sky sport betting Tech Titans Clash: Apple and Meta Spar Over Privacy and AccessThe FAI still has “work to do” before the Government accepts their €8m-per-annum plea for Academy funding, according to sports minister Thomas Byrne. Premier Sports hosted a pre-election panel debate ahead of Friday’s polling day, with the topic of grants for national league clubs prominent. Since Brexit stopped players leaving Ireland until they reach 18, the traditional flow to UK clubs has halted, placing the onus on a domestic system unfit for purpose. The FAI’s academy manager Will Clarke in April quantified the investment required to fund the 24 club academies at €10m – more than double the current spend. “We haven’t rejected the proposal,” said Fianna Fáil TD from Meath East, Byrne, about why the expected funding announcement hasn’t materialised. “The FAI’s fully-fleshed out proposal came to us in September, when we were running up to the budget and general election. “It wasn’t the first iteration; there was a lot of discussion before then. To be fair to the department and the FAI, a lot of work was done previously. Fianna Fáil wants to fund academies – we’ve said that in our manifesto. “The FAI have an ask of €8m and we’ll be happy to support that. There’s still a bit to work to do on the proposal, to ensure it works for football, the taxpayer and our participation levels. It’s something we want to do, is necessary and is badly needed.” Mr Byrne rejected claims by Labour councillor, election candidate Darragh Moriarty, that the blame for this chronic underinvestment lay with the State. “It was neglected for many years and is not the fault of the Government. A skill drain from this country was allowed to happen because people in the previous FAI regime were not watching this. “The current FAI regime has recognised it and we will fund football academies – full stop.” Uefa’s increased solidarity grants will help men’s Premier Division clubs. The standard payout under the enhanced TV deal sees the standard €65,000 per club mushroom to €350,000 for the top-flight but reduces to €45,000 for the other 10 clubs in the second tier.Govt completes SEZs survey, eyes enhanced investment Abdul Aleem Khan announced series of reforms aimed at making SEZs more attractive to investors A view of plan of Rashakai Special Economic Zone.— APP/file ISLAMABAD: The government has successfully completed a comprehensive survey of Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), utilising aerial and drone technology to provide a detailed assessment of resources and challenges within these industrial hubs. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The survey, which marks a significant step in identifying opportunities for economic growth, offers valuable insights into the current state of SEZs and lays the groundwork for future reforms to attract investment and enhance industrial development across the country. Currently, Pakistan hosts 21 notified SEZs across the country, each designed to attract a range of investment opportunities. Notable hubs include Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Korangi Creek Industrial Park, and Khairpur SEZ in Sindh; Hattar SEZ in Haripur and Rashakai SEZ in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as M3 Industrial City, Value Addition City and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Punjab. Additional SEZs are also located in Punjab, Balochistan and Islamabad with the National Science and Technology Park, providing ample development prospects. On Wednesday, the findings were presented during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Privatization, and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. Khan announced a series of reforms aimed at making SEZs more attractive to investors. The minister highlighted that approximately 150 reforms are being introduced, focusing on environmentally friendly practices and aligning investments with the “Green Pakistan” initiative. “Our aim is to ensure the relocation of industries from China into these SEZs as a priority,” said Aleem Khan. He also emphasized the need to attract investment from other countries, stating, “We are encouraging nations beyond China to explore and invest in Pakistan’s industrial zones.” Aleem Khan announced plans to enhance connectivity between SEZs, particularly linking Karachi’s industrial zones to Port Qasim, to streamline operations and exports. He directed the Board of Investment (BOI) to ensure the availability of one-window facilities and robust security measures for investors. To further bolster foreign investments, the minister instructed Pakistani embassies abroad to strengthen communication with potential investors. He also proposed forming a group of foreign investors called the “Pride of Pakistan” to recognize their contributions. Additionally, he recommended arranging a meeting between these investors and Prime Minister to reinforce confidence in Pakistan’s economic prospects.

( MENAFN - Jordan Times) AMMAN - The Jordanian-Egyptian Fajr Company, Advanced Central gas Company“ProGas,” Tanmia petroleum Company, and Traditional fashion Garments Factory on Wednesday signed agreements to supply Natural gas to the main compressed natural gas (CNG) station project in the Hashemiyah area. The agreements were signed by CEO of Fajr Company Fouad Rashad, CEO of ProGas Fadi Shoubaki and CEO of Tanmia Natural Gas Company Mohamed Tarabili. ProGas and Classic Fashion also signed a separate agreement for the transportation and distribution of gas to the factory, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. During the signing ceremony, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh highlighted the significance of these agreements as part of Jordan's national project to deliver natural gas to various areas and industrial clusters nationwide. He also said that the initiative aims to reduce energy costs for the industrial sector, attract investments, create jobs and boost the national economy. Kharabsheh also announced plans to provide natural gas to industrial zones in Maan's Rawda area, Muwaqqar, Mafraq Development Zone, and other industrial estates. Utilising natural gas in these regions is projected to lower energy costs by around 60 per cent, easing financial pressures on economic sectors, enhancing competitiveness, accessing new markets, and increasing productivity, he added. The project will feature "state-of-the-art" technology and adhere to global standards, including advanced fast-fuelling compressors, distributors, and remote monitoring and control systems for both the main station and transport vehicles. A sub-reduction station will also be installed within the factory premises. The agreements with ProGas represent a "milestone" for Jordan, allowing the company to establish CNG facilities and distribute gas via specialised vehicles to factories not connected to the main gas network. This project, in cooperation with Tanmia Natural Gas Company and Fajr Company, is designed to maximise the economic benefits of natural gas utilisation in the Kingdom. MENAFN18122024000028011005ID1109009874 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.Streaming, Vinyl Propel Music Copyright Value To $45.5 Billion

Pandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry Christmas” written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple in a special press event Monday before visitors streamed to the park. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby: Spurs-Knicks Christmas game is also an animated one at Disney World NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. While Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, an alternate animated telecast will have the teams playing in the Magic Kingdom, with some Disney characters participating. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2 The first season of “Squid Game” was Netflix's most-watched series and went on to win a variety of accolades including the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series for Lee Jung-jae and a directing award for Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show returns for its second season on Dec. 26 and is already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama. It's rare for TV shows made in Korea to have more than one season but Lee describes Hwang as “a genius.” A third and final season has already filmed. Netflix is also invested in expanding its “Squid Game” universe with a reality competition series and an English-language version in development. In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones in the ruins of a Catholic church in southern Lebanon that was hit by an Israeli airstrike during the war with Hezbollah. It's a small and modest tree. There are no lights because the war destroyed power lines. The ground is too uneven to set up the Nativity scene. The priest says his blood pressure went up and he lost his balance when he saw the church's destruction. Now he leads Mass in an underground room that serves as a temporary worship space. He tells the community it “is more like the cave where Jesus was born.” Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 The Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, says the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” has died. The aquarium says Burt died over the weekend and was at least 90 years old. A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters long. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile, before being saved by Dundee. Elaborate holiday light displays are making spirits bright in a big way CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow might be enough to brighten some homes this holiday season. But others are adorned with thousands of blinking lights synched to blasting music. In Mesa, Arizona, 14 homeowners have been going all-out on holiday lights for 30 years, and those buying homes in the neighborhood often find the attics full of décor left behind by previous owners. In Santa Clarita, California, residents began coordinating their holiday lights to bring some joy to their community after an earthquake. And in Edmond, Oklahoma, those looking to the western sky will easily spot the Miranda family’s elaborate display featuring images and music from the movie “Wicked.” Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus. The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years. More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat. NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That's nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun's surface. 174 Colorado skiers and snowboarders rescued after a lift cracks WINTER PARK, Colo. (AP) — Officials are investigating what caused a crack in a Colorado ski lift that forced the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The evacuation happened Saturday on a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort. A spokesperson says the lift stopped automatically when a crack was detected in a structural piece of the lift. Passengers were lowered down by ropes over the course of about five hours. No injuries were reported during the rescues, which came at the start of the busy holiday season. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has announced a partnership with AgStar PLC to promote smart agriculture machinery and equipment via the bank’s Diribala Green Development Loan Scheme. A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies, paves the way for farmers who obtain loans from the bank to purchase inter-cultivators and irrigation systems from AgStar to receive exclusive discounts and other benefits. The bank said AgStar would offer a 5% discount to the bank’s customers, as well as free advisory services for potential buyers and free installation under this agreement. Smart agriculture equipment can help farmers adapt to climate variability by providing tools for precision watering, soil management, and pest control. These practices make farms more resilient to drought, extreme weather and other climate impacts, protecting farmers’ investments and yields. Beyond just lending money, this partnership extends to training, after-sales support, and maintenance of the equipment ensuring that farmers know how to effectively use and maintain the technology, which maximises productivity and extends the equipment’s lifespan, the bank said. Commercial Bank’s Diribala Green Development Loan Scheme aims to encourage sustainable agricultural practices. It supports the purchase of smart, eco-friendly machinery, that helps farmers adopt practices that are less harmful to the environment, such as precision agriculture which uses resources more efficiently and reduces waste. The bank has also launched several other initiatives to drive the adoption of modern and smart agriculture practices in Sri Lanka to improve productivity, address manpower shortages, reduce costs, and promote sustainability and food security.

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Billionaires may soon be able to purchase life-extending pills, leading to a world filled with "posh, privileged zombies," according to one claim. This alarming prediction comes from one of Britain's most successful tech entrepreneurs, amid concerns that AI and biotech are advancing so quickly that anti-ageing tablets could be just years away. High-profile American business magnates like Amazon 's Jeff Bezos, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, and ChatGPT's Sam Altman are the latest to invest their fortunes in regenerative medicine, reports SWNS. 'I’m 74 - I flaunt my body and I don't care what people think' Over 50s should add aloe vera to skincare routine for three huge benefits Their goal is to extend human lifespan through drugs and technologies that keep cells youthful and disease-free for longer periods However, Phil Cleary, founder of The SmartWater Group, has urged these Silicon Valley giants to "stop playing God" in their quest to defeat death. Instead, he suggests they use their vast wealth to help the world's poorest children survive into adulthood. Mr Cleary, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for his contribution to British industry, believes that if these multi-billion-dollar investments were redirected towards humanitarian aid instead of "legacy-building ventures," hundreds of millions of young lives could be saved. Cleary, the author of Elixir, a novel that delves into the harmful effects of life-prolonging drugs on society, described the pursuit of the ultimate medical breakthrough as an "ego-driven folly" that could result in a world filled with "posh, privileged zombies." He said: "At the rate technology is evolving, it will only be a matter of time before life-extending drugs become freely available to those who can afford them." He added: "But Silicon Valley's relentless chase for the fountain of youth is a fear-led, ego-driven folly that comes at a terrible humanitarian cost to the planet and to its most vulnerable inhabitants." "A pill that prolongs people's lives, even by a few decades, would create an unjust, inequitable world packed with posh, privileged zombies predominately white, middle-class folk who could afford to buy the drugs in the first place." DON'T MISS: ‘I’m a cosmetologist - two anti-aging products are so important and affordable' 'I'm mistaken for someone years younger due to Korean anti-aging products' 'I rubbed fruit on my face for anti-aging – it made my skin so bright and tight' According to the World Health Organization, around 100,000 people die from age-related diseases daily, yet scientists have long been split over what causes aging and what, if anything, can be done about it. Aging doesn't directly cause death, but it does increase the risk of fatal diseases like Alzheimer 's, heart disease and cancer . Some experts point fingers at mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, which may produce harmful compounds over time that age vital molecules and proteins. Others suggest that aging might be due to "senescent" cells that our body fails to clear out as they go dormant. The only scientifically backed method to halt aging is calorie restriction, eating about two-thirds of your normal intake, which has been shown to boost lifespan by 50% in animals, hinting at the possibility of humans living up to 180 years. Meanwhile, anti-aging research is advancing swiftly as scientists aim to decode and control the molecular mechanisms behind ageing. A breakthrough came in July when a team from MRC Laboratory of Medical Science, Imperial College London, and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore unveiled a drug that extended the lives of lab mice by nearly 25%. Numerous influential entrepreneurs are investing heavily in biotech firms dedicated to prolonging human life. Jeff Bezos reportedly poured $3 billion into Altos Labs, marking the largest biotech company launch ever, while PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel has backed the Methuselah Foundation, whose goal is to make "90 the new 50." In a groundbreaking move last April, Sam Altman, the mind behind ChatGPT, invested a hefty $180 million into the biotech startup Retro BioScience. The company's mission, as stated on its website, is to pioneer "cellular reprogramming" and it's reportedly on track to unveil a clinical proof-of-concept within the next four years. Dr. Niamh Middleton, a theologian from the University of Dublin, warned of the existential risks posed by Silicon Valley's quest for longevity. Dr. Middleton said "Aside from the many religious arguments, God's divine plan among them, I would think it safe to say that humanity could be lost forever as we know if life-extending drugs are brought to the market by private companies for commercial gain." She added. "In our pursuit of extending life, let us first turn our attention to the most vulnerable among us. Rather than focusing on costly measures for personal longevity, let us channel our resources and efforts towards eradicating the scourge of childhood starvation, reflecting the true Christian call to compassion and justice."

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GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman (AP) — Noah Farrakhan scored 24 points and sealed the victory with a jump shot with 46 seconds left as Hampton defeated Duquesne 64-59 on Monday. Farrakhan also had five rebounds for the Pirates (3-4). Daniel Johnson shot 4 for 6, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to add nine points. Jake DiMichele led the Dukes (0-6) in scoring, finishing with 13 points. Jakub Necas added nine points for Duquesne. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .