The Manchester derby is not just a battle for supremacy in the city, but also a crucial fixture in the race for the Premier League title. Both Manchester City and Manchester United have been in impressive form this season, with City aiming to defend their title and United looking to reclaim past glory. With the two teams closely matched in the standings, every decision made by the referee could have a significant impact on the outcome of the match.
As the Bilibili streamer dives into the co-op mode of "Black Myth: Wukong," viewers are treated to a spectacle of intense battles and strategic gameplay. The monsters in the game have been enhanced with new abilities and moves, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the gameplay experience.Everything you need to know about Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks: Best vantage points around Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, how to get to the harbourside waterfront, weather warning and more... More than one million expected to watch fireworks show in person Attendees urged to plan ahead and arrive at their spot early READ MORE: Robbie Williams to headline Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations By FREDDY PAWLE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 00:55, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 00:55, 30 December 2024 e-mail View comments Revellers planning to watch Sydney 's world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks show have been urged to find their spot early with more than one million tipped to attend. More than nine tonnes of fireworks are going to light up Sydney's sky from 264 firing points across Sydney Harbour for this year's highly-anticipated event under the theme 'Forward with Heart'. The first fireworks will be launched during the children's fireworks session, now renamed the Calling Country show, at 9pm before the main event at midnight. Those hoping to see the fireworks in person without spending a fortune can find a space at 35 free waterfront vantage points. But there will be huge competition for the free viewing spots, with the City of Sydney estimating more than one million people to flock to the harbour. Attendees have also been urged to pack an umbrella or poncho with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting 'heavy bursts of rain' to dampen celebrations. Rainfall is also expected earlier in the day, leading to muggy conditions as the mercury is set to rise to 27C in the city and 29C in the Western Suburbs. While public transport will continue to operate throughout the day, authorities have warned attendees to expect 'long queues' for their trip home. Partygoers hoping to watch this year's New Year's Eve fireworks in Sydney have been urged to find their vantage spot early (pictured, revellers during last year's event) More than one million people are expected to flock to the city in order to see more than nine tonnes of fireworks fireworks in person (pictured, last year's event) WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE FIREWORKS FOR FREE Circular Quay and the Rocks East and West Circular Quay Sydney Opera House The Rocks Hickson Road Reserve Dawes Point Park Campbell's Cove Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain Mrs Macquarie's Point Fleet Steps Bennelong Lawn Tarpeian Lawn Darling Harbour and Barangaroo Darling Harbour Barangaroo Reserve Observatory Hill North Sydney Blues Point Lavender Bay Parklands Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve Eastern suburbs Rose Bay Foreshore Embarkation Park Yarranabbe Park McKell Park Murray Rose Pool and Blackburn Gardens Duff Reserve Dumaresq Reserve Pyrmont Pyrmont Bay Park Giba Park Giba Park Balmain Simmons Point Birchgrove Park Mort Bay Park Yurulbin Park Elkington Park Illoura Reserve Thornton Park Lookes Avenue Reserve Opening times and if alcohol is prohibited or available for sale varies. Credit: City of Sydney Advertisement This year's display is expected to exceed previous spectacles with new technology being used to create ever-more stunning visuals. Foti International Fireworks, behind Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks since 1997, said they have put more than 4500 hours of preparation into this year. The family-owned business promised fireworks that turn into shapes like fish and sharks while others falling from the bridge like a waterfall will spell 'Sydney'. Attendees can also expect artificial intelligence and four drone-powered pyrotechnic platforms to help create the stunning visuals seen around the world. 'We are always looking at ways we can evolve our show and believe this will be one of the most innovative New Year's Eve fireworks displays in the world,' Fortunato Foti told the Daily Telegraph . The most popular vantage points for the show, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Point and the Sydney Opera House, are expected to pack out well before nightfall. Their close view of the Harbour Bridge led to the popular Royal Botanical Gardens and Mrs Macquaries Chair quickly reaching capacity before gates opened last year. Attendees have been warned to bring their own entertainment for the long wait, as many vantage points, even quiter ones, don't allow re-entry after leaving. This year's rendition has promised AI projections and drone-powered platforms to enhance the visual spectacle (pictured, last year's event) NSW Police have warned attendees to not start 2025 'in the back of a police truck' with a massive police operation planned across the state (pictured, last year's revellers) The Bureau of Meteorology expects a 'slight chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening' for New Year's Eve in Sydney. There is also a chance of the rain to be followed by a thunderstorm, but it is most likely to fall over the Western Suburbs. Read More New Year's Eve, Australian style: Travel chaos and wild weather smash major cities - and some revellers keep the party going until dawn Transport for NSW coordinator general Howard Collins said attendees should 'get to their destination early' and patiently hold their spot. 'It's important to understand that we want to walk you into the city and walk you out again,' he said. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longlan added that transport to and from areas around the Harbour Bridge will likely be 'very busy'. NSW Police's Operation New Year's Eve 2024 Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna urged partygoers to be safe this year. The operation will see large numbers of uniformed and plain-clothed officers patrolling New Year's Eve events across the state. 'We want everyone to enjoy their New Year's Eve celebrations in a safe and responsible way,' Assistant Commission McKenna said. 'People planning on coming to the city for free vantage points are urged to get in early to avoid missing out. If a location becomes full, do not attend and find an alternative location. 'Police will not tolerate dangerous, criminal or anti-social behaviour. 'We ask people to drink responsibly, know their limit and avoid starting 2025 in the back of a police truck.' Share or comment on this article: Everything you need to know about Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks: Best vantage points around Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, how to get to the harbourside waterfront, weather warning and more... e-mail Add commentIn conclusion, the partnership between Aliyun and Folded Dreams to bring "Infinite Warmth" to a global audience is a testament to the power of creativity, innovation, and collaboration in the world of gaming. With its captivating blend of traditional art and modern technology, "Infinite Warmth" is set to make a lasting impact on the gaming industry and inspire a new generation of players to embrace the magic of foldable paper games. Get ready to embark on a journey like no other and experience the infinite warmth of this remarkable game.
