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Jimmy Carter triggered a royal kissing scandal when meeting the Queen MotherBitcoin prices have jumped by a whopping 40% since the US presidential election and are within striking distance of reaching the $ 100,000 mark, hovering above $99,000 on November 22. The digital token received a further boost as Trump fulfilled his campaign pledge to replace US Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler, a move many crypto enthusiasts and top-level executives were looking forward to. Although Bitcoin exchange-traded funds were approved under Gensler's tenure, he spent much of his time as SEC chair clashing with and filing lawsuits against top digital asset companies, including Coinbase. According to the SEC press release published yesterday, Gensler will resign on January 20, 2025. The move is expected to make way for a deeper relationship between the SEC and the crypto industry as Trump's new administration works to create the first-ever White House post for overseeing crypto policies . The President-elect's social media platform, Truth Social, could be dipping its feet in crypto as Trump Media & Technology Group filed a trademark application on November 18 for TruthFi, a crypto payments processing platform. The application was accepted by the Office but has yet to be assigned to an examining attorney. The application highlighted multiple applications for TruthFi, such as crypto payments processing, financial asset management and custody services, and digital asset trading. Trump has embraced cryptocurrencies after initially rejecting them. During his campaign, he pledged to make America the "crypto capital of the planet" and develop a national crypto reserve when he takes Office in January. He is also expected to partner with regulators who are well-positioned to move the industry towards mass adoption while ensuring stringent security measures for investors and crypto exchanges. Trump's media company is also reportedly in talks with Bakkt to acquire the crypto trading platform through an all-share purchase. While Bakkt shares jumped over 154% in the past five days to close at $31.10 on November 21, the company issued a statement this week that "it is aware of the rumours" of a potential takeover but clarified that it is the "company's policy not to comment on market rumours or speculation." Sources highlighted that the Trump Media likely won't include Bakkt's crypto custody unit in the deal as it failed to gain popularity and incurred operating losses of $27,000 on revenues north of $328,000 in the three months through September 30. However, Bakkt is moving ahead with its plan to develop a crypto trading platform for institutional investors. Trump also has multiple crypto ventures, including the recently launched World Liberty Financial , which could offer financing to people rejected by traditional banks. Disclaimer: Our digital media content is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. Please conduct your own analysis or seek professional advice before investing. Remember, investments are subject to market risks and past performance doesn't indicate future returns.
NIHCM Foundation . Since she lost her job this summer as a bariatric surgeon, Lana Nelson, DO, has a phone message that tells callers, "I'm probably out on the trails" hiking near Grand Junction, Colorado. For 19 years until this fall, Nelson worked at the Norman Regional Health System's "Journey Clinic," a large weight-loss surgery program 15 miles south of Oklahoma City. For the last 12, she was its medical director. The 324-bed hospital system's two or three surgeons provided weight-loss surgery to more than 750 patients in each of the 2 years before COVID, she told MedPage Today . She did more than half of those herself. But the hospital was having financial woes, and caseloads dropped during the pandemic. Instead of bouncing back, they dropped to 387 in 2023. The chief reason: Many surgery candidates were trying the new GLP-1 receptor agonists if their insurance plans would cover them, she said. Bariatric surgery can be a lucrative service line, especially in Oklahoma, one of the most obese states in the nation. And it looked like the clinic's business was picking up a bit in 2024. Administrators asked staff to reduce their salaries. But it wasn't enough. On Monday, July 8, leadership abruptly pulled the plug, she said. They sent notices that all scheduled surgeries were immediately cancelled. That was it. "Even patients who had completed their preparation were called the day before their scheduled procedure and told the clinic is closing," Nelson said. Among the team's three physician assistants, a bariatrician, two nurse practitioners, and three dietitians, only two got other jobs within the hospital. Nelson and the two other surgeons were given 90 days' notice, time to transition their patients elsewhere. At age 51, Nelson is considering early retirement. She and her husband sold their home in Norman and moved to Colorado. Across the country, many surgeons shared similar stories about what many described as, in so many words, "a time of fear and loathing in bariatric medicine." Numerous programs have closed their doors, reduced their surgeons and staff, or transitioned to exclusive medical management. Sources pointed to many programs that had cut back their teams, but no hospital contacted acknowledged that they had. Mount Auburn Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts, affiliated with Beth Israel Lahey Health, said in a recorded message that it closed its Weight Management Center on February 9. Grand View