spin ph app login Bluesky basicsHenry Cejudo believes one hypothetical UFC matchup would surpass the fanfare of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall next year. 2025 figures to be another monumental year in the Octagon for the UFC brass, fighters, and fans. Several high-profile matchups are already on tap for UFC 311 , including the UFC lightweight title clash between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. The UFC is in active negotiations between UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall for a 2025 clash. Jones most recently defended the heavyweight belt at UFC 309 and despite teasing retirement, he pivoted on that stance after finishing Stipe Miocic. Fans continue to clamor for the UFC to book the Jones vs. Aspinall fight, which Dana White has already called the biggest heavyweight clash in the promotion’s history. But for Henry Cejudo, a potential champion vs. champion super fight could surpass the intrigue surrounding Jones vs. Aspinall. READ MORE: ‘He was insane’... Luke Rockhold names toughest sparring partner out of Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier Henry Cejudo: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria is the UFC’s biggest possible blockbuster During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo made a bold claim about a potential Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria showdown. “Personally, I believe this fight could be potentially bigger than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,” Cejudo said of Makhachev vs. Topuria. “Competitively, of course. And it’s not just that, it’s the simple fact that Ilia Topuria has a chance to become champ-champ. “At heavyweight it’s about who is the undisputed champion. But in this position, if Ilia does win, that puts him in the category of...people will give him his flowers.” Topuria recently announced a planned move to lightweight as opposed to defending the featherweight belt for his next fight. A rematch with Alexander Volkanovski was proposed after his latest win over Max Holloway , but it’s uncertain if that’ll hold. Topuria and Makhachev have traded barbs in the media over the last year. If Makhachev gets past Tsarukyan in their UFC 311 rematch, a clash with Topuria could make sense for both sides. Topuria claimed he’ll become the first fighter to submit Makhachev in his UFC career. Makhachev’s lone defeat was by knockout against Adriano Martins at UFC 192. READ MORE: Two new fights announced for first UFC event of 2025, including a ‘banger’ that’s been dubbed ‘Clone Wars’ by fans Ilia Topuria targeting lightweight move in 2025 Topuria’s potential addition to the UFC lightweight addition is an intriguing storyline heading into 2025. Makhachev has retained the belt against most of the top contenders, and Topuria would be a fresh challenge for the titleholder. Topuria competed at lightweight once during his UFC tenure, a come-from-behind finish of Jai Herbert in March 2022. He’s undefeated in his career with featherweight wins over Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell, and Ryan Hall. If Topuria fulfills his promise to move to lightweight, a clash with Makhachev could be on the horizon. Makhachev and Topuria’s superstardom makes Cejudo believe it’s a bigger fight than Jones vs. Aspinall. READ MORE: Brock Lesnar went to crazy lengths to avoid ‘jitters’ in UFC debut: ‘It’s a different game’How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Wednesday, November 27

Gwamna Hyacinth ya yi alƙawarin binciko maharan ranar KirsimetiShimla, Nov 23 (PTI) Higher reaches of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts in Himachal Pradesh received intermittent snowfall on Saturday, breaking eight weeks of dry spell and intensifying the cold wave conditions in the adjoining areas. Snowfall in Solang, Mari, Gulaba and Rohtang in Kullu districts and Lahaul and Spiti’s Koksar and Sissu brought cheers to farmers, horticulturists and hoteliers as the dry spell had affected the winter crops and hit the tourism industry. Sharing videos of fresh snowfall at Atal Tunnel and other areas, the Lahaul and Spiti police have advised the commuters to avoid unnecessary journeys and to stay cautious while driving in snow. They have also advised commuters to stock their vehicles with necessary items like woollen clothes, food, water and first aid kits and keep emergency numbers with them. After snowfall in higher hills, Manali recorded a maximum temperature at 13.4 degree Celsius, a drop of 2.5 degrees in the past 24 hours. Tabo in tribal Lahaul and Spiti was coldest at night, recording a minimum temperature at minus 8.3 degree Celsius. The post monsoon rain deficit from October 1 to November 23 stayed at 98 per cent as the region received 0.7 mm average rains compared to normal rainfall of 38.4 mm. Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kullu, Sirmaur and Solan districts received 100 per cent deficit rains while the shortfall was 99 per cent in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Shimla districts and 96 and 90 percent in Kangra and Mandi districts. The local MeT station has predicted dry weather in lower, mid and higher hills from November 24 to 29 and occurrence of thick fog in the reservoir area of Bhakra in Bilaspur and Balh valley in Mandi during morning hours on November 26 and 27. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

FTC probes Uber over subscription service practices, Bloomberg News reportsTaste of Life: No competition among farmers to sell cured meat because of religious sentiments, beliefs

Two teams aiming to secure playoff berths meet when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday night in Landover, Md. The Falcons (8-7) can clinch the NFC South with a win over the Commanders and a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) against the visiting Carolina Panthers. The Commanders (10-5) can clinch a wild-card spot - their first playoff berth since 2020 - before they play if the Panthers beat the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. If Tampa Bay wins, Washington can clinch with a win over Atlanta. Atlanta is searching for its third straight victory while Washington has won three in a row and could get to 11 wins for the first time since 1991. According to NBC Sports, Sunday night will be the first time in NFL history that two first-round rookie quarterbacks will start in a primetime game as Washington's Jayden Daniels opposes Atlanta's Michael Penix Jr. Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, six selections before Penix. Penix will make his second career start after replacing Kirk Cousins last week. He completed 18 of 27 passes (66.7 percent) for 202 yards with an interception and led the Falcons to four scoring drives in a 34-7 home win against the New York Giants. "Me and Mike are boys," Daniels said this week. "Obviously, we trained together. We went through the draft process together, so we built the relationship over that time, and I'm happy for him, you know, he waited his time. He's a phenomenal player in my eyes and, you know, I'm excited to be able to match up against him." After several drops and missed throws against the Giants, the Falcons were looking forward to another week of practice with Penix. "I mean, it takes a lot of reps," Penix said. "That's the biggest thing. Just getting those reps in practice, as many live reps as we can -- and we did a lot of reps this past week. We're going to continue to grow.' Daniels is coming off a five-touchdown performance, including the game-winner with six seconds remaining, to lead Washington to an upset win over the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. He passed for 258 yards and ran for 81 more. The Falcons realize the danger presented by Daniels' running ability, as he has rushed for a team-high 737 yards along with six touchdowns. Washington entered Week 17 third in rushing (152.7 yards per game) and 16th in passing (220.9 yards per game). "It adds an extra gap up front. Now, you have to make sure you get up there to make sure you stop that gap," Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said. "And now, you get too many guys up there, here comes the play-action pass and you leave your guys in the back end open. So, it's going to be a chess match all night long." Daniels has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes (301 of 432) for 3,303 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Both teams saw their leading receivers on the injury report Thursday. Atlanta's Drake London (83 catches, 978 yards, seven touchdowns) was limited because of knee injury but told reporters he will be good to go on Sunday. Washington's Terry McLaurin (73 catches, 1,029 yards, 12 touchdowns) was limited with an ankle injury after sitting out practice Wednesday. Atlanta cornerbacks Kevin King (concussion) and Antonio Hamilton Sr. (quad) did not participate in Thursday's practice. Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (pectoral) was a full participant and could be activated from injured reserve to play Sunday. Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) remained out of practice Thursday along with wide receiver Dyami Brown (hamstring), linebacker Jordan Magee (hamstring), safety Tyler Owens (ankle) and tackle Andrew Wylie (groin). Defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) was limited after not practicing Wednesday. --Field Level MediaYOU can now pick up your groceries in style with an affordable Waitrose buy. However, the supermarket chain has had to take steps to prevent people from reselling the popular designer buys. In a post on the Facebook group Overheard in Waitrose , one shopper shared the new rule Waitrose have implemented for customers. The poster explained that the shop's designer bags for life have been the target of resellers. According to the Facebook user, Waitrose has come up with a simple workaround to avoid this issue. "Designer bags rationed to two per person in my local Worthing Waitrose," they wrote. The shopper was able to confirm the reason behind the restriction when speaking with employees. "People are reselling them for a hefty markup according to staff," they revealed. The Facebook user included a picture of some of the designer bags for life on the shelves. Designed to be reused, bags for life have become increasingly popular since the implementation of the single-use plastic bag fee in 2015. Waitrose has teamed up with popular designers to create more fashion forward options for their shoppers. The WR Lulu Guinness Chess Bag is currently available for £12 from Waitrose. Shoppers can also pick up the Lulu Guinness Flurry Reusable Bag for £15. The look features Lulu's iconic lipstick stain symbol and has a removable zip for every day use. They also include internal and external pockets as well as dual straps to allow you to carry it over your shoulder or in your hand. Facebook users shared their thoughts on the new restriction in the comments section. "Seen them on Vinted for £25 and up to £40," wrote one commenter. SPOTTING the real deal from a knock off is harder than ever. These days fake clothes, bags and jewellery are almost identical to the real thing making it harder to spot the difference. Here, Clemmie Fieldsend gives you tips on how to spot if your buys are counterfeit or legit. Bags: Watches: Sunglasses: "In Windsor, they were pinching them. Staff only put one out which was security tagged," wrote another person. "These are good for stocking-fillers - or to put presents in," pointed out a third reader. "I must be bucking the trend as I bought one and simply used it myself," said another Facebook user. "Good to know, I'll take care of mine!" joked one shopper. "You can buy as many as you want in Hersham! Old design by the way," said another reader.

