fortune ox bet10 Apple CEO Tim Cook recently sat for an interview with WIRED , and dished out on Apple’s focus in the foreseeable future. Health and wellness stood out as a recurring element. AirPods, which recently landed a hearing assistance facility , are visibly at the center of those ambitions. Now, Bloomberg reports that the earbuds soon add cameras and health sensors to their arsenal. At one point in time, Apple was reportedly working on integrating cameras into the wireless earbuds, but the project was put on cold ice. It seems that the recent explosion of AI-based workflows across nearly every product category inspired Apple to revive the endeavor. “With the company rallying around AI and its Apple Intelligence platform, the project was brought back to life,” notes the Bloomberg report. Notably, Apple has tasked teams to work on it as a priority project, though it might take a couple of years to materialize. Even though it sounds like yet another “first” from Apples, the idea of cameras on audio gear is not exactly a novel concept. Moreover, Apple won’t be the only player in the game, and might even lose the race to fellow wearable and AI enthusiast, Meta. According to The Information , Meta is also working on earbuds with onboard cameras. Meta’s implementation, which is reportedly in development under the “CameraBuds” codename, will embrace generative AI chops for facilities like language translation and object identification. There is already plenty of precedent for such facilities. Earlier this month, the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses received an update that introduced capabilities like Live AI, translation, and Shazam-powered music identification . Live AI is particularly impressive, as it relies on AI for making sense of the world as it appears within the onboard cameras’ view. Apple already has such facilities ready for deployment in its software-hardware ecosystem. Take for example Visual Intelligence , which only requires users to point their camera and perform tasks such as translation, extract text information, look up details about businesses, and even launch a Google Search. Health sensing is the next avenue for AirPods In addition to putting a camera on the AirPods, Apple is reportedly working on adding biosensors into the mix. The priority is to somehow fit a heart rate sensor on the earbuds, but down the road, the company is hoping the earbuds can also measure temperature levels and keep an eye on physical activity patterns. Once again, those ideas are not wildly ambitious. Far from it, actually. The Sennheiser Momentum Sport and Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds can already measure the heart rate, though their accuracy has been up for debate. The scientific community, however, seems pretty bullish on the whole idea. In a paper presented at the 2009 International Symposium on Wearable Computers, experts from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology detailed a “heartphone” prototype that integrated a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor in the earbuds. The device was rated as highly reliable and only resulted in an error rate of 0.63% during tests. A separate research note from the MIT Media Lab described a system that measures bilateral blood volume pulse (BVP). “The system fits inside ordinary earbuds to provide measurements such as heart rate and beat-to-beat changes in heart rate variability (HRV),” says the paper. Another paper describes how “EarPPG” can actually be used for identity verification, as well. “A new biometric modality that takes advantage of the unique in-ear photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, altered by a user’s unique speaking behaviors,” says the research paper. Apple is considered one of the wearable health pioneers, and the company certainly has the engineering acumen to pull off heart rate tracking (and camera vision) on the AirPods. It’s only a matter of time before the company perfects the formula, but the ambition is definitely there, right at the summit, even. “It’s clear to me that if you zoom out way into the future, and you look back and ask what Apple’s biggest contribution was, it will be in the health area,” Apple chief Cook told WIRED veteran Steven Levy in the interview. “That’s what I really believe.” We just might have to wait a couple of years, or even more, for the aforementioned health and camera capabilities to appear on the AirPods.

(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Monday, Dec. 23 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 5:30 p.m. ESPNU — Diamond Head Classic: TBD, Consolation Semifinal, Honolulu 7 p.m. SECN — MTSU at Tennessee 8 p.m. ESPNU — Diamond Head Classic: TBD, Semifinal, Honolulu 10 p.m. BTN — Seattle at Washington 10:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: TBD, Semifinal, Honolulu 12:30 a.m. (Tuesday) ESPN2 — Diamond Head Classic: TBD, Consolation Semifinal Honolulu COLLEGE FOOTBALL 11 a.m. ESPN — The Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA, Conway, S.C. 2:30 p.m. ESPN — The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: N. Illinois vs. Fresno St., Boise, Idaho NBA BASKETBALL 7 p.m. NBATV — San Antonio at Philadelphia 10 p.m. NBATV — Indiana at Golden State NFL FOOTBALL 8:15 p.m. ABC — New Orleans at Green Bay ESPN — New Orleans at Green Bay The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .‘Favourite purchase this winter,’ Shoppers say as they race to Uniqlo for £15 thermals, but you need to be quick

A Dua Lipa fan claims to have been injured in a horrific pyrotechnic accident at a recent concert in Malaysia. The British hitmaker is currently on her Radical Optimism tour and is partway through the Asian leg, which commenced on November 5 in Singapore. Less than a month in to her run of concerts, which won't conclude until October 2025, a fan has claimed to have been injured at a concert. In a post on social media site Reddit, the fan shared a photo alongside their claims of what happened after one of her Axiata Arena shows last weekend (November 23 and 24) in Kuala Lumpur. They asked the social media site's users whether they could be compensated for their alleged injury. The Dua Lipa fan wrote: "I got hit in head by some pyrotechnical metal tube at Dua Lipa’s concert in Malaysia today." READ MORE - Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin: Net worth, huge house and why they'll never split READ MORE - Gladiator II star Paul Mescal reveals why he has to 'quit the internet' and social media Fellow Dua fans on the forum replied with advice for the poster, who went on to describe in more detail what allegedly happened in the comments. Thanking others for their support, the fan claimed they were back at their hotel, after having seven stitches and a CT scan. The fan claimed that "two guys" paid their 2712 Maylasian Ringgit (£482.10) medical bill. The fan wrote: "Two guys came and start talking about compensation for hotel, concert tickets, flight. I told them I’m not ready to talk about that and need to talk to my embassy, lawyer and maybe police. A showed them that post. They paid my hospital bill cause I have no such money for that. I don’t wanna ruin Dua Lipa’s reputation. It’s not fair and I against that Better Call Saul moves. I just want my fair compensation for near death experience ('lucky' me — this 5-7 kg tube didn’t fell by sharp side on me)." The fan goes on to claim: "So, after paying my hospital bills one of them asked to hide that post, but I refused. Also I refused to be taken to hotel by one of them. I get their numbers and said that maybe we will talk tomorrow." Later on in the post, the fan added that it was confirmed to them by "some stadium authority (I guess)" that nothing except medical bills would be paid for. There is no confirmation as to whether the pyrotechnics were part of the show, or if they were set off by crowd members”. A Live Nation spokesperson told The Mirror : “ We’ve asked for detailed information from the vendor involved on how this occurred, and of course wish both fans involved a speedy recovery.” Dua has previously come up against a similar situation, following a gig in July 2022, when "unauthorised" fireworks were set off in the crowd, causing injury to fans. The 29-year-old was forced to issue an apology to gig-goers, which read: "Last night, unauthorised fireworks went off in the crowd during my set in Toronto. Creating a safe and inclusive space at my shows is always my first priority, and my team and I are just as shocked and confused by the events as you all are. "There is an ongoing investigation into the events being conducted, and everyone involved is working hard to find out how this incident occurred. Bringing this show to life for my fans has been such an amazing experience, and I’m so deeply sorry for anyone who was scared, felt unsafe, or whose enjoyment of the show was affected in any way. All my love, Dua." Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads . Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, today approved the formation of the Board of Directors of the Young Arab Leaders initiative, naming 11 leading and influential Arab figures from diverse fields to propel it forward. “These Arab leaders will oversee the expansion of the initiative in the next phase, lead its projects to fruition, grow the number of members and affiliates in this network, attract the best of emerging Arab talent, and support them to contribute more significantly to shaping the future of our Arab societies,” he said. The Board of Directors of the Young Arab Leaders initiative is chaired by Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, and includes prominent figures from across the region such as Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa (Bahrain), Dr. Tamam Menko (Jordan), Fahad AlGhanim (Kuwait), Aïssata Lam (Mauritania), Ibrahim Mohtaseb (Saudi Arabia), Mona Ataya (Palestine), Basil El-Baz (Egypt), Yazen Altimimi (Iraq), Nasser Al-Khater (Qatar), and Sami Daud (Oman). Additionally, Fatma Rashid Bujsaim has been appointed as the Secretary-General of the initiative. The initiative aims to attract 50,000 participants over the coming period and develop and implement several future projects and inspiring ideas with Arab youth. This will be achieved through the creation of a network of influential businesspeople and exceptional leaders in their respective fields to support, mentor, and guide young Arabs. The initiative will also leverage the skills and expertise of members from the regional Young Arab Leaders network to inspire and empower future leaders. Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that the Young Arab Leaders initiative, launched 20 years ago, embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness’s unwavering belief in the capability of Arab youth to shape the region’s future. The initiative aims to prepare young leaders to sustain the Arab world’s development aspirations and safeguard its civilisational legacies. He added: “We want this initiative to be a platform to realise the aspirations and dreams of Arab youth, reenacting the region’s golden era in the vanguard of science, culture, technology, and intellectual endeavour. We will support these young Arab leaders to inspire a positive change in Arab societies so that their future will be better and brighter. He said, “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum believes that our Arab region possesses tremendous potential, with its 200 million young men and women constituting 200 million opportunities to design and shape a prosperous future. They are our most valuable resource, which calls for building capacities, honing skills, and providing opportunities to realise the hidden potential of youth by providing a comprehensive platform to empower them. Youth are the main pillar of all efforts to shape the Arab world’s future, and their active involvement is crucial in driving positive transformations toward growth, progress, stability, and prosperity.” Sheikh Hamdan added: “We look forward to this initiative inspiring remarkable accomplishments through its various skill development programmes for the youth and the opportunities it provides for them to showcase their abilities to innovate and succeed across diverse fields.” The Young Arab Leaders initiative is considered the largest specialised network aimed at supporting promising Arab youth and instilling in them a culture of entrepreneurship, belief in the future, and relentless pursuit of knowledge, thus strengthening comprehensive development plans across the region.

