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READING – Berks County Sen. Judy Schwank issued a statement in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s hearing on the investigation into the cause of the R.M. Palmer natural gas explosion that occurred on March 24, 2023. She said, “The R.M. Palmer explosion was a tragic event for West Reading and the entire Berks County community. The National Transportation Safety Board has conducted a thorough and meticulous investigation, which will help us fully understand what went wrong and how to prevent similar incidents in the future. For now, my main takeaway is the critical importance of recognizing the dangers of natural gas and erring on the side of caution whenever a leak is suspected.” Schwank added that she will await the NTSB’s complete written report, along with the PUC’s findings, and use the gathered information to make any changes that may be necessary at the state level to improve safety.
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https://wdac.com/lawmaker-reacts-to-ntsb-report-on-berks-county-explosion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lawmaker-reacts-to-ntsb-report-on-berks-county-explosion
| 2024-12-16T05:14:28Z
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Sunday Best: All the latest NBA trade talk and personnel Intel
The usual Sunday spin around the league has numerous Western Conference updates along with the backstory behind Dennis Schröder-to-Golden State and a look at the rare new rule juicing trade activity
Around-the-league NBA notes on a Sunday?
On the Sunday — Dec. 15th — synonymous with the official launch of NBA Trade Season?
On the last Sunday before the NBA's answer to Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings?
As it should be!
Representatives from all 30 NBA front offices will be trekking to Central Florida in a few days for the annual G League Showcase. This is Year 2 for the event in Orlando and in-season trade activity has already begun with the weekend deals swung by Indiana (Thomas Bryant) and Golden State (Dennis Schröder) to fill worrisome roster voids.
Let's get right to the latest from my notebook and Jake Fischer's on the Warriors' latest (and future) moves, what looms in Detroit and New Orleans and a look at one of the few new rules in the NBA's 2023 labor agreement that actually boosts potential trade activity:
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https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-all-the-latest-nba-trade
| 2024-12-16T05:14:30Z
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Advent feels paradoxically heavy and elusive this year.
Jan. 20 looms large on the horizon beyond Dec. 25. Many people I know, including myself, are hoping against hope things won’t be as bad as we fear. That Trump’s retributive, hate-filled campaign rhetoric will amount to little more than words. That he was sincere in disavowing Project 2025. That our constitutional levies once again can contain the storm surge of his rapacious egotism, aggrieved impulsivity and authoritarian zeal.
And that’s just America. When we pause to consider Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan — the world feels dark indeed.
Beneath all this existential weight, I’m finding it difficult to “get into the Christmas spirit.” Typical church fare isn’t helping. In the best of times, most Sunday morning Advent litanies resonate thin and tinny. Even the Magnificat rings a bit hollow in my ears this year, knowing millions of Americans, including millions of American Christians, willfully voted to raise up the rich and send the lowly away. I firmly believe there is a light shining in the darkness but at the moment, I’m struggling to pinpoint its radiance, much less feel its warmth.
Bible hope
To soothe my soul, I have been pouring over the lectionary texts for Advent and Christmas, searching for a handhold, some form of hope to hold onto when peace, joy and love seem so far off. I was surprised by the passage that finally grabbed my attention:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. — Luke 2:1-5
These familiar opening lines of the Christmas story struck me profoundly — in ways they have not in years past — because I realized we are the ones who have situated this text in the warm glow of candlelight and surrounded it with fragrant garlands and gleaming tinsel. What Luke is portraying contains no such refinements or comforts.
“For a story that’s nearly 2,000 years old, it is remarkably contemporary in terms of its mood.”
This is a scene riddled with anxiety, stress and even danger. In fact, for a story that’s nearly 2,000 years old, it is remarkably contemporary in terms of its mood when understood in its historical context.
Mary and Joseph’s trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have stretched 90 miles in distance and risen 1,400 feet in elevation. (When have we ever framed our annual pilgrimage to the manger as a long walk uphill?) Most likely they would have made the trip on foot. Certainly, they would have set off lacking the advantages of modern footwear. Even if Mary was able to ride, seated on a donkey as she is so frequently portrayed, progress would have been jostling and plodding for days on end. And they weren’t undertaking this daunting journey for their honeymoon or a festival or a long-awaited family reunion. They went all that way, went to all that trouble, to be counted, appraised and taxed by the emperor who was their overlord. That is why Augustus named Quirinius governor of Syria: to conduct a census of his new subjects in Judea and settle the estate of the Jews’ now deposed king, Archelaus.
The Jewish historian and apologist Josephus records that, just prior to Quirinius’ appointment, Rome had annexed Judea, transforming the former client kingdom into a province under the jurisdiction of Syria’s legate. For the inhabitants of Judea, this meant Rome no longer was a distant, indirect power. Rome was now local.
In reality, Judean independence had ceased more than 60 years prior when Pompey settled a dynastic dispute in Jerusalem. No one since had ruled in Palestine without Rome’s blessing. Now, however, there could be no pretence of autonomy. A Gentile pagan reigned over the people of God — a Gentile pagan who claimed to be the son of another god.
Also a difficult time
This change in Judea’s political reality left many Jews distraught. In the Hebrew Scriptures, a census was considered an affront against God (Exodus 30:12). God punishes David in 2 Samuel 24:1-17 for conducting a census. 1 Chronicles 21:1 blames Satan for making David do it. Josephus relates that the high priest Joazar eventually persuaded a majority of the people to comply with the registration and pay their taxes. But a certain man named Judas incited a rebellion.
The Pharisee Gamaliel mentions this same Judas in Acts 5:34-39 when counseling the Jerusalem authorities not to execute the apostles, defiant though they remain in preaching Jesus as the crucified and risen Lord. If what Peter and the others have been saying is not of God, then their movement will inevitably fail, Gamaliel reasons, just as Judas’ rebellion at the time of the census failed. If it is of God, well, then you gentlemen don’t want to be killing God’s agents.
“God was not with them, at least not in the way Judas imagined.”
Judas argued the census amounted to slavery and promised the people prosperity if they followed him and won, honor and renown even if they lost. Surely God would be with them, he declared, especially if they would not shrink from the bloodshed required to drive the Romans out of the land.
But God was not with them, at least not in the way Judas imagined. The uprising was crushed. In the aftermath, those who championed Judas, those who had fought and survived, would have been doubly disillusioned: grieving the loss of family, friends and neighbors; suffering inside their own wounded bodies; lamenting loss of property, possessions and livelihoods; and for all that hardship having to submit to Caesar Augustus anyway.
Yet the suffering would not end there. Josephus says Judas’ revolt sowed the seeds of misery and utter destruction that would visit Jerusalem in the coming decades. Judas himself would be remembered as the founder of the Zealots, the so-called “fourth philosophy” of Judaism, who would enflame strife between different Jewish factions, carry out guerilla attacks against Romans and their Jewish “sympathizers,” and ultimately spark the rebellion of 66 CE, which would lead to the fiery destruction of the Temple and much of the holy city.
This means that first Christmas was neither holly nor jolly. There were no chestnuts roasting on open fires, no visions of sugarplums dancing in anyone’s heads. Jesus was born into an atmosphere of rhetorical and physical violence. Theological disillusionment permeated the night air in which the shepherds kept watch over their flocks. Cultural anxiety formed the backdrop against which the angels sang glory to God in the highest and peace and good will on earth.
Still, they sang
But nevertheless, they sang. They sang because into this darkness — the darkness of what some mourned as the unthinkable and others brooded as the tragically predictable — a newborn infant wrapped in bands of cloth lay in a manger. God’s anointed, the true Lord, Emmanuel: God come to be with God’s people, with all people.
“The gift — the glory — of Christmas is that God has come to be with us in our discontent.”
Rediscovering this backstory to Luke’s Christmas story is the handhold I needed to stop the downward slide of my own discontent. This context is what makes Luke’s familiar account worth hearing again, even if — perhaps especially if — you or I don’t feel like decorating or celebrating much this year.
The gift — the glory — of Christmas is that God has come to be with us in our discontent, in our resignation, in the quagmire that forms when the machinations of the powers-that-be mingle with our follies, fears and prejudices and all that our frail, fickle humanity compels us to do and not to do.
For Luke, our reason to hope isn’t philosophical or symbolic. It lies sleeping (and crying) in a cattle shed in the middle of all this muck. That’s the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it! A light that dwells with us, abides with us. A light that is enfleshed.
The good news the angels bring is that Jesus abides with us in this confused and confusing world and calls us into it with him and for him. Like all those burdened with grief, anger, fear and jaded faith while Quirinius was legate of Syria, we have to wrestle with how best to navigate this darkness: when to comply, when to defy; where to stand up, how to speak out. But we can take courage knowing Jesus is in the quagmire with us, no matter how miry it gets.
We can resist because Jesus is the true Lord and his light still shines in the darkness, with us and for us, and the darkness does not overcome it.
May we stand and be counted as part of the holy resistance to this imposing darkness, wherever and however it falls around us.
Todd Thomason is a gospel minister and justice advocate who has served as pastor of churches in Virginia, Maryland and Canada. He holds a doctor of ministry degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a master of divinity degree from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament and Christian origins at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In addition to Baptist News Global, Todd writes at viaexmachina.com.
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https://baptistnews.com/article/finding-our-way-in-the-dark/
| 2024-12-16T05:14:31Z
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One person is dead and two others are injured after a crash Sunday evening in Winthrop, Maine.
Winthrop police tell NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine that two vehicles were involved in a collision on Route 202 around 4:30 p.m.
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A preliminary investigation shows 28-year-old Justin Mason was heading west on Route 202, as another vehicle, driven by Mariah St. Laurent, was traveling east.
Police tell News Center Maine that St. Laurent was slowing to make a left turn onto Royal Street when the crash occurred.
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Mason, of Monmouth, was pronounced dead at the scene, News Center Maine reports. His passenger was taken to Central Maine Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said.
St. Laurent, 41, of Leeds, was taken to Maine General in Augusta with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
There was no word from police on what caused the crash. The Winthrop Police Department is investigating with assistance from Monmouth police and Maine State Police.
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In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
The Kennebec-Somerset District Attorney's Office has also been notified, police told News Center Maine.
Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Winthrop police at 207-377-7226.
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https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/winthrop-maine-route-202-crash/3578256/
| 2024-12-16T05:14:31Z
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Lake-Lehman’s baseball team has reason to celebrate as it transitions from the regular season to the playoffs.
The Black Knights won important games on the last two days of their regular season. After clinching the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3 championship with Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over Hanover Area, they knocked off rival Dallas, 7-6, in a non-league game.
Those wins helped finalize Lake-Lehman’s status as the top seed for the upcoming District 2 Class 3A playoffs with a 16-3 record.
Lake-Lehman went on the road Thursday and beat an elite program, larger school and neighbor.
Dallas won the state Class 4A championship in 2017 and played in the District 2 championship game last year. The Mountaineers also won their division and appear positioned to be the top seed against larger schools than the Black Knights face in the bulk of their schedule.
The Black Knights overcame deficits of 4-0 after one inning and 5-1 after two.
Max Paczewski had three hits and C.J. Cercone drove in two runs with a double to lead Lake-Lehman.
Jake Connolly had a single, double and triple while Darren Kerdesky homered for Dallas.
Nick Finarelli was the winning pitcher in relief. Alex Magdalinski got the save.
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https://www.mydallaspost.com/sports/local-sports/38539/lake-lehman-baseball-team-celebrating-latest-win
| 2024-12-16T05:14:31Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global
health and wellness market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.93 trillion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.01% during the forecast period.
The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below-
Segmentation Overview
Continue Reading
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global health and wellness market 2024-2028
Product Type
1.1 Beauty and personal care products
1.2 Health and wellness food
1.3 Wellness tourism
1.4 Fitness equipment
1.5 Preventive and personalized health
Distribution Channel
Geography
3.1 North America
3.2 APAC
3.3 Europe
3.4 South America
3.5 Middle East and Africa
Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments -
Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
1.1 Fastest growing segment:
The global beauty and personal care market encompasses various subcategories, including cosmetics, shower gels, bathing soaps, skincare, haircare, deodorants, anti-aging skin creams, and more. Notable players in this industry are L'Oreal SA, Procter and Gamble Co., and Beiersdorf AG. The rise of online retailers like Nykaa in India propels market growth. Consumer preference for organic and natural products is escalating, as evidenced by Clariant's development of a sustainable formulation derived from mulberry plant roots for face serums, hand masks, and skin oils. This eco-friendly product effectively combats skin damage caused by disruptions in skin rhythms. These factors contribute positively to the growth of the global beauty and personal care products segment.
Analyst Review
The Health and Wellness market is experiencing significant growth due to increased consumer awareness and expenditure on maintaining a balanced lifestyle. This market encompasses various sub-sectors including alternative therapies, apparel, beauty and anti-aging, fitness and exercise, and preventative healthcare. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and herbal supplements are gaining popularity as consumers seek holistic approaches to illness prevention and treatment. Cultural developments, such as mental health awareness and stress management, have led to an increase in demand for mental health retreats and stress management products. Beauty treatments, skincare products, and wearable fitness technology also contribute to the market's growth. Disease prevention through preventive screenings and healthy lifestyle choices is a key focus, with cancer being a significant concern. Consumers are increasingly conscious of their overall well-being and are willing to invest in products and services that promote mental, physical, and emotional health. Traditional medical practices continue to play a role in the market, with many integrating modern and alternative approaches for comprehensive care.
Market Overview
The Health and Wellness Market encompasses a range of goods and services aimed at promoting general well-being, disease prevention, and mental and physical health. Alternative therapies, such as meditation, yoga, and herbal supplements, have gained popularity as consumers seek holistic approaches to health. The market includes apparel, skincare products, and functional foods, as well as fitness and exercise equipment and programs. Cultural developments and increased fitness consciousness have led to an expenditure boom in this sector, with the cosmetics industry and personal care products also contributing significantly. Preventative healthcare measures, such as personalized nutrition schedules and preventative screenings, are becoming increasingly important. The latest technologies, including wearable fitness technology and health monitoring devices, are transforming the way we approach wellness. The market caters to various sub-markets, including mental health, anxiety, depression, cancer, and stress management. Government expenditure and healthcare infrastructure investments are also driving growth in this sector. The market serves a diverse population, with a particular focus on women, and offers various recreational activities and mental health retreats for overall well-being.
To understand more about this market-
Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
7 Customer Landscape
8
Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10
Venodr
Landscape
11
Vendor
Analysis
12
Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
SOURCE Technavio
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https://menafn.com/1108995636/Health-And-Wellness-Market-Size-To-Increase-By-USD-193-Trillion-Between-2023-To-2028-Market-Segmentation-By-Product-Type-Distribution-Channel-Geography-Technavio
| 2024-12-16T05:14:35Z
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Mukesh Khanna recently opened up about why he has never appeared on
Kapil Sharma’s comedy show. He shared that while the show’s producers never approached him, he wouldn’t have accepted even if they had.
In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Mukesh addressed why he never appeared on Kapil Sharma’s comedy show. He mentioned that Kapil never contacted him, possibly due to ego or other reasons, as widely speculated. Khanna recalled how
Gufi Paintal had told him about the Ramayan cast being invited to the show and assumed the Mahabharat team might follow. However, Khanna had already decided against participating due to his concerns about the show’s reliance on indecent humor and jokes he considered inappropriate, despite the laughter they often provoke.
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Do you think celebrities should show more respect to each other at public events?
The veteran actor reservations about Kapil's show deepened after watching a promo featuring Ramayan actor
Arun Govil. In the clip, Govil was asked an inappropriate question about wearing VIP brand underwear while bathing, which Khanna found highly disrespectful given Govil's revered image. While Govil handled it calmly, Khanna felt such humor was unacceptable and would not have tolerated it if he were in that situation.
Mukesh was deeply offended by the joke directed at Arun believing it was disrespectful to someone of his stature. He also voiced his discomfort with the show’s humor, which he feels relies heavily on double meanings and inappropriate jokes. For Khanna, the lack of decency in the content makes it unacceptable despite its popularity.
Khanna recounted an incident where he felt ignored by Kapil during an award function. He mentioned sitting next to Kapil after receiving an award for Best Supporting Actor. Despite being seated together for about ten minutes, Kapil didn’t acknowledge him or greet him, which Khanna found discourteous. Drawing a comparison, he noted that even industry veterans like
Amitabh Bachchan extend a polite greeting, regardless of whether they’ve worked together. This lack of basic courtesy left Khanna unimpressed.
Mukesh criticised Kapil's comedy style and expressed relief at not being part of his show. He recalled a comment made by his Mahabharat co-star Gajendra Singh Chauhan, who appeared on the show without him. Chauhan reportedly remarked that Khanna wasn’t invited because the show needed people with a sense of humor. Khanna found this reasoning absurd, pointing out how cricketers who appear on the show are treated with utmost respect without being judged on their humour. He added that such guests are treated like VIPs, as though they’re doing a favor by appearing.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mukesh-khanna-slams-kapil-sharma-for-sitting-next-to-him-and-ignoring-him-at-an-award-function-i-dont-know-what-his-problem-was-/articleshow/116323091.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:14:36Z
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The New England Patriots put on another lackluster performance Sunday in Arizona, but head coach Jerod Mayo's questionable postgame remarks overshadowed anything that transpired on the field.
After the 30-17 loss, Mayo was asked by NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry about a consequential sequence in the third quarter. The Patriots trailed the Cardinals 16-3 and faced a third-and-1 from Arizona's 4-yard line. Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson were stuffed for no gain on third and fourth down, resulting in a turnover on downs and a missed opportunity for New England.
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Did Mayo consider running the ball with his 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback Drake Maye in those short-yardage situations?
"You said it. I didn't," Mayo answered.
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That bizarre response seems like a clear shot at offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Perry and fellow NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Tom E. Curran dissected Mayo's statement on Patriots Postgame Live.
"We should have been talking about the football game and the things the Patriots didn't do well to start their four-game stretch, and instead we're gonna talk about a situation that Jerod Mayo made worse," Curran said. "He should be talking about those aspects, and if he's gonna say continually, 'These are my decisions, I'm gonna make these decisions, they all start and end with me,' to take a question and then infer that, 'Yeah, you're right, we should have run Drake Maye,' that undercuts the entire thing and undercuts Alex Van Pelt. And to then circle back and later say, 'Yeah, it's all on me,' it is again another rake stepped on.
"But this is probably the most prominent rake because Alex Van Pelt, if you don't want him to call those plays, if you don't want him to run it inside the red zone, tell him, 'Don't run it inside the red zone, we're not doing that anymore.' So this, to me, unfortunately, is probably the biggest rake that Jerod has stepped on. It really is going to invite more dysfunction than I think they have experienced the entire year."
MORE PATRIOTS
Earlier in the season, after Maye suffered a concussion, Van Pelt expressed being cautious about drawing up designed run plays for the rookie QB. Perry believes the reluctance to unleash Maye's athleticism has caused some friction on the Patriots coaching staff.
"I think he's frustrated. I think he doesn't make a comment like that unless maybe this has been building," Perry said of Mayo. "This is a question that I have been asking not only Jerod Mayo but also Alex Van Pelt and Drake Maye for weeks, over a month now. When are you actually gonna run this guy? Clearly, he's one of the best athletes you have. Clearly, this is a skill that he possesses, that can be really difficult for opposing defenses to defend, because I've had opposing defenses that the Patriots have had on the schedule this year tell me, 'Thank God they're not running design runs for Drake Maye because that stuff is really tough on us.' So I'm asking, and I'm asking, and I'm asking. They have already determined that they're not doing this thing anymore about protecting Drake Maye, and he scrambles enough as it is, and so we're not gonna call designed runs. They've all acknowledged that they want to get these designed runs into the game.
"And so for me, this is not necessarily a one-off from Jerod Mayo. I predict he'll walk the comments back tomorrow as we've heard him do many times this year. But I think this is probably a conversation that they've been having for a long time. Short yardage, critical situations on the goal line. These are the types of quarterback runs that we have at our disposal, and the fact that it wasn't used here in a critical situation, to me, leads to that moment of frustration that I think is what that was, boiling over. I think this has been building for some time."
For what it's worth, Maye is open to being utilized as a runner in short-yardage situations.
"Yeah, that's a good point. I was a good quarterback-sneaker in college," he said postgame. "I'm a big dude. I'm heavier than people think. So I think there's maybe a conversation for that. I think it's tough to stop a 6-foot-5 dude for one yard.
Now 3-11 on the season, the Patriots wrap up Sunday with the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They'll look to clean things up both on and off the field before heading to Buffalo for a tough Week 16 showdown with the 11-3 Bills.
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https://www.nbcboston.com/news/sports/nfl/new-england-patriots/jerod-mayo-drake-maye-alex-van-pelt-week-15/3578240/
| 2024-12-16T05:14:37Z
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It is incomprehensible that opponents of President-elect Donald Trump criticize his efforts to commemorate historical events and memorable occasions from our recent national story by offering personal souvenirs to his fellow Americans. After all, he is simply following the footsteps of some of our most famous U.S. presidents — in whose company he is confident he belongs — leaders of our country who also sold souvenirs from their own presidencies.
You’ve heard these stories, right?
We must not forget that George Washington, the “Father of our Country,” sold whiskey glasses from his distillery at Mount Vernon etched with his initials “GW.”
Thomas Jefferson, the third president, offered quill pens like the one he used to draft the Declaration of Independence, except the quill tips were made of gold.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president — called “King Andrew” by critics who thought him unjust and tyrannical — felt his impoverished family history and lack of education made him the voice of the commoner. Many of those admirers paid dearly for a piece of hickory wood, painted with his facial image, and reminiscent of his moniker “Old Hickory,” given to him by his soldiers in the War of 1812 who considered him tough as hickory wood.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, was tragically shot at Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865, dying the next day. But quick-thinking and business-savvy White House staff quickly hatched a plan to sell simulated theater tickets and “blood-stained” programs from the production of Our American Cousin, the play the president was watching when he was assassinated.
Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States in 1901. Fascinated with the financial success previous presidents enjoyed selling merchandise, but wishing to up the ante, he marketed saddles, ostensibly patterned after the saddles members of the first U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, or the “Rough Riders,” used to charge up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War of 1898. For an extra price, Teddy would autograph a saddle.
Woodrow Wilson was the progressive and highly educated 28th president who led the United States into World War I. Upon allied victory in November 1918, Wilson attended the Paris Peace Conference, where he promoted the idea of a League of Nations, a multinational peacekeeping organization. So, it was natural for him to retail a gold medallion that featured the flags of the prominent future members of the League.
John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, like his brother Robert was a courageous advocate for civil rights and racial equality. This is known through his public speeches, promotion of legislation and appointments of African Americans to high-ranking public positions. What is not as well-known is the sale of Oxford-style “spectator shoes” fashioned after Kennedy’s taste in footwear, symbolically black and white to represent integration.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, was shot by John Hinkley Jr., on March 30, 1981, as he was about to enter his limousine after delivering a speech at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Seriously wounded, he nonetheless recovered and later advertised for sale small pieces of cloth cut from the suit he was wearing when he was shot, a precious keepsake for all those who admired his courage in the face of an assassination attempt.
Trump’s faithful imitation of the greats
If any of this were true, Trump would be dutifully following a hallowed tradition when he markets various objects he perceives his MAGA supporters would love to own. But none of the above is true. Trump remains in a classless class all by himself.
The following is true.
Trump sells Digital Trading Cards — for $99 each — advertised with the enticing invitation: “Collect your own Official Trump Digital Trading Cards by President Trump. Incredible, hand-drawn art, inspired by President Trump’s extraordinary life & career. … Cowboy Trump, Astronaut Trump, Business Trump, which one are you?”
One reviewer writes, concerning the newest iteration:
The trading cards include photos of a much younger and leaner Trump raising his hands in victory or dressed as a superhero. Written in small font below the link to purchase reads an explanation of the product: “Trump Digital Trading Cards (NFTs) are intended as collectible items for individual enjoyment only, not for investment vehicles.”
“These cards show me dancing and even holding some Bitcoins,” Trump explains. This will be his fourth NFT collection drop since December 2022, and a previous collection included his “Mugshot Edition NFTs.”
He offers gold-canvas, low-cut “Trump won” sneakers, featuring a gold T and American flag, designed to attract the collector because, according to the website, only 1,000 pairs of sneakers are being manufactured. They carry a price tag of $499.
The discerning shopper may choose also to purchase a Trump Golden Turbillon watch, almost totally made from 18-carat gold and decorated with 122 diamonds.
“You will stand out for all the right reasons,” asserts the advertisement, if you are willing to hand over $100,000 for this distinctive timepiece.
Aimed at his evangelical supporters and other Christian nationalist supporters, the man who previously lent his name and likeness to steaks and vodka is now promoting a $60 “God Bless the USA Bible,” named after country singer Lee Greenwood’s song, which is played each time the president-elect takes the stage.
“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many,” Trump intones. “It’s my favorite book.” This King James Version Bible has a handwritten copy of Greenwood’s lyrics, plus copies of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
This product has inspired several imitation “Trump Bibles” and at least one satirical Holy Bible of Trump: King Donald Version, written and abridged by Christopher Bluma. All profits from the sale of this “bible” go to support the ACLU. In its pages, all references to God, the Lord, and Lord God have been replaced by Donald, Trump and Donald Trump. Hence, “In the beginning Donald created the heavens and the earth” and “The grace of our Donald Trump be with you all.
The satirical thought of a Bible associated with Trump notwithstanding, whoever conceived this combination of religious and political loyalties was clever indeed. The Bible appears to be selling well, especially among the president-elect’s Christian devotees, so many of whom are Christian nationalists.
The newest and most pricey Trump perk has just been announced: a $1 million per person candlelight dinner at Mar a Lago with the promise of meeting Donald Trump. Clearly not for the average Trump admirer, but for his billionaire buddies, this dinner signals an entirely new level of presidential marketing.
Marketing personal success stories
Surely Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama must be feeling some “sour grapes” because during their own presidencies, they did not take advantage of the opportunity to market their memorabilia. It takes someone like Donald Trump, creator of “the art of the deal,” to recognize how history provides more than ample occasion for selling good memories and happy thoughts to admiring Americans.
If it seems questionable that Trump and his family are being personally enriched by these sales, one should contemplate the physical exhaustion, mental anguish, social self-sacrifice and spiritual travail of one so totally committed to helping others as President-elect Donald Trump.
At least, that’s the justification many Americans have bought.
Rob Sellers is professor of theology and missions emeritus at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon Seminary in Abilene, Texas. He is a past chair of the board of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. He and his wife, Janie, served a quarter century as missionary teachers in Indonesia. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Related articles:
Donald Trump is not the kind of star he thinks he is | Opinion by Donald Trump
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https://baptistnews.com/article/the-art-of-patriotic-dealmaking/
| 2024-12-16T05:14:37Z
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DALLAS — Dallas High School students got a glimpse of the horror of a fatal crash caused by drunken driving last Thursday morning.
The simulated crash was held in anticipation of Friday’s prom, warning students of the dangers of drinking and driving. It was organized by Dallas Township police officer Gina Kotowski, who also serves as the school’s resource officer.
Kotowski said the event was organized with the input of students who thought it was important to equip prom-goers with an understanding of how to have a good time, while keeping everyone safe.
“The students came to me about a month ago, hoping to make this happen,” Kotowski said. “I’m just the vessel.”
Organizers of the event did a great job of making every detail much like it would have been in an actual crash, with the coroner there in his black jacket that read “coroner,” law enforcement officers sealing off the scene with yellow tape, someone leaving in handcuffs and a body being removed from the scene in a black bag.
New this year was the arrival of a Life Flight helicopter with emergency responders rushing to the field beside the school to get an “accident victim” to the hospital as soon as possible.
Colleen Davis, a mother of a Dallas High School senior and wife of Scott Davis, part of the Life Flight team who arrived at the scene, said she attended the event because she thinks it is important to inform and equip students about the dangers of drunk and distracted driving.
“It’s every parent’s fear when they hear about an accident that it will be their son or daughter,” she said. “We remind our daughter constantly to wear her seat belt, drive within the speed limit and be aware of what is around her.”
Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner Barney Dobinick said he was more than happy to participate in the event.
“It’s a matter of using common sense,” he said. “We’d rather respond to something like this than an actual fatal accident.”
Jason Rushmer, the district’s Director of Operations, said nearly 400 student prom -oers were invited to the event, which started with an educational presentation before moving outside to the parking lot.
“We want students to know that prom and graduation season can be fun,” he said. “But, it could also bring tragedy.”
Sophomores Clair Malarkey and Sydney Brady and junior Cassidy Ford said they learned a lot about how severe an accident could be and the dangers of drunk driving.
As they stood next to the realistic scene, complete with blood, broken glass and someone being arrested, all three said although the scene was graphic, it was necessary.
“It needed to be this bad,” said Malarkey. “In order to get the message across.”
