zoliget Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ’s parting shot — “history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media” — spoken in January 2014 at the last press conference he addressed before demitting office resonated on Thursday night as condolences poured in following his death, with many of his former Cabinet colleagues and UPA allies quoting his words, to say indeed it will. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin credited Dr. Singh for steering India’s economic transformation. “His tenure marked an era of steady growth, social progress, and reforms that improved the lives of millions.” Reflecting on the DMK’s steady presence in UPA, he said, that Dr. Singh’s partnership with M. Karunanidhi was instrumental in advancing Tamil Nadu’s development. “Even during turbulent times, Dr. #ManmohanSingh and Thalaivar Kalaignar stood together, exemplifying the strength of coalition politics built on trust and respect for regional identities,” Mr. Stalin said. Obituary | Manmohan Singh, gentleman politician who opened up India’s economy in 1991 West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee recounted her time in the Union Cabinet, when the two closely worked together. “His erudition and wisdom were unquestionable, and the depth of the financial reforms ushered in by him in the country are widely acknowledged,” she said, adding that she will miss his stewardship and his affection. She was the Railway Minister between 2009 to 2011 in Dr. Singh’s Cabinet. Calling Dr. Singh the father of economic reforms in the country, former deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav said that the former Prime Minister presided over a historic period of unprecedented growth and development of the country. His “wisdom, patience, foresight, humility and dedication will always be remembered.” “Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji!” senior RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj K. Jha wrote on X. RJD stayed with the UPA for both the tenures and remains a key Congress ally. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said that Dr. Singh’s work from 1991 till 2014 will be remembered as a “golden chapter in the history of India”. “I worked closely with him for many years. I have not met a person more humble and self-effacing than Dr Singh. He wore his scholarship lightly and never claimed credit for any of his historic achievements,” he wrote in a post on X. Mr. Chidambaram further said that Dr. Singh’s story has not yet been fully told and his achievements have not been fully recorded. “I am sure when we look back upon the 23 years that Dr. Singh was in active politics, we will realize his true contribution,” he said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who has probably one of the longest associations with Dr. Singh among his former Cabinet colleagues, commended Dr. Singh’s “steely resolve” while remaining “soft spoken, sober and always dignified”. “His Prime Ministership saw revolutionary legislation relating to rural employment, tribal rights, reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs, primary education, food security, and land acquisition. The Indo-US nuclear agreement was a landmark that enhanced India’s global status. His Prime Ministership saw the highest GDP growth rate in the country’s history,” he said. Mr. Ramesh said, he practises the politics of dialogue, consensus, and accommodation even under difficult circumstances. Humility and integrity defined him. “Those who sought to besmirch him revealed their own true colours. Many of the initiatives he took as PM were marketed, branded, and projected as his successor’s contributions. But Dr. Singh never minded and would give his trademark smile,” he wrote on X. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Sharad Pawar called Mr. Singh a “global statesman” whose legacy will inspire generations to come. K.T. Rama Rao, working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) which was part of UPA-1, calling Dr. Singh a silent architect of modern India, a visionary, a true intellectual and a gracious human being, said, “history will indeed be kinder and grateful to you.” Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said that it was a humbling learning experience to work with Dr. Singh. Former Union Ministers and one of the youngest members of Dr. Singh’s cabinet, Sachin Pilot said that the former Prime Minister will always be remembered for his wisdom and invaluable contributions to India’s economic growth. The former colleagues who have now parted ways with Congress also spoke with affection. Union Minister Jitin Prasada, who switched from Congress to the BJP, said that the country has lost a “learned and sensitive” leader. “I consider myself fortunate that I had worked in close proximity with Manmohan Singh for a long time,” he wrote on X. Published - December 27, 2024 12:15 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit death / Indian National Congress

Fox Sports analyst Terry Bradshaw isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But love him or hate him, few would argue he’s highly entertaining on-camera during “Fox NFL Sunday” broadcasts. The former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has had many cringeworthy moments this season, most notably he mistakenly thought colleague Rob Gronkowski was a temporary fill-in for fellow analyst Jimmy Johnson while he took some time off. Gronkowski is a full-time member of the “Fox NFL Sunday” crew and has been all season, and he reminded Bradshaw of such, prompting him to own up to his blunder. “Okay, I made a mistake,” Bradshaw said. “All right, I apologize Gronk, you know I love you.” Bradshaw has a mostly error-free pregame show, but once the early games hit halftime and Bradshaw was tasked with reading through the highlights and scores, that’s when things took a turn and Bradshaw’s countless gaffes became painfully apparent. The 76-year-old’s struggles prompted several fans on social media to call for him to consider calling it a career, much college football fans have been petitioning Lee Corso to step away from “College GameDay” on Saturdays. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images “Time for Terry Bradshaw to hang up his microphone, too many flubs. @FOXSports,” one fan wrote . “@NFLonCBS Please have mercy and remove Terry Bradshaw from the telecast, he tried reading the highlights off a sheet of paper and was confused stumbling over all his words. This is approaching Lee Corso territory on ESPN Gameday were he should be removed from television,” another proclaimed . “@NFLonFOX please get rid of Terry Bradshaw. He is the worst I have switched to watching CBS because of him,” a third fan chimed in . “@jessbensontv Fox NFL studio show needs you to do halftime highlights. Terry Bradshaw needs to hang em up,” one user remarked . “I feel like I asked this 7-8 years ago.... Terry Bradshaw INSISTS on doing all the halftime highlights, correct? Like, he walks if he doesn't get to do them? Nobody at FOX thinks this is the best thing to do, correct?” another commented . “Terry Bradshaw really needs to stop with these highlights - he’s made like 9 mistakes in 20 seconds,” declared another user . Related: Terry Bradshaw’s Daughter Has Savage 1-Word Message for Kamala Harris Related: Terry Bradshaw Proposes Dallas Cowboys Trade Idea That’ll Ruffle Some FeathersIn the weeks since Republicans decisively won the White House as well as both chambers of Congress, Democrats and pundits alike have voiced countless theories for their defeat. However, the even more critical question is, where do Democrats go from here? Do Democrats double down on the “resistance” that has defined the party for the better part of a decade? Or do Democrats try a different approach and return to the center in order to win back millions of voters who have abandoned the party? Ever since 2016, the Democratic Party’s platform can almost entirely be defined by one word: resistance. Whatever President-elect Donald Trump supported, Democrats rejected and organized in resistance to, often at the expense of formulating their own competing policies. Now, with the politics of resistance soundly rejected, if Democrats want to remain politically viable, they need to return to the center and develop policies for actual issues. They need a specific agenda to address inflation, create jobs, and better manage the economy. This should include a strong position on border security with a viable pathway to citizenship for migrants already here, instead of the open border advocacy that the resistance wing, led by the progressive “Squad” loudly called for during Trump’s first term. On the economy, Democrats should reject progressives’ preference for overbearing taxes and an expansive welfare state. Instead, moderate Democrats must work with the GOP to achieve less regulations, agree to job-boosting tax cuts, and cutting inflationary yet wasteful government spending. To be clear, the 2024 election exposed the hollowness of resistance politics. Voters made it clear that they want elected officials who will address the actual issues, not those who are defined solely by what – or who – they oppose. Indeed, rather than articulating an agenda to address voters’ concerns about the economy, cost of living, immigration, or crime, Democrats – and Vice President Kamala Harris in particular – almost entirely campaigned on the need to stop Trump, lest his “fascism” destroy our democracy. Yet as we saw, this was a costly mistake. Trump won because voters felt he had actual solutions to kitchen-table issues, and Democrats’ appeals largely fell flat with moderate and swing voters. Put another way, as Brett Stephens noted in the New York Times, adherence to resistance politics “led Democrats astray...It distracted them from the task of developing superior policy responses to the valid public concerns he was addressing.” Fortunately for Democrats, they should look to the past to develop a roadmap for the party’s future. Four decades ago, also in the wake of a devastating election loss – former Vice President Walter Mondale’s in 1984 – Democrats, led by then-Governor Bill Clinton, created the Democratic Leadership Council to bring the party back to the center and push back against the growing influence of the party’s left-wing. The DLC advocated for policies that many leftwing Democrats today would shudder at – balancing the budget, welfare reform, and a tougher stance on crime – but that was what Democrats needed then, and that is what they need now. In that same vein, what made the DLC effective was its focus on commonsense values that appealed to the majority of Americans – smaller government, fiscal responsibility, safe cities, and border security. Comparatively, the resistance playbook seeks to divide Americans via progressive identity politics, promotion of an unpopular “woke” agenda, and a refusal to compromise on solutions to challenges facing all Americans. The fact that Donald Trump won the popular vote with one of – if not the – most racially diverse coalition assembled by a Republican in decades underscores the ineffectiveness of progressives’ resistance platform, as well as its toxicity to the Democratic Party as a whole. To that end, the dangers to Democrats posed by progressive-led resistance politics are backed by the data. Beginning in 2016, progressives have driven Democrats significantly further to the left than the average American voter, risking the overall party’s viability should they continue diverging. An analysis from the Financial Times shows that in the last eight years, Democrats hard left turn on supporting increased immigration has taken them nearly 60-points to the left of the average voter. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | California’s political clout will fade as long as population growth remains slow Opinion Columnists | Here’s to hoping Trump delivers on some of his Libertarian promises Opinion Columnists | Grand DOGE promises of massive cuts to the federal government are unlikely to materialize Opinion Columnists | Republican populism goes all in for the Nanny State Opinion Columnists | After botched Gaetz nomination, Trump should pivot on Cabinet picks As John Burn-Murdoch wrote, the data “suggests that Trump’s election radicalized the left, not the right.” And while this analysis was done prior to the 2024 election, there is little reason to believe Democrats have made up the lost ground. The first step for Democrats’ new approach should be to move back to where the average voter is. They can start by committing to working with centrist Republicans for commonsense solutions to the problems we face. Doing so is also smart politically. Working with – rather than against – Trump, will benefit Democrats if his second term does in fact produce a strong economy, secure borders, a more stable geopolitical environment, and overall prosperity. Ultimately, where Democrats go from here remains to be seen, but the 2024 election was a stinging rebuke of a party with little to offer aside from stubborn opposition to Donald Trump. If Democrats want to avoid being consigned to minority status for years to come, it is critical that they shun calls to double down on the politics of resistance and begin offering genuine, centrist solutions that address Americans’ concerns. Douglas Schoen is a longtime Democratic political consultant.

