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I'm a men's style editor and these are the best Black Friday clothing sales and deals happening nowCouncil approves new user fees, sewer and water rates
A landmark dialogue forum titled “Development in Indonesia: Lessons Learned from Papua and for the Pacific” was hosted at Greenhouse Coworking in Suva, Fiji, drawing attention to shared development challenges and opportunities between Indonesia’s Papua province and Pacific Island nations. Organised with the aim of fostering understanding and collaboration, the event was a vibrant convergence of voices from academia, civil society, government, and grassroots leaders. Spotlighting Papua’s progress THE forum commenced with a striking video presentation on Papua’s cultural richness and its developmental strides under Indonesia’s Special Autonomy Framework. The audience, which included Fijian students, government officials, Indonesia Scholarships Fiji Alumni (ISFA), church and community groups, the principal of Queen Victoria School, United Nations Association of Fiji (UNA Fiji), and members of the Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association (FIFA), marvelled at the parallels between Papua and Fiji in their shared Melanesian heritage and challenges. Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Dupito Simamora emphasised the significance of the event in building bridges between the two regions. He highlighted that lessons from Papua’s development could inspire sustainable practices across the Pacific, fostering a two-way exchange of ideas and strategies. Dynamic Discussions: Shared Challenges and Opportunities Prominent speakers from Papua offered diverse insights: Fijian experts added regional perspectives: The recent interactive dialogue event on sustainable development highlighted Indonesia’s Papua province as a case study for addressing challenges in remote regions, offering invaluable lessons for Fiji and the Pacific. The discussions, aligned with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, showcased Indonesia’s strides in bridging development gaps while pursuing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By emphasising economic inclusion and capacity-building initiatives, Papua’s journey presents a model for fostering equitable development. This forum marked a significant step in celebrating the 50-year Fiji-Indonesia diplomatic relationship while envisioning innovative pathways for the next 50 years of collaboration. Strengthening co-operation The forum concluded with a gesture of goodwill from Indonesia. Ambassador Simamora presented educational and sports equipment valued at $175,000 to Queen Victoria School and local Fijian institutions and groups, symbolising Indonesia’s commitment to empowering Fiji’s youth and strengthening educational infrastructure. A model for Pacific development The dialogue underscored the potential for Indonesia and Pacific Island nations to learn from each other’s development experiences. This talanoa was also a chance for Indonesia, under the new administration, to underline its renewed commitments to work together with the Pacific as development partner. Participants expressed optimism about forging deeper connections in education, trade, and youth empowerment, setting a precedent for regional co-operation grounded in shared cultural and social values. This collaborative spirit between Indonesia, by using Papua as one of its gateways, and Fiji marks a step forward in uniting Melanesian communities across the Pacific, demonstrating the power of dialogue in addressing shared challenges and unlocking mutual opportunities. Handover of computers and school equipment by the Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Dupito Simamora at the Fiji-Papua Dialogue Forum. Picture: SUPPLIED Diverse representation at the Fiji-Papua Dialogue Forum. Picture: SUPPLIED
Residents of the town of Fort Frances will be paying more for services and seeing higher water and sewer rates next year as the town works to establish its various budgets for 2025. The rates were discussed and approved at Monday night’s meeting of town council, where administration presented two reports detailing the planned increase. The reports proposed that most user fees would see an increase of 2.1 percent, while residential sewer and water rates would receive an increase at 2.25 percent, and institutional rates would be increased by 3.25. When discussing next year’s user fees within the Town of Fort Frances, the report prepared by Town Treasurer Dawn Galusha notes that not every fee charged by the town would increase, but some of the fees that will see an increase in 2025 include business licenses (e.g. hairstyling shop increasing to $55.75 from $54.60), letters of compliance or approval for properties ($88.30 from $86.50), building/demolition permits (e.g. Residential construction – new and/or addition – Main Floor increasing to $1.00 per square foot from $0.95 per square foot), some landfill rates (e.g. rate per tonne when scale is in operation increasing to $84.55 from $82.79), and community services like Memorial Sports Centre ice rental rates. Discussion also turned to non-resident rates for town facilities, which were once in place but were removed during the previous council’s term. Coun. Mike Behan, responding to a comment from coun. Wendy Brunetta around the possibility of revisiting those rates in order to drive revenue for the town, noted that as a member of the committee that made the decision, the rates were in fact removed for exactly that purpose. “My reasoning for supporting at the time was to actually increase revenue because of the law diminishing returns,” Behan said. “The more expensive something gets, you don’t necessarily get that back, and it might actually lose revenue. So the thought process, to me, was if more non-residents joined the Sportsplex as members, or whichever, we actually might raise more money, which in turn would actually reduce the amount that taxpayer had to subsidize these programs and facilities. That was my thinking, it was sort of outside the box at the time, but we wanted to see if there was some way to raise