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https://www.mydallaspost.com/top-stories/38535/mock-accident-at-dallas-high-school-realistic-enough-to-be-meaningful
| 2024-12-16T05:14:37Z
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HARRISBURG – The performers who will sing the National Anthem daily and at special events during the 2025 PA Farm Show have been announced. A panel of judges selected 20 finalists from among 40 qualified entries. Finalists’ videos were posted on Facebook for fan voting to determine those who will sing live throughout the week. A contest winner will sing in the GIANT Expo Hall of the Farm Show Complex and Expo Hall at 8 a.m. each day of the 2025 PA Farm Show from January 4-11, 2025. Performances can be heard throughout the complex and will be featured live on PA Farm Show’s Facebook page. Winners, and the dates they will sing, are listed below:
·Friday, January 3 at 5:30 p.m. at PA Preferred Reception – Hannah Weaver, York, York Co.
·Saturday, January 4 at 8 a.m. – Cadence Kline, Barnesville, Schuylkill Co.
·Saturday, January 4 at 10 a.m. at Opening Ceremony – Alona Buzey, Newmanstown, Lebanon Co.
·Sunday, January 5 at 8 a.m. – Shellenberger Siblings, Mount Joy, Lancaster Co.
·Monday, January 6 at 8 a.m. – East Stroudsburg North High School Chorus, East Stroudsburg, Pike Co.
·Tuesday, January 7 at 8 a.m. – Biglerville High School Select Chorus, Biglerville, Adams Co.
·Tuesday, January 7 at 10 a.m. at Junior Livestock Sale – Alexandra “Ally” Bet, Barnesville, Schuylkill Co.
·Wednesday, January 8 at 8 a.m. – Alyssa Horton, Robertson, Huntingdon Co.
·Thursday, January 9 at 8 a.m. – Crystalyn Gureckis, York, York Co.
·Thursday, January 9 at 1 p.m. at Army-Navy Cookoff – Brayden Cressman, Perkasie, Bucks Co.
·Friday, January 10 at 8 a.m. – Camp Hill High School RoaR, Camp Hill, Cumberland Co.
·Saturday, January 11 at 8 a.m. – Penelope Shaw, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co.
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https://wdac.com/pa-farm-show-anthem-singers-announced/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pa-farm-show-anthem-singers-announced
| 2024-12-16T05:14:37Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
CAPE TOWN,
South Africa, Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Envision Energy, a world leader in renewable energy solutions, proudly announces a contract with the EDF Group, to supply three battery energy storage systems (BESS) for the Oasis 1 cluster of projects, amounting to 257 MW of capacity and 1028 MWh of storage. This marks the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) order in South Africa and positions Envision Energy as the first energy storage system supplier in the region to secure a GWh-scale order.
These projects are integral to South Africa's inaugural Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP). EDF, in collaboration with co-sponsor Mulilo, and equity partners Pele Energy Group and Gibb-Crede, under the Oasis Consortium, successfully secured three projects: Oasis Aggeneis, Oasis Mookodi, and Oasis Nieuwehoop power plants, located in the Northern Cape Province. Each project includes a 5% ownership interest for local communities through a Community Trust.
Financial Close was reached on 20 November 2024 and the projects are set to be operational by end of 2026.
Envision Energy will equip these facilities with a full suite of AC and DC energy storage equipment, including station SCADA and EMS systems. The DC side will feature Envision's standard 20-foot, 5 MWh storage units powered by high-safety, high-performance 315Ah cells. Additionally, Envision will provide 15 years of comprehensive lifecycle operation and maintenance (O&M) services.
Kane Xu, Senior Vice President and President of International Product Lines at Envision Energy, commented on the initiative: "Battery storage technology is a cornerstone of sustainable energy systems, and we are delighted to contribute our leading technology to this milestone project in South Africa. Once operational, it will effectively address the frequent load management of the current South African power grid, enhance grid stability, and reduce reliance on coal-fired power plants, supporting South Africa's transition to a more sustainable energy system."
As the largest battery energy storage initiative in South Africa, these facilities will significantly enhance the country's power infrastructure. They are designed to alleviate grid congestion, increase renewable energy integration, and engage in the power market through energy arbitrage and ancillary services, aiding South Africa's low-carbon energy transition and goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
"We look forward to constructing this project with our industrial partners Envision Energy and Huadong, chosen for their expertise with energy storage products, and ability to deliver a reliable and effective system," said Gregoire de Montgolfier, EDF Renewables Projects Director.
EDF Group, the world's largest nuclear operator and a leading global power company, continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio with an aim to reach 60 GW of net renewable capacity by 2030.
Envision Energy stands out as a premier provider of cutting-edge energy storage products renowned for their superior battery quality, intelligent design, and the ease and speed of their deployment. With full-stack technical capabilities and a commitment to in-house research and manufacturing, Envision boasts end-to-end control from manufacturing to deployment, including full lifecycle asset management to drive innovation in systematic grid-forming solutions, to ensure grid safety and stability. As of late 2023, Envision has grown its global footprint across the globe with over 200 BESS projects, delivering more than 15 GWh and securing upwards of 25 GWh in ongoing orders. In 2024, Envision Energy was recognized as a Tier 1 Global Energy Storage Manufacturer by Bloomberg NEF for the third consecutive quarter, positioning the company among the top leaders in the energy storage sector worldwide.
SOURCE Envision Energy
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https://menafn.com/1108995637/Envision-Energy-Secures-South-Africas-Largest-Energy-Storage-Order
| 2024-12-16T05:14:42Z
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Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s daughter Shora has been making waves ever since she attended Aaliyah Kashyap’s wedding alongside her father. Her striking beauty has garnered praise across the internet, with many celebrities and fans likening her to a “mini
Deepika Padukone.”
On Shora’s birthday, Nawazuddin Siddiqui shared a heartwarming reel on Instagram, celebrating his daughter’s special day. The video featured Shora in different outfits, showcasing her playful and charming personality. The candid moments captured in the reel quickly melted hearts online, as fans admired the actor's beautiful tribute to his daughter.
The comments section overflowed with love and admiration. Filmmaker
Anurag Kashyap commented, “Kitni sundar hai (She’s so beautiful),” while singer Abdu Rozik gushed, “Cuttttteeeee take over.” Actor Payal Rajput also chimed in with birthday wishes, saying, “Bday wishes. God bless .. she looks amazing.”
Fans couldn’t stop raving, flooding the post with heart emojis and remarks like, “She is so beautiful,” and, “Mini version of Deepika Padukone.” Some thought she resembled actress
Radhika Apte, while others described her as a “princess” and a “beautiful kid.”
Shora and Nawazuddin recently attended the lavish wedding reception of Anurag Kashyap’s daughter, Aaliyah, and Shane Gregoire in Mumbai. Shora turned heads in a stunning green ethnic outfit, perfectly complementing Nawazuddin’s teal green sherwani. The duo posed for paparazzi, with Shora stealing the show with her radiant charm.
In an earlier interview, Nawazuddin shared that his daughter has aspirations of joining the film industry. “She wants to become an actress,” he revealed, sparking curiosity about her future in Bollywood.
Nawazuddin, who was last seen in the supernatural horror film Adbhut, seems proud of his daughter’s growing popularity, and fans are already looking forward to her potential entry into the limelight.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nawazuddin-siddiquis-daughter-shora-becomes-an-internet-sensation-fans-call-her-mini-deepika-padukone/articleshow/116296244.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:14:43Z
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Super Soldier Talk with Apollymi – Project Crest, Carbon, Section 13 32-C
September 15, 2021
Rumble: https://rumble.com/vmknxx-super-soldier-talk-with-apollymi-project-crest-carbon-section-13-32-c.html
Transcript
JAMES: Thank you everybody for joining us here today. This is Supersoldier Talk, I am James Rink, and I have a very exciting show today for you. Today we have a very special guest: we have Apollymi Mandylion. Apollymi is a super soldier hybrid created by the Dark Fleet and the Interplanetary Corporate Conglomerate (ICC). She has been part of Project Crest (Star Gate), Project Carbon, and Section 13 32-C. She’ll also go into Project Ashwet (Children of God), which is an Aryan ET project at Camp Livingston, Louisiana. She will talk about Secret Space Program missions, Inner Earth experiences, and Project Mind Control, Project MK ULTRA, and Project Blue Book. Thank you, Apollymi, for joining us here today.
APOLLYMI: Thank you for having me.
(3:23) JAMES: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? When did you become aware you were a super soldier involved in these projects?
APOLLYMI: It’s kind of difficult, because when you go through the projects at a very young age, they don’t really give you any information—they just tell you what to do. Sometimes with extreme force. I was between four-and-a-half to five years old when I started entering the projects. And unfortunately, it wasn’t very nice. It was not, “Hey, come work with us”—it’s, “We’re going to abduct you at night and do horrible things to you until you bend to our will.”
(4:05) JAMES: Do you actually have recall of experiences as a child being taken to facilities and trained? Why don’t you tell us a little bit about that.
APOLLYMI: Well, the first time they came to me, I started seeing black helicopters in my dreams. And you would get, like, the sound and the images. And then they would start manipulating your dreams, knock you out. You’d start feeling this really heavy electrical sensation, and then I would literally just wake up on base, had no idea where I was at all. I’m like, “Who are you guys and what are you doing here?” “Why are you in my bedroom?”
But it was almost like every night that started happening to me, on the dot. I started realizing, after some observation, that they started coming for me between 1:30 and 2:00 in the morning. I’d wake up in my bed. Either my clothes were missing, or just strewn (around). I’d have bruises and puncture marks on me. Just very dissociated a lot of the times. And then later on, when they started throwing us into what I would consider boot camp, which would be Project Ashwet—
When I first went into the projects, it was more of like medical testing: they would put us in scanners, take our blood, tie us down and put a whole bunch of implements on us. I’ve been in the old version of med-beds, where it’s just a huge container of goo. And they put a breathing apparatus on you if you go into the orange one, and you don’t need one if you’re in the pink one, and they throw you in there and put sonic frequencies through it.
(6:10) JAMES: You mean the pink-colored goo? The orange-colored goo? Can you give us some information about the difference between those two colors of goos?
APOLLYMI: Well, it’s not like they really tell you; you just have to be observant. The pink one you can breathe through. It’s very uncomfortable; you feel like you’re drowning for like the first good ten minutes, until your brain catches up from the shock. But they seem to put us in that one basically for— Like, if you have a severed arm or anything like that, they put you in the orange one for some reason. But the pink one is mainly for, like, internal injuries and minor injuries. If you’re missing a leg or anything else they put you in the orange one. You have to have a breathing apparatus on, and you’re in that one for quite a long time. And then, of course, when you get out you have to take a shower afterwards because it’s really funky feeling. But those are the only differences I could really tell you about. The sonic waves, the different frequency waves they put through there, are just about the same. The only thing I can think of is the materials react differently (in response) to the electrical and sonic frequencies they’re putting through it. I mean, when you walk out from the orange one you have a brand-new leg that’s re-grown. I don’t know if there’s stem cells or nanotech or whatever in there.
(7:45) JAMES: [unitelligible], typically, which are much smaller biobots: they’re about the size of quarks within the atoms themselves, rather than the codons of the DNA, as compared to nanobots. (https://www.cosmicnews.org/2020/09/22/med-beds-tech-healing-technology-of-the-ssp-james-rink-and-mike-emery/)
(8:00) JAMES: You were starting to talk a little bit about Project Ashwet, and its connection with the Aryan ETs and the Children of God at Camp Livingston. So why don’t you go a little bit more into that, and if med-beds are involved in that, you can share more, too.
(8:25) APOLLYMI: Yeah, they have technology that’s a little bit more advanced than the general projects. Because when we go into the general projects, they test our physical, mental and psychological capabilities. They also test any powers that we have, and then they separate us into groups based on those.
And then we go to what I call boot camp, which would be the Ashwet Program. Ashwet apparently means Children of God, and we’ve heard a lot of the Aryans say that quite a few times. It is basically one of the most brutal places that I have been. So, when you go over there, you are basically, for lack of a better word, just experiments: you have no rights. Some people have avatars: if they can’t physically abduct you, they will put your consciousness into that avatar and you still go through your training, regardless.
They basically make us not use our abilities, where the other projects focus on our abilities. These guys put us through hell. We can’t use our abilities, but we’re fighting entities and beings who have their abilities. You’re still treated like you’re in military boot camp for all intents and purposes, and technically a prison inmate. There’s rape, molestation. Like, we’ve seen our members get ripped in half and then just appear the next day, ‘cause they throw them in the tanks. They break you mentally, physically, emotionally. They have these stupid collars, that, back in the day, were like 1/2” thick, 1-1/4” wide, and it had a green and a red light on it. If you had your green light on, you were good! If you had your red light on, like 10,000 volts straight to your soul. And I ended up getting my collar shocked a lot, because I did not like following the rules.
(10:50) JAMES: Where is Camp Livingston?
APOLLYMI: Camp Livingston is in Louisiana, U.S.A. When I was a kid we would be transferred from a desert area into— all I remember is the smell of, like, swampland; it was very humid there. Very few times that we were allowed on the surface—usually when we were escaping—it was very humid. Most of the time it was dark ‘cause we went there at night. So, there is a larger underground base there, which is where we ususally resided, along with what was taking place at the MILABS [children abducted by the military] down there as well.
(13:20) JAMES: What is an Aryan ET?
APOLLYMI: The Aryan ETs are a species of extraterrestrial that look human. The could walk around down here and you wouldn’t know the difference, except for their energy signature and their pheromones, because they smell different than humans. But they are what most people would consider the blond Nordics, although they do have some light-brown people in their culture as well—the blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin. Some of them, not all of them, actually worked with some of the Nazi forces as well. They were the ones who came down here and said, “Hey, we can give you power if you try to take over the world.” But they’re the ones who supplied a lot of the technology to reverse-engineer. And they actually have quite a lot of power down here on Earth in the shadows. They’re basically making super soldiers to fight whatever battles that they decide. It’s not like we ever have a choice in the matter. For some reason they are a huge part of the ICC (Interplanetary Corporate Conglomerate) as well.
(15:10) JAMES: For how long were you here at this camp?
APOLLYMI: Maybe a year, maybe a year and a half that we were over there for basic training. We had to pass certain standards before we got brought back to the other base permanently. I stayed longer because I don’t like to conform when people threaten me. I’ve literally had my head cut off; I’ve been blown up; I’ve had weaponry—both guns and blades—shoved through me at this camp. You’re literally going up against ETs who have abilities and they shut yours off. So, we had to learn how to fight without our abilities, and it takes a long time and you have to work around things.
(16:20) JAMES: When you were taken to this facility, were you abducted through teleportation?
APOLLYMI: They usually came for me at night. And usually it started with the black helicopters, but as I went to Camp Livingston, I got stronger. So, I started to be able to manipulate astrally and mentally, so they had to start dimensional shifting into my room. You could literally see my bed being pressed in while they held me down and shoved a needle in my neck, and I could taste and feel the burning sensation of liquid going into me. And this is when I started having a fear of needles out of nowhere. I didn’t like being held down in any manner. But no, they came for me dimensionally, knocked me out, and when I woke up I was on base. Same for when they would take me back.
(17:35) JAMES: My next question is, what kinds of special abilities or gifts do you have when you’re activated?
APOLLYMI: Well, they seem to have gotten a lot more complex the older I get and the more experienced I am. When I first started off as a kid, it was kind of erratic. I walked through a door when I was younger. I was here without my suppressive shots. But I have had physical abilities here: walking thrugh objects—going incorporeal basically, telepathy at random spurts, being extremely empathic, that sort of thing.
When I’m activated, I have no problem walking through walls or other objects, I can heal people pretty quickly—just the general basics of energy manipulation. A very few times have I ever been able to do the teleportation; I’m still working on the physics of that. Obviously, telepathy: I can get into people’s heads.
JAMES: Telekinesis?
APOLLYMI: Yeah. Psychokinesis is a lot more difficult, just because you have to have a lot of that reaching factor. But it is doable—it just takes a lot of practice.
(19:40) JAMES: Do you want to comment about the elvin side?
APOLLYMI: I say Elvin just because I have pointy ears. So, the DNA that I got spliced with, I have multiple. I have what most people would consider dragon; also Draconian, Aryan, and two other species most people call elvin, just because they have pointy ears. They’re very ability-oriented.
(20:30) JAMES: I always like to ask the question, how old you are. Would you mind sharing?
APOLLYMI: How old I am is very difficult because I do body-swap, so I kind of die every couple of days.
JAMES: You have clone bodies?
APOLLYMI: Yeah.
* * *
June 7, 2022
(12:25) DANIEL SALA: And you also mentioned that you suspected that you were in a clone body right now. Is that true?
APOLLYMI: I get shoved into a lot of different bodies. I am part of a project where they are trying to learn what kind of soul quanta can fit in certain genetic forms, because each DNA has its own limitations as to how much quanta it can be subjected to before it breaks down. And because I lost my original body [kept in stasis off-planet], they ended up putting me in this program, so I do end up body-jumping a lot because my quanta is very high, and I just end up breaking things down. I can usually tell when I start having neurological symptoms at night. Usually my bodies will last between 12 and 48 hours if it’s a low-grade DNA hybrid.
* * *
JAMES: Well, what does your birth certificate say?
APOLLYMI: My birth certificate says 1985, so I should be 36 years old.
JAMES: Well, how many years do you think you’ve been in service with the SSP?
APOLLYMI: There was a time where I ended up getting suspended for a few years because of the rioting. But I think that suspension was only like—let’s see: I was about like twelve, thirteen—I only had an eight-year suspension. So, between the ages of four— I would say about at least 20 years, as far as my conscious knowledge. They could have been doing stuff with me while I was on suspension and I would have no idea. But I ended up getting a full mental block of everything after that. I ended up getting most of my memories back when I was trying to do a past-life regression. Instead of past lives, it brought all of my SSP stuff back.
* * *
June 7, 2022
(36:30) DANIEL SALA: Y ou said you managed to get suspended from the SSP; but does that mean you were inactive, or that you got better memory wipes, because it seems like there’s no escaping the SSP.
APOLLYMI: When I was twelve, twelve and a half, I ended up getting the group together in Section 13, because none of us were happy, we were controlled by the Cabal, they were torturing us, barely feeding us, making us run through the dirt, and I got sick of it and I actually incited a riot. I ended up killing three of the high-ranking members, who had raped me as a child and raped a couple of the other girls as well, and probably even more. But when they were doing that to me, there were three other girls in the room with me, and they were just being completely brutal. I had no remorse; I had no problem with completely annihilating them.
* * *
(22:40) JAMES: Are you still actively getting needle marks and cut marks?
APOLLYMI: Yes. On my Facebook page I do show some of my abduction marks and injection marks as well.
JAMES: Yeah, I also have been getting injection marks as well. So, yeah, we’re still active and I think they’re wiping our memories.
APOLLYMI: Yeah.
JAMES: I would like to know a little bit more about what is their favorite location to inject you in. Do they keep coming back to the same place?
APOLLYMI: Well, I’m still active in a few projects, so it really just depends. Sometimes I’ll get them in my arms. Their favorite spot is the back of my legs, like two inches below my butt. And that’s really annoying, because sometimes it will itch, and I literally thought I was going crazy because I had just started remembering everything and I was getting injected a lot.
25:10 APOLLYMI: I guess that I have different factions. Every one of them is pretty much ET-oriented, not just government-oriented. They all have their different trademarks for puncture marks, I’m noticing. It took a long time to figure that out. Sometimes I can decipher if it’s Section 13; sometimes I can decipher if it’s the Aryans or other factions, based upon the injection marks and the type, like the spacing.
25:40 JAMES: Well, let’s go back to Project Ashwet at Camp Livingston. So, we’ve already established that you think you were there for about a year and a half. I think you said twelve to thirteen.
APOLLYMI: Twelve to thirteen, at least.
JAMES: What were they grooming you for at Camp Livingston? You’ve established it was ET combat, but was there anything else you would like to mention?
APOLLYMI: Basically just ET combat, if you were taken prisoner and tortured, anything of that scenario. And trust me, they took great pleasure in the torturing part. They did not spare any expense at all. Like I said, I’ve had my limbs ripped off; I’ve been raped and molested in ways that you probably couldn’t even find (on the internet). Yeah. So it was not nice. We were tortured on a daily basis. They were basically training us to be soldiers, and really more physical-combat-oriented, by fighting ETs who had abilities. When we went back to Section 13, that’s when our ability training started pretty heavily. So you had two different factions training us for kind of the same purposes, but in two different ways. And they would always say, “Oh, you’re a part of Project Ashwet. You guys should be honored. You guys are the Children of God. You need to be strong.”
(28:00) JAMES: The handlers who run this facility, do they look human, or were they Nazi?
APOLLYMI: Yes. They definitely had the Nazi uniforms. We had this one lady, she went by the name, Lilith, and she was the bane of our existence. She was one of the head people there—not the highest, but she was in charge of our group. And she did everything possible to rip you apart, mentally, physically and emotionally. They all looked like blond hair, blue eyes, or they had that light brown hair color with green eyes. Very, very rarely did we see any small greys or anything like that. The only time you ever saw that was in the laboratories. Anything out on base or on top was completely human-looking.
(29:10) JAMES: How many children do you think were in this facility at one time?
APOLLYMI: I honestly have no idea. I know there were other projects going on at the same time. We all had white prison jumpsuits with our identification tags, or identification numbers, and that was also on our cells as well. When we were not doing anything, we were in cells: actual prison cells down there. The bars had this glowing purple outline, and if you touched them they would shock the ever-living crap out of you and drain your energy. So there wasn’t really any way for us to get out of it, because that energy field went around the entire cell. You could try to astral-travel out of it—it didn’t work; our collars were programmed to shut down our abilities, though a lot of us did figure out how to get out of our collars most of the time. But it still took great effort.
* * *
June 7, 2022
(34:00) DANIEL SALA: You mentioned that at Camp Livingston you managed to get out your shock collars. Can you remember how?
APOLLYMI: It’s called phasing. It’s basically where you make yourself incorporeal, which is when you vibrate yourself to another dimension, and it allows you to be ghost-like. I can only do it for a couple of seconds, especially when I have the shock collar on, because they do suppress our abilities. So, most of the time when I got out of my gear on base, it was through phasing.
* * *
APOLLYMI: The only reason I know it was called Project Ashwet is because I had a meeting with one of the heads of that project at the ICC to talk about my contracts, and he ended up giving me the information. He told me, “You’re in Project Ashwet”—which meant Children of God—“and you should go talk to Lilith.” And I asked him, “How do you know this?” It was a dumb question, obviously, because he was the head of the organization.
“You’re in Project Ashwet, and you should go talk to Lilith.”
* * *
June 7, 2022
(34:45) DANIEL SALA: Also, at Camp Livingston, what was the purpose of them shutting down all your psionic abilities when fighting those ETs?
APOLLYMI: I asked them this too, because I did meet up with one of the ICC head organization members, because I had a lot to say and I was trying to buy my DNA contracts—I do have credits off-world. And I asked him the same question. I said, “Why did you guys do this?” And he said, “We wanted you to be perfect. You guys are in the Child of God Project, so we wanted you to be absolutely perfect by being able to fight things, to open up your mind, open up your reality”; which basically translates as, “You need to learn how to adapt to situations you don’t have control of.” So, they wanted us to find other methods of boosting our abilities, learning how to hack around things for our abilities. Again, the way I learned how to control my avatars and control my soul-shards was from their training. They made us think on a completely different level. And they did not stop until you got it. I was in the training program a lot longer than most people who I went in with.
* * *
(31:20) JAMES: In what language were the signs at the facility?
APOLLYMI: I was a kid and I didn’t really pay attention. There was English there, I know that.
JAMES: But everybody was speaking English primarily on the upper level?
APOLLYMI: Even if they weren’t speaking English, our collars are translators. (Those collars have several functions), both in outer space and here. They’re basically slave collars, which sucks.
32:30 JAMES: Did this slave collar have a cattle-prod function, where they would electrocute you?
APOLLYMI: Yeah, at very high voltages. In Camp Livingston, as soon as we got there, if you pushed yourself as a threat, they would actually put cranial bombs into you, too.
JAMES: You mean implants in your temporal lobe?
APOLLYMI: And then it will literally go off: you’ll basically have an aneurism and your body will drop down, and then they’ll throw you back into the tank, or they’ll put you in your clone.
33:15 JAMES: You know, it almost seems as though it’s a Draco-type facility, because it seems like they’re enslaving these people for off-world missions, as you said, grooming them for ET combat.
APOLLYMI: Yeah.
JAMES: So let’s go into the end of the process. After you finished your training, did you actually graduate and get some kind of purple heart? Or did they put you in another program?
APOLLYMI: They evaluate you, and if you fail, you stay there until you break, or they sell you off, depending on your contracts. So, I managed to graduate after a year, and then they shipped me back to Section 13. And then from there, my other contracts—that I didn’t even know about—were put into place, and then I was basically groomed to go on missions—both on-world and in dimensions and in outer space—and pretty much do whatever they tell me to do—sort of. I’m don’t take orders if I don’t really like what’s going on. I’m kind of the troublemaker, but it’s what keeps me alive sometimes.
JAMES: Well, usually we find that people that were troublemakers out there are highly targeted here. Do you feel like that’s the case for you? I mean, has your life been really difficult, like, you try to move forward and almost everything fails?
(34:45) APOLLYMI: Let’s put it this way: I take two steps forward, and I don’t get my legs kicked out from under me—they get chopped off and I have to regrow them. I literally can’t do anything here, and anyone who has known me for awhile understands this. Anything: going to school, having a job, having a relationship.
JAMES: Well, I wanted to mention this because Tucker Carlson and Shannon Bream, who are high up at Fox News, were also really high up in ICC. So, when we do our service off-world, they promise us they’ll give us cushy jobs to take care of us when we come back. But that’s if you’re loyal and you do everything you’re told. Now, the people that don’t do that—I guess a lot of the super soldiers are rebelious, because we’re treated like crap. So do you feel like they should pay you for the work you did? I mean, do you want money? Do you want them to say, “Hey, I’m sorry?” Or do you maybe want recognition, or something else?
I wanted to mention this because Tucker Carlson and Shannon Bream, who are high up at Fox News, were also really high up in ICC.
APOLLYMI: I literally would love just not to be in human society anymore, to be honest. No offense to anybody, but I physically, genetically have issues here. I can barely eat the food here. But the more genetic stuff that I have, especially swapping bodies and everything. One moment I’m in a body that’s close to my genetics, and the next I’m in a blank body, which is just a generic body that can house many different types of souls or species or energy types, and they all have different nutritional needs. I want a meal program that’s built for my species! That would be great; that would be my first demand. And the second demand is, you trained me as a soldier: start utilizing me. I don’t want to just be here at night going on missions. Just keep me on base, please! I don’t do anything; I can’t do anything anyway. Like, I can’t go to the movies or anything like that, so I’m just sitting here rotting.
(37:45) JAMES: Why? Is it just the empathic abilities, the telepathic— ?
APOLLYMI: Yeah. When those abilities start kicking up, it’s really hard to be in society. People don’t know how to keep their thoughts to themselves, so people are really easy to hack into. On top of that, the empathy itself is— I’m not even going to go into what is wrong with society. It’s just very difficult. Like, even though I was raised on the battlefield and I can watch people die, being through all that trauma, it’s a very different world coming back where you have to restrain yourself. You can’t just get mad and punch somebody in the face or use your abilities on someone. We do have police. Whether you guys think about it or not, we do have and are monitored on this planet. So if we do something that is unjustified with our abilities, for those who are targeted like me, we get grounded. If it wasn’t justified, I get stripped of my powers. They literally shoot you up with a supression shot, and you can’t really do a whole lot—unless your life’s in danger, and then, of course, the matrix starts taking over for that part.
(39:00) JAMES: You’ve already confirmed that you were memory-wiped, but it didn’t really hold.
APOLLYMI: Well, it held for a number of years. From the age of twelve to thirteen, to about 25 to 26, I believe was when I started it, I ended up getting wiped. So, I didn’t remember anything; I was just— I was an energy user still, going on paths and stuff like that, but I never really thought about— Like, ETs literally scared me; like, I didn’t want anything to do with them. Any talk about UFOs gave me the creeps. I had that matrix block, where I felt, “You need to go THIS way and get as far away from it as possible.”
And I was doing a past-life regression, and I ended up remembering a lot of the stuff that was happening, but the ETs weren’t involved until later. And then I lived in a place in Wyoming where almost the entire town had a UFO event, and after that everything came crashing down around me and I started getting recruited again. It was very, very odd. It took a couple of months, but it was very bizarre. And then I’ve been having to relearn everything all over again.
Supersoldier Talk (Sept 15, 2021). “Super Soldier Talk with Apollymi – Project Crest, Carbon, Section 13 32-C” https://rumble.com/vmknxx-super-soldier-talk-with-apollymi-project-crest-carbon-section-13-32-c.html?mref=ah9c7&mrefc=2
Saint Olga 69 - Daniel Sala (June 7, 2022). “Apollymi Mandylion: SSP Insider Interview – ICC, Off-world Cultures, Hollow Earth” (https://youtu.be/mv2t0QSFPWA)
|
https://dianabarahona.substack.com/p/apollymi-mandylion-super-soldier
| 2024-12-16T05:14:43Z
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| 2024-12-16T05:14:43Z
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Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha was hilariously a nervous wreck after her best friend and actress
Ishita Raj took over the steering wheels of her new luxurious car.
