50 jili super ace Colombo, the vibrant heart of Sri Lanka, is fast becoming a cautionary tale of urban inefficiency. Traffic congestion has become a silent tax, draining the country’s economy to the tune of half a billion rupees every day, amounting to over 200 billion rupees annually. This cost includes wasted fuel, lost productivity, increased pollution, and the opportunity costs of delayed mobility. Yet, much of this problem stems not just from road congestion but from the inefficient traffic light system; a problem exacerbated by a lack of public awareness and institutional accountability. Traffic jams in Colombo aren’t just frustrating; they are economically and environmentally costly. Let’s break it down: Combined, these inefficiencies cost the economy totalling up to half a billion rupees daily nearly 200 billion rupees annually. Colombo’s traffic system relies on a hierarchy of solutions: Free-flow junctions for low-traffic areas. Over the years, Sri Lanka has invested millions in installing and upgrading traffic light systems in Colombo, incorporating high-tech solutions. Yet, these systems remain largely underutilised, operating on fixed intervals instead of adapting to real-time traffic conditions. Adding insult to injury, during peak hours, these high-tech traffic lights are often switched off, with traffic police manually directing vehicles. This is not only a waste of investment but also doubles operational costs, as manpower replaces technology. Such inefficiencies reflect a broader systemic failure: investments made without proper monitoring or outcome evaluation. The Road Development Authority (RDA), responsible for traffic management, has installed these systems but operates without Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or standards to measure effectiveness. Consequently, there is no external benchmark to evaluate whether Colombo’s traffic systems are performing at optimal levels. Adding to this issue is the public’s lack of awareness. Most people have grown so accustomed to the traffic chaos that they see it as an unavoidable part of urban life. Many are unaware that advanced traffic management technologies exist or someone is accountable for delivering better solutions. Without public pressure, there is little incentive for the authorities to innovate or improve. Globally, cities have embraced smart traffic management systems that adjust traffic lights in real time based on road conditions. These systems use: Countries all over the world have demonstrated that such systems can significantly reduce congestion, improve fuel efficiency, and boost urban productivity; all with cost-effective solutions. For Colombo, adopting similar systems is not just feasible but urgent. The cost of implementing these technologies pales in comparison to the economic burden caused by current inefficiencies. Colombo’s traffic woes highlight a critical issue: the absence of standards and accountability in traffic management. Establishing benchmarks and KPI-driven frameworks can help: Such measures would not only improve outcomes but also encourage public confidence in the system, leading to greater compliance and discipline on the roads. While technology is essential, driver behaviour and discipline are equally critical. For Colombo’s traffic management system to succeed: Colombo’s traffic light inefficiencies are a classic case of wasted potential and public funds. The current system is failing not because solutions are unavailable but because we lack the mechanisms to implement and maintain them effectively. This issue is more than an inconvenience; it’s a symptom of deeper systemic problems that require bold action. It’s time to recognise that Colombo deserves better. Public awareness must increase, standards must be set, and accountability must become the norm. Let us envision a city where traffic flows efficiently, investments yield results, and every citizen reclaims their lost time and productivity. By taking action now, Colombo can transform into a model city for the region; a testament to what’s possible when innovation meets accountability. Half a billion rupees a day is too steep a price to pay for inaction.Manmohan Singh: A scholar, patriot, perseverer, and PM

SLNG Stock Soars to 52-Week High, Reaching $5.37

Coimbatore: School education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Monday said the govt had formed a committee to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) in the state school syllabus and that the same would be implemented soon. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the review meeting of chief educational officers here on the day, the minister said, "The plan is to introduce AI in schools through the State Council of Educational Research and Training. A committee has been formed in this regard and discussions are on. Our goal is to implement it in the next academic year. We must keep up with the global trends. That's why the state govt is heavily investing in school education." He said Tamil Nadu was the only state to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to integrate technology into the school curriculum. "The govt has allocated funds to establish hi-tech laboratories in all govt middle and high schools, upgrade computer systems and replace outdated equipment." The minister also emphasised on the importance of improving pass percentage in the upcoming Class X and Class XII board exams. "Chief education officers should take adequate measures to increase pass percentage and ensure that students who fail are able to succeed. Districts that perform well will be commended, while reasons for underperformance in certain districts will be analysed to encourage improvement," he said. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz's nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump's desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It's unclear what's next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he's done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress," he said. Farnoush Amiri, The Associated Press

