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764398

nan

International Business Times

Joe James

Beatrice Nirmala, The Founder Of The IBR Asia Group, Her Literary Odyssey And Call For Collaboration To The US Market

Beatrice Nirmala's journey, chronicled in her literary works and echoed through The IBR Asia Group's services, takes a bold step onto the global stage.

https://www.ibtimes.com/beatrice-nirmala-founder-ibr-asia-group-her-literary-odyssey-call-collaboration-us-market-3719648

2023-11-29 09:36:38

In a narrative blending personal triumphs with entrepreneurial prowess, Beatrice Maria Nirmala, distinguished author of "Through the Looking Glass" and founder of The IBR Asia Group, sets her sights … [+4470 chars]

Love

In a narrative blending personal triumphs with entrepreneurial prowess, Beatrice Maria Nirmala, distinguished author of "Through the Looking Glass" and founder of The IBR Asia Group, sets her sights on the U.S. and Canada markets. The journey unfolds as evidence of resilience, empowerment and a vision for global impact. Weathering the storm of divorce and the complexities of business and family, Nirmala's metamorphosis became the bedrock for "Through the Looking Glass." This literary collection is not a mere memoir; it's a compilation of universal struggles and triumphs. The genesis of the book lies in Nirmala's contributions to a renowned newspaper in Malaysia, with weekly articles curated into a thematic compilation. It serves as a testament to her journey, laying bare the challenges she faced and the resilience that propelled her forward. The book, while deeply personal, resonates as a narrative of empowerment. "Infinite Passions of Life," another chapter in Nirmala's literary journey, delves into life post-divorce. Beyond the pain, it becomes a manifesto of self-love, resilience and the celebration of living authentically. Nirmala's voice challenges societal expectations imposed on women, advocating for worth beyond traditional roles. The transformative incident of 2021, where Nirmala addressed 500 people at an event she organized, symbolizes victory over self-doubt. It becomes a poignant marker in her journey of rebuilding both her business and personal identity. Navigating workplace challenges, she found solace in the workplace as an equalizer for women. Motherhood emerges as a central theme, with Nirmala committed to raising her daughter with independence and financial freedom. From the simplicity of family life to co-owning eco-sustainable land in Nicaragua, her journey paints a vivid picture of diverse experiences and perspectives. Powerful quotes from Nirmala punctuate the narrative, emphasizing the transformative nature of life's challenges. She invites readers to embrace their unique paths, asserting that wisdom comes from multiple sources. In addition to her literary accomplishments, Nirmala has also established herself as a leader in the public relations industry, having served as the founder of The IBR Asia Group, a public relations powerhouse with a robust presence in Malaysia. With a media portfolio that includes International Business Review and VOICE Of ASEAN, the company connects the highest echelons of government and corporate decision-makers, spanning across Southeast Asia. Strategically positioned as a powerhouse of connection in the region, The IBR Asia Group has mastered the art of connecting clients to their target audience through traditional, digital and interactive funnels and platforms. The company's little black book of connections and kingmakers is a coveted resource in this part of the world, facilitating strategic partnerships and alliances. What started as a single publication has evolved into a multifaceted entity producing world-class custom publishing, curated events, smart writing, profiling opportunities and investor relations management. The journey has been transformative, and The IBR Asia Group has emerged as a catalyst for connecting businesses, governments and individuals. One of the crown jewels of their portfolio is VOICE Of ASEAN, a testament to years of strategic planning and data mining. It stands as a beacon, connecting and bridging the gap between corporations and governments across Southeast Asia and beyond. VOICE Of ASEAN aims to provide a genuine voice to the elites and masses of the region, truly Asian and unapologetically candid. The IBR Asia Group's call for more companies to enter the South Asian market from the U.S. and Canadian markets is not just a geographical expansion; it's a strategic move to leverage its connections, expertise and storytelling prowess on an international scale. The company's unique position as a bridge between corporations and governments has garnered attention, making it a sought-after partner for those seeking a foothold in the dynamic Southeast Asian market. Nirmala's journey, chronicled in her literary works and echoed through The IBR Asia Group's services, takes a bold step onto the global stage. As they navigate the Western market, the promise of transformative storytelling and unparalleled representation accompanies them. "Through the Looking Glass" and The IBR Asia Group collectively stand as beacons of empowerment, resilience and the infinite possibilities that emerge when one dares to embark on a journey of self-discovery, connecting not just within borders but across continents.

764467

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

etimes.in

Suga opens up about contemplating escape

BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star, a docuseries, takes fans on an emotional rollercoaster, showcasing the challenges faced by the members and their elation during award ceremonies and performances. It offers an unfiltered portrayal of their daily lives and inner…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/k-pop/music/news/i-was-going-to-run-away-suga-opens-up-about-contemplating-escape-in-bts-docuseries/articleshow/105585647.cms

2023-11-29 07:27:36

'BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star' Main Trailer

Love

As the global sensation BTS takes a temporary hiatus to fulfill their mandatory military service, they've gifted their devoted ARMY with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their incredible journey through an upcoming docuseries, BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star. Scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on December 20, this eight-part series promises an intimate exploration of the septet's evolution into "21st-century pop icons."The recently dropped main trailer sets the stage for an emotional rollercoaster, capturing moments from BTS's early training days to their recent triumphs.The trailer doesn't shy away from the challenges faced by the members, with RM candidly stating, "We worked our tails off, life was difficult."Suga adds a touch of humor, admitting, "I was going to run away, for real." It's a testament to their resilience and determination.Despite the setbacks, the trailer highlights the group's elation during award ceremonies and monumental performances. Suga expresses the thrill of performing in front of massive stadium crowds, emphasizing that reaching such heights is the ultimate accomplishment.'BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star' Main TrailerThe series, curated by their record label Hybe, aims to provide a deep dive into the hurdles BTS faced while achieving their global milestones. It's not just about the glitz and glamour; it's an unfiltered portrayal of their daily lives and inner thoughts. The trailer reveals snippets of their reaction to canceled concerts during the pandemic, capturing the moments when time stood still for them, and they felt adrift in uncertainty.The timing of the docuseries release coincides with the official start of the military enlistment process for RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and V. According to reports from Korean media, it is anticipated that BTS members These members, who have been busy with solo projects, will commence their mandatory military service in South Korea on December 11 or 12. The trailer acts as a poignant prelude to this phase, giving fans a taste of the emotional journey they are about to witness.The hiatus, expected to last until 2025, has seen individual projects from the members. Jimin, Jungkook, V, and RM have released solo works, offering fans a glimpse into their unique artistic expressions. Jimin's Production Diary, Jungkook's Golden, V's Layover, and RM's Indigo have kept the ARMY engaged during the group's temporary absence.BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star is not just a documentary; it's a love letter to the fans, assuring them that despite the hiatus, the bond between BTS and ARMY remains unbreakable. The series promises to unveil the untold stories, struggles, and triumphs of the seven individuals who have become global icons, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of music. So, mark your calendars for December 20 and get ready to embark on a nostalgic journey with BTS.

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the-times-of-india

The Times of India

etimes.in

‘The Matchmakers' secures No 1 spot

The latest episode of 'The Matchmaker' achieved a 4.1 percent nationwide viewership rating, surpassing the previous episode's 3.9 percent. The drama's compelling storyline and engaging characters resonate with audiences, leading to consistent growth. In compa…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/korean/the-matchmakers-continues-to-dominate-ratings-securing-the-no-1-spot/articleshow/105586290.cms

2023-11-29 07:43:57

Best pre-bridal juices for a glowing skin

Love

‘The Matchmaker’ continues to climb the ranks of viewership success, with the latest episode airing on November 28 securing its position as a frontrunner in the competitive world of Korean dramas. According to Nielsen Korea, the popular drama achieved an impressive average nationwide viewership rating of 4.1 percent, marking a noteworthy uptick from the previous episode's rating of 3.9 percent.This surge in ratings brings ‘The Matchmaker’ tantalizingly close to its personal best of 4.5 percent, achieved during its much-anticipated premiere.The drama's compelling storyline and engaging characters seem to be resonating with audiences, as evidenced by its consistent upward trajectory in ratings. The November 28 broadcast not only showcased the series' ability to maintain and build upon its viewership but also highlighted its potential for sustained success in the competitive television landscape. In comparison, ‘A Bloody Lucky Day’ demonstrated stability, maintaining its average nationwide viewership rating at 2.1 percent, mirroring the previous episode's performance. While ‘A Bloody Lucky Day’ remains a steady contender, ‘The Matchmaker’ stands out with its notable growth and viewer appeal. Adding to the mix, the newest drama, ‘Tell Me You Love Me’, featuring the dynamic duo of Jung Woo Sung and Shin Hyun Been, has entered the scene with promising results. The drama achieved an average nationwide rating of 1.8 percent, showing a modest increase from the premiere episode's score of 1.5 percent. The uptick in ratings suggests growing interest in the narrative and performances delivered by the cast, setting the stage for a potentially successful run. The competition remains fierce, but ‘The Matchmaker’ has clearly emerged as a standout, solidifying its status as a must-watch drama.

764471

abc-news

ABC News

Nicholas Kerr, Abby Cruz

Super PAC backing Haley seeks to swing independent voters in bid to beat Trump

A new Super PAC aimed at swinging independent voters to support Nikki Haley filed paperwork with the FEC this week. But can it propel her to victory in the GOP primary?

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/super-pac-backing-nikki-haley-seeks-swing-independent/story?id=105223674

2023-11-29 11:04:43

A group of self-styled political independents filed paperwork with the FEC this week to launch a new Super PAC aimed at swinging independent voters to support former U.N. ambassador and South Carolin… [+5870 chars]

Politics

A group of self-styled political independents filed paperwork with the FEC this week to launch a new Super PAC aimed at swinging independent voters to support former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina Gov.Nikki Haleyin her bid to secure the Republican presidential nomination. Led by five entrepreneurs -- including Jonathan Bush, the cousin of former PresidentGeorge W. Bush, and billionaire CEO Frank Laukien -- the PAC, called Independents Moving the Needle, says it will focus its efforts on New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. About 40% of voters in the state are registered as undeclared. Undeclared voters in New Hampshire can choose to participate in Republican or Democratic primaries in any given year, making them a potentially crucial constituency for 2024 Republicans seeking a breakout moment in their fight against former PresidentDonald Trump. The PAC is chaired by five relative outsiders to the world of dark money politics. Laukein and his wife, Tamra, who lead companies in life sciences, are joined by Bush, CEO of a healthcare data company, and Bonnie Anderson, CEO of PinkDx, a private cancer-testing company. Robert Fisher, a white-collar attorney and a former federal prosecutor, also helped to found and is now leading the group. "This seemed like, maybe for the first time for many of us, where we personally felt, 'Wow, I've never been in politics and never intended to, but this time, I could make a positive difference together with my colleagues here,'" Laukein said, explaining why they decided to launch the PAC to support Haley. FEC filings show Bush has donated the individual maximum of $6,300 to Haley this cycle, while Laukein has made individual donations totaling roughly $3,000 to other GOP contenders, including Sen. Tim Scott, Florida Gov.Ron DeSantisand entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. However, Laukein, who lives in New Hampshire, noted the founders of the new PAC have mostly forgone political participation at this level in the past but were motivated recently by Haley's momentum and policy positions ranging from national security to school voucher programs. "We think we'll have the resources to do what we set out to do, which isn't some tug of war with another Republican candidate over that one vote that goes to one or the other. This is really for the majority of New Hampshire voters that is independent and unaffiliated," he said. Trump is still leading in the polls, with commanding leads in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to538, but only by plurality support. Pressure is now building on candidates to consolidate support to mount a meaningful head-to-head challenge against the former president, who so far has maintained a formidable grip on GOP voters. "She's got momentum on her side. The timing for us was right. And Nikki is going to succeed at becoming the candidate that wins the '24election," Anderson said when asked about the former president's dominance. So far, Haley has succeeded where other candidates have struggled, maintaining an edge in donor support and gaining traction after three well-received debate performances that have rocketed her campaign. In the latest sign of her campaign's growing salience, Haleysecuredthe endorsement of Americans for Prosperity Action on Tuesday. The influential conservative activist group backed by billionaire Charles Koch -- long thought to be a Republican kingmaker -- now plans to pour millions of dollars into a ground game supporting her candidacy. "She has the same sort of conservative ideas that the other guys have; she just has a better way to market those ideas and talk about them. And she's not nasty," said Dave Carney, a Republican strategist who worked on several presidential campaigns, adding that those qualities could strengthen her with independent and undeclared voters. And with several fronts now opened in the war to secure the Republican nomination, the eyes of many political watchers are now locked on New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a popular anti-Trump Republican who for months has held out on announcing a heavily coveted endorsement meant to contest Trump's supremacy. "If he were to really put his shoulder to the wheel of the wagon of his candidate, he could get them all to take a second look," Carney said of the impact Sununu's endorsement could have on undeclared voters, adding that if Haley were the benefactor, she would get "more undeclared voters in New Hampshire with Sununu supporting her than on her own." Jeff Grappone, a veteran Republican strategist in New Hampshire, pointed to former Sen. John McCain's 2000 and 2008 campaigns in the state, where he bombarded voters with town halls in the hope that independent voters would coalesce around him -- and they did, with McCain walking away as the victor of the state in both cycles. "Independent voters can make a significant difference in the New Hampshire primary, and that's why these candidates are fighting so hard to get that vote," he said. So far, Haley's message seems to be resonating with independent Granite Staters, having jockeyed to a second-place position in the race, according to 538, albeit still trailing Trump by double digits. On Tuesday, at a standing-room-only town hall in Derry, New Hampshire, for Haley, New Hampshire resident Lester Reed, 76, an independent voter since he registered 55 years ago, said that while he was still working through his choices, he would hitch his wagon to Haley over Trump. "If it was between her and Donald Trump, she would have my endorsement," said Reed. "I like what she says, I think the woman has a backbone and she won't take any crap from any of us guys." But the future for any candidate with aspirations to secure the White House will have to extend far beyond simply performing well in New Hampshire's primary, Carney noted. "We're just a little footpath," he said of the state's closely watched contest. "We're just going up to where the first sign is at the ranger station. The hike ahead is steep and hard after New Hampshire."

