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CHANDIGARH: AICC general secretary and former Union Minister, Kumari Selja said on Sunday that petrol-diesel, necessary for every individual in the country, has become a means of earning for the BJP-led central government.
Not just oil companies, but based on excise duty, the central government is engaged in making hefty profits from the sale of petrol-diesel. Instead of passing on the benefits of reduced crude prices to the common people, everyone is focused on filling their own pockets.
Selja said that despite a 29% decrease in crude oil prices in 19 months, the central government has yet to provide any relief to the public. Oil companies have earned profits of more than 2.12 lakh crores in just three quarters, while the price of crude oil has fallen from $109 per barrel to $77 per barrel. Despite this, instead of providing direct relief in the prices of petrol and diesel to the people of the country, a conspiracy is being hatched to empty their pockets.
She said that the
game of increasing prices of petrol and diesel is now understood by the people of the country, and they are now awaiting the Lok Sabha elections so they can steer away the BJP-led central government, which promotes profiteering and inflation. Kumari Selja said that oil companies themselves admit that they are making a profit of Rs 10 per litre on petrol and Rs 4 per litre on diesel. However, the BJP-led central government, which earns excise duty of Rs 32.90 per litre on petrol and Rs 31.80 per litre on diesel, remains silent.
``None of the government representatives are ready to speak openly about this looting that is happening in broad daylight. The former Union Minister said that if the BJP-led central government stops this open looting happening with the common people, it will to a large extent curb inflation. The prices of essential commodities will decrease, providing relief to every lower and middle-class family. However, the central government is not willing to take any steps towards relief,’’ she said.
Instead, it continues its looting spree to benefit its capitalist and profiteer friends while disregarding the public's pockets, she added.
|
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/petrol-diesel-rates-have-become-source-of-bjp-government-income-at-the-cost-of-common-men-selja/articleshow/106424881.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:10Z
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BEIRUT: More than 4,360 people, including combatants and civilians, were killed in Syria’s civil war in 2023, in the thirteenth year since fighting began, a war monitor said on Sunday.
The figure was an increase on 2022, when 3,825 people were killed.
That was the lowest annual death toll since the conflict began in 2011 with the government’s brutal crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
This year’s count included 1,889 civilians, 241 of them women and 307 children, according to the United Kingdom-based Observatory, which has a broad network of sources inside Syria.
Syrian government forces accounted for almost 900 of the dead this year, with other fighters including from the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, pro-Iran groups, Islamist factions, Islamic State group jihadists and foreign combatants accounting for the rest.
Over the years, the country’s conflict spiralled dramatically. It pulled in foreign armies, militias and jihadists, killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and ravaged the country’s infrastructure and industry.
With Iranian and Russian support, Damascus has clawed back much of the territory it lost earlier in the conflict, although large parts of the country’s north remain outside government control.
Front lines have mostly quietened in recent years and annual death tolls dropped to lower levels.
Nevertheless, violence persists. The Observatory reported that several people including a fighter and a child were killed on Saturday in government bombardment of “residential areas and a market” the city of Idlib.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch, controls swathes of Idlib province and parts of neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces — the last major bastion of armed opposition in Syria.
A ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey was declared in Idlib after a Syrian government offensive in March 2020, but it has been repeatedly violated.
Also on Saturday, 25 pro-Iran fighters were killed in air strikes in eastern Syria “likely” carried out by Israel, the Observatory said, raising an earlier toll of 23.
The dead included five Syrians, six Iraqi fighters, four from Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and 10 other non-Syrian combatants, the Observatory said.It also said eight people, including three civilians, were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday near the airport in the main northern city of Aleppo, updating an earlier toll of four fighters killed.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281401/more-than-4360-dead-in-syria-war-in-2023-monitor
| 2024-01-01T02:22:10Z
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DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado woman accused of killing two of her children was arrested in the United Kingdom on Saturday, according to police.
Kimberlee Singler, 35, is suspected of killing her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son and attempting to kill her 11-year-old daughter in Colorado Springs.
On Dec. 19, police said they responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary at an apartment complex at around 12:30 a.m. and found the the bodies of the two deceased children.
Officers also located Singler and her 11-year-old daughter at the scene. They were both injured and taken to hospitals for treatment, according to Colorado Springs Police Department spokesperson Ira Cronin.
Singler’s injuries were minor. The 11-year-old girl was hospitalized for a few days and then released. She is recovering well physically in Colorado Springs. Cronin said he could not release details about how the children or Singler were injured.
Police said the initial report of a burglary was unfounded.
Singler was initially cooperative with police investigating the homicides and alleged burglary. She went missing after the probe, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.
“In the initial stages of the investigation, we were treating her as a victim of a burglary,” Cronin told the Associated Press.
On Dec. 26, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Singler on multiple charges, including multiple counts of first degree murder, child abuse and assault.
The children’s deaths came amid an ongoing legal battle between Singler and her ex-husband over parenting time and other issues, according to court filings. Court hearings had been scheduled for next month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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https://www.wytv.com/news/colorado-mother-suspected-of-killing-2-of-her-children-arrested-in-the-uk-police/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:12Z
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Liquor at GIFT City | Dry Gujarat and its fluid relationship with liquor
Successive govts in "Gandhi's Gujarat" have relaxed prohibition to woo investments; liquor permits may even be issued as a "cure for heart-related ailments"
The Gujarat government’s move to exempt GIFT City, a financial hub in Gandhinagar, from the liquor ban has become the latest political flashpoint in the state. Opposition parties like AAP and Congress, which have protested against the decision, have accused the BJP government of upending the longstanding norm of prohibition in the state and using the relaxation in GIFT City to further its political agenda.
Hitting out at the Bhupendrabhai Patel-led BJP government, both parties recently staged protests in Ahmedabad, claiming that the decision will ruin the youth of “Gandhi’s Gujarat.”
The new liquor regime takes effect on January 4, along with the commencement of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) 2024.
‘Against Gandhi’s ideals’
As per the new notification issued by the state’s Narcotics and Excise department, the owners of outlets in GIFT City will have liquor access permits. These businesses also have the power to authorise visitors with temporary permits to drink only within the premises of restaurants and hotels in the city. “The lifting of the ban in GIFT City is a clear indication that the BJP government wants to remove prohibition from the state. It will have a detrimental impact on society,” said Manish Doshi, the spokesperson of Gujarat Congress.
Stressing that the exception goes against the ideals set by Mahatma Gandhi, Doshi said the government should also understand the repercussions the lifting of the ban will have on women, as they are the ones who often get abused by alcoholic husbands.
“In a state where the capital is named after Mahatma Gandhi, this step is deplorable. Does the BJP government not see the plight of women in states where liquor is allowed? Besides, it will be harmful for health as well,” he added.
Meanwhile, AAP’s Gujarat chief Isudan Gadhvi hit out at the BJP government saying, “The move is not only humiliating to Gandhiji, but also the Gujaratis.”
Prohibition as a political weapon
Opposition leaders say the BJP for long had been using the issue of prohibition not only to stay in power but also to settle scores against political opponents.
Gadhvi, who was the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate in the 2022 Gujarat assembly polls, and was contesting from the Khambhalia constituency, was arrested for being drunk during a poll campaign ahead of the election. Gadhvi says he was shocked when a forensic report found traces of alcohol in his blood after his arrest from Gandhinagar.
In January 2023, just a month after the assembly polls, the Gujarat police slapped Sections 66(1)(b) and 85 (1) under the Gujarat Prohibition Act against him.
Following this, Gadhvi claimed that he has been a teetotaller all his life and has been framed. “After the use of the sedition law and UAPA against political opponents of governments, the BJP is now using the Prohibition Act,” he had said.
…tool of governance
This isn’t the first time liquor prohibition was used as a political tool in Gujarat.
In 2022, ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections, former chief minister, Shankersinh Vaghela, declared that his newly-formed political outfit Praja Shakti Democratic Party (PSDP) will contest the upcoming polls with a manifesto that promised a “scientific prohibition policy” for Gujarat.
“We will abolish the current prohibition law in Gujarat if voted to power,” Vaghela promised voters.
Noticeably, over the years, both the Congress and the BJP governments in Gujarat have taken many steps to relax prohibition to attract investments. Since 2003, the Prohibition Act has been amended four times by the BJP.
Narendra Modi, during his tenure as chief minister, had allowed licensed liquor stores in some hotels where only tourists can purchase alcohol from the licensed shops. The exemption came as a part of its tourism policy of the then Gujarat government.
Since then, there are 48,000 local permit holders in the state apart from tourist who apply for temporary permits based on their travel tickets. Noticeably, the local permits are issued on ‘health grounds’ in circumstances where a person (above 40 years) is prescribed liquor in small doses as a cure for heart-related ailments.
History of prohibition, its failure
The Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 that bans liquor, was enacted just a few months after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and has been in force in Gujarat since its formation in 1960.
However, data from both state Home Department and Narcotics and Excise Department, suggests that the implementation of prohibition has remained limited primarily on papers.
Despite having a separate state prohibition department, an illegal market of liquor has always been active across Gujarat. Between1980s and early 1990s, the bootlegging mafia was dominated by Abdul Latif Sheikh, a gangster based in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Police had registered more than 200 criminal cases against Latif and his gang on various charges including murders, kidnappings and bootlegging. However, Latif’s arrest and encounter in 1995 did not put an end to the illegal liquor trade in the state.
Liquor seizure
As per data from the state Narcotics and Excise Department, liquor worth ₹211.86 crore was seized from across the state between 2019 and 2022. Of this Indian-Made Foreign Liquor accounted for ₹1,197.45 crore, beer for ₹10.47 crore and country liquor for ₹3 lakh. The data also said that illegal consumption and sale of liquor is rampant in 25 of 33 districts.
Soon after the poll dates for the 2022 assembly elections were announced, about 9.61 lakh litres of liquor were seized across the state till December 3 by the surveillance unit appointed by the Election Commission.
According to a reply by the BJP government in the state assembly in 2022, liquor worth ₹316 crore was seized and worth ₹211 crore destroyed across the state between 2010 and 2016.
In 2017, Pramod Tandel, brother-in-law of Lalu Patel, a BJP MP from Daman, was accused by Gujarat Police in a number of cases under the Prohibition Act. Reportedly, Tandel had been involved in bootlegging and in the illegal supply of liquor from Daman into Gujarat.
In 2021, the Prohibition Act was challenged in the High Court. Several PILs were filed stating that the act had not yielded positive results in the years and if it should be still continued. Currently, the matter remains to be heard in the court.
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https://thefederal.com/category/states/west/gujarat/liquor-permit-for-gift-city-sparks-furore-but-has-prohibition-really-worked-in-gujarat-104689
| 2024-01-01T02:22:11Z
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Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua will fight three times in 2024, with the third match happening against the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk rematch. AJ will fight in March, the summer, and then the Fury-Usyk winner at the end of the year.
Eddie says he’s been speaking with the Saudis to decide who Joshua will fight next in March. He rattled off a bunch of names but didn’t seem excited about any of them. A match against Filip Hrgovic could happen in the summer for AJ.
Wilder on Ice, A Door Closes
Hearn states that the Deontay Wilder fight has been parked due to his recent loss to Joseph Parker on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ on December 23rd, and he’s now looking at other options for Joshua to fight in March.
The Saudis aren’t interested in doing the Joshua-Wilder fight so that match-up isn’t going to happen unless they change their minds. Wilder still wants the Joshua fight in March, but that would be a tough sell, given how bad he looked against Parker.
Fury or Usyk: The Grand Prize Awaits
“We just have to keep winning. If Fury beats Usyk, they have two fights. So, if Fury beats Usyk in February, they fight again in August or September. We [Joshua] fight the winner,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV, talking about wanting Joshua to challenge the winner of the second fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in late 2024.
For Joshua to stay in orbit of the Fury-Usyk winner this year, he’s probably going to need to be matched against another Otto Wallin-level fighter for March and in the summer.
It would be too risky for Hearn to break from the type of opposition that he’s been matching Joshua against since his second loss to Usyk to put him in with someone good for his next two fights in 2024.
Can AJ deliver?
“We have to keep winning. If AJ wins in March, then against whoever it’s going to be twice, that fight is going to be huge [against Fury or Usyk]. If Fury. If Fury beats Usyk, AJ against Fury is absolutely colossal,” said Hearn.
If Hearn wants Joshua to attract interest from fans and redeem him in a real way rather than superficially, he needs to put him in with the general population of the heavyweight division for his next two fights against these dangerous killers:
- Zhilei Zhang
- Jared Anderson
- Frank Sanchez
- Bakhodir Jalolov
It’s unlikely that Hearn will take the chance of letting Joshua fight any of those guys. Two names that Hearn mentioned today were Francis Ngannou and Andy Ruiz. His eyes lit up when he mentioned Ngannou. Agit Kabayel is also a possibility for Joshua.
“I said he’s going to beat Wallin, he’s going to beat Wilder, and then he’s going to beat Fury,” said Hearn. “Obviously, for now, the Wilder fight is parked. But he’s [Joshua] going to win in March, then he’s going to win another in the summer, and then he’s going to best Tyson Fury.
“That’s how I believe it’ll play out. If we don’t get Fury, then maybe another crack at Usyk. For us, it’s about mapping out that year, and that’s what we’re doing at the moment.
“I don’t know. He has a great relationship with Dereck James. Obviously, it’s been very successful with Ben. I’m sure the team will chat and decide what’s best for them,” said Hearn.
Hearn was critical of a fight with Wilder, saying, “He hasn’t beaten anyone” other than Luis Ortiz. Of course, Joshua is in the same boat. The only name on Joshua’s resume is Wladimir Klitschko, and he was 39 years old and still came close to stopping AJ in the sixth round.
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https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/ajs-2024-dance-three-fights-one-dream/272717
| 2024-01-01T02:22:12Z
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Nearly half of all states will raise the minimum wage in 2024
Published: Dec. 31, 2023 at 8:57 PM EST|Updated: 19 minutes ago
(CNN) - Millions of workers will get a pay bump when the clock strikes midnight on Monday, January 1.
Nearly half of all U.S. states and the District of Columbia will increase their minimum wage in 2024.
Washington state will continue to have the highest minimum wage in the country at $16.28 an hour. That’s up from $15.74 an hour.
And over in Hawaii, workers will receive the largest increase, raising its minimum wage to $14 an hour.
And Washington D.C. will have the highest hourly minimum wage in the country at $17.05. The city will raise its minimum wage again this summer.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/01/01/nearly-half-all-states-will-raise-minimum-wage-2024/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:12Z
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Xi Vows to Strengthen Economic Recovery After 'Tough' Year
Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to strengthen economic momentum and deliver on job creation, acknowledging some companies and citizens had a difficult 2023 in a rare admission of headwinds the country is facing.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen economic momentum and job creation, acknowledging some companies and citizens had endured a difficult 2023 in a rare admission of domestic headwinds facing the country.
While China’s most-powerful leader since Mao Zedong used his annual new year address to trumpet his nation’s achievements, he also conceded some “enterprises had a tough time” and “people had difficulty finding jobs and meeting basic needs.”
“We will consolidate and strengthen the momentum of economic recovery, and work to achieve steady and long-term economic development,” Xi said in the televised message Sunday, beamed to his nation’s 1.4 billion people. China’s much-anticipated post-pandemic economic boom failed to materialize in 2023.
The government’s goal is “delivering a better life for the people,” he added, pledging better education and career opportunities for the young, and healthcare for the elderly. China’s youth unemployment hit a record high over the summer, before the government stopped publishing figures.
Improving people’s well-being has been a key component of the social contact the Communist Party has relied on for decades for its ruling. A new year awash with economic challenges will test that pact: China is entering a pivotal period as policymakers try to boost growth, stabilize a crisis in the property market and prevent the world’s second-largest economy from sleepwalking into deflation.
Beijing is expected to target a growth goal of around 5% again in 2024, avoiding the self-fulfilling negative cycle a lower number could create. Sustaining that level of growth will be harder due to a higher comparison base.
Bolstering confidence in China will be crucial this year. Concerns over Beijing’s opaque policymaking spooked investors in 2023, while higher interest rates overseas spurred capital outflows. A recent crackdown on the gaming industry sparked a $80 billion meltdown, stoking fresh concerns over policy swings, as foreign investors recorded their smallest-ever annual purchases of Chinese stocks.
Signs of weakness in the economy are persisting, with factory activity shrinking in December to the lowest level in six months, likely adding pressure for policymakers to act urgently to inject impetus to the economy.
Despite that, Xi on Sunday touted Chinese “manufacturing prowess” and rattled off a list of homegrown projects including the domestically-built C919 passenger jet, a made-in-China cruise ship, the nation’s space programs, maned submersibles, and electric cars.
Xi also his used his speech to reiterate the ruling Communist Party’s position that China will “surely be reunified” — an allusion to Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing considers its own and has vowed to claim, by force if necessary.
His comments come just weeks before Taiwan’s voters go the polls to pick their next president, as a looming US election also brings fresh geopolitical risks. Turmoil is still rumbling through the upper echelons of China’s military leadership, with more senior figures purged from top bodies last week.
That raises questions over how ready China’s military would be for any invasion of Taiwan, with the rocket force that manages the nation’s missiles under the spotlight. Beijing also abruptly removed its foreign minister last year, without explanation, adding to the instability.
Taiwan’s hotly-contested election on Jan. 13 will decide how the island of more than 23 million people will respond to Beijing’s moves. The incumbent Democratic Progressive Party seeks to strengthen Taipei’s ties with Washington, while the opposition Kuomintang — an increasingly close second in the most recent polls — is Beijing’s preferred negotiating partner on the island.
“All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi said.
(Updates throughout.)
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
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https://www.ndtvprofit.com/politics/xi-pledges-to-strengthen-economic-recovery-after-tough-year
| 2024-01-01T02:22:12Z
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By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons played to an 83-80 victory over L.A. Trade Tech College on day one of the 33rd Annual Cougar Holiday Classic, before eventually falling in Friday’s championship game to visiting Mt. San Antonio College 84-67 on Lee Smelser Court at the Cougar Cage.
The victory over LATT (8-4) was the third straight for Canyons (6-7). That thrill was short-lived however, with Mt. SAC (11-1) eventually downing the host Cougars to take the tourney title. Orange Coast College (8-6) also competed in the two-day event but finished winless after falling to Trade Tech in the consolation game.
COC received a game-high 23 points alongside 17 rebounds from sophomore Jonah El-Farra in the win over L.A. Trade Tech. That nearly matched El-Farra’s season high of 27 while his 12 points in the opening half gave the Cougars a nice boost on their way to opening up a 42-24 lead at the break.
Starters Raz Orbach and Jacob Gonzalez were next with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Deshawn Herold came off the bench to add 11 points and six rebounds. Joshua Barnett also finished with 11 points while Gonzalez led the way with five assists.
Canyons shot nearly 47 percent from the floor and edged the Beavers 49-27 in rebounds for the game. However, the Cougars committed 18 turnovers with 10 coming down the stretch, which allowed LATT to make it a game.
The Beavers shot nearly 57 percent in the second half as Omari Ferguson finished with 19 in the half and 22 for the game. Romero Hutchinson also emerged late with 16 of his 18 points coming after the break.
In Saturday’s matchup Canyons once again received valuable contributions from its reserves. Herold tied for the team lead at 10 points. Jeremiah Walker and Isaiah Baptista both chipped in off the bench with seven, while Andrew Ezenwa added six more.
Those numbers helped but weren’t enough to keep pace with a Mt. SAC team that shot a combined 66 percent for the game and better than 57 percent from three-point land. The Mounties had five players finish in double digits including a game-high 18 coming from Nick Hopkins.
COC lost the battle of the boards 33-18 and shot an even 40 percent for the game. Gonzalez scored 10 to lead the Cougars’ starters and El-Farra was the rebounding leader at four. Barnett finished next with eight points and three boards while Orbach scored seven with a pair of rebounds and two assists.
Those efforts earned Orbach a spot on the 2023 Cougar Holiday Classic All-Tournament team. He was joined by Jon McCullough of Mt. SAC, Devon Jailet of LATT and Sam Hunter of Orange Coast College. Nick Hopkins was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for the champion Mounties.
Canyons has now completed its tournament schedule for the season. Up next, the Cougars travel to Cuesta College at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3. COC then begins Western State Conference (WSC), South Division play on Jan. 10 with a trip to L.A. Valley College.
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https://scvnews.com/cougars-fall-in-tourney-championship-to-mt-sac-67-84/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:12Z
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100 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=100
| 2024-01-01T02:22:12Z
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Astana Opera: Seasons to Suit Every Taste
The Astana Opera Chamber Orchestra will perform under the baton of the Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Maestro Abzal Mukhitdinov. Soloists - Concertmaster of the orchestra Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Bagdat Abilkhanov and Madeniyet Kairatkeri Aisulu Baikenova.
Eight Seasons is a project beloved by the residents and guests of the capital, which includes classical music combined with the rhythms of modern Latin American music and jazz. Both composers - Antonio Vivaldi and Astor Piazzolla - were geniuses and symbols of their era. If Antonio Vivaldi described the seasons of the year in the Baroque style, Astor Piazzolla did it in the style of Argentine tango, the Astana Opera Press Office reports.
"This is a very interesting project, created by Maestro Abzal Mukhitdinov a few years ago. It is a pleasure for us to perform these world classical masterpieces both in Kazakhstan and abroad. I do not know anyone who would not listen to Vivaldi's brilliant work The Four Seasons. We know this music since childhood; it is very light, beautiful and harmonious. I will forever have my childhood memory: on weekends, my mom turned on a vinyl record with this music in the mornings and I woke up happy. Back in those days, famous organist Yevgeniya Lisitsina magnificently performed Vivaldi's masterpiece. There are many arrangements of this work for various instruments, including the dombyra," Bagdat Abilkhanov noted.
Vivaldi's Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) is considered to be the benchmark of program music. Four concertos: La Primavera (Spring), L'Estate (Summer), L'Autunno (Autumn), L'Inverno (Winter) to this day remain the most performed of the great Venetian's 550 works. In addition, this music is often featured in movies. In the late 1960s, the outstanding Argentinian Astor Piazzolla created a kind of a tribute to this work. Astor Piazzolla's Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) is a collection of four tango compositions. He managed to turn the ‘folk' tango into high art, into modern classics, while fully retaining its unique exciting energy.
The concert will begin at 17:00.
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-opera-seasons-to-suit-every-taste_a3500043/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:14Z
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Reacting to the remarks made by Congress leader Lakshman Singh that he does not regard Rahul Gandhi as a prominent leader, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday said that it is time for Congress to reconsider itself as 'family' shop.
Poonawalla interpreted Singh's remarks as indicative of the growing skepticism within the Congress party's internal ranks.
"Congress leader Lakshman Singh says why is Rahul Gandhi being highlighted as he is just an MP. Maybe he is telling all this to the Congress party. Even though Mallikarjun Kharge is the Congress president, but for Bharat Jodo Yatra or any Yatra Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is chosen. When the name of Kharge was proposed by few other parties it was rejected by Congress. First, the people showed their disbelief and now the internal party members are expressing the same," Poonawalla told ANI.
"It is time for Congress to think till when they will run itself a family shop and till when people will prefer family over the capabilities of its leaders," he added.
Earlier today, Lakshman Singh, who is also a former Congress MP, came after a reporter at a press conference in Guna was questioned on his views on Rahul Gandhi not being highlighted much on TV when Waynand MP makes a statement in the Lok Sabha.
"Rahul Gandhi is just a party worker. He is just an MP, apart from that he is nothing. You (media) people too should not highlight Rahul Gandhi so much, nor should we. No one becomes a great leader by birth, one becomes great by his/her actions. Don't consider Rahul Gandhi such a great leader, I don't," he said.
He further stated that the status of Rahul Gandhi is equal to that of other parliamentarians, stating, "Rahul Gandhi is an MP. He is just like other Members of Parliament. He is just an ordinary MP."
Lakshman Singh, a five-time MP and three-time MLA, expressed his perspective on who should be called a leader as he emphasized the importance of accomplishments over inherited status while terming any MP as a leader.
Also Read
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/politics/cong-should-think-upon-till-when-they-will-run-as-family-shop-poonawalla-123123100862_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:15Z
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Maersk suspends ships' passage via Red Sea strait for 48 hours
US military sinks three ships operated by Huthi rebels after they attempt to board Maersk Hangzhou.
Shipping giant Maersk said on Sunday it was suspending the passage of vessels through a key Red Sea strait for 48 hours, after Yemeni rebels attacked one of its merchant ships.
The Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated container vessel en route from Singapore to Port Suez in Egypt, reported being struck by a missile while transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
India monitoring Red Sea developments; got info on US-led naval task force
It appeared to be undamaged in that attack and "was able to continue its transit north", said Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies.
Why the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are worrisome
It was then attacked by four ships operated by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels, which "engaged fire in an expected attempt to board the vessel", the Danish shipping company said.
The US military said navy helicopters sank three of the ships while the fourth fled.
US shoots down drone, missile in Red Sea
"In light of the incident -- and to allow time to investigate the details of the incident and assess the security situation further -- it has been decided to delay all transits through the area for the next 48 hours," said a Maersk statement.
The Huthis have repeatedly targeted vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane with strikes they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.
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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/maersk-suspends-ships-passage-via-red-sea-strait-for-48-hours-11704072288313.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:15Z
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01/10PM Modi and Italian counterpart Meloni's cheerful click at Cop28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi experienced a delightful moment at the Cop28 climate action summit in Dubai, capturing a selfie with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. (narendramodi.in)
02/10PM Modi consoled Team India after World Cup 2023 loss
Prime Minister Narendra Modi consoled the Indian players, including captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, lifting the morale in the camp by visiting the dressing room in Ahmedabad after the conclusion of the World Cup 2023 final. (narendramodi.in)
03/10PM Modi hosted US president Joe Biden at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the President of the United States, Joe Biden. President Biden, who visited India for the first time in his capacity as President, participated in the G20 Summit held on September 9-10, 2023. (narendramodi.in)
04/10PM Modi hugged and congratulated Isro chief for Chandrayaan 3 milestone
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath and the Chandrayaan 3 team on the historic success of India's third Moon mission. He had expressed his approval by patting Somanath's back and sharing a hug. (narendramodi.in)
05/10PM Modi and German Chancellor Scholz's 'pan' moment in Delhi
PM Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tried Indian 'pan' during Scholz's two-day visit to Delhi in February. The leaders engaged in discussions to boost bilateral collaboration in areas like clean energy, commerce, and cutting-edge technologies. (narendramodi.in)
06/10Inauguration prelude: PM Modi placed historic Sceptre in Parliament
Before the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi, PM Modi had placed Tamil Nadu’s historic sceptre Sengol near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chair. Both PM Modi and LS Speaker Om Birla took part in an early morning puja and also paid tribute to the workers who constructed the Parliament building. (narendramodi.in)
07/10PM Modi at the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi representing 'Bharat'
The country's name card in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in New Delhi displayed 'Bharat.' Throughout the summit, PM Modi was identified as the leader representing 'Bharat.' (narendramodi.in)
08/10PM Modi's memorable Tejas sortie in Bengaluru
In November, PM Modi took a Tejas aircraft sortie at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited site in Bengaluru. The Tejas, a sought-after light combat aircraft, gained international interest, leading to an agreement with GE Aerospace during PM Modi's US visit for collaborative engine manufacturing for the Mk-II variant. (narendramodi.in)
09/10PM Modi's tea-serving robot moment
PM Modi explored the robotics gallery at the Gujarat Council of Science City, experiencing tea service by a robot. The PM shared this captivating moment on his official Instagram handle, and it quickly gained widespread attention. (narendramodi.in)
10/10PM Modi's spiritual offering at Parvati Kund, Uttarakhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, clad in traditional local attire with a turban, engaged in prayer at the revered Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. During the spiritual moment, he also played a power drum and conch shell. (narendramodi.in)
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/picturesque-moments-of-pm-modi-from-the-year-2023/photostory/106423082.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:16Z
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Wall Street Week Ahead: History shows strong 2023 could keep US stocks on path for 2024 gains
NEW YORK: The US stock market’s hefty gains in 2023 could provide a lift for equities next year, if history is any guide.
Hours before the closing bell in the last session of the year, the S&P 500 was set to finish with a 24% annual gain. The benchmark index also stood near its first record closing high in about two years.
Market strategists who track historical trends say that such a strong annual performance for stocks has often carried over into the following year, a phenomenon they attribute to factors including momentum and solid fundamentals.
“What we continue to come back to is solid gains for next year,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. “Maybe we will have a little bit of short-term pain but the long-term gain is definitely there when we look at the data.” Stocks built up a head of steam in 2023, with the S&P 500 up 11% in the fourth quarter alone. This could translate to strength in the new year.
Data from LPL Research going back to 1950 showed that years following a gain of 20% or more have seen the S&P 500 rise an average of 10%. That compares to an average 9.3% annual return. Such years are also more frequently positive, with the market ending the year up 80% of the time, versus 73% overall.
“Momentum begets momentum,” Turnquist said. “I also believe themes that are capable of driving a market up (at least) 20% are typically durable trends persisting beyond a calendar year.” LPL Research has a 2024 year-end target range for the S&P 500 of 4,850 to 4,950, but the firm sees potential upside above 5,000 if lower interest rates support higher valuations, companies achieve double-digit earnings growth and the US economy avoids recession. The index was last at 4,765.
Investor hopes for an economic soft landing will get an early test next Friday, with release of the monthly US employment report.
Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group, notes that stocks have seen strong gains after rebounding from steep drawdowns. Since 1950, there have been six times when the S&P 500 rebounded by at least 10% after falling 10% or more the previous year. Each time the index’s bounce continued for a second year, returning an average of 11.7%, Detrick’s data showed. The S&P 500 tumbled over 19% in 2022.
Detrick noted the data as part of a recent commentary on why 2024 “should be a good one for the bulls.” Reaching a record high could be another bullish sign for stocks. Since 1928, there have been 14 instances of a gap of at least one year between S&P 500 all-time highs, according to Ed Clissold, chief US strategist at Ned Davis Research. The S&P 500 went on to rise an average of 14% a year after a new high was reached, rising 13 of 14 times, according to Clissold.
Further tests of the market’s strength will arrive quickly. US companies start to report fourth-quarter results in the next couple of weeks with investors anticipating a much stronger year for profit growth in 2024 after a tepid 3.1% increase in 2023 earnings, according to the latest LSEG estimates.
Investors are also awaiting the conclusion of the Fed’s first monetary policy meeting of the year in late January for insight into whether policymakers hew to the dovish pivot they signaled in late December, penciling in 75 basis points of rate cuts for 2024.
Indeed, signs the economy is starting to wobble following the 525 basis points in Fed rate hikes since 2022 could hinder momentum for stocks. By the same token, accelerating inflation in 2024 could delay expected rate cuts, putting the market’s soft-landing hopes on hold.
“History is a great guide, but never gospel, and I think we have to acknowledge that,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.
However, data Stovall looks at foreshadows a solid 2024, including history regarding presidential election years. The S&P 500 has gained all 14 times in the year that a president has sought re-election, regardless of who wins, with an average total return of 15.5%, according to Stovall.
“Basically, all of the indicators that I look at point to a positive year,” Stovall said.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281402/wall-street-week-ahead-history-shows-strong-2023-could-keep-us-stocks-on-path-for-2024-gains
| 2024-01-01T02:22:16Z
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MUMBAI: The bull-run in Indian financial markets is likely to continue in 2024 as foreign interest remains robust, with heavy buying expected in both equity and debt markets, several analysts and industry watchers said.
India’s inclusion in the JPMorgan emerging market debt index will boost investments in government debt, while attractive valuations will keep funds flowing into the share market.
“I expect shares to see inflows of around $30 billion in 2024, with front-loading in the January-March quarter,” Andrew Holland, CEO of Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies in Mumbai, said.
“For 2024, earnings growth would be around 15%, and the index would also grow around 15% from where it ends in December.”
Overseas investors bought Indian shares worth net $20.7 billion in 2023 until Dec. 28, the highest since 2020, while their net debt purchases stood at $8 billion, according to data from National Securities Depository.
India’s benchmark BSE Sensex rose 19% in 2023, while the wider Nifty 50 gained 20%, with both indexes hitting record highs in late December, because of upbeat economic data and companies’ performance, traders said.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281403/indian-shares-bonds-seen-rallying-in-2024-on-continued-foreign-inflows
| 2024-01-01T02:22:17Z
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PGA Tour seeks extension on commercial deal with Saudis, private investors
(AP) - The PGA Tour believes it has made enough progress with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf to extend their negotiations into next year for a new commercial deal that would include a U.S. investment group and the European tour.
Commissioner Jay Monahan sent a memo to players on Sunday afternoon, just seven hours before the deadline to finalize the deal that was set in the June 6 framework agreement.
The PGA Tour board unanimously agreed three weeks ago to negotiate exclusively with Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of American-based professional sports teams owners led by Fenway Sports Group.
Monahan said the tour has made “meaningful progress” with SSG and provided the group with all the information it requested.
“As we move forward in our discussions, we are focused on the finalization of terms and drafts of necessary documents,” Monahan said.
Far more complicated are the negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the financial supporters of the rival LIV Golf League which lured away Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in 2022, and most recently Masters champion Jon Rahm earlier this month.
Monahan described conversations with PIF and the European tour as “active and productive.”
The framework agreement was to expire Dec. 31, though it included language that the deadline could be extended if all parties agreed. “We are working to extend our negotiations into next year based on the progress we have made to date,” Monahan said in his memo.
Monahan said the goal for 2024 was to reach agreements with SSG, PIF and the European tour to bring them in as minority co-investors in the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises.
“These partnerships will allow us to unify, innovate and invest in the game for the benefit of players, fans and sponsors,” Monahan said.
Under the framework agreement, PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan would have a seat on the PGA Tour board. The agreement also included PGA Tour Enterprises doing an “objective, empirical-driven evaluation” of LIV and to determine if team golf can be integrated into the PGA Tour and European tour.
It also was to determine a “fair and objective” process for LIV players who might want to return to the PGA Tour or European tour, which is said to be a sticking point because of the players who turned down Saudi riches to remain on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour season begins Thursday at The Sentry on Maui, the first of eight “signature” events with a $20 million purse and limited field. LIV Golf already has announced the bulk of its 2024 schedule and $20 million purses. It starts the first week of February.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/01/01/pga-tour-seeks-extension-commercial-deal-with-saudis-private-investors/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:18Z
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California State University, Northridge men’s basketball had five score in double figures as the Matadors won their sixth in a row with an 84-68 triumph at Long Beach State on Saturday afternoon at Walter Pyramid. Dionte Bostick led all scorers with 21 points to go with five rebounds and four assists while Keonte Jones posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. CSUN would hold the highest scoring team in The Big West to 12 points below its season scoring average and to 36 percent shooting on the day.
The Matadors’ six-game winning streak is the program’s best since the 2012-13 season.
The first half featured 13 lead changes as well as 11 ties. CSUN led 6-2 early on before the Beach went on an 8-2 run of their own to take the lead. The Matadors’ biggest deficit in the first half would be 15-11 before a 7-2 spurt capped by a Gianni Hunt triple put CSUN back on top.
After the Beach retook the lead at 23-20, Dionte Bostick scored the next five in a row. Still though, neither team could gain separation until the closing moments of the half. Long Beach State held a 37-35 lead with 3:16 left before halftime before the Matadors went on an 8-0 run to end the period. Mahmoud Fofana would complete a three-point play then Keonte Jones scored a late basket as CSUN took a 43-37 lead into intermission.
Bostick and Jones opened the second half with baskets to give CSUN its first double-digit lead at 47-37. After the Beach rallied to within six, Jordan Brinson knocked down a three at the 17:14 mark. Brinson’s triple sparked a CSUN 11-0 run, closed by a Bostick basket in transition for a 59-43 lead.
Bostick drained another Matador three at the 14:46 mark, giving CSUN its biggest lead at 62-45. The Beach would battle back to within 12 on four separate occasions, but the Matadors had an answer each time. A De’Sean Allen-Eikens field goal followed by a steal leading to a Fofana basket quickly pushed the lead back to 16 at the 10:27 mark. The Beach made one final push with over three minutes to play, cutting the deficit to 76-64, but CSUN scored eight points down the stretch, highlighted by a late dunk from Jones to maintain its lead.
NOTES ON THE GAME
– CSUN improves to 11-3 on the season with a 2-0 mark in Big West play. Long Beach State falls to 9-5 overall and 1-1 in Big West action.
– The Matadors shot 48.4 percent from the field while they finished 7-of-21 from three (33.3 percent) and 17-of-25 from the free throw line (68.0 percent). On the flip side, the Beach were held to 36.4 percent shooting to go with going 2-of-22 at the 3-point line and 18-of-25 from the free throw line (72.0 percent).
– CSUN out-rebounded Long Beach State 43-33. The Matadors also led in assists 24-10.
– De’Sean Allen-Eikens also scored in double figures with 14 to go with seven rebounds while Mahmoud Fofana had 11 points and six rebounds and Jordan Brinson posted 10 points and seven rebounds. Gianni Hunt added seven assists and six points.
– Keonte Jones recorded his third double-double of the season while he registered his second-straight double-digit rebounding game.
“We played such good defense,” said head coach Andy Newman. “It was so much fun to watch. Honestly, second half we really turned it. When we play defense like that, we’ll be hard to beat. It’s kind of what we do. We’re built for toughness. Coach Monson’s teams are really tough and physical, and we knew that coming into it, but you know what, our team is really tough and physical. We were the tougher team today and we deserved it. These guys are playing their absolute butts off, and it’s really fun to be a part of.”
UP NEXT
CSUN returns home for its Big West home opener on Saturday, Jan. 6 against Hawai’i at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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https://scvnews.com/csun-extends-win-streak-to-six-with-victory-over-long-beach-state/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:18Z
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95 detained after cops raid rave party in Thane; drugs seized
Thane (PTI) At least 95 people were detained after the police raided a rave party near a creek in Maharashtra's Thane city in the early hours of Sunday, an official said.
Officials of the Crime Branch Unit V- Wagle Estate and Unit II Bhiwandi conducted the raid at an open space in a remote area near Vadavali Creek around 3 am, the official said.
At least 95 persons, among them five women, were found partying at the site and have been detained, deputy commissioner of police (crime) Shivraj Patil said.
The police have arrested Tejas Kubal (23) and Sujal Mahajan (19), who organised the party, he said The police recovered 70 gm of charas, 0.41 gm of LSD, 2.10 gm of Ecstasy pills, 200 gm of ganja and alcohol from the scene, and also seized 21 motorcycles, the official said, adding that the total value of the seizure was Rs 8 lakh.
An offence has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against the accused and only two persons have been arrested so far, he said. PTI
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https://thefederal.com/category/states/west/maharashtra/95-detained-after-cops-raid-rave-party-in-thane-drugs-seized-104954
| 2024-01-01T02:22:18Z
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amount-spellout.1000 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=1000
| 2024-01-01T02:22:18Z
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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar owns assets worth Rs 1.64 crore, according to his latest public disclosure.
According to details of the assets of the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues posted on the Cabinet Secretariat Department's website on Sunday evening, Kumar has Rs 22,552 in cash, and deposits of Rs 49,202 in different bank accounts.
He also has a Ford Ecosport car worth Rs 11.32 lakh, two gold rings and a silver ring worth Rs 1.28 lakh, and other movable assets such as 13 cows and 10 calfs worth Rs 1.45 lakh, a treadmill, an exercise cycle and a microwave oven.
The only immovable property that he has is an apartment in Dwarka in New Delhi, which cost him Rs 13.78 lakh in 2004, and is now worth Rs 1.48 crore.
Last year, Kumar had declared total assets of Rs 75.53 lakh. A comparison of the two disclosures showed that the jump in the value of assets was primarily due to the rise in the worth of his Delhi apartment.
Kumar's government has made it mandatory for all cabinet ministers to disclose their assets and liabilities on the last day of every calendar year.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav declared a total income of Rs 4.74 lakh for the 2022-23 financial year. His elder brother Tej Pratap, who is also a minister in the state government, has assets worth Rs 3.58 crore.
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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/politics/cows-gold-rings-treadmill-in-nitish-s-list-of-assets-worth-rs-1-64-crore-123123100838_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:21Z
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Astana Pro Team ends preparations for new season
A large amount of work performed and "digested" at the training camps in December and January, already paid off at the first race of Astana Pro Team in 2019. Thus, at the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia (the first race of the UCI WorldTour in the season) Luis Leon Sanchez took a solid 4th place in the final general classification. And yesterday, Astana has successfully completed its debut European race Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, where Ion Izagirre became the overall winner, Pello Bilbao took the third place, while Astana Pro Team won the team classification.
But despite this, the preparations for the new season continued even after the end of the winter training camp in Calpe (Spain). To improve the physical condition and lead the athletes to a series of important starts of the first half of the new season, the team organized two high-altitude training camp in Tenerife (one of the Canary Islands, Spain) and in Colombia.
A training camp on Tenerife, in the vicinity of the famous volcano Teide, has always been one of the fundamental in modern professional cycling. Training at an altitude of 2000 meters allows the riders to polish the previously created physical base and ideally bring them to the main start of the year.
"We spent two weeks in Tenerife. The training camp was perfect, without any disruptions related to weather conditions. So, we managed to fully perform the amount of work planned by the trainers. The first days after arrival, we adapted to the altitude, as we were at around 2200 meters above sea level, and then the training cycle went into full force. There were four riders in our group - me, Zhandos Bizhigitov, Jakob Fuglsang and Dario Cataldo. It was very cool and comfortable to train there, we worked at this training camp as hard as possible. I can say that not only we were on Tenerife during this period, there were many other WorldTour teams, all preparing for the season. We often met, for example, Tom Dumoulin and his Team Sunweb; have seen many times our former teammate Vincenzo Nibali with his Bahrain-Merida. I think, this training camp gave a lot, it allowed me to build a good form. Of course, I still need to catch the so-called racing rhythm, but it will come with the first races. Very soon, I will go to Muscat, where the Tour of Oman will begin on February 16th," explained Alexey Lutsenko.
The other part of the team went to Colombia at the end of January, where they also held a two-week training camp before the stage race Tour Colombia 2.1, which starts already tomorrow, on February 12th.
The Columbian training camp was attended by 6 riders: three Colombians of Astana Pro Team, Miguel Angel Lopez, Rodrigo Contreras and Hernando Bourkes and Nikita Stalnov, Jan Hirt and Davide Villella. During this camp, the leader of the Kazakh team Miguel Angel Lopez managed to win the silver medal in the individual time trial of the Colombian National Championships, demonstrating he is ready for the season.
"Our training camp went very well. For me, it was a new experience, because we lived at a high altitude, above 2500 meters above sea level, and trained at the marks of 3000 meters. This is a completely different experience and completely different physical work, which can not be compared even with Tenerife. After a week, which went on adaptation, I began to feel much better, entered the working rhythm, felt that the form is on the rise. During the training camp we carried out a large amount of work, both power and intensive. We worked on the team time trial as well. Our coach Aritz Arberas has made a great plan, which we have fully implemented. The team had a great atmosphere, our Colombian riders met us at the airport in Bogota, every day they came up with interesting routes for training, showed us different places. All the time we felt increased attention to our team, which is well known here. Every other passing car stopped to take photos or videos with us. When we stopped for a short rest, a crowd of fans gathered around us. Of course, Miguel Angel is a big star here. After the camp I feel like I am ready for the season, but I still can't accurately assess my form, because of the altitude the feeling is quite different. We will see how the Tour of Colombia will go, but we are going there with serious ambitions," said Nikita Stalnov.
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-pro-team-ends-preparations-for-new-season_a3497596/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:21Z
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Shipping giant Maersk said on Sunday it was suspending the passage of vessels through a key Red Sea strait for 48 hours, after Yemeni rebels attacked one of its merchant ships.
The Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated container vessel en route from Singapore to Port Suez in Egypt, reported being struck by a missile while transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
India monitoring Red Sea developments; got info on US-led naval task force
It appeared to be undamaged in that attack and "was able to continue its transit north", said Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies.
It was then attacked by four ships operated by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels, which "engaged fire in an expected attempt to board the vessel", the Danish shipping company said.
The US military said navy helicopters sank three of the ships while the fourth fled.
"In light of the incident -- and to allow time to investigate the details of the incident and assess the security situation further -- it has been decided to delay all transits through the area for the next 48 hours," said a Maersk statement.
The Huthis have repeatedly targeted vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane with strikes they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.
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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/maersk-suspends-ships-passage-via-red-sea-strait-for-48-hours/amp-11704072288313.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:21Z
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep on January 2 and 3 during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects, his office said on Sunday. On January 2, Modi will reach Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu and will be the chief guest at the 38th Convocation Ceremony of Bharathidasan University, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
At a public programme in Tiruchirappalli, the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 19,850 crore related to aviation, rail, road, oil and gas, shipping and higher education sectors.
Modi will then reach Agatti in Lakshadweep where he will address a public function.
On January 3, the prime minister will reach Kavaratti in Lakshadweep, where he will lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Lakshadweep related to sectors such as telecommunications, drinking water, solar power and health.
At the programme in Tiruchirappalli, he will inaugurate the New Terminal Building at Tiruchirappalli International Airport.
Developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,100 crore, the two-level new international terminal building has the capacity to serve more than 44 lakh passengers annually and about 3,500 passengers during peak hours, the statement said.
Modi will dedicate to the nation multiple railway projects, including doubling of rail line section of 160 Km from Madurai- Tuticorin and three projects for rail line electrification.
The rail projects will help in improving the rail capacity to carry freight and passengers and contribute to economic development and employment generation in Tamil Nadu, the statement said.
Modi will also dedicate to the nation five road sector projects which will facilitate safe and faster travel of people of the region and improve connectivity of industrial and commercial centres like Trichy, Srirangam, Chidambaram, Rameshwaram, Dhanushkodi, Uthirakosamangai, Devipattinam, Erwadi, Madurai, among others, the statement sad.
He will also lay the foundation stone of road development projects, including construction of a 31-km long stretch four lane road from Mugaiyur to Marakkanam of NH 332A.The road will connect ports at the East Coast of Tamil Nadu, enhance road connectivity to the world heritage site Mamallapuram, and provide better connectivity to Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant.
The prime minister will dedicate to the nation the General Cargo Berth-II (Automobile Export/Import Terminal-II & Capital Dredging Phase-V) of Kamarajar Port.
During the programme, he will also lay the foundation stone of important petroleum and natural gas projects worth more than Rs 9,000 crore.The projects of the petroleum and natural gas sector will be a step towards fulfilling the industrial, domestic and commercial requirements of energy in the region.
The prime minister will also dedicate to the nation the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research Kalpakkam.
Developed at a cost of Rs 400 crore, the plant is equipped with a unique design, which is the only of its kind in the world and is capable of reprocessing both carbide and oxide fuels discharged from fast reactors. It is entirely designed by Indian scientists and signifies a crucial step towards building large commercial-scale fast reactor fuel reprocessing plants.
Among other projects, Modi will inaugurate the 500-bedded boys hostel 'AMETHYST' of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Tiruchirappalli.
During his visit to Lakshadweep, Modi will lay the foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs 1,150 crore.
In a transformative move, the prime minister had resolved to overcome the challenge of slow internet speed in Lakshadweep island by initiating the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) project and made an announcement on it in the Independence Day speech in August 2020 at the Red Fort.
The project has now been completed and will be inaugurated by Modi. This will lead to an increase of internet speed for more than 100 times (from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps), the statement said.
For the first time since Independence, Lakshadweep will be connected through Submarine Optic Fibre Cable.
The dedicated submarine OFC will ensure a paradigm shift in communication infrastructure in Lakshadweep islands, enabling faster and more reliable internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, educational initiatives, digital banking, digital currency usage, digital literacy etc..
Modi will also dedicate to the nation the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination plant at Kadmat, which will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day.
He will also dedicate to the nation the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households of Agatti and Minicoy islands.
Other projects which will be dedicated to the nation include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, which is the first ever battery backed solar power project of Lakshadweep.
It will help to reduce dependency on Diesel based Power Generation plant; and the new administrative block and 80 Men barrack in India Reserve Battalion Complex at Kavaratti.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-visit-tamil-nadu-lakshadweep-on-january-2-3/articleshow/106418794.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:22Z
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OTTAWA: Canada’s resource-heavy main stock index was little changed on the final trading day of the year, as strength in the energy sector offset declines in materials shares, and looked set to follow other major markets to end the year in positive territory.
At 10:09 a.m. ET (15:09 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 6.23 points, or 0.03%, at 20,935.61, on track for a third consecutive weekly gain and a yearly increase of 7.94%.
The energy sector rose 0.3%, leading sectoral gains as crude prices gained.
The materials sector, which includes precious, base metals miners and fertilizer companies, was the worst hit, dropping 0.7% and over 4% during the year.
The index was weighed down by a dip in the prices of gold and copper as the dollar strengthened.
“It would seem the global economy is due to slow down even further in the first half of 2024, which means the bullish story for metals that some are putting out may have to wait a while,” said Malcolm Freeman, CEO at Kingdom Futures.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281404/tsx-flat-as-energy-gains-offset-declines-in-miners
| 2024-01-01T02:22:23Z
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CUSA Football Promo Codes, Predictions, Computer Picks & Best Bets | Bowl Season
Published: Dec. 31, 2023 at 2:44 PM EST|Updated: 31 minutes ago
Based on our projections, the best bet in terms of the total for the four CUSA bowl season games is Liberty vs. Oregon -- for more tips, including parlay possibilities, keep reading.
Sportsbook Promo Codes
Bet on all CUSA games with BetMGM!
Best Week 18 CUSA Spread Bets
Pick: Western Kentucky +4.5 vs. Old Dominion
- Matchup: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Old Dominion Monarchs
- Projected Favorite & Spread: Old Dominion by 0.5 points
- Time: 2:30 PM ET
- Date: December 18
- TV Channel: ESPN (Stream on Fubo)
Pick: Fresno State +3.5 vs. New Mexico State
- Matchup: New Mexico State Aggies at Fresno State Bulldogs
- Projected Favorite & Spread: New Mexico State by 0.0 points
- Time: 5:45 PM ET
- Date: December 16
- TV Channel: ESPN (Stream on Fubo)
Pick: Louisiana +3.5 vs. Jacksonville State
- Matchup: Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
- Projected Favorite & Spread: Jacksonville State by 1.5 points
- Time: 2:15 PM ET
- Date: December 16
- TV Channel: ESPN (Stream on Fubo)
Make your CUSA spread pick now through BetMGM.
Best Week 18 CUSA Total Bets
Under 67.5 - Liberty vs. Oregon
- Matchup: Liberty Flames at Oregon Ducks
- Projected Total: 61.4 points
- Time: 1:00 PM ET
- Date: January 1
- TV Channel: ESPN
Over 48.5 - Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion
- Matchup: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Old Dominion Monarchs
- Projected Total: 54.2 points
- Time: 2:30 PM ET
- Date: December 18
- TV Channel: ESPN (Stream on Fubo)
Under 57.5 - Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana
- Matchup: Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
- Projected Total: 55.6 points
- Time: 2:15 PM ET
- Date: December 16
- TV Channel: ESPN (Stream on Fubo)
Got your Total bet in mind? Make it at BetMGM.
Week 18 CUSA Standings
Watch CUSA games all season long on Fubo and ESPN+!
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved.
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https://www.12onyourside.com/sports/betting/2023/12/16/bowl-season-cusa-college-football-computer-picks-best-bets-predictions-5/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:24Z
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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sunday, Dec. 31, at approximately 4:31 a.m., on the 25700 block of Vista Fairways Drive in Santa Clarita.
As deputies responded to the location, they were updated that a vehicle was in the middle of the roadway. Upon deputies’ arrival, they located the vehicle and discovered the victim in the driver’s seat, unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the location and transported the victim – a male adult – to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
There is no suspect in custody and no suspect information available.
The investigation is ongoing, and currently, there is no additional information available at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website.
This breaking news. Information will be added once updates become available.
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https://scvnews.com/detectives-investigating-fatal-shooting-in-santa-clarita/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:25Z
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=10000
| 2024-01-01T02:22:25Z
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“Parliament turned into a deep, dark chamber,” tweeted Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien recently. O’Brien was ruing the suspension of 146 MPs, including his own, during Parliament’s winter session for demanding a discussion on the December 13 breach in the security of Indian democracy’s biggest symbol and a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident.The...
“Parliament turned into a deep, dark chamber,” tweeted Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien recently. O’Brien was ruing the suspension of 146 MPs, including his own, during Parliament’s winter session for demanding a discussion on the December 13 breach in the security of Indian democracy’s biggest symbol and a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident.
The Trinamool leader’s pithy reflection on India’s Parliament sums up the growing despair that not just the country’s political Opposition but also the amorphous mass of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s critics have plunged into in the year gone; arguably, way more than they had in the preceding nine years of the BJP regime.
This is not to say that Parliament had been functioning perfectly until the recently concluded winter session or that India’s democracy suddenly turned into a chimera in the last month of 2023 — far from it. Yet, despite all the raucous disruptions that previous sessions of Parliament had witnessed, despite the decreasing parliamentary scrutiny of crucial Bills and the Modi government’s growing proclivity for having such legislation bulldozed through Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and despite the unfortunate but evident partisan conduct of proceedings of both Houses by their respective presiding officers, there had earlier been at least a visage of maintaining parliamentary decorum.
The suspension of 146 Opposition MPs across the two Houses of Parliament for demanding, no matter how uproariously, a discussion on something as serious as a security breach in a recently inaugurated, professedly impregnable Parliament, shattered that visage. If earlier sessions of Parliament had exposed the Modi government’s propensity for riding roughshod over parliamentary conventions of scrutiny and debate to have its legislative agenda passed, the last session established a new precept.
Purging the Opposition entirely from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, barely four months before the next General Elections, and then using Parliament to sanctify new laws—the three new criminal laws, the Telecommunications Bill, the Bill for appointing election commissioners, and sundry others—that have far-reaching and manifestly adverse consequences for India’s democracy as a whole has now been established as parliamentary precedent. Worse, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman have been more than willing accomplices in this new parliamentary precept.
That all of this is happening when Bharat (or is it still India?) has, as per the Prime Minister and his brigade of cheerleaders, entered an enchanted Amrit Kaal—completing 75 years of a hard-won freedom—and established itself both, as the “Mother of Democracy” and a “Vishwaguru” —may seem revoltingly ironic. Yet, this winter of discontent did not just set in without warning.
Curbs on dissent, crackdowns on political opponents, critics and votaries of civil liberty, wantonly selective targeting of rival by central investigative agencies, muzzling the press, compromising constitutional institutions, suspending few MPs in different sessions of Parliament, et al—the macabre undermining of democracy had been a work in progress since 2014. Indeed, but for the added element of jingoistic nationalism intertwined with Hindu supremacy, India had seen parallels of such assaults on her democratic ethos with varying degrees under previous regimes too—most notably, the Emergency era under Indira Gandhi’s Congress rule. What seemed to have changed in 2023, though, was the degree of brazenness in employing such excesses.
For the Opposition, particularly the Congress party, the year gone by may have started on a somewhat positive note with the culmination of Rahul Gandhi’s well-received Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 30 in Srinagar. The scorching insinuations made in the Hindenburg Research report about a Modi-Adani nexus allowed the combined Opposition to launch a well calibrated and pitched offensive against the Centre just when it unveiled its last full budget of its current term. For a moment, the otherwise noisy government seemed to go on the back foot with its perennially voluble Prime Minister taking refuge in silence while the Congress and wider Opposition paralysed Parliament with their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Hindenburg revelations.
By April, the empire struck back with a ruthlessness that few imagined it would dare. Armed with a conveniently enabling judgment by a Gujarat lower court in the so-called Modi surname case that sentenced Rahul to two years in prison for defamation, the government moved briskly to have the former Congress president disqualified from Lok Sabha. Though the sentence was stayed by the Supreme Court in August, ensuring Rahul’s reinstatement as an MP, the fact that he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha was a clear statement of intent by the regime that it would, henceforth, take no prisoners.
“That was as clear a warning to the Opposition as it could be... though AAP leaders like Satyender Jain and Manish Sisodia had been arrested earlier in the year, no one thought that the government would actually go so far to have someone like Rahul, a former Congress president and a member of the Gandhi family, disqualified from the Lok Sabha. It was like the government telling all Opposition leaders, and a number of them were already under the scanner of one agency or the other, that if we can do this to Rahul Gandhi, we can do this to anyone; so fall in line,” Congress MP and veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar told The Federal.
For the BJP though, Rahul’s disqualification, coupled with the Centre’s aggressive hounding of other prominent Opposition leaders through ED, CBI and the IT department, and perhaps also the Congress’s massive victory in the Karnataka assembly polls, collectively acted as a catalyst for uniting a fragmented Opposition. By September, 28 Opposition parties came under the overarching and admittedly unwieldy umbrella of the INDIA coalition, committing themselves to the common purpose of fielding consensus candidates against BJP nominees on 350 to 400 of Lok Sabha’s 543 seats in the 2024 General Elections to ensure Modi’s ouster from power.
Despite contradictions and strife within the INDIA bloc surfacing from time to time, the coalition also came up with what it felt was a narrative that could severely restrict the appeal of BJP’s Hindutva—the push for a pan-India caste census, taking cue from an already published caste survey in Opposition-ruled Bihar, and its deployment to address age-old maladies of social injustice and economic inequity. Modi’s deafening silence on the ethnic clashes and unspeakable atrocities against women in BJP-ruled Manipur also afforded the Opposition a chance to slam the Prime Minister’s vociferous self-projection as a protector of women and an unyielding administrator of law and order.
Never one short of an ace up the sleeve, the government recouped and shot back while the INDIA bloc was still coalescing. Having already used India’s rotational presidency of the G-20 to kick up a hysteria of nationalistic pride, replete with a mindless juxtaposition of Bharat against India, the Modi government opened the new Parliament with a ‘special session’; the agenda of which was kept tightly guarded till the five-day session actually commenced.
After leaving the Opposition guessing for weeks on what the special session would transact (among these were speculations over a Uniform Civil Code, simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, amending the Constitution to omit India as the country’s name), the government brought in a half-baked legislation guaranteeing the long-pending 33 percent reservation to women in legislatures and the Lok Sabha. Caught off-guard, the Opposition was forced to support the Bill with near unanimity after registering some protestations over the indeterminate timeline of the quota’s implementation and the absence of a sub-quota for OBC women within the 33 per cent reservation pie.
In the ultimate summary, it did not matter that the Centre had once again blindsided the Opposition nor even that the Bill established a new precedent of a law being enacted but not implemented. What mattered was that a promise that successive governments had made to half the country’s population but failed to deliver was now on the cusp of realisation, even if its timeline remained a mystery—and more importantly, that Modi made this happen.
Despite that great personal success for Modi and an almost simultaneous floundering of the talks within the INDIA bloc, the Opposition remained hopeful of a turnaround as assembly polls for four big states—Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana – approached. Not just the Congress, which was in direct contest with the BJP in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, but the INDIA bloc as a whole was positive of a setback to the saffron juggernaut in the Hindi speaking states – an outcome that would have undoubtedly given the Opposition a major boost ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP’s campaign, jarring, inchoate and at odds with the party’s seemingly powerful satraps in these states, was pitched against an aggressive Congress and ground reports of an uptick in the Grand Old Party’s popularity. Many believed that Modi mania alone may no longer guarantee the BJP victories in states.
Yet, as December rolled in, cacophonous prophecies of a saffron singe proved grossly off the mark. Though the Congress wrested Telangana from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, it was humiliated with crushing defeats in the Hindi Heartland; unexpected results that reinstated Modi’s image as India’s preeminent vote magnet and have, arguably, legitimised the arbitrary, divisive and muscular governance that the Prime Minister has come to symbolise, and among his countless supporters, be celebrated for.
With Modi’s popularity on a surge once again, it was, perhaps, expected that the Opposition would be given no quarter by the government when Parliament convened for its winter session. The expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha in an evidently dubious cash-for-query case, was, like Rahul’s disqualification or the suspension of MPs in previous sessions, another cautionary signal from the government to the Opposition.
The security breach incident, currently under a probe that hasn’t revealed anything, and the role of BJP MP Prathap Simha in facilitating the entry into Parliament of the youth arrested in the case, justifiably triggered uproar by the Opposition. What the Opposition clearly did not fathom was that the government, high on yet another round of poll victories, wasn’t going to let democratic niceties come in its way of crushing their reprisal – nor, for that matter, would the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman.
The Opposition is now back to its drawing board of the INDIA bloc. The BJP’s sweep across the Hindi Heartland, the Supreme Court’s upholding of the abrogation of Article 370 and the forthcoming inauguration of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, coupled with the party’s enormous election war chest, which includes not just financial resources but also large sections of the media as well as constitutional, administrative and investigative institutions, collectively bolster Modi perceived invincibility at the hustings now more than ever before.
The INDIA bloc knows it has a lot more ground to cover than the 6,200 kilometres of Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Nyay Yatra. The question is, whether it also has the courage of conviction to see this fight to the finish. It’s over to 2024 now.
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https://thefederal.com/category/the-eighth-column/one-step-at-a-time-how-2023-bore-witness-to-bjps-opposition-purge-104950
| 2024-01-01T02:22:25Z
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Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh again raised questions over EVMs on Sunday and demanded that voters be handed over VVPAT slips that can then be put in ballot boxes.
Responding to a video raising questions about the use of EVMs in elections, Singh stated that he has been saying since 2003 that he does not trust EVMs.
"To whom I want to cast my vote, I don't even know where my vote has been cast. There is no such machine in the world in which a chip is inserted which cannot be hacked. Because the chip will follow the orders of the software embedded in it. You will type 'A' the software will say 'A' and only 'A' will be printed," he said.
"If you press 'panja (Congress' poll symbol)' on EVM, what will be printed if the software says 'lotus'? Panja or lotus? Now the matter comes to this that the VVPAT machine showed you 'panja' for 7 seconds, we went away happy but 'lotus' (BJP's election symbol) will be printed! You can watch this game on Rahul Mehta's video," Singh said in his post.
He said the Opposition's demand had been that elections be conducted through ballot paper, as is done in all developed countries.
"Counting will take some more time. So be it. But the public will believe that their vote went to the person they wanted it to. Today it is not even known. If @narendramodi ji and our Election Commission @ECISVEEP love EVMs so much then why don't they show the VVPAT slip, give it to us and we will put it in the ballot boxes," he said in his post in Hindi.
What is the objection to this, asked Singh and added that the INDIA bloc is asking for time to meet the Election Commission from August for this demand but "the Election Commission does not have time".
"What option do we have now? Either go to the Supreme Court or take to the streets against EVM. This is what political parties, especially INDIA, should decide soon," he said.
In another post, he said INDIA bloc political parties are seeking appointment with the Election Commission from August but they are so busy that they don't even have time to meet the opposition.
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"Will Honorable CJI take cognizance of this? ECI always says that the Supreme Court has given its decision on EVM. Hobourable CJI, should recognized political parties at your behest not even ask questions regarding EVMs from ECI. Where is justice?" he said.
Responding to a post by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Singh also said, "Thanks @pbhushan1 ji. This video is of pre VVPAT and therefore @ECISVEEP would say this issue has been settled. Now the voter can see for 7 seconds which candidate he has voted. But does it mean that the voter should not have the printed VVPAT slip in his hand to ensure that what he has seen has been correctly printed? Printer would obey the command of the software not of the voter. Can we trust the software?"
"Who has written the software and who has loaded it in the system? Can't @ECISVEEP be honest and put the software in public domain?" he said.
"Who has written the software and who has loaded it in the system? Can't @ECISVEEP be honest and put the software in public domain?" he said.
Singh's remarks come days after the opposition 'INDIA' bloc asserted that there are many doubts about the integrity of the functioning of electronic voting machines and suggested that VVPAT slips be handed over to voters and its 100 per cent counting done later.
Leaders of several opposition parties deliberated on the issue of EVMs, especially after the recent victories of the BJP in the state assembly elections, and felt that the entire opposition coalition should raise the matter unitedly before the people.
According to the Election Commission, mandatory verification of printed voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips of five randomly selected polling stations of each assembly constituency or each assembly segment is done in case of election to the House of the People before declaring results.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/politics/have-been-saying-since-2003-i-don-t-trust-evms-congress-digvijaya-singh-123123100889_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:27Z
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North Korea's Kim Jong Un orders annihilation of US, South Korea amid confrontation
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to ramp up weapons tests in 2024, including launching three military spy satellites, producing more nuclear materials, and developing attack drones.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to annihilate the US and South Korea amid a confrontation. Kim has vowed to boost national defences to “thoroughly annihilate" North Korea's two biggest rival countries.
As per the media reports, Kim is expected to ramp up weapons tests in 2024 ahead of the US presidential election in November. Last week, Kim said he would launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials, and develop attack drones in 2024.
‘Mistake that…’: N. Korea's Kim Jong Un on seeking reunification with S. Korea
In a meeting on Sunday with commanding army officers, Kim said it is urgent to sharpen “the treasured sword" to safeguard national security, an apparent reference to his country’s nuclear weapons program. He cited “the US and other hostile forces’ military confrontation moves," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
'War can break out any time': N Korea vows more nuclear materials in 2024
Kim stressed that “our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without moment’s hesitation" if they opt for military confrontation and provocations against North Korea, KCNA said.
North Korea's Kim Jong Un orders military to accelerate war preparations
AP news agency, citing experts mentioned that small-scale military clashes between North and South Korea could happen this year along their heavily armed border. They say North Korea is also expected to test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the mainland US and other major new weapons.
In 2018-19, Kim met former US President Donald Trump in three rounds of talks on North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal. The diplomacy fell apart after the US rejected Kim's limited offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex in exchange for extensive reductions in US-led sanctions.
South Korea imposes sanctions on 11 North Koreans
Estimates of the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal vary, ranging from about 20-30 bombs to more than 100. Many foreign experts say North Korea still has some technological hurdles to overcome to produce functioning nuclear-armed ICBMs, though its shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles can reach South Korea and Japan.
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-orders-annihilation-of-us-south-korea-amid-confrontation-11704074349203.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:28Z
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GUNA: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh's brother Lakshman Singh on Sunday said that he does not regard Rahul Gandhi as a prominent leader, emphasizing that greatness is achieved through actions rather than by birth.
The remarks of Lakshman Singh who is also a former Congress MP, came after a reporter at a press conference in Guna questioned his views on Rahul Gandhi not being highlighted much on TV when Waynand MP makes a statement in the Lok Sabha.
"Rahul Gandhi is just a party worker. He is just an MP, apart from that he is nothing. You (media) people too should not highlight Rahul Gandhi so much, nor should we. No one becomes a great leader by birth, one becomes great by his/her actions. Don't consider Rahul Gandhi such a great leader, I don't," he said.
He further stated that the status of Rahul Gandhi is equal to that of other parliamentarians, stating, "Rahul Gandhi is an MP. He is just like other Members of Parliament. He is just an ordinary MP."
Lakshman Singh, a five-time MP and three-time MLA, expressed his perspective on who should be called a leader as he emphasized the importance of accomplishments over inherited status while terming any MP as a leader.
Earlier BJP's Priyanka Penchi defeated Lakshman Singh from Chachoura assembly seat in Guna district.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-is-not-a-big-leader-congress-leader-lakshman-singh/articleshow/106423859.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:28Z
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Astana Pro Team scores first seasonal victory
Besides, the Kazakh team won the final team classification of the Spanish race.
- I am super happy with this victory, but I have to say that this is team's success, not only mine. We rode this race very well as a team and in every moment I had a great support from my teammates. We've got almost maximum in this race with my victory, a third place of Pello Bilbao and a win in team classification. Fantastic! I started this season with a goal to win at least one race and already here in Valencia I've got it. It is something special for me to win in Astana jersey, I am proud of it! - said Ion Izagirre.
- I think, this is the best way to start the new season. I am happy with my result and, of course, I am happy for Ion Izagirre and his victory. My result in this race proves that I worked really well during the off-season. With the team we had two very productive training camps in December and January, where a huge amount of work has been done together with our trainers and bike engineers. Now, at the Volta Valenciana we see how all this work pays off. After this strong start of the season I am looking forward to continue improving in the next races, - said Pello Bilbao.
- It is a well-deserved victory for our team. We have spent a very strong week here in Valencia and the team showed a solid performance. We saw many high-level rivals in this race, so, this fact makes this victory even more prestigious. Today's stage was a bit nervous because of the wind, high pace and crash in the end, but we managed to pass it through without any problem. I am happy with our result in this race and want to congratulate all the team! - said Dmitri Sedoun, sports director of Astana Pro Team.
The last, 5th stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana of just 88 km, despite a crash inside the final kilometer, ended with a much-expected sprint on the streets of Valencia. The Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen won the stage ahead of Alexander Kristoff and Matteo Trentin. Astana's Magnus Cort finished 15th.
The final podium of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana: 1. Ion Izagirre, 2. Alejandro Valverde (+0.07), 3. Pello Bilbao (+0.07).
Photo credit: © Tim De Waele/Getty Images
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-pro-team-scores-first-seasonal-victory_a3496976/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:28Z
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Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis made headlines on the last day of 2023 after stating he had “categorically ruled out” the possibility of serving as Donald Trump’s vice president.
DeSantis shared his stance during an interview on ‘Your World with Neil Cavuto’ shortly after concluding a town hall event in Edgewood, Iowa.
In the interview, DeSantis further elaborated on his previous actions against corporations like Disney for their “woke” policies, expressing his commitment to protecting children’s innocence and parental rights.
He boasted about the economic success of Florida under his governance, ranking first for new business formation and having paid down a significant portion of the state’s debt.
The interview took a turn when DeSantis outspokenly dismissed any notion of running as vice president with Trump. “I’ve categorically ruled out being VP,” DeSantis stated, suggesting Haley should be transparent about her intentions with regard to the same position.
“I know Nikki Haley will not rule out being vice president because she spends a lot of money attacking me. So, is she trying to defeat former President Trump, or is she trying to be his vice president? She will not rule that out. You know, she’s gotten a lot of support from these never-Trumpers. They’re viewing her as like the darling of never-Trump, yet she’s positioning herself to potentially be in the running for that. I’ve categorically ruled out being VP. I think she should do that. So her supporters know where she stands,” DeSantis said.
WATCH:
The remarks swiftly ignited a firestorm of commentary on social media, with users lambasting DeSantis. Popular Twitter personality Catturd succinctly remarked, “Nobody asked you.”
Others joined in with quips about DeSantis’s perceived delusion about his standing with Trump and the GOP base, implying that his declaration was more a foregone conclusion than a bold political stance.
One Twitter user mocked, “Poor lil Rob still has no idea that his place at the adult table is gone forever. He will forever reside at the kids table now,” while another quipped, “Easy to say that when he knows that Trump is never going to ask him!”
Another wrote, “Ron DeSantis is the last person on planet earth Trump would choose as his VP.”
Some even theorized about DeSantis’s acknowledgment of Trump as the likely GOP nominee, saying, “At least he’s recognizing Trump is going to be the GOP nominee. He’s in the anger stage of grief.”
Another said, “So now he’s just lost 2 jobs. President and Vice President.”
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https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/nobody-asked-you-ron-desantis-gets-roasted-after/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:30Z
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DUBAI: Most stock markets in the Middle East ended higher on Sunday, with the Egyptian index chalking up its biggest annual gain since 2016, helped by investors hedging against high inflation and a weak domestic currency.
Egypt’s blue-chip index advanced 0.8%, extending its 2023 gains to a 70.5%.
Top lender Commercial International Bank was up 75% over the year while tobacco monopoly Eastern Company concluded the year 98.5% higher than at the start of 2023.
Annual inflation in Egypt had been working its way higher for two years, hitting a record 38% in September.
In the past few months an already weakened currency has plunged to about 50 pounds to the US dollar on the black market compared with the official rate of 30.85 pounds.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index rose 0.3%, up 14.2% over the year, on expectations of interest rate cuts in 2024.
Oil giant Saudi Aramco added 13.1% for its biggest annual gain since listing in December 2019 despite receding oil prices.
Markets expect the Federal Reserve to start cutting US interest rates in March, according to the CME FedWatch tool, a shift from assumptions last month.
Monetary policy in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council is usually guided by the Fed’s decisions because most regional currencies are pegged to the dollar.
However, the Saudi index gains were capped by weak oil prices.
Oil prices, which fuel the Gulf economies, dropped more than 10% in 2023, ending a two-year winning streak, as geopolitical concerns, production cuts and central bank measures to rein in inflation triggered big price fluctuations.
A Reuters survey of 34 economists and analysts forecast that Brent crude will average $82.56 in 2024, down from November’s $84.43 consensus, on expectations that weak global growth will cap demand. Continuing geopolitical tensions, however, could provide price support.
The benchmark index in Qatar, the world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), advanced 2.3% but was up only 1.4% annual for the year.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281405/egyptian-bourse-registers-biggest-annual-gain-since-2016
| 2024-01-01T02:22:30Z
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CUSA Games Today: How to Watch CUSA Games, TV Schedule, Live Streaming Options - Bowl Season
Published: Dec. 31, 2023 at 2:10 PM EST|Updated: 1 hour ago
Looking for info on how to watch all of the college football postseason action now that bowl season and the College Football Playoff are here? Below, we highlight how you can watch all four games involving teams from the CUSA.
Watch college football all season long on Fubo and ESPN+!
CUSA Games on TV This Week
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved.
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https://www.12onyourside.com/sports/betting/2023/12/16/bowl-season-cusa-college-football-live-stream-5/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:30Z
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By Alan Riquelmy
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — A federal judge on Friday gave California Attorney General Rob Bonta a major win in an open carry case, granting the state’s request for summary judgment.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Kimberly Mueller also found a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by Mark Baird and Richard Gallardo moot, as the case is now closed.
Baird and Gallardo sued the California attorney general in 2019 over a licensing issue. The state bans open carry, except in counties with a population under 200,000. The two men live in counties without that prohibition, yet still couldn’t get an open carry license.
Their attorney, Amy Bellantoni, argued in court last month that open carry, concealed or not, is a natural right, and that the state can’t force someone to get a license to carry. She also pointed to New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that has had resounding implications for firearm policy since it was decided in 2022.
Under Bruen, a historical analogue must exist — a similar law affecting firearms when the Second Amendment was ratified in the 18th century — for a current gun restriction to be lawful.
Mueller, a Barack Obama appointee, ruled Friday that California, in fact, did have such laws.
“Those historical laws also were similarly restrictive, if not more so,” the judge wrote. “Baird and Gallardo have not refuted the state’s evidence. For these reasons … the court concludes the state has shown what it must to prove its laws are constitutional.”
According to Mueller, Baird and Gallardo object to asking the government for permission before they can lawfully use a preexisting right. However, attorneys for the state countered that the Second Amendment doesn’t “compel unlicensed open carry.”
“Nor, in the state’s view, does ‘the plain text of the Second Amendment … require any right to openly carry when concealed carry (and open carry under more limited circumstances) is authorized.’”
Mueller wrote that Baird and Gallardo argue that California cannot require them to carry handguns in a specific way — in this case, concealed. The judge called that argument unpersuasive because American governments have placed restrictions on the manner people carry firearms since the nation’s founding.
Baird and Gallardo also argue that the state pointed to irrelevant statutes either before or long after the point the Second Amendment was adopted, in its attempt to satisfy the Bruen requirement.
Mueller wrote that the men’s expert — who has a master’s in history and has published papers on the Second Amendment and firearms history — offered “poorly reasoned” opinions that suggested a lack of expertise. He also made verbal, hyperbolic attacks rooted more in partisanship than history.
“’Of course, California’s politicians would rather focus on guns rather than ask how deinstitutionalization in the 1960s created cities awash in homeless often mentally ill drug addicts, sidewalks with discarded hypodermic needles and human feces and random acts of mass murder,” Mueller quoted the expert in her ruling.
Conversely, the state’s experts were “measured, persuasive and thorough,” Mueller wrote.
Additionally, the judge wrote that neither man sued any local authority over licensing, or provided evidence about their policies and procedures. Also, Baird testified at a deposition that in 2021 he had an open carry license application approved, though it has since expired.
The issue of the pending motion for preliminary injunction by Baird and Gallardo, now deemed moot, was a separate, though related, matter.
Mueller previously had denied the men a preliminary injunction, which sought to stop enforcement of the state law criminalizing unlicensed open carry. They then appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The appeals court in September reversed Mueller’s decision, stating the federal judge used an incorrect legal standard in her ruling. It also stated Mueller should move quickly on the issue.
Bellantoni, the men’s attorney, in mid-October wrote to the appeals court about a lack of a decision. She worried that Mueller would delay a decision on the injunction until the summary judgment motions were submitted and possibly decided.
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https://scvnews.com/federal-judge-sides-with-california-in-open-carry-dispute/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:31Z
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20 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
Convert SEK to TMT at the real exchange rate
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=20
| 2024-01-01T02:22:32Z
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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday urged people to remember "our brothers and sisters" in Gaza and slammed "the so-called leaders of the world" for watching in silence and moving on "unperturbed in their quest for power and greed".
In a post on X on new year's eve, the Congress general secretary said that while our children celebrate, the children of the people in Gaza are being "murdered mercilessly".
"As we celebrate the beginning of a new year and wish each other that love, peace, laughter and goodness should fill our lives, let us remember our brothers and sisters in Gaza who are facing the most unjust and inhuman assault on their right to life, dignity and freedom," Priyanka Gandhi said.
"While our children celebrate, their children are being murdered mercilessly. The so-called leaders of the world watch in silence and move on unperturbed in their quest for power and greed," she said.
Yet there are millions of ordinary people who are raising their voices demanding an end to the horrific violence being perpetrated in Gaza, and those millions of people with brave hearts bring us hope for a new tomorrow, the Congress leader said.
She urged the people to be one of them.
Priyanka Gandhi has been vocal against the violence in Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire there.
The war, triggered by the deadly October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, has killed more than 21,600 Palestinians.
Also Read
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/politics/let-s-remember-people-in-gaza-facing-most-unjust-assault-priyanka-gandhi-123123100852_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:33Z
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to annihilate the US and South Korea amid a confrontation. Kim has vowed to boost national defences to “thoroughly annihilate" North Korea's two biggest rival countries.
As per the media reports, Kim is expected to ramp up weapons tests in 2024 ahead of the US presidential election in November. Last week, Kim said he would launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials, and develop attack drones in 2024.
‘Mistake that…’: N. Korea's Kim Jong Un on seeking reunification with S. Korea
In a meeting on Sunday with commanding army officers, Kim said it is urgent to sharpen “the treasured sword" to safeguard national security, an apparent reference to his country’s nuclear weapons program. He cited “the US and other hostile forces’ military confrontation moves," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
'War can break out any time': N Korea vows more nuclear materials in 2024
Kim stressed that “our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without moment’s hesitation" if they opt for military confrontation and provocations against North Korea, KCNA said.
North Korea's Kim Jong Un orders military to accelerate war preparations
AP news agency, citing experts mentioned that small-scale military clashes between North and South Korea could happen this year along their heavily armed border. They say North Korea is also expected to test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the mainland US and other major new weapons.
In 2018-19, Kim met former US President Donald Trump in three rounds of talks on North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal. The diplomacy fell apart after the US rejected Kim's limited offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex in exchange for extensive reductions in US-led sanctions.
Estimates of the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal vary, ranging from about 20-30 bombs to more than 100. Many foreign experts say North Korea still has some technological hurdles to overcome to produce functioning nuclear-armed ICBMs, though its shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles can reach South Korea and Japan.
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-orders-annihilation-of-us-south-korea-amid-confrontation/amp-11704074349203.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:34Z
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court expressed Saturday its displeasure over
tweets by YouTuber and journalist Shyam Meera Singh about Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh while a case between them was being heard. Singh's lawyers eventually assured the court that he would delete the tweets, posted on Friday.
The HC is hearing a plea by Ram Rahim to take down a video by Singh which alleges the Dera chief "fooled" followers.
Ram Rahim has sought orders to have the video deleted. "If he (Singh) is a journalist, he needs to be responsible. Please don't make any tweets which interfere with the justice delivery system," a single bench of Justice Manoj Jain observed, adding there should be no further tweets while the case is on.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/scribes-tweets-on-dera-chief-draw-high-court-ire/articleshow/106410106.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:34Z
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Astana Pro Team secures double victory in Spain
"I am very happy with my win. Our team lives a very nice moment now at the start of the season and I am happy to bring the team the 6th GC victory in a row. I was able to come in a good shape to the start of the year and I felt very well during this week. But, also, I can say that this is the team's win, the team's success. Today's victory brings me additional confidence in myself and proves I worked in a right direction during the winter. We are still in the early period of the season and all the big goals are still lying ahead. But, we are on the right way to it," said Jakob Fuglsang.
"It could not be better in this race, we were strong, we races well together, we had one goal and we achieved it. I am happy with team's success and with Jakob's victory. Also, it is good for me to be on the final podium. I feel on form at the beginning of the season and I will continue to improve for my next goals," added Ion Izagirre.
The Vuelta a Andalucia 2019 has been ended with the final, 5th stage of 163,9 km to Alhaurín de la Torre. It finished with a bunch sprint won by the European champion Matteo Trentin. The stage did not provide any changes in the general classification, so after moving yesterday into the race lead, today Jakob Fuglsang was officially named as the 2019 Vuelta a Andalucia winner with Ion Izagirre, who also won the prix as the best Spanish rider of the race, next to him at the second place.
Photo credit: © Getty Images
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-pro-team-secures-double-victory-in-spain_a3501571/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:35Z
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MUMBAI: The Indian rupee is expected to open marginally higher on Friday, tracking an uptick in Asian peers on bets of a Federal Reserve pivot as early as next quarter.
Non-deliverable forwards indicate the rupee will open at around 83.12-83.14 to the US dollar compared with 83.1650 in the previous session.
The offshore Chinese yuan climbed to the highest since June to 7.0910 to the dollar, while other Asian currencies rose 0.2% to 0.5%.
Since last month, Asian currencies have been propped up on expectations that slowing inflation will allow the Fed to cut rates several times next year.
The Korean won and the Thai baht are up 5% since November, and the offshore yuan has climbed more than 3%.
It has been a different story for the rupee, with the currency up about only 0.1% in this period, thanks largely to a central bank that has insisted on a narrow range, according to traders.
“The biggest question for the rupee heading into 2024 is not about flows or the Fed. It’s about the RBI (Reserve Bank of India),” a senior treasury official at a bank said.
“The RBI’s heavy intervention, particularly in the latter half of the year, has implications far beyond (USD/INR) spot.” On Friday, muted crude oil prices and foreign inflows are likely to offer support to the rupee, Dilip Parmar, a foreign exchange research analyst at HDFC Securities, said.
Brent crude has declined more than 4% over the last three days to slip below $77.50 per barrel.
Overseas investors have bought Indian bonds and equities worth $9.3 billion in December, the highest monthly tally this year.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281406/asian-fx-higher
| 2024-01-01T02:22:36Z
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SYDNEY: Australian shares closed lower in thin trading on Friday but posted a yearly gain, helped by a rally in December, as optimism about interest rate cuts early next year boosted market sentiment in recent weeks.
The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.3% on Friday to end the year at 7,590.80 points. The benchmark rose 7.1% in December, its best monthly gain since November 2020, and logged a yearly gain of 7.8%.
Australian shares have been rallying as prospects of rate cuts by key central banks have boosted investors’ risk appetite.
“There is little new news to change the narrative of easing financial conditions and expectations that equities can push higher... The softness today does little to shift this view,” said Kerry Craig, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan.
Monetary policy regulation by global central banks has been the key theme influencing investor sentiment during the year.
Central banks were firmly in the driving seat in 2023 as markets first repriced a higher-for-longer rate environment and then one in which expectations of policy easing accelerated, added Kerry.
In Sydney, heavyweight miners snapped a three-day rally on Friday, declining 0.7% as iron ore futures slid on Thursday after estimates showed a continued contraction in manufacturing activity in China.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281407/australian-shares-post-best-monthly-gain-in-3-years
| 2024-01-01T02:22:37Z
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Bowl season and the College Football Playoff are here, with eight games involving teams from the Pac-12 on the docket. For info on how to watch all of the hard-hitting action, keep scrolling.
Watch college football all season long on Fubo and ESPN+!
Pac-12 Games on TV This Week
Get your fix this season by signing up for Fubo and ESPN+!
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https://www.12onyourside.com/sports/betting/2023/12/17/bowl-season-pac-12-college-football-live-stream-49/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:37Z
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[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail
ARTree Community Arts Center’s Flutterby Open Studio will be celebrating its seventh year in 2024. Every first Saturday, beginning on Jan. 6, artists of any age can enjoy art-making together from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its studios.
Pre-registration is required.
Classes use unique materials and room for personal creativity– beyond the typical “make & take.”
Start a new family routine and check out Flutterby this month.
ARTree Community Arts Center is located at 22508 6th Street in Old Town Newhall.
WATERCOLOR & ACRYLIC Thursday 6 p.m.
ART FOR ALL – Special Needs Friday 5:30 p.m.
ARTree builds community by providing opportunities to nurture creative thinking and expression through the unique power of the arts.
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https://scvnews.com/jan-6-artrees-flutterby-open-studio/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:37Z
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2000 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
Convert SEK to TMT at the real exchange rate
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Beware of bad exchange rates.Banks and traditional providers often have extra costs, which they pass to you by marking up the exchange rate. Our smart tech means we’re more efficient – which means you get a great rate. Every time.
How to convert Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
- 1
Input your amount
Simply type in the box how much you want to convert.
- 2
Choose your currencies
Click on the dropdown to select SEK in the first dropdown as the currency that you want to convert and TMT in the second drop down as the currency you want to convert to.
- 3
That’s it
Our currency converter will show you the current SEK to TMT rate and how it’s changed over the past day, week or month.
Top currency pairings for Swedish kronor
Change Converter source currency
- Australian Dollar
- Brazilian Real
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- Bulgarian Lev
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- Chinese Yuan RMB
- Czech Republic Koruna
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- Euro
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=2000
| 2024-01-01T02:22:38Z
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Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Sunday attended PM Modi's 'Man Ki Baat' programme at Booth No. 19, Ward No. 20 in Bardowali Assembly constituency and asserted that Prime Minister's call for 'Bharat Sankalp Yatra' resonates with the quest for the welfare of every citizen.
Dr Saha acknowledged that the transformative power of time and expressed his admiration for the Prime Minister's dedication to eradicating caste-based politics, noting the BJP's recent electoral triumphs in three states where caste played no role.
PM Modi's vision, as articulated by Dr Saha, recognizes four essential 'castes' - the poor, women, youth, and farmers - stressing that the improvement of these segments is paramount for the nation's progress.
Chief Minister Saha lauded PM Modi's special emphasis on women's development and empowerment, citing the mention of their pivotal role in today's 'Man Ki Baat.' Dr Saha also encouraged citizens to engage with the 'Namo' app, praising its potential to showcase innovative works and provide insights into the Prime Minister's vision.
Highlighting the Prime Minister's focus on youth through support for startups, Chief Minister Dr Saha underscored the significance of 'Man Ki Baat,' a monthly program that continues to grow in popularity.
Chief Minister Saha said, "Under PM Modi's leadership, India has ascended to greater heights on the global stage, exemplified by its role in the G-20."
On the occasion, CM Saha also encouraged citizens to engage with the 'Namo' app, praising its potential to showcase innovative works and provide insights into the Prime Minister's vision. Also, the Chief Minister distributed gas connections and Ayushman cards under the Ujjwala Yojana and provided blankets to those in need. Dr Saha urged all citizens to unite in the pursuit of creating a better Agartala, a better Tripura, and ultimately, a better India.
Earlier today, Tripura CM also chaired the meeting of all Tripura BJP Social Media Volunteers Meet towards strengthening the party Workers ahead of the LoK Sabha Election.
Also Read
Later in the day, the Tripura CM also chaired the meeting of all Tripura BJP Social Media Volunteers Meet towards strengthening the party Workers ahead of the Lok Sabha Election.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/politics/under-pm-modi-india-ascended-to-greater-heights-globally-says-manik-saha-123123100861_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:39Z
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Danish Queen Margrethe II surprises nation with abdication after 52-year reign
Denmark's Queen Margrethe II unexpectedly announced that she will step down in 2024 and hand over the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, during her New Year's Eve address.
Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, who has been in power for over 50 years, has surprisingly announced her decision to abdicate in 2024, as reported by CNN.
In her annual New Year's Eve address televised in Denmark, the 83-year-old queen revealed her intention to pass on the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
In illustrating her perspective on the future, Queen Margrethe II cited her personal experience with a back surgery she underwent in February 2023.
“In two weeks time, I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody--and also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of 'ailments' increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past," the queen said, according to CNN.
The Danish queen said that she underwent ‘extensive back surgery’ in February this year.
Also Read: Danish Queen Margrethe II tests positive after UK monarch's funeral
She added, “Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future - whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation."
"I have decided that now is the right time," she said.
"On 14th January 2024 - 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father--I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," the queen announced, according to CNN.
Born in 1940 to the former monarchs of Denmark, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, Margrethe has consistently garnered widespread support from the Danish people. Her tactful and creative personality has endeared her to the public throughout her life, Reuters reported.
Also Read: 1,000-year-old Viking toolbox discovered in mysterious Danish fortress
Upon the death of King Frederik IX on January 14, 1972, Queen Margrethe II ascended to the throne. With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain in the year prior, Margrethe became Europe's most enduring queen in terms of her length of service.
As reported by Reuters, renowned for her passion for archaeology, Queen Margrethe II actively participated in numerous excavations. In 1953, at the age of 31, she became the heir to her father following a constitutional amendment that granted women the right to inherit the throne.
Also Read: Brand deals dry up for Meghan Markle; Prince Harry’s wife blames Royal Family’s ‘vendetta’: Reports
In 1967, she entered into marriage with French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, who served as her royal consort until his passing in 2018. The couple has two sons, Crown Prince Frederik, slated to become King Frederik X, and Prince Joachim. Frederik wedded Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian, in 2004.
(With inputs from agencies)
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/queen-margrethe-ii-abdication-after-52-year-reign-new-years-eve-address-prince-frederik-royals-11704069723073.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:40Z
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Should govt have the power to open any package meant for you?
- Sunil Baghel
- TIMESOFINDIA.COMUpdated: Dec 31, 2023, 18:45 IST IST
The Post Office Bill, 2023 — cleared by both Houses of Parliament and now awaiting the formality of presidential assent — gives the government unbridled powers to check the contents of a parcel addressed to you. This, mind you, can be done without the concerned government official putting in writing why he thought it was necessary for to check the contents of package before it reached you
The Post Office Bill, 2023, cleared by both the Houses of Parliament and awaiting the President’s assent, while replacing yet another “colonial-era” law has done away with some safeguards which may have, even if procedurally, taken care of a right guaranteed by the Constitution — right to privacy, and freedom of speech and expression.
During the debate on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha in early December, where the Post Office Bill was first introduced, Opposition parties had raised concerns over one provision of the Bill that allows the central government, through a notification, to empower officers to intercept, open or detain packages for reasons related to national security, public order, emergency or contravention of prevailing laws.
During the debate on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha in early December, where the Post Office Bill was first introduced, Opposition parties had raised concerns over one provision of the Bill that allows the central government, through a notification, to empower officers to intercept, open or detain packages for reasons related to national security, public order, emergency or contravention of prevailing laws.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/should-govt-have-the-power-to-open-any-package-meant-for-you/articleshow/106420179.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:40Z
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250 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=250
| 2024-01-01T02:22:41Z
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With the regular season behind us, it's time for bowl season and the College Football Playoff. The postseason slate includes eight games that feature teams from the Big Ten. To ensure you catch all of the action, see the column below for details on how to watch.
Watch college football all season long on Fubo and ESPN+!
Big Ten Games on TV This Week
Get your fix this season by signing up for Fubo and ESPN+!
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https://www.12onyourside.com/sports/betting/2023/12/24/bowl-season-big-ten-college-football-live-stream-51/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:44Z
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BRASILIA: Latin American stocks and currencies were slightly down on Friday but poised for annual gains as investors head into 2024 with a relatively higher risk appetite on bets of reduced US borrowing costs.
The MSCI index tracking Latin American stocks edged down 0.3% by 1452 GMT. The equity index is set for an annual gain of 25%, its best year since 2016.
A basket of regional currencies was down 0.2% against the dollar and set for annual gains of about 23%, its best year since 2009.
The dollar index, however, is set to fall 2%, snapping a two-year winning streak.
Latin American assets are set for a strong end to the year after the US Federal Reserve’s dovish stance was followed by positive economic data, which bolstered hopes of rate cuts as early as March.
Across emerging markets, the Colombian peso is set to be the best-performing currency with annual gains of 25%, its best year since 2004, while the Mexican peso is on track for a yearly gain of 15%, taking the title of the second-best performing currency and set for its best year since 1990.
Among stocks, Brazil’s Bovespa index, the Peruvian Lima Index and Mexico’s IPC stocks index are set to post yearly gains of 22%, 21% and about 19% respectively.
Argentina’s Merval index rose 1.5%, while one of the most influential workers unions in Argentina has called for a national strike next month as opposition to the government’s overhaul of the economy builds.
Earlier this week, Argentine President Javier Milei sent a reform bill to Congress proposing far-reaching changes to the country’s tax system, electoral law and public debt management.
On the data front, Brazil’s jobless rate fell to 7.5% in the three months through November, in line with market expectations.
Copper output in Chile, the world’s largest producer of the red metal, decreased 3.1% year-on-year in November to 444,905 metric tons.
For the day, among regional bourses, the Bovespa index was muted, Chilean stocks fell 0.7% and Colombia’s Colcap index was up 0.6%.
The Brazilian real was down 0.5%, the Mexican peso ticked up 0.3% and the Chilean peso climbed 1.5% for the day.
Shares of Engie Brasil rose 0.2% after the firm said on Thursday it had reached a deal to sell a 15% stake in natural gas pipeline firm TAG to Canadian investment fund Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ) for 3.1 billion reais ($641 million).
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281408/latam-assets-edge-lower-but-set-for-over-20pc-annual-gains
| 2024-01-01T02:22:43Z
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By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons pulled out a 77-71 home win over highly regarded Palomar College at the Cougar Cage on Friday, taking its third victory in the last four games and getting back over the .500 mark.
Canyons (7-6) outscored the Comets in all but the second quarter, while its defensive effort limited Palomar to a 29.5 percent shooting mark for the game. The Comets attempted 48 three-pointers in the game, converting on just 17 for a mark of 35.4 percent.
Meanwhile, the duo of Aaliyah Garcia and Jade Sims each finished with 21 points across 38 minutes of action. Garcia added three assists and five rebounds while Sims pulled down a team-high nine boards with three assists, a steal and a block.
Amiya Robinson added 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, a block and five steals in her 16 minutes off the bench. She was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line and helped seal the victory with a key offensive rebound and putback layup late in the fourth quarter.
Vanessa Zavala led the squad in minutes with 39 and provided 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks during that span. Alexa Ruelas finished with nine points and four rebounds.
Nevaeh Mageo led Palomar with 21 points. She was 7-of-16 from behind the arc and only attempted two other shots for the game. The Comets received 19 bench points with 14 coming from Angelina De Leon alongside six rebounds.
Palomar began the season on 10-game win streak but has since alternated losses and wins across its last five games. The Comets were coming off a lopsided 93-58 game vs. East L.A. College on Thursday.
Canyons travels to Cypress College for a 5 p.m. tip-off Thursday, Jan. 4. Conference play then begins on the road at L.A. Valley College Wednesday, Jan. 10.
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https://scvnews.com/lady-cougars-edge-out-palomar-college-77-71/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:44Z
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Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, who has been in power for over 50 years, has surprisingly announced her decision to abdicate in 2024, as reported by CNN.
In her annual New Year's Eve address televised in Denmark, the 83-year-old queen revealed her intention to pass on the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
In illustrating her perspective on the future, Queen Margrethe II cited her personal experience with a back surgery she underwent in February 2023.
“In two weeks time, I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody--and also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of 'ailments' increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past," the queen said, according to CNN.
The Danish queen said that she underwent ‘extensive back surgery’ in February this year.
Also Read: Danish Queen Margrethe II tests positive after UK monarch's funeral
She added, “Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future - whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation."
"I have decided that now is the right time," she said.
"On 14th January 2024 - 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father--I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," the queen announced, according to CNN.
Born in 1940 to the former monarchs of Denmark, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, Margrethe has consistently garnered widespread support from the Danish people. Her tactful and creative personality has endeared her to the public throughout her life, Reuters reported.
Also Read: 1,000-year-old Viking toolbox discovered in mysterious Danish fortress
Upon the death of King Frederik IX on January 14, 1972, Queen Margrethe II ascended to the throne. With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain in the year prior, Margrethe became Europe's most enduring queen in terms of her length of service.
As reported by Reuters, renowned for her passion for archaeology, Queen Margrethe II actively participated in numerous excavations. In 1953, at the age of 31, she became the heir to her father following a constitutional amendment that granted women the right to inherit the throne.
Also Read: Brand deals dry up for Meghan Markle; Prince Harry’s wife blames Royal Family’s ‘vendetta’: Reports
In 1967, she entered into marriage with French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, who served as her royal consort until his passing in 2018. The couple has two sons, Crown Prince Frederik, slated to become King Frederik X, and Prince Joachim. Frederik wedded Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian, in 2004.
(With inputs from agencies)
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/queen-margrethe-ii-abdication-after-52-year-reign-new-years-eve-address-prince-frederik-royals/amp-11704069723073.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:46Z
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Sunday Times ‘honours’ the newsmakers who spiced up 2023. We hope the awards are taken in the spirit in which they’re givenPull-it-sir AwardTo the TV reporters who went at each other to grab the smoke canister used by protesters outside Parliament. Sanctity of evidence? Who gives a damn when there are TRPs to be snatched
Simone Biles AwardTo Ajit Pawar whose gymnastic skills in politics ensure he lands at the same spot every time on two feet – the deputy CM’s post – no matter who has the floor
Mother India AwardTo Nagalakshmi who has given the country two chess geniuses, Praggnanandha and Vaishali, all in the tiger-motherly process of weaning them off cartoons
NITI Aayog AwardFor INDIA the acronym whose full form nobody will be bothered to remember… And alliance members won’t mind that one bit
Chandrayaan 2 AwardFor the SC which stopped short of the landing point on same-sex marriages despite all the good intentions and cheerleading
Housezatt AwardTo newlywed AAP MP Raghav Chadha who used the DRS against his suspension from the House (Rajya Sabha), and for retaining the official house allotted to him.
One stayed at ‘umpire’s call’, but the other appeal was upheld
Climate Change AwardTo
Justin Trudeau for his attempt to turn on the heat globally with his allegations of India orchestrating Nijjar’s killing. Sadly for him, all he got was a cold shoulder, from India and even his domestic audience
Open Relationship AwardTo Satya Nadella who jumped in to offer a shoulder, and a job, to Sam Altman when OpenAI fired him, and then cheered Altman’s equally speedy return to OpenAI
Khajuraho AwardTo
Nitish Kumar for his most graphic description in the Bihar assembly, no less, of that which must not be named or spoken of in this country of 140 crore
Helen of Troy AwardTo Henry the rottweiler the fight for whose affections led to a war between not just Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra and her ex, Jai Anant Dehadrai, but also opened a new govt-oppn front
PV Narasimha Rao AwardTo Ranbir Kapoor for tapping into India’s animal spirits and raking in the moolah while at it
Tulsi Virani AwardTo Akshata Murty whose G20 outing had something for everybody – the sanskari, the sassy, the subtle and the stateswomanly. Not to mention that she totally overshadowed the husband
Bobby Deol AwardFor Sunny Deol of Gadar 2 fame, because some things are better in the comeback mode
Naatu Naatu AwardTo Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for showing how two protagonists can dance around each other and steal the show
Glenn Maxwell AwardTo Delhi pollution whose breathtaking assault just goes on, year after year, no matter what you throw at it
SKY AwardTo the 2000-rupee note which, much like the current T20 captain’s stint in World Cup matches, left us wondering why it was picked, what its cameo achieved, and why it got out
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-big-theme-party/articleshow/106413904.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:46Z
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Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday encouraged the morale of the party cadres with its achievements across the nation and said AAP has accomplished in 12 years what other parties haven't been able to do in 75 years.
While speaking at the National Council meeting the AAP National Convenor said, "In the history of any party, 12 years is a very brief period. People spend their lives to become an MLA once in their lifetime. And yet in 12 years, our party has received unprecedented success, and because of one reason, that is, the AAP has done what other parties couldn't do in the 75 years."
Boosting the morale of the party cadres with its achievements in Delhi, Punjab and elsewhere in the country, the AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister urged the party leaders and workers to gird up to fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Haryana to prove their mettle.
The National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi's CM, Arvind Kejriwal, chaired the party's National Executive and the 12th National Council meeting on Sunday.
Party officials from across the country participated in both meetings virtually. Punjab's CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP's National General Secretary Organization Sandeep Pathak were also present.
Addressing the National Council meeting, Arvind Kejriwal wished Happy New Year in advance to all party officials. Arvind Kejriwal further informed the AAP officials about the national council and executive meetings of the AAP in physical mode in Amritsar in view of the Lok Sabha elections of 2024.
During the National Council meeting the AAP National Convenor also said, " People were distressed by the other existing parties. Their lives were becoming miserable with each passing day and that's why the people gave a chance to the AAP first in Delhi and then in Punjab. We started addressing the issues of education, health, electricity, inflation, and employment opportunities which other parties never did. The people got this alternative and started liking the politics of work immensely."
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The AAP National Convenor mentioned, "It's been 10 years for the discourse around Delhi's work. Now, we're going to discuss Punjab's developmental works carried out under CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann. During the last 75 years, both parties governed Punjab one by one. Due to their reign during these 75 years, youth, businesspersons, farmers, and people were distressed."
"These parties emptied the government treasury by looting. Seeing the progress of Delhi, almost two years ago people of Punjab blessed us with the opportunity. The scale of work done in these two years exhibits how rapidly the AAP can carry out development in a state where it has full discretionary powers or full statehood. The amount of work we did in 9 years of our governance in Delhi, we surpassed it in Punjab in many areas during these 2 years of governance there," he added.
Speaking of the achievement of the Punjab Government, the AAP National Convenor stated that there are many areas in the country where there is erratic power supply. Earlier there used to be long power cuts of 7-8 hours in Punjab, just as it was in Delhi before the AAP government.
"We promised the people of 24-hour power supply. Promising a 24x7 electricity supply is one thing, but its implementation is another because there are so many things which are involved. We thought it would take 4-5 years to fulfil this promise, but within 2 years entire Punjab receives 24x7 electricity. The farmers are getting electricity as much as they want, earlier they used to long for 24x7 electricity. To our pleasant surprise, 90% of the people of Punjab are now receiving free electricity," he said.
Arvind Kejriwal said that interestingly, Punjab government-owned PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation Limited), used to be in deficit before the AAP government came to power.
"Once assuming power in Punjab, we started providing free electricity. Now, this electricity company is in profit. Because the only reason is that we have clear intentions, we diligently, we know how to work, and we're educated people," he said.
Arvind Kejriwal continued, "When any government is formed within any state, the first thing they do is sell off state-owned enterprises (PSUs) such as airlines, airports GAIL, BHEL, railways etc. It's public knowledge that the process of selling off involves huge corruption. A government enterprise worth Rs10,000 crore tends to be sold at Rs 1,000 crore."
"In the history of India, it probably happened for the first time, the Punjab Government purchased the operational private thermal power plant worth Rs4,000 crore at Rs1080 crore. This shows our honesty. It's quite contradictory to what we generally see when a government has purchased a private company. We have saved the government treasury in this deal, and now the government will provide electricity at a cheaper rate than before," he said.
Explaining the hurdles faced by the Delhi government and the freedom enjoyed in the full-fledged state of Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal said, "In Delhi due to obstructions created by the LG and Central Government, we set up 550 Mohalla Clinics but in Punjab 662 Aam Aadmi Clinics (Mohalla Clinics) are operational now and by 26th January 2024, the number will reach 750 in just 2 years. All the big 40 government hospitals of Punjab are being revamped and being made better than the private hospitals. The medical treatment, which is not available in the Aam Aadmi Clinics, will be given in these big hospitals for free."
The AAP National Convenor shared, "As far as education is concerned, in all 20,000 government schools of Punjab there is some kind of work underway. Toilets are being fixed where required, arrangements for drinking water are being made in some schools, and teachers are being sent for training. The principals are being sent for training overseas, and the buildings are being repaired. In just 2 years, the schools' results have started improving. Recently, I inaugurated a model government school (School of Eminence) in Amritsar. As many as 117 more such 'Schools of Eminence' are being established, which outshine any private school."
Arvind Kejriwal said that before the elections, whenever they visited Punjab, non-permanent employees were always found protesting. The government wasn't confirming their positions.
"Our government has made all temporary employees permanent. Now everyone is working and happy. Punjab is offering plenty of government jobs to the youth. More than 40,000 government jobs have been provided so far. Additionally, nearly Rs 50,000 crore has been invested in Punjab. This investment will create opportunities for around 300,000 jobs. After Jamshedpur, the second-largest plant of Tata Steel is being set up in Ludhiana. Remarkable work is being done in the irrigation sector in Punjab. In the last 2 years, several new canals have been built within Punjab. Seeing this, I am amazed. I hope that within 1-1.5 years, water from these canals will reach every field in Punjab," he said.
The AAP National Convenor mentioned, "After Delhi, plans have started to take the elderly on pilgrimages in Punjab. We started the 'Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojana' first in Delhi. In Delhi, we used to take pilgrimages on buses and trains. Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Mann has booked flights for pilgrims. Now even the poorest will travel by air to visit Sri Patna Sahib, Varanasi, and Sri Nanded Sahib in Punjab. Doorstep delivery of services has started in Punjab."
"The government has issued a 1076 helpline number, the same as Delhi. The People of Punjab can benefit from government services by calling this helpline number from home, without needing to go to any government office. Following this, doorstep delivery of the ration scheme will also start. People won't need to visit ration shops; instead, packed quality wheat and rice will be delivered to their homes. AAP's government has been in power in Punjab for just 2 years, and in 2 years, anything is possible if we get full statehood."
Adding further, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Within the last 10 years, we have made a significant impact in national politics. For the first time, these people have been compelled to talk about education in elections. Now all parties have started talking about schools and hospitals. We have changed the words of these political party leaders. Now these people also promise 'Modi's Guarantee' and 'Congress's Guarantee,' whereas 'Kejriwal's Guarantee' was our phrase. When people heard Kejriwal's Guarantee, they trusted it. That's why they think that if they use the word 'Guarantee,' people will trust them, but they need to see who truly delivers on their promise and whom the people trust."
"These people have stolen our 'Guarantee' word and copied our entire manifesto. Now all parties talk about providing free electricity and copy all our guarantees. They make promises, but they don't fulfil them. Both parties have given assurances to the public, but none of them has fulfilled their promises. Meanwhile, we are fulfilling all our guarantees," the AAP National Convenor further added.
"We showcased it in Delhi first and now we're doing the same in Punjab. For fulfilling these guarantees, one's intentions must be clear. Their intentions are not good. They can copy our guarantees, but from where will they get the intention to implement them? These people start earning money from day one. However, the AAP intends to do more work. They neither have the intention nor the desire to work," AAP chief stated.
The AAP's National Convenor stated that we must build and strengthen our organization across the country. Elections cannot be won without a strong organization in states. Everyone must work hard in their respective states to build the party's organization.
"The AAP is a part of the INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. We must contest well on the seats we get in seat sharing, and our entire effort will be to win all those seats. Volunteers of the party from states where the AAP isn't contesting Lok Sabha elections will come and help in the places where elections are being contested. After the Lok Sabha elections, the Haryana Assembly election is the most significant for us. The AAP intends to form the government in Haryana's Assembly elections, and we will put all our efforts into it. There's a possibility of elections in Haryana in October-November," he said.
He said, "There are nearly 1350 political parties in our country. The AAP has come third among these 1350 political parties in the last 10 years. Apart from this, people know about 5-10 more political parties. We created our party. If we are not successful like those 1350 political parties and do nothing good, then none of our leaders will go to jail, and today everyone will be happy in their homes. We have chosen paths for the welfare of the people; hence we will have to go to jail. If you give good education to children, you will have to go to jail; if you provide free treatment to the poor, you will have to go to jail. Therefore, all of us need to decide whether we want to go to jail or not. If you are prepared to go to jail, then continue on the path of providing good education to children and free treatment to the poor."
AAP's National Convenor shared that these two major parties have ruled this country for 75 years; these people will not relinquish power so easily. I think we are facing a struggle, but there's no need for us to be saddened.
"Our 5 leaders who are in jail today are our heroes. We are very proud of all of them. I am continuously in touch with lawyers. It's a very good thing that even while in jail, all our leaders' spirits are still very high. On the day Manish Sisodia's bail was cancelled, he sent a message saying, 'It's okay, I'll stay in jail for as many days as needed. This entire case is fabricated, and my struggle will continue," the AAP leader said.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/politics/what-aap-achieved-in-12-years-other-parties-could-not-in-75-yrs-kejriwal-123123100881_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:46Z
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5 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=5
| 2024-01-01T02:22:47Z
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Astana Pro Team wins Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia
Luis Leon Sanchez took stage 2 win as well as became the overall winner of the race, taking also the point classification. Yesterday's stage winner Pello Bilbao stepped on the third place of the final podium, while Jakob Fuglsang won the jersey of the best climber. Astana Pro Team won the final team classification.
The second stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia started in Beniel and finished in the city center of Murcia. The stage was characterized by two hard climbs: Alto Collado Bermejo (7.2 km, 7.1%) more or less in the middle of the distance and Alto de la Cresta del Gallo (4.4 km, 6.5%), a short but very steep climb with only 12 km to the finish line.
It was the reigned world champion Alejandro Valverde, who launched an attack on the steep slopes of Alto de la Cresta del Gallo and only Luis Leon Sanchez could answer to this move. On the top of the climb Valverde has got a small gap, but later the Astana rider was able to close it, joining the world champion in front of the race for the last few kilometers. In the sprint, Luis Leon Sanchez took a very beautiful victory, outsprinting Valverde and taking the final win in the general classification of the Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia.
Pello Bilbao, who finished 5th in this stage, completed the final podium with third place. Also, Omar Fraile and Jakob Fuglsang finished 5th and 6th in the overall classification.
Besides, Luis Leon Sanchez won the point classification and Jakob Fuglsang won the king of mountain jersey, while Astana won the team classification of the race.
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-pro-team-wins-vuelta-ciclista-a-murcia_a3499045/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:49Z
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Tejon Ranch Conservancy – a nonprofit land trust – looks back on the its past accomplishments. Below is a full statement from the organization:
“As 2023 comes to a close, we are reflecting on the incredible accomplishments of the Tejon Ranch Conservancy over the past 15 years. Since 2008, when the historic Ranch-wide Agreement permanently protected 90% of Tejon Ranch’s 270,000 acres, the Conservancy has worked tirelessly to preserve, enhance, and restore the natural beauty, biodiversity, and ecosystem values of this crown jewel among California’s natural gems.
The high country of Tejon features stunning views of the four ecoregions — Great Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert and Southwestern California — all of which converge on the property. Photo by Mitchell Coleman.
“Over the years, we’ve documented thousands of native species, observed rare natural phenomenon, improved habitat for plants and wildlife, and prevented the spread of invasives threatening to disturb the Ranch’s ecosystems.
“In addition to the scientific study and stewardship of the Ranch’s natural resources, we’ve had the honor of welcoming thousands of guests to explore the conserved lands of Tejon. Whether enjoying a hike in the high country, an adventure from valley-to-valley on a cross-Ranch safari, or a walk through the wonders of a wildflower bloom, we know that our visitors experience the awe and connection to the natural world that is so lacking in our day-to-day lives.
Abundant native wildflowers bloom across the Ranch each spring. The Conservancy hosts annual wildflower viewings to share the beauty of this natural phenomenon. Photo by Mitchell Coleman.
“Among our greatest accomplishments is the spark of curiosity that Tejon has inspired in thousands of students who’ve joined us for science and outdoor education programs on the Ranch. Many students who’ve attended our programs, especially those who’ve completed internships with the Conservancy, have gone on to pursue rewarding careers in science and natural resources.
The Conservancy welcomes hundreds of high school and college students, like this class from CSU Bakersfield, onto the Ranch each year to gain valuable experience with scientific research in the field. Photo by Mark Duffel.
“We’ve achieved so much together over the past 15 years, and it’s time to honor our shared accomplishments while looking toward an even brighter future in 2024 and beyond.
“We’ve set an ambitious goal: raise $15,000 by the end of the year in honor of our 15-year anniversary. All gifts made between now and December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar, effectively doubling the impact of your contribution!
“Your donation will directly support our ongoing conservation efforts, habitat restoration, educational programs, and much more. With your help, we can continue to preserve this unique and invaluable piece of California’s natural heritage for generations to come.
Photo by Mitchell Coleman.
“Here’s how you can join us in celebrating our 15 years of success:
– Make a contribution today by visiting our secure donation page here.
– Spread the word! Share our mission and this exciting opportunity with your friends and family on social media and via email.
– Encourage them to double their impact as well.
– Consider becoming a sustaining donor. Your monthly contribution provides reliable support for our ongoing initiatives.
– Get involved as a volunteer or member. Your time and dedication are invaluable resources in our mission to protect Tejon Ranch.
“Every dollar counts, and your generosity will help us reach our year-end goal while commemorating this significant anniversary. Thank you for being a vital part of our conservation community and for your commitment to preserving the natural wonders of Tejon Ranch.
“Wishing you a wonderful start to the new year!”
Sincerely,
All of us at the Tejon Ranch Conservancy
Make your matched year-end gift today [here].
Tejon Ranch Conservancy is a 501c3 nonprofit land trust. Its mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the native biodiversity and ecosystem values of Tejon Ranch and the Tehachapi Range for the benefit of California’s future generations. For more information, visit tejonconservancy.org.
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https://scvnews.com/tejon-ranch-conservancy-looks-back-on-past-accomplishments/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:50Z
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Strategic integration for value addition: The path to compete, win, and grow in textile exports
In the evolving Textile Value Chain (TVC) of Pakistan, the key to sustained exports lies in the traceability of the supply chain. Beyond being a cornerstone of the country’s economy, the TVC stands as its largest and one of the oldest manufacturing industries, contributing approximately 60% to the nation’s total exports and playing a crucial role in international trade.
Directly engaging nearly 40% of the manufacturing labour force — approximately 3 million people — and indirectly impacting 9 million more, the industry impressively contributes 8.5% to the GDP.
As the TVC navigates the complexities of integrating traceability into its operations, it faces a transformative journey that aligns with global trends, where traceability is not only a regulatory imperative but a strategic tool for optimizing business operations and ensuring accountability in far-reaching supply chains.
This way or the other, Pakistan needs to expand its market to sustain its export, and for this traceability through integrated factories is an inescapable component.
While textiles have long been a major player in Pakistan’s economy, approximately 80% of firms still operate in a non-integrated structure. Nevertheless, the industry successfully exports 70% of its total output.
In the integrated sectors, each participant contributes to the value addition of textile goods. The paradox of a long-standing economic powerhouse with predominantly non-integrated factories highlights both the resilience and challenges encountered by the Textile Value Chain (TVC) in Pakistan.
According to the records of the Textile Commissioner’s Organization, the textile sector comprises 408 units, including 40 composite and 368 spinning units. Together, these units house 13.414 million spindles and 140,000 rotors, with 9.5 million spindles and 112,600 rotors currently operational. The reported capacity utilization rates for spindles and rotors during July to March in fiscal year 2023 are 69.33 percent and 71 percent, respectively.
Pakistan is the fifth largest producer, third largest consumer and 4th largest exporter of cotton yarn in the world; however, the average size of spinning mills in Pakistan is comparatively smaller than the global standard, rendering them less competitive, particularly with small spinning units lacking modern technology and producing yarn counts below global market demands.
Integrated textile factories offer several advantages that contribute to their operational efficiency and product quality. Firstly, they achieve cost efficiency through economies of scale. They control the entire production process from raw materials to finished products, thereby reducing overall costs, especially through the avoidance of turnover tax at each stage.
Secondly, integration provides better control over the supply chain, ensuring efficient and streamlined operations. This leads to consistent quality throughout the production process, as integration allows for rigorous quality control measures. Additionally, the interconnected nature of integrated factories facilitates easier traceability, promoting accountability for each stage of production.
However, it’s important to acknowledge the disadvantages of integrated facilities as well. Firstly, establishing and maintaining such factories can be capital-intensive. Secondly, there’s a risk concentration issue, as a failure or disruption at one stage can significantly impact the entire production process. Lastly, integrated factories may have limited flexibility in adapting to market changes or technological advancements due to their comprehensive and interconnected nature.
In the context of multistage turnover tax, which is levied on the complete value of a product during each transition in the production and distribution process, non-integrated factories face increased gross taxes compared to their integrated counterparts.