My dear 2024, Letter writing may be a lost art in this digital age, yet there are moments when the weight of reflection demands the intimacy of a letter. So, dear 2024, consider this a heartfelt note from a Nigerian seeking to encapsulate the whirlwind of emotions, events, and transformations that have unfolded over the past twelve months. As I pen down these words, I do so with the awareness that you are not an ordinary year. Your arrival brought hope, but as the days rolled, that hope was replaced with hardship, struggle, perseverance and lessons. In this letter, as tricky as it may be, I will attempt to recount the key events that shaped you – the milestones that defined not only my life but the collective experience of a nation grappling with economic hardship, political uncertainty, and social upheaval. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and you will be remembered as a year that tested our spirit and resolve. This is not just a recollection of facts but a narrative of survival in a land where, at times, the future seemed uncertain. You were, indeed harsh, but we, the Nigerian people, have shown remarkable resilience and perseverance. Despite the economic hardships you brought, with inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs affecting all, we have stood strong. Your visitation of economic hardships worsened by 34-40% inflation rate and supply chain disruptions, an embarrassing unemployment rate of 40%, and rising living costs affected both the high and the low. Almost all households felt your pinch. Nigeria’s food inflation rate rose to close to 40% by mid-year, pushing millions into poverty. National Bureau of Statistics reports indicated that over 71 million Nigerians faced food insecurity by the third quarter. The exchange rate rose by over 60%. Yet, amid these challenges, the Nigerian people showed remarkable resilience and perseverance. To put it into context, essential commodities such as rice, maize, and garri doubled in price within months. The petrol price fluctuated between N700 to N1200 per litre, severely impacting transportation and logistics. Even sachet water, popularly called ‘pure water’, became a luxury for many, reflecting the depth of economic strain. You made our economic thinkers and planners look clueless. Thank God we, the people, showed understanding with them. You brought needless political contentions –the Rivers crisis, contentious elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Kano Emir drama, the Old-New-Old national anthem, and “Endbadgovernance”demonstra tions. An attempt to reform our tax system highlighted our stubborn ethnic fault lines. You were not short of drama, both relevant and irrelevant. The reinstatement of the old national anthem left citizens divided, as critics viewed it as distracting from pressing governance issues. However, amid these contentions, the Nigerian people stood united, showing remarkable solidarity. Despite the divisive nature of some of these events, we have remained a united front. Poverty and hunger became our companions, resulting in three deadly stampedes during palliative distributions in Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving no fewer than 60 people dead. Unemployment among the youth reached over 45%, with many university graduates resorting to menial jobs or leaving the country in search of greener pastures, contributing to the ongoing ‘Japa’ wave. At the global scene, you delivered historic elections and global unrest. People in more than 60 countries—representing almost 50 per cent of the world’s population—went to the polls during the year. Voters in Mexico and the United Kingdom picked new leaders, while a former U.S. president was invited by voters back to the White House. In Nigeria, voter turnout in local elections dipped to a record low of 28%, reflecting growing disillusionment with governance. This disinterest was amplified by widespread insecurity, with over 1,500 reported cases of abduction and banditry disrupting daily life. Villages in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Borno faced relentless attacks, forcing thousands into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. “Lakurawa” gained a strong foothold in parts of North-West states. Some strange things happened that we did not foresee. Greece extended adoption rights to same-sex couples, and Thailand legalised same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. You gave LGBTQ+ rights activists something to celebrate. This felt strange in this part of the world, where same-sex relations remain criminalised, and social acceptance lags far behind. In Nigeria, lawmakers intensified efforts to uphold conservative values, with proposed bills aimed at further restricting LGBTQ+ rights. The disparity in cultural values highlighted the widening gap between regions of the world, reflecting the complex layers of societal evolution. You saw the world in turmoil, and the Russian vs Ukraine war continued unabated. This war brought about lots of military posturing, leading some to fear nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO. The conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Iran ramped up to greater heights. The Middle East is in commotion, with the war extending to Lebanon and Israel vowing not to stop until it wipes Hamas and Hezbollah out. Iran has shown its willingness to confront Israel, framing itself as the watchdog of the Middle East against Israel’s aggression. You also witnessed the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, raising fears of extremist groups seizing power. Reports from the UN suggested that over 300,000 Syrian refugees fled to neighbouring countries by year-end, adding to the growing refugee crisis. But amid it all, you allowed some of my compatriots to think and look at things differently, to learn that hard work does not kill and bad governance is for a season. Despite the odds, small businesses grew by 7% in sectors like agriculture and technology, offering a glimmer of hope. Despite the increase in tariffs and persistent collapse of the national grid, there has been a marginal improvement in power output in homes and factories. The healthcare sector witnessed significant transformation in the past few months of 2024 because of incisive, superlative reforms and programmes. So far, 53,000 health workers have been re-trained—an impressive number—to deliver integrated, high-quality services. The Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative, which offers free caesarean sections to all eligible Nigerian women meeting the criteria, and the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessment Report were launched. These initiatives represent a step forward in our healthcare system, offering hope for the future. Your successor, 2025, is shaping up to be quite the mixed bag — it’s like the year is expecting a baby, but no one knows if it’ll be a bundle of joy or a handful of trouble. Nigeria is trying really hard to stop putting all its eggs in the oil basket. There’s a lot of noise about agriculture, tech, and manufacturing stepping up. With this African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) getting more action, we might see Nigeria flexing as West Africa’s trade big brother. But let’s be honest — oil and gas aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Dangote Refinery finally kicking into gear might help us cut down on those expensive imported petroleum products. If it plays out right, that could mean fewer trade deficits and more jobs, which we desperately need. But you know how it is with oil — prices are like Lagos traffic, unpredictable and everywhere. Plus, the world’s moving towards greener energy, so we’ve got to figure out how to keep the money flowing long-term. Now, on the money front, I won’t sugarcoat it. Inflation and the exchange rate will probably keep dancing around, and not in a fun way. The Central Bank will try to keep things under control, but they’ll need serious foreign investment and more non-oil exports to make it work. The tech space is looking exciting, though. With all these young, sharp minds and everyone glued to their phones, Lagos and Abuja are becoming mini–Silicon Valley — fintech, ecommerce, aggrotech, you name it. Politically, Nigerians are still out here demanding real change. Anti-corruption will stay a hot topic — we’re all tired of the same old stories. There’s also this growing pressure for electoral reforms and better public services. Civil society is getting louder, and I’m here for it. But security? Whew. That’s going to be a big one. Between insurgency in the Northeast, banditry up North, and secessionist noise in the Southeast, the government has its hands full. It will take more than military action — they must dig into why these issues keep popping up. On top of that, some states are pushing harder for more control over their resources and policies. The whole decentralisation and restructuring debate might heat up. Meanwhile, you can bet politicians are already gearing up for 2027. Alliances will shift — it’s like watching chess, but with higher stakes. Look, Nigeria has its share of problems—inequality, environmental issues, governance struggles. But the potential? It’s huge. We’ve got the people and the energy, and if we can channel it right, the sky’s the limit. Here’s hoping 2025 is more of a blessing than a headache. As I look ahead to 2025, I do so with cautious optimism. While the road ahead remains uncertain, I am reminded that even in the darkest of times, resilience shines through. So, to everything we have passed through, thank you, 2024, for setting us free. 2025, if you’re reading, please be more liberal to us as a nation and as a people. May our leaders listen more and apply more wisdom. May 2025 usher in real hope, stability, and progress for Nigeria and the world. Wishing