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‘Lost a mentor and guide’: Rahul Gandhi on Manmohan Singh’s demise

Fmr LLC Buys 111,104 Shares of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA)Wake Forest keeps trying new things early in the season, even if not all of the adjustments are by design. The Demon Deacons will try to stick to the script when Detroit Mercy visits for Saturday's game in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons (5-1) will be at home for the final time prior to three consecutive road games. Detroit Mercy (3-2) already has two more victories than all of last season. After a couple of narrow wins and a loss at Xavier, Wake Forest had a smoother time earlier this week in defeating visiting Western Carolina 82-69 on Tuesday night. Yet these are games when teams have to figure where contributions are going to come from in certain situations. The experimenting took a turn for Wake Forest in the Western Carolina game. Center Efton Reid III had limited minutes because of migraines, so there was a shift in responsibilities. Normal backcourt players Cameron Hildreth and Juke Harris logged time at the power forward slot. "That's just part of it," coach Steve Forbes said. "They did a good job adjusting. We ran a lot of stuff and there are several guys learning different positions. ... I give credit to those guys for doing the best job that they could do on the fly and adjusting to the play calls that we ran and the stuff that we changed." Wake Forest could excel if both Parker Friedrichsen and Davin Cosby can be consistent 3-point threats. Friedrichsen slumped with shooting in the first few games of the season and was replaced in the starting lineup by Cosby. In Tuesday's game, Friedrichsen drained four 3-pointers, while Cosby hit two. "It was really good to see Parker and Davin both make shots together," Forbes said. Not everything was solved for the Demon Deacons. Western Carolina collected 12 offensive rebounds, and that took some of the shine off Wake Forest's defensive efforts. "We can't be a good defensive team, or a really good defensive team, unless we rebound the ball," Forbes said. "It's demoralizing to your defense to get stops and then not get the ball." In Detroit Mercy's 70-59 win at Ball State on Wednesday, Orlando Lovejoy tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. "We got the ball to the shooters and playmakers," first-year Titans coach Mark Montgomery said. "You could tell by the guys' body language that we were going to get a road win. It had been a long time coming." On Saturday, the Titans will look for their second road victory since February 2023. The outcome at Ball State seemed significant to Montgomery. "We had to get over the hump," he said. "Our guys grinded it out." --Field Level Media

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — One person was rescued from a Scottsdale canal Sunday. >> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app Fire crews were called to the area of E. Chapparal Road and N. Miller Road Sunday morning for reports of a person in the water, according to the Scottsdale Fire Department. When crews arrived they found one person in the water and worked to help them get out. It is unclear how the person ended up in the water. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.All Pakistani nationals in Syria safe, confirms FOTEHRAN – During a mourning ceremony for Hazrat Fatemeh (SA) at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, Hojatoleslam Mohammad Qomi, head of the Islamic Development Organization, declared that resilience is the hallmark of success. "Successful people are those who remain steadfast and refuse to let obstacles deter them from reaching their peaks," he stated on Friday. Qomi emphasized that resistance is crucial when pursuing ambitious goals. "If you aim for a peak, you should not be discouraged by the first obstacle; instead, you must strive to overcome it and continue your journey towards the summit," he elaborated. Drawing a parallel to a regular journey, he noted, "Problems may arise on the road, but instead of abandoning the path, one should solve the issue and continue onward." He reiterated that truly successful individuals are those who stand firm and resist. "They do not give up in the face of obstacles and do not abandon their goals," he affirmed. Qomi concluded by highlighting that "successful individuals, martyrs, and saints of God exemplify this spirit. Anyone who practices resistance is also on the path to progress."Super Micro Computer Sank Amid Financial Reporting Troubles in Recent Months. Could the Stock Become the Biggest Recovery Story of 2025? - The Motley Fool

San Jose, CA (India Currents) The American education system is poised to become a battleground for significant changes under President-elect Donald Trump and his allies. He's made a campaign promise to cut the Department of Education -- which may or may not be politically viable -- but experts also believe that the power of the federal purse and the accreditation system may be used to push higher education institutions to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, while the DOE's Office of Civil Rights may be used to preserve the rights of white students. Colleges and universities might also suffer a possible exodus of students due to restrictive new immigration policies, causing further financial challenges. At an Ethnic Media Services briefing on December 13, three distinguished panelists discussed potential changes in U.S. education under a Trump presidency. They