Thanks to its strange, short history, the Qualcomm Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows (2024) is a curiosity and a one-off, never to be repeated. I wrote previously about , and I think what I experienced hints at why Qualcomm pulled the plug. This thing is ... quirky and, in some critical ways, non-standard. As I write this, I still haven’t successfully booted the Dev Kit with a USB flash drive, and the lack of documentation is disconcerting. Reviewing the Dev Kit doesn’t make a lot of sense for all the reasons, including the most obvious, that you can’t even buy the damn thing now. But I am of course fascinated by it, and if it makes sense to do so—ideally, I could reliably recover the thing from outside of Windows, for starters—I’d like to use it daily. But first thing first. Here’s a high-level overview of this interesting PC. I think it hints at what a coming generation of Snapdragon X-based desktop PCs will offer. Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift! If you ignore that it’s a small form factor (SFF) desktop PC, the Dev Kit is quite similar to the Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PC laptops I’ve fallen in love with this past year. Which raises a question. Is it a Copilot+ PC? Yes. Yes, it is. At first, I wasn’t sure. But the basic specs—a processor with a compatible NPU, RAM, and storage—are all there. Windows 11 reports that Windows Hello ESS is enabled, even though there’s no compatible fingerprint reader or webcam. (Leaving PIN, of course.) And it includes all the unique Copilot+ PC features, like Cocreator in Paint, Restyle image and Background blur, remove, and replace in Photos, and so on. So yes, it is a Copilot+ PC. What’s missing, however, is a Copilot key or button. has one (in button form), but as I wrote at the time, it’s not clear if that’s a real requirement for desktop Copilot+ PCs or if ASUS was just trying their hardest. It doesn’t matter, I guess. The Dev Box is unique, and I’m sure including those AI experiences was on the list of things Microsoft and Qualcomm wanted the developers this thing targeted to experience. Ignoring the product design yet again, the Dev Kit specifications—internally, and including its expansion capabilities—are likewise quite familiar. With one obvious exception: The processor. Which is perhaps the most curious thing about this curiosity. At the time of the announcement, Qualcomm described the Dev Kit’s processor as “a special, accelerated Developer Edition of the Snapdragon X Elite processor.” Since then, we’ve come to understand this to be a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-00-1DE, the rare highest-end version of this processor family. It’s nearly identical to the X Elite X1E-84-100, with the same 12 cores, 42 MB of cache, 3.8 GHz multi-core frequency, 4.6 TFLOPS Adreno GPU, and 45 TOPS NPU. The only thing that differentiates the two, and then just barely, is the X1E-00-1DE’s 4.3 GHz dual-core boost frequency, vs. 4.2 GHz for the X1E-84-100. My guess is that this is just a coincidence of the manufacturing process, and that the X Elite X1E-00-1DE is really just a X1E-84-100 that randomly exceeded a certain quality level. Indeed, the entire Snapdragon X processor family, including the lower-end X Plus models, feels like an experiment testing the limits of processor binning. Many of the chips are only subtly different from the others. But this may be the most subtle. Getting past that, the Dev Box was offered in just a single configuration with 32 GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 512 GB of NVMe SSD storage. This is just a slice in time, but this is what I consider to be the current sweet spot for a laptop, though I understand others might need more storage. (And others would be OK with 16 GB of RAM, which I consider the minimum heading into 2025.) But whatever. This is a reasonable configuration for app development and testing. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, currently as modern as there is. I’ve had no issues with either. Expansion is modern and it mirrors what we’ve seen on most Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs, with a few differences tied to the form factor. On the front of the unit, there is a single Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C port and, hidden behind a ridiculous hard plastic door, a microSD card slot. On the rear, there’s a full-sized Ethernet port, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports (which I assume are 5 Gbps and designed mostly for legacy peripherals like keyboards), two Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C ports, and a combo mic/headphone jack. Plus the power port (on the far left). The right side of the PC isn’t used, but the left side has a large vent for heat dissipation. And it’s frequently needed: Where I have rarely noticed the fans found in Copilot+ PC laptops—never, really, aside from running video encoding tests and other tasks specifically designed to hammer the system—the fan in this PC is a near-constant companion. It comes on seemingly randomly, reminding me of the disk indexing drama of two decades ago that freaked out people who didn’t understand what was happening—and it comes on and stays on in certain circumstances. (See below.) It’s loud and then it’s not loud, and then it’s loud again and then it’s off for a while. It’s ... OK. Not great. But not a killer. There’s not much going on here. The Dev Kit arrived in a basic box with two tiny pamphlet-like papers that are mostly irrelevant now since the QR codes they contain no longer resolve to anything, let alone anything useful. The box includes the PC, of course, plus its large power supply (with proprietary barrel connector) and the USB-C to HDMI dongle that many believe is tied to the reasons behind this PC’s delays and then cancelation. (Qualcomm originally advertised the Dev Kit as having an HDMI-out port, and there is an empty space on the daughter card that also includes the Ethernet port for that part.) I would prefer a built-in HDMI-out port: It’s possible I’d have an easier time figuring out which keys do what when you boot the PC—documentation here is so key—with a “normal” display over HDMI. USB-C displays sleep/wake on a hair trigger, I assume for power reasons, and it’s not clear that I’m seeing everything this PC outputs when it boots with a USB-C display. Anyway, despite the suspected weirdness, almost everything works as expected for the most part. The one obvious exception is tied to the boot process that I would really like to fully understand. When you turn on or reboot the PC, it often goes through some silent machinations that take many, many seconds, and it seems to do one or two soft reboots during this, though not every time. There’s no rhyme or reason to this. The power button on the front of the PC can flash white, green, red, or blue, and occasionally, it does all three. Fun! I did figure out how to get into the firmware’s BDS menu—it doesn’t appear to have a traditional PC-style firmware interface, and I assume this thing is phone-based— . But this is so unfamiliar, and so different from what we see on normal PCs, and I know I’m missing things. I’ll keep working on it, but at some point, it’s just a waste of time. Snapdragon X-based laptops like my Surface Laptop 7 work normally in this regard. So this may just be a one-off. Here, too, there are no surprises. The Dev Box displays the familiar —it comes with Windows 11 Home, not Pro—and it included the lengthier feature update installation phase I first started seeing this past summer that’s new to 24H2. And then it boots into the desktop normally. Nothing odd there. There were a few curious configurations, however. The Power Mode was set to Best Performance for some reason, and not Balanced as is typical. As noted below, it’s not clear what these modes even mean now on Arm—there’s no discernible performance difference in day-to-day use or under load—but I switched it to Balanced. Even more oddly, the screen and sleep timeouts were both set to Never. I usually extend the defaults, but in this case, I was sort of going in the opposite direction. I also changed what happens when you press the power button: It was set to Do Nothing, and I changed that to Sleep. . If I can ever boot from USB, I will clean install the OS and fix that. Not sure what’s going on there. Most configurations are as expected. It auto-enabled OneDrive Folder Backup, for example, in keeping with the default behavior for Windows 11 Home. I’m no fan of benchmarks, but I felt like the unique processor in the Dev Box required something semi-formal. Yes, the X Elite X1E-00-1DE in the Dev Box is only subtly different from the X1E-84-100. But most Copilot+ PCs don’t include either of those processors. Instead, most come with an X Elite X1E-80-100 processor (or, now, an X Plus processor of whatever variant). The solution was obvious enough. This past summer, to see how the first few Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs compared to the MacBook Air M3 and a high-end laptop with discrete graphics. I also wanted to test a Qualcomm claim that the Snapdragon X chips didn’t throttle performance as badly as do x86 chips when on battery power. My tests were unscientific enough to not prove much of anything, but I guess my key takeaway was that the Snapdragon X held its own. And the Dev Box doesn’t have a battery, of course. But I was curious. So I performed the same video encoding test—in which I take and use (the native Arm version of) to encode it to Full HD using its Fast 1080p 30 preset. The results surprised me enough that I re-ran this test multiple times. Put simply, it encoded the video in just under 2 minutes and 40 seconds, no matter which power management setting I chose. Balanced, Best performance, and Best efficiency all worked identically, and the fans roared to life and stayed on for the duration of this encoding. I suspect this is as loud as this kind/size fan can be. As surprising, that time frame was so dramatically lower than the results I saw over the summer that they’re not comparable. Clearly, something was off. So there was only one thing to do: Re-run the tests. Not on multiple PCs, I have a life to live. But I downloaded the video and Handbrake to my Surface Laptop 7, left it on battery (and with the default Recommended power management mode), and encoded the video. It took an average of 5:49 over two runs. On power, it encoded the video in just over 4 minutes. There could be other factors that impact the score here. But I’m surprised the Dev Box is that much faster. Over the holiday break, I’ll see whether it makes sense to use the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows as my main podcasting PC. I’m going to crack open the box and poke around inside. And I will continue working on recovery and boot from USB, I got some good leads from readers and feel like both are surmountable issues. But let me know if you have any questions. Paul Thurrott is an award-winning technology journalist and blogger with 30 years of industry experience and the author of 30 books. He is the owner of and the host of three tech podcasts: with Leo Laporte and Richard Campbell, , and with Brad Sams. He was formerly the senior technology analyst at Windows IT Pro and the creator of the SuperSite for Windows from 1999 to 2014 and the Major Domo of Thurrott.com while at BWW Media Group from 2015 to 2023. You can reach Paul via , or . Join the crowd where the love of tech is real - become a Thurrott Premium Member today! Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

Trump’s Cabinet And Key Jobs: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta And ‘The Apprentice’ Producer Mark Burnett Among Latest Nominees

A Dua Lipa fan claims to have been injured in a horrific pyrotechnic accident at a recent concert in Malaysia. The British hitmaker is currently on her Radical Optimism tour and is partway through the Asian leg, which commenced on November 5 in Singapore. Less than a month in to her run of concerts, which won't conclude until October 2025, a fan has claimed to have been injured at a concert. In a post on social media site Reddit, the fan shared a photo alongside their claims of what happened after one of her Axiata Arena shows last weekend (November 23 and 24) in Kuala Lumpur. They asked the social media site's users whether they could be compensated for their alleged injury. The Dua Lipa fan wrote: "I got hit in head by some pyrotechnical metal tube at Dua Lipa’s concert in Malaysia today." READ MORE - Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin: Net worth, huge house and why they'll never split READ MORE - Gladiator II star Paul Mescal reveals why he has to 'quit the internet' and social media Fellow Dua fans on the forum replied with advice for the poster, who went on to describe in more detail what allegedly happened in the comments. Thanking others for their support, the fan claimed they were back at their hotel, after having seven stitches and a CT scan. The fan claimed that "two guys" paid their 2712 Maylasian Ringgit (£482.10) medical bill. The fan wrote: "Two guys came and start talking about compensation for hotel, concert tickets, flight. I told them I’m not ready to talk about that and need to talk to my embassy, lawyer and maybe police. A showed them that post. They paid my hospital bill cause I have no such money for that. I don’t wanna ruin Dua Lipa’s reputation. It’s not fair and I against that Better Call Saul moves. I just want my fair compensation for near death experience ('lucky' me — this 5-7 kg tube didn’t fell by sharp side on me)." The fan goes on to claim: "So, after paying my hospital bills one of them asked to hide that post, but I refused. Also I refused to be taken to hotel by one of them. I get their numbers and said that maybe we will talk tomorrow." Later on in the post, the fan added that it was confirmed to them by "some stadium authority (I guess)" that nothing except medical bills would be paid for. There is no confirmation as to whether the pyrotechnics were part of the show, or if they were set off by crowd members”. A Live Nation spokesperson told The Mirror : “ We’ve asked for detailed information from the vendor involved on how this occurred, and of course wish both fans involved a speedy recovery.” Dua has previously come up against a similar situation, following a gig in July 2022, when "unauthorised" fireworks were set off in the crowd, causing injury to fans. The 29-year-old was forced to issue an apology to gig-goers, which read: "Last night, unauthorised fireworks went off in the crowd during my set in Toronto. Creating a safe and inclusive space at my shows is always my first priority, and my team and I are just as shocked and confused by the events as you all are. "There is an ongoing investigation into the events being conducted, and everyone involved is working hard to find out how this incident occurred. Bringing this show to life for my fans has been such an amazing experience, and I’m so deeply sorry for anyone who was scared, felt unsafe, or whose enjoyment of the show was affected in any way. All my love, Dua." Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads . Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Diehard Giants fan Joe Becker of Endicott, N.Y., brought a sign to Sunday’s Giants home finale that pleaded for the tank to continue: “Dear Giants, Please Don’t Score for Shedeur,” Becker demanded, with his eyes on the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But Brian Daboll’s team refused to heed the advice. Drew Lock threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a fifth score. Malik Nabers racked up 171 receiving yards and two TDs. The Giants beat the shockingly uninspired Indianapolis Colts, 45-33, to snap a franchise-record 10-game losing streak and record their first home victory (1-8) in their final game at MetLife Stadium. And in the process, the Giants (3-13) threw their draft position into jeopardy, potentially costing themselves the chance to select their QB of the future in the spring, where Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward will await as the top two prospects on the board. They might have also gotten the Colts (8-8) staff fired. Indianapolis GM Chris Ballard, coach Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley have a lot of explaining to do after they lost to the worst team in the NFL with a playoff berth on the line, getting eliminated in the process. The Giants, who finished 1-8 at home this season, have one game remaining in Philadelphia in Week 18 against the Eagles and old friend Saquon Barkley, who crossed the 2,000-yard rushing mark in Sunday’s blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley might sit out the regular season finale with the NFC East wrapped up depending on other results the rest of the weekend. For now, the Giants finally got a win on Sunday by scoring a season-high 45 points. It was the first time they scored 30 or more this season and the first time they scored 40 points since 2019. It also marked more points (45) than they had scored in their previous three games combined (32). There was some discord late in the second half on the sideline with corner Adoree Jackson throwing his helmet and yelling at teammate Jason Pinnock after Joe Flacco’s second touchdown pass cut the Giants’ lead to 35-33 with 6:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Lock drove the Giants downfield with Wan’Dale Robinson’s help and finished it off with a 5-yard rushing TD to seal it, along with help from a Dru Phillips interception. Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 100-yard kick return touchdown at the start of the third quarter carried the Giants’ first half momentum into the second. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor answered with his second touchdown of the game immediately and Alec Pierce caught a Flacco TD to draw within 28-26 in the early fourth quarter. But Nabers broke the game back open with a 59-yard catch and run TD as the Colts’ Kenny Moore and Samuel Womack showed little interest in tackling. The Giants avoided becoming the first winless Giants team at home since 1974. They led at halftime on Sunday, 21-13, for the first time since their Week 3 win in Cleveland on Sept. 22. Lock completed 7-of-8 passes for 153 yards and three touchdown passes in the first half alone: one score each to Nabers (31 yards), Darius Slayton (32 yards) and Robinson (five yards). Nabers racked up 103 receiving yards and a TD on four catches in the first half against a Bradley-helmed Colts defense that looked uninterested in tackling or covering. With Sunday’s production, Nabers and fifth-round back Tyrone Tracy Jr. became the third rookie duo in NFL history to each have 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage in a season. Tracy crossed the threshold with the help of a 40-yard run to set up Nabers’ first quarter score. The only other rookie duos to cross 1,000 yards each in NFL history are the 2006 Saints’ Reggie Bush and Marques Colston and the 1960 Dallas Texans’ Abner Haynes and Johnny Robinson. Safety Dane Belton’s interception of Flacco at the Giants’ 6-yard line set a competitive tone on the game’s opening drive despite the Colts marching straight down the field prior. And Robinson’s touchdown catch with 5:55 to play in the half put the Giants up a commanding 21-6. Steichen went for a 4th and 5 at the Giants’ 8 yard line and converted on a Kylen Granson 6-yard catch with 1:07 remaining, though, to set up a Taylor 3-yard TD run with 23 seconds left. That cut the Giants’ lead to 21-13, their first halftime lead since their 21-7 advantage over the Browns in Week 3. It marked only their third lead at half all season, including their 12-9 advantage in a Week 2 loss at Washington.

Weekly horoscope December 23-29: Check predictions for Aries, Taurus, Gemini and other signs IANS Updated: December 22nd, 2024, 21:10 IST in Feature , Horoscope 0 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin Here is your astrological guide for the week ahead, the forecast for December 23-29. Aries Also Read Horoscope December 21: Virgo will face serious financial problems today 2 days ago What You Should Know About Managing Hypertension Effectively 2 days ago This week, Aries, the stars increase your desire and determination to succeed at work. If you are searching for new jobs, you can look forward to getting some interesting leads. For those already in employment, you will find yourself more committed and willing to go to greater heights in your job. This is the best time to take the bull by the horns and make the necessary changes. In love, single Aries, you might meet someone with a different perspective on life – this can turn into something deep. Couples will benefit from your passion; however, do not overdo it and be considerate of your partner’s feelings. Your lucky days for love are Tuesday and Thursday, and your lucky colour of the week is red for confidence and strength. Tip of the week: Take the bull by the horn Taurus This week makes your spirit of adventure and exploration come alive. You may be inclined to go somewhere or immerse yourself in a new learning topic. If you are actively searching for a job, you may want to consider looking for one that will allow you to learn and grow – this might be a great new job. For those already employed, your creative energy will assist you in being easily noticed in projects, and you should not hesitate to take charge. In love, singles may meet a person with a different cultural background or perception of life – this is a new addition that may be needed in your life. If you are in a relationship, spend some time to surprise your partner with an impromptu date; the new environment will be great for your relationship. Monday and Wednesday are considered lucky days for love, and green is your lucky colour of the week. Tip of the week: Learn and grow Gemini This week brings a boost of energy about change and self-development. For a job seeker, this is the best time to seek jobs that will offer him or her an opportunity to rise to the challenge. Do not avoid such jobs because they may require change or innovation; they may pay off in the long run. For working individuals, it is now the best time to take on challenging tasks at work. In love, singles may be attracted to a person with whom they feel a spiritual connection, which can result in a passionate, liberating experience. If you are in a relationship, you must be careful of power relations – but again, if you are truthful. Tuesday and Friday are considered lucky days for lovers, while the lucky colour is black. Tip of the week: Rise to the challenge Cancer This week is all about relationships. Expect an increase in energy in your romantic life, whether single or in a relationship. If you are looking for a life partner, do not reject someone who may be a thinker because he or she might be the right partner for you. For those in a relationship, it is a good time to rekindle the flame with your partner by having an honest conversation or going on an impromptu date. Favoured days