Nigerians a happy, peaceful, and prosperous new year.5 things to do in the garden this week: Fruit trees. Although all parts of the pomegranate are medicinal, extract from pomegranate peel is 10 times as rich in beneficial biochemicals as the rest of the fruit. Some advocate making a pomegranate peel powder for tea. It should be noted that the peel is the most nutritional part of any fruit. One tablespoon of shredded citrus peel, known in the culinary world as zest, contains four times the dietary fiber and three times the quantity of Vitamin C as one tablespoon of citrus pulp. Even the fleshy outer covering or jacket of almonds is highly nutritious. With avocadoes, where the peel is not eaten, the outside pulp that touches the peel is more nutritious than the inside pulp Vegetables. Beets grow with ease when planted now and are ready to harvest 60 days or less after planting. Beets originated in the Mediterranean where they were grown for their nutritious leaves more than 2,000 years ago. For centuries, their roots were used for medicinal purposes alone. It was only in the 1500s when a large bulbous root developed on a beet grown in Germany that this part of the plant was first consumed for its gustatory appeal. (For this reason, beets are sometimes referred to as “beetroots” to distinguish them from beets that are still grown for their foliage.) Beet seeds are unusual among vegetables since, like its close relative, Swiss chard, seeds are actually formed in multi-germ capsules or clusters. Thus, when you plant beets or chard, you are dealing with clusters from which 2-6 seeds sprout. Thin the sprouts so the most robust of them remains, although some gardeners allow two or three sprouts to develop and thin them when small beets have developed for a final thinning. Herbs . Rue (Ruta graveolens) is a highly attractive evergreen subshrub with delicately lobed blue-green foliage and yellow flowers that grow two feet tall. It may be used as a stand-alone member of your herb garden or trained into a low hedge. It is a strewing herb, meaning it was strewn on the floor of dwellings in the Middle Ages. Due to its strong malodorous scent, strewing it could repel insect pests, especially fleas that carried the Black Plague. It was also thought to have divine power as both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo said they were heavenly inspired upon imbibing an infusion made from its leaves. You should be able to find rue in the herb section of any well-stocked nursery or garden center. Flowering woody perennials. Winter cassia, or Christmas bush (Cassia/Senna bicapsularis), is an anomaly as it blooms when all other shrubs and trees have stopped flowering. The display of butter-yellow, butterfly-shaped flowers is seen from November through the first of the year. Each leaf consists of a series of small oval leaflets set opposite each other. This is an airy specimen that you will never need to prune and, grown in half-day sun, won’t need to water either. I obtained mine years ago and it is one of the most gratifying plants in my garden. You can find it online readily enough. Plants and seeds are available from vendors on Etsy.com. Ornamentals. Winter is the season for geranium appreciation, although what we commonly refer to as geraniums are mostly pelargoniums. The most commonly seen geraniums are known as zonals (Pelargonium x hortorum). They are upright plants with lobed leaves – sometimes colorfully patterned – and always with a distinctive odor on account of which they are sometimes referred to as fish geraniums. Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are easily identified due to their trailing growth habit. Martha Washingtons (Pelargonium x domesticum) have flowers in many fetching colors, including salmon, creamy pink, and lavender-purple, along with sharply toothed leaf margins. And then we come to scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.), of which there are probably a hundred different kinds or more. Their flowers in pale pink or white are an afterthought to the plethora of scents – peppermint, lemon, chocolate, nutmeg, apple, ginger, apricot, attar of roses, and cinnamon, among others – that their leaves transmit upon being rubbed or crushed. The chemical compounds that create these scents also impart a significant measure of drought tolerance. All pelargoniums are easily propagated from four to six-inch shoot tip cuttingsThe 'perverse' reason we've given up on California and are now fleeing to the other side of the world By JAMES CIRRONE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:24 GMT, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 21:24 GMT, 7 December 2024 e-mail View comments A writer has revealed that he and his wife are fleeing from California to Spain because they are fed up with soaring cost of living and America's obsession with cars. Rocco Pendola, 49, who has lived in San Francisco and Los Angeles for the last 25 years, has previously stated that these cities 'represent the best of America' in many ways. But he has now announced on his Substack personal finance blog that he and his wife will be permanently moving to Valencia next month. The move to Spain's third largest city has been months in the making, with Pendola writing in January: 'When my wife and I decided to move to Spain, I set the goal of celebrating my 50th birthday there. If all goes as hoped, planned and intended, I’ll begin the official second half of my life on foreign soil.' Numerous blog posts revealed that his decision boils down to the cost of living rising beyond what he believes is reasonable and how reliant the US is on cars. 'I might be willing to keep paying a premium to live in [Los Angeles or San Francisco] if not for the perverse and never-ending influence of the automobile on the planet, our safety, and how we function and feel in our day-to-day surroundings,' Pendola wrote in a piece published in SFGate . Rocco Pendola (pictured) has been a freelance writer for decades and offered two reasons for why he's moving in January from California toSpain Pendola has spent the last 25 years in California, first living in San Francisco and then in Los Angeles (pictured) Much of America's car-centric culture stems from how leaders responded to the transportation needs of its citizens post-World War II when the country's population and economy was booming. With an interstate system that has 46,876 miles of road connecting the streets of nearly all cities, major and minor, Pendola thinks it's clear: you need a car in America. And that is his main problem with the country. Pendola wrote that car dependency in the US has led to the 'proliferation of not only suburbia but, in many cases, less dense urban cores.' 'Some urban planning experts believe that San Francisco, Boston and Portland, Oregon, might as well be suburbs relative to their European counterparts,' he added. After World War II decimated nearly all of Europe and countries rebuilt themselves, those states have gone in a starkly different direction than the US when it comes to how people get around. Between 10 and 20 percent of Western Europeans use public transit for their commutes, while only 2 percent of Americans do the same . His move to Valencia (pictured) was spurred on by how reliant the United States is on cars and the high cost of living in most major US cities Pictured: A section of the brand new National Interstate Highway System in the 1950s Pendola also views the automobile as a menace to society, both in how they degrade urban residents' lifestyles and kill thousands of pedestrians a year . In a Substack post from last July, Pendola ranted about how 'you limit yourself' if you don't drive in Los Angeles, where he currently lives. 'You limit yourself when you don’t have a car because our public transportation system either doesn’t take you places where you want to go or takes you there using a route that’s so absurd you’d never even consider it,' he wrote at the time. 'Too much time. Too many transfers. Super inefficient and unpleasant.' Pendola longs to live 'a car-free lifestyle' in a 'built environment that not only encourages and facilitates, but pretty much necessitates walking, biking and taking public transit.' In San Francisco, where he lived for seven years, he pointed out that there is a fight to close a single city block to cars so it can be pedestrianized. Meanwhile, cities in Spain like Barcelona and Valencia are pursuing 'superblock' programs that often fashion as many as nine city blocks into a space conducive to people walking and biking. Two blocks on Hayes Street in Hayes Valley, a neighborhood in San Francisco, became car-free on Fridays and weekends at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters include restaurants and businesses on the street that had access to a new clientele who were ambling into stores they might not have given a second look if they were zooming by in a car. People walk the Hayes Street Promenade in San Francisco during the day This section of road was first closed to cars on Fridays and weekends during the COVID-19 pandemic Over the years, the street closures were gradually pared back. Now, only the 400 block of Hayes Street can remain closed and just on Fridays from 4pm to 10pm and Saturdays from 10am to 10pm. The Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, headed up Andrew Seigner, wanted to expand the closure back to three blocks. Pendola spoke to Seigner, who said the overwhelming majority of businesses on the 400 block support closing it to cars permanently. The opposition to this is led by a group called Hayes Valley Safe, which according to Seigner, is made up of a small handful of businesses that are not on the 400 block. Pendola found it ironic that 'safe' is in their name, considering that they support letting cars to go through Hayes Street at all times when dozens of people die every year from vehicle crashes in San Francisco. On what many call one of the deadliest streets in America , Lombard Street has had five deaths within 10 years, with two people killed this past year in the span of 10 days. Signs were also placed at the intersections where pedestrians were killed, reading: 'This is the site of a fatal traffic crash. Every year, around 30 people are killed and 600 people are severely injured in traffic crashes on San Francisco streets. 'Arguing to keep a street safe by leaving it open to cars sounds odd, if not heartless,' he argued. Last month, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board allowed the 400 block to close for another year but activists are continuing to fight for a permanent closure. Lombard Street, which locals call the 'deadliest' street in the city, has a famous steep and winding road section Walk San Francisco posted signs near pedestrians were killed along Lombard Street Some businesses say ousting cars and pedestrianizing streets hurts their bottom line, but a study that examined pedestrian-friendly areas in Spanish cities disagreed. Based on transaction data from a major Spanish bank, researchers found that 'stores located in pedestrian environments tend to record higher sales volumes than stores located in non-pedestrian environments.' The difference, Pendola says, between Barcelona and Valencia and a city like San Francisco, is that those two Spanish cities are pursuing infrastructure plans that benefit pedestrians citywide - not merely on a single city block. 'I want to move to a place that gets stuff done because I’m drained by the piecemeal approach. Random projects throughout large cities that, even if successful, don’t change the prevailing lifestyle. The culture,' Pendola wrote. Barcelona began its superblock program in 2016 and built its first one in 2017. These superblocks don't ban cars entirely, but they're 'often eliminated or calmed on the inner segments and directed to the outer avenues,' Pendola said. Engineers hope to build 503 superblocks by 2030, which would make '60 percent of the streets previously used by cars would thereby be free for other uses,' according to the city government of Barcelona . Valencia, where Pendola is moving to in a few weeks, is pursuing similar plans as part of its 2030 Climate Mission. An overhead view of Barcelona's pedestrian-friendly superblocks. They're bigger than normal city blocks but smaller than entire neighborhoods The city plans to build 503 of them by 2030 For Pendola, there's a certain magic to Valencia and Spain as a whole that makes him want to call it home But Spain is not just full of better designed cities in Pendola's opinion. For him and his wife Melisse, urban areas there have an indescribable quality that makes them feel like home (even though he is of Italian heritage). His wife 'described this weird feeling of re-entering Spain from another country and feeling like she’s home. While I can’t quite put my finger on this feeling and why I also feel it, it’s palpable,' Pendola wrote in a November Substack article. Pendola's Substack started out as a personal finance blog for people who believe they will never retire either out of necessity or by choice. He advocates not banking on a traditional retirement strategy where you invest a portion of your income into a 401(K) and rely on measly Social Security payments. The situation is bleak for three in ten Americans, who have nothing saved for retirement , let alone 13 times their current gross income that some financial planners recommend. Barring an unrealistic scenario where a lucky stock pick makes you a millionaire, Pendola suggests people keep their costs low and find a career they can do into old age. For Pendola, that's writing. It's what he's been doing for more than 20 years and hopes to be able to do it for the rest of his life. But the first part of the equation, keeping your costs low, fits perfectly with how Pendola's blog has shifted in recent months to chronicle his move to Spain. He believes moving to Spain will allow him to 'never retire' but still live comfortably - mainly because of the country's lower cost of living . Housing remains by far the largest annual expenditure for Americans at 32.9 percent. Rent in Valencia, even on the pricier side, is more than 20 percent cheaper than the median apartment in Los Angeles Valencia is pursuing similar pedestrian-centered plans as Barcelona as part of its 2030 Climate Mission In Los Angeles, the median rent for a one-bedroom is $1,853 as of December, according to data compiled by Apartment List . By comparison, one-bedroom apartments in the city center of Valencia range from 800 to 1400 euros per month ($845 to $1480), according to a ReValencia , a real estate company aimed at expats. That's 20 percent cheaper than the City of Stars. For retirees, that should be a siren call. If two people retire at 67 years old - receiving full Social Security benefits - and both live until the average US life expectancy of 77 years old, the difference in how much they will pay is drastic between LA and Valencia. Over the next 10 years, the Valencia retiree will have spent roughly $178,000 in rent, while the Los Angeles resident will have spent nearly $222,000. Pendola also recently delved into how much groceries - the third biggest spending category for Americans - cost in Barcelona as opposed to Santa Monica. While he was in Barcelona in February, he took a recent receipt he had from a Trader Joe's in Santa Monica and bought all the exact same things at a Mercadona store in the heart of the city. 'After making adjustments and running all of the math, the Trader Joe’s shopping trip cost $57.79, while - after making the currency adjustment - the Mercadona run would have cost $37.59, good for a $20 difference,' Pendola wrote. 'I’ll miss you California, but not that much,' he signed off last week. Share or comment on this article: The 'perverse' reason we've given up on California and are now fleeing to the other side of the world e-mail Add comment