764500

nan

The Indian Express

Sreenivas Janyala

Telangana heads for a nail-biting finish, as Cong closes gap with BRS

BRS hangs on due to its welfare schemes, stable govt, as Congress sees resurgence, rides promise of guarantees

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/telangana-heads-for-a-nail-biting-finish-as-cong-closes-gap-with-brs-9047326/

2023-11-29 11:57:05

Welfare schemes, a stable nine-year government, and maintaining law and order in Telangana are giving the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) confidence against a resurgent Congress, and the BJP in t… [+6092 chars]

Politics

Welfare schemes, a stable nine-year government, and maintaining law and order in Telangana are giving the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) confidence against a resurgent Congress, and the BJP in the November 30 Assembly polls. First off the blocks, the BRS hit the ground on August 21 with the announcement of 115 candidates by party supremo and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), leaving little room for last-minute rebellions or resentments even as the Congress andBJPstruggled to finalise their candidates. KCR also announced an extensive state-wide campaign schedule starting October 15. The CM has addressed meetings in 97 of the 119 Assembly constituencies while his son and nephew – ministers K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao – have addressed over a 100. Their rallies and roadshows revolved around three aspects – welfare schemes of the government, growth and development that the state witnessed since its formation in 2014 under the BRS, and how the Congress and the BJP are detrimental to the interests of Telangana. Meanwhile, BRS MLA and KCR’s daughter K Kavitha has held fort in her home turf of Nizamabad since the start of November. The Congress, on the other hand, released its 118 candidate names over three lists. The party has allied with the CPI, which will contest the Kothagudem seat, though talks with the CPI(M) failed. Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy heli-hopped around 90 constituencies to address roadshows and rallies. The grand old party also brought in its top brass, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul andPriyanka Gandhi, and other senior leaders. It also pressed in its entire Karnataka unit, which had recently tasted success in the neighbouring state, into the campaign. The party’s campaign focused on ushering in change with its slogan, “Marpu kavali, Congress ravali (We want change, Congress must come)”, and left no stone unturned to disseminate its “six guarantees” among the voters. The Congress’s guarantees promise to provide more welfare benefits than what the BRS government is already giving. Towards the end, a flashpoint emerged between the Congress and the BRS as Revanth Reddy promised “Indiramma Rajyam” in Telangana, drawing sharp reactions from the BRS and BJP. KCR slammed Reddy saying the former prime minister’s tenure was a dark era, which saw starvation deaths, rise of the Naxal movement, and extra-judicial killings. BJP leaders recalled the Emergency days under Indira. This was met with counters from the Congress, which said houses, land sites, and welfare benefits were given out under “Indiramma Rajyam”. Riding on its victory in neighbouring Karnataka, the Congress claimed that it was on its way to dethrone the BRS. Its confidence stems from reports of anti-incumbency in some constituencies, prompting slogans like “VRS to BRS” from the Gandhis. Unlike 2014 and 2018, the party this time is confident that the Muslims votes would be divided, mainly in its favour. BJP loses steam The BJP shot into the limelight in Telangana after winning 48 seats in the 2020 Hyderabad civic polls, following which it wrested Dubbak and Huzurabad from the BRS in Assembly bypolls. However, the momentum that it had gained seems to have fizzled out after the drubbing in Karnataka. The party’s decision to replace firebrand leader Bandi Sanjay with soft-spoken Kishan Reddy as the state chief further dampened the spirits of leaders and cadre, which led to an overall slowdown in its campaign and waning of support base. The BJP, much like the Congress, brought out its bigwigs for the campaign with Prime MinisterNarendra Modiaddressing eight public meetings across Telangana and holding a roadshow in Hyderabad. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed 22 public meetings across the state. The top brass of the BJP, including CMs Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Union ministers likeNirmala Sitharaman, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani canvassed for the party’s candidates across the state. However, the lack of a Telugu-speaking face, except for Kishan Reddy andRajya SabhaMP K Laxman, may end up hurting the party. Firebrand Sanjay was confined to Karimnagar, where a tough fight against BRS minister Gangula Kamalakar, awaits him. The party made corruption of the BRS government the fulcrum of its campaign. Leaders alleged corruption in various projects and schemes like Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya, Miyapur land deal, ORR scam, etc. The BJP attacked both the BRS and Congress over their “dynastic politics”. Two days before the campaign ended, anger simmered in the BRS camp as the Election Commission (EC) directed the state government to halt disbursal of Rythu Bandhu assistance till the Model Code of Conduct was in place. The BRS and Congress traded charges over the controversy with the ruling party accusing the Congress of being “anti-farmer” while the Congress blamed the BRS for leaving farmers in the lurch. Key leaders and battles Even as a tough contest is expected between the BRS and the Congress across the state, there are individual seats which are hogging the limelight too. KCR is involved in two high-pitched battles – against Etala Rajender of the BJP in his home turf of Gajwel and against Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy. Some of other keenly-watched contests include M Krishna Rao of the BRS going against M Prem Kumar of the Jana Sena Party in Kukatpally; Congress’s Mynampally Hanumath Rao’s, who recently switched from the BRS to the Congress, against BJP’s N Ramachander and BRS’s M Rajashekhar Reddy in Malkajgiri; and the Congress’s Mohammed Azharuddin, who is pitted against sitting corporator Rashed Farazuddin of the AIMIM and sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath of the BRS in Jubilee Hills. Rajender will lock horns against the BRS’s Padi Kaushik Reddy of the BRS while Revanth Reddy, in his home turf of Kodangal, will take on BRS minister Patnam Narender Reddy. Khammam strongman Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, who had a bitter fallout with the BRS and joined the Congress, will take on the ruling party’s K Upender Reddy and CPI (M) stalwart Tammineni Veerabhadram in Palair. Former Hyderabad Mayor M Majid Hussain of the AIMIM will take on Congress’s Feroz Khan in Nampally.

764530

nan

The Punch

Olaniyi Apanpa

Automation of passport application takes off in one week – Minister

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday said  the automation of Nigeria’s passport application is 99 per cent completed. Ojo, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today said the automated application will become operational …

https://punchng.com/automation-of-passport-application-takes-off-in-one-week-minister/

2023-11-29 04:09:28

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday said  the automation of Nigerias passport application is 99 per cent completed. Ojo, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics T… [+1329 chars]

Politics

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday said  the automation of Nigeria’s passport application is 99 per cent completed.Ojo, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today said the automated application will become operational in a week’s time noting that after completion,  Nigerians will only go to immigration centres to do fingerprint biometrics for their passports.He further revealed that with the new system, Nigerians can upload their passport photographs and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.The minister said, “We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.“This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.Related NewsGovernorship Election Live UpdatesFG vows to stop foreigners with fake travel documentsFG pledges support as NSCDC unveils camouflage uniformIn pursuit of prison decongestion and national security“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. Ojo, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today said the automated application will become operational in a week’s time noting that after completion,  Nigerians will only go to immigration centres to do fingerprint biometrics for their passports.He further revealed that with the new system, Nigerians can upload their passport photographs and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.The minister said, “We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.“This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.Related NewsGovernorship Election Live UpdatesFG vows to stop foreigners with fake travel documentsFG pledges support as NSCDC unveils camouflage uniformIn pursuit of prison decongestion and national security“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. He further revealed that with the new system, Nigerians can upload their passport photographs and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.The minister said, “We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.“This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.Related NewsGovernorship Election Live UpdatesFG vows to stop foreigners with fake travel documentsFG pledges support as NSCDC unveils camouflage uniformIn pursuit of prison decongestion and national security“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. The minister said, “We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.“This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.Related NewsGovernorship Election Live UpdatesFG vows to stop foreigners with fake travel documentsFG pledges support as NSCDC unveils camouflage uniformIn pursuit of prison decongestion and national security“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. “This will ensure that what Nigerians need to do at an immigration centre is just fingerprint biometrics.Related NewsGovernorship Election Live UpdatesFG vows to stop foreigners with fake travel documentsFG pledges support as NSCDC unveils camouflage uniformIn pursuit of prison decongestion and national security“Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. “Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.“They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. “They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.”In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.“By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. “By February, all our international airports will have e-gates“Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed. “Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed.

764533

nan

Forbes

Jodie Cook, Senior Contributor, Jodie Cook, Senior Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/

5 ChatGPT Prompts To Master Any Topic (and Apply It To Your Business)

ChatGPT can make your perfect learning mentor, but only if you know how to prompt it effectively. Use these prompts to master any new area of business in record time.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2023/11/29/5-chatgpt-prompts-to-master-any-topic-and-apply-it-to-your-business/

2023-11-29 13:00:00

5 ChatGPT prompts to master any topic (and apply it to your business) getty As an entrepreneur, progress in business requires progress in you. Learn more, think more, apply more to your business t… [+7302 chars]

Politics

5 ChatGPT prompts to master any topic (and apply it to your business) As an entrepreneur, progress in business requires progress in you. Learn more, think more, apply more to your business to make bigger, bolder moves that others haven’t considered. But sometimes there just isn’t time to go back to school. ChatGPT can make your perfect learning mentor, but only if you know how to prompt it effectively. Using these prompts, you can master any new area of business in record time. Take your subject of interest and try to learn it using each of the following methods. Keep going with the one that best suits the way you think. Use the prompts any time you’re learning something new, for any part of your work. Becoming a better leader, communicator or content creator, plus many other skills, can be learned with the help of these techniques. Learn anything faster using these prompts for ChatGPT Not everyone learns best by reading words and sentences. Many of us want to see information displayed in a visual way. Prompt ChatGPT to explain a topic using mind mapping techniques. Simply explain what you want to learn and why, and it will aim to teach the topic in a way that appeals to the visual part of your brain, helping you apply it to your business to start seeing results. "I want to learn about [specify the topic you're interested in] to apply it to my business for [mention the specific business objective or reason]. Can you create a text-based mind map that explains this topic in a visually structured way? The mind map should break down the key concepts, their interrelations, and practical applications in a format that's easy to understand and visually engaging. This will help me grasp the topic more effectively by appealing to my preference for visual learning and enabling me to implement these insights in my business context." We’re not academics living inside textbooks. We are entrepreneurs living inside the simulated experience that is our own business. It makes sense, therefore, that theory has little use without practice. But practicing every new piece of knowledge on your own business might not make sense. Instead, first learn from others. Use this prompt to find where your area of interest has been applied before, for new ideas from a wide range of places. "I am interested in [specify the area of interest or skill you want to develop] and its application in the business world. Can you provide a selection of case studies from different companies, as well as relevant examples from politics and history, where this knowledge has been applied successfully? These case studies should include a brief overview, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the outcomes achieved. This will help me understand how these concepts work in practice, offering new ideas and insights that I can consider applying to my own business." Socratic questioning is a form of disciplined questioning used to pursue thought in many directions, for many purposes. It can be used to explore complex ideas, uncover assumptions, probe rationale and evidence and understand the implications and consequences of what we believe. The technique is often used in teaching and therapy but can be just as effectively applied to your business challenges. When learning a new topic, keep questioning how and why it’s relevant to your line of business. Uncover the truth with ChatGPT. "I am exploring the topic of [insert the new topic you're learning about] and its relevance to my business in [describe your business field or industry]. Using the Socratic questioning method, help me delve deeper into this subject. Start by asking probing questions about how and why this topic is relevant to my business, such as 'What specific aspects of [topic] can be directly applied to my business operations?' and 'Why is understanding [topic] important for the growth or sustainability of my business?' Continue with questions, one at a time, that challenge assumptions and explore implications, like 'What assumptions am I making about [topic] and its impact on my industry?' and 'What potential long-term effects could [topic] have on my business strategy?'" Bringing a new topic to life can be done in many different ways. Borrow from the words of film, theatre and television by storytelling through characters. Use this prompt to create fictional roles who teach you about a new world from their point of view. Have these people based on people who inspire you in real life, or perhaps even people you engage with in your business activities. Having a new concept explained by your dream customer might be a more memorable way of ensuring it sticks. Understanding the components of a study will be far more engaging from your favourite mentor. Here’s the prompt to summon a range of teachers. "I'm currently learning about [specify the new topic or concept] and want to deepen my understanding through role-playing scenarios. Create a series of 5 fictional scenarios where characters, inspired by people who motivate me in real life or in my business activities, explain and interact with this topic. For instance, develop a scenario where my dream customer explains the practical applications of [topic] in a business setting. Or, create a dialogue with a character based on my favorite mentor [name or describe them], who delves into the theoretical aspects of [topic]. These scenarios should be engaging and provide diverse perspectives on the subject, helping me grasp the concept in a more relatable and memorable way." The best way to test your understanding of something new is to teach it to other people. Once you’ve learned the new thing, ask ChatGPT to create the outline of a presentation that you give to other people. Seeing it laid out in this way will show you where the gaps are, so you can fill them in with more reading or prompting as you see fit. There’s no point to your new expertise if you don’t apply it, and applying it along with your team members will give it the best chance at creating success for your business. "Now that I've learned about [specify the topic or concept], I need to solidify this knowledge by teaching it to others. Please help me create an outline for a presentation that I can give to my team members. The outline should cover the key concepts, methodologies, and any practical applications relevant to our business. Also, suggest interactive elements or questions I can use to engage my audience during the presentation. This approach will not only help reinforce my own understanding but also ensure I'm applying this new expertise effectively within my team." Accelerate your learning and apply new knowledge to your business When you hear of a topic that could make a difference, understand it in record time with these five prompts. By doing this, you figure out if it will help or hinder your business, without wasting time overthinking. Master mind-mapping and create a visual of the topic in brilliant detail, then understand how it’s worked successfully for other companies. Apply Socratic questioning to get to the heart of the issue and hear the topic explained by different stakeholders to hammer it home. Finally, learn this new area inside out by teaching others what you know. Five prompts for success, five ways to supercharge your business to new heights with your new and improved knowledge bank.

