Furthermore, the potential for interest rate hikes in the future poses a risk to traders heavily invested in long-term bonds. A sudden shift in monetary policy could lead to a swift repricing of long-duration securities, causing bond prices to fall and yields to rise. Traders must remain vigilant and adaptable to changing market dynamics to navigate these potential challenges and protect their investment portfolios.Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” World leaders have paid tribute to Mr Carter, including US President Joe Biden, who was one of the first politicians to endorse Mr Carter for president in 1976 and said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.” Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Carter was “a principled man who dedicated his life to seeking to advance the cause of peace across the world”. He added: “On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my sympathies to President Carter’s children and extended family, to President Joe Biden, to the people of the United States, and to his wide circle of colleagues and friends across the globe.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally, the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center managed to virtually eliminate Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.In the heart of Wuhan, among the swirl of crowds and the cacophony of city life, a young man from Shenyang found not only a new business venture but also a deeper connection with the woman he loved. And in the simplicity of selling ice cream on the streets, Wang Lei discovered the true meaning of love, sacrifice, and the beauty of following one's heart.
China's new drone draws debate over its potential usesWhat The Alex Murdaugh Murders Teach Us About Phone Security
Celtics injury report: 2 starters downgraded for Pistons game Wednesday
Title: New Preview of "Bleach: Soul Awakening" - Sosuke Aizen Shines in A cautious tone dominated markets before a key US jobs report that may give traders insight on the Federal Reserve’s policy path. US equity futures edged lower. Modest gains in the dollar put the greenback on course to rise for the ninth week out of the last 10. Treasury yields ticked higher. Oil extended its slide to a third day. Economists estimate that US nonfarm payrolls rose by 220,000 in November as hiring rebounded from weather-related and strike disruptions. It’s the final payrolls report before the Fed’s next interest-rate decision, with swaps trading putting the odds of a quarter-point reduction later this month at around 65%. “If we get a surprisingly hot number, you can expect pricing to come back more to 50-50,” said Michael Brown, a senior strategist at Pepperstone. “Given the time of the year, market volumes are lighter than usual, so you are more likely to see an outsize reaction — and that’s another reason for people to sit on their hands.” France’s week of political tumult was set to end positively in markets. The nation’s bonds outperformed euro-area peers after National Rally leader Marine Le Pen told Bloomberg News a budget could be delivered within weeks. The euro was steady. The CAC 40 index climbed more than 1%, rising for a seventh day in the longest winning streak in almost 10 months. Friday’s US labor market reading will have a big say over whether the S&P 500 can build on its 27% rally this year. Excitement around artificial intelligence and optimism that President-elect Donald Trump’s policies will boost US markets have propelled the benchmark toward its best year since 2019. Bank of America Corp. strategist Michael Hartnett said that powerful rally in US stocks as well as cryptocurrencies has left the asset classes looking frothy. The S&P 500’s price-to-book ratio has surged to 5.3 times in 2024, approaching a peak of 5.5 hit in March 2000 during the height of the technology bubble, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. BofA’s Hartnett said there’s a high risk of “overshoot” in early 2025 if the S&P 500 nears 6,666 points — about 10% above current levels. On Bitcoin, Hartnett said that with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, the digital asset was comparable in size to the 11th largest economy in the world. On Friday, bitcoin pulled back from a record high set above $103,000, with its slump reaching as much as 7% at one point. In Asian trading, shares in China rose in a sign that investors were positioning for fresh economic support measures from a key policy meeting starting on Wednesday. South Korea was another focal point, with the won paring losses from earlier declines after the nation’s Army Special Forces Commander said there will be no second martial law. The country’s benchmark stock index fell as much as 1.8% before paring the drop. In commodities, oil added to its declines on concerns that OPEC ’s decision to push back the revival of halted production won’t prevent a surplus forming next year. Corporate Highlights: Key events this week: Some of the main moves in markets: Stocks Currencies Cryptocurrencies Bonds Commodities This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. With assistance from Sagarika Jaisinghani and Divya Patil. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.The incident occurred during peak trading hours on a volatile market day, exacerbating the frustration felt by users who were trying to capitalize on market opportunities or manage their portfolios. Many took to social media to express their displeasure with the National Securities app, with some even reporting losses due to their inability to execute timely trades. This sudden disruption in service not only tarnished the reputation of National Securities but also eroded the trust of their loyal customers who rely on the app for their investment needs.Great news for Chelsea fans as the club continues to make headlines with their latest acquisition! The Blues have once again made a huge statement in the transfer market by securing a new signing who is being compared to none other than Neymar. With a transfer fee of 61 million euros, this new addition is already being touted as a bargain buy and a potential game-changer for the team.
