US effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report findsAn Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DAMASCUS, Syria — Mohammad Salim Alkhateb, an official with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces — an internationally backed group of the opposition in exile — said his group wants to see a transitional government formed via a United Nations-backed process in the wake of Bashar Assad ouster. It is not yet clear if Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, will pursue such a process. The insurgents have said an interim government headed by Mohammad al-Bashir, who is also the head of the “salvation government” of HTS in its former stronghold in northern Syria, will oversee the country until March but have not made clear how the transition to a new, fully empowered government would take place. “The transitional governing body should be formed in Geneva to have international legitimacy,” said Alkhateb, who is now in Damascus. “The transitional governing body, whatever its form, whether it is the ‘salvation government’ or any other, what matters is that it has international recognition.” Alkhateb said that the unexpectedly rapid fall of Damascus and departure of Assad after opposition forces launched their offensive had created confusion and a governance vacuum. A day before the insurgents pushed into Damascus, diplomats from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Qatar to discuss the situation in Syria. Alkhateb said that they had discussed a scenario in which the rebels would halt their advance, keeping the territory they had captured so far in the north — including Syria’s largest city, Aleppo — and the opposition and Assad’s government would go to Geneva for talks on a political settlement to the conflict. However, he noted, “there were no Syrians in that meeting.” Assad fled to Russia before the rebel forces arrived in Damascus but has not officially announced his resignation, which is “why we are living in a vacuum rather than a political transition,” Alkhateb said. He added that creating a professional army should be a priority of the transitional government. “We do not want a civilian who was trained during the revolution to carry military weapons to become the military,” he said. Israel bombed hundreds of military sites in Syria this week in a wave of airstrikes that destroyed “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government’s stunning collapse . WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Peirre says Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for 12 years, “is a top priority for this president.” During a briefing with reporters on Thursday, Jean-Pierre said of Tice, “There is no indication that he is not alive. There’s also no indication about his location or condition.” “What our goal is, is to bring him home. And so, we hope certainly that he is alive and, as we have stated many times before, we are talking through this with the Turks and we want to do everything we can to bring him home,” she said. BEIRUT — Amnesty International said Thursday that four Israeli airstrikes between September and October that killed at least 49 civilians in Lebanon “must be investigated as war crimes.” The rights organization said in a new report that the four strikes targeted homes in the Bekaa Valley, northern and eastern Lebanon, and municipal offices in the south. “These four attacks are emblematic of Israel’s shocking disregard for civilian lives in Lebanon and their willingness to flout international law,” said Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns. The rights group said this report was part of its ongoing investigation into violations of the laws of war in Lebanon. Amnesty International investigated four Israeli airstrikes, including one on Sept. 29 in al-Ain that killed all nine members of the same family. On Oct. 21, a strike in Baalbek city in eastern Lebanon killed six members of the same family. Another on Oct. 14 in the village of Aitou in northern Lebanon killed 23 displaced people, including a 5-month-old baby. A fragment from the attack site in Aitou was identified by an Amnesty weapons expert as likely part of a Mk-80 series aerial bomb, weighing at least 500 pounds. These munitions are primarily supplied to Israel by the United States, Amnesty said. The fourth strike Amnesty investigated was the strike that hit the municipal headquarters in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on Oct. 16, killing 11 civilians including the mayor. “The air strike took place without warning, just as the municipality’s crisis unit was meeting to coordinate deliveries of aid, including food, water and medicine, to residents and internally displaced people who had fled bombardment in other parts of southern Lebanon,” Amnesty said. The rights group said it interviewed survivors and witnesses, examined evidence, and found no military targets near the sites of the four strikes. The Israeli military gave no warnings and did not respond to Amnesty’s inquiries, the group said. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said the airstrike in Khiam targeted Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.
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Govt completes SEZs survey, eyes enhanced investment Abdul Aleem Khan announced series of reforms aimed at making SEZs more attractive to investors A view of plan of Rashakai Special Economic Zone.— APP/file ISLAMABAD: The government has successfully completed a comprehensive survey of Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), utilising aerial and drone technology to provide a detailed assessment of resources and challenges within these industrial hubs. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The survey, which marks a significant step in identifying opportunities for economic growth, offers valuable insights into the current state of SEZs and lays the groundwork for future reforms to attract investment and enhance industrial development across the country. Currently, Pakistan hosts 21 notified SEZs across the country, each designed to attract a range of investment opportunities. Notable hubs include Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Korangi Creek Industrial Park, and Khairpur SEZ in Sindh; Hattar SEZ in Haripur and Rashakai SEZ in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as M3 Industrial City, Value Addition City and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Punjab. Additional SEZs are also located in Punjab, Balochistan and Islamabad with the National Science and Technology Park, providing ample development prospects. On Wednesday, the findings were presented during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Privatization, and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. Khan announced a series of reforms aimed at making SEZs more attractive to investors. The minister highlighted that approximately 150 reforms are being introduced, focusing on environmentally friendly practices and aligning investments with the “Green Pakistan” initiative. “Our aim is to ensure the relocation of industries from China into these SEZs as a priority,” said Aleem Khan. He also emphasized the need to attract investment from other countries, stating, “We are encouraging nations beyond China to explore and invest in Pakistan’s industrial zones.” Aleem Khan announced plans to enhance connectivity between SEZs, particularly linking Karachi’s industrial zones to Port Qasim, to streamline operations and exports. He directed the Board of Investment (BOI) to ensure the availability of one-window facilities and robust security measures for investors. To further bolster foreign investments, the minister instructed Pakistani embassies abroad to strengthen communication with potential investors. He also proposed forming a group of foreign investors called the “Pride of Pakistan” to recognize their contributions. Additionally, he recommended arranging a meeting between these investors and Prime Minister to reinforce confidence in Pakistan’s economic prospects.Closing marks second significant acquisition from RA Capital's Raven incubator in 2024, and first acquisition of a company built by Raven from a technology platform in-licensed from a large pharmaceutical company BOSTON , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RA Capital Management, LP (RA Capital), a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies, today announced that AbbVie has closed its $1.4 billion acquisition of RA Capital's portfolio company Aliada Therapeutics. Aliada's lead investigational asset is ALIA-1758, an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta (3pE-Aβ) antibody, which is in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. ALIA-1758 utilizes a novel blood-brain barrier-crossing technology that enhances delivery of targeted drugs into the central nervous system. Johnson & Johnson (through its venture capital arm, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc.), RA Capital, and Raven (RA Capital's healthcare incubator) co-founded Aliada and co-led the series seed financing in 2021 to advance the MODELTM platform created by Johnson & Johnson scientists that was licensed to Aliada at its inception. "Congratulations to the Aliada and AbbVie teams and our fellow investors on the close of this transaction," said Joshua Resnick , MD, Senior Managing Director at RA Capital Management and former board director at Aliada. "The acquisition of Aliada is the second significant acquisition of a Raven-grown company this year, joining Novartis' $1 billion upfront acquisition of radiopharmaceutical developer Mariana Oncology in May." "Delivering therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier with a low-volume, subcutaneous injection would be revolutionary for treating Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders, and has long been a dream in the field," said Laura Tadvalkar , PhD, Managing Director at RA Capital Management and former board chair at Aliada. "We look forward to following ALIA-1758's progress through the clinic, as AbbVie advances this important medicine for Alzheimer's disease patients." About Raven Raven is RA Capital Management's healthcare incubator. Raven's experienced team of scientists, operators, and innovators bring deep sector expertise, insight and executional capabilities across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and services. Raven builds companies: from originating and incubating new ideas to accelerating compelling innovations and rejuvenating promising assets. About RA Capital Founded in 2004, RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies. RA Capital creates and funds innovative companies, from private seed rounds to public follow-on financings, allowing management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization and beyond. RA Capital's knowledge engine is guided by our TechAtlas internal research division, and Raven, RA Capital's company creation team, offers entrepreneurs and innovators a collaborative and comprehensive platform to explore the novel and the re-imagined. RA Capital has more than 175 employees and over $10 billion in assets under management. The companies presented herein were selected to demonstrate a potential successful outcome of a company being incubated within our Raven incubator. They are not intended to represent a complete picture of RA Capital's portfolio, its exposures, risks or potential for positive or negative returns. Past performance is not indicative of future results. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ra-capital-management-announces-close-of-1-4-billion-acquisition-of-aliada-therapeutics-by-abbvie-302329567.html SOURCE RA Capital Management, LPWould you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort?
Strategic Advisory Services Market is Booming Worldwide | Big Giants Deloitte, PwC, Capgemini 12-19-2024 12:03 AM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Strategic Advisory Services Market HTF MI recently introduced Global Strategic Advisory Services Market study with 143+ pages in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status (2024-2032). The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence. Some key players from the complete study are McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, Gartner, Capgemini. Download Sample Report PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/4252413-strategic-advisory-services-global-and-china-top-players-market?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash According to HTF Market Intelligence, the Global Strategic Advisory Services market is expected to grow from 80 Billion USD in 2024 to 150 Billion USD by 2032, with a CAGR of 9% from 2024 to 2032. The Strategic Advisory Services market is segmented by Types (Corporate Strategy, Financial Planning, Market Entry, M&A), Application (Corporate, Government, Startups, NGOs) and by Geography (North America, LATAM, West Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Oceania, MEA). Definition: Focuses on consulting services aimed at helping organizations develop long-term strategies for growth, market entry, M&A, and digital transformation. Demand is driven by rising business complexity, globalization, and the need for specialized expertise in competitive markets. Dominating Region: • North America Fastest-Growing Region: • Europe Market Trends: •AI-Driven Insights, Sustainability Strategies, Industry-Specific Focus Market Drivers: •Business Complexity, Globalization, Digital Economy Market Challenges: •High Costs, Overdependence on Consultants, Data Privacy Have a query? Market an enquiry before purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/4252413-strategic-advisory-services-global-and-china-top-players-market?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below: In-depth analysis of Strategic Advisory Services market segments by Types: Corporate Strategy, Financial Planning, Market Entry, M&A Detailed analysis of Tank Container Shipping market segments by Applications: Corporate, Government, Startups, NGOs Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share, and growth rate of the following regions: • The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.) • North America (United States, Mexico & Canada) • South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.) • Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) • Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia). Buy Now Latest Edition of Strategic Advisory Services Market Report 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=4252413?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash Strategic Advisory Services Market Research Objectives: - Focuses on the key manufacturers, to define, pronounce and examine the value, sales volume, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis, and development plans in the next few years. - To share comprehensive information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (opportunities, drivers, growth potential, industry-specific challenges and risks). - To analyze the with respect to individual future prospects, growth trends and their involvement to the total market. - To analyze reasonable developments such as agreements, expansions new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. - To deliberately profile the key players and systematically examine their growth strategies. FIVE FORCES & PESTLE ANALYSIS: In order to better understand market conditions five forces analysis is conducted that includes the Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, and Threat of rivalry. • Political (Political policy and stability as well as trade, fiscal, and taxation policies) • Economical (Interest rates, employment or unemployment rates, raw material costs, and foreign exchange rates) • Social (Changing family demographics, education levels, cultural trends, attitude changes, and changes in lifestyles) • Technological (Changes in digital or mobile technology, automation, research, and development) • Legal (Employment legislation, consumer law, health, and safety, international as well as trade regulation and restrictions) • Environmental (Climate, recycling procedures, carbon footprint, waste disposal, and sustainability) Get 10-25% Discount on Immediate purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/4252413-strategic-advisory-services-global-and-china-top-players-market?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Strategic Advisory Services Market: Chapter 01 - Strategic Advisory Services Executive Summary Chapter 02 - Market Overview Chapter 03 - Key Success Factors Chapter 04 - Global Strategic Advisory Services Market - Pricing Analysis Chapter 05 - Global Strategic Advisory Services Market Background or History Chapter 06 - Global Strategic Advisory Services Market Segmentation (e.g. Type, Application) Chapter 07 - Key and Emerging Countries Analysis Worldwide Strategic Advisory Services Market Chapter 08 - Global Strategic Advisory Services Market Structure & worth Analysis Chapter 09 - Global Strategic Advisory Services Market Competitive Analysis & Challenges Chapter 10 - Assumptions and Acronyms Chapter 11 - Strategic Advisory Services Market Research Methodology Key questions answered • How Global Strategic Advisory Services Market growth & size is changing in next few years? • Who are the Leading players and what are their futuristic plans in the Global Strategic Advisory Services market? • What are the key concerns of the 5-forces analysis of the Global Strategic Advisory Services market? • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? • What are the different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Strategic Advisory Services market? Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter-wise sections or region-wise report versions like North America, LATAM, Europe, Japan, Australia or Southeast Asia. Contact Us: Nidhi Bhawsar (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Phone: +15075562445 sales@htfmarketintelligence.com Connect with us on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter About Author: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting is uniquely positioned to empower and inspire with research and consulting services to empower businesses with growth strategies. We offer services with extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events, and experience that assist in decision-making. This release was published on openPR.MOSCA, Colorado — A handmade sign at the start of a long dirt road in the rural San Luis Valley indicates to visitors that they’ve arrived at the future site of Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa . The peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains barely make a dent in the big blue skies above the 40 acres purchased by founder and CEO Gamal Jadue Zalaquett. He aims to transform the land into a resort featuring 20 villas, a spa, a restaurant and a planetarium. “It’s a place of alignment. Kosmos is a place of connection,” Jadue Zalaquett said. “Kosmos, in a way, is a place to heal, and the San Luis Valley has a lot to do with healing.” He bought the property for $11,000 in December 2020. But with glass domes for stargazing and expensive price tags to stay the night, Jadue Zalaquett’s ambitious brainchild falls snugly into the category of “luxury ecotourism.” His site is an ideal spot for admiring constellations and distant galaxies. According to the National Park Service, the nearby Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is considered an International Dark Sky Park. Jadue Zalaquett said the area is a class two location on the Bortle dark-sky scale, which translates to “ truly dark ” skies. The resort’s planetarium will include a 1-meter telescope. In terms of getting visitors to Kosmos, “that’s gonna be the biggest attractor,” Jadue Zalaquett said. Development is still in the early stages, but it’s already garnering attention from the public: More than 12,000 Instagram users follow the resort’s page where project renderings and updates are shared. Kosmos plans to open its first villa early next year, said marketing operations manager Jennifer Geerlings. Although it’s still under construction, the resort has already booked more than 2,000 reservations, she added. “A lot of it, for some people, is the excitement of being the first to be able to stay in an experience like this,” Geerlings said in a phone interview. “There’s really no other resort that’s doing this.” While Jadue Zalaquett put about $500,000 toward getting the project off the ground, a crowdfunding campaign raised $1.9 million, Geerlings said. Donors paid a one-time fee to receive 50% discounts off their reservations for early 2025. So instead of paying the usual $700 nightly rate, they booked at $350 per night, Geerlings said. And after the campaign’s end, people continued to contribute directly via Stripe, which put total revenue from crowdfunding at more than $2 million, Jadue Zalaquett added. So why is it worth it to stay at Kosmos? For Geerlings, the answer is a combination of the villas — with their jacuzzis nestled in glass domes under the stars — and amenities like the planetarium. “You’re able to experience some of the best stargazing. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye,” Geerlings said. “A planetarium is something that’s never been at a resort before.” In November, director of field operations Auston Duncan stepped over sagebrush and loose hardware to outline the state of construction on the project. An unfinished villa offered a hint of what’s to come. The rectangular building with exposed wooden rafters and newly-installed glass sliding doors will soon house a bedroom and a bathroom. Jeremy Stephen, the founder of Steamboat Springs-based Evolve Construction , built the villa out of hempcrete , which is made of hemp, water and lime. It works as an eco-friendly insulator, helping to mitigate heating and cooling costs and lending itself to the vision of Kosmos as a resort with sustainability in mind. On one side of the villa, a hot tub will be installed. On the other, a dome made out of glass and wood from Ekodome will cover the kitchen and loft area. The development will occur in phases. Next year, 16 stargazing villas (which hold up to four guests) and 4 galaxy villas (which hold up to eight guests) will be constructed, Geerlings said. Every stay includes an hour of a guided stargazing experience and telescope training. In 2026, the amenities will be built out. Those include the Mediterranean-style restaurant and the wellness center with spa features like hyperbaric chambers, a sauna and a cold plunge. In 2027, the planetarium will be added to the resort. To ensure dark skies, guests will park their cars and use electric golf carts to navigate the resort, Jadue Zalaquett said. He mentioned that discussions with consultants on the stargazing center included a NASA representative, who was interested in hosting a mission workshop at Kosmos next year. Both the planetarium and the spa will be open to the public, Geerlings added. All in all, it’s a bold plan. And Kosmos is looking to hire to make it happen. Right now, the business is in search of employees to lead their stargazing experiences. So far, it’s recruited a former Great Sand Dunes ranger, Geerlings said. The team is considering college students from Adams State University in Alamosa as interns. Kosmos will also need to staff resort operations, including housekeeping, security and front desk workers. “We’re gonna try and hire pretty much everyone locally,” Geerlings said. For Jadue Zalaquett, taking on an endeavor like this runs in his blood. He currently lives between Alamosa and Boulder, but Jadue Zalaquett was born in Chile and grew up in Miami. When his family migrated to Chile, they ran hotels. Several paternal relatives work as architects. However, Jadue Zalaquett didn’t initially follow the family business. Instead, he worked in technology startups for almost a decade. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he visited the San Luis Valley. He realized that, although the Great Sand Dunes were located less than a half hour away, tourists could only choose from a few lodging options. So came the idea for Kosmos. And “here I am, back at my roots,” Jadue Zalaquett said.
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STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ:STAA) Stock Price Down 3% – Should You Sell?NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global baby diapers market size is estimated to grow by USD 22.5 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 7.03% during the forecast period. Consumers shift toward natural and organic products is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising r and d investments by key market competitors. However, rising awareness of negative impacts associated with baby diapers poses a challenge.Key market players include Cotton Babies Inc., Domtar Corp., Drylock Technologies NV, Essity AB, First Quality Enterprises Inc., Hayat Kimya San AS, Hengan International Group Co. Ltd., Kao Corp., Kimberly Clark Corp., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Moo Moo Kow, Nobel Hygiene Pvt. Ltd., Ontex BV, Parents Favorite and Eastrock LLC, Pigeon Corp., The Hain Celestial Group Inc., The Honest Co. Inc., The Natural Baby Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., and Unicharm Corp.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Product (Disposable, Training, Swim pants, and Others), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Region Covered APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Key companies profiled Cotton Babies Inc., Domtar Corp., Drylock Technologies NV, Essity AB, First Quality Enterprises Inc., Hayat Kimya San AS, Hengan International Group Co. Ltd., Kao Corp., Kimberly Clark Corp., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Moo Moo Kow, Nobel Hygiene Pvt. Ltd., Ontex BV, Parents Favorite and Eastrock LLC, Pigeon Corp., The Hain Celestial Group Inc., The Honest Co. Inc., The Natural Baby Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., and Unicharm Corp. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The baby diaper market is experiencing significant trends with a focus on eco-friendliness and consumer convenience. Baby wipes and biodegradable diapers made from biodegradable materials and bio-ingredients are gaining popularity. Comfortable fit and compostable diaper designs are essential for parents, especially during the developmental phase of extended duration babies. Consumer buying behavior is influenced by convenience, health awareness campaigns, and increased spending on infant hygiene. Conventional disposable diapers are being replaced with cloth-based diaper alternatives and pant-style diapers. The rise of the urban population and female working population have led to the growth of retail infrastructure, including pharmacies/drug stores and specialty stores. Technological advancements have resulted in diapers with easy changing processes, underwear-like designs, and versatile fits. Sustainability and recyclability are key considerations, with organic and recycled materials becoming increasingly common. Skin-to-skin contact remains important, and online purchases are convenient for working parents. The huge populations of exclusive breastfeeding infants and literate consumers with internet access further fuel market growth. The baby diapers market is experiencing significant advancements, with key competitors increasing their Research and Development (R&D) investments. These investments aim to enhance the efficiency and safety of baby care products. Innovations in the market include diapers catering to various skin types and ages. Additionally, there has been a focus on manufacturing diapers without fluff pulp, an alternative to Dry Max technology from Pampers. Competitors are employing reverse engineering techniques to create these diapers. These developments underscore the industry's commitment to providing superior baby care solutions. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report This baby diapers market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Disposable- Disposable baby diapers represent a significant market segment in the baby hygiene products industry. Their convenience and hygienic benefits attract numerous customers, particularly in the context of increasing numbers of dual-income households and heightened awareness of proper baby hygiene. Various diaper variants, including super absorbent and ultra-absorbent options, cater to diverse consumer needs. The demand for eco-friendly and ultra-absorbent diapers is escalating due to health and environmental concerns. However, many disposable diapers contain potentially harmful substances like polyethylene, petroleum, wood pulp, perfume, and non-renewable petroleum-based ingredients. These chemicals can negatively impact babies and contribute to dioxin emissions, posing risks to developing infants and the environment. Consequently, the market growth will be driven by the increasing demand for eco-friendly, ultra-absorbent baby diapers. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) The Baby Diapers Market is witnessing significant growth due to the rising population and urbanization, particularly among working parents who prioritize convenience and infant hygiene. Technological advancements have led to the emergence of eco-friendly and sustainable diaper options, such as biodegradable and bio-ingredients-based baby diapers. These diapers are made from biodegradable materials, reducing their environmental impact and promoting sustainability. The use of compostable diaper designs and recyclable components further enhances their eco-friendliness. Health awareness campaigns and increasing literacy rates have led parents to prioritize their babies' health, resulting in a growing demand for diapers that minimize diaper rashes. Baby wipes have also gained popularity as an essential companion to diapers. Despite these benefits, concerns regarding the disposal and recyclability of diapers remain, highlighting the need for continued innovation in the industry. Overall, the Baby Diapers Market is poised for continued growth as it caters to the evolving needs and priorities of modern parents. The Baby Diapers Market is experiencing significant growth due to the rising population and increased consumer spending on infant hygiene. Convenience and consumer buying behavior are key drivers, with disposable diapers being the preferred choice for many parents due to their ease of use and consistent diaper usage. However, there is a growing trend towards eco-friendliness and sustainability, leading to the development of biodegradable diapers made from biodegradable materials and bio-ingredients-based baby diapers. Comfort is also a major consideration, with diapers featuring a comfortable fit, underwear-like design, and skin-to-skin contact. Technological advancements have led to the creation of compostable diaper designs, cloth-based diaper alternatives, and recyclable diapers. Health awareness campaigns and the exclusive breastfeeding period have also influenced consumer behavior, with many parents opting for organic and natural diaper options. The market is also being driven by the urban population, female working population, and retail infrastructure, including pharmacies/drug stores, specialty stores, and online purchases. Diaper rashes remain a concern, and manufacturers are focusing on developing diapers that provide a versatile fit and easy changing process to minimize their occurrence. Urbanization and literacy rate are also contributing factors, with parents in developing countries increasingly recognizing the importance of infant hygiene. The market is expected to continue growing in the coming years, with a focus on sustainability, affordability, and convenience. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baby-diapers-market-to-grow-by-usd-22-5-billion-2024-2028-driven-by-shift-to-natural-and-organic-products-ai-impacting-market-trends---technavio-302313497.html SOURCE Technavio
Firstsource Solutions Limited, a key player in business process services, has been declared a 'Leader' by Avasant in the 2024 RadarView for mortgage business process transformation. With experience spanning over 25 years, Firstsource, through its U.S. entity Sourcepoint, showcases expertise in over 250 processes for numerous clients globally. They maximize technology like AI and analytics to streamline mortgage services. Their advanced solutions, including the Intelligent Loan Management and Loan Evaluation System, underscore their ability to elevate efficiency and customer interaction amidst mortgage industry changes, securing their leadership status. (With inputs from agencies.)Eddie Howe says ‘a lot more to come’ from Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
On a day where President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street failed to build on a furious rally that has picked up steam after his election win. In focus was fresh inflation data, which helped cast doubt on investor confidence for the path of interest rates ahead. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) was down and the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) were both about 0.5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) fell roughly 0.6% while shares of Apple ( AAPL ) rallied less than 1% to close at a record high. In bonds, the 10-year Treasury yield ( ^TNX ) added 5 basis points to hit 4.32%, its highest closing level since Nov. 22. The market received another piece of the inflation puzzle on Thursday — an update on wholesale prices — after the latest consumer inflation data invigorated stocks on Wednesday , lifting the Nasdaq above 20,000 for the first time. The in-line consumer price index reading cleared one of the last remaining risks to easing by the Fed in December. That boosted bets on a quarter-point rate cut in December to a near 99% chance, per the CME FedWatch tool . But the November producer price index released on Thursday morning came in hotter than expected , rising 0.4% from the previous month. Economists had been expecting an increase of 0.2%. That has put the chances of the Fed holding rates steady in January in focus, as several officials have voiced a cautious stance on policy. A downbeat revenue forecast from Adobe ( ADBE ) also helped dampen the mood, revealing the Photoshop maker's struggle for a payoff from its AI investments. Shares in the software maker sank nearly 14%. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Costco ( COST ) slightly beat estimates in its fiscal first quarter results as inflationary-weary shoppers turn to the wholesale retailer. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.04, compared to Bloomberg consensus estimates of $3.81. Revenue of $62.15 billion also beat expectations of $61.98 billion. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, grew 7.2% in the quarter, boosted by its US business, followed by international and then, Canada. Foot traffic, up 5.1%, missed the 6.87% jump Wall Street hoped for, but ticket size grew 0.1%, besting the 0.40% decline the Street predicted. Shares were up less than 0.5% in after-hours trading. Read more here. All three major indexes slid as more stocks in the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) closed lower than higher for the ninth straight day. This marked the first time that's happened in the market since 2001. Notably, during the nine-day stretch to start December the S&P 500 has still been in the green for the month, largely led by Big Tech. But should this weak breadth in the market continue, it could be a worrisome about the health of the stock market rally. "Savvy traders should at least pay attention to some of the warning signs about the overall health of the market. So far, it is the sniffles or just a case of bad breath," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. "But there are some symptoms that can lead to something more meaningful if left unattended." A first glance at Thursday mornings weekly jobless claims release could be seen as a warning sign for the labor market. Weekly unemployment claims shot up to 242,000 from 225,000 the week prior, and above economists' expectations 220,000. Given that the current labor market has been defined by low layoffs, an uptick in claims on a consistent basis would be a worrisome signal. But economists were quick to point out that the start of the holiday season is typically a volatile period for the data set. "Jobless claims data can be particularly volatile during the holiday period," Citi's team of economists wrote in a note. "Therefore, it is too early to conclude whether there is a concerning trend in claims data yet. A sustained increase in initial claims over a few weeks would be a more concerning sign of weakness in the labor market." This brings us back to a common truth about economic data. The economic narrative rarely hinges on one print , especially when considering that a variety of factors from weather-related disruptions to seasonal trends can distort an already volatile dataset like jobless claims during any given week. Stock losses accelerated in afternoon trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) was down about 0.5%, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) was off 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) fell roughly 0.4% as shares of Nvidia ( NVDA ) slipped about 1%. Meanwhile, the interest rate sensitive small-cap Russell 2000 Index ( ^RUT ) fell more than 1% as investors continued to question the Federal Reserve's path forward ahead of the central bank's final meeting of the year next week. The stock market will end 2025 lower than its current levels, according to Stifel chief equity strategist Barry Bannister. Bannister sees sticky inflation prompting the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates high as economic growth weakens, serving as key catalysts to the eventual pullback in the stock market rally. Bannister sees the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) ending 2025 in the mid-"5,000s." As of Thursday afternoon, the S&P 500 was hovering just shy of an all-time high at about 6,070. Among the more than 17 strategists tracked by Yahoo Finance who have listed 2025 year-end calls for the S&P 500, Bannister is the lone strategist to call for the benchmark index to fall in 2025. Still, his call for a pullback in the second half of the year after further gains in the rally isn't alone. On Wednesday, Fundstrat head of research Tom Lee said he believes the S&P 500 will rally to 7,000 midway through the year before falling to 6,600. "The environment does not appear conducive to continued equity mania, and we prefer more defensive sectors," Bannister wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. He added that slower economic growth would benefit "defensive value," including the Healthcare ( XLV ), Utilities ( XLU ), and Staples ( XLP ) sectors. Yahoo Finance's Claire Boston reports: Mortgage rates dropped for the third consecutive week after fresh economic data kept expectations about the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate cut intact. The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 6.6% in the week through Wednesday, compared with 6.69% a week earlier, according to Freddie Mac data . Average 15-year mortgage rates also dropped to 5.84% from 5.96%. “The combination of mortgage rate declines, firm consumer income growth, and a bullish stock market have increased homebuyer demand in recent weeks,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. “While the outlook for the housing market is improving, the improvement is limited given that homebuyers continue to face stiff affordability headwinds.” Read more here. Google-owned YouTube TV ( GOOG , GOOGL ) is raising the prices of its monthly subscription plans, with plans rising to $82.99 per month up from the prior $72.99. "We don't make these decisions lightly, and we realize this has an impact on our members," YouTube wrote in an email to customers. The company said the increase comes amid the "rising cost of content and the investments we make in the quality of our service." YouTube TV, the internet pay-TV service that allows viewers to watch live channels and access local broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, launched in 2017. Since then, its breadth of content, as well as its price point, has made it attractive to consumers looking for a cheaper replacement for their cable packages. According to Nielsen's latest TV viewing report, YouTube, which also includes the main digital platform, notched another consecutive month as the most-watched streaming service on television screens during the month of November. In total, YouTube captured 10.8% of total US TV viewing, up from the prior-year period's 9%. It also delivered a sizable beat compared to Netflix's 7.7% market share. Other à la carte streaming platforms have also raised prices this year. Disney ( DIS ) hiked the prices of its various subscription plans in October, while Comcast's ( CMCSA ) flagship streaming service, Peacock, implemented price hikes in July , just ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. And in June, Warner Bros.' ( WBD ) Max streaming platform raised prices for its ad-free streaming plans, also ahead of key programming: the second-season debut of its blockbuster "Game of Thrones" prequel, "House of the Dragon." Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares declined as much as 2% on Thursday to lead most of the chip sector lower. Peers Broadcom ( AVGO ), Micron ( MU ), and AMD ( AMD ) also fell. With the exception of Wednesday's rally, Nvidia shares have wavered in recent days. Earlier this week the stock slumped after China opened an antitrust inquiry against the chipmaker amid a struggle between Beijing and China over AI dominance. Nvidia is reportedly expanding hiring in China as it focuses on artificial intelligence chips for autonomous cars, according to Bloomberg . Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google ( GOOG , GOOGL ) on Thursday debuted an all-new version of its Android operating system designed to power virtual and augmented reality headsets and glasses. Dubbed Android XR, the software, which Google developed in conjunction with Samsung, will allow users to interact with everything from virtual reality apps to real-world objects via your voice, motion controls, and eye-tracking capabilities. Shares of Google were largely flat immediately following the news. Read more here. Stocks came off their session lows on Thursday morning but the major averages were still trading just below the flatline at 11 a.m. ET. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) slipped slightly, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) fell 0.1% The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) dropped nearly 0.2% after slipping as much as 0.5%. Tesla ( TSLA ), which closed at a record high in the prior session, turned positive after sliding more than 1% in early trading. Microsoft ( MSFT ) also climbed more than 1%. Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) has risen 2% in the past 24 hours to hold above the $101,000 level. The world's largest cryptocurrency first broke the $100,000 threshold last week, reaching an all-time high of about $103,900. Bitcoin has soared since Donald Trump's presidential victory last month on optimism of crypto-friendly policies under his administration. President-elect Trump rang the opening bell on Thursday morning as stocks pulled back from record highs after fresh inflation put a question mark over whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) edged down 0.1%, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) slipped roughly 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) fell 0.4% after closing above the 20,000 level for the first time. Tech stocks led the decline on Thursday with Nvidia ( NVDA ) falling more than 2%. Adobe ( ADBE ) shares also sank at the open after the company issued weak guidance for its 2025 fiscal year. Wholesale prices in November came in hotter than expected, putting into question whether Federal Reserve officials will cut interest rates at their next policy meeting on Dec. 18. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will step down on Jan. 20, the day President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office. Michael Whitaker said he will leave his post in a letter released on Thursday morning. Stock market futures edged lower after data released this morning showed wholesale prices rose more than expected in November, putting a question mark over whether Federal Reserve officials will want to cut interest rates at their policy meeting next week. The producer price index (PPI) rose 0.4% from the prior month, compared to expectations of 0.2%. Wholesale prices, excluding volatile food and energy prices, increased 3.4% year over year, versus expectations of 3.2%. Federal Reserve officials want to see inflation slow as they continue their easing cycle. The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will convene on Dec. 17-18 for its last rate-setting meeting of the year. Adobe ( ADBE ) shares fell more than 11% before the market open on Thursday after the company issued weak guidance for its 2025 fiscal year. In its earnings Wednesday, Adobe said it expects revenue in the range of $23.3 billion to $23.6 billion and adjusted earnings per share between $20.20 and $20.50, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. Wall Street analysts had expected the company to guide for an annual revenue of $23.8 billion and adjusted EPS of $20.52, Bloomberg data showed. The worse-than-anticipated outlook stoked investor fears that AI will disrupt Adobe's business . TD Cowen downgraded the stock to a Hold rating Thursday morning. Still, Wall Street analysts largely maintained their Buy ratings on the stock. Some 34 analysts tracked by Bloomberg recommend buying Adobe shares. Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week ending Dec. 7); Producer Price Index (November) Earnings: Broadcom ( AVGO ), Costco ( COST ), Lovesac ( LOVE ) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Why a top Wall Street bull thinks the S&P 500 rally will cool Adobe stock slumps as sales forecast misses amid delayed AI payoff What Cruise's self-driving end means for Tesla and Waymo SNB surprises with a 50 basis point rate cut, biggest in nearly a decade Nvidia steps up hiring in China to focus on AI-driven cars Microsoft sees $800 million charge on stake in GM’s Cruise Meta donates $1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund It's going to be a busier than normal day out front of the iconic New York Stock Exchange as President-elect Donald Trump is slated to ring the opening bell. The bell-ringing on the podium feels befitting to an incoming president who has long viewed the stock market's performance as an indicator of how his policies are doing. As a memory jogger, in 1985 Ronald Reagan became the first sitting US president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The bull was let loose for stocks in Trump's first term and during President Joe Biden's term. The S&P 500 rose 61% under Trump from Inauguration Day through Dec. 11. It has advanced 58% from Biden's Inauguration Day to Dec. 11. Below is a historical watch from that Reagan visit. Yahoo Finance's Jared Blikre will be out front of the NYSE this morning. Tune in live on Yahoo Finance for his reporting and more from our team!