revenue, not decrease revenue.” Behan noted that the idea was presented as something of a pilot project, though it was complicated by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that he was open to looking at the revenue generated now without the non-resident fees to see if that idea had borne fruit. Coun. Steve Maki echoed Behan’s point, saying he would also be in favour of extending the non-resident fee removal as a pilot project to determine its impact on facility revenue, to which Brunetta agreed. “That’s basically the point I was trying to make is that I’d like to see some facts and figures,” she said. “I’d like to know if it did, in fact, increase our membership, and I accept the fact that COVID put a real dent into what information we could collect. If we’re not going to look at it this budget cycle, I’d like to at least have some information in the next budget cycle so we can actually use facts to support our decision.” Galusha noted there might be some challenge in pulling data that will be useful, as outdated usage numbers from 2019 would be difficult to compare to today’s or even next year’s fees, though Fort Frances mayor Andrew Hallikas expressed his confidence in administrations capabilities. Council requested a report on the non-resident user fees be prepared for Q2 2025. As discussion turned to water and sewer rates in Fort Frances, council reviewed a report from operations and facilities manager Travis Rob that recommended the aforementioned changes to the fee structure, noting the increase would see a 2.24 rate increase for flat rate residential customers that would bring the 2025 total to $1149 for the year, up from $1123.80 per year in 2024, which would equate to an increase of $25.50 per year or $2.10 per month. The fee updates would also set the volumetric rate at $3.89 per cubic meter, or a 3.77 percent increase for Industrial / Commercial class. Overall, the proposed changes would see an increase of $178,197.78 in revenue for the town compared to the 2024 forecasted revenue “which results in a deficit of $11.22 from the forecasted revenue of $6,239,162.00 given the forecasted 2024 consumption,” according to Rob’s report. Speaking to council, the operations and facilities manager noted much of the difficulty in setting these rates comes down to trying to estimate what the annual consumption is going to be, which changes from year to year, especially when trying to plan for saving money in the respective reserve funds. “We use the previous year’s consumption as kind of a guide for us moving forward,” Rob explained. “So we really lean back heavily on our financial plan, and our financial plan does take into account not only the assets that we have, the value of those assets, the age of those assets, and the conditions of those assets. So the financial plan is really establishing that percentage increase or that revenue component with contemplated large capital works in mind. We talked a little bit about it at the capital budget meeting. All of our infrastructure, you know, linear and otherwise is old. It’s reaching end of life... But we fully acknowledge that this is a big year in terms of capital cost. Does that mean we need to try and recuperate some of that reserve contribution this year? I mean, that’s really up to the will of Council. We do still have fairly healthy sewer and water reserves, even with the expenditures that we have.” Rob noted the town has worked to put away roughly $25,000 per year in extra money to help support the reserves, and thus any future projects that may be larger and more costly in scope. It has also been working to incrementally close the gap between the residential and ICI (industrial, commercial and institutional) water and wastewater rates. Council ultimately approved the recommended water and sewer fee changes, with all approved rate and fee changes expected to come into effect January 1, 2025. The complete reports detailing all proposed user fee and water and sewer rate changes can be viewed on the Town of Fort Frances’ website included on the agenda for Monday night’s meeting.Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella changed his cleats just 12 minutes into the game after his slips contributed to both of Tottenham's early goals in the teams' London derby in the Premier League on Sunday. The Spain international ceded possession by slipping on the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the fifth and 11th minutes — and from the ensuing attacks, Spurs scored through Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski. Immediately after Kulusevski's shot hit the net to make it 2-0, Cucurella sprinted to the sideline while shrugging his shoulders and pointed to his cleats. He took them off and threw them away in disgust before putting on new ones. It seemed to work. Within six minutes, he provided the pass that led to Jadon Sancho scoring for Chelsea to make it 2-1. Chelsea went on to win 4-3 — and Cucurella posted a photo on social media after the match, showing the first cleats he wore nestled in a bin. “It almost slipped away,” Cucurella wrote on Instagram Stories, “but proud of the amazing team effort to turn things around.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerThe story of Hector Global began when Chennai boys Srinath Srinivasan, Sibhi Kumaran, and Aswath Kowligi Balaji met at the National University of Singapore while pursuing a master’s degree. When they returned home, they decided to set up their own startup. Their first venture was in the cross-border trade domain but focused purely on branded FMCG products. By early 2023 though they were looking at a different market opportunity. “The idea for Hector Global was sparked during an exploratory visit to the Guntur mirchi yard,” says Balaji. “We were surprised to find that a single commodity — dry red chillies originating from this region — had an export value of more than $1 billion.” But what excited the trio most were the complexities involved: identifying the variety, assessing quality, finding the right supplier, grading, managing freight, and handling documentation. “We realized how challenging it would be for a buyer thousands of miles away in a different country to procure this commodity, especially since there is no option for returns or refunds.” The three friends travelled to multiple mandis across India and visited wholesale markets globally. “We discovered that cross-border agri supply chains are extremely complex, and there was a need to build a solution to simplify procurement for global food buyers,” says Balaji. This led to them to incorporate Hectar Global, a B2B cross-border agri-commodity procurement platform, in January 2023 with Balaji as co-founder and COO, Kumaran as co-founder & CBO, and Srinivasan as co-founder & CEO. In July 2023, the startup raised a seed round funding of $2.1 million led by Powerhouse Ventures with participation from WEH ventures, All In Capital, Indian Silicon Valley, and angel investors Anant Sarda and Adhish Ladha. “With that, we have scaled our portfolio to 15 commodities and a client base in 17 geographies with direct operations in four of them,” says Balaji. “Over the next couple of years, we will focus on strengthening our downstream capabilities in Africa, South, Southeast Asia,” he adds. Currently, Hector Global has offices in Singapore, India, Bangladesh, and UAE. “We have a 17-member team and work across product categories such as rice, spices, pulses, oils, and nuts,” says Balaji. “Our operations span South Asia and Africa, where we are involved in the direct sourcing and distribution of agricultural commodities.” Looking ahead, the company is focusing on aggressive geography expansion. “Over the next 3-5 years, our goal is to be a major contributor to the movement of agricultural commodities along the Asia-Africa trade corridor,” says Balaji. This will require deep sourcing capabilities in regions of origin and strong downstream networks in regions of consumption supported by technology. “Along with building a team of experienced traders, we will hire experts in artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop models that will enable data-backed trade decisions,” he says. Future fund raises will be used to build direct operations in strategic markets, especially in Africa, South, and Southeast Asia, and to expand tech to optimise trade operations. “We will deploy additional funds to build robust on-ground teams to strengthen our sourcing and distribution capabilities and hire experts across technology and operations,” says Balaji. Looking back, the Hector Global trio are unanimous that the smartest thing they did before incorporating their business was travelling across markets to experience the challenges in agri trade firsthand. “This ground-level understanding helped us validate that our solution wasn’t just interesting but necessary and helped maintain focus on solving real problems for global buyers,” he says. Stay ahead in business with The Times of India . Check out Financial Calculators like SIP , PPF , FD , NPS and Mutual Fund Calculators.
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Tesla Enters the Gaming Arena! What This Means for the Future of Gaming?Today I'm thinking about President Trump and the idea of running our country like a profitable business. You know, if I achieved great wealth by the sweat of my brow, I wouldn't want big government demanding money and giving no accounting as to how it is spent. My thoughts regarding taxing the wealthy is this: How about coming up with sever or eight complete projects that need doing in each state. From mission statement, man-hours, materials and on to completion. Have a solid dollar total. Instead of an outright tax, ask them to choose any two. Like fixing roads or bridges near them or reclaiming a waterway or whatever. Let these wealthy individuals monitor this money. They didn't become successful because they are bad at math. You want my money? Then I get a say in how it is spent. I once worked for a man who said "if you can't write your idea on a napkin over lunch, you don't have a clear idea." Let freedom ring! Liz Stock Buffalo Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
hacker Photo: VCG Senior White House officials met on Friday with telecommunications executives to discuss what the White House called "China's significant cyber espionage campaign targeting the sector," Reuters reported, which Chinese experts believe to be another round of persistent hype surrounding the issue of China. The White House meeting was hosted by national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology. "The meeting was an opportunity to hear from telecommunications sector executives on how the US Government can partner with and support the private sector on hardening against sophisticated nation state attacks," the White House said in a statement. Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told the Washington Post on Thursday the breach was "worst telecom hack in [US] history - by far." Experts revealed that the US deliberately fabricates evidence of cyberattacks to tarnish China's image. On May 24, 2023, cybersecurity authorities from the Five Eyes countries - the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand - issued a joint advisory, claiming they had identified activities linked to a "China state-sponsored cyber actor" called Volt Typhoon, which had impacted networks across US critical infrastructure. On April 15 and July 8, China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and 360 Digital Security Group released reports exposing the Volt Typhoon narrative as a fabrication by the US government. Multiple cybersecurity authorities in the US have been pushing a false narrative to secure more funding, while companies like Microsoft seek larger contracts from these agencies, according to the investigation. In October, China released the third report on Volt Typhoon, while the US side remained silent on the matter. It can be said that the narrative of "China threat" and "China collapse" appears frequently, with often-changing themes, such as reports from Microsoft or issues in the telecommunications industry, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday. "These arguments all lack factual basis, and they continually shift the so-called subjects