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec.3: Over 90 per cent results of the by-elections held on Sunday have been made public as of Monday evening. By the time this report was prepared, results of 39 of the 41 local units where by-elections were held were announced. By-elections were held to fill 44 vacant positions across 34 districts in all seven provinces of Nepal and three—two district coordination committee chiefs and one ward chair were elected unopposed while the voting held for 41 positions on Sunday. Vote counting is yet to be completed in two local units, Sarkegad Rural Municipality in Humla and Belaka Municiplaity-9 in Udayapur. Counting in Belaka-9 has been suspended due to disputes among political parties regarding the counting process. The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) has emerged as the leading party, winning 19 positions, including two district coordination committee chiefs, one mayor and 16 ward chairs. The main opposition, CPN (Maoist Centre), follows with nine victories, comprising a deputy mayor, one chair and one vice-chair of rural municipalities, and six ward chairs. The CPN-UML is in third place, securing eight positions, including a rural municipality chair and two vice-chairs. Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has claimed victory in one seat, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16. The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) has won two ward chair positions, and one independent candidate has secured a seat as the ward chair of Kankai-6, Jhapa. Meanwhile, NC candidate Krishna Man Dangol emerged victorious as mayor of Kirtipur Municipality receiving 5,334 votes. His nearest rival Shiv Sharan Maharjan of CPN (Maoist Centre) received 4,555 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Surendra Manandhar received 4,337 votes. Rojina Shrestha of the RSP, elected as the ward chair of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16 with 2,902 votes. Her closest rivals, Debendra Pathak of the NC and Laxmi Ratna Maharjan of the CPN-UML, garnered 2,214 and 2,220 votes, respectively. In Kirtipur Municipality-1, Ichha Kumar Maharjan of the NC secured a win with 562 votes, defeating his closest competitor from the CPN-UML, who received 498 votes. Similarly, in Kirtipur Municipality-4, NC candidate Rajendra Baniya emerged victorious with 742 votes, surpassing independent candidate Pabitra Khadka (495 votes). Elsewhere, Janga Bahadur Shahi of the CPN-UML has been elected chairperson of Mahabu Rural Municipality in Dailekh, with 3,127 votes. Sulochana Kumari Bhandari of the CPN-UML secured the vice-chair position in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, Bajura, by winning 1,740 votes against 1,474 for her NC opponent. Similarly, in Gaurishankar Rural Municipality of Dolakha, CPM-UML candidate Uma Lungeli Magar Sherpa elected as vice chairman, with 2,805 votes. Her closet rival Nim Leki Sherpa of CPN (Maoist Centre) received 2,600 votes. The CPN (Maoist Centre) has also made victory, with Debaka Lamichhane winning the deputy mayoral seat in Nalagad Municipality, Jajarkot, securing 4,272 votes, and Namo Narayan Majhi winning the chairpersonship of Gramtham Rural Municipality, Morang, with 6,969 votes. In Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality, Narapura Buda of the CPN (Maoist Centre) claimed the chairperson position with 3,627 votes. The by-elections have highlighted the competitiveness between the ruling parties—NC and CPN-UML- and the main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre).BOX SCORE SAN FRANCISCO – No lead is safe in the NBA, as the Warriors again learned Monday night at Chase Center against the rebuilding, short-handed Brooklyn Nets. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 The Warriors on Saturday in San Antonio led by 17 points in the third quarter and wound up losing by 10 . After one day’s worth of rest, the Warriors enjoyed an 18-point lead over the Nets in the third quarter. That lead then was down to only five going into the fourth quarter. Just a little more than three minutes into the fourth, the lead was gone. The Warriors never got it back, losing 128-120. Brooklyn outscored Golden State 41-28 in the fourth quarter. Steph Curry scored a team-high 28 points, going 8 of 16 on 3-pointers. Andrew Wiggins added 18. Moses Moody had 15, but all in the first half. Lindy Waters gave the Warriors 13 points, 10 of which were in the first half. Inexcusably, the Warriors again were crushed at the free-throw line. The Nets made 26 of their 30 free throws. The Warriors however, shot 11 of 17 on free throws, making 15 fewer free throws in an eight-point loss. Here are three takeaways from Golden State's second consecutive frustrating loss. 3-Point Party As it often does in the NBA, the deciding factor between these two teams clearly was going to be the 3-point line. The Warriors and Nets entering Monday both ranked in the top seven in 3-point attempts per game. While Brooklyn was seventh, averaging 40.6 attempts per game, Golden State was slightly above at 41.6 tries – fourth in the NBA. Right away, it was clear it was going to be a 3-point shootout at Chase Center. The first quarter saw the Warriors and Nets combine to take 48 shots, and 31 were beyond the arc. Though the Warriors were more accurate to start the game, the Nets held a six-point advantage from deep through the first 12 minutes and led by four. The advantage at halftime then belonged to the Warriors. They hit two more 3s than the Nets in the first half and led by nine points. Six Warriors had already cashed in from deep. Both teams then were tied at 15 3s apiece going into the fourth quarter as the Nets outscored the Warriors 29-25 in the third quarter. The final tally was 20 3s for the Nets, and 19 for the Warriors – with nearly half coming from Curry. Nets coach Jordi Fernandez gave time to nine players, and each made at least one three. Paint Night The Nets, when healthy, are a much longer and taller team than the Warriors. But down multiple big men, coach Jordi Fernandez turned to 6-foot-9 small forward Ziaire Williams to be his small-ball center and the Warriors took advantage. And more than their post players like Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis contributed to the action. Whenever Andrew Wiggins is playing downhill, that’s a positive for the Warriors. Within the first two minutes, he had a diving layup and didn’t shy away from contact. Moses Moody had several reasons to flex on the Nets, too. Gary Payton II, at 6-foot-2, showcased his uniqueness in many ways. With around four minutes remaining in the first half, Payton sprinted down the court after a Nets missed layup and sealed off Cam Thomas (6-foot-4), getting in position for a fastbreak layup after Brandin Podziemski found him for an easy bucket. Later in the first half, Payton threw down a dunk off a Curry missed three. The Warriors in the first quarter had eight more points in the paint than the Nets, 12 to 4. By halftime, those numbers rose to 30 points in the paint for the Warriors, 16 more than the Nets’ 14. In their Saturday night loss against the Spurs, the Warriors feasted in the paint early but settled far too often as their lead unraveled. The Warriors scored more than twice the Nets’ points in the paint, 52 to 34, but other aspects of the game were too much to overcome. Dynamic Duo For more than a decade, the combination of Curry and Draymond Green have completely changed the way basketball can be viewed, offensively and defensively. One sequence in the third quarter showed exactly how. Roaming like an All-Pro free safety, Green scoured the Nets’ offense before surprising their sensational scorer Cam Thomas. As Thomas sprinted off a dribble-handoff with the shot clock running down, he thought he’d have an opening for a three. Green thought otherwise. The legendary defender jumped the switch, closed out on Thomas and forced an errant deep off the back of the rim. The ball then bounced to Curry, who took it down the court and let it fly from the left wing, splashing a triple on Thomas and Jalen Wilson. Fouled on the shot by Wilson, Curry completed the four-point play after celebrating on the floor. STEPH 4-POINT PLAY 🤑 pic.twitter.com/KgbykTNbKh Those 30 seconds perfectly showcase the kind of impact only Curry and Green can have on the game. They’ll also be forgotten after such an ugly loss. Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Qatar tribune Khalid Tawalbeh Doha Marking a transformative milestone in Qatar’s innovation journey, Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a key pillar of Qatar Foundation (QF), inaugurated ‘AI Week 2024’ on Sunday. Running from November 24 to 28, the event positions Qatar at the heart of the global AI revolution, celebrating 15 years of QSTP’s commitment to empowering technological advancements and fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem. AI Week 2024 brings together an eclectic mix of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, students, and policymakers to delve into the cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Packed with interactive workshops, thought-provoking keynotes, panel discussions, and live demonstrations, the event is set to redefine perceptions about AI and its transformative potential across industries. In his statements to press, Dr Jack Lau, president of QSTP, emphasised the event’s importance in shaping Qatar’s innovation landscape. “AI Week is not just an event; it’s a platform for collaboration, creativity, and the exchange of bold ideas,” he said. “It reflects Qatar’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to address global challenges while fostering a culture of innovation that benefits society at large.” Dr Lau highlighted the integral role of QSTP in nurturing a dynamic ecosystem that empowers students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to translate ambitious ideas into impactful ventures. “For 15 years, QSTP has been a launchpad for innovation in Qatar. AI Week builds on this legacy by focusing on one of the most transformative technologies of our time,” he added. The opening day set the stage for an engaging week, featuring a keynote by Dan Givens, vice-president of Computer Science and Digital Innovation at Shell. Givens shared insights on integrating AI into digital transformation strategies, particularly in sustainability and operational efficiency. AI Week’s sessions cover a wide range of topics, including ‘Sustainability’, exploring how AI is optimising energy efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, and advancing smart city solutions; ‘Healthcare’, revolutionising early disease detection, personalised medicine, and efficient healthcare delivery systems; ‘Education’, harnessing AI for personalised learning experiences through advanced EdTech platforms; ‘Transportation and Public Safety’, addressing traffic management, autonomous vehicle innovation, and AI-driven safety measures. Interactive workshops led by industry experts promise hands-on learning experiences. Tashan Technology showcased a groundbreaking demonstration on robotic grasping with tactile sensing, highlighting AI’s potential in robotics and human-AI collaboration. AI Week includes initiatives like the Ride and Pitch competition, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their AI-driven business ideas aboard the Education City Tram. Participants are mentored by experts before presenting their innovative concepts to a distinguished panel of judges. Additionally, the AI Hackathon, organised in collaboration with Qatar Scientific Club and the Ministry of Sports and Youth, invites students to tackle real-world challenges using robotics and AI programming. From smart waste management to sustainable agriculture, the hackathon encourages creativity and problem-solving among Qatar’s youth. Workshops throughout the week focus on practical applications of AI, with topics including ‘Cybersecurity’, using AI to detect vulnerabilities and enhance digital safety, ‘Marketini’, optimising strategies through advanced user experience insights, and ‘Human-AI Collaboration’, redefining how humans and machines work together in professional environments. In the coming days, participants will explore AI’s applications in maritime logistics, automotive technology, and public safety. Sessions will also delve into AI’s role in boosting operational efficiency and fostering sustainability across industries. Copy 25/11/2024 10NoneVanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BLV) Stock Position Raised by Avior Wealth Management LLC

