As of Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is officially wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity — a stunning position for the leader of one of the nations closest to the U.S., which positions itself as a champion of international humanitarian law to protect against such crimes. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has unveiled arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes during Israel’s ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, charging the two men with enforcing starvation and killing innocent people during “a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.” On Thursday, the court also issued a warrant for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes for Mohammed Deif, a commander of Hamas, the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group. (Israel claims to have killed Deif, but Hamas has not confirmed his death as it has for its other leaders.) A White House spokesperson condemned the ICC for targeting the Israelis — without commenting on the court’s decision regarding Deif, whom the Biden administration placed under sanctions in September. Accusing the court of “troubling process errors” and overstepping its jurisdiction, the spokesperson said the administration is preparing “next steps.” Israel also rejected the charges and blasted the ICC. But Thursday’s move made clear that regardless of Washington’s actions, the global conversation around the Gaza war is headed in a direction that will increase pressure on the U.S. and Israel, which heavily relies on American diplomatic and military support. President Joe Biden has so far declined to reduce U.S. backing for Israel even as international observers, U.S. lawmakers and watchdog groups have said its conduct violates American and international law. Neither has President-elect Donald Trump suggested he would withhold assistance to Israel once he takes office in January. Legal experts told HuffPost the warrants will boost international scrutiny of Israeli actions enabled by the U.S. and whether the two countries have fulfilled their promises to respect global standards for shielding civilians during wartime. While Israel is extremely unlikely to surrender Netanyahu and Gallant, meaning there’s a slim chance they’ll face trials, “the arrest warrants will not go away,” said Adil Haque, a Rutgers University professor. “Every ICC member has to arrest [the Israelis] if they visit, and at a political level this will compromise their ability to have public contacts with them,” he continued. The U.S. and Israel are not members of the ICC, but 124 of the world’s countries — the majority — are. After the warrants were issued, officials in several European countries and Canada said they would respect the ICC order, suggesting they would arrest Netanyahu and Gallant (though some ICC member countries have previously failed to execute ICC warrants). The deputy prime minister of Belgium, Petra de Sutter, argued the continent’s reaction could extend to challenging the European Union’s association agreement with Israel, which involves a lucrative free trade deal. The warrants could “stiffen the spine of national authorities in other countries to pursue their own prosecutions related to Gaza,” said Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank. Citing the principle of “universal jurisdiction,” under which governments can pursue suspects for major international crimes regardless of their nationality or where the incidents occurred, Finucane said: “Israeli officials will face possible criminal exposure in third states for years to come.” Such prosecutions could include legal action against “those aiding and abetting actions in Gaza,” he continued — a circle that could include American officials who have overseen weapons transfers to Israel while knowing about its pattern of alleged war crimes. “Warrants are one more reminder to U.S. officials that they have been aiding and abetting men credibly accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Finucane, who previously worked as a lawyer at the State Department. The ICC’s Thursday statement highlighted ties between American leverage and Israeli policy choices, implicitly suggesting the U.S. could have done more to prevent civilian harm. Israel’s decisions on humanitarian aid for Gaza “were often conditional,” the statement reads. “They were not made to [fulfill] Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law... In fact, they were a response to the pressure of the international community or requests by the United States of America. In any event, the increases in humanitarian assistance were not sufficient to improve the population’s access to essential goods.” Meanwhile, the ICC development shows the weakness of the argument that Israel’s domestic legal system can handle claims of atrocities or violations of international law. Israel’s government has previously told the ICC its “robust” judiciary can “rigorously” probe misconduct. That assertion evidently “did not really convince” the court’s judges as they weighed the ICC prosecutor’s request for warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, Suzie Navot, an Israeli constitutional law professor, wrote on X. She noted that the Israeli government has not set up a state commission of inquiry into the Gaza war — which would have far-reaching investigative powers — despite the Israeli attorney general’s advice to do so. Whether Israel pursues internal accountability for possible war crimes is a major factor in the question of whether it can legally receive support from countries like the U.S., which prohibits aid to nations engaging in major human rights abuses, and whether Israel should face consequences like international sanctions for its conduct. Thursday’s announcement that ICC judges see “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for “ongoing” crimes, including enforcing mass starvation among Palestinians and intentionally killing civilians, comes amid other international evaluations of Israeli conduct. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is still considering South Africa’s case accusing Israel of perpetrating a genocide in Gaza. Its proceedings are expected to continue for years to come, ensuring continued high-profile discussions of Israeli decisions blessed by the U.S. Officials and experts working on distinct global legal proceedings often lean on each other’s conclusions and analyses as they reach their own judgments. Haque noted that the ICC judges suggested Israeli leaders had “created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza,” which is in line with the definition of genocide — “though genocide requires a different mental state of specific intent.” And the parties to the Geneva Conventions — which govern much of international law — plan to hold a conference on the Middle East in March. The confab could weigh in on whether Israel is occupying Gaza under international law, which would mean the Israeli government bears special responsibility in caring for its population. The ICJ said in July that Israel is occupying the Palestinian region. “I assume the vast majority of the Conference will agree,” Haque told HuffPost, saying “a strong conference statement would still be useful.” For the U.S., mounting and ongoing inquiries into the Gaza war will likely fuel strategic complexities for years. Those could include charges that America is selective in its commitment to international law — given its ardent opposition to the ICC’s first-ever warrants for figures allied with the West — as well as tensions in important foreign relationships and embarrassing findings about U.S. culpability in horrifying aspects of the Gaza war. Condemnations or revelations from abroad could strengthen domestic frustrations against overwhelming U.S. support for Israel, which has become a major issue in national politics. Developments in the ICJ case, further warrants over the U.S.-backed Israeli offensive in Gaza or other events could inspire new public anger and fresh battles in Congress that build on already unprecedented votes challenging the U.S.-Israeli relationship. In 2023, Biden cheered the court’s issuance of a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over war crimes during his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration then decided to support the ICC in its investigation of Russian activity. Now, Haque said, “the U.S. is in an untenable position, supporting the warrant for Putin but opposing the warrant for Netanyahu.” “But perhaps Trump will oppose both,” he added. The incoming president has expressed admiration for Putin and accused Biden’s team of unwisely provoking him. Differing approaches to the court could drive a split between the U.S. and Europe — traditional friends already likely to be at odds under a second Trump presidency over matters like trade, Ukraine and climate policy. “The EU should prepare for a U.S. attack on the ICC,” Anthony Dworkin, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, argued in a Thursday post. Europe must “resist any US pressure to cut its own ties and support for the court.” (Source: Huffington Post)Tata Power 0.53% as Sensexlottery hong kong 。

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Sokoto ever ready to support professional organisations – AliyuMr Biden told African leaders the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long”. “But not anymore,” Mr Biden added. “Africa is the future.” Mr Biden used the third and final day of a visit to Angola – his long-awaited, first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president – to travel to the coastal city of Lobito and tour an Atlantic port terminal that’s part of the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment. Mr Biden described it as the largest US investment in a train project outside America. The US and allies are investing heavily in the project that will refurbish nearly 1,200 miles of train lines connecting to the mineral-rich areas of Congo and Zambia in central Africa. The corridor, which likely will take years to complete, gives the US better access to cobalt, copper and other critical minerals in Congo and Zambia that are used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies that Mr Biden said would power the future. China is dominant in mining in Congo and Zambia. The US investment has strategic implications for US-China economic competition, which went up a notch this week as they traded blows over access to key materials and technologies. The African leaders who met with Mr Biden on Wednesday said the railway corridor offered their countries a much faster route for minerals and goods – and a convenient outlet to Western markets. “This is a project that is full of hope for our countries and our region,” said Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, whose country has more than 70% of the word’s cobalt. “This is not just a logistical project. It is a driving force for economic and social transformation for millions of our people.” The leaders said the corridor should spur private-sector investment and improve a myriad of related areas like roads, communication networks, agriculture and clean energy technologies. For the African countries, it could create a wave of new jobs for a burgeoning young population. Cargo that once took 45 days to get to the US – usually involving trucks via South Africa – would now take around 45 hours, Mr Biden said. He predicted the project could transform the region from a food importer to exporter. It’s “something that if done right will outlast all of us and keep delivering for our people for generations to come,” he said. The announcement of an additional $600 million took the U.S.’s investment in the Lobito Corridor to 4.0 billion dollars (£3.15 billion).