India’s urban population will increase from 400 million in the last decade to 800 million over the next three decades. While this offers an opportunity to transform India’s urban landscape, there are significant financial challenges that must be overcome to get there. A recent World Bank report estimates that India will require about ₹70 lakh crore by 2036 to meet its urban infrastructure needs. Current government investment (2018 figures) in urban infrastructure stands at around ₹1.3 lakh crore annually. This is just a little over one-fourth of the required ₹4.6 lakh crore per year. Broadly, about 50% is estimated for basic urban services, with the other half for urban transport. Issues at the local level Municipal finances, a crucial component of urban infrastructure funding, have remained stagnant for decades. Since 2002, municipal finance has stayed at just 1% of GDP. Municipal bodies contribute 45% of urban investments, while the remainder is managed by parastatal agencies. Despite an increase in central and State transfers from 37% to 44%, the financial health of municipalities remains precarious. Tax revenue grew by only 8% between 2010 and 2018, grants by 14%, and non-tax revenue by 10.5%. However, the share of municipalities’ own revenue sources has declined from 51% to 43%, reflecting a diminishing capacity for self-sufficiency. Collection inefficiencies also exist in urban local bodies (ULB). For instance, data from 2017-18 reveals that ULBs in Bengaluru and Jaipur collect only 5%-20% of their potential tax revenue. Nationwide, property tax collection stands at a paltry ₹25,000 crore, which is only 0.15% of GDP. Further, cost recovery for services ranges from 20% to 50%, highlighting the significant gap between the costs of urban services and the revenues generated from them. Indian cities also struggle with low absorptive capacity, further complicating the urban infrastructure landscape. According to the Fifteenth Finance Commission report, about 23% of total municipal revenue remains unspent, indicating a surplus in the municipal system that is not being effectively utilised. Even major cities such as Hyderabad and Chennai only managed to spend 50% of their capital expenditure budgets in 2018-19. The utilisation of central scheme funds also leaves much to be desired, with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) achieving 80% utilisation and the Smart Cities Mission reaching 70%. Public-private partnerships (PPPs), another crucial avenue for urban infrastructure financing, have seen a marked decline over the past decade. PPP investments in urban infrastructure peaked at ₹8,353 crore in 2012 but plummeted to just ₹467 crore by 2018. The viability of PPP projects is often dependent on the availability of payments or viability funding for ensuring bankability; but due to the lack of project-specific revenues, these projects further diminish commercial attractiveness. The next step is reform Given the myriad of financial challenges outlined, it is imperative to adopt a dual-pronged approach with specific long-term and medium-term measures. In the long term, carrying out structural reform would be critical. These reforms should include strengthening State finance commissions to enhancing autonomy and capacity for better financial management at the municipal level. Additionally, empowering municipal governments with greater financial and administrative autonomy will be critical in enabling them to manage and allocate resources more effectively for urban development. This can then attract the much-needed private capital, through mechanisms such as debt borrowing, and municipal bonds. In the medium term, the following measures can significantly transform the development of sustainable urban infrastructure. First, develop a robust pipeline of projects. The High-Powered Expert Committee and 12th Plan Working Group have developed a financing framework to meet the ₹70 lakh crore urban infrastructure investment requirement over the next 20 years. About 15% of this total investment could potentially come through PPPs, translating to roughly 250-300 PPP projects annually. To achieve this, a pipeline of 600-800 projects must be in place. Second, decouple project preparation from financial assistance. The last two decades have shown that investments in urban infrastructure have not advanced to the extent required, often due to hurried project preparation. As new national programmes are conceived, it is essential to decouple project preparation from financial assistance. Ensuring that these projects are designed for financial, social, and environmental sustainability is vital, especially given India’s vulnerability to climate change. Third, leverage Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for improved operations. Urban service delivery, particularly in public transport, remains hampered by outdated practices. Embracing DPI can revolutionise the management and the operation of public services, positioning India as a global leader in this domain. Fourth, capture land value in transport projects. With half of the ₹70 lakh crore investment by 2036 earmarked for urban transport, particularly metro rail projects, there is a unique opportunity to harness land value. Metro and rail projects should be integrated with urban development, ensuring that they bring jobs closer to transit hubs and contribute to the overall efficiency and design of cities. The need for collaboration To conclude, India’s urban future hinges on the ability to address these financial and structural challenges head-on. The stakes are high, and this is the window for action. By pursuing both immediate and long-term strategies, India can build urban infrastructure that meets the demands of its growing cities, thus ensuring sustainable and inclusive development for the decades to come. The path forward will require collaboration across government levels, private sector participation, and a relentless focus on innovation and governance efficiency. Madhav Pai is Chief Executive Officer, WRI India. The views expressed are personal Published - November 25, 2024 12:08 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit urban planning / population / India / finance (general) / government / investments / public works & infrastructure / local authority / taxes and duties / bengaluru / Jaipur / properties (general) / Hyderabad / Chennai / bonds / public transport / mass transit / railway / development / Sustainability / climate changeIn the recently released gameplay footage, players were given a sneak peek into the world of "From The Forgotten." The game features a diverse range of characters, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. From agile assassins to powerful tanks, players will have the opportunity to choose their favorite hero and engage in action-packed battles on a variety of dynamic maps.
