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Showing posts with the label ECONOMY

2,000 factories shut down as Thailand's industrial sector faces downturn

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Thailand's manufacturing sector is facing a significant downturn, with nearly 2,000 factories shutting down in the past year. This alarming trend is causing widespread concern about the state of the country's economy. The closures have had far-reaching implications, leading to job losses, a decrease in production and a slowdown in economic growth. Many of the shuttered factories were in the garment, electronics, and automotive industries, which are crucial drivers of Thailand's economy. The reasons behind this industrial downturn are complex. Factors such as rising production costs, stiff competition from other countries, and a lack of skil...... Read Full article on HadNews

Tech stocks plunge amid fears of China restrictions

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The Nasdaq took a significant plunge on Wednesday driven by falling tech stocks as fears mounted over potential new restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. The sell-off was triggered by a Bloomberg report suggesting Joe Biden administration is considering implementing sweeping regulations to further limit sales of critical chipmaking equipment to China. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index experienced its most substantial one-day decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, plummeting 6.8%. One day’s trading saw $500 billion in market value from chip-related stocks wiped out. Yet, despite the setback, the index remains up 30% for the y...... Read Full article on HadNews

The WA government spent $8 million on Coldplay – but this tourism sugar hit comes at the expense of local music

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The Western Australian government subsidised two exclusive 2023 concerts by Coldplay to the tune of A$8 million, Guardian Australia reported last week. The November performances at Perth’s Optus Stadium were described by the government as a “major tourism coup” for WA. The state’s “return on investment” will no doubt be reported by one of the big four accountancy firms, inevitably citing ticket purchases, overnight stays and hospitality spend. Whether one believes these reports or not, these metrics do not measure the true cost-benefits of large scale cultural initiatives. The return on government investments in arts and events s...... Read Full article on HadNews

India's economy benefits from Russia: What does Moscow gain?

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During his recent visit to Moscow, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of peace in global affairs during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Modi notably refrained from outright condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine, opting instead to focus on the benefits India has reaped from its strategic partnership with Moscow. One of the key areas of cooperation between India and Russia highlighted by Modi is the economic sphere. Despite facing criticism from Western countries for their continued imports of Russian oil amidst international sanctions on Moscow, India has seen tangible benefits from its trade ...... Read Full article on HadNews

Anti-tourism protests across Spain continue despite economic growth

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Despite Spain's booming economy, fueled in part by its thriving tourism industry, anti-tourism protests continue to sweep across the country. With nearly 100 million foreign visitors expected to visit this year, a new record for the nation, some locals are feeling the strain of mass tourism in popular destinations like Barcelona and Malaga. The protests highlight the growing discontent among residents who feel overwhelmed by the influx of tourists and the impact it has on their daily lives. From overcrowded streets to rising housing costs, many argue that the benefits of tourism are not evenly distributed and come at a cost to the local comm...... Read Full article on HadNews

Does your service business need AI? Here are 4 rules to help you decide

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Artificial intelligence is the big thing right now, with industries from finance to health care to retail scrambling to adopt AI or risk being left behind. But speaking as professors of business, we think some companies might be jumping the gun. Our recent research suggests that service providers shouldn’t automatically jump on the AI bandwagon. Instead, they should make a choice informed by their strategy. In short, when it comes to AI and service firms, more isn’t necessarily better. Why service providers face a different calculation Are you a manufacturer? Then if AI reduces your costs without lowering quality and gives you the r...... Read Full article on HadNews

18 Bizarre Facts About Argentina | The Land of Beautiful Women and Economic Volatility - Video

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18 Strange Facts About ARGENTINA | THE COUNTRY OF ULTRA SEXY WOMEN and HYPERINFLATION Have you ever heard of the “Argentina paradox”? Over 100 years ago, this place was an economic marvel, on par with Japan. Nowadays, Argentina is mired in inflation, prostitution, and drugs. Half the population lives below the poverty line, sleeping on the streets. Drugs are openly used in cafes. The government admits that Argentina is no longer a desirable place to live. However, the paradox doesn’t end there! Argentina is still a dream destination for many. Low prices make it a paradise for immigrants. Loose laws make it a haven for nightlife. Moreover, it ...... Read Full article on HadNews

The Downfall of Saudi Arabia: How the Kingdom Destroys Itself - Video

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The video "It's Over! How Saudi Arabia Destroys Itself" delves into the critical challenges facing Saudi Arabia as the world transitions away from oil as the primary energy source. The Kingdom, built on its vast oil reserves, is at a crossroads as it grapples with the need to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. The video outlines Saudi Arabia's heavy dependence on oil, which makes up a significant portion of its government budget, export earnings, and GDP. The country's ability to influence global oil prices has allowed it to wield significant power in the international oil market, but this power is now being threa...... Read Full article on HadNews

China is constructing something America has never been able to! 😱 - Video

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China is known for its groundbreaking infrastructure projects that push the boundaries of what is possible, and the video titled "China Is Building What America Never Could 😱" takes viewers on a journey through some of the most awe-inspiring mega projects in the country. From massive railway stations to futuristic cities and cutting-edge airports, China is setting new standards in engineering and design. The video showcases projects like the Jing-Jin-Ji East Railway Station, with its vast size capable of handling thousands of passengers per hour. This station is a testament to China's commitment to cutting-edge infrastructure and high-speed ...... Read Full article on HadNews

California is about to tax guns more like alcohol and tobacco − and that could put a dent in gun violence

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Starting in July 2024, California will be the first state to charge an excise tax on guns and ammunition. The new tax – an 11% levy on each sale – will come on top of federal excise taxes of 10% or 11% for firearms and California’s 6% sales tax. The National Rifle Association has characterized California’s Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act as an affront to the Constitution. But the reaction from the gun lobby and firearms manufactures may hint at something else: the impact that the measure, which is aimed at reducing gun violence, may have on sales. As a professor who studies the economics of violence and illicit trades at...... Read Full article on HadNews

Electric air taxis are on the way – quiet eVTOLs may be flying passengers as early as 2025

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Imagine a future with nearly silent air taxis flying above traffic jams and navigating between skyscrapers and suburban droneports. Transportation arrives at the touch of your smartphone and with minimal environmental impact. This isn’t just science fiction. United Airlines has plans for these futuristic electric air taxis in Chicago and New York. The U.S. military is already experimenting with them. And one company has a contract to launch an air taxi service in Dubai as early as 2025. Another company hopes to defy expectations and fly participants at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Backed by billions of dollars in venture capital and estab...... Read Full article on HadNews

The Rising Cost of Groceries: Unveiling the True Reason Why Food has Become a Luxury - Video

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Food prices seem to be on the rise, leaving many individuals and families struggling to afford groceries. In a recent video titled "Food is a Luxury Now: The REAL Reason Groceries Are So Expensive Today," Shelby Church delves into the factors behind the increasing cost of food. The video highlights the role of corporate greed in driving up prices, with a few companies controlling a significant portion of the food available at grocery stores. This control allows these companies to dictate prices and prioritize profits over the well-being of consumers. Additionally, the video sheds light on issues such as seed company corruption, egg price fi...... Read Full article on HadNews

Foundations are using so many confusing words that few people can figure out what they’re doing

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The United States has the largest philanthropic sector in the world. Foundations and similar grantmakers have US$1.5 trillion in assets and disburse more than $100 billion annually to everything from hospitals and museums to making communities more walkable and improving care at the end of life. Many foundations task in-house and outside communications experts with helping the public learn about their grantmaking and its impact. And yet polling indicates that few people know what foundations do or how philanthropy affects their lives. We are communications scholars who research ways that organizations seeking to bring about social cha...... Read Full article on HadNews

Exposing the 17 European Countries with the Fastest Declining Populations - Video

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17 Fastest Dying European Countries Exposed! Confronted with declining birth rates, high mortality rates, and increasing youth emigration in search of better opportunities, the following 17 countries are at risk of experiencing a severe population decline. Some even predict that some of these countries might disappear entirely without a population. Let’s explore the 17 countries with the highest likelihood of population decline in Europe, with rapidly aging populations and high mortality rates! Watch the video by DiscoveryQuest Video Transcript 17 Nations most likely to die out exposed confronted with declining birth rates High...... Read Full article on HadNews

Philadelphia’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009 – here’s why efforts to raise it have failed

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In Philadelphia, the poorest big city in the U.S., the minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 per hour for the past 15 years. That’s the minimum wage everywhere in Pennsylvania, and it matches the federal minimum wage. However, minimum wage workers in other big American cities earn significantly more: $16 an hour in New York and $15 an hour in Boston, for example. If Philadelphia’s $7.25-per-hour minimum wage were to keep up with inflation alone, it would need to be raised to at least $10.38 today, according to the federal Consumer Price Index inflation calculator. We asked Michael O’Bryan, founder of the Wealth and Work Futures Lab at...... Read Full article on HadNews

Amazon, SpaceX and other companies are arguing the government agency that has protected labor rights since 1935 is actually unconstitutional

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Amazon, SpaceX, Starbucks and Trader Joe’s have all responded to allegations that they have violated labor laws with the same bold argument. The National Labor Relations Board, they assert in several ongoing legal proceedings, is unconstitutional. SpaceX, for example, says that the NLRB is engaging in “an unlawful attempt … to subject Space X to an administrative proceeding whose structure violates Article II, the Fifth Amendment, and the Seventh Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.” If these companies prevail, the entire process for holding union elections and for prosecuting employers who break labor laws – in place s...... Read Full article on HadNews

Why are Americans fighting over no-fault divorce? Maybe they can’t agree what marriage is for

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“First comes love, then comes marriage” – so goes the classic children’s rhyme. But not everyone agrees. Increasingly, the idea that love is the most important reason to marry – or at least to stay married – is under attack. Republican pundits and lawmakers have been pushing back on the availability of no-fault divorce, challenging the idea that not being in love is a valid reason to end a marriage. Speaking as a professor of family law, I know such views aren’t new. Zsa Zsa Gabor once quipped, “Getting divorced just because you don’t love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.” But while Gabor was probably j...... Read Full article on HadNews

Why the country’s economy is stagnant and the steps being taken to revive it – GretAi News

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China’s annual parliamentary meetings in Beijing came to a close on March 11. They were conducted under great pressure: a weak economy and high expectations from both the domestic public and international observers as to what the government can do to get the economy out of the woods. The country’s leaders did not shy away from mentioning all of the economic problems facing China. But they also attempted to boost the morale of the Chinese public by outlining how the country would march into the next chapter of the Chinese story – mainly by striving to become a global leader in technology. The government used the meetings to declare that it w...... Read Full article on HadNews

Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why

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Five out of the six biggest U.S. airlines have raised their checked bag fees since January 2024. Take American Airlines. In 2023, it cost US$30 to check a standard bag in with the airline; today, as of March 2024, it costs $40 at a U.S. airport – a whopping 33% increase. As a business school professor who studies travel, I’m often asked why airlines alienate their customers with baggage fees instead of bundling all charges together. There are many reasons, but an important, often overlooked cause is buried in the U.S. tax code. A tax-law loophole Airlines pay the federal government 7.5% of the ticket price when flying people domesti...... Read Full article on HadNews

How Russia has managed to shake off the impact of sanctions – with a little help from its friends

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Almost two years after the West responded to the Russian invasion in Ukraine with a blistering array of sanctions, a fresh round of financial measures was announced by the Biden administration on Feb. 23, 2024. The new sanctions, imposed following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, raised the number of individuals and entities now targeted by the U.S. to more than 2,000. These measures have run the gamut, from targeted sanctions against President Vladimir Putin and other members of Moscow’s elites to broader restrictions on trade and investment. Yet there are few signs the sanctions have had a meaningful impact on ...... Read Full article on HadNews