Hospital's program serving Bucks County Pennsylvania has also shut down. Norman Regional officials declined comment about the program, but a representative told a local news organization in July, "We have observed a trend of less demand for surgical options and more demand for non-invasive medication options for about 2 years." The GLP-1 drugs are "truly causing a lot of disruption for the surgeons and for the programs, and for patients," Thomas Tsai, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told MedPage Today . "I've had to see patients who had surgery at a different facility for follow-up because the program they were in doesn't exist anymore," he said. Comprehensive nutritional follow-up is an important part of patient care, he emphasized. Tsai's research published in JAMA Network Open in October found a 25.6% decrease in bariatric surgery procedures in non-diabetic patients with obesity between the last 6 months of 2022 versus the last 6 months of 2023, but a 132.6% increase in patients prescribed GLP-1 drugs. "I keep hearing about smaller programs where they're just so certain that this is going to impact their bottom line, they don't even want to put any resources into it. And that's deeply troubling," said Ann Rogers, MD, director of the Penn State Surgical Weight Loss program in Hershey and president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Scheduled patients "are cancelling surgeries at the last minute, not saying why," though she suspects their families urged them to try the drugs first, she said. "Surgeons not near retirement are going to be hysterically looking around to find employment somewhere else in the same field," Rogers said. "There are jobs," just not necessarily in bariatric surgery or where they want to practice, she said. Several bariatric surgeons told MedPage Today they are frequently checking their specialty's job boards. Some said they're enrolling in refresher courses for other kinds of foregut surgery, such as hernia repair, gallbladder removal, or esophageal procedures. One surgeon has pivoted to telemedicine prescribing. Helmuth Billy, MD, a bariatric surgeon in Ventura, California, said next year, he's "throwing out a lifeboat to expand his practice to cosmetic/plastic abdominoplasties and tummy tucks" to past surgery patients to help his bottom line. "We have a lot of patients who can't afford plastic surgeons." One of the Journey Clinic's terminated surgeons, Azure Adkins, MD, got excited when she recently learned that a medical center just north of Charlotte, North Carolina, was recruiting a full-time bariatric surgeon. But after interviewing, they'd changed their minds, she told MedPage Today . "They said they realized their volumes had diminished enough that 'we don't really need another full-time bariatric surgeon at this point.'" Until she finds a surgery position that she likes, Adkins is now working in a non-clinical role, as a peer-to-peer utilization reviewer for hospitals. Cautious Optimism Rogers said that if surgeons think their hospitals are about to cut back or shutter surgery, they should try really hard to talk the hospital out of it, "because you know, it's going to turn around. It's going to turn around." She's not alone. Many other bariatric surgeons interviewed said they see the GLP-1 agonists as "gateway drugs" that will bring more patients to surgery . Eventually. A common lament among nearly all surgeons interviewed is that fear of surgery or social stigma have long kept 99% of patients with obesity who could be helped by bariatric surgery away from seeking any kind of help. Now, patients are swarming in, said Fernando Elli, MD, one of four surgeons who performs bariatric surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. "They want to see us not because they're interested in bariatric surgery. They want the medications," he said. But many of those patients are learning their insurance won't cover the drugs, or are alarmed that they would have to inject themselves every week indefinitely, or that if they stop, or take a drug holiday, they'll regain the weight. "What we are seeing now with more exposure to these drugs is that patients start the medications but they don't tolerate the side effects. They drop it and say, 'Let's go for surgery,'" Elli said. But that isn't happening a lot, at least not yet. His clinic's surgical volume dropped from 280 in 2023 to 220 this year, which he thinks will be stable until the limitations of the new injectable drugs become clearer, not just to patients but to their doctors as well. Surgeons also think that patients will eventually choose surgery because experience and data show surgery produces a greater and faster weight loss after a year than 52 weeks of GLP-1 injections. "At best the GLP-1s can get you to about 14% total body weight loss; surgery is more like 30%," after a year or 18 months, Rogers said, pointing to a 2022 review in Advances in Therapy . Elli thinks the comparison is 10% to 20% versus 50%, and other surgeons shared different estimates, depending on the patient and the drug. Tsai said a head-to-head comparison hasn't yet been published, and perhaps the drug companies aren't eager to fund such a study. "But at some point the NIH will fund a direct comparison." Sandi Petros, 33, a restorative dental specialist in San Diego, is an example. At 299 pounds, she never wanted to try the drugs because she knew surgery was faster and more permanent, and she wanted to lose the weight for her two young boys. Last week, 1 year after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, she had dropped 102 pounds. She no longer has type 2 diabetes, and her LDL, 140 before surgery, is now normal. Teresa LaMasters, MD, a past president of ASMBS, expressed similar optimism. "In the long run, the drugs will actually help us." "What's going to be the thing that holds patients back on medicines is their cost, access, availability, and how people will tolerate them," said LaMasters, who also is the medical director of bariatric surgery at Unity Point Clinic at Iowa Methodist Hospital in West Des Moines. Another trend that can improve the prospect of surgery's revival is that several insurance companies have reportedly dropped some of their more rigorous requirements for bariatric preparation, and some have dropped the need for prior authorization review. Additionally, some health plans are capping how much they'll pay for the GLP-1 drugs, if they cover them at all. The Mayo Clinic has capped that lifetime spending at $20,000, Elli said. An Uptick Already Farah Husain, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, said her hospital has seen a small uptick in surgical patients from 550 in 2023 to about 580 this year. "I'm seeing patients sometimes with BMIs of 60, 70, 80, and no one has ever mentioned surgery to them before," she said. "The only reason they come in is because they saw something about the medications. These are people who need such a significant amount of weight loss, they need surgery on top of the drugs." Some private practice surgeons contracted with Kaiser Permanente to perform bariatric surgery for the health plan's enrollees are also reporting a bump in patients in recent months. "The GLPs have thrust a huge new cost on the Kaiser system that is probably unsustainable," said Billy, a Kaiser contractor. Lately, he said, "we're seeing more Kaiser volume than we've ever seen before." Many clinicians interviewed said that just as cancer treatment often requires a combination of surgery and drugs, combination therapy will be the treatment plan for many patients with obesity. They may take the medications to lower weight to better prepare them for surgery, or after surgery after they reach a plateau. A possible offsetting factor is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposal last month that it would pay for the new weight loss drugs in 2026, if the new administration approves. Making Adjustments The Mayo Clinic has made adjustments to respond to the change in surgical volume, Elli said. "We have shifted our practice so that we have more non-surgical practitioners to accommodate those patients who don't want surgery." Nationally, he expects many bariatric surgeons will adjust as well, diversifying their surgical repertoire. "Surgeons who are only doing bariatric surgery need to reconfigure," he said. "Current bariatric fellowship graduates may find it difficult to obtain a pure bariatric practice and may need to alternate with acute care surgery." For many bariatric surgeons, the prospect of taking on general surgery -- where often it's one-and-done -- goes against the reason they chose weight-loss surgery as a specialty. They wanted longer-term relationships with their patients. "We operate on the patients and ideally follow them for as long as they're willing to come back, to make sure they're maintaining weight loss and healthy habits and help them along the way," Husain said. "The theme in our world is that obesity is a chronic disease." The Payers Aren't Helping Benjamin Clapp, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Hospitals of Providence Memorial Campus in El Paso, Texas, chairs the ASMBS task force that tracks bariatric surgical volume every year. He said neither the official totals for 2023 nor estimates for 2024 are collected yet. However, data from centers accredited by the American College of Surgeons, which perform about 80% to 83% of all bariatric surgeries in this country, show that volumes were down by 5.5%, or more than 12,000 weight-reduction surgeries, in 2023. But 2024 is expected to be "much, much worse because of the overwhelming impact that the GLP-1 drugs have had, which really took off this year," Clapp said. This year in El Paso he expects to perform 120 bariatric surgeries, compared with 180 in 2023. "These are massive decreases in volume, at least for me," he said. "I went from seeing 15 to 20 new bariatric patients weekly to one to three." The Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Columbia University said earlier this year that it expected a 10% to 20% decline in 2024 from 2023. That drop in bariatric demand is one of two big reasons why Clapp has made a career decision to leave the solo practice he has built up for the last 18 years. Sometime next year, he plans to either take an academic job and devote more time to studying how brain receptors function in rats with obesity, or become an employed hospital surgeon. On staff, he would do any variety of procedures and probably far fewer bariatric procedures on which he has built his practice. The other reason is declining reimbursement. Clapp said Medicare rates for common bariatric surgery CPT codes have dropped since 2019, despite rising inflation in practice costs. A check with Medicare's physician fee lookup tool shows he's right. For example, the national payment amount for a laparoscopic gastric bypass with small intestine reconstruction dropped from $1,937.82 to $1,842.13 between 2019 and 2024. Insurance companies generally follow Medicare. What's worse is that consultation pay has also been going down or has disappeared. "Things are bundled more, so you get paid less overall," he said. "It's like death by 1,000 cuts." Solo private practice "has just become a model that's