The best AI tools of 2024: all the generative AI apps you need to try2024 was the year when Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain chip company, finally moved from theory into reality, announcing its first successful medical implants in patients. This on its own is a remarkable achievement and not one to be taken lightly though, with Musk in his cheerleading role, the promises of what comes next may make a few of us non-augmented folk roll their eyes. The promise-happy billionaire has not only declared that Neuralink is going to be full steam ahead, but that patients will be outperforming pro gamers within two years : And that's not even his wildest claim. Musk reckons Neuralink is going to have to speed up human brains so that AI doesn't get "bored." Musk says our "low data rate" is too slow, you see, and this is a barrier to positive human-AI convergence. "Our slow output rate would diminish the link between humans and computers," says Musk, adding a helpful comparison to plants: "Let's say you look at this plant or whatever, and hey, I’d really like to make that plant happy, but it’s not saying a lot." To be clear: The human brain is a computer that no Silicon Valley firm is even close to outperforming. But that's not going to stop our boy, who reckons Neuralink can increase our brain's output rate (how fast our brain is sending signals to the chip) by "three, maybe six, maybe more orders of magnitude." Some of these scenarios sound like hell. "Let's say you can upload your memories, so you wouldn't lose memories," says Musk, adding that this would fundamentally change the experience of being human: "yeah we would be something different. Some sort of futuristic cyborg... it's not super far away, but 10-15 years, that kind of thing." The above was Musk in August this year, but it's a drum he keeps beating. A recent tweet by tech investor Apoorv Agrawal called Neuralink the "most important company of the decade", an assertion Musk leaped upon to make further claims: "Bit rate and patient number will increase hyperexponentially over the next 5+ years. My guess is combined I/O bit rate >1Mbs and augmented humans >1M by 2030." The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. So over a million augmented humans in five years' time. But even that prediction looks positively tame next to Musk's previous notion that hundreds of millions will have Neuralinks within "the next couple of decades." Add to which Musk’s comments about the Input/Output rate of over one million bits per second, basically the speed of thought, and we are leaving "normal" brain function far behind for something that we don't really have a name for yet. Master? I jest of course, and we'll get to why Neuralink is unquestionably A Good Thing and will almost certainly improve the quality of life for some individuals (it has already done this on a small scale). But there's a real distinction between the reality of Neuralink and the medical goals versus Musk's rhetoric, which essentially starts at predicting millions of people having the devices implanted and ends up with creating a race of supermen. Some would call this visionary, the very reason that much is such a heralded individual for some. Others might point out just how far this thing is from non-medical applications as it stands, and the speed of that five year timeframe for getting a million people chipped. To be clear: I'm not pretending to have any special knowledge of this. But what is abundantly clear is that, if Musk's wilder claims are even approximately close to reality, this would mark a social-technological revolution the likes of which we've never seen, and overnight create a two-tier species where a small percentage of the population is thinking six times faster than the rest. That seems a long way from a utopian prospect, and something that at the very least requires the kind of ethical and regulatory scrutiny that Musk recoils from (indeed, the SEC is sniffing around and not before time ). The thing is, of course, this feels unlikely to come to pass on Musk's timeframe. It is well to remember that, as well as the man's many outstanding achievements, there are a whole lot of unfulfilled promises, many of which are nowhere near as pie-in-the-sky as brain chips in hundreds of millions of people. Remember the network of one-car tubes? Musk has been promising that Tesla will have self-driving cars "next year" since 2014: Next year has yet to arrive. In 2019 he said there would be a million Tesla robo-taxis on the road by 2020: In 2024, they're still not here. As Covid-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO, Musk declared there was nothing to worry about and predicted no new cases in the US: Tens of thousands would die. There's the Tesla bots, which he reckons will soon be bigger business for the company than its cars, except... when they were rolled out to do some bartending, it turned out that us fleshbags were still in control . And then perhaps my favourite claim of all: Musk says we won't just get to Mars by 2050, but on that date there will be a million people on the red planet. Neuralink itself has been the subject of other claims. The first trial was supposed to start four years before it did, and some of Musk's wilder claims about the technology include that it will somehow be able to "cure" autism and schizophrenia, which are not diseases, as well as give you super-sharp "eagle eyes." In this context it's hard to parse the visionary, which Musk undoubtedly is in some ways, from the vaudeville hype-man. It is undeniable that advances are being made in brain-computer interfaces, and not just by Neuralink, that would have been unimaginable even a decade ago: And that we live in an age of breakneck technological progress such that no one has any real idea what things will look like in 2030, never mind 2050. What can and should be acknowledged is that Neuralink has successfully implanted devices in human patients, and those patients are able to interface with computers in a way that would have previously been impossible. Neuralink's first patient, Noland Arbaugh, likened the device to using the Force (as in Star Wars) and can now control a computer, play videogames, and talk to friends without any physical input. This is the tech story that has the biggest chance of either changing the world, or sputtering down all sorts of half-realised alleyways. Because it is a story about the human race, our capabilities and evolution and what might be next, as much as it is about silicon. If we live in a world with a million Neuralink-enabled humans, is that going to amplify the empathetic and social side of humans: Or one of the many others? Neuralink is one part of what could be the biggest shift in human society since the Industrial Revolution. "We're not just aiming to give people the communication data rate equivalent to normal humans," says Musk. "We're aiming to give people who [are] quadriplegic, or maybe have complete loss of the connection to the brain and body, a communication data rate that exceeds normal humans. While we're in there, why not? Let's give people superpowers." Elon Musk is a busy man. Aside from Neuralink there's the AI wars, in which he's currently embroiled in a huge legal spat with OpenAI, as well as SpaceX, Starlink, the Tesla bots and cabs, and of course his obsession with trolling on X. This is the technology that has the potential to truly reshape things. Whether it does remains to be seen: But I'm making a note to check back in five years, and see whether a million of us really are rocking brain chips.