764535

rt

RT

RT

No chance for renewal of nuclear accord with US – Moscow

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has discussed the possibility of a new nuclear arms race with the US Read Full Article at RT.com

https://www.rt.com/russia/588204-ryabkov-arms-race-reagan/

2023-11-29 13:06:19

The breakdown in the relationship between the US and Russia makes contacts even on an issue as vital as the strategic balance of power nearly impossible, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabko… [+2363 chars]

Politics

The breakdown in the relationship with the US makes contacts even on an issue as vital as the strategic balance of power nearly impossible, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has told the Izvestia newspaper. The last surviving bilateral nuclear arms reduction treaty is likely to expire, leading to a possible arms race, he predicted in an interview published on Wednesday. New START, the latest iteration of a series of agreements that limited Moscow’s and Washington's nuclear arsenals, was last renewed ‘as is’ in January 2021, days after Joe Biden was inaugurated as US president. Moscow suspended its participation in the agreement in February, citing US involvement in the Ukraine conflict and Kiev’s attacks on Russian air bases hosting strategic bombers. At this point, there is“no option”to continue New START or replace it, after it expires in February 2026, Ryabkov said. “We have to take into account the level of hostility of our opponents and their reckless drive to pump the Kiev regime with all kinds of weapons,”he explained, calling the situation“the opposite to what we’ve always aimed for.” Ryabkov suggested that people in Washington may be looking for a new arms race, similar to the one that President Ronald Reagan triggered with the Strategic Defense Initiative. His proposal was to create an advanced anti-ballistic missile system that could stop a Soviet nuclear strike – consequently exposing America’s Cold War opponent to an undeterred US attack. The technologies required for such a system were far from maturity, but the threat pushed Moscow to overextend military spending. If the Americans hope to repeat Reagan’s deception, they are wrong, Ryabkov said. “We will not fall for provocations, which are a feature of American politics on the Russian track; we will guarantee our security,”the diplomat promised. He also remarked that Russia sees no need for any treaties on nuclear weapons with China, considering that the two nations have reached a“perfect understanding on all issues.” “What we have is enough, and we are happy with it,”he noted. Officials from the administration of President Donald Trump claimed that they wanted a trilateral agreement with Russia and China to replace New START, when they argued against renewing it. They also cited a need to confront China, when the US announced in 2018 an intention to withdraw from the INF Treaty, another nuclear arms control treaty with Russia that banned both sides from fielding intermediate-range land-based missiles.

764562

nan

International Business Times

AFP News

Greek PM Was 'Grandstanding' In Sculpture Row: UK's Sunak

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday defended his decision to snub Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accusing his Greek counterpart of playing to the gallery in a row over ancient sculptures.

https://www.ibtimes.com/greek-pm-was-grandstanding-sculpture-row-uks-sunak-3719690

2023-11-29 13:15:28

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday defended his decision to snub Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accusing his Greek counterpart of playing to the gallery in a row over ancient sculptures. London and At… [+2869 chars]

Politics

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday defended his decision to snub Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accusing his Greek counterpart of playing to the gallery in a row over ancient sculptures. London and Athens have disputed claims about why the talks at Downing Street were shelved at the last minute, prompting an angry Mitsotakis to cut short a three-day visit to the British capital. Mitsotakis on Wednesday appeared keen to diffuse the row, which the UK blamed on his comments in a weekend BBC interview about Greek claims to the Parthenon Marbles on display in the British Museum. "This unfortunate event will not affect historically deep ties between Greece and the UK," Sunak said after meeting Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. But Sunak was in no mood to back down, even when accused by opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer of playing "small politics" and of having "lost his marbles". "We're always happy to discuss important topics of substance with our allies, like tackling illegal immigration or indeed strengthening our security," he told lawmakers in parliament. "But when it was clear that the purpose of a meeting was not to discuss substantive issues for the future, but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past, it was inappropriate." Sunak said Greece had made "specific commitments and reassurances" not to publicly raise the subject but broke its promise. "When people make commitments they should keep them," the Conservative leader added. Greece has denied any such assurances were given. The diplomatic row -- at a time when the UK is still in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis -- has baffled many, given that the disputed ownership of the 2,500-year-old relics is well known. The sculptures were taken from the Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in Greece in the early 19th century by British diplomat Thomas Bruce, the earl of Elgin. Athens maintains the marbles, which are a major draw for visitors at London's British Museum, were stolen, while the UK claims they were obtained legally. Starmer, tipped to become the UK's next prime minister after a general election expected next year, met Mitsotakis on Monday. "I discussed with the Greek prime minister the economy, security, immigration, I also told him we wouldn't change the law regarding the marbles. It's not that difficult, prime minister," he said. In response, Sunak accused Starmer of "backing an EU country over Britain". In Athens, Mitsotakis put a positive spin on the public spat, saying it had made more people aware of Greece's claim to the marbles in the UK and beyond. The 1963 British Museum Act prohibits the removal of objects from the institution's collection. But officials at the museum, which is under pressure to repatriate other foreign antiquities, have not ruled out a possible loan deal.

764583

bbc-news

BBC News

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews

Nikki Haley bags Koch endorsement in bid to defeat Donald Trump

The endorsement comes as Mrs Haley seeks to establish herself as the alternative to Mr Trump.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67558465

2023-11-29 02:38:17

A powerhouse donor base that has funded conservative causes for more than two decades says it is swinging behind Nikki Haley's 2024 presidential bid. Billionaire Charles Koch's network has raised mi… [+3943 chars]

Politics

A powerhouse donor base that has funded conservative causes for more than two decades says it is swinging behind Nikki Haley's 2024 presidential bid. Billionaire Charles Koch's network has raised millions in an effort to help Republicans move past Donald Trump. But as the party's voters prepare to begin picking their preferred candidate in January, the ex-president dominates the rest of the field. The Koch endorsement of Mrs Haley has the potential to reshape the race. The former South Carolina governor is still polling roughly 50 points behind the man she once served as United Nations ambassador. But her headline-grabbing TV debate performances and a recent favourability bump in early-voting states, as a once-crowded Republican field begins to thin out, have given hope to those who want an alternative to Mr Trump. In recent weeks, several high-profile donors have indicated they will back her over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is polling in second place but whose campaign appears to be faltering. In a memo on Tuesday, Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) - the Koch network's political advocacy arm - celebrated Mrs Haley as "a candidate capable of turning the page on Washington's toxic culture - and a candidate who can win". It added that internal polling and voter outreach shows Mrs Haley performing best in a hypothetical general election match-up with Joe Biden, the Democrats' current likely 2024 nominee. In a statement from her campaign, Mrs Haley said she was "honoured" by the support of an organisation that boasts "millions of grassroots members". "AFP Action's members know that there is too much at stake in this election to sit on the sidelines," she wrote. "We have a country to save, and I'm grateful to have AFP Action by our side." But the Trump campaign dismissed the endorsement, saying on Tuesday that no amount of "shady money" from "the political arm of the China First, America Last movement" would help Mrs Haley win. The Republican frontrunner himself lashed out on Wednesday, writing online: "These losers have fought me from 2016 to the present." Critics have questioned whether the lone woman in the race has the campaign infrastructure to maintain her momentum as election season heats up. But it is a problem that Tuesday's endorsement - with the advertising, advocacy and voter mobilisation efforts that accompany it - could go a long way in helping to solve. It is also a big blow to Mr DeSantis, who was most recently endorsed by AFP Action ahead of his 2022 re-election as governor. His campaign slammed the decision as evidence of the political establishment "lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president". The Koch network, which has raised more than $70m (£55m) in the 2024 election cycle, is already spending $4m on ads criticising the ex-president, according to AdImpact. In its Tuesday memo, AFP Action apologised to DeSantis supporters but warned that a divided primary field would only benefit Mr Trump and "we are entering a time period that demands choices". It marks the first time the influential organisation has put its thumb on the scale ahead of a Republican presidential primary. "As many of you know, AFP Action has never engaged in a presidential election before, but... to write a new chapter for our country, we need to turn the page on the past," AFP's memo reads. "Donald Trump and Joe Biden will only further perpetuate the country's downward spiral in politics." The Koch network did not back Mr Trump's successful bid for the White House in 2016. During the Trump years, it scored several major policy victories, including on tax reform, but opposed his stance on government spending and trade issues. The ex-president and his potent brand of populism have, in turn, helped to diminish the influence moneyed donors he refers to as "globalist elites" have over the Republican Party. Republicans will begin voting in the 2024 primary in January. Their eventual nominee currently looks likely to face Mr Biden next November.

764588

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Bloomberg

A master of one-liners: Charlie Munger on politics, life and crypto

Berkshire Hathaway Inc investors enjoyed the 3,800,000% return engineered by Charlie Munger, who died at 100. Munger, longtime business partner of Warren Buffett, transformed Berkshire from a failing textile mill into a $783 billion behemoth. Munger's blunt s…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/a-master-of-one-liners-charlie-munger-on-politics-life-and-crypto/articleshow/105576932.cms

2023-11-29 02:49:54

FD Calculator When investing in a fixed deposit, the amount you deposit earns interest as per the prevailing... Calculate Now

Politics

The thing many Berkshire Hathaway Inc investors may have enjoyed almost as much as the 3,800,000% return Charlie Munger helped engineer were his quips along the way. Munger, who died Tuesday in California about a month shy of his 100th birthday, was the longtime business partner of Warren Buffett, with the pair transforming Berkshire from a failing textile mill into a $783 billion behemoth spanning industries from insurance to energy. The duo would banter on stage at Berkshire’s shareholder event in Omaha, Nebraska, almost every year, and Munger himself drew fans annually to Los Angeles for Daily Journal Corp’s shareholder meetings. Munger’s blunt style and deep knowledge made for witty one-liners that often stood in stark contrast to the more folksy style of Buffett, 93.Industry leaders including Bank of America Corp chief executive officer Brian Moynihan and former Wells Fargo & Co CEO Tim Sloan both called Munger “legendary.” Munger was also “a generous philanthropist who provided unfiltered advice and refreshing opinions which positively impacted businesses worldwide,” Sloan said.Here are some of Munger’s famous sayings:On life lessonsWith a base of avid fans who would flock to meetings that Munger would attend — he referred to them as “groupies” — the billionaire investor often opined about life lessons and answered questions about how to achieve the success he found in his. He also doled out some tough remarks, warning in 2015 that it would be harder for consumers to maintain their standard of living. “Somebody my age has lived through the best and easiest period that ever happened in the history of the world — the lowest death rates, the highest investment production, biggest increases in most people’s standards of living,” Munger said in 2015. “If you’re unhappy with what you’ve had over the last 50 years, you have an unfortunate misappraisal of life.”Financial recklessnessMunger often criticized people he thought were making bad bets or gambling. In 2011, he said the bubble in the US leading up to the financial crisis was caused by a combination of “megalomania, insanity and evil” and offered some choice words for Alan Greenspan, saying there was too little oversight during his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve. “Alan Greenspan is a smart man,” Munger said. “He just totally overdosed on Ayn Rand at a young age.”Years later, he criticized citizens of Greece for thinking they could vote themselves rich as their nation struggled with debt. And he didn’t spare Wall Street. “What do you think a derivatives trading desk is? It’s a casino in drag,” Munger said in 2015. “They make the witch doctors look good.”CryptoMunger was often a critic of cryptocurrencies, calling Bitcoin “noxious poison” and warning that digital assets were “partly fraud and partly delusion.”“That’s a bad combination,” Munger said in a 2022 interview with CNBC. “I don’t like either fraud or delusion. And the delusion may be more extreme than the fraud.”PoliticsMunger, who often supported Republican causes, never shied away from expressing his opinions about either major political party. In 2017, he said Republican leaders risked going too far in their efforts to cut back on oversight of banks. “My fellow Republicans — the ones taking away all this regulation of major finance — I think that’s bonkers,” Munger said in 2017.He criticized former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2016 election, but he also said US Senator Bernie Sanders was too focused on income inequality. “As an intellectual he’s a disgrace,” Munger said of Sanders at the time. “Now, I don’t think he’s any worse than some of our Republicans. But at least they’re crazy in a different way.”Business explanationsMunger and Buffett’s biggest draw was often the way the pair simply presented complex business ideas. For Berkshire’s 50th anniversary, Munger laid out the history in a five-page letter and summed up why the conglomerate did so well. As to whether Berkshire’s path had implications elsewhere, he said the answer was “plainly yes.”“In its early Buffett years, Berkshire had a big task ahead: turning a tiny stash into a large and useful company,” Munger said. “And it solved that problem by avoiding bureaucracy and relying much on one thoughtful leader for a long, long time as he kept improving and brought in more people like himself. Compare this to a typical big-corporation system with much bureaucracy at headquarters and a long succession of CEOs who come in at about age 59, pause little thereafter for quiet thought, and are soon forced out by a fixed retirement age.”

