Social media is expected to further influence customer service and retail spaces during 2025. New survey insights (2,000 U.S. and U.K. consumers) reveal how users expect to engage with social media in 2025 . Across all users, approximately even amounts (29-34 percent) plan to use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok more in 2025, while 24 percent of respondents do not plan to use any social networks more in 2025. When it comes to trust in social media, 63 percent of users somewhat trust social media networks to protect their personal data. Only 22 percent completely trust social media networks, and 16 percent do not trust them at all. Complete trust is higher among Gen Z and Millennials (28 percent and 29 percent) than among Gen X and Baby Boomers (19 percent and 10 percent). Specific to what brands should prioritize on social media in 2025, most respondents say personalized customer service (40 percent) or selling products directly through social platforms (29 percent) are important to them. Sprout Social’s CMO, Scott Morris has shared insights with Digital Journal what to expect and how marketing leaders can stay ahead. Prediction #1: Dominance In 2025, social media will dominate the customer service game. Everyone, especially younger generations, is turning to platforms like Facebook and Instagram first to get their customer service questions answered quickly. And the expectation for speed and personalization has never been higher. In fact, Sprout Social’s most recent Index report shows that 69 percent of people expect a response within 24 hours of reaching out on social media, and 70 percent expect those responses to be personalized. To meet these rising expectations, brands will have to learn to strike a balance between automation and human touch, dispersing AI to handle routine inquiries while leaving customer care teams to focus on complex issues. Prediction #2: Platforms remaining on top Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will be the top shopping destinations for consumers in 2025. People’s plans for the holiday shopping season are evidence of that. Sprout Social’s Q4 2024 Pulse Survey found that 42 percent of shoppers plan to use social media more to find gifts, with social influencer recommendations being the #1 source of gift inspiration across all respondents, up from the fifth source one year ago. That same survey found that 32 percent of consumers plan to make more purchases directly through social channels in 2025, giving brands the opportunity to use social media to facilitate a complete customer journey, from discovery to post-purchase. With this influx of buyers, AI-driven customer care will play a critical role, offering real-time responses and tailored product recommendations to enhance customer experience. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.As Zhang Zuo stepped through the door, all eyes turned towards him. The buzz of the hair clippers and the sound of running water seemed to fade into the background, overshadowed by the presence of the famous actor. With his trademark charisma and easy smile, Zhang Zuo greeted everyone in the shop warmly, his eyes sparkling with genuine interest.
Farmers say they're worried about U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all products entering the country from Canada. Saskatchewan exports more than six billion dollars worth of agri-food products to the United States per year.Britt Baker says she’s done being polite. In a new interview with US Magazine , the former AEW Women’s World Champion spoke about her up-and-down year in 2024, which saw her deal with injuries and issues in her personal life but also land a role on Netflix’s Cobra Kai series. “I’m exhausted. I’m not going to be polite anymore. Leave me alone. Politeness is 2024. Everyone needs to be real and authentic, and the world will be a better place,” Baker said during the interview. When asked about her “roller coaster” of 2024, Baker responded: “Roller coaster is a good word but I also don’t think it’s appropriate, because with a roller coaster there’s a start and an end point. I can’t really say where the roller coaster started, and I definitely don’t know where it’s going to end.” Baker says she’s had to “mentally dig deep” this year not to be affected by her online critics. “You can’t ever believe what you read about yourself, whether it’s really good or really bad, or you’re going to end up medicated and sedated potentially,” Baker continued. “It’s tough because we live in a world where social media is so prominent. Social media fuels what we do, essentially.” “We rely on it. But man, is it toxic. It’s brutal. There’s a whole population of people on social media who just want to make you feel bad about yourself. It’s crazy we live in a world where that’s their mission. ‘I’m going to wake up today, tweet 10 mean tweets to Britt. I’m gonna take a lunch break. And then maybe I’ll do 10 more.’ It’s bizarre.” Baker, a longtime fan of Cobra Kai, the Netflix series spawned by The Karate Kid film franchise, plays a sensei in season six of the show. She says she landed the role after meeting one of the show’s writers and continuing to bug him about it. “I met one of the writers, Hayden (Schlossberg), and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m Britt,'” she recalled. “He recognized me from social media. I kind of joked, but not joking, ‘If you ever need anything, I’m a huge fan and would love to be involved.'” “Eventually, he called me and said, ‘You really have the Cobra Kai never say die attitude. If you’re interested, we have a role for you in mind and this is what it is,'” Baker continued. The show’s sixth season has been split into three parts. The final part of season six airs in February. While Baker appears in part two of season six, which is already on the streaming service, she says she’s waiting until the whole season is released before watching it. “I have to be honest, I haven’t even watched it yet,” she admitted. “I want to wait for all of it to come out so I can watch it all!”
New Hampshire’s Fish and Game department is updating plans to conserve wildlife, and they want your help. State officials are asking for people to respond to a survey about their priorities for wildlife conservation by Nov. 30. Those responses will be used to inform a new state wildlife action plan. The plan, which was last updated in 2015, takes stock of New Hampshire’s animals and habitats and sets out a framework for protecting them. State officials are also working on an update to a separate plan that focuses on protecting big game animals. The Fish and Game department is planning to hold public hearings over the winter to gather input. The wildlife action plan is tied to federal grant funding for wildlife conservation projects. But it also paints a picture of local reptiles, birds, mammals, insects, amphibians and other wildlife that need protection. The 2015 plan identified 169 “species of greatest conservation need,” including species that are threatened or endangered: the Eastern hog-nosed snake, rusty-patched bumble bee, piping plover, shortnose sturgeon, and New England cottontail, to name a few. For Mike Marchand, the supervisor of the nongame and endangered wildlife division at N.H. Fish and Game, Blanding’s turtle is a standout. “It’s just a really charismatic looking turtle, with a bright yellow chin, and kind of stares at you with big eyes,” he said. “I wouldn’t call it a completed success story because there’s still a lot of needs with the species, but we’ve had a lot of success, and success is underway.” The Blanding’s turtle travels long distances (for a turtle) and relies on diverse habitats, so conserving them also involves conserving habitats important for lots of other species, too, Marchand said. In the 2015 plan, officials outlined 27 habitats the state’s priority species rely on for support, like lowland spruce-fir forests, salt marshes, grasslands, and caves and mines. Threats to species, like commercial development and climate change, are also included. Back then, the department also identified a number of conservation actions to address at-risk wildlife populations, including monitoring the populations of threatened species, expanding a network of monitoring plots to observe climate change, preventing and controlling wildlife diseases, and restoring rare habitats. Moose, black bear, white-tailed deer and turkey are covered by the state’s big game plan, which is also getting an update this year. That plan is the framework for how many hunting permits go out each season. Henry Jones, moose project leader for Fish and Game, said the latest plan laid out a conservative strategy for moose hunting — basically, reducing the number of moose hunting permits given out. That was in part so the state could study the challenges the state’s moose population is facing: winter ticks, human development, and potentially brainworm. In the past 10 years, state officials gathered more information, Jones said. That could help inform different hunting permit availability in the coming years. “We understand what is causing moose to die in the core of our population in northern New Hampshire,” he said. “And we’re getting a better understanding through the current research about abundance levels throughout the state.” Officials are planning to send a survey to about 2,000 Granite Staters to ask about their opinions on moose populations and management, Jones said.Utah Hockey Club walks to arena after bus gets stuck in Toronto traffic
North Ridgeville boys basketball: Rangers keep low profile, have high hopesThe heatwave toasting eastern Australia will peak on Wednesday as temperatures again climb towards 40C in parts of Sydney, keeping energy authorities on edge. By mid-morning, suburbs in Sydney’s south and west were the hottest points in Australia with Penrith exceeding 35C on the way to a forecast top of 39C. The site has now clocked five days in a row above 35C. Sydney’s CBD is also predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology to be the hottest capital for the day, with a top of 34C forecast – or the warmest since the end of February. Regions expecting low to high 30s today also include the Hunter and Illawarra districts to Sydney’s north and south, respectively. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to peak on Wednesday, then ease by the weekend,” the bureau said in a warning alert. “Locations likely to be impacted include Batemans Bay, Camden, Campbelltown, Hornsby, Liverpool, Nowra, Penrith, Parramatta, Richmond and Wollongong.” This article includes content hosted on embed.bsky.app. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue' . In line with recent days, the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) has been issuing alerts calling for more generation from electricity suppliers to ensure power is not interrupted. On Wednesday morning, Aemo said a so-called level 3 lack of reserve condition was possible later in the day as solar output decreased towards sunset. By 4.30pm Aedt, the market is likely to require 84 megawatts of additional supply to avoid interrupted load – or blackouts. LOR3 forecasts have been relatively rare for New South Wales until the past week, when the operator has issued a cluster of them only to cancel as generators responded. About 6 gigawatts of coal-fired power station capacity remains unavailable, including some 3GW that was not previously scheduled. Many of Australia’s coal plants are nearing the end of their design lives, requiring more frequent and more costly repairs to keep operating. Aemo has also issue LOR2 level alerts for NSW for Wednesday afternoon and for periods on Thursday and Friday as the heatwave slowly ebbs. Such alerts are calls for generators to provide extra capacity as a back-up in case committed plants don’t operate as expected and drop off without warning. As of mid-morning, Aemo was looking for about 750-800MW more power to be in reserve for periods stretching from 3pm to 8pm, Aedt. Wholesale power prices may also spike to their ceiling of $17,500/megawatt-hour later on Wednesday, Aemo data indicates. The weather set-up, meanwhile, will favour thunderstorm activity over parts of eastern Australia including the prospect of heavy rainfall as tropical moisture is dragged southwards . Victoria faces high winds, particularly in the state’s northeast , the bureau said. The bureau also noted NSW health advice that severe heatwaves “can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell”. “Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre,” it said, adding residents should draw blinds and curtains and close window early in the day to keep heat out of homes.5. Government Regulations and Policies:
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Emperor Cinemas Introduces New Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos Solutions to Deliver an Enhanced Cinematic ExperienceThe recent events in both South Korea and Syria have sent shockwaves through the United States, leaving the country scrambling to respond. The declaration of martial law in South Korea, commonly referred to as the "state of emergency," and the sudden upheaval in Syria have both caught the U.S. off guard, highlighting the challenges of maintaining stability and influence in key regions.By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. “House of Flame and Shadow,” by Sarah J. Maas Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” “The Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. “War,” by Bob Woodward Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. “Melania,” by Melania Trump Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. “The Eras Tour Book,” by Taylor Swift Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” “From Here to the Great Unknown,” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” by Cher Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” “James,” by Percival Everett A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. “Knife,” by Salman Rushdie Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”
Trump nominates Kash Patel to serve as FBI directorJudge hears closing arguments on whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopoly ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Justice Department and Google have made their closing arguments in a trial alleging Google’s online advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. The arguments in federal court Monday in northern Virginia came as Google already faces a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine. The Justice Department says it will seek the breakup of Google to remedy its search engine monopoly. The case in Virginia focuses not on the search engine but on technology that matches online advertisers to consumers on the internet. A judge is expected to rule by the end of the year. ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel DALLAS (AP) — The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday — most of them by car. Thanksgiving Day falling so late this year has altered traditional travel patterns. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration says it could screen a record number of U.S. air travelers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration says a shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays. Transportation analytics company INRIX says roads could be congested on Monday with both commuters and returning holiday travelers. Macy’s says employee hid up to $154 million in expenses, delaying Q3 earnings Macy’s says it’s delaying the release of its fiscal third-quarter earnings results after it discovered an up to $154 million accounting-related issue. The company did provide some preliminary results for its third quarter, including that net sales fell 2.4% to $4.74 billion. It anticipates reporting its full third-quarter financial results by Dec. 11. Newsom says California could offer electric vehicle rebates if Trump eliminates federal tax credit SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California could offer state tax rebates for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Gov. Gavin Newsom says Monday he'll propose creating a new version of the state’s successful Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 after funding nearly 600,000 new cars and trucks. Officials didn’t say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work. Newsom’s proposal is part of his plan to protect California’s progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. But a budget shortfall could complicate California’s resistance efforts. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Stock market today: Dow hits another record as stocks rise NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% Monday to pull closer to its record set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. They got a boost from easing Treasury yields after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants hedge-fund manager Scott Bessent to be his Treasury Secretary. Smaller companies can feel a big boost from easier borrowing costs, and the Russell 2000 index of small stocks finished just shy of its record. Workers at Charlotte airport, an American Airlines hub, go on strike during Thanksgiving travel week CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — American Airlines says it doesn’t expect significant disruptions to flights this week as a result of a labor strike at its hub in Charlotte, North Carolina. Service workers there walked out Monday during a busy week of Thanksgiving travel to protest what they say are unlivable wages. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services authorized the work stoppage. Union spokesperson Sean Keady says the strike is expected to last 24 hours. The companies contract with American Airlines to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. The companies have acknowledged the seriousness of a strike during the holiday travel season. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Eggs are available -- but pricier -- as the holiday baking season begins Egg prices are on the rise again as a lingering outbreak of bird flu coincides with high demand during the holiday baking season. The average price for a dozen eggs in U.S. cities was $3.37 in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was up 63% from October 2023, when a dozen eggs cost an average of $2.07. Avian influenza is the main culprit. The current bird flu outbreak that began in February 2022 has led to the slaughter of more than 111 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens. But the American Egg Board says egg shortages at grocery stores have been isolated and temporary so far. Detroit's iconic Renaissance Center could see 2 towers razed in $1.6B redevelopment plan DETROIT (AP) — Two towers at Detroit’s iconic Renaissance Center would be razed and the complex converted to a mix of housing and offices under an ambitious $1.6 billion plan announced on Monday. GM will move its headquarters out of the complex next year. The towers are a symbol of Detroit, with aerial views often shown on television sports broadcasts. GM announced that it would join forces with the Bedrock real estate development firm and Wayne County to turn the partially vacant property into a roughly 27-acre entertainment complex across the Detroit River from Windsor, Ontario. Bedrock would invest at least $1 billion, with roughly $250 million more coming from GM and another $250 million in public money, possibly from the state of Michigan.
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first priority at her Tuesday morning press conference was to respond to Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the United States on the first day of his second term as U.S. president. “Before moving on to the issue of health care, I want to share with you, with everyone that’s watching us, a letter that I’m sending today to President-elect Donald Trump,” Sheinbaum said. The president read out her entire letter, which in its penultimate paragraph said that a U.S. tariff on Mexican exports would be met with a Mexican tariff “in response.” ( Click here to read Mexico News Daily’s report on Trump’s latest tariff threat and Sheinbaum’s response.) During her Q&A session with reporters later in her mañanera , Sheinbaum said she believed that Mexico would reach an agreement with the United States to stave off the 25% tariff Trump pledged to impose on Mexican exports to the U.S. After a reporter described Sheinbaum’s plan to impose a retaliatory tariff on U.S. exports to Mexico as “potent,” the president expressed confidence that Mexico and the United States would reach an agreement to avert the 25% duty promised by Trump — as occurred during the first Trump administration . “I have a vision that there will be an agreement with the United States and with President Trump,” she said. “What we want to say in the letter, and what we’re going to demonstrate tomorrow in more detail, is that raising tariffs on Mexico — which would also mean raising tariffs on this side [of the border] — would lead to ... hurting companies that work in Mexico and the United States,” Sheinbaum said. “And there are United States companies that have been in Mexico for decades,” she said. “... What we’re saying today is what is the sense of having tariff upon tariff upon tariff when in the end that will lead us to a loss of competitiveness in North America,” Sheinbaum said. The president also said that the Mexican government would provide “information” to the United States about the “very significant” efforts it has made to stem the flow of both migrants and narcotics across the Mexico-U.S. border. Sheinbaum told reporters that she would also send a letter on Tuesday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said last week that Canada “may have to look at other options” beyond the trilateral USMCA free trade pact because of the “decisions and choices that Mexico has made” with regard to Chinese investment . In her letter to the Canadian leader, the president said she pointed out that Canada imported electric vehicles (EVs) from China worth US $1.6 billion last year. Canada’s outlay on Chinese EVs in 2023 — before the Canadian government imposed a 100% tariff on those vehicles — showed “exponential growth,” Sheinbaum said. “ In the case of Mexico it’s much less,” she said. Referring again to the content of her letter to Trudeau, Sheinbaum said that Chinese investment in Mexico’s auto sector is much lower than United States and Canadian investment in the same sector. Between 2006 and 2024, U.S. and Canadian companies invested more than $33.35 billion in Mexico’s auto sector whereas Chinese investment totaled just $590 million, she said. Sheinbaum asserted that the data on Canada’s importation of Chinese EVs in 2023 and the comparatively low levels of Chinese investment in Mexico’s auto sector is not widely known. She said that “of course” Mexico has a relationship with China, but stressed that it favors trade with countries with which it has a free trade agreement, such as the U.S. and Canada. Sheinbaum said last Friday that her government is aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese goods via an import substitution plan. By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ( [email protected] )Why Are Investors Suddenly So Excited About This Database Giant?
Manchester United is reportedly planning to sell Marcus Rashford at the latest by next summer, with the club willing to entertain offers for the talented forward as early as this winter transfer window. The decision to potentially offload Rashford comes as a surprise to many fans and pundits, given his status as a homegrown talent and longstanding affiliation with the club. FILE – Author Percival Everett attends the 75th National Book Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File) FILE – Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) FILE – Riley Keough, left, and her mother Lisa Marie Presley arrive at the 24th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards on Oct. 16, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) FILE – First lady Melania Trump stands next to the 2020 Official White House Christmas tree as it is presented on the North Portico of the White House, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – This cover image released by FSG shows “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney. (FSG via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Random House shows “From Here to the Great Unknown” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough. (Random House via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Simon & Schuster shows “War” by Bob Woodward. (Simon & Schuster via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Dey Street Books shows “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” releasing on Nov. 19. (Dey Street Books via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Random House shows “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder” by Salman Rushdie. The book, about the attempt on his life that left him blind in his right eye, will be published April 16, 2024. Rushdie’s first book since the 2022 stabbing he thought might end his life is both explicit in the violence Rushdie sustains and heroic in the will to live that Rushdie retains. (Random House via AP, File) FILE – Author Percival Everett attends the 75th National Book Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File) By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. Related Articles Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81 Trivially Speaking: Novel suggestions for Christmas gifts with meaning Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often Gift books for 2024: What to give, and what to receive, for all kinds of readers Our critic’s picks: Best mystery fiction books of 2024 U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”Raashii Khanna Celebrates A Serene Birthday At Kashi Vishwanath Temple: So Grateful
Furthermore, the limited edition nature of the product may act as a double-edged sword for consumers. On one hand, the exclusivity of the co-branded product may drive demand among fans of the show who are eager to own a piece of memorabilia. On the other hand, the limited availability of the product may create a sense of urgency among consumers, leading them to make impulse purchases without fully considering the value proposition of the product.The transportation of national leaders during state visits is a matter of significant importance, reflecting a nation's technological prowess, security measures, and diplomatic stature. While many are familiar with the US President's Air Force One , the aircraft utilized by the People's Republic of China for its head of state during international visits remains less known to Western audiences. This article aims to shed light on the aircraft system employed by China's top leaders during their state visits. The recent South American visit On November 23, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his South American tour, which included attending the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, and the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before returning to Beijing. This journey, spanning approximately 10 days, was undertaken aboard Air China's Boeing 747-8 aircraft, designated with the registration number B-2479. The B-2479 was delivered to Air China on December 29, 2014. According to information from adtb.aero, it underwent VIP configuration modifications in Hamburg, Germany, between May 15 and July 10, 2016. Itinerary of the Chinese President's aircraft (B-2479) during South American visit Date Departure Arrival Duration Nov 13 Beijing, China Gran Canaria 13h 07m Nov 14 Gran Canaria Lima, Peru 9h 34m Nov 17 Lima, Peru Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4h 52m Nov 19 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brasília, Brazil 1h 15m Nov 21 Brasília, Brazil Casablanca, Morocco 7h 40m Nov 22 Casablanca, Morocco Beijing, China 10h 20m More than one Boeing 747 supporting the visit However, the Chinese President's state visits involve more than just one 747. For the recent South American tour, Air China deployed two other 747 aircraft. One of them, also a 747-8, with the registration number B-2482, was designated for the general accompanying personnel. This aircraft is typically used on Air China's regular commercial routes. Its last commercial flight before the South American mission was on October 24th, operating Air China's CA65 route from Kazan to Beijing. From October 24th to November 13th, when the official visit began, this 747-8 remained grounded for 19 days. Unlike the Chinese President's aircraft, B-2479, the B-2482 did not stay overnight during its two stopovers (outbound at Gran Canaria and inbound at Casablanca). It only made brief stops to refuel before continuing its journey. The second additional aircraft was a 747-400 freighter, registered as B-2476, operated by Air China Cargo. This freighter carried essential items required for the President’s visit, including the Chinese-made Hongqi car used for local transportation. Five days before the official visit, on November 8th, the freighter departed Beijing, stopping in Amsterdam for refueling before continuing to Gran Canaria, Lima in Peru, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília in Brazil. It returned to Shanghai on November 10th. As the visit neared its conclusion, the freighter undertook a second mission. On November 16, it departed Beijing, again stopping in Amsterdam before reaching Gran Canaria to deliver items, including the Hongqi car, to Casablanca, Morocco, where it would be needed for the return journey. It returned to Beijing on November 17th. On November 21st, the freighter embarked on its third trip from Beijing, traveling via Amsterdam to Lima, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Casablanca. It is expected to return to Beijing on November 24. Since the items initially stored in Gran Canaria had already been transported to Casablanca during the second trip, the freighter skipped Gran Canaria on this final journey. Aircrafts Used for the South American Tour (Nov 13-23) Aircraft type Registration number Purpose Last commercial use before the trip Boeing 747-8 B-2479 President's Aircraft N/A (Exclusive use for the President) Boeing 747-8 B-2482 General Accompanying Personnel Oct 24, 2024 Boeing 747-400 Freighter B-2476 Cargo and Logistics Nov 3, 2024 The Boeing 747-8 is renowned for its extended range, capable of covering approximately 14,320 kilometers without refueling, making it suitable for intercontinental flights. The aircraft boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 987,000 pounds and is powered by four General Electric GEnx-2B67 engines, each delivering 66,500 pounds of thrust. Find more news about Asian aviation here Regulations of utilization of presidential aircraft China has established specific regulations for the use of dedicated aircraft. Only the Chinese President and the State Council Premier are permitted to use presidential aircraft for their international visits. Other state leaders rely on chartered planes for their trips. These chartered aircraft are typically part of Air China's passenger fleet, serving commercial routes during non-diplomatic missions. This system ensures efficient utilization of aviation resources while maintaining the flexibility required for state visits. Last January, then Vice President Wang Qishan flew aboard Air China's B-2472 to Brasília to attend the inauguration of Brazilian President Lula. The aircraft flew from Beijing to Milan before arriving in Brazil. Foreign leaders flying on Chinese presidential aircraft The use of Chinese civil aviation aircraft for foreign dignitaries dates back to 1954 when planes such as the Douglas DC-3 and Lisunov Li-2 transported leaders from Eastern Europe and Asia to visit China. Notable figures included Indian Prime Minister Nehru. By the 1970s, aircraft like the Ilyushin Il-18 and Boeing 707 were used for leaders such as Kim Il-sung and US President Nixon. In 1972, Nixon traveled on an Il-18 alongside Premier Zhou Enlai, while Nixon's Air Force One joined the Chinese aircraft formation during his visit. In recent decades, China's modernized fleet continued this practice. In 2003, President Jiang Zemin shared a flight with Fidel Castro aboard Air China's 747-400. In 2013, during President Xi Jinping's visit to Kazakhstan , he traveled alongside President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to Almaty. The following year, Cuban leader Raul Castro flew with Xi in a Chinese aircraft to Santiago, accompanied by a Cuban escort plane. China has also lent its aircraft to other nations. In 2018, North Korea's Kim Jong-un used Premier Li Keqiang's 747-400 to attend a summit with US President Trump in Singapore. The same year, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew on an Air China Airbus A330-243 to the Asian Games opening ceremony in Hangzhou. The future of Chinese self-developed aircraft as presidential aircraft As China's aviation industry continues to advance, the prospect of domestically produced aircraft serving as presidential jets becomes increasingly viable. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China ( Comac ) has developed models such as the Comac C919 narrowbody and C929 widebody aircraft. While these planes are primarily designed for commercial operations, future versions could be tailored for state use, reflecting China's growing technological and manufacturing capabilities. A Chinese self-developed presidential aircraft would not only symbolize national pride but also underscore China's ambitions in the global aviation industry.
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Kansas Sen. Michale Fagg, R-El Dorado, urged peers on the joint House and Senate pensions committee to endorse a proposal to invest $1 billion in surplus state revenue in lowering the $9.7 billion unfunded liability of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. The committee agreed to ask the 2025 Legislature to consider the concept, but didn't back his call for a $1 billion investment. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Republican Sen. Michael Fagg wants to persuade the 2025 Kansas Legislature to allocate $1 billion of the state’s revenue surplus to shrinking the $9.7 billion long-term unfunded liability in the state’s pension system. The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, which serves more than 300,000 Kansans and possesses $27 billion in assets, years ago received legislative authorization to issue bonds so proceeds could be invested in the market to bolster the system’s bottom line. KPERS made use of $500 million bond issues in 2004 and 2021, and a $1 billion offering in 2015. On Wednesday, Fagg couldn’t convince the Legislature’s joint committee on pensions to get behind his idea of dedicating another $1 billion to address the system’s 30-year liability. Losses in 2022 — the return on investment was a negative 9.7% compared to a positive 15.7% in 2021 — deepened the challenge at KPERS in terms of meeting obligations on the pension-benefit horizon. “I’m really focused on unfunded liabilities,” Fagg said. “Folks, very seldom have we had this kind of money sitting around. I’m letting you know I know the spot it ought to go.” Sen. Pat Pettey, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, said she was more interested in making use of available state revenue to enhance benefits under the modest KPERS 3 retirement plan offered to public employees since 2015. “I cannot support this recommendation because I think we have to look at the whole picture,” she said. “We can’t underestimate the senior tsunami that is facing us.” House and Senate members on the joint pension committee voted to encourage the 2025 Legislature to study the potential of a fourth infusion of cash to lower the unfunded liability. They decided to ask the Legislature to give thought to altering KPERS 3. The committee agreed to recommend the Legislature once again think about giving KPERS’ retirees a cost-of-living adjustment. The panel said the Legislature ought to research expansion to other KPERS members the deferred retirement program incentivizing fire and law enforcement personnel to stay on the job rather than retire. It might be helpful, for example, in diverting the wave of teacher retirements in Kansas. “I strongly encourage you to keep in mind ... any increase in benefits that is not paid for upfront hurts the fund,” said Sen. Jeff Longbine, an Emporia Republican who didn’t seek reelection in 2024. There is growing concern among public employees and legislators about the KPERS 3 retirement plan signed into law by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback nearly a decade ago. In an attempt to lower the burden on Kansas taxpayers, the Brownback administration settled on KPERS 3 to substantially lower financial benefits compared to KPERS 1 and KPERS 2. A report produced this year by the Legislature’s auditing unit said KPERS 3 had higher worker contribution requirements, a longer vesting period and lower financial rewards than public retirement plans offered in comparable states. Auditors said a survey of current and former Kansas public employees showed people in KPERS 3 were more likely to leave their job than participants in KPERS 1 or KPERS 2. In 2023, Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, put it this way: “I don’t think you need to do an audit to find out Tier 3 sucks.” Public employees in KPERS 3 were guaranteed 4% annual earnings on their personal account balances, but additional benefits to these city, county or state employees was dependent on performance of the pension system’s investment portfolio. Neither KPERS 1 nor KPERS 2 deposited the investment-return risk directly on the back of public employees in Kansas. Dissatisfaction has prompted proposals to move all KPERS 3 members to KPERS 2, which would transfer financial risk of retirement investments to the state. Meanwhile, the executive director of KPERS said the pension system was undergoing a five-year transition to a new information technology system estimated to cost $75 million. “It’s a massive undertaking,” said Alan Conroy, executive director at KPERS. “We’ve tried to do the prep work — cleaning data, backfilling staff — so we aren’t having staff trying to work full time on the project and doing their full-time, day-to-day jobs.” Rep. Cindy Neighbor, a Shawnee Democrat on the joint committee, said she hoped KPERS securex a modern IT platform without the spider web of problems encountered by the Kansas Department of Labor while reforming the state’s unemployment insurance system. “So far, I think we’ve done the right steps mechanically to have a successful project,” Conroy said. “The ultimate goal, as I tell the staff, is to keep us out of the ditch. We would not want 116,000 retired KPERS members marching on the statehouse because they didn’t get a retirement benefit check because of a failure in the IT system.” Bruce Fink, chief investment officer at KPERS, said the retirement system was in compliance with a new state law mandating divestiture from countries that posed unusual investment risks. The countries targed by the Legislature were Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and China, including Hong Kong. The law compelled state agencies to complete divestiture transactions by Jan. 1, 2026. “We’ve not identified any trade violations since the act became effective,” Fink said. “We’ve augmented our due-diligence process for new and future investments to confirm that the countries in which potential future managers may invest in will not ... be organized in countries of concern.” In response to enactment of the law on July 1, he said KPERS terminated investments in China and Hong Kong. That involved divesting 12 securities in 10 companies valued at $294 million, he said. Fink said KPERS retained 300,000 shares of Norilsk Nickel, Russia’s leading metals mining company. He said trading of the stock was halted in conjunction with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “There were sanctions put in place,” he told legislators. “We continue to hold those shares in our accounts, but they are currently valued at zero market value.”Chicago hosts Columbus after Donato's 2-goal performanceCloudSky, a renowned technology company in the field of education, has recently unveiled its latest innovation in C-end educational hardware, aiming to revolutionize the way we approach learning. Leading this groundbreaking initiative is Dr. Luka, a prominent figure in the education industry, who is spearheading the development of large-scale native education models.