As the quest for decentralised police system gathers momentum in the country, Deji Elumoye revisits a Bill for the Creation of State Police sponsored in the Eight and Ninth National Assembly by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, highlighting the major provisions, including safety valves against possible abuse The quest for state police got a boost recently when the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, announced its endorsement by most of the 36 states, while the National Economic Council (NEC) is set to deliberate on the matter in January 2025. This is also coming in the face of existential threats to Nigeria by all manner of criminal gangs – terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, etc. It has become obvious, even the blind, that Nigeria’s current policing system will never work. Thanks also to President Bola Tinubu’s federalist dispositions. Before him, successive presidents played the ostrich mostly because they wanted to be “in total control.” Ex-president Muhammadu Buhari took the “total control syndrome” a notch higher by not only retaining the unsuitable centralised police system, but by equally appointing most of the heads of security and paramilitary agencies from a particular part of the country. The Director-General of the Depart of State Services (DSS), Lawal Duara, was Buhari’s kinsman. Even in his second tenure, only two – General Leo Irabor, who was the Chief of Defence Staff and Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, who was the Chief of the Air Staff) – out of 16 heads of security and related agencies were from the South. Interestingly, the North was the hardest hit by insecurity under Buhari’s watch. Predatory bandits made games of the people and chased them away from farming, which is the mainstay of the northern economy. In May 2019, the District Head of Duara, Alhaji Musa Umar, also said to be the father-in-law of Buhari’s Aide-de-camp (ADC), Col. Mohammed Abubakar, was abducted and held in captivity for over two months. So, obviously, something is fundamentally wrong with our security architecture. Yet, the warnings by well-meaning Nigerians, among them the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, fell on deaf ears. I had the opportunity of reading Ekweremadu’s lecture entitled “Nigerian Federalism: A Case for a Review”, being the Sixth Annual Oputa Lecture on Governance in Africa, which he delivered on April 11, 2012 at the Osgoode Hall, Law School, York University in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Here, he identified unitary policing and what he christened “feeding bottle federalism” as the greatest threats to Nigeria, which, if not addressed, would destroy the nation socially and economically. How prophetic! In that lecture, he reminded that Nigeria did not actually start off with a centralised police system, which was introduced by the General Yakubu Gowon Regime, ironically in line with General Johnson Aguyi-Ironsi’s Unitary Decree and Policy. The Native Authority Ordinance (No. 4 of 1916) vested the responsibility of the maintenance of law and order in the Native Authorities. The Protectorate Laws (Enforcement) Ordinance No. 15 of 1924 accentuated their powers. A Nigeria Police Force with national jurisdiction was only created in 1930 and coexisted with the Native Authority and the Local Administration police until the fall of the First Republic. However, Ekweremadu’s advocacy did not stop at just talking. He sponsored in the Eighth and Ninth Senate a Bill, which addresses the issues of structure, standardisation, control, armament, disciplinary action, co-existence with federal police, and importantly, the usual fear about possible abuse by state governors. In doing so, he drew inspirations from best practices across the globe, including the USA, Canada, and Brazil. The Bill proposes the establishment of the Federal Police, State Police, National Police Service Commission, National Police Council, and State Police Service Commissions. The Federal Police shall be responsible for the maintenance of public security, preservation of public order and security of persons and property throughout the federation to the extent provided for under the constitution or by an Act of the National Assembly, while the State Police, shall be organised and administered in accordance with such provisions as may be prescribed by a Law of the House of Assembly of a State subject to the framework and guidelines established by an Act of the National Assembly. Ekweremadu’s Bill proposes a Commissioner of State Police, who shall be appointed by the governor of the state on the advice of the National Police Service Commission, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the House of Assembly of the State. The Commissioner shall be in office for a period of five years only or until he/she attains a retirement age prescribed by law, whichever is earlier. So, the governor is not the sole appointer. Again, the governor may give lawful directives to the CP with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary, but the commissioner of police shall only comply to the extent that those directives or order are neither unlawful nor contrary to general policing standards or practice. If he finds them so, he may request that the matter be referred to the State Police Service Commission for review and the decision of the state Commission shall be final and shall not be inquired into by any court. The Bill equally provides enough autonomy for Commissioners of State Police. For instance, a commissioner shall only be removed by the governor upon the recommendation of the National Police Service Commission on the grounds of misconduct in the performance of his official duties; serious breach of policing standards; conviction of any offence by a court of law or tribunal (including administrative tribunals set up by the police authorities for internal disciplining of police officers); indictment by a judicial body or tribunal for corruption, fraud, embezzlement or other unacceptable conducts in office; bankruptcy; mental incapacity; and participation in political activities of any kind either within or outside the state and including sponsoring or giving aid to any political group of movement. But importantly, such removal shall be subject to approval by two-thirds majority of the State Assembly. Furthermore, an Act of the National Assembly may prescribe a periodic review of the activities of each State Police Service by the National Police Service Commission after which it may be recertified so long as its operations adhere to set standards and regulations and do not undermine national integrity, promote ethnic, tribal or sectional agenda or marginalise any segment of the society. The composition of each State Police Service Commission, as membership, is drawn from critical segments of the society, making it extremely difficult to pocket or manipulate the Commission. Chairman is to be appointed by the governor subject to the confirmation of the State House of Assembly; a representative of the Federal Government to be appointed by the National Police Service Commission, two members, who must be indigenes of the respective state and to be appointed by the National Human Rights Commission; a representative of the Public Complaints Commission; a representative of the Labour to be appointed by the Chairman of the state branch; three retired police officers from three senatorial districts to be appointed by the governor subject to confirmation of the State House of Assembly; a lawyer-representative of the Nigerian Bar Association and a representative of the Nigerian Union of Journalists to be appointed by their respective branch chairmen. The mandates of the Commission include recommending the appointment of a Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police to the National Police Service Commission; appointment, disciplining and removal of members of the state police below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police; and other functions and powers of the commission as may be specified either in the Constitution or a Law of the House of Assembly of a State. It is noteworthy that in recommending the appointment of a Commissioner of State Police, the Commission shall propose three qualified candidates to the National Police Service Commission. The National Police Service Commission, on the other hand, shall comprise a Chairman to be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate; two members representing the National Human Rights Commission; one representative of the Labour; six retired police officers not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police representing each of the Geo-Political zones of the country to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Senate; a representative of the NBA to be appointed by the NBA President; a representative of the NUJ to be appointed by the NUJ President; and the Attorney-General of each state. The National Police Service Commission shall be responsible for the appointment of persons to offices (other than office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Federal Police; exercising disciplinary control over members of the Federal Police; recommending to the Governor of a State the appointment of the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of Police of the State Police based on a list submitted to it by the State Police Service Commission of the relevant state and subject to confirmation by the House of Assembly of the State; recommending to the Governor, the discipline and removal of the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of Police of the State Police; supervising the activities of the Federal Police and State Police to the extent provided for in this constitution or by an Act of the National Assembly; and prescribing standards for all police forces in the country in training, criminal intelligence databases, forensic laboratories and render assistance to State Police in areas as may be requested by such State Police. Ekweremadu’s Bill was shot down by parliament twice. But today, not only has the idea rebounded with buy-in by its worst critics, it remains the nation’s biggest guide to state police, resurrecting substantially in various Bills on the subject currently before the National Assembly. In a television interview a few months back, a former federal lawmaker, Senator Ita Enang, confessed, “Senator Ike Ekweremadu was very vehement that we should have state police. He sponsored a bill. I was one of those who vehemently opposed him and campaigned against it. I went out of my way to say that the way the governors exercise power over the electoral process, if you give them the control over security, they would kill everybody. But now, it is no longer the question of the governors. State police is an idea, which time has come.”Google shows off new quantum chip ‘Willow,’ touts breakthrough

