According to the Office of Financial Management, Washington state is projected to face a budget imbalance of between $10 billion and $12 billion over the next four-year outlook period. The looming shortfall is exasperated by record spending at the state level. Democrats approved more than 1,300 new policy-related appropriations at a cost of more than $6 billion in the 2022 supplemental budget alone. OFM officials blame slowing revenue forecasts, rising costs and expanding need for the looming budget gap, while critics claim the state has been reckless with its spending and hasn’t prioritized how best to utilize taxpayer dollars. “This deficit is due to the recent revenue forecasts that were adjusted down and the increase in caseloads and the cost to maintain existing programs,” OFM Pat Sullivan said in a Nov. 8 memo . OFM Deputy Communications Director Hayden Mackley went into more detail about several factors contributing to the deficit. “The amount of forecast revenue for the next four years has dropped since the most recent budget was enacted in March,” he emailed The Center Square. “The budget is required by state law to be balanced over four years – that’s why the projected deficit is calculated through June 2029 as we plan for the 2025-27 budget. The 2024 supplemental budget that was enacted was balanced over a four-year period, through the end of fiscal year 2027.” According to estimates released Wednesday by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, Washington’s projected near general fund revenue collections through 2029 decreased by $400 million overall from the September forecast. “We’re seeing an increase in forecasted caseloads , which are the projected numbers of people that receive state services,” Mackley continued. “Some of the larger increases are in state-funded kindergarten and child care programs. We’re also seeing an increase in costs related to inflation, and other costs of maintaining programs. Some programs included in that ‘maintenance level’ are constitutional and other legal obligations; others are enacted by the Legislature.” Not everyone is buying OFM’s explanation for the looming deficit. Washington Research Council’s Emily Makings took lawmakers to task in a Nov. 12 blog , stating that the “estimated shortfall is the result of legislative spending choices. The Legislature chose to increase appropriations in 2023-25 by 15.8% over 2021–23, at a time when biennial revenues were expected to increase by 3.5%. Now that bill is coming due.” She previously noted that “Compared to the February revenue forecast (on which the current budget was based), the September revenue forecast is down by just $608 million through 2027–29. It didn’t help matters, but the revenue forecast decrease is not the cause of the problem. (Further, 2025–27 revenues are forecasted to be $5.132 billion higher than 2023–25 revenues.)” Todd Myers, Vice President for Research at the Washington Policy Center think tank echoed those sentiments. “Fundamentally, this problem was created by mismanagement of the budget and putting political priorities ahead of fiscal sustainability,” he said. “What the Legislature did was to put programs at risk in the hope that the threat of cutting key programs is enough to force the public to support yet another huge increase in state taxes. It is backward.” Further complicating matters is the fact that the budget gap does not include the almost $1.4 billion needed to pay for the two-year collective bargaining agreements negotiated with state employee unions in the next budget. “The determination on the collective bargaining agreements hasn’t been made yet,” Mackley explained. “This determination will occur close to when the governor’s budget proposal to the Legislature is published in mid-December.” There is precedent for denying the pay raises. Gov. Christine Gregoire was sued in late 2008 by the Service Employees International Union’s Local 775 for suggesting that workers’ pay raises be dropped as part of addressing the state’s impending budget deficit. The union was awarded pay and benefits increases worth more than $80 million in binding arbitration. In April 2010, however, the state Supreme Court ruled it can’t force a governor to budget for raises awarded to a public employee union, even though state law says the governor “must” include that money in their spending proposal. Myers said whatever decision is made regarding the pay raises will be an indication of the state’s priorities. “At the very least, it is clear that the $1.3 billion in pay raises is not justifiable,” he said. “If the Legislature approves that contract, it will be very clear that legislators chose pay raises over programs that don’t get the funding that was previously promised.” In the meantime, Mackley pointed to Sullivan’s memo that “directs state agencies to propose cost-saving measures, including hiring freezes and program delays, in response to the projected deficit. Agencies may choose to implement measures like hiring freezes or layoffs that result in immediate savings.”In conclusion, the proposal to exempt the payment of VAT on the sale of ordinary residential properties in Henan Province represents a significant step towards supporting homeowners, stimulating the real estate market, and fostering economic development in the region. Through active participation in the public consultation process, stakeholders can contribute to shaping a policy that is beneficial and sustainable for all parties involved. Together, we can create a more vibrant and resilient housing market that meets the needs of residents and contributes to the prosperity of Henan Province.

The circumstances surrounding Liu Dameili's death have raised concerns about the safety and regulation of cosmetic procedures, particularly in the world of influencer culture. Many have pointed out the pressure that influencers often face to maintain a certain image, leading them to undergo risky cosmetic surgeries in the pursuit of perfection.

One of the main advantages of big data in e-commerce is the ability to track and analyze customer behavior in real-time. By monitoring key metrics such as browsing patterns, purchase history, and demographic information, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer preferences and trends. This data can then be used to personalize the shopping experience, target specific customer segments, and recommend relevant products or services.

The Jing-Jin-Ji region, encompassing Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei province, is no stranger to winter weather challenges. With its diverse terrain and relatively high latitude, the region experiences significant temperature drops during the winter months, often accompanied by strong winds and precipitation.In conclusion, the delineation of the economic policy for the upcoming year underscores a proactive and strategic approach to fostering economic stability and growth. By strengthening extraordinary countercyclical regulation, governments are positioning themselves to effectively respond to changing economic conditions and uncertainties. Through a combination of innovation, structural reforms, and social support mechanisms, policymakers aim to build a more resilient and inclusive economy that can withstand future challenges and thrive in the long term.

The for today [Dec 18] include acting appointments and public notification. Government Notice No. Acting Appointment Head Of The Public Service The Cabinet Office Valerie Robinson-James, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors has been appointed to act as Head of the Public Service, The Cabinet Office from 23rd December 2024 to 3rd January 2025. Cherie Whitter Head of the Public Service Notice ID: The Director General who has supervision of BCAA [Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority], in exercise of the power conferred by section 5 of the Public Access to Information [Information Statement] Act 2010, gives the following Notice: Citation This Notice may be cited as the Public Access to Information [Information Statement] BCAA [Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority] Notice 2024 Deposit of information statement Pursuant to the requirements of section 5 of the Public Access to Information Act 2010, notice is hereby given that Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority Information Statement has been deposited for public inspection at— the offices of Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority/BCAA; the Bermuda Archives; the Bermuda National Library; and the Office of the Information Commissioner and shall come into operation on 18th December 2024. Information statement available on website The information statement mentioned in paragraph 2 is available at www.bcaa.bm Made this day 18th December 2024 by Deborah Jackson, Information Officer, BCAA Government Notice No. Acting Appointment Chief Information Officer, Department Of Information And Digital Technologies Cabinet Ministry Delano Seymour, DCIO, Department of Information and Digital Technologies, has been appointed to act as Chief Information Officer, Department of Information and Digital Technologies from the 9th January to 16th January, 2025 inclusive. Cherie-Lynn Whitter Head of the Public Service Government Notice Number: ___________ Acting Appointment – Collector Of Customs Mr. Tracey Kelly, Assistant Collector of Customs, has been appointed to act as Collector of Customs during the period Wednesday 25th December, 2024 through to Sunday the 05th January, 2025 inclusive. Cherie Whitter [Mrs.] Head of the Public Service Government Notice No. Acting Appointment Registrar Of Companies Ministry Of Finance Ms. Maria Boodram, Head of Registration, has been appointed to act as Registrar of Companies during the period 30th December 2024 – 10th January 2025. Cherie-Lynn Whitter The Head of the Public Service Government Of Bermuda National Certification Notice Type: Government Notice Notice Sub Type: Notice of National Certification Notice ID: Public Authorities/Department: Workforce Development Publication Date: Gazette Notice Regulation 26 [d] National Occupational Certification Regulations 2008 Electricians Pursuant to Section 8 of the National Occupational Certification Act, 2004, the Minister of Economy and Labour has granted National Occupational Certificates in the occupation of Electricians to the persons listed below. The certification deems that the persons have completed the requirements and achieved the standards established by the National Certification & Apprenticeship Board of Bermuda and National Electrical Code 2014. These persons are now entitled to engage in the occupation of Electrician and to use the title “Nationally Certified” for a period of 5 years. Residential Certification Residential & Commercial Certification The Hon. Jason Hayward JP. MP Ministry of Economy and Labour The Hon. Zane DeSilva JP. MP Chairman National Certification and Apprenticeship Board The official notices above have been republished from the relevant section on the official Government website. If you wish to view ‘hard copies’, the Department of Libraries & Archives prints them and you can visit the main library on Queen Street or the Government Archives in the Government Administration Building on Parliament Street to view them. :2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for tennis fans as the prestigious WTT Singapore Grand Slam is set to take place at the Singapore Sports Hub from January 30th to February 9th. This highly anticipated event is expected to attract top players from around the world, showcasing their skills and competing for the coveted championship title.

Mumbai: After running surplus liquidity of about ₹1.4 lakh crore for over two months, the banking system saw a decline in cash, prompting the Reserve Bank of India to inject ₹6,956 crore on Monday. The liquidity deficit was because of the balance of payments turning negative in the ongoing quarter at $23 billion, due to persistent outflows from foreign portfolio investors (FPI) and the RBI selling dollars in the market to support the rupee, economists said. This also led to the weighted average call rate (WACR) moving 22 basis points higher than the policy repo rate at 6.72% on Monday, pushing up borrowing costs for banks. A higher WACR correspondingly pushes up borrowing costs also for companies raising funds through other debt instruments, such as certificates of deposits and commercial papers. "This deficit of system liquidity is because balance of payments (BoP) turned negative in Q3FY25, plus a widening trade deficit and rise in FPI outflows since October 2024 resulted in RBI selling dollars (and buying the rupee)," said Gaura Sen Gupta, chief economist at IDFC First bank. "This is also reflected in core liquidity, which has reduced from peak levels. Reduction in core liquidity indicates that system liquidity tightness could persist if BoP outflows persist," she said. Core liquidity - system liquidity plus government surplus - reduced from peak surplus of ₹4.6 trillion on September 27 to ₹1.6 trillion on November 15. India's foreign exchange reserves fell by $17.8 billion in the week ended November 15, to reach a four-month low of $657.9 billion, RBI data showed. Stock Trading Complete Guide to Stock Market Trading: From Basics to Advanced By - Harneet Singh Kharbanda, Full Time Trader View Program Stock Trading Options Scalping Made Easy By - Sivakumar Jayachandran, Ace Scalper View Program Stock Trading Markets 102: Mastering Sentiment Indicators for Swing and Positional Trading By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis for Everyone - Technical Analysis Course By - Abhijit Paul, Technical Research Head, Fund Manager- ICICI Securities View Program Stock Trading Technical Trading Made Easy: Online Certification Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Algo Trading Made Easy By - Vivek Gadodia, Partner at Dravyaniti Consulting and RBT Algo Systems View Program Stock Trading Advanced Strategies in Stock Market Mastery By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis Demystified: A Complete Guide to Trading By - Kunal Patel, Options Trader, Instructor View Program Stock Trading Point & Figure Chart Mastery: A Comprehensive Trading Guide By - Mukta Dhamankar, Full Time Trader, 15 Years Experience, Instructor View Program Stock Trading RSI Trading Techniques: Mastering the RSI Indicator By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading RSI Made Easy: RSI Trading Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Derivative Analytics Made Easy By - Vivek Bajaj, Co Founder- Stockedge and Elearnmarkets View Program Stock Trading Candlesticks Made Easy: Candlestick Pattern Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Market 101: An Insight into Trendlines and Momentum By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Made Easy: Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Stock Investing Made Easy: Beginner's Stock Market Investment Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Meanwhile, India's merchandise trade deficit - the difference between exports and imports - widened to a two-month high of $27.14 billion in October, compared with $20.78 billion in September. Economists also estimate a slowdown in deposit growth and monthly GST payments to have affected the system liquidity. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )

In response to these criticisms, Hong Myung-Bo has issued a staunch defense of Son Heung-Min, highlighting the intangible qualities that the forward brings to the team. Hong emphasized Son's unwavering commitment to the cause, his positive attitude both on and off the pitch, and his ability to inspire his teammates through his performances. According to Hong, Son's value goes beyond just goals and assists; he is a leader in the dressing room and a role model for younger players at Tottenham Hotspur.Proposed India-EU FTA negotiations need political directions: Goyal NEW DELHI: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Thursday said the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) need political directions to reach a commercially meaningful deal while understanding each other’s sensitivities. The pact came up for discussion during an interaction between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Ambassadors of the European Commission delegation. Talking about growing proximity and rising trade between India and the EU, the minister said that both sides are aiming for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial FTA. Minister Goyal said the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7-8 per cent annually to become the third largest economy in the world over the next few years. Thereafter, rapid and exponential growth would help India’s GDP to reach the milestone of USD 35 Trillion by 2047. The Minister further underlined that any sustainability discussions must appreciate the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibility(CBDR) and implementation of such measures should take into account differing paths of development. Further, acknowledging the large and untapped economic potential, the European side underscored that both sides would gain tremendously by integrating the two economies and building resilience in their supply chains. The interaction also accorded an opportunity to discuss progress in the India-EU Trade and Technology Council. India is the only country, other than the United States, with which the EU has such a mechanism. It is to be noted that EU is the largest trading partner of India for goods as its bilateral trade in goods with the EU was USD 137.41 billion in 2023-24. In addition, the bilateral trade in services, in 2023, between India and the EU was estimated at USD 51.45 billion. The trade agreement with the EU would help India in further expanding and diversifying its exports of goods and services while securing the value chains. India is seeking to forge balanced agreements with major world economies to increase its market share in global trade. Agencies

ISU men come back a better team following an 84-70 loss to storied UCLA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which sets policy for the Pentagon, for the 64th straight year, sending it to the White House for President Joe Biden's signature. Because it is one of the few major bills that becomes law every year, lawmakers use the NDAA as a vehicle for a range of initiatives, some more directly related to the military than others. Here is a look at some notable provisions of the 1800-page Fiscal 2025 NDAA. WHAT IS THE TRANSGENDER PROVISION? The bill bans the military health program, TRICARE, from covering some gender-affirming care for the transgender children of service members if it could risk sterilization, a provision that caused some Democrats to vote no in the Senate and in the House. The measure was denounced by groups that support transgender rights, but Democrats who backed the bill said the provision was far more narrow than some Republicans had wanted. For example, during negotiations on this year's bill, some Republicans had pushed to ban TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for adults. President-elect Donald Trump's Republicans have made opposition to the rights of transgender people a focus of so-called "culture war" politics, using it successfully as a wedge issue during the 2024 U.S. elections. COUNTERING CHINA, BOLSTERING TAIWAN The NDAA steers resources toward countering China, seen as the biggest geopolitical threat to the United States. Among other things, the bill authorizes $300 million to help Taiwan acquire capabilities from anti-ship missiles and radars to coastal and missile defense, and measures to enhance diplomatic and economic backing for Taiwan. It also includes new restrictions on China and Chinese businesses, including requiring reports on China's economic outlook, biotechnology industry and synthetic opioids. The bill also extends bans on the military purchasing Chinese products, adding bans on drone technology as well as garlic in military commissaries. MIDDLE EAST The measure authorizes $500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense, including funds for Israel's Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow systems. It also increases and expands to $80 million from last year's $50 million authorization for U.S.-Israel anti-tunneling cooperation. And it requires the Secretary of Defense and director of the Defense Intelligence Agency to provide Israel with defense intelligence and support of Israel's pursuit of Hamas and the capture or killing of Hamas officials. QUALITY OF LIFE AND PAY RAISES FOR THE TROOPS The NDAA authorizes an unusually high 14.5% pay increase for the lowest-ranking troops, and 4.5% for the rest of the force, recognizing that many military families have been forced to rely on food stamps and other forms of public assistance to make ends meet. The bill also authorizes $3 billion to improve military housing, and it will expand child care benefits, which military leaders had described as an obstacle toward recruitment. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Diane Craft)

Ministers said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”

Title: Downfall of the Wolves: Wolves Suffer Third Consecutive Defeat and Sink Deeper in English Premier LeagueDespite these obstacles, Xu Limin remains optimistic about Zhou Qi's future prospects. Through hard work, dedication, and a strong mindset, Xu Limin believes that Zhou Qi has the potential to reach new heights and become a key player in the basketball world.In his time at the club, Ferdinand was known for his professionalism and work ethic. He was a key part of the team that enjoyed great success under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. He knows firsthand the level of commitment and dedication required to succeed at the highest level, and he believes that the current crop of players at Manchester United need to be held to the same standards.