Nushrratt took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a video of the two going out for a night out.
In the funny video, Nushrratt is heard telling her "Pyaar Ka Punchnama" co-star: "Araam se Ishita! Pehele udhar dekho, traffic dekho , fir right jao. (Be careful Ishita, First see here and then see the traffic)."
To which, Ishita said that she has seen and she then questions Nushrratt if she is teaching her on how to drive a car.
Nushrratt replies: "I am teaching you how to drive my car."
Pat comes the reply from Ishita, who says that Nushrratt needs to learn how to drive her own car. A nervous Nushrratt adds that she doesn't know what will happen to her car.
For the caption, she wrote: "When your bestie takes over your new wheels."
The two actresses-turned-best friends first worked together in the 2011 film "Pyaar Ka Punchnama", a romantic comedy directed by Luv Ranjan. The film stars Kartik Aaryan, Divyendu Sharma, Raayo S. Bakhirta, Nushrat Bharucha, Sonnalli Seygall and Ishita Raj Sharma and follows the story of three working bachelors who find girls whom they fall in love with and the twists and turns of the newly developing love stories.
They were next seen in the second installment of the franchise in 2015 and also "Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety" which released in 2018.
On the work front, Nushrratt will next be seen in "Chhorii 2," a sequel to the 2021 film, directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Vikram Malhotra, Jack Davis, Shikhaa Sharma, and Shiv Chanana, earned praise from audiences for its gripping storytelling and eerie atmosphere.
The horror thriller was a remake of the Marathi film "Lapachhapi" and features Nushrratt in the lead role, alongside
Mita Vashisht, Rajesh Jais and Saurabh Goyal. The film premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 26 November 2021.
The makers announced the second installment of "Chhorii," starring Nushrratt and Soha Ali Khan in lead roles.
Meanwhile, Ishita was last seen in "Wild Wild Punjab," which released digitally.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nushrratt-hilariously-panics-as-bestie-ishita-raj-takes-over-her-new-wheels/articleshow/116335002.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:14:49Z
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LANCASTER COUNTY – Police have charged a Lancaster County man with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children after officers responded to a shooting in the first block of Reinholds Road on December 9th around 8:10 p.m. Police found a 28-year-old female victim lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. 32-year-old Ezekiel Sanderful of Reinholds retreated back into a residence upon officers arriving. Authorities provided aid to the victim before she was transported to a hospital. The victim remains hospitalized in stable condition. Sanderful eventually surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. A young child was present, but was not physically harmed during the incident. Sanderful was remanded to Lancaster County Prison.
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https://wdac.com/prison-for-lancaster-county-man-after-shooting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prison-for-lancaster-county-man-after-shooting
| 2024-12-16T05:14:45Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global
folding electric bicycle market size is estimated to grow by USD 204.5 Million from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period.
The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below-
Segmentation Overview
Continue Reading
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global folding electric bicycle market 2024-2028
Age Group
1.1 Age 18-50
1.2 Lesser than 18
1.3 Age greater than 50
Distribution Channel
Geography
3.1 Europe
3.2 North America
3.3 APAC
3.4 South America
3.5 Middle East and Africa
Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments -
Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
1.1 Fastest growing segment:
Folding electric bicycles offer numerous benefits to adults aged 18-50, making them an attractive alternative to traditional modes of transportation. These benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, joint mobility, posture, coordination, and reduced stress hormones and body fat levels. With traffic congestion and air pollution becoming major concerns, folding electric bicycles provide an efficient solution. They help adults navigate through traffic effectively and contribute to reducing road infrastructure damage, which can cost governments millions of dollars daily. Governments are responding by promoting cycling infrastructure, such as protected lanes and signals, encouraging more adults to opt for folding electric bicycles. Vendors are expanding their product offerings to meet this growing demand, leading to increased sales in the age group 18-50 segment of the global folding electric bicycle market.
Analyst Review
Folding bikes, also known as foldable or collapsible bikes, are a space-saving option for urban commuters and riders with limited available space. These innovative bikes feature a collapsible frame that allows the main frame, rear triangle, derailleur, and even the bicycle's back wheel to be folded for easy storage. With the integration of rechargeable batteries, folding bikes have evolved into electric folding bikes or e-bikes, providing a boost for riders in metropolitan areas. Lightweight design, long battery life, and high motor efficiency make these e-bikes a popular choice for eco-conscious commuters looking to avoid cars and motorbikes in traffic. Design aesthetics and battery technology continue to improve, offering a wide range of options for riders seeking a combination of performance and portability.
Market Overview
The Folding Electric Bike market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand from urban commuters for space-saving mobility solutions. Folding bikes offer the convenience of compact size, making them an ideal choice for riders in urban areas with limited available space. The main frame, rear triangle, derailleur, and hinge are key components of a folding bike, with moving parts minimized for ease of use. Urban residents face traffic-related issues such as long car lines and traffic jams, making folding electric bikes an attractive alternative to private vehicles. The electric segment of the folding bike market is gaining popularity due to its health advantages, including improved cognitive function, reduced stress, and better mood. Folding electric bikes offer high-speed features and are popular among the millennial generation, who prioritize green mobility solutions over traditional automobiles. The electric lineup includes ground-breaking models like the E-scooter ES-2, GB-2 Electric, Ciao E7, and Unio E20. The rising urbanization and affordability of folding electric bikes are driving demand, with existing infrastructure being adapted to accommodate e-bike infrastructures such as solar parking areas. However, concerns over battery theft and simplicity in storage remain challenges for the industry. Lightweight design, long battery life, and performance are key considerations for consumers, with advancements in battery technology, motor efficiency, and material innovations driving growth.
To understand more about this market-
Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation
7 Customer Landscape
8
Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10
Vendor
Landscape
11
Vendor
Analysis
12
Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
SOURCE Technavio
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https://menafn.com/1108995638/Folding-Electric-Bicycle-Market-Size-To-Increase-By-USD-2045-Million-Between-2023-To-2028-Market-Segmentation-By-Age-Group-Distribution-Channel-Geography-Technavio
| 2024-12-16T05:14:48Z
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https://www.nbcboston.com/on-air/as-seen-on/local-nonprofit-spreads-cheer-to-children-in-ukraine/3578273/
| 2024-12-16T05:14:49Z
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Amitabh Bachchan and
Rekha have done 9 films together like Mr Natwarlal, Silsila , Muqaddar Ka Sikander. But it is their off screen equation that has continued to be one of Bollywood's most talked-about and enduring mysteries.
Allu Arjun Is Alpha Man Max: Rashmika Mandanna EXCLUSIVE On Pushpa 2’s Massive Success
And thanks to a clip that is doing the rounds of the internet, one can add a new layer to the equation. The clip is from an interview the Big B gave in 1984 wherein he was answering some fan questions and one was about what are the names of his dogs, and if he could suggest a name for the fan’s dog. He said , “ I have three dogs ,two Alsatians ( Franco and Nero) and one Saint Bernard is Bertie . And for the names , well if it’s a small one, I’d like to suggest a very Punjabi name called Pisti- it’s for something small in Punjabi, and if it's a large one then you can call it
Gabbar Singh.”
Poll
What interests you more about Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha?
Now not many would be aware that back in the 80’s, Rekha also had a pomeranian dog as her pet and she had named her Pisti. A glimpse of her playing with her pet can be seen in Simi Garewal’s show Rendezvouz with
Simi Garewal. However, one can't be sure if she named her before this interview or after.
Mr Bachchan’s last release was a guest appearance in
Rajinikanth starrer Vettaiyan, which saw him working with the south superstar after 32 years. Their last film together was Hum, while he’s currently busy with the quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati. On the other hand, Rekha was last seen gracing the silver screen in a guest appearance for the film Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se with Dharmendra.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/pisti-the-common-connection-between-amitabh-bachchan-and-rekha-know-more-inside/articleshow/116331816.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:14:51Z
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Amir Restructures QFFD Board
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) His Highness the Amir sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Sunday Amiri Decision No. 78 of 2024, restructuring the Board of Directors of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).
The decision stipulated that the QFFD shall be restructured with HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as chairperson and HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad as vice-chairperson.
The QFFD members shall include HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed al-Khater, Sheikh Thamer bin Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, a Ministry of Finance representative, a Qatar Development Bank representative, along with an independent candidate selected by the Board Chairperson.
The decision is effective starting from its date of issue and is to be published in the official gazette.
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https://menafn.com/1108995639/Amir-Restructures-QFFD-Board
| 2024-12-16T05:14:55Z
|
A day after his release from Hyderabad jail,
Allu Arjun visited his uncle,
Chiranjeevi. On Sunday, videos showed the Pushpa 2 star driving out with his wife Sneha Reddy and their children to meet the veteran actor.
Earlier, Chiranjeevi’s wife, Surekha, visited Allu Arjun’s home in Jubilee Hills and was seen hugging him. Before this, Chiranjeevi himself had visited Arjun’s house shortly after his arrest.
Poll
What’s your opinion on Allu Arjun meeting Chiranjeevi after the Pushpa 2 incident?
Check out the photo here:On December 13, 2024, Allu Arjun was arrested in connection with a tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the Pushpa 2: The Rule screening. A massive crowd gathered to see him and music director Devi Sri Prasad, leading to chaos. The theatre's gate collapsed, causing a stampede that claimed a woman's life and left her 9-year-old son seriously injured.
Allu Arjun was arrested from his home and placed in 14-day judicial custody. He received 4 weeks of
interim bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000, but delays in paperwork caused him to spend a night in jail.
After his release, Allu Arjun expressed deep sorrow over the woman's tragic death, describing the incident as extremely unfortunate. He conveyed his sympathy to the family, assuring them of his support. The actor emphasised that such an incident had never occurred before and expressed gratitude to those who stood by him.
On the work front, Allu Arjun is celebrating the success of Pushpa 2: The Rule, which has become one of the most anticipated films of the year. The movie, featuring
Rashmika Mandanna, has received an overwhelming response from audiences and has already crossed Rs 1000 crore at the box office.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/post-release-from-jail-in-pushpa-2-stampede-case-allu-arjun-meets-chiranjeevi-at-his-residence-see-photo/articleshow/116339612.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:14:57Z
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HARRISBURG – PA is investing over $10.2 million to protect 2,842 acres of farmland in 13 counties from future development. In 2024, PA preserved 167 new farms and 13,847 prime acres of farmland across the state, investing more than $50.6 million. The effort by state and local governments ensure that PA farmers will have the prime-quality land needed to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs. PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says saving farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and sprawl is an investment we can’t afford not to make as farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land. PA leads the nation in preserved farmland through the state’s Farmland Preservation Program.
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https://wdac.com/saving-more-pa-farmland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=saving-more-pa-farmland
| 2024-12-16T05:14:55Z
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Al Jazeera Cameraman Among 22 Killed In Gaza
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Gaza's civil defence agency reported Sunday that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory had killed at least 22 people, including an Al Jazeera TV cameraman and three rescuers.
Al Jazeera said its cameraman Ahmed al-Louh was killed "in an Israeli bombardment" that targeted Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that rescuers working through the night recovered the bodies of 18 people. Bassal said four people were killed in an Israeli air strike targeting a house in central Gaza City. Another four were killed when an Israeli missile hit a tent in Deir el-Balah.
Louh is the fifth Al Jazeera journalist to be killed since the war in Gaza began, and the network's office in the territory has been bombed.
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https://menafn.com/1108995640/Al-Jazeera-Cameraman-Among-22-Killed-In-Gaza
| 2024-12-16T05:15:01Z
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Hindi cinema is celebrating 100 years of the showman,
Raj Kapoor! To comemorate the occasion, a film festival showcasing 10 films of the legendary actor-director, has been launched. The grand premiere night of the celebrations of the festival saw the entire Kapoor clan come together. Kareena Kapoor Khan with Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor with Alia Bhatt, Neetu Kapoor and the entire family was seen together. While Kapoor is known for his long list of movies that have left a huge mark, globally, he was also always under the scanner for his personal life.
Poll
Do you think personal relationships impact the professional lives of celebrities?
Kapoor's name has been linked to many actresses but mostly, it was his affair with
Nargis which was highly spoken about. Reportedly, the film-maker was romantically involved with her, for seven years, despite being married to Krishna Raj Kapoor. They apparently met and fell and in love on the sets of 'Shree 420' and she was just 16 that time. They had a relationship which lasted for seven years as they were deeply in love. But eventually, they parted ways because he wasn't ready to divorce Krishna and marry her. She went on to marry
Sunil Dutt.
Nargis and Sunil tied the knot in March 1958 and Raj was devastated. So much so, that he harmed himself. According to a popular book of author Madhu Jain which is titled, 'The Kapoor: The First Film Family of Indian Cinema', Raj felt betrayed when Nargis married Dutt. It was written in the book that he burnt himself with cigarette butts. He also drank a lot, which took a toll on his family.
This book also mentions that Raj Kapoor's wife, Krishna Raj Kapoor, would openly talk about her husband's affair with Nargis. She spoke about it during a chat with author Bunny Reuben. She recalled that after Nargis married Dutt, Raj started coming home drunk every night for some time and he would collapse in the bath tub crying for her. It was a turbulent phase for her to see her husband cry for another woman.
Nargis tried her best to marry Kapoor and become Mrs Raj Kapoor. She reportedly also went to India's then Home Minister Morarji Desai in order to find out ways in which she could legally marry Raj, who was a Hindu and a married man. However, it was all futile as Raj did not want to divorce his wife Krishna. Some reports suggest that Nargis' brother came in between their relationship, while some speculate that Raj was never going to be able to marry Nargis but he just always kept her in the dark.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/raj-kapoor-burnt-himself-with-cigarettes-collapsed-in-the-bath-tub-crying-when-nargis-married-sunil-dutt-he-was-devastated-and-drank-a-lot/articleshow/116329523.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:03Z
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China retail growth slows, agency calls for 2025 support
December 16, 2024Broadly positive Chinese economic data for November released on Monday also showed slower-than-expected growth of 3.3% in retail sales, much slower than in October and well adrift of the 4.6% forecast.
The slowdown came as a surprise because Beijing has been working to boost stimulus programs and encourage consumption, as it braces for possible headwinds as Donald Trump returns for a second term as US president, threatening increased tariffs.
China had implemented major online shopping promotions and government-subsidized trade-in programs boosting sales in things like cars, which were expected to buoy growth.
Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong dipped as the news was announced on Monday morning. But by early afternoon, the Shanghai Exchange in particular had pared these losses and was back in the green, while the Hang Seng was down roughly 0.5%.
Chinese government pledging 'moderately loose' monetary policy
China's government has been trying to show it's working to kickstart consumption and reignite the world's second-largest economy.
Beijing last week announced new measures aimed at "lifting consumption vigorously" as part of a stimulus drive.
But as these left investors seemingly unimpressed, officials unveiled new promises over the weekend including a bid to boost the struggling property sector and change monitoring of equity markets.
President Xi Jinping said at the annual Central Economic Work Conference that the Chinese Communist Party would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy, increase social financing and also reduce interest rates "at the right time."
Stats agency hints at tougher 2025 conditions
Despite concerns over the sluggish growth, and the more general downward trend compared to the rapid Chinese expansion achieved over the past couple of decades, Monday's figures remained robust.
Industrial output grew 5.4% compared to the previous November, a slight increase from October and in line with predictions.
Retail sales however dipped to 3.3% growth from 4.8% the previous month.
A spokesperson for the National Statistics Bureau warned while presenting the data that protectionism was on the rise and the agency anticipated tougher conditions next year.
They called for more efforts to promote economic recovery in 2025.
msh/sri (AFP, Reuters)
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https://www.dw.com/en/china-retail-growth-slows-agency-calls-for-2025-support/a-71063742
| 2024-12-16T05:15:06Z
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NEW TAIPEI CITY, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading electronic components manufacturer and customized total solution provider, SINBON Electronics Co., Ltd. (TSEC#:3023) held its annual investor conference on 12thDecember 2024 in Center of Industry Collaboration and Innovation Incubation, NCCU, under the title of "Boardless". Through the conference, the company comprehensively elaborated on its product strategy, which is not limited to traditional industry categories. While the company is deeply involved in existing industrial and medical fields, it is actively expanding into more diversified market areas, demonstrating its development vision of breaking the boundaries and continuing to innovate.
This year, while facing a challenging external environment and economic uncertainty, SINBON has still demonstrated resilience and strategic results under difficult conditions with its solid efforts in the five major areas of MAGIC over the years. In a complex and ever-changing business environment, the Communications and Electronic Peripheral industry and Industrial Application industry continue to make breakthroughs despite adversity. Compared with the same period last year, the growths of accumulated sales revenue of the first eleven months in each field are, the Communications and Electronic Peripherals industry increased by 20.32%, the Industrial Application industry increased by 2.76%, the Medical and Health Care industry decreased by 0.63%, the Automobile industry decreased by 4.18%, and the Green Energy industry decreased by 14.98%. %. The accumulated sales revenue for the first 11 months reached NT$30.564 billion, which was a decrease of 0.66% compared with the same period last year. Although the current business performance is in slight fluctuations, SINBON continues to strengthen its core strength upon its steady developing foundation. In terms of profitability, the net profit after tax in the first three quarters was NT$2.796 billion, which was an increase of 4.18% from NT$2.684 billion in the same period last year. The EPS after tax was NT$11.65. The net profit after tax and the EPS were both historical highs since the company was founded, and they show SINBON's continuous and steady operating results despite a variety of challenges.
Under the new trend of artificial intelligence and technological innovation, SINBON takes "surpass the limits, turning imagination into reality" as its core value in product strategy and continues to break through the boundaries of traditional technology, and it is committed to transforming human imagination of the future into achievable real-life solutions. SINBON's semiconductor equipment products meet the demanding needs of modern high-tech industries with their fast and reliable data transmission performance, superior precision and stability. The customized wire harness and module solutions can flexibly respond to different equipment application scenarios, while using environmentally friendly materials and optimizing the production process, which finds a perfect balance between high performance and environmental protection needs. In the research and development of humanoid robots, SINBON's design features lightweight and highly customized designs. SINBON has developed highly durable wire technology that supports fast charging and high-speed data transmission, which raises the possibility of human-machine collaboration to a new level.
In the field of unmanned stores in retail automation, SINBON provides professionally designed weight sensing wire harnesses, signal wire harnesses and image capture wire harnesses. These technologies have undergone rigorous environmental testing and adjustments to ensure stable and accurate image quality in different scenarios. These have significantly improved consumer experience and operational efficiency. While in smart warehousing management, our logistics robots and drone technologies have completely changed the warehousing operation model, which significantly shortened the logistics process time, optimized resource allocation, and made smart logistics no longer just an imagination.
Smart transportation applications show SINBON's innovative capabilities in the energy and mobility fields. The launch of DC and NACS charging cables achieves the perfect combination of high performance and portability with their lightweight design, while meeting high current carrying requirements and bringing a more friendly charging experience to users. The modular cable control technology of commercial electric trucks makes the control of light trucks more flexible, and it further improves transportation efficiency and safety. Vehicle power distribution solutions provide more precise control and management, making driving more efficient and reliable. Finally, for the battery swapping solution for electric two-wheel vehicles, SINBON combines stability and convenience to provide a more sustainable solution for future urban transportation.
SINBON believes that the true value of technology is to widen the imagination and give it the possibility of realization. With SINBON's outstanding innovation capabilities and persistence in a green future, it has created a blueprint for smart and sustainable development and would like to invite global partners to join in driving the world toward a brighter, more sustainable future.
For more information, please visit:
www.sinbon.com
Media Contact: Penny Huang
Tel.: +886-2-2698-9999 Ext. 5671
Email: PennyHuang@sinbon.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2579670/SINBON_Electronics.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinbon-electronics-held-investor-conference-on-december-11-embracing-the-ai-era-and-leading-a-smart-sustainable-future-302332246.html
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https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2024-12/64086164-sinbon-electronics-held-investor-conference-on-december-11-embracing-the-ai-era-and-leading-a-smart-sustainable-future-008.htm
| 2024-12-16T05:15:06Z
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Foundation Stone For E-Bus Plant Laid
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) HE the Minister of transport sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed al-Thani on Sunday laid the foundation stone for an EU-standard electric bus assembly plant at Um Al Houl Free Zone.
The plant is set up in collaboration between Mowasalat (Karwa), Yutong and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ). Marking the ceremony, an Enhanced Multilateral Framework Agreement was signed by HE the QFZ CEO Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal al-Thani, Karwa CEO Ahmad Hassan al-Obaidly and Yutong Middle East CEO Shen Hui.
Spread over an area of nearly 53,000 sqm, the project marks a pivotal step towards a greener, more sustainable future for the nation and the region, and aims to establish a production hub for EU-standard electric buses.
Once completed by the end of 2025, the plant will begin producing electric city buses, metro feeder buses and school buses, with an initial output capacity of 300 buses a year. Over time, the facility will scale up to meet both local demand and the growing needs of international markets across the Mena region and Europe.
The greenfield plant, equipped with state-of-the-art welding, painting, assembly and testing workshops will utilise cutting-edge electro-mobility technologies, ensuring efficient and sustainable production processes. The plant is expected to be a pioneer project in delivering experience and industry localisation.
The project is leveraging the advanced capabilities of both Mowasalat and Yutong let alone expanding Yutong's manufacturing footprint in the free zones in Qatar.
HE the Minister of Transport said that founding an e-bus assembly plant is a major event in terms of supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to provide eco-friendly transportation solutions with the best global operation systems, in step with the goals of the Third Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS3), which focuses on sustainable development and advanced technologies, leading to the full realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
The plant will contribute to achieving the MoT's strategy of public bus system electrification by 100% by 2030 ensuring less carbon emissions and better quality of life, he added.
“As part of our commitment to developing sustainable transportation and our success in achieving 73% electrification in the public bus fleet, this initiative reflects our dedication to localising innovative technologies in Qatar," Karwa chairman Dr engineer Saad bin Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi.
"Through the establishment of this new facility, we reaffirm our leadership in eco-friendly transportation, effectively contributing to achieving a fully electric public transport sector by 2030, in alignment with Qatar's vision for a more sustainable future,” he added.
“Today's groundbreaking for the electric bus assembly plant at Um Alhoul Free Zone, and signing of the enhanced multilateral framework agreement, mark a significant step in Qatar's ongoing efforts to foster industrial and transportation innovation and sustainable development," QFZ CEO said.
"We are not only advancing our economic diversification efforts but also positioning Qatar at the forefront of the global transition to environmentally friendly technologies. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to building a sustainable, future-ready economy in line with the objectives of QNV 2030, and the plans of electric vehicle transformation strategy,” he stated.
Karwa CEO, said:“Our investment in this electric bus assembly plant signifies more than just growth; it's a commitment to economic and environmental sustainability. Together with Yutong and the Qatar Free Zone Authority, we are advancing the future of public transportation with new mobility solutions."
Yutong International managing director Peng Xu said Yutong is proud to partner with Qatar in this transformative project.“The establishment of this facility symbolises our dedication to delivering world-class technology and localized solutions to support regional green mobility goals," he said.
The groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by several ministers and senior state officials, was followed by a tour by ministers of transport, commerce and industry, environment and climate change and several officials from QFZ, Karwa and Yutong to the e-bus display area where they checked out some of the e-bus models planned to be produced.
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| 2024-12-16T05:15:08Z
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Bollywood’s legendary showman
Raj Kapoor, who passed away on June 2, 1988, remains an iconic figure in Indian cinema. While his films continue to bring joy to audiences, his daughter Reema Jain recently shed light on his final years, revealing that he was “empty and lonely” as he grappled with the loss of his colleagues and declining health.
In an earlier interview according to News18, Reema shared that Raj Kapoor deeply missed his contemporaries, including Nargis, Shankar-Jaikishen,
Hasrat Jaipuri, and Shailendra. Often, he would watch his old films and songs, reminiscing about his glorious days in the industry. Reema recalled how he encouraged younger actresses like Dimple Kapadia, Padmini Kolhapure, and Mandakini to study the grace and charm of yesteryear stars, saying, “Look how she lifts her eyes, so delicately. They don’t make like them anymore.”
Raj Kapoor’s health took a toll following the release of 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' (1985). He suffered from severe bronchial-asthma and had difficulty sleeping due to his large frame. Despite his physical struggles, he maintained a youthful spirit, often expressing a desire to “run up the mountain,” though his body couldn’t keep up.
Reema revealed that her father seemed to accept his impending death. In May 1988, he traveled to Delhi to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. However, his condition worsened during the trip due to a dust storm that aggravated his asthma. At the ceremony, Kapoor was restless, relying on an oxygen cylinder. When his name was announced, he was unable to stand. President R. Venkataraman presented the award to him personally, after which Kapoor was rushed to the hospital and placed on a ventilator.
In his final days, Raj Kapoor communicated with his family mostly through his eyes. Reema described his passing as bittersweet: “We were relieved when he passed away because he was suffering a lot.”
This weekend, on the occasion of Raj Kapoor’s 100th birth anniversary, the Kapoor family, including Neetu Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, and Ranbir Kapoor, honored his legacy with the Raj Kapoor Film Festival.
Ranbir Kapoor's Special Gesture For PM Modi: Presents Him A Cherished Keepsake Of Raj Kapoor
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/raj-kapoors-final-tears-daughter-reema-jain-recalls-his-empty-lonely-soul/articleshow/116334705.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:09Z
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Rashmika Mandanna is having an incredible year. Last December, she starred in
Animal, which went on to earn over Rs 500 crore at the box office. Fast forward to this December,
Pushpa 2: The Rule has already crossed the Rs 700 crore mark. While
Allu Arjun's performance in the film has been widely celebrated, Rashmika also received her share of appreciation. Her powerful presence in the film earned massive applause from the audience, solidifying her position as a standout performer in one of the year's biggest films.
The famous Jathara scene in the film also had a huge monologue by the actress where she spoke out in support of her on-screen husband Pushpa Raj played by Allu Arjun. Talking about the fan reaction, in an exclusive interview with ETimes she said , “ The first time I saw the scene play out, it was the premiere show with Allu Arjun sir by my side. When I started the dialogue, everyone went quiet and in the end, when I heard people whistle and clap, I was like did this actually happen because in Animal also I had this monologue? And because of all the trolling for me which came with the trailer, I went into the space of, "I thought I gave a good performance, but isn't it really, so I didn't want to be in that bubble". Though when the film was released, people were like, that was the best scene that you did, but that moment was gone, it had passed. But in Pushpa, when I heard the applause , I had tears in my eyes, I was like this is what it feels . Thanks to God and
Sukumar Sir for giving me this opportunity to feel this.”
Ibrahim Ali Khan, Sharvari Wagh & Varun Dhawan’s Secret To Staying Fit: Discipline Over Physicality
“It's not very often that an actress get whistles for her performance and when it came, I used to keep saying, all the hard work is one day going to be worth it, and it was that moment, where it was all worth it,” she added.
Rashmika also revealed that for this particular scene she took help from her dear friend
Vijay Deverakonda . She said , “ When I got the scene, I didn't know what to do or how to go about it, so I spoke to Vijay. That's the only scene I spoke to him about, saying I don't know where to start, and he gave me a perspective, which was quite interesting, (9:57) and, of course, what happened on set was all Sukumar sir and Allu Arjun sir, but, he's been a constant help, and I'm really grateful.”
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/rashmika-mandanna-i-spoke-to-vijay-when-i-was-stuck-with-the-jathara-scene-in-pushpa-2-exclusive/articleshow/116281735.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:11Z
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India: Legendary musician Zakir Hussain dies at 73
December 16, 2024Grammy Award-winning Indian musician Zakir Hussain died in San Francisco on Sunday night, his family said.
The 73-year-old tabla maestro had been in a hospital due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease, according to his family.
At the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year, Hussain had won three awards, to add to his previous two wins.
"It was a great day for India at the Grammys and I'm proud to be carrying the national flag," he posted on Instagram after his win.
He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi.
The making of a maestro
Born in Mumbai in 1951, Hussain was the eldest son of renowned tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
Hussain earned global acclaim as one of the greatest tabla players of his generation during a career spanning over six decades.
His legacy includes collaborations with Indian legends like Ravi Shankar and Shivkumar Sharma, as well as global icons such as Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck, and George Harrison.
In 1973, his groundbreaking collaboration with musicians John McLaughlin, L Shankar, and TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram introduced the world to a fusion of Indian classical and jazz.
Through these partnerships, he brought Indian classical music to a global audience.
In India, the maestro was a recipient of some of the country's highest civilian accolades, including the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023).
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
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https://www.dw.com/en/legendary-indian-musician-zakir-hussain-dies-at-73/a-71063746
| 2024-12-16T05:15:12Z
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BEIJING, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 12th, 2024, the second Hithium Eco-Day, themed "The Freedom of Energy, The Revolution of Life," was held successfully in Beijing, China. Through this event, Hithium world premiered three innovative products: the 8Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h full-scenarios high-capacity BESS, the first specialized sodium-ion battery for utility-scale energy storage-8Cell N162Ah, and the installation-free home microgrid system-HeroES.
8Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h: 4h full-scenarios high-capacity BESS, entering an era of full-scenarios customization
Hithium introduced the 8Pack+ full-scenarios high-capacity energy storage platform, which features five key advantages: high-capacity, standardization, platformization, scenario-based, and maintainability. Based on this platform, Hithium launched the 8Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h BESS. In the 2-hour BESS scenario, the battery cell is 587Ah, while in the 4-hour BESS scenario it is 1175Ah. Furthermore, both scenarios would work with Hithium BESS, which is tailored for desert applications.
Hithium redefines traditional energy storage by decoupling the system components including power, thermal management, control, fire safety, and output, shifting the integration from strong coupling to loose coupling. This innovative approach will unlock new possibilities for energy storage systems and foster a new industry ecosystem. The global delivery of 8Power 6.25MWh 2h/4h BESS will begin in Q2 2025.
The First Specialized Sodium-ion Battery for Utility-scale Energy Storage - 8Cell N162Ah, unveiling the era of sodium-ion batteries
Hithium believes that the sodium-ion battery industry has yet to identify large-scale scenarios and unveiled 8Cell N162Ah, the world's first specialized sodium-ion battery for utility-scale energy storage. This product focuses on polyanionic cathode paired with hard carbon anode, incorporating advanced materials such as homogeneous high conductivity coatings, hard carbon anode and, weak bonding electrolyte formula. It achieves a cycle life of over 20,000 cycles and delivers superior performance in a wide temperature range, with high-rate capability, high round-trip efficiency, superior safety, and a state of health (SOH) of 70%. The 8Cell N162Ah is now available for global sampling, with GWh mass production planned for Q4 2025.
The Installation-free Home Microgrid System - HeroES enables the freedom of smart and connected home energy
Hithium launched HeroES, its first installation-free home microgrid system. Comprising the smart storage module (Storage series) and the smart control module (SynergyBox), HeroES is tailored for home energy storage scenarios, featuring open-shelf good, intelligentization, and modularization features. The initial installation requires only 30 minutes-10 times faster than traditional systems-while reducing installation cost to 1/3.
Furthermore, HeroES is equipped with Hithium's original intelligent algorithm, which can achieve self-evolution in energy management and improve home energy efficiency by 10%. Additionally, HeroES has a robust home microgrid capability. Different specifications of intelligent storage modules can be combined wirelessly and scalable to achieve plug-and-play, re-opening and defining a new scenario of home energy storage which bring smart and linked home microgrids to billions of families. The global delivery of HeroES is set to begin in Q3 2025.
Hithium's three new product launches demonstrate its commitment to developing innovative technological products that will drive growth and open new possibilities for the energy storage industry, paving the way to a new world of energy freedom. In the future, Hithium will continue to spearhead innovation in energy storage technology, facilitate comprehensive customization of energy storage solutions, drive the advancement of the energy storage industry, and establish Hithium Eco-Day as a leading event for product technology launches and communication, with the goal of building a greener future in collaboration with industry leaders and partners.
About Hithium
Founded in 2019, Hithium is a leading manufacturer of top-quality stationary energy storage products for utility-scale as well as commercial and industrial applications. With four distinct R&D centers and multiple "intelligent" production facilities, Hithium's innovations include groundbreaking safety improvements to its lithium-ion batteries as well as increases in lifecycle. With decades of cumulative experience in the field among its founders and senior executives, Hithium leverages its specialization in BESS to deliver partners and customers unique advances in energy storage. The company is headquartered in Xiamen, China, with locations in Shenzhen, Chongqing, Munich, Dubai, New York, California and Dallas. To date, Hithium has shipped 40+ GWh of BESS products (cells, systems and others), ranking as the Tier 1 BESS supplier and the top 5 global market share.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2581729/1212.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hithium-world-premiers-three-innovative-products-on-its-second-eco-day-302332250.html
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https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2024-12/64086179-hithium-energy-storage-hithium-world-premiers-three-innovative-products-on-its-second-eco-day-008.htm
| 2024-12-16T05:15:12Z
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Assam TET Admit Card 2024 Released At madhyamik.assam.gov.in- Check Direct link, Steps To Download Here
Assam TET Admit Card 2024: Candidates who have registered can download their hall tickets from the official website, madhyamik.assam.gov.in, by entering their application number and password, scroll down for more details.
Trending Photos
Assam TET Admit Card 2024: The Directorate of Secondary Education, Assam, has released the Assam TET Admit Card 2024. Candidates appearing for the Assam Teacher Eligibility Test can download their admit cards from the official website at madhyamik.assam.gov.in using their Application Number and Password. As per the official notification, candidates must carry a printed copy of their Admit Card along with a government-issued Photo ID, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, Driving License, or Voter ID, to the examination venue. PwBD candidates are additionally required to provide a certificate from a Competent Authority.
Candidates are required to present a valid photo ID proof, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving license, or voter ID card, for verification. PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) candidates must also carry a certificate issued by the Competent Authority. As per the official notice, the Assam TET exam is scheduled for December 29. The exam consists of two papers, each lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes and comprising 150 multiple-choice questions. Blind candidates are given an extra 20 minutes to complete the exam.
Assam TET Admit Card 2024: Steps to download here
- Go to the official website of the Directorate of Secondary Education, Assam, at madhyamik.assam.gov.in.
- Click on the "Assam TET Admit Card 2024" link available on the homepage.
- A login page will appear; enter your login details.
- Click on "Submit," and your admit card will be displayed on the screen.
- Review the details on the admit card and download it.
- Print a hard copy of the admit card for future reference.
Assam TET Admit Card 2024; direct link to download here
The Assam TET 2024 is set to be held on December 29, 2024, in offline mode. Candidates must bring their admit cards to enter the examination center. The admit card will include key details like the exam timing, venue, and important instructions. Candidates should thoroughly check all the information on the hall ticket to ensure there are no errors.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.
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| 2024-12-16T05:15:13Z
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Exclusive Qatar National Day Offer For 'QNB First' Members
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) QNB Group has launched a 'special campaign' for its 'QNB First' members, offering them 'exclusive discounts' on the occasion of Qatar National Day.
QNB First cardholders can simply use their cards at participating QNB First lifestyle partners ranging from hotels, restaurants, health and beauty, shopping and much more across Doha until December 21 to avail of discounts up to 50%.
They can view offers through QNB Explorer Mobile application and enjoy these benefits. Commenting on this campaign, Adel Ali al-Malki, Senior Executive Vice President of QNB Group Retail Banking, said:“We are proud to launch this exclusive campaign allowing QNB First Members to celebrate Qatar's National Day wherever they go with a wide range of our lifestyle partners. Through QNB First exclusive products and unparalleled privileges, we are always keen to promote our proud occasions and national culture, in line with the group's values.”
QNB Group is one of the leading financial institutions in the MEA region and among the most valuable banking brands in the regional market.
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https://menafn.com/1108995642/Exclusive-Qatar-National-Day-Offer-For-QNB-First-Members
| 2024-12-16T05:15:14Z
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Bitcoin has surged more than 50% since the November 5 election that saw Trump elected along with many other pro-crypto candidates
Photo: Reuters
Bitcoin surged to a record high above $106,000 on Monday after President-elect Donald Trump suggested he plans to create a US bitcoin strategic reserve similar to its strategic oil reserve, stoking the enthusiasm of crypto bulls.
Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best known cryptocurrency, hit a high of $106,533 and last traded up 3.2% to $104,462. Smaller crypto ether rose 1.5% to $3,965.
"We're in blue sky territory here," said Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG. "The next figure the market will be looking for is $110,000. The pullback that a lot of people were waiting for just didn't happen, because now we've got this news."
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Investor sentiment also got a lift from the inclusion of MicroStrategy into the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index that will likely lead to more inflows for the software firm turned bitcoin buyer.
Bitcoin and crypto have been catapulted into the spotlight as investors wager the incoming Trump administration will usher in a friendlier regulatory environment, boosting sentiment around the alternate currency. Bitcoin is up 192% for the year.
"We're gonna do something great with crypto because we don't want China or anybody else - not just China but others are embracing it - and we want to be the head," Trump told CNBC late last week.
When asked if he plans to build a crypto reserve similar to oil reserves, Trump said: "Yeah, I think so."
Governments around the world held 2.2% of bitcoin's total supply as of July, according to data provider CoinGecko, with the US possessing nearly 200,000 bitcoins valued at more than $20 billion at current levels.
China, UK, Bhutan and El Salvador are the other countries with significant amount of bitcoins, data site BitcoinTreasuries showed.
Other countries have also been considering cryptocurrency strategic reserves.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month said the current US administration was undermining the role of the US dollar as the reserve currency in the global economy by using it for political purposes, forcing many countries to turn to alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies.
"For example, bitcoin, who can prohibit it? No one," Putin said.
There are skeptics though, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell likening bitcoin to gold earlier this month. Analysts also point out that any such move will take time to implement.
"I think we still need to be cautious on a BTC strategic reserve, and at least consider that this is not likely to happen anytime soon," said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone.
"Of course, any comment from Trump that offers an increased degree of hope that plans for a strategic reserve is evolving are an obvious a tailwind, but this would come with consequences which would need to be carefully considered and well telegraphed to market players."
Bitcoin has surged more than 50% since the November 5 election that saw Trump elected along with many other pro-crypto candidates. The total value of the cryptocurrency market has almost doubled over the year so far to hit a record over $3.8 trillion, according to CoinGecko.
Trump - who once labelled crypto a scam - embraced digital assets during his campaign, promising to make the US the "crypto capital of the planet."
Trump this month named a White House czar for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, former PayPal executive David Sacks, a close friend of Trump adviser and megadonor Elon Musk.
Trump also said he would nominate pro-crypto Washington attorney Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission.
On Friday, exchange operator Nasdaq said MicroStrategy will be added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, with the change coming into effect before the market opens on December 23.
MicroStrategy, an aggressive investor in the world's largest crypto asset, has seen its shares soar more than six-fold this year, taking its market value to almost $94 billion. It is now the largest corporate holder of the cryptocurrency.
ALSO READ:
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https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/cryptocurrency/bitcoin-surges-to-record-high-above-106000-on-hopes-of-a-us-strategic-reserve
| 2024-12-16T05:15:13Z
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Richa Chaddha is known for her performance in works like Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Fukrey, Masaan and Inside Edge. The actress has recently added another feather to her cap, as she turned producer along with her husband
Ali Fazal with a film called Girls Will Be Girls. The film is slated to release on 18th December.
Allu Arjun Is Alpha Man Max: Rashmika Mandanna EXCLUSIVE On Pushpa 2’s Massive Success
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, the actress opened up about why she didn’t cast herself in the film. She said, “ As I was doing something for the first time, I wanted to stay 100% focused on it. It's not that we will never do, if we find something that we (she and husband Ali Fazal) like and where it makes sense for us to be a part of it as actors, we'll do it. But it’s not that we will only make films for ourselves or we have made a production house for our careers. Although there's nothing wrong with that, you know, in any case God only helps those who help themselves. Being outsiders we are trying to create things that we want to see done. Sometimes the person that you are and what you're watching, and what you're doing doesn't connect but, somewhere we’d like to marry that.”.
Girls Will Be Girls is written and directed by Shuchi Talati and stars Preeti Panigrahi, Kesav Binoy Kiron and
Kani Kusruti who was last seen in
Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light. The film has now been nominated for multiple Golden Globes, but lost out to
Kiran Rao and
Aamir Khan’s Laapaata Ladies as India’s official entry for Oscars.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/richa-chaddha-opens-up-about-she-why-didnt-cast-herself-in-her-first-film-as-producer-exclusive/articleshow/116334176.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:17Z
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South Korea's top court begins Yoon impeachment review
December 16, 2024South Korea's Constitutional Court said on Monday that it was holding its first meeting on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case that same day, with all six of its judges participating.
After parliament voted for the investigation on Saturday, it falls to the court to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.
Yoon is being investigated following his short-lived attempted imposition of martial law on December 3.
Lawmakers voted this down within a matter of hours, even as military personnel tried to enter the National Assembly.
Yoon's presidential powers are suspended pending the verdict.
The court has up to six months to reach a decision but past cases in 2016 and 2004 were resolved much more quickly.
If Yoon is dismissed, an election would have to follow within 60 days.
Yoon wanted for questioning on Wednesday
A joint investigative team involving police, an anti-corruption agency and the Defense Ministry said it plans to ask Yoon's office that the president appear for questioning on Wednesday, as they expand a probe into whether his failed attempt to suspend parliamentary activity amounted to rebellion.
It's not clear whether the president will grant the request for an interview, with him and his office uncooperative with investigators in several related incidents so far.
Yoon has defended his martial law decree as a necessary act of governance against the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, calling its members "anti-state forces" bogging down his policy agenda. He has struggled to pass a budget and other legislation given the opposition's strength in parliament.
Hundreds of thousands of people, both supporters and opponents of the president, took to the streets of Seoul over the weekend amid the impeachment vote in the National Assembly.
Opposition leader calls for swift hearing
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung urged the Constitutional Court to reach a resolution swiftly and recommended a special council for cooperation between the government and parliament.
Lee lost the March 2022 presidential election by less than 1 percentage point of the popular vote.
Yoon's conservative People Power Party (PPP) however criticized this proposal, saying it was an inappropriate attempted power grab from the opposition.
PPP leader quits, in sign of rift over Yoon's move
The PPP has been divided by Yoon's December 3 mobilization of the military, with some members supporting the move and others opposing it.
This became yet more visible on Monday, when party leader Han Dong-hun announced his resignation in Seoul.
Han had publicly backed the bid to impeach Yoon, despite criticism from some party allies, but said he had no regrets.
"If martial law had not been lifted that night, a bloody incident could have erupted that morning between the citizens who would have taken to the streets and our young soldiers," Han told a news conference.
What happened on December 3?
In a surprise late-night TV address soon before midnight, Yoon became the first South Korean president in more than four decades to declare martial law.
The move harkened back to a period of authoritarian leaders not seen in South Korea since the 1980s.
Soldiers were dispatched to parliament to try to shut it down.
But within hours, parliamentarians voted unanimously to rescind martial law again, albeit with only around 60% of them present.
Soldiers and police subsequently withdrew again after this vote.
No major violence occurred.
Foreign allies, not least the US, expressed relief and also surprise in the aftermath, praising the resilience of Seoul's democratic institutions.
msh/sri (AFP, AP, Reuters)
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https://www.dw.com/en/south-koreas-top-court-begins-yoon-impeachment-review/a-71063589
| 2024-12-16T05:15:18Z
|
Specifications for the 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage Es. Details include engine, fuel usage, interior features, safety and more.
2016 Mitsubishi Mirage Es La 1.2L Petrol 4D Sedan
Standard Features
- 12 Volt Power Outlet
- Dual Front Airbags Package
- Anti-lock Braking
- Air Conditioning
- Adjustable Driver Seat - Manual
- Antenna - Roof-mounted Bee-sting type
- Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt Only
- AUX/USB Input Socket
- 15 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Brake Assist
- Body Coloured Bumpers
- Body Coloured Exterior Door Handles
- Body Coloured Exterior Mirrors
- Chrome Front Grille
- Cup Holders - Front & Rear
- Central Locking Remote Control
- Child Proof Rear Door Locks
- Child Seat Anchor Points
- Cloth Trim
- Digital Clock
- Driver Foot Rest
- Dust & Pollen Filter
- Door Pockets - Front Seat
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electronic Stability Program
- Fog Lights - Front
- Grab Handles - Front & Rear
- Headrests - Adjustable on All Seats
- Head Airbags
- Headlights - Auto On/Off Function
- Halogen Headlights
- High Mounted Rear Stop Light
- Illuminated - Entry/Exit with Delayed Fade
- Engine Immobiliser
- Intermittent Wipers - Variable
- Luggage/Cargo Area Light/s
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- MP3 Compatible Audio/CD Player
- Mobile Phone Connectivity
- Map/Reading Lights - Front
- Power Mirrors
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Rear Centre Armrest
- Remote Boot/Hatch Release
- Radio CD with 4 Speakers
- Remote Fuel Lid Release
- Rear View Mirror Day/Night
- Side Airbags
- Seatbelts - Height Adjustable Front Seats
- Seatbelts - Load Limiters Front Seats
- Seatbelts - Lap/Sash for All Seats
- Seatbelts - Pre-tensioners Front Seats
- Seatbelts - Reminder for Front Seats
- Split Fold Rear Seat
- Seatback Pockets - Front Seats
- Sunvisors with Vanity Mirrors
- Spare Wheel - Space Saver/Temporary
- Trip Computer
- Traction Control System
- Tool Kit
- Voice Recognition System
|
https://www.whichcar.com.au/specs/2016-mitsubishi-mirage-es-la-petrol-4d-sedan-4DEVbhEwZl
| 2024-12-16T05:15:17Z
|
Dukhan Bank Announces Credit Card Campaign Winners
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Dukhan bank has announced the winners of its 2024 credit card Spend Campaign, which concluded with the distribution of a total of 2mn 'DAwards' points.
The campaign rewarded customers for their card usage between September 1 and November 30, 2024, with a grand draw conducted on December 4 under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The campaign offered participants a chance to win by using their Dukhan Bank credit and prepaid cards, earning entries into the draw for every QR1,000 spent locally or internationally. Customers who met the minimum spending requirement of QR5,000 were eligible to participate, showcasing their trust and engagement with Dukhan Bank's products and services.
Aftab Mohamed Omar emerged as the grand prize winner, taking home 1mn DAwards points. Ten participants won 50,000 DAwards points each: Sheikh Faisal al-Thani, Ali al-Khelaifi, Anas Abouqamer, Talal Albaker, Muhammad Piracha, Rana Tamouni, Mansour al-Hajri, AbdelAziz al-Mass, Fadi Elaawar, and Mohamed al-Ali.
Twenty other participants were awarded 25,000 DAwards points: Hamad Alsarami, Ali al-Tamimi, Saeed al-Marri, Maryam al-Kubaisi, Ali al-Marri, Thomas David, Yousef al-Jassim, Mahmoud Alnobny, Salah Abukheriba, Zahid Ali, Mohamad Tahir, Mohammed al-Emadi, Malek Shabane, Mohammad Albdour, Fadi Mouaqat, Hamad al-Khayareen, Erico Santana, Khalid al-Shafi, Mohammed al-Marri, and Khalid al-Kuwari.
This completed the total winners' list to 31.
MENAFN15122024000067011011ID1108995643
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MENAFN provides the information “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. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995643/Dukhan-Bank-Announces-Credit-Card-Campaign-Winners
| 2024-12-16T05:15:21Z
|
The entire Kapoor clan recently visited PM
Narendra Modi to invite him to commemorate Raj Kapoor's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Kareena Kapoor Khan, along with
Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt,
Karisma Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and the other members of the Kapoor family went to meet the PM to Delhi. Now in an interview Saif has opened up on the experience of meeting him.
Poll
What motivates you more?
The actor seemed so impressed with the way he took time out to meet the entire Kapoor family and spoke to all of them personally. Saif told Hindustan Times, "He arrived after a day in Parliament, so I was wondering if he would be tired. But he put on a warm smile and was attentive and charming to us all! I am happy I could have been a part of it through Kareena, Karishma and Ranbir. What a lovely honour for the family to have a stamp with Raj sahab to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary.”
The 'Omkara' actor further said that he asked the PM how much rest he got and it was just three hours but despite that, he was so warm and made the time out to meet all of them. "He asked about my parents individually and said he thought we would bring Taimur and Jehangir to meet him! He signed a paper for them that Kareena asked him to. To me he looked like he was working very hard running the country, and still taking time to connect on this level. I asked him how much rest he got and he said about three hours a night. It was a special day for me. We thanked him for taking out some of his valuable time to see us and give the family so much respect," said the actor.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/saif-ali-khan-says-he-asked-pm-narendra-modi-how-much-rest-he-got-it-was-about-three-hours-he-signed-a-paper-of-taimur-jehangir/articleshow/116332372.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:23Z
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The Sharjah Police confirmed the incident and advised the public not to spread rumours
Multiple injuries were reported on Monday after a bus carrying construction workers was involved in an accident in Khorfakkan.
Taking to social media, the Sharjah Police confirmed the accident, but did not specify the casualties.
Advising residents to not spread rumours, the police said in an Instagram story sometime after midnight: “In cooperation with all relevant authorities, we are dealing with an accident of a bus carrying workers in Khorfakkan. We will provide you with the developments later. We are calling on members of the public to obtain information from official sources only.”
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
According to social workers, the incident took place at a roundabout just before entering the city.
“The men, who were all Indians, were workers of a company which has its headquarters in Ajman,” said Saleem, a social worker with Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC). “The men had travelled to Ajman on their day off to visit the company HQ and do some shopping for food items in that area. They were returning a little after 8pm,” he added.
Saleem, who visited the workers admitted to Khorfakkan hospital, said that many of them were in a state of shock and unclear on the details.
ALSO READ:
Nasreen Abdulla is a Special Correspondent covering food, tech and human interest stories. When not challenged by deadlines, you’ll find her pulling off submissions on the jiu jitsu mats.
|
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-multiple-injuries-reported-after-bus-accident-in-khorfakkan
| 2024-12-16T05:15:21Z
|
Specifications for the 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage Es. Details include engine, fuel usage, interior features, safety and more.
2016 Mitsubishi Mirage Es La 1.2L Petrol 4D Sedan
Standard Features
- 12 Volt Power Outlet
- Dual Front Airbags Package
- Anti-lock Braking
- Air Conditioning
- Adjustable Driver Seat - Manual
- Antenna - Roof-mounted Bee-sting type
- Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt Only
- AUX/USB Input Socket
- 15 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Brake Assist
- Body Coloured Bumpers
- Body Coloured Exterior Door Handles
- Body Coloured Exterior Mirrors
- Chrome Front Grille
- Cup Holders - Front & Rear
- Central Locking Remote Control
- Child Proof Rear Door Locks
- Child Seat Anchor Points
- Cloth Trim
- Digital Clock
- Driver Foot Rest
- Dust & Pollen Filter
- Door Pockets - Front Seat
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electronic Stability Program
- Fog Lights - Front
- Grab Handles - Front & Rear
- Headrests - Adjustable on All Seats
- Head Airbags
- Headlights - Auto On/Off Function
- Hill Holder
- Halogen Headlights
- High Mounted Rear Stop Light
- Illuminated - Entry/Exit with Delayed Fade
- Engine Immobiliser
- Intermittent Wipers - Variable
- Luggage/Cargo Area Light/s
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- MP3 Compatible Audio/CD Player
- Mobile Phone Connectivity
- Map/Reading Lights - Front
- Power Mirrors
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Rear Centre Armrest
- Remote Boot/Hatch Release
- Radio CD with 4 Speakers
- Remote Fuel Lid Release
- Rear View Mirror Day/Night
- Side Airbags
- Seatbelts - Height Adjustable Front Seats
- Seatbelts - Load Limiters Front Seats
- Seatbelts - Lap/Sash for All Seats
- Seatbelts - Pre-tensioners Front Seats
- Seatbelts - Reminder for Front Seats
- Split Fold Rear Seat
- Seatback Pockets - Front Seats
- Sunvisors with Vanity Mirrors
- Spare Wheel - Space Saver/Temporary
- Trip Computer
- Traction Control System
- Tool Kit
- Voice Recognition System
|
https://www.whichcar.com.au/specs/2016-mitsubishi-mirage-es-la-petrol-4d-sedan-9lp6HCjlAn
| 2024-12-16T05:15:24Z
|
QNL To Lead Transformation As IFLA Mena Regional Office
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar National Library (QNL) celebrated its new role as the IFLA Regional Office for the Mena region, with a two-day event that brought together industry experts for a series of panel discussions, interactive workshops and lectures aimed at empowering libraries, fostering regional partnerships and driving innovative solutions to global challenges in librarianship.
QNL executive director Tan Huism and IFLA secretary-general Sharon Memis inked the agreement during a signing ceremony Sunday, attended by HE the QNL president and Minister of State Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, and IFLA president Vicky McDonald.
“The designation of Qatar National Library as the IFLA Regional Office for the Mena region underscores Qatar's prominent standing in the field of libraries and information on both regional and global levels,” HE Dr al-Kawari said.
“It also highlights our country's role as a strategic partner to leading international institutions in their pursuit of a sustainable future for knowledge and scientific research,” he added.
The partnership positions QNL as a key regional hub for librarianship, with a focus on facilitating collaboration, innovation and the dissemination of information throughout the Mena region.
'Partnerships and Global Librarianship' was the focus of the inaugural panel discussion, which provided insights into the vital role that collaboration and resource sharing play in advancing library services globally.
McDonald said the IFLA's partnership with QNL will enable both institutions to deliver on their mission in terms of empowering libraries and the communities they serve across the region.
Sharon said the IFLA's regional centres play a pivotal role in advancing the federation's objectives.“The work of regional centres is essential to ensuring that we are not just an international federation but a truly global one, helping library and information workers everywhere benefit from being part of this worldwide field. Qatar National Library is a model for this work in its dedication and innovation, and I look forward to many years of collaboration,” she added.
Since its opening in 2017, QNL has played a key role in this regard, organising over 3,000 events that attracted more than 150,000 participants.
Eiman Saleh al-Shamari, manager of the IFLA Mena Regional Office at QNL, said the library, as the IFLA representative in the region, is cementing its role as a cultural hub and advancing its objective of promoting cultural dialogue.
“At the IFLA Regional Office, we are committed to supporting libraries in the region to keep pace with the latest global standards and practices in the field, which will, in turn, enhance the quality of services they provide. The office will serve as a platform for training and capacity building, improving the skills of professionals in this sector and strengthening their ability to meet the needs of their communities,” she said.
The second day of the event will feature interactive workshops and lectures offering practical solutions for libraries in the Mena region. Key topics will include enhancing library capacities, fostering partnerships, integrating digital technologies, and addressing regional challenges in the digital age.
Since its nomination as the IFLA Regional Office on the sidelines of the 88th edition of the IFLA General Conference and Assembly last year, QNL has organised numerous workshops and sessions to develop librarianship skills across the region with a focus on leveraging technology to enhance education and learning.
MENAFN15122024000067011011ID1108995644
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “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. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995644/QNL-To-Lead-Transformation-As-IFLA-Mena-Regional-Office
| 2024-12-16T05:15:27Z
|
Music composer
Salim Merchant says the one word to describe singer
Sonu Nigam is "perfection" and said that it is "inspiring to see him do what he does."
Salim took to Instagram, where he shared a behind-the-scenes video featuring Sonu in a studio recording the song "Jaan Le Gayi", for Salim-Sulaiman's "Bhoomi 2024".
"One word.. perfection. That's what @sonunigamofficial is It's inspiring and motivating to see him do what he does - his magic Was a treat for everyone at the studio to witness this ! @shraddhapandit has written this so beautifully. @rajpandit17always on top of his game to capture Sonu's finest vocal takes (very hard to select) @shivansh.j capturing all the epic moments. #JaanLeGayi," the caption read.
Salim-Sulaiman is a music composer duo consisting of siblings Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant.
Salim-Sulaiman were inspired by their father Sadruddin Merchant, who used to lead Ismaili Scouts Orchestra in India. Salim mastered the piano on at the Trinity College of Music in London while Sulaiman took up tabla training with such legends as Taufiq Qureshiand
Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Few years after their first music composition for a Bollywood film, they received acclaim for the film score of Bhoot.
The two have composed music for films such as Neal 'n' Nikki, Chak De! India, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Fashion. They were predominantly composing background scores for movies, until the Karan Johar-Shah Rukh Khan production Kaal, for which their song compositions received acclaim.
They have worked on a hollywood remix for Lady Gaga's songs Born This Way. They also worked on I'm A Freak By Enrique.
Talking about Sonu, he recently asked politicians to not attend performances if they have to leave midway as it is disrespectful for the artist.
In a video, Sonu was heard speaking in Hindi, where he said: "In the middle of the show, I saw that the CM and the rest of the people left. As soon as they left, all the delegates also left. I have a request to all politicians, if you do not respect your artists, then what will the people outside do?"
"I have a request to all of you. If you have to leave, then do not come. Or leave before the show starts. Leaving in the middle of an artist's performance is very disrespectful. This is an insult to Saraswati."
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/salim-merchant-says-this-is-the-one-word-to-describe-sonu-nigam/articleshow/116339088.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:29Z
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The interim leader made the announcement during a broadcast on state television
Photo: AFP file
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution, said Monday that general elections would be held late next year or in early 2026.
Pressure has been growing on Nobel Peace Prize winner Yunus — appointed the country's "chief adviser" after the student-led uprising that toppled ex-premier Sheikh Hasina in August — to set a date.
The 84-year-old microfinance pioneer is leading a temporary administration to tackle what he has called the "extremely tough" challenge of restoring democratic institutions in the South Asian nation of some 170 million people.
"Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026," he said in a broadcast on state television.
Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India as thousands of protesters stormed the prime minister's palace in Dhaka.
Her government was also accused of politicising courts and the civil service, as well as staging lopsided elections, to dismantle democratic checks on its power.
Hasina's 15-year rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents.
Yunus has launched commissions to oversee a raft of reforms he says are needed, and setting an election date depends on what political parties agree.
"Throughout, I have emphasised that reforms should take place first before the arrangements for an election," he said.
"If the political parties agree to hold the election on an earlier date with minimum reforms, such as having a flawless voter list, the election could be held by the end of November," he added.
But including the full list of electoral reforms would delay polls by a few months, he said.
ALSO READ:
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https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/bangladesh-to-hold-elections-in-late-2025-or-early-2026-says-yunus
| 2024-12-16T05:15:29Z
|
India: Legendary musician Zakir Hussain dies at 73
December 16, 2024Grammy Award-winning Indian musician Zakir Hussain died in San Francisco on Sunday night, his family said.
The 73-year-old tabla maestro had been in a hospital due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease, according to his family.
At the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year, Hussain had won three awards, to add to his previous two wins.
"It was a great day for India at the Grammys and I'm proud to be carrying the national flag," he posted on Instagram after his win.
He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi.
The making of a maestro
Born in Mumbai in 1951, Hussain was the eldest son of renowned tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
Hussain earned global acclaim as one of the greatest tabla players of his generation during a career spanning over six decades.
His legacy includes collaborations with Indian legends like Ravi Shankar and Shivkumar Sharma, as well as global icons such as Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck, and George Harrison.
In 1973, his groundbreaking collaboration with musicians John McLaughlin, L Shankar, and TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram introduced the world to a fusion of Indian classical and jazz.
Through these partnerships, he brought Indian classical music to a global audience.
In India, the maestro was a recipient of some of the country's highest civilian accolades, including the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023).
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
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https://www.dw.com/en/legendary-indian-musician-zakir-hussain-dies-at-73/a-71063746?maca=en-rss-en-cul-2090-xml-atom
| 2024-12-16T05:15:30Z
|
Sohail Khan and Seema Sajdeh celebrated their son Nirvaan Khan's birthday in Mumbai. Their friends and family came together on the special occasion.
Those who made their presence felt at the do included
Salman Khan,
Fardeen Khan,
Malaika Arora, Orry,
Bobby Deol,
Aryan Khan,
Mukesh Chhabra,
Aayush Sharma and several others.
Poll
What's the best part of celebrating a birthday?
While Salman Khan looked dapper in a simple-yet-elegant blue jeans and black shirt, Fardeen Khan made a stylish appearance in a black printed shirt and white trousers. Malaika, on the other hand, looked drop-dead gorgeous in a all-white ensemble.
Check out the photoshere:Pic: Yogen ShahSohail and Seema have parted ways and are currently co-parennting their kids Nirvaan and Yohan Khan. In one of the episodes of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, Nirvaan had shared his observations about how his younger brother Yohan, now 13, struggled to grasp the concept of divorce. At the time of the separation, Yohan was so unfamiliar with the term that he resorted to Googling its meaning. Nirvaan reflected on how this new reality was a significant emotional challenge for Yohan.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/salman-khan-malaika-arora-fardeen-khan-aryan-khan-and-others-attend-sohail-khans-son-nirvaan-khans-birthday-bash-see-photos/articleshow/116326094.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:31Z
|
Actor José de la Torre, who starred in the 2019 Netflix series Toy Boy, passed away Dec. 5 at age 37, according to multiple outlets.
The Spanish acting community is in mourning.
José de la Torre, who starred in the Netflix series Toy Boy, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 37.
The Spanish-born actor passed away Dec. 5 following a lengthy battle with an undisclosed illness, according to Montilla Digital, which was first to report the news. A funeral for the late star took place in Spain the following day, per Variety.
De la Torre’s final Instagram post in June included several photos of the actor smiling and enjoying life at a music festival, where he described the “joy of arriving in the Canary Islands, seeing your friends, grabbing a mojito and singing until your voice breaks.”
In 2019, de la Torre—who starred in both seasons of the Spanish-language drama—recalled how his early love of filmmaking inspired his future career path.
When de la Torre finally pursued his passion professionally in university, there was no going back.
Following his death, the actor—who also appeared in the Spanish soap opera Amar es para siempre—was remembered by members of the Spanish film community, including actress Luisa Martín.
|
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/entertainment/netflixs-toy-boy-star-jose-de-la-torre-dead-at-37/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:33Z
|
Just speak, and poof! ✨
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https://www.boldvoice.com/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:33Z
|
QRDI Council Hosts Training Of Mumaken Programme
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council has concluded an IP Commercialisation Training Session.
The three-day event brought together technology Transfer Professionals within Qatari R&D institutions to explore strategies for facilitating commercialisation of research outcomes from the lab to the market.
The course was organised through ASTP, a premier non-profit member's organisation committed to knowledge transfer among universities and industry and whose focus is to further improve the quality of impact that public research has on the Economy and society.
Held under the QRDI Council's Mumaken Programme, the training aimed to equip participants with practical tools and frameworks for discovering technology-market fit, building strategic partnerships, and commercialising research.
Speakers Sean Fielding and Jeff Skinner, who led the sessions, have decades of experience leading technology transfer offices at major universities in the UK and are deeply involved in academic knowledge transfer professional training across Europe, offering insights into bridging the gap between research and real-world applications.
The agenda featured comprehensive sessions on crafting commercial strategies, identifying and engaging with potential industry partners, and establishing successful start-ups. Through discussions, interactive activities, and real-world case studies, participants gained hands-on experience and actionable insights to support effective collaboration between academic and industry.
MENAFN15122024000067011011ID1108995645
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “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. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
|
https://menafn.com/1108995645/QRDI-Council-Hosts-Training-Of-Mumaken-Programme
| 2024-12-16T05:15:34Z
|
China retail growth slows, agency calls for 2025 support
December 16, 2024Broadly positive Chinese economic data for November released on Monday also showed slower-than-expected growth of 3.3% in retail sales, much slower than in October and well adrift of the 4.6% forecast.
The slowdown came as a surprise because Beijing has been working to boost stimulus programs and encourage consumption, as it braces for possible headwinds as Donald Trump returns for a second term as US president, threatening increased tariffs.
China had implemented major online shopping promotions and government-subsidized trade-in programs boosting sales in things like cars, which were expected to buoy growth.
Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong dipped as the news was announced on Monday morning. But by early afternoon, the Shanghai Exchange in particular had pared these losses and was back in the green, while the Hang Seng was down roughly 0.5%.
Chinese government pledging 'moderately loose' monetary policy
China's government has been trying to show it's working to kickstart consumption and reignite the world's second-largest economy.
Beijing last week announced new measures aimed at "lifting consumption vigorously" as part of a stimulus drive.
But as these left investors seemingly unimpressed, officials unveiled new promises over the weekend including a bid to boost the struggling property sector and change monitoring of equity markets.
President Xi Jinping said at the annual Central Economic Work Conference that the Chinese Communist Party would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy, increase social financing and also reduce interest rates "at the right time."
Stats agency hints at tougher 2025 conditions
Despite concerns over the sluggish growth, and the more general downward trend compared to the rapid Chinese expansion achieved over the past couple of decades, Monday's figures remained robust.
Industrial output grew 5.4% compared to the previous November, a slight increase from October and in line with predictions.
Retail sales however dipped to 3.3% growth from 4.8% the previous month.
A spokesperson for the National Statistics Bureau warned while presenting the data that protectionism was on the rise and the agency anticipated tougher conditions next year.
They called for more efforts to promote economic recovery in 2025.
msh/sri (AFP, Reuters)
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https://www.dw.com/en/china-retail-growth-slows-agency-calls-for-2025-support/a-71063742?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-atom
| 2024-12-16T05:15:37Z
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Shah Rukh Khan once said he is the last of the stars, reflecting on his immense popularity and fan following in Bollywood. He has become a symbol of success in the film industry. In an interesting twist, instead of releasing his own biography, Shah Rukh Khan's look-alike, Raju Rahikwar, will be releasing his biography in December 2024.
Poll
Would you read a biography of a celebrity lookalike?
Raju's biography will mark a first in cinema history, as it will be the first time a star's look-alike has released their own biography. The book will chronicle Raju's life journey, detailing his struggles and experiences in Mumbai and the entertainment industry as he navigated his path to fame, all while resembling Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan.
The biography, titled Shah Rukh Banna Aasan Nahi, details the life of Raju Rahikwar, a Shah Rukh Khan look-alike. The book explores the challenges he faced in the entertainment industry and his struggles in Mumbai, despite having a similar face to one of India's most beloved stars. The tagline of the book highlights a poignant reality: "Two people have similar faces but don’t have similar fates." This reflects Raju’s unique journey and the challenges of living in the shadow of someone so famous.
Raju, like
SRK, had a humble start in life. He faced many hardships, including living without meals, sleeping on the streets, and surviving on just half a vada pav to chase his dreams. The biography will delve into Raju Rahikwar's experiences of battling the challenges in Mumbai, the city of dreams. Initially, he hoped his striking resemblance to Shah Rukh Khan would open doors for him, but he soon realized that the film industry had more to offer than just looks.
Over time, Rahikwar learned that success in the industry is not just about appearance, but about unparalleled talent, dedication, and charisma.
Meanwhile, SRK was last seen in
Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki, co-starring
Taapsee Pannu, and will next be seen in
Sujoy Ghosh's King, where he will share the screen space with his daughter
Suhana Khan for the first time.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/shah-rukh-khans-lookalike-raju-rahikwar-is-set-to-release-biography-titled-shah-rukh-banna-aasan-nahi-deets-inside/articleshow/116325555.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:37Z
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Nineteen children in the Central Division have been diagnosed with HIV so far this year.
Consultant Pediatrician at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Dr. Priya Kaur, revealed this, stating that the children’s ages ranged from newborns to under five years old.
She says they got infected through mother-to-child transmission explaining that it is preventable with the necessary interventions.
“We probably fail to test her or even if we tested her something happened and she didn’t take her antiretroviral during pregnancy and that’s how the baby got it, it’s a long journey for a child to be infected.”
Dr. Kaur says curbing mother-to-child transmission is critical and can be done with the right interventions in place.
“Please come early and get an HIV test if you are pregnant because you can really save your children, if you are positive that is not the end, that is the beginning of a journey that you can decide whether it will be a good one or a bad one. It’s one tablet a day.”
Fiji Medical Association President Dr. Alipate Vakamocea says that when a neonate is diagnosed with HIV, it indicates a failure of the HIV program.
“If you have a neonate that’s positive, that’s an example that the program itself has failed because the neonate itself they are not an IV drug user, the only way they got infected is obviously from the parents and usually if we pick up a mum early on in pregnancy we can put them through treatment to the point where the baby don’t get affected but because they are presenting late, or because they somehow during their cause of pregnancy get infected, that’s how the babies are getting infected, so if a neonate gets HIV it’s an example that the entire program has failed.”
Dr. Kaur says the immediate focus is on re-strategizing all HIV prevention programs, including the Reproductive Health Education program.
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https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/19-children-diagnosed-with-hiv-in-central-division/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:39Z
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CRA's Milestones Meet Needs Of Major Domestic, Global Events: President
Date
12/15/2024 11:01:09 PM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) president Ahmad Abdulla al-Muslemani has said that the CRA has proven over the past decade its capability of managing and monitoring of radio spectrum usage in Qatar in full compliance with legal frameworks.
This is particularly evident, he said, across critical sectors such as telecommunications, security, as well as in the oil and gas, aviation, maritime navigation, and other essential industries.
Speaking to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), al-Muslemani underlined that the CRA enhances its position as the responsible entity for this resource by issuing regulations and regulatory tools, granting licences, permits, and approvals for the optimal use of the radio spectrum.
He emphasised that the CRA has worked tirelessly to monitor and oversee the use of the spectrum, ensuring its optimal utilisation, underscoring its crucial and central role in maintaining the sustainability and security of communications in Qatar.
Al-Muslemani said that the CRA has cemented its reputation with achievements in meeting the requirements of major local and international events hosted by the country, including the landmark event, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in addition to playing a key role during these events, ensuring the frequency plans and management were in place to enable all stakeholders to use and operate various radio applications, equipment, and broadcasting systems as required, without interruption due to any radio interference.
He said that in recent years the CRA has achieved significant milestones in fostering productive international co-operation in the area of spectrum management and monitoring, through the signing of agreements with countries such as Turkiye, Morocco, the Gambia, Somalia, Korea and Romania.
Al-Muslemani added that over the past 10 years, the CRA has played a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of telecommunications networks and services in Qatar, particularly through the management of numbering, the cornerstone of building a communications system that meets users' needs and supports economic growth.
He stated that the CRA issued the national numbering plan, along with other relevant regulations, and worked on the allocation and distribution of numbers used in all telecommunications services or for any other numbering-related purposes, in addition to allocating about 11mn mobile phone numbers and around 2mn landline numbers to the telecommunications companies.
Additionally, it supported innovation and development in the telecommunications sector, allocating 300,000 numbers for Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications.
Over the past decade, al-Muslemani said, the CRA has dedicated its resources to advancing the digital community in the country and worked on expanding Qatar's digital presence on the global stage, strengthening the foundations of digital infrastructure, and cybersecurity levels.
He said that this has been achieved through a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging institutions and individuals to adopt the use of Qatari Internet domain names, thereby emphasising its role in supporting innovation and technological advancement in line with the CRA's aspirations, and contributing to the country's ambitions to lead globally in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).
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| 2024-12-16T05:15:40Z
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India: Legendary musician Zakir Hussain dies at 73
December 16, 2024Grammy Award-winning Indian musician Zakir Hussain died in San Francisco on Sunday night, his family said.
The 73-year-old tabla maestro had been in a hospital due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease, according to his family.
At the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year, Hussain had won three awards, to add to his previous two wins.
"It was a great day for India at the Grammys and I'm proud to be carrying the national flag," he posted on Instagram after his win.
He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi.
The making of a maestro
Born in Mumbai in 1951, Hussain was the eldest son of renowned tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
Hussain earned global acclaim as one of the greatest tabla players of his generation during a career spanning over six decades.
His legacy includes collaborations with Indian legends like Ravi Shankar and Shivkumar Sharma, as well as global icons such as Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck, and George Harrison.
In 1973, his groundbreaking collaboration with musicians John McLaughlin, L Shankar, and TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram introduced the world to a fusion of Indian classical and jazz.
Through these partnerships, he brought Indian classical music to a global audience.
In India, the maestro was a recipient of some of the country's highest civilian accolades, including the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023).
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
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https://www.dw.com/en/legendary-indian-musician-zakir-hussain-dies-at-73/a-71063746?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-atom
| 2024-12-16T05:15:43Z
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Soha Ali Khan who was last seen in 'Hush Hush' on OTT has always remained true to herself, ever since she started her career. Being
Sharmila Tagore's daughter, Soha admits to having the biggest inspiration in front of her eyes, which has always helped her to embrace herself the way she is, rather than get bogged down by external pressures or succumb to cosmetic surgeries.
Poll
What motivates you more?
in a recent interview, Soha opened up on her views on beauty and how her mother has been a huge influence on her when it comes to that. She also appreciated her mom for paying attention to her health, yoga, diet, skincare and career even today. The 'Rang De Basanti' actress also stressed on the importance of embracing one's true self in a scenario of cosmetic surgeries.
She said during a chat with Hindustan Times, "One of my biggest struggles with self-acceptance came early in my career. It was a time when I had to find my footing and truly embrace my individuality. Over time, I realized that real beauty comes from accepting who you are and embracing your quirks. I learned that I didn’t need to meet external expectations to feel confident. My mother was instrumental in this journey—her own ability to stay true to herself, regardless of trends, taught me to value my own authenticity and uniqueness."
Soha further praised mom Sharmila and said, "My mother has always been my role model for beauty. She has worked on herself consistently, practicing yoga even today, maintaining her career in films, paying attention to her diet, and prioritising her health and skincare. However, what stands out most is her unwavering acceptance of herself. She has never sought to alter her appearance and has embraced ageing gracefully. This approach has been a profound source of inspiration for me. Being surrounded by positive influences—people who encourage self-acceptance rather than pushing for cosmetic changes—creates an environment of empowerment. I also believe in the power of natural ingredients to enhance beauty."
The actress who married Kunal Kemmu and is now a mom to daughter Inaaya, admits that motherhood changed her perspective towards beauty. "Motherhood has completely shifted my perspective on beauty and self-care. Before becoming a mother, I often focused on quick fixes or external appearances, but after having children, I began to realise that true beauty comes from nurturing yourself holistically—mentally, emotionally, and physically," said Soha.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/soha-ali-khan-says-she-never-felt-the-need-to-change-her-appearance-due-to-mom-sharmila-tagore-shas-embraced-ageing-gracefully/articleshow/116329696.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:43Z
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The Suva Retailers Association has taken a proactive step to improve security within the Central Business District by installing 30 surveillance cameras.
According to Suva Retailers Association President Jitesh Patel, these cameras, strategically placed across Suva, are directly linked to the command center at the Totogo Police Station.
Patel says this enables real-time monitoring by law enforcement.
Patel highlights that this initiative is a collaboration between the Association and Bondwell, emphasizing the importance of the enhanced security measures, particularly as the city enters the busy festive season.
Patel also revealed that the Association has worked closely with the Fiji Police Force to increase patrol and bolster the police presence in the city.
“We have mapped out a plan with them that there will be more police presence in the streets to discourage that, especially in the main CBD areas and on Coming Street, Mark Street, and Waimanu Road, where we need more police presence to deter all these things from happening.”
Retailers have been reminded to strengthen their individual security arrangements to protect their businesses during the festive season.
Patel stresses the importance of vigilance during this time, given the increase in commercial and social activities.
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https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/30-cameras-boost-suva-cbd-security/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:46Z
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(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, announced significant reforms aimed at improving tax services, with the first package of tax facilities set to be fully implemented by the end of the current fiscal year. These measures, he emphasized, will foster a new era of trust, partnership, and certainty between the business community and the Tax Authority.
Speaking during a meeting with the Republican People's Party's parliamentary bloc in the Administrative Capital, Kouchouk highlighted several initiatives designed to enhance the business environment.“We have developed a sample inspection system for all taxpayers and have launched an experimental central electronic clearing system for government dues and debts,” he explained.“This system is intended to build confidence with our partners, facilitate their operations, and improve cash liquidity.”
The Minister also outlined plans to gradually integrate the informal economy, focusing on improving tax systems and offering greater support to small, medium, and large enterprises.“Our goal is to ensure that investors achieve substantial profits within a clear framework of rights and obligations, paving the way for a productive partnership with the Tax Authority,” Kouchouk said.
Furthermore, he emphasized the Tax Authority's initiative to revise administrative decisions and instructions as a clear signal of the government's commitment to boosting the investment climate.“We strongly believe in the private sector's potential to drive growth, and we will continue to support it within the Egyptian economy,” he affirmed, noting ongoing collaboration with the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade to reduce fees and unify collection agencies.
The Minister also pointed to the growing demand for public-private partnerships, particularly in the service sectors and renewable energy, driven by the state's limitations on public investment. The Ministry aims to increase spending on human development and social protection, alongside expanding programs to stimulate and support productive activities.
Kouchouk stressed that the simplified tax system demonstrates a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing entrepreneurship, especially in the realm of digital exports. He highlighted the significant growth of information technology service exports and emphasized the need to further stimulate this sector.“Our export program for the upcoming fiscal year is ambitious, aiming to diversify and expand exports while tapping into new markets,” he stated.
Additionally, Kouchouk highlighted the role of the medium-term budget framework in enhancing the efficiency of public spending and improving services for citizens.“We are committed to fostering a national dialogue, especially with young people, to refine our priorities and achieve key targets for citizens, investors, and the broader Egyptian economy,” he concluded.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Sherif El-Kilani, Deputy Minister for Tax Policies; Ahmed Abdel Razek, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Rami Youssef, Assistant Minister for Tax Policies and Development; Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority; and various other political and governmental figures.
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https://menafn.com/1108995650/Finance-Minister-Unveils-Comprehensive-Tax-Export-Initiatives-To-Boost-Business-Confidence
| 2024-12-16T05:15:47Z
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Former actress
Somy Ali shared that she doesn't believe in resolutions and instead follows being a disciplinary.
As the New year approaches, asked what her new year resolutions are, Somy said: "I don't believe in resolutions. I believe in being disciplinary and action oriented. My first love will always be to work hands-on with the law enforcement all over the U.S. and The National
Human Trafficking Hotline, plus the FBI."
She said that she wants to be there to comfort the victims, primarily children.
"Because as much as I love them I couldn't have any of my own. The children I rescue mean the world to me and they are my children. I can relate to their pain and sorrow and my training has taught me to compartmentalize being a victim advocate separate from being me as a person. It's not easy, but after 17 years I have learned to do it."
"I never ever thought I would reach a number of 50,233 plus today five more domestic violence victims were rescued. I am in disbelief that my small nonprofit which was initiated from my own bedroom/office is now working nationally and internationally"
She said: "When one is told again and again they are worthless and will never amount up to anything from a young age, they take that to heart and it's very literal to them. For that child, that teenager, that young adult, to win two U.S. Presidential awards to actually be in the company of President Obama and President Bush is like a dream even today."
Without resolutions is a way Somy has always lived.
"Life is unpredictable as man makes plans while God laughs. I have always even in India done the opposite of authority out of women being repeatedly oppressed. When I was told by someone that I am a man and only I can have affairs and one night stands."
"I was astounded even at 17 and had affairs unbeknownst to me that I was being used. Yet as a therapist and self analysis it was a teenager seeking attention and love and if being lied to and being used gave her that so be it. I am not at all ashamed or embarrassed of anything I did or how I lived my life in those 8-9 years in the 90's. Let's not forget I didn't go there to act in films."
She said that she went into movies to "fall in love and have it reciprocated".
"Hence, I don't make plans. I only believe in the law of the universe and want to leave a legacy that I fought till my last breath for my mother's sake whom I couldn't save when I was five and the millions of women, children, our LGBTQ families. SomyAliProductionsLLC.com is already moving forward."
She said that she is working as a producer, writer, director and an actor in short films to submit to festivals.
"Therefore, I am content as I can create films of substance that tell the truth. I no longer have to fear hiding because I have in my hands the license to create anything I want and write. This time around there is nothing there that will stop me."
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/somy-ali-i-dont-believe-in-resolutions/articleshow/116337024.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:49Z
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Sonam Kapoor married Anand Ahuja in May 2018 and the couple became parents to a baby boy in August 2022. Ever since she tied the know, Sonam has largely been spending time in London as Anand has a house there. She visits her family in Mumbai every few months or if she is here for work. Meanwhile, Sonam is truly enjoying being a mom to Vayu.
Poll
What motivates you more?
In a latest photo shared by Anand, the couple can be seen taking a walk with him on the streets of London. Vayu can be seen walking in a winter jacket, giving quite a cute teddy vibe. Anand wrote along with this picture, "🎼 Skip to my Lou’ … found my partner, love is true! ☃️🧣❄️🛷 #EverydayPhenomenal #VayusParents"
Vayu celebrated his second birthday this year and Anand had shared his picture with Sonam as he wrote, "and in awe of this beautiful soul Im so fortunate to spend this- and hopefully all my lives with - Happy birthday to your son, my Jaan @sonamkapoor ❤️ #EverydayPhenomenal #VayusParents"
Sonam and Anand have refrained from revealing their son's face to the world. While announcing his name to the world, Sonam had revealed the deeper meaning behind their son's name 'Vayu'. The actress had explained in a long note, "In Hindu scriptures Vayu is one of the aanch tatvas. He is the deity of breath, the spiritual father of Hanuman, Bheem and Madhav and He is the incredibly powerful lord of wind. Praana is Vayu, a guiding force of life and intelligence in the universe. All the deity's of Praana, Indra, Shiva and Kali relate to Vayu. He can breathe life into beings as easily as he can destroy evil. Vayu is said to be heroic, brave and mesmerisingly beautiful. Thank you for your continued wishes and blessings for Vayu and his family."
The actress has said that she's ready to get back to work in movies now and will be able to balance mom duties with her career well. It's the work-life balance which she has learnt from her dad
Anil Kapoor.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sonam-kapoor-and-anand-ahuja-indulge-in-a-walk-on-the-street-with-son-vayu-and-it-indeed-is-a-true-love-moment-pic-inside/articleshow/116329777.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:52Z
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Two more individuals who fell ill following a suspected alcohol poisoning incident at Warwick Fiji Resort over the weekend are expected to be discharged from the Aspen Lautoka Hospital later this afternoon.
Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka says two patients were discharged around mid-day today and two will be discharged after another medical review while two who remain in the intensive care unit are in stable condition.
He had earlier confirmed that a woman who was among the seven patients has returned to Australia.
Gavoka had also said that this person who was believed to be linked to the incident had been ill since last Thursday.
The minister said the hotel management is concerned for the welfare of their guests and is fully cooperating with authorities.
“The resort has been operating in Fiji successfully for many years with a strong reputation, especially among our Australian visitors, they are obviously concerned about the welfare of the guests. We do not wish to speculate about the cause at this stage. We are awaiting the results of ongoing investigations and lab tests.”
Gavoka adds that the health ministry and police are working together to ascertain what had happened.
“Toxicology is a critical test here and that is being done by the police, it normally takes around three or four days so we are really keen to see the result of that.”
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https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/more-patients-to-be-discharged/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:52Z
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(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) has secured $38m in investments for two new projects in the Qantara West Industrial Zone. Waleid Gamal El-Din, Chairperson of the SCZONE, signed the contracts on Sunday at the authority's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The projects, spanning 137,000 square meters, are focused on food processing and textile manufacturing and are expected to create around 1,450 jobs.
The first agreement is with Saray Bisküvi ve Gıda San. A.Ş. (Saray Food Industry), a Turkish company. This marks Saray's first venture in the Qantara West Industrial Zone. The project, covering 45,000 square meters, represents an $8m investment and is forecast to generate 450 jobs. Ninety per cent of the factory's output will be for export. Kamel Ozdag, a board member of Saray, signed the contract. Saray Food Industries is a part of the wider Turkish Saray Holding Group, which has interests in energy, electronics, mechanics, and furniture, in addition to food production.
The second agreement is with the Chinese company Kelida, a textile and home fabrics manufacturer with over 30 years of experience. Kelida's project will be a $30m investment, covering 92,000 square meters, and is expected to create 1,000 direct employment opportunities. More than 90 per cent of Kelida's production is intended for export, primarily to European and American markets. Engyao Yu, Chairman of the Board for Kelida, signed the contract.
Gamal El-Din stated that the two contracts mean the SCZONE has now finalised eight project agreements in the initial phase of the Qantara West Industrial Zone. These combined projects represent a total investment of $309m, covering 751,000 square meters, and will generate approximately 14,200 jobs.
“This is a significant developmental achievement,” he said, adding that it establishes“a world-class industrial hub capable of attracting further investments, fostering promising employment prospects, and building investor confidence.” He also said the projects would play a vital role in strengthening the national economy through the development of advanced industries.
Gamal El-Din also emphasised Qantara West Industrial Zone's strategic location close to seaports, making it attractive to investors and enabling access to regional and international markets. He confirmed the SCZONE's commitment to improving the zone's infrastructure to enable efficient business operations. The authority is dedicated to providing investors with support, including land, logistics, and licensing assistance, to ensure a smooth investment process, he said projects are scheduled to open in the final quarter of 2025.
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https://menafn.com/1108995651/SCZONE-Signs-38M-Deals-For-Food-Textile-Plants
| 2024-12-16T05:15:53Z
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DETROIT -- From the very first drive Sunday, the biggest problem for the Detroit Lions was obvious: They had no way to contain Josh Allen. On third down, on the Bills' initial possession, Allen put his MVP candidacy on full display, escaping to his right, stopping about a foot inside the boundary, waiting, directing, extending and then slinging the ball nearly sidearm across his body to Ty Johnson for 24 yards.
It's the kind of play that belongs on the Allen highlight reel. And more than any other moment from the Bills' 48-42 victory Sunday -- more than the pass Amon-Ra St. Brown could not reel in as the Lions were driving late in the second quarter, more than Dan Campbell's decision to try to steal a possession with an onside kick with 12 minutes remaining -- it encapsulated why the Bills have completed, in the space of one month, the two most impressive victories of the season, over each conference's top seeds. Allen and the Bills offense are playing at a level they had previously not reached, and they are doing it against the very teams they will have to overcome if they are finally to win a Super Bowl.
The Bills practice the scramble drill, like all teams. Head coach Sean McDermott said this is the best he has seen Allen play and he, like everyone else, is marveling at the off-schedule plays, like when Allen escaped to his right, pulled free of an attempted ankle tackle, and heaved a rope to Keon Coleman for 64 yards.
