Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy weekAddressing a press conference earlier in the year to announce himself as Acting President of the CCC, Professor Ncube acknowledged Tshabangu as the recognised signatory by the Courts, Parliament and Government institutes. He went on to say that Tshabangu was one of them and they would work with him. Because it was his signature that was recognised by all institutions, the faction did not challenge several appointments to represent the party in Parliament. Now, the CCC faction led by Professor Ncube accepted Tshabangu’s self-appointment to Senate, self-appointment as the Opposition Leader in Parliament, self-appointment as the leader of the CCC in the Senate, self-appointment as a member of the Parliament Standing Rules and Orders Committee, self-appointment as a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Delegation, appointment of Honourable Lynnette Karenyi-Kore as leader of the opposition in Parliament, appointment of Honourable Edwin Mushoriwa as Chief Whip in the National Assembly and the many other appointments that he made, why are they worried when Sebenzo Tshabangu re-shuffles what he appointed, and promises to recall those members of Parliament and Senators who do not bend to his whims? Do these colleagues only see bad things when they are done to those of their inner circles? According to the media, Charlton Hwende was the only Member of Parliament who raised a point of order protesting the announcement of Tshabangu’s appointments. Hwende reportedly walked out of the house in protest. Many people have accused Professor Ncube of being a Zanu PF plant within the opposition, but I beg to differ. My assessment of Professor Ncube is that he is not political leadership material. He is politically blind and does not scan the political environment to determine what to do or say when it matters most. In this instance, he accepted the powers bestowed on Tshabangu by Zanu PF. He thought he could tame Tshabangu, but now it’s blowing on his face. I hope Professor Ncube and his colleagues in the CCC faction he leads learn from this experience and must retrace their political steps and correct their past if they genuinely want to be considered as genuine fighters for democracy who want to help liberate the country from Zanu PF oppression and repression as they claim to be. For Professor Ncube as a legal mind, he should know that the MDC Alliance Gweru Congress which elected him as an MDC Deputy President was nullified by the Courts, so he should educate himself first that the claim of acting presidency based on a nullified Gweru MDC Alliance Congress is a nullity. After that, he can educate his colleagues who took positions in the CCC faction that he leads that they legally have no right to claim those positions. There is the leadership arrangement that the CCC faction led by Jameson Timba is using, which acknowledges that following the High Court decision which failed to uphold the claim to MDC Alliance leadership elected at the Gweru Congress, the positions elected at the Gweru Congress were no longer officially acceptable. This sounds like a more appealing argument, given that some of the people who participated at the Gweru Congress had gone with Douglas Mwonzora. It would make sense that those who signed for the CCC’s participation in the 2023 elections were in charge. For those who had played down the notion that Tshabangu is a Zanu PF implant and embraced him and his signing powers as announced at the Press Conference fronted by Professor Ncube, the truth is now there for all to see. Despite the High Court challenge to Tshabangu’s latest reshuffle of representatives to hold various positions in Parliament, the Speaker of Parliament is said to have announced the changes made by Tshabangu. I understand that a similar challenge by the faction led by Jameson Timba to prove that Tshabangu has no authority to claim a position in the CCC does not hold water and is still pending in the courts. I would want to encourage all the people who have been involved in the CCC leadership to seriously reflect on this opinion piece, do some soul-searching, and if they find something useful, reach out to each other to strategize to rescue Zimbabwe from the jaws of dictator Zanu PF. Given the latest developments, those who had blamed Advocate Nelson Chamisa for everything that went wrong may be starting to believe he was right. I believe he saw these things coming. I am told that after the 2023 elections, he rallied his MPs to withdraw from Parliament, but for various reasons, most did not agree with him. In my view, Advocate Chamisa remains the best foot forward for Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, those who have clashed with him may be too proud to admit it, so he must work with those who trust his vision to launch a new offensive to free the oppressed people of Zimbabwe. I hope those who questioned the strategic ambiguity which was meant to ostracise the likes of Tshabangu will now see the young politician’s political acumenship. It was that political acuity that made the CCC secure more seats in 2023 than those amassed by the MDC Alliance in 2018, even though Zanu PF had tripled the level of rigging in 2023, to the extent that for the first time in the history of Zimbabwe, African election observers confirmed that the election was not free and fair. Food for thought Kennedy Kaitano, Mutare
Maverick McNealy celebrates his 72nd-hole birdie and first PGA Tour victory. Getty Images It took 142 starts for the former top-ranked amateur in the world to win on the PGA Tour. Maverick McNealy might tell you it was worth the wait. The 29-year-old pro birdied the 72nd hole to win the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga., on Sunday, a victory that’s been years in the making for someone who several years ago left Stanford for the Tour and immediately became a up-and-coming name to know. He’s been a full-time Tour player for the past five years, but in that span he’s had just two runner-up finishes and one third. That victory was still elusive, but he started this week’s season-ending RSM Classic with an eight-under 62 and suddenly was right where he needed to be. He was tied for the lead at 14 under heading into Sunday’s final round, still led by one at the turn but momentarily lost the lead on the back nine. On 18, as the last one still out on the course, he had 5 1/2 feet to win, and he drained it. A birdie to win on the 72nd hole! Maverick McNealy is a first-time PGA TOUR winner 🏆 pic.twitter.com/z4eh8utuIR “I’ve hit a putt on a putting green to win a golf tournament in my mind thousands and thousands of times,” McNealy told Golf Channel afterwards. “It’s almost like deja vu standing over that last one — and it came off perfect.” McNealy closed with a two-under 70 to finish 16 under, one ahead of a trio that included Nico Echavarria and Luke Clanton (who were both warming up on the range, hoping for a playoff) and playing partner Daniel Berger. The RSM Classic, as the Tour’s finale, was the last chance for pros to get inside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup Fall and keep full membership for next year. For players like McNealy, who was safe instead that line, it was about moving further up to get into 2025’s Signature Events and, of course, winning. McNealy held a one-stroke lead at the turn, but he missed the fairway and the green on 14 and made bogey. That Nico Echavarria, who had birdied 11, 13 and 15, the solo lead. Clanton added a birdie and big-time fist pump on 16 to tie Echavarria for the lead, and they both stepped to the 18th tee tied at 16 under — and then both missed the green in regulation from the fairway. Echavarria failed to get up and down and made his only bogey of the day, and Clanton, who pulled his approach into the bunker, missed his par save on the low side. Clanton, the 21-year-old amateur, has now recorded four top 10s this season in just eight PGA Tour starts. With Clanton and Echavarria both holding the clubhouse lead at 15 under after their bogeys, suddenly a handful of others were in the mix, including McNealy and Berger, who were now tied for the lead with two to play. McNealy and Berger both missed makable birdie putts on 15 and 17. Then, playing the par-4 18th, Berger stuck his approach to 21 feet away, and McNealy stuffed his to 5 feet, 5 inches. After Berger missed, McNealy found the center of the cup — and his long-awaited first PGA Tour victory. Latest In News Golf.com Editor As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of the sport’s most-read news and service websites. He spends most of his days writing , editing, planning and wondering if he’ll ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and two kids. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.
Corning Mass Spectrometer in Action Corning Incorporated, a 173-year-old material science and innovation powerhouse, has a storied history of innovation in glass, ceramics, and advanced manufacturing processes. With annual revenues exceeding $12 billion, the company has made its mark in industries ranging from automotive to life sciences to display technology. Most people have likely used Corning’s innovations, such as Gorilla Glass for smartphones or catalytic converters for cleaner air, even if they’re unaware of it. The author of Corning's digital transformation is Soumya Seetharam, the company’s Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO), who has held her role for the past two years. As CDIO, Seetharam oversees Corning’s global IT operations and its digital evolution. "Corning operates in 42 countries with over 80 manufacturing facilities and 50,000 employees," she said, emphasizing the complexity of keeping operations running smoothly. Her focus on digital initiatives aims to enhance how Corning operates and innovates. One of Seetharam’s core beliefs is that “in the future, everyone will be a technologist.” She further explained, “There won’t be jobs without interaction with data. The ease of tools like generative AI and low-code platforms means that anyone can leverage technology to solve problems.” This philosophy underpins Corning’s efforts to empower employees with cutting-edge tools while reducing the need for specialized training. Tackling Technical Debt to Unlock Innovation For Seetharam, managing technical debt is a cornerstone of enabling innovation. “Tech debt often fragments data, making it harder to harness insights and deploy AI or machine learning,” she noted. By addressing legacy systems, Corning has Corning Chief Digital and Information Officer Soumya Seetharam Microsoft Warns 400 Million Windows Users—Do Not Update Your PC ‘Black Doves’ Dethroned In Netflix’s Top 10 List By A New Show Google’s Security Nightmare—Just 14 Days To Change Your Phone significantly reduced its technical debt, saving $10 million annually and improving agility and cybersecurity. “Modernizing the network across many sites has created a strong foundation for innovation,” Seetharam added, highlighting that these changes not only cut costs but also unlocked opportunities to scale transformative technologies. Corning GPT: A Generative AI for the Enterprise One of Corning’s recent innovations is its private instance of ChatGPT, aptly named Corning GPT. This initiative reflects Corning’s dual focus on innovation and intellectual property protection. “We wanted to bring generative AI into our environment but without risking our intellectual property,” Seetharam explained. Corning GPT operates in a secure environment disconnected from the internet, infused with Corning’s proprietary data. “Our employees love experimenting with it,” she said, adding that early adopters and a community of practice have driven use cases ranging from operator assistance on factory floors to productivity enhancements across departments. A Tech-Savvy Board Driving Strategy Seetharam credits much of Corning’s digital momentum to its forward-thinking board of directors, which includes a dedicated Technology Committee. “Typically, technology discussions happen in audit or risk committees, which focus on regulatory compliance and cybersecurity,” she said. Although these are still salient topics at the board level, Corning’s committee also facilitates strategic discussions, aligning technology with the company’s growth objectives. “This forum allows us to not only discuss risks but also influence company strategy,” she explained. “It’s a powerful enabler for a CDIO to have a board that’s invested in driving digital transformation.” Harnessing Data for Decision-Making Looking ahead, Seetharam is focused on helping Corning capitalize on its vast data resources. “We aim to elevate data management and leverage generative AI to enable better decision-making across the company,” she said. This aligns with Corning’s broader mission to innovate across industries, from connectivity solutions for data centers to advanced display technologies. A Bright Spot in Challenging Times Despite financial challenges over the past 18 months, Seetharam’s team has been a source of optimism. “We’ve been the bright spot, investing and innovating in tech and digital,” she said. With initiatives like Corning GPT and a commitment to modernization, Corning’s digital transformation is poised to amplify its legacy of innovation. Seetharam’s leadership exemplifies how digital and IT can serve as catalysts for change, ensuring Corning’s next chapter continues its legacy of innovation in material science and beyond. Peter High is President of Metis Strategy , a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble . He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh .Melania Trump Announces Familiar Name as Her Chief of Staff
Nigeria: Experts call for increased funding for malaria interventionInside Trump's new administration: From business moguls to TV personalitiesTORONTO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — a health-tech company that leverages advancements in science and technology to support wellness in innovative ways, today announced a reorganization of its Board of Directors. As part of Lifeist’s ongoing efforts to enhance corporate governance and further strengthen its leadership structure, Meni Morim, a director of the Company and the former CEO of the Company, has been appointed Chairman of the Board, while Branden Spikes, a director of the Company, has transitioned to the role of Lead Independent Director. Meni Morim, who has been the driving force behind Lifeist’s transformation and successful realignment of the Company’s business strategy, assumes the role of Chairman. In this capacity, Meni will continue to provide strategic guidance to Lifeist’s executive team and Board, ensuring the successful execution of the Company’s long-term vision. Branden Spikes, who served as Chairman of the Board since 2019, and has been instrumental in guiding the Company’s strategic direction, takes on the role of Lead Independent Director to act as the effective leader of the Board and to ensure that the Board’s agenda will enable it to successfully carry out its duties. In this role, Branden will continue to play a critical role in overseeing the Board’s discharge of its duties together with the Chairman, corporate governance, strategic initiatives, and Lifeist’s operations while providing valuable independent oversight of the Company’s management. These appointments reflect Lifeist’s commitment to a strong governance framework, ensuring that both executive leadership and independent oversight remain robust as the Company continues to focus on growth in its health and wellness portfolio. In addition, the Board’s Compensation Committee has initiated a comprehensive review of board compensation to ensure it aligns with the Company’s evolving structure, size, and strategic direction. This review underscores the directors’ continued commitment to the long-term success of the Company and their willingness to prioritize the organization’s needs over personal gain, as demonstrated throughout their tenure. Lifeist also reports, as required by the TSXV, in connection with the Consulting Agreement originally announced on June 30, 2023, renewed effective August 1, 2024, and as terminated on October 31, 2024, entered into by the Company with Singular Narrative Management Ltd. (“Singular”) for the provision of strategic business consulting, product development, and brand marketing services to the Company as well as other services that do not include investor relations or promotional activities, that it has issued an aggregate of 747,305 common shares and 747,305 common share purchase warrants to acquire up to 747,305 common shares as payment to Singular of the monthly fee of $20,000 for services provided in the months of August, September and October 2024, calculated in accordance with the amended Consulting Agreement. The common shares were issued at deemed prices per share ranging from $0.06-$0.09. The warrants have an exercise price ranging from $0.06-$0.10 per share and expire 5 years from their respective date of issuance. Sitting at the forefront of the post-pandemic wellness revolution, Lifeist leverages advancements in science and technology to develop innovative products that support human wellness and transform lives. Lifeist’s key asset is its U.S. biosciences subsidiary Mikra Cellular Sciences Inc. (“Mikra”), a biosciences and consumer wellness company focused on developing and selling innovative wellness products. Information on Lifeist and its businesses can be accessed through the links below: Andrea Judge CEO Lifeist Wellness Inc. Ph: 888-291-8311 Email: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. Source: Lifeist Wellness Inc.
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Last night's surprise Helldivers 2 update also added its first FOMO weapon: The stun baton is only in the rotating Superstore right nowDelhi’s Public Works Department (PWD) has written to the Union government to restart work at a Pragati Maidan underpass – the last of the six corridors around the tunnel leading to the complex – after work on the project was halted following floods during the 2023 monsoon, officials aware of the matter have said. Also Read : Delhi now capital of crime, people worried: Arvind Kejriwal writes to Amit Shah This underpass consists of two sections – a two-lane box and 3-lane box. The two-lane section, which is complete, will carry traffic moving from ITO-Ring Road towards Bhairon Marg while the 3-lane section, which is under construction, will take vehicles from Bhairon Marg towards Ring Road, the official said. Also Read : Kejriwal seeks meeting with Amit Shah on law and order in Delhi This 28m stretch is being built using box-push technology, but work stopped after two concrete boxes on the railway lines shifted and sank due to persistent waterlogging during the 2023 floods. Also Read : Farmers resume ‘Delhi chalo’ protest march, internet suspended in Ambala This corridor was initially supposed to be completed along with the Pragati Maidan tunnel and the other four underpasses in June 2022, but after delays, the project deadline extended to the end of 2022, and then further to early 2023. The deadline was then moved to September – just in time for the G20 Summit — but the floods delayed it further to December 2023. Built at a cost of more than ₹ 920 crore, the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project is aimed at providing hassle free and smooth access “Bharat Mandapam”, the new exhibition and convention centre developed at Pragati Maidan. It is a part of the Pragati Maidan Redevelopment Project that was planned by the Union government to host G20 meetings. However, with problems persisting, officials said that no new deadline has been fixed as of now, and the work has been on standstill for over a year and a half now. PWD officials said this site is particularly vulnerable to frequent inundation as it is hardly 100m from the banks of the Yamuna, and groundwater levels in this area are high. “We have worked on several solutions and also approached Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Indian Railways to help us so that the problem can be solved. We have now formulated a proposal that includes design changes like reducing the height of the underpass to make it technically feasible and have sent it for approval. We are pursuing it and will hopefully get a go-ahead soon,” said a PWD official, on condition of anonymity. The site has three active railway lines above the junction, and construction and tunnelling work can only be done during a four-hour window every night. These issues were tackled with redesigning the drainage around the area, officials said. “We are pushing for the proposal to be approved soon so that we can start work by early next year. It will take at least six months, so we may be able to finish work before next monsoon, if we start on time,” said another PWD official. Experts said that there are various ground improvement techniques that can be employed to increase the strength of the site and pull the boxes back up, but proper surveys need to be done and the root cause of the problem has to be identified. “It is difficult to comment on any problem without visiting the ground and conducting surveys. However, grouting is one way in which the problem can be solved. There are many different kinds of grout mixes—some will swell after application, some travel through the gaps and fix them and others are quick-setting grouts. One of these can be used to treat the soil and strengthen the ground so that it can take the load of the boxes. Once the boxes are fixed and not floating anymore, further steps can be taken,” said Debi Prasad Kanungo, chief scientist at Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), whose team also helped find a solution to the cracks developed in the main tunnel.
DALLAS — Currently, in the state of Texas, survivors of child sexual abuse have 30 years from their 18th birthday to sue their perpetrators in civil court. State Representative Ann Johnson, D-Houston, wants to eliminate that restrictive timeline and bring it in line with the criminal side, where there is no statute of limitations. Rep. Johnson said it seemed like an easy fix, but it’s been anything but. And she hopes H.B. 179 will at least get a hearing during the 89th legislative session that starts in January. “This is now the third session in a row where we have offered this legislation. And I hope, for the first time, that we will get a hearing so that other Texans can hear from the victims who have suffered abuse at the hands of individuals, oftentimes that were being shielded by organizations or institutions that have avoided civil responsibility,” the Democrat told us on Inside Texas Politics. Rep. Johnson was the chief prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Section. Now in private practice, she works as an attorney for victims of sexual exploitation, often helping people who cannot afford a lawyer. Since her legislation has never received a hearing, the Democrat said the public, and lawmakers, deserve to learn who is actively campaigning against it behind the scenes. When discussing her legislation, Johnson specifically mentioned Cindy Clemishire, a north Texas woman who accused Gateway Church senior pastor Robert Morris of first molesting her when she was only 12 years old. Morris, the megachurch's founder, resigned within days of the accusation going public. Johnson also highlighted the sex abuse scandals at Irving-based Boy Scouts of America and the Southern Baptist Convention as examples of organizations protecting sexual predators. She argues that opening up the civil courthouse doors will allow the public to learn more about such organizations. “If you opened up the hearing room, if you opened up the courthouse doors and you heard from these victims, then every Texan would learn about what’s a good organization and what’s not. Who’s protecting kids and who’s not,” said the lawmaker. “I do not understand why the state of Texas continues to shield sexual predators and the organizations that have protected them.”
LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — Max Brooks' 26 points helped UMass-Lowell defeat Dartmouth 92-83 on Saturday. Brooks added nine rebounds and four steals for the River Hawks (8-4). Quinton Mincey added 20 points while going 7 of 10 from the floor, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line while he also had six assists. Martin Somerville shot 3 for 10 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points, while adding six rebounds. The Big Green (4-6) were led by Connor Amundsen, who posted 28 points and six assists. Cade Haskins added 16 points for Dartmouth. Jayden Williams also recorded 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .The Wanted star Max George issues update from hospital bed as he reveals it's been a 'rough' day
