ssbet77 referral id free

A day after the US allegations of bribery involving Adani group and the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration in Andhra Pradesh surfaced, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday promised action based on evidence as he offered his comments on the issue. Speaking in the state assembly, he termed the allegations "damaging" to Andhra Pradesh's reputation and said necessary steps would be taken. The allegations stem from court filings by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has alleged that industrialist Gautam Adani met the then CM Reddy in August 2021 after the state did not sign a power supply agreement with the government-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The US Justice Department claimed that an unnamed Andhra Pradesh government official was offered kickbacks of ₹1,750 crore to facilitate purchase of solar power by state distribution companies from SECI. Political tightrope "More facts are yet to come to light. The government is also thinking about what steps to take as facts are being unravelled as we speak. We will take stock of the situation, see what needs to be done and will take action accordingly," Naidu said in the assembly. "If there is wrongdoing, action must be taken. That's the only way to ensure the same mistake is not repeated." He further said, "The issue that has come out today has badly damaged brand Andhra Pradesh in the public forum. It makes me very sad." Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, a key ally of the BJP-led NDA, faces the tough challenge of being seen to be taking action against rival Jaganmohan Reddy and also not violating coalition dharma by playing the same tune as the opposition. The state BJP too took a stronger stand than on the previous day. The BJP X handle posted a photograph of Reddy waving goodbye with the caption "Namapally to New York" (alluding to Reddy being on his way from Namapally jail to New York). Contractual liability Naidu's apparent reluctance to initiate serious action appeared to be in stark contrast to his government's white paper on power which has red-flagged the power purchase agreements, according to people familiar with the matter. Under "inefficient governance", the white paper stated that the agreements would result in a financial burden of ₹62,000 crore over 25 years. "On 1st December 2021, Government of Andhra Pradesh, APDISCOMS and SECI entered into a tripartite agreement for procurement of solar power for a capacity of 7,000 MW from SECI at a tariff of ₹2.49/unit This solar capacity shall be connected to inter-state network and is scheduled to be commissioned in phases with 3,000 MW in September 2024, another 3,000 MW in September 2025 and the balance 1,000 MW in September 2026," said the white paper, released on July 9. "Considering the lowest tariff of ₹1.99/unit discovered at the time of signing of tripartite agreement, the additional tariff burden on consumers is around ₹850 crore per year... the total additional burden due to procurement of solar power from SECI is around ₹3,850-4,350 crore per year. Net present value of additional burden due to this for 25 years is around ₹62,000 crore." If the state government scraps the agreement, it would need to pay ₹25 lakh per MW as penalty to Adani group for 7,000 MW. However, it can be saved by the integrity pact that the private group has signed with SECI, said experts. In case of any violation of the pact (which includes the private company indulging in malpractices), the state government would not need to pay the penalty, they said. Focus On other projects Following the US indictment, trade unions brought into focus other projects including award of Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram port projects. CPI general secretary D Raja told ET, "There is deeper connivance here. The trade unions have been raising the issue of government resources like land being given away practically free or at very nominal rates to Adani group." (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )The Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands has scheduled a public meeting to gather community input on a proposed communications tower. The meeting will take place on Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Lansdowne office council chambers at 1233 Prince Street. The session will focus on Tower Application T00-2024-002, which proposes the construction of a 45-metre communications facility at 27 Hill Island Heights. Township staff will present a report with background information and recommendations, after which council will decide its position on the proposal by resolution. The tower, submitted by FB Connect on behalf of Xplore Inc., is designed to enhance internet and data services for the Hill Island and Honey Bee Island areas, as well as along Highway 137. The structure will feature a triangular, self-supporting design with a small three-by-three-metre footprint and an anti-climb mechanism. Antennae for transmitting and receiving data will be mounted on the upper portion, with provisions for future technological upgrades. Before proposing the new facility, Xplore Inc. investigated the feasibility of using existing tower infrastructure within 0.5 kilometres of the site. According to the township staff report, no suitable structures were identified. The proposed installation is also noted as having the potential to support colocation with other licensed carriers, reducing the need for additional tower construction in the area. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting in person or participate virtually to share their views. The consultation process is a required step before approving the installation and operation of the communications facility. The township is emphasizing the importance of community involvement in shaping the future of connectivity for the region. For further details on how to join the meeting virtually or by phone, residents can contact the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands office, at 613-659-2415, or 1-866-220-2327. Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.Middle East latest: UN General Assembly demands a ceasefire in Gaza

How Donald Trump Transferring $4 Billion in Truth Social Stock Impacts InvestorsMANCHESTER CITY really do have a mountain to climb to get back to where they once were. This game – played in the shadow of the Alps - showed just how far they have fallen since the end of October. Dusan Vlahovic’s header – which somehow squeezed past Ederson – and Weston McKennie’s volley mean it is now one win in 10 for Pep Guardiola’s men Seven of those have been defeats and now the boss has to pick his weary troops up for Sunday’s Manchester derby. In recent years, they have made light work of the Champions League groups – effortlessly gliding through. Yet when the competition returns in a month’s time, a finish in the top 24 is by no means guaranteed. Their next game is at old foes Paris Saint-Germain, who also need the points – followed by a home game against Club Brugge. From kings of Europe 18 months ago to scrambling to make the Last 16 play offs is a sobering fall from grace. And right now City look completely devoid of confidence – shipping goals alarmingly at the back while struggling to take their chances at the other end. It has been a nightmare six weeks for Pep - who don't forget signed a new two-year contract in the middle of all the chaos. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S A trip to Turin might look daunting but Juve have lost four their last six European games at their Allianz Stadium. Thiago Motta’s men started out a couple of places behind City in the table – clinging on to a place in the play-offs by their fingertips. Guardiola recalled his first-choice keeper Ederson, who had paid the price for his erratic display in the last Champions League game against Feyenoord . That result – when they threw away a three-goal lead in 15 astonishing minutes – had left their place in this tournament beyond January in some doubt. Pep had once again had to patch up his team – playing Rico Lewis as a left back after his eventful day at Selhurst Park on Saturday. City were seeing plenty of the ball which is what Guardiola had asked of them before the game – suggesting they needed to go back to basics. But they were struggling to create much and at the other end they were relieved to see a shot from Kenan Yildiz drift just wide. The Turkish winger also showed City skipper Kyle Walker a clean pair of heels on more than one occasion. England defender Walker can no longer rely on his pace as he used to and this time he had Ruben Dias to thank for making a key block. Meanwhile, City failed to record an effort of note in the opening half hour – the first time that has happened in a European game in four years. Erling Haaland saw an effort blocked by Teun Koopmeiners before it ricocheted into the grateful arms of Michele di Gregorio. The pair were face to face again moments later as the Norwegian ran onto a trademark pass from Kevin De Bruyne. He tried to lift it over the home keeper who got enough on it to keep it out and the best chance of the half was gone. The City boss would have been pleased with the amount of possession his team had – but slightly concerned how little they had created and how pedestrian they looked at times. Meanwhile after shipping seven goals in their previous two matches in this competition, at least they had kept the home team at bay. Guardiola knew failure to win here would have put their hopes of finishing in the top eight and qualifying automatically for the Last 16 almost out of the question. A two legged play-off in February is the last thing a squad that has already stretched by injuries needs. Not surprisingly, City’s best moments came from De Bruyne and his low cross soon after the restart found Ilkay Gundogan – but the German’s tame effort was blocked. And the two misses proved costly with Juventus taking the lead as Federico Gatti’s acrobatic effort was pushed away by Ederson. Josko Gvardiol made a hash of clearing his lines and Yildiz swung the ball back over. Vlahovic got up highest and while Ederson scooped it around the post, goaline technology said it had already crossed the line. It was a matter of millimetres but it was a poor goal to concede and another error by Gvardiol, who is having a miserable time right now. City knew they had to snap into action and they did – but Juventus were throwing everything in the way to protect their lead. Bernardo Silva saw a good chance blocked while De Bruyne’s long-range effort fizzed just past the post. Di Gregorio dived full stretch to push Gundgan’s effort from the edge of the box around the post. But as they pushed for an equaliser they were caught on the break as sub Timothy Weah – son of former City player George – broke down the right. His cross made its way to US international team-mate McKennie whose volley had too much on it for Ederson.

Elon Musk calls Trudeau an ‘insufferable tool’ on his social media platform

PARIS (AP) — France’s president and prime minister managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Now comes the hard part. Crushing debt , intensifying pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast: Challenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after an already tumultuous 2024. The most urgent order of business is passing a 2025 budget. Financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission are pushing France to bring down its deficit, to comply with EU rules limiting debt and keep France’s borrowing costs from spiraling. That would threaten the stability and prosperity of all countries that share the euro currency. France’s debt is currently estimated at a staggering 112% of gross domestic product. It grew further after the government gave aid payments to businesses and workers during COVID-19 lockdowns even as the pandemic depressed growth, and capped household energy prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. The bill is now coming due. But France’s previous government collapsed this month because Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and left-wing lawmakers opposed 60 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes in the original 2025 budget plan. Bayrou and new Finance Minister Eric Lombard are expected to scale back some of those promises, but the calculations are tough. “The political situation is difficult. The international situation is dangerous, and the economic context is fragile,” Lombard, a low-profile banker who advised a Socialist government in the 1990s, said upon taking office. “The environmental emergency, the social emergency, developing our businesses — these innumerable challenges require us to treat our endemic illness: the deficit,” he said. “The more we are indebted, the more the debt costs, and the more it suffocates the country.” This is France’s fourth government in the past year. No party has a parliamentary majority and the new Cabinet can only survive with the support of lawmakers on the center-right and center-left. Le Pen — Macron’s fiercest rival — was instrumental in ousting the previous government by joining left-wing forces in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou consulted her when forming the new government and Le Pen remains a powerful force. That angers left-wing groups, who had expected more influence in the new Cabinet, and who say promised spending cuts will hurt working-class families and small businesses hardest. Left-wing voters, meanwhile, feel betrayed ever since a coalition from the left won the most seats in the summer's snap legislative elections but failed to secure a government. The possibility of a new no-confidence vote looms, though it's not clear how many parties would support it. Macron has repeatedly said he will remain president until his term expires in 2027. But France's constitution and current structure, dating from 1958 and called the Fifth Republic, were designed to ensure stability after a period of turmoil. If this new government collapses within months and the country remains in political paralysis, pressure will mount for Macron to step down and call early elections. Le Pen's ascendant National Rally is intent on bringing Macron down. But Le Pen faces her own headaches: A March court ruling over alleged illegal party financing could see her barred from running for office. The National Rally and hard-right Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau want tougher immigration rules. But Bayrou wants to focus on making existing rules work. “There are plenty of (immigration) laws that exist. None is being applied," he said Monday on broadcaster BFM-TV, to criticism from conservatives. Military spending is a key issue amid fears about European security and pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for Europe to spend more on its own defense. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who champions military aid for Ukraine and ramping up weapons production, kept his job and stressed in a statement Tuesday the need to face down ‘’accumulating threats'' against France. More immediately, Macron wants an emergency law in early January to allow sped-up reconstruction of the cyclone-ravaged French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa. Thousands of people are in emergency shelters and authorities are still counting the dead more than a week after the devastation. Meanwhile the government in the restive French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia collapsed Tuesday in a wave of resignations by pro-independence figures — another challenge for the new overseas affairs minister, Manuel Valls, and the incoming Cabinet. Associated Press writer David McHugh in Frankfurt contributed.

Rumble Announces $775 Million Strategic Investment from TetherPARIS (AP) — France’s president and prime minister managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Now comes the hard part. Crushing debt , intensifying pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast: Challenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after an already tumultuous 2024. The most urgent order of business is passing a 2025 budget. Financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission are pushing France to bring down its deficit, to comply with EU rules limiting debt and keep France’s borrowing costs from spiraling. That would threaten the stability and prosperity of all countries that share the euro currency. France’s debt is currently estimated at a staggering 112% of gross domestic product. It grew further after the government gave aid payments to businesses and workers during COVID-19 lockdowns even as the pandemic depressed growth, and capped household energy prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. The bill is now coming due. But France’s previous government collapsed this month because Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and left-wing lawmakers opposed 60 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes in the original 2025 budget plan. Bayrou and new Finance Minister Eric Lombard are expected to scale back some of those promises, but the calculations are tough. “The political situation is difficult. The international situation is dangerous, and the economic context is fragile,” Lombard, a low-profile banker who advised a Socialist government in the 1990s, said upon taking office. “The environmental emergency, the social emergency, developing our businesses — these innumerable challenges require us to treat our endemic illness: the deficit,” he said. “The more we are indebted, the more the debt costs, and the more it suffocates the country.” This is France’s fourth government in the past year. No party has a parliamentary majority and the new Cabinet can only survive with the support of lawmakers on the center-right and center-left. Le Pen — Macron’s fiercest rival — was instrumental in ousting the previous government by joining left-wing forces in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou consulted her when forming the new government and Le Pen remains a powerful force. That angers left-wing groups, who had expected more influence in the new Cabinet, and who say promised spending cuts will hurt working-class families and small businesses hardest. Left-wing voters, meanwhile, feel betrayed ever since a coalition from the left won the most seats in the summer's snap legislative elections but failed to secure a government. The possibility of a new no-confidence vote looms, though it's not clear how many parties would support it. Macron has repeatedly said he will remain president until his term expires in 2027. But France's constitution and current structure, dating from 1958 and called the Fifth Republic, were designed to ensure stability after a period of turmoil. If this new government collapses within months and the country remains in political paralysis, pressure will mount for Macron to step down and call early elections. Le Pen's ascendant National Rally is intent on bringing Macron down. But Le Pen faces her own headaches: A March court ruling over alleged illegal party financing could see her barred from running for office. The National Rally and hard-right Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau want tougher immigration rules. But Bayrou wants to focus on making existing rules work. “There are plenty of (immigration) laws that exist. None is being applied," he said Monday on broadcaster BFM-TV, to criticism from conservatives. Military spending is a key issue amid fears about European security and pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for Europe to spend more on its own defense. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who champions military aid for Ukraine and ramping up weapons production, kept his job and stressed in a statement Tuesday the need to face down ‘’accumulating threats'' against France. More immediately, Macron wants an emergency law in early January to allow sped-up reconstruction of the cyclone-ravaged French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa. Thousands of people are in emergency shelters and authorities are still counting the dead more than a week after the devastation. Meanwhile the government in the restive French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia collapsed Tuesday in a wave of resignations by pro-independence figures — another challenge for the new overseas affairs minister, Manuel Valls, and the incoming Cabinet. Associated Press writer David McHugh in Frankfurt contributed.DNA breakthrough helps police ID skull found in 1988 cold case

Primary Cells Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Emerging Trends, Key Segments, Leading Players, and Forecast - 2029Green Bay's recent dominance on defense has Packers believing they can make a deep playoff runQuantum computing is emerging as a game-changing technology poised to revolutionize industries, much like how artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the digital landscape . As we head toward 2025, experts predict that quantum computing will be the next major frontier in tech, unlocking unprecedented computational power and driving breakthroughs in fields such as cryptography, drug discovery, and optimization. At the heart of quantum computing's potential is the quantum bit, or qubit , which can represent multiple states simultaneously, allowing quantum computers to process data exponentially faster than classical computers. In fact, recent advancements have already shown the immense promise of this technology. For example, Alphabet Inc.’s GOOG GOOGL Quantum AI division, led by Hartmut Neven , recently unveiled its latest quantum chip, Willow . This chip reduces errors exponentially and completed a benchmark computation in under five minutes—an operation that would have taken one of the fastest supercomputers 10^25 years to finish. The rise of quantum computing presents a compelling complement to AI, as it has the potential to enhance AI models and algorithms, helping unlock entirely new frontiers in science and technology. As this technology advances, it could usher in a new wave of innovation, particularly in industries reliant on complex data processing and problem-solving. Also Read: Quantum Computing Stocks Roundup: D-Wave, Rigetti, IonQ Lead the Charge With Explosive Growth Market Growth and Investment Opportunities The quantum computing market is set for explosive growth. According to Fortune Business Insights, the U.S. quantum computing market, valued at $138.2 million in 2022, is projected to skyrocket to $1.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 31.7%. This surge is driven by increasing investment and initiatives like those outlined by the White House in May 2022. For investors looking to capitalize on this booming sector, top companies include Top stocks to invest: NVIDIA Corporation NVDA Honeywell International Inc. HON Microsoft Corporation MSFT International Business Machines Corporation IBM IonQ, Inc. IONQ Rigetti Computing, Inc. RGTI Quantum Computing Inc . QUBT D-Wave Quantum Inc. QBTS Quantum-focused ETFs offer a diversified approach to investing in this transformative space. Per Rising Wave, investing in quantum computing ETFs offers a distinctive chance to participate in a technological revolution. Defiance Quantum ETF QTUM WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund WCLD Global X Cloud Computing ETF CLOU ARK Next Generation Internet ETF ARKW As quantum computing approaches mainstream adoption, it will likely become one of the most exciting areas of growth in the tech industry over the next few years. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in January

President Zelensky rejected a proposal for a Christmas ceasefire, the Hungarian prime minister has claimed, drawing a stinging rebuke from Ukraine. Viktor Orban, Russia’s biggest ally in the European Union, said he had discussed the war in Ukraine during a telephone call with President Putin. He wrote on X: “We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. It’s sad that President Zelensky clearly rejected and ruled this out today. We did what we could.” His comments were echoed in Moscow. “Viktor Orban expressed interest in assisting the joint search for political-diplomatic paths to resolve the crisis,” the Kremlin said. It called Zelensky’s stance “destructive”. However, Dmytro Lytvyn, an aide to the Ukrainian leader , said that Kyiv had not been informed about anyThe Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) celebrated its 89th anniversary this weekend, reaffirming its commitment to addressing poverty, promoting social justice, and reviving the welfare state in Sri Lanka.In a message marking the occasion, party leader Prof. Tissa Vitarana highlighted the global decline of capitalism and its devastating impact on both developed and developing nations, including Sri Lanka. Prof. Vitarana said that the capitalist socio-economic system is in its final phase of decline, citing global examples such as Volkswagen’s closure of major plants in Germany, job losses, and wage cuts. “This decline is exacerbating economic disparities worldwide, with poorer nations bearing the brunt of exploitation,” he said. In Sri Lanka, 63% of families live below the poverty line, unable to meet basic needs such as food and medicine. Malnutrition among children, which stood at 14.3% two years ago, has now risen to 30.7%, Prof. Vitarana noted. He warned of dire consequences for the next generation, including stunted physical and mental development, unless urgent measures are taken to provide essential nutrients at affordable prices. The LSSP leader called on the government to reintroduce targeted welfare programs, including free or subsidized food distribution through cooperatives, as implemented by former LSSP leader Dr. N. M. Perera during the 1972/73 economic crisis. He also urged the removal of indirect taxes burdening the poor and their redistribution to wealthier segments of society. Prof. Vitarana criticized the government’s adherence to International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies, arguing that they increase foreign debt and undermine essential public services. He cited the erosion of Prof. Senaka Bibile’s National Medicinal Drug Policy as a key factor behind medicine shortages and rising healthcare costs, which disproportionately affect the poor. On international issues, Prof. Vitarana condemned what he described as the “barbaric actions” of Israel in Gaza, accusing the United States of enabling such actions to maintain its global dominance. He argued that the U.S. economy, heavily reliant on the arms industry, promotes conflicts worldwide to sustain demand. Prof. Vitarana also highlighted the emergence of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as an alternative to Western-led economic systems. He advocated for Sri Lanka to join the BRICS alliance, which he sees as a pathway to economic sovereignty and reduced dependence on Western powers. Turning to domestic industrial policy, Prof. Vitarana called for greater utilization of existing resources, such as the SLINTEC nanotechnology center and the Vidatha Centres, which have supported over 12,000 small and medium enterprises. He stressed the need for innovation and digital technology to drive industrialization and create a sustainable economic future. Addressing climate change, he underscored the importance of proactive planning to mitigate its impacts while warning against potential threats from international agreements like the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which he claims undermine national sovereignty. Prof. Vitarana concluded by reaffirming the LSSP’s commitment to fighting for the rights of the poor and marginalized, emphasizing the party’s historical role in championing social justice and its vision for a welfare-oriented future.DE SARTHE in Hong Kong presents Here Today, Gone Tomorrow , a solo exhibition by Chongqing-based artist Hou Jianan . With keen graphic sensibilities, this showcase of new paintings delves into the illusory nature of fulfillment in a world wrought by digital gratification. Hou takes interest in the ways in which hedonistic desires become amplified by our current technological moment, as material consumption becomes one with screen-based stimulation. With this in mind, the artist selectively inflates and flattens aspects of his acrylic compositions, weaving a feeling of artifice into his visual language. Central to the exhibition are recurring domestic motifs – houses, candles, curtains and chairs – juxtaposed against lush greenery and flora. Sweet and seductive in their homey comfort, a closer examination reveals an intentional falseness, similar to the fleeting and hollow satisfaction of instant pleasures. “An indirect reference to the 1998 film The Truman Show, the artworks also comprise of artificial skies in the background, not only illumining the boundary to this blissful trap, but bringing to the surface that all that is perceived is but an illusion – one that is here today but will be gone tomorrow,” the gallery wrote. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow is now on view until January 25, 2025. DE SARTHE 26/F, M Place, 54 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong

Haven’t picked up your holiday gifts yet? Apple now offering free 2-hour deliveryJury considers charges against man in killing of Ole Miss student popular in local LGBTQ+ community

The teacher used a visual aid — a hand across his own perspiring forehead during a timeout — to illustrate his point. “We gotta slow it down.” The only thing slowing Mark Sausville these days is scar tissue in his left knee, which kept him from fully flexing his leg as he got up and down from his seat on the Schenectady boys’ basketball bench at Shenendehowa on Tuesday night. Otherwise, his animated, rapid-fire, meticulous lessons on the court echoed back to his first stint as the Patriots’ head coach, during which the team won its second state championship in four years in 2001. Another echo: Sausville’s hoarse voice after a 73-50 loss to Shen on Tuesday. “I’ll keep coaching like a maniac, like I always have, until I drop, I guess,” he said with a chuckle. If Sausville represents a reverberation from the Schenectady High glory years, he also offers a clarion call for his current team, which he took over after the school announced this summer that John Miller was giving up the job. Having served as the Scotia-Glenville head coach from 2017 until last season, he is in his 33rd year as a special ed teacher in the Schenectady City School District, and takes over a team that has lost two games by big margins to start 2024-25. Within a month or so, “I guarantee we’re going to be a much better basketball team.” If the Patriots do get much better, here’s another guarantee: It’ll be in large part because of Sausville’s embrace of the teaching aspect of coaching. “I want to see kids get better,” he said. “When I’m teaching them and they look me in the eye, I absolutely love it. It’s a thrill, as a teacher, that you can’t replace. “I just love seeing the lights go on in their eyes, like, ‘Holy cow, I get it.’ And I get that with basketball, too.” At 62 and coming off a knee replacement this summer that may need to be revisited in a year, Sausville does have some physical limitation. He may get up and down the sideline OK during games, but in practice, he can’t demonstrate certain points like he used to, like how to draw a charge or close out on shooters. “Basketball takes my mind off the pain a little bit; it’s not horse racing,” he said with a grin. Of course, any success the Patriots have this season will to some degree fall in lockstep with the level of talent Sausville has to work with. Senior Andre Jackson, who scored 18 points against Shenendehowa, is a strong finisher at the rim, and keep an eye on sophomore guard Jose Maduro Nunez. At the start of the second half, he used an ankle-breaking crossover dribble to open up space to hit a 3-pointer. “He’s very confident. But sophomores make sophomore decisions, and, as a coach, you’ve got to live with some of them,” Sausville said. “But we get great leadership from Dre [Jackson]. I’m thrilled to be coaching a guy like him, because he’s such a leader, and he just plays so hard. But they all played hard for me tonight, and I’m not going to ask for anything more than that.” Naturally, none of his players were born when Sausville’s Schenectady team won the 2001 state championship. Despite that, he said they are aware of the state titles won by the Patriots — Sausville also was Gary DiNola’s assistant on the 1998 team — mostly because of the buzz surrounding Sausville’s return to the job he held for 12 seasons through 2009-10. “They’ve been reminded enough, and all these articles in the paper aren’t hurting that fact,” Sausville said. “But they realize. They talk about how the crowd and the gym used to be packed back in the day, and how much fun that must’ve been.” “And I introduced them to who Walt Przybylo was when we started and the legacy of that, and I think it’s important,” he added, referring to Pat Riley’s legendary head coach in the 1960s. Sausville didn’t merely step into a vacuum at Schenectady High left behind when Miller stepped down. There were plenty of forces at work to lead him back into the Patriots coaching job, including persuasive encouragement from people deeply rooted in the program. He initially took an assistant’s job at Scotia-Glenville because his son, Alex, was playing there, and eventually moved up to the head coaching job there after having helped the Tartans win a state championship when he was an assistant under Jim Giammattei. “I was having fun at Scotia,” Sausville said. “We weren’t winning as much as I’d like. The kids were playing hard for me. I loved the Foothills [Council] coaching group and made some good friends, but Schenectady’s my home. I’m born and raised there, and I love the fast-paced game a little more and love coaching that get-up-and-grit, and that’s what we had tonight.” “I was texting him. I met Mark a couple years ago, and said, ‘It’s so great to have you on the sideline, and I can’t wait to sit down and shoot the breeze about the old times,’” Shenendehowa head coach Paul Yattaw said. “I’m so intrigued, because I wasn’t in the area at the time. I’ve been here my whole life except for the six or seven years when he went through that run. “To see him back at his old stomping grounds is great, and I think he’s going to do wonderful things with that program. “I’m just glad we got them early in the year.” On Friday, Sausville will work a game as the home coach at the Pat Riley Center for the first time since his return, against Niskayuna. “It’ll be fun. It’ll be special to be coaching the Schenectady team there again,” he said. “I was there [with Scotia] when Alex played, so I’ve been back, but when you’re coaching your home team, it’ll be special. “I have so much support from people, like yourself and the newspapers, and just people in general coming up saying, ‘We’re so glad you’re back.’” He never left, as a schoolteacher. He never left the coaching profession, from a teaching standpoint. On Tuesday, the Patriots regained possession when a Shenendehowa player kicked a Schenectady pass out of bounds, and the ball came straight to Sausville’s hands. Instead of reflexively tossing the ball to the ref, Sausville reflexively held onto it to show his player the proper way to have made that pass.GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While other teams around the NFL are seeing their injury lists grow as the season winds down, the Green Bay Packers appear to be getting healthy at just the right time. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While other teams around the NFL are seeing their injury lists grow as the season winds down, the Green Bay Packers appear to be getting healthy at just the right time. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While other teams around the NFL are seeing their injury lists grow as the season winds down, the Green Bay Packers appear to be getting healthy at just the right time. Not only is quarterback Jordan Love looking like himself after dealing with early-season left knee and groin injuries, but the rest of the roster is getting better, too. “I think every team that can realize their potential needs to be as healthy as they can be. And injuries are a part of this business,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “It is what it is in terms of the next man up, but obviously, you want the guys that are your starters to be available — especially as you get closer to the end of the year.” Love certainly has been rolling of late, completing 67.1% of his passes for 904 yards with six touchdowns and one interception (118.8 passer rating) over the past four games, owing some of his hot streak to simply being healthy again. “The name of the game is trying to stay as healthy as possible, especially late into the season,” Love said. “There’s definitely injuries that stack up and guys being out. To have everybody relatively healthy and to be able to have our top guys out there would be huge for us.” The Packers (9-4) head into their Sunday night matchup with the Seahawks (8-5) in Seattle with only one player having been unable to take part in Wednesday’s practice at all: safety Javon Bullard. LaFleur said Bullard is week-to-week with an ankle injury he suffered in the team’s Dec. 5 loss at Detroit. The Packers got full participation from Jaire Alexander, who has missed four of the team’s last five games with a knee injury suffered at Jacksonville on Oct. 27, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who has missed the last two games with a concussion he suffered against San Francisco on Nov. 24. Although Alexander had practiced on a limited basis in recent weeks, he has missed the last three games and pulled himself out of the team’s Nov. 17 win at Chicago because of his knee. Getting Alexander back to face Seahawks receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would give a major lift to the Packers’ pass defense, currently ranked 21st with 222.2 yards per game allowed. “When I was watching him, he looked like he was moving around well, and we’ll just see how it transpires throughout the course of the week,” LaFleur said. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready to roll.” LaFleur said Doubs and rookie safety Evan Williams, who left the Packers’ 34-31 loss to the Lions because of a concussion, are still in the concussion protocol. But Williams was able to practice on a limited basis. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Meanwhile, tight end Luke Musgrave, who hasn’t played a snap since injuring his left ankle during a a Sept. 29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, has been designated for return from injured reserve. Musgrave took part in practice for the first time since undergoing surgery in early October to repair a torn ligament in the ankle. He said he only did individual drill work Wednesday, making it unlikely he would be activated this week. “Just going to ease back into it, but I feel good,” Musgrave said. “Still getting the cutting back, but overall, it feels good.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement Advertisement

Revolutionary Single-Layer Film Eliminates Helmet Changes, Enhancing Driver Safety and Performance LAS VEGAS , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing Optics®, the global leader in high-performance tearoff visor film technology, proudly unveils its latest innovation: the Twilight Tearoff . This groundbreaking single-layer tearoff is engineered to elevate driver visibility during late-afternoon and early-evening races, providing superior glare reduction and contrast enhancement. The Twilight Tearoff redefines race-day performance by allowing drivers to maintain focus and adapt seamlessly to changing light conditions, eliminating the need for disruptive helmet changes. This innovation represents a significant leap forward in racing vision technology, delivering immediate and measurable benefits to professional drivers and teams alike. "The Twilight Tearoff solves one of racing's most persistent challenges—ensuring optimal visibility as lighting transitions rapidly during twilight races," said Chris Colton , Chief Applications Engineer at Racing Optics . "Our dedication to driver safety and performance drives every innovation, and the Twilight Tearoff is no exception." Transforming Racing at Twilight Racing teams are already embracing the Twilight Tearoff as a game-changing solution for twilight and low-light racing conditions. One racing team manager shared their experience: "In a recent twilight race, the Twilight Tearoff gave our drivers unmatched visual clarity. Transitioning from glaring sunlight to artificial lighting without pausing to change helmets was a decisive advantage that kept us competitive." By streamlining the driver experience, the Twilight Tearoff enhances safety and helps maintain uninterrupted race momentum—a critical edge in the high-stakes world of motorsports. Exclusive Debut at PRI Show 2024 The Twilight Tearoff will make its debut at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show , held December 12–14, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana . This highly anticipated event marks Racing Optics' 25th anniversary , celebrating a legacy of trailblazing innovations in motorsports safety and performance. Availability The Twilight Tearoff is now available for purchase at RacingOptics.com and through authorized dealers. Teams and drivers looking to gain a competitive edge are encouraged to explore this latest advancement. About Racing Optics For 25 years, Racing Optics has led the field in racing vision technology, delivering innovative solutions that enhance safety and performance. With a commitment to collaboration and innovation, the company continues to push the boundaries of motorsports protective equipment. For additional information, please visit RacingOptics.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/racing-optics-introduces-game-changing-twilight-tearoff-to-enhance-visibility-in-low-light-racing-conditions-302329546.html SOURCE Racing Optics, Inc.

WINNIPEG — Mike O’Shea stood in front of reporters Friday and kept his cool while answering questions about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend. The head coach was asked if he made a mistake keeping injured quarterback Zach Collaros in the game, why star running back Brady Oliveira didn’t get the ball more and whether a flawed game plan led to Winnipeg’s third consecutive championship loss. “As an entire team, we didn’t have our best game,” O’Shea said in his end-of-the-season press conference. “We didn’t lack effort. We didn’t lack desire. “We didn’t have our best game as an entire team. Three phases. Coaches — everybody. Me especially.” O’Shea admitted he missed calling a timeout in the fourth quarter when there were only 11 Blue Bombers on the field instead of 12. “I don't get the count over the headset as quickly as I probably need to, we can't count. As I'm seeing a guy come off, that's the right time for that timeout that I should have used,” O’Shea said. He also said he should have used a challenge flag earlier on a play he didn’t identify, and checked on his players more during the game. But hindsight wouldn’t change his decision to put Collaros back in the game after the index finger on his throwing hand was cut deep when it hit a defender’s helmet. “He absolutely deserves every opportunity to lead this team,” O’Shea said. “From what I saw and from chatting with him very briefly, I felt really comfortable with that. I didn't think it was going to be easy, but I thought it's Zach, so...” The injury to Collaros’s finger happened late in the third quarter when the Blue Bombers were trailing the Argonauts 17-10. The veteran left the game and returned with a bandaged finger that needed five stitches and a numbing agent. He wore a glove on the hand and told reporters earlier this week it was difficult to grip the ball. Collaros said he warned receivers in the huddle his throws might not have the usual zip and they should be prepared to come back for the ball. “(I) saw him delivering the ball on the sidelines. Then you see him deliver a couple balls out there and some of them are pretty damn good, right?” O’Shea said. “The awareness of Zach to say to the receivers, ‘hey, work a little harder for me,’ I think it’s natural and what should be said. I think they already know that.” When Collaros re-entered the game, he threw interceptions in back-to-back series. “On one of them he got rid of the ball and I thought it was a good ball and the defensive player made a good play,” O’Shea said of the picks. “One slipped right out of his hand or I don't know if it got tipped or not. You've got to give him that opportunity.” Oliveira was questioning his lack of opportunities in the game when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week. The CFL’s newly minted most outstanding player and top Canadian only had 11 carries for 84 yards and one late touchdown. About 17 or 18 run plays were called, O’Shea said. “One starts off with a procedure penalty in the first and then six of those get pulled because there's X number of guys in the box or the read says this is not a run play anymore, this is now a pass play,” he said. “You call that many runs and then a pile of them get pulled because of the structure of the defence. That's OK with me at that point.” O’Shea said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce has been granted permission to talk to CFL teams with head-coaching job openings. The B.C. Lions are reportedly interested in Pierce. The Edmonton Elks also have a vacant head coach spot. If Pierce doesn’t become a head coach, O’Shea said he wants him to stay in Winnipeg. He believes Pierce had the offence “extremely well-prepared” for the Grey Cup. “I’m never going to question the play-calling, and I think what’s going on here is we’re questioning,” O’Shea said. “We’re trying to find blame and fault when that’s nowhere in our DNA of how we built this eight, nine, 10 years ago. We’re starting to try and find all these answers and question all these people that were 0-4 and 2-6 and then 10-1, and we just didn’t play our best game.” The Bombers finished 11-7 and claimed the West Division title that earned them a fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup. They won the championship in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2023. “We're the same group that got there, that went on a phenomenal run after a bad start, and a bad start for a lot of reasons that we overcame,” O’Shea said. “I just, I don't question any of it. I look for answers, too. I watch the film over and over and over again. And look to already make notes on how we're going to be better, how we're going to get back there again.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

With the vast amount of data generated by the world, the need for an efficient and accurate platform and tool to manage, analyze, and extract value from data is increasing. In 2025, many companies will rely on advanced data platforms and data analytics tools to manage and store data and make data-driven decisions to improve operational efficiency. The data platform and tools help businesses to handle data storage and processing for analysis. Here are the top 10 data platforms and tools for 2025 that can help businesses maintain their data, make accurate decisions based on them, streamline workflow, etc. Top Data Platforms Google Cloud Platform is a suite of data storage, processing and analytics services that includes BigQuery for large-scale data analytics and various tools for machine learning, AI, and management of data. Rather than managing the physical data, users can use the GCP’s resources on a pay-as-you-go basis to scale their operations and reduce costs. It is a comprehensive cloud platform offered by Amazon that offers a wide range of on-demand services like data storage, computing power, networking, databases, machine learning, analytics, etc. The AWS allows the business enterprise to rent the computing resources to maintain their hardware and software. Its data services like Amazon S3 for storage, Amazon Redshift for data warehousing, and AWS Lambda for serverless processing make it the leading choice for businesses having large data scales. Offered by Microsoft , this cloud computing platform offers a wide range of on-demand services that include computing power, artificial intelligence, data analytics, storage, database, networking, etc. to help businesses build and manage applications with Microsoft’s global network of data centres. It has services like Azure Data Lake, Azure SQL Database, and Power BI for managing and analysing data with the integration of cloud-based applications. Top Big Data Platforms The Apache Hadoop is a well-known open-source platform that is used to process large datasets across multiple computers. It is a cost-effective solution that helps in the storage and analysis of both structured and unstructured data. Its Hadoop Distributed File System stores data across various machines for better availability and reliability and the MapReduce processing engine helps in parallel data processing across the cluters. Companies like Yahoo, Facebook, and Twitter use Hadoop to manage large volumes of data efficiently. Apache Spark is one of the powerful analytics engines known for its speed by performing data processing in-memory and processing a large amount of data that includes batch processing, real-time streaming, machine learning, graph processing, etc. Spark also supports multiple programming languages like Java, Scala, Python, and R making it helpful for the developers. It has a wide library of tools like Spark SQL for querying structured data, MLib for machine learning, and GraphX for processing graphs. Spark also works seamlessly with Hadoop to help organizations build their existing big-data infrastructure. Renowned companies like Netflix, Airbnb, and Uber use Apache Spark. Databricks is one of the most powerful big-data platforms that is developed on Apache Spark and designed to simplify the creation and deployment of big-data applications. It provides a scalable and fully managed infrastructure that will help in real-time data processing, advanced analytics, and machine learning. It has an interactive workspace for writing codes, visualisation of data and work collaboration; the autoscaling ability helps in large datasets and complex task handling. Renowned companies using Databricks are Nvidia, Johnson & Johnson, and Salesforce. Google Cloud BigQuery is one of the top-rated big data platforms that help in fully managed and serverless data warehouse solutions. It allows the user to store, query, and analyse large datasets at a petabyte scale with high speed and efficiency. This tool integrates well with other Google Cloud Services that feature automatic scaling. It supports SQL queries, built-in machine learning, and geospatial analytics. Companies that use these tools include Spotify, Walmart, and the New York Times. Top Data Analytics Tools Tableau is one of the leading data visualization tools that is used in business analytics and it offers a simple interface that helps in connecting various data sources, allowing the users to develop interactive dashboards and reports. It is a simple tool for business users, however, data analytics can also use its advanced features for tasks like clustering and regression. Coca-Cola, Skype, and Tata 1mg use Tableau to analyze and visualize data, and to communicate data-related insights. Google Analytics is one of the most widely used tools that helps businesses understand the user’s behaviour and how they interact with their websites and web pages. To use this, the user needs to add a special Javascript code to the web pages as the code will collect all the user’s information like time spent on the particular page, its bounce rate, how many times they have clicked on the webpage, which page they visit the mosts, etc. It then sends the data to GA where it organizes and converts it into reports for the user to analyse which page is bringing traffic to the website or how is the user behaving with the web pages. Apache Kafka is one of the top big data analytics tools that is designed for developing real-time data pipelines and applications. It was developed by LinkedIn and is a part of the Apache project, this tool is known for its high throughput, fault tolerance, and scalability for which it is the most efficient tool to handle millions of messages per second without downtime. It supports the real-time processing that enables the business to analyze data and act as soon as it arrives. It also ensures durability by storing data streams for later use. LinkedIn, Yahoo, Twitter, and Tesla use Apache Kafka as their big data analytics tool. Conclusion 2025 will be the year of Artificial Intelligence and Technology advancement and thus it will be essential for businesses to stay competitive with perfect data storage, management, and analysis to optimise the daily operational tasks.What's the outlook for ASX dividend shares in 2025?