Longwood secures 89-81 win over UABMore than 20,000 customers remain without power across Northern Ireland following Storm Darragh. NIE Networks have warned it may take days for power to be restored to all customers in the region following damage caused by gusts of up to 70mph. At the peak, some 48,000 were without power. NIE Networks said by 9pm on Saturday, about 22,000 remained without power. A spokesperson said it is anticipated that a small number will have power restored overnight. “At this stage, NIE Networks estimate that it may be a number of days before they can reconnect all those customers impacted,” they said. Trains and some bus services and flights were cancelled across Saturday as the storm battered Northern Ireland. A bus was involved in a road crash in Co Antrim in the early hours of Saturday while Stena Line ferry services from Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland were cancelled. A ferry remained off the coast of Co Antrim on Saturday, believed to have been sheltering from the weather conditions. A major power station reported damage to a chimney from the storm, adding it had halted electricity generation temporarily while the damage was assessed and addressed. EP Ballylumford station manager Tim McCullough said: “We are fully committed to ensuring the safe restoration of operations. The safety of our staff and the integrity of our equipment are our top priorities, and we are working closely with all necessary parties to minimise any disruption to electricity supply.” The Department for Infrastructure said multi-agency partners have been meeting in response to the Met Office ’s amber weather warning for wind which remained in place until 9pm. In a statement, the Stormont department urged people to make only essential travel because road conditions were challenging. They said disruption to bus and train services as well as some flights was continuing and the Strangford ferry has been suspended until further notice. “Translink have taken steps to mitigate against the effects of Storm Darragh. Additional buses are on standby. Additional support and teams are also on standby, including chainsaw crews, to assist with any fallen debris blocking the railway,” a department spokesman said. “If roads are blocked, it may be necessary to divert Ulsterbus or Goldliner services. Safety is Translink’s number one priority. All passengers should check the Translink Journey Planner or social media channels in advance of travel and to allow extra time for their journeys. “Department for Infrastructure staff have been working through the night to respond to approximately 900 incidents which are mainly debris on the roads, fallen trees and branches and flooding.” A Translink spokesperson said a driver on the bus involved in the collision in Co Antrim had been the only person on board at the time and was taken to hospital for treatment. “We can confirm that the driver has since been discharged from hospital,” they said. "Our immediate priority is the welfare of our colleague, and we are providing support to them and their family. An internal investigation is under way, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances of the incident.” A number of roads, including Castle Street in Belfast city centre, were closed on Saturday morning while clean-up work was carried out. Some events in Northern Ireland, including three Irish League football clashes and a planned vigil in Belfast for the women of Afghanistan have been called off, while the Apprentice Boys of Derry shutting of the gates event in Londonderry was set to go ahead. The Belfast Christmas Market was not expected to open, with organisers saying they need to ensure visitors and traders are kept safe. In the Republic of Ireland, almost 400,000 customers are without power. A spokesperson for NIE Networks said community assistance centres will be opened across Northern Ireland on Sunday to offer assistance to those still without power. A number of leisure centres in Craigavon, Lisburn, Newtownards, Ballymena, Cookstown, Kilkeel and Fermanagh will be open from 2-4pm on Sunday. Edel Creery, NIE Networks Customer and Market Services Director, said: “With the amber weather warning in place until 9pm tonight (Saturday) outages have continued to be reported throughout the day. “Due to the widespread damage we anticipate it could be a number of days before power is successfully restored to all customers impacted. We would ask customers to bear with us as our teams work to restore power. Additionally, we would ask members of the public to check in on relatives, friends and neighbours who may require further support and also ensure that their power cut has been reported.” NIE Networks is also reminding the public to stay clear of any damaged electricity equipment, keep children and animals away and to report any incidents of damage immediately to the NIE Networks Customer Helpline on 03457 643 643.Appalachian State hires South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as head coach

Notable quotes by Jimmy CarterNoDerog/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images This article has been coproduced with Kody Kester. I've said it in the past, and I'll say it again: The Safest Dividend is the One That's Just Been Raised. Essential Utilities ( NYSE: WTRG ) is Introducing iREIT® Join iREIT® on Alpha today to get the most in-depth research that includes REITs, mREIT, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, Builders, and Asset Managers. Our iREIT® Tracker provides data on over 250 tickers with our quality scores, buy targets, and trim targets. We recently added an all-new Ratings Tracker called iREIT Buy Zone to help members screen for value. Nothing to lose with our FREE 2-week trial . And this offer includes a 2-Week FREE TRIAL plus my FREE book . Brad Thomas has over 30 years of real estate investing experience and has acquired, developed, or brokered over $1B in commercial real estate transactions. He has been featured in Barron's, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and many other media outlets. He's the author of four books, including the latest, REITs For Dummies. Brad, along with HOYA Capital, lead the investing group iREIT®+HOYA Capital. The service covers REITs, BDCs, MLPs, Preferreds, and other income-oriented alternatives. The team of analysts has a combined 100+ years of experience and includes a former hedge fund manager, due diligence officer, portfolio manager, PhD, military veteran, and advisor to a former U.S. President. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of WTRG either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Gotta Catch ‘Em All! How Pokémon Go Players Are Unwittingly Building the Future of AI Maps

NoneWASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz's nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump's desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It's unclear what's next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he's done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress," he said. Farnoush Amiri, The Associated PressAP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:05 p.m. EST( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The more-than-likeness of Google's Willow chip and AI-119 Gen AI patent technology have led to the development of AI legal Mate, an AI Law research organization that aims to provide free legal assistance to disabled Veterans, LBGTQIA+ youth, and foreign nationals in legal actions, usually in situations where they cannot afford the cost of a bail bond or an attorney to help them out during their very unfortunate situation they've caught themselves up in. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AI LEGAL MATE As previously reported , AI Legal Mate has filed its Gen AI 'Law and Health' technology utility patent updates, utilizing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and quantum computing. QM-Ware is designed exclusively for remote and physical users, and will continue to be under (nonpartisan) exploration delegations with organizations like the Veterans Recovery Network , The Gaygency , Fugees Lives Matte PAC , The Trump S.A.F.E. Act - Department of Government Efficiency 2025, SMART Recovery Network , and Harvard I-Labs. The AI Legal Mate launched a project to assist disabled Harvard students in civil rights actions concerning overly 'X'd up Harvard degrees, and military veterans at the Veterans Recovery Network seeking settlement claims through the PACT Act Relief programs. With quantum computing, AI Legal Mate works as an ultimate API conduit between a pro-bono law client and live attorneys and AI Law technicians to handle batches of similarly situated claimants within a shorter time than a well-staffed civil rights organization with a dozen or more attorneys. AI PATENT TECH NEWS AI119 Tech's propel development team has filed a second utility patent update application for their 'third generation' AI Law and Health technology, designed similar to military ISACs established in the late-90s. This technology uses quantum computer technology under Grover's algorithms for quantum-error corrections in human-driven transactions. The newer version of AI119's technology is capable of resolving tens of thousands of administrative complaint cases within a few days by integrating live attorneys with AI Law resources and SOC-2 applications to certify legal documents. AI Legal Mate's next generation plan is to complete its fifth-generation technology with innovative lab affiliates, including their "QM-ware" approach, which aims to integrate AI with assistive technology like earbuds, eye-ware, wrist-ware, head-ware, and body-ware to enable adaptive learning at 'meta-speed.' This will empower users to receive treatment or training for mental health disabilities or professional skills through peer-to-peer transmission of Generative AI at meta-speeds. For more information about AI Legal Mate or AI119 Gen AI Law technology, visit . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at A video accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN29122024004107003653ID1109039925 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief” and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America’s dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise” speech, even though he never used that word. READ MORE: Rosalynn Carter, outspoken former first lady, dies at 96 After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter’s diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ___ Contributors include former AP staffer Alex Sanz in Atlanta. Bill Barrow, The Associated Press