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BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? examined reports from the and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Get local news delivered to your inbox!EXCLUSIVE Cruz Beckham's bizarre response to jibes that his fledgling music career is all down to his parents By DOLLY BUSBY Published: 22:01, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 22:19, 28 December 2024 e-mail 29 View comments As the son of David and Victoria Beckham , he’s long had to battle accusations that he’s used his famous parents to advance his fledgling music career. But Cruz Beckham appears to have been particularly riled by the latest claims of nepotism levelled at him – responding with the bizarre declaration that ‘Jesus is also a nepo baby ’. The outburst came after he released a teaser video of his new Beatles-inspired song For Ya Love on social media on Christmas Day. ‘Not bad,’ wrote one critic. ‘Bet he had mega money and training.’ The 19-year-old quickly hit back, replying: ‘Not at all. Just a guitar.’ When the jibes continued, Beckham came out with his Jesus comment. Less than 12 hours later, early yesterday morning, he deleted the post. Cruz spent Christmas at his parents’ new £60million waterfront mansion in Miami, with his Brazilian-German songwriter girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29. In May, Cruz switched his music management from TaP, who work with the likes of Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding , to guitar-led outfit C3, which is based in Los Angeles . Having worked with bands such as The Strokes, C3 is a key signing for the young singer and guitarist. Cruz Beckham appears to have been particularly riled by the latest claims of nepotism levelled at him – responding with the bizarre declaration that ‘Jesus is also a nepo baby’ Singer Cruz Beckham and his Brazilian singer girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, pictured in October in Beverly Hills This year, the teenager worked with songwriter Ed Drewett, who has four number one hits to his name including Little Mix ’s song Black Magic and The Wanted ’s All Time Low. Cruz has also worked with producer Fred Ball, known for his success with big names such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey and Ed Sheeran. Accusations of privilege have dogged his brothers too, throughout their various endeavours. Eldest Beckham son Brooklyn, 25, has attempted a number of high-profile careers, including a widely ridiculed attempt to be a photographer. Brooklyn now lives in Los Angeles with wife Nicola Peltz, the daughter of a billionaire businessman, and makes money by promoting products to his 16 million social media followers. He also recently released his own brand of hot sauce. Next eldest son Romeo, 22, recently gave up his bid to become a professional footballer after a year with Brentford and a spell training with his father’s US club, Inter Miami. In September it was announced that Romeo, who is dating 23-year-old DJ Kim Turnbull, would now be following his mother into a career in fashion. Fortunately for Cruz, the response to his attempt to compare himself with Christ has not turned as ugly as the fallout from John Lennon’s declaration that The Beatles (pictured) were ‘more popular than Jesus’ in 1966 Victoria, who runs the high-end fashion house bearing her name, is supporting her son. He has already signed with a top agent, Safe Management, and has modelled for Yves Saint Laurent. Fortunately for Cruz, the response to his attempt to compare himself with Christ has not turned as ugly as the fallout from John Lennon’s declaration that The Beatles were ‘more popular than Jesus’ in 1966. That remark prompted howls of protest among Christian communities in the US and led to death threats, American radio stations banning The Beatles’ music and public bonfires of the band’s records across the country. Share or comment on this article: Cruz Beckham's bizarre response to jibes that his fledgling music career is all down to his parents e-mail Add commentEXCLUSIVE Cruz Beckham's bizarre response to jibes that his fledgling music career is all down to his parents By DOLLY BUSBY Published: 22:01, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 22:19, 28 December 2024 e-mail 29 View comments As the son of David and Victoria Beckham , he’s long had to battle accusations that he’s used his famous parents to advance his fledgling music career. But Cruz Beckham appears to have been particularly riled by the latest claims of nepotism levelled at him – responding with the bizarre declaration that ‘Jesus is also a nepo baby ’. The outburst came after he released a teaser video of his new Beatles-inspired song For Ya Love on social media on Christmas Day. ‘Not bad,’ wrote one critic. ‘Bet he had mega money and training.’ The 19-year-old quickly hit back, replying: ‘Not at all. Just a guitar.’ When the jibes continued, Beckham came out with his Jesus comment. Less than 12 hours later, early yesterday morning, he deleted the post. Cruz spent Christmas at his parents’ new £60million waterfront mansion in Miami, with his Brazilian-German songwriter girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29. In May, Cruz switched his music management from TaP, who work with the likes of Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding , to guitar-led outfit C3, which is based in Los Angeles . Having worked with bands such as The Strokes, C3 is a key signing for the young singer and guitarist. Cruz Beckham appears to have been particularly riled by the latest claims of nepotism levelled at him – responding with the bizarre declaration that ‘Jesus is also a nepo baby’ Singer Cruz Beckham and his Brazilian singer girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, pictured in October in Beverly Hills This year, the teenager worked with songwriter Ed Drewett, who has four number one hits to his name including Little Mix ’s song Black Magic and The Wanted ’s All Time Low. Cruz has also worked with producer Fred Ball, known for his success with big names such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey and Ed Sheeran. Accusations of privilege have dogged his brothers too, throughout their various endeavours. Eldest Beckham son Brooklyn, 25, has attempted a number of high-profile careers, including a widely ridiculed attempt to be a photographer. Brooklyn now lives in Los Angeles with wife Nicola Peltz, the daughter of a billionaire businessman, and makes money by promoting products to his 16 million social media followers. He also recently released his own brand of hot sauce. Next eldest son Romeo, 22, recently gave up his bid to become a professional footballer after a year with Brentford and a spell training with his father’s US club, Inter Miami. In September it was announced that Romeo, who is dating 23-year-old DJ Kim Turnbull, would now be following his mother into a career in fashion. Fortunately for Cruz, the response to his attempt to compare himself with Christ has not turned as ugly as the fallout from John Lennon’s declaration that The Beatles (pictured) were ‘more popular than Jesus’ in 1966 Victoria, who runs the high-end fashion house bearing her name, is supporting her son. He has already signed with a top agent, Safe Management, and has modelled for Yves Saint Laurent. Fortunately for Cruz, the response to his attempt to compare himself with Christ has not turned as ugly as the fallout from John Lennon’s declaration that The Beatles were ‘more popular than Jesus’ in 1966. That remark prompted howls of protest among Christian communities in the US and led to death threats, American radio stations banning The Beatles’ music and public bonfires of the band’s records across the country. Share or comment on this article: Cruz Beckham's bizarre response to jibes that his fledgling music career is all down to his parents e-mail Add comment
Elly’s choice of outfit not only showcases her fashion-forward personality but also highlights her slender and toned physique. The combination of the slim white t-shirt and the stylish sweatshirt accentuates her curves and adds a touch of casual elegance to her look. Paired with a fashionable mini skirt, Elly's outfit is both playful and refined, reflecting her youthful and vibrant energy.After nearly three months in office, the outlook for the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government is likely to be influenced by several anticipated new stimulus proposals that are expected to be revealed in unison. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) last week forecast a Thai GDP growth rate of 2.3-3.3% in 2025, with an average of 2.8%. Despite a more promising outlook for next year, the NESDC warned that household debt is soaring, coinciding with concerns from the business sector that the government needs to improve in a number of areas to achieve the growth rate projected by the planning agency. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the government has yet to effectively stimulate economic growth as expected. He said the tourism industry next year should continue to be a major driver of GDP with 40 million foreign tourists expected to arrive, while growth in other industries may remain stagnant. Mr Thienprasit said there are gaps that could be filled to increase the number of arrivals and spending by tourists, such as promotions during the low season that include attractive programmes and campaigns. Regarding the hospitality sector, he said the government could support the market during the low season by increasing the budget available to organise governmental and public sector meetings and conferences across the country. Foreign investment should also be accelerated, including large projects such as the proposed Land Bridge and the development of comprehensive entertainment complexes that include casinos, said Mr Thienprasit. He said the government's initiative to lure technology investment to Thailand is a good idea, as data centre projects would help create jobs and business opportunities. With the government's priority the 10,000-baht handout aimed at lifting domestic consumption, Mr Thienprasit said the outcome of the scheme remains unclear when compared with investments in major infrastructure projects. He said it would be more productive and practical if the government instead worked to ease the debt burden of many Thais, as this would eventually increase people's spending power. Exports will continue to play a key role in driving Thailand's GDP next year, but the country needs to ensure products labelled as made in Thailand are actually produced by Thais, said Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai). If these goods are produced by Chinese manufacturers, this may negatively affect the export sector, he said. This could become a serious issue if Chinese companies try to avoid the higher tariffs US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose on Chinese products by exporting goods to the US via Thailand, Mr Tanit said. A close examination of goods that are produced, processed and packed in Thailand both for domestic sale and export may be required to ensure the products were actually manufactured by Thai companies. "They may be made by Chinese entrepreneurs in Thailand," he said. "We don't know whether this will become an issue, which could cause the Trump administration to launch retaliatory measures against Thailand." Trump announced he would impose tariffs of 10-20% on all imported products, with tariffs of between 60-100% on goods imported from China, according to media reports. Thailand and other countries, especially those that have a trade surplus with the US, are likely to face tariffs of 10-20%, said Mr Tanit. The new US foreign trade policy will likely have a limited impact on Thai exports to the US, he said. EconThai believes exports and tourism will continue to drive the Thai economy next year. A glance at growth forecasts from various state agencies led Mr Tanit to predict a rate of 2.9% next year. "Our economy is growing, but its growth rate will be lower than those of neighbouring countries," he said, adding Southeast Asia is expected to grow by 4-5% in 2025. He applauded the new government for its stimulus efforts. "The 10,000-baht handout should help the economy somewhat as it indirectly helps some businesses to maintain their employment," said Mr Tanit. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said he believes Thailand's GDP will grow by 3% in 2025, based on the NESDC forecast, as the economy gradually recovers next year. The fiscal 2025 budget was already approved, so the implementation of various policies, including government stimulus measures, will be able to proceed smoothly, he said, helping to drive the economy forward during the coming year. Thai exports were affected by baht strength earlier this year. The value of exports for the first nine months of 2024 tallied US$223 billion, up 3.9% year-on-year, indicating the export sector continues to be a key driver of the economy, said Mr Sanan. Officials expect Thailand will start to register more investments in new S-curve industries, propelling the export sector and GDP growth next year. The tourism sector is projected to fully recover in 2025 as Thailand recorded more than 30 million foreign arrivals during the first 11 months of 2024, which represents 85% of the target of 35 million arrivals set for 2025. If the government can accelerate the promotion of Thailand's soft power through various events and position the country's festivals on the global calendar, he said it will help raise awareness among foreign tourists, attracting high-income tourists to visit or live here. This would increase tourism revenue and create jobs, improving income distribution, said Mr Sanan. In terms of consumer spending, the government already started disbursal of the fiscal 2025 budget and implemented various stimulus measures. In addition, the government's recent debt relief measures should help generate liquidity in the economy, he said. Moreover, the government needs to accelerate efforts to attract foreign direct investment into Thailand by leveraging the opportunities presented by Trump's foreign trade policy, said Mr Sanan, which could restore confidence among both Thai and foreign investors. Chak Reungsinpinya, head of research at Maybank Securities (Thailand), said the brokerage is feeling more bullish and hopeful regarding Thailand's economic future following recent discussions with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. According to Mr Chak, the finance minister said some policies are short-term but much-needed, including the cash handout and debt restructuring schemes addressing the economic slowdown. "Mr Pichai emphasised the need to maintain fiscal discipline and expects the budget deficit to fall below 4% of GDP in the fiscal 2025 budget, keeping government debt-to-GDP below 70%, compared with 65% now," he said. Mr Pichai also said the investment budget must exceed the deficit level, meaning that current expenditure needs to be financed solely by government receipts. Over the longer term, tax reforms are needed to help close the fiscal gap, said Mr Chak. "This includes potentially lower personal and corporate income taxes, but higher value-added tax with excess government receipts going towards low-income earners via social programmes," he said. Following the initial 10,000-baht handout in October, Maybank expects Thai GDP growth to reach 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing full-year growth to 2.6%. The brokerage maintained its 2025 GDP projection of 2.8%, with public investment and public consumption remaining the key drivers. "We are mindful of risks to growth from rising trade barriers, especially if the US trade policy targets exporting nations that are closely integrated with China's supply chains," Maybank said in a research note, adding consumer indebtedness need to be reduced to a more manageable level for private consumption growth to recover. "The authorities are planning to implement debt restructuring programmes to address household debt, but these will take time to take effect and support consumption." Prakit Siriwattanaket, managing director of Merchant Partners Asset Management, said the government recently introduced policies to address persistent problems such as high debt levels, in addition to short-term stimulus. In his view, increased government budget disbursement is the main reason Thai GDP exceeded the market forecast of 2.7% in the third quarter this year. "The government deserves credit for increasing budget disbursement from 50 billion baht in August to 89 billion in September. This is what prior administrations wanted to do, but could not accomplish," said Mr Prakit. He said the market expects the Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee to further trim the policy rate in December to spur economic growth. Amonthep Chawla, chief economist at CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT), described the 3% year-on-year GDP growth in the third quarter recently as unexpectedly strong, exceeding the bank's forecast of 2.2%. According to the NESDC's latest data, public spending and domestic consumption exceeded the bank's expectations. Foreign tourist arrivals aligned with the bank's forecast and remained a key driver of Thailand's economic growth, he said. Following the NESDC's announcement of third-quarter results, CIMBT's research centre is revising its growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025. The centre is also awaiting updated economic data from the central bank. However, Mr Amonthep said the bank does not expect the country's growth rate for the fourth quarter to reach 4% year-on-year, citing the central bank's assessment that weaker purchasing power among low-income groups, particularly vulnerable and agricultural households, will weigh on economic performance. He said the second phase of the government's 10,000-baht cash handout is unlikely to significantly boost economic growth in the final quarter, as the target beneficiaries, primarily elderly individuals, are expected to spend conservatively. "Initially, we planned to revise our GDP growth forecast for this year to 2.6-2.7% from 2.3%, but the new projected figures are likely to fall just short of 3%," said Mr Amonthep. Thitima Chucherd, head of economic and financial market research at SCB EIC, said the centre plans to slightly boost its 2024 Thai growth projection to 2.6% from 2.5% following the NESDC's third-quarter report. EIC predicted third-quarter GDP growth of 2.6%, aligning with forecasts by other research houses in a range of 2.4-2.6%. The government's various stimulus initiatives, including the second phase of the cash handout programme, are expected to contribute 0.6-0.8 percentage points to growth. As a result, the country's GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 could potentially reach 4% year-on-year, noted the research centre. For 2025, Ms Thitima said the Thai economy is expected to face greater challenges, particularly from potential changes in US foreign trade policies under the new administration, which could negatively impact exports in the second half of the year. As a consequence, Thailand's economic growth next year may fall below the current projection of 2.6%, noted EIC. She said EIC is awaiting further details on the implementation of stimulus packages and US economic policies before making final adjustments to its forecasts. Surrounded by leaders and members of coalition parties, Ms Paetongtarn, centre, makes a point ahead of a meeting to discuss the controversial Koh Kut border issue and referendum bill at Government House on Nov 4. Chanat Katanyu Tourists and locals make their way around Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok. Nutthawat Wichieanbut A woman collects plastic bottles to be sold for recycling. A CIMBT economist believes the second phase of the state's cash handout is unlikely to significantly boost growth in the final quarter, as the target beneficiaries, primarily elderly individuals, are expected to spend conservatively. Apichart Jinakul
Liu Dabeili, whose beauty and charisma captured the hearts of millions on social media, was known for her glamorous lifestyle and fashion sense. With a large following on various platforms, she had become a prominent figure in the world of online influencers and content creators. Her sudden demise has not only left a void in the virtual world but has also raised questions and concerns about the risks associated with cosmetic procedures.Number of women who are state lawmakers inches up to a record high
The target of these intense bombardments was located in Idlib, a crucial province in northwestern Syria that has been a hotbed of conflict for years. The strikes, believed to have been carried out by a combination of military aircraft and unmanned drones, were reportedly aimed at key militant positions in the area. The intensity and scale of the attacks have raised concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and further destabilization of the region.CORVALLIS – Time to review Oregon State’s 41-38 win over Washington State from Saturday at Reser Stadium with eight takeaways: 1. The first question we have Where does Oregon State hang the Pac-12 championship banner in Reser Stadium? Does the school paint a sign on one of the end zone walls? Or perhaps a “kick me” size sign pinned to the back of Benny Beaver? 2. Best win of the season? Some on social media have rated the Beavers’ win over Washington State as its best performance of the season. Better than the historic shutout at San Diego State? The overtime win over Colorado State? Yeah, probably. None of those teams have eight wins like Washington State. None of those teams were in the College Football Playoff chase at some point in November like WSU. None of those teams had an offense statistically rated among the country’s top 10 like the Cougars. Oregon State’s offense seemed left for dead after its no-show a week ago at Air Force. But here were the Beavers, producing 484 yards and five touchdowns against Washington State. The offense, which had struggled in the red zone the past three weeks, was 4-for-4, all touchdowns. Quarterback John Mateer had a day with 250 passing yards, 75 rushing yards and a combined four touchdowns. But no one else on the Cougars went off. WSU had 384 yards offense, 77 under its season average. The OSU defense also chipped in with a timely takeaway inside the final two minutes that led to the game-winning field goal. It had six tackles for loss, the second highest total of the season. Special teams contributed two field goals, including the fourth longest in school history that won the game. Yeah, probably? No, definitely. Oregon State (5-6) at No. 12 Boise State (10-1) When: Friday, Nov. 29 Time: 9 a.m. PT Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise TV channel: Fox Stream: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on Fox Sports Live with your cable or satellite provider login information. Oregon State football 2024 season schedule, scores Sign up for The Beavers Beat newsletter 3. Not much separates WSU and OSU Washington State came into the game as 12-point favorite, an 8-2 record and a bowl berth long ago sewed up. While Oregon State was reeling with a five-game losing streak and coming off its first shutout loss in nine years. Yet what happened Saturday night we should have seen coming. Washington State has been living on the edge all season, and it’s just now coming back to bite the Cougars. WSU has been remarkably clutch in one-score games, as it pulled out last second wins over Washington, San Jose State, Fresno State and San Diego State. The Cougars have finally come back to the middle the past two weeks, losing close games at New Mexico and OSU. The Beavers, meanwhile, were probably due to pull one out. They lost narrowly to Nevada, UNLV and San Jose State, while outlasting Colorado State. 4. Nothing to lose That seemed to be Trent Bray’s mindset. Anything close on fourth down, and Oregon State was going for it. Worked, too, as the Beavers were 4-of-5 on fourth down. Converting fourth down plays came on drives that produced three touchdowns and a field goal. The biggest fourth down gamble was the last one. The game was tied at 38-38, one minute remaining and the Beavers faced with fourth-and-six at the WSU 45. This wasn’t within Ben Gulbranson sneak range, or a short run by Anthony Hankerson. Also, misfire, and Washington State is suddenly within 20 yards of field goal range to win the game. Hardly a slam dunk decision for Bray. Punting was on the table. “We went back and forth, but the final decision was, you give them the ball back with a minute and two timeouts. That’s an eternity. We’re going to go win this thing,” Bray said. It paid off, as Ben Gulbranson threw for seven yards to Trent Walker for a first down. Four plays later, Everett Hayes kicked a 55-yard field goal for the go-ahead score. The 4-of-5 conversions on fourth down matched a season high. The Beavers are 21 of 36 on fourth down this season. 5. Suddenly, a bowl berth isn’t that far fetched Oregon State won a game as an 11-point underdog against Washington State. Who’s to say the Beavers can’t march into Boise State and keep it going Friday and achieve bowl eligibility? I know, I know, you’re saying it’s impossible. But that was the tone Saturday morning on social media, as everyone but Pat McAfee was not only picking OSU to lose to Washington State, but get its doors blown off. Winning at Boise State will be difficult. But one big factor will be worth watching this week: the health of running back Ashton Jeanty. The Boise State standout suffered a lower leg injury during the second half of Saturday’s 17-13 win at Wyoming. Jeanty eventually returned to the game after he was sidelined for a few series. But who knows if Jeanty was staving off pain with adrenaline or not. It’s the days after a such an injury that can be the worst. Jeanty or not, beating the Broncos in Boise is a tough ask. Oregon State is 1-3 at Albertsons Stadium. The Beavers have lost the last three road games to Boise State by margins of 19, 28 and 13 points. 6. What if this becomes a two-game winning streak? The Beavers now have a pulse, one that was revived Saturday after the debacle eight days ago at Air Force. One win, and Oregon State is headed to a bowl somewhere. It might be played in Shreveport or Tampa or Fort Worth, but it’s a bowl. Are we predicting an Oregon State win at Boise State? No, we are not. But it will not be surprising if the Beavers give the Broncos all they can handle. There’s also the matter of Boise State’s College Football Playoff run. Expectations are heavy, and they’re starting to weigh on the Broncos. Boise State is no longer on the winning end of blowouts. The Broncos were all out to beat Nevada and Wyoming, and even their 42-21 win over San Jose State on November 16 was dressed up with two touchdowns during the final two minutes. 7. Dual quarterbacks As is becoming a theme of late, Oregon State loves tinkering with its quarterback rotation. Saturday, the Beavers started Gulbranson , but liberally sprinkled in the use of Gabarri Johnson. The redshirt freshman took 12 of the team’s 83 offensive snaps, running six times for 47 yards and a touchdown. Johnson also completed one pass for 20 yards. Bray praised offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson’s game plan, saying “I thought what we did with Gabarri and how we used his legs helped us move the ball. I think they did a good job of narrowing it down. Less is more. That’s what we found today.” 8. Senior Day stars, but youngsters also have a game On a day when 19 Oregon State players were honored on Senior Day, many played a starring role. Gulbranson passed for a career-high 294 yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback Jaden Robinson had the fumble recovery that led to Hayes’ game-winning kick. Tight end Jermaine Terry II caught five passes for 92 yards and a touchdown play of 43 yards. Hayes kicks field goals of 47 and 55 yards. Semisi Saluni had a sack, just OSU’s second in four games. But newcomers to the lineup also made an impact. Johnson, Darrius Clemons and Salahadin Allah scored their first touchdowns as Beavers. Safety Jaheim Patterson had his best game in an OSU uniform with four tackles, one for a loss. Andy Alfieri, recently moved to defense from tight end, had a team-high two tackles for loss. Freshman cornerback Exodus Ayers forced the fumble that Robinson recovered. -- Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel . Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com .
Romania PM fends off far-right challenge in presidential first roundIn conclusion, Son Heung-Min's decision to throw the corner flag at the Tottenham Hotspur home fans has sparked a range of interpretations and speculations among football enthusiasts. Whether it was a message to Arsenal, a display of unity with the fans, a demonstration of individual creativity, or a combination of these factors, one thing is certain: Son's celebration has added an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to the intense rivalry between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. As fans continue to dissect and analyze this memorable moment, one thing remains clear – in football, every action on the pitch carries significance and meaning, transcending the boundaries of the game itself.
Cruz Beckham's bizarre response to jibes that his fledgling music career is all down to his parentsPHOENIX — A state agency pursuing ideas to increase Arizona's water supply has less than half the money it was promised by the Legislature. There's also no guarantee the ideas will make financial sense in the end. But the Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority voted this past week to take the first step of asking companies to show how they could import more than 100 billion gallons of water from outside of the state. The water would supplement — and possibly replace — some of what is being used now to supply homeowners, industrial users and farmers. The board members want not just meaningful technical descriptions of how these companies could bring water to the desert. They want to know the price tag. One thing is for sure: It's going to cost more than Arizonans are paying now for the mix of groundwater and surface water that currently comes out of their taps. But importation may end up being the only option as local water supplies are dwindling and even the future of the state's Colorado River allocation remains uncertain. The water authority, known as WIFA, is pursuing what remains of a grandiose $1 billion plan by Republican former Gov. Doug Ducey to have the state desalinate water from the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. That plan blew up when word got out about behind-the scenes negotiations by the WIFA board solely with Israeli-based IDE Technologies, as Ducey was trying to have a deal inked by the time he left office in January 2023. The board members concluded after the controversy that they didn't have enough information. Now they are starting over, complete with an open solicitation process — and no pre-baked decisions that desalination is the answer. The panel is open to ideas ranging from bringing in surface water from other states to reclaimed water and "other" possibilities — "which means anything," said Ted Cooke, a WIFA board member who chairs the committee. "We want to have an open mind to have innovative ideas that go beyond the obvious ones,'' said Cooke. "And even the obvious ones have lots of potential regulatory, legal, political, permitting-type challenges.'' The bottom line is making sure that any of these ideas actually are viable, he said. A convergence of several factors is creating the need. The obvious one is that Arizona's population is growing. Another is the recognition that groundwater is not an infinite resource. Then there's the fact that the Colorado River has less water because of the long-term drought. Arizona, which already had its allocation of river water reduced, is virtually certain to have to accept future cuts. Cooke said some studies have shown the total anticipated "unmet demand'' for the entire state could be as high as 5 million acre-feet, with an acre-foot being the amount of water that could serve two or three average families a year. A more focused study of the areas served by the Central Arizona Project, the canal system that brings water from the Colorado River to Phoenix, Tucson and central Arizona farms, projected a need of between 100,000 and 500,000 acre-feet within 10 years. All of that was on the minds of Arizona lawmakers when they voted in 2022 to set aside $1 billion over three years for water augmentation projects, with a mandate that at least 75% of the water come from outside the state. Only thing is, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, looking for places to cut funding, trimmed last year's allocation by half and eliminated entirely this year's $333 million payment. That leaves WIFA with about $450 million, said Chelsea McGuire, an assistant director at the agency. There's really nothing that can be built for that amount. In fact, even the $1 billion was seen only as a form of state participation: Estimates from the now-defunct Israeli plan put the price tag in the $5.5 billion range. So what that leaves at this point is to use WIFA's money to find someone who has the technical expertise, has a viable plan, and is willing to use at least some of its own funds to build. To make that work for any company ultimately chosen by WIFA, however, is the need to have guaranteed long-term customers. And that turns on the billion-dollar question: How much are water users willing to pay? The average monthly water bill for Phoenix is about $45 a month. Tucson's is pretty much the same. Multiply that by 12 and you're talking $540 a year. That covers everything from producing and treating water to maintaining the system that delivers it to the door. By contrast, estimates for desalination projects put the cost of treating and delivering an acre-foot of water at anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 an acre-foot. Even assuming conservative use of water and that three families can be served with an acre-foot, that means adding anywhere from $830 to $1,600 extra a year to a water bill. At the same time, there are other costly — but less expensive — alternatives being explored to increase the supply of domestic water. One of the most talked about is "advanced water purification,'' sometimes more colorfully referred to as "toilet to tap.'' The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality just published draft rules to allow water that was flushed down toilets to be delivered to faucets after treatment. It's already viable technology. Scottsdale has a plant that is treating sewage to drinking water standards, though actually delivering it to people's homes will require an ADEQ permit. And Phoenix is retrofitting one of its sewage treatment facilities to produce drinkable water. Cooke noted that while the law authorizing WIFA to find water requires that 75% come from out of state, that still leaves room for the agency to explore options like this. "Ideally, we would have some idea of what are the viable options out there for in-state augmentation so we can compare the two and make the choices before we're fully subscribed to go out and get $4,000-an-acre-foot water for the whole 500,000 acre-feet that we think that we need — and no longer have the means or the opportunity to do something less expensive,'' he said. There's also the thought that once the state starts getting proposals to augment its water supply from an out-of-state source, someone may come up with something quite different that has not even been considered. That's exactly why the request for solicitations issued this past week deliberately does not spell out the technology to be used, said Jonathan Lines, who chairs the WIFA board. "We're not limited in scope or specifics,'' Lines said. "And we want to do what makes sense for Arizona long term, with no commitment today on what that path forward looks like.'' But there's another factor at work that could affect what the water will cost, whether it will be affordable, and even how many proposals the state will get: The failure of the state to live up to its commitment of $1 billion. McGuire said the message that goes out to those who might want to get involved is that "Arizona clearly isn't serious about this.'' And that, she said, will make some of them believe it is not worth their time to submit a proposal. There is a huge capital cost to such a project, whether desalination, a water pipeline from the Midwest or something else, McGuire noted. "We're going to have to play some role,'' she said, meaning having the state invest its own cash. Put simply, McGuire said any private developer forced to pick up all the costs would want a rate of return on that investment. In turn, that will drive up the costs of a delivered product to the point that no one will be willing to commit to long-term purchases, she said. "And so those end users like a Phoenix, whoever it might be, they say, 'Well, I don't know that I can afford that,' '' she said. Conversely, putting public dollars into those capital costs means the risk for the developer goes down — as does how much that entity needs to charge. "So state support is what makes this sustainable and financially feasible across the board," McGuire said. That, then, comes back to WIFA's finances. Recognizing the state budget situation, WIFA didn't even bother to ask Hobbs to restore the cuts in her proposed budget for next fiscal year. "Instead of 'give us more,' we're asking for a 'do no more harm' approach,'' said McGuire. In the meantime, she said, the WIFA board will do what it can to show the governor and lawmakers it's using the money it does have to show there are "tangible concepts'' out there to pursue. "So we're dedicated to showing our work, showing the value of the investment so far, before we ask for more,'' McGuire said. Hobbs, for her part, was noncommittal on future funding. "We're in the middle of our budgeting process right now so I can't speak to what that investment's going to look like,'' the governor said. But she insisted she is not trying to kill the plan. "I am absolutely committed to our water security,'' she said. "Water augmentation is an important part of that future. We are absolutely moving forward on feasible plans for augmentation.'' There's something else in how WIFA is conducting its business that is a bit unusual. In most solicitation requests for goods and services, a government agency puts out a request for what it wants and asks firms to say what they would charge. In this case, however, WIFA intends to select those it wants to hear more from about their ideas and plans. And at that point the agency will cover their expenses of proving the engineering and cost viability of their projects. McGuire said that's necessary given the scope of the work being sought. "To have that wholly flushed out and fully developed, I don't think it's something that a firm really is going to do for the state without some sort of compensation for doing that,'' she said. McGuire also said that putting these firms on contract to do a feasibility analysis of their proposed projects means the state will be getting "apples-to-apples'' information to compare and contrast them. "The other thing that it means is we also own that intellectual property at the end of the day because those teams are on contract to work for us,'' she said. That means if WIFA does not find submissions to be acceptable, the agency gets to keep and use all that research to pursue alternatives. Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, Bluesky , and Threads at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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