This discrepancy arises from the unique tax structure in non-integrated industries, imposing a 1.5% turnover tax at each production stage. Consequently, as a product advances through multiple factories, cumulative taxation occurs. For example, if processed in four factories, the total turnover tax would be 6% (1.5% + 1.5% + 1.5% + 1.5%). The cumulative effect of turnover taxes, being non-recoverable in nature, leads to an increased cost for the final product. This dynamic renders the non-integrated sector less competitive, ultimately diminishing profits.
Moreover, sales tax collection mechanisms vary between integrated and non-integrated factories. Integrated factories often benefit from a sales tax advantage due to comprehensive reporting throughout the entire production process, while non-integrated units suffer in a reduced transparency, resulting in a diminished refund of sales tax at the final export stage (documented by the World Bank).
According to IMF reports, the inclusion of certain cost elements into the product price, facilitated by the sales tax capture refund on exported goods from non-integrated factories, renders the final product less competitive. This complexity in the tax landscape underscores the intricate dynamics influencing the competitiveness and operational efficiency of both integrated and non-integrated industrial entities.
The imposition of duties on raw materials exacerbates challenges for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), particularly as they struggle to avail duty-free benefits in the export duty structure. While large, well-integrated firms can take advantage of duty exemption schemes for exporters, smaller enterprises face difficulties utilizing these tools due to the complexity of application processes.
Consequently, SMEs find it challenging to compete, as these duties significantly inflate production costs throughout the manufacturing process, creating a barrier to competitiveness. Duty-related challenges not only limit the potential for innovation but also obstruct SMEs from aligning with the dominant global trends, such as that of MMF, which holds a 70% share in global trade. This hampers their ability to offer cost-effective products and contributes to the existing textile trade imbalance in Pakistan.
Access to credit presents another notable distinction. Financial institutions naturally consider SMEs as riskier due to their smaller size, limited track record, and insufficient collateral. Consequently, SMEs face difficulties in obtaining loans or credit on favourable terms, often lacking the necessary collateral to meet the criteria set by traditional lenders. Integrated factories, on the other hand, enjoy potentially easier access to credit, thanks to their more comprehensive and stable business model.
For example, SMEs could not benefit from the Long-Term Financing Facility (LTFF), designed for export-oriented projects with specified annual export values. This exclusion highlights potential challenges for non-integrated units to access certain financial incentives, paralleling the situation observed with the Export Refinance Scheme (EFS), where specific commodities, including raw cotton and various yarn types, are placed on the negative list, thereby restricting eligibility.
Flexibility is a key aspect worth noting, particularly in integrated textile industries, where importing for re-export can enhance efficiency and ensure a steady supply of raw materials. It’s an important consideration, albeit one that may heighten dependence on foreign suppliers. In contrast, non-integrated industries, might prioritize domestic sourcing for better control. However, when these non-integrated industries engage in importing for re-export, they could encounter coordination challenges.
Lastly, traceability in the Pakistani textile industry varies. Integrated factories benefit from easier traceability due to the centralized nature of their production process, while non-integrated factories may find traceability more challenging due to the involvement of multiple entities in different stages of production.
On the other hand, non-integrated textile factories offer several advantages, most notably specialization. By focusing on specific stages of the production process, these factories can achieve a high level of expertise and efficiency in their chosen areas which also results in them being less energy intensive.
This focused approach allows for targeted resource allocation, contributing to a more sustainable and energy-efficient manufacturing model. The model also allows for increased flexibility, enabling quick adaptation to market demands and technological advancements. Additionally, the distribution of risks across different stages mitigates the impact of failures, enhancing the overall resilience of non-integrated factories.
The discourse on integrated vs non-integrated textile units is also important in terms of sustainable practices. The impact of processes like picking, transportation, and ginning on cotton quality is particularly relevant here. Integrated units, have the potential to implement more coordinated and sustainable practices across picking, transportation, and ginning.
This comprehensive approach allows for better control over the entire supply chain, leading to improved cotton quality and reduced environmental impact. In contrast, non-integrated units face challenges in maintaining consistent and sustainable practices throughout the entire cotton processing cycle.
Addressing sustainability concerns in picking, transportation, and ginning becomes imperative for both integrated and non-integrated units in Pakistan, emphasizing the industry’s need to adopt eco-friendly methods and ethical sourcing practices to ensure the production of high-quality and environmentally responsible textiles.
Non-integrated textile factories face severe challenges. Coordination and communication hurdles between different entities involved in the production process can lead to inefficiencies. The dependency on external suppliers introduces risks related to variations in material quality and delivery timelines.
In addition, higher transaction costs may accrue due to the need to manage relationships with multiple suppliers and entities. Pakistan’s standalone spinning units are increasingly becoming incompatible with the competitors. Globally, textile industry enterprises are moving towards full or partial integration, emphasizing a shift to value-added processes as a vital survival strategy.
To remain competitive and relevant in the evolving textile sector, Pakistan should align itself with this trend. The imperative for standalone spinning units to integrate and diversify their offerings, including high fashion garments and other value-added products, is highlighted by the significant difference in export potential between integrated and non-integrated units. Integration is not just a necessity but a crucial imperative for survival in the competitive landscape.
Pakistan’s textile sector, with 408 units and challenges in small spinning units, leans towards non-integration, emphasizing the need for addressing issues like outdated technology and credit access. In contrast, Bangladesh’s textile industry, represented by the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) overseeing 510 yarn manufacturing mills and 901 fabric manufacturing mills, demonstrates a higher level of integration, fostering collaboration across different stages.
Meanwhile, India’s textile landscape, marked by over 3400 mills and an extensive capacity, indicates a substantial degree of integration.
In conclusion, the imperative for an integrated track and trace system within Pakistan’s textile value chain (TVC) is underscored by its pivotal role in shaping the future of this critical industry. The current landscape, characterized by a significant yet limited number of integrated textile factories, emphasizes the necessity of integrating non-integrated facilities, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This strategic shift is paramount to fully unlocking the potential offered by the GSP+ status and expanding into untapped markets, such as the European sector for Man-Made Fibers (MMF).
A positive initiative by the Government of Pakistan is the establishment of the National Compliance Center, aimed at enhancing labour compliance, social responsibility, and environmental standards. In collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, this initiative is the first of its kind in Pakistan and has garnered support from political leaders, industry representatives, and international development partners, including the ILO (International Labour Organization).
The center adopts a cluster approach, addressing various industry concerns such as traceability, sustainability, and quality assurance. This development signals a pivotal step in restructuring business practices, compelling SMEs to comply with the NCC for improved traceability and adherence to labour and environmental standards.
While this step addresses the issues of labour compliance, social responsibility, and environmental standards to some extent, it doesn’t explicitly tackle the factor of profitability between integrated and non-integrated industries for the further expansion of Pakistan’s export base. However, more comprehensive measures and strategic policies are required to bridge this gap and foster sustained growth in the export sector.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE: He has served as Member Energy of the Planning Commission of Pakistan & has also been an advisor at: Ministry of Finance Ministry of Petroleum Ministry of Water & Power
PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE: He has held senior management positions with various energy sector entities and has worked with the World Bank, USAID and DFID since 1988. Mr. Shahid Sattar joined All Pakistan Textile Mills Association in 2017 and holds the office of Executive Director and Secretary General of APTMA.
He has many international publications and has been regularly writing articles in Pakistani newspapers on the industry and economic issues which can be viewed in Articles & Blogs Section of this website.
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281409/strategic-integration-for-value-addition-the-path-to-compete-win-and-grow-in-textile-exports
| 2024-01-01T02:22:50Z
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Goodbye multipolarity; hello bipolarity?
Summary
- Not only is multipolarity a myth, but the system remains closer to unipolarity than to Cold War-style bipolarity. Though China is rising, the world’s largest-ever power gap will take a long time to close.
Adekeye Adebajo
In the coming year, we will see not greater multipolarity, but greater bipolarity. China has replaced Russia as America’s main competitor in a new cold war that is less about ideology and more about markets and technology. The $18 trillion Chinese economy has already overtaken that of all 27 European Union countries combined, and China is the largest trading partner to more than 120 countries. Its Belt and Road Initiative continues to build infrastructure around the world, and the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (with a $100 billion capitalization) has 109 members representing 80% of the world’s population. In January, the China-dominated Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will expand to include Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Many of these countries from the Global South have refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now, they are seeking to bolster the 120-strong Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged from the 1955 Bandung Conference of Asian and African governments. As part of a strategy to avoid becoming embroiled in superpower conflicts (between the Americans and the Soviets, at the time), NAM members abstained from collective defence arrangements with either side. This weapon of the weak lent momentum to efforts to enhance regional autonomy and strengthen global-governance institutions such as the United Nations, and it may yet do so again.
Finally, as of this writing, Israel’s siege and bombardment of Gaza in response to Hamas’s attack (which killed 1,400 Israelis) has resulted in more than 9,000 dead and 1.4 million displaced Palestinians. Unquestioning Western support for Israel will expose the double standards at the heart of the international system, further weakening global support for Ukraine in 2024.
Ian Bremmer
Yes, the international trend towards “non-alignment" will continue in 2024. But “multipolarity" is a different question, one that depends on which arena of competition we’re thinking about.
In 2024, non-alignment for many countries will mean recognizing that overtly taking sides in the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China is a losing proposition. Some governments, particularly those in countries situated near China or Russia, will see the US as an indispensable security partner. But commercial partnership with China remains essential for future growth.
“Multipolarity" is a more complex question. In the security sphere, we still live in a unipolar world. Only the US can project power into every region of the world. China’s military clout is growing, but—importantly—it hasn’t been tested by a shooting war in more than four decades. Russia’s conventional forces were hollow even before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine inflicted generational damage on its military capacity. And Europe still relies on the US, as do US allies in Asia.
In the economic arena, however, we’re certainly living in a multipolar world, one in which America, China, Europe, and India are all crucial players in re-establishing the stability and dynamism of the global economy. Then there’s the digital realm, where the power of governments is limited by the power of the tech companies that produce the advances that political officials are scrambling to understand. Here, one finds an emerging “technopolar" world, where governments and tech companies will share power for the foreseeable future.
Put these trends together, and non-alignment is the wave of the future.
Stephen G. Brooks
Multipolarity is a myth, as William Wohlforth and I argued recently in Foreign Affairs (which also published a symposium of responses to our article). The United States has indeed become less dominant than in the 1990s, when it was further ahead militarily, economically, and technologically than any state had ever been before. But a multipolar world is one with three or more roughly equally matched leading powers at the top of the international heap. Who could fill that role today? Of all the countries that could plausibly rank third—France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom—none is even roughly a peer of the US or China.
Not only is multipolarity a myth, but the system remains closer to unipolarity than to Cold War-style bipolarity. Though China is rising, the world’s largest-ever power gap will take a long time to close. China has ascended most significantly in the economic domain (although less than is commonly assumed, since it significantly inflates its GDP data), but it has done much less to shrink the power gap in other areas. It still lags very far behind the US technologically. A forthcoming (co-authored) book of mine shows that US firms hold a 53% profit share in high-tech industries, compared with a mere 6% for China. China is also only a regional military power, and that will long remain the case, leaving the US as the sole superpower that can command the global commons.
Paula J. Dobriansky
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered significant geopolitical changes. The war, combined with rising US-China tensions, has unified the transatlantic community and prompted many Indo-Pacific governments to bolster their defences and secure their supply chains. The same developments have also encouraged political leaders across the Global South to pursue “optionality," making choices predicated on their national interests, while doing what they can to avoid becoming mired in great-power disputes.
Today’s ongoing geopolitical changes include new or closer national alignments—from Russia’s deepening ties with China, Iran, and North Korea, to Australia’s engagement with India and Indonesia, and with the United States and the United Kingdom under AUKUS. While the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the US (established in 2007) has become more ambitious, other powers have taken pains to thwart emerging new alignments. Many view Hamas’s latest attack on Israel as an attempt to block Saudi-Israeli normalization, which could have threatened not only Hamas but also its sponsors in Iran.
America’s messy 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan contributed to this evolution in the international system by undermining perceptions of US credibility, reliability, and effectiveness. That, in turn, caused some leaders (like Russian President Vladimir Putin) to re-evaluate the costs of pursuing policies contrary to US interests. These changes in preference and perspective have facilitated not only new violence but also new or different relationships as America’s allies, rivals, and foes recalibrate their goals. Similarly, Russia’s faltering war effort in Ukraine appears to have created a more permissive environment for Azerbaijan’s conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh. New wars and the desire to avoid being drawn into US-Russia-China conflicts will continue to drive the new multipolarity and the return of non-alignment.
Jorge Heine
In 2024, the great-power competition will continue, as will the rise of non-alignment, albeit now in a new incarnation: active non-alignment (ANA). Originally triggered by American and Chinese pressure on Latin American countries to take sides in their budding cold war, ANA is now spreading across Africa and Asia. It takes a page from the Non-Aligned Movement of yesteryear, but adapts it to the realities of the new century.
ANA should not be confused with neutrality or equidistance. Rather, it is a dynamic concept that allows countries to hold varying positions depending on the issue at hand. As a foreign-policy doctrine, it means putting the interests of one’s own country first, and not succumbing to pressure by the great powers. It requires highly developed analytical capabilities, so that each issue can be evaluated on its own merits.
The rise of ANA has become especially apparent in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with many countries across the Global South refusing to take sides. This development shows that the main cleavage in today’s world is not between democracy and autocracy, but between the Global North and the Global South. ANA’s spread is closely associated with the rise of the Global South as a significant force in world affairs, of which the recent expansion of the Brics is Exhibit A. The best example of it in practice is Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s foreign policy over the course of 2023.
Ana Palacio
If recent events are any indication, the world is indeed hastening toward a realignment. Russia’s war in Ukraine, ethnic displacement in Nagorno-Karabakh, the string of coups in Africa, and the crisis in the Middle East are all signs of the disruption of the world order that emerged after World War II. These events are not outliers or isolated crises. With the United States somewhat removed and less assertive than in the past, countries and non-state actors feel emboldened to take risks and seize opportunities that they previously would have shied away from.
The current moment is characterized by an alphabet soup of new coalitions that have formed in response to changing global power dynamics. The expanding Brics+ is just one example among many. With middle powers increasingly vying for global influence, we have entered an age of disorder that will last until a new configuration of international relations solidifies.
Yu Jie
I agree. As myriad crises and elections unfold, 2024 is set to be another geopolitically tumultuous year. But it also offers opportunities for non-Western powers that champion “neutrality" and “non-alignment" to play greater roles in global affairs. Most of these countries, including China, base their foreign-policy priorities on hard calculations of economic or political interests, whereas the collective West stresses the importance of “being likeminded".
This state of play cannot fail to create greater multipolarity. Pragmatism will demand that many countries pick a side depending on the issue at hand. While “neutrality" will remain unthinkable from G7 members’ perspective—whether they are dealing with relations with China or the war between Israel and Hamas—many non-Western powers will consider it de rigueur in conducting their foreign affairs.
For its part, China will continue to shift the rest of the world towards greater multipolarity, since it sees that as the best way to manage its stalemate vis-à-vis the United States. While China’s initial position on Russia’s war in Ukraine worsened its ties with many Western countries, attitudes within the West have since become more nuanced. There is now a strange mix of fear that China will aid the Kremlin militarily, but also hope that it will limit President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear brinkmanship.
Given that many countries around the world do not view today’s geopolitical crises in stark black-and-white terms, China may find that its preference for multipolarity is becoming more of an asset.
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https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/goodbye-multipolarity-hello-bipolarity-11704047080569.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:52Z
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NEW DELHI: AIMTC, the country’s largest truckers’ body, has written to PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to have a relook at the provision of up to 10-year jail for ‘Hit and Run’ cases where the offending driver doesn’t inform police or local magistrate. The truckers’ body has flagged the trend of police usually putting the blame of crashes on big vehicles without any scientific investigation and also how drivers face the risk of mob violence at the accident spot.
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) said the law has been introduced without any consultation with stakeholders, especially representatives from the transport sector. Parliament last week passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and it has been notified by the government as well.
“It has sent shock waves across the transport industry. While we acknowledge the importance of road safety, this draconian law threatens the very backbone of our economy and supply chain. While the intent behind introducing stringent measures to address hit-and-run incidents may be benign, there are significant lacunae in the law that require urgent reconsideration. The transport sector and truck drivers, a vital contributor to the nation’s economy, are deeply apprehensive about the potential ramifications of this legislation,” the truckers’ body said.
It said India is currently grappling with a shortage of around 27% drivers in the transport industry and stringent provisions, including a 10-year jail term, have the potential to discourage individuals from entering or continuing in the profession. “There is an utter lack of accident investigation protocol in the country. The law does not outline a comprehensive investigation protocol for hit-and-run cases. Clarity is required on determining culpability, especially in situations where a vehicle is struck from behind or the fault lies with the driver of the smaller vehicle. Without a proper investigation, unjust accusations against certain vehicles may prevail,” AIMTC said.
Meanwhile, amid reports of truck drivers protesting against the new law, AIMTC appealed the drivers. "While we await the finalization of the rules and regulations, we sincerely appeal to all drivers to maintain patience during this transitional period. We understand that uncertainties can be stressful, but it is crucial to allow the due process to unfold. We are hopeful for a resolution that addresses both the safety of our roads and the legitimate worries of the driving community," Bal Malkit Singh of AIMTC.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/truckers-body-writes-to-pm-modi-hm-shah-seeks-relook-at-10-yr-jail-term-in-hit-and-run-cases-under-new-law/articleshow/106416226.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:52Z
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Revellers across Asia celebrated the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve with fireworks and brightly lit signs offering a hopeful start to 2024 for some, even as the globe's ongoing conflicts raised security concerns and let to muted or even cancelled festivities.
As the clock struck midnight in Australia, more than 1 million people a number equivalent to one in five of the city's residents watched a 12-minute firework display focused on the Sydney Harbor Bridge from the shore and from boats in the harbour.
It's total madness, said German tourist Janna Thomas, who had waited in line since 7.30 am to secure a prime waterfront location in the Sydney Botanic Garden.
Organisers worldwide have readied for large-scale celebrations despite the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. In New York City, where there have been near-daily protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war, officials and party organizers said they were prepared to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of revelers who will flood Times Square in the heart of midtown Manhattan.
Asian nations are first to welcome the New Year
Fireworks exploded up and down the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, as clocks struck midnight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Fireworks exploded up and down the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, as clocks struck midnight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
China celebrated relatively quietly, with most major cities banning fireworks over safety and pollution concerns. Still, people gathered and performers danced in colourful costumes in Beijing, while a crowd released wish balloons in Chongqing. During his New Year address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country would focus on building momentum for economic recovery in 2024 and pledged China would surely be reunified with Taiwan.
In Taipei, Taiwan's capital, the mood appeared upbeat as revellers gathered for a fireworks show at the bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 skyscraper, as well as at concerts and other events held throughout the city.
In India, thousands of revellers from the financial hub of Mumbai flocked to a bustling promenade to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea. In New Delhi, fireworks raised concerns that the capital already infamous for its poor air quality would be blanketed by a toxic haze on the first morning of the new year.
Temple bells rang out across Japan as people gathered at shrines and temples. At the Tsukiji Temple in Tokyo, visitors were given free hot milk and corn soup as they stood in line to strike a big bell, and a pipe-organ concert was held before a majestic altar.
Also Read
Pope highlights the human cost of war
At the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering. During his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, he offered prayers for the tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering. During his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, he offered prayers for the tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others.
At the end of the year, we will have the courage to ask ourselves how many human lives have been shattered by armed conflict, how many dead and how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty, the pontiff said.
Gaza and Ukraine wars grind on
In Russia, the country's military actions in Ukraine have overshadowed end-of-year celebrations, with the usual fireworks and concert on Moscow's Red Square cancelled, as they were last year.
In Russia, the country's military actions in Ukraine have overshadowed end-of-year celebrations, with the usual fireworks and concert on Moscow's Red Square cancelled, as they were last year.
After shelling in the centre of the Russian border city of Belgorod Saturday killed 24 people, some local authorities across Russia also cancelled their usual firework displays, including in Vladivostok. Millions throughout Russia were expected to have tuned into Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Year's prerecorded address, where he asserted there was no force that could divide Russians and stop the country's development.
Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 35 people Sunday, hospital officials said, as fighting raged across the tiny enclave a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war will continue for many more months, resisting international calls for a cease-fire.
In Muslim-majority Pakistan, the government has banned all New Year's Eve celebrations in solidarity with the Palestinians.
In Iraq, a Christmas tree was decorated with Palestinian flags and symbolic bodies in funeral shrouds, placed beside a liberty monument in central Baghdad. Many Christians in Iraq have cancelled this year's festivities in solidarity with Gaza, and have chosen to limit their celebrations to prayers and rituals.
We hope that the new year, 2024 will be a year of goodness, prosperity, and joy, said Ahmed Ali, a Baghdad resident.
Global tensions spur security vigilance
New York Mayor Eric Adams said there were no specific threats to his city's annual New Year's Eve bash. Police said they would expand the security perimeter around the party, creating a buffer zone that would allow them to head off potential demonstrations. During last year's party, a machete-wielding man attacked three police officers a few blocks from Times Square.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said there were no specific threats to his city's annual New Year's Eve bash. Police said they would expand the security perimeter around the party, creating a buffer zone that would allow them to head off potential demonstrations. During last year's party, a machete-wielding man attacked three police officers a few blocks from Times Square.
Security was also heightened across European cities on Sunday.
German authorities said they had detained three more people in connection with a reported threat of a New Year's Eve attack by Islamic extremists on the world-famous Cologne Cathedral.
In Berlin, some 4,500 police officers are expected to keep order and avoid riots like a year ago. Police in the German capital issued a ban on the traditional use of fire crackers for several streets across the city. They also banned a pro-Palestinian protest in the Neukoelln neighbourhood of the city, which has seen several pro-Palestinian riots.
In Paris, over 1.5 million people are expected to attend celebrations on the Champs-Elysees, with around 90,000 law enforcement officers would be deployed nationwide, top officials said. Celebrations in the French capital will center on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe.
In a New Year's message, French President Emmanuel Macron predicted that the 2024 European Parliament elections will be crucial to Ukraine's future and the fate of democracy across Europe.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/new-year-s-eve-celebrations-roll-across-asia-but-wars-cast-shadow-on-2024-124010100027_1.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:52Z
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50 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tmt-rate?amount=50
| 2024-01-01T02:22:54Z
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In the final game before conference play begins, three different Mustangs scored 20-or-more points as The Master’s University men’s basketball team defeated the Mount Royal Cougars 108-84 Friday at The MacArthur Center.
The Mustangs (11-3) hit better than 51% of their shots and out-rebounded the Cougars 53-39 in the game. It was the second time this season TMU scored over 100 points.
“I think the lesson for us is we have to continue to lock in on the defensive end, which opens up our offense,” said TMU head coach Kelvin Starr. “I felt the first 10 minutes of the game we were pretty selfless. When the mentality is ‘I don’t care who scores,’ and the ball moves with 20-plus assists, and you hold your opponent to under 40 percent shooting, you’re going to win the game.”
The only time Mount Royal had a lead was at the beginning of the game when they made the first bucket. After tying it at 6-6, The Master’s went on a 20-0 run to break open the game and take control, cruising to a 57-36 halftime lead.
Opening up a 104-68 lead with 4:33 to play, the Mustangs looked destined to set their season high in scoring (111 against Bethesda on Nov. 10). But the Cougars closed on a 16-4 run to settle the 24-point difference.
Kaleb Lowery led The Master’s with a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Both Ty Harper and Kamrin Oriol finished with 20 points each.
Caden Starr, who leads the team in 3-point shooting with 49, went 0 for 6 on the night from behind the arc. Still, the 6-7 junior scored 16 points, pulled down nine rebounds, had six steals and added four assists.
“It says a lot when a player can contribute in more ways than just scoring,” Coach Starr said. “(Caden) gets other people involved when he’s struggling, and he showed that tonight.”
The Mustangs will open GSAC play this Thursday when they host the Life Pacific Warriors at 7:30 p.m. in The MacArthur Center. Coach Starr knows his team has looked good in the 14 games leading up to this moment, but it’s different when it’s conference opponents.
“I think we’ve seen a lot of growth for sure, but I’m encouraged that there is still a lot of room for improvement,” he said. “Conference play is a different level, there’s rivalries, you get everybody’s best in conference. You need to be ready for it, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
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https://scvnews.com/tmu-trounces-mount-royal-108-84-in-final-non-conference-game/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:56Z
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Astana reveals roster for Vuelta A Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol 2019
08:18, 19 February 2019
ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Astana Pro Team is ready for the next challenge at the 2.HC stage race Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol, which will be held in Spain from February 20th to 24th, Kazinform has learnt from the team's press service.
Team's roster will consist of Pello Bilbao, Dario Cataldo, Jakob Fuglsang, Laurens De Vreese, Ion Izagirre, Luis Leon Sanchez and Andrey Zeits.
Bruno Cenghialta and Giuseppe Martinelli will serve as sports directors in race.
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-reveals-roster-for-vuelta-a-andalucia-ruta-ciclista-del-sol-2019_a3499566/
| 2024-01-01T02:22:56Z
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PESHAWAR: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peshawar Medical College (PMC) in collaboration with the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology Pakistan (SOGP) Peshawar chapter organised a one-day seminar on ‘A multidisciplinary approach to the management of Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy (HIP)’ here.
It was attended by consultants, trainee medical officers, medical officers, medical students, house officers, nurses, lady health workers and midwives from different hospitals of Peshawar.
The organisers of the seminar were Professor Dr. Tehniyat Ishaq, HOD Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Co-chairperson of SOGP Peshawar chapter, Professor Dr. Shahnaz Parveen and Dr. Rabia Kareem.
The chief guests included Professor Dr. Sadaqat Jabeen, Professor Dr. Gul Rukh Qazi and Professor Dr. Parveen Azeem.
The participants gained valuable insights into real-world applications of the seminar’s themes. The seminar ended with a concluding note from the Chairperson of SOGP, Professor Dr. Gulrukh Qazi. Shields were distributed among the organizers and speakers, recognizing their commitments.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281410/seminar-on-multidisciplinary-approach-to-hip-organised
| 2024-01-01T02:22:56Z
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The latest Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision in relation to Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) seems to have inflicted irreparable harm on the party’s electoral prospects.
The ECP process to scrutinize the nomination papers filed by candidates seeking to participate in the Feb 8 elections has literally knocked the PTI out from the election much before the nation goes to the polls as almost 90 percent of nomination papers from important leaders, including Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pervez Illahi, are said to have been rejected.
Although the party candidates can approach an appellate tribunal till Jan 3 against the decisions of the respective returning officers, the reversal of all the decisions appears to be unlikely.
In other words, the ouster of an incarcerated Imran Khan, whose nomination papers were filed from three different National Assembly constituencies, from the contest is all but certain because of a variety of reasons, including the May 9 incidents.
The party, which is now being led by a competent barrister, has its work cut out to finish the election medley relay on an impressive note. This now appears to be a herculean task, to say the least.
The situation has certainly added to the prospects of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and newly-formed Punjab-based Istehkam Pakistan Party (IPP) in particular. Of course, more and more ‘independent’ candidates in Punjab and KPK will be able to cash in on the opportunity the woes of a seemingly beleaguered PTI have thrown up for them.
The disapproval or rejection of Imran Khan’s nomination papers was expected, it is indeed a highly disappointing development from PTI’s perspective, nevertheless.
Kashif Minhas, (Rawalpindi)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281411/rejection-of-nomination-papers-hurts-ptis-prospects
| 2024-01-01T02:22:57Z
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MATHURA: The Uniform Civil Code will soon be implemented in
Uttarakhand, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said. The bill for its implementation will be tabled in the assembly soon, Dhami said at the Shasthi Purti Mahotsav organised on Saturday in Vatsalya Gram at Vrindavan to celebrate 60 years of Sadhvi Ritambhara's 'sanyas'.
UCC is a common code of personal laws for people of all religions.
In a swipe at the opposition parties, he said people responsible for firing at "Ram bhakts" would have never constructed the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abrogated Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir or abolished triple talaq.
The commitment to construct a temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya will be fulfilled on January 22 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the consecration ceremony, Dhami said.
Calling Sadhvi Ritambhara an epitome of "vatsalya" (affection) and motherhood, Dhami wished her a long life and sought the blessings of seers present at the event.
"I was inspired by her lectures delivered during the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation," Dhami said, adding that Sadhvi Ritambhara's affection and blessings motivated him to serve the people with more vigour and strength.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ucc-will-soon-be-implemented-in-uttarakhand-cm-pushkar-singh-dhami/articleshow/106413812.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:22:58Z
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Adekeye Adebajo
In the coming year, we will see not greater multipolarity, but greater bipolarity. China has replaced Russia as America’s main competitor in a new cold war that is less about ideology and more about markets and technology. The $18 trillion Chinese economy has already overtaken that of all 27 European Union countries combined, and China is the largest trading partner to more than 120 countries. Its Belt and Road Initiative continues to build infrastructure around the world, and the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (with a $100 billion capitalization) has 109 members representing 80% of the world’s population. In January, the China-dominated Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will expand to include Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Adekeye Adebajo
In the coming year, we will see not greater multipolarity, but greater bipolarity. China has replaced Russia as America’s main competitor in a new cold war that is less about ideology and more about markets and technology. The $18 trillion Chinese economy has already overtaken that of all 27 European Union countries combined, and China is the largest trading partner to more than 120 countries. Its Belt and Road Initiative continues to build infrastructure around the world, and the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (with a $100 billion capitalization) has 109 members representing 80% of the world’s population. In January, the China-dominated Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will expand to include Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Many of these countries from the Global South have refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now, they are seeking to bolster the 120-strong Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged from the 1955 Bandung Conference of Asian and African governments. As part of a strategy to avoid becoming embroiled in superpower conflicts (between the Americans and the Soviets, at the time), NAM members abstained from collective defence arrangements with either side. This weapon of the weak lent momentum to efforts to enhance regional autonomy and strengthen global-governance institutions such as the United Nations, and it may yet do so again.
Many of these countries from the Global South have refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now, they are seeking to bolster the 120-strong Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged from the 1955 Bandung Conference of Asian and African governments. As part of a strategy to avoid becoming embroiled in superpower conflicts (between the Americans and the Soviets, at the time), NAM members abstained from collective defence arrangements with either side. This weapon of the weak lent momentum to efforts to enhance regional autonomy and strengthen global-governance institutions such as the United Nations, and it may yet do so again.
Finally, as of this writing, Israel’s siege and bombardment of Gaza in response to Hamas’s attack (which killed 1,400 Israelis) has resulted in more than 9,000 dead and 1.4 million displaced Palestinians. Unquestioning Western support for Israel will expose the double standards at the heart of the international system, further weakening global support for Ukraine in 2024.
Ian Bremmer
Yes, the international trend towards “non-alignment" will continue in 2024. But “multipolarity" is a different question, one that depends on which arena of competition we’re thinking about.
In 2024, non-alignment for many countries will mean recognizing that overtly taking sides in the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China is a losing proposition. Some governments, particularly those in countries situated near China or Russia, will see the US as an indispensable security partner. But commercial partnership with China remains essential for future growth.
“Multipolarity" is a more complex question. In the security sphere, we still live in a unipolar world. Only the US can project power into every region of the world. China’s military clout is growing, but—importantly—it hasn’t been tested by a shooting war in more than four decades. Russia’s conventional forces were hollow even before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine inflicted generational damage on its military capacity. And Europe still relies on the US, as do US allies in Asia.
In the economic arena, however, we’re certainly living in a multipolar world, one in which America, China, Europe, and India are all crucial players in re-establishing the stability and dynamism of the global economy. Then there’s the digital realm, where the power of governments is limited by the power of the tech companies that produce the advances that political officials are scrambling to understand. Here, one finds an emerging “technopolar" world, where governments and tech companies will share power for the foreseeable future.
Put these trends together, and non-alignment is the wave of the future.
Stephen G. Brooks
Multipolarity is a myth, as William Wohlforth and I argued recently in Foreign Affairs (which also published a symposium of responses to our article). The United States has indeed become less dominant than in the 1990s, when it was further ahead militarily, economically, and technologically than any state had ever been before. But a multipolar world is one with three or more roughly equally matched leading powers at the top of the international heap. Who could fill that role today? Of all the countries that could plausibly rank third—France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom—none is even roughly a peer of the US or China.
Not only is multipolarity a myth, but the system remains closer to unipolarity than to Cold War-style bipolarity. Though China is rising, the world’s largest-ever power gap will take a long time to close. China has ascended most significantly in the economic domain (although less than is commonly assumed, since it significantly inflates its GDP data), but it has done much less to shrink the power gap in other areas. It still lags very far behind the US technologically. A forthcoming (co-authored) book of mine shows that US firms hold a 53% profit share in high-tech industries, compared with a mere 6% for China. China is also only a regional military power, and that will long remain the case, leaving the US as the sole superpower that can command the global commons.
Paula J. Dobriansky
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered significant geopolitical changes. The war, combined with rising US-China tensions, has unified the transatlantic community and prompted many Indo-Pacific governments to bolster their defences and secure their supply chains. The same developments have also encouraged political leaders across the Global South to pursue “optionality," making choices predicated on their national interests, while doing what they can to avoid becoming mired in great-power disputes.
Today’s ongoing geopolitical changes include new or closer national alignments—from Russia’s deepening ties with China, Iran, and North Korea, to Australia’s engagement with India and Indonesia, and with the United States and the United Kingdom under AUKUS. While the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the US (established in 2007) has become more ambitious, other powers have taken pains to thwart emerging new alignments. Many view Hamas’s latest attack on Israel as an attempt to block Saudi-Israeli normalization, which could have threatened not only Hamas but also its sponsors in Iran.
America’s messy 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan contributed to this evolution in the international system by undermining perceptions of US credibility, reliability, and effectiveness. That, in turn, caused some leaders (like Russian President Vladimir Putin) to re-evaluate the costs of pursuing policies contrary to US interests. These changes in preference and perspective have facilitated not only new violence but also new or different relationships as America’s allies, rivals, and foes recalibrate their goals. Similarly, Russia’s faltering war effort in Ukraine appears to have created a more permissive environment for Azerbaijan’s conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh. New wars and the desire to avoid being drawn into US-Russia-China conflicts will continue to drive the new multipolarity and the return of non-alignment.
Jorge Heine
In 2024, the great-power competition will continue, as will the rise of non-alignment, albeit now in a new incarnation: active non-alignment (ANA). Originally triggered by American and Chinese pressure on Latin American countries to take sides in their budding cold war, ANA is now spreading across Africa and Asia. It takes a page from the Non-Aligned Movement of yesteryear, but adapts it to the realities of the new century.
ANA should not be confused with neutrality or equidistance. Rather, it is a dynamic concept that allows countries to hold varying positions depending on the issue at hand. As a foreign-policy doctrine, it means putting the interests of one’s own country first, and not succumbing to pressure by the great powers. It requires highly developed analytical capabilities, so that each issue can be evaluated on its own merits.
The rise of ANA has become especially apparent in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with many countries across the Global South refusing to take sides. This development shows that the main cleavage in today’s world is not between democracy and autocracy, but between the Global North and the Global South. ANA’s spread is closely associated with the rise of the Global South as a significant force in world affairs, of which the recent expansion of the Brics is Exhibit A. The best example of it in practice is Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s foreign policy over the course of 2023.
Ana Palacio
If recent events are any indication, the world is indeed hastening toward a realignment. Russia’s war in Ukraine, ethnic displacement in Nagorno-Karabakh, the string of coups in Africa, and the crisis in the Middle East are all signs of the disruption of the world order that emerged after World War II. These events are not outliers or isolated crises. With the United States somewhat removed and less assertive than in the past, countries and non-state actors feel emboldened to take risks and seize opportunities that they previously would have shied away from.
The current moment is characterized by an alphabet soup of new coalitions that have formed in response to changing global power dynamics. The expanding Brics+ is just one example among many. With middle powers increasingly vying for global influence, we have entered an age of disorder that will last until a new configuration of international relations solidifies.
Yu Jie
I agree. As myriad crises and elections unfold, 2024 is set to be another geopolitically tumultuous year. But it also offers opportunities for non-Western powers that champion “neutrality" and “non-alignment" to play greater roles in global affairs. Most of these countries, including China, base their foreign-policy priorities on hard calculations of economic or political interests, whereas the collective West stresses the importance of “being likeminded".
This state of play cannot fail to create greater multipolarity. Pragmatism will demand that many countries pick a side depending on the issue at hand. While “neutrality" will remain unthinkable from G7 members’ perspective—whether they are dealing with relations with China or the war between Israel and Hamas—many non-Western powers will consider it de rigueur in conducting their foreign affairs.
For its part, China will continue to shift the rest of the world towards greater multipolarity, since it sees that as the best way to manage its stalemate vis-à-vis the United States. While China’s initial position on Russia’s war in Ukraine worsened its ties with many Western countries, attitudes within the West have since become more nuanced. There is now a strange mix of fear that China will aid the Kremlin militarily, but also hope that it will limit President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear brinkmanship.
Given that many countries around the world do not view today’s geopolitical crises in stark black-and-white terms, China may find that its preference for multipolarity is becoming more of an asset.
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https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/goodbye-multipolarity-hello-bipolarity/amp-11704047080569.html
| 2024-01-01T02:22:58Z
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The Gateway Pundit reported that prominent Rabbi David Wolpe announced his resignation from Harvard’s antisemitism board after University President Dr. Claudine Gay’s disastrous and embarrassing testimony on Capital Hill.
During her testimony in front of the House Education Committee, Gay failed to condemn students on campus calling for the genocide of Jews.
Wolpe, the only Rabbi on the board, described Gay’s appearance as “painfully inadequate testimony.”
Rabbi Wolpe delivered his message on X, offering a “Hanukkah message” ahead of the Jewish holiday.
1/3 Resigning, a Hanukkah Message: As of today I have resigned from the antisemitism advisory committee at Harvard. Without rehashing all of the obvious reasons that have been endlessly adumbrated online, and with great respect for the members of the committee, the short…
— David Wolpe (@RabbiWolpe) December 7, 2023
On Friday, Wolpe wrote an op for The Harvard Crimson, “On the Hatred of Jews.”
Israel is the only country in the world that is routinely and widely targeted for eradication. So is anti-Zionism synonymous with antisemitism?
There are exceptions, but the overlap is striking. I have never heard of activists who are angry with China targeting Chinese restaurants in Paris, but when Hamas terrorists were recently arrested in Europe with plans to blow up Jewish institutions, they were not targeting Israel, but Jews. If someone is angry at Israel, they target Jewish synagogues, businesses, and restaurants — anything associated with Jews, anywhere in the world — no matter their relationship to Israel.
*******
The energy and outrage Jews generate — making up 0.2 percent of the world population — is oddly disproportionate. Antisemitism is a wild, irrational eruption.
*****
Harvard has a long and ignoble history of antisemitism, as Harvard President Claudine Gay said in her remarks to Harvard Hillel in October. It is time to admit it, confront it and overcome it. One can criticize policies without calling for the end to the only homeland Jews have ever known. One can demand a Palestinian state without globalizing the intifada — the term for a protest that previously resulted in over 110 suicide bombings that targeted buses, cafes, and malls.
If we cannot learn to argue civilly at Harvard, how can we have hope for the civility of other places in the world?
Jews gave the world a precious gift: the idea that each human being is an image of God. I pray that we all remember and honor that gift.
Wolpe appeared on Fox News to discuss Harvard’s “history of antisemitism” and encouraged the university to “admit it, confront it, and overcome it.”
Watch:
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https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/rabbi-david-wolpe-ivys-leagues-history-antisemitism-video/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:00Z
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NEW YORK, Dec. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, reminds investors that class actions have been commenced on behalf of stockholders of Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG), and Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL). Stockholders have until the deadlines below to petition the court to serve as lead plaintiff. Additional information about each case can be found at the link provided.
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG)
Class Period: May 28, 2020 - August 31, 2023 (Common Stock Only)
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: January 26, 2024
The Dollar General class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dollar General stores were chronically understaffed and suffering from logistical and inventory management problems which left stores with tens of millions of dollars’ worth of outdated and unwanted inventory, mispriced goods, and lost and damaged items; (ii) large backlogs of unsellable merchandise had built up at Dollar General’s stores, which inventory had not been timely written down due to understaffing and Dollar General’s failure to manage its inventory; (iii) the allotment of employee hours per store per week imposed by Dollar General management placed employees in virtually impossible situations where assigned tasks, including those necessary to effective store operations, could not be completed within the allotted time; (iv) Dollar General was systematically overcharging customers for items upon checkout above the listed price in violation of state laws, including state law violations identified by state regulators in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio; (v) Dollar General’s reported revenue and earnings during the Class Period were artificially inflated by defendants’ over-pricing scheme; (vi) Dollar General’s failure to manage store inventories and accurately price items upon checkout risked the loss of customers, lower sales, adverse regulatory actions, and reputational fallout; and (vii) Dollar General was not on track to achieve its guidance during the Class Period and such guidance lacked a reasonable factual basis.
On February 23, 2023, Dollar General announced that fourth quarter of 2022 sales and earnings would come in materially below what Dollar General had led investors to expect as recently as December 2022. On this news, the price of Dollar General common stock fell.
Then, on March 16, 2023, Dollar General revealed, among other things, that it missed its prior annual net sales guidance by approximately $140 million. On this news, the price of Dollar General common stock fell nearly 3%.
Thereafter, on June 1, 2023, Dollar General reported first quarter of 2023 revenue of $130 million below analysts’ estimates. Dollar General also slashed its full year 2023 financial forecast and that it further only expected full year 2023 net sales growth in the range of 3.5% to 5%, down 26% at the midpoint from the prior 5.5% to 6% range provided in March 2023. On this news, the price of Dollar General common stock fell nearly 20%.
Finally, on August 31, 2023, Dollar General reported lower than expected second quarter of 2023 financial results and again slashed its sales and profit outlook for full year 2023. Dollar General blamed weaker consumer spending on non-essential purchases and increasing theft for the shortfall. On this news, the price of Dollar General common stock fell more than 12%.
For more information on the Dollar General class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/DG
Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL)
Class Period: August 18, 2022 - May 2, 2023 (Common Stock Only)
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 5, 2024
The filed complaint alleges that defendants misled investors with unrealistic and materially false statements about market demand Estee’s products and its inventory levels. These statements concealed the truth about Estee’s weakness in the market until, on May 3, 2023, Estee announced weaker sales and profit for the year than estimated and accordingly cut its fiscal year outlook for a third consecutive time.
As a result, the price of Estee stock declined from $245.22 per share on May 2, 2023 to $202.70 per share on May 3, 2023.
For more information on the Estee class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/EL
About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contact Information:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.
Brandon Walker, Esq.
Marion Passmore, Esq.
(212) 355-4648
investigations@bespc.com
www.bespc.com
|
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/01/01/2802275/0/en/Bragar-Eagel-Squire-P-C-Reminds-Investors-That-Class-Action-Lawsuits-Have-Been-Filed-Against-Dollar-General-and-Estee-and-Encourages-Investors-to-Contact-the-Firm.html
| 2024-01-01T02:23:00Z
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Things only looked worse as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield took a shot to the ribs late in a 23-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Mayfield endured the hit during a two-point conversion attempt. He returned but threw an interception on the second two-point attempt, which came about because of a penalty on the first try.
“Ribs don’t feel too great right now,” Mayfield told reporters after the game. “X-rays as of right now are negative, so that’s good but do some more exams to see what’s really bugging me but don’t have anything right now besides just sore.”
“It was one of those late scramble plays that, you know, last second throwing the ball to Chris [Godwin] obviously, and, yeah they’re going to take hits,” Mayfield added. “They’re a physical team. They played that way today.”
Tampa Bay didn’t score until 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter amid a 20-0 deficit. The Buccaneers lost the time of possession and the turnover battles along the way.
“They hit us right in the mouth from the get-go, so … not exactly the mentality that we wanted to come out with,” Mayfield said. “[We] needed to be the more physical team, and we weren’t today.”
Baker Mayfield Explains Offensive Woes, Turnovers
Tampa Bay committed four turnovers and went 2-8 on third downs — a recipe for disaster.
“I think when we look back at the tape, a lot of little things and the things we were doing well, we didn’t today,” Mayfield said. “And it starts … timing on some of the pass game stuff up front in the run game. Like I said, they were more physical today and they threw us off our tempo.”
The Buccaneers punted on three of the first half drives, and Mayfield threw an interception. It left the Buccaneers in a 17-0 hole at the break.
“I got to give Trey [Palmer] a better chance to run under it,” Mayfield said about the first pick. “One-on-one ball. Alontae Taylor made a [expletive] of a play to be honest with you.”
It got worse in the second half as Palmer and running back Rachaad White fumbled plus a second pick by Mayfield. The Saints scored only three points off of those turnovers, but the Buccaneers offense remained stagnant most of the second half with another two punts.
“Just a horrible throw. Didn’t get my feet over to the right side,” Mayfield said about the second pick. “I think I’ll see the footwork on that when I watch the film and see that was probably the main issue. And then we just got to take care of it.”
Baker Mayfield: ‘I Wouldn’t Say That’
After winning four straight games, the Buccaneers didn’t look like the team that hadn’t lost since November. Trying to explain the drop off, Mayfield addressed the presumed lack of urgency with the NFC South on the line this Sunday and next.
“I wouldn’t say that, ” Mayfield said. “I think we prepared great all week. I think mentality wise, preparation … we were great. We just didn’t come out and bring it to Sunday. Didn’t translate and so can’t have that.”
“Got to be able to show up when we need it. But luckily, we have one more game to seal this thing, and once again, backs against the wall, so somewhere we’ve been before and we got to get it fixed and move forward,” Mayfield added.
The Buccaneers get another shot at the division title against the Carolina Panthers in Week 18.
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https://heavy.com/sports/tampa-bay-buccaneers/baker-mayfield-injury-saints-nfc-south/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:00Z
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ISU rolls past UNH, remains perfect at home
AMES, Iowa - Keshon Gilbert had a triple-double, Tamon Lipsey scored 16 points, and Iowa State defeated New Hampshire 85-70 on Sunday.
Gilbert had 10 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the eighth triple-double in Cyclones history. Lipsey also had a strong all-around game with six assists and five rebounds to go with his 16 points.
Milan Momcilovic had 15 points and Tre King scored 13 for Iowa State (11-2). Hason Ward and Curtis Jones had 10 points each off the bench.
After leading by eight points at halftime, the Cyclones made 7 of 12 shots and scored 17 points in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half, building a 60-38 lead. A few minutes later, Jones scored eight points in a 13-2 run that gave Iowa State a 29-point lead with 8 1/2 minutes to go.
Clarence Daniels had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (8-5) and Jaxson Baker scored 13.
Iowa State was on the verge of blowing the game wide open late in the first half when King scored seven points in a 14-3 run that left the Cyclones with a 43-21 lead. The Wildcats rallied and scored the last 14 points of the half to get within 43-35 at the break.
Iowa State, which has won six in a row, opens Big 12 play at No. 12 Oklahoma on Saturday. New Hampshire hosts UMass Lowell in an America East opener on Saturday.
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https://iowastate.rivals.com/news/isu-rolls-past-unh-remains-perfect-at-home
| 2024-01-01T02:23:00Z
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500 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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| 2024-01-01T02:23:00Z
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File photo: Dockweiler State Beach. Photo courtesy: California State Parks/Brian Baer.
Due to current rainfall, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advises beach users to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers due to potentially higher bacteria levels in these areas. This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand.
Ocean and bay recreational waters, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers can be contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas after a rain fall. Individuals who enter the water in these areas could become ill. Rain advisories remain in effect for 72 hours after the rainfall ends.
This advisory will be in effect until at least Tuesday, Jan. 02, at 6 a.m.
This advisory may be extended depending on further rainfall.
Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24- hours a day on the County’s beach closure hotline: 1-800-525-5662. To view map of impacted locations and for more information please visit: PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.
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https://scvnews.com/water-advisory-for-all-l-a-county-beaches-extended-until-tuesday/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:03Z
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EDITORIAL: ADB (Asian Development Bank) has revealed nothing surprising by stating that “stark disparities” in learning persist across public and private schools and schools in rural and urban areas in Pakistan.
In its latest report, “Strengthening School Teaching in Pakistan”, the Bank goes on to note that inadequate incentives and opportunities for professional development and career advancement have rendered teaching an unappealing career choice in the country, “resulting in almost a fifth of all teachers quitting the profession”.
Yet even all this only scratches the surface of the problem. When seen in light of the country’s extremely high population figures – fifth highest in the whole world – it assumes even more ominous proportions.
Pakistan also figures among the world’s top 10 countries in terms of poverty, which means most families that can send their children to school can afford only public ones, which in turn implies that only a small percentage has the luxury of private, urban education in this country. That puts a very large number of Pakistanis at a serious disadvantage when they are born.
The report did mention that Pakistan had made “remarkable progress toward universal primary education through a significant expansion of school access”, but it didn’t exactly break down if such progress had been made in rural areas as well.
Yet even if this was the case, it would still have brought more children to public schools with substandard quality. And while that is much better than leaving them completely illiterate, it still doesn’t solve the problem of “stark disparity” between the two systems.
Interestingly, the report feels the biggest challenge is “ensuring the availability of quality teaching including inadequate numbers of qualified teachers, particularly subject specialists; uneven distribution of teachers across schools; teacher absenteeism; low teacher accountability; and insufficient training opportunities and incentives”. Indeed, when the PTI administration experimented with its controversial SNC (single national curriculum) one of the problems it ran into was lack of qualified teachers.
But, once again, that was only part of the problem. While quality teachers are necessary for quality education, quality curriculum is no less important. And one reason the SNC experiment failed so badly was that it pandered to the interests of the right wing, conservative lobby to gain political points at the cost of the country’s school children.
The education system faces many challenges, but the main ones are lack of qualified teachers and a structured curriculum. One would have thought that the latter would be easier to overcome than the former, yet both have proved equally difficult.
Perhaps an even bigger problem is lack of necessary will at the very top. And that is not something reports from institutions like ADB can solve. The education problem is so obvious and acute that we don’t even need anybody from the outside to put the spotlight on it. Sadly, it has never been given the attention it deserves.
And now that we are one of the most densely populated, poorest and most illiterate countries in the whole world, it might already be too late to do something about it.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281412/stark-disparities-in-learning
| 2024-01-01T02:23:03Z
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Astana's Ion Izagirre second at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
It was a short but hard start of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, as the riders faced an ITT of 10,3 kilometers through the streets of Orihuela, Spain. Especially the final 700 meters uphill were decisive for the classification. Pello Bilbao performed well, finishing in the second provisional time (13'07").
- It's the best way to start the season, with two riders in the top 10 today. We can be proud, it's a result of all the work and tests we did at the training camp. All of our partners contributed to this result, as they're also working on developing their products that we use. Our new engineer, Ivan Velasco, helped us a lot in improving our TT skills. It was a weak point of our team last season, but I think we can be proud of our work on this. We're in a good position for the overall and we will be concentrated until stage 4, where the GC will be decided, - said Pello Bilbao.
In the end, it was Ion Izagirre who came close to the stage victory, as he finished just 5 seconds behind winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (13'00"). It means the second place for Izagirre in his debut race for Astana Pro Team.
- I had a good feeling during the day. It was my first race for Astana and I'm happy with it. I did a lot of work during the winter, trained hard, we worked very well at the training camps, on the TT position as well. So today I felt good and I think I did a good TT. The first part was very fast while the climb was the place to make the difference. I took a good second place, it is a nice result for me and the team at the start of the season. I think with this result I proved I'm ready to fight for the GC in this race,- said Ion Izagirre.
Stage 2 will start and finish in Alicante after 166 kilometers including three categorized climbs, the final climb on 42 kilometers before the finish.
Photo courtesy of GettySport
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-s-ion-izagirre-second-at-volta-a-la-comunitat-valenciana_a3495918/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:03Z
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Evaluating multiple EoIs for OSATs, fabs, modernizing SCL: Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Summary
- In an interview, the MoS for electronics and IT speaks about domestic electronics manufacturing, likely PLIs, AI technologies and cybersecurity
A top government body is examining “a significant number" of applications to set up semiconductor fabrication units and testing facilities in India, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister of state (MoS) for electronics and information technology (IT). In an interview, Chandrasekhar spoke about domestic electronics manufacturing, likely production-linked incentives, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and cybersecurity. Edited excerpts:
State governments say the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) isn’t giving approvals to chip projects in their states. Is that true?
Our government’s mission is to create semiconductor capability—it isn’t about creating it here but not there. Electronics factories, for instance, are in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and other places, too. Apple’s largest production plants, for instance, are in Tamil Nadu.
For semiconductors, there is a lot of public money involved. Hence, there’s a ‘technology financial advisory group’ (TFAG) which identifies fake proposals from good ones. In the first three proposals that we received, despite a lot of public pressure, the TFAG identified certain parties that did not have capable credentials, and said no.
How many proposals have we received so far?
We have a significant number of proposals that are all being evaluated today. They span compound fabs, compound OSATs (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test), silicon OSATs and silicon fabs. We’ve also recently floated an expression of interest (EoI) for modernizing the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali. That has also received significant interest. All of these proposals and expressions of interest are with the ISM TFAG.
With SCL, there were two options at hand for the modernization process. Has there been a decision about it?
Given the size and scale of SCL, its future should lie in being a commercial-grade, limited-volume production hub, as well as an R&D (research and development) hub—as opposed to becoming a full-scale, mass-volume fab. SCL also has a new director-general, and our thought is to not involve SCL in building chips for mass-market devices. That means SCL will create more complex chips and devices, and also be part of the R&D ecosystem for semiconductors that we are developing around the India Semiconductor Research Centre (ISRC).
Would they need a big quantum of funds to be allocated?
Of course. SCL’s capability is at 180nm today, and you can’t be a commercial R&D hub at 180nm. You can cater to a large number of products, but it’ll need to create a much more cutting-edge node going forward. We’ve already allocated ₹10,000 crore—more than $1 billion (about ₹8,300 crore) —and I don’t think we’ll need to take that figure up further.
Will local electronics manufacturing in India need concerted efforts to create a component supply chain now, given that we’re assembling a sizeable amount?
Even China, which controls 70-72% of the global value chains (GVCs), makes a value addition that is in the low two-digits. Even they, for exports exceeding $1 trillion, import $650-700 billion in components.
To be in the GVC of electronics is a low-margin, high-volume game—unless you’re in the strategic electronics space, where it is low-volume and high-margin. But consumer technology, which includes mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc., is effectively characterized by low margins—not as low as 1%—but very high volumes. That scale, when you reach, allows you to develop an ecosystem of suppliers and supply chain for electronics.
When will we get components made in India to supply?
We’re now reaching the tipping point of scale, size and volume. Now, we’re seeing suppliers wanting to come in and set up shop here.
Will we have any dedicated PLIs for suppliers and component makers?
We’ll consider it at the right time, because we certainly don’t want to offer double the subsidy for the same product. One important thing to understand is that we’re building this industry for exports as well as domestic supplies. Unlike automotive, which only exports 3-4% of what is made locally, or even white goods, for electronics we’re designing local manufacturing to be competitive in exports.
Our target for electronics manufacturing is $300 billion by 2026, of which nearly $120 billion, or 40%, will be in exports. Hence, the electronics manufacturing sector must grow faster than the growth of the domestic market.
What figure will we achieve in electronics manufacturing by 2024?
We’re close to around $90 billion by end-2023. Now, there are a couple of imponderables in between, such as the global economy. The wars in Europe haven’t helped global consumer sentiment. There’s also the factor of whether the US economy is still anticipating a recession or not, and if China, one of the largest global markets, will buy as many phones as previously projected.
These things have to be looked into. But our endpoint remains at $300 billion, as that will represent a significant critical mass on the $1.5 trillion GVCs. We want to at least be in the range of contributing 12% of GVCs. We may want the flexibility of one additional year to get there, given the global factors. I wouldn’t want to hazard a guess on where this figure will be by the end of this year.
Is the plan to build indigenous AI chips a near-term plan?
Our strategy is twofold. One, we’re creating AI compute capacity in the public sector, where C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is building an indigenous AI compute service—Param Rudra.
For the private sector, we’ve submitted a proposal to the government—and it’ll need funding. The idea is to create a significant amount of GPU capacity in the private sector, with the government as a partner. This’ll be like a PPP (public–private partnership). The latter will give AI compute as-a-service for startups, researchers and for anyone who has a model that needs to be trained.
Are countries prioritizing AI regulation?
The GPAI (Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence) Delhi event saw agreement from most nations on not demonizing AI, and to also take a collaborative approach instead of a sovereign AI. We must all agree on what are safe and trust today, and India is taking the lead in this.
In February, at the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 2024 event in Slovenia organized by Unesco, India will present an initial framework of safety and trust in AI. The idea is to host a mid-year GPAI here post-elections, sometime in May, where we may have a tentative agreement on the regulatory framework, before we head to the AI Safety Summit, Seoul in South Korea later in the year.
The Digital India Act is expected to offer our legislatorial take on regulating AI. Would the act require a fresh round of consultations?
We did a year of preconsultations for it, and built expectations for its framework. But Parliament has to legislate it, and there’s no time left for it now; so, it will have to be the next government that does it.
Is there a concern around the lack of dedicated legislation on cybersecurity, and following diligence with Cert-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)?
That’s wrong to think so. There is a law—the IT Act—as well as cybersecurity directions. But law and order is a state subject. A part of the problem on cybersecurity not being addressed adequately is because usually most cybercrimes—nearly 85% of it—are multi-jurisdictional. The victim is in one jurisdiction, and the perpetrator in another. In our system, two police forces have to both want to investigate a cybercrime, and also do it cooperatively. This is a fundamental problem.
Many state governments today keep cybercrime at a much lower pedestal than violent crime, terrorism, robbery and so on. For them, a cybercrime is an elitist crime, and hence they do not respond to it. When there are state governments that respond to it, they find that the second leg of the crime is in another jurisdiction, where another police force has to coordinate. This is a structural problem, because of law and order being a state subject.
How do we solve that, and is there a better way?
Given that a billion Indians are going to use the internet by 2026, and as we harness tech for good so there’ll always be harms, cybercrimes are one aspect of the harm that we’ve to figure out a way for allowing state governments to be able to collaborate and respond faster.
But this is beyond the Centre’s ambit, and we cannot legislate a state subject. There is an issue, indeed. We’ll have to look to raise more awareness, and build more capabilities within state police departments to investigate and prosecute multi-jurisdictionally.
Could skill development play a role in such capacity building?
It’s not about that. There are many state police forces who don’t think cybercrime is an important issue to be worried about. Hence, cybersecurity is very low on their priority, and these state governments are also pressed for people and resources. Hence, a ₹1 lakh cybercrime will certainly not run pari-passu with a murder or a terrorism threat. There is a natural problem here.
Should Cert-In be given more powers?
It’s not about powers. As of 2023, we have dramatically expanded our capabilities, compared to the past five years. The capability that we have to identify and detect cross-border weaponization and threats is significant today. We’ll continue to grow this dramatically, along with an ecosystem of cybersecurity startups.
On the capability front, we’re in the right direction. On 16 January at Startup Day, a full session will be dedicated to showcasing such capabilities. But when you say legislating more powers for Cert-In, we go back to law and order’s state jurisdictions. Cert-In is a central body that can detect and give directions to corporates and states in the event of a breach. But it doesn’t and cannot investigate and prosecute a crime.
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https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/evaluating-multiple-eois-for-osats-fabs-modernizing-scl-rajeev-chandrasekhar-11704046730229.html
| 2024-01-01T02:23:04Z
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Global leaders at COP28 were presented with a report titled 'Safe & Just: Vegan Donut Economics,' which advocates a revolutionary transformation of the global food system. Inspired by Kate Raworth's Donut Model, it emphasises integrated systems thinking to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequity.
Urgent transformation: Global
ood system must become a carbon sink and promote biospheric resilience.
Plant-based treaty: Proposes 40 detailed proposals to halt animal agriculture expansion, promote plant-based diets, and restore ecosystems.
Climate and ecological risks: Urgent action is needed to mitigate risks; plant-based diets were considered as a key solution.
Food-related emissions: Emphasizes addressing food-related emissions, reducing antibiotics, and promoting public education.
Subsidy reorientation: Advocates for shifting subsidies away from animal agriculture and fossil fuels.
Global food system challenges: Animal agriculture, a significant stressor is, responsible for 58% of emissions.
Climate urgency: Global warming at 1.2°C, highlighting the need for immediate action.
Asia's challenges: Asia faces challenges in balancing food security and environmental sustainability; transitioning to plant-based diets is crucial.
The report promotes a food system within planetary boundaries while ensuring social foundations. Aprajita Ashish, presenting at COP28, urged policymakers, businesses, and individuals to embrace a plant-based food strategy for a sustainable and equitable future. The report gained global celebrity support and also received support from mayors and ministers in 15 Indian cities.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vegan-donut-report-tabled-at-cop-28-advancing-conversations-towards-a-plant-based-future/articleshow/106280897.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:23:04Z
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BEIJING, China, Jan. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Li Auto Inc. (“Li Auto” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LI; HKEX: 2015), a leader in China’s new energy vehicle market, today announced that the Company delivered 50,353 vehicles in December 2023, up 137.1% year over year, and successfully achieved its monthly delivery target of 50,000 vehicles. This brought the Company’s fourth quarter deliveries to 131,805, up 184.6% year over year. Total deliveries in 2023 increased by 182.2% year over year to 376,030. As of December 31, 2023, Li Auto’s cumulative deliveries surpassed 600,000 vehicles, the highest among Chinese emerging new energy automakers.
“We successfully reached our monthly delivery target of 50,000 vehicles in December and achieved full-year vehicle deliveries of 376,030 in 2023. This is the first time in history for a Chinese emerging new energy automaker to surpass the annual delivery milestone of 300,000 vehicles. Since June 2023, Li Auto has become the best-selling premium auto brand in the SUV market for each month in China. With support and recognition of over 600,000 users, we continually deepen our research and development efforts across products, platforms, and systems, among others. Since the Li L series first commenced deliveries, we have completed over 20 OTA upgrades. In particular, the OTA version 5.0, which was officially released in December with 145 new functions and 100 optimized features, provides a comprehensive revolution in autonomous driving and smart space. Looking ahead into 2024, we will continue to push the limit of growth and strive to become China’s best-selling premium auto brand,” commented Xiang Li, chairman and chief executive officer of Li Auto.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 467 retail stores in 140 cities, as well as 360 servicing centers and Li Auto-authorized body and paint shops operating in 209 cities.
About Li Auto Inc.
Li Auto Inc. is a leader in China’s new energy vehicle market. The Company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles. Its mission is: Create a Mobile Home, Create Happiness (创造移动的家, 创造幸福的家). Through innovations in product, technology, and business model, the Company provides families with safe, convenient, and comfortable products and services. Li Auto is a pioneer to successfully commercialize extended-range electric vehicles in China. The Company started volume production in November 2019. Its current model lineup includes Li MEGA, a high-tech flagship family MPV, Li L9, a six-seat flagship family SUV, and Li L8, a six-seat premium family SUV, as well as Li L7, a five-seat flagship family SUV. The Company leverages technology to create value for its users. It concentrates its in-house development efforts on its proprietary range extension system, next-generation electric vehicle technology, and smart vehicle solutions while expanding its product line by developing new BEVs and EREVs to target a broader user base.
For more information, please visit: https://ir.lixiang.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “likely to,” “challenges,” and similar statements. Li Auto may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKEX”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Li Auto’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Li Auto’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; Li Auto’s limited operating history; risks associated with extended-range electric vehicles and high-power charging battery electric vehicles; Li Auto’s ability to develop, manufacture, and deliver vehicles of high quality and appeal to customers; Li Auto’s ability to generate positive cash flow and profits; product defects or any other failure of vehicles to perform as expected; Li Auto’s ability to compete successfully; Li Auto’s ability to build its brand and withstand negative publicity; cancellation of orders for Li Auto’s vehicles; Li Auto’s ability to develop new vehicles; and changes in consumer demand and government incentives, subsidies, or other favorable government policies. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Li Auto’s filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Li Auto does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Li Auto Inc.
Investor Relations
Email: ir@lixiang.com
Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
+86-10-6508-0677
Email: Li@tpg-ir.com
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https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/01/01/2802276/0/en/Li-Auto-Inc-December-2023-Delivery-Update.html
| 2024-01-01T02:23:06Z
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VIDEO: TJ Otzelberger post-game press conference (New Hampshire)
Iowa State's head coach met with the media following a 15-point victory over New Hampshire that wrapped up the non-conference portion of the season.
Iowa State's head coach met with the media following a 15-point victory over New Hampshire that wrapped up the non-conference portion of the season.
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https://iowastate.rivals.com/news/video-tj-otzelberger-post-game-press-conference-new-hampshire-
| 2024-01-01T02:23:07Z
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5000 Swedish kronor to Turkmenistani manats
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| 2024-01-01T02:23:07Z
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EDITORIAL: The December Monthly Economic Update and Outlook, uploaded on the Finance Division website, indicates the two extremely disturbing elements that not only continue to persist but have worsened since 20 August 2023 when the Caretaker Cabinet took oath of office.
First, the low base of key macroeconomic indicators during July-December 2022 did not lead to any appreciable improvement in the comparable period of the current year and in some instances worsened – a low base which was the outcome of Ishaq Dar’s flawed policies ranging from artificially controlling the interbank rupee-dollar parity, giving rise to multiple exchange rates that cost the country 4 billion dollars in lost remittances, and upping the current expenditure from what was budgeted by 21 percent in spite of the cessation of foreign inflows due to the suspension of the ninth review of the then ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme.
Those indicators that actually impacted negatively on the economy in general and the quality of life of the general public in particular during July-November 2023 as opposed to the comparable period of the year before are: (i) remittances declined by 10.3 percent – a decline notwithstanding the announcement by the caretaker finance minister on 15 September that 80 billion rupees will be disbursed to incentivise remittance inflows through official channels with 20 billion rupees released the next day; (ii) credit to private sector, a major input for large scale manufacturing (LSM) sector registered negative 64.2 percent July-October this year compared to positive 40.3 percent last fiscal year.
This contributed to negative 0.44 percent growth in LSM July-October 2023 though the comparable figure for the same period in 2022 is worse, at negative 1.67 percent; yet what is concerning is the October 2022 LSM growth statistic of negative 1.40 percent against negative 4.08 percent in October 2023.
This decline in credit to the private sector was due to a 200 percent rise in government’s domestic borrowing – 2.876 billion rupees this year against 961 billion rupees the same period in the previous year and needless to add that this accounts for a consumer price index of 28.6 percent this year compared to the 25.1 percent last year.
The report bafflingly notes that “despite significant challenges the overall economic outlook is optimistic marked by receding inflationary pressures”; (iii) non-tax revenue rose by 358 percent July-October 2023 compared to the year before and sadly the reason is mainly attributable to a heavier than ever reliance on petroleum levy, which is an indirect tax and which is yet another contributor to inflation; and (iv) the deficit was down by 31.9 percent this year (from 1266 billion rupees July-October 2022 to 862 billion rupees in the same period of this year); however, this was at the cost of a 21.8 percent reduction in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) disbursements with implications on growth. And primary balance (minus borrowing costs) rose from 136 billion rupees in July-October 2022 to 1430 billion rupees in the same period of 2023.
There was a slight improvement in exports - from 11.9 billion dollars to 12.5 billion dollars this year - and a 64.5 percent decline in current account deficit due largely to a regulatory containment in imports - of 16 percent - which effectively contributed to lower LSM output leading to redundancies.
The Update shows an improvement are stock exchange index (by 40.6 percent), market capitalization in rupees (by 33.8 percent) and in dollars by 35.4 percent incorporation of companies by 7.9 percent. However, the stock market players are few in this country with the poor, the lower middle and the middle income earners not considered as players, and the market capitalization may reflect the domestic rupee erosion and the rise in dollar terms perhaps indicative of the recent rupee strengthening.
And finally, the report notes “positive prospects in agriculture, signs of potential recovery in the industrial sector reflected by positive trends in high frequency indicators, imports and a favourable external environment.” While farm output is on the rise, contributing 11 percent to total GDP growth, attributed to a natural bumper crop year subsequent to floods last year, yet one is forced to disagree with the rest of the rosy picture with the sole objective of strengthening the hands of the stakeholders to take appropriate mitigating measures now: the LSM data cited above is in contrast to the high frequency indicators, declining imports through the measures adopted are not supported by multilaterals/bilaterals and will have to be reversed sooner rather than later, and the external environment remains bleak as rating agencies have not upped our rating which makes our capacity to borrow from the commercial banking sector abroad as well as through issuing Sukuk/Eurobonds budgeted at 6.1 billion dollars untenable.
The report cites the 2.13 percent growth rate in the first quarter as a major achievement, however, this must be viewed in the context of a very low base last year - negative 0.5 percent growth (as per the IMF website) and negative 0.6 percent as per the World Bank while projecting a 1.7 percent growth for this year – and a surge in farm output this year that is attributed to external conditions and not to any improvement in the sector.
Pakistan can no longer afford complacency and for its economic leaders to insist on a picture that is unrealistic just to show their performance in a good light.
The need to implement structural reforms with the potential to fuel growth in the medium to long term is critical as is the need for the government to slash current expenditure as opposed to development expenditure.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281413/state-of-the-economy
| 2024-01-01T02:23:10Z
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A top government body is examining “a significant number" of applications to set up semiconductor fabrication units and testing facilities in India, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister of state (MoS) for electronics and information technology (IT). In an interview, Chandrasekhar spoke about domestic electronics manufacturing, likely production-linked incentives, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and cybersecurity. Edited excerpts:
A top government body is examining “a significant number" of applications to set up semiconductor fabrication units and testing facilities in India, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister of state (MoS) for electronics and information technology (IT). In an interview, Chandrasekhar spoke about domestic electronics manufacturing, likely production-linked incentives, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and cybersecurity. Edited excerpts:
State governments say the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) isn’t giving approvals to chip projects in their states. Is that true?
Our government’s mission is to create semiconductor capability—it isn’t about creating it here but not there. Electronics factories, for instance, are in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and other places, too. Apple’s largest production plants, for instance, are in Tamil Nadu.
State governments say the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) isn’t giving approvals to chip projects in their states. Is that true?
Our government’s mission is to create semiconductor capability—it isn’t about creating it here but not there. Electronics factories, for instance, are in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and other places, too. Apple’s largest production plants, for instance, are in Tamil Nadu.
For semiconductors, there is a lot of public money involved. Hence, there’s a ‘technology financial advisory group’ (TFAG) which identifies fake proposals from good ones. In the first three proposals that we received, despite a lot of public pressure, the TFAG identified certain parties that did not have capable credentials, and said no.
How many proposals have we received so far?
We have a significant number of proposals that are all being evaluated today. They span compound fabs, compound OSATs (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test), silicon OSATs and silicon fabs. We’ve also recently floated an expression of interest (EoI) for modernizing the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali. That has also received significant interest. All of these proposals and expressions of interest are with the ISM TFAG.
With SCL, there were two options at hand for the modernization process. Has there been a decision about it?
Given the size and scale of SCL, its future should lie in being a commercial-grade, limited-volume production hub, as well as an R&D (research and development) hub—as opposed to becoming a full-scale, mass-volume fab. SCL also has a new director-general, and our thought is to not involve SCL in building chips for mass-market devices. That means SCL will create more complex chips and devices, and also be part of the R&D ecosystem for semiconductors that we are developing around the India Semiconductor Research Centre (ISRC).
Would they need a big quantum of funds to be allocated?
Of course. SCL’s capability is at 180nm today, and you can’t be a commercial R&D hub at 180nm. You can cater to a large number of products, but it’ll need to create a much more cutting-edge node going forward. We’ve already allocated ₹10,000 crore—more than $1 billion (about ₹8,300 crore) —and I don’t think we’ll need to take that figure up further.
Will local electronics manufacturing in India need concerted efforts to create a component supply chain now, given that we’re assembling a sizeable amount?
Even China, which controls 70-72% of the global value chains (GVCs), makes a value addition that is in the low two-digits. Even they, for exports exceeding $1 trillion, import $650-700 billion in components.
To be in the GVC of electronics is a low-margin, high-volume game—unless you’re in the strategic electronics space, where it is low-volume and high-margin. But consumer technology, which includes mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc., is effectively characterized by low margins—not as low as 1%—but very high volumes. That scale, when you reach, allows you to develop an ecosystem of suppliers and supply chain for electronics.
When will we get components made in India to supply?
We’re now reaching the tipping point of scale, size and volume. Now, we’re seeing suppliers wanting to come in and set up shop here.
Will we have any dedicated PLIs for suppliers and component makers?
We’ll consider it at the right time, because we certainly don’t want to offer double the subsidy for the same product. One important thing to understand is that we’re building this industry for exports as well as domestic supplies. Unlike automotive, which only exports 3-4% of what is made locally, or even white goods, for electronics we’re designing local manufacturing to be competitive in exports.
Our target for electronics manufacturing is $300 billion by 2026, of which nearly $120 billion, or 40%, will be in exports. Hence, the electronics manufacturing sector must grow faster than the growth of the domestic market.
What figure will we achieve in electronics manufacturing by 2024?
We’re close to around $90 billion by end-2023. Now, there are a couple of imponderables in between, such as the global economy. The wars in Europe haven’t helped global consumer sentiment. There’s also the factor of whether the US economy is still anticipating a recession or not, and if China, one of the largest global markets, will buy as many phones as previously projected.
These things have to be looked into. But our endpoint remains at $300 billion, as that will represent a significant critical mass on the $1.5 trillion GVCs. We want to at least be in the range of contributing 12% of GVCs. We may want the flexibility of one additional year to get there, given the global factors. I wouldn’t want to hazard a guess on where this figure will be by the end of this year.
Is the plan to build indigenous AI chips a near-term plan?
Our strategy is twofold. One, we’re creating AI compute capacity in the public sector, where C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is building an indigenous AI compute service—Param Rudra.
For the private sector, we’ve submitted a proposal to the government—and it’ll need funding. The idea is to create a significant amount of GPU capacity in the private sector, with the government as a partner. This’ll be like a PPP (public–private partnership). The latter will give AI compute as-a-service for startups, researchers and for anyone who has a model that needs to be trained.
Are countries prioritizing AI regulation?
The GPAI (Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence) Delhi event saw agreement from most nations on not demonizing AI, and to also take a collaborative approach instead of a sovereign AI. We must all agree on what are safe and trust today, and India is taking the lead in this.
In February, at the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 2024 event in Slovenia organized by Unesco, India will present an initial framework of safety and trust in AI. The idea is to host a mid-year GPAI here post-elections, sometime in May, where we may have a tentative agreement on the regulatory framework, before we head to the AI Safety Summit, Seoul in South Korea later in the year.
The Digital India Act is expected to offer our legislatorial take on regulating AI. Would the act require a fresh round of consultations?
We did a year of preconsultations for it, and built expectations for its framework. But Parliament has to legislate it, and there’s no time left for it now; so, it will have to be the next government that does it.
Is there a concern around the lack of dedicated legislation on cybersecurity, and following diligence with Cert-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)?
That’s wrong to think so. There is a law—the IT Act—as well as cybersecurity directions. But law and order is a state subject. A part of the problem on cybersecurity not being addressed adequately is because usually most cybercrimes—nearly 85% of it—are multi-jurisdictional. The victim is in one jurisdiction, and the perpetrator in another. In our system, two police forces have to both want to investigate a cybercrime, and also do it cooperatively. This is a fundamental problem.
Many state governments today keep cybercrime at a much lower pedestal than violent crime, terrorism, robbery and so on. For them, a cybercrime is an elitist crime, and hence they do not respond to it. When there are state governments that respond to it, they find that the second leg of the crime is in another jurisdiction, where another police force has to coordinate. This is a structural problem, because of law and order being a state subject.
How do we solve that, and is there a better way?
Given that a billion Indians are going to use the internet by 2026, and as we harness tech for good so there’ll always be harms, cybercrimes are one aspect of the harm that we’ve to figure out a way for allowing state governments to be able to collaborate and respond faster.
But this is beyond the Centre’s ambit, and we cannot legislate a state subject. There is an issue, indeed. We’ll have to look to raise more awareness, and build more capabilities within state police departments to investigate and prosecute multi-jurisdictionally.
Could skill development play a role in such capacity building?
It’s not about that. There are many state police forces who don’t think cybercrime is an important issue to be worried about. Hence, cybersecurity is very low on their priority, and these state governments are also pressed for people and resources. Hence, a ₹1 lakh cybercrime will certainly not run pari-passu with a murder or a terrorism threat. There is a natural problem here.
Should Cert-In be given more powers?
It’s not about powers. As of 2023, we have dramatically expanded our capabilities, compared to the past five years. The capability that we have to identify and detect cross-border weaponization and threats is significant today. We’ll continue to grow this dramatically, along with an ecosystem of cybersecurity startups.
On the capability front, we’re in the right direction. On 16 January at Startup Day, a full session will be dedicated to showcasing such capabilities. But when you say legislating more powers for Cert-In, we go back to law and order’s state jurisdictions. Cert-In is a central body that can detect and give directions to corporates and states in the event of a breach. But it doesn’t and cannot investigate and prosecute a crime.
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https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/evaluating-multiple-eois-for-osats-fabs-modernizing-scl-rajeev-chandrasekhar/amp-11704046730229.html
| 2024-01-01T02:23:10Z
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KOCHI: Vice Admiral V Srinivas, AVSM, NM took over as the 30th flag officer commanding-in-chief (FOCINC), Southern Naval Command at an impressive ceremonial parade held at Naval Base, Kochi on Sunday.
He succeeded Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, PVSM, AVSM, NM who retired upon superannuation after an illustrious career spanning close to four decades in the Indian Navy.
Floral wreaths were placed at the Venduruthy War memorial by both the flag officers in a solemn ceremony to pay homage to all personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Nation.
Vice Admiral V Srinivas is an alumnus of the national defence academy and was commissioned in the Indian Navy on July 01, 1987. An Anti-submarine warfare specialist, he served onboard frontline submarines INS Shalki, INS Shishumar and INS Shankul (during Op Vijay).
In his career spanning 36 years, he has commanded INS Shankul, on two occasions, destroyer INS Ranvir and the nuclear submarine INS Chakra. He holds the distinction of being one of the only two officers ever in the Indian Navy to have commanded a frontline warship as well as an SSN.
His staff assignments have been equally coveted which include commander submarines at COMCOS (W), chief staff officer to flag officer submarines, principal director ship systems and development (PDSSD) and commanding officer of submarine training establishment, INS Satavahana.
The Admiral is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College at Wellington and Naval War College at Goa where he was awarded the CinC's silver medal and senior defence management course (SDMC) at CDM Secunderabad.
He has excellent and varied operational experience having participated in Operations Pawan, Vijay and Parakram and enormous expertise in the field of nuclear safety.
As a flag officer, he has served as flag officer submarines (FOSM), flag officer commanding Maharashtra naval area (FOMA), project director (Operations and Training), HQ ATVP and was the inspector general of nuclear safety (IGNS), prior taking over as flag officer commanding-in-chief, on December 31, 2023. He was awarded the Nau Sena Medal (NM) in 2009 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2021.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vice-admiral-v-srinivas-takes-over-as-flag-officer-commanding-in-chief-southern-naval-command/articleshow/106421756.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:23:10Z
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Astana's leaders finish in main group on Vuelta a Andalucia stage 2
All Astana Pro Team leaders finished safely in the main group. The stage did not impact much the general classification: yesterday winner Tim Wellens still leads the race, Astana's Jakob Fuglsang is second (+0.05), Ion Izagirre is 4th (+0.05), Pello Bilbao is 8th (+0.09).
"It was a very long day in the saddle, but, we finished it without problem. In the final I just tried to stay in front, keeping myself out of any trouble. The sprint was a bit chaotic since no one team could do a perfect lead-out because the last straight was in a small uphill. So, it was a bit nervous, but, finally, we all finished safety," said Jakob Fuglsang.
Stage 3 will be held tomorrow: it will be a 16.2-km-long individual time trial from Mancha Real to La Guardia de Jaén.
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-s-leaders-finish-in-main-group-on-vuelta-a-andalucia-stage-2_a3500997/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:10Z
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tnd-rate?amount=1
| 2024-01-01T02:23:14Z
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Why 3 civilian deaths in Jammu have security agencies worried
- Shakir Mir
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM Dec 31, 2023, 18:40 IST IST
Despite promises from the defence minister, the deaths of three civilians in Jammu have angered the Gujjar community, which has had close ties with the security forces in the region
Noor Ahmad said the vehicle from the Indian Army’s 48 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit pulled up outside his home in Topa Pir village on the morning of December 22. The previous day, four Army personnel were killed in an attack by terrorists in the region.
Ahmad said the Army personnel were looking for his 45-year-old brother Safeer Hussain, who herds livestock for living and is a prominent social activist in the area.
Ahmad said the Army personnel were looking for his 45-year-old brother Safeer Hussain, who herds livestock for living and is a prominent social activist in the area.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-3-civilian-deaths-in-jammu-have-security-agencies-worried/articleshow/106422271.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:23:16Z
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Why America is jittery ahead of Presidential polls
Summary
- The outcome may hinge on the 2024 economic outlook, which in turn will partly depend on how the latest conflagration in the Middle East evolves
If one event dominates the coming year, it will almost certainly be the US presidential election. Barring something unexpected, we are likely to see a rematch of Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump, with the outcome being perilously uncertain. One year out, polls in key swing states give Trump the advantage.
The election will matter not just for the United States but for the world. The outcome may hinge on the 2024 economic outlook, which in turn will partly depend on how the latest conflagration in the Middle East evolves. My best guess (and worst nightmare) is that Israel will continue to ignore international pleas for a ceasefire in Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians have been destitute for decades. What I saw during a visit in the late 1990s as the World Bank’s chief economist was heart-wrenching enough, and the situation has only gotten worse since Israel and Egypt imposed a full blockade 16 years ago in response to Hamas’s takeover of the enclave.
Regardless of the atrocities carried out by Hamas on 7 October, the Arab street will not tolerate the brutality being visited on Gaza. Given this, it is hard to see how we can avoid a repeat of 1973, when Opec’s Arab members organized an oil embargo against countries that had stood by Israel in the Yom Kippur War. This retaliatory measure would not really cost Middle Eastern oil producers, because the increase in prices would make up for the reduction in supplies. No wonder the World Bank and others have already been warning that oil prices could rise to $150 per barrel or higher. That would trigger another bout of supply-driven inflation, just as the post-pandemic inflation is being brought under control.
In this scenario, Biden will inevitably be blamed for the higher prices and accused of mismanaging the Middle East. It will hardly matter that the conflict was reignited by the Trump administration’s Abraham Accords and Israel’s lurch toward a de facto one-state solution. Justly or not, regional turmoil could tip the scale in Trump’s favour. A highly polarized electorate and mountains of disinformation could once again saddle the world with an incompetent liar who is bent on eliminating US democratic institutions and cozying up to authoritarian leaders such as Russian president Vladimir Putin and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.
The best that one can hope for if Trump returns may be political gridlock, but only if Congress remains at least partly under Democratic control. Globally, however, international agreements and the very idea of international rule of law will quickly become spent forces, as Trump impulsively withdraws the US from accords and institutions not to his liking.
The tragedy is that Biden, objectively, has been an extraordinarily successful president. He has managed the situation in Ukraine better than perhaps anyone else could. He has set the US on a new economic course with a major infrastructure bill, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (which provides funding for the green transition). And since the beginning of 2023, he has had to cope with a House of Representatives controlled by Republicans who have shown themselves to be unfit to govern—and uninterested in trying.
Insofar as the Republican Party has a policy agenda, it is not what Americans want. Most voters oppose regressive taxation and anti-labour policies (which contribute to inequality), attacks on universities and science (which will undercut future growth), and atavistic reversals of women’s rights. Nonetheless, Republicans have been extraordinarily successful in shaping the electoral battlefield to their advantage and depicting Biden as too old.
Moreover, some turncoat Democrats have loudly echoed Republicans in pushing the idea that inflation was due to the Biden administration’s spending on the pandemic recovery. But that spending was pursued in the face of deep uncertainty, before the length and depth of the pandemic downturn was known. The new administration was wise to err on the side of doing too much, rather than too little, and Biden ultimately delivered a dose of stimulus that was remarkably close to what was needed. A careful examination of the data shows that the post-pandemic inflation was primarily caused not by excessive aggregate demand but by pandemic-related supply shortages and demand shifts (exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022).
Those of us who defended this stance suggested that inflation would be contained and then start to decline (though no one could predict precisely when). That is indeed what happened. Unfortunately, central banks misidentified the source of inflation as excessive demand, and did everything they could to dampen it. That meant raising interest rates fast and furiously.
Still, the US is lucky, in that two errors will offset each other. While fiscal policy is on track to be more robust than anticipated—the IRA is now projected to drive three times more spending than expected—the US Federal Reserve’s excessive monetary-policy tightening has offset that effect to produce a soft landing. That outcome alone would have substantially enhanced Biden’s prospects, had he been spared the Middle East turmoil.
Looking ahead, America’s energy independence means that high oil prices mainly serve to redistribute income from consumers to oil producers. True, this regressive outcome could be reversed with a well-designed windfall-profits tax. Even if Biden cannot get such a bill through Congress, taking a strong position in favour of it could help politically. Consumers would know that he is fighting for them and standing up to oil companies and the Republicans whose campaigns they fund. But I fear that Biden will shy away from this option just as he did with windfall-tax proposals during the pandemic.
The rest of the world is not so lucky. In Europe, where weaker fiscal policies have failed to counter contractionary monetary policy, higher energy prices will be devastating. There are also serious questions about China’s ability to overcome mounting problems in its real-estate sector or the new cold war’s impact on its exports—especially now that its own government is tightening control over the private sector. And across the Global South, many countries have excessive debts that could become unsustainable in a global slowdown, especially if combined with high interest rates and higher oil and food prices.
Before the Gaza conflagration, I expected a soft landing in the US, but harder times in the rest of the world. Now, I expect hardship all around, with an increased chance of Trump returning to the White House. The world may be entering its most perilous period since the 1930s.
Joseph E. Stiglitz a Nobel laureate in economics, is university professor at Columbia University.
©2023/PROJECT SYNDICATE
www.project-syndicate.org
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https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/why-america-is-jittery-ahead-of-presidential-polls-11704040848460.html
| 2024-01-01T02:23:16Z
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In Pakistan, the risk reward mechanism on investment is lopsided, and that is one of the reasons for the low productivity and lack of ingenuity in entrepreneurship in Pakistan. There are abnormal returns on equity in low-risk businesses where either return is guaranteed (power sector), or demand is ensured – such as fertilizer companies.
In other industries, import protection is enough to have returns for inefficiencies – for example automobiles, where price is regulated – such as oil and gas marketing companies. And in the competitive exports market, the only darling is textile, which traditionally has relied on subsidies and its inefficiencies are washed out by periodic currency devaluation.
The banks don’t lend to those who take risks in the private sector, and for the last decade or so, the banking model is simple – run bank branches as deposits shop to sell zero-cost current accounts (and so-called innovative products such as bancassurance) and let the treasury department to make returns on investing these in government papers. And whatever is left for lending is for those low risk (and protected) businesses. That makes banking a low-risk business, as well.
The businesses work on the concept of expected returns. As an entrepreneur, when you know that low risk businesses can have guaranteed returns, ensured demand or protection from outside work, why would anyone invest in riskier ventures? The returns on low risk are ensured high while the high-risk businesses have a probability of losing out too, and that makes expected returns on low risk higher than the riskier. That makes the structure lopsided and aversion of business groups to invest, and banks to lend.
This makes Pakistan a strange country where risk taking is simply not rewarded, and the free-market mechanism is crippled. The players that take risks ought to compete with others, which are not taking risks and have higher returns; so over the period risk takers lose out. That is why the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Pakistan do not grow. This is hollowing out the SMEs and limiting the development of new breed of entrepreneurs.
In Pakistan, most big businesses are in hand of a few families. Those who aren’t often become family members of those who do through marriage. The big businesses are like a clan, and they protect their turf, and resist if someone (from SMEs) attempts to become big, by using their clout and stop them from entering into big leagues.