of infringement. Many of the information sources are anonymous and lack substantial support," Lü said. As Lü put it: "The international community sees clearly who is conducting long-term monitoring and espionage on its allies, carrying out indiscriminate cyberattacks on other countries. The actions of the US, lacking substantial evidence, will ultimately expose only the vulnerabilities in its own security system." Responding to a similar US accusation of Chinese "state-sponsored hackers," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on November 14 that: "We have no interest in interfering in other countries' internal affairs through cyberspace and oppose spreading China-related disinformation out of a political agenda."A judge on Monday granted a request by prosecutors to dismiss the election subversion case against Donald Trump because of a Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed to the request by Special Counsel Jack Smith to dismiss the case against the president-elect "without prejudice," meaning it could potentially be revived after Trump leaves the White House four years from now. "Dismissal without prejudice is appropriate here," Chutkan said, adding in the ruling that "the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office." Trump, 78, was accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden and removing large quantities of top secret documents after leaving the White House, but the cases never came to trial. Smith also moved on Monday to drop his appeal of the dismissal of the documents case filed against the former president in Florida. That case was tossed out earlier this year by a Trump-appointed judge on the grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed. The special counsel paused the election interference case and the documents case this month after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. Smith cited the long-standing Justice Department policy of not indicting or prosecuting a sitting president in his motions to have the cases dismissed. "The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed," Smith said in the filing with Chutkan. "But the circumstances have." "It has long been the position of the Department of Justice that the United States Constitution forbids the federal indictment and subsequent criminal prosecution of a sitting President," Smith said. "As a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated." In a separate filing, Smith said he was withdrawing his appeal of the dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump but pursuing the case against his two co-defendants, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the cases were "empty and lawless, and should never have been brought." "Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party's fight against their Political Opponent, ME," he said. "Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before." Trump was accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the session of Congress called to certify Biden's win, which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021 by a mob of the then-president's supporters. Trump was also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election. The former and incoming president also faces two state cases -- in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. However, Judge Juan Merchan has postponed sentencing while he considers a request from Trump's lawyers that the conviction be thrown out in light of the Supreme Court ruling in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from prosecution. In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in office. cl/smsArticle content Mayor Olivia Chow says she never got the emails — but the Toronto Sun got ’em. Recommended Videos Dozens of pages worth of emails, released to the Sun after a freedom-of-information request, appear to show at least two messages about the Oct. 7 vigil were delivered to Chow’s inbox well before the event took place. The vigil, hosted by the United Jewish Appeal Federation in North York, was held one year after the attack on Israel by Hamas to honour the 1,200 people who were slain. Several politicians attended, including city councillors and Premier Doug Ford, but not Chow. Arianne Robinson, who until recently was Chow’s press secretary, told the Sun ’s Joe Warmington shortly after the vigil that the mayor’s office “didn’t receive an invitation.” The documents released to the Sun tell a different story. On Sept. 6, the Jewish humanitarian group Ve’ahavta sent its newsletter to a list of email addresses that included Chow. That email ended with a link to register for the UJA vigil. On Oct. 1, Marni Blustein, director of strategic community initiatives and engagement with the UJA, was more personal — and direct. “Enough is enough!” Blustein began the email. “On Oct. 7, my community has organized a peaceful vigil in honour of the victims. Countless counter-protests are already been (sic) organized — what are you going to do to keep us safe? Whose side are you on?” Chow does not appear to have replied to either message. However, other emails lend credence to Chow’s story that an invitation, sent Sept. 23, was lost to the digital ether. Michelle Stock is a vice-president with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which worked with the UJA on the invitations for the vigil. In October, she shared with the Sun an email sent to the mayor’s office on Sept. 23 that invited Chow to the event. She said that message followed emails to Chow on Sept. 3 and 10. A series of emails show that Sara King, Chow’s executive assistant, was in touch with the city clerk’s office’s IT department on Oct. 8 and 9 regarding that invitation. “I’m still having issues with this email that supposedly was sent to me. The sender insists I would have received it,” King wrote. “Could you do whatever is in your IT power to check if any incoming mail was rejected (or) bounced back from my inbox on Sept. 23 at 14:24?” That evening, King was told: “The results indicate that the email did not reach the city servers. The messaging team will look into this further, and will report back to me tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.” It’s unclear if anything else came of the matter, and the Sun can’t rule out that Chow’s office did receive the CIJA emails. That’s because of the 135 pages of emails disclosed to the Sun , all but 44 are fully redacted — nothing but blank grey pages. “An unjustified invasion of privacy” was cited as the reason. (Bradley Hammond, Chow’s new director of communications, referred a question about these pages back to the office of the city clerk, which made the redactions.) Blustein’s email wasn’t the only one from the UJA that Chow received over the time span — all of September and the first 10 days of October — covered by the Sun ’s freedom-of-information request. About an hour before Blustein’s message, Florence Glickman, a donor relations representative for the UJA, urged Chow to do more about “hate” — presumably referring to anti-Israel protests. “I am asking for your help in ensuring that the city of Toronto be a safe place. Hate has no place in Toronto. We implore you to have the appropriate steps to ensure police monitor these events for incitement and hate speech,” Glickman wrote. (Chow also did not appear to respond to this email.) In a statement, Chow told the Sun she “should have been at the Oct. 7 vigil hosted by UJA.” “My lack of attendance hurt members of the Jewish community,” Chow added, “and I have offered my deepest apologies. I am very sorry and take full responsibility for missing such an important event. “As mayor, I should have been there to show the Jewish community how much I care about their safety and well-being in this city, especially during this time of rising antisemitism and hate. Antisemitism and acts of hate have no place in Toronto.” Councillor James Pasternak has said he personally asked Chow before the vigil if she would attend. In a statement to the Sun , he acknowledged that feelings were hurt, but “the mayor has apologized and it’s time to move on.” “That being said,” he added, “when a part of our mosaic in Toronto, in this case the Jewish community, is in grief and under siege it is vital that the mayor remain a source of healing, unity and collective safety no matter what the blowback is in social media or on the streets. These hateful mobs do not represent the vast majority of Torontonians.” Representatives with the UJA and CIJA declined to get into specifics about the emails, echoing Pasternak’s comment about the mayor having already apologized. jholmes@postmedia.com RECOMMENDED VIDEO
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MADRID (AP) — Getafe scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to beat struggling Valladolid 2-0 and record only its second win in La Liga on Friday. The victory ended Getafe’s five-game winless run and lifted it into 15th place in the 20-team standings. Valladolid remained second to last. In the buildup to the match, Getafe sporting director Rubén Reyes described the game as a final but his team was lucky not to go behind as Valladolid created more of the early chances. However, the home side took control in the 69th minute when substitute Álvaro Rodríguez got the opener. Three minutes later, man of the match Allan Nyom made it 2-0. “There’s been a lot of games where we’ve run and fought but lost or drawn,” Nyom, the veteran Cameroon full back, said. “A game that reflects the effort we’ve put in in training is very welcome.” Adding to Valladolid’s woes, coach Paulo Pezzolano was sent off before halftime. The Uruguayan has the league’s worst disciplinary record, with seven yellow cards before Friday’s red. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNone
Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong declares for NFL draft, skipping bowlManila, Philippines – December 04, 2024 – Mondelēz International in the Philippines celebrated a major milestone in its sustainability journey as it has been conferred the Plastic Cleanup Partner Seal by the PCX Markets. This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to sustainable practices, particularly its adherence to the Philippine Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law and ongoing efforts to manage plastic waste within the snacking industry. The Plastic Cleanup Partner label is awarded to companies that take significant, measurable actions to clean up plastic waste. Mondelēz International’s involvement in this initiative is part of a broader sustainability strategy focused on reducing packaging waste, evolving packaging designs, and improving recycling systems to contribute to a circular economy. PCX Markets is a plastic credit marketplace that collaborates with organizations that collect and divert post-consumer plastic waste through a transparent, environmentally sound, and socially responsible framework. “Achieving the Plastic Cleanup Partner seal is an important milestone for us,” said Aleli Arcilla, Managing Director of Mondelēz International in the Philippines. “This seal is a powerful message to our stakeholders, consumers, and partners that we are actively working to ensure that plastic waste is diverted from nature and the landfill. It is a symbol of our dedication to our Sustainable Snacking Strategy,’ ensuring that the right snack is delivered in the right way.” In addition to receiving the Plastic Cleanup Partner seal, Mondelēz International also discussed its ongoing efforts to support the EPR Law. The company is committed to complying with the law’s guidelines and actively participates in initiatives to make packaging materials more circular and less wasteful. “We believe compliance with the EPR Law is not just about meeting requirements; it’s about leading by example and advocating for others to follow,” added Arcilla. “At Mondelēz International, we are committed to reducing plastic packaging, evolving our materials to use recycled content, and improving waste management systems in countries where we operate. That is why for every kilo of post-consumer plastic packaging we introduce to the market; we ensure the equivalent amount is collected and diverted from nature here in the Philippines.” This commitment goes beyond the 40% collection and diversion requirement of the EPR Law this 2024. The company’s sustainability programs also extends beyond certification. Their ‘Trash Right’ program, which educates teachers and schoolchildren about waste management and plastic collection, has already engaged twenty-seven public elementary schools in Parañaque City together with ocean advocacy group Save Philippine Seas. Mondelēz International has successfully collected almost ten metric tons of plastic for diversion to upcycling through this initiative. Furthermore, the company has just launched two new Aling Tindera sites in Parañaque City, providing local collection points to further support community recycling and sustainability efforts. This program, which transforms women micro-entrepreneurs running small “sari-sari” stores into sustainability leaders, allows local residents to sell their plastic waste directly to their neighborhood Aling Tindera. These women collect, clean, and store the plastic, which is then responsibly processed, with compensation provided for each delivery. Adds Rudi Ramin, Commercial Director of PCX Markets, “Mondelēz International’s achievement of the Plastic Cleanup Partner Seal in the Philippines shows their commitment to real, measurable action against plastic waste. Their initiatives, like ‘Trash Right’ and Aling Tindera, go beyond compliance—they empower communities and set the standard for sustainability in business. At PCX Markets, we’re proud to partner with Mondelēz International in creating a cleaner, more circular future.” The company’s commitment to diverting plastic pollution from nature is part of a wider plastic sustainability plan. Globally, Mondelēz International aims to ensure 98% or more of its packaging is designed for recyclability, and to reduce the amount of virgin plastic it uses by 2025. With its ongoing efforts and future commitments, Mondelēz International aims to continue its collection and diversion of its total post-consumer plastic packaging onwards, making sustainability a core aspect of its operations and contributing to a circular economy where plastic is seen as a valuable resource and does not end up as waste. ### About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world with 2023 net revenues of approximately $36 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ . Being business-savvy should be fun, attainable and A+. BMPlus is BusinessMirror's digital arm with practical tips & success stories for aspiring and thriving millennial entrepreneurs.
By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” Related Articles A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BERKELEY, Calif. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Technology , a mental health technology innovation company, is announcing its participation in Batch 19 of the prestigious UC Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for startup acceleration. The company's HereHear AI therapist solution will be the key focus of the program, driven by the vision of revolutionizing mental health with AI-powered virtual solutions. To learn more about HereHear, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngU32WgiWf4 "HereHear is here in the US, and I am truly grateful to the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for recognizing its potential," noted Lynia Huang , Bamboo Technology's CEO. "As important as mental health has become in recent years, there is a shortage of mental health providers and access to support is low — and HereHear is paving the way for AI to bridge that gap as a first line of defense." A growing case for incorporating AI into mental healthcare With data showing that the US is in a mental health crisis, the CDC recently noted a dire need for public health initiatives that create environments centered around mental health. Specific to the workplace, the Society for Human Resource Management's Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series found that 44% of US employees feel burned out at work. The combination of a shortage of mental health providers in the US with the flourishing capabilities of AI builds a strong case for the technology to be deployed in the form of human-guided mental health solutions. HereHear's YangYang: A personalized 3D virtual therapist As organizations seek out ways to empower team members to take better care of their mental health, AI is increasingly emerging as a solution for on-demand, personalized support. Offering a more engaging interaction than chatbots, HereHear's 3D virtual therapist YangYang was launched in January 2024 and offers: Sophisticated vocal and emotional analysis: Aligned with professional assessment scales, it analyzes voice features in 30 seconds to detect levels of stress, depression and happiness, assessing both verbal and nonverbal cues. Broad accessibility : Multiple languages and real-time, personalized support Powered by AI and deep learning: Continuously learns from patient interaction YangYang has already been implemented in several therapy clinics and has helped 70% of users improve stress and depression levels by 25% within 3 months. Taking the form of a sheep further distinguishes her — this functions both to provide a 'cute' aspect lending to the warm, healing emotional support she provides, while also helping users who are struggling emotionally to keep in perspective that their interactions are ultimately not with a human. Bringing success in Taiwan to the US market Bamboo Technology's acceptance into the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program is a major accomplishment as the platform seeks to enter the US market. Batch 19 has only 117 startups out of around 2300 applications, and the program will support HereHear to develop, pilot and launch, as well as to pitch for funding. The company aims to target the app in the human resources space—as a tool for companies to offer staff for on-demand, privacy-first mental health support. Back in Taiwan , the app already has hospitals, mental health clinics, universities, publicly listed companies, and government agencies that use it, similarly spurred by a shortage of mental health workers. About Bamboo Technology Established in November 2018 , the Taipei -based Bamboo Technology is a mental health technology innovation company that focuses on improving public mental health with voice emotion analysis technology. It embraces a belief that a universal, objective, and scientific mental health system can effectively solve the problem of deteriorating mental health in today's society — a core tenet upheld by its many psychologists; social workers; and information management, AI and big data experts. SOURCE BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY LTD.BEIJING , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baijiayun Group Ltd ("Baijiayun" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: RTC), a one-stop AI video solution provider, today announced that it has entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the "SEPA"), with YA II PN, Ltd. ("YA"), a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the the SEPA, YA is committed to purchase up to $50 million (the "Commitment Amount") of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares (the "Shares") at any time during the two-year period following the execution date of the SEPA, by delivering written notice to YA (an "Advance Notice"). Pursuant to the SEPA, YA will advance to the Company, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as set forth therein, the principal amount of up to $15 million (the "Pre-Paid Advance"), which will be evidenced by convertible promissory notes (the "Promissory Notes", together with the "SEPA", the "Offering") in four tranches. The first Pre-Advance, in the principal amount of $3,000,000 , was advanced December 6, 2024 in connection with the execution of the SEPA, and is subject to a 10% discount to the principal amount of such Promissory Note. If there is no balance outstanding under the Promissory Notes, the Company will have sole discretion to sell the Shares to YA from time to time by issuing Advance Notices to YA following the effectiveness of a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registering the Shares issuable pursuant to the SEPA and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to the SEPA for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Company and the Investor have entered into a registration rights agreement on the date hereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company shall register the resale of the Shares issuable pursuant to the SEPA. The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties to the SEPA, the Promissory Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement, or of the transactions contemplated thereby and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents, the copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the Company's Current Report on Form 6-K on December 6, 2024 . D. Boral Capital LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the Offering. About Baijiayun Group Ltd Baijiayun is a one-stop AI video solution provider with core expertise in SaaS/PaaS solutions. Baijiayun is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality video experiences across devices and localities and has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017. Premised on its industry-leading video-centric technologies, Baijiayun offers a wealth of video-centric technology solutions, including Video SaaS/PaaS, Video Cloud and Software, and Video AI and System Solutions. Baijiayun caters to the evolving communications and collaboration needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries. For more information, please visit ir.baijiayun.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the documents the Company has filed or furnished or may file or furnish with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. For investor and media enquiries, please contact: Company Contact: Ms. Fangfei Liu Chief Financial Officer, Baijiayun Group Ltd Phone: +86 25 8222 1596 Email: ir@baijiayun.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baijiayun-announces-up-to-15-million-convertible-promissory-notes-and-50-million-standby-equity-purchase-agreement-302325234.html SOURCE Baijiayun Group Ltd
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(ECNS)--China and France are both ancient civilizations, so we must stay curious about each other's cultures while respecting our differences, said Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former prime minister of France and president of the Foundation Prospective and Innovation (FPI), during the 6th China-France Cultural Forum held from Nov. 12 to 14 in Deauville, France. Raffarin emphasized that while cultural divides between the two countries persist, the forum aims to bridge these gaps, fostering mutual understanding between the two peoples. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. As important representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, both countries have a long history of mutual appreciation and admiration. The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Over the years, China and France have increased their interactions, exchange and communication in various fields, playing an exemplary role in conducting dialogue among different civilizations. From seeking common ground to mutual respect Exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations thrive on an open-minded approach that seeks common ground while respecting differences. During the opening ceremony, founder of Yishu 8 Christine Cayol shared her thoughts on the founding of the China-France Cultural Forum. She said the idea was transformed into reality thanks to the collective efforts of artists from both countries, who are dedicated to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. So far, the forum has become a flagship event for cultural exchanges between China and France and has been incorporated into the high-level people-to-people exchange mechanism between the two countries. In 2009, Cayol founded Yishu 8, based in both Beijing and Paris, to foster cultural exchanges between French and Chinese artists. Philippe Augier, mayor of Deauville, noted that cultural openness fosters mutual understanding while cultural dialogue promotes people-to-people