Special counsel Jack Smith seeks to end bid to revive documents case against TrumpAlex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg

is tackling his next big blockbuster with an iconic tale: Homer's . On Dec. 23, Universal Pictures confirmed the Oscar-winning director's upcoming project on , writing, "Christopher Nolan’s next film 'The Odyssey' is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology." "The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026," the post continued. Nolan’s adaptation will feature a starry cast as they take on the Greek epic, including , , , , , and . While this marks a new chapter in the story’s cinematic journey, has been adapted for the screen several times. Earlier versions include the 1997 miniseries , starring Armand Assante and Greta Scacchi, as well as the 1954 Italian film , which starred , Silvana Mangano and Anthony Quinn. More recently, and told the tale in 2024's . From the cast to the release date, here's everything to know about Christopher Nolan's next project, . Samir Hussein/WireImage Universal Pictures shared on X that Nolan's project would tell the story of Homer's ancient Greek poem, The timeless tale unfolds across 24 non-linear books, chronicling the perilous, 10-year journey of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, as he returns home after the Trojan War. His wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, struggle to maintain order back home, where a handful of suitors compete for Penelope's affection, under the assumption that Odysseus is dead. Telemachus sets out on a secret journey to discover any news of his father. He encounters Nestor and Menelaus — two men who fought with Odysseus in the war at Troy — and learns that he is still alive. Meanwhile, along his journey, Odysseus encounters iconic figures from Greek mythology, including the nymph Calypso, the sorceress Circe and the goddess Athena, all while striving to reunite with his family. After being held captive and facing multiple shipwrecks, Odysseus finally returns home to Ithaca, where he must devise a plan to rid his home of the suitors and take back control of his kingdom. TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic; Lia Toby/Getty; Francois Durand/Getty Although the characters have yet to be announced, Nolan’s adaptation of boasts a star-studded cast ready to bring the ancient Greek epic to life. Among the cast is Damon, who previously starred in Nolan's latest film, , marking a reunion between the actor and director. Hathaway is also set to join the ensemble, reuniting with Nolan after starring in 2012's and 2014's marks an between Zendaya and Holland, who starred together in the movies, which they are both widely recognized for. Holland shared on in October 2024 that he was "incredibly excited" and "obviously honored" when Nolan called him with the casting news — despite not knowing any details about the project. “When the opportunity came in, it was the phone call of a lifetime,” the actor said. “It was reminiscent of getting the call about Spider-Man 10 years ago. It’s an amazing thing for me. I’m super proud and I’m really, really excited.” During a December episode of the , Holland shared that having Zendaya by his side on sets was the " " — and studios loved it too. "One hotel room!" he joked. The couple will also be joined by A-list stars, including Pattinson, Nyong'o and Theron. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty will be directed by Christopher Nolan, who is fresh off his 2024 Academy Award wins for Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Achievement in Directing for 2023's Nolan also gained recognition for writing and directing acclaimed films such as 2010's 2014's and 2020's is slated to be released in theaters on July 17, 2026. Read the original article on

Bears general manager Ryan Poles got it wrong on Matt Eberflus — multiple times — and looked like someone who was still reeling from it as he sat next to his boss Monday. While team president Kevin Warren proclaimed the rebound from firing Eberflus a momentous occasion, Poles was listening to him hammer the biggest hire of his career. “We just came up short too many times and we had to make a change,” Poles conceded. Poles whiffed three times on Eberflus. Perhaps he deserves grace for the first, which was hiring him in January 2022. The Bears started interviewing candidates weeks before they hired Poles and appeared to have already selected finalists without him. He said he had freedom to restart the whole process and chose Eberflus independently, but there was at least indirect influence from chairman George McCaskey’s five-man committee as Poles hired Eberflus two days after he got the job. The bigger misjudgment was keeping Eberflus after the 2023 season. Poles drew overinflated optimism from the defensive uptick and 5-3 record in the second half and didn’t realize the Bears’ epic collapses then were an omen of more to come under Eberflus. In his quest to get everything right in onboarding No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, a quarterback he believed would be a franchise-changer, he missed terribly in retaining Eberflus and hiring offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Poles was heavily involved with Eberflus in choosing Waldron, who was fired after nine games, and gave little explanation for the error Monday. Strike three for Poles came when they canned Waldron after losing to the Patriots on Nov. 10. Eberflus should’ve gone, too. He was 14-29 then, had multiple flubs on the field and at the podium, had three coordinators exit and was spiraling in the wake of miscues at the end of the Commanders game. Plus, players had been voicing complaints about coaching since September. The Bears were 4-5. The season still could’ve been saved. They lost three more games, and now it’s cooked. “It’s hard to go back and figure out if everything would’ve been different,” Poles said of firing Eberflus earlier. “There’s times where you’ve got to see what the issues are... and [are they] repetitive enough to make a move at that time? “We started going down this recent path where things started getting a little bit more repetitive, and that’s when we got together and had that conversation.” But anyone could’ve taken that approach. NFL general managers need to see trouble coming and avoid it, and Poles absolutely had enough datapoints after two-plus seasons to move more quickly. Poles was in Detroit when the consequences of his inaction materialized, first on the field as Eberflus botched the clock and cost the Bears a chance to at least force overtime, then in the locker