New Aquila DSP Delivers Cost, Power, and Scalability for 2 km to 20 km Connectivity, Extending Marvell Optical Interconnect Leadership SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell Technology, Inc . (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced Marvell® Aquila , the industry's first coherent-lite DSP optimized for 1.6 Tbps coherent optical transceiver modules operating at O-band wavelengths. By combining advanced coherent modulation with scalable O-band optics, the Aquila DSP delivers a power and performance-optimized solution tailored for the emerging market for distributed campus data center interconnects spanning up to 20 km with high bandwidth and low latency. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.None

Joanna Gaines is creating spaces for everyone, and when she says everyone, she means it. Over the past 20 years that she has been building her home renovation empire, and especially since becoming an HGTV darling, the Magnolia founder has found national, if not global, stardom. However, being in the spotlight hasn't come without its fair share of ups and downs and backlash, and though she has typically shied away from addressing it, she's now speaking out on why it's so important to her to clarify some misconceptions about her. For a new feature on Architectural Digest , Joanna, who runs her business with husband Chip Gaines , opened up about the hate she has received online for her perceived political inclinations; though she has never disclosed her family's political affiliations, people have made assumptions, and criticized her from that, nonetheless. "I get emotional about it," she said, before noting that she grew up in Kansas and later Texas, in the 1980s, being half-Korean, as the daughter of a Korean immigrant, her mother Nan Stevens. She continued: "You’re talking about a little girl who, for years, tried to hide pieces of herself, because I felt as though I wasn't included, or good enough. I looked like what I was: Korean — half Korean." "Now that I'm older, I realize the things I was picked on for are what I’m the most proud of," she then noted, adding: "Having to work out of that [headspace], even in my 40s, I am so empathetic towards people who feel different and who look different." MORE: Joanna Gaines opens up about poignant moment concerning six-year-old son Crew MORE: Joanna Gaines delivers 'grateful' message with family photo as fans react "I understand how much harder you have to work to just show up and say, 'Well, I'm good! It's me!" she maintained. "And so, when I hear people labeling me as someone who wouldn't like someone because of this or that reason, it couldn't be further from who I am as a human being." "We believe everyone has a seat at the table. I don't say that to mean: 'Well, but not you, and you, and a little bit of you.' We wouldn't put that statement on our website, in our restaurants, on our books because we kind of mean it. We truly mean everyone has a seat at the table," she emphasized. MORE: Joanna Gaines reflects on 'tensions' for 5 kids in reflective message Elsewhere in the interview, Joanna also opened up about the feelings of imposter she felt coming up in her industry with no formal education in design and architecture. MORE: Chip Gaines dreading big day ahead in personal life: 'I feel conflicted' "I was a local boutique owner, and then I was doing design and renovations with Chip for years. And then, you get noticed by a production company — you're naive, you think: 'Maybe some people in Waco will see the show,'" she first said. She then added: "And then you realize, six months later, 'Oh, my gosh, this is national. People are watching our work.' I remember, in that moment, thinking, 'I'm going to get found out. Every 'real' designer is going to be, like, 'Why is she on TV? She's not real.' I had to have a real come-to-Jesus moment with myself: If I want to stay true to what the client wants, their story, this is what design is for me."Microsoft's efforts to monetize its huge investments in generative AI are now catching up with consumers. As reported by the Wall Street Journal , the price of the company's 365 service is going up in regions including Australia and parts of Asia due to the inclusion of the company's Copilot AI assistant. Charging for Copilot isn't new; the company already requires enterprises to pay $30 a month per user . But now Copilot is a feature in some editions of Microsoft's 365 service, which includes popular apps such as Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Excel. The AI helper, which features technology from ChatGPT maker OpenAI , in which Microsoft has invested about $14 billion, is getting integrated with these apps . Microsoft is also competing against other companies including Apple, Google and Anthropic that have their own versions of rapidly evolving AI software. Even as it uses technology such as ChatGPT 4, Copilot is viewed by Microsoft as a competitor as well . According to the Wall Street Journal story, the Copilot chatbot is lagging well behind ChatGPT in the number of downloads of its app, at 37 million downloads compared to 433 million from May 2023 to mid-December 2024. Reviews of Copilot as standalone software have been mixed and the company has faced a PR challenge over a Copilot AI feature called Recall, which has raised privacy and security concerns . Recall, however, isn't a 365 feature; it's a Windows 11 Copilot feature that also relies on AI technology. In Australia, the monthly price of 365 is going up from A$11 to A$16, a 45% increase. In the US, Microsoft's enterprise customers can expect a 5% increase for 365 Copilot starting in April . Microsoft did not respond immediately to an email query about the price increases for 365.

None

Paddy's Pointers: Four observations after Norwich's spirited Pompey responseGift cards can be a quick and easy present for those who don't know what to buy and offer the recipient a chance to pick out something nice for themselves, but sometimes they can still miss the mark. If you find yourself with a gift card you don't think you're going to use, experts say you have options. Natasha Macmillan, director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, says we've all been in that situation where someone doesn't know you, but still wants to get you something and gives you a gift card for a store that you probably won't use. If that’s the case, she said you have options. "You might be able to use the gift card for a present for a friend or a family member. That will actually help you save money while using the gift card at the same time," she said. Macmillan also said you can look to resell a card through a platform such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or other websites that specialize in buying and reselling gift cards. “You do have to be careful with some of the scams and things out there, but it's also helpful and that way you can get cash for the gift card or even exchange it for another gift card,” she said. If you’re considering that option, she said to always ask for the cash or e-transfer before handing over the gift card. According to Accenture’s 2024 Canadian holiday shopping survey, 64 per cent of consumers received gift cards last year, each of whom received four on average. But despite being a popular choice, the report said four-in-10 recipients failed to redeem the full balance of the card from the holiday season last year. That resulted in an unspent total gift card balance of $136 on average per consumer. The Accenture report noted 31 per cent didn’t use their gift card because it was exclusive to only a few brands or stores and 27 per cent could not find items to purchase. If regifting or selling don't appeal to you, some charities will accept gift cards as a donation. The rules around what kind of gift card a charity might accept can vary and not all charities will accept all gift cards, but if they do, and depending on the amount, it could mean a charitable donation tax receipt that will help reduce your bill come tax time. Mark Aston, executive director at Covenant House Toronto, which helps young people who are experiencing homelessness and trafficking, said the holidays can be tough for a young person who is isolated and does not have the support of family and friends that many of us rely on. A gift card can help a young person buy themselves a treat that they would not otherwise be able to afford. “Helping to normalize the experience around the holiday season is really helpful and impactful and to that end, gift cards can be really helpful,” Aston said. He added that Covenant House is open to accepting all kinds of gift cards as donations that it can pass on to those in need to help with the cost of living and offer a little cheer. Gift cards to grocers, drugstores and coffee shops can help with the day-to-day essentials, but he said gift cards for less obvious treats like movie tickets are also welcome. “We're extremely appreciative of any gift card donations,” he said. Meanwhile, Macmillan said donating a gift card that isn't going to be used can be a win-win. "The gift card doesn't go to waste and you get that tax receipt in return, and it does help you save money at the end of the day," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. Craig Wong, The Canadian Press

Viral: ‘Fiery Goodbye’ To 2024 Goes Wrong! UP Man Sets Road On Fire | Here’s What Happened NEXTIn 2024, China's industrial landscape has witnessed a series of exciting "firsts" and groundbreaking achievements that reflect the robust momentum of China's manufacturing sector and underscore the country's commitment to high-end, intelligent, and sustainable manufacturing practices. In the latest development, China debuted a prototype of the fastest high-speed train in the world, Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. A prototype of the CR450 bullet train that will run at 400 kilometers per hour debuted in Beijing on Sunday, said the country's railway operator. The CR450 is capable of running at 450 kilometers per hour in tests, highlighting China's cutting-edge advancements in rail technology. In other sectors, China's homegrown wide-body C929 aircraft gets first intended user in November, marking a new breakthrough in the large aircraft industry. China's first domestically built large cruise ship has also started commercial operations in January, setting sail for a new era in cruise tourism. As of Sunday, it has completed 84 voyages, facilitating a total of 600,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, according to Xinhua. A series of data also show significant achievements in China's high-quality economic development. In 2024 China has surpassed 4.14 million 5G base stations, averaging 29 stations per 10,000 people. The manufacturing sector has over 6.03 million registered enterprises, with 8.55 percent linked to strategic emerging industries, a 6.35 percent increase since the end of 2023. China's annual production