for love are Thursday and Sunday; your lucky colour for the week is silver. In your career, job seekers may find an opportunity to work with other people, which means new opportunities. Employees will excel in a team environment—your interpersonal skills will help you get promotions. Tip of the week: Be honest in relations Leo This week gives a boost to your daily grind and workweek. You will be more inclined to go at it and complete tasks as they come, whether in the process of seeking employment or during your daily work. For those already in a job, this is a good time to overcome all the barriers at the workplace and demonstrate your leadership. If you are in a relationship, the other partner will definitely notice the effort and energy you put in. Monday and Friday are lucky days for love, and this week’s lucky colour is gold, which is associated with vitality and prosperity. Family affairs will demand your attention, especially with the parents or the siblings. In education, students should concentrate on critical thinking or problem-solving areas, such as engineering or health sciences. Tip of the week: Stick to deadlines Virgo This week, Virgo, your efforts will be directed toward projects you can creatively contribute to. If you are a job seeker, you should look for jobs that demand creativity. For those lucky enough to be employed, it’s a perfect time to take the reins on innovative projects. In love, people may meet a person with similar interests and beliefs, and the relationship will be full of interest and passion. For those who are in a relationship, you and your partner will discover new ways of having fun together – it’s all about play and exploration. Favoured days for love are Tuesday and Saturday, while your lucky colour is yellow, representing happiness. Concentrate on creative occupations such as design, performing arts, or communications in education. Tip of the week: Be creative Libra Libra, you will strongly desire to concentrate on your domestic issues this week. Whether you are seeking employment or already employed, issues of work-life balance will be important in your life. Candidates may look for employment in areas of caregiving or catering, for instance, in estate agency or home decoration. Work will be more satisfying for those already employed when you introduce harmony and creativity into your environment. In love, singles will feel attracted to someone who makes them feel relaxed, while those in a relationship will have a better emotional connection with their partners. The lucky days for love are Wednesday and Sunday. The lucky colour is soft green, which represents harmony. Tip of the week: Seek domestic happiness Scorpio This makes for a stimulating week. Whether you are a job seeker or an employee, your communication skills will be your most valuable tool. People who are searching for a job should look for writing, teaching or media-related jobs because your words matter. For those fortunate to have a job, now is a good time to volunteer to lead in group discussions or to present. In love, singles might meet a person with whom they are intellectually compatible – and this may be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. If you are in a relationship, do not be shy about sharing your ideas and your desires with your partner since this will strengthen your relationship. Love days are Monday and Friday, and the lucky colour is orange. Tip of the week: Leverage your communication skills Sagittarius This week, it’s time to focus on your finances and beliefs. You will feel a boost of motivation to get a better financial position, whether you are looking for a job or are already in a job. The candidates may search for vacancies in the fields of finance, sales or entrepreneurship. For those with a job, it is that time to ask for a raise or undertake tasks that would earn you more money. For those in a relationship, this week is all about security and creating a strong foundation for the future – discuss your plans with your other half. Tuesday and Thursday are lucky days for love, while the lucky colour for this week is green, which stands for growth. Family matters will be beneficial, especially with parents—spend time with your family. Tip of the week: Manage your finances Capricorn This week makes you more charged and eager to grab any opportunity with both hands. Whether you are a job seeker or an employee, this is the right time to be assertive and go out there and take risks and chances towards your dreams. Employers will discover that confidence leads to job opportunities for candidates, while employees will excel at promotions or handling difficult responsibilities. In love, singles may feel drawn to someone with a powerful character – this can become an intense, passionate relationship. If you are in a relationship with someone, your energy and passion will positively affect your partner but do not overdo it. Finding your love on Wednesday and Friday is good, while your favouritecolour is red. Tip of the week: Be assertive Aquarius This week, Aquarius, your energy might be more internal than usual. It is the time to think about your objectives and take a break. For the job seeker, the process should be more inward and about discovering what you want from your work. You should always go by your gut feeling if you are in doubt. For those employed, this is a time to do the behind-the-scenes work – your work may not be glamorous or recognised by others, but it will prepare the groundwork for future successes. In love, people may want to meet an enigmatic person or a relationship that builds up gradually. For those in relationships, allow your partner to be free, but take time and space to do the same. Favourable days for dating are Monday and Thursday, and the lucky colour is purple. Tip of the week: Look inward Pisces Pisces, your friends and career plans will be the focus this week. If you are a job seeker, this is the time to engage and build relationships with people who can assist you achieve your dreams. For those already in employment, teamwork and collaboration will be instrumental in achieving your goals. It is a good time to collaborate with other professionals in the organisation to complete large assignments. Those who are in a relationship should engage in activities that they used to do with friends or activities that they both have an interest in. Favoured days for love are Tuesday and Saturday, while your lucky colour is blue, which represents trust and harmony. In education, it is better to concentrate on such subjects as technology, social sciences or group dynamics. Tip of the week: Build new connections IANS Tags: Astrology Horoscope Zodiac sign Share Tweet Send Share Suggest A Correction Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox. Leave this field empty if you're human:Kuwait City : Kuwait on Sunday bestowed its highest honour ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in appreciation of his distinguished achievements and the efforts made to strengthen the relations between the two countries. This is the 20th international honour given to PM Modi by a country. ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ is a knighthood order of Kuwait and is named after the seventh ruler of Kuwait, Mubarak bin Sabah Al-Sabah, who assumed power in 1896 and took Kuwait to new heights during his reign. The Order is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and to members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship. يشرفني أن أحظى بوسام مبارك الكبير من صاحب السمو أمير دولة الكويت الشيخ مشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح. وأهدي هذا التكريم إلى شعب الهند وإلى الصداقة القوية بين الهند والكويت. pic.twitter.com/jhfmtGn032 It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush besides other dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Last month, Prime Minister Modi was conferred with Guyana’s highest civilian honour, ‘The Order of Excellence’, by the country’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, for his visionary statesmanship, championing the rights of developing countries on the global stage, exceptional service to the global community and for his commitment to strengthening India-Guyana relations. During the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana, Dominica too had conferred its highest national honour, the ‘Dominica Award of Honour,’ on PM Modi in acknowledgement of his pivotal support during the Covid-19 pandemic and his commitment to fostering India-Dominica relations. Nigeria also conferred the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Prime Minister Modi during his first official visit to the country in November. The Indian PM was the first foreign leader to be conferred with the award since 1969 when Queen Elizabeth received Nigeria’s highest national honour. ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ takes the number of civilian honours received by PM Modi to a record 20, highlighting his leadership and India’s growing stature on the global stage. Analysts reckon that it is also a reflection of India’s strengthened diplomatic relationships and the country’s expanding influence. Before Kuwait, Guyana, Dominica and Nigeria, PM Modi had been conferred highest civilian honours in In addition to these highest civilian honours, PM Modi has received several prestigious awards from renowned global organisations. In 2018, he was awarded the Seoul Peace Prize by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, in recognition of his contributions to global harmony and world peace. In the same year, the United Nations honoured PM Modi with its highest environmental accolade, the Champions of The Earth Award, for his bold environmental leadership. In 2019, PM Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award, which is annually awarded to leaders who demonstrate outstanding national leadership. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded PM Modi the Global Goalkeeper Award in 2019, in recognition of his efforts to transform India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a mass movement for cleanliness. In 2021, PM Modi received the Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award from Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), in recognition of his leadership on global energy and environmental sustainability.

Ifeanyi ONUBA The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has once again brought global attention to the transformative role of NCS in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders. Speaking at the 18th Africa Security Watch Conference in Doha, Qatar, the CGC shared a comprehensive account of the Service’s achievements in balancing security enforcement with trade facilitation. In his keynote address titled “Protecting National Security Through Effective Border Control: The Nigeria Customs Example,” Adeniyi emphasised the vital role of border management in national security, describing borders as more than just geographical boundaries. According to him, borders are critical gateways that determine a nation’s capacity to protect its citizens, safeguard its economy, and foster security. The CGC highlighted how the NCS, empowered by the Nigeria Customs Act 2023, has successfully redefined its operational priorities to address emerging threats, enhance efficiency, and improve collaboration. CGC Adeniyi noted that the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 represents a legislative milestone that has repositioned the NCS to thrive in a dynamic environment. He also reflected on the significant strides made in 2024, which marked a year of unparalleled achievements for the Service, adding “Under my leadership, the NCS generated a record-breaking ₦5.1 trillion in revenue, a feat that underscores the agency’s innovative use of technology and improved compliance frameworks.” “We have equally strengthened partnerships with both domestic and international stakeholders. The CGC noted that this achievement was not merely about numbers but also reflected the efficiency and resilience of the Customs workforce.” He said. Adeniyi, however, described how, through intelligence-led operations, the NCS has intercepted several arms shipments, including 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition in Onne Seaport. “These efforts have significantly disrupted the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which remain a persistent threat to national security. Additionally, the NCS’s collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) led to so many interceptions of illicit drugs.” CGC Adeniyi said. He also brought attention to the Service’s role in combating wildlife trafficking, detailing how officers intercepted 4,200 kilograms of pangolin scales and ivory, underscoring the NCS’s dedication to biodiversity conservation and international compliance. In the area of fighting against economic saboteurs who venture into smuggling and diversion of petroleum products, Adeniyi discussed the impact of Operation Whirlwind and highlighted how the Service, in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), intercepted over 695,000 liters of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The CGC revealed that the use of geospatial technologies, such as satellite feeds and geo-mapping, has enhanced the Service’s surveillance and enforcement capabilities, ensuring that these operations are not only effective but sustainable. In addition, a Gala/Award Night convened as part of the African Security Watch Conference held on Thursday 12 December 2024, in Doha, Qatar, the NCS clinched the coveted ‘Best National Security Service in West, East, and Central Africa 2023/2024’ award. The CGC also shared the spotlight, receiving recognition for his exemplary leadership and contributions to the organization’s achievements. These accolades recognise the service’s outstanding performance in fortifying Nigeria’s borders, enhancing trade facilitation, and curbing transnational crimes through innovative enforcement strategies and technological advancements.By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW LEE WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Related Articles National News | Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says National News | A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says National News | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National News | US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people National News | Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic won most of the votes in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, but must face a runoff against a ruling party candidate to secure another five-year term. With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned “this was just a first run.” “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Milanovic is an outspoken critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communication with political opponents. The most popular politician in Croatia, 58-year-old Milanović has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, he has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and continuous sparring between the two has lately marked Croatia’s political scene. Plenković, the prime minister, has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO. He has labeled Milanović “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him and Milanović is quite simple: Milanović is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander. Milanović has criticized the NATO and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, though it is a member of both NATO and the EU. Milanović has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war.” His main rival in the election, Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East.” His presidency bid, however, has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and featured prominently in pre-election debates. During the election campaign, Primorac has sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanović as divisive. Primorac was upbeat despite such a big defeat in the first round. “I know the difference (in votes) at first sight seems very big,” said Primorac, who insisted that the center-right votes had split among too many conservative candidates. “Now we have a great opportunity to face each other one on one and show who stands for what,” he said. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has presided over the annual meeting of the ADNOC Board of Directors. During the meeting, which was held at ADNOC Headquarters, His Highness approved the launch of XRG, a lower-carbon energy and chemicals investment company to accelerate ADNOC’s international growth and drive greater value. XRG will initially focus on investments that meet the growing global demand for natural gas, chemicals and low carbon energies. His Highness praised ADNOC for its achievements in delivering on its international growth strategy and noted that XRG will build on these achievements and ADNOC’s track record in energy and investments to deliver long-term sustainable value for the UAE. The board endorsed ADNOC’s target to drive AED200 billion (US$54.5 billion) into the UAE economy over the next five years through its In-Country Value (ICV) programme, building on AED55 billion (US$15 billion) delivered this year. The ICV programme also created 5,500 jobs for Emiratis in the private sector this year in partnership with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis). These achievements bring the total value ADNOC has driven back into the UAE economy to AED242 billion (US$65.9 billion), with 17,000 Emiratis employed in the private sector since the programme was launched in 2018. His Highness highlighted ADNOC’s important role as a primary catalyst for the UAE’s growth and diversification and commended the company for continuing to prioritise value creation for the nation and stimulate economic and industrial opportunities for the private sector. As part of these efforts, ADNOC is enabling local manufacturing of critical industrial products in its supply chain. The company has signed local manufacturing agreements with UAE and international companies worth AED72 billion (US$19.6 billion) since 2022, as it delivers on its target to locally manufacture AED90 billion (US$24.5 billion) worth of products in its procurement pipeline by 2030 in support of the UAE’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative. The board reviewed ADNOC’s gas growth strategy and commended the company’s progress in harnessing the UAE’s gas resources to meet growing global gas demand. Through the lower-carbon Ruwais LNG project, ADNOC is more than doubling its existing UAE liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity to around 15 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) while building an integrated global gas business with strategic investments in Egypt, Mozambique, Azerbaijan, and the US. The board was updated on ADNOC’s artificial intelligence and digital technology (AIDT) strategy as it aims to become the world's most AI-enabled energy company. The board praised ADNOC for its industry leadership in leveraging digitalisation, advanced technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiencies and future-proof its business. Ahead of the meeting, His Highness visited ADNOC’s world-class AI center, where he was briefed on how the company is integrating AI from the control room to the board room to enhance safety, maximise value, and reduce emissions as it continues to advance the UAE’s thriving AI ecosystem. During the tour, His Highness was shown some of ADNOC’s innovative AI solutions, including the world-first deployment of Robowell, an autonomous well-control solution, as well as the AI Lab, which is set to identify and shape high-value AI use cases across its operations. His Highness was also updated on ENERGYai, a first-of-its-kind agentic AI solution, which ADNOC recently launched in collaboration with AIQ, G42, and Microsoft. His Highness met with a group of young talented Emirati employees driving pioneering AI initiatives. Building on the success of ADNOC’s Trading Academy, His Highness was briefed on how young Emirati commodity traders are being upskilled to create additional revenue streams for the company across its international trading businesses. His Highness praised ADNOC for empowering young Emirati talent and delivering several strategic initiatives to develop its people. His Highness stressed that people are the nation’s greatest asset, and the UAE leadership will continue to prioritise human capital development. His Highness thanked ADNOC employees for their hard work and dedication and emphasised the importance of continuous performance improvement, efficiency, and agility. Attending the meeting were His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC); Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouie, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office; Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State; Jassem Al Zaabi, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Finance; Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Energy; and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala. Dr. Al Jaber said, “Under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the steadfast support of the ADNOC Board of Directors, ADNOC is reinforcing its critical role as a catalyst for the UAE’s economic and industrial growth and a reliable global energy provider. This year has been a transformative period for ADNOC where we have taken important steps to future-proof our business, pivot to new growth opportunities across the energy value chain and the world, and accelerate the adoption of AI to drive efficiency and unlock greater value. With the support of all my colleagues across the ADNOC Group, we will build on this momentum to deliver more energy with fewer emissions to empower lives and fuel economies while delivering long-term sustainable value and growth.” ADNOC’s strong sustainability performance and its efforts to decarbonise and drive low-carbon growth was also highlighted by the board. The board directed ADNOC to double down on its 2030 sustainability strategy and its industry-leading net zero by 2045 ambition. ADNOC ranks among the least carbon-intensive oil and gas producers in the world and is further reducing its carbon intensity by 25% and targeting near-zero methane emissions by 2030. Follow Emirates 24|7 on

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — Po'Boigh King had 28 points in North Carolina Central's 78-77 victory over Gardner-Webb on Saturday. King added six rebounds for the Eagles (4-7). Isaac Parson scored 13 points and added seven assists and three steals. Keishon Porter shot 2 of 7 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line to finish with eight points. The Runnin' Bulldogs (4-6) were led in scoring by Anthony Selden, who finished with 25 points. Jamaine Mann added 15 points for Gardner-Webb. Shahar Lazar finished with 10 points and four assists. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .