gbet7
gbet7
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has estimated Pakistan’s total external debt stocks at $130.847 billion by end 2023 compared to $127.708 billion by end-2022. The World Bank in its latest report, “International Debt Report 2024, noted that the South Asia region saw the biggest yearly increase in interest payments on public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debtin 2023, rising 62 per cent to $12.5 billion. The increase was most noticeable in Bangladesh and India, whose interest payments increased by more than 90per cent in 2023; Pakistan made the second-largest interest payments in the region. Govt debt stocks rise to Rs69.9trn For IDA-eligible countries, interest payments on total debt stock have tripled since 2013 to an all-time high of $34.6 billion in 2023. Interest payments as a share of export earnings, a measure of the repayment capacity of a country, significantly increased by 1.6 percentage points in 2023 to 5.8 per cent, equivalent to an increase last recorded in 2005. Mozambique (38.3 per cent), Senegal (25.9 per cent), Pakistan (13.6 per cent), Kenya (12.8 per cent), and Dominica (10.3 per cent) had the highest ratios of interest payments on total debt to export earnings, a situation that has weakened their fiscal positions. The IMF repurchases for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), excluding Argentina, more than doubled in 2023 to $12.2 billion, with the top repurchases registered from Egypt, Ukraine, and Pakistan. The IMF repurchases outpaced the increase in new lending, which rose 12.9 per cent to $14.8 billion in 2023, as new IMF lending has stabilised after the extraordinary support provided in 2020 during the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of volume, the top five LMIC recipients of personal remittances in 2023 were India at US$119.5 billion, followed by Mexico ($66.2 billion), the Philippines ($39.1 billion), China ($29.1 billion), and Pakistan ($26.6 billion). The World Bank report noted that total external debt stocks stood at $130.847 billion by 2023 including the use of IMF credit and SDR allocations of $11.532 billion against $11.522 billion in 2022, long-term external debt of $110.437 billion in 2023 against $107.418 billion in 2022. Public and publicly guaranteed debt, by creditor and creditor type in 2023, including IMF credit includes 46per cent multilateral, (18 per cent World Bank, 15 per cent ADB, 13 per other multilateral), 45 per cent bilateral (22 per cent China, 7 per cent Saudi Arabia, 8 per cent other bilateral) and 9 per cent private (8 per cent bondholders, 8 per cent multiple lenders). Short-term external debt stood at $8.878 billion in 2023 compared to $8.768 billion in 2022. According to the data, external debt stocks as percentage of export was 352.4 in 2023 compared to 322.1 per cent in 2022, external debt stocks to GNI was 39.3 per cent in 2023 compared to 34.6 per cent in 2022, debt service as percentage of exports was 43.1 in 2023 compared to 42 per cent in 2022, gross national income (GNI) was 332,603.5 in 2023 compared to 369,540.0 in 2022. Of the long-term external debt stocks include; public and publically guaranteed debt $92.990 billion in 2023 compared to $91.220 billion in 2022. Commercial banks and others stood at $440 million in 2023 compared to $2.096 billion in 2022. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Size and Forecast 12-24-2024 04:48 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Verified Market Reports Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market USA, New Jersey- The global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market is expected to record a CAGR of XX.X% from 2024 to 2031 In 2024, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD XX.X Billion. By 2031 the valuation is anticipated to reach USD XX.X Billion. The Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) market is experiencing steady growth, driven by the increasing demand for high-performance microwave components in telecommunications, defense, and aerospace applications. MMICs are used in various applications such as radar, satellite communication, and wireless systems due to their ability to integrate multiple microwave functions into a single chip, offering compact size, low cost, and high efficiency. The market is expanding with advancements in 5G technology, which requires high-frequency signal processing capabilities, further boosting the adoption of MMICs. As consumer electronics, automotive, and military industries adopt advanced technologies, MMICs are being used to enhance device performance. The market scope extends globally, with significant growth observed in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, where technological advancements and demand for high-speed communication are driving the demand for MMICs in commercial and defense sectors. Request PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=104270&utm_source=Openpr&utm_medium=288 The growth of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) market is driven by several key factors. One of the primary drivers is the increasing demand for high-frequency components in emerging technologies such as 5G networks, which require advanced signal processing capabilities. MMICs play a crucial role in enabling high-speed communication, and their integration into telecommunications infrastructure is essential for achieving the desired network performance. The rise of the defense and aerospace industries, where MMICs are used in radar systems, communication devices, and electronic warfare systems, is another significant driver of market growth. Additionally, the automotive industry's adoption of MMICs for radar systems used in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) is contributing to the expansion of the market. However, the MMIC market faces certain restraints, including the high cost of raw materials and the complexity of manufacturing high-performance ICs. The development of MMICs requires specialized materials like Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), which can be expensive, affecting the overall cost of production. Moreover, the need for advanced manufacturing processes and design expertise can make MMICs challenging to produce on a large scale. Another restraint is the intense competition in the semiconductor industry, where companies face pressure to innovate and reduce costs to stay competitive. Despite these challenges, the market dynamics remain favorable, with ongoing technological advancements, particularly in GaN and SiGe technologies, which are driving the development of more efficient, higher-performance MMICs. As 5G, defense, aerospace, and automotive sectors continue to grow, the demand for MMICs is expected to increase, propelling the market forward in the coming years. Get a Discount On The Purchase Of This Report @ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=104270&utm_source=Openpr&utm_medium=288 The following Key Segments Are Covered in Our Report Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Segmentaion Analysis, By Type GaAs Type GaN Type Si Type Other Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Segmentaion Analysis, By Application Telecommunications Aerospace & Defence Consumer Electronics Other Major companies in Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market are: Kyocera, MACOM, Mitsubishi Electronics, Qorvo, Toshiba, Microsemiconductor, OMMIC, Murata, ON Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductor, WIN Semiconductors, Keysight Technologies, Analog Devices (Infineon Technologies) Global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Regional Analysis North America: North America is a significant player in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , with the United States and Canada being major contributors. The region benefits from a robust economy, technological advancements, and a strong consumer base with high purchasing power. Europe: Europe is another major region in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , comprising countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. The region is characterized by a mature market with well-established infrastructure and consumer preferences. Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific is a rapidly growing region in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , driven by countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea. The region benefits from a large population, rising disposable income, and increasing urbanization, leading to greater demand for Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) products and services. Latin America: Latin America presents opportunities and challenges for the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , with countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina being key players. Economic fluctuations and political instability in some countries can impact market dynamics and consumer behavior. Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa represent emerging markets in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nigeria showing promising growth potential. Economic diversification efforts, urbanization, and a young population are driving demand for Okra Seeds products and services in the region. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1. What are the present scale and future growth prospects of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market is anticipated to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of XX% from 2024 to 2031, transitioning from a valuation of USD XX Billion in 2023 to USD XX billion by 2031. 2. What is the current state of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: As of the latest data, the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market is experiencing growth, stability, and challenges. 3. Who are the key players in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: Prominent players in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market include key companies, known for their notable characteristics or strengths. 4. What factors are driving the growth of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The growth of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market can be attributed to factors such as key drivers technological advancements, increasing demand, and regulatory support. 5. Are there any challenges affecting the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) 's challenges include competition, regulatory hurdles, and economic factors. 6. How is the competitive landscape in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The competitive landscape is characterized by the competitive dynamics - key players, market share, and strategies. 7. What are the key trends shaping the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: Current trends in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market include significant technological innovations and changing consumer preferences. For More Information or Query, Visit @ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/global-monolithic-microwave-ic-mmic-market-growth-2019-2024/ Non Tyre Rubber Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/non-tyre-rubber-market/ EMC and EMI Testing Services Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/emc-and-emi-testing-services-market/ Pemirolast Potassium Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/pemirolast-potassium-market/ Electronic Navigational Charts Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/electronic-navigational-charts-market/ Lace Fabric Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/lace-fabric-market/ "Contact us: Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Reports® US: +1 (650)-781-4080 UK: +44 (753)-715-0008 APAC: +61 (488)-85-9400 US Toll-Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: sales@verifiedmarketreports.com Website:- https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com " "About Us: Verified Market Reports® Verified Market Reports is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ global clients. We provide advanced analytical research solutions while offering information-enriched research studies. We also offer insights into strategic and growth analyses and data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance using industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 25,000 high-impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise, and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research." This release was published on openPR.
Gurugram gets maiden Traffic Engineering Centre to improve traffic management & road safety
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionTikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what’s next?
Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Currys has launched a massive 'Epic Deals' event this week - an incredible early Boxing Day sale that's offering some of the lowest prices I've seen all year on everything from air fryers to laptops. Today's deals are so good, in fact, that they're just as good as those on Black Friday just a few weeks ago. A couple highlights include the stunning LG B4 TV for just £749 (was £899) - an amazing budget OLED display that's actually £50 cheaper today than Black Friday. You can also get the Sony Sony WH-1000MX4 noise cancelling headphones for just £175 (was £279) and the Apple MacBook Air M2 for £749 (was £999) - both old favourites here at TechRadar that are matching their lowest ever prices. See all of today's deals at Currys The Currys Epic Deals sale offers up to 40% off thousands of products but the choices I've outlined below are my favourites as deals editor here at TechRadar. We review hundreds of products a year so I've utilized our expertise to find only the deals I'd be happy spending my own cash on. If you're interested in seeing what other retailers are offering today, don't forget to head-on over to our main Boxing Day sales page, which I'm updating daily, As TechRadar's deals editor, I've covered the annual Boxing Day sales for over four years now. Subsequently, I've got plenty of tips and expertise to share with our readers here at TechRadar - particularly record-low prices on tech that we've personally reviewed and loved on-site. The 12 best deals in the Currys Epic Deals sale Record low price : The LG B4 may be the entry level OLED in LG's 2024 TV lineup, but it delivers spectacular picture quality with rich contrast and fine details, along with a wealth of gaming features including 4K, 120Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR and more. Available for the first time 48-inches, this deal takes the newest size down to a record low of under £800 -- easily the cheapest way to get a 2024 OLED TV! The Sony WH-1000MX4 are older now but they are still some of the best over-ear headphones ever. These wireless Sony cans package together top-notch audio, excellent comfort, and effective noise cancellation all at a reasonable price point that's about £70 less than the newer Sony XM5 that are only a minor upgrade. We still rate these as the best headphones for most people because you can find them at a price like this during major sales. MSI Cyborg 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £799 at Currys This MSI Cyborg is a strong contender for gaming laptop deal of the day over at Currys thanks to its solid line-up of an RTX 4060 graphics card, Intel Core i7 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. Put together, these are great specs for 1080p gaming and today's massive £200 price cut easily makes this one of the best bang for the buck machines going currently. Recommended. £70 is, in my opinion, the ideal amount to add to your wallet - especially when you save £10.50 with code DIGITAL15 . This gift card will give you more than enough to pick up a popular AAA game like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 or a good few months of PS Plus. The latest wearable in Fitbit's range of dedicated fitness trackers has dropped back to its cheapest price in the current Currys sale - just in time for that new year fitness push. It's a small but welcome £40 saving on a device we found lighter, prettier and smarter compared to the previous version in our Fitbit Charge 6 review . Key features include a seven-day battery life, onboard GPS and GLONASS, sleep tracking, smart wake, SpO2 blood oxygen tracking and all the other features the excellent Charge 5 offered. As suspected, with Apple bumping up the base memory of the MacBook Air M2 and M3 to 16GB, retailers are cutting the prices of their existing stock of models with 8GB. While not the most powerful MacBook out there, this version with the M2 chip remains an excellent all-rounder, especially when it comes to day-to-day tasks like browsing the internet and writing up documents. For this new low price, you'll struggle to find a better value laptop than this, even if there's less memory than I'd like to see. This beats the discount we saw last year by £20 on the latest generation Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C support. As well as that more universal connection option, Apple's newest premium earbuds come with sought-after improvements to audio quality and noise cancellation. In our AirPods Pro 2 review , we said that these upgrades ensured they were a big step up compared to the originals and helped them truly compete with other high-end buds. The iPad 10.2 is a little older model but it remains a great deal at this discounted price ahead of Boxing Day. The 10.2-inch Retina display and A13 Bionic chip ensure excellent picture quality and superior performance to this day. If you need an entry-level slate for web browsing, streaming videos, light admin work or playing basic games then this can do it all without issue. Right now, when it comes to powerful and affordable tablets that offer excellent value for money, nothing else can beat the Apple iPad 10.2 at this price. The Ninja Double Stack is a great-looking air fryer packed with key features. It has a capacity of 7.6 litres across the two baskets with six preset functions and two independent cooking zones. Its functions include roasting, baking, and dehydrating, so there’s something for every cooking plan here. It cooks up to 55% faster than your fan oven so it’s a great money and timesaver. The Shark Stratos has all you could need from a vacuum cleaner and at a very good price after this huge discount. It has a cartridge system which protects against dust cup odours that always come alongside pet hair and dander. Its Clean Sense IQ technology knows when to adjust the power and you won’t have to worry about hair getting trapped and wrapped up in the brush-roll. Meanwhile, 60 minutes of runtime should suit most homes. Currys has taken a whopping £300 off this mid-range laptop that boasts a slick 14-inch IPS screen, Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a decent up to 14-hour battery life. These components ensure solid overall performance for most day-to-day tasks including browsing, working and streaming videos. I'm particularly impressed with the large and fast storage at this price, which is more than enough room for your files, applications, photos, videos and more. This entry-level electric toothbrush is a solid pickup while it's less than half price in Currys' latest sale. It doesn't boast many impressive high-end features but it has the basic ones you really need to brush your teeth effectively and efficiently, including a two-minute timer and a visible pressure sensor. Plus, you get a handy carry case included for free. More Boxing Day sales today Abercrombie & Fitch : 25% off men and women's Affordable Mobiles : contracts starting at £25/mo Amazon : last minute Christmas gifts Boohoo : up to 80% off clothing Boots : beauty, fragrances, baby CDKeys : cheap games Christmas sale Cotswold Outdoor : outdoor clothing, shoes, equipment Currys : up to 30% off laptops, TVs, headphones Dell : laptops, desktops, accessories Disney : toys, clothing, gifts Ebuyer : 50% off computing and accessories EE : phone and SIM only contracts Emma : up to 40% off premium mattresses Furniture Village : decor, furnishings, furniture H&M : women's, men's and kid's fashion HP : laptops, desktops, accessories JD Sports : sportswear and apparel Jessops : cameras, accessories, drones Kaleidoscope : Christmas gifts and more Laptops Direct : cheap laptops and computing Lenovo : laptops, desktops, accessories LUSH : skincare, bath bombs, beauty New Look : men's, kid's and women's fashion Next : men's, kid's and women's fashion O2 : phone and SIM only contracts Robert Dyas : home and kitchen appliances Samsung : phones, TVs, appliances Scan : computing, accessories, components Shark : vacuums, air fryers, appliances Smarty : cheap SIM only contracts Under Armour : sportswear, fitness, fashion Urban Outfitters : fashion, furniture, decor Vodafone : phone deals, SIM Only, broadband Zavvi : music, film, gaming, accesories & apparelHOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans didn’t need to see what Baltimore’s Derrick Henry is doing this season to be reminded of just how dangerous he can be. He ran all over the Texans for years while playing in the AFC South for the Tennessee Titans. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Money can’t buy happiness or a presidential election. Democratic donors just learned that the hard way. After a candidate loses a high-profile, competitive race, the blame game begins. There are many places to point the finger when assessing Vice President Kamala Harris’ run. She entered the race late and only after President Joe Biden had a career-ending debate implosion. She didn’t run a primary gauntlet, which meant voters didn’t know her very well. Having to endure even a token primary may have helped her improve her interview skills. She struggled to separate herself from the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration. She took a number of radical positions when running for president in 2019. The Trump campaign effectively used her own words to show voters that she was a radical leftist. But one common excuse for political failure, a lack of funding, doesn’t apply. Harris spent an astonishing $1.5 billion during her 15-week campaign. That works out to around $100 million a week. But even that understates her financial resources. When combined with Biden’s fundraising, the two Democratic campaigns had more than $2.1 billion, according to The New York Times. The Times reported the Trump campaign and Republican Party raised $1.2 billion. Money is certainly an important factor in political races. But the election results show its limits. “There is not a single expenditure in a different spot that would have changed the outcome of the race,” Bakari Sellers, a close ally of Harris, told the Times. Instead, “we had so much money it was hard to get it out the door.” Perhaps this explains why the Harris campaign spent millions on celebrity performances and social media influencers. It even paid $900,000 to advertise on the Las Vegas Sphere. All this is especially ironic given the progressive battle to limit free speech by restricting political expenditures. The far-left Brennan Center for Justice says it’s committed to a “long-term push to overturn Citizens United,” in which the Supreme Court affirmed that arbitrary limits on political spending ran afoul of the Bill of Rights. During oral arguments, the government admitted that the law in question would potentially allow federal regulators to ban books. Ouch. Despite the massive fundraising numbers, Axios reported recently that the Harris campaign is likely to conclude with “millions of dollars in debt.” There’s an old adage about politicians not being responsible with other people’s money. That’s certainly true when it comes to taxpayer dollars. In Harris’ case, it applied to her donors as well. They may have been costly, but the Harris campaign has provided the American public with valuable lessons.
Nebraska football signing day preview: Potential flips and a 5-star up for grabs
Trump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money convictionDonte DiVincenzo grabbed a defensive rebound under the hoop off a Max Christie air ball, took a couple of hard dribbles to the side of the floor and heaved the ball forward into the frontcourt, dropping his pass over Christie’s out-stretched arms and into the lap of Julius Randle. The result was an easy flush for Randle that extended Minnesota’s lead to 12 in the second quarter of the Wolves’ win over the Lakers on Monday night at the Target Center. As Randle was putting away the score, Wolves head coach Chris Finch looked back and pointed at DiVincenzo, his way of saying, “Thank you.” Minnesota scored 20 fast-break points Monday, marking just the fourth time this season it’s hit such a total. Nine of those points came off DiVincenzo dimes. “He did a really good job of igniting our break,” Finch said. “We’ve been emphasizing trying to kick ahead more, throw the pass wide, change the angle of the floor, all that. He did a really good job of getting off of it, he and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) connected on a couple. His decision-making was really good tonight, getting off of it quick and finding the open guy and moving it.” DiVincenzo noted there’s a distinct trust factor in basketball, and it’s prevalent in several areas within the game. If you want your teammates to consistently do something, they need to believe you’ll hold up your end of the bargain. If the Wolves want Rudy Gobert to block a shot, they need to be checking the man he is leaving on the defensive glass. If you want your teammates to run the floor hard in transition, you had better be willing to kick the ball ahead. “That’s what we did tonight, everybody,” DiVincenzo said. “And when we do that, it deflates the other team.” Minnesota has infrequently been difficult to play against this season. A piece of that equation is the Wolves often leave the easy money on the table. Fast-break points sit atop that list. According to CleaningTheGlass.com, only 13.1% of Minnesota’s offensive possessions are played in transition. That’s dead last in the NBA, even after Monday’s performance. Transition was a weak point of last year’s team, as well, but the additions of Randle and DiVincenzo were supposed to infuse some pace. But old habits die hard. The Wolves have rarely looked for opportunities to get out and run. They often don’t seem interested in the idea. It requires effort and intention. So, it’s a difficult switch to flip after it spent much of last year in the “off” position. “Just knowing you’ve got to run the floor at all times,” Wolves wing Jaden McDaniels said. “Even when you’re tired, or if the game is not going your way, just to get easy points and run the floor for your teammates.” Randle agreed that sometimes he’ll dribble up the floor and no one will be running alongside him, but added there are things he should do differently, as well. “I might get the rebound and I’m probing instead of just pushing and throwing the ball ahead and looking to flatten the defense out that way,” he said. “Or you’re probing instead of punching the gaps, or whatever it is, and you’re letting the defense catch up, so it’s just little things like that.” Minnesota’s best transition groups figure to be those that don’t include Gobert. But those lineups have been hindered by an inability to grab defensive rebounds. That has to be priority No. 1 in any instance; but once that’s secured, there needs to be more urgency to go. As Monday showed, transition offense can be a major feather in the cap of a team that sometimes struggles to score with consistency. For instance, in the first quarter, the Wolves scored just 22 points, but six came in transition. The positive sign for Minnesota is that when the issue was emphasized, players like DiVincenzo made a point to answer the call. “I think playing fast, making quick decisions, letting us use our athleticism and our quick decisions (helps),” DiVincenzo said. “I think when you slow down sometimes, guys kind of get out of rhythm. Playing fast, getting the early transition opportunities, gets everybody going, and then we can play both types of games.”
gbet7
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has estimated Pakistan’s total external debt stocks at $130.847 billion by end 2023 compared to $127.708 billion by end-2022. The World Bank in its latest report, “International Debt Report 2024, noted that the South Asia region saw the biggest yearly increase in interest payments on public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debtin 2023, rising 62 per cent to $12.5 billion. The increase was most noticeable in Bangladesh and India, whose interest payments increased by more than 90per cent in 2023; Pakistan made the second-largest interest payments in the region. Govt debt stocks rise to Rs69.9trn For IDA-eligible countries, interest payments on total debt stock have tripled since 2013 to an all-time high of $34.6 billion in 2023. Interest payments as a share of export earnings, a measure of the repayment capacity of a country, significantly increased by 1.6 percentage points in 2023 to 5.8 per cent, equivalent to an increase last recorded in 2005. Mozambique (38.3 per cent), Senegal (25.9 per cent), Pakistan (13.6 per cent), Kenya (12.8 per cent), and Dominica (10.3 per cent) had the highest ratios of interest payments on total debt to export earnings, a situation that has weakened their fiscal positions. The IMF repurchases for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), excluding Argentina, more than doubled in 2023 to $12.2 billion, with the top repurchases registered from Egypt, Ukraine, and Pakistan. The IMF repurchases outpaced the increase in new lending, which rose 12.9 per cent to $14.8 billion in 2023, as new IMF lending has stabilised after the extraordinary support provided in 2020 during the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of volume, the top five LMIC recipients of personal remittances in 2023 were India at US$119.5 billion, followed by Mexico ($66.2 billion), the Philippines ($39.1 billion), China ($29.1 billion), and Pakistan ($26.6 billion). The World Bank report noted that total external debt stocks stood at $130.847 billion by 2023 including the use of IMF credit and SDR allocations of $11.532 billion against $11.522 billion in 2022, long-term external debt of $110.437 billion in 2023 against $107.418 billion in 2022. Public and publicly guaranteed debt, by creditor and creditor type in 2023, including IMF credit includes 46per cent multilateral, (18 per cent World Bank, 15 per cent ADB, 13 per other multilateral), 45 per cent bilateral (22 per cent China, 7 per cent Saudi Arabia, 8 per cent other bilateral) and 9 per cent private (8 per cent bondholders, 8 per cent multiple lenders). Short-term external debt stood at $8.878 billion in 2023 compared to $8.768 billion in 2022. According to the data, external debt stocks as percentage of export was 352.4 in 2023 compared to 322.1 per cent in 2022, external debt stocks to GNI was 39.3 per cent in 2023 compared to 34.6 per cent in 2022, debt service as percentage of exports was 43.1 in 2023 compared to 42 per cent in 2022, gross national income (GNI) was 332,603.5 in 2023 compared to 369,540.0 in 2022. Of the long-term external debt stocks include; public and publically guaranteed debt $92.990 billion in 2023 compared to $91.220 billion in 2022. Commercial banks and others stood at $440 million in 2023 compared to $2.096 billion in 2022. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Size and Forecast 12-24-2024 04:48 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Verified Market Reports Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market USA, New Jersey- The global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market is expected to record a CAGR of XX.X% from 2024 to 2031 In 2024, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD XX.X Billion. By 2031 the valuation is anticipated to reach USD XX.X Billion. The Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) market is experiencing steady growth, driven by the increasing demand for high-performance microwave components in telecommunications, defense, and aerospace applications. MMICs are used in various applications such as radar, satellite communication, and wireless systems due to their ability to integrate multiple microwave functions into a single chip, offering compact size, low cost, and high efficiency. The market is expanding with advancements in 5G technology, which requires high-frequency signal processing capabilities, further boosting the adoption of MMICs. As consumer electronics, automotive, and military industries adopt advanced technologies, MMICs are being used to enhance device performance. The market scope extends globally, with significant growth observed in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, where technological advancements and demand for high-speed communication are driving the demand for MMICs in commercial and defense sectors. Request PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=104270&utm_source=Openpr&utm_medium=288 The growth of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) market is driven by several key factors. One of the primary drivers is the increasing demand for high-frequency components in emerging technologies such as 5G networks, which require advanced signal processing capabilities. MMICs play a crucial role in enabling high-speed communication, and their integration into telecommunications infrastructure is essential for achieving the desired network performance. The rise of the defense and aerospace industries, where MMICs are used in radar systems, communication devices, and electronic warfare systems, is another significant driver of market growth. Additionally, the automotive industry's adoption of MMICs for radar systems used in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) is contributing to the expansion of the market. However, the MMIC market faces certain restraints, including the high cost of raw materials and the complexity of manufacturing high-performance ICs. The development of MMICs requires specialized materials like Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), which can be expensive, affecting the overall cost of production. Moreover, the need for advanced manufacturing processes and design expertise can make MMICs challenging to produce on a large scale. Another restraint is the intense competition in the semiconductor industry, where companies face pressure to innovate and reduce costs to stay competitive. Despite these challenges, the market dynamics remain favorable, with ongoing technological advancements, particularly in GaN and SiGe technologies, which are driving the development of more efficient, higher-performance MMICs. As 5G, defense, aerospace, and automotive sectors continue to grow, the demand for MMICs is expected to increase, propelling the market forward in the coming years. Get a Discount On The Purchase Of This Report @ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=104270&utm_source=Openpr&utm_medium=288 The following Key Segments Are Covered in Our Report Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Segmentaion Analysis, By Type GaAs Type GaN Type Si Type Other Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Segmentaion Analysis, By Application Telecommunications Aerospace & Defence Consumer Electronics Other Major companies in Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market are: Kyocera, MACOM, Mitsubishi Electronics, Qorvo, Toshiba, Microsemiconductor, OMMIC, Murata, ON Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductor, WIN Semiconductors, Keysight Technologies, Analog Devices (Infineon Technologies) Global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market Regional Analysis North America: North America is a significant player in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , with the United States and Canada being major contributors. The region benefits from a robust economy, technological advancements, and a strong consumer base with high purchasing power. Europe: Europe is another major region in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , comprising countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. The region is characterized by a mature market with well-established infrastructure and consumer preferences. Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific is a rapidly growing region in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , driven by countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea. The region benefits from a large population, rising disposable income, and increasing urbanization, leading to greater demand for Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) products and services. Latin America: Latin America presents opportunities and challenges for the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , with countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina being key players. Economic fluctuations and political instability in some countries can impact market dynamics and consumer behavior. Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa represent emerging markets in the global Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) , with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nigeria showing promising growth potential. Economic diversification efforts, urbanization, and a young population are driving demand for Okra Seeds products and services in the region. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1. What are the present scale and future growth prospects of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market is anticipated to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of XX% from 2024 to 2031, transitioning from a valuation of USD XX Billion in 2023 to USD XX billion by 2031. 2. What is the current state of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: As of the latest data, the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market is experiencing growth, stability, and challenges. 3. Who are the key players in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: Prominent players in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market include key companies, known for their notable characteristics or strengths. 4. What factors are driving the growth of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The growth of the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market can be attributed to factors such as key drivers technological advancements, increasing demand, and regulatory support. 5. Are there any challenges affecting the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) 's challenges include competition, regulatory hurdles, and economic factors. 6. How is the competitive landscape in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: The competitive landscape is characterized by the competitive dynamics - key players, market share, and strategies. 7. What are the key trends shaping the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market? Answer: Current trends in the Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) Market include significant technological innovations and changing consumer preferences. For More Information or Query, Visit @ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/global-monolithic-microwave-ic-mmic-market-growth-2019-2024/ Non Tyre Rubber Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/non-tyre-rubber-market/ EMC and EMI Testing Services Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/emc-and-emi-testing-services-market/ Pemirolast Potassium Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/pemirolast-potassium-market/ Electronic Navigational Charts Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/electronic-navigational-charts-market/ Lace Fabric Market https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/lace-fabric-market/ "Contact us: Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Reports® US: +1 (650)-781-4080 UK: +44 (753)-715-0008 APAC: +61 (488)-85-9400 US Toll-Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: sales@verifiedmarketreports.com Website:- https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com " "About Us: Verified Market Reports® Verified Market Reports is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ global clients. We provide advanced analytical research solutions while offering information-enriched research studies. We also offer insights into strategic and growth analyses and data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance using industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 25,000 high-impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise, and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research." This release was published on openPR.
Gurugram gets maiden Traffic Engineering Centre to improve traffic management & road safety
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionTikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what’s next?
Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Currys has launched a massive 'Epic Deals' event this week - an incredible early Boxing Day sale that's offering some of the lowest prices I've seen all year on everything from air fryers to laptops. Today's deals are so good, in fact, that they're just as good as those on Black Friday just a few weeks ago. A couple highlights include the stunning LG B4 TV for just £749 (was £899) - an amazing budget OLED display that's actually £50 cheaper today than Black Friday. You can also get the Sony Sony WH-1000MX4 noise cancelling headphones for just £175 (was £279) and the Apple MacBook Air M2 for £749 (was £999) - both old favourites here at TechRadar that are matching their lowest ever prices. See all of today's deals at Currys The Currys Epic Deals sale offers up to 40% off thousands of products but the choices I've outlined below are my favourites as deals editor here at TechRadar. We review hundreds of products a year so I've utilized our expertise to find only the deals I'd be happy spending my own cash on. If you're interested in seeing what other retailers are offering today, don't forget to head-on over to our main Boxing Day sales page, which I'm updating daily, As TechRadar's deals editor, I've covered the annual Boxing Day sales for over four years now. Subsequently, I've got plenty of tips and expertise to share with our readers here at TechRadar - particularly record-low prices on tech that we've personally reviewed and loved on-site. The 12 best deals in the Currys Epic Deals sale Record low price : The LG B4 may be the entry level OLED in LG's 2024 TV lineup, but it delivers spectacular picture quality with rich contrast and fine details, along with a wealth of gaming features including 4K, 120Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR and more. Available for the first time 48-inches, this deal takes the newest size down to a record low of under £800 -- easily the cheapest way to get a 2024 OLED TV! The Sony WH-1000MX4 are older now but they are still some of the best over-ear headphones ever. These wireless Sony cans package together top-notch audio, excellent comfort, and effective noise cancellation all at a reasonable price point that's about £70 less than the newer Sony XM5 that are only a minor upgrade. We still rate these as the best headphones for most people because you can find them at a price like this during major sales. MSI Cyborg 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £799 at Currys This MSI Cyborg is a strong contender for gaming laptop deal of the day over at Currys thanks to its solid line-up of an RTX 4060 graphics card, Intel Core i7 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. Put together, these are great specs for 1080p gaming and today's massive £200 price cut easily makes this one of the best bang for the buck machines going currently. Recommended. £70 is, in my opinion, the ideal amount to add to your wallet - especially when you save £10.50 with code DIGITAL15 . This gift card will give you more than enough to pick up a popular AAA game like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 or a good few months of PS Plus. The latest wearable in Fitbit's range of dedicated fitness trackers has dropped back to its cheapest price in the current Currys sale - just in time for that new year fitness push. It's a small but welcome £40 saving on a device we found lighter, prettier and smarter compared to the previous version in our Fitbit Charge 6 review . Key features include a seven-day battery life, onboard GPS and GLONASS, sleep tracking, smart wake, SpO2 blood oxygen tracking and all the other features the excellent Charge 5 offered. As suspected, with Apple bumping up the base memory of the MacBook Air M2 and M3 to 16GB, retailers are cutting the prices of their existing stock of models with 8GB. While not the most powerful MacBook out there, this version with the M2 chip remains an excellent all-rounder, especially when it comes to day-to-day tasks like browsing the internet and writing up documents. For this new low price, you'll struggle to find a better value laptop than this, even if there's less memory than I'd like to see. This beats the discount we saw last year by £20 on the latest generation Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C support. As well as that more universal connection option, Apple's newest premium earbuds come with sought-after improvements to audio quality and noise cancellation. In our AirPods Pro 2 review , we said that these upgrades ensured they were a big step up compared to the originals and helped them truly compete with other high-end buds. The iPad 10.2 is a little older model but it remains a great deal at this discounted price ahead of Boxing Day. The 10.2-inch Retina display and A13 Bionic chip ensure excellent picture quality and superior performance to this day. If you need an entry-level slate for web browsing, streaming videos, light admin work or playing basic games then this can do it all without issue. Right now, when it comes to powerful and affordable tablets that offer excellent value for money, nothing else can beat the Apple iPad 10.2 at this price. The Ninja Double Stack is a great-looking air fryer packed with key features. It has a capacity of 7.6 litres across the two baskets with six preset functions and two independent cooking zones. Its functions include roasting, baking, and dehydrating, so there’s something for every cooking plan here. It cooks up to 55% faster than your fan oven so it’s a great money and timesaver. The Shark Stratos has all you could need from a vacuum cleaner and at a very good price after this huge discount. It has a cartridge system which protects against dust cup odours that always come alongside pet hair and dander. Its Clean Sense IQ technology knows when to adjust the power and you won’t have to worry about hair getting trapped and wrapped up in the brush-roll. Meanwhile, 60 minutes of runtime should suit most homes. Currys has taken a whopping £300 off this mid-range laptop that boasts a slick 14-inch IPS screen, Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a decent up to 14-hour battery life. These components ensure solid overall performance for most day-to-day tasks including browsing, working and streaming videos. I'm particularly impressed with the large and fast storage at this price, which is more than enough room for your files, applications, photos, videos and more. This entry-level electric toothbrush is a solid pickup while it's less than half price in Currys' latest sale. It doesn't boast many impressive high-end features but it has the basic ones you really need to brush your teeth effectively and efficiently, including a two-minute timer and a visible pressure sensor. Plus, you get a handy carry case included for free. More Boxing Day sales today Abercrombie & Fitch : 25% off men and women's Affordable Mobiles : contracts starting at £25/mo Amazon : last minute Christmas gifts Boohoo : up to 80% off clothing Boots : beauty, fragrances, baby CDKeys : cheap games Christmas sale Cotswold Outdoor : outdoor clothing, shoes, equipment Currys : up to 30% off laptops, TVs, headphones Dell : laptops, desktops, accessories Disney : toys, clothing, gifts Ebuyer : 50% off computing and accessories EE : phone and SIM only contracts Emma : up to 40% off premium mattresses Furniture Village : decor, furnishings, furniture H&M : women's, men's and kid's fashion HP : laptops, desktops, accessories JD Sports : sportswear and apparel Jessops : cameras, accessories, drones Kaleidoscope : Christmas gifts and more Laptops Direct : cheap laptops and computing Lenovo : laptops, desktops, accessories LUSH : skincare, bath bombs, beauty New Look : men's, kid's and women's fashion Next : men's, kid's and women's fashion O2 : phone and SIM only contracts Robert Dyas : home and kitchen appliances Samsung : phones, TVs, appliances Scan : computing, accessories, components Shark : vacuums, air fryers, appliances Smarty : cheap SIM only contracts Under Armour : sportswear, fitness, fashion Urban Outfitters : fashion, furniture, decor Vodafone : phone deals, SIM Only, broadband Zavvi : music, film, gaming, accesories & apparelHOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans didn’t need to see what Baltimore’s Derrick Henry is doing this season to be reminded of just how dangerous he can be. He ran all over the Texans for years while playing in the AFC South for the Tennessee Titans. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Money can’t buy happiness or a presidential election. Democratic donors just learned that the hard way. After a candidate loses a high-profile, competitive race, the blame game begins. There are many places to point the finger when assessing Vice President Kamala Harris’ run. She entered the race late and only after President Joe Biden had a career-ending debate implosion. She didn’t run a primary gauntlet, which meant voters didn’t know her very well. Having to endure even a token primary may have helped her improve her interview skills. She struggled to separate herself from the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration. She took a number of radical positions when running for president in 2019. The Trump campaign effectively used her own words to show voters that she was a radical leftist. But one common excuse for political failure, a lack of funding, doesn’t apply. Harris spent an astonishing $1.5 billion during her 15-week campaign. That works out to around $100 million a week. But even that understates her financial resources. When combined with Biden’s fundraising, the two Democratic campaigns had more than $2.1 billion, according to The New York Times. The Times reported the Trump campaign and Republican Party raised $1.2 billion. Money is certainly an important factor in political races. But the election results show its limits. “There is not a single expenditure in a different spot that would have changed the outcome of the race,” Bakari Sellers, a close ally of Harris, told the Times. Instead, “we had so much money it was hard to get it out the door.” Perhaps this explains why the Harris campaign spent millions on celebrity performances and social media influencers. It even paid $900,000 to advertise on the Las Vegas Sphere. All this is especially ironic given the progressive battle to limit free speech by restricting political expenditures. The far-left Brennan Center for Justice says it’s committed to a “long-term push to overturn Citizens United,” in which the Supreme Court affirmed that arbitrary limits on political spending ran afoul of the Bill of Rights. During oral arguments, the government admitted that the law in question would potentially allow federal regulators to ban books. Ouch. Despite the massive fundraising numbers, Axios reported recently that the Harris campaign is likely to conclude with “millions of dollars in debt.” There’s an old adage about politicians not being responsible with other people’s money. That’s certainly true when it comes to taxpayer dollars. In Harris’ case, it applied to her donors as well. They may have been costly, but the Harris campaign has provided the American public with valuable lessons.
Nebraska football signing day preview: Potential flips and a 5-star up for grabs
Trump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money convictionDonte DiVincenzo grabbed a defensive rebound under the hoop off a Max Christie air ball, took a couple of hard dribbles to the side of the floor and heaved the ball forward into the frontcourt, dropping his pass over Christie’s out-stretched arms and into the lap of Julius Randle. The result was an easy flush for Randle that extended Minnesota’s lead to 12 in the second quarter of the Wolves’ win over the Lakers on Monday night at the Target Center. As Randle was putting away the score, Wolves head coach Chris Finch looked back and pointed at DiVincenzo, his way of saying, “Thank you.” Minnesota scored 20 fast-break points Monday, marking just the fourth time this season it’s hit such a total. Nine of those points came off DiVincenzo dimes. “He did a really good job of igniting our break,” Finch said. “We’ve been emphasizing trying to kick ahead more, throw the pass wide, change the angle of the floor, all that. He did a really good job of getting off of it, he and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) connected on a couple. His decision-making was really good tonight, getting off of it quick and finding the open guy and moving it.” DiVincenzo noted there’s a distinct trust factor in basketball, and it’s prevalent in several areas within the game. If you want your teammates to consistently do something, they need to believe you’ll hold up your end of the bargain. If the Wolves want Rudy Gobert to block a shot, they need to be checking the man he is leaving on the defensive glass. If you want your teammates to run the floor hard in transition, you had better be willing to kick the ball ahead. “That’s what we did tonight, everybody,” DiVincenzo said. “And when we do that, it deflates the other team.” Minnesota has infrequently been difficult to play against this season. A piece of that equation is the Wolves often leave the easy money on the table. Fast-break points sit atop that list. According to CleaningTheGlass.com, only 13.1% of Minnesota’s offensive possessions are played in transition. That’s dead last in the NBA, even after Monday’s performance. Transition was a weak point of last year’s team, as well, but the additions of Randle and DiVincenzo were supposed to infuse some pace. But old habits die hard. The Wolves have rarely looked for opportunities to get out and run. They often don’t seem interested in the idea. It requires effort and intention. So, it’s a difficult switch to flip after it spent much of last year in the “off” position. “Just knowing you’ve got to run the floor at all times,” Wolves wing Jaden McDaniels said. “Even when you’re tired, or if the game is not going your way, just to get easy points and run the floor for your teammates.” Randle agreed that sometimes he’ll dribble up the floor and no one will be running alongside him, but added there are things he should do differently, as well. “I might get the rebound and I’m probing instead of just pushing and throwing the ball ahead and looking to flatten the defense out that way,” he said. “Or you’re probing instead of punching the gaps, or whatever it is, and you’re letting the defense catch up, so it’s just little things like that.” Minnesota’s best transition groups figure to be those that don’t include Gobert. But those lineups have been hindered by an inability to grab defensive rebounds. That has to be priority No. 1 in any instance; but once that’s secured, there needs to be more urgency to go. As Monday showed, transition offense can be a major feather in the cap of a team that sometimes struggles to score with consistency. For instance, in the first quarter, the Wolves scored just 22 points, but six came in transition. The positive sign for Minnesota is that when the issue was emphasized, players like DiVincenzo made a point to answer the call. “I think playing fast, making quick decisions, letting us use our athleticism and our quick decisions (helps),” DiVincenzo said. “I think when you slow down sometimes, guys kind of get out of rhythm. Playing fast, getting the early transition opportunities, gets everybody going, and then we can play both types of games.”
-
"> -
"> -
"> -
">
