GDS Holdings Shares Are Up Today: What You Need To Know
RECAP: Asian stocks nudged higher yesterday while the dollar was firm, keeping the yen rooted near five-month lows in thin year-end trading. China's plans for massive bond issuance in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. The SET index moved in a range of 1,366.71 and 1,410.02 points this week, before closing yesterday at 1,401.46, up 2.7% from the previous week, with daily turnover averaging 30.83 billion baht. Institutional investors were net buyers of 3.1 billion baht, followed by foreign investors at 1.5 billion. Retail investors were net sellers of 3.4 billion baht, followed by brokerage firms at 1.2 billion. NEWSMAKERS: Chinese policymakers plan to sell a record 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury bonds in 2025, triple the 2024 figure, in a move aimed at bolstering the slowing economy. Policy support late this year has put the Chinese economy on track to hit a growth target of around 5%, officials said on Thursday. They also announced a 2.7% upward revision in 2023 GDP to 129.4 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion). The World Bank has raised its forecast for China's economic growth in 2025 to 4.5%, from 4.1% predicted earlier, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down. US consumer confidence unexpectedly sank in December for the first time in three months, falling to 104.7, on concerns about the outlook for the economy amid uncertainty about the policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration. US retail sales rose 3.8% between Nov 1 and Dec 24, as last-minute shopping was brisk amid intense holiday season promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Thursday. The jump was well above the 3.1% increase seen in the same period last year. The Bank of Japan could see a net loss of up to 2 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) in fiscal 2027 or 2028 if it raises its short-term policy rate, now 0.25%, to 2%, according to an estimate published by the central bank. India expects the economy to grow at around 6.5% in the fiscal year through March, against 8.2% a year before, after the economy slowed unexpectedly in the July-September quarter. Average housing rents in Chinese cities slid to a four-year low last month due to supply gluts and job market weakness. In 100 major cities in China, rents averaged 2,636 yuan ($361) per 100 square metres, the lowest since 2020, data from the research firm Wind shows. Nippon Steel of Japan says there is public support for its proposal to acquire US Steel in the regions where the steel mills are located. A US foreign investment committee has referred the decision on the $15-billion deal to President Joe Biden, who has until Jan 10 to decide. He and successor Donald Trump have both expressed opposition to the purchase. Honda Motor and Nissan Motor on Monday signed a basic agreement to pursue merger talks, envisioning a new entity being listed by August 2026. Mitsubishi Motors, 24.5% owned by Nissan, also signed the agreement and will likely be part of the group. Toyota Motor said global sales were down 0.2% to 984,348 units in November on lacklustre demand and a pause in production at two plants. Production declined 9.4% year-on-year to 966,921 units. Toyota plans to build an EV factory in Shanghai for its luxury Lexus brand, Nikkei reports, at a time when many foreign automakers are struggling in China. The factory is expected to open in 2027. Alibaba has agreed to merge its South Korean operations with the online platform of Seoul-based E-Mart. Meanwhile, AliExpress International and the Korean platform Gmarket are creating a 50-50 joint venture that will own 100% of Gmarket. The new entity could be valued at $4 billion. Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. Turkey's central bank on Thursday lowered interest rates for the first time in almost two years after consumer inflation showed signs of easing. The one-week repo rate was cut to 47.5% from 50%, the first change in eight months. Uber Technologies said it remained committed to Taiwan after the island's antitrust regulator rejected its plan to buy the local Foodpanda business of Delivery Hero for $950 million. China Eastern Airlines will launch the first commercial cross-border service operated by the China-built C919 passenger jet between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Jan 1. The Ministry of Finance needs to propose a new candidate for Bank of Thailand chairman, after the Council of State found Kittiratt Na-Ranong ineligible. The government's legal adviser said he was disqualified because he recently held a political post as an adviser to ex-premier Srettha Thavisin. The Thai banking sector is expected to experience its first loan contraction in 15 years in 2024, driven by higher repayments by borrowers and tighter lending rules, according to Kasikorn Research Center. The Association of Investment Management Companies has placed CP Axtra (CPAXT) shares on a watch list for Thai ESG and Thai CG mutual funds, given concerns over governance following its recent multibillion-baht investment in an affiliate's property venture. The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed an agreement between the central bank and the Ministry of Finance to keep the inflation target in a range of 1% to 3% for 2025. Car production in Thailand fell 28.2% in November to 117,251 units due to weak sales