Mae Sot, a town on the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak province, is notorious as a hub for cross-border human trafficking and transnational organised crime run by Chinese mafia syndicates. Despite this, government action has been grossly inadequate to combat the problem. During a recent visit to Mae Sot to review anti-human trafficking efforts, Pol Lt Gen Prachuab Wongsuk, acting deputy national police chief, identified the town as the country's top hotspot for cross-border human trafficking, online scams, gambling, and other illegal activities. This is not surprising. Each year, thousands of victims from various countries are lured by fake high-paying job offers to work in Thailand, but are funnelled through Mae Sot to Myawaddy, Myanmar's border town opposite Mae Sot, to work for Chinese scam operations. According to victims, they are swept through immigration at Bangkok's international airports and driven through border checkpoints to Mae Sot without issue. Some are even flown directly to Mae Sot. Undeniably, local corruption is involved. Once in Myawaddy, the victims are imprisoned, their phones confiscated, they are forced into debt bondage, and are forced to scam people worldwide. Those who refuse or fail to meet quotas face torture, including beatings, electrocution, and other abuse. They must pay a ransom if they want to be released. While the Chinese operators carry out the torture, the facilities are guarded by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), two armed groups operating in Myanmar's Karen State. In addition to Thais, human trafficking victims come from various countries, including Laos, the Philippines, Iraq, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Morocco, Kenya, and others. On Oct 26, the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, a human rights NGO, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, calling for the immediate rescue of 110 victims and action to stop Chinese syndicates using Mae Sot to traffic people into Myanmar. The group also appealed to the BGF, DKBA, the Defence Ministry, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for rescue operations. Nothing has happened. Several embassies have contacted the network to help rescue their citizens held by Chinese mafia groups, pushing the number of human trafficking victims seeking help to over 500. Thailand can no longer ignore this issue. According to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, online scams run by these Chinese criminal networks cost Thailand at least 50 million baht every day. This not only harms the country's productivity but also worsens its struggling economy. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that East and Southeast Asia lost between $18–37 billion to online scams in 2023 -- around 648 billion to 1.3 trillion baht. Meanwhile, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) estimated these syndicates globally stole nearly $64 billion a year, or about 2.28 trillion baht. Apart from economic damage, the criminal networks have co-opted political and business elites in host countries, worsening corruption, fueling money politics and undermining democratic principles. While the scam compounds operate in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, Thailand cannot deny its role as a transit hub for trafficking victims exploited by these Chinese syndicates. According to Usip, thousands of victims from 60 countries have been trafficked and enslaved in the Southeast Asian scam industry. This level of crime would not be possible if Thailand were more effective in stopping it. The acting deputy police chief recently visited a group of scam victims in Mae Sot on Nov 12. His team found a group of Chinese people who had arrived suspiciously, claiming they were tourists heading to Pattaya but had been unknowingly driven to Mae Sot by a taxi driver. The police freed all concerned, including the taxi driver, and announced to the media that they had rescued a group of Chinese people from human trafficking. Case closed. This is not just inefficiency; it's a dangerous failure of duty that allows human trafficking to continue unchecked. It's true that the power, reach, and advanced technology of the cyber fraud industry require international cooperation to stop and punish them. However, Thailand cannot ignore its responsibility to take legal action against crimes happening within its borders -- especially against corrupt officials and those involved in money laundering. Additionally, the government must address the telecommunications infrastructure enabling these online call centres. Thailand must stop being a silent partner in this transnational crime before more lives are destroyed.Liverpool Strikes It Rich! Celebrations as They Let Go, 32-Year-Old Flops: From a £150 Million Valuation to Just £6 Million
Assam bans consumption of beef in hotels, public spacesIn the fast-paced world of stock trading, reliability and efficiency are paramount. However, recently, users of the National Securities Chao Gu APP were left frustrated and disappointed as the platform experienced a major system malfunction, causing widespread disruptions and hindering users' ability to carry out transactions effectively.
China National Social Security Fund Corporation (CNSSF) announced that Xia Zhengyan's qualification as an independent director has been approved by the relevant authorities. Xia Zhengyan, a seasoned professional in the financial industry, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the board of directors of CNSSF, adding further strength and diversity to the leadership team.The emphasis on "moderate easing" in the new policy stance underscores the authorities' commitment to striking a delicate balance between stimulating economic growth and managing risks. Excessive easing may lead to asset bubbles, inflationary pressures, and financial imbalances, while abrupt tightening could disrupt market stability, dampen investor sentiment, and impede economic recovery. By adopting a measured and gradual approach to easing, policymakers can navigate the complexities of the economic landscape and promote sustainable growth over the long term.
Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility
NoneAs fans eagerly await the release of "Moonlight Bang!", anticipation continues to build for what is sure to be a box office hit. With its stellar cast, talented director, and uproarious storyline, this comedy is poised to set a new standard for Chinese cinema and solidify its place as a must-watch film of the year.Stingray Acquires Loupe Art to Enhance Connected TV and Digital Signage Offerings
Shock, grief at South Korea air crash site
