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aja’a is a displaced 63-year-old widow from south Lebanon who has been praying for a ceasefire deal to end the between Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel. To date, the conflict has killed thousands and . As the winter months set in on the Lebanese mountains Raja’a, whose name means hope, grew more desperate. Her phone calls have become more frequent. “Firas my dear, do you think peace is near? I’m cold.” The U.S.-brokered truce that Lebanon signed on to and Israel’s war cabinet , is a far cry from any kind of “divine victory” Hezbollah proclaimed after its last major war with Israel in 2006. indicates the group will be required to withdraw its heavy weaponry from south Lebanon, a key Israeli demand. The deal also creates an American-led monitoring and enforcement mechanism to verify that withdrawal, and to prevent Iran from replenishing the group’s historically formidable arsenal. But will U.S. supervision and guarantees bring lasting stability to this ? Or will it prove to be just another intermission between wars as Hezbollah regroups now that its ? Israel is skeptical. The arrangement that ended the , U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, was largely left unenforced. In its wake, Hezbollah grew exponentially stronger as Iran furnished it with ballistic missiles and precision-guided munitions while U.N. peacekeepers and the Lebanese Armed Forces looked the other way. To address these concerns, the U.S. has reportedly provided Israel a that consents to continued aerial reconnaissance over Lebanon, and Tel Aviv’s right to strike at emerging threats if the monitoring and enforcement mechanism fail. Senior Israeli officials have privately told their American counterparts, “We will do less if the mechanism does more, but we will have to do more if it ultimately does less.” But Washington’s assurances and the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism can only do so much without a willing and capable partner in Beirut, a Lebanese government that is ready to work with the international community to expand the state’s sovereignty, enforce border controls, and curb what remains of Hezbollah’s military might. The Lebanese army is the most respected institution in an otherwise diverse and sectarian country. But it cannot be the required partner without political directives from a sovereign-minded President. Even if the in Lebanon comes to an end, the country cannot possibly work with international donors to undertake the mammoth task of reconstruction without a reformist government—one that no longer consents to Hezbollah’s brandishing of under the rubric of resistance to Israel. Amos Hochstein, the charismatic U.S. envoy leading the ceasefire talks, has largely shied away from Lebanon’s archaic internal affairs and the question of the day after. Much more is required, not only to reboot the stalled political process in Beirut, but also to prevent Lebanon from backsliding into civil strife, as it did following the last major Hezbollah-Israel war. In 2008, the militant group against a Lebanese government that tried to limit its power. Lebanon is a country that will need active management to achieve any sustained progress. Before Washington is fully consumed by the in January, Hochstein would do well to enlist the help of France and Saudi Arabia, U.S. partners who have traditionally wielded significant influence in Lebanon and who have a long track record of mediating between the bickering Lebanese parties. France has been grudgingly watching from the sidelines as Hochstein asserted American leadership at the expense of French diplomacy over its former protectorate. But in the days ahead, as the guns finally fall silent, Hochstein should support Paris and encourage it to resume talks with the disparate Lebanese factions to end years of political gridlock that have crippled state institutions and left the . The Saudis, who hosted and facilitated the talks that ended the 15-year Lebanese civil war in 1990, have also been hands-off, foregoing a role in Lebanon to focus on their country’s . But they too now have an interest in stepping up, realizing that progress on their vision of regional integration and will depend on durable ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza. Both the Saudis and the French maintain a pragmatic, if still largely adversarial, relationship with Iran. This will matter for the politics surrounding a diminished, but still significant . When French President Emanuel Macron visits Saudi Arabia on a , he should propose co-hosting a post-war national dialogue of Lebanese leaders under American, French, and Saudi patronage to reboot Beirut’s stalled politics, and to set clear conditions for the billions of U.S. dollars needed for reconstruction. And as Trump returns to office next year, appointing a capable successor to Hochstein to work with all the parties should be a foreign policy priority. The Italian political philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously warned that a great variety of morbid symptoms appear in the interregnum that occurs when the old is dying and the new cannot yet be born. We must beware of what might follow a much-anticipated Israel-Lebanon ceasefire if Beirut is left unattended. If the millions like Raja’a, a second mother to me, return to shattered villages with no prospect of rebuilding and little hope of a dignified existence, Hochstein’s ceasefire won’t last long.Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what the Vikings would prefer him to do with the game on the line. He threw the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson. The perfectly placed throw near the sideline beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that put the Vikings back in front with 3:51 remaining in a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday. “It was a great call,” said Jefferson, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two scores, all season highs. “I’m not going to say too much about that play, but something went on where me and Sam were on the same page, and he found me and we went up.” The Vikings were understandably coy about the context around the go-ahead touchdown , when Darnold made a difficult on-the-run pass just over cornerback Tariq Woolen that Jefferson deftly twisted to catch next to his backside hip so he could shield the ball from late-breaking safety Julian Love. Darnold saw Love's shoulders initially shaded inside just enough to believe he couldn't retreat fast enough to prevent Jefferson from getting the ball. Jefferson also applied some improvisation to his route that Darnold clearly and properly read during the play. “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “We do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff.” Darnold's long-delayed breakout performance under O'Connell has been one of the stories of the NFL this season, one that wouldn't have unfolded as neatly for the third overall pick in the 2018 draft without such synergy between him and his superstar wide receiver. If the Vikings (13-2) win their last two games, they will not only be NFC North champions for the second time in three years but also get the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the NFC for the playoffs. “Every single game we’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff defenses have thrown towards us," Jefferson said. “Sam has done a great job being a leader.” The pass rush was strong, with Andrew Van Ginkel recording two sacks and pressure leading to both interceptions of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Vikings were credited with eight hits on Smith. The Vikings converted only three of 12 third downs, their second-worst rate of the season. Theo Jackson, who saw significant playing time at safety with Harrison Smith out, had the game-sealing interception with 49 seconds left. Tight end Josh Oliver has played 47% of the snaps the last two games, his two lowest usage rates of the season. He dropped the only pass he was thrown on Sunday. The defense ought to get a big boost this week with the expected return of the 13-year veteran Smith from his first absence in two years when he was sidelined at Seattle with a foot injury. Linebacker Ivan Pace, who has missed four games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, is also on track to be back with his return to practice. Backup defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who didn't play against the Seahawks because of a concussion, has made progress through the protocol, O'Connell said. Backup cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was inactive at Seattle with a hip injury, will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. 13.6% — That's the third-down conversion allowance rate for the Vikings over the last two games, with Chicago and Seattle combining to go just 3 for 22. The Vikings rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 33.7% for the season and also rank second on fourth down at 36.7%. The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday, with the kickoff moved to the late afternoon showcase spot on Fox. If Minnesota loses to the Packers, the Lions will clinch the NFC North and the Vikings would open the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed at best. Even if the Lions were to lose at San Francisco on Monday night, the Vikings would need to win at Detroit on Jan. 5 to take the division title. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLworld cup fifa philippines 。

From Chili's 'triple dipper' to The Cheesecake Factory, restaurant chains are reviving mallsColumbia River Treaty talks continue amid incoming Trump presidency

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained ahead of the Christmas break. "Today is a quiet pre-Christmas Day of trading," said Kevin Burkett, a portfolio manager at Victoria, B.C.-based Burkett Asset Management. While markets in both Canada and the U.S. were mild, Burkett suggests watching the markets closely during the holiday season, a contrast to what's typically a sleepy period for markets. "We're continuing to watch markets very closely here because you've got some tectonic plate shifting in terms of the macroeconomic backdrop," he said. "It's all the political conversations both in Canada and in the U.S." Burkett added fiscal policy seems to be disconnected from monetary policy in the post-pandemic period. "The fiscal policy may shift and that shift absolutely has market implications both in the short and long term," he said. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. Statistics Canada released its latest numbers on Canada's economic growth, up 0.3 per cent in October — driven by the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The loonie continued its slide, trading for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The telecom sector was the biggest loser at the closing on TSX, which Burkett attributed to "tax loss selling happening at the end of the year." Competition Bureau Canada announced on Monday it was suing Rogers Communications Inc. for allegedly making misleading claims about its infinite wireless plans. The stock price for Rogers, which is hovering near 52-week lows, fell 0.7 per cent on Monday. Meanwhile, BCE was down almost 1.4 per cent and Telus dropped 0.9 per cent. Burkett suggested the day's poor performance among telecom companies was likely tax loss selling since it's almost the end of the year. "It's been a tough year for the communication services sector," he said. South of the border, communications services was the top-performing sector, led by large-cap tech companies. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX: GSPTSE, TSX: CADUSD, TSE: BCE, TSE: RCI. B) Ritika Dubey, The Canadian PressWith rookie QB Penix showing poise in starting debut, the Falcons again control their playoff hopes

Thousands of Syrians took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate after rebel forces triumphantly took control of the capital, Damascus, ending five decades of the Assad regime's rule. The fall of the Assad family has caused a seismic shift in regional politics, with immediate repercussions in neighboring countries. Reports from Russian state media confirm that ousted President Bashar Assad, along with his family, has sought asylum in Moscow. This development follows negotiations with rebel factions, which ensured a peaceful transfer of power. The celebration in Syria has been marred by regional tensions, as Israel has seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, citing security concerns. Reinforcements and construction efforts along its Syrian border indicate preparations for potential unrest following Assad's demise. (With inputs from agencies.)NoneMythology aside, nearly 2 million undocumented immigrants are the backbone of some industries, and pay billions in taxes for services they will never receive. By Mark Kreidler , for Capital & Main In the days following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, I reached out to a longtime Northern California family farmer to gauge his level of concern. Trump has, after all, already made full-throated declarations that his administration will conduct the largest deportation of undocumented residents in U.S. history. That should resonate in a place like California, with its estimated 1.8 million undocumented immigrants —and it certainly would shake up a state agriculture industry in which nearly half of all workers are undocumented. But the farmer, who asked not to be identified to avoid political conflict with business partners, was unruffled. A self-described social moderate and fiscal conservative, he and his family have spent generations in the business. While his own seasonal employees are on work visas, his understanding of the industry’s historical reliance on undocumented workers runs deep, through direct experience, colleagues, and a seat on the board of an agriculture lending institution. He knows the stakes. Even at a time when some farmers use more authorized workers than ever, the industry overall remains heavily reliant on undocumented immigrants. “I suspect it’ll be like it always has been: If you’re undocumented but stay out of trouble, not much is going to happen,” he told me. “Dragging hard-working people out of here does not go over well.” That is hardly a poetic response. It does, however, have the ring of truth. RELATED STORY: Can Democratic governors fight Trump's mass deportations? Trump’s notion to mass deport nearly 5% of the U.S. workforce is a recipe for such economic wreckage that it feels impossible. But that doesn’t mean those who study immigration and try to shape policy don’t take him seriously. “It is unlikely that a large share of the unauthorized immigrant population will be deported quickly,” said Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research for the Economic Policy Institute. “But there’s a lot the Trump 2.0 administration can do to remove a high number fast.” Among the possibilities: Trump’s administration could go after immigrants who have received a final order of removal or are in the country under temporary protected status (TPS), which is usually extended to those whose home countries are experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe for them to return. Those nations include Venezuela, El Salvador, and Haiti. Costa, a visiting scholar at the University of California Davis’ Global Migration Center, also suggested that Trump could adjust federal policy to expand temporary work visa programs—one way to assuage employers, by theoretically replacing deported undocumented workers with those possessing a legal but short leash to remain in the country. “Those visas give employers a lot of power and control over workers because their visa status is tied to the employer,” Costa said. “They cannot easily change jobs. And if they get fired, they become deportable, which keeps them from complaining about substandard working conditions or from [trying to join] a union.” But all of that presupposes that the Trump administration would first locate and then expel hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers in California alone. On both counts, experts say, that’s a longshot. Jamshid Damooei, executive director of the Center for Economics of Social Issues at California Lutheran University, has been studying the economic impact of undocumented immigrants in the state for years. To Damooei, the numbers tell the story. According to the center’s analysis, undocumented immigrants are the source of more than half a trillion dollars of products in California, either by direct, indirect, or induced production levels. Their work adds up to nearly 5% of the state’s gross domestic product, or GDP. And while 46% of the state’s agricultural workforce is undocumented, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For example, the center’s report found that in Los Angeles County, 28.7% of the construction workforce is undocumented, along with 17.5% in manufacturing, 16% in wholesale trade, and more than 15% in retail trade. “How could L.A. County function with a significant share of its vital workforce being deported?” Damooei said. “In my county, Ventura, 70% of farmworkers are undocumented. In Santa Barbara it’s closer to 80%. Then there is construction, manufacturing, transportation. ... Look, this is just incredibly powerful.” Employers aren’t likely to give up that kind of workforce willingly, especially considering how much less they generally pay undocumented workers than others. That’s one reason the Northern California farmer sounded relatively confident that, all political rhetoric aside, the status quo will hold. None of this answers the larger questions of what Trump really wants or how his administration would achieve it. But even setting aside the sheer inhumanity of a mass deportation policy, the financial equation makes the idea untenable. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants paid almost $100 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. More than a third of those taxes went to fund programs the immigrants are barred from using, like Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance. Six states raised more than $1 billion in tax revenue from undocumented immigrants that year, the institute found. The leader of the pack? California, at $8.5 billion (followed by Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey). And in 40 states, including California, undocumented immigrants paid higher state and local tax rates than the top 1% of households. “Undocumented immigrants are not a source of depletion of our tax revenue—they subsidize our benefits,” Damooie said. “They are not the takers of our tax revenue but the makers, who receive very little in return.” Damooie and others argue that a path toward citizenship, not deportation, ought to be the goal. That’s not a likely scenario over the next four years. RELATED STORY: Brute who ripped kids from their parents' arms will run Trump's border In the meantime, the Northern California farmer said, “These workers are mostly just going to keep working.” It is work destined to be continued in the shadows—where it’s almost always been. Copyright Capital & Main 2024

NoneSurprise Paramedic of the Year dies after battling cancer

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From cleared forests to polluted rivers and streams, investors and companies worldwide are recognizing the economic cost of nature and biodiversity loss and acting to protect the global economy that depends on thriving ecosystems. The private sector’s growing momentum on nature action was evident throughout many of this year’s events, from the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, called COP16, which wrapped up earlier this month in Cali, Colombia, to COP29, which concluded last week. Business leaders made up a sizable number of the event’s 23,000 attendees, including – for the first time – representatives from some of the world’s largest banks like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. Here are three key factors propelling investor and corporate action on protecting and restoring natural environments, alongside efforts to limit global temperature rise from reaching catastrophic levels. The Business Case For Action Like climate change, escalating rates of nature and biodiversity loss and water scarcity pose financial risks to investment portfolios, business operations, and the long-term stability of economies. More than half of global GDP – equal to about $58 trillion – depends heavily on nature, and global GDP is set to plummet $2.7 trillion annually by 2030 because of nature's decline, according to World Bank estimates. Companies around the world are facing severe risks and financial repercussions for their contributions to nature loss. These include reputational risks if companies are linked with activities that negatively harm nature, such as oil spills and forest fires, operational risks, including declining pollinator populations can disrupt crop yields, and regulatory risks from a number of new and developing laws being adopted globally that would require businesses to assess and disclose their nature impacts. Critical Mass On Nature As nature-related risks continue to stack up, more and more investors and companies are ramping up their efforts to confront these material threats. At the same time, consumers, regulators, and shareholders are expecting companies to accelerate how they are transitioning their business models toward ones that support nature’s conservation and restoration. During COP15 in December 2022, Nature Action 100 launched as the first global investor-led engagement effort to support greater corporate action and ambition on nature and biodiversity loss, and the initiative now has over 230 investor participants representing more than $30 trillion in assets under management or advice. Since then, several other investor nature initiatives have sprouted up, including PRI’s Spring initiative and World Benchmarking Alliance’s Nature Collective Impact Coalition. At COP16, the Taskforce on Nature-related Related Financial Disclosures – a leading initiative helping companies and financial institutions better understand and report their impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities – made a powerful statement, unveiling that more than 500 organizations have now signed as early adopters to its disclosure recommendations. Together, these organizations represent $6.5 trillion in market capitalization among publicly listed companies and over $17.7 trillion in assets under management among asset owners and managers. And the first companies – Holcim, GSK, and Kering – to publicly adopt science–based targets for nature were also revealed during the conference. These milestones represent real progress in how the private sector is committed to take crucial action on nature and biodiversity loss. New Guidance And Resources The momentum behind action is also being spurred by a wave of new resources and tools designed to guide the private sector on its nature journey. Nature Action 100 last month announced the results of its first benchmark of corporate progress toward key investor expectations on nature. The results showed most of the 100 assessed companies are still in the early stages of nature action. However, the benchmark offers a robust roadmap of the critical steps companies can take to protect and restore nature and ecosystems in line with global biodiversity goals, as well as shifting financial flows away from economic activities that harm nature. Meanwhile, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero and the TNFD launched two resources to guide financial institutions in weaving nature into their transition planning for cutting emissions and to help companies and investors overall in using disclosure to develop plans to act on their nature-related risks and opportunities. This growing movement by the private sector sends a strong signal that investors and companies are up to the challenge of tackling nature loss and water pollution and scarcity. And we can expect more action in the coming year to combat these looming threats to our financial system, our economy, and our planet.SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 December 2024 – Directors and Officers (D&Os) have been operating in a highly complex environment throughout 2024, and further volatility can be expected during 2025. Executives face multiple exposures in an increasingly interconnected business world, confronted with risks arising from business insolvencies, geopolitical upheaval, climate change, digital transformation, economic uncertainty, shifts in public opinion, and an evolving legal landscape. These are the latest key risk trends in the D&O insurance space, as identified by Allianz Commercial’s annual Directors and Officers Insurance Insights report. “The D&O insurance market has remained competitive for buyers over the past year, but loss potential is still high,” says Vanessa Maxwell, Chief Underwriting Officer, Allianz Commercial. “ The global rise in business insolvencies is a particular focus of concern, with companies and leaders exposed to potential claims from lenders seeking to recover funds, or from shareholders who allege breach of fiduciary duty. At the same time, the litigation landscape and enforcement are increasingly stringent, and we are seeing regulatory bodies across the globe step up scrutiny of corporate conduct, making D&Os more vulnerable to investigations, penalties and lawsuits.” Insolvencies as an emerging D&O risk Global business insolvencies for 2024 are expected to rise by +11%, and countries accounting for more than half of global GDP will be hit by double-digit insolvency increases in 2024, according to Allianz Trade . Major insolvencies already increased by +26% year-on-year for the first three quarters of 2024 (344 cases). Western Europe leads the global count with 195 cases, a reflection of the region’s current economic instability, followed by Asia-Pacific (67 cases) and North America (66 cases). Rising bankruptcies typically lead to an increase in D&O claims, so this trend is a reminder to business leaders of the need to respond and adapt to the challenging environment. “Many companies have faced higher interest expenses, inflationary pressures, and macro- and microeconomic headwinds that have impacted their business and resulted in a struggle to service their debt load,” says Dan Holloway, Head of Global Management Liability Commercial at Allianz Commercial . “Some sectors are particularly exposed, including real estate, construction, hospitality, tourism, and businesses in ‘consumer discretionary’, or non-essential purchases.” Turbulent geopolitical environment and stringent litigation landscape With war in Ukraine and the Middle East, the geopolitical landscape presents liability challenges to businesses as they find themselves caught up in world events with potentially significant consequences for their operations. Upheaval can lead to supply chain disruption, business interruption, and legal and regulatory scrutiny. Companies can face scrutiny for non-compliance with international sanctions, or for failing to adequately manage risks related to politically unstable regions. D&Os can be held accountable for misjudging the impact of geopolitical developments on their company’s operations, leading to shareholder lawsuits or regulatory penalties. At the same time, the litigation landscape and enforcement are increasingly stringent, with securities class actions proliferating not only in the US, but also in Europe (+10% year-on-year) and Australia (+43%) . “D&Os need to update their knowledge around geopolitical and regulatory changes more regularly than ever before,” says Jarrod Schlesinger, Global Head of Financial Lines and Cyber at Allianz Commercial. “A once-a-year review is no longer sufficient in the volatile era businesses are now operating in. These trends are driving the need for D&O policies that are responsive to multi-jurisdictional risks and can provide local coverage for legal defense costs, settlements and other liabilities.” “AI washing” – the new “greenwashing”? The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) is huge, but it also means companies must adapt quickly to potential exposures around disclosure, regulation, shareholder scrutiny and litigation. AI-related litigation is increasing and exaggerated claims about firms’ technological capabilities – a trend known as “AI washing” – could lead to securities class action lawsuits and enforcement actions. Class action lawsuits have already been filed in the US, but the risk extends beyond North America, as any company that has its stock listed on a US exchange is subject to US securities law. Third-party litigation funding a growing exposure The global litigation funding industry is projected to grow rapidly in the coming years –by almost 10% CAGR up to 2028 – widening access to justice, but also potentially driving up the number of class actions and settlement costs and damages, as also highlighted in Allianz Commercial’s Five Liability Loss Trends To Watch report. And it is not only confined to the US – third-party litigation funding is also established in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. “D&Os will face increasing scrutiny from third parties ready to jump on cases and fund them. Claims are likely to become more complex because of funders’ aggressive litigation strategies and the experts they can afford to hire,” says Schlesinger. “Plaintiffs with little to lose financially could be tempted to make baseless claims. Even if the case doesn’t have legs, directors still have to defend it.” Challenges persist in Asia D&O market The price-driven Asia D&O market has experienced a drop in overall premium rates during 2024, due to factors including high competition from an abundance of capacity globally, and challenging economic environments resulting in some clients reducing limits purchased to save costs. “We foresee the overall market size for D&O in 2025 will continue to retract, driven by rate erosion, smaller limits being purchased by customers, and very limited new opportunities given slow capital market activities. Despite this, D&O insurance remains crucial for companies due to the multiple exposures executives face, and as loss potential increases with higher severity for claims being resolved,” says Danielle An, Regional Practice Leader, Management Liability Commercial, Asia, at Allianz Commercial. Hashtag: #Allianz https://commercial.allianz.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/allianz-commercial/ The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world’s largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry as well as family-owned and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions. Powered by the employees, financial strength , and network of the world’s #1 insurance brand, as ranked by Interbrand , we work together to help our customers prepare for what’s ahead: They trust us to provide a wide range of traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and Multinational services, as well as seamless claims handling. The trade name Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either through our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2023, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated more than €18 billion gross premium globally.

With the shopping season upon us, PYMNTS’ App Provider Rankings take a peek into shopping apps. And what we found were some strategies paying dividends in retail app usage and access. We’ll start with Ulta Beauty , the cosmetics and skincare retailer, which has been on a mission to overhaul its digital presence to counter rising competition and enhance customer loyalty. It posted 5 points on the App Provider Rankings for a total of 48. The company’s mobile app , now accounting for two-thirds of eCommerce sales , has seen a 16% increase in adoption through targeted communications and exclusive offers. In a bid to amplify its social media impact, Ulta has doubled its influencer network and launched “Ulta Beauties,” an employee ambassador program. These initiatives have generated more than 250 million social impressions and increased earned media value. The company is also expanding its retail media network, UB Media , partnering with Rokt to introduce aritifical intelligence -powered non-endemic ads. This move allows brands like Hulu and PayPal to reach Ulta’s loyal customer base. Additionally, Ulta has introduced new digital platforms, including a beauty community forum and wellness-focused content hub . Target , which registered 3 points on the App Provider Rankings for a total of 68, changed its mobile app to address frustrating customer behavior impacting its employees . The retailer’s Drive Up service, which allows customers to shop online and have their items delivered to their car, has been plagued by a practice called “double tapping,” where customers click the “I’m on my way” button, then immediately follow up with the “I’m here” button, interrupting the preparation process for workers. In response to complaints, Target updated its app to prevent customers from tapping both buttons in quick succession , now prompting users with a message urging them to allow extra time for order fulfillment. This update follows a recent change to its return policy aimed at preventing fraud. In its third-quarter financial results released Wednesday (Nov. 20), Target reported double-digit increases in Drive Up orders. Meanwhile, Best Buy posted 3 points on the App Provider Rankings for a total of 63. PrettyLittleThing and The Home Depot rounded out the top five “ Movers and Shakers ,” with each posting three points on the App Provider Rankings. Home Depot is driving its digital transformation with the launch of “Sidekick,” a machine learning-powered mobile app that provides store associates with real-time insights to prioritize tasks and quickly identify out-of-stock items. The company also revamped its Pro Xtra loyalty program with a tiered structure (Member, Elite, and VIP) that offers exclusive benefits to high-spending customers, such as prioritized support and personalized assistance, aimed at increasing customer loyalty and sales. The PYMNTS.com Shopping Apps page offers a monthly ranking of smartphone Shopping Apps, assessing them based on publicly available information and exclusive app usage data, helping users identify the top performers in the market. The ranking aims to provide precise insights into app performance, aiding stakeholders in making informed decisions.Bashar Assad's 24-year rule came to an end on Sunday as , the Syrian capital. Shortly after insurgents declared the city "free," Russia's foreign ministry announced Assad had resigned his position and left the country. Russian state news later reported that Assad had arrived in Moscow, where he was granted asylum. The collapse of Assad's government came after a coalition of opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a surprise offensive, seizing control of major cities like Aleppo, Hama, and Homs in a matter of days. Syrians around the world celebrated the end of Assad's rule, which was marked by brutal suppression. His violent crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, part of the Arab Spring uprisings, sparked a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions, straining neighboring countries like Turkey and Lebanon. World leaders conveyed cautious optimism after news of Assad's ouster, but uncertainty remains around what kind of government and leader will replace him. One major player will almost certainly be HTS, which is led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a Syrian who fought against US occupation in Iraq alongside a branch of Al Qaeda. Jolani later returned to Syria, his homeland, where he fought with Jabhat Al-Nusra — an Al Qaeda offshoot formed in 2012 — and other rebel groups against Assad's forces. Jolani severed his ties with Al Qaeda in 2016 and formed a new group, which eventually became HTS in 2017. Since then, Jolani has portrayed himself as a more moderate leader to gain international legitimacy. Both the United States and the United Nations still list HTS as a terrorist organization. In one 2021 interview with , Jolani called the group's terrorist designation a "political label that carries no truth or credibility." "Through our 10-year journey in this revolution, we haven't posed any threat to Western or European society: no security threat, no economic threat, nothing. That's why this designation is politicized," he said. In recent years, HTS has controlled Syria's northwestern Idlib Province, where analysts say it worked to consolidate power and transform its image while pursuing its ultimate goal of toppling Assad. In Idlib, Jolani established the so-called Syrian Salvation Government, which has acted as a showcase for what his leadership could bring to a wider area. Speaking about the Salvation Government in the PBS interview, Jolani said that while the situation in Idlib was not ideal, there was "a self-asserting model that was capable of running the affairs of a whole country under an Islamic rule." While some have remained doubtful that the group has fully cut its links with Al Qaeda, it has put forth a message of inclusiveness and unity in recent days, calling for a peaceful transition of power and reassuring religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. "In the future Syria ... diversity is our strength, not a weakness," the group said in a statement to the Kurdish minority in Aleppo. Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International and a Middle East analyst at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, told that while Jolani and his group had changed, they remained "pretty hardline." "It's PR, but the fact they are engaging in this effort at all shows they are no longer as rigid as they once were," he said, referencing video footage showing Jolani forbidding fighters from entering homes and telling them to protect citizens. "Old-school Al Qaeda or the Islamic State would never have done that." HTS is only one part of an ideologically diverse opposition, and it remains to be seen if the coalition can peacefully share power and extend unified control over the whole country. "If not, intra-Syrian territorial fragmentation, and the potential emergence of regional warlords and fiefdoms, will quickly grow," Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program, told Business Insider. 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Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.