and exports, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Tuesday. The year-on-year drop was the 16th straight month that production had declined. Thailand's manufacturing production index dropped 3.58% in November from a year earlier, the industry ministry said on Friday, missing analysts' forecasts. Thai exports are on track to achieve a historic high of US$300 billion this year, up 5.2% from 2023, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday. Shipments reached $25.6 billion in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth with an 8.2% year-on-year gain. The Thai Food Processors Association expects the ready-made food market in 2025 to continue to grow by 5-7%, especially in competitively priced products that can compete globally, but warned of unclear US tax increases and their potential impact on Asean. The Excise Department is studying a tax on salt, initially planning to impose it on snack foods, after success in modifying sugar consumption behaviour through a sugar tax. The cabinet this week approved economic stimulus measures, including a second phase of the 10,000-baht handouts to senior citizens in January, and the Easy e-Receipt 2.0 programme running from Jan 16 to Feb 28. The latter allows consumers to deduct up to 50,000 baht in approved spending from taxable income. The national wage committee approved minimum wage increases to 400 baht a day in Phuket, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong and Koh Samui, and to 372 baht in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Other provinces will see a 2% increase from the current range of 330 to 370 baht. The government had pushed for a 400-baht rate nationwide, but the committee said that was unrealistic. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates tourism revenue over the year-end holiday period from Dec 28 to Jan 1 at 62 billion baht, with 4.41 million domestic tourist trips and 1.56 million foreign visitors. The Thai General Insurance Association expects total insurance premiums in 2025 to grow between 1.5% and 2.5%, better than this year, supported by increased vehicle registrations, e-commerce logistics growth, the ageing society and tourism recovery. PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) will allocate 60.4 billion baht for new investments between 2025 and 2029, aiming to maintain its status as a top oil retailer, support non-oil businesses and embark on more investment overseas. COMING UP: On Monday, the US releases monthly pending home sales and China reports manufacturing and composite purchasing managers' index (PMI). On Tuesday, the US reports and the monthly house price index and the American Petroleum Institute reports US crude oil inventories. On Thursday, the US reports manufacturing PMI and price updates. On Friday, Germany releases unemployment data and the US reports the weekly Baker Hughes oil rig count, a leading indicator oil production and demand. STOCKS TO WATCH: Bualuang Securities says tourism-related stocks have strong growth opportunities for 2025. AOT will see increased flight activity, driven by the opening of a new terminal and runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. CENTEL is a top pick in the hotel sector. Its share price is down 19% this year, reflecting temporary impacts from hotel renovations and startup costs for a new Maldives resort. The company is projected to achieve 11% profit growth in 2025. Among other hotel players, AWC is expected to post 17% profit growth in 2025, driven by a hotel revenue recovery. Earnings for MINT are projected to grow 8%, with potential upside if debt restructuring progresses faster than anticipated. Krungthai XSpring recommends stocks in the services, retail and financial sectors for 2025. CPN and CPALL are well-positioned to capitalise on robust consumer spending and favourable economic conditions. BDMS is recommended in healthcare for strong fundamentals and a resilient performance. Recommended finance plays are KBANK, SCB, TTB and KKP as they are poised for growth, benefiting from rising US bond yields. BLA has strong potential to capitalise on favourable economic and financial trends. Both securities firms emphasise the importance of strong fundamentals and the potential for growth in sectors aligned with global economic recovery and consumer demand in 2025. TECHNICAL VIEW: Trinity Securities sees support at 1,390 points and resistance at 1,455. CGS International Securities (Thailand) sees support at 1,385 points and resistance at 1,420.QU Invites Application For Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards
Dunfermline v Falkirk derby descends into chaos as seats damaged and fans arrested after ‘missiles aimed at players’Share Tweet Share Share Email As the global population continues to grow and consumption patterns rise, the pressure on natural resources becomes increasingly unsustainable. To address these challenges, the transition to a sustainable economy has emerged as a vital priority. Waste and circular economy finance have become key enablers in this transformation, offering tools and strategies to minimize waste, enhance resource efficiency, and secure long-term economic stability. Thus, Through the lens of finance, we can unlock innovative solutions that pave the way toward a more resilient future . Understanding Waste and the Circular Economy Waste management and circular economy principles are closely intertwined. Traditional linear