Netflix has revealed its content slate for December 2024, with the much-awaited second season of Squid Game topping the list. The show still remains Netflix's most-viewed non-English TV series. Other highlights include Season 6 of Virgin River and a bunch of movies and TV shows arriving on December 1. These include Little , Midway , and Project X . Here are some other titles to look forward to. Netflix's comedy and documentary specials for December Netflix's December lineup includes a number of comedy and documentary specials. On December 3, Fortune Feimster returns with her third Netflix comedy special, Fortune Feimster: Crushing It . The next day, Netflix will drop a fascinating docuseries, Churchill at War , which examines Winston Churchill 's pivotal role in World War II. Another documentary, The Only Girl in the Orchestra , will highlight trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien's journey as the first female musician in the New York Philharmonic. Netflix's global content and family shows for December Netflix will release a bunch of international content in December. The Children's Train (December 4) is an Italian film about a mother sending her son to northern Italy for a better life. From Thailand comes Tomorrow and I , a series imagining a dystopian future where technology clashes with traditional customs. For family viewers, That Christmas is an unforgettable tale of how the worst snowstorm in history changes everyone's plans in Wellington-on-Sea, including Santa's! Netflix's anime, series, and film releases in early December Netflix will continue its content rollout with BEASTARS: Final Season: Part 1 on December 5. The anime follows characters Louis and Haru as they navigate university life. The same day, the streaming platform will release Black Doves , a series about a spy seeking truth and vengeance after her lover's murder. Jentry Chau vs the Underworld is also set to premiere; it tells the story of a teenager rediscovering her suppressed fiery powers as she confronts literal demons. Netflix's mid-December content highlights Oscar and Grammy-winner Jamie Foxx returns to the stage with his comedy event Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was... on December 10. On top of that, Polo , a sports series executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle , gives an exclusive look at the world of polo. The series follows elite players competing in the high-stakes US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. Beloved Hindi teen romance series Mismatched will arrive on December 13. Netflix's late December content and year-end specials Netflix will end the year with some big releases. On December 26, Squid Game: Season 2 will premiere, bringing back the global hit series. On the last day of the year, Netflix will release Avicii - I'm Tim , a documentary on musical prodigy Tim Bergling, and Avicii - My Last Show , a film capturing his last performance. Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall will debut as comedian Michelle Buteau's second Netflix comedy special.- The 23rd meeting of the Turkmenistan-EU Joint Committee was held in Brussels on December 4. The delegation of Turkmenistan, headed by Minister of Finance and Economy Serdar Jorayev, included representatives from the Ministries of Environmental Protection, Education, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Economy, as well as the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the Foreign Ministry reported. The EU delegation at the meeting was headed by Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service. The delegation included representatives of various EU departments, including the Directorates-General for Trade, International Partnerships, Transport, Energy, Education and Culture, and Research and Innovation. The meeting began with welcoming remarks by representatives of the EU and Turkmenistan. They discusses issues of trade cooperation, including support for Turkmenistan's accession to the WTO, the macroeconomic situation in Turkmenistan and the EU, as well as transport connectivity and digitalization. Particular attention was paid to energy, environmental protection and sustainable development. The discussions focused on water management, methane emissions reduction, regional environmental issues, and prospects for the use of renewable energy sources. The Turkmen side presented a vision of further steps in this area. In addition, the participants discussed humanitarian issues, cooperation in education and cultural exchanges. The delegation of Turkmenistan extensively presented its initiatives in the field of international academic cooperation. The EU, in turn, presented the opportunities provided within the framework of various programs and projects of the European Union. Particular attention was paid to educational initiatives, as well as cross-sectoral programs such as BOMCA and CADAP. The EU delegation also made a presentation on the economic indicators and prospects for economic development of the European Union. Key data on current economic growth, digitalization of industry and the impact of global factors on European markets were presented. The meeting concluded with a discussion of prospects for strengthening cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union. The parties emphasized the importance of holding such meetings to deepen bilateral relations.
For much of this month, praise for Argentina’s economic successes has become almost a cliché in newspapers throughout the world after President Javier Milei reached the milestone of one year in office surrounded by a sense of triumph. Milei has also projected this optimism, saying in a speech from the Casa Rosada on December 10 that the country can look forward to a “future of prosperity” that for many Argentines was still “unimaginable.” With President-elect Donald Trump entering the White House next month, Milei will have a strong ally in Washington. But how can that be converted into more wins at home? Much has changed a year on from Milei’s inaugural—and memorable—assertion that “ no hay plata! ” (there is no more money [for public spending]). As Milei made front-page news, catching the attention of the Financial Times and the Economist , he has also earned the praise of world leaders such as Trump and members of the president-elect’s inner circle, such as tech mogul Elon Musk . Meanwhile, financial markets have continued to celebrate as Argentina’s stocks have roared upward, providing the highest yearly returns of any other economy and doubling those of the second-best performing markets (as expressed through country exchange-traded funds). The government has doubtless made much progress in areas in which it was expected to struggle, restoring significant levels of confidence to an embattled economy that just a few days ago was officially announced to be out of a severe recession. As Argentina heads into a critical year for the government’s economic strategy, Milei will need to maintain voters’ buy-in and market confidence for his policies while pursuing further economic reforms. 2024: A triumphant first quarter of a four-year term As Guido Sandleris, former president of the Central Bank of Argentina (2018-2019), argued in our 2024 Atlas , before Milei’s inauguration the Argentine president had correctly identified the country’s “real problems”: inflation, high and inefficient public spending, political capture, and endemic corruption, among others. For Sandleris, the challenges for the Milei administration were clear: The country was on the verge of hyperinflation, the central bank had negative net foreign exchange reserves, the fiscal deficit was out of control, and utilities and prices were long outdated, forcefully frozen in place by the previous administration. Milei had also come into office with a limited political toolbox, holding a minority in congress that was not even impeachment-proof and relying on a small party structure. Considering this initial outlook, the results of the past year are noteworthy. The government instituted aggressive budget cuts, spending freezes, and a deregulation campaign. It also passed significant legislation (which revealed the government’s ability to negotiate with the opposition) and successfully implemented a tax amnesty scheme to attract undeclared banking deposits. In the wake of these policies, Argentina’s economy has gained a more solid footing and is on track for normalization. Inflation has come down to pre-2023 crisis levels, the economy is showing signs of recovery, consumer and investor confidence are on the rise, and government bonds have regained much of their value. Two figures illustrate this success: the drop in Argentina’s emerging markets bond index spreads, which is a key measure of sovereign risk, and the rise of projected investment as a share of gross domestic product, both of which we have analyzed . But perhaps the most notorious achievement has been its commitment to fiscal responsibility, a laudable effort in the context of Argentina’s chronic tendency to incur unsustainable public spending. Optimism is perhaps the best way to describe the current moment in Argentina, and recent opinion polls illustrate this. Milei has succeeded even in outperforming President Mauricio Macri, his most ideologically proximate predecessor, in his approval rating at the end of his first year in office across social sectors, according to Gallup . As Milei put it in an interview with the Financial Times in October, “I have a 50 percent approval rating after carrying out the biggest austerity program in our history. It’s a miracle, isn’t it?” How can Milei finish out a strong first half in 2025? Milei, who played goalie in soccer in his youth, understands that it’s critical to finish out a strong first half to win a match, and restoring Argentina’s macroeconomic stability was never going to be accomplished overnight. The question now is whether the administration will be able to maintain support for its policies while deepening its reform agenda. Next year’s midterm elections in October, in which the government aims to strengthen its vulnerable position in congress, will play a large role in setting the agenda for Milei’s second year in office. Although the outlook is much brighter than it was a year ago, challenges still loom in 2025. The main objective will be to deliver growth, estimated at 5 percent by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following two years of consecutive drops (1.6 percent in 2023 and an estimated 3.5 percent in 2024) while continuing to reduce inflation. And the latter is far from over: Banks estimate that prices will rise over 30 percent in 2025, while the government’s own more optimistic estimates in the 2025 budget proposal predict that prices will rise by 18 percent (annualized inflation in the United States this past November was 2.7 percent). Markets will also be watching the elections closely. If the economy fails to deliver much-needed growth and inflation remains stubborn, it could cause a sudden deterioration in market confidence. However, the opposition’s fragmentation, itself the result of the 2023 economic crisis and the disruptive victory of an outsider like Milei, may ease the administration’s path to make significant gains. Nevertheless, the government has taken steps to mitigate risks and open new opportunities to strengthen the country’s economic recovery in the new year—nowhere more prominently than on the world stage. Milei scored several major foreign policy wins, including the beginning of its Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development accession process . And the South American economic bloc Mercosur, of which Argentina is a member, signed a historic trade deal with the European Union earlier this month . Argentina’s stocks reacted positively to Trump’s election in November, a clear sign of the market’s belief that the next administration will yield net positive effects for Argentina. Milei has developed a close relationship with Trump. The Argentine president has openly stated that he thinks Trump will play a decisive role within the IMF’s board to push for a favorable renegotiation of Argentina’s outstanding program with the IMF. This could include the disbursement of new funds and a rollover of repayment deadlines, as Argentina owes the IMF over forty billion dollars at a time when its net international reserves stand at negative three billion dollars ). Indeed, US Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, has argued that the United States should use its influence at the IMF to help restructure Argentina’s debt, which he said would “create breathing room for Milei to enact much-needed reforms.” One of the major sticking points in Argentina’s negotiations with the IMF is the Fund’s belief that Argentina should end its outdated system of currency controls (the “ cepo ”). Ending the cepo would likely spur growth and drive investment but may also put pressure on the peso—and thus reaccelerate inflation—something that the government will likely avoid until after the midterm elections in October. At the same time, Argentina has reached a new moment in its relationship with China, a key trading partner, following months of tensions triggered by the president’s earlier critical rhetoric. Illustrating this case, in June, China renewed its currency swap with Argentina, saving the country from a sudden loss of much-needed foreign reserves. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Milei then met for the first time on the margins of the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in November. Domestically, important announcements such as the end of the recession and recent investments announced under the government’s investment promotion regime , including $2.5 billion from Rio Tinto for lithium mining and a multicompany investment of three billion dollars for a new oil pipeline , both of which happened just this month, indicates that rising investor confidence will begin to fuel the revitalization of Argentina’s historically low investment levels. This year was also significant for the country’s energy independence, and rapidly rising shale oil and gas production has saved the country billions in energy imports while boosting exports, a trend that will only deepen in coming years. Argentina has even started negotiations with Brazil, despite public tensions between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Milei, to explore the possibility of exporting Argentina’s booming natural gas production there. Milei’s economic policies have exceeded expectations in the administration’s first year. But given its precarious starting point, Argentina is still vulnerable to external economic shocks and sudden losses of investor confidence. As such, the administration should consider moving forward with a series of key steps that may drive growth beyond post-crisis recovery values and further cement the market’s confidence in the economy. Such measures could include accelerating the end of the cepo and allowing the peso to float freely (and thus making Argentina less vulnerable to the ongoing devaluation of the Brazilian real). The government should take steps to reassure markets of its ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility and healing its credit rating. These measures could include the negotiation of a new and sustainable IMF program, the passing of the long-delayed 2025 budget, and the continued elimination of special protections that for decades successive governments have awarded to uncompetitive segments of the economy. The first year of Milei’s administration will be remembered as a surprisingly strong start to an ambitious reform agenda. For that agenda to be fully realized, Milei will need to continue to pursue bold reforms while maintaining public support and market confidence in 2025. Ignacio Albe is a program assistant with the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Jason Marczak is vice president and senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Further readingTrump's tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different. The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. His proposed tariffs against Canada and Mexico could blow up an existing trade deal. US consumer price increases accelerated last month with inflation pressures resilient WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer price increases accelerated last month, the latest sign that inflation’s steady decline over the past two years has stalled. According to the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, consumer prices rose 2.3% in October from a year earlier, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. That is up from just 2.1% in September, though it is still only modestly above the Fed’s 2% target. Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. Trump on Tuesday announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. US economy grows at 2.8% pace in third quarter on consumer spending, unchanged from first estimate WASHINGTON (AP) — The American economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September on strong consumer spending and a surge in exports, the government said Wednesday, leaving unchanged its initial estimate of third-quarter growth. The Commerce Department reported that growth in U.S. gross domestic product — the economy’s output of goods and services — slowed from the April-July rate of 3%. But the GDP report still showed that the American economy — the world’s largest — is proving surprisingly durable. Growth has topped 2% for eight of the last nine quarters. Trump’s latest tariff plan aims at multiple countries. What does it mean for the US? WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has identified what he sees as an all-purpose fix for what ails America: Slap huge new tariffs on foreign goods entering the United States. On Monday, Trump sent shockwaves across the nation’s northern and southern borders, vowing sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, as well as China, as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. Trump said he will impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. The UK will consult on sales targets for automakers during the transition to electric vehicles LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Labour government will launch a consultation on sales targets set for auto manufacturers during the transition to electric vehicles. That's in the wake of the decision by Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, to close its van factory in southern England at the potential cost of 1,100 jobs. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told lawmakers Wednesday that the problems encountered by Stellantis in the transition to electric vehicles are not unique, adding that the government will do all it can to prevent the closure of the plant. Stellantis blamed its decision on the U.K.’s “stringent” zero-emission vehicle mandate that sets strict targets for manufacturers. After fast start, electric cars need a recharge as range limits, cost leave some drivers skeptical DETROIT (AP) — While sales of electric vehicles surge in China, the spread of more environmentally friendly vehicles is stumbling in the United States and Europe as carmakers and governments struggle to meet years-old promises about affordability and charging stations. And consumers worried more about price and practicality are holding back where first-adopter climate warriors once piled in. Range, charging infrastructure and higher prices are sore points among both electric car enthusiasts and skeptics in Europe and the U.S. China is the exception. Driven by government subsidies and mandates, vehicles with electric motors, including plug-in hybrids that combine electric and fossil fuel motors, topped 50% of sales in July. Stock market today: Wall Street wavers as Big Tech stocks fall Stocks wavered on Wall Street as losses for Big Tech companies offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was down 0.4% in afternoon trading on Wednesday, even though more stocks were rising than falling within the index. Losses for Nvidia and Microsoft helped pull the index lower. Dell sank after reporting revenue that fell shy of forecasts, and HP fell after giving a weaker-than-expected outlook. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% from its record high a day earlier. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.7%. U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday. Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US slips to 6.81% The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week, though it remains near 7% after mostly rising in recent weeks. The rate slipped to 6.81% from 6.84% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. That’s still down from a year ago, when the rate averaged 7.22%. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has been mostly rising since sliding to a two-year low of 6.08% in late September. Elevated mortgage rates and rising home prices have kept homeownership out of reach of many would-be homebuyers. U.S. home sales are on track for their worst year since 1995. Landmark fish and meat markets in London to close, ending 1,000 years of tradition LONDON (AP) — Two of London’s most famous markets — one selling fish, the other meat — are set to close in the coming years, bringing an end to traditions stretching back to medieval times. On Wednesday, The City of London Corporation, the governing body in the capital city’s historic hub, is set to present a bill to Parliament to bring an end to its responsibilities to operate the Billingsgate fish market and the Smithfield meat market, both of which have existed in some shape or form since the 11th century. That comes a day after the corporation decided not to relocate the markets to a new development just east of London in Dagenham.
PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.Shopify Stock Is A Black Friday Beneficiary That Faces Key Test In Q4
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