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( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) In financial Services Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 9, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! What Will the Generative AI in Financial Services Market Size Be in The Coming Years? The generative artificial intelligence AI in financial services market size has grown exponentially in recent years and is expected to continue its ascent. It is expected to grow from $1.10 billion in 2023 to $1.44 billion in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 30.7%. This growth during the historic period can be attributed to rising digital transformation, increased data availability, demand for personalization, operational efficiency, and investment in technology. To request detailed insights into the generative AI in financial services market, access the sample report at: What Are the Drivers and Trends Fueling the Growth of the Generative AI in Financial Services Market? The generative AI in financial services market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.24 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 31.0%. The projected growth can be attributed to the growing application of generative AI in fraud detection and prevention, enhanced reporting capabilities, globalization of financial services, collaboration with fintech, and rising AI literacy. Major trends in the forecast period include the development of collaborative AI solutions, the rise of personalized financial products, the increased adoption of AI solutions, the emergence of AI-driven investment strategies, and integration with blockchain technology. A significant impetus for growth is the endeavor to combat financial fraud. Financial fraud involves deceitful practices to gain an unfair financial advantage or cause financial loss to individuals or organizations. The rise in financial fraud, due to the growth of digital financial services and online transactions, increased use of digital platforms, and sophistication of fraud techniques, is expected to propel the growth of the generative AI market. Generative AI can create synthetic datasets that simulate real-world scenarios, including fraud, which can train and test fraud detection algorithms, improving their ability to recognize new and evolving fraud tactics without compromising accurate customer data. To gain more insights into the generative AI in financial services market, visit the complete report at: Who Are the Key Players in the Generative AI in Financial Services Market? In the generative AI in financial services market, major companies operating include Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Amazon Web Services Inc., Wells Fargo, Citigroup Inc., Intel Corporation, IBM Corporation, American Express Banking Corp., Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce Inc., Fidelity Investments, Capgemini, Mastercard International Inc., Charles Schwab Corp., Cognizant, Infosys Ltd., HSBC Holdings Plc, Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., Zeta Global, Simform Solutions, Narrative Science, Miquido, Zapata Computing Inc. These leading companies are vying for a substantial market share and are focusing on developing advanced technologies, such as generative AI tools, to produce highly accurate, data-driven outputs while automating complex tasks and adapting to new information in real-time. One standout instance is the Generative AI Tool for the Financial Services Industry launched by Hapax, a US-based financial service startup, in April 2024. This tool fulfills industry-specific knowledge requirements, decision-making capabilities, and valuable assets for banks and other similar businesses, with particular emphasis on addressing the information-access disparities between large and smaller banks. How Is the Generative AI in Financial Services Market Segmented? The generative artificial intelligence AI in financial services market covered in this report is segmented – 1 By Type: Solutions, Services 2 By Deployment Mode: Cloud, On-Premises 3 By Application: Credit Scoring, Fraud Detection, Risk Management, Forecasting And Reporting, Other Applications What Are the Regional Insights Into the Generative AI in Financial Services Market? In terms of regional insights, North America was the largest region in the generative artificial intelligence AI in financial services market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Generative AI In Gaming Global Market Report 2024 Generative AI Global Market Report 2024 Generative Artificial Intelligence In Development And Operations (DevOps) Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year, as discount carrier tactics increasingly enter the mainstream. Starting Jan. 3, basic fare passengers on trips within North America and to sun destinations will have to check duffel bags, rolling suitcases and large backpacks for a fee — $35 for the first, $50 for the second. A small personal item such as a purse or laptop bag will be allowed on board for free, as will strollers, mobility aids and medical devices. The country’s largest airline also said that as of Jan. 21, lower-tier customers will have to pay if they want to change the seat assigned to them at check-in — a policy it had suspended just two days after implementation earlier this year amid backlash from travellers. The moves mark a shift toward a budget airline-style offering from Canada’s flag carrier, which along with rivals has relied increasingly on ancillary fees for formerly bundled services that range from checked bags to on-board snacks and Wi-Fi access. Air Canada says the changes align its fare structure with similar ticket options from other Canadian carriers and “better distinguish its fare brands.” In June, WestJet rolled out its “UltraBasic” fare. The ticket tier allows no more than a personal item on board — stored under the seat — and charges a fee for seat selection, including after check-in, whether online or in-person. Discount carrier Flair Airlines always charges for a carry-on, which costs between $29 and $74 depending on its size. No-frills fares carry growing appeal for big airlines seeking to capture cost-conscious travellers as budgets tighten after inflation and interest rate hikes. “They’re competing with these low-cost carriers on various routes,” said Richard Vanderlubbe, founder of Hamilton, Ont.