not sustainable, for myself or for my family." Clapp has filled in some of the blanks with other foregut surgeries, such as cholecystectomies and hernia repairs, but reimbursement rates have dropped for those, too, especially relative to his own practice costs. San Diego bariatric surgeon William Fuller, MD, said Scripps Mercy Hospital, one of the largest programs on the West Coast, will have performed around 800 bariatric surgeries in 2024, down from the prior year's 1,000. But he doesn't expect a year-over-year decline in perpetuity as some of his counterparts fear. "Who knows when there will be a stabilization of this whole phenomenon?" he asked rhetorically during an interview with a public relations representative present. "But we see patients who tried some of these medications -- when they had access to them -- and they haven't had the same success. They had some rebound, regained weight, or just didn't have success to begin with." Bottom line: "It's all about sustainability, which is always the case with medications," he said. "How long can you remain on them, and for efficacy purposes and economic purposes, how are these medications going to be funded, with what kind of subsidies? There's still a lot of moving parts."The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday closed 43 points lower on selling pressure especially at the insurance, telecom and banks. The foreign institutions were seen net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.42% to 10,394.32 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,465 points. As much as 63% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.77bn or 0.29% to QR617.32bn primarily on the back of microcap segments. The Gulf funds were seen increasingly into net profit booking in the main market, which saw as many as 0.15mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.71mn change hands across 47 deals. The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase. The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. However, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index lost 0.42%, the All Islamic Index by 0.41% and the All Share Index by 0.37% in the main market. The insurance sector index shed 0.93%, telecom (0.74%), banks and financial services (0.45%), industrials (0.38%) and consumer goods and services (0.02%); while real estate and transport gained 0.31% and 0.07% respectively. Major shakers in the main bourse included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Islamic Bank, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Inma Holding, Ooredoo, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco and Ooredoo. In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value. Nevertheless, Qatari Investors Group, Doha Bank, Meeza, Medicare Group, United Development Company and Ezdan were among the gainers in the main market. The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR32.19mn compared with net buyers of QR1.5mn on November 20. The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased noticeably to QR8.59mn against QR1.42mn the previous day. The Gulf individual investors’ net selling expanded marginally to QR0.95mn compared to QR0.4mn on Wednesday. However, the domestic institutions’ net buying grew substantially to QR25.81mn against QR3.5mn on November 20. The Qatari individuals’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR11.04mn compared to QR2.69mn the previous day. The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR2.63mn against net sellers of QR1.56mn on Wednesday. The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.23mn compared with net sellers of QR4.21mn on November 20. The Arab institutions had not major net exposure for the fourth straight session. Trade volumes in the main market shot up 18% to 130.36mn shares, value by 25% to QR371.4mn and transactions by 37% to 15,478. The venture market saw a 41% shrinkage in trade volumes to 0.55mn equities and 41% in value to QR1.44mn but on flat deals at 79. Related Story Earnings prospects, regional geopolitical optimism lift QSE Earnings outlook lifts QSE sentiments as index vaults 224 points
Group-IB to Demonstrate Proprietary Network Graph Analysis solution at Black Hat MEA 2024 in RiyadhNone
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) (the “Company” or “Macerich”) announced today that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of 18,000,000 shares of common stock. The Company expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 2,700,000 additional shares of its common stock. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of this offering together with cash on hand, including from recent sales under the Company’s “at the market” offering program, to repay the $478.0 million mortgage loan with a fixed effective interest rate of approximately 9.0% and which is secured by its Washington Square property. Pending such use, the Company may invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing deposit accounts. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as the lead bookrunner and representative of the underwriters of the offering. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, by contacting: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by email at Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any such offer or sale will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement relating to these securities. About the Company Macerich is a fully integrated, self-managed, self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). As a leading owner, operator, and developer of high-quality retail real estate in densely populated and attractive U.S. markets, Macerich’s portfolio is concentrated in California, the Pacific Northwest, Phoenix/Scottsdale, and the Metro New York to Washington, D.C. corridor. Developing and managing properties that serve as community cornerstones, Macerich currently owns 45 million square feet of real estate, consisting primarily of interests in 41 retail centers. Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the federal securities laws, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which reflect the Company’s expectations regarding future events and plans, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s potential grant to the underwriters of an option to purchase additional shares of common stock and the Company’s anticipated use of net proceeds from the offering. Generally, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “scheduled,” “predicts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and involve a number of known and unknown assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be difficult to predict and beyond the control of the Company, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. INVESTOR CONTACT: Samantha Greening, AVP, Investor Relations, Samantha.Greening@macerich.comWASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members, a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members, a key part of the Democratic base but gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. “Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success - Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice Friday night. For decades, labor unions have sided with Democrats and been greeted largely with hostility by Republicans. But with Trump's populist appeal, his working-class base saw a decent share of union rank-and-file voting for Republicans this year, even as major unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers , endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the White House race. Trump sat down with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union leadership and members this year, and when he emerged from that meeting, he boasted that a significant chunk of union voters were backing him. Of a possible Teamsters endorsement, he said, “Stranger things have happened.” The Teamsters ultimately declined to endorse either Trump, the former president, or Harris, the vice president, though leader Sean O’Brien had a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, told the Associated Press that O’Brien met with more than a dozen House Republicans this past week to lobby on behalf of Chavez-DeRemer. “Chavez-DeRemer would be an excellent choice for labor secretary and has his backing,” Deniz said. The work of the Labor Department affects workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employers' rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. On Election Day, Trump deepened his support among voters without a college degree after running just slightly ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with noncollege voters in 2020. Trump made modest gains, earning a clear majority of this group, while only about 4 in 10 supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. Roughly 18% of voters in this year's election were from union households, with Harris winning a majority of the group. But Trump's performance among union members kept him competitive and helped him win key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Chavez-DeRemer was one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act, which would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The measure would weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Trump's first term saw firmly pro-business policies from his appointees across government, including those on the National Labor Relations Board. Trump, a real estate developer and businessman before winning the presidency, generally has backed policies that would make it harder for workers to unionize. During his recent campaign, Trump criticized union bosses, and at one point suggested that UAW members should not pay their dues. His first administration did expand overtime eligibility rules, but not nearly as much as Democrats wanted, and a Trump-appointed judge has since struck down the Biden administration’s more generous overtime rules. He has stacked his incoming administration with officials who worked on the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” blueprint, which includes a sharp swing away from Biden’s pro-union policies. “Chavez-DeRemer’s record suggests she understands the value of policies that strengthen workers’ rights and economic security,” said Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of National Employment Law Project, which is backed my many of the country’s major labor unions. “But the Trump administration’s agenda is fundamentally at odds with these principles, threatening to roll back workplace protections, undermine collective bargaining, and prioritize corporate profits over the needs of working people. This is where her true commitment to workers will be tested.” Other union leaders also issued praise, but also sounded a note of caution. “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching ... as she moves through the confirmation process,” the president of the National Education Association, Becky Pringle, said in a statement, “and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler welcomed the choice while taking care to note Trump's history of opposing polices that support unions. "It remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” Shuler said.
With this year drawing to a close and schools shut for holidays, the 48th edition of the Chennai Book Fair, organised by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), saw a steady stream of visitors over the weekend. Over 900 stalls have been set up at the fair. With a melting planet Earth on an ice cream cone in one stall and a cut-out of Charlie Chaplin at another, the book fair was brimming with people browsing through the stock to find their perfect pick. “Considerable awareness has been generated about the book fair’s new schedule, resulting in a significant increase in footfall. Fiction has always been a big draw for the crowds, and we have stocked up on the frequently picked up titles too,” said S. Bavani, owner of Eswar Book Centre. Several stalls are offering discounted books to entice customers. “We have a range of books priced at ₹100, and a special promotion where customers could buy 10 books and get two of them free of charge,” said Swurnambal S, owner of Sakthi Book House. The Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation was abuzz with about 119 titles of children’s books in Tamil and translated works by Indian authors from across the country. “The children’s set for ages 5-14 is the highlight of the year as it is based on various values a child can relate to,” said Appansamy. M, advisor to the Corporation. Apart from this, stalls by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department and Chennai International Book Fair have also been set up. A stall by the State Prison Department has set up a drop box encouraging people to donate books. The American Center has also set up a booth showcasing educational and exchange opportunities in the United States, offering resources and exclusive programme for students, experts, researchers, and faculty. Patrons can also avail of an American Center discounted membership fee and eLibrary USA orientation. “This year’s fair has seen a welcome increase in family attendance, with many children joining their parents,” said Manikan, a volunteer at the Pure Cinema stall. They have as many as 15 titles that are bestsellers this year. In addition, most people this year are very happy about the resting area available within the book fair. “We come every year, and I have a severe back pain making it difficult to walk around the stalls. The rest area with chairs has been very useful,” said 65-year-old S. Sathiyavani from Avadi. Published - December 29, 2024 07:26 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Chennai / books and literature
Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgeryBusiness award winners revealed
GCC-4001 by Artiva Biotherapeutics for Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma (AITL)/Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy: Likelihood of ApprovalOn paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nro
MVD-1 by Eolo Pharma for Obesity: Likelihood of Approval
In recent years, Apple has been actively revising its hardware strategy to reduce reliance on third-party manufacturers. One of the most significant moves in this direction has been the company’s intention to completely sever ties with Nvidia, a supplier of graphics processors and AI accelerators. As part of this strategy, Apple has ramped up its research and development efforts to create its own AI accelerators. The relationship between Apple and Nvidia dates back to the early 2000s when Nvidia graphics cards were first introduced in Mac computers. However, even then, tensions between the companies were evident. Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO at the time, openly expressed skepticism about Nvidia’s technology, alleging potential loans from the animation studio Pixar. According to The Information , Nvidia’s top manager denied the accusation, but Jobs disregarded the denial throughout the meeting. Nvidia, on its part, has also found working with Apple challenging, viewing the company as overly demanding for a customer that has not consistently ranked among its top ten clients. Over the years, disagreements persisted, with Apple voicing concerns about Nvidia’s energy-inefficient graphics cards, which produced significant heat -— particularly problematic for mobile solutions. Despite Nvidia’s dominance in the AI accelerator market, holding a 70% to 95% share in recent years, Apple has chosen to forgo reliance on the company. It’s worth noting that until recently, Nvidia hardware was vital for various functions on Apple’s AI project platform. However, Apple has recognized the importance of developing in-house solutions to eliminate dependence on external partners. Interestingly, Apple hasn’t purchased Nvidia hardware directly but instead accessed it through Amazon and Microsoft cloud services. According to reports, this arrangement may not continue, as Apple has engaged Broadcom to work on developing its own AI accelerator. Since the introduction of the M1 chip in November 2020, Apple’s first in-house processor for its Mac series, Apple has demonstrated its willingness to take bold steps. This decision has already led to a break with Intel, which has historically been Apple’s primary processor supplier. Since then, Apple has continued its push toward full autonomy, exploring the creation of its own AI accelerators to replace Nvidia’s technology. Nvidia is one of the leading manufacturers of GPUs, and many Apple products — especially in the MAC and gaming segment — depend on Nvidia’s performance. If Apple decides to end its collaboration with Nvidia, this could impact the performance of its devices, potentially reducing consumer demand for its products. However, if Apple successfully develops alternative solutions or relies on its technology, it could mitigate these risks. This shift, akin to automating trading on stock markets or leveraging a stock screener to identify undervalued opportunities, demands substantial time and resources. Apple plans to launch new AI accelerators, codenamed Baltra, in 2026. These accelerators are expected to be produced at TSMC facilities using cutting-edge N3P process technology. Notably, this same process will debut in the iPhone 17 Pro, underscoring its significance for Apple’s future devices. The potential break with Nvidia might also raise concerns among investors, potentially impacting Apple’s stock price if perceived as a sign of innovation or strategy issues. Apple stock is closely monitored by investors and regularly appears on stock screeners for its strong fundamentals and market influence. A poorly managed transition away from Nvidia could dampen investor sentiment, while a successful move could enhance confidence in Apple’s vision and drive its stock higher. The end of Apple’s partnership with Nvidia could have far-reaching implications for the AI and graphics solutions markets. By striving for complete independence, Apple is making a decisive move toward self-sufficiency and innovation, setting the stage for changes that will reshape not only its business but also the broader tech industry.Air Products And Chemicals: This Dividend Aristocrat Remains Buyable Now
Radical Jaguar rebrand and new logo sparks ire online NEW YORK (AP) — A promotional video for a rebrand of British luxury car brand Jaguar is being criticized online for showing models in brightly colored outfits — and no car. The rebrand, which includes a new logo, is slated to launch Dec. 2 during Miami Art Week, when the company will unveil a new electric model. But Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India’s Tata Motors Ltd., has been promoting it online. The Jaguar brand is in the middle of a transition to going all-electric. “Copy Nothing,” marketing materials read. “We’re here to delete the ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing.” Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations DALLAS (AP) — The nation is set to mark 61 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Even after over six decades, conspiracy theories about what happened that day still swirl and the desire to follow every thread of information hasn’t waned. President-elect Donald Trump made promises over the summer that if reelected he would declassify the remaining records. At this point, only a few thousand of millions of pages of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released. And those who have studied what's been released so far say that the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations even if the remaining files are declassified. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum? NEW YORK (AP) — A previously unknown musical work written by composer Frederic Chopin appears to have been found in a library in New York City. The Morgan Library & Museum says the untitled and unsigned piece is the first new manuscript of the Romantic era virtuoso to be discovered in nearly a century. Robinson McClellan, the museum’s curator, says he stumbled across the work in May while going through a collection brought to the Manhattan museum years earlier. He worked with outside experts to verify the document's authenticity. But there’s debate whether the waltz is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland is spewing lava from a fissure in its seventh eruption since December. Iceland's seismic monitors said the eruption started with little warning late Wednesday and created a long fissure but looked to be smaller than eruptions in August and May. Around 50 houses were evacuated after the Civil Protection agency issued the alert, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster. The repeated eruptions over the past year have caused damage to the town of Grindavík and forced people to relocate. Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5 VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister said was every parent’s nightmare. Officials earlier said an American and two Danish tourists also had died following reports that multiple people had been sickened in town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in Thailand. Later Thursday, Britain said a British woman also died and the media in the U.K. identified her as 28-year-old Simone White. US ahead in AI innovation, easily surpassing China in Stanford's new ranking The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI industry across a variety of dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. Following the U.S. and China were the United Kingdom, India and the United Arab Emirates. Pop star Ed Sheeran helps favorite soccer team sign player before getting on stage with Taylor Swift It turns out British pop star Ed Sheeran is also good at recruiting soccer players. Sheeran is a minority shareholder at English soccer team Ipswich Town and it needed his help over the summer to get a player to join the club. Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton tells a Soccerex industry event in Miami: “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground, just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift. Hopefully that was a key part in getting the player across the line.” Ashton didn’t disclose the player in question, saying only: “He’s certainly scoring a few goals.”
Saquon Barkley hits 2K yards, Eagles crush Cowboys to win divisionHAL BRADY: Welcome New Year 2025
Joe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons for 'Peach' and 'Blossom' WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. 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 announcing plans Monday to hand more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, 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. 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. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. New Zealanders save more than 30 stranded whales by lifting them on sheets WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — More than 30 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in New Zealand have been safely returned to the ocean after conservation workers and residents helped to refloat them by lifting them on sheets. New Zealand’s conservation agency said four whales died. New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot and pilot whales are especially prolific stranders. The agency praised as “incredible” the efforts made by hundreds of people to help save the foundering pod. A Māori cultural ceremony for the three adult whales and one calf that died in the stranding took place Monday. Rainbow-clad revelers hit Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s pride parade RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers have gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual gay pride parade, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Rainbow-colored flags, towels and fans abounded among the crowd mostly made up of young revelers, who danced and sang along to music blaring from speakers. While the atmosphere was festive, some spoke of the threat of violence LGBTQ+ people face in Brazil. At least 230 LGBTQ+ Brazilians were victims of violent deaths in 2023, according to the umbrella watchdog group Observatory of LGBTQ+ deaths and violence in Brazil.Logan Paul appears to have agreed a fight with John Fury, the father of the former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, and also Tommy Fury , who beat Paul's brother Jake Paul in a boxing match, last year. The Paul brothers continue to soar when it comes to superstar appeal as, while Logan swashbuckles his way through the world of pro wrestling, Jake levels up his box office status in prizefighting. In his last bout, Jake defeated Mike Tyson in an eight-round fight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. And, though, there were plenty of critics over the way in which the Tyson bout developed, the reality of a worldwide global audience in excess of 100 million people on Netflix bodes well for Paul's return to the ring. Perhaps the Paul brothers will even find a way to compete on the same fight card together again, and, if they were to do that, there is a ready-made opponent to challenge Logan. And Logan appears game, too. Tyson Fury's physique is compared to Oleksandr Usyk's just two weeks before massive rematch. Logan Paul & John Fury Agree Boxing Fight In an Instagram video, John Fury issued his call-out of Paul. "This is a message to Logan Paul," said 'Big' John. "You keep going on about Tommy Fury not wanting to fight your brother." "Here’s one for you, my friend. He does want to fight your brother, and I’ll tell you what else ... I will fight you on the undercard." Fury continued: "As soon as possible... ASAP. I’m sick of people saying, ‘I won’t do this and I won’t do that.’ I will show you how I’ll do. Tommy will fight your brother as early as end of February or end of January, and I’ll fight you on the undercard. You’re a lot younger than me, we know that. You’re a 15 stone man, but I won’t do as other fighters do ... I will let my punches go at you. I’m sick of the critics saying, ‘I won’t do this’ or ‘I won’t do that’, and ‘I’m a coward.’ "I will show you how much of a coward I am; I will fight you anywhere in the world except America on your brother and Tommy’s undercard. Get back to me if you’re interested." "I will fight you, Logan Paul, and I will throw punches at you." "I will let my hands go and I won’t s*** myself... I’ll let my f****** hands go. So, if you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll fight you on your brother and Tommy’s undercard wherever it may be in the world." Logan Paul & Jake Paul's pro records (as of 11/12/24) Logan Paul Jake Paul Fights 1 12 Wins 0 11 Losses 1 1 Logan issued the two-word response below to Fury's call-out. "Start training." Tommy Fury was originally supposed to fight Darren Till at a Misfits event but recently withdrew from the contest. It is unclear, as yet, whether Fury will slot into a fight with Jake Paul, which would arguably be a much bigger event, instead. Manny Pacquiao has named the three opponents who he'd want to fight next in boxing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression.” “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim’s speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn’t elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defence technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military co-operation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.
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