764590

bbc-news

BBC News

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews

PMQs: Rishi Sunak accuses Greek PM of grandstanding over Elgin Marbles

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accuses the PM of trying to "humiliate" his Greek counterpart. at PMQs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67567544

2023-11-29 12:57:44

Media caption, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claims Rishi Sunak has "lost his marbles" by cancelling a meeting with the Greek PM Rishi Sunak has accused the Greek prime minister of trying to "grand… [+2254 chars]

Politics

Rishi Sunak has accused the Greek prime minister of trying to "grandstand" over the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. Mr Sunak defended cancelling a meeting with the Greek PM this week. At a fiery PMQs, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Never mind the British Museum, it's the prime minister who has obviously lost his marbles." The PM said it had become clear the meeting was "not to discuss substantive issues for the future". He said it was "rather to grandstand". There is widespread bafflement among Conservatives about the prime minister's decision to pick a public fight with Greece over the Elgin Marbles, the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason reports. "Why on earth are we still banging on about bloody marbles?" one senior Tory MP asked. The MP argued that the party needs to be focusing on Labour's spending plans, not a 200-year-old disagreement with Athens. "[Mr Sunak] is lousy at foreign affairs and would not have known the impact of such a snub," said a former cabinet minister. "Every meeting we have with the Greeks involves us taking the same lines. And they also have theirs," the MP added, emphasising how long the UK and Greece have disagreed about the sculptures. At PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer - who held a meeting with Mr Mitsotakis on Monday - said the Greek PM was "a fellow Nato member, an economic ally, one of our most important partners in tackling illegal immigration". But instead of using a meeting with him to "discuss those serious issues", the prime minister "tried to humiliate him and cancelled at the last minute". He asked: "Why such small politics?" Mr Sunak said: "Of course, we're always happy to discuss important topics of substance with our allies, like tackling illegal migration or indeed strengthening our security. "But when it was clear that the purpose of a meeting was not to discuss substantive issues for the future, but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past, it was inappropriate. "Furthermore ... when specific commitments and specific assurances on that topic were made to this country and then were broken, it may seem alien to him, but my view is when people make commitments they should keep them." The debate then turned to migration, with Mr Sunak claiming Sir Keir wanted closer cooperation with the EU, claiming the Labour leader backed "Brussels over Britain every single time". Sir Keir accused the PM of suggesting that meeting the prime minister of Greece is "somehow supporting the EU instead of discussing serious issues". He accused Mr Sunak of digging "further into that hole he's made for himself", adding: "Instead of dealing with the facts, he is prosecuting his own one-man war on reality." Downing Street has claimed it received assurances that Mr Mitsotakis would not publicly push for the return of the Elgin Marbles during his visit, but the Greek leader discussed the topic with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday. Mr Mitsotakis has, meanwhile, said his falling out with Mr Sunak will not have a long-term impact on Greece and the UK's relationship. After returning from his ill-fated trip to the UK, the Greek PM insisted that the two countries enjoy a relationship of "significant historical depth" which would not be negatively affected by the spat. He claimed events in London had actually benefitted the Greek people. "There was a positive side to the cancellation of this meeting," he said. "That the fair request of Greece for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures gained even more publicity, not only in the UK, but also to the global public opinion." Earlier on Wednesday, Greece's foreign minister had said he hoped the two countries needed to work together to find a solution to return the marbles to Greece. Giorgos Gerapetritis, who met his British counterpart Lord Cameron on Tuesday after the row had escalated, said: "The reunification of the Parthenon sculpture is a claim based not only on history and justice but also on ecumenical cultural value." The Elgin Marbles is the name commonly used for a collection of ancient Greek treasures from the Parthenon in Athens which were taken and brought to the UK by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th Century. They have been in the British Museum since 1832, aside from a stint in Aldwych Tube station during World War Two to prevent damage and one marble being loaned to a Russian museum in 2014. Both Greece and the UK have long-standing positions on the sculptures.

764647

nan

GlobeNewswire

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

Debt-distressed countries more likely to turn to non-traditional bailout options, according to WTW’s political risk index

WTW 2023 Political Risk Index - Autumn-Winter......

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787565/0/en/Debt-distressed-countries-more-likely-to-turn-to-non-traditional-bailout-options-according-to-WTW-s-political-risk-index.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/d60448c5-44c1-4061-a525-161810e55c26

2023-11-29 11:00:00

LONDON, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High government expenditures during the pandemic, coupled with global inflation and increased interest rates in 2023, have contributed to an escalating debt … [+2641 chars]

Politics

LONDON, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High government expenditures during the pandemic, coupled with global inflation and increased interest rates in 2023, have contributed to an escalating debt crisis in emerging markets. This is according to the latestPolitical Risk Index reportreleased by WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company. The report details how political challenges may make it increasingly difficult for multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, to play their traditional crisis management roles, which could heighten the political and economic risks associated with debt crises. Other findings include: Evan Freely, Global Head of Financial Solutions, WTW, said: “A conveyor belt of economic shocks has hit the world’s most vulnerable countries hard. Emerging market governments may look for less transparent short-term financing, accepting higher interest rates in return for fewer conditions, however this increases both humanitarian and business risks. This report indicates that geopolitics is complicating an already difficult situation, and these trends should be carefully monitored from a risk management perspective.” This edition of the WTW Political Risk Index features research conducted by the geopolitical consultants at Oxford Analytica and the credit insurance group Credendo, as well as WTW’s trade credit and political risk teams. The complete report can be downloadedhere. About WTW At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance. Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more atwtwco.com. Media contact Sarah Booker: +44 7917 722040Sarah.Booker@wtwco.com

764678

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

DP Bhattacharya

Senior BJP leader and former Varanasi incharge Sunil Ojha passes away

​Former MLA from Bhavnagar East, Sunil Ojha , a hardline Hindu leader had been the election incharge for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first ever election in Rajkot back in 2001 that validated Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/senior-bjp-leader-and-former-varanasi-incharge-sunil-ojha-passes-away/articleshow/105595186.cms

2023-11-29 11:33:27

Former MLA from Bhavnagar East and the former incharge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, Varanasi, Sunil Ojha passed away in Gurugram on Wednesday.Ojha, a hardline Hindu leader had been… [+2240 chars]

Politics

Former MLA from Bhavnagar East and the former incharge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency , Varanasi , Sunil Ojha passed away in Gurugram on Wednesday. Ojha, a hardline Hindu leader had been the election incharge for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first ever election in Rajkot back in 2001 that validated Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. A thoroughbred organiser, Ojha enjoyed strong grip over the grassroots politics in his heydays in Gujarat and was known for his lowkey working style. While he had been close to the Prime Minister initially, he had had fallen out with the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi ahead of 2007 Gujarat election and went on to join the rebel saffron brigade led by former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and Gordhan Zadaphiya. However the estrangement with BJP did not last for long for the trio and Ojha, Zadaphiya and Patel all returned to the party fold within five year. While Ojha returned to party fold ahead of 2011 he was given some responsibilities for the state unit of the party. Later ahead of General election in 2014, to the surprise on many, he was put in charge of Varanasi, the constituency that Narendra Modi had chosen to contest the election from. Ojha also worked as the co-incharge of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for the saffron party. Of late, he was involved in developing Gadouli Dham Ashram in Mirzapur district near Varanasi. Prime Minister in his social media post said that the news of Ojha’s death is painful. “His contribution in expansion of BJP and in social service will be always remembered.” “Even in Varanasi Sunilbhai’s organisational works had been praiseworthy,” he added. — narendramodi (@narendramodi) Union Home Minister Amit Shah in his post said “the news ofsenior BJP leader and co-incharge of Bihar Sunil Ojha’s demise is extremely saddening. Sunilbhai had carried out various responsibilities of the organisation with total efficiency. He shall always remain in our memories because of his simplicity and commitment towards the organisation.” — AmitShah (@AmitShah) Mourning his demise, BJP National President JP Nadda took to social media and wrote “the demise of the senior BJP leader and co-incharge of Bihar Sunil Ojha is very saddening. Ojhaji’s entire life was dedicated to public service and the organisation. His demise is a major loss to BJP family. I express deep condolences to the grieving family and pray for the peace of the departed soul.” — JPNadda (@JPNadda) Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on bjp varanasi Sunil Ojha Narendra Modi’s constituency Keshubhai Patel (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

764789

bbc-news

BBC News

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews

Makers 'pushed up' price of brands, says watchdog

Some food brands 'pushed up' prices more that their costs, competition watchdog says.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67563844

2023-11-29 08:22:08

Some suppliers have raised prices by more than their costs went up over the past two years, according to the UK's competition watchdog. This has helped push up food prices, the Competition & Mar… [+1355 chars]

Food

Makers of some popular food brands have raised prices by more than their costs over the past two years, according to the UK's competition watchdog. This has helped push up the price shoppers pay for baby formula, baked beans and pet food, the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) said. About three quarters of branded suppliers have been making more profit on individual products. But food firms said they had done all they could to absorb higher costs. The findings are part of an analysis of pricing in 10 categories, which also includes milk, poultry, mayonnaise, baked beans, chilled desserts, ready meals, and lemonade. High food price inflation has mainly been driven by rising energy and fertiliser costs, the CMA said. But makers of most branded food items in the 10 categories have been putting prices up by more than their costs and "in doing so, have contributed to higher food price inflation", it added. As a result shoppers have increasingly turned to own-label products, meaning branded products have lost market share, and so have actually been making less money overall. But in the case of baby formula there are not many alternatives, and prices have risen by a quarter over the past two years. Profits on these products have been high. New parents could make significant savings of £500 in the first year of a baby's life on baby formula by shopping around, the CMA added. Cheaper formula still needs to follow rules on providing the nutrients babies need, it said. But the market is dominated by two big players - Danone and Nestle - and there is little evidence of parents switching to cheaper alternatives. "We're concerned that parents may not always have the right information to make informed choices and that suppliers may not have strong incentives to offer infant formula at competitive prices," said Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA. She added that the pace of food price rises, which was running at more than 10% in October, "has put huge strain on household budgets". Pauline Cox, a nutritionist and author, said there was "very little difference" between branded and unbranded baby products in terms of their nutritional value for babies because UK rules are so strict. However, if parents have any concerns about which type of formula is right for their baby, they should consult a doctor, she said. Gemma Maxwell, 31, from Glasgow, is the mother of 3-year-old Finlay and a very recent newborn baby. She said "in the past because I saw people using bigger brands I thought they must be more beneficial for your baby". New parents may hesitate to shop around for brands because the less well-known products are not marketed as widely, she said. However, Ms Maxwell said she has friends that use discount baby formula brands. "When we looked at the nutritional value of both formulas, they are the same," she said. She says she will now shop around for different formulas, especially in the current cost-of-living crisis. However, Diane Phillips, 30, from Cauldon Lowe in Staffordshire, said she will probably stick to the bigger brands. "I would be most comfortable with the brands that are more reputable" she said, adding that branding definitely plays a part when choosing the right formula. However, she said she would consider other, less well-known brands if she was convinced the nutritional value was the same. Industry group the British Retail Consortium said families could make "significant savings by switching to cheaper brands or own-label products, all of which provide the necessary nutrition for a healthy baby". Danone, which makes Aptamil and Cow & Gate, has more than 70% of the UK baby formula market. It said that during a period of high inflation "we have worked very hard to absorb the significant cost increases we have faced, make savings, and minimise any price increases". Danone sells "a range of formula milk products at different prices" and has "launched new larger, better value formats", a spokesperson said, adding that the "formula milk market is competitive". The firm will "continue to engage with the CMA over the coming months", it said. Nestle, which has 14% of the market with SMA and Little Steps, said it welcomed the review of the industry by the CMA. "This is a complex and serious issue and we are open to all constructive dialogue to help parents in the most effective way possible," a Nestle spokesperson said. "We have been working to cut our costs wherever possible and only increase prices as a last resort." Industry group the Food and Drink Federation said manufacturers had absorbed costs to try to shield consumers from higher prices. "However, with inflation hitting a 40-year high earlier this year, some price rises have been unavoidable," said Karen Betts, its chief executive. The watchdog will probe the baby formula market further, and will also look at supermarket loyalty card schemes. Some supermarkets have only been making cheaper prices available to customers on loyalty card schemes, and the watchdog will look at this practice in 2024. "The kind of issues we want to explore are: Does this mean that certain groups of customers are not going to get access to discounts on really core household products? Does it mean that people are having to part with a lot of personal data to get those price discounts, and what are the supermarkets doing with that data? And are the promotions being offered clear [and] transparent?" Ms Cardell said. In September, consumer group Which? warned that loyalty card schemes were not as good as they seem, with supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury's increasing the prices of everyday items so the discounts for people with loyalty cards looked bigger than they really were. However, both supermarkets rejected the claims. The CMA has the power to enforce consumer law, and if it finds any reason to uphold concerns during an investigation, will normally work with firms to rectify any issues. But the watchdog also has the power, if necessary, to compel firms to change their business practices, and can even fine companies. Read more tips here

764727

time

Time

Jerel Ezell

California’s New Plan to Treat the Mentally Ill May End Up Violating Their Rights

California's new CARE Courts are aimed at helping treat the mentally ill and solving homelessness, but it raises concerns about civil rights.

https://time.com/6340526/california-care-courts-homeless-mentally-ill/

2023-11-29 12:30:00

Facing enormous pressure to tame what appears to be a spiraling and increasingly intertwined statewide crisis in mental health, substance use, and homelessness, California officials have created the … [+11208 chars]

Politics

Facing enormous pressure to tame what appears to be a spiraling and increasingly intertwined statewide crisis in mental health, substance use, and homelessness, California officials have created theCommunity Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, or CARE Court. The new system is a policy smorgasbord that ranges from the provision of court-ordered treatment and housing to food assistance, social activities, and exercise programming for Californians with severe mental illness. CARE Court, which launchedin October to skeptical but hopeful Californians, is aimed at tackling the Golden State’s perpetual public welfare emergency through a collaborative referral and treatment process. The plan, passed and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in July, is currently being piloted in San Francisco, San Diego, and Orange counties, with Los Angeles County, which has the state’s largest homeless population, launching on Dec. 1. California’s remaining counties will implement CARE Courts by year’s end. Going back to the early 18thCentury, American prisons and mental health wards have used coercive or involuntary treatment on their populations, while so-called drug courts, invented in the 1970s, often make enrollment into substance use treatment programs, like methadone, a condition for favorable adjudication terms. CARE Courts are presented as a more compassionate and flexible iteration, yet can still involuntarily retain patients under a variety of open-ended scenarios, while their ultimate value in solving California’s problems is very much open to question. At face value, CARE Court seems like a completely logical, if not desperate, solution for a state withAmerica’s largest homeless population, one larger than those of the next three states of New York, Florida, and Washington, combined. Under the initiative, individuals with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia can be recommended, or petitioned, for CARE Court proceedings, and their case reviewed at a clinical evaluation hearing in concert with a public defender. If clinically substantiated, the individual, their counsel and supporters, and the county’s behavioral health agency collaborate on a “CARE Plan” that can fast-track the individual into treatment and link them to services to help them further stabilize. These resources include medications, counseling, and substance-use recovery and management resources. But what qualifies someone to make a petition on behalf of another person, setting in motion such a potentially life-altering process? CARE Courtempowers virtually anyone in an individual’s orbit to make that call, including family members, roommates, healthcare and behavioral health providers, and first responders such as paramedics. California’s focus on integrating family members and other potential sources of social support like friends into this process, would seem to be a big advantage to this approach. However, it’s an advantage that potentially presentsan exceptional burden on these supporters, namely when there are conflicting desires about how to help the individual. In short, CARE Courts embody the “too many cooks in the kitchen” paradox that often plagues modern clinical decision-making. And this feature, too, cuts both ways: Court officials have the latitude to remove an individual’s social supports—including those who may reject the individual’s enrollment in CARE Courts—from the proceedings if they feel they have a conflict of interest. From the most basic civil rights perspective, CARE Courts would seem to run roughshod on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says that no state can abridge the privileges of citizens or deprive them of due process. But what are privileges of citizenship and due process to someone with severe mental illness, whose idea of life and liberty may be so radically different from others’? These are just some of the sticky questions animating the otherwise promising CARE Court initiative. Along these lines, multiple lawsuits—most arguing that the bill diminishes due process, personal liberty, and equal protection rights—were filed,and rejected, against Newsom before the effort even began. The effort nevertheless still faces legal headwinds similar to those that have recently upheld or reversed other landmark cases on medical rights,as concerns likely continue to mountover the extent to which CARE Courts genuinely support the recovery and stabilization of individuals in severe mental distress, vs. simply serving as political cover for decades of failed public policy. Coerced treatment is one of the thorniest topics in modern psychiatry, with theAmerican Psychiatric Associationandpractitioners long recognizing the Faustian bargain it always entails. This is particularly true when intent and medicine’s longstanding Hippocratic principle of “first, do not harm” is considered. When is the practice being used for patient wellness and public safety? And when is it used as a means of shielding families, law enforcement, businesses, and the public from the discomfort and fear that comes from themere presenceof homeless individuals and having to deal with people who have a severe mental illness? U.S. law has generally supported an individual’sright to refuse medical treatment, but when competency is raised, things get fuzzy. And here we return to the question of choice and who gets to choose, for whom, and why.Human Rights Watchand California’sACLUhave framed the CARE Courts as an autonomy-crushing practice that will further advance the judiciary’s dangerous incursion into healthcare. Newsom, a Democratwho has flirted with the idea of running for president, made it clear he’s unphased by such criticisms as he seeks to improve the state’s diminished image. “Change has its enemies. I get it,” Newsom explained. “But one thing you cannot argue for, with all due respect to all the critics out there, is the status quo. You can't. And in the absence of alternatives, what the hell are we going to do to address this crisis?” In politics, doing something is almost always seen as better than doing nothing, and doing something new is almost always seen as better than staying the course. For that reason alone, CARE Court may have some lessons—both intended and not—for how we more broadly approach mental health policy across the country. Roughly 90% of Americans believe the country is experiencing a mental health crisis. So, it’s no surprise that they may look at the most extreme manifestations of it—manic or zombified people loitering in their communities—in places like California and see initiatives like CARE Courts as, at worse, necessary evils. Are CARE Courts coercive though? It depends on your lens.According to the law, an individual cannot be forcibly entered into treatment or required to take stabilizing medications. However, if an individual refuses to voluntarily take treatment, conservatorship can then simply be imposed at the discretion of court officials. And it’s under conservatorship where CARE Courts can then be used as a kind of medical blackmail without theoretically conflicting with their primary selling point to the public: creating options for some of our society’s most vulnerable people. And should things go awry, CARE Courts and their operators are essentially immune. The billexempts counties or an employee of a county from civil or criminal liabilityfor any action by a CARE Court patient, except in cases of gross negligence, which is notoriously hard to prove. Yet for all of its testing of individual and constitutional rights, the CARE Courts’ actual ability to solve these core public health problems are quite limited. As Judge Michael Begert of the Superior Court in San Francisco recently explained, "it’s hopefully going to help some people who need some help, and it is probably not going to make a huge dent in what you observe in the community." Down I-5 in Riverside County,another government official, focusing on the CARE Courts’ highly marketed focus on homelessness, noted, “the biggest thing we've learned is this is not the panacea to solve homelessness." And these modest expectations are perhaps not even modest enough. CARE Courts focuses only on diagnoses of schizophrenia and related “spectrum” disorders,all of which are difficult to diagnose. Respected Dutch psychiatrist Jim van Os went so far as to say schizophrenia, as constructed by thefifth edition of theDiagnosticand StatisticalManualof Mental Disorders—psychiatry’s gold standard for diagnoses—doesn't even exist. This notion has gained considerable traction in clinical ranks over the last decade. And many of the complex medications used to treat schizophrenia and related conditions have serious and common side effects,including weight gain and insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes. Furthermore, schizophrenia and related disorders are greatly over-diagnosed in Black populations, whorepresent roughly one-quarter of California’s homeless population. CARE Court embodies the idea of clinical “diversion,” an intervention that can stall one’s descent from untreated mental illness and substance use into homelessness and incarceration. But considering that California has done very little in the past three decades to corralits persistently high unemployment ratesand address its chronicallyexpensive and scant housing stock, the key reasons behind this multidimensional mental health crisis, CARE Court is far from preventive enough. Homelessness isdirectly connected to the economic health and opportunityof a community. In turn,severe mental illness is a major risk factor for homelessness, and homelessness is connected tothe worsening of mental illness symptomsandmore intense substance use. Of the 15 cities with the highest cost of living in the US,five are in California, much of this tied to the state’s gilded tech sector and thehousing bubble and gentrification that it has conjured. California also has the nation’sthird-highest unemployment rate. Even modest political solutions to address these dynamics have been jettisoned. For example, Newsom recentlyvetoed employee protection billsthat would have lengthened the period of time in which employers are required to notify employees of layoffs and axedbillsaimed at supporting affordable housing projects and transitional housing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. As state officials and advocates implement CARE Courts, they must consider the potentially coercive and disenfranchising aspects of the initiative. They must also make space for community dialogue on its rollout—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to develop culturally tailored solutions that are attuned to communities’ experiences with the causes and accelerants of mental illness, and consider these as the primary, or at least simultaneous, intervention targets. The path to promoting more positive and affirming engagements with these vulnerable populations is by bringing greater attention to the clear institutional and social causes—unemployment, homelessness and deficient healthcare high among them— rather than the perhaps more visceral and morbid individual and community outcomes. This is likely to be CARE Court’s most prescient yet obvious lesson for the rest of the country.

764747

cnn

CNN

Ariane De Vogue

Supreme Court to examine the power of agencies and the president | CNN Politics

The Supreme Court returns to the so-called “administrative state” Wednesday, in a case that offers the conservative majority a fresh chance to pare back the authority of regulatory agencies and could potentially enhance presidential power.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/29/politics/supreme-court-agencies-sec-unitary-executive/index.html

2023-11-29 12:03:13

The Supreme Court returns to the so-called administrative state Wednesday, in a case that offers the conservative majority a fresh chance to pare back the authority of regulatory agencies and could p… [+6633 chars]

Politics

Key Supreme Court justices expressed deep reservations Wednesday with how the Securities and Exchange Commission brings some enforcement actions for securities fraud, suggesting the court could be poised to pare back on the agency’s power in the latest dispute concerning the so-called administrative state to come before the high court. For more than two hours of arguments the justices were receptive to a key section of a lower court opinion that scaled back on the agency’s ability to enforce securities law, although they did not seem poised to address some broader aspects of the controversial ruling. Conservative justices suggested that the agency’s decision to allow some disputes to be heard by in house administrative law judges, instead of filing suit in federal court, violates an individual’s right to trial by jury under the Seventh Amendment. Idaho asks Supreme Court to let abortion law that penalizes doctors to take full effect If the court holds that the SEC’s method of adjudicating certain fraud claims violates the Constitution, it could impact other agencies that use similar proceedings such as the Social Security Administration. Chief Justice John Roberts worried about an enforcement proceeding with “no court” and “no jury.” Roberts said he found it “curious” that a person would have a right to a jury “until the government decides you don’t have that right.” Justice Neil Gorsuch repeatedly emphasized the foundational Seventh Amendment right. “We’d agree that the right to trial by jury, whether it’s criminal or civil is a very important foundational freedom in American Society,” he said. Justice Samuel Alito asked whether “the right to a trial by jury simply goes out the window” when the government brings an enforcement proceeding. Another concern expressed by Roberts and Gorsuch is that the SEC plays a more dominant role in enforcement than it has in past decades. Nodding to a constant refrain from those who believe agencies have become too powerful, Gorsuch quipped: “This is not your grandfather’s SEC.” Justice Brett Kavanaugh pushed back on the government’s argument that in-house proceedings passed legal muster because they concerned a so called “public right” that are subject to more legislative control. “It does seem odd from a constitutional perspective to say that a private suit triggers the Article Three right to a federal court and a jury against you for money, but a government suit against you for money is somehow exempt from” those courts, he said. The case is one of several this term where the conservative leaning majority is taking a hard look at the structure of government out of a belief that in recent years independent agencies – unaccountable to the public – have become too unwieldy. Central to Wednesday’s discussion was the latest controversial opinion from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals – one of the most conservative appellate courts in the country that covers Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas – where conservative litigants often file suit hoping for eventual Supreme Court review. The SEC consists of five members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The commission can enforce a variety of federal statutes in two ways. It can institute administrative enforcement proceedings seeking civil penalties, or it may bring civil actions in federal court. The case arose in 2013 after the SEC brought an enforcement action for securities fraud against George Jarkesy, who had established two hedge funds with his advisory firm, Patriot28. The funds brought in over 100 investors and held about $24 million in assets. An SEC administrative law judge found Jarkesy had violated the Securities Act, Exchange Act and Advisers Act for fraud actions. He was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $300,000, and to repay nearly $685,000 in ill-gotten gains. Jarkesy was also barred from various securities industry activities including serving as an investment adviser. Jarkesy, however, challenged the proceedings arguing they violated the Constitution, and won in the 5th Circuit. The federal appeals court ruled in favor of Jarkesy on three separate constitutional claims. It held that certain of the SEC’s proceedings deprive individuals of their Seventh Amendment right to a civil jury. In addition, the court said that Congress had improperly delegated legislative power to the SEC which gave the agency unconstrained authority at times to choose the in-house administrative proceeding rather than filing suit in district court. The court emphasized that under precedent, Congress can only grant regulatory power to another entity if it provides an “intelligible principle” to guide the proceedings. “The Constitution,” the court held, “provides strict rules to ensure that Congress exercises the legislative power in a way that comports with the People’s will.” The conservative appellate court also said that rules allowing for the removal of SEC administrative law judges only for “good cause” – are unconstitutional because they insulate the judges from the presidents’ ability to remove them for any reason in violation of the separation of powers. On Wednesday, however, the court seemed to center only on one part of the opinion having to do with the Seventh Amendment right to a jury, suggesting that it may never reach the other parts of the federal appeals court sprawling decision. In court, Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher rejected any claim that Congress violated the Seventh Amendment right by allowing in house proceedings. “Congress does not violate the Seventh Amendment when it authorizes an agency to impose civil penalties and administrative proceedings to enforce a federal statute,” he said. S. Michael McColloch, an attorney for Jarkesy, relied on history to make his argument that the use of in house proceedings against Jarkesy was “anti-ethical” to the founders’ intent. For their part liberal justices on the bench repeatedly pressed McColloch for the limits of his position and how it might impact other agencies. Justice Elena Kagan pointed to historical events such as the depression, savings and loan crisis and recessions and asked whether Congress is entitled to deference when giving the SEC greater powers. Nodding to her Jewish faith, Kagan said some of McColloch’s arguments amounted to “chutzpah to quote my people.” A group of administrative law scholars in support of the SEC argued in a friend of the court brief that if the justices were to rule that the SEC’s proceedings violate the Seventh Amendment’s right to a trial by jury it would have a “devastating” impact on other agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. The 5th Circuit’s decision, their lawyer Alan Morrison argued, “was made without proper appreciation for the need for Congress to have flexibility when it seeks to solve important problems by making use of agency adjudication in today’s regulatory framework.” Morrison also believes the lower court was wrong when it comes to the removal procedures applicable to the SEC administrative law judges. As things stand the administrative judges can only be removed if they have done something glaringly wrong. The 5th Circuit essentially said the president should be able to fire them for any reason – or no reason. “That is wrong,” Morrison said in an interview. “Nothing in the Constitution forbids Congress from assuring that administrative judges do not serve at the whim of their agency heads in order to protect the rights of those who appear before them.” Lawyers for the Chamber of Commerce support Jarkesy and argue the case presents the court “with another opportunity to reaffirm the structural limitations of the Constitution,” noting that like other financial regulatory agencies the SEC is responsible for creating substantive rules and “levying knee-buckling penalties against private citizens.” “The growth of the administrative state has eroded” safeguards, lawyer Steven A. Engel argued on behalf of the chamber.

764748

cnn

CNN

Donald Judd

Biden to take on Boebert, House GOP’s economic vision in Colorado remarks | CNN Politics

President Joe Biden on Wednesday will seek to contrast his economic vision with that of so-called “MAGA” Republicans, including Republican firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert, during a visit to her Colorado district, according to an administration official.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/29/politics/biden-gop-economy-boebert/index.html

2023-11-29 10:16:50

President Joe Biden on Wednesday will seek to contrast his economic vision with that of so-called MAGA Republicans, including Republican firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert, during a visit to her Colorado … [+5114 chars]

Politics

President Joe Bidenon Wednesday contrasted his economic vision with that of so-called MAGA Republicans, including GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert, during a visit to her Colorado district. During his speech, Biden touted provisions of his administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which he pledged would bring jobs to the local community while issuing a blistering critique of Boebert. Biden said the controversial congresswoman is “one of the leaders of this extreme MAGA movement.” He lit into Boebert for voting against his legislative agenda, criticizing her for comments calling the bipartisan infrastructure law “garbage” and “a scam.” “She, along with every single Republican colleague, voted against the law that made these investments in jobs possible,” Biden said. “And then she voted to repeal key parts of this law, and she called this law a massive failure. You all know you’re part of a massive failure? Tell that to the 850 Coloradans who got new jobs. … It all sounds like a massive failure in thinking by the congresswoman and her colleagues.” Biden and Boebert have clashed in the past and the trip to the conservative congresswoman’s district came as she faces a tough reelection bid in 2024. Earlier this year, Democrat Adam Frisch – whonarrowly lost to the incumbent Boebert in 2022’s midterm elections– announced he would again mount a campaignto unseat her in 2024. Boebert slammed Biden in a statement ahead of his visit. “Families in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District are being crushed by so-called ‘Bidenomics.’ On Joe Biden’s watch, credit card debt, inflation, groceries, and gas prices have all reached record highs. These high prices are squeezing working-class Coloradans and rural America,” Boebert said in a statement. She added, “Instead of touting the poorly named Inflation Reduction Act that mandated Green New Deal policies which cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars, Joe Biden should work with me to get my Pueblo Jobs Act signed into law that will create 1,000 new jobs in Pueblo and help revitalize Southern Colorado’s economy.” The president has been at odds with Boebert in the past – in 2022, she interrupted Biden’s State of the Union address as he paid tribute to members of the armed forces who were sickened by burn pits, including his son Beau Biden who died from brain cancer in 2015. The Colorado Republican shouted, “You put them there—13 of them,” in an apparent reference tosoldiers killed during the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The congresswoman drew negative headlines in September after she was escorted out of a Denver production of “Beetlejuice: The Musical,” following complaints she and a companion were “vaping, singing, causing a disturbance.” During his speech, the president detailed a slew of benefits Colorado has seen under the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law while criticizing House Republicans, noting, “We haven’t gotten a whole lot of help from some members of Congress on the other side of the aisle.” “The speaker, Donald Trump, and the MAGA Republicans here in Congress are committed to protecting outrageous tax cuts for those at the very top, and they’re going to continue to oppose investing in all those programs that help people – whether it’s in education, health care, whatever,” he warned. “I have a different view.” Biden’s trip to Pueblo wasn’t the first time the president has brought the fight with House Republicans to their front doors. In the last year, Biden’s visited districts in South Carolina, New York and Virginia to highlight lawmakers who’ve sought to block his domestic agenda. But it comes as Americans rate the president poorly on his handling of the economy. Ina Gallup pollreleased Tuesday, just 32% of those polled approve of his handling of the economy. As the Republican presidential primary field narrows, Biden has increased attacks on his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, and his “MAGA Republican” allies in Congress, going so far as to warn supporters during a Washington, DC, fundraiser last month that “Trump and the MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy this democracy.” During Wednesday’s speech, he noted that Speaker Mike Johnson and Florida Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan traveled to Sarasota, Florida, Tuesday, and touted construction of a new airport terminal made possible by funding from the infrastructure law. “Both the speaker and the congressman voted against the law and spoke against the law – but now they’re down there taking credit for it being built,” Biden said. “As my mother would say, God love ‘em. As one of my friends back home would say, that’s real chutzpah.” The trip to Pueblo was originally scheduled for last month as part of Biden’s “Invest in America” tour aimed at highlighting the administration’s legislative achievements while contrasting them with House Republicans’ agenda. But the spiraling conflict following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel prompted the White Houseto postpone the trip while the president attended national security meetings at the White Houseand later visited Israel. During the trip, Biden visited CS Wind, the world’s largest wind tower manufacturer, pointing to the company’s new $200 million Pueblo, Colorado, facility expansion – an expansion both the company and the Biden administration havedirectly attributed to passage of 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. The visit coincides with a new report from the Treasury Department outlining the impact of the IRA — 14 investments totaling $985.5 million have been announced in Colorado since the law’s passage last year, with 99% of investment dollars headed to counties with below-average wages. In a fact sheet shared with CNN ahead of Biden’s visit, the administration also took care to tout a series of investments in the district, including a new solar field, expanded high-speed internet for the area, a Main Street revitalization project in Delta, Colorado, and a pipeline project all made possible under the IRA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “These investments and jobs wouldn’t be possible without President Biden and Congressional Democrats,” an official told CNN Tuesday. “And it’s important for Americans to know that if Republicans in Congress—including self-identified MAGA Republican Representative Lauren Boebert—want to undermine their communities by taking those investments and opportunities away.” CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the name of Rep. Boebert’s opponent in 2024. He is Adam Frisch. CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report.

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nan

NPR

Scott Neuman

More captives to be freed as mediators work to prolong the Israel-Hamas truce

At least 30 Palestinians in Israeli jails and 10 hostages held by Hamas are likely to be freed on Wednesday. U.S. and Israeli officials were in Qatar trying to work out a further cease-fire extension.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/29/1215762834/hostages-israel-hamas-ceasefire-truce-gaza-war

2023-11-29 10:49:42

Newly freed Palestinian prisoner Lamees Abu Arqub kisses her father after Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails in exchange for Hamas hostages held in Gaza, in the village of Dura in the occupie… [+3613 chars]

Food

Thai nationals ride a bus as they leave Shamir hospital in Ramle, Israel, on Wednesday, on their way back to Thailand after being released from Hamas' custody.Maya Levin/APhide caption Thai nationals ride a bus as they leave Shamir hospital in Ramle, Israel, on Wednesday, on their way back to Thailand after being released from Hamas' custody. TEL AVIV, Israel — The temporary truce in Gaza has been extended again for another day. Israel and Hamas confirmed in statements that the pause in fighting will continue at least through Thursday, while more hostages and prisoners are exchanged. The temporary cease-fire has held for six days. On the second day of a the previous two-day cease-fire extension, 10 more hostages were freed by Hamas in exchange for 30 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, Qatar's foreign ministryannounced. Separately, Hamas released two Russian citizens and four Thai nationals, Qatar said. In total, more than 100 hostages had been released by Wednesday evening, almost all of them over the past six days. Israeli officials believe Hamas still holds, in Gaza, at least 140 hostages who were captured on Oct. 7. Israel says about 1,200 people were killed when Hamas fighters swept out of the Gaza Strip and struck nearby Israeli communities. Those released Wednesday included four teenage boys, a 13-year-old girl and five women, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. One of the women, Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, is a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, the group said. President Biden confirmed that she had been freed and is now in Egypt. Biden said he spoke with Atzili's parents, but he did not answer reporters' questions about the other American hostages in Gaza. Earlier in the day, the Israeli prime minister's office said the remaining hostages included 10 people over age 75 and four children. On the question of a longer-term cease-fire, Israel says it intends to continue its military campaign in Gaza. "In recent days, I have heard a question: After completing this stage of the return of our hostages, will Israel go back to the fighting? My answer is an unequivocal yes," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday. The families of Israeli hostages released by Hamas continue to share stories of their relatives' captivity, with some relatives speaking to media outlets. Gideon Heiman says his 84-year-old mother did not receive necessary medical treatment while being held in Gaza. Israeli doctors also say rescued hostages have returned malnourished. One of the former captives is in stable condition at a hospital, but her family says her neurological condition is still unclear. Devora Cohen says her 12-year-old nephew, Eitan, told her that his captors used guns to threaten crying Israeli children to be quiet. There were conflicting reports on Wednesday about the fate of one family abducted on Oct. 7 at Nir Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border: Yarden and Shiri Bibas, a 4-year-old, Ariel, and their 10-month-old son, Kfir. Videos from Oct. 7 showed the family alive when they were taken into Gaza. Newly freed Palestinian prisoner Lamees Abu Arqub kisses her father in the West Bank village of Dura on Tuesday after Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails in exchange for hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Imageshide caption Newly freed Palestinian prisoner Lamees Abu Arqub kisses her father in the West Bank village of Dura on Tuesday after Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails in exchange for hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, said Wednesday that the mother and two children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Hamas did not mention the father. In a statement Wednesday, Israel said it was "assessing the accuracy" of the claim that the Bibas family members had been killed. Israeli officialshad previously saidthe mother and children were believed to be in the hands of another Palestinian militant group in southern Gaza. At least two other hostages were falsely reported or believed to be dead before being released alive in hostages-for-prisoners swaps. Earlier on Wednesday, Israel's military also said that two additional hostages had been released without an accompanying prisoner exchange. The release followed a statement from Hamas that the group would release two Israeli-Russian dual citizens at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This week, CIA Director William Burns traveled to the Qatari capital of Doha for meetings with Qatar's prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and David Barnea, the chief of Israel's spy agency, Mossad, according to a U.S. official who spoke to NPR anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. The pause has allowed the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent societies and U.N. agencies "to enhance the delivery of assistance into and across Gaza." The U.N. said a Red Crescent aid convoy carrying food, medical supplies, water and nonfood items reached areas north of an informal dividing line that bisects Gaza. Israel's military, which has focused its military campaign on the north, has warned Gazans to move south of the line. In total, 254 truckloads of food, water, baby formula and other aid have been distributed in Gaza since the truce began, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said Wednesday. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that "airstrikes, shelling, and ground clashes have largely ceased" since the temporary truce went into effect on Friday, but it said that "exchange of fire reportedly took place between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in the Beit Hanoun area, in the north, and Israeli forces reportedly used tank fire at open areas in the south." Even with the aid convoy reaching the embattled north, OCHA emphasized that "the bulk of aid distribution during the day" took place in the south. It also cautioned that the aid reaching Gaza since the pause "is insufficient to meet the extensive needs." On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for "a full humanitarian ceasefire, for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and the wider region." NPR's Scott Neuman and Daniel Estrin reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. NPR's Becky Sullivan reported from Washington, D.C.

764781

nan

Forbes

Jared Ranahan, Contributor, Jared Ranahan, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredranahan/

An Agave Lover's Guide To Tequila, Mexico

This historic Mexican city is home to lavish hotels, a thriving food scene and iconic distilleries.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredranahan/2023/11/29/an-agave-lovers-guide-to-tequila-mexico/

2023-11-29 13:01:26

Tequila was designated a "Pueblo Mágico" by the Mexican government in 2003. getty While tequila has cemented itself as an all-time top seller in the global spirits industry, its close relative mezc… [+4697 chars]

Food

Tequila was designated a "Pueblo Mágico" by the Mexican government in 2003. While tequila has cemented itself as an all-time top seller in the global spirits industry, its close relative mezcal has enjoyed skyrocketing popularity across the globe since the dawn of the 21st century—and for any hardcore agave aficionados hoping to learn more about the history of tequila, it’s best to pay a visit to where it all began. Roughly 400 years ago, the first large-scale agave distillery made its debut in the town of Tequila, and in the modern era, this vibrant community comes complete with luxurious hotels, a stellar food scene and—of course—more delicious distillate than you could possibly dream of. The bulk of visitors to Tequila fly into Guadalajara International Airport to begin their journey, and after a ninety-minute drive into Tequila, you’ll surely be in need of some rest and relaxation—and fortunately, local hotel Casa Salles offers some of the most idyllic accommodations in all the town. Upon arrival, guests can marvel at the centuries-old mango trees that tower over the manicured courtyard and outdoor pool, while the on-property Reposado Spa offers multiple massage options for guests to enjoy. During morning hours, early risers can partake in a round of sunrise yoga or head to the nearby El Totole hill for a hiking session, but once dinner time rolls around, there’s no better spot to be than Mango Cocina de Origen. Specializing in classic Mexican cuisine, this charming lobby-adjacent restaurant is home to a wide array of ultra-flavorful options ranging from duck enmoladas to tlacoyo de picanha. Before the creation of tequila, blue agave was used to make pulque, a fermented beverage that was ... [+] considered sacred by the local indigenous communities. Of course, no agave lover’s trip to Tequila would be complete without partaking in a few copitas, and fortunately, Casa Salles shares a space with one of the town’s most prestigious operations. Founded in 1959, El Tequileño stands as a testament to the longstanding cultural significance of tequila, with multiple high-end expressions of the spirit available to sample. After a thorough tour of the production facility, visitors can sip on Platinum—an unaged agave distillate with sweet notes of anise—or snag a bottle of American oak-aged Reposado Rare to bring back home. Meanwhile, another local institution can be experienced on a Vive Bisabuelo tour with Tequila Fortaleza. Spanning roughly two and a half hours, this carefully-curated experience invites guests to stroll along the property’s picturesque agave fields, sample four unique tequilas in a natural cave, and toast to a successful trip with an order of fish tacos by Fortaleza’s private lake. There’s no shortage of incredible sipping tequilas to sample across town, but this iconic spirit also performs beautifully in a cocktail—a fact that downtown institution La Capilla knows all too well. In business since the 1950s, this casual downtown spot has earned abundant acclaim as the birthplace of La Batanga, an ultra-refreshing blend of lime, salt, Mexican Coca Cola and tequila that’s stirred with a knife. After a taste of this local favorite, visitors can keep the party going with cocktails at nearby Catrina Cantina, but for a deep dive on non-agave-based local drinking culture, a pajarete is a must-try. Typically consumed in the early morning, this frothy blend of coffee, chocolate and sugarcane distillate is topped off with a few squirts of milk fresh from the cow’s udder, with local venue Pajaretes Contreras serving as a top spot for sampling the drink. While there are several hundred agave species on the planet, only Weber Azul agave can be used to ... [+] make tequila. It’s no good to sip tequila on an empty stomach, so visitors should be sure to take advantage of the incredible restaurants scattered all throughout city limits. To kick off the day, El Palomar is home to a roster of classic Mexican breakfast dishes in the Tequila town center, with molletes, chilaquiles verdes and huevos rancheros all gracing the menu. Later in the day, taco aficionados can make their way to Restaurant El Fogón for a hearty serving of chorizo or carne asada, while anyone in need of a quick break from all the local Jalisco fare can swing by Tekiira Sushi Bar for a hearty Japanese-style meal. From the shores of Baja California to the mangrove forests of the Yucatan, Mexico is rife with dazzling destinations that shine a spotlight on the national culture, and Tequila is no exception. While agave distillate takes center stage around here, this iconic city is also adorned with polished accommodations and a thriving food scene as an added bonus. Whether you’re a hardcore fan or a casual imbiber, the city of Tequila is certain to leave you with fond memories and—with any luck—a new favorite bottle to take back home.

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al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Lorraine Mallinder

Israel-Hamas truce: Has it helped ease Gaza’s humanitarian crisis?