-based travel agency Tripcentral.ca. “This is what wins in the price-sensitive area of the market.” Criticism of bare-bones ticket offerings is “easy,” Vanderlubbe said, but the fare tiers — up to seven at Air Canada — give travellers choice. U.S. carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have similar categories, though American and Delta still allow basic economy travellers to bring a bag onto the plane at no cost. “It’s a market solution to kind of an ugly problem,” Vanderlubbe said. “If you’re paying the lowest of the low, then who should get the middle seat at the back?” He added that customers need to be aware that what they see as the lowest fare on a price comparison search may not wind up being the cheapest option once the fees are tallied. “It’s not transparent until you’ve gotten a certain depth into the booking: ‘Oh, here’s the seat selection fee. Oh, here’s the baggage fee. Oh, here’s the carry-on fee.’ And watch out if you don’t check in online, there’s a massive penalty if you don’t,” Vanderlubbe said. “It’s kind of drip, drip, drip, drip. And it works,” he said, calling the trend “troublesome.” Transport Minister Anita Anand agreed. “I was just made aware of a decision by Air Canada to introduce new carry-on baggage fees. I am extremely concerned. Canadians work hard and save up to travel. They rightly expect excellent service, not extra fees,” she said Wednesday in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Some competitors sought to seize on Air Canada’s announcement to highlight their own offerings. “Now the choice should be clear,” Flair said in a post on X. “The products are the same, one just costs way less.” That’s not always true. Some Toronto-Vancouver tickets in March start at $129 for Flair and $135 for Air Canada and WestJet. Other routes see a bigger difference, with Calgary-Toronto priced at $139 for Flair, $209 for Air Canada, $175 for WestJet and $198 for Porter. Air Canada noted that basic fare passengers who arrive at the boarding gate with ineligible bags will be charged $65 per item to check them. It also announced that customers on its “comfort economy” fare — the middle of the seven tiers — can check two bags for free starting Jan. 3, rather than one. Air Canada took in nearly US$2 billion in so-called ancillary revenue in 2022, up by nearly 50 per cent from five years earlier, according to airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany. The category’s share of total revenue for the company grew to more than 15 per cent from below 11 per cent in the same five-year period.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field. But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather. No. 2 OHIO ST. 38, No. 5 INDIANA 15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. No. 8 GEORGIA 59, UMass 21 ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes, Nate Frazier ran for 136 yards with three scores and No. 8 Georgia overwhelmed Massachusetts as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes. Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday. Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. No. 10 TENNESSEE 56, UTEP 0 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory over UTEP. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee’s defensive line, which had no sacks in last week’s loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. No. 11 MIAMI 42, WAKE FOREST 14 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. No. 13 SMU 33, VIRGINIA 7 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SMU had to get there first, and Jennings led the way again, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. No. 24 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31 PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards.In a bold new proposal, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are spearheading a plan that could dramatically reshape the U.S. federal workforce. It centers on letting go of federal employees who refuse to go back to the office five days a week, all to achieve a breathtakingly bold goal—to reinvigorate government efficiency and cut billions in taxpayer dollars. The Plan to End Remote Work for Federal Employees Musk is CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, while Ramaswamy is a former presidential contender. The duo is pushing for major reforms to the U.S. government bureaucracy. Their mission is clear: federal workers who continue to enjoy the “Covid-era privilege” of working from home should not be paid by the American public. In their opinion, there are those unwilling to show up in the office—a burden on taxpayer dollars. “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them,” Musk and Ramaswamy declared in an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal. The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending, which they argue is bloated by inefficiency and lack of accountability. Aiming to Save $2 Trillion The plan is not just about how to enforce a return to the office as part of a larger scheme to trim $2 trillion from the federal budget. In order to make the federal workforce more efficient while ensuring that taxpayer dollars are better spent, Musk and Ramaswamy aim to cut wasted spending and restructure government agencies. In their plan, they posit that “mass headcount reductions” will have to be undertaken to achieve these objectives; certainly, part of the emphasis should be placed on civil servants who refuse to go back to office premises once the remote work policies initiated as part of the pandemics are repealed. The newly founded Department of Government Efficiency will be led by these two, and it is from there that Musk and Ramaswamy should present their vision to achieve the aforesaid mission of reorganizing federal agencies, making their operations efficient, and eliminating inefficiencies that waste government and taxpayer resources. These two men, one a visionary in the private sector and the other once a presidential hopeful, are bringing entrepreneurial and political experience to the table in a bid to fundamentally overhaul how the U.S. government operates. Musk and Ramaswamy: A vision of a Less Bureaucratic U.S. Government Both Musk and Ramaswamy have shown lively interest in government spending at grotesquely enormous levels. According to their op-ed, the pair believes that the government spends over $500 billion annually on inefficient or unauthorized programs. Bold reforms are said to be on their way with the decision of possibly taking federal departments out of Washington D.C. They argue that civil service regulation allows for “reductions in force” and the putting into effect of rules that would target inefficiency, not individual workers. A Strong Mandate for Reform The timing of their proposal is strategic. With a new president-elect, Donald Trump, and a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, Musk and Ramaswamy believe they have the political mandate to push through sweeping reforms. The pair sees this as an opportunity to enact their vision for a leaner, more efficient federal government. “Having a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court gives us a unique advantage,” they wrote in their article. The Focus on Accountability In addition to saving taxpayer money, the new department will mainly focus on bringing accountability to federal agencies. The proposed reforms aim to ensure that spending is transparent and that every dollar is properly accounted for. This may require shaking up some existing norms and practices by the bureaucracy. The two, Musk and Ramaswamy, have also hinted that these reforms will not be limited to just firing employees; they could involve broad changes to how federal departments operate, how they are funded, and where they are located. Final Thoughts: The Future of Government Efficiency While the proposal has generated much debate, it also resonates with growing frustration over government inefficiency and the ballooning federal budget. Leading this are Musk and Ramaswamy, who are pushing reforms that may ultimately redefine the very makeup of the U.S. government in search of greater efficiency and a cost savings. With Trump behind him and a strong political base, the duo’s plan might just set a new era for American governance. ALSO READ: Grimes Accuses Elon Musk Of Preventing Her From Seeing Their Children

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The Chicago-area mansion featured in the 1990 Christmas classic “Home Alone” may be expensive, but it’s a bargain compared to the New York City townhouse in the sequel. The holidays mean another social media debate about what the fictional McCallisters did for work to afford their massive house, but their extended relative’s Upper West Side “Home Alone 2” townhouse is worth a half million more, a new report by FloridaRentals claims. Uncle Rob McCallister’s townhome at 51 West 95th St.in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” is valued at $5.7 million — more than the $5.25 Winnetka, Illinois house in the first movie, the analysis said. The Big Apple brownstone placed No. 4 in the ranking of the most expensive holiday film homes of all time, also outpricing the houses or townhouses featured in “Trading Places” ($4.9 million), “The Family Stone” ($4.3 million), “Four Christmases” ($3.6 million), “The Santa Clause” ($3.38 million) and “Happiest Season” ($3.37 million). The Manhattan digs in “The Family Man” ranked No. 1 by far, with a value of $15.4 million, with the top three rounded out by the California home in “The Holiday” at $12 million and the London home in “Bridget Jones’s Diary” which was valued at $6.2 million, according to the analysis. But while the Upper West Side address gained notoriety on the silver screen, the real brownstone wasn’t actually featured in the “Home Alone” sequel – with the movie filmed on Brownstone Street on the Universal Studios lot in Los Angeles. The real-life, landmarked Renaissance Revival two-family home – built in the 19th century and originally listed for over $7.5 million in March 2023 – changed hands last month, with its new homeowner shelling out $5.7 million for the property, according to city records. The previous owner was a doctor whose authorization to treat injured workers through a state program was temporarily suspended in 2022 after he reportedly refused to show proof of a reimbursement, per state records first reported by Patch. Meanwhile, the cheapest Yuletide movie house is the Parker family’s house from “A Christmas Story” in Cleveland, Ohio, valued at just $246,915, according to the analysis. “While many are, unsurprisingly, fictional, a few of these iconic locations are actually within grasp for year-long fans,” a spokesperson from FloridaRentals said. “While those grand, opulent mansions might be out of reach, there are more modest yet charming homes that are attainable than you think.” Affordable homes featured in “Edward Scissorhands,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “Love Actually” followed at $363,622, $511,495 and $579,120, respectively. The least expensive Christmas-themed quarters in the Big Apple were featured as Frank’s brother’s Long Island City apartment in “Scrooged” – located at 21-29 45th Ave. – valued at a cool $959,500.