of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) surpassed the 10 million milestone for the first time in 2024. Additionally, the humanoid robot market is projected to reach 3 billion yuan ($411 million), showcasing the potential of emerging sectors in China's economy, China Media Group (CMG) reported. The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing showed encouraging signs this year, climbing from 49.2 percent in January to 50.1 percent in October and further to 50.3 percent in November, suggesting a recovery in industrial activity. Foster innovation Throughout the year, the Chinese government implemented various initiatives to foster innovation and development in key industries. In January, China unveiled policies aimed at promoting future industries such as humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G technology to stimulate new economic growth. By February, the government had issued guidelines to accelerate the green transformation of the manufacturing sector. In March, China launched large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins to lift the quality of traditional industries. In June, China rolled out a new set of support policies for 1,000 "little giant" firms, as part of efforts to improve the modern industrial system in the country. In September, the country introduced construction plans for pilot-scale testing platforms in manufacturing and new materials, accelerating the transition of new technologies from the laboratory to the factory, according to CMG. These measures are facilitating high-quality development across various manufacturing sectors. In the domestic cruise manufacturing industry cruise-building industry China's first domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, started its commercial maiden voyage in January. This marks a significant milestone for China's cruise manufacturing industry, as it now possesses true autonomous control capabilities and a complete industrial cycle system, signaling a new phase in the development of the cruise industry in China, said Yang Guobing, chairman of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Cruise Technology Development Co, Ltd, operator of the ship. Yang believes that in 2024, China's cruise manufacturing industry entered a new phase of independent development. This phase aims to integrate the entire industrial chain, achieve independent design, construction, supporting facilities, and operations of cruise ships, and foster international cooperation while pursuing self-sufficiency. This approach is set to usher in a new era of high-quality development for China's cruise industry. In the robotics sector, the National and Local Co-Build Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre based in Shanghai is making strides as well. The center is currently constructing a training facility that can accommodate 100 humanoid robots for simultaneous intelligent training, to make them more capable of assisting humans in various scenarios, with plans to expand this capacity to 1,000 by 2027, the Global Times learned from the center. In the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), exciting advancements are being made that could greatly benefit patients with paralysis and neurological diseases. A notable milestone occurred in November when a domestic BCI product allowed a participant with a spinal cord injury to drink water using a specially designed pneumatic glove. The BCI product, called NEO, was developed through a collaboration between Neuracle Technology Co, Ltd and Dr Hong Bo's team from Tsinghua University. In August it became the first BCI product to enter the special review process for innovative medical devices in China. Currently, Neuracle is working on expanding its product offerings to encompass a broader range of brain functions. In the future, the company aims not only to assist patients with basic actions such as eating and drinking but also to enable them to perform more complex tasks, including writing and playing the piano, Neuracle told the Global Times. Chen Jing, vice president of the Institute of Technology and Strategy, a tech research institute based in Beijing, told the Global Times that the achievements of 2024 reflect the outcomes of the development of new quality productive forces. These advancements not only drive China's economic development but also lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the future. A look into 2025 China's value-added industrial output of enterprises above the designated size is forecast to grow by about 5.7 percent year-on-year in 2024, official data showed Friday. In 2024, China's industrial economy has achieved steady improvement despite challenges, and the manufacturing value added's share of the gross domestic product remained stable, according to a national work conference on industry and information technology. According to the meeting, China will promote stable growth in the industrial economy, with moves including intensifying the implementation of policies supporting large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins in 2025. Efforts will be made to foster and develop emerging industries in 2025, with a focus on promoting implementation scenarios of new technology and new products. Key areas of emphasis include the development of internet-connected vehicles, the expansion of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System's applications, low-altitude information infrastructure, biomanufacturing, the quantum industry, and embodied AI, among others, according to the meeting. By 2025, intelligent manufacturing in China is poised to deeply integrate with advanced technologies like the Internet of Things, big data, and AI, propelling traditional industries toward higher levels of sophistication and intelligence, Chen said. These innovations will not only enhance production efficiency but also foster new business models and growth opportunities for enterprises, Chen said, adding that this will support China's goal of achieving high-quality economic development and help elevate its position in the global value chain. Geng Bo, a senior technology industry insider, told the Global Times that China, which ranks first globally in the production and sales of consumer electronics, offers an abundance of application scenarios and a growing demand that drives continuous sci-tech innovation and product improvements. Whether in smartphones, home appliances, automotive electronics, industrial control, or the new-energy sector, market demand is driving domestic companies to innovate and develop products tailored to various needs, thereby driving the rapid growth of the country's sci-tech advancements and innovative applications, Geng said.

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner won matches in singles and doubles to lead defending champion Italy to a 2-1 comeback victory over Argentina on Thursday, earning a return trip to the Davis Cup semifinals. “I’m here trying to do the best I can in the singles,” Sinner said. “If they put me on the court in doubles, I’ll also try my best.” On Saturday, Italy will face Australia in a rematch of last year's final, but this time it will only be for a chance to play for the championship. Australia eliminated the U.S. 2-1 earlier Thursday to reach the final four at the team competition for the third consecutive year. The other semifinal, to be contested Friday, is the Netherlands against Germany. The Dutch got past Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals earlier in the week, sending the 22-time Grand Slam champion into retirement. Italy fell behind 1-0 in the quarterfinals when Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in southern Spain. But then in stepped Sinner, whose season already includes two Grand Slam trophies — at the Australian Open and U.S. Open — plus the title at the ATP Finals last weekend in Turin, Italy. First he overwhelmed Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-1. Then Sinner teamed with 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match to win 6-4, 7-5 against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez. “He carried me today,” Sinner said about Berrettini. After arriving late to Malaga from Turin, Sinner did not get a chance to practice on the Davis Cup competition court before taking on Báez and stretching his streak to 22 sets won in a row. “In three minutes, he was perfectly comfortable on court,” Italy captain Filippo Volandri said. “He’s a special one.” Volandri swapped out his original doubles team, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, for Sinner and Berrettini, and the change paid dividends. Australia, the Davis Cup runner-up the last two years, advanced when Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson beat the surprise, last-minute American pairing of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 in that quarterfinal's deciding doubles match. The Shelton-Paul substitution for Paris Olympics silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram was announced about 15 minutes before the doubles match began. Ebden and John Peers beat Krajicek and Ram in the Summer Games final in August. The Australians broke once in each set of the doubles. In the second, they stole one of Shelton’s service games on the fourth break opportunity when Ebden’s overhead smash made it 5-4. Thompson then served out the victory, closing it with a service winner before chest-bumping Ebden. The 21st-ranked Shelton made his Davis Cup debut earlier Thursday in singles against 77th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis, who emerged from a tight-as-can-be tiebreaker by saving four match points and eventually converting his seventh to win 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (14). No. 4 Taylor Fritz , the U.S. Open runner-up, then pulled the Americans even with a far more straightforward victory over No. 9 Alex de Minaur , 6-3, 6-4. When their match finally ended, on a backhand by Shelton that landed long, Kokkinakis dropped onto his back and pounded his chest. After he rose, he threw a ball into the stands, then walked over to Australia’s sideline, spiked his racket and yelled, before hugging captain Lleyton Hewitt. “I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life. I wanted that for my team,” said Kokkinakis, who won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title with Nick Kyrgios. “It could have gone either way, but I kept my nerve.” AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis