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They are investigating whether his short-lived martial law decree earlier this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Mr Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Mr Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge and it is unlikely Mr Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Mr Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. His fate lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate him. Mr Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Mr Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.The Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Saturday issued the winter season's first Spare the Air Alerts for Sunday and Monday. The forecast light winds and chilly overnight temperatures are expected to contribute to unhealthy air quality as high pressure over the region acts like a lid, trapping smoke at ground level, according to BAAQMD officials. The alert noted there is also a chance that offshore winds will transport air pollution from the Central Valley into the Bay Area. KPIX First Alert Weather: Current conditions, alerts, maps for your area The alert bans the burning of wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. It is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or any other wood-burning devices during a Spare the Air Alert, though there are exemptions available for homes without permanently installed heating, where wood stoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat. Anyone whose sole source of heat is a wood-burning device is required to use an EPA-certified or pellet-fueled device that is registered with the Air District to qualify for an exemption. An open-hearth fireplace no longer qualifies for an exemption. People can find out when a Spare the Air alert is in effect by visiting sparetheair.org , calling (800) HELP-AIR, downloading the Spare the Air app on their smartphone or find Spare the Air on social media.WASHINGTON — Jimmy Carter, the former peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died at age 100. The Carter Center said the 39th president died on Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November last year, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reactions poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an "extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian" and he had lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter's compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility," Biden said in a statement. "He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for the presidency in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and the US defeat in southeast Asia. "If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter said. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times," voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. Carter's victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America's role in the world. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional 'Hail to the Chief' and enrolling their daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But he set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and non-whites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. His achievements also included brokering peace in the Middle East by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the US for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Talks to quickly free the hostages broke down and eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. His negotiations did ultimately bring the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts", Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a US invasion of Haiti and negotiate ceasefires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the centre had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. But the common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many had understood it at the time. After a cancer diagnosis in 2015, Carter said he felt "perfectly at ease with whatever comes." "I've had a wonderful life," he said, "I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence." — Euronews < Previous Page Next Page >NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in TD Bank, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/the-toronto-dominion-bank . Investors have until December 23, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in TD Bank securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Tiessen v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank. , et al. , No. 24-cv-08032. What is the Lawsuit About? TD Bank is the 10th largest bank in the United States. The complaint alleges that TD Bank made materially false and misleading statements about the scope of its anti-money laundering program. On October 10, 2024, TD Bank pleaded guilty to criminal money-laundering-related charges and agreed to pay more than $3 billion in fines to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The Comptroller of the Currency also imposed an “asset cap” that prevents TD Bank from growing any larger than its current size. The news caused a significant decline in the price of TD Bank stock. On October 10, 2024, the price of the company’s stock fell 6.4%, from a closing price of $63.51 per share on October 9, 2024, to $59.44 per share on October 10, 2024. Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/the-toronto-dominion-bank . What Can You Do? If you invested in TD Bank you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/the-toronto-dominion-bank Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/the-toronto-dominion-bank Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Mid-American Conference football goes all in on November weeknights for the TV viewers
In this article SBUX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Customers wait in a long line at a Starbucks cafe in a terminal at Miami International Airport, in Miami, Dec. 12, 2022. Jeff Greenberg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Air travelers face a host of headaches on their journeys: slow security lines, long waits for plush lounges , the threat of delays or cancellations — and the airport Starbucks . Many travelers, flight crews and even airport employees have at some point encountered long wait times for their Starbucks cappuccinos, cold brews and egg bites. "They need to have a better system," said Coresa Barrino, a Starbucks patron at New York's LaGuardia Airport Terminal B earlier this month who said she had been waiting 10 minutes and counting for her coffee. The nursing assistant, who was taking a flight back to Charlotte, North Carolina, said the wait when she buys her coffee at a Starbucks in Charlotte is about two minutes. The long waits have caught the attention of the coffee chain's new CEO, Brian Niccol , who joined Starbucks from Chipotle in September, pledging to win back customers and reverse the company's sales slump. Niccol told investors he thinks that licensed locations, such as those inside Target stores or airports, are interested in following the company's strategy of "getting back to Starbucks." "When I think about the airports and such, there's such a huge opportunity for us to simplify some of the execution there so that we get people the great throughput that they want so they can get on their way," Niccol said on the company's quarterly conference call Oct. 30. Starbucks' airport location staff — and company technology — will be put to the test this week during some of the busiest travel days of the year. The Transportation Security Administration forecast a record number of travelers during Thanksgiving week and said Sunday, Dec. 1, could be the busiest day of the year, with more than 3 million people screened at U.S. airports. The surge in air travel, especially during peak times such as Thanksgiving, has led to congestion in airport security lines, in lounges and at gates — problems that airlines and the federal government are trying to fix . For the aviation industry, bottlenecks at airport Starbucks are just another sign of soaring demand and overcrowded airports. A record 1.05 billion people boarded airplanes going either to, from or between U.S. airports in 2023, narrowly topping the total in 2019, before the pandemic, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Struggles and fresh approaches Starbucks has recently struggled. Its sales fell for the third straight quarter in the period ended Sept. 30, as consumers pushed back against higher prices and ignored initiatives such as discounts and energy drinks aimed at bringing customers back. Same-store sales in the U.S. declined by 6% from a year earlier. In late October, Niccol unveiled plans aimed at improving customers' experiences and reviving the company's sales, from bringing back condiment bars, to eliminating surcharges for dairy alternatives and cutting down the menu. Cutting wait time is a key goal: He wants to trim service times down to four minutes, which would shrink long lines and improve the customer experience. And while Starbucks started rolling out mobile order and pay to its airport locations in 2022, the change can sometimes add to the confusion and chaos at the cafe counter instead of resolving it. Plus, some travelers might not be regular Starbucks customers who already have the app downloaded. Improving the coffee chain's airport outposts could boost both sales and the brand's reputation during a time when it needs it most. Even the customers Starbucks has lost might visit an airport location while they're traveling. With travelers returning in droves after the pandemic, it gives Starbucks and other restaurant chains a chance to boost sales. Concessions contribute about 4% of U.S. airport revenue annually, according to the latest available Federal Aviation Administration data, but they're an important feature to many passengers, who have limited time — and, often, energy — to fuel up before a flight. At Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, revenue from food and beverage outlets is growing faster than passenger numbers, said Jennifer Simkins, the airport's assistant vice president of concessions. The airport has become the world's third-busiest for passengers, up from 10th place in 2019, according to Airports Council International. Airlines are also packing more seats on their aircraft and in some cases are flying larger jets . More passengers per plane means restaurants can become crowded during peak times with more customers waiting to be served and space limited, said Ursula Cassinerio, an assistant vice president at Moody's Ratings who covers airports. She noted that many airports have been undergoing major renovations, if not building new terminals. That means "more opportunities for revenue if you have more square footage for retail and restaurants," she said. The 25 busiest airports in the U.S. have an average of 80 food and beverage brands as options for travelers, according to data from market research firm Technomic. Licensing model A challenge for Starbucks is that licensees — not Starbucks itself – operate its airport locations. Starbucks opened its first airport location with licensee HMSHost in 1991 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which serves Starbucks' hometown. For nearly three decades, HMSHost operated the chain's airport locations through an exclusive deal with Starbucks and gradually grew its airport footprint to roughly 400 outposts. But in 2020, HMSHost ended the deal, giving the operator flexibility to offer more coffee options to airports. While HMSHost still operates the overwhelming majority of Starbucks' airport cafes, more operators, such as Paradies Lagardere and OTG, have since taken a swing at it. HMSHost, Paradies Lagardere and OTG did not respond to requests for comment for this story. "Airport locations are tricky because they can make good money, but operationally, at times, they can be very challenging," said Mark Kalinowski, restaurant analyst and CEO of Kalinowski Equity Research. Customers wait in line at a Starbucks cafe in a terminal at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, Nov. 11, 2024. Leslie Josephs/CNBC Licensing its stores saves Starbucks the hassles of operating inside an airport, such as staffing problems, high rents and security checkpoints. And though the coffee chain is used to handling a surge of undercaffeinated customers in the mornings, the swell in demand at an airport can be even more erratic. "A plane lands, and all of a sudden there's a hundred people when there were zero people there before," said Kevin Schimpf, director of industry research for Technomic. The trade-off is that Starbucks makes less money from those licensed restaurants. The company has more than 16,300 locations in the U.S. as of Sept. 24. But it only runs about 60% of those cafes itself; licensees operate the rest. That number includes its cafes in 47 of the 50 busiest airports in the U.S., according to Starbucks. The company did not disclose its current airport store count to CNBC. In fiscal 2024, licensed locations accounted for 12% of Starbucks' revenue, or $4.51 billion. From those stores, Starbucks collects only licensing fees, a percentage of monthly sales through royalties, and payments for supplying its coffee, tea and food to licensees, according to company filings. For every dollar spent in a licensed store, Starbucks generates about 7 cents of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, according to estimates from Bank of America analyst Sara Senatore. Company-owned stores make about 23 cents per dollar spent, Senatore wrote in a research note in September. watch now VIDEO 3:46 03:46 Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: We're evaluating strategic ways to grow in China Squawk Box If its business partners and third-party providers slack off, Starbucks' brand could be damaged, the company noted in the risk factors section of its latest annual filing. "The vast majority of customers, they don't know whether that is a company-owned Starbucks or a licensed Starbucks," Kalinowski said. "They just want their Starbucks. They want it made properly. They want it quickly. And they're in a situation of heightened stress because they're trying to get to their gate." Airports themselves have been adopting more technology in their restaurants to help move lines along. Labor challenges have led to more kiosks and tablets inside airport restaurants, for example. "It's harder and harder to staff a lot of these restaurants, so any front-of-house savings that you can make by having consumers order on kiosks or tablets or whatever, that really, really helps," Schimpf said. Laurie Noyes, vice president of concessions and commercial parking at Tampa International Airport, said that "sometimes the airports are a little bit behind the street." But she said the airport has made strides in offering more digital options and now, travelers can order food ahead of time via Uber Eats, and pick it up at airport restaurants. Dallas Fort Worth offers DFWOrderNow, a website and platform available at digital kiosks so travelers can order food ahead. Simkins said the airport's platform will reroute Starbucks customers to Starbucks' own platform. Starbucks offers more than 170,000 possible drink orders, according to the chain's website. "We just found the value in keeping the familiarity for their customers," Simkins said. Simkins said the airport is developing robotic technology for delivery to speed up service. It's also experimenting with offering meal and retail bundles from airport restaurants and shops, she said, so passengers "no longer have to plan their route for multiple stops" in an airport. A local coffee company, Fort Worth, Texas-based Ampersand, plans to open a robotic barista at DFW's Terminal C, Simkins said. It will be available 24/7, to accommodate flight crews arriving at off-hours. Simkins said popular chains still draw a crowd. "There are some brands that people will line up for," she said. For Barrino, who was waiting for her coffee at LaGuardia, Starbucks is one of those companies. "I just really love the brand," she said.None
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Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strike on Lebanese army center kills soldier, wounds 18 others BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center has killed one soldier and wounded 18 others, the Lebanese military said. Sunday's was the latest in a series of Israeli strikes that have killed over 40 Lebanese troops, even as the military has largely kept to the sidelines in the war between Israel and Hezbollah militants. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has acknowledged mistakenly hitting Lebanese troops while saying they are not a target of its campaign against the militants. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.The ( ) has been one of the best-performing funds in 2024. But I don't think this will be the end of the long-term gains. As we can see on the chart above, the FANG ETF has climbed a hefty 41% this year. In comparison, the (ASX: XJO) has climbed by 10% — not a bad result, but a significant underperformance to the FANG ETF. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, of course, and I'm certainly not expecting the FANG ETF to rise another 40% in the next year. But I do believe that this fund, which provides access to leading US technology companies, can beat the ASX 200 again over the next five years. Here's why. While not guaranteed to occur, incoming United States president Donald Trump has indicated he wants to reduce business taxes to 15%, down from 21%. yet. I'm sure more details will come in due course. But I wouldn't be surprised if the businesses inside the FANG ETF see their taxes reduced to some degree, which would boost their . Investors typically value a business on how much profit they're making and could make in the future. A taxation boost to EPS should theoretically boost the share price. The FANG ETF is not known for strong . It has only 10 positions that are designed to be equally weighted. But I think these companies have been and can continue to be wonderful investments. Currently, the FANG portfolio holds these 10 giant technology businesses: These companies are among the best in the world at what they do, whether that's smartphones, device software, social media (such as Instagram), online video, online search, cybersecurity, e-commerce, cloud computing, AI and more. They also typically have strong profit margins, excellent and effective management. Considering the world is becoming increasingly technological, and that these companies are some of the entities driving that change, this area of the global share market is where I'd want at least some of my money, whether that's through the FANG ETF or a different investment. I often say that, in the business world, winners keep winning. Companies like Microsoft, Apple and Alphabet are so far ahead of the competition that it may be almost impossible for others to catch up starting from scratch. With their high , it makes sense for these winners to retain and reinvest profits in improving their products or services and developing new offerings. In my opinion, these companies' rising profits are likely to lead to ongoing capital growth, even if they start with relatively high . The FANG ETF has returned an average of 20% per annum over the past three years. While the next three years aren't guaranteed to be as good, I think the FANG ETF has plenty of capability to outperform the ASX 200.
Jimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer who went on to become the 39th president of the United States, died on Sunday at the age of 100. Carter, who held the record as the longest-living U.S. president, died in Plains, Georgia—the small town where he was born—after nearly two years under hospice care. Jimmy Carter outlived his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, by just over a year. She passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96. The former president is survived by his four children—Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy—along with 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by Rosalynn and one of his grandchildren. Turbulent Times During Presidency His presidency was marked by challenges such as gas shortages, Cold War tensions, and the Iran hostage crisis. "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love," said Chip Carter, the former president's son. "My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs." The Carter Center announced Jimmy Carter's death on Sunday with a brief statement: "Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia." In an update shared weeks before his death, Carter's grandson, Jason, mentioned that the former president was "experiencing the world as best he can" but was not awake every day. Despite this, Jason noted that they had recently spent time together talking and watching an Atlanta Braves game. "I told him, I said: 'Pawpaw, you know, when people ask me how you're doing I say, 'honestly I don't know,'" Jason, 48, recalled to Southern Living. "And he kind of smiled and he said, 'I don't know, myself.' "It was pretty sweet," Jason added. Extraordinary Life Carter took the oath of office on January 20, 1977, after defeating Republican Gerald Ford in the presidential election. Ford's campaign struggled under the weight of his controversial decision to pardon former President Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal. Carter served a single, challenging four-year term before being unseated by Ronald Reagan. Despite the difficulties of his presidency, Carter achieved major milestones, including the landmark Camp David Accords, where Israel and Egypt formally acknowledged each other's governments. "Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood," he once said. However, Carter's presidency was also marked by setbacks, most notably the Iran hostage crisis and an ailing economy characterized by stagnant growth and skyrocketing interest rates. James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, to a grocer and a registered nurse. As a studious and well-behaved child, Carter began helping at his father's store when he was just 10 years old. One of his favorite pastimes was spending evenings with his father, listening to baseball games and political broadcasts on a battery-powered radio, as noted by biography.com. A devoted born-again Christian, Carter joined the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943. Due to the accelerated pace of studies during World War II, he graduated in 1946, the same year he married Rosalynn Smith. Together, they had four children: Jack, James III, Donnel, and Amy. Carter started his naval career working on submarines, leading the couple to relocate frequently during their early years of marriage. In 1952, he was assigned to assist Admiral Hyman Rickover on the U.S. nuclear submarine program in Schenectady, New York. Admiral Hyman Rickover's formidable intellect and relentless work ethic left a lasting impression on the young Carter, who received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1953. Following his father's death in July 1953, Jimmy Carter returned to the family home in Plains, Georgia, to assist his mother, Bessie, and take over the family farm. In 1962, Carter entered politics, running for the Georgia Senate. Despite the state's deeply conservative and segregationist leanings, he won, even with his relatively progressive stance on civil rights. Carter made his first attempt at the governor's office in 1966, but his liberal views proved to be a disadvantage. He finished a distant third in the Democratic primary, while outspoken segregationist Lester Maddox ultimately won the governorship. At the time, Georgia governors were restricted to serving only one four-year term. To appeal more broadly to voters, Carter adjusted his liberal message, opposing forced busing and reducing public appearances with Black leaders. The strategy proved effective. In 1970, Carter won the Democratic primary against a crowded field, including former Governor Carl Sanders, and easily defeated Republican Hal Suit in the general election. As governor , Carter gained a reputation as a centrist reformer, focusing on streamlining the state's bureaucracy and improving government efficiency. "I'll never tell a lie. I'll never make a misleading statement. I'll never betray the confidence that any of you had in me. And I'll never avoid a controversial issue," he vowed.
Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffle‘Not once did I suspect...’: Nicole Saphier defends Pete Hegseth (Picture credit: X/@NBSaphierMD) Dr Nicole Saphier, a prominent Fox News contributor, has strongly defended her colleague Pete Hegseth following an NBC News report alleging concerns about his on-air conduct. Saphier, known for her regular appearances on ‘Fox & Friends’, dismissed the claims on social media, saying she has never witnessed any unprofessional behaviour from Hegseth during their years of working together. Taking to platform X, formerly Twitter, Saphier wrote: "I have routinely sat on the couch with @PeteHegseth for 8 years. Not once did I suspect he had consumed anything other than an egg sandwich and coffee before going on air." Her statement follows NBC News's report citing "10 current and former Fox employees" who alleged smelling alcohol on Hegseth before broadcasts, a claim Saphier, along with other Fox personalities, has categorically denied. Will Cain, a current cohost of Fox & Friends, described the allegations as "horses***" on X, while fellow cohost Rachel Campos-Duffy echoed similar sentiments, criticising NBC for relying on anonymous sources and not reaching out to Hegseth's closest colleagues. Campos-Duffy stated, "The losers at NBC News never reached out to me either... You now have 2 people who sat next to him 8+ hours a week on the record." Other Fox News contributors have also rallied behind Hegseth. Guy Benson, Joey Jones, and Lisa Boothe all dismissed the claims as baseless, with Boothe calling the report a "malicious smear." Piers Morgan, a frequent guest on Fox & Friends, also lent his voice in support, describing Hegseth as "utterly professional on camera and a nice, respectful guy off it." The controversy has surfaced at a pivotal moment for Hegseth, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next US Secretary of Defense. A Trump transition spokesperson categorically denied the allegations, describing them as "disgusting" and politically motivated attacks against a "decorated combat veteran." As the controversies around Pete Hegseth continue to mount, Trump is reportedly considering replacing Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as his pick for secretary of defence, reported the Wall Street Journal.