economic models rely on a “take-make-dispose” approach, which results in significant resource depletion and waste generation. Conversely, the circular economy aims to retain resources in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value and then recovering and regenerating materials at the end of their lifecycle. Core Principles of the Circular Economy Design for Longevity: Products are designed with durability, repairability, and longevity in mind. Reuse and Recycling: Resources are reused and recycled to reduce dependency on virgin materials. Resource Optimization: Efficient use of resources minimizes waste generation. Turning Waste into Value: Waste is transformed into resources, energy, or products. Finance plays a crucial role in accelerating these principles by funding innovative projects, supporting sustainable businesses, and influencing policy changes. The Role of Finance in Supporting the Circular Economy Driving Innovation Through Investment Investing in research and development is essential for advancing circular economy technologies. Financial institutions, venture capitalists, and impact investors can identify and support startups working on groundbreaking solutions, such as biodegradable materials, modular products, or advanced recycling technologies. For instance, companies creating bio-based packaging or modular electronics often require financial backing to scale their operations. By funding these innovations, investors not only promote sustainability but also tap into emerging profitable markets. Leveraging Green Bonds and Sustainability Loans Green bonds and sustainability-linked loans are among the most effective tools for financing circular economy projects. These financial instruments channel capital toward initiatives that align with environmental and sustainability objectives, including waste management systems, renewable energy projects, and resource-efficient manufacturing processes. Hence, By linking loan terms to sustainability performance metrics, businesses are incentivized to adopt circular economy practices. At the same time, green bonds attract environmentally conscious investors, fostering a mutually beneficial arrangement. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as Catalysts Collaboration between governments and private entities can significantly enhance the scale and efficiency of circular economy projects. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) combine the strengths of public sector support with private sector innovation, enabling the development of initiatives such as waste-to-energy plants, recycling infrastructure, and urban composting programs. Moreover, PPPs can reduce financial risks for private investors, making circular economy projects more appealing and accessible. Overcoming Challenges in Financing Circular Economy Initiatives Despite its potential, financing the circular economy faces several hurdles. Addressing these challenges is crucial to unlocking the full potential of waste reduction and resource efficiency. High Initial Investment Costs Adopting circular systems often requires substantial upfront investments. Building infrastructure for recycling, remanufacturing, and renewable energy production can be prohibitively expensive for many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises . Limited Awareness Among Stakeholders A lack of understanding about circular economy principles and their financial benefits can deter investment. Without widespread awareness, potential investors may fail to recognize the opportunities that this sector offers. Inconsistent Policies and Regulations Fragmented regulations across different regions complicate the implementation of circular economy projects. Harmonized policies, alongside targeted incentives, are needed to create an environment conducive to investment and innovation. Challenges in Measuring Impact Demonstrating the environmental and economic impacts of circular economy projects can be difficult. Transparent reporting and standardized metrics are essential to build trust and confidence among stakeholders. Financial Tools for Supporting the Circular Economy To overcome these obstacles, a variety of financial tools and mechanisms have been developed to support waste management and circular economy initiatives. Circular Economy Investment Funds Specialized investment funds focus on businesses and projects that adhere to circular economy principles. By pooling capital from diverse investors, these funds mitigate risks and amplify impact. Monetizing Carbon Credits Circular practices often lead to reduced carbon emissions. In addition, Businesses can generate additional revenue streams by trading carbon credits associated with these reductions, further incentivizing circular strategies. Crowdfunding Platforms Crowdfunding democratizes access to finance by enabling individual investors to support innovative circular economy projects. Additionally, it raises public awareness and garners community support for sustainable initiatives. Impact Investing Impact investors prioritize projects that deliver measurable environmental and social benefits alongside financial returns. Circular economy initiatives align perfectly with this approach, offering significant impacts and profitability. Insurance Products for Circular Projects Insurance solutions tailored to circular economy projects can mitigate risks associated with innovative technologies or business models. For example, insurers can provide coverage for equipment failures in recycling facilities, reducing financial uncertainties. Real-World Success Stories Several organizations have successfully leveraged financial tools to implement circular economy practices, setting a precedent for others to follow. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation The foundation collaborates with businesses, governments, and academic institutions to accelerate the global shift toward a circular economy. Through initiatives like the Circular Economy 100 program, the foundation explores innovative financing models and fosters collaboration among stakeholders. Ikea’s Circular Commitment Ikea aims to become fully circular by 2030. The company has made significant investments in renewable energy, product longevity, and recycling initiatives, demonstrating the financial viability of circular practices. Waste Management Innovations Companies like TerraCycle and Veolia have embraced circular approaches, transforming waste into valuable resources. Using advanced technologies, these firms recycle materials that were previously considered non-recyclable, showcasing the economic and environmental benefits of circular systems. Paving the Way Forward To fully realize the potential of waste and circular economy finance, collaboration among stakeholders is essential. Governments, financial institutions, businesses, and consumers must join forces to create an enabling environment for circular practices. Recommendations for Policy Support Tax Incentives: Encourage the use of recycled materials by reducing taxes on their production and consumption. Subsidizing Innovation: Provide grants or subsidies for research and development in circular economy technologies. Streamlined Regulations: Establish consistent and clear policies to guide circular economy initiatives. Capacity Building and Awareness Educating stakeholders about the economic and environmental benefits of the circular economy is critical. Workshops, training programs, and public awareness campaigns can help bridge knowledge gaps and foster adoption. Leveraging Technological Advancements Investing in advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence for waste sorting or blockchain for supply chain transparency, can significantly enhance the efficiency of circular systems and reduce costs. Conclusion Waste and circular economy finance represent transformative tools for building a sustainable future. By embracing innovative financial instruments, fostering public-private partnerships, and addressing existing challenges, we can accelerate the global transition to a circular economy. Furthermore, Beyond environmental benefits, this transition offers opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and improved quality of life. Additionally, As stakeholders work collaboratively to implement these principles, the vision of a resilient and sustainable economy moves closer to reality . Related Items: Sustainable Economy , Waste & Circular Economy Finance Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments
Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.NHL Insider Links Morgan Frost to the Chicago BlackhawksWant a stress-free home? Start with a furniture set
From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turn
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Sausalito must preserve Bridgeway’s center lane I am writing in regard to the article published Dec. 16 with the headline, “Sausalito backs plan for bicycle lanes, crosswalks.” As a cyclist, I spoke before the Sausalito Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee to advocate for safety. Like many others who commented, I oppose eliminating Bridgeway’s center median lane for bicycle lanes. I don’t consider it a “turning lane.” It’s a critical evacuation emergency vehicle lane. The report calls this section of road dangerous. But, considering that there have been very few cycling injuries there, I think the continuous center median lane has proven to be quite safe. I think eliminating the center median lane will make Bridgeway much more dangerous. Vehicle drivers use it to give cyclists extra space. Keep in mind that we will still have some cyclists swinging into traffic to avoid wide or double-parked emergency vehicles, trucks and cars. The report suggested bike lanes would improve emergency vehicle access because delivery trucks sometimes block the center median lane. But the lane is 12-feet wide. That should be enough to allow better access for emergency vehicles than a 6-foot bike lane. The center lane should provide more room for other vehicles to move out of the way and for emergency vehicles to weave between lanes. The report understated the potential for blocked traffic. It assumes all emergency vehicles, trucks, service vehicles and autos now stopping in the center median lane will find parking spaces or leave, with nobody double parking. That’s unrealistic. The Sausalito City Council must preserve our center median lane’s multiuse functionality. — Dr. Roger Taylor, Sausalito Conservation League lawsuit is disappointing I want to commend the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors for passing the pilot trail-sharing and e-bike projects. However, I’m extremely disappointed that the three environmental organizations, including the Marin Conservation League (I’m a member) chose to sue the project on procedural grounds based on the California Environmental Quality Act (“Marin judge issues tentative ruling in Mount Tam cycling suit,” Nov. 8). The MMWD staff took great care in choosing pilot trails that would have the least environmental impacts, and that would allow them to collect critical information on how different trail-sharing methods could reduce impacts when they update the road-and-trail plan next year. As an MCL member, I’m disappointed to learn that the board, as a practice, does not consult its membership on these types of decisions. It unilaterally pursued litigation that will be costly to ratepayers and limit the gathering of information critical to reducing impacts. Moreover, I’m saddened for the next generation of environmentalists who ride for our local high school mountain-bike teams. Mountain biking is now the largest sport, by total athletes, in Marin high schools. Yet they have nowhere to train on the mountain. Kids living in central Marin have to travel long distances to train on suitable trails. I wonder if MCL leaders and the other organizations thought about the message they are sending these young environmentalists. I think it is telling them they don’t belong. In contrast, the Sierra Club supported the pilots and trail access for mountain bikes at Sorich Park and at Briones Park in the East Bay. I hope the environmental groups change course before they suddenly realize that the next generation of environmentalists has passed them by on a bike. — Bill Keene, Fairfax Jared Huffman must keep supporting Israel I read Norman Solomon’s Marin Voice commentary imploring Rep. Jared Huffman to end his support of weapons spending for Israel with dismay (“Huffman should not support sending US weapons to Israel,” Dec. 14). I think his words are eloquent yet ignorant. He needs to think critically and question sources. There’s a simple question he doesn’t answer: What should Israel do? Civilians are dying, which is a war crime, but the Geneva Conventions lay fault squarely at the feet of those who draw fire to civilians, not those who shoot at them. Why? Because the law does not expect victims to risk death without returning fire while terrorists shoot from behind civilians. When the enemy uses civilians as shields, which is undeniable here, they bear full culpability for their deaths. Is Solomon suggesting Israel lay down its arms and allow rockets and terrorists to reign down on its citizens with impunity? Sorry, that’s not going to happen again, ever. Reports show there are many terrorist organizations sponsored by Iran. I am concerned the goal is a large Islamic caliphate. From my perspective, Israel faces existential threats from Iran and its proxies. It has responded forcefully and, now, Hamas is nearly done; Hezbollah is highly degraded; Bashar al-Assad has lost power; and Iran is much weaker now. Israel is doing the world’s dirty work and making it a lot safer. Quite to the contrary of Solomon’s pleas, I urge Huffman to increase funding for Israel so it can finish the job the world is too timid to do. — Scott R. Greenstone, San Rafael US needs to put stop to daylight saving time I am writing in support of the recent Another View commentary by Mary Ellen Klas (“DOGE’s best idea yet is permanent daylight saving time,” Dec. 17). I think there is an easy and logical solution to the very “obnoxious and inconvenient twice-a-year clock change.” It would benefit all of us to shift the time earlier by 30 minutes and be done with it. Parents wouldn’t be sending their young ones off to school in the dark quite as much and it would be a little brighter in the evening during the summer months. If U.S. officials could get organized and do this, I think the rest of the world would likely follow suit. — Diane Lynch, Tiburon Deportation plan conflicts with multicultural history I am writing in response to the letter by Tim Peterson with the headline “Trump must fix America’s immigration policy now.” He appeared to imply that America’s “sense of person, place, history (and) pride” is threatened by immigrants. I think Peterson is using the right-wing “propaganda machine” in an attempt to lead Americans down the road of fascism. Those who suggest there is only one true America are absurd. This has always been a multicultural country. Anti-immigrant sentiment is not new. Immigrants have long faced prejudice. I think President-elect Donald Trump and his allies have been allowed to utilize some news outlets, certain podcasts and some social-media platforms to dupe Americans into believing that, because of immigrants, America is collapsing. Believing that Trump is “the one to fix it” is part of his ruse. The irony is that those who share Peterson’s views on mass deportation ignore the real cause of the challenges American workers face. Instead, they should shift their anger away from immigrants and toward the very rich, who have waged war against labor unions and worked to deregulate industries. The results of their work includes a massive wealth gap, 60% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, and a burgeoning billionaire class (many of whom backed Trump) paying a smaller percentage of their income in taxes than most in the middle class do. If Trump and friends successfully implement large-scale deportations, I expect severe inflation. But I also expect it won’t be properly connected to Trump’s policies and that he will be allowed to blame “left-wing boogeymen.” — C.M. Simenstad, San Anselmo