Aid has flowed in, some of it reaching north Gaza too. But it's too little, warn humanitarian agencies.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/29/israel-hamas-truce-has-it-helped-relieve-gazas-humanitarian-crisis

2023-11-29 07:28:18

As the truce between Israel and Hamas extends into its sixth day, aid groups are warning that the war-battered Gaza Strip is on the brink of a full-scale humanitarian crisis. After nearly two months… [+5698 chars]

Food

Aid has come in, some of it reaching north Gaza too. But it’s too little, warn humanitarian agencies. As the truce between Israel and Hamas extends into its sixth day, aid groups are warning that the war-battered Gaza Strip is on the brink of a full-scale humanitarian crisis. After nearly two months of Israeli bombardment of Gaza, the “humanitarian pause” was brokered to allow the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. As part of the agreement, more humanitarian aid has been allowed into the Palestinian enclave that has been under near-total siege. But while United Nations agencies and groups like the Palestine Red Crescent Society have been able to scale up aid entering the enclave through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the temporary increase has been insufficient to meet the now critical needs of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, nearly80 percentof which is now displaced. Here’s a breakdown of the aid that Gaza needs, and what it is receiving — even during the truce. The humanitarian pause began at 7am local time on Friday. Initially brokered for four days, it was extended on Tuesday for two days, which will expire on Thursday morning. As of Tuesday night, Hamas had released 81 of the 240 hostages taken captive while Israel had freed about 180 Palestinian prisoners. Aid distribution efforts had previously stalled, with agencies warning that perishables were spoiling at the Egyptian border. Now, amid the logistic chaos of the renewed flows, they have been able to deliver limited assistance to the population. Reporting for Al Jazeera from the southern town of Khan Younis, Hind Khoudary said on Tuesday that at least 750 trucks had crossed the Rafah border into Gaza since Friday. That works out to roughly 150 trucks per day. However, on Monday, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) told Al Jazeera that 200 trucks of aid would be needed daily over a period of two months to meet the population’s basic needs. Much more fuel is needed to enable the UN agency to power vital services such as sewage treatment plants and water desalination plants. Even that — 200 trucks a day — falls far short of what Gaza, under a land, sea and air siege by Israel since 2007, was receiving before October 7. Before the current war,500 aid truckswould enter Gaza daily on average, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Last week,Oxfamdescribed the pause as “a band-aid to a bleeding wound”. The war has devastated Gaza, killing nearly 15,000 people, with at least 6,800 presumed dead under the rubble. Tens of thousands of injured people have suffered due to medical shortages. While the truce has enabled Palestinians in the besieged enclave a little breathing space and some respite from the constant din of drones and warplanes, the humanitarian situation is dire. Israel’s war has split the territory of 2.3 million people in two. As its attacks on the north intensified, the Israeli military forced people to move south, where supplies of food, fuel and water have been scarce. International NGO ActionAid said deliveries were largely limited to the south, where 1.8 million people are now displaced. “For many women propping up households and facing more mouths to feed in Gaza’s overstretched shelters, renewed pauses will not come anywhere near close to helping improve the situation they’re facing,” said the NGO. Al Jazeera’s Khoudary said: “[Palestinian] people are starving, they are striving to find food in the supermarkets and people don’t have the basic needs to continue and to help themselves to survive from starvation…” OCHA said aid had reached heavily damaged northern areas, where many have remained – including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, injured and disabled people – amid intense air raids on homes, schools and hospitals. But it acknowledged that most of the assistance hadreached only Gaza’s south. The situation in the north remains dangerous, with concerns about dehydration and outbreaks of disease. Deliveries of fuel to the north have been severely restricted by Israeli forces. The Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only medical facility still operating in the zone, has been starved of supplies necessary for operations. “If the hospital is not supplied with fuel within hours, the department is at risk of losing those in it, including premature babies, under our care,” Dr Hossam Abu Safiya, head of the paediatric intensive care department, told Al Jazeera. On Sunday, Cindy McCain, director of the UN World Food Programme, said the entire enclave was “on the brink of famine”. “This is something that … will spread. And with that comes disease and … everything else that you can imagine,” she told CBS, the US network. As the truce inches to a possible end, residents fear the bombing will resume. Israel, which is intent on obliterating Hamas’s presence in the enclave, has been briefing that the armed group has a command and control centre in southern Gaza. While the south has been dubbed a “safe zone”, the Israeli military had repeatedly attacked Khan Younis prior to the truce. People in the south had been ordered to move towards a slice of the territory, called Muwasi, along the coast. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN chief Guterres, said negotiations must continue so that the truce in Gaza could be upgraded to a full humanitarian ceasefire. “This aid barely registers against the huge needs” of Gaza, he said. Follow Al Jazeera English:

764802

nan

Forbes

Nathaniel Parish Flannery, Contributor, Nathaniel Parish Flannery, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/

Why Is Mexico City The World’s Number One Destination To Visit?

Mexico City is being recognized for its cultural wealth. In November, 2023, Time Out magazine named Mexico City as the #1 city in the world for culture.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/2023/11/29/why-is-mexico-city-the-worlds-number-one-destination-to-visit/

2023-11-29 10:00:00

In this July 13, 2017 photo, chef Eduardo Garcia, founder of Maximo Bistrot and former migrant ... [+] worker in the US, cuts mushrooms at his restaurant in Mexico City. People sometimes think (farm-… [+6356 chars]

Food

In this July 13, 2017 photo, chef Eduardo Garcia, founder of Maximo Bistrot and former migrant ... [+] worker in the US, cuts mushrooms at his restaurant in Mexico City. People sometimes think (farm-to-table) is a trend,” said Garcia. “It’s not a trend. It’s something that we humans have always done and we need to keep doing it, we need to return to it.”(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) In November, 2023, Time Out magazine named Mexico City as the #1 city in the world for culture. In the 1990s and early 2000s Mexico City, was known for smog, sprawl, and street crime, and was not usually near the top of the list of cities most international tourists wanted to visit. But, over the last ten to fifteen years, local government officials and private sector entrepreneurs have worked to spark a new wave of urban renewal and transformed the way Mexico City is seen around the world. In 2016, The New York Times listed Mexico City as its number one recommended destination to visit. Today, Mexico City is widely recognized as a top destination for business travelers either looking to work remotely or enjoy some cultural experiences while attending meetings or conferences. While urban planners, architects, and police have all played big roles in Mexico City’s evolution, a new group of globally renowned chefs has also helped catalyze Mexico City’s transformation, and also helped boost Mexico’s soft power by elevating Mexico’s gastronomy to be more universally regarded as one of the most complex and tasty cuisines on the planet. During a recent podcast interview, journalist Laura Tillman, author of the new book The Migrant Chef: The Life And Times Of Lalo Garcia explained, “I think when I first moved to Mexico City in 2014 it was immediately apparent that the food scene here was very exciting. It was this kind of cultural diplomacy.” “Mexico was telling stories about its food culture that were opening broader conversations. I recognized that by talking about food there was an opportunity to tell stories about all of the different things that are happening in Mexico today,” she added. Over the last 15 years, Mexico City has really evolved and especially in neighborhoods such as Colonia Roma and Condesa a new group of restaurants have played a role in this transformation. Lalo Garcia’s flagship restaurant, Maximo Bistrot, is located in the middle of Colonia Roma, and has been credited with helping develop momentum for this new wave of restaurants that have helped to re-define Mexico’s cuisine. Garcia is chef a who was born in Mexico but after migrating with his parents to work as a farm laborer in the U.S. was trained at restaurants in Atlanta before he returned to Mexico where he got an opportunity to learn about and embrace Mexican cuisine with a fresh perspective. During his childhood, “he was eating the food from his village, tamales de ceniza, moronga blood sausage, mole, carnitas, all of these foods that his mother would prepare. When he came back to Mexico he was working at Pujol, this top restaurant, he learned a lot [there],” Tillman explained. Garcia also traveled within Mexico to expand his knowledge of regional delicacies. “He traveled to Oaxaca. He spent a lot of time in Baja California. He’s brought all of those different experiences to his restaurant along with his travels to France and Italy. When you go to Maximo today you will see all of those influences on the menu,” Tillman said. This July 14, 2017 photo shows a plate garnished with chinampa-grown roasted yellow carrots with ... [+] asparagus puree, prepared by chef Eduardo Garcia, founder of Maximo Bistrot and a former U.S. migrant worker, at his restaurant in Mexico City. Diners reserve weeks in advance for a coveted table at Maximo Bistrot, one of three restaurants Garcia runs. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Garcia is new part of a select group of local chefs who have helped burnish Mexico’s soft power credentials. “A lot of people talk about the role of Enrique Olvera, Ricardo [Muñoz] Zurita, Monica Patiño, and a cohort of women chefs, who were opening these restaurants that were bringing this movement to the forefront of fine dining in Mexico City in these white tablecloth restaurants,” Tillman explained. The new cohort of world-class restaurants in Mexico City has helped to transform the perception of Mexico’s capital. International tourism has also played a big role in changing the way Mexico is perceived around the world and in helping to sustain expensive restaurants like Maximo Bistrot, Pujol, Azul Condesa and Rosetta. It’s important to look at the economics driving this trend. As of 2021, when Mexico’s federal government published its most report on incomes in Mexico City, the minimum salary in Mexico’s capital was 141.7 pesos a day or just over $3000 per year. The latest report shows that in Mexico City around 2.5 million people earn less than $6042 per year. (Six out of every 10 workers, or 59% of the work force.) Mexico City's upper income bracket, by contrast, a group of just over 50,000 people, earn salaries that top $30,000 per year. On the one hand, 50,000 people is a significant pool of local customers who might visit upscale restaurants a few times a year. But, on the other hand, it’s just 1% of the city’s workforce. To put it in perspective, 50,000 people isn't enough people to fill up the seats at the soccer stadium at Mexico City's National University (UNAM) campus. By comparison, in 2022 over 4 million foreign tourists, most of whom come from the U.S., flew in to the Mexico City airport. Anecdotally, it seems like high-end restaurants like Maximo rely heavily on tourists to support their operations. On a recent weekday night, it seemed like most tables were filled with English-speaking guests. For many people who visit Maximo, the big take-away from the experience might be seeing the restaurant filled with locally hired chefs and waiters catering to a mostly international clientele. So, in some ways it seems like Maximo is part of Modern Mexico’s successful export-focused economy. “I first moved to Mexico City at the end of 2014. It was immediately apparent that the food scene here was really exciting and that it was this kind of cultural diplomacy where Mexico was telling stories about its food culture that were opening up broader conversations about inequality and the livelihoods of urban and rural workers,” Tillman said. “In talking about food there [is] an opportunity to tell stories about all of the different things that are happening in Mexico today,” she added. Check out the full conversation with Laura Tillman about Mexico City’s cuisine and culture here.

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nan

The Punch

Branded Content

3rd Anniversary: 9PSB Partners Lagos Food Bank Initiative to Distribute Food Boxes

9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB) and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative(LFBI), have partnered to give curated food boxes to the elderly and widows in the Lagos areas of Isolo, Alimosho, Mushin, and Lagos Island as part of activities to commemorate the bank’s third a…

https://punchng.com/3rdanniversary-9psb-partners-lagos-food-bank-initiative-to-distribute-food-boxes/

2023-11-29 03:33:31

9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB) and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative(LFBI), have partnered to give curated food boxes to the elderly and widows in the Lagos areas of Isolo, Alimosho, Mushin, and Lagos Is… [+2338 chars]

Food

9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB) and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative(LFBI), have partnered to give curated food boxes to the elderly and widows in the Lagos areas of Isolo, Alimosho, Mushin, and Lagos Island as part of activities to commemorate the bank’s third anniversary.In Kano, 9PSB presented educational supplies to two primary schools, while it made a similar contribution in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, where it gave food and relief supplies to physically challenged pupils.The partnership is aimed at providing families experiencing food insecurity with carefully selected food boxes filled with necessities and staple foods. The programme is consistent with the corporate social responsibility and community engagement as part of the key values of 9PSB.The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac, speaking during the outreach, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are honoured to work with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative to give back to the community, especially those in need. This programme demonstrates our dedication to upholding social responsibility and improving the lives of individuals who are struggling.”“In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. In Kano, 9PSB presented educational supplies to two primary schools, while it made a similar contribution in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, where it gave food and relief supplies to physically challenged pupils.The partnership is aimed at providing families experiencing food insecurity with carefully selected food boxes filled with necessities and staple foods. The programme is consistent with the corporate social responsibility and community engagement as part of the key values of 9PSB.The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac, speaking during the outreach, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are honoured to work with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative to give back to the community, especially those in need. This programme demonstrates our dedication to upholding social responsibility and improving the lives of individuals who are struggling.”“In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. In Kano, 9PSB presented educational supplies to two primary schools, while it made a similar contribution in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, where it gave food and relief supplies to physically challenged pupils.The partnership is aimed at providing families experiencing food insecurity with carefully selected food boxes filled with necessities and staple foods. The programme is consistent with the corporate social responsibility and community engagement as part of the key values of 9PSB.The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac, speaking during the outreach, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are honoured to work with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative to give back to the community, especially those in need. This programme demonstrates our dedication to upholding social responsibility and improving the lives of individuals who are struggling.”“In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. The partnership is aimed at providing families experiencing food insecurity with carefully selected food boxes filled with necessities and staple foods. The programme is consistent with the corporate social responsibility and community engagement as part of the key values of 9PSB.The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac, speaking during the outreach, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are honoured to work with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative to give back to the community, especially those in need. This programme demonstrates our dedication to upholding social responsibility and improving the lives of individuals who are struggling.”“In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac, speaking during the outreach, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are honoured to work with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative to give back to the community, especially those in need. This programme demonstrates our dedication to upholding social responsibility and improving the lives of individuals who are struggling.”“In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac, speaking during the outreach, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are honoured to work with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative to give back to the community, especially those in need. This programme demonstrates our dedication to upholding social responsibility and improving the lives of individuals who are struggling.”“In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. “In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. “In our quest to stay committed to driving financial inclusion by collaborating and providing innovative and tailor-made financial products and services to the underserved on our mission to bank9ja, our team deemed it fit, not to limit the anniversary celebration to an internal affair but to also reach out to the vulnerable in the society, which has birthed the outreach with LFBI.” Mracajac remarked.The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. The Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), Micheal Sunbola, while felicitating with 9PSB on its third anniversary,thanked the bank for the partnership and highlighted the importance of such in addressing hunger, especially in the light of the present economic realities in the country. He commended 9PSB for the bold and laudable initiative and expressed the desire for more areas of collaboration in the future.Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. Dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in Lagos State, Lagos Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organization. Through various programmes, the charity feeds underprivileged communities and supports their nutrition.Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively. Over three hundred elderly, widows and physically challenged individuals benefitted immensely from the outreach, in terms of food boxes, cash gifts and educational materials in Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively.

764855

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Pause in fighting allows delivery of life-saving food assistance in Gaza, but more access is needed, says WFP

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) delivered desperately needed food to more than 120,000 people in Gaza during the initial pause in fighting but has reiterated that the supplies it was able to provide were woefully inadequate to address the level of hunger se…

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-wfp01.htm

nan

2023-11-29 07:27:47

World Food Programme 28 November 2023 GAZA -- The UN World Food Programme (WFP) delivered desperately needed food to more than 120,000 people in Gaza during the initial pause in fighting but has r… [+4054 chars]

Food

World Food Programme 28 November 2023 GAZA -- The UN World Food Programme (WFP) delivered desperately needed food to more than 120,000 people in Gaza during the initial pause in fighting but has reiterated that the supplies it was able to provide were woefully inadequate to address the level of hunger seen by staff in the UN shelters and communities. "Thanks to the pause, our teams have been in action on the ground, going into areas we haven't reached for a long time. What we see is catastrophic. There's a risk of famine and starvation on our watch and to prevent it, we need to be able to bring in food at scale and distribute it safely," said WFP's Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer. "Six days is simply not enough to provide all the assistance needed. The people of Gaza have to eat every day, not just for six days." "Our team recounted what they saw: hunger, desperation, and destruction. People who have not received any relief in weeks. The team could see the suffering in their eyes," said Samer Abdeljaber, WFP Palestine Representative and Country Director. "This pause offered a window of relief that we hope paves the way for longer-term calm. Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access cannot stop now." Here is the latest information on WFP's operations during the pause in fighting: # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

764878

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Vishwa Mohan

Will not trade off food security to cut methane emission: India

In a significant remark ahead of the UN climate change conference (COP28), India on Tuesday said the country cannot compromise with its food security in an attempt to cut methane emission under any negotiated deal. The country's stand was articulated by agric…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/will-not-trade-off-food-security-to-cut-methane-emission-india/articleshow/105576441.cms

2023-11-29 02:20:11

8 vegetarian dishes from Kashmiri Pandit cuisine that are a must-try

Food

NEW DELHI: In a significant remark ahead of the UN climate change conference (COP28), India on Tuesday said the country cannot compromise with its food security in an attempt to cut methane emission under any negotiated deal.The country's stand was articulated by agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar during a review meeting on India's preparedness to showcase its climate resilient efforts at COP28 which is scheduled to be held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.The minister, however, emphasised on making the farm sector climate resilient and pitched for reaching the benefits of carbon credits (earned through climate friendly agriculture practices) to farmers across the country through various interventions and ground support India has always resisted any targeted action on methane emission reduction as part of the overall mitigation goal under global phase down efforts, arguing that any radical move would directly harm the country's paddy cultivation and livestock sector - two major sources of methane emission - even as the country has voluntarily been taking several steps to reduce the emission. Methane is generated in an animal’s intestine as part of the food digestion process, known as enteric fermentation, and from plants growing in standing water such as paddy cultivation. The livestock rearing, however, remains the biggest methane emitter within the farm sector.A global effort to cut methane emission would be one of key issues of discussion at COP28. It has recently got wider attention after the US-China deal on cutting emission of methane - one of the major climate-damaging gases besides carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) - as part of their 2035 national action plans.India, on its part, has been adopting many climate resilient practices that may contribute to substantial reduction of methane emissions. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed several technologies with mitigation potential for methane from paddy (rice) cultivation.

764939

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ANI

Preparations in full swing for elections as Telangana gears up for polling day

Preparations underway for smooth conduct of polling for Telangana State Assembly elections on November 30. Hanumakonda district has almost 2500 polling personnel. Food facilities provided. Location officers at polling stations. Home voting facility for citize…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/preparations-in-full-swing-for-telangana-state-elections-as-state-gears-up-for-polling-day/articleshow/105589339.cms

2023-11-29 08:55:29

8 vegetarian dishes from Kashmiri Pandit cuisine that are a must-try

Food

HANUMAKONDA: All preparations are underway for the smooth conduct of polling for the Telangana State Assembly elections on November 30.In Hanumakonda district, almost 2500 polling personnel have reported, the district collector Sikta Patnaik said. "In this Hanumakonda district, the arrangement for two assembly constituencies have been made so almost 2500 polling personnel are reporting here today and all food facilities have been provided for them...," she said.Patnaik further said that at polling stations, there will be location officers to help them settle."From 7 am onwards tomorrow, voting will start," she said.Home voting facility for citizens aged over 80 years and persons with disabilities has been completed, with about 26,600 voters using the service. About 1,000 other voters have also registered for the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System.In view of the state election, all educational institutions in the Hyderabad district were closed on Wednesday and will remain closed on November 30.Schools and colleges will reopen on December 1. The state is set to go to the polls on November 30.The political parties which had been involved in a hectic campaign are now hoping that the people repose faith in them on Thursday. BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri who is the BRS Candidate from Korutla assembly seat says, "Come out in large numbers and vote...Celebrate this festival of democracy in large numbers."Congress leader Mallu Ravi says, " The response from the Telangana people is also excellent... People decided to vote out the BRS government and bring the Congress government back to power. It is a ballot war on November 30. This ballot war is like Kurukshetra in Mahabharat. The war is between 'Dharm' and 'Adharm'... Like this, only people will come out and elect the Congress government... About 85-95 seats will come... Six guarantees will be taken up immediately in the first cabinet meeting..."Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin says, "We have worked hard. I hope the turnout will be good and God-willing we will win...Very positive"The state has witnessed a three-cornered contest between the ruling BRS, which is bidding to return to the hustings for a third straight term, the Congress, and a resurgent BJP.In 2018, BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) won 88 of the 119 seats and had 47.4 per cent of the vote share. The Congress came a distant second with just 19 seats.

764949

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Airlift of Critical Humanitarian Supplies to Egypt to Support Aid Delivery in Gaza

No description

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-whitehouse02.htm

nan

2023-11-29 02:53:10

November 28, 2023 Today, the United States airlifted over 54,000 pounds of medical items and food aid to the humanitarian logistics hub in Egypt for delivery for civilians in Gaza. This was the firs… [+1439 chars]

Food

November 28, 2023 Today, the United States airlifted over 54,000 pounds of medical items and food aid to the humanitarian logistics hub in Egypt for delivery for civilians in Gaza. This was the first of three planned deliveries in the coming days. These UN supplies will save lives and alleviate the suffering of thousands in Gaza. We are grateful to the Government of Egypt for its support of these deliveries and broader efforts to ensure humanitarian supplies reach Palestinians in need. Over the past seven weeks, the United States has worked around the clock to address the acute humanitarian needs facing civilians in Gaza. Since October 21, thanks to a deal President Biden helped broker, we have worked with our partners in the region and international organizations to ramp up humanitarian assistance, with more than 2,000 trucks delivering aid, including food, water, medical and shelter supplies, and fuel. The ongoing humanitarian pause has enabled the international community to surge significant additional assistance as part of that effort, providing urgently needed relief to civilians in Gaza. The humanitarian needs in Gaza demand that the international community do much more. The United States is committed to this effort. In the coming days and weeks, President Biden and other senior members of the Administration will continue to work to sustain and expand the international humanitarian response and rally the international community to urgently increase support to the UN Flash Appeal for Gaza. ###

764960

nan

International Business Times

Pitcha DANGPRASITH and Mohd Imran KHAN in Bihar

After 17 Days Trapped In Tunnel, India Workers Say Hope Kept Them Alive

After 17 days trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel they were building, Indian workers described the horror of their ordeal, and the hopes and prayers that kept them strong.

https://www.ibtimes.com/after-17-days-trapped-tunnel-india-workers-say-hope-kept-them-alive-3719656

2023-11-29 06:45:31

After 17 days trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel they were building, Indian workers described the horror of their ordeal, and the hopes and prayers that kept them strong. "We were real… [+4775 chars]

Food

After 17 days trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel they were building, Indian workers described the horror of their ordeal, and the hopes and prayers that kept them strong. "We were really scared, every moment felt that death was standing nearby," rescued worker Deepak Kumar told AFP on Wednesday. "We were not sure whether our lives would be saved or not." The men were welcomed as heroes after being hauled through 57 metres (187 feet) of steel pipe on stretchers specially fitted with wheels late Tuesday, the culmination of a marathon engineering operation. Draped in garlands of orange marigolds, they were greeted with wild cheers. "The world is again beautiful for us," rescued worker Sabah Ahmad told AFP, describing the heartache of hearing his wife's "worried and hopeless" voice while he was trapped. "I know it was a difficult moment for those inside and more difficult for families outside," said Ahmad, who comes from Bihar, one of India's poorest states. "But at last we have come out, and it is the only thing that matters." His wife Musarrat Jahan, speaking to AFP by phone from Bihar, said that "no words" could explain how happy she felt. "Not only my husband got a new life, we also got a new life," she said. "We will never forget it". Previous hopes of reaching the men were repeatedly dashed by falling debris and the breakdown of multiple drilling machines, and the men spoke of how hard it had been to keep their spirits up. "It was not easy," Kumar said. "After three or four days inside the collapsed tunnel, and the rescue team had failed to reach us, the reality is that our confidence and faith were at a low level." Most of the trapped men are migrant workers who left home to find employment, working on the Silkyara tunnel in northern Uttarakhand state, hundreds of kilometres (miles) from home high up in the bitterly cold Himalayan foothills. Rescue teams later set up a telephone exchange to allow families far from the site to call in. "I told my family, 'I am fine and healthy, do not worry, everything will be all right, we will come out soon'", Kumar said. "But while I was saying these words to them, sometimes I felt strongly that I will never be able to see my parents." Guriya Devi, wife of rescued worker Sushil Kumar, told AFP that the family had "passed through horrible times, and sometimes we lost hope". Chamra Oraon, 32, from Jharkhand state, described the horror he felt when he heard a thud and debris began to fall deep inside the mountain road tunnel on November 12 -- and the terror as the rock fall blocked the only route out with tonnes of rubble. "I ran for my life but got stuck on the wrong side," he told the Indian Express newspaper. "As it became clear we would be there for a long time, we grew restless, hungry. But we prayed silently for help." Subodh Kumar Verma told AFP how the first 24 hours in the tunnel were the worst, when they feared they could starve to death -- if their air did not run out first. "We faced problems related to food and air for 24 hours there," Verma said. But morale was boosted after rescue teams managed to connect a thin pipe through to them, bringing in oxygen. Initially, it was only small packets of puffed rice and seeds, but days later, the tube was widened to be able to send proper meals of lentils and rice, packed into plastic bottles and sent down the chute. "After food items were sent through pipes things improved," said Verma. "When we ate the first morsel, we felt someone above had reached out to us," Oraon told the Express. But keeping busy while waiting for rescue was tough, with the workers playing games on their phones -- which they could charge as power had remained. "We immersed ourselves in Ludo on the phone," Oraon said. "We spoke among ourselves and got to know each other". Though trapped, the men had plenty of space in the tunnel, with the area inside 8.5 metres high and stretching about two kilometres in length. Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, who had been advising the engineers, said he had heard the men had been keeping busy "playing cricket" as they waited for rescue. That finally came on Tuesday. After a giant earth-boring drill was snapped by metal girders buried in the rubble, a team of miners dug the final section by hand using a so-called "rat-hole" technique inside a narrow tube. Indian media dubbed the diggers "rock stars". "Knights in Mining Armour", the Times of India called them. "Ace of Spades".

764976

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Barth Eide

No description

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-state04.htm

nan

2023-11-29 02:56:42

US Department of State ReadoutOffice of the SpokespersonNovember 28, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Norwegian Foreign Minis… [+743 chars]

Food

US Department of State ReadoutOffice of the SpokespersonNovember 28, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met today in Brussels on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting. Secretary Blinken congratulated Foreign Minister Barth Eide on his appointment. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister reiterated their shared commitment to NATO and transatlantic security and discussed additional measures to support Ukraine against Russia's aggression. They consulted on the conflict in Gaza and highlighted the need to continue to expand humanitarian aid to civilians. Finally, Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Barth Eide discussed other topics of mutual interest, including the Arctic and global food security.

765014

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Haiti: Gangs move into rural areas as Türk says new force 'must be deployed'

Gang violence in Haiti is on the rise with new alliances being forged and expansion into rural areas previously considered safe, warns a new UN report.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-unnews03.htm

nan

2023-11-29 07:27:30

28 November 2023 - Gang violence in Haiti is on the rise with new alliances being forged and expansion into rural areas previously considered safe, warns a new UN report. The report, published on Tu… [+3440 chars]

Food

28 November 2023 - Gang violence in Haiti is on the rise with new alliances being forged and expansion into rural areas previously considered safe, warns a new UN report. The report, published on Tuesday by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the UN political mission in Haiti (BINUH), calls for the urgent deployment of the multinational security support mission authorized by the UN Security Council in October. But alongside that, greater efforts will need to be made to strengthen the institutions of the rule of law in Haiti, in particular the police, the judiciary and the penitentiary system, the report notes. Killing fields The report focuses on the Bas-Artibonite district, located in central Haiti, about 100 kilometers from the capital Port-au-Prince, which has seen a significant increase in gang violence over the past two years. Between January 2022 and October 2023, at least 1,694 people were killed, injured or kidnapped in Bas-Artibonite. Kidnappings for ransom by criminal groups have become a constant fear for public transport users in the district, the report says. The story of Darleine, a 22-year-old woman, is just one of many: she was dragged off a bus in March this year by gang members, who held her captive for more than two weeks and repeatedly beat and raped her. A few weeks after her release, she committed suicide. The report documents criminal groups that ransack "rival" villages, executing the local population and resorting to sexual violence against women and even very young children. The groups are also looting farmers' properties, crops and livestock and destroying irrigation systems, contributing to the displacement of more than 22,