exchanges. Deauville, the host city for this year’s forum, is known for its rich history and unique geographic location. It has frequently hosted exhibitions showcasing Chinese art, enhancing cultural understanding between the two sides. Besides, Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to France, underscored the friendly relations between Deauville and China, which is a microcosm of Sino-French cultural exchanges. Inheritance and innovation go hand in hand The theme of this year’s forum is "Inheritance and Innovation of Civilizations: 60-year Cooperation and Development Between China and France". At the forum, participants emphasized the importance of art innovation and people-to-people exchanges. Ding Zhongli, president of the Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA) and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the theme of this year’s forum highlights the precious Sino-French friendship, which should be carried forward from generation to generation. “Today, we live in an internet age where many young people build their social circles online. They are impacted by emerging media,” said Mao Weitao, vice chairman of the China Theatre Association and chairman of Dramatist Association of Zhejiang Province. He noted that traditional drama and theatrical arts are gradually declining. However, he pointed out that today, some young people present tradition with a fresh perspective, which is gaining popularity. Culture serves as a bridge for mutual understanding, with ancient books and emerging technologies serving as windows to our understanding of each other, said Arnaud de Puyfontaine, chairman and CEO of Vivendi. The civilizations of China and France are vibrant and enduring, with cultural exchanges that never cease, he concluded.DHAKA (AFP): Squeezing rubber-covered robotic prosthetic hands, Bangladesh protesters wounded during the deadly revolution to topple autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina test out replacement arms for their lost limbs. “I’ll be able to do some everyday tasks with this artificial hand,” said student Hafeez Mohammad Hossain, 19, whose right hand was ripped off in gunfire on August 5. It was the same day protesters stormed Hasina’s palace as she fled to India by helicopter. In the middle of the chaos, Hossain said a police officer levelled a shotgun at him and fired. He described searing pain as gun pellets lacerated his back and leg. Surgeons picked out the gunshot, but were unable to save his hand. “I can’t write anymore,” Hossain said. “I’m struggling to learn how to write with my left hand.” On Thursday he was fitted with a prosthetic limb, alongside four other students who also lost their hands during the months-long protests in which at least 700 people were killed during a police crackdown. Robolife Technologies, a Bangladeshi organization manufacturing artificial hands, said the prosthetic limbs use sensors connected to the nerves to move. The company says it allows users to grasp objects, to type and use a phone. “If you ask me whether they work like organic hands, I’d say no,” said Antu Karim, who is working on the government-backed project to fit the limbs. “But these hands allow the boys to hold a glass if thirsty, or a spoon to eat,” he added. “At least, they won’t be looked down upon for not having hands.” Hasina’s 15-year tenure saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents. Limbless protesters held a rally earlier this month demanding the interim government who took over after Hasina’s fall support those injured in the protests. Many say they have not received the aid they need. The four other former protesters who had arms fitted on Thursday included Mohammad Mamun Mia, 32, a father of two, whose hand was hacked off by a gang he said was loyal to Hasina’s Awami League party. The new arm is far from perfect, but it has made a huge difference. “I’ll be able to do some regular tasks with this hand,” he said, saying that while he cannot work driving a tractor in the fields again, he hopes now to open a small business. Arif Hossain Sagar, 19, had his hand amputated after it failed to heal from an injury he sustained during the protests, and doctors worried about gangrene. “I can’t do any regular activities now,” Sagar said. “I rely on others for eating or bathing.” The new hand will return a degree of normality to his life, he said. Nayeem Hasan, wounded when attackers pounced on him as he went to donate blood to help those injured after a fire, broke into tears. The new arm would help him fulfil his simple dream. “I have a one-year-old daughter who wants me to hold her,” Hasan said.Daily Post Nigeria Naira appreciates massively against dollar ahead Christmas holidays Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Business Naira appreciates massively against dollar ahead Christmas holidays Published on December 23, 2024 By Ogaga Ariemu The naira appreciated massively against the dollar in both parallel and official foreign exchange markets on Monday ahead of Christmas, DAILY POST reports. A Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abubakar Alhasan, told DAILY POST that the naira closed at N1640 per dollar on Monday, N1,775 recorded on Friday last week. This showed that the naira gained N135 against the dollar. Similarly, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange data showed that the Naira strengthened marginally to N1539.55 on Monday from N1,541.68, exchanged on Friday last week. The developments come as the Nigerian government declared three days of public holidays on Monday to mark this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations. Related Topics: Christmas holidays dollar naira Don't Miss Yuletide: Avoid panic buying, we’ve enough fuel – IPMAN urges Nigerians You may like Naira weakens against dollar Naira strengthens against dollar Naira further appreciates against dollar on black market Naira extends gains against dollar Naira appreciates against dollar despite rise in Nigeria’s inflation Har yanzu ana amfani da tsofaffin takardun Naira – CBN Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
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