"That, and blacking out, a little bit of both," McDermott said of his response to those plays. "He's incredible. He's not doing that if the offensive line is not doing their job. It takes a real unselfish approach, week after week, to get that type of performance."
It's worth remembering, because it's easy to forget now, that this was supposed to be a bridge year for the Bills, with the departure of so many veterans and the transition to younger players, and a nearly completely made over receivers room -- one without star Stefon Diggs. Instead, Diggs' departure has seemed to liberate Allen from having to concentrate on feeding the ball to the Pro Bowl wideout, bringing more balance to the offense. On Sunday, nine players caught passes. The Bills rolled up 197 yards rushing. Allen said players have bought in. They were up 14-0 after their first two possessions, forcing the Lions to play from behind throughout the game. They had a 21-point lead in the third quarter. They punted just once. In a game against the NFL's top offense, the Bills knew they would have to score and keep scoring. That the Lions' defense is decimated by injuries certainly helped the Bills -- Detroit did not have a sack, and rarely even got in Allen's face -- but the Bills have also developed a mindset, which became especially acute after the 44-42 loss to the Rams last week.
"The mindset we had this week was win every play, whatever the play was, find a way to execute at the highest level," said Allen, who was 23-of-34 passing for 362 yards and two touchdowns, with 68 rushing yards and two rushing scores. "This is going to help us in the long run. Too many plays we left out there. To nitpick a game like that sounds kind of dumb. But I still felt like we left some out there."
This has been the story for nearly every Bills opponent this season, but Allen's dominance was especially noticeable Sunday, against a team that has been the best in the NFC all season. But the attrition on the Lions defense -- which saw defensive lineman Alim McNeill (knee) and cornerbacks Carlton Davis (jaw) and Khalil Dorsey (ankle) exit Sunday’s game -- caught up with them. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been able to work magic in recent weeks with a patchwork roster, and that has allowed the Lions to keep winning against most teams, even those, like the Green Bay Packers, who are likely to be in the playoff field, too.
The Bills, though, represented a step up in opponent class, and the Lions defense looked weary, unable to get a stop when it needed one, outmanned and outgunned, the Bills having picked apart the middle of the defense all night. Campbell's decision to try an onside kick with 12 minutes remaining and the Lions trailing by just 10 points, was a nod to the harrowing reality the Lions were facing: They couldn't stop the Bills on most possessions, so they had to try to steal one. It backfired -- Mack Hollins returned the onside kick to the 5-yard line, and the Bills scored on the next play to take a 17-point lead -- but you can appreciate Campbell's thinking. He has been delightfully aggressive as a head coach and most of the time -- as it did early in the season against the Cowboys -- it beats opponents into submission. It is a testament to the Bills that this time the Lions' aggressiveness was a signal of desperation, not domination.
And now the Lions, who had not lost since Week 2, are in a dogfight -- to hold on to the NFC North against the Vikings, to hold on to the NFC’s top seed against the Eagles. The loss means they almost certainly won't get the chance to rest players before the playoffs start. The Bills remain two games behind the Chiefs in the AFC standings, although Patrick Mahomes' ankle injury, with games Saturday and on Christmas Day, means the Chiefs might not be able to coast to the first-round bye.
When the Bills beat the Chiefs last month, they were careful not to celebrate too much. They know they have to beat them in January, too. On Sunday, the victory was so complete on the road and so welcome after the narrow loss to the Rams, that the Bills seemed more at ease. More of the season is gone, more has already been proved, the playoffs are close. McDermott talked about the Bills' attitude and focus this week, and he mused about how resilient the Bills have been over the years, and how much they are like the city of Buffalo and the fans themselves. McDermott said the Bills have to learn to close out games better. But those are the details championship-caliber teams can afford to focus on as the regular season winds down.
"It's not easy, winning in the NFL," McDermott said. "When you're talking about today's game and some of those other games, you're talking about rare air up there with the best teams that are around right now."
That was no blackout McDermott experienced. The Bills are one of those teams, too.
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https://www.nfl.com/news/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-keep-raising-level-to-defeat-nfc-s-best-and-banged-up-lions
| 2024-12-16T05:15:56Z
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How companies can address bias and privacy challenges in AI models
In this Help Net Security interview, Emre Kazim, Co-CEO of Holistic AI, discusses the need for companies to integrate responsible AI practices into their business strategies from the start. He explores how addressing issues like bias, privacy, and transparency requires a proactive and well-rounded approach, rather than just adhering to regulations.
How can companies address bias, privacy concerns, and lack of transparency in AI models?
To tackle these challenges and more, companies need a clear and proactive AI governance plan. For companies that see AI as an important business initiative, AI governance needs to be built into their IT strategy from the beginning. It is not a checkbox item. A comprehensive AI governance plan addresses government regulations and/or standards, security mandates, and business-level key performance indicators (KPIs) and includes the following aspects:
- Efficacy – does the AI workload accomplish what it set out to do? Is it efficient? Does it perform well relative to its use case and objective?
- Robustness – how does the system maintain performance as circumstances evolve or in the face of malicious efforts to undermine it? How well does the system defend against adversarial threats?
- Privacy – is the system at risk of data leakage, which could reveal sensitive or personal information?
- Bias – looks deeply at the model in relation to its intended use case to determine if there is bias in the system. Bias is treated differently in various scenarios, so it is critical to measure this in context. For example, you may want to single out certain people or groups of people in a medical diagnosis app (e.g., older males of certain descent are susceptible to heart attacks) but you wouldn’t want to do this in a recruiting app.
- Explainability – is the AI system understandable to both users and developers? Can we understand how the system arrived at its prediction or answer to the question? This is key to transparency and trust.
AI governance isn’t just about avoiding risks—it’s about accelerating a company’s AI adoption by helping teams work together and be more effective. By managing AI clearly and collaboratively, companies can adopt AI faster and get better results. Using tools that give a complete view of risks and business performance measures—like bias, compliance, efficacy, robustness, and explainability—companies find it’s easier to build AI systems that are fair, safe, and aligned with company goals.
How are emerging regulations, such as the EU’s AI Act, shaping the adoption of responsible AI?
Many governments around the world are considering regulations to safeguard their citizens when it comes to the use of AI. In fact, currently, there are almost 500 AI laws in progress around the world, 200 of which are at the federal level in the US, along with 83 lawsuits that pertain to GenAI alone. This very active regulatory environment is certainly helping to push businesses to think about responsibility and fairness in their AI applications from the start.
But there are even stronger market forces at play. Companies understand that AI adoption is existential to their survival, with the winners of tomorrow being determined by their ability to harness AI effectively. Furthermore, they understand that their brand’s reputation is one of their most valuable assets. Missteps with AI—especially in mission-critical contexts (think of a trading algorithm going awol, a breach of user privacy, or a failure to meet safety standards)—can erode public trust and harm a company’s bottom line. This could have dire consequences. With a company’s competitiveness and potentially its very survival at stake, AI governance becomes a business imperative that they cannot afford to ignore.
As innovation in AI accelerates, do you believe the current efforts towards responsible AI are sufficient, or do we need more robust frameworks?
It is early days in AI adoption and I believe that the drive toward responsible AI will come from multiple directions. Certainly, we see a lot of activity from the government – both at the state and federal levels – which is creating a fragmented approach. We also see leading companies who understand that adopting AI is crucial to their future and want to move fast. They are not waiting for the regulatory environment to settle and are taking a leadership position in adopting responsible AI principles to safeguard their brand reputations. So, I believe companies will act intelligently out of self-interest to accelerate their AI initiatives and increase business returns. But these motivations align beautifully with the broader societal good: the deployment of safe, secure, and reliable AI.
Corporate reputation and market forces are ensuring that AI governance is not just an afterthought—it’s a business imperative. This is occurring simultaneously with regulatory efforts. And that’s good news for everyone.
Given the unpredictable nature of AI decisions, what risk management strategies do you recommend for monitoring and mitigating AI-related risks?
Just as companies established data governance to manage organizational data and cloud governance to oversee their transition to cloud computing, they must now adopt a comprehensive AI governance strategy to guide their AI adoption.
Effective AI governance encompasses the entire AI lifecycle, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, ethical principles, and regulatory requirements.
A robust governance framework addresses every stage of AI usage, from adoption and development to risk management. Monitoring plays a critical role in this process, ensuring ongoing oversight and compliance. The key steps in implementing AI governance include:
- Inventory and discovery: Identifying and cataloging AI systems and assets.
- Onboarding and workflows: Defining processes for integrating AI into operations.
- Policies, documentation, and compliance readiness: Establishing clear guidelines and ensuring adherence to regulations and frameworks – such as the EU AI Act or NIST, or one of the company’s own design.
- Testing, verification, and risk optimization: Evaluating AI performance and mitigating potential risks.
- Reporting, alerts, and analytics: Providing insights and early warnings through comprehensive monitoring. Additionally, how is the system delivering on business KPIs and performance?
- ROI tracking: Measuring the value generated by AI investments.
- Continuous monitoring: Maintaining ongoing vigilance to address emerging challenges.
By following these steps, organizations can ensure that their AI initiatives are strategic, ethical, and sustainable.
What specific incident response protocols should organizations have for scenarios where AI systems malfunction or produce biased outputs?
Companies with an effective AI governance strategy are better able to proactively address potential risks and prevent worst-case scenarios. In fact, analysts report by 2028, organizations that implement comprehensive AI governance platforms will experience 40% fewer AI-related ethical incidents compared to those without such systems.
A key factor of this is ongoing monitoring—either periodic or continuous, depending on how mission-critical the app is and its risk level—to quickly detect and respond to issues. This monitoring can automatically notify the appropriate teams based on predefined guardrails and suggest remediation steps when problems arise.
Equally important is ensuring teams are trained and prepared for emergencies. Just like a robust security incident response plan, regular training sessions with cross-functional teams are crucial. These sessions should simulate AI incident scenarios, including executing remediation strategies and refining the communications response plan.
When communicating with customers, prioritize transparency, honesty, and authenticity. Share what you know promptly, provide updates as new information becomes available, and assure customers that you’re taking swift action to resolve the issue. Handled correctly, effective incident response can even help a brand build trust with its customer base by showcasing its commitment to responsible AI and high level of accountability.
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https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2024/12/16/emre-kazim-holistic-ai-strategy/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:56Z
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Multiple celebrities and prominent figures from the film industry have been sharing comments on the recent arrest of "Pushpa Raj"
Allu Arjun. The actor was released on bail on Saturday, after his arrest in connection with the death of a 39-year-old woman at the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. Now Bollywood Sonu Sood shares his take on the recent incident.
During the promotion of his upcoming film, 'Fateh', Sonu Sood told ANI, that he believes that the issue has been resolved now and "all's well that end well". He further said, "I want to congratulate him. I have worked with him before, and I know this is the life of an actor--ups and downs are part of the journey."
Following Allu Arjun's arrest, he was granted interim bail but had to spend a night in jail due to administrative delays. Upon his release, Allu Arjun addressed the media, thanking his fans for their support and expressing condolences to Revathi's family.
In a press conference at his home, he clarified that he was inside the theatre watching the movie when the chaos happened outside he had no direct involvement in the unfortunate incident. He described it as purely accidental and unintentional, expressing deep sorrow for what happened.
After his release on Saturday morning, Allu Arjun addressed the media, saying, "I thank everyone for the love and support. I want to thank all my fans. There is nothing to worry about. I am fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and will cooperate fully. I would like to once again express my condolences to the family. It was an unfortunate incident, and we are deeply sorry for what happened."
The stampede occurred on December 4 when a large crowd gathered at Sandhya Theatre to see Allu Arjun. Police have stated that Allu Arjun’s security team failed to manage the crowd effectively, despite being warned about potential risks.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sonu-sood-reacts-to-allu-arjuns-arrest-alls-well-that-ends-well/articleshow/116332795.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:15:58Z
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Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka
Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka is reassuring international travelers to Fiji, that the alleged alcohol poisoning incident which landed seven guests in hospital over the weekend was an isolated event.
He says Fiji remains a safe destination for tourists.
Gavoka’s comments came in the wake of a suspected alcohol poisoning incident at Warwick Fiji Resort.
He says thousands of tourists are currently visiting Fiji, and close to a million tourists visit annually, and safely.
Gavoka says this is the only reported case of its kind that the country has experienced in recent memory.
He says while they understand the concern, they want to emphasize that the tourism experience in Fiji is typically very safe, and they have acted immediately to try and discover the root cause of what made the guests fall ill.
Gavoka says in the lead up to the festive season, his advice to everyone is to exercise caution in terms of what they consume.
He says they continue to monitor the situation closely and are glad to hear that the patients are stable and hope their conditions continue to improve.
He says they will keep the public informed as the investigation progresses.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to two Australian families in Fiji.
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https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/tourism-experience-in-fiji-safe-gavoka/
| 2024-12-16T05:15:58Z
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IMKAN Misr Partners With MQR To Redefine Workspaces At Alburouj Business Park
Date
12/15/2024 11:05:51 PM
(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) IMKAN Misr has announced a strategic partnership with MQR, a leader in flexible workspace solutions, to create innovative office spaces at Alburouj Business Park in New Heliopolis, East Cairo.
Ahmed Aref, CEO of IMKAN Misr, emphasized that this collaboration will redefine the services offered within the residential project, which features state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to meet the latest technological standards. Alburouj, which includes Alburouj Business Park-New Heliopolis' first fully integrated commercial district-positions itself as a comprehensive development that seamlessly blends residential, educational, administrative, and commercial spaces within a well-connected community.
Spanning over 5 million square meters, Alburouj is strategically located near the International Medical Center and the New Administrative Capital. With 80% of the area dedicated to green spaces, Alburouj offers a peaceful environment for both residents and businesses.
Muhammed Nagi, CEO of WRK+, the parent brand of MQR, highlighted that this partnership not only addresses the growing demand for flexible office solutions but also aims to attract a diverse range of professionals, fostering valuable business collaborations.
MQR will occupy approximately 1,465 square meters within Alburouj Business Park, which covers a total area of 100,000 square meters. The park includes nine buildings, each with five floors, purposefully designed to cater to modern business needs. A suite of services-including administrative, legal, and financial support-will help ensure seamless project management and operational efficiency for businesses in one of Cairo's most dynamic business hubs.
Currently home to over 1,200 families, Alburouj is expanding rapidly, reinforcing its reputation as a model for integrated urban development. With its premium offerings and strategic collaborations, Alburouj is set to redefine the balance between modern living and professional aspirations in East Cairo.
MENAFN15122024000153011029ID1108995652
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https://menafn.com/1108995652/IMKAN-Misr-Partners-With-MQR-To-Redefine-Workspaces-At-Alburouj-Business-Park
| 2024-12-16T05:16:00Z
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Minnesota is back in the playoffs following a one-year hiatus.
The Vikings clinched a postseason berth thanks to the Seattle Seahawks' loss on Sunday night to the Green Bay Packers.
Winners of six straight, coach Kevin O'Connell's surprising bunch still has much on the agenda after clinching a postseason spot before even taking the field in Week 15. Despite avoiding defeat since Oct. 24, the 11-2 Vikings face an uphill climb from the NFC's No. 5 seed if they're to clinch their fourth division title of the past decade.
The Lions (12-2) currently reside above them in the NFC North by way of a head-to-head tiebreaker, with the teams seemingly set for a collision course in Detroit for the regular-season finale.
Nonetheless, the Vikings have plenty of cause for celebration after a rapid turnaround that was not without obstacle.
Hopes outside Minnesota were low for the Vikings heading into the 2024 season. Following a 7-10 campaign in which franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles before eventually departing in free agency, the club drafted J.J. McCarthy as a replacement in the first round, only to see him suffer a season-ending knee injury in preseason.
But Sam Darnold filled the void and then some, leading an offensive operation that was top 10 in scoring entering Week 15 to complement a sixth-ranked scoring defense.
Just as they did during their 13-4 season in 2022, the Vikings have forged their playoff path in the clutch. Those '22 Vikes were 11-0 in one-possession games, while the '24 version has thus far gone 7-1 in such contests.
Minnesota fans still smarting from the wild-card loss that cut short their last playoff appearance might find solace in a different comparison, though. O'Connell and Co. have enjoyed two different winning streaks of five-plus games during a season for the second time in team history, repeating a franchise feat first accomplished by the 1998 Vikings, who went 15-1 and reached the NFC Championship Game.
A run to that stage and beyond would be made easier by a division title, and even more so by having a first-round bye as the conference's top seed, both of which are very much in play.
For now, the Vikings know they'll be playing postseason football at the very least. Their next chance to impact their standing comes Monday night against the Bears.
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https://www.nfl.com/news/vikings-clinch-postseason-berth-thanks-to-seahawks-loss-versus-packers
| 2024-12-16T05:16:02Z
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Actor
Sunny Deol has revisited his infamous feud with
Shah Rukh Khan on the sets of Darr, calling it a "childish" incident from the past.
Speaking to India TV, Sunny acknowledged the altercation but emphasized that their relationship has since healed. “Those were different times. Such things shouldn’t have happened. It was ‘bachpana’ (childish),” he said. Sunny also shared that Shah Rukh recently watched Gadar 2 with his family and called to praise the film, which strengthened their bond further. “Everything is fine now,” Sunny affirmed.
The fallout stemmed from creative disagreements during the making of the 1993 Yash Chopra-directed thriller. Sunny, who played a commando, questioned the logic of a scene where Shah Rukh’s character stabbed him while he looked on. In a 2016 interview, Sunny had remarked, “What kind of trained commando would allow that? It didn’t make sense.” Their strained relationship reportedly lasted for 16 years, but Sunny attributed it to his preference for privacy over socializing.
Reflecting on his Darr experience, Sunny previously called it the "worst" of his career, citing "lies and manipulations" during production. In a 2001 interview, he even revealed ripping his jeans in frustration during the shoot and vowed never to work with
Yash Chopra again.
Despite past tensions, the actor expressed positivity about the support he received from industry figures like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Karan Johar for 'Gadar 2'. Acknowledging their gestures, Sunny joked, “I apologize for anything wrong on my part.”
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sunny-deol-recalls-a-childish-fight-with-shah-rukh-khan-during-darr-it-was-bachpana/articleshow/116258276.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:16:04Z
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[Source: Reuters]
The United Nations will convene a technical committee of Libyan experts in an attempt to resolve contentious issues and put the country on the path to long-awaited national elections, the acting head of the U.N. mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Sunday.
A political process to resolve more than a decade of conflict in Libya has been stalled since an election scheduled for December 2021 collapsed amid disputes over the eligibility of the main candidates.
The new committee of Libyan experts will look for ways to overcome outstanding issues in electoral laws, the U.N. mission’s (UNSMIL) acting head, Stephanie Koury, said in a video statement.
They will also look for options to “reach elections in the shortest possible time including with proposed guarantees, assurances and a timeframe,” she added.
A Government of National Unity (GNU) under Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah was installed through a U.N.-backed process in 2021 but the parliament no longer recognises its legitimacy. Dbeibah has vowed not to cede power to a new government without national elections.
Libya has had little peace since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising, and it split in 2014 between eastern and western factions, with rival administrations governing in each area.
While all major political players in the country have repeatedly called for elections, many Libyans have voiced skepticism that they genuinely seek a vote that could push most of them from positions of authority.
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https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/world/un-launches-fresh-attempt-to-resolve-libyas-election-impasse/
| 2024-12-16T05:16:04Z
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Marquee Developments Unveils Shababeek With EGP 6Bn Investment In New Cairo's Fifth Settlement
Date
12/15/2024 11:05:52 PM
(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Marquee Developments has officially launched its first project in the Egyptian market, Shababeek, a residential development located in New Cairo's Fifth Settlement. The project, covering an area of 15 feddans, boasts an investment of over EGP 6bn.
Hazem Salama, Chairperson of Marquee Developments, emphasized that while the company is new to the Egyptian market, it is backed by the extensive expertise of its founders, who have an impressive track record in Real estate development. Their past achievements include executing several urban projects in key Egyptian cities such as Nasr City, Heliopolis, and Hurghada, as well as ventures across the Arab world and Europe.
Salama also noted that Marquee was founded through Egyptian-European investments with the vision of creating a new generation of urban communities. The company aims to identify investment opportunities in high-potential areas, advance the concept of urbanization, and deliver sustainable developments that set new benchmarks in Egypt's real estate market.
Mohamed Amer, CEO of Marquee Developments, shared that Shababeek is the first of a series of projects the company plans to announce soon. The development will feature 82% of its space dedicated to green areas, landscapes, and water features, with just 18% allocated for built-up areas. Planned amenities include diverse residential spaces, children's play areas, a nursery, yoga spaces, cycling tracks, walking trails, and swimming pools. The design and execution are being carried out by renowned firms including MTA, ACE Moharram Bakhoum, and Okoplan.
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MENAFN provides the information “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. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1108995653/Marquee-Developments-Unveils-Shababeek-With-EGP-6Bn-Investment-In-New-Cairos-Fifth-Settlement
| 2024-12-16T05:16:06Z
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Taapsee Pannu got married to Mathias Boe in an intimate ceremony in Udaipur this March this year. It was a very low key affair and Taapsee has not yet dropped pictures of her wedding festivities on social media. The actress also hasn't announced her wedding through any press release or post. In a recent interaction, Pannu opened up on the reason behind it. She also made a major revelation!
Poll
Did You Know Taapsee Pannu Got Married in December 2023?
The 'Dunki' actress revealed that she did not get married this year. She had actually gotten married in December 2023. She spoke about it during a session at Agenda Aaj Tak, and said, "People didn't get to know because we didn't send out any press release. And actually, we didn't get married this year, we got married last year in December. Now we'll be completing a year soon. Yeh baat shayad main aaj nahi bolti toh kisiko pataa bhi nahi chalti. (People still wouldn't know this if I didn't say it today)."
She further confessed why she wants to keep her personal life private. "We wanted our personal life to remain personal. I've seen that with my colleagues that when your personal and professional life get interlinked, it's not good for both. The credit of the highs and lows of your professional life starts going to your personal life. And your personal life starts getting affected. Hence I wanted to draw a very clear line that my personal life will remain personal and professional life will remain professional. I have never tried to hide anything. I know him since 2013 and now it's been 11 years. So, I'm not hiding anything. I announce my movies. But I didn't feel the need to announce my wedding or my husband," said the actress.
Taapsee was last seen in 'Haseen Dilruba 2'.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/taapsee-pannu-reveals-she-got-married-to-mathias-boe-in-december-2023-not-march-2024-i-announce-movies-didnt-feel-the-need-to-announce-my-husband/articleshow/116335543.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:16:10Z
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Amitabh Bachchan has been the one of the biggest pillars of Indian Cinema, having given more than 6 decades of his life to films. In his second innings,
Ravi Chopra's Baghban played an important role in stamping his return to the big screen.
Allu Arjun Is Alpha Man Max: Rashmika Mandanna EXCLUSIVE On Pushpa 2’s Massive Success
In a clip going viral on the internet, he talked about the effect of the film on people. The film was about the mistreatment parents receive when they grow older, and can’t provide for themselves. He said, “ There was an incident which was quite inspiring. There was a gentleman in England who went and saw this film at a very late night show at Marble Arch London. He called the director of the film as soon as he came out of the theater. This was about three o'clock in the morning, and he said, Sir, you're the director. I just want to tell you that I've just seen your film. You don't know me. I live in London. I'm a citizen of England now, but my roots are in India. Due to differences with my father. I haven't seen my father for 25 years. And I want to tell you I've just seen the film and I'm going back to my father, right now, and I'm going to tell him I'm sorry.”
“ I thought that was the effect that it had, the emotional connect of the film” he added.
Baghban was directed by Ravi Chopra and it also starred
Hema Malini along with
Salman Khan, Mahima Chaudhary and
Rimi Sen.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/throwback-when-amitabh-bachchan-spoke-on-the-impact-of-baghban-there-was-an-incident-/articleshow/116332956.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:16:12Z
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Al Ashraaf Developments Appoints ACE Moharram-Bakhoum As Consultant For Serenity Residence
Date
12/15/2024 11:05:52 PM
(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Al Ashraaf Developments has signed strategic partnership agreements with ACE Moharram-Bakhoum to oversee the company's projects.
During a press conference, CEO of Al Ashraaf Developments Ahmed Massoud stated that the company was committed to collaborating with top consultancy firms, highlighted that ACE Moharram-Bakhoum is among the top five engineering consultancy firms in Egypt and the Middle East.
The Serenity project spans over 13 feddans and offers electronic gates, vast green spaces, swimming pools, dedicated children's areas, and a commercial mall catering to all residents' needs.
The signing ceremony also included overseeing the pouring of 2,500 cubic meters of concrete for the project's foundations-the largest concrete pour completed in a single day in the history of Obour City.
Al Ashraaf collaborates with Vodafone Egypt, Pinnacle Consultant, and Devcon Construction for contracting services to develop the Serenity development. The company's portfolio includes several projects, namely Serenity, Reveal, Hope, Quest, and The Core.
Massoud noted that the group has successfully, through its sister company Memaar Al Ashraaf, established a new benchmark for real estate development in New Obour City. This has steered private-sector investments towards the emerging city.
He disclosed that Memaar Al Ashraaf has taken on the mission of launching commercial and service projects in New Obour neighborhoods, exceeding 10 projects in just a few years. These include commercial centers such as Al-Majd 1 and 2, Al-Horreya 1 and 2, NXT Mall, Step Mall, Al-Hayat, Sakn Misr, Al-Karama Mall, and Rakan.
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Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “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. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1108995654/Al-Ashraaf-Developments-Appoints-ACE-Moharram-Bakhoum-As-Consultant-For-Serenity-Residence
| 2024-12-16T05:16:13Z
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Lately, there has been a lot of discussion around the exorbitant fees and demands of movie stars that add to the massive production budgets.
Tisca Chopra, who is also a director apart from being an actor, feels that it is time filmmakers shift their focus on investing in the right department of filmmaking.
‘The right way is to back unusual stories’Elaborating on her point, The Murder Mubarak actress says, “The star today has got to be the story. We must put our money into writing. The story is the root upon which the film will stand. Unfortunately, we are putting money on the fruits (which are the stars). Jab tak roots mein invest nahi karoge woh fruits aayenge hi nahi. We need to put money into writing and spend time on developing the story. This is the right way to back unusual stories. As one of the most prolific filmmaking countries in the world, it’s time we understood that the audience is consuming content from across the world, so we are competing with international filmmakers & foreign concepts. We have to bring our A game to the table.”
‘When something collapses, is when something new emerges’Tisca, who co-wrote, directed and co-produced the 2020 short film Rubaru, says that the industry is still wondering what the audience wants to consume. “There’s almost like radio silence in the industry. Largely, only Season 2s of shows that have succeeded are being greenlit. Nobody’s quite sure about what the audience is expecting and what’s going to draw them to the box office. When something collapses, is when something new emerges.
‘The idea of directing a feature film is daunting’The year 2024 has had Tisca directing her first feature film. Talking about her experience working on that, she shared, “The hundreds of hours I have spent as an actor on set watching some very brilliant directors, finally came to use. When other people were resting in their vanity vans, I was sitting behind the directors and learning from them. The idea of directing a feature film is daunting. I didn’t realise that it would be so much work. However, I am proud that in the end it was a joyful experience.”
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/tisca-chopra-advocates-for-investing-in-storytelling-in-film-industry/articleshow/116318227.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:16:18Z
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(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Egypt's Real estate market experienced substantial developments in 2024, as economic challenges intensified with fluctuations in exchange rates and rising inflation. These factors significantly impacted the purchasing power of citizens and investors. Despite these hurdles, the sector demonstrated resilience, supported by governmental measures such as easing access to real estate financing and incentivizing developers.
Demand patterns also shifted, with heightened interest in luxury housing and large-scale projects, while the resale market faced challenges stemming from high prices and low liquidity. Developers encountered difficulties in marketing their projects due to rising raw material costs and price increases but responded by introducing new designs and infrastructure innovations tailored to market needs.
This report highlights the key events and developments that shaped Egypt's real estate market in 2024, providing insights into the challenges and transformations defining the sector during the year.
Dollar Surges
In 2024, Egypt's real estate market was marked by notable developments and decisions, most prominently a steep rise in property prices. Inflation, increased construction costs, and the Egyptian pound's depreciation were primary drivers. In March, the Central Bank of Egypt floated the pound against the dollar to address discrepancies between the official exchange rate and the parallel market.
This currency flotation was accompanied by an unprecedented 6% interest rate hike, raising deposit rates to 27.25% and loan rates to 28.25%. These measures aimed to control inflation and attract foreign investment. The broader strategy included securing foreign currency liquidity through direct investments, such as the Ras El-Hekma deal, which injected $10bn into the economy.
Property prices surged by over 100% in some projects, with forecasts predicting a further 30% rise, totaling a 130% increase in key areas like New Cairo, the New Administrative Capital, and the North Coast. Rental prices also rose, with annual increases reaching 22% in West Cairo and 18% in New Cairo, driven by demand for real estate as a financial hedge amid market instability. Developers introduced flexible payment plans and promotions to stimulate demand, particularly during off-peak seasons.
Ras El-Hekma
The Ras El-Hekma project emerged as a landmark collaboration between Egypt and the UAE, with the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) partnering with ADQ Holding Company. This initiative aims to transform the Ras El-Hekma area into a global Mediterranean coastal destination.
With $150bn in total investment, including a $24bn commitment from ADQ, the project is set to create over 100,000 jobs in the construction and contracting sectors, reducing unemployment while significantly contributing to the economy. The Egyptian government is poised to receive 35% of the project's returns.
Market Facilitation
The Egyptian government introduced measures in 2024 to support developers amid economic challenges. These included direct land allocation mechanisms, reduced reservation fees for large-scale projects, extended project timelines by 20%, and installment payment postponements. Projects were deemed complete once 80% of work, including infrastructure and site coordination, was finalized.
For new cities, a six-month deadline extension was granted, easing pressures on developers. Additional incentives included flexible payment terms, competitive land prices, and opportunities to purchase extra time for project completion. These measures reinforced the government's commitment to stabilizing the real estate sector despite challenging economic conditions.
Resale Resurgence
The resale market experienced a sharp upswing in the first half of 2024, with rising primary market prices driving activity. Inflation, currency depreciation, and higher construction costs prompted many to view real estate as a safe investment. Some buyers capitalized on earlier purchases by reselling properties at higher prices for quick profits.
However, the second half of the year saw a slowdown. The Egyptian pound's devaluation led to hesitation among buyers awaiting price stabilization, while reduced purchasing power and the need for cash payments dampened activity.
Longer Installment Periods
In response to economic pressures, real estate developers have increased the duration of installment plans, making properties more accessible to a wider customer base. These extended payment options help reduce the burden of monthly payments, which in turn attracts more buyers. Developers have noted that this strategy both boosts sales and maintains liquidity, even though longer repayment terms carry higher risks. This trend reflects a broader shift in the Egyptian real estate market as it adapts to rising land and construction costs, as well as higher interest rates. The significant increase in property prices has diminished customers' purchasing power, prompting developers to extend installment periods to better align with clients' financial capabilities. This adjustment follows detailed studies of customer needs. Additionally, a lack of financing options for developers has contributed to this decision, as companies face challenges in securing funds, affecting their ability to meet project deadlines. To accommodate buyers, developers are committed to offering flexible payment solutions, which include down payments of just 10% and extended installment periods of up to 8 years or more, along with cash discounts for purchasers.
More Offers
Recently, real estate companies have started providing various promotions to their clients, including flexible installment plans and additional perks, in response to the high prices at which units were sold during the previous period. Many developers, both large and small, have introduced these offers as a countermeasure to price hikes. With a decrease in construction input costs, developers are revisiting some of the promotions that had disappeared during months of high inflation. For example, developers are now offering benefits such as upgrading units from B grade to A or A+ grade, or even providing full finishes when the contract initially specified a non-finished or semi-finished unit. Some companies have extended payment periods to as long as 10 or 12 years, while others are giving substantial discounts on finishes and contracts. Currently, the market is experiencing a slowdown; although it is not a full recession, it represents a period of relative calm in purchasing activity. In response, companies are advertising new sales advantages to attract a larger customer base, as other developers are offering competitive prices in their new launches.
Exceptional Sales
According to a report by“The Board Consulting,” the total sales of the top 10 real estate companies in Egypt set a new record, reaching EGP 1trn in 2024. This marks a 203% growth compared to the same period last year, reflecting strong demand and significant expansion in North Coast projects. The sales of the top 10 developers in the North Coast exceeded EGP 500bn during the first nine months of the year, accounting for approximately 53% of total sales in the real estate sector across all regions, surpassing sales in both the New Administrative Capital and other areas.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:19Z
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Post the success of Animal, Triptii Dimri has become a darling of the paparazzi, she is often spotted by the paps with her rumoured boyfriend Sam Merchant. On Sunday the actress was once again spotted in the city, sparking renewed curiosity. While the two have been papped together several times, neither has confirmed the relationship.
Allu Arjun Is Alpha Man Max: Rashmika Mandanna EXCLUSIVE On Pushpa 2’s Massive Success
In a recent video, Triptii was seen exiting a restaurant wearing a black t-shirt and denim. At first she posed for the camera and later asked the paparazzi to leave. She was heard saying "Jao jao please" , and soon after Sam Merchant was spotted leaving the same restaurant but the duo refused to pose together. Triptii was also seen at Bryan Adams’s concert in the city recently with Sam, she had shared a series of photos and videos from the venue.
Poll
Are You Surprised by Tripti Dimri and Sam Merchant's Appearance Together?
Triptii’s last release was Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 with
Kartik Aaryan,
Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit-Nene. The film has gone on to become the third biggest hit of Bollywood in 2024 after
Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s Stree 2 and
Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2- The Rule. She will next be seen in Karan Johar backed film Dhadak 2 with Siddhant Chaturvedi, the film is an official remake of Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal and is being directed by Shazia Iqbal and Deena Trudy.The film talks about caste discrimination. Triptii is also rumoured to have been replaced from Anurag Basu and Kartik Aaryan’s next with
Sharvari Wagh, who will next be seen in Aditya Chopra and Ayan Mukerji’s Alpha with Alia Bhatt.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:24Z
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Mazar-I-Sharif's 11Th, 12Th Municipality Districts Get Buildings
Date
12/15/2024 11:05:58 PM
(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News)
MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Buildings for the 11th and 12th Municipality Districts of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, have been built at a cost of 17 million afs and opened for operation, a statement said on Sunday.
Mazar-i-Sharif Mayor Mohammad Kazim Tariq said at the inauguration ceremony of the buildings that the municipality always strived to provide services to the people, and for this purpose, these two buildings were built to provide services to the people, the statement said.
He urged the public to cooperate with the municipality to protect public interest projects and to pay their taxes on time.
Meanwhile, residents of Mazar-e-Sharif expressed satisfaction with the implementation of development projects by the municipality.
Abdul Qayyoum, a resident of Motahid Township in the 12th Municipality District said It is good that a building has been built in this area so that people can easily approach it to solve their problems.
He added that this area was previously part of the seventh district, but due to the remoteness of the road, people's problems were not being addressed in a timely manner.
According to the Mazar-i-Sharif Municipality, 43 projects were launched in the city this year, most of which have been completed and some have been put into operation.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:26Z
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Post Citadel Honey Bunny,
Varun Dhawan is all set to back on the big screen with Atlee and
Kalees’s Baby John- the official adaptation of
Thalapathy Vijay’s Theri. Varun who made his debut with Student of the Year, became a father this year to his daughter Lara.
Poll
Do you enjoy Varun Dhawan’s updates on social media?
Allu Arjun Is Alpha Man Max: Rashmika Mandanna EXCLUSIVE On Pushpa 2’s Massive Success
The actor during his conversation with
Kapil Sharma on his chat show gave an update about his life as a father. He said , “I used to get scolded by one woman before but now there are two. I am learning how to burp her and how to swaddle her. Sometimes when she starts crying I feel terrified. At night, when you are exhausted and she starts crying, I pretend to get up but Natasha gets up before me and goes to soothe her but also go because you feel anxious. ”
In fact in an exclusive interview with ETimes, Varun had also shared his feelings about becoming a first time dad. He said , “ I’m still figuring it out like how responsible I have to be or how much of a kid I can still be. Right now Natasha is doing everything , I have to give her credit, the woman does practically everything initially , the man then comes in and becomes useful . I'm just enjoying playing with her , being a dad is a lot of fun right now and everyday I'm trying to be a better dad … I dont think I'm there yet.
“ I do watch TV at a really low volume now else my wife will throw me out of the house now ( laughs) ”, he added about the change his daughter has brought into his life.
Baby John also stars the newly married Keerthy Suresh,
Wamiqa Gabbi and
Jackie Shroff in leading roles with a big cameo by
Salman Khan.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:30Z
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Fujitsu Recognized As Leader In IDC Marketscape: Worldwide Digital Workplace Services 2024 Vendor Assessment
Date
12/15/2024 11:06:00 PM
(MENAFN- JCN NewsWire) Fujitsu recognized as Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Digital Workplace Services 2024 Vendor Assessment
TOKYO, Dec 16, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu has been recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Digital Workplace Services 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US51812324, November 2024).
Fujitsu is promoting the concept of Work Life Shift , a new human-centered approach that helps people and companies work and live more sustainably.
The Human-Centric Experience Workspace, Fujitsu's digital workplace service, consists of a next-generation service desk that uses AI-powered interactive agents and process automation to help optimize costs and improve the employee experience, and a managed service based on Microsoft 365 that provides total support for the design, deployment, operation, and security of a customer's workplace strategy.
Fujitsu will continue to contribute to the creation of an environment where people can live and work with peace of mind through digital innovation.
About IDC MarketScape:
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.
Related Link: Human-Centric Experience Workspace
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.7 trillion yen (US$26 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: .
Press Contacts
Fujitsu Limited
Public and Investor Relations Division
Inquiries
Source: Fujitsu Ltd
Sectors: Cloud & Enterprise
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:32Z
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The Kapoor family organised a grand three-day event to celebrate
Raj Kapoor's 100th birth anniversary. Many from the film industry and the Kapoor family gathered to honour his iconic legacy.
Vicky Kaushal made a stylish appearance at the event, sporting a sharp double-breasted coat and a black t-shirt. However, his wife,
Katrina Kaif, was noticeably absent from the celebration. Despite her absence, Vicky’s look turned heads, adding a touch of elegance to the gathering.
Poll
Which celebrity do you admire the most?
Check out the photos here:Apart from Vicky, several other celebs made their presence felt at the do.
Alia Bhatt and
Ranbir Kapoor stole the spotlight at the grand event, accompanied by Bollywood icons like Rekha, Neetu Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni,
Mahesh Bhatt, Rasika Duggal, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Boney Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Sharvari, Huma Qureshi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Farhan Akhtar, Akanksha Malhotra, and other prominent stars.
Kareena Kapoor Khan dazzled at the event in a beige suit paired with white flared pants and an intricately embroidered dupatta. A hint of red elevated her look, complemented by a layered necklace. Keeping her makeup minimal and hair loose, she exuded elegance. Kareena arrived hand-in-hand with husband
Saif Ali Khan, who looked dapper in a classic bandhgala, matching pants, and polished formal shoes. The couple turned heads with their impeccable style and charm.
Karisma Kapoor also joined her clan in celebrating the legacy of her grandfather. For the event, she was seen wearing a beige embroidered saree, exuding regal vibes.
Bollywood's beloved couple, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, made a stylish appearance in matching black outfits. Joining them at the event were the elegant mother-son duo, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Agastya Nanda, adding grace and charm to the celebration.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:36Z
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Golden State WarriorsFind the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:38Z
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Rashmika Mandanna is having the time of her career, last year she was part of
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, which went on to mint more than Rs 500 crore at the box office . And now, her latest film Pushpa 2 has already become the 3rd biggest hit of Indian Cinema. The actress is gearing up for her next film, which is going to be The Girlfriend. Vijay Devarakonda recently launched the teaser and also gave the voice over for it.
Poll
Which actor do you enjoy more in movies?
Allu Arjun Is Alpha Man Max: Rashmika Mandanna EXCLUSIVE On Pushpa 2’s Massive Success
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, the actress opened up about how Vijay became part of the film. She said , “ So my director
Rahul Ravindran actually asked Vijay to do the voiceover and I had no clue about it. So Rahul first gave me the teaser with his voice letting me know what he’s doing with it, and I was very happy with it. And few days before the release of the teaser, he sent me one with Vijay’s voice, and I was like what is happening, so Rahul told me that they asked Vijay to do that, and he was very kind and supportive to do it .”
The duo have done Geetha Govindham and Dear Comrade together. Talking about their equation she said, "We've done so much work together, like Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade, were shot for like 1-1 years and thereon he’s been such a comrade, and always been supportive …”
“ The Girlfriend is very special to me as it is a very important story to be told. We still have to shoot few portions for the film and are currently looking for a date to release the film,” she added.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:42Z
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Monrovia — The National Foot Soldiers of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) have thrown their weight behind the upcoming "Citizens Nonstop, Capitol Lockdown" protest, describing it as a decisive stand against what they term as the "oppressive rule" of the Unity Party-led government.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the group urged its members to join the protest, which is being organized by the "Concerned Citizens for the Protection of Our Constitution, Democracy, and the Rule of Law." The demonstration is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December -, 2024, at the Capitol Building in Monrovia.
"We refuse to remain silent," the CDC Foot Soldiers declared. "For posterity to judge any generation rightfully, they must rise up to the occasion and, without fear or silence, say to the powers that be: Enough is enough!"
The CDC Foot Soldiers accused the Unity Party government of reneging on its promises, perpetuating political witch-hunts, failing to address unresolved mysterious deaths, violating constitutional provisions, and overseeing worsening economic hardships.
"They lied to the Liberian people, claiming that immediate past officials of government stole public funds and would be audited and prosecuted," the group stated. "Today, all we see are politically motivated witch-hunts without evidence to pursue their cases in court."
The group also criticized the Boakai-led administration for its failure to address unresolved deaths, citing high-profile cases such as the death of Charlotte Musu, and accused the government of blatant disregard for Supreme Court rulings and tenure protection laws.
"The ruling Unity Party government is using its influence to orchestrate the removal of a legitimately elected Speaker," the statement charged, referencing the ongoing leadership dispute in the House of Representatives. The group alleged that a "self-styled majority bloc" is working against Speaker Fonati Koffa.
The endorsement from the CDC Foot Soldiers comes amidst escalating tensions in the House of Representatives. Attorney General and Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh recently declared that the self-proclaimed majority bloc had the constitutional authority to conduct legislative business -- a position that has been strongly contested by the Koffa-led bloc at the Supreme Court.
The CDC Foot Soldiers further accused the administration of abusing tenure positions and undermining the authority of the judiciary. "Tenure positions are being manipulated, and Supreme Court rulings are being disrespected," the group alleged, referencing claims that Speaker Koffa is being coerced to resign under threats of losing his privileges.
On the economic front, the group blasted the government's policies, particularly its alleged collusion with GSM companies to deprive citizens of data promotions.
"As if the unemployment rate of 96% is not enough, the government has imposed strange economic policies that keep prices high while the exchange rate fluctuates. Now, they have conspired with GSM companies to deny the struggling masses their data packages and other benefits," the statement read.
Framing the protest as a call to action, the CDC Foot Soldiers urged their thousands of supporters to stand in solidarity and challenge the Unity Party-led government. "We call on our members to join this historic assembly and send a clear message to the government: Enough is enough!"
The protest, which organizers have promised will maintain a "nonstop" presence at the Capitol Building, comes at a critical time for the Boakai administration. Already under scrutiny for its handling of the House leadership crisis, the government now faces mounting public pressure to address constitutional concerns and growing economic frustration.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160010.html
| 2024-12-16T05:16:44Z
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The fourth installment of the "Masti" franchise has been announced and its actor
Vivek Oberoi says the "bromance begins".
Vivek on Sunday took to Instagram, where he shared a hilarious video of filmmaker-writer
Milap Zaveri holding onto his co-star
Riteish Deshmukh. In the clip, Zaveri is seen hilariously trying to give a kiss to Riteish and also hugging him.
Vivek wrote as the caption: "Masti4 is now officially a love story... The bromance begins! 20 years of madness since the first one! Sorry, I couldn't make it for the launch boys... Will see you at the shoot super soon."
Actor Aftab Shivadasani took to his Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself holding the film's clapboard. He also shared a picture posing with Riteish and Zaveri. One photograph had the cast, director and veteran star Jeetendra.
Aftab wrote: "The madness begins. The funniest of them so far #masti4."
'Masti', which first released in 2004, was a sex comedy film directed by Indra Kumar, starring Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh,
Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta, Amrita Rao, Tara Sharma, and Genelia D'Souza. The film had two more sequels, 'Grand Masti', which was released in 2013 and 2016's 'Great Grand Masti'.
'Grand Masti' too was directed by Indra Kumar. It had the same actors, yet the film does not continue and is a new installment. The film also stars Bruna Abdullah, Karishma Tanna, Sonalee Kulkarni, Kainaat Arora, Maryam Zakaria and Manjari Fadnis.
Talking about 'Great Grand Masti', the film was a horror sec comedy. Vivek, Riteish and Aftab reprised their roles from the first two installments. However, the third part featured Urvashi Rautela, Shraddha Das, Mishti Chakraborty, Pooja Bose and Sanjay Mishra.
Milap, who will be seen directing the film, has previously worked in 'Shootout at Wadala', 'Satyameva Jayate' and 'Marjaavaan'.
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| 2024-12-16T05:16:48Z
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Nairobi, Kenya — Voters were busy across the globe in 2024 and more than a dozen countries in Africa staged presidential, parliamentary or local elections.
While some of Africa's longtime dominant ruling parties retained power, in others, incumbents went down in surprising and crushing defeats.
Southern Africa
The small archipelago of Comoros -- off Africa's east coast -- was the first to host presidential elections in 2024. Incumbent President Azali Assoumani, a former military officer who first came to power in a coup in 1999, won a fourth term.
Election results were immediately rejected by the opposition, triggering violent protests that killed one and injured 25.
In Mozambique, the Frelimo party won general elections again, extending its nearly 50 years in power. The official results were immediately rejected by opposition leader and runner-up Venancio Mondlane, triggering violent protests in the southern African country.
Many analysts, including Maputo's Center for Democracy and Human Rights' Director Adriano Nuvunga, predicted a Frelimo win despite heavy youth support for Mondlane.
"The terrain is already prepared, regardless of what we see -- the enthusiasm, dynamism of the young people that are rallying behind this opposition candidate," Nuvunga told VOA.
American University's Kwaku Nuamah hopes President Daniel Chapo of Frelimo can extend an olive branch to the opposition to avoid a prolonged conflict in Mozambique. "When you win, you have the responsibility to unite the country. Hopefully, he's able to do that... We don't need another African country going down in flames," Nuamah told VOA.
Similarly, Namibia's ruling party SWAPO retained power after many decades of governance but made history by electing its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Her main challenger, however, called the elections flawed, after multiple examples of election day technical difficulties and ballot paper shortages were documented.
Unlike Mozambique, Comoros, and Namibia, Botswana ushered in a new era by electing a leader from the opposition for the first time in nearly 60 years, following decades of rule by one party.
"Let's carry those who came before us, those we have today and those who will come after us, to greater heights," Duma Gideon Boko addressing supporters at his swearing-in ceremony.
Elections were peaceful in neighboring South Africa, but the outcome predicted by some surprised many. The African National Congress, in power since 1994 -- when Nelson Mandela was elected president following the end of apartheid -- failed to win the elections with an outright majority, forcing it for the first time to form a coalition government.
Simphiwe Malambo, an architect in South Africa. welcomed the change telling VOA "The ANC is finally going to be in a position where they have to reconsider how they've been approaching running the country."
While ANC leaders asserted the country made progress under its stewardship, many voters expressed dissatisfaction with the government's failure to deliver reliable electricity and other services. Allegations of corruption and disunity within the party played a role in the ANC's ability to win a majority.
"[Former President] Jacob Zuma's party Mkhonto We Sizwe or MK has been completely unexpected. It arrived on the scene quite late in the run up to the elections and completely scrambled everything," Daryl Glaser, University of Witwatersrand in South Africa told VOA a few days before the vote took place.
East Africa
In Rwanda's elections, President Paul Kagame, in power for 30 years, won almost 100% of the vote. Some analysts credit Kagame for bringing peace, unity, and economic development to Rwanda after the country's 1994 genocide.
"Voters want a leader who provides solutions for them... The achievement is tangible. You can see it," analyst Teddy Kaberuka tells VOA.
But others like Strathmore University professor Edgar Githua question his popularity within the country.
"If you have a vote where 98% of a population vote for one candidate, that is a red flag. Nobody is that popular in this world," he said.
A 2022 Human Rights Watch report said the space for political opposition and free media remained closed in the east African country.
West Africa
In West Africa, where a wave of coups recently dominated the political landscape, two countries seen as beacons of democracy didn't disappoint.
In Ghana, after serving only one term about a decade ago, President John Mahama made a stunning comeback in 2024 and beat the country's ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
University of Ghana's senior lecturer Kwame Asah-Asante told VOA that many voters in the country were thinking about the economy and their financial situations when they cast ballots because "it's a bread-and-butter issue. We've seen time and again that anytime you have a very difficult economy, campaigning becomes difficult for the government of the day," he said.
Ghana is the second largest cocoa producer in the world, but the country defaulted on most of its $30 billion external debt in 2022 after the effects of years of borrowing were made worse by the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mahama vows to cultivate a 24-hour business environment -- enabling businesses and public institutions to operate 24/7, in three shifts of eight hours each -- to bolster job creation and improve the economy.
In Senegal, little-known opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, became Africa's youngest president. Faye promised to fight corruption, rebuild institutions, and unite the country.
His election victory -- just a few weeks after getting out of prison -- followed a failed attempt by outgoing President Macky Sall to postpone the election process, plunging the country into a brief political crisis.
"It was very interesting, very educational scenario for those who are learning about democracy," analyst Kaberuka told VOA about the Senegal vote.
Sahel region
While elections went on as planned in most African nations, they've been postponed in others including the ones plagued by coups in the Sahel, signaling military juntas' intention to stay in power, analysts warn.
Elections were officially postponed in Mali and Burkina Faso and Niger's junta spoke of a three-year transition.
According to the 2024 rankings on media freedom by Reporters Without Borders, already-high restrictions on access to information increased in the Sahel, where several countries suspended local retransmissions of foreign broadcast media.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160015.html
| 2024-12-16T05:16:50Z
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Vivek Oberoi recently spoke about the struggles he faced in Bollywood. He shared how the pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle can be tough, especially during financial hardships.
At the Franchise India event, Vivek Oberoi opened up about the ups and downs of his acting career. He shared valuable lessons he learned from his journey.
The actor compared the film industry to a rollercoaster, explaining how success can make one feel unstoppable, with the world cheering them on, while failure can be just as challenging and isolating.
The 'Omkara' star shared how his career highs and lows taught him how quickly an actor's circumstances can change, often leading to financial struggles. He revealed that he once measured his success by the number of bouquets he received on his birthday.
He explained, "When you are doing well, there's no place in the house for the bouquets that come in from producers, directors, co-stars; it's just filled up. And when your films are not doing well, the number of bouquets starts to reduce, and you realize, 'Oh! I am not doing too well, am I?'".
He spoke about the social pressure on Bollywood actors to maintain a certain lifestyle, which often comes at a great cost. This realization motivated him to build a parallel career as a businessman, ensuring he wouldn’t have to take up films purely for financial reasons.
"This is what has empowered me today, where I don't need to do a movie that I don't believe in, or I don't like the script because dal-roti chalani hai, EMI bharna hai", he said."
Further he highlighted the misconception that actors live stress-free lives, explaining that they face unique challenges. He shared how actors get used to a certain lifestyle and feel social pressure to maintain it, which demands significant financial resources.
On the professional front, Vivek was last seen in
Rohit Shetty's web series 'Indian Police Force', alongside
Sidharth Malhotra and
Shilpa Shetty.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/vivek-oberoi-shares-insights-on-balancing-fame-lifestyle-and-financial-struggles-i-dont-need-to-do-a-movie-that-i-dont-believe-in-/articleshow/116334769.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:16:54Z
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The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has expressed profound gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden for its confirmation of an additional $592,000 in funding to support the ongoing Green, Inclusive, and Resilient Liberian Communities (GIRL) Project in the southeastern region. The GIRL project, which began in 202,3, aims to enhance community resilience, promote climate change adaptation, and strengthen local capacity in health and disaster risk reduction in communities in Sinoe, Grand Kru, and River Gee countries.s
The Swedish Embassy, as a key donor for the three-year GIRL project, was impressed by the significant progress made since the project began in 2023 and confirmed the additional funding during the December 9 annual review meeting with the Liberian Red Cross. The annual review meeting was organized for both partners to assess the project's progress, impact, and challenges.
The GIRL Project has already made substantial strides in addressing disaster risks, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and improving community-based health care, and with the additional funding, the Liberia Red Cross will further expand the project from 12 communities to 45 communities in the three counties.
The Secretary General of the Liberian Red Cross, Gregory Blamoh, stated: "This additional funding from the Swedish Embassy is a true testament to the progress we have made together under the GIRL Project and also underscores the Swedish Government's commitment to empowering Liberian communities and building resilience".
Mr. Blamoh added that the additional funding will allow the Red Cross to reach and address the needs of more communities facing the harsh realities of climate change. "With these resources, we will strengthen community structures, enhance livelihoods, and improve access to safe water and health care while building resilience against future disasters," he added.
Mr. Blamoh further noted climate change continues to pose a serious threat to vulnerable communities in Liberia but added that the new funding enables the Red Cross to equip more communities with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to adapt and thrive. "By expanding our efforts, we are responding to immediate needs and laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term development."
The LNRCS acknowledges the pivotal role of its partners, notably the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Red Cross, in making this project a success. "We are deeply grateful to the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Red Cross for their unwavering partnership and trust in our work."
Looking Ahead: The Liberian Red Cross remains committed to addressing local needs and fostering sustainable development through innovative and impactful initiatives like the GIRL Project. As the project scales up, it will bring transformative change to more communities, improving lives and fostering resilience in the face of climate change.-Press release.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160016.html
| 2024-12-16T05:16:57Z
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Alabama football faces a critical offseason ahead of the 2025 campaign. Head coach Kalen DeBoer is already dealing with players exiting through the transfer portal. The Crimson Tide's playoff snub adds to the restlessness in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama, however, still boasts the resources and appeal to win over recruits. And the Tide look bound to attract numerous players in the portal.
There are some notable portal names who have immediately chosen others programs, though. Micah Hudson is one who goes from Texas Tech to Texas A&M. Luke Hasz was a reported portal target by Bama247's Brett Greenberg. The former Arkansas tight end chose Southeastern Conference rival Ole Miss instead on Saturday.
So who remains as a top target in the 2024-25 portal for Alabama? Time to take a dive.
Kevin ‘KC' Concepcion, wide receiver, North Carolina State
With Hudson off the portal market, Kevin “KC” Concepcion becomes one of the last remaining high-profile portal targets at WR.
Concepcion left the Wolf Pack as a 2023 top freshman in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He leaves Raleigh catching 124 total passes, 1,299 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns.
Alabama hosted the former NC State WR on a Thursday visit. The Tide have leverage to land Concepcion through one Alabama staff member outside of DeBoer. Director of Recruiting Jatavis Sanders helped recruit Concepcion to NC State before heading to Tuscaloosa. Greenberg adds Concepcion spent time with prized Tide freshman Ryan Williams on his visit.
Mario Craver, wide receiver, Mississippi State
Concepcion isn't the only potential new WR inside Bryant Denny Stadium. The Tide look high on a Southeastern Conference rival.
The true freshman caught 17 passes for 368 yards and scored three times this past season for Mississippi State. Craver even listed Alabama as one of his top four portal possibilities back on Friday.
A Tuscaloosa visit is set for Monday, according to 247Sports' Greenberg.
Kelby Collins, edge/linebacker, Florida
Alabama could swoop up another SEC talent here. This one out of the Sunshine State, but coming with local ties.
Kelby Collins left the state of Alabama as a four-star signing to Florida in the 2023 class. The Tide appear to be trying to coax the Gardendale native back home. Collins is leaving Gainesville with 29 career tackles, seven solo stops and 1.5 career sacks.
Collins made his rounds to Texas A&M. However, Alabama earned a visit from him Friday, per Greenberg.
Mansoor Delane, cornerback, Virginia Tech
Julian Humphrey was one of the top portal cornerbacks out of Georgia. Humphrey since relocated to Texas A&M. But Mansoor Delane is a past Atlantic Coast Conference star to watch if you're an Alabama fan.
Delane ranks as one of the best remaining CBs left in the portal. He grabbed four interceptions for the Hokies while forcing two fumbles. He's posted back-to-back 54 tackle seasons as well. Delane excelled in coverage as well, allowing only 34 catches on 72 targets according to Brian Dohn of 247Sports.
Dohn also reports Delane has a future visit to Alabama in the works.
Amos Talalele, offensive lineman, USC
Amos Talalele gets us diving back to offense and the trenches.
He's one of the more imposing options left at an astonishing 6-foot-4, 340-pounds. He logged six games and 102 total snaps as a redshirt freshman for the Trojans.
Talalele tells Brandon Huffman of 247Sports that he's in contact with Alabama. No official word yet on a visit.
Gavriel Lightfoot, defensive tackle, Fresno State
Maybe DeBoer can work one of his previous school connections here.
Gavriel Lightfoot is rising as one intriguing interior defensive lineman still available in the portal. Lightfoot has lured in Houston, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Virginia, and Colorado offers since entering the portal.
But here's where DeBoer comes into play: Lightfoot was one of his final offers when the Alabama head coach was at Fresno State. Jeff Tedford managed to honor Lightfoot's scholarship in replacing DeBoer. Lightfoot and DeBoer could finally work together, especially if both parties are interested. But Lightfoot brings the tenacity and run-stuffing background that can win over Tide fans.
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https://clutchpoints.com/alabama-football-news-top-6-targets-in-2024-25-transfer-portal
| 2024-12-16T05:16:58Z
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This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.
In the summer of 2024, Caroline Davis and her partner were doing a DIY home project that required 1,500 pounds of gravel. So Davis headed to a home improvement store, and started filling up her Toyota Corolla with 50-pound bags.
"I'm loading, loading. And this older man comes over," she recalled. "And he says, 'Do you know that your car has a weight limit?'"
Davis did not know that. It had never even occurred to her that she could damage her car with a heavy load.
"That feels to me like something your dad would tell you," Davis said. Her dad had died of a heart attack in 2017, at the age of 57.
"So I'm doing DIY later in life," she said. "I didn't [learn] that from him."
Davis started to feel overwhelmed; how was she going to unload the gravel from her car and bring it back to the store? And then how would she transport all the gravel she needed back home for her project? That's when the man made an offer of unusual generosity.
"He says, 'I can load you up in my truck. Do you live nearby?' And I say, 'Yes,'" Davis said.
The man helped her unload all the gravel from her car, and then loaded it into his truck. They exchanged numbers, and she shared her address. When she pulled onto the highway, the kindness of what he had done began to hit her.
"I just start to cry in my car because I was so grateful for the goodness of strangers, of this person helping me," Davis said.
"The whole interaction just reminded me of my dad, of knowing that that's something that he would do."
When they arrived at her house, the man helped her unload all 1,500 pounds of gravel onto her driveway. She thanked him, again and again, and he insisted that she not worry about it.
Davis didn't want him to leave empty-handed. She tried to offer him money, then wine, but he wouldn't accept them. Then she thought of something he might like.
"I have a garden. And it's the end of the season. And I just say, 'Do you like cucumbers?'" Davis recalled.
"He's been pretty serious up until now," she said. "And his face just lights up and he says, 'I love cucumbers.'"
She offered him a tour of the garden; it turned out he, too, had been a gardener, before his work got in the way. Davis twisted a handful of big, prickly cucumbers off the vine, and gave them to the man. He seemed thrilled.
"He tucks them under his arm, and he just marches off back to his truck," she said. "And I watched him drive off, leaving behind my 1,500 pounds of gravel."
Today, inspired by her unsung hero, Davis tries to be on the lookout for others who might need a hand.
"I just am so grateful for people like that, who teach me the things I don't know I don't know."
My Unsung Hero is also a podcast — new episodes are released every Tuesday. To share the story of your unsung hero with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice memo on your phone and send it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-12-14/thats-something-that-he-would-do-a-strangers-generosity-reminded-her-of-her-dad
| 2024-12-16T05:16:58Z
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A Middle East expert has stated that if Israel or the United States decides to attack Iran, the move will be “blessed” because “it will bring more peace and stability to the world.”
Speaking to ILTV News, Dr. Mordechai Kedar said that President-Elect Donald Trump’s suggestion of a preemptive strike against Iranian nuclear sites is likely the only way to prevent the rogue regime from obtaining a nuclear bomb. He emphasized that diplomacy is not—and never was—an option.
“There was never any diplomatic way to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon,” Kedar told ILTV. “They were marching forward with their nuclear program, in spite of all the negotiations, and, in fact, in spite of all the agreements. And unfortunately, the world, especially the western world, who doesn't understand anything in the Middle East, fell in this pit time and again.”
Watch the full interview:
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https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkhppqpnjl
| 2024-12-16T05:16:58Z
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Malaika Arora and
Arjun Kapoor’s recent breakup has left their fans stunned. Arjun confirmed the split during a recent promotional event for his latest film, 'Singham Again'. In the past, Arjun had openly discussed his plans for marriage with Malaika during an episode of '
Koffee With Karan'.
He appeared alongside Aditya Roy Kapur on one of the episodes of 'Koffee With Karan 8', where he shared insights into his relationship with Malaika. During the conversation, host Karan Johar asked Arjun if he had any future plans with Malaika. Arjun responded, "At this point, I prefer to let things unfold naturally. I think it’s unfair to discuss the future without her being here. The most respectful thing is for us to talk about it together when the time comes. I’m really happy with where I am, and we’ve made it through everything to be in this comfortable, happy space."
Malaika Arora opens up about her wedding plans with Arjun Kapoor, wants to take it 'one step at a time'
Arjun emphasised that speaking about the relationship alone would not do it justice. Malaika and Arjun started dating after her divorce from actor Arbaaz Khan in 2016. Recently, Malaika has sparked rumours of a new relationship with stylist Rahul Vijay. At a recent concert of AP Dhillon, Malaika was seen making a surprise entry on stage and sharing a warm hug with Dhillon. She shared a picture with Rahul, where she was seen vibing at the concert with him. The Instagram stories of both Rahul and Malaika sparked rumours about their relationship.
On the work front, Arjun has received widespread praise for his performance in Rohit Shetty’s 'Singham Again'. The movie, which hit theatres on November 1, earned around Rs 230 crore in total.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/when-arjun-kapoor-reacted-to-questions-about-his-marriage-plans-with-malaika-arora-i-prefer-to-let-things-unfold-naturally/articleshow/116226671.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:17:00Z
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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso up till July next year to reconsider their planned withdrawal from the regional bloc.
In a communique after their meeting yesterday at the Presidential Villa Abuja, the regional body noted the decision of the three countries to withdraw from ECOWAS but stated that officially they would cease to be members from 29 January 2025.
The presidents of Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal attended the 66th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in person alongside the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Finance Minister of the Benin Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo, and the Ambassador of Cape Verde to Nigeria.
The communique read by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, said "The authority takes note of the notification by Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.
"The authority acknowledges that in accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from 29 January, 2025.
"The authority decides to set the period from 29 January, 2025 to 29 July 2025 as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period.
The communique added, "In this regard, the authority extends the mandate of President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.
"Without prejudice for the spirit of the opening, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after the deadline of 29th January, 2025 and to draw up a contingency plan covering various areas."
The authority also directed the Council of Ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso.
ECOWAS also commended the exemplary diplomatic engagement of President Faye of the Republic of Senegal, and President Gnassingbé of Togolese Republic, and the diplomatic efforts of the chairman of authority, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other individual member states towards these three countries.
Before the ECOWAS meeting, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger reaffirmed as "irreversible" their decision to quit the bloc, which they condemned as subservient to ex-colonial ruler France.
Senegal's President Faye was appointed as a mediator with the breakaway states by the 15-member ECOWAS in July.
Faye said last week he was "making progress" in talks with the three and said there was no reason for them not to maintain relations, especially given the security situation.
The three states have also formed their own confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), after severing ties with France and moving towards Russia.
The three breakaways held a separate ministerial-level meeting Friday in Niger's capital, Niamey.
The three states have all gone through military coups and jihadist insurgencies in recent years.
Tensions with ECOWAS spiked after the group threatened a military intervention over a July 2023 coup in Niger - the region's sixth in three years - and imposed heavy sanctions on the country.
Togo's President Gnassingbe has also been mediating with the Sahel states.
In March, ECOWAS lifted some of the sanctions imposed on Niger in a bid to restart dialogue, especially over the fate of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum who has been detained since the coup.
The departure of the three could have a major impact on free trade and movement as well as on security cooperation in a region where jihadist groups are gaining ground across the Sahel.
Speaking about the new development, Ambassador Suleiman Dahiru, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Brazil and other countries, said the three Sahelian countries had no intention of reversing their decision to exit ECOWAS having gone ahead to create their own body and develop their own International Passport.
Amb Dahiru said with their exit, ECOWAS would be losing another three members after losing Mauritania earlier.
The former diplomat noted that their final exit would impact movement and economic activities within the region as visa would now be needed for citizens to travel to ECOWAS countries and vice versa.
In the security aspect, Amb Dahiru is not expecting much difference from what is currently playing out, assuring that Niger would continue to protect its own side of the border with Nigeria and will continue to battle insurgents on its soil while Nigeria will continue to do the same at its own end.
The former envoy, however, expressed fears that the final withdrawal of the trio could trigger more withdrawers from the Francophone countries, adding that they have strong cooperation among them.
He therefore urged ECOWAS to continue to restrategise to meet the yearnings of member states.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS meeting, Chairman of the regional bloc and President Tinubu urged leaders in West Africa to draw inspiration from Ghana's recent peaceful elections as a model of democratic maturity and commitment to national unity.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission commended Nigeria for paying 100 per cent of its community levy for 2023 and substantial remittances for 2024, reflecting Nigeria's leadership and commitment under President Tinubu.
"For the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has paid 100% of its community levy from 2023. I'm therefore pleased to announce that on Friday, December 13, 2024, Nigeria paid N85 billion and $54 million, representing 100% of the 2023 levy and the 2024 levy up to July 2024," he said.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160019.html
| 2024-12-16T05:17:03Z
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The Cleveland Cavaliers head to New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets Monday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Cavaliers-Nets prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.
Here are the Cavaliers-Nets NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Cavaliers-Nets Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers: -9.5 (-108)
Moneyline: -430
Brooklyn Nets: +9.5 (-112)
Moneyline: +340
Over: 219.5 (-110)
Under: 219.5 (-110)
How To Watch Cavaliers-Nets
Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, YES Network
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30)*
Why the Cavaliers Could Cover the Spread/Win
Cleveland's hype has fallen off a little bit, but there is really no reason for that. They are 22-4 on the season, and they are one of the best teams on both ends of the court this season. Offensively, the Cavaliers are second in the NBA with 121.2 points per game. They are also the only team to be shooting over 50 percent from the field, and they have the highest three-point percentage in the league at 39.9 percent. If the Cavaliers can continue to be one of the top offensive teams, they will be able to win this game.
Cleveland has allowed the 11th-fewest points per game this season at 111.2 points. Along with that, opponents have the eighth-lowest field goal percentage against them. The Nets score the 11th-fewest points per game, so the Cavaliers should be able to keep their scoring to a minimum in this one. To make matters worse for Brooklyn, Cam Thomas remains out with an injury, and they just traded away their next best scorer in Dennis Schroder. As long as the Cavaliers stay tough on defense, they will be able to win this game by a large margin.
Why the Nets Could Cover the Spread/Win
Brooklyn has to be able to play good defense Monday night. They did play the Cavaliers tough in their first matchup, though. In that game, the Nets lost, but they held the Cavaliers to just 105 points. Cleveland shot the ball well, but the Nets did a great job at slowing down the pace and making sure the Cavaliers did not get a lot of chances to score. Cleveland had just four offensive rebounds, and they turned the ball over 14 times. If Brooklyn can have a similar game Monday night, they will have a great chance to cover the spread.
The Nets make the third-most threes per game in the NBA, and they have the fourth-best three-point percentage. This is important as the Cavaliers do not do a great job defending the three. In their first meeting, Brooklyn knocked down 15 shots from beyond the arc. Brooklyn may not have Schroder anymore, but there are other players on the team capable of hitting shots from deep. If the Nets can hit their threes, they will have a chance to cover the spread.
Final Cavaliers-Nets Prediction & Pick
I do not think the Nets are a good team this season, and they are even worse now that Schroder is headed to Golden State. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are the best team int he NBA. They can score, defend, and they are healthy for the most part. For that reason, I am going to take the Cavaliers to not only win this game on the road, but cover the spread, as well.
Final Cavaliers-Nets Prediction & Pick: Cavaliers -9.5 (-108)
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https://clutchpoints.com/cavaliers-vs-nets-predictions-odds-pick-12-16-2024
| 2024-12-16T05:17:04Z
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As the mystery grows around the drones flying over New Jersey, so do the calls from puzzled residents to authorities about the flying machines. Reports of drone sightings have spread from New Jersey to other states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and Ohio.
Federal authorities on Sunday repeated assurances that the drones are not a security threat. But they still don't know where they came from or who is responsible.
Meanwhile, some state and federal officials called for Congress to pass expanded legislation that would give federal authorities greater resources to mitigate risks from drones.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC News' This Week on Sunday that the federal government has deployed additional resources, including personnel and technology, to assist New Jersey State Police with addressing drone sightings and that the Biden administration remains "vigilant" in investigating the drone sightings.
"There's no question that people are seeing drones," he added, but noted that some of the recent sightings on the East Coast are likely crewed aircraft or duplicate sightings.
He called for Congress to act quickly to extend and expand the current drone-countering authorities — authorized in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018 — which are set to expire on Dec. 20. The law enables the Homeland Security and Justice Departments to use advanced detection technologies to identify, track and mitigate drones.
"It is critical, as we all have said for a number of years, that we need from Congress additional authorities to address the drone situation," Mayorkas said in the ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos.
A joint congressional subcommittee hearing held last week centered on a bipartisan bill — called the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act — that would expand federal drone-countering measures, like bolstering the FAA's oversight powers of drones.
The federal government is also sending a drone detection system to New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday.
"I am grateful for the support, but we need more," she said on X. Passing the Counter-UAS legislation, she said in a separate statement, "will give New York and our peers the authority and resources required to respond to circumstances like we face today."
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said on Fox News Sunday, "There's a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now."
"'We don't know' is not a good enough answer," he said, in reference to what he said is a lack of information from federal agencies.
Drone activity over the weekend forced a pause on air traffic in at least two states. The New York Stewart International Airport runways shut down for an hour on Friday night after the FAA reported drone sightings in the area, a spokesperson confirmed.
In Ohio, there was a temporary closure of the airspace above Wright Patterson Air Force Base between Friday night and Saturday morning after "small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over" the base, base spokesman Bob Purtiman told NPR member station WVXU.
During a call with reporters on Saturday, a Pentagon spokesperson acknowledged that there had also been sightings of drones over two military installations in New Jersey, at Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, but said such sightings are typical.
"This is not a new issue for us," the Joint Staff spokesperson said, according to the Pentagon's news service. "We've had to deal with drone incursions over our bases for quite a time now. It's something that we routinely respond to in each and every case when reporting is cited."
Still unclear who is responsible for drone activity
The military maintained over the weekend that there were no signs of foreign adversary involvement.
"To date, we have no intelligence or observations that would indicate that they were aligned with a foreign actor or that they had malicious intent," the Pentagon spokesperson said. "But ... we don't know. We have not been able to locate or identify the operators or the points of origin."
The spokesperson also said the drones are frustrating the Department of Defense, adding that the military has "limited authorities" to investigate outside military installations in the U.S., and is also prohibited from conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations that could help determine the origins of the drones.
"We don't know what the activity is," the Pentagon news service quoted the spokesperson as saying. "We don't know ... if it is criminal. But I will tell you that it is irresponsible."
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-12-15/as-drone-sightings-spread-across-east-coast-federal-officials-still-dont-know-much
| 2024-12-16T05:17:05Z
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Deepika Padukone and
Ranveer Singh have always been open about their deep love for each other, and their bond continues to inspire fans. Ranveer is often praised for expressing his affection for Deepika in unique ways. Earlier, in an episode of Koffee With Karan, Deepika shared a personal story about how Ranveer supported her during her mental health struggles.
Poll
Do You Think It's Important for Partners to Create a Safe Space for Each Other?
The first episode of Season 8 of Koffee With Karan, which aired on 26th October 2023, featured Deepika and Ranveer together for a chat for the first time since their wedding in 2018. Deepika opened up about her own experiences with mental health challenges, seeking help, and the importance of discussing such issues. She shared how she had battled depression and how Ranveer created a supportive environment for her. She explained, “I think he (Ranveer) understands mental illness better now than before. He created a safe space where I could be vulnerable and communicate, especially when I didn’t know how to express what I was feeling.” She also highlighted that Ranveer never tried to fix her by offering suggestions but was simply present for her during tough times.
Deepika Padukone reveals Ranveer Singh two timed his ex and her
The 'Pathaan' actress recalled a particular moment in 2014 when she had a blackout while the 'Singham Again' actor was shooting. She called him, and he immediately left the set to be with her. “When I saw her, I knew something wasn’t right,” Ranveer recalled. “She was physically there, but mentally she wasn’t.”
Ranveer also spoke about feeling helpless during some of Deepika’s darker moments. He shared a memory when Deepika was crying at the breakfast table, and he didn’t know how to comfort her. “I knew something was very wrong when she was sitting across from me, just crying, with no explanation,” he said. To support her, he called her family to stay with them. Deepika remembered how she felt better when her family was with her but had another breakdown when they left. It was at that moment her mother decided that Deepika might need professional help, leading to consultations with a psychologist.
Deepika and Ranveer, married in 2018, welcomed their first child, Dua Padukone Singh, in September this year.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/when-deepika-padukone-said-ranveer-singh-created-a-safe-space-for-her-while-she-faced-mental-health-struggles/articleshow/116226610.cms
| 2024-12-16T05:17:06Z
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ILTV News anchor Sivan Raviv has praised former Sky News Australia anchor Erin Molan, who was dismissed from the outlet following widespread criticism of her outspoken support for Israel over the past year and since October 7.
“Erin, your bravery in reporting the truth about Israel has not gone unnoticed,” Raviv said Sunday during the ILTV Daily News report. “As a fellow anchor and journalist here in Israel, I want to tell you that your courage and unwavering commitment to presenting the realities of this region are truly inspiring in a world where reporting on Israel often invites disproportionate criticism.”
She continued, “You stood tall and spoke with integrity. You are a role model for journalists everywhere who strive to tell the truth, no matter the personal or professional cost. We deeply appreciate your voice and your work, and I wish you nothing but success and strength in the next chapter of your career.”
Molan, who is neither Jewish nor Israeli, is known for her bold and unapologetic style as she stood firm in defending Israel's right to self-defense amid the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. Her coverage highlighted the complex realities of the conflict, including the role of terrorism and its impact on Israeli civilians—topics she argued were often overlooked in international reporting.
Despite her efforts to provide a perspective often marginalized in global media, Molan faced significant backlash from some viewers and activists who accused her of bias and insensitivity toward Palestinians. Critics targeted her social media posts and on-air comments, which condemned Hamas while calling for more nuanced reporting on the region.
Supporters, however, praised her for speaking the truth and challenging what they saw as double standards in media narratives about Israel.
Sky News stated that Molan’s dismissal was a business decision, though many speculate the move was influenced by the controversy surrounding her stance on Israel.
|
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rk11so76ekl
| 2024-12-16T05:17:05Z
|
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked claims that it has offered former President Goodluck Jonathan its ticket to vie for the 2027 presidential election.
In 2007, late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Jonathan won the presidential election as the PDP candidate. However, in 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as president following Yar'Adua's death. Jonathan subsequently won the 2011 presidential election under PDP but lost a return bid to President
Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. That loss sent PDP in opposition status after serving as ruling party since 1999.
Considering PDP's ongoing internal divisions and problems, many believe that the former president could be a useful candidate for the party.
Recently, groups have called on the former president to contest the presidency in 2027. However, there is no official expression of interest from Jonathan to run for the presidency again yet.
But deputy national publicity secretary of PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, in an interview with BBC Hausa yesterday, the party has not reserved its 2027 ticket for Jonathan.
He said, "It is not true that the PDP is wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the presidency in 2027."
Abdullahi said although Jonathan has rights to vie for the presidency again under relevant Nigerian laws, the party has not requested him to run for the election.
"He could contest the presidency and he deserves it. He is still allowed to serve the nation as president for another tenure," he explained.
He argued that the former president is a bonafide member of the PDP, hence it is pointless for the party to run after him to contest any elective position under the party.
Abdullahi said the PDP did not talk to Jonathan about the need for him to run, adding that the party does not think he was the only one who could contest the presidency for the PDP.
He said the PDP has 12 governors, and they have many potential presidential aspirants, who are prominent politicians as well.
To him, the party will not keep on waiting for one person. He said it should be recalled that Jonathan is the same person that APC attempted to convince to contest for it when President Muhammadu Buhari completed his tenure in 2019.
|
https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160020.html
| 2024-12-16T05:17:09Z
|
Let's go ahead and preface this with the almost certain fact that this trade won't happen. The Los Angeles Angels despise their crosstown neighbors, the Los Angeles Dodgers. That hatred likely grew even more when former Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million dollar deal with the Dodgers last offseason. If the Halos then decided to trade franchise icon Mike Trout to the home residents of Dodger Stadium, the uproar at the Angels would be immense. Owner Arte Moreno and GM Perry Minasian would bear the brunt of the ire.
Yet, for a few moments, let's play the other side. Let's say some set of unlikely events occur, and the Angels decide to move on from Trout and his massive contract. There's no doubt that at least a few teams would be interested in bringing one of the best players of a generation on board. At least a couple big market clubs in addition to the Dodgers would love to have him. In this scenario though, the Dodgers offer far and away the best package for Trout, and Minasian (likely with Moreno and manager Ron Washington's go-ahead) accepts. What type of haul would the former Anaheim Angels need in order to let Trout likely finish his career elsewhere?
Mike Trout could finally win World Series with Dodgers
The team that the Dodgers have built over general manager Brandon Gomes and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman's reign has been one that can beat you in a variety of ways. While this type of deal wouldn't solve their biggest flaw (their starting pitching), it would make the lineup an absolutely overwhelming advantage. The Dodgers already have a top three filled with former MVPs: Ohtani, shortstop Mookie Betts, and first baseman Freddie Freeman. Adding Trout might make them favorites to win the World Series once again in 2025.
The team already signed free agent outfielder Michael Conforto to a one-year deal, likely to start in left field. Tommy Edman, James Outman and Andy Pages can all play center field, and one of them could play right field while the second one plays center. Trout, by trade, is a center fielder. However, moving him to right field would likely save his body some major wear and tear. Center field is arguably the most physically demanding defensive position, outside of catcher. Keeping Trout's legs fresher in right (with some spot starts in center) might keep him healthier long term.
Let's say in addition to acquiring Trout, the team also acquires an arm like Reid Detmers or Chase Silseth to compete for a spot in the rotation or become a long reliever/ swingman type out of the bullpen. If the Dodgers can give up a package headlined by a major-league ready young player or two, plus another ancillary piece, then this is something the Angels would consider. Giving up a fourth player would likely clinch the deal. So, who should Minasian and the Angels look to target in this hypothetical deal?
Angels need to fully embrace rebuild if they trade Trout
Any package that the Dodgers offer the Angels needs to start with top prospect Dalton Rushing. A catcher by trade, Rushing learned the outfield on the fly last season in an effort to possibly bring him up to the majors as soon as they could. He didn't make it to Los Angeles, but he's ready to contribute at the major league level. He likely wouldn't start at catcher due to the presence of fellow young backstop Logan O'Hoppe. However, he can continue to learn left field in the majors on a regular basis. Rushing would be the centerpiece of the deal.
Justin Wrobleski would be the second major-league ready player that Minasian and the Angels front office should ask for. He made his major league debut last year, and had a rocky few starts. However, he showed flashes of being a capable starter at the major league level. The Halos' rotation isn't too bad, as they just added free agent Yusei Kikuchi to a group that includes Detmers, Silseth, former Dodger Tyler Anderson and ex-Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. Wrobleski would give them another option for the last spot in the rotation and could contribute in other ways as well.
Lower-level prospects like outfielder Zyhir Hope and shortstop Joendry Vargas, as well as other potential major league contributors like reliever Ben Casparius, could in on a potential deal. Let's say the final package is something like this: Trout and Detmers to the Dodgers for Rushing, Wrobleski, Hope and Casparius.
Would that be enough to allow the Angels to let their franchise cornerstone walk? Would it be enough to potentially see him in Dodger blue for the rest of his career? To watch Trout and Ohtani potentially torment them just like they did for so long while calling Angel Stadium home? The answer should be this: whatever it takes to get the Angels back to a World Series title the fastest. Tearing it down and building something new is likely that fastest route. If Trout needs to leave for this to happen, then so be it.
|
https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-angels-mike-trout-unrealistic-trade-that-would-shake-up-mlb-offseason
| 2024-12-16T05:17:10Z
|
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
We want to turn back now to the conversation of holiday movies. It is a thing here on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, and a lot of our staff have strong feelings and opinions about them. But one of our producers, Elena Burnett, might top them all. She has some pretty serious rules about what to watch and when.
(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)
ELENA BURNETT, BYLINE: So the most sacred - on the 24th, Christmas Eve, we watch "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" - the Chuck Jones version, not the Jim Carrey version.
..."Charlie Brown Christmas" - you know, earlier in the season, it's more laid back. We go through "Elf," "Nativity"...
...Claymation Christmas - "Scrooge," "It's A Wonderful Life."
...Some of the more special ones, "A Christmas Story"...
DETROW: So it was very clear we had to continue this conversation in studio. Elena, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
BURNETT: Thank you. Bring it on.
DETROW: So we are here to argue about "The Polar Express," which we will do. But before we get to "The Polar Express," walk me through why it is so important to you and your family to watch specific movies on specific dates in a specific order.
BURNETT: I think it's something that kind of just evolved because for me and our - and my family, Christmas movies are so atmospheric. And so for the really - the ones that feel really Christmasy (ph), we got to wait. We got to wait 'cause otherwise it feels like you're starting the season too early.
DETROW: And before we continue, I do have to point out you're wearing reindeer antlers we talk.
BURNETT: Yeah.
DETROW: Yeah.
BURNETT: Yeah. This is my season. This is - I take this seriously.
DETROW: So "The Polar Express," why do you like it? - because I think it is very likely I am watching "The Polar Express" tonight with my family, but I have a lot of problems with it.
BURNETT: You're definitely in the majority. I've definitely, I think, spent more hours of my life defending "The Polar Express" than I have watching it. I feel sad for y'all. For me, it's a beautiful story about growing up.
DETROW: This really puts me on the offensive to dispute that. OK, so here's what I would say. I would say the book by Chris Van Allsburg, it's a beautiful book, one of my favorite books.
BURNETT: Same.
DETROW: The pictures come to life in this dark and mysterious way, and you could feel the three dimensions. You could feel the backstories of the characters, right? So that's that. And then you watch this movie, and it's early Pixaresque (ph) CGI that just doesn't quite click.
BURNETT: So I would say it's motion capture. It came out in 2004, when I think a bunch of studios were trying to do different things. And I will say, I'm not saying the animation's perfect, but I also think they had a hard task in front of them because you have this gorgeous book that I love very much, and they wanted to capture the themes of that. And it's very flat illustrations, and so what happens when you bring flat illustrations to life? It's going to feel a little uncanny valley.
DETROW: Yeah.
BURNETT: I know that's the phrase a lot of people use.
DETROW: In that it's not quite realistic and you know it.
BURNETT: Exactly. Exactly. But I genuinely think the colors and the snow that falls and the way that the steam goes into the cold air and the warmth of the lights from the North Pole, it's so cozy. And that's what settles me into that Christmas feeling.
DETROW: I do think the best part of the movie is when they're at the North Pole, and there's that early 20th century industrial feeling of it all. Like, I do really love that. Are there other favorite parts in the movie for you?
BURNETT: So I - my favorite scene happens at the North Pole, and here's where we're going to go into the weeds. The main character, who's literally in the credits as Hero Boy - that's canon. Hero Boy really wants to believe. You know, he's looking in encyclopedias, trying to figure out if life can exist at the North Pole. He's being skeptical of everything, but he gets on the train. He's hesitant, but he's curious.
And so my favorite scene is everybody is in the - you know, all the elves, all the kids are in the center of the North Pole. The tree's there. And the whole thing with the movie, if you haven't seen it, is Hero Boy cannot hear the bells of Santa's sleigh, and that represents his doubt. And there's - and they bring out these reins with the bells on them. They put them on the reindeer. He can't hear them. Santa shows up. He can't see Santa. And the scene goes all slow motion, and a bell flies off of the reins. And it thunks (ph) on the frozen ground in front of Hero Boy, and he picks it up in his hands. And he says three times...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE POLAR EXPRESS")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As Hero Boy) I believe. I believe?
BURNETT: And the second time's a question, and that's important. And then he whispers, I believe. And he rings the bell, and he can hear it.
(SOUNDBITE OF BELL RINGING)
BURNETT: And for me, that's what he asked Santa for as the first gift of Christmas. And it's not something material. It's a guide post that he's taking with him to be able to hold that belief as he goes on throughout his life. He loses in on the seat of the sleigh, but it doesn't matter. He still has found within himself whatever he needs to be moving on into this scary adult world. And that's why the bell comes back to him at the end. Even though he doesn't need it, it's always going to be there for those who truly believe.
(SOUNDBITE OF GEEK MUSIC'S "THE POLAR EXPRESS (MAIN THEME)")
DETROW: I will let that be the last word.
(LAUGHTER)
DETROW: That is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED producer Elena Burnett, Christmas season zealot, I feel like...
BURNETT: Sure. Sure.
DETROW: ...And defender of "The Polar Express." Thank you.
BURNETT: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF GEEK MUSIC'S "THE POLAR EXPRESS (MAIN THEME)") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-12-15/christmas-movies-the-case-for-the-polar-express
| 2024-12-16T05:17:11Z
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