reviewed the impact on national policy regarding basic, secondary, and higher education, including the possibility of targeting federal funding for schools if they use inclusive instructional materials and pushing for "choice" or vouchers to benefit private institutions. The experts highlighted the critical role of Title I and Pell Grants in supporting low-income students and the potential resistance from both Republicans and the public to voucher initiatives. Their discussion emphasized the importance of federal leadership in education and the need for vigilance against rhetoric that could lead to policy changes. Signals emerging from the Trump campaign seem to indicate that "Education is not the highest priority for the incoming president," said Thomas Toch. Director, FutureEd, Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, referring to the unpredictability of Trump's education policies. The K-12 landscape educates the largest percentage of students - some 90% attend public schools. It's hard to fathom the "focus on everything but the quality of the nation's schools and improving opportunities and outcomes for the nation's students, in particular those who have traditionally fared least well in the nation's schools," said Toch. Pero Noguera, Dean, USC Rossier School of Education echoed this sentiment, criticizing the Trump administration's potential cuts to federal funding for community schools and preschool programs. Noguera highlighted the critical role of the Department of Education in delivering supplemental resources like Title One grants to schools serving impoverished children across the country who come from Republican households and democratic households. He mentioned the success of local districts like Compton in California and the need for federal support to sustain such improvements. Title One was created as a part of civil rights legislation in the 1960s, and the Pell Grant, which supports low-income students in going to college "are highly popular, essential programs," he said, but warned, "I'm not sure if Congress will just go along with this, unless they have a clear plan on how to do this." However, Noguera emphasized potential resistance from Republicans saying, "We can expect lots of resistance and conflict if they try to proceed with plans to dismantle the Department of Education, and it will come from unlikely quarters," mentioning Republicans in Congress, the Senate, and in rural areas. Toch found it ironic that the Trump administration was trying to tax endowments given this essentially would mean going after a relatively small number of higher ed, elite institutions with large endowments, but he also wondered if the Biden loan forgiveness initiatives would end. Noguera pointed out the public's consistent rejection of voucher initiatives in various states, including Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado because it favors wealthier residents in a district. "The public has shown repeatedly a distaste for voucher initiatives, which (as in Arizona), often result in subsidizing affluent families at the expense of poor families and taking money out of the public school system." Given a chance to vote on these measures, the public has consistently voted them down, said Noguera, adding that if the administration really tried to push choice and vouchers, "they're going to experience much more resistance than I think they have expected in the last election." The panelists raised concerns about the impact of immigration policies on higher education enrollment and the potential undermining of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. On the Trump laundry list said Toch, was ending affirmative action, which would become a focus of the Civil Rights Office, the department that's likely to oppose DEI Equity initiatives promoted by Democrats. He added that international students and dreamers also were at risk and "should be somewhat nervous given the administration's likely early work to limit access or immigration into the US both legal and illegal." However, Thomas Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund pointed out that remarks about immigration by Trump and his advisors were overstated on purpose, "as a part of a scare campaign that is designed to drive what they call self-deportation." He offered assurances that despite Trump's rhetoric, the 1982 US Supreme Court decision (Plyler versus Doe), which guarantees every child the right to attend free public school K-12 regardless of immigration status," is not in any imminent danger at all." About DACA, Saenz clarified that the Biden administration had gone through a formal regulatory rule-making process to keep DACA in place, which made it challenging to eliminate. "No announcement from the Attorney General, no announcement from Trump himself, would immediately end DACA." Noguera expressed concern about the administration's ideological focus aimed at launching and sustaining culture wars and attacks on transgender students' rights, but pointed out, "incidentally, they need the Office of Civil Rights to carry out those attacks, so that's in the department of education right now." He stressed the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in universities to reflect the growing diversity of the country, warning that how elite universities and institutions respond to growing diversity is essential. " Diversity is our future ... if you maintain so much inequity as we have right now, you create resentment and conflict." Universities need to be criticized and "pushed to be more inclusive and to be more representative of the range of beliefs and opinions in the country." He warned that book bans and other kinds of censorship would take the country down that path followed by authoritarian regimes. "I don't think Americans are ready for that yet." Noguera discussed the need for reform in higher education due to its high cost and declining enrollment. He pointed out point out that the country faced huge educational challenges. "We have huge gaps in achievement that were exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly in math, and we also have major challenges that are related to teaching kids to read." Nearly 54% of adults aged 16 to 74 in this country read below the sixth-grade level, according to the US Department of Education Data, added Toch." I fear ... that we may not be getting the leadership that we really need on the school improvement front." Many Americans don't understand science, the threat of climate change, and a basic fundamental knowledge of how the Constitution and government work, Noguera continued. "Our educational system, K 12 has great needs, ....and it's unfortunate if all the attention goes into the politics and not into the substance of education." Noguera urged follow-up on the administration's plans to cut the Department of Education and federal education funding, warning that grants go to community schools. These are schools that have been created to address the fact that a lot of kids are hungry, kids that don't have health services, kids have basic needs that schools often must step up. They (the administration will) get pushback on that." Going forward said the experts, it also would be important to monitor the administration's actions on issues like DACA and Plyler v. Doe to protect the rights of immigrant students and Prepare for potential rhetoric and attempts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in education. Saenz pointed out that many of the basic civil rights that we all count on in education are protected by congressional legislation and it would require congressional action to eliminate or limit them. "This is a Congress that, despite Republican formal control, is quite evenly split in the House of Representatives, where it will be difficult for them to enact anything that they cannot achieve unanimous Republican support for. " While there was room for greater efficiency and making sure that federal monies were spent appropriately, Noguera said the Trump administration was coming in as though they had a political mandate, adding, "I don't think they're coming in with a clear understanding of how the system works." The key question said Noguera, is whether the administration will play a role in supporting the changes that are needed or merely disrupt and create chaos. He warned that unpopular decisions by the incoming administration would find resistance and pushback from many quarters and fail. "When politicians come in believing they have more of a mandate than they actually do, they often make huge mistakes, and I have a feeling that this will happen with the Trump administration as well, particularly in education." The incoming administration will have to follow constitutional mandates like due process for many of the changes that they suggest said Saenz and will have to secure congressional action to implement them from a fairly evenly split Congress. "Regardless of his desires to be a dictator, in fact, under our system, the President and his cabinet members do not have dictatorial power." This story is provided as a service of the Institute for Nonprofit News’ On the Ground news wire. The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is a network of more than 475 independent, nonprofit newsrooms serving communities throughout the US, Canada, and globally. On the Ground is a service of INN, which aggregates the best of its members’ elections and political content, and provides it free for republication. Read more about INN here: https://inn.org/ . Please coordinate with publisher@indiacurrents.com should you want to publish photos for this piece. This content cannot be modified, apart from rewriting the headline. To view the original version, visit: http://indiacurrents.com/whats-next-for-education-under-a-trump-presidency/West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga in overtime

Wake Forest keeps trying new things early in the season, even if not all of the adjustments are by design. The Demon Deacons will try to stick to the script when Detroit Mercy visits for Saturday's game in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons (5-1) will be at home for the final time prior to three consecutive road games. Detroit Mercy (3-2) already has two more victories than all of last season. After a couple of narrow wins and a loss at Xavier, Wake Forest had a smoother time earlier this week in defeating visiting Western Carolina 82-69 on Tuesday night. Yet these are games when teams have to figure where contributions are going to come from in certain situations. The experimenting took a turn for Wake Forest in the Western Carolina game. Center Efton Reid III had limited minutes because of migraines, so there was a shift in responsibilities. Normal backcourt players Cameron Hildreth and Juke Harris logged time at the power forward slot. "That's just part of it," coach Steve Forbes said. "They did a good job adjusting. We ran a lot of stuff and there are several guys learning different positions. ... I give credit to those guys for doing the best job that they could do on the fly and adjusting