In recent times, the Chinese government has taken significant steps to boost the economy by issuing new loans exceeding trillions of yuan to support small and micro-enterprises. This move is part of the efforts to establish a coordinated mechanism for financing that aims to expedite the effectiveness of supporting small businesses and stimulating economic growth.
Wilder World Unveils Official Gameplay Trailer Ahead of 2025 Launch
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote . The closing of polls started a countdown to the announcement of official results as independent polling firms were preparing to release so-called quick counts. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front. Uruguay's staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the first round. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. His Broad Front coalition oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.
Restoring functionTitle: Geralt Voice Actor Warned by CD Projekt Red: Can't Talk About "The Witcher 4" Anymore!As the news of the encounter spread online, fans of both Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin were quick to express their admiration for how the two stars conducted themselves. The mutual respect and kindness displayed by both parties served as a heartwarming example of how even chance encounters can leave a positive impact on those involved.
Furthermore, regulatory reforms aimed at improving market supervision and governance have been instrumental in enhancing investor protection and market integrity. With stricter enforcement of securities laws and increased transparency, investors are better equipped to make informed decisions and safeguard their interests. This regulatory environment, coupled with robust risk management mechanisms, creates a favorable climate for long-term investment in the A-share market.As word of the dispute spread, it sparked a debate among the public about the ethics and enforcement of self-discipline challenges. Some criticized the fitness company for their strict stance and questioned the proportionality of the punishment. Others supported the company's decision, arguing that rules are rules and should be enforced consistently for all participants.
Qualcomm's central processors are properly licensed under an agreement with Arm Holdings, a jury found in a trial in U.S. federal court that removed some, but not all, uncertainty around the mobile chipmaker's expansion into the laptop market. A week of courtroom arguments and deliberations ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to resolve one of three questions put before it in the trial between the two chip giants. Qualcomm said the result affirmed its right to innovate, but Arm vowed to seek a new trial. Arm's shares were down 1.8 percent in extended trading after the news, and Qualcomm's shares were up 1.8 percent. The outcome means the case could be tried again in the future – something Arm vowed to pursue in a statement following the verdict. Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the case in U.S. federal court in Delaware, encouraged Arm and Qualcomm to mediate their dispute. "I don't think either side had a clear victory or would have had a clear victory if this case is tried again," Noreika said. Partial verdict and lingering uncertainty After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the eight-person jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the question of whether startup Nuvia breached the terms of its license with Arm. But the jury found that Qualcomm – which purchased Nuvia for $1.4 billion in 2021 – did not breach that license. The jury also found that Qualcomm's chips, created using Nuvia technology and central to Qualcomm's push into the personal computer (PC) market, are properly licensed under its own agreement with Arm, clearing the way for Qualcomm to continue selling them. "The jury has vindicated Qualcomm's right to innovate and affirmed that all the Qualcomm products at issue in the case are protected by Qualcomm's contract with Arm," Qualcomm said in a statement. An Arm spokesperson said the company was "disappointed" that the jury was unable to "reach consensus" about the company's claims and said from the outset the goal has been to protect the company's intellectual property. For now, the outcome paves the way for Qualcomm to continue to push what it calls the "AI PC" in laptop chips that are aimed at handling tasks such as chatbots and image generators. That is a market where Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and MediaTek are also planning to make Arm-based processors. "My biggest worry was what happens to the future roadmap if they (Qualcomm) no longer have access to Nuvia (computing) cores," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said. "At this point, that risk is a lot closer to being off the table." Implications for industry The dispute between Arm and Qualcomm is centered on what royalty rate Qualcomm should pay for each chip. Nuvia was set to pay higher rates than Qualcomm before Qualcomm bought the startup firm and wove its technology into chips under its own license with Arm at lower royalty rates. Ben Bajarin, chief executive of tech consulting firm Creative Strategies, said that Arm's current growth projections have not depended on reaping higher rates from Qualcomm as Arm chips enter the PC market. "They haven't factored in, via their quarterly (earnings) calls, a win," Bajarin said. "So none of this changes their economic upside. It's really just a matter of contractual argument." However, the trial's outcome leaves open the question of where Arm's technology begins and ends. Arm licenses its computing architecture to firms but also sells designs for computing cores as off-the-shelf products. Some of Arm's more sophisticated customers, such as Apple, Qualcomm and Nuvia, license Arm's architectures but develop their own custom cores. During the trial this week, Arm's attorneys insisted its architecture license terms with Nuvia gave it rights to demand the destruction of Nuvia's custom core designs. "This does have ramifications for the entire industry," Jim McGregor of Tirias Research said in an interview. "Whether you're using a standard Arm core or developing your own Arm core, it has been the rock of everything from electric toothbrushes to satellites." (With input from Reuters)
Overall, the Central Political Bureau meeting on December 9th highlighted the government's commitment to stabilizing the real estate market and promoting sustainable development in the sector. By implementing a comprehensive set of measures, including market regulation, affordable housing provision, and rental housing market development, the government aims to address the challenges facing the real estate sector and ensure a stable and healthy housing market for all residents.Sean 'Diddy' Combs' third bid to be released on bail won't be decided until next week
( MENAFN - IANS) Nagpur, Dec 21, (IANS) Finally, the wait is over. Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday approved the portfolio allocation to the ministers as recommended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The list was released after the conclusion of a weeklong winter session. Fadnavis will hold home, energy excluding renewable energy, law and judiciary, general administration, information and publicity and departments/subjects not allowed to any other minister. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will hold urban development, housing and public works (public enterprises) while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be in charge of planning and finance and excise. Chandrashekhar Bawankule will hold the revenue department while Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil will be in charge of the water resources department including Godavari and Krishna Valley Development Corporation. Hasan Mushrif will hold medical education, Chandrakant Patil higher and technical education and parliamentary affairs, Girish Mahajan water resources including Vidarbha, Tapi, Konkan Development Corporation and disaster management. Ganesh Naik will hold forest, Gulabrao Patil water supply and sanitation, Dadaji Bhuse school education, Dhananjay Munde food and civil supplies and consumer protection, Mangallrabhat Lodha skill development, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, Uday Samant industries and Marathi Language, Jaykumar Rawal marketing and protocol, Pankaja Munde environment and climate change and animal husbandry and Ashok Uike tribal development. Atul Save will hold OBC welfare, dairy development and renewable energy, Shabhuraj Desai tourism, mining and ex-servicemen welfare, Ashish Shelar information technology and cultural affairs, Dattatray Bharne sports, youths welfare, minorities development and Aukaf, Aditi Tatkare women and child development and Shivendraraje Bhosale public works excluding public enterprises. Manikrao Kokate will be in charge of agriculture, Jaykumar Gore rural development and panchayat raj, Narhari Zirwal food and drug administration and special assistance, Sanjay Savkare textiles, Sanjay Shirsat social justice, Pratap Sarnaik transport and Bharatsheth Gogawale employment guarantee, horticulture, salt pan land development, Makrand Jadhav Patil relief and rehabilitation, Nitesh Rane fisheries and ports, Akash Fundkar labour, Babasaheb Patil cooperation and Prakash Abitkar public health and family welfare. The minister of state Ashish Jaiswal will hold finance and planning, agriculture, relief and rehabilitation, law and judiciary and labour while the minister of state Madhuri Misal urban development, transport, social justice, medical education, minorities development and Aukaf. Minister of State Pankaj Bhoyar will hold home (rural), housing, school education, cooperation and mining while Meghna Sakore Bordikar will get public health, family welfare, water supply and sanitation, energy, women and child development. Minister of State Indranil Naik will hold industries, public works, higher and technical education, tribal development, tourism, soils and water conservation while Yogesh Kadam will hold home (urban), revenue, rural development and panchayat raj, food and civil supplies and consumer protection, food and drug administration. Fadnavis had expanded his cabinet with the induction of 39 ministers on December 15. Even though he had announced that the portfolio allocation would be done in two days, it was delayed due to hard negotiations among the MahaYuti partners. The strength of the Fadnavis-led cabinet is 42 against 43 permissible under the legislative norms. Shinde insisted on allocating home, revenue and housing but BJP has rejected his demand while agreeing to give him housing. Ajit Pawar has retained planning and finance and in addition, got the excise department. MENAFN21122024000231011071ID1109019629 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Leaving X: The right move or a leap into the unknown?
El Cajon Mayor Says He’ll Help Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign Plan( MENAFN - Gulf Times) Public and private sector institutions and centres in Qatar, concerned with the artistic and cultural aspects, rely on organising training workshops, classes, lectures, and Seminars as a fundamental part of their programmes and projects. These efforts aim to develop the talents and capabilities of their affiliates, prepare future artists, and enhance their knowledge of the techniques and aesthetics of visual and plastic arts. The Ministry of Culture, during the“Fereej Art and Design” festival held last month as part of the cultural season activities, showcased an outstanding model of utilising art workshops and training through the pavilions of its affiliated centres. Additionally, the“Doha Photography Festival” held last month featured a series of workshops and lectures led by an elite group of photographers and creatives from Qatar, the Gulf, and around the world. These sessions covered topics such as nature photography, the use of artificial intelligence, underwater photography, wildlife photography, and capturing emotions in sports events. Qatar Museums has organised numerous art workshops and interactive cultural activities over the years at the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar, the Arab Museum of Modern Art, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Qatar Museums Gallery - Al Riwaq, and the Fire Station - Artists in Residence. These activities, supervised by professional artists, aim to enhance the knowledge of talented individuals and amateurs in various arts and techniques. In the context of the 2024 Qatar International Art Festival, organised by Katara last month with the participation of 350 artists from 70 countries, a significant portion of the programme was dedicated to art workshops and cultural seminars to foster co-operation and exchange of experiences among creatives from Qatar and around the world. Many artists and supervisors of art workshops and training, in special statements to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), emphasised the importance of these workshops in refining the skills of talented individuals and elevating them to a professional level, as well as discovering the potential of promising future artists. Award-winning Qatari photographer Arif al-Omari highlighted the role of art workshops in enhancing the skills of photographers and enabling them to transition from hobbyists to professionals. He said that the workshops and courses supervised by professional photographers represent a form of giving back to the community and the institutions that nurtured their talents and contributed to refining their experiences. Al-Omari, who has trained over 2,000 people in Qatar, the Gulf, and the UK, noted that workshops have become an integral part of these art institutions. He pointed out that the Qatar Photographic Society, formerly, was keen on organising workshops to help photographers renew their skills and stay updated with the latest in photography and camera technology. He emphasised that the Qatar Photography Center, under the Ministry of Culture, is committed to offering diverse courses and workshops to its members, focusing on a range of topics from photography basics and camera handling to various stages of specialization in photography arts. The centre also provides certificates and prepares participants to transition from hobbies to the professional market. Al-Omari also noted that social media has created new opportunities for photographers, with food photography becoming a prominent field. This requires photographers to have a precise understanding of lighting aesthetics, composition, and food culture to market and visually express food effectively. Iraqi visual artist Ismail Azzam emphasised the importance of training workshops for talented young artists in Qatar, noting that their results are evident in their distinguished artistic productions and participation in individual and group exhibitions both domestically and internationally. Azzam pointed out that visual art is fundamentally an individual creative endeavour that depends on the artist's effort to develop their tools and artistic skills. Public and private sector institutions, represented by the Ministry of Culture, museums, or private galleries, play a crucial role in providing support, spaces, materials, tools, and specialised trainers to encourage talented community members to engage in these courses and workshops. While talent is necessary, it needs to be honed with knowledge, education, serious practice, and continuous training. He praised Qatar Museums' experience in organising training workshops over several years at the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar, in various arts under the supervision of specialists in drawing, sculpture, photography, decoration, Islamic arts, and Arabic calligraphy, benefiting talented Qataris, Arabs, and foreigners. Azzam noted that the workshops he has offered with Qatar Museums over seven years, including an ongoing workshop at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, focus on portrait drawing. These workshops provide trainees with basic information and skills, allowing them to choose their style, school, and approach to their ideas and visions. He emphasised the need for workshop participants and beneficiaries to have a minimum knowledge of the history of the art they practice and to believe in the role of art in societal development, culture, positive psychological impacts, and instilling high ethical values. Azzam, who has more than 25 years of experience teaching drawing through numerous workshops using various techniques, including traditional tools like pencils, charcoal, acrylics, and oils, as well as modern digital drawing techniques, highlighted the effectiveness of art and training workshops and lectures organised by cultural institutions in Qatar and most Arab countries. These workshops help refine the abilities of talented individuals in different artistic fields such as visual arts, ceramics, sculpture, design, printing, Arabic calligraphy, decoration, music, and theatre. These workshops continue to play an essential role alongside specialised academic art institutes in discovering and nurturing talents through continuous training. MENAFN21122024000067011011ID1109020283 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Washington Capitals (13-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Florida Panthers (12-8-1, in the Atlantic Division) Sunrise, Florida; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers take on the Washington Capitals as losers of three straight games. Florida is 12-8-1 overall and 6-4-1 at home. The Panthers are fourth in league play serving 10.2 penalty minutes per game. Washington has a 13-6-1 record overall and a 6-2-0 record on the road. The Capitals have a +26 scoring differential, with 81 total goals scored and 55 allowed. Monday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Aleksander Barkov Jr. has four goals and 15 assists for the Panthers. Uvis Balinskis has over the last 10 games. Connor McMichael has 13 goals and seven assists for the Capitals. Ivan Miroshnichenko has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 5-5-0, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.7 assists, 4.7 penalties and 12.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game. Capitals: 5-4-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. INJURIES: Panthers: None listed. Capitals: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . - Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the woman at the center of the debate has remained silent on the matter. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the situation to determine the facts and ensure the woman's safety. Meanwhile, the villagers remain divided over the true nature of the case.NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs tried for a third time Friday to persuade a judge to let him leave jail while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, but a decision won’t come until next week. Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing that he will release his decision on Combs' latest request for bail after Combs’ lawyers and federal prosecutors file letters addressing outstanding issues. Those letters are due at noon on Monday, Subramanian said. Combs’ lawyers pitched having him await trial under around-the-clock surveillance either his mansion on an island near Miami Beach or — after the judge scoffed at that location — an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Their plan essentially amounts to putting Combs on house arrest, with strict limits on who he has contact with. But prosecutors argue that Combs has routinely flouted jail rules and can't be trusted not to interfere with witnesses or the judicial process. “The argument that he’s a lawless person who doesn’t follow instructions isn’t factually accurate,” Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco argued. “The idea that he’s an out-of-control individual who has to be detained isn’t factually accurate.” Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. His trial is slated to begin May 5. The Bad Boy Records founder remains locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, where he spent his Nov. 4 birthday. Two other judges previously concluded that Combs would be a danger to the community if he is released and an appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs his bail request. Friday's hearing was the second time Combs was in court this week. On Tuesday, a judge blocked prosecutors from using as evidence papers that were seized from his cell during jail-wide sweep for contraband and weapons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. As he entered through a side door, Combs waved to relatives including his mother and several of his children in the courtroom gallery, tapping his hand to his heart and blowing kisses at them. He then hugged his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, before taking a seat at the defense table. He was not handcuffed or shackled and wore a beige jail uniform, occasionally pulling a pair of reading glasses from his pocket as he peered at papers in front of him. Prosecutors maintain that no bail conditions will mitigate the “risk of obstruction and dangerousness to others” of releasing Combs from jail. Prosecutors contend that while locked up the “I'll Be Missing You” artist has orchestrated social media campaigns aimed at tainting the jury pool. They allege that he has also attempted to publicly leak materials he thinks would be helpful to his case and is contacting potential witnesses via third parties. “Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik argued. Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos countered that, given the strict release conditions proposed, “it would be impossible for him not to follow rules.” Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
As the bathhouse undergoes renovation and reopens with improved facilities and services, it is essential for all stakeholders, including the management, staff, and customers, to remain vigilant and cooperative in upholding health and safety standards. Building a culture of responsibility and care towards each other's well-being will create a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone.December 12th, also known as "Double 12", has arrived, igniting a frenzy of online shopping across China. As the last major online shopping event of the year, Double 12 is a crucial opportunity for e-commerce platforms like Taobao, JD.com, TikTok, and Pinduoduo to boost sales, attract customers, and stimulate domestic demand.4. Green Valley Gardens