room. He saw the players’ backlash toward Eberflus, which had been bubbling for weeks, erupt to the point of no return. His overarching responsibility now is to see the future more clearly than he did with Eberflus. While Warren cemented his job as safe for the upcoming offseason, there’s no guarantee beyond that. They’ll lead the search together, but Warren was clear to put the onus on Poles to make the final call. If Poles gets it wrong on the next coach, they’re probably leaving together. That possibility presents something he and Warren must navigate with coaching candidates who will be cautious about stepping into the instability of potentially mismatched timelines. “We’re open to talk through that,” Poles said. “That shouldn’t be an issue at all.” It won’t be that simple. Coveted candidates have options, and they’ll be eager to know exactly how shaky this one is. The higher someone moves up the ladder, the more responsibility they encounter. Eberflus proved his job was too much for him. Poles is facing his last shot to show that’s not true of him.Wesco Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Stock and Preferred Stock

Art exhibit at Tennessee university museum draws controversy

Alberta to end use of photo radar on provincial highways as of April 1 EDMONTON — Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says as of April 1 the province is ending photo radar ticketing on all numbered provincial highways. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press Dec 2, 2024 3:37 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Alberta’s transportation minister says as of April 1 the province is ending photo radar ticketing on all numbered provincial highways. Dreeshen speaks with reporters in Calgary on Thursday, May 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh EDMONTON — Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says as of April 1 the province is ending photo radar ticketing on all numbered provincial highways. The province also plans over the coming months to review "cash cows” – photo radar spots that appear to prioritize money-making over safety -- with the goal of shutting down 70 per cent of the current 2,200 sites. Dreeshen says far too often photo radar penalizes drivers without improving road safety, adding the province doesn’t intend to offer extra cash to make municipalities whole from the lost photo radar revenue. “The whole point of getting rid of these cash cow locations is to make sure that photo radar is used as a traffic safety tool and not as a revenue generator,” Dreeshen told a news conference Monday. Photo radar will continue to be allowed in school zones, playground zones and construction sites, but beyond these areas, local governments will have to submit their case and show evidence of higher collision rates. At intersections equipped with cameras, running a red light could still net a driver a ticket, but speeding on green will not - starting in the spring. Kara Westerlund, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, applauded the move. “Our communities have called for change, and I’m proud to say that this government has listened,” she said at the government news conference. Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam said his organization supports local governments using automated traffic enforcement for safety reasons, since the data shows it reduces deaths, injuries and property damage. "It's improving safety in the communities, no question," Gandam said in an interview, adding the government's decision is about political points because getting tickets is unpopular. "If you don't like photo radar, just stop speeding," he said. Gandam said forcing municipalities to go through another approval process represents more bureaucracy from a government that prides itself on cutting red tape. He said photo radar revenue makes up a small portion of any municipality's budget. For him, the issue is about safety, including that of the police officers who will need to enforce traffic safety. Dreeshen said the province has seen a "mixed bag" of data measuring photo radar's effect on collision numbers. "There's lots of folks that will say photo radar is needed to keep these streets safe, but we've also seen municipalities, when they remove photo radar, that we've actually seen safer streets," he said. "We're not banning speed limits," he said. Opposition NDP critic Lorne Dach told reporters Dreeshen's move doesn't appear to be supported by evidence. "The decision-making here seems to be basically based on the minister's decision about popularity rather than public safety data," said Dach. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the government is adding red tape, and that municipalities, including Calgary, use photo radar funding to pay for policing. "If this government wants municipalities to increase property taxes for their largest budget item, they should just say so," he said. The United Conservative Party government has been placing restrictions on photo radar sites in stages. All photo radar sites were removed from ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton last December. Dreeshen said that's shown good results, in part because drivers aren't taken off guard by having to suddenly slow down and disrupt traffic. In 2019, the UCP increased the province’s share of photo radar revenue to 40 per cent from 27. That fiscal year, the revenue generated was $203 million across the province. By last year, total revenue was down to $145 million, Dreeshen said Monday. "At the end of the day, this is going to be a hit to the province (financially) as well." Among the top five revenue-generating sites listed by the government in 2023, four are in Edmonton and area, each collecting between $2.1 million and almost $6 million per year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2024. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Alberta News Alberta RCMP officer charged with sexual assault after 2022 hotel party Dec 2, 2024 2:22 PM Edmonton Elks hire longtime Stampeders assistant Mark Kilam as head coach Dec 2, 2024 1:54 PM Hockey Canada invites 32 players to national junior team selection camp Dec 2, 2024 11:41 AM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 38 employees from the Revenue Department involved in the social security pension fraud have been suspended. The action was taken against employees ranging from part-time sweepers to Village Field Assistants. Four officials from the Survey and Land Records Department and 34 from the Revenue Department were suspended. These employees had misappropriated a total of Rs 10,46,400. The Land Revenue Commissioner and the Director of the Survey and Boundary Department have been instructed to recover this amount along with 18% interest. Seven individuals had taken more than Rs 50,000, and five had taken more than Rs 40,000. Four officials from the Survey and Land Records Department had misappropriated Rs 84,400, while Rs 9,62,000 was taken by officials from the Revenue Department. Six part-time employees from the Public Administration Department who had received the social pension have been dismissed. The Agriculture Department has suspended six employees, while the Health Department has only issued notices for action.Elway: Remorse over passing on Allen mitigated by play of Nix