to the play calls that we ran and the stuff that we changed." Wake Forest could excel if both Parker Friedrichsen and Davin Cosby can be consistent 3-point threats. Friedrichsen slumped with shooting in the first few games of the season and was replaced in the starting lineup by Cosby. In Tuesday's game, Friedrichsen drained four 3-pointers, while Cosby hit two. "It was really good to see Parker and Davin both make shots together," Forbes said. Not everything was solved for the Demon Deacons. Western Carolina collected 12 offensive rebounds, and that took some of the shine off Wake Forest's defensive efforts. "We can't be a good defensive team, or a really good defensive team, unless we rebound the ball," Forbes said. "It's demoralizing to your defense to get stops and then not get the ball." In Detroit Mercy's 70-59 win at Ball State on Wednesday, Orlando Lovejoy tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. "We got the ball to the shooters and playmakers," first-year Titans coach Mark Montgomery said. "You could tell by the guys' body language that we were going to get a road win. It had been a long time coming." On Saturday, the Titans will look for their second road victory since February 2023. The outcome at Ball State seemed significant to Montgomery. "We had to get over the hump," he said. "Our guys grinded it out." --Field Level MediaArgonaut Games’ remaster has been delayed from December 2024 to Q1 2025, with this brief delay designed to improve the game’s quality and polish. If you were looking forward to sitting down with a nostalgic gem over the holiday period, it’s disappointing to report those dreams are now dashed – but at the very least, there’s only a short wait before the game’s new release date. In any case, , if you’ve waited 27 years for a surprise remaster, a few more weeks of waiting won’t make any real difference. “This decision was not made lightly, but we believe that a little more time is needed to add the final touches to ensure the game meets the high standards that we aspire to and which you deserve,” Argonaut Games said. “We understand that after 27 years of waiting, this news might be a little disappointing, especially with the festive season coming soon. However, our goal has always been to deliver a game with the quality and polish that will truly delight.” “We appreciate your patience and support as we work to bring back in the best possible way.” As previously announced, this still-upcoming remaster is set to revamp for a new generation of players, and for nostalgic adults. Notable changes include a graphical overhaul, as well as control scheme tweaks to ensure the game’s original tank controls feel slightly less clunky. Other than that, players can expect all the “weeeeees” and “kapows” of the original, refreshed for modern consoles. And for those unfamiliar, this release will be a chance to experience one of the most beloved but underrated platformers of the 1990s. In the game, you must rescue a cast of adorable Gobbos, stolen away by the evil Baron Dante, by traversing a range of weird, wonderful stages filled with puzzles and enemies. Croc is able to jump and tail spin, with these abilities proving invaluable to saving the Gobbos, and the world. is a quirky little adventure, and one that’s certainly tied to positive memories for many veteran gamers. As strange as it is to see the game return, its remaster is very, very anticipated, particularly by the team. As announced, there’s now a slightly longer wait for the release of – but the game will be here before we know it. Stay tuned for more news as Argonaut Games prepares for a Q1 2025 release.

Wake Forest still experimenting ahead of Detroit Mercy gameAP News Summary at 1:51 p.m. EST

A hydrogen-powered bus exploded at a charging station in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Monday. Courtesy of the Chungju city government Operations of all Chungju hydrogen buses halted after first such incident in Korea The explosion of a hydrogen bus in Chungju, a city located in the center of Korea, has raised safety concerns about the fuel type, which is often viewed as a safe and sustainable energy source for the future of transportation. An official at the city's charging station and two other individuals were injured in an explosion on Monday, as the vehicle was starting its engine after charging, causing the rear of the vehicle to be blown off. Investigators from relevant organizations, including the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS), began to look into the case immediately, prompting the city's authorities to suspend operations of all 18 hydrogen-powered buses. According to the KGS and industry experts, this is the first such incident in Korea since the introduction of commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) more than 10 years ago. “Data shows that was the first explosion involving an HFCV. Hydrogen is a safe energy source, but there is no 100 percent,” a KGS official told The Korea Times, Tuesday. “The incident will be carefully and thoroughly investigated to find out what exactly caused it.” In an HFCV, hydrogen is stored in a high-pressure tank and mixed with oxygen from the air in a fuel cell to generate electricity, which powers the vehicle's electric motor. Based on the location where the explosion occurred, experts said the tank, which is installed in the upper or lower part of a hydrogen bus, was probably not the problem. “The part is where the fuel cell stack is located. But for now, it is too early to state anything conclusively, given