficult,” said another man in line, Hammad Moawad. “There is no flour, there is no food, prices are high ... We eat bread crumbs.” He said his family hadn’t received a flour allotment in five or six months. COGAT, the Israeli army body in charge of humanitarian affairs, said it facilitated entry of a shipment of 600 tons of flour on Sunday for the World Food Program. Still, the amount of aid Israel has allowed into Gaza since the beginning of October has been at nearly the lowest levels of the 15-month-old war. UNRWA’s senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge told The Associated Press that the flour bags being distributed Tuesday were not enough. “People are getting one bag of flour between an entire family and there is no certainty when they’ll receive the next food,” she said. Wateridge added that UNRWA has been struggling like other humanitarian agencies to provide much needed supplies across the Gaza Strip. The agency this week announced it was stopping delivering aid entering through the main crossing from Israel, Kerem Shalom, because its convoys were being robbed by gangs. UNRWA has blamed Israel in large part for the spread of lawlessness in Gaza. The International Criminal Court is seeking to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over accusations of using “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel rejects the allegations and says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war isn't over against Hezbollah and vowed to use "an iron fist" against the Lebanese militant group for any perceived violations of a week-old ceasefire. “At the moment we are in a ceasefire, I note — a ceasefire, not the end of the war," Netanyahu said at the start of the government meeting Tuesday. He said the military would retaliate for “any violation — minor or major.” Netanyahu also thanked U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his recent demands for Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. Trump posted on social media Monday that if the hostages are not freed before he takes office in January there would be “HELL TO PAY.” Netanyahu convened Tuesday's meeting in northern Israel, where around 45,000 Israelis had been displaced by the war as of last week, according to the prime minister’s office. Netanyahu said the government was focused on getting them back in their homes and rehabilitating the area. BERLIN — German authorities have arrested a Lebanese man accused of being a member of Hezbollah and working for groups controlled by the militant organization in Germany. Federal prosecutors said the suspect, identified only as Fadel R. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in the Hannover region on Tuesday. The man is suspected of membership in a foreign terrorist organization and is not accused of direct involvement in any violence. Prosecutors said he joined Hezbollah in the summer of 2008 or earlier and took part in leadership training courses in Lebanon. From 2009, he allegedly had leadership duties in two groups controlled by Hezbollah in the Hannover area, organizing appearances by preachers close to the militants. According to prosecutors, he was briefly a correspondent for a Hezbollah media outlet in 2017 and was tasked with coordinating building work at a mosque. Germany is a staunch ally of Israel. It is also home to a Lebanese immigrant community of more than 100,000. BEIRUT — The Lebanese army is looking for more recruits as it beefs up its presence in southern Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Lebanon’s army is a respected national institution that kept to the sidelines during the nearly 14-month conflict. During an initial 60-day truce, thousands of Lebanese troops are supposed to deploy in southern Lebanon, where U.N. peacekeepers also have a presence. Hezbollah militants are to pull back from areas near the border as Israel withdraws its ground forces. The army said those interested in joining up have a one-month period to apply, starting Tuesday. The Lebanese army has about 80,000 troops, with around 5,000 of them deployed in the south. DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria’s state news agency says a drone strike hit a car in a suburb of the capital, Damascus, killing one person. The agency did not give further details or say who was killed. It said the attack occurred Tuesday on the road leading to the Damascus International Airport south of the city. The area is known to be home to members of Iran-backed militant groups. Israel is believed to have carried out a number of strikes in the area in recent months as it has battled Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge such strikes. JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister warned that if the shaky ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses, Israel will widen its strikes and target the Lebanese state itself. He spoke the day after Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes that killed nearly a dozen people. Those strikes came after the Lebanese militant group fired a volley of projectiles as a warning over what it said were previous Israeli violations. Speaking to troops on the northern border Tuesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said any violations of the agreement would be met with “a maximum response and zero tolerance.” He said if the war resumes, Israel will widen its strikes beyond the areas where Hezbollah’s activities are concentrated, and “there will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon.” During the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which came to an end last week with a ceasefire brokered by the United States and France, Israel largely refrained from striking critical infrastructure or the Lebanese armed forces, who kept to the sidelines . When Israeli strikes killed or wounded Lebanese soldiers, the Israeli military said it was accidental . The ceasefire agreement that took effect last week gives 60 days for Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and for Hezbollah militants to relocate north of the Litani River. The buffer zone is to be patrolled by Lebanese armed forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Israel has carried out multiple strikes in recent days in response to what it says are violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days by launching airstrikes, demolishing homes near the border and violating Lebanon’s airspace. Berri, a Hezbollah ally, had helped mediate the ceasefire. JERUSALEM — Palestinian officials say an Israeli airstrike in the northern West Bank has killed two Palestinians. Israel’s military said it struck a militant cell near the town of Al-Aqaba, in the Jordan Valley. It did not immediately give more details. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the two deaths and said a third person was moderately wounded. About 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis, which have also been on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for an independent state. BEIRUT — Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon made his first public appearance in Beirut since he was wounded in an attack involving exploding pagers in mid-September. Mojtaba Amani, who returned to Lebanon over the weekend after undergoing treatment in Iran, visited on Tuesday the scene south of Beirut where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27. Speaking about the airstrike that destroyed six buildings and killed Nasrallah and others, Amani said Israel should get for its act “the highest medal for sabotage, terrorism, blood and killing civilians.” Amani suffered serious injuries in his face and hands when a pager he was holding exploded in mid-September. The device was one of about 3,000 pagers that exploded simultaneously, killing and wounding many Hezbollah members. A day after the pager attack, a similar attack struck walkie-talkies. In total, the explosions killed at least 37 people and wounded more than 3,000, many of them civilians. Last month, a spokesperson for the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pager attack was approved by Netanyahu.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Penn State coach James Franklin has long campaigned for college football to have a commissioner oversee the sport because of NIL and transfer portal issues, among others. Sunday at the Fiesta Bowl’s Media Day, Franklin named who he would like to see fill that role. “I think (former Alabama coach) Nick Saban would be the obvious choice,” he said. “Nick will probably call me tonight and say, ‘Don’t do this.’ “But I think he’s the obvious choice, right? I think there are some other really good candidates out there. But that would be a very, very important step moving forward to come up with some solutions and do what’s best for our sport.” Franklin was responding to a question regarding Miami quarterback Cam Ward not playing the second half of the Hurricanes’ 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Last year, four Penn State players opted out of the Peach Bowl: Olu Fashanu, Chop Robinson, Kalen King and Johnny Dixon. Three others sat out the second half: Theo Johnson, Adisa Isaac and Caedan Wallace. “It’s a challenge that has been a challenge for a number of years,” Franklin said. “It’s obviously become even more challenging with some of the things with the calendar and with the transfer portal, the windows; and then on top of that, NIL. “It’s one of those things that we can’t just keep talking about. We have to come up with some solutions.” Franklin also suggested eliminating conference championship games and teams playing the same amount of conference games. “We should be doing what’s best for college football and the student-athletes,” he said. “Getting rid of the conference championship games would help with that. When you have a (College Football Playoff) committee sitting in a room trying to compare apples to apples, it’s hard to do that when not everybody is playing under the same model. “I also think it’s very, very important that everybody is playing the same number of conference games, whether that’s eight, nine or whatever. Then the committee can compare apples to apples.” Boise State arrived Saturday in Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl wearing T-shirts that said, “Please Count Us Out.” The Broncos (12-1) are 11-point underdogs against Penn State for Tuesday night’s game. “I definitely didn’t plan on it becoming a shirt,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “(But) that’s what I believe in and that’s what Boise State has been built on.” Danielson mentioned the Broncos’ thrilling overtime win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl as why fans across the country have been drawn to the program. “We have been counted out before,” he said. “We have been counted out as a program. We have been counted out in games this year, and you thrive in that.” Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was asked if anyone on the Penn State defense other than All-American end Abdul Carter jumped out to him. “I know the interior guys kind of get overlooked,” said Jeanty, the nation’s top rusher. “To me, (tackle) Zane Durant is a baller. We’ve been talking about him since we’ve been game-planning. He’s a great player. He’s going to give us a run for our money.”Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as January 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. The department has taken such action in the past. But once those measures run out the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, has died. He was 76. Parsons died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Financial services company Lazard confirmed his death. Parsons was a longtime member of the company's board. His friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years.
« PreviousThe Indian stock market has recently demonstrated remarkable resilience, exhibiting a bounce back from periods of consolidation led by uncertainty by economic slowdown and premium valuations. This recovery is a testament to the market's inherent strength. One of the catalysts for the recent market relief has been the easing of geopolitical tensions. The reduction in conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, has led to a significant decline in Brent crude prices to the year’s threshold level of $70. This decrease in oil prices is a boon for Indian fiscal and companies, as it helps improve their operating metrics by reducing input costs. Tactically, a small recovery in the trend of FII net inflow from heavy sellers in the months of October & November to a small buyer in December has become a blessing for the domestic market . The MSCI rebalancing has played a pivotal role in attracting foreign investments, providing a much-needed boost to the domestic market. Expectations of stable government spending in the second half of FY25 and stronger central govt have further bolstered market confidence. Investors are optimistic that continued government expenditure will support economic growth and infrastructure development. Henceforth, earnings are expected to foresee a QoQ growth compared to the fall in Q1 & Q2, FY25. With optimism the Investors are closely monitoring US inflation indicators, which will influence central bank’s policy rates in December. Global economic trends and policy decisions will continue to influence the Indian market. FED Chair speech and recent minutes, which show confidence in the easing of inflation, could sway market sentiments positively. Although the effects of US policies under the new administration remain uncertain, the minutes suggest a probable continuation of the rate easing cycle. The stability of the market will largely depend on the steadiness of incoming economic data, which expect a cut in December this month followed by 100 to 150 bps cut in 2025. The domestic rally has been broad-based, but growth and capex-linked sectors such as reality, consumer durables, metals, infrastructure, capital goods, and manufacturing are outperforming. These sectors have benefited from the anticipation of a surge in new order inflows, driven by increased GoI spending and private sector investments. The positive performance of these sectors underscores the market's confidence in the long-term growth prospects of the Indian economy. In India, the Monetary Policy Committee ( MPC ) has maintained its current stance and revised the GDP growth forecast downward, as expected acknowledging the recent slowdown. The market well accepted the cut which was not below the 6.5%. Inflation is expected to persist in Q3FY25 but should ease in Q4FY25 due to seasonal corrections and agricultural outputs. Despite these challenges, the Indian economy remains strong, capable of achieving sustainable growth and stable inflation in the medium term. The RBI has committed to policy support if the slowdown continues and has reduced the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 50bps to 4%, injecting ₹ 1.16 lakh cr into the banking system to enhance liquidity and support credit growth, which is positive for banks and rate sensitives like reality & durables. To sum up, the Indian market's recent performance highlights its resilience and potential for growth. The easing of geopolitical tensions, positive earnings prospects, and supportive policy expectations have collectively bolstered investor confidence. As the market navigates through economic challenges and anticipates key domestic and global policy decisions, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic. Investors are advised to stay informed and adopt a diversified approach to capitalize on the evolving market dynamics with a multi cap approach and sectors like IT, Pharma, Textiles, renewables, FMCG and manufacturing.
Baby Alexis is finally an Australian citizen - but still not quite homeCEZ, a. s. (OTCMKTS:CEZYY) Stock Price Down 0.3% – What’s Next?
Donald Trump has nearly finalized his picks for his next Cabinet, following a flurry of nominations over the weekend. There have been more than 40 picks revealed in the 17 days since his first nomination, his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as chief of staff. Wiles' role is among those that do not require Senate confirmation, but many others now await approval. It is very rare for a president or president-elect's nominee to lead an executive department to be rejected. The last time that happened was 1989, when George H.W. Bush 's pick for Defense Secretary, John G. Tower, lost a vote 47-53. Trump had also nominated former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general; however, under a congressional misconduct investigation, Gaetz withdrew his nomination, saying he feared he was "unfairly becoming a distraction" to the Trump-JD Vance transition team. Below is the full list of Trump's Cabinet picks which need Senate confirmation. Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team for comment via email. Secretary of State: Marco Rubio Rubio, a Florida senator, was once highly critical of Trump, and ran against him in the 2016 GOP presidential primary. In a statement, Trump described Rubio as a "fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries." Attorney General: Pam Bondi Bondi was named by Trump as his pick for attorney general hours after Gaetz withdrew his nomination for the role. Bondi spent almost 20 years working as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, Florida, before becoming the first ever attorney general of Florida in 2011. She later worked on Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial. Defense Secretary: Pete Hegseth The author and former Fox News host and military veteran was another surprise pick for Trump in a key Cabinet role due to his relative lack of experience. Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as at Guantánamo Bay. He has two Bronze Stars. His nomination has also been dogged by a 2017 sexual assault allegation , which Hegseth denied and which he was never charged over. Treasure Secretary: Scott Bessent Bessent, the billionaire hedge-fund manager founder and CEO of Key Square Group, has been tapped to lead the Treasury and oversee the world's largest economy. He has previously defended Trump's import tariffs campaign promise. "Scott is widely respected as one of the world's foremost International Investors and geopolitical and economic strategists. Scott's story is that of the American dream," Trump said in a statement. Homeland Security: Kristi Noem Trump said the South Dakota governor will work closely with his "Border Czar" Tom Homan to secure the border and "guarantee that our American homeland is secure from our adversaries." Noem, a staunch Trump ally, was on the shortlist for Trump's 2024 running mate. Interior Secretary: Doug Burgum Trump has chosen the governor of North Dakota to join his next administration as secretary of the interior and chairman of the newly formed National Energy Council. "Doug Burgum will protect our nation's natural resources, restore our fabulous oil and gas advantage, and make America, and its energy, dominant and great again," Trump said. Burgum was another name bookmakers linked to Trump's 2024 ticket before Vance got the nod. Secretary of Agriculture: Brooke Rollins Rollins' nomination was announced by Trump on Saturday. She is president and founder of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former staffers from Trump's first presidency. Rollins had several roles in Trump's first administration, including director of the Domestic Policy Council. In a post on X, formerly Twitter , after she was nominated to be the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rollins said, "It will be the honor of my life to fight for America's farmers and our Nation's agricultural communities." Secretary of Commerce: Howard Lutnick Trump said the billionaire GOP donor would lead the administration's "tariff and trade agenda" after nominating him for the role of commerce secretary. Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, was believed to be in the running for treasury secretary in Trump's next administration. Secretary of Labor: Lori Chavez-DeRemer The Oregon congresswoman was named as Trump's pick for the next secretary of labor after she lost her House seat in the November 5 election to Democratic State Representative Janelle Bynum. "Lori has worked tirelessly with both business and labor to build America's workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America," Trump said in a statement. Health and Human Services Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Another contentious pick from Trump is the vaccine skeptic to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The president-elect wrote in a Truth Social post that Kennedy will restore the HHS to the "traditions of gold standard scientific research, and beacons of transparency, to end the chronic disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!" Kenned ran for president as an independent, but dropped out of the race in August and later endorsed Trump. Housing and Urban Development Secretary: Scott Turner Turner is a former Texas state representative who also spent nine seasons in the NFL . He previously served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration. Turner was also the first Black person selected to be a member of Trump's Cabinet. Secretary of Transportation: Sean Duffy Duffy is a former Wisconsin congressman and host of Fox Business' The Bottom Line. He left his role at the news network after he was tapped by Trump to lead the Department of Transportation, reported CNN . Trump said Duffy will "prioritize excellence, competence, competitiveness and beauty when rebuilding America's highways, tunnels, bridges and airports" in his Cabinet role. Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon McMahon is a former CEO of the World Wrestling Entertainment who co-chairs Trump's transition team. Her pick to lead the Department of Education has also been scrutinized because of her perceived lack of necessary experience. McMahon was named in a lawsuit alleging she and her husband, Vince McMahon, allowed boys to be sexually abused by a WWE ringside announcer who died in 2012. The McMahons deny all wrongdoing. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump's first presidency. Secretary of Energy: Chris Wright Trump nominated Wright to join his administration as both United States secretary of energy, and member of the newly formed Council of National Energy. Wright is the founder, CEO and chairman of Board of Liberty Energy and has worked in the nuclear, solar, geothermal, oil and gas industries. Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Doug Collins Collins is a former Georgia congressman and military veteran who served in Iraq. He currently serves as a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "Doug will be a great advocate for our active duty service members, veterans, and military families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said. Director of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard is a former Democrat who ran for president in 2020. The four-term Hawaii congresswoman is a veteran with three deployments to war zones in the Middle East and Africa. Her nomination to serve as director of national intelligence has been criticized over allegations she has helped spread Russian propaganda. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Lee Zeldin Zeldin is a former New York congressman who lost the 2022 governor's race to Kathy Hochul. In a statement, Zeldin said it will be an "honor" to join Trump's Cabinet as EPA administrator. "We will restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the U.S. the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water," Zeldin said. U.N. Ambassador: Elise Stefanik The New York congresswoman served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is a staunch defender of Trump, and was said to be among the shortlist for his vice presidential picks. Stefanik previously served as White House domestic policy adviser under President George W. Bush . Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought Vought, who previously served in Trump's Cabinet as director of the Office of Management and Budget, is in line for the same role again in 2025. Vought was heavily involved in crafting Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation 's 922-page document outlining how a potential Republican administration could overhaul the federal government. CIA Director: John Ratcliffe Trump choosing John Ratcliffe to serve as CIA director in his new administration was seen as one of the more straightforward nominations. Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence for the final months of Trump's first term in office. The former Texas congressman was also heavily critical of the investigations into alleged Russian interference on behalf of Trump's 2016 election campaign. U.S. Ambassador to NATO: Matthew Whitaker Whitaker served as acting attorney general during Trump's first term, as well as an attorney in Iowa. He took the role of acting attorney general after Trump fired Jeff Sessions in 2018. He was eventually replaced by William Barr in February 2019. "Matt is a strong warrior and loyal patriot, who will ensure the United States' interests are advanced and defended," Trump said. "Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to peace and stability—he will put AMERICA FIRST." Surgeon general: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat Nesheiwat is a family medicine doctor and former Fox News contributor who has now been tapped to be the next surgeon general. "Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health," Trump said in a statement. "She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives." Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Dave Weldon Weldon is a medical doctor and former Florida congressman. He has previously been a critic of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), including its vaccine program. Trump said in a statement that Weldon would "restore the CDC to its true purpose" as director. FDA Commissioner: Marty Makary Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon who will work under nominated Health Secretary Kennedy in his role leading the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) next year. In 2021, Makary wrote an opinion piece for The Hill attacking the FDA for pausing the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine amid concerns over rare cases of blood clots. "From the start of the COVID pandemic, the FDA has had missteps," he wrote. "We need better medical leadership." Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz Mehmet Oz is another television personality that Trump has picked for a role in his next Cabinet. Oz is best known for The Dr. Oz Show , which ran from 2009 to 2022. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Pennsylvania Senate seat against John Fetterman in 2022. Trump is still to nominate his picks for trade representative chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, administrator of Small Business Administration, and director of the Office of Science and Technology. Other Trump White House rolesPanama Is Growing: Unemployment In The Country