No economy can grow and compete where new and innovative ideas are not rewarded, where risk taking is discouraged. The mind-set needs to be changed. A new breed of entrepreneurs is warranted, and the breeding ground is SMEs.
Small factories in Pakistan do not get loans from banks and other formal lending agencies. They rely on personal finance – and borrow from friends and families. And people usually take limited risk on personal finance. And here the role of banks, development finance institutions, venture capitalists and private equity finance comes into play.
However, banks in Pakistan (as other lending institutions rarely exist) are afraid of non-performing loans. A certain amount of NPLs (non-performing loans) is good, and banks should encourage risk taking, and find successes from failures. But why would banking owners (dominated by seths) would do that when they make abnormal profits by lending to low-risk ventures.
Venture capital and private equity funds are missing in Pakistan, and if there is any funding in small projects, that is by funds situated outside Pakistan. Lenders do not think much beyond businesses, which are in the brick and motor business. No one really values intellectual capital.
The country badly needs to expand exports. However, there is no big sector except textile, and within textile, players are less innovative and competitive (barring a few exceptions). They are mostly inefficient, and these inefficiencies are periodically washed out through currency devaluation. And by this, the import substitution companies’ protection against imports remains intact.
The problem is that the private businesses’ debt is denominated in Pak Rupee while the forex is arranged by the government. That is another lop-sidedness in the Pakistani economic system.
The skewed risk reward system is one manifestation of the boom-and-bust cycles whose frequency is growing while the wavelength is shortening. It appears that the existing model has ran out of its productive life, and until the country does not get new breed of entrepreneurs, it will keep swimming in sand.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Ali Khizar is the Head of Research at Business Recorder. His Twitter handle is @AliKhizar
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281414/economy-rent-seeking-through-revolving-doors
| 2024-01-01T02:23:16Z
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Pakistan’s unsustainable budget deficits can be sourced to the never to be satisfied thirst of all administrations, past and present - civilian, military, hybrid, caretaker - to borrow to fund ever-rising current expenditures which, in turn, fuels the mark-up component of already unsustainable, though grossly understated, deficits at the time the budget is presented to parliament.
In the current year the budgeted mark-up as a percentage of current expenditure is 55 percent and 50.5 percent of the total budget. If past precedence is anything to go by, this percentage will be a lot higher by the end of the fiscal year. Last fiscal year, for example, mark-up as a percentage of current expenditure was budgeted at 45.3 percent but by the end of the year it registered at 52.4 percent.
Budget deficits (including grants) as per the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Stand By Arrangement (SBA) documents uploaded on the website in July 2023 indicate that they have been unsustainable since 2018-19: 7.9 percent in 2018-19, 7.1 percent in 2019-20, and 6.1 percent in 2020-21, lower than previous years due largely to the deferment of interest payments and principal due by G-7 countries to help debtor nations better deal with Covid19 challenges.
In 2021-22 the deficit was 7.9 percent attributed by the Shahbaz Sharif-led government to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s unfunded subsidy on electricity tariff and on petroleum products effective 1 March 2022 till his removal on 9 April 2022 while conveniently ignoring the fact that the subsidy continued for an additional six and a half weeks, a duration that exceeded the five weeks that can be laid at the doorstep of Khan administration.
This subsidy was withdrawn in two stages - on 30 May and 6 June, a withdrawal that not coincidentally was an outcome of the then ongoing negotiations on the seventh/eight review under the then ongoing IMF’s Extended Fund Facility programme.
In 2022-23 the budgeted deficit was 4.9 percent while the revised (IMF) figure is 7.6 percent (a rise attributable to the devastating floods in the summer of 2022 which destroyed crops, livestock and infrastructure) as well as due to the patently flawed and economically extremely unsound Ishaq Dar policies particularly: (i) injecting 110 billion rupee unfunded tax payers’ money to subsidize electricity to incentivize exports that Dar announced on 6 October 2023, a little more than a week after he took oath as the country’s finance minister, while 33 million poor Pakistanis slept under the open sky due to the floods.
In spite of this largesse, exports declined from 31.7 billion dollars in 2021-22 to 27.7 billion dollars in 2022-23; and (ii) controlling the interbank rupee-dollar parity without the foreign exchange reserves to intervene in the market which led to multiple exchange rates and the resurgence of the hundi/hawala system accounting for a decline of 4 billion dollars in official remittance inflows compared to the year before. Cumulatively, the Dar months (27 September 2022 to end of the fiscal year on 30 June 2023) led to a loss of earned (defined as not borrowed) foreign exchange earnings of a whopping 8 billion dollars.
In addition, these two inane policies led to the cessation of all aid inflows that was preceded by a delay and then suspension of the ninth review under the then ongoing EFF, that was dealt the usual economically unviable way: slashing budgeted development outlay and not by reducing current expenditure outlay funded by an increased reliance on domestic borrowing.
This enhanced reliance to the tune of 3.7 trillion rupees last year was available at an extremely high rate of interest and its impact was twofold: (i) it fuelled inflation and (ii) crowded out private sector borrowing (which declined by 98.2 percent compared to the year before with a consequent negative impact on growth and employment).
Sadly, the caretakers have massively increased borrowing from the domestic market, as Pakistan’s rating remains frozen in spite of the recent staff level agreement reached on the first Stand-By Arrangement review, with State Bank of Pakistan website noting that the government borrowed 3.585 trillion rupees from 1 July 2023 to 8 December 2023. A more economically sound and humane approach would have been to reduce current expenditure.
IMF has projected a budget deficit of 7.5 percent for the current year, subject to meeting all SBA conditions that include: (i) administrative measures to increase the price of electricity and gas to achieve full cost recovery, though instead of implementing structural reforms to reduce sector inefficiencies the entire onus is being passed onto the consumers through higher tariffs, as in all previous administrations; and (ii) raising existing taxes to create fiscal space; however, 80 percent of all tax revenue is from indirect taxes whose incidence on the poor is greater than on the rich with obvious implications on poverty levels; and consistently raise the threshold of petroleum levy, an indirect tax, with 869 billion rupees budgeted for this year from this source against 542 billion rupees realized last fiscal year. To date all administrations, including the incumbent one, continue to pass the onus of generating revenue onto the general public instead of onto the ‘ïnfluentials’ defined as the major recipients of current expenditure.
These measures should be a cause of serious concern for all stakeholders mainly because the capacity of lower to middle income earners, leave alone the vulnerable, to meet their kitchen budgets remains severely compromised due to a persistently high inflation rate – an average of 25.14 percent last fiscal year and 28.61 percent during the five months (July-November) of the current year.
It is relevant to note that headline inflation for November was higher than the July-November average at 29.2 percent. The year on year Sensitive Price Index for the week ending 7 December was a high of 42.68 percent. In other words, there is a real danger of a possible socio-economic upheaval that may spill-over on the streets of the country as the purchasing power of each rupee earned erodes almost daily.
The question is why does administration after administration ignore the ramifications of an unsustainable deficit on the economy in general and the general public in particular? The answer sheds a spotlight on an extremely disturbing fact: political considerations read, perpetuity of rule, with no exceptions, prevails over economic considerations.
And the objective of showing a budget deficit lower than what is obviously realistic at the time the budget is presented, is nothing more than an attempt to appease international creditors that fiscal and monetary discipline will be exercised. Sustained failure to meet these pledges, account for post 2018 refusal of not only multilaterals but also bilaterals to extend assistance without implementation of harsh upfront conditions.
So, is there a way out for the Pakistani public? Warren Buffett in 2011 rather simplistically stated: “I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP all sitting members of congress are ineligible for re-election.”
Pakistan is a country where parliamentarians have successfully resisted all attempts to tax rich landlords at the same rate as those applied to the much poorer salaried class because of self-interest and half -hearted attempts to name and shame those who do not file their returns have consistently failed. This does not imply that the source of income and wealth of parliamentarians is not routinely challenged by members of the opposition but once they come to power all cases against them miraculously evaporate as the state abdicates its responsibility to prosecute and withdraws its case.
In the past allegations were summarily dropped as and when a party returned to power (pre-2018); however, the recent overturning of convictions with the investigating agency and the government’s legal team withdrawing all charges should be a source of serious concern to the stakeholders.
The world is continuing to tighten anti-money laundering and combating financing terrorism laws, particularly with respect to politically exposed persons, which includes placement on the grey list by the Financial Action Task Force, and therefore acquittals must be seen to have been well earned.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281415/pakistans-intractable-budget-deficit
| 2024-01-01T02:23:17Z
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Astana’s Lopez comes in 4th in sprint at Tour Colombia 2.1. Stage 3
The Astana Pro Team riders were also in front of the race, looking for their chances in attack: Rodrigo Contreras and Hernando Bohorquez both tried to escape inside the last 10 kilometers.
But, the peloton came back together for the final kilometer of the distance to play the stage victory in the massive sprint. The Astana's leader Miguel Angel Lopez did a very strong sprint and finished 4th behind the stage winner Juan Sebastian Molano.
- The day was quite stressful. Many riders are just in seconds in the general classification, so that creates a lot of stress, especially in the final, when everybody goes in front, tries to attack. Anyway, I want to thank my team, I had a great support from my teammates all day long. Especially, Nikita did a super nice job today in front of the peloton, but also all other guys were strong. In the final a reduced group of maybe 35 - 40 riders arrived to the finish. So far, every second counts here in this race and I tried to take some bonus seconds, I did my best in sprint, but finished fourth. Anyway, I am happy with this day, because I feel good. Tomorrow, normally, will be another day for sprinters, while I am looking forward to the weekend stages, - said Miguel Angel Lopez.
- It was another day when our team did a great job. A group of 8 riders went away with a few names dangerous for the general classification. So, we sent a super strong Nikita Stalnov in front of the group to chase the breakaway together with the riders of Sky and EF Education First. Finally, all escapers were caught and the stage ended with a bunch sprint. Miguel Angel Lopez did a very good sprint and finished 4th, a very nice result. It was a good day for our team, - added Stefano Zanini, sports director of Astana Pro Team.
The Colombian Rigoberto Uran is the new overall leader.
Stage 4 will be held tomorrow: 144 km in Medellin.
Photo credit: © Getty Images
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-s-lopez-comes-in-4th-in-sprint-at-tour-colombia-2-1-stage-3_a3498470/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:17Z
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10 Swedish kronor to Tunisian dinars
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https://wise.com/in/currency-converter/sek-to-tnd-rate?amount=10
| 2024-01-01T02:23:20Z
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If one event dominates the coming year, it will almost certainly be the US presidential election. Barring something unexpected, we are likely to see a rematch of Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump, with the outcome being perilously uncertain. One year out, polls in key swing states give Trump the advantage.
If one event dominates the coming year, it will almost certainly be the US presidential election. Barring something unexpected, we are likely to see a rematch of Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump, with the outcome being perilously uncertain. One year out, polls in key swing states give Trump the advantage.
The election will matter not just for the United States but for the world. The outcome may hinge on the 2024 economic outlook, which in turn will partly depend on how the latest conflagration in the Middle East evolves. My best guess (and worst nightmare) is that Israel will continue to ignore international pleas for a ceasefire in Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians have been destitute for decades. What I saw during a visit in the late 1990s as the World Bank’s chief economist was heart-wrenching enough, and the situation has only gotten worse since Israel and Egypt imposed a full blockade 16 years ago in response to Hamas’s takeover of the enclave.
The election will matter not just for the United States but for the world. The outcome may hinge on the 2024 economic outlook, which in turn will partly depend on how the latest conflagration in the Middle East evolves. My best guess (and worst nightmare) is that Israel will continue to ignore international pleas for a ceasefire in Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians have been destitute for decades. What I saw during a visit in the late 1990s as the World Bank’s chief economist was heart-wrenching enough, and the situation has only gotten worse since Israel and Egypt imposed a full blockade 16 years ago in response to Hamas’s takeover of the enclave.
Regardless of the atrocities carried out by Hamas on 7 October, the Arab street will not tolerate the brutality being visited on Gaza. Given this, it is hard to see how we can avoid a repeat of 1973, when Opec’s Arab members organized an oil embargo against countries that had stood by Israel in the Yom Kippur War. This retaliatory measure would not really cost Middle Eastern oil producers, because the increase in prices would make up for the reduction in supplies. No wonder the World Bank and others have already been warning that oil prices could rise to $150 per barrel or higher. That would trigger another bout of supply-driven inflation, just as the post-pandemic inflation is being brought under control.
In this scenario, Biden will inevitably be blamed for the higher prices and accused of mismanaging the Middle East. It will hardly matter that the conflict was reignited by the Trump administration’s Abraham Accords and Israel’s lurch toward a de facto one-state solution. Justly or not, regional turmoil could tip the scale in Trump’s favour. A highly polarized electorate and mountains of disinformation could once again saddle the world with an incompetent liar who is bent on eliminating US democratic institutions and cozying up to authoritarian leaders such as Russian president Vladimir Putin and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.
The best that one can hope for if Trump returns may be political gridlock, but only if Congress remains at least partly under Democratic control. Globally, however, international agreements and the very idea of international rule of law will quickly become spent forces, as Trump impulsively withdraws the US from accords and institutions not to his liking.
The tragedy is that Biden, objectively, has been an extraordinarily successful president. He has managed the situation in Ukraine better than perhaps anyone else could. He has set the US on a new economic course with a major infrastructure bill, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (which provides funding for the green transition). And since the beginning of 2023, he has had to cope with a House of Representatives controlled by Republicans who have shown themselves to be unfit to govern—and uninterested in trying.
Insofar as the Republican Party has a policy agenda, it is not what Americans want. Most voters oppose regressive taxation and anti-labour policies (which contribute to inequality), attacks on universities and science (which will undercut future growth), and atavistic reversals of women’s rights. Nonetheless, Republicans have been extraordinarily successful in shaping the electoral battlefield to their advantage and depicting Biden as too old.
Moreover, some turncoat Democrats have loudly echoed Republicans in pushing the idea that inflation was due to the Biden administration’s spending on the pandemic recovery. But that spending was pursued in the face of deep uncertainty, before the length and depth of the pandemic downturn was known. The new administration was wise to err on the side of doing too much, rather than too little, and Biden ultimately delivered a dose of stimulus that was remarkably close to what was needed. A careful examination of the data shows that the post-pandemic inflation was primarily caused not by excessive aggregate demand but by pandemic-related supply shortages and demand shifts (exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022).
Those of us who defended this stance suggested that inflation would be contained and then start to decline (though no one could predict precisely when). That is indeed what happened. Unfortunately, central banks misidentified the source of inflation as excessive demand, and did everything they could to dampen it. That meant raising interest rates fast and furiously.
Still, the US is lucky, in that two errors will offset each other. While fiscal policy is on track to be more robust than anticipated—the IRA is now projected to drive three times more spending than expected—the US Federal Reserve’s excessive monetary-policy tightening has offset that effect to produce a soft landing. That outcome alone would have substantially enhanced Biden’s prospects, had he been spared the Middle East turmoil.
Looking ahead, America’s energy independence means that high oil prices mainly serve to redistribute income from consumers to oil producers. True, this regressive outcome could be reversed with a well-designed windfall-profits tax. Even if Biden cannot get such a bill through Congress, taking a strong position in favour of it could help politically. Consumers would know that he is fighting for them and standing up to oil companies and the Republicans whose campaigns they fund. But I fear that Biden will shy away from this option just as he did with windfall-tax proposals during the pandemic.
The rest of the world is not so lucky. In Europe, where weaker fiscal policies have failed to counter contractionary monetary policy, higher energy prices will be devastating. There are also serious questions about China’s ability to overcome mounting problems in its real-estate sector or the new cold war’s impact on its exports—especially now that its own government is tightening control over the private sector. And across the Global South, many countries have excessive debts that could become unsustainable in a global slowdown, especially if combined with high interest rates and higher oil and food prices.
Before the Gaza conflagration, I expected a soft landing in the US, but harder times in the rest of the world. Now, I expect hardship all around, with an increased chance of Trump returning to the White House. The world may be entering its most perilous period since the 1930s.
Joseph E. Stiglitz a Nobel laureate in economics, is university professor at Columbia University.
©2023/PROJECT SYNDICATE
www.project-syndicate.org
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https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/why-america-is-jittery-ahead-of-presidential-polls/amp-11704040848460.html
| 2024-01-01T02:23:22Z
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Dec 31, 2023
The beauty world in 2023 saw a shift towards skinimalism, focusing on minimalist skincare routines and embracing natural skin textures. Less was more, with an emphasis on healthy, glowing skin rather than heavy makeup.
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The beauty industry continued to prioritize sustainability, with eco-friendly packaging, cruelty-free products, and a push towards zero-waste initiatives gaining momentum. Consumers increasingly sought out brands committed to ethical and environmentally conscious practices.
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Diversity and inclusivity took center stage, challenging traditional beauty norms. Brands made strides in offering a broader range of shades and celebrating diverse beauty, fostering a more inclusive representation across campaigns and product offerings.
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The integration of technology into skincare routines became more prevalent. From personalized skincare apps to AI-driven diagnostics, technology played a crucial role in tailoring beauty regimens to individual needs.
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Consumers gravitated towards niche and indie beauty brands, drawn to unique formulations, personalized experiences, and a sense of authenticity. The beauty landscape became more diverse and competitive, with smaller brands making significant waves.
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Beauty routines transformed into self-care rituals, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being. Products designed to promote relaxation, stress relief, and overall wellness became increasingly popular.
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The clean beauty movement gained momentum, with consumers becoming more discerning about the ingredients in their products. Transparency and a commitment to clean, non-toxic formulations became key selling points for beauty brands.
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The industry continued to break down traditional gender norms, with an increasing number of gender-neutral beauty products and campaigns challenging stereotypes. Beauty became a form of self-expression for all, regardless of gender.
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Virtual try-on experiences and augmented reality tools became integral to the beauty shopping experience. Consumers could virtually test products, experiment with different looks, and make more informed purchasing decisions online.
iStock
Beyond external aesthetics, there was a growing acknowledgment of the connection between inner health and outer radiance. Beauty routines incorporated wellness elements, with a focus on holistic approaches to skincare, including dietary considerations and mental health practices.
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/web-stories/10-beauty-lessons-2023-taught-us/photostory/106406511.cms
| 2024-01-01T02:23:22Z
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Chief Justice Roberts casts a wary eye on the uses of artificial intelligence in the federal courts
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice John Roberts on Sunday turned his focus to the promise, and shortcomings, of artificial intelligence in the federal courts, in an annual report that made no mention of Supreme Court ethics or legal controversies involving Donald Trump.
Describing artificial intelligence as the “latest technological frontier,” Roberts discussed the pros and cons of computer-generated content in the legal profession. His remarks come just a few days after the latest instance of AI-generated fake legal citations making their way into official court records, in a case involving ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.
“Always a bad idea,” Roberts wrote in his year-end report, noting that “any use of AI requires caution and humility.”
At the same time, though, the chief justice acknowledged that AI can make it much easier for people without much money to access the courts. “These tools have the welcome potential to smooth out any mismatch between available resources and urgent needs in our court system,” Roberts wrote.
The report came at the end of a year in which a series of stories questioned the ethical practices of the justices and the court responded to critics by adopting its first code of conduct. Many of those stories focused on Justice Clarence Thomas and his failure to disclose travel, other hospitality and additional financial ties with wealthy conservative donors including Harlan Crow and the Koch brothers. But Justices Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor also have been under scrutiny.
The country also is entering an the beginning of an election year that seems likely to enmesh the court in some way in the ongoing criminal cases against Trump and efforts to keep the Republican former president off the 2024 ballot.
Along with his eight colleagues, Roberts almost never discusses cases that are before the Supreme Court or seem likely to get there. In past reports, he has advocated for enhanced security and salary increases for federal judges, praised judges and their aides for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted other aspects of technological changes in the courts.
Roberts once famously compared judges to umpires who call balls and strikes, but don’t make the rules. In his latest report, he turned to a different sport, tennis, to make the point that technology won’t soon replace judges.
At many tennis tournaments, optical technology, rather than human line judges, now determines “whether 130 mile per hour serves are in or out. These decisions involve precision to the millimeter. And there is no discretion; the ball either did or did not hit the line. By contrast, legal determinations often involve gray areas that still require application of human judgment,” Roberts wrote.
Looking ahead warily to the growing use of artificial intelligence in the courts, Roberts wrote: “I predict that human judges will be around for a while. But with equal confidence I predict that judicial work — particularly at the trial level — will be significantly affected by AI.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wdam.com/2024/01/01/chief-justice-roberts-casts-wary-eye-uses-artificial-intelligence-federal-courts/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:23Z
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Denmark's Queen Margrethe II to abdicate throne on Jan. 14
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II announced Sunday that she plans to abdicate after 52 years and hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
The queen, who is Europe's longest-reigning living monarch, announced during her New Year's speech that she would abdicate on Jan. 14th, which is the anniversary of her own accession to the throne at age 31 following the death of her father, King Frederik IX.
Margrethe, 83, said the back surgery she underwent in early 2023 led to "thoughts about the future" and when to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son. "I have decided that now is the right time," she said in her speech.
RELATED: Prince Harry wins historic lawsuit after judge finds tabloid hacked his phone
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen paid tribute to her in a statement, offering a "heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom."
Margrethe is the "epitome of Denmark" Frederiksen’s statement read, and "throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation."
The 6-foot-tall (1.82-meters-tall), chain-smoking Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark, where the monarch's role is largely ceremonial. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unescorted and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer.
A keen skier, she was a member of a Danish women’s air force unit as a princess, taking part in judo courses and endurance tests in the snow. Margrethe remained tough even as she grew older. In 2011, at age 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan wearing a military jumpsuit.
As monarch, she crisscrossed the country and regularly visited Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories which are part of the Danish Realm, and was met everywhere by cheering crowds.
Denmark has Europe’s oldest ruling monarchy, which traces its line back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Magrethe is head of state, the Danish Constitution strictly ruled out her involvement in party politics.
Yet the queen was clearly well-versed in law and knew the contents of the legislation she was called upon to sign.
She received training in French and English from her earliest years, as well as Swedish from her mother. In addition to archaeology, she studied philosophy, political science and economics at universities in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Cambridge along with the London School of Economics and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Ever since his birth on May 26, 1968, Frederik André Henrik Christian has been the heir to the Danish throne.
He is the oldest son of Queen Margrethe and her late French-born husband, Prince Henrik, who died February 2018. Frederik, 55, has a younger brother, Prince Joachim.
Since the age of 18, he has served as regent whenever his mother was outside the kingdom and carried out official duties, shaking hands with thousands and receiving foreign dignitaries.
"In the new year, Crown Prince Frederik will be proclaimed king. Crown Princess Mary will become queen. The kingdom will have a new regent and a new royal couple. We can look forward to all of this in the knowledge that they are ready for the responsibility and the task," the prime minister’s statement said.
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https://www.fox29.com/news/denmarks-queen-margrethe-ii-to-abdicate-throne-on-jan-14
| 2024-01-01T02:23:23Z
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LAHORE: Previous week saw an increasing trend in the price of quality cotton. However, with every passing day the cotton stock is decreasing. There is a possibility of further increase in the cotton price in the year 2024 due to low stock.
The expected total cotton production is about 8.5 million bales. Last year was quite challenging for the textile sector with a continuous decline in textile output. International cotton prices fluctuated throughout the last year.
The local cotton market saw interest of textile spinners’ interest in buying quality cotton especially during the last week of December, causing the price of cotton to rise by Rs 5,00 to Rs 1,000 per maund.
Though some contracts were credit based, but overall the increase occurred amid stable business volumes.
The availability of quality of cotton in the market is decreasing, causing the needy mills to struggle. According to sources, there is an expectation of a further increase in cotton prices from this month. Due to this anticipation, sales of cotton are not happening quickly, and the profit margin is also gradually decreasing.
In Sindh and Balochistan, the cotton crop damage has almost ended, with a limited damage being reported only in some markets in Punjab. The ginning factories are also shutting down gradually.
According to the market sources, the cotton production until December 30 is approximately around 8.25 million bales, while a total of around 8.5 million bales is anticipated by the end of the season.
The local textile mills are expecting a requirement of approximately one Crore and twenty five lac bales.
There will be a need for around 2.5 million bales of imported cotton to fulfil the local demand. Many textile mills had signed contracts for cotton imports last year, out of which approximately 1.6 million bales are yet to be delivered, due to the non-availability of Bank LC (Letter of Credit) last year.
Additionally, around 8 Lakh bales of cotton are expected to be imported from Afghanistan, reducing the need of importing low quantity of cotton from other foreign countries.
In Sindh, the price of cotton is in between Rs 5,500 to Rs 18,500 per maund. However, the stock of Phutti has nearly ended. In Punjab, the price of cotton is in between Rs 16,500 to Ts 18,200 per maund while the rate of Phutti per 40 kilograms is approximately Rs 6,500 to Rs 8,500.
In Balochistan, the price of cotton was around Rs 17,000 to Rs 17,500 rupees, and the stock of Phutti have almost ended.
The Spot Rate Committee of the Karachi Cotton Association increased the spot rate by Rs 3,00 per maund and closed it at Rs 17,300 per maund.
The international cotton market remained stable, overall, last week. The rate of Future Trading of New York Cotton closed at 81 American cents per pound.
According to the USDA’s weekly export and sales report for the year 2023-24 stood at 369,900 bales. China led by purchasing 271,200 bales, while Vietnam followed with 38,900 bales. Mexico secured the third position, purchasing 13,500 bales. Additionally, 2,600 bales were sold for the year 2024-25.
Market sources told Business Recorder that there is a chanced of increase in cotton prices from the year 2024. The last week of the year saw the rising prices every day, a very unusual trading pattern.
The daily price increases were consistently low but they remained continuous. However, these price gains were amidst very low trading volume.
Cotton closed the year with an excellent technical run, rising above several key moving average indicators. Both export sales and shipments were strong, with sales reaching another near-annual weekly high and shipments attaining the weekly level necessary to meet the USDA’s 2023-24 marketing year export projection of 12.2 million bales.
The previous year begun with the threat of coronavirus badly affecting the market, but by March the futures contract rode the wave above 81 cents before closing the year at 81 cents after trading up to 81.75 cents. As exciting as the price rally remains, one must remember it failed at the heavy, heavy price resistance at the 82-cent level.
Moreover, the rally failed to generate any positive movement in open interest, suggesting that much of the buying was mill fixations buying.
The cotton market will have to have the speculators and funds may take the prices back to the 84-88 cents level. Funds have the cash on hand and with lower interest rates bonds are beginning to lose their lustre and those will be replaced with cash.
Thus, funds will soon have hundreds of billions they will look to invest in the equity and commodity markets, cotton being one. However, demand must surface before funds will get serious about the cotton market. Yet, there is no doubt that fund buying in the cotton market can take prices up to the very top of the long-term 76-88 cents trading range.
However, the short-term trading range of 78-82 cents will likely continue to dominate. Leakages on either side are very possible but would be short-lived. Chinese purchases have dominated the US export market and will continue to do so.
Chinese purchases have dominated the U.S. export market and will continue to do so. Vietnam, Bangladesh, and other Asian countries will also continue making purchases.
However, sales to all countries, except China, will likely remain measurably lower than in past years— a reflection of poor demand. In fact, the world consumption is likely overstated by the USDA.
If not, one should not realistically expect any increase in consumption across any country. While Chinese purchases continue to be in hundreds of thousands of bales, the bulk of those purchases are being used to increase the inventory of Chinese stocks, not for immediate mill consumption.
The Chinese are simply buying cotton at a price lower than their local farmers can produce the product.
The price rally did elevate the new crop December contract back to 79 cents, settling the week and year at 79.36 cents. The US growers see the new crop at 80 cents, with the absolute necessity to see a rally up to 85 cents to approach a break-even point.
Thus, US plantings are projected to be 10.3 million acres. It will continue to trade just below the March contract until the March expiration, at which point weather and other fundamentals will carry more weight in analysing expected 2024 plantings.
Any rally in the December 2024 contract to 80 cents will move plantings slightly higher. However, it is difficult to foresee higher futures prices in the absence of significant fund buying entering the cotton market.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40281416/weekly-cotton-review-prices-likely-to-rise-on-depleting-stocks
| 2024-01-01T02:23:23Z
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Astana's Lutsenko keeps lead in Tour of Oman Stage 5
The Queen Stage took off from Samayil, to finish after 152 kilometers atop of Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Green Mountain). A breakaway of six riders was created right from the start, creating a gap of a maximum of 6 minutes. One man of this group would lead the race until the final hundred meters, Fabian Grellier. Behind this break, the Astana Pro Team took control in the peloton to protect Alexey Lutsenko. During the decisive climb of the Green Mountain, other teams took over to make the race hard. Alexey Lutsenko was able to follow and a few kilometers before the finish he attacked together with Jesus Herrada and Domenico Pozzovivo, Astana Pro Team informs on its website.
In the final kilometer, Alexey Lutsenko attacked to overtake Fabian Grellier in the final hundred meters, to win his third stage in this edition of the Tour of Oman. The Kazakh champion is now leading the race with an advantage of 44" seconds on Domenico Pozzovivo and 47" on Jesus Herrada.
Tomorrow is the final stage of the 2019 Tour of Oman, starting in Al Mouj Muscat to finish in Matrah Corniche after 135.5 kilometers. A hilly stage, but normally a stage for the sprinters.
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https://en.inform.kz/amp/astana-s-lutsenko-keeps-lead-in-tour-of-oman-stage-5_a3500329/
| 2024-01-01T02:23:24Z
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