that too little is known about the case,” one said. The bus, manufactured by Hyundai Motor, began operations in August 2022. Officials stated that the driver was en route to an auto repair shop that day after the "F" (fault) icon had appeared on the dashboard on Dec. 21. “We will faithfully cooperate with the investigation to find the exact cause of the accident,” the company said in a statement sent to The Korea Times. This incident underscores the challenges and safety considerations that come with adopting new energy technologies in transportation, as seen with the adoption of electric cars whose lithium-ion batteries raised safety worries after in recent months. As of October, 36,989 HFCVs were registered for operation in Korea, up from 29,623 in 2022 and 893 in 2018, according to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The government aims to increase the number of HFCVs operating on the nation’s roads to 300,000 by 2030 as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Industry experts also expressed concerns over the possible ramifications of the incident at a time when Hyundai, one of the market leaders, is expanding its hydrogen business overseas. This all adds to the concerns regarding U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to power. During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly about HFCVs’ safety. According to by the Wall Street Journal, there are 18,300 passenger hydrogen vehicles on U.S. roads, with no reports of explosions or fatalities from these vehicles in the past 10 years. To remove this article -

The third storm of the season, Storm Conall, followed just days after Storm Bert left hundreds of homes flooded and saw winds of more than 80mph. Homeowners and businesses said they “have lost everything” as flash floods and strong winds wreaked havoc during Storm Bert over the weekend. Hundreds of homes were flooded, roads were turned to rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across the UK during the height of the storm. The third storm of the season – Storm Conall – followed just days after on Wednesday, bringing more heavy rain, flooding and travel disruptions to parts of southern England. Some residents and business owners have had to appeal to the public for help amid fears they will not be able to clear the devastation by Christmas. Lynn Bridgeman, who lives in a caravan park in Taunton, Somerset, said she went through an “absolutely terrifying experience” in the early hours of Sunday when strong winds caused her awning to collapse. She said: “At three o’clock in the morning, my caravan went up on one wheel and that was the most horrifying thing I have ever experienced. “I thought the caravan was going to topple over. I literally screamed. “When I got up in the morning, I couldn’t get out of the caravan because the awning had come down and the pole got pushed into the door.” Ms Bridgeman, who kept her clothes, food, and electrics in the awning, said her neighbours had to cut out what was left of the canopy to get her out of the caravan. The 53-year-old mother of three, who had already lost her home 18 months prior after deteriorating health prevented her from working, set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise enough money to replace her lost possessions – and assist other residents of the park who have been affected by the storm. So far, £305 has been raised out of a £12,000 target. “I have lost everything,” Ms Bridgeman said. “I had everything in that awning, from my food to my clothes to my electrics. “We had been preparing for the winter and it’s all gone, and all the money that we put into it. “I just absolutely feel destroyed. Every time I open up my caravan door at the moment, I burst into tears. “Losing things that you have worked for is very hard. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, to have to stand there and just rebuild again.” She added: “Luckily, we are all family here in this site. This is why I did this GoFundMe – so hopefully I can not only help myself, but them too.” In Chippenham, Wiltshire, Becky Lyons’s business flooded in the early hours of Monday, damaging equipment and stock. The 39-year-old owner of the Pawesome Pet Shop said the water rose up to two feet and meant she was unable to get inside her shop until 2pm, when the water had come down to one foot. She said: “There was mud and silt everywhere. “The water was just high enough to catch everything on our bottom shelves and our freezer full of raw food.” Ms Lyons, who has lived in the region for 18 years, said the flooding from Storm Bert was the worst she has seen so far. “The flooding has never got that bad,” she said. “It was a perfect storm.” Staff from the neighbouring Pasty Cove in Chippenham helped clean out the damage and also set up a GoFundMe page to help Ms Lyons absorb the financial loss from the destroyed stock and equipment, raising £280 out of a £3,000 target. Thanks to this, the pet shop was able to reopen for business on Wednesday. “The community support has been amazing – I think that needs shouting out”, she said. Near Shaftesbury in Dorset, Charlotte Reynolds’ sheep sanctuary, home to 54 rescued animals, also suffered losses to Storm Bert as strong winds blew away the largest shelter and dampened £400 worth of hay bales meant for feeding the sheep. Ms Reynolds, who founded The Smallest Flock Sheep Sanctuary in 1977, said the situation has been “stressful”. “To me, the sheep are a family – my three sons have grown up with them and I want them to be safe and dry and well,” she said. A fundraiser set up to fix the damage at Ms Reynold’s sanctuary already raised over £1,600 out of a £1,750 target. “I feel relieved,” Ms Reynolds said. “Obviously as a non-profit, we fundraise to stay afloat and we can’t get what we need unless we have enough money. “As soon as we have enough, we shall purchase a new shelter.” Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament on Wednesday that MPs in communities affected by flooding after last weekend’s Storm Bert will receive “whatever they need”.LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Kylian Mbappe hoped his move to Real Madrid would finally see him end his wait to win the Champions League. Instead, the France international and defending champion Madrid are in danger of being eliminated from European club soccer’s elite tournament at the first stage after Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool leaves them in a fight just to make the playoffs for the next round. And if Madrid does make an early exit, Mbappe may look back on a miserable night at Anfield where he was humbled by a young defender and then missed a penalty that would have leveled the score. World Cup winner Mbappe looked a shadow of himself against a Liverpool team that leads the way in the Premier League and the Champions League this season. He was brought crashing down by a crunching tackle from 21-year-old right back Conor Bradley when threatening to burst through on goal in the first half — sparking a huge cheer from the home crowd. It got worse for Mbappe after the break when he had the chance to make it 1-1 from the penalty spot after Alexis Mac Allister had given six-time European champion Liverpool the lead. But with Caoimhin Kelleher to beat, he saw his effort pushed away by Liverpool’s back-up goalkeeper. Mohamed Salah also missed a spot kick of his own, but substitute Cody Gakpo doubled the home team’s advantage. Record 15-time European Cup winner Madrid is 24th in the new-look 36-team league phase of the Champions League. The to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a playoff. Victory saw new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot manage something his predecessor Jurgen Klopp never could by beating Real in the Champions League. His team extended its perfect record in the competition and is top of the standings after five games. Each team plays eight games in the opening phase. Madrid plays Atalanta next month and Liverpool faces Girona. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:

NC State and East Carolina meet in next season's opener. But first, the Military BowlUYO – The Nigerian Army says it has made significant contributions to reduction in oil theft, production output and national economic recovery efforts of the present administration due to its ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region. Commander 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Jafaar Ibrahim made the disclosure at the Brigade’s combined West African Social Activities (WASA) held at the Military Cantonment,Mbiokporo, in Nsit-Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa A’Ibom State at the weekend. Ibrahim said the various operations of the Brigade has reduced security threats in the state to the barest minimum and rekindled confidence among residents of the state. He pledged commitment of the Brigade to make Akwa Ibom peaceful in collaboration with other security agencies, adding that all it operations including “Operation Delta Safe Joint Task Force South South (Sector 4), and “Operation Thunder” have significantly reduced activities of criminal elements in the state. In his words “The continuous conduct of various operations in the Brigade’s area of responsibility has drastically decreased security threats and rekindle confidence in Akwa-Ibomites. ” The Brigade will continue to enthusiastically discharge her constitutional responsibility with every form of responsiveness and loyalty. Additionally, the commitment of the Brigade in synergy with other security agencies to make Akwa Ibom State peaceful for law abiding citizen remains unwavering. Operation Delta Safe Joint Task Force South South (Sector 4) and Operation Thunder have drastically degraded the activities of criminal elements within the state. “The Anti-bunkering operation is also curbing oil theft to the barest minimum in the state and boosting national oil production to optimum level for improved national recovery”. Special Guest of honour, Ambassador (Gen.) Godwin Umo (rtd), in his remarks lauded the 2 Brigade for hosting the event and explained that WASA is an agelong tradition inherited from the founding fathers of the Nigerian Army, adding that the initiative was borne out of the need to socialize and celebrate the successes recorded at a particular period. Umo noted that the military profession is full of challenges and stress, adding that WASA and other social activities are designed and organized to de-emphasize such stress and tension, to enable troops confront potential challenges with renewed vigor. “By nature, military profession, all over the World, is full of challenges, stress and tension, therefore WASA and other social functions are designed at deemphasizing such stress and tension to enable troops forge ahead and face any challenge with renewed strength” Umo said Highpoint of the event was presentation of gifts and prizes to personnel who distinguished themselves in their various units and formations, as well as cultural displays by various ethnic groups in the country.Are Amazon’s drones finally ready for prime time?