New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, saying he created a distinct identity in Indian politics as an expert in economics. Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died here on Thursday night. He was 92. "The demise of former Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh is very sad news. He created a distinct identity in Indian politics as an expert in economics. His good deeds will be remembered. I pray to God to give strength to the family and supporters. Respectful tribute! Om peace!" the Union minister posted on X in Hindi. Singh's death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he was admitted in the Emergency ward around 8.30 pm in a critical condition. An AIIMS bulletin said "he was treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home" on December 26. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)This tape is for L.A., The LAnd, Cal-a-forn-I-A. The West. Kendrick Lamar solidified his place in rap history this summer after he battled Drake for the game’s top spot and this album feels like a victory lap. GNX is named after the 1987 Buick GNX — the souped up version of their Grand National car that’s apparently very rare. According to the Bentonville Buick GMC blog, there were only 547 of these things made and Kendrick confirms that number on his Instagram burner account. You see, because everything he’s been doing has been done with intention. There was a lot of smoke around rumors that he would be dropping a fresh project before the Super Bowl , and you know that old saying, right? Well, it looks like there’s a fire, folks. He’s far from finished and we should probably get used to it. There’s no sense in fighting it or hating on it, just let it be and let the chips fall where they may. The crown now sits firmly in the West. There’s no more Big 3, that era is done. It’s over with. This guy is a maniac, he’s a tyrant. He’s still talking Drake and the rest of the game all over this record. You remember that “ For Pharrell I’ll inherit the beef ” line? He flipped SWV’s “ Use Your Heart ” from 1996 that was produced by The Neptunes and titled it “ heart pt. 6 .” This is a diabolical mastermind that we’re dealing with here, so join me as I tried to pick and rank the 10 Best Lines from Kendrick Lamar’s new album GNX . Song: “peekaboo” This is an honorable mention right here because it’s not a Kendrick line. This rapped by Dody6 and was a line I kept thinking about, so I included it on here. The fact that he made sure to feature underground West Coast cats like Dody6, AzChike , and Peysoh is a pretty big deal. This is a major look for them and they delivered with some of the best features on this record. Dody snapped with that Her Loss double aunt andre, too. Salute. Song: “tv off” Hey, man, sometimes family be on some b.s. It be like that. Song: “gloria” Some feel like the his bitch being his pen is a little corny, but I was feeling the lead up to it because there’s been a lot of conversation about some of lyrical content and approach. Yeah, he’ll maybe come across as preachy or self righteous, but they in the next breath he’ll crash out. This is the dichotomy of man. Song: “heart pt. 6” This SWV flip is madness and then you couple that with these heartfelt lines about TDE’s come up and you have a special song. I felt like Stefon Diggs doing that postgame interview. You know the one. Song: “reincarnated” This dude flipped 2Pac’s “ Made N—az ” and used his flow on the first verse, but this conversation with God in the last verse stops you in your tracks. Here he goes again putting the war that’s inside him on full display. His vulnerability turns some off, yet it’s one of those things that makes an artist generational. Snoop recently gave him credit for bringing L.A.’s gangs together and how important the “Pop Out” concert was. Song: “squabble up” He has the money and the power to off the competition, but the boogeyman enjoys doing the job himself. Song: “man at the garden” He’s still not finished?? This guy is a menace. Song: “hey now” I’m not sure Noah was killing animals aboard his ark, but I haven’t read the bible in a minute. Great line, either way. And of course, we all know how he’s referring to. Song: “squabble up” So, it looks like we finally got the snippet he did at the start of the “Not Like Us” video and it’s essentially a message to the game that the boogeyman is outside and he wants to play. Song: “peekaboo” Calling diamonds boogers and comparing their carats to Kobe’s 81-point game is what this rap thing is all about. Song: “wacced out murals” To be fair to Snoop, he posts damn near everything on his Instagram account. But him waking up and being confused about hearing his voice on Drake’s diss song and then reposting it was a little head-scratching to say the least. The West Coast legend has been adamant about wanting to stay neutral throughout this whole ordeal, so maybe he didn’t really mean anything by it? Either way, Kendrick’s disappointed in his OG. Let’s hope they can hash this out. Song: “hey now” This is one of the best lines on one of the album’s best songs, and he’s still talking to Drake who some thought was too big to fail. Song: “dodger blue” That line about his chain being so dripped in ice that it resembles the glare on the camera lenses used by some of the game’s greatest directors is special. Song: “wacced out murals” Jigga tapping Dot to headline the Super Bowl has made everyone loose their minds, and perhaps there were some politics happening behind the scenes that made Wayne feel like he and Cash Money were going to get the nod in their hometown, but I’m not really sure how you can not understand this decision. Maybe Weezy gets the call if one of the most important rap battles since Jay-Z vs. Nas didn’t pop off. Song: “man at the garden” The crown sits in the West. We better get used to it. Now we sit back and see who tries to come for it.Art exhibit at Tennessee university museum draws controversy