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Forthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”

Igor Severino is back. You may not remember his name per se, but one line will definitely refresh your memory: yes, he’s the guy suspended for biting his opponent Andre Lima during a UFC fight in March. Severino returns to the cage Sunday to faces Jonas Magard at Oktagon 65 in Prague, Czech Republic. Magard is a former bantamweight champion in the organization and that could end up being a No. 1 contender bout, but Severino has more on the line than just victories and title shots. Severino was “heartbroken” after a silly mistake that cost him a deal with the UFC and nine months away from action. Some wanted him to be banned altogether, and his social media was “flooded with hateful comments” and death threats. This fight represents a chance to move on from that, but not entirely. The 21-year-old talent, whose DQ loss was his first defeat as a professional MMA fighter, believes that all publicity is good publicity. Oktagon also embraced that, referred to him as a “disgraced UFC star” when announcing the fight. This weekend, Severino will walk to the cage wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask. “[The bite] became viral worldwide,” Severino told MMA Fighting. “News channels that had nothing to do with MMA were talking about it, so now I’m using that to my advantage. I have the mask, I’m having some fun — but it’s just a joke, that won’t happen again [laughs].” The world of MMA has seen plenty of “Hannibals” already, including UFC welterweight veteran Claudio Silva . And “Cannibals”, too, like UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja . Severino wants a unique nickname related to the bite, so the Hannibal Lecter gimmick is just temporary. His opponent Magard is known as “Shark”, another obvious pun for this fight. “We also have a ‘shark’ here,” said Severino, referring to UFC fighter and teammate Joanderson Brito , known as “ Tubarão ” ( shark ) in Brazil. “I’m used to training with sharks, so it’s all good. I’m at home. The real shark is here [laughs].” Severino was handed a nine-month suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission, but that wouldn’t stop him from fighting sooner in Europe if he chose to. However, since he plans on maybe returning to the North American circuit in the future — possibly rejoining the UFC one day —, it made sense to sit and wait. The Chute Boxe Joao Emilio bantamweight knocked out Jhonata Silva at Dana White ’s Contender Series before his unforgettable UFC appearance, and said he never stopped training during the suspension nor contemplated retirement despite the online attacks. “I wasn’t that affected by any of that, really,” Severino said. “People worried that I would want to stop [fighting] or something like that after being cut by the UFC, but I never considered it. I’ve learned a lot from all that. It helped me see who were by my side, and who was not.” Severino said he’s “very confident” that a win Sunday earns him a shot at the belt which was left vacant after Felipe Lima left Oktagon to join the UFC. Magard, who lost the throne to Lima in July of 2023, went the distance in nine of his 23 MMA bouts and was finished in five of six defeats. “He doesn’t go in there to put on a show or any of that,” Severino said of his opponent. “He talks a lot, he likes to promote his fights. I don’t like bring friendly with my opponents so I’ll be very comfortable with all that. And I’m not impressed by his game either. I won’t underestimate him, of course, but I believe I have more weapons than him. He’s very predictable.”

Acting President and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok speaks during a National Security Council meeting at Government Complex in Seoul, Friday, following the National Assembly's impeachment of former acting President Han Duck-soo. Yonhap By Lee Yeon-woo Korea's bond market has remained stable, even in the aftermath of a brief imposition of martial law that rattled other exchanges, leading to a sharp weakening of the won against the U.S. dollar and increased volatility in the domestic stock market . However, with projections indicating an inevitable supplementary budget next year, concerns are growing over the potential spillover of economic uncertainties into the bond market. "Currently, the bond market's focus is on the supplementary budget," Eugene Securities analyst Kim Ji-na said. "Next year's supplementary budget is expected to further strain the supply of long-term bonds." The amount of government bond issuance anticipated next year already reached a record-high of 197.6 trillion won. In addition, the government plans to issue up to 20 trillion won in won-denominated foreign exchange stabilization bonds to bolster external credibility and stabilize the currency market. As a significant portion of the supplementary budget will be financed through government bond issuance, this additional supply is expected to place further pressure on the bond market. The increase in government bond issuance could drive up bond yields, raising borrowing costs for businesses and households in need of essential funds. Kim noted that while a supplementary budget itself is not unprecedented and would not surprise the market, the key issues are the amount and the timing of its implementation. "The upcoming supplementary budget could exceed 10 trillion won, driven by the political imperative of stabilizing livelihoods and the need to defend against economic growth falling below 1 percent. Depending on the next ruling party, it may not be limited to a single round," Kim said. Calls for a supplementary budget in 2025 gained momentum as the country's economy continues to struggle. Some indicators, including the won weakening to the 1,480 level against the dollar, are reminiscent of the global financial crisis of 2008. The finance ministry is projecting just 1 percent economic growth next year. The finance ministry has officially opposed a supplementary budget, citing concerns over fiscal sustainability. Instead, it plans to front-load 75 percent of the total budget , or 431 trillion won, in the first half of next year. "I agree with the perception that the government needs to take an active role given the struggles of the public and uncertainties both at home and abroad," acting President and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said at a press meeting, Dec. 23. "However, the current budget must be executed first, so I will prioritize its execution ." Many experts believe a super supplementary budget worth tens of trillions of won will ultimately be implemented to support the sluggish economy. "Given the domestic economic uncertainties and external tariff risks, a supplementary budget amounting to 1.1 percent of gross domestic product will be necessary to ease fiscal shortages in 2025," Citi Korea Chief Economist Kim Jin-wook said. "We expect 10 to 15 trillion won to be allocated in the first quarter of next year, with an additional 15 to 20 trillion won following a presidential election in the second half of next year."Syrian rebels have seized the capital Damascus unopposed after a lightning advance that sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family's autocratic rule. or signup to continue reading In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, the fall of Assad's government on Sunday wiped out a bastion from which Iran and Russia exercised influence across the Arab world. Moscow gave him and his family asylum, Russian state media said. His sudden overthrow, at the hands of a revolt partly backed by Turkey and with roots in jihadist Sunni Islam, limits Iran's ability to spread weapons to its allies and could cost Russia its Mediterranean naval base. It may pave the way for millions of refugees scattered for more than a decade in camps across Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to finally return home. For Syrians, it brought a sudden unexpected end to a war in deep freeze for years, with hundreds of thousands dead, cities pounded to dust and an economy hollowed out by global sanctions. "How many people were displaced across the world? How many people lived in tents? How many drowned in the seas?" the top rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani told a huge crowd in central Damascus, referring to refugees who died trying to reach Europe. "A new history, my brothers, is being written in the entire region after this great victory," he said, adding that with hard work Syria would be "a beacon for the Islamic nation". The Assad police state - known since his father seized power in the 1960s as one of the harshest in the Middle East with hundreds of thousands of political prisoners - melted away overnight. Bewildered and elated inmates poured out of jails after rebels blasted away locks on their cells. Reunited families wept and wailed in joy. As the sun set in Damascus without Assad for the first time, the roads leading into the city were mostly empty, apart from motorcycles carrying armed men and rebel vehicles caked with mud as camouflage. Some men could be seen looting a shopping centre on the road between the capital and the Lebanese border, stuffing goods into plastic bags or into pick-up trucks. The myriad checkpoints lining the road to Damascus were empty. A thick column of black smoke billowed out from the Mazzeh neighbourhood, where Israeli strikes earlier had targeted Syrian state security branches, according to security sources. Intermittent gunfire rang out in apparent celebration. Earlier, the rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments. Thousands congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting "Freedom". People were seen walking inside the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, with some leaving carrying furniture from inside. A motorcycle was parked on the intricately-laid parquet floor of a gilded hall. The Syrian rebel coalition said it was working to complete the transfer of power to a transitional governing body with executive powers. "The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria together that befits the sacrifices of its people," it added in a statement. Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, prime minister under Assad, called for free elections and said he had been in contact with Golani to discuss the transitional period. Golani, whose group was once Syria's branch of al-Qaeda but has softened its image to reassure members of minority sects and foreign countries, said there was no room for turning back. US President Joe Biden, in a televised address, cheered Assad's fall but acknowledged that it was also a moment of risk and uncertainty. He pledged to support Syria's neighbours. Jubilant supporters of the revolt crowded Syrian embassies in various cities around the world, lowering red, white and black Assad-era flags and replacing them with the green, white and black flag flown of his opponents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Assad's fall was thanks to blows Israel had dealt to Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, and that the toppling of Assad could make it easier for Israel to reach a ceasefire deal to free hostages in Gaza. "The barbaric state has fallen," French President Emmanuel Macron said. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementAn investor who can find a stock that goes up 15% annually has found a remarkable thing. The S&P 500 itself goes up roughly 10% per year, and investors who pick individual stocks want to beat this. While there are market-beaters out there, there are relatively few, so it's a big deal when an investor finds one. Supposing someone invested in a stock that went up 15% per year, it would gain about 300% over the course of a decade. Therefore, a stock that quadruples in value in a single decade is a big deal. But shares of The RealReal ( REAL -1.18% ) , Carvana ( CVNA -4.00% ) , and Byrna Technologies ( BYRN -3.47% ) have done this just in 2024. In other words, if this trio had quadrupled over 10 years, it would have been significant. But considering they've done it in just one year, each one warrants a closer look. 1. The RealReal: Up 421% The RealReal has the go-to e-commerce platform for preowned luxury goods that have been authenticated. For a time, its user base was declining, and it was burning cash, dropping the stock to a very cheap valuation. In early 2023, it dropped to below 0.2 times its sales -- stocks often trade between 1 and 2 times sales. And investor Michael Burry took notice. Burry is famous for his successful (and large) bet that the mortgage space would collapse right before the Great Recession . Since that windfall trade, he's continued to invest in select stocks and gravitates toward stocks that are cheap , such as The RealReal stock in early 2023. Since initially taking a stake, Burry's hedge fund Scion Asset Management has increased and reduced its position in The RealReal stock, as the table shows. But he still owns 500,000 shares as of the third quarter of 2024. Quarter Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Shares held 684,442 1,500,000 750,000 654,806 1,412,692 1,000,000 500,000 Percentage change n/a 119% (50%) (13%) 116% (29%) (50%) Data source: Figures from financial filings for Burry's hedge fund Scion Asset Management. Table by author. Investors can only speculate why Burry likes The RealReal stock, but there are things to like besides its bargain-basement valuation. For starters, the number of active buyers on the company's platform just hit its highest level since the fourth quarter of 2022. Moreover, its take rate for the third quarter of 2024 was at an all-time high of 38.6%. This allowed it to profit $2 million in Q3 free cash flow , which is just the second time it's ever generated positive free cash flow. These positive developments are why The RealReal stock was one of the best stocks in 2024 , and Burry's eye for value helped him buy at an opportune time. 2. Carvana: Up 323% In 2022, Carvana stock dropped below $4 per share as investors feared bankruptcy. The company renegotiated its debt, mitigating this risk. That sent shares soaring into the stratosphere, including in 2024, as they've more than quadrupled in value. Carvana takes the common task of buying a car and makes it less strenuous by digitizing the entire process. This has proved undeniably popular with consumers, as evidenced by the company's more than 200% revenue growth in the last five years. So the company does deserve some credit. But there are still financial headwinds. For starters, 2024 has been one of Carvana's best years for sales. But could sales take a step back in 2025? One thing to consider is that auto loan delinquencies are rising fast and are at their highest levels in nearly four years. This could slow things down for Carvana if its financial partners decide to take on less risk by buying fewer of its loans. US Auto Loans Delinquent by 90 or More Days data by YCharts Moreover, Carvana made a deal in 2023 to temporarily reduce the interest it paid on its debt. But it could ultimately result in higher payments when it reaches the end of its two-year deal with lenders . Considering it's set to expire in 2025, Carvana could wind up using most of its cash flow to service its debt, which could put a damper on shareholder returns for the foreseeable future. 3. Byrna Technologies: Up 379% Most people have heard of Carvana. And many investors have heard of The RealReal, thanks to Michael Burry. But almost no one has heard of Byrna Technologies. This small company makes self-defense devices that look similar to handguns, but deliver less-lethal projectiles filled with chemical irritants or plain hard plastic projectiles. And sales are really taking off. Byrna calls its primary devices "launchers," and it only launched them in 2019. It's already sold 500,000 as of November 2024. But management believes its market is huge. It hopes to reach 5% of non-gun owners and 10% of gun owners. Management says that this is a $17.5 billion goal, whereas it only has $73 million in trailing-12-month revenue -- that's a lot of potential upside. Byrna may be small, but its financials still have desirable traits. First, revenue in the third quarter of 2024 jumped 194% year over year to a record $20.9 million. Second, the company has over $3 million in net income through the first three quarters of 2024, compared with a loss of $8 million in the same period of 2023. Finally, it may only have around $20 million in cash, but it also has zero debt, which gives it a relatively strong balance sheet for its size. Trading at 10 times sales, Byrna stock isn't exactly cheap. But considering it's chasing a big opportunity and is fast-growing, profitable, and debt-free, this little stock could still have a lot of long-term upside, even after quadrupling in value in 2024.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine, describing it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. “Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness," Trump wrote on social media, referring to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a television interview that aired Sunday, Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO . Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Asked on NBC's “Meet the Press” if he were actively working to end the nearly 3-year-old Ukraine war, Trump said, “I am.” He refused to say if he had spoken to Putin since winning election in November. “I don’t want to say anything about that, because I don’t want to do anything that could impede the negotiation,” Trump said. Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire went beyond the public policy stands taken by the Biden administration and Ukraine and drew a cautious response from Zelenskyy. It also marks Trump wading unusually deeply into efforts before his Jan. 20 inauguration to resolve one of the major global crises facing the lame-duck Biden administration. Trump made his proposal after a weekend meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders in Paris, where many world leaders gathered to celebrate the restoration of Notre Dame cathedral after a devastating fire. None of the advisers traveling with him appeared to have expertise on Ukraine. Kyiv would like to close a deal, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.” “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump added. He was referring to mediation efforts by China that many in the West have seen as favoring Russia. Zelenskyy described his discussions Saturday with Trump, brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron, as “constructive" but has given no further details. Zelenskyy cautioned that Ukraine needs a “just and robust peace, that Russians will not destroy within a few years.” “When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must talk first of all about effective peace guarantees. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land,” he said Sunday in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump's post by repeating Moscow’s long-standing message that it is open to talks with Ukraine. Peskov referenced a decree by Zelenskyy from October 2022 that declared the prospect of any talks “impossible” as long as Putin was Russia's leader. That decree came after Putin proclaimed four occupied regions of Ukraine to be part of Russia, in what Kyiv and the West said was a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Trump’s former national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, warned there was no such thing as a quick fix to ending Russia’s war with Ukraine. “What I’m worried about is this kind of flawed idea that Putin can be placated, right, that Putin will come to some kind of a deal,” McMaster told “Fox News Sunday." “I think it’s really important for President Trump to adhere to his instinct in this connection ... peace through strength,” McMaster said, adding, “How about give them what they need to defend themselves, and then saying to Putin, ‘You’re going to lose this war?”’ While Trump has said before that he would like to see a quick ceasefire in Ukraine, his proposal Sunday was framed as a direct appeal to Russia. The quick responses from Ukraine and Russia demonstrated the seriousness with which they regarded the idea from the incoming American president. Both Trump and President Joe Biden pointed this weekend to Russia’s disengagement in Syria , where the Russian military largely moved out of the way while Syrian rebels overthrew the country’s Russian-allied president , as evidence of the extent to which the Ukraine war has sapped Russia’s resources. Biden said at the White House on Sunday that resistance from Ukraine had "left Russia unable to protect its main ally in the Middle East.” The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have made a point of not being seen to press Ukraine for an immediate truce. Ukraine's allies fear a quick deal would be largely on the terms of its more powerful neighbor, potentially forcing damaging concessions on Ukraine and allowing Russia to resume the war again once it has built back up its military strength. Trump portrays himself as up to making fast deals to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that have frustrated many of the Biden administration's own mediation efforts. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise affect current U.S. policy. The Logan Act bars private citizens from trying to intervene in “disputes or controversies” between the United States and foreign powers without government approval. But the 1799 statute has produced just two criminal cases, none since the 1850s and neither resulting in a criminal conviction. In the NBC interview taped Friday, Trump renewed his warning to NATO allies that he did not see continued U.S. participation in the Western military alliance as a given during his second term. Trump has long complained that European and the Canadian governments in the mutual-defense bloc are freeloading on military spending by the U.S., by far the most powerful partner in NATO. NATO and its member governments say a majority of countries in the bloc are now hitting voluntary targets for military spending , due in part to pressure from Trump in his first term. Asked whether he would consider the possibility of pulling out of NATO, Trump indicated that was an open question. “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely I’d stay with NATO,” he said. But if not, he was asked if he would consider pulling the U.S. out of the alliance. Trump responded, “Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.” Trump expressed the same openness when asked if Ukraine should brace for possible cuts in U.S. aid. “Possibly,” he said. U.S. arms and other military support are vital to Ukraine's efforts to fend off invading Russian forces, and Biden has been surging assistance to Ukraine before leaving office. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday announced nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine. Austin spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Sunday about the status of the war and U.S. military backing, the Pentagon said. Russian forces kept up their grinding advance in eastern Ukraine, taking the village of Blahodatne, according to a statement Sunday by Russia’s defense ministry. If confirmed, that gain would bring Russian forces a step closer toward capturing the town of Velyka Novosilka and disrupting a key logistics route for the Ukrainian army, military analysts said. Kozlowska reported from London. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York and AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.Acting President and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok speaks during a National Security Council meeting at Government Complex in Seoul, Friday, following the National Assembly's impeachment of former acting President Han Duck-soo. Yonhap By Lee Yeon-woo Korea's bond market has remained stable, even in the aftermath of a brief imposition of martial law that rattled other exchanges, leading to a sharp weakening of the won against the U.S. dollar and increased volatility in the domestic stock market . However, with projections indicating an inevitable supplementary budget next year, concerns are growing over the potential spillover of economic uncertainties into the bond market. "Currently, the bond market's focus is on the supplementary budget," Eugene Securities analyst Kim Ji-na said. "Next year's supplementary budget is expected to further strain the supply of long-term bonds." The amount of government bond issuance anticipated next year already reached a record-high of 197.6 trillion won. In addition, the government plans to issue up to 20 trillion won in won-denominated foreign exchange stabilization bonds to bolster external credibility and stabilize the currency market. As a significant portion of the supplementary budget will be financed through government bond issuance, this additional supply is expected to place further pressure on the bond market. The increase in government bond issuance could drive up bond yields, raising borrowing costs for businesses and households in need of essential funds. Kim noted that while a supplementary budget itself is not unprecedented and would not surprise the market, the key issues are the amount and the timing of its implementation. "The upcoming supplementary budget could exceed 10 trillion won, driven by the political imperative of stabilizing livelihoods and the need to defend against economic growth falling below 1 percent. Depending on the next ruling party, it may not be limited to a single round," Kim said. Calls for a supplementary budget in 2025 gained momentum as the country's economy continues to struggle. Some indicators, including the won weakening to the 1,480 level against the dollar, are reminiscent of the global financial crisis of 2008. The finance ministry is projecting just 1 percent economic growth next year. The finance ministry has officially opposed a supplementary budget, citing concerns over fiscal sustainability. Instead, it plans to front-load 75 percent of the total budget , or 431 trillion won, in the first half of next year. "I agree with the perception that the government needs to take an active role given the struggles of the public and uncertainties both at home and abroad," acting President and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said at a press meeting, Dec. 23. "However, the current budget must be executed first, so I will prioritize its execution ." Many experts believe a super supplementary budget worth tens of trillions of won will ultimately be implemented to support the sluggish economy. "Given the domestic economic uncertainties and external tariff risks, a supplementary budget amounting to 1.1 percent of gross domestic product will be necessary to ease fiscal shortages in 2025," Citi Korea Chief Economist Kim Jin-wook said. "We expect 10 to 15 trillion won to be allocated in the first quarter of next year, with an additional 15 to 20 trillion won following a presidential election in the second half of next year."2024's Most Read Science Stories

Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 23 Michigan fends off NorthwesternNorthwest Biotherapeutics (OTCMKTS:NWBO) & Evoke Pharma (NASDAQ:EVOK) Head-To-Head ComparisonThe Jacksonville Jaguars have signed G Jerome Carvin and RB Myles Gaskin to their practice squad, per the transaction wire. In correspondence, the Jaguars have released P Matt Haack and LS Tucker Addington from the practice squad. Gaskin, 27, is a former seventh-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2019. He played out his four-year, $2.6 million rookie contract and became an unrestricted free agent. The Dolphins re-signed Gaskin to a one-year deal back in March of 2023 but he was among their final roster cuts heading into the season. From there, Gaskin joined the Vikings soon after before the Rams added him to their active roster. He signed with Minnesota’s practice squad before signing a futures deal with the team in January but was released coming out of the preseason. He was on and off the practice squad before being released in December. In 2024, Gaskin has appeared in five games for the Vikings and carried the ball three times for negative one rushing yard along with an 11-yard reception. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.

Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new stake in Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. ( NYSE:KGS – Free Report ) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 39,052 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,242,000. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in shares of Kodiak Gas Services during the second quarter worth $40,000. nVerses Capital LLC raised its stake in Kodiak Gas Services by 90.9% in the second quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kodiak Gas Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $125,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in shares of Kodiak Gas Services by 115.1% in the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 5,691 shares of the company’s stock valued at $155,000 after acquiring an additional 3,045 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. acquired a new stake in shares of Kodiak Gas Services during the 2nd quarter worth about $174,000. 24.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Kodiak Gas Services Stock Performance Shares of KGS stock opened at $40.45 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $37.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $31.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.54 billion, a PE ratio of 139.49 and a beta of 1.14. Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $19.88 and a 52-week high of $44.20. Kodiak Gas Services Announces Dividend Insider Transactions at Kodiak Gas Services In related news, insider Ewan William Hamilton sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.45, for a total transaction of $121,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 31,745 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,284,085.25. This represents a 8.63 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link . Company insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In KGS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup initiated coverage on Kodiak Gas Services in a report on Friday, September 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Kodiak Gas Services from $32.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Kodiak Gas Services from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Kodiak Gas Services in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $30.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Mizuho initiated coverage on Kodiak Gas Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $36.00 target price on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $37.09. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Kodiak Gas Services Kodiak Gas Services Profile ( Free Report ) Kodiak Gas Services, Inc operates contract compression infrastructure for customers in the oil and gas industry in the United States. It operates in two segments, Compression Operations and Other Services. The Compression Operations segment operates company-owned and customer-owned compression infrastructure to enable the production, gathering, and transportation of natural gas and oil. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KGS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. ( NYSE:KGS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Kodiak Gas Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kodiak Gas Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Invest in the Future. Nvidia’s AI Revolution Takes Off

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size If ever a year deserved to be summed up in a cheap meme, it was 2024. It was the year that felt like being awake during surgery . Sometimes the social media chuckle gallery hits the nail right on the head, but for all the spot-on accuracy of that assessment, it’s also a year that warranted a search for its better angels; a sifting through the flotsam and jetsam for the fairy dust and joy. And there were halos to be found if you looked hard enough. “This is the biggest show we’ve done on this tour or any tour,” Taylor Swift told the crowd of 96,000 at the MCG. Credit: Jason South There was, for instance, a moment back in February when the MCG – traditionally a place that brings the feels during footy in September or the cricket on Boxing Day – seemed to swallow the entire city in a joyous embrace as host to the largest crowd of Taylor Swift’s entire 149-show Eras Tour . It was a tour, and a show, unlike anything Australia or Swift herself had ever seen. “You’re making me feel like I get to play a show for 96,000 beautiful people in Melbourne tonight,” a visibly stunned Swift told the heaving crowd, which was boosted by several thousand more fans “Taylor-gating” outside the stadium. “This is the biggest show that we have done on this tour, or any tour, ever.” The Swiftian joyfest then moved north to Sydney, where the total turnout was even bigger (320,000 across four shows). “Sydney, you are making me feel absolutely phenomenal,” she declared. The feeling was clearly mutual and spread far beyond the venues. As she had done on other stops on the Eras tour, Swift proved a human tonic to everything that ails us — from economic worries (Swiftonomics became a subject worthy of study) to general social malaise. Advertisement We spend much of our time worrying about the yoof; especially young women. Well, in 2024 Taylor Swift turned up to show us that the kids are alright. And she wasn’t alone. Swiftmania was the herald of what would become the year that “girl power” – a worn and slightly tatty ’90s concept – received a fresh, ferocious update for the 21st century as something deeper, stronger and powered by a kind of worldly-wise joy. Year of the brat Forget sense and sensibility; 2024 was all sass and sensibility. Sabrina Carpenter parlayed her supporting status on the Eras Tour into a blockbuster year that elevated her to near the very top of the tree with no need for Swift’s booster seat. In Carpenter, pop music added another voice that was savvy, sassy, sexy and smart — from the unavoidable bop of Espresso to the come-to-bed brashness of her smash album Short n’ Sweet . Charli XCX took things a step further. The British singer staked her claim to the year by giving 2024 a word, a colour and an attitude all wrapped up in one album – Brat . She summed it up like this: “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.” Was 2024 the year of the brat? Charli XCX fans certainly thought so. Advertisement If it doesn’t make sense to you, that’s probably because it isn’t meant to. But as a sensibility, it rode a cultural wave – the joy wave – so adroitly Kamala Harris even hitched her (ill-fated) Joy Wagon to the phenomenon. On a similar train was American Chappell Roan – dubbed the Joy Rebel of the Year – whose success confirmed young women were increasingly sailing different seas from the rest of the culture, and landing in happier places. Gold medal to Celine Dion’s Paris Olympics performance. Credit: Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images In July, it was a diva of a different era who elevated the Paris Olympics, as a wet and occasionally weird opening ceremony gave way to the thing we mostly remember about it – the moment we heard the voice and then spotted the figure of a glistening Celine Dion perched within the Eiffel Tower . It was a moment of extraordinary power – of personal resilience and vocal artistry – that lifted the event out of the damp Paris streets and elevated it to a moment of genuine collective emotion. Paris in summer was where we went looking for hope during the Australian winter, and our team delivered. Well, the women did anyway, bringing home 13 of the 18 gold and 27 of the 45 medals overall for our greatest Games ever. Alongside the usual heroics in the pool ( Kaylee McKeown became the first Australian to win four individual gold was one stand-out among a team of them) there were more eccentric goings-on elsewhere in the Olympic city. You could, if you so chose, react to Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s zero-point car crash with a scowl and a sneer, and many did, but the open-hearted were able to see the funny side. As were comedians around the world, who found in the Australian breakdancer one of the year’s true unifying comedic moments . In a year of much misery, this achievement should not be underappreciated. Advertisement There were happy cultural warriors elsewhere, too. In Hollywood, Nicole Kidman seemed to star in every other movie and series – as Steve Martin quipped at the Emmys , “when I see an actor I don’t know, I just say, ‘I loved your scene with Nicole Kidman’, and nine times out of 10, I’m right”. Our Nic took time out from starring in everything to win everything. This included inhaling the very rare air of an American Film Institute Life Achievement Award . Flying the flag for the younger generation, Adelaide’s Sarah Snook carted home an Emmy and a Golden Globe and warmed up for her 2025 Broadway run in The Picture Of Dorian Gray with a Laurence Olivier Award for the same tour de force in London. Ms Everywhere: It was a big year for Nicole Kidman. Credit: Dave Benett/WireImage Loyalty to royalty Acting royalty elevated us to higher planes. Garden variety royalty also played its part. Mary Donaldson, erstwhile of Hobart and Sydney, became Queen of Denmark in January, giving hope to everyone who met someone in a bar during the Sydney Olympics almost 25 years ago. You don’t have to love royalty to breathe the occasional sigh of relief at the distraction they provide from the daily grind, and you don’t have to be a monarchist to be pleased that the Princess of Wales faced and emerged from a cancer diagnosis in strong and dignified spirit. In the natural world, bad news abounds when it comes to climate change – but there were bright spots. Advertisement Did you know Britain closed its last coal power station in September ? Or that renewables surged even in the US, where wind generation outpaced coal for the first time? Or that in the Amazon, deforestation reached record lows this year? It did. All is not lost yet. Loading For some old-fashioned cheer from Mother Nature, you could wallow in dog and cat videos on social media (and millions of us did) – or you could turn your gaze to another heroine we didn’t know we needed, the Tay Tay of the Choeropsis liberiensis world. In September, the world fell in love with Moo Deng , a pygmy hippo, a girl whose social media fame drew attention to the plight and past of her species. Who knew the pygmy hippo came with a history this rich, star of a Liberian legend in which Moo Deng’s kind find their way through the forest at night by carrying diamonds in their mouths to light the way? This pigmy hippo has become a viral sensation. Credit: Khao Kheow Open Zoo Now we know, and we are the better for it. Closer to home, Pesto the king penguin gained global fame as a social media superstar , famous on TikTok as the largest chick Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium has ever seen. Big, beautiful and comfortable in his own skin, Pesto was the kind of hero – “calm, curious and friendly” – we needed in a year when male humans to admire were thin on the ground. Advertisement For other bright lights in the darkness, we needed look no further than our own southern skies, with the return on several occasions of the Aurora Australis , which made rare and spectacular appearances as far north as Queensland in May, September and October. Scientists and citizens alike were dazzled by a liquid light show of pinks and whites and purples and greens. Was there a better symbol of hope than this – a phenomenon named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, announcing the arrival of a new day? It was as if we had been given a celestial preview of what would become the year’s biggest cultural event, one that also asked us to look skyward – or in the words of the song of the year, Defying Gravity , “look to the western sky”. Bright lights, all right. Aurora Australis seen in Victoria. Credit: Facebook/Travis Carroll The screen adaptation of Wicked landed in cinemas in mid-November, amid one of the strangest promotional tours in memory and hot on the heels of an American political earthquake two weeks earlier. The weird on-camera adventures of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were at times almost as entertaining as the film they starred in. And the movie’s storyline, adapted from the 2003 stage musical, could have been taken as a contemporary riff on the state of the world , very specifically, at the end of 2024. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star in Wicked. Credit: Out.com Wicked is a tale of defiance and friendship forged in the most difficult of circumstances; of surmounting challenges and differences; of flying, literally, in the face of a world that seeks to define you. It was, as so many of the hopeful things were in 2024, a message delivered by and to young women startling in their confidence and talent, happy to defy the doom with which the times seek to burden them. Loading The song that ends the film became the year’s musical battle cry – a moment when art and heart met irresistible force, and art and heart won. If ever a year needed an anthem , it was this one – and in Defying Gravity it found it. In a year that insisted we be sad and scared – or summed up in a cheap meme – it was proof there was still space for hearts and minds to soar. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .

Lucintel Forecast Carbon Fiber Market to Reach $5.0 Billion by 2030 12-10-2024 11:12 PM CET | Logistics & Transport Press release from: ABNewswire Trends and Forecast for the Global Carbon Fiber Market According to the recent study the carbon fiber market is projected to reach an estimated $5.0 billion by 2030 from $3.4 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030. Growth in this market is primarily driven by growth, owing to factors such as increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles, aerospace advancements, wind energy expansion, and growing applications in sports and leisure sectors. Carbon fiber is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, wind energy According to the recent study the carbon fiber market [ https://www.lucintel.com/carbon-fiber-market.aspx ] is projected to reach an estimated $5.0 billion by 2030 from $3.4 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030. Growth in this market is primarily driven by growth, owing to factors such as increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles, aerospace advancements, wind energy expansion, and growing applications in sports and leisure sectors. Carbon fiber is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, wind energy, sports equipment, construction, and marine, among others. The major drivers for market growth are growing demand for high performance and lightweight composite materials and increasing performance requirements in the end uses. Browse 119 figures / charts and 113 tables in this 306 -page report to understand trends, opportunities and forecast in carbon fiber market by end use (aerospace, industrial, and sporting goods), precursor type (PAN BASED based and Pitch based based), tow size (small tow (24k)), modulus (standard modulus, intermediate modulus, and high modulus), and region (North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World). Lucintel forecasts that industrial will remain the largest end use segment and aerospace is expected to witness highest growth over the forecast period. PAN based carbon fiber will remain the largest segment and pitch based is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period. Download sample by clicking on carbon fiber market APAC is expected to remain the largest market and it is also expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to demand from the industries of aerospace, automotive, and wind energy. Toray Industries Inc., Hexcel Corporation, Mitsubishi Rayon Corporation Limited, Cytec Solvay Group, SGL Carbon Group, Teijin Limited, Formosa Plastics Corporation, DowAksa, Hyosung Corporation, Nippon Graphite Fiber Corporation, Kureha Corporation, Osaka Gas Chemical Corporation Ltd., Dalian Xingke Carbon Fiber Co., Jilin Jiyan High-Tech Fibers, Anshan Sinocarb Carbon Fibers Co., Ltd., Sinosteel Jilin Carbon Co., Ltd., Weihai Tuozhan Fiber , Zhongheng New Material, Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Hengshen Fiber Materials Co., Ltd. are the major suppliers in the carbon fiber market. This unique research report will enable you to make confident business decisions in this globally competitive marketplace. For a detailed table of contents, contact Lucintel at +1-972-636-5056 or write us at helpdesk@lucintel.com About Lucintel At Lucintel, we offer solutions for you growth through game changer ideas and robust market & unmet needs analysis. We are based in Dallas, TX and have been a trusted advisor for 1,000+ clients for over 20 years. We are quoted in several publications like the Wall Street Journal, ZACKS, and the Financial Times. Contact: Roy Almaguer Lucintel Dallas, Texas, USA Email: roy.almaguer@lucintel.com Tel. +1 972.636.5056 Explore Our Latest Publications [ https://www.lucintel.com/hypersonic-flight-market-in-canada.aspx ] [ https://www.lucintel.com/industrial-truck-market-in-canada.aspx ] [ https://www.lucintel.com/%C2%A0motor-for-humanoid-robot-market-in-canada.aspx ] [ https://www.lucintel.com/overhead-travelling-cleaner-market-in-canada.aspx ] Pallet Truck Market in Canada Recreational Vehicle Market in Canada Media Contact Company Name: Lucintel Contact Person: Roy Almaguer Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=lucintel-forecast-carbon-fiber-market-to-reach-50-billion-by-2030 ] Phone: 9726365056 Address:8951 Cypress Waters Blvd., Suite 160 City: Dallas State: TEXAS Country: United States Website: https://www.lucintel.com/carbon-fiber-market.aspx This release was published on openPR.Franklin Resources Inc. Has $1.39 Million Stock Position in CAE Inc. (NYSE:CAE)

Saturday, December 28, 2024 New updates you need to know The prestigious HOTLIST 2024 event, a prominent fixture in Vietnam’s tourism industry, concluded its official event series on December 18, 2024, at Hotel Nikko Saigon. After six months of meticulous preparation, this event brought together tourism professionals, government representatives, and industry leaders to celebrate the contributions of outstanding individuals and brands in the tourism sector. The event proved to be a platform for fostering industry growth, sharing insights, and recognizing excellence in tourism. HOTLIST 2024 was composed of two major components: the Insiders Forum and the Honor Ceremony . Both events highlighted the innovation, sustainability, and emerging trends shaping the tourism industry. The Insiders Forum , held earlier in the day, attracted over 100 experts, business leaders, and researchers who gathered to share their thoughts on key tourism topics and trends for the coming year. This forum served as a convergence point for industry professionals to discuss issues such as destination management strategies, sustainable tourism practices, and solutions to meet the evolving needs of the next-generation traveler. One of the major themes discussed at the forum was the importance of destination management and the opportunities that lie in promoting sustainable tourism. Panelists addressed how the industry could continue its positive development, with a focus on creating experiences that resonate with eco-conscious travelers. Among the notable speakers were Mr. Richard Burrage, author of Vietnam Uninterrupted and founder of Cimigo Research Agency, and Mr. Seng Soon Chuah, Director of Development for Southeast Asia and the Pacific at Club Med . Their talks centered around the importance of innovating travel offerings while remaining committed to sustainable practices. The Honor Ceremony held later that evening was a grand occasion, where more than 40 quality brands in the hospitality and tourism industries were recognized for their exceptional contributions. Brands such as Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô , Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai Hoi An , and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi were honored in the hospitality category, while Vietravel and Fit Tour were lauded for their efforts in enhancing the tour experience for travelers. Additionally, Tubudd , a travel tech company, was also highlighted for its innovative contributions to the industry. The ceremony’s highlight was the recognition of Inspiring Travel Influencers of 2024, individuals whose social media presence and content have helped shape travel perceptions and inspire others to explore new destinations. Influencers such as Tran Quang Vinh , Khoai Lang Thang , and Fahoka Xe Dich received special recognition for their influence in promoting Vietnam and Southeast Asia as premier travel destinations. As part of its commitment to recognizing all facets of the tourism industry, HOTLIST 2024 introduced expanded categories beyond the traditional hospitality awards. New categories included Travel Tech , Tour , and Destination recognition. This change underscored the growing importance of technology in tourism, and the event highlighted several innovative platforms and services that are reshaping how people travel today. The event’s success was also attributed to the strong support of its Gold Sponsors , Ford Vietnam and LG , as well as its media partner PR Newswire . Hotel Nikko Saigon provided the perfect setting for the event, which featured stunning cultural performances inspired by Vietnam’s unique heritage. The performances celebrated the country’s traditions while showcasing its contemporary tourist appeal. In addition to the panel discussions and awards, the event emphasized the importance of collaboration in the tourism industry. Representatives from tourism promotion agencies in Taiwan , Malaysia , Singapore , and Japan attended, signaling the event’s growing international appeal. This cross-border collaboration helps to boost the regional tourism economy by promoting mutual understanding and cooperation. Mr. Robert Rankin , General Manager of Abercrombie & Kent Vietnam , moderated one of the key discussions on “Destination Management Strategy – Opportunities and Growth.” He was joined by notable figures such as Mr. Michel Cassagnes , CEO of Archetype Group , and Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy , a climate change research expert. The conversation focused on how to balance the growing demand for tourism with the need to protect and sustain the environment. As part of the ongoing commitment to sustainability, HOTLIST 2024 explored how technology can contribute to greener, more sustainable tourism practices. Club Med’s Seng Soon Chuah and Mr. Jacobo Priegue , co-founder of SODA | Hotel Management Platform , discussed how cutting-edge technologies are enhancing traveler experiences while minimizing the environmental footprint of tourism. Throughout the event, the organizers showcased Vietnam as not only a vibrant tourist destination but also as a growing hub for tourism innovation. The awards ceremony highlighted destinations like Quang Nam , which has gained international recognition for its cultural richness and heritage sites, and Another Saigon by LG , a unique experience space in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, which combines cutting-edge technology with cultural exploration. The final success of HOTLIST 2024 was the culmination of months of planning and a collaborative effort among various stakeholders in the tourism industry. The event has set the stage for more such gatherings in the future, ensuring that the tourism industry in Southeast Asia continues to evolve, innovate, and thrive. The HOTLIST 2024 event not only honored the outstanding contributions of individuals and brands but also encouraged networking and the exchange of ideas. It provided industry leaders, business owners, and experts with a platform to discuss emerging trends, technological advancements, and strategies for the future of tourism in the region. With the conclusion of HOTLIST 2024, the tourism industry in Vietnam and Southeast Asia looks poised for further growth, driven by innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to delivering extraordinary travel experiences. The event proved to be a critical turning point for tourism in the region, highlighting how collaboration, technology, and thoughtful planning can help shape the future of the industry.