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BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.Stakeholders on Thursday said effective family planning services contribute to national development by curbing population growth and alleviating resource pressure. They said this at the ongoing eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference 2024 in Abuja, themed, “Sustaining commitments for family planning within the Nigeria health sector renewal investment initiative, advancing progress towards achieving FP2030 goals,” organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. In his remarks, a former Minister of Health, Dr Isaac Adewole, said an effective FP service can alleviate pressure on resources such as education, healthcare, and employment. Adewole, who is also the chairman of the conference noted that the role of FP as a cornerstone of the country’s health system and a key driver of national development cannot be overemphasised. He stated that Nigeria faces significant challenges related to reproductive health, including high maternal and infant mortality rates, unplanned pregnancies, and limited access to contraceptive methods. He said over 19 per cent of married women in Nigeria have an unmet need for contraceptives, leading to increased health risks. He noted that effective FP services can reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve quality of life and economic empowerment, particularly for women. To accelerate progress towards FP2030, Adewole emphasised that the government should focus on domestic funding, strengthen the supply chain, and integrate family planning into essential services. He also stressed the importance of providing youth-friendly FP services to empower young people, who represent over half of Nigeria’s population. “We need to provide adolescents and young adults with accurate information and accessible resources to make informed reproductive choices. “We also need to strengthen our partnerships with development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to leverage resources, expertise, and innovation to accelerate progress. “Furthermore, we need to ensure that our FP programmes are evidence-based, data-driven, and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised populations,” he said. He urged every stakeholder to seize this moment to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on our shared commitments. Related News FG gets $600,000 relief fund from Gates Foundation States banning alcohol shouldn't share VAT on beer -Ex-minister Two radiotherapy machines working in Nigeria – Ex-health minister “Together, we can transform FP into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda.” In his remarks, the Country Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Uche Amaonwu noted that the theme of the conference reflects the foundation’s understanding of the critical importance of family planning as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s health sector transformation and broader development agenda. Amaonwu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Family Planning at the Foundation, Rodio Diallo emphasised that family planning is more than a health intervention. “It is a transformative force for socioeconomic advancement, gender equity, and sustainable development. By empowering individuals, especially women and girls to make informed reproductive health decisions, family planning fosters improvement in education, productivity, and quality of life,” he said. Amaonwu emphasised the need to prioritise high-impact solutions, such as strengthening the supply chain, enhancing domestic financing, and fostering innovation in policy and service delivery. “Also, engaging communities in a way that supports and empowers women and girls while addressing social norms through culturally sensitive approaches is critical to achieving our goal. The Gates Foundation is proud to collaborate with the government of Nigeria and its partners to expand access, improve quality, and leave no one behind. “And to advance FP2030 goal, we must scale proven high-impact strategies and ensure family planning remains central to Nigeria’s health and development priorities. As we all know, family planning is not merely a health solution. It is a high-return investment, with every dollar invested generating up to $120 in health and socioeconomic benefits. “This conference is an opportunity to renew our commitment, share lessons learned, and inspire bold actions. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and ensure family planning becomes a pillar of Nigeria’s health sector renewal and a cornerstone of its development. Let us seize this moment to strengthen partnerships and that will drive, and we all drive, scalable and impactful interventions,” he added. On her part, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on health, Dr Salma Ibrahm Anas, said although the nation has made progress in promoting FP, it still has a long way to go. “To address these challenges, we need to work together to create a future where every woman and girl in Nigeria has access to FP services. “We must also ensure that our conversations are inclusive and take into account the perspectives of all stakeholders,” she highlighted. She, however, advocated for a homegrown solution to solve FP challenges, noting that there is a need to develop strategies that are tailored to our unique context and needs. “Another challenge we face is the lack of awareness about FP so we need to invest in education and awareness-raising programmes,” she said.
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, swore in eight judges of the Oyo State High Court and two Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, while urging them to carry out their duties with all sense of responsibility and to live up to the expectations of the office they now occupy. He equally assured that his administration will continue to provide the necessary support towards ensuring that the Judiciary has the right environment to perform its duties. The governor stated this shortly after the Oath of Office and Allegiance and the Judiciary Oath were administered to the newly- appointed Judges, at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. Governor Makinde, in his remarks, said the process of their appointments was based on merit and without any interference from the Executive, adding that there has been a cordial relationship between the arms of governments in the state and that they have been working together to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Oyo State in the last five years. He said the Judiciary has an important part to play in achieving the administration’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2027, and that the administration’s commitment to enforcing the rule of law and ensuring that the state continues to thrive as a state with law-abiding citizens needs the drive and cooperation of judicial officers. He charged the new Judges to discharge their duties without fear or favour, noting that the teeming people of Oyo State would be looking up to them to protect their rights and to get justice and they must not be disappointed. The governor said: “Less than a month ago, the NJC approved the appointment of eight High Court judges and two Customary Court of Appeal judges for Oyo State. And. today, we just held the swearing-in of these newly appointed judges. This was done in accordance with sections 211 and 281 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended). “This exercise reminds us of how democracy works and the principle of checks and balances between the three arms of government. As you know, the legislature makes the law, the Judiciary interprets it and the Executive enforces it. When these three arms work together, you have a more progressive society. And this is what has been happening in Oyo State since 2019. “The three arms of government have been working together to deliver true dividends of democracy to our people. With the appointment of these new judges, we are assured of the further strengthening of the Judiciary. “Among the new judges, you have private legal practitioners from Oyo State, Lagos State. We also have an Associate professor from Iwo, Osun State. So, for us, wherever we can identify talent, please come in and help us in Oyo State. “I once again say congratulations to you. And let me state that the Judiciary is also going to have a particularly strong impact on the implementation of one aspect of Oyo State’s roadmap for sustainable development 2023 -2027. “For a while now, we have been talking about the rule of law. We have taken time enough to sensitise the people about the importance of maintaining law and order. Of course, we do know that changing mindset is a slow process and one of the key ways to accomplish a change in mindset in the shortest possible time is through law enforcement. This is because if they know they will be caught and nobody will bail them out, they will change. We will also do something about those driving against traffic rules, especially those that use one way. I get annoyed when I see them. I will not force them but I will put a system that if you are driving against traffic, it will puncture their tires. And I will also put a sign saying ‘wrong way, don’t drive this way’. “So, with the combination of strong law enforcement, technology and CCTV cameras, I think Oyo State would be different in terms of maintaining law and order. “Let me also use this opportunity to thank the Legislative arm because about eight months ago, we went to them with a Bill for an establishment for the rule of law enforcement authority and they gladly passed it. So, as they take the next step of enforcement, the judiciary will be playing a crucial role in implementation as they carry out their functions of interpreting the law.” Speaking earlier, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, charged the newly sworn-in judges to be honest, steadfast and firm in the discharge of their duties and to be ready to take up the challenge ahead, as according to her, cases have continued to increase in the judiciary’s docket. Noting that the appointments of the Judges were done without interference from the governor, Justice Yerima noted that the NJC even commended the process that threw up the new Judges. Yerima, who commended the Governor Makinde administration for its unprecedented support for the Judiciary, maintained that the appointment of the 10 newly sworn-in judges took the number of judges appointed by the administration to 15 and that the figure is the highest by any administration in the state. She equally noted that the governor has purchased a total of 38 vehicles for the Judiciary, which is the largest purchase for the Judiciary in the history of the state, adding that each of the 10 new Judges would be assigned new vehicles. Yerima also lauded the governor for building court infrastructure including the ongoing High Court buildings in Egbeda and Ona Ara Local Governments, the renovations of High Court Complexes in Ring Road, Iyaganku and Ogbomoso, among others. The Chief Judge added that the executive has also forwarded a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to increase the number of Judges. The event had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; former deputy governor of Oyo State and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former deputy governor, Barr. Hazeem Gbolarumi; Senator representing Ogun Central, Senator Shuiabu Salisu; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu and President, Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Tajudeen Abdulganiyu. Also in attendance were former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sumonu; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni; Representative of the National Judiciary Commission, Mr Yakubu Ismaila; Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon. Sikiru Sanda; the Olu of Igboora, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, among other dignitaries.Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN) Price Target Raised to $51.00 at Barclays
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Punjab Kings (PBKS) purchased uncapped speedster Vijaykumar Vyshak for INR 1.8 crore at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans bid hard for the uncapped speedster, but ultimately PBKS bought him for more than INR 1 crore. Interestingly, Royal Challengers Bengaluru didn't use their Right-to-Match card for the speedster. IPL 2025 Mega Auction Day 1 Live Updates: Vijaykumar Vyshak Goes to Punjab Kings for INR 1.8 Crore . Vijyakumar Vyshak Sold to Punjab Kings Vijaykumar Vyshak is SOLD to @PunjabKingsIPL for INR 1.8 Crore 🙌🙌 #TATAIPLAuction | #TATAIPL — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 24, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)Elon Musk , named by Donald Trump to co-lead a commission aimed at reducing the size of the federal government, is poised to undermine funding for rural broadband services to benefit his satellite internet services company, Starlink. Musk has long been a critic of the Biden administration ’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (Bead) Program, which provides $42.45bn through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities. Starlink, the satellite internet services subsidiary of SpaceX , has largely been shut out of this funding after government agencies deemed it too slow to qualify. But with Trump’s election, and the deference Trump appears poised to give to Musk’s desired reforms, the world’s richest man could re-prioritize how the federal government provides high-speed internet to rural America, creating an immense conflict of interest. If Musk recommends cuts to government spending on rural fiber optic broadband – as he has repeatedly suggested – it directly increases the value of Starlink’s satellite internet services. “We have never had a situation where the leading shareholder of a communications company has both a position – both in terms of influencing the president, but also having an assignment to drive efficiency in government – with so many government contracts,” said Blair Levin, a telecommunications industry analyst with New Street Research and the Brookings Institution. “That is an extraordinary situation. That is unprecedented.” Levin suggested that Trump could order Bead funding to be withheld indefinitely as soon as he takes office, even though Congress has authorized the funding. Doing so would violate the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, a law Trump fell afoul of in his first term that ultimately resulted in one impeachment. But Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the commission to reduce the size of the federal government, argued in a Wall Street Journal editorial last week that Trump should pursue impoundment when he deems it necessary. “Mr Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional, and we believe the current supreme court would likely side with him on this question,” they wrote. Any move like this would tie the program in legal knots as lawsuits abound, Levin said. But the delay is the point. “While states and others could file legal actions to stop such a pause, we think most courts would be reluctant to enjoin or otherwise stop the administration from reconsidering some elements of the program. Even actions of dubious legality can benefit Starlink through delay or through litigation.” Musk had set his sights on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) long before Trump’s victory. The NTIA administers federal grant funding for the Bead program. Without a government subsidy, rolling fiber optic lines down country roads to serve a handful of houses at a time is usually too cost-prohibitive for an internet service provider. But to companies like AT&T or Verizon, a government subsidy to a local internet service provider also looks like the government funding the competition. Big telecom companies and the FCC argued long and loud about what parts of the country had access to high-speed service, and thus didn’t need government money. But the definition of “high speed” used by industry and the government was often slow by many standards. After years of negotiation, lawsuits and politicking, the FCC and the NTIA settled on a modern definition for broadband service: 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds, 20Mbps upload speeds, with less than 100 milliseconds of latency. Right now, Starlink doesn’t meet that standard . It has been getting slightly slower over time even as more people sign up for service, according to internet performance testing service Ookla’s speed tests. In 2022, the FCC rescinded a $900m grant from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to Starlink to connect rural communities to the internet, citing its failure to meet the speed and latency standards and declining network performance. Musk erupted on an X post. “Starlink is the only company actually solving rural broadband at scale! They should arguably dissolve the program and return funds to taxpayers, but definitely not send it those who aren’t getting the job done,” Musk wrote. ”What actually happened is that the companies that lobbied for this massive earmark (not us) thought they would win, but instead were outperformed by Starlink, so now they’re changing the rules to prevent SpaceX from competing.” In June, Musk described the Bead program, which began rolling out grants to states this year, as “an outrageous waste of taxpayer money and is utterly failing to serve people in need”. A month later, Musk endorsed Trump and began a $100m spending campaign in support of his candidacy. After Musk started to gain Trump’s ear – and particularly after Musk’s endorsement and Starlink’s deployment of satellite terminals to areas hit by Hurricane Helene, which Trump praised regularly on the campaign trail – Trump’s language about rural broadband began to shift in Musk’s direction. Trump described Starlink as “better than the wires”, when talking with Joe Rogan in the much-watched podcast interview. “We’re spending a trillion dollars to get cables all over the country, right, up to upstate areas where you have like two farms ... They haven’t hooked up one person.” Over the last year, the FCC commissioner – and Trump’s newly named FCC chair – Brendan Carr has also echoed Musk’s position, arguing that the public might be better off by subsidizing the cost of Starlink terminals instead of fiber optic broadband. After Trump’s election, Carr said the FCC is unlikely to revisit its rescission of Starlink’s grant, citing procedural hurdles. But Carr, who authored the FCC chapter of Project 2025 , has suggested that as much as a third of Bead funding could go to satellite internet providers. Sign up to Fighting Back Big thinkers on what we can do to protect civil liberties and fundamental freedoms in a Trump presidency. From our opinion desk. after newsletter promotion Republican senators have also been agitating for changes to the Bead program. Senator Ted Cruz, poised to take over the Senate committee overseeing telecommunications, sent a letter last week lambasting the NTIA administrator, Alan Davidson, for alleged waste and administrative bloat in the Bead program. “Fortunately, as president-elect Trump has already signaled, substantial changes are on the horizon for this program,” Cruz wrote. “Congress will review the Bead program early next year, with specific attention to NTIA’s extreme technology bias in defining ‘priority broadband projects’ and ‘reliable broadband service’.” Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa sent Musk and Ramaswamy a letter on Tuesday with a roadmap for cost-cutting. The Bead program was on her target list. Davidson responded to earlier inquiries by Cruz, noting that the NTIA “has obligated over $28bn to states and territories, all of whom also received planning grants through the program”. The program “also creates room for all strategies, and the NTIA expects states and territories will use a mix of technologies to connect their unserved and underserved locations”, Davidson wrote. The NTIA announced earlier this year that Starlink could qualify for some Bead funding for services in extremely remote locations. In areas without broadband service from a landline operator, Starlink is often the only option. Project Kuiper by Amazon is also a low-Earth-orbit satellite internet service, which Amazon says will begin consumer offerings next year. SpaceX and its Starlink subsidiary are private companies that do not regularly disclose their finances. But analysts have argued that, until recently, Starlink had been losing money despite the success of SpaceX. That has changed over the last year as Starlink’s 6,000-plus low-Earth satellite network has come online and courted business in developing countries. Analysts from Quilty, a space industry intelligence firm, suggest that Starlink’s revenue has exploded, from $1.4bn in 2022 to $6.6bn in 2024. SpaceX and Tesla have about $15.4bn in government contracts, according to a recent New York Times analysis. Starlink is also competing with 15 other companies for US space force contracts worth nearly $1bn. Starlink did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Despite the obvious interest in government contracts, Musk and biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Ramaswamy’s “Department of Government Efficiency” will be tasked with reducing the federal government headcount and cutting costs, which could include the Bead program. “Starlink and Bead are seeking to provide broadband to the same population: those living in low-density America,” Levin said. “While Starlink already has a network that covers the entire country, spectrum constraints and its relative functionalities compared to wired broadband service providers mean that the primary market for Starlink is in low-density America.” Starlink benefits from any delay in Bead funding, Levin said. “Every day Starlink is signing up customers in low-density America. Today, those in unserved and underserved locations likely believe that if they want a baseline broadband service, they have no choice but to subscribe to the Starlink service. The longer it takes for an alternative provider to come online with a similar or better service, the better it is for Starlink, as its sales process benefits from the current lack of broadband alternatives.” Reallocating funding from fiber to satellite would put money in Starlink’s pocket at the direct expense of terrestrial competitors. “While there are other technology options for high-speed connectivity, the most reliable, efficient and future-proof solution is fiber optic technology to the home or business,” said Tom Dailey, head of regulatory and government affairs at Brightspeed, an internet service provider competing for Bead funds. “Satellite broadband is a costly option that does not provide the same level of reliability or speed that fiber optic technology provides ... We don’t anticipate that the Bead program will be eliminated. In fact, we believe it will continue and there is strong bias for fiber technology as the main means of connectivity given its superior speed and bandwidth capabilities.”
This Black Friday weekend, we have seen great deals on lots of cameras but this is the best offer we have seen for the Sony A7 III, saving you a massive $860. Save $860 and get the versatile Sony A7III for $1140 from Walmart today. In our review of the Sony A7III, we thought it was excellent for low-light photography and astro. Before it was superseded by the Sony A7 IV (which is also discounted to $1860 at Walmart), it was in our best camera guide and was the best choice for mirrorless cameras. This particular deal is for the body only but if you are just starting out or do not own any lenses already, there are also discounted bundles available such as the Sony A7 III plus a 28-70mm lens for $1498, reduced from $1999 at Amazon. We're constantly checking the best prices on our Black Friday space deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes , binoculars , star projectors , cameras , drones , Lego , streaming and more. While the Sony A7 III may not feature all the latest advancements of newer models, its versatility makes it a compelling choice for entry-level photographers who enjoy exploring various styles. Its strong performance in the field provides ample room for growth and learning which is why we think this is such a great deal saving you $860. Another fantastic selling point of the Sony A7 III is the impressive battery life. During our review of the Sony A7 III , we had no problems when taking it out for a full day of shooting — it is significantly better than its predecessor and amounts to around 600 shots. We also named it the best budget full-frame Sony camera. It is not only great at stills photography; you can shoot in 4K video too — this is more than enough for most users, especially those at entry level. If you are not sure if this is the camera for you but you have been eyeing up a Sony camera, we suggest our best Sony cameras guide to help you make an informed decision about the one that is best for you. Key features: The 24.2MP sensor effectively balances detail and low image noise, making it ideal for low-light shooting. With precise autofocus and a 10FPS burst rate, this camera is perfect for capturing portraits. Its extended ISO range of 50 to 204800 further enhances its low-light capabilities. Weighing just 1.43 lbs (650 g), it is lightweight and equipped with two MS/SD card slots (one UHS-II compliant). Product launched: 2018 Price history: The price usually hovers around the $1999 mark making this Walmart deal one of the cheapest we have seen and it still blows the competing retailers prices out of the water. Last Black Friday it was reduced to $1498 so it is over $300 cheaper this year! Price comparison: Walmart $1139.95 | Amazon: $1498 | Adorama $1298 Reviews consensus: Despite lacking the latest technology, the Sony A7 III remains an impressive entry-level full-frame camera, delivering exceptional performance for both photographers and videographers at a competitive price. TechRadar: ★★ ★ ★ ★ | Space: ★★★★1⁄2 Featured in guides: Best Sony cameras ✅ Buy it if: You want a capable camera for various shooting styles including low-light photography. It is a great choice for an entry-level camera with plenty of opportunities to hone your skills without splashing out on a more recent or more expensive model. ❌ Don't buy it if: You are looking for the most recent tech. This camera has been on the market for six years and plenty of models have come to the market since. If you have deep pockets, consider the Sony A7R currently $2799 at Walmart. The Nikon Z7 II could also be a good option if you are particularly into astrophotography and low-light photography. It is less than $2000 at Best Buy right now. Check out our other guides to the best telescopes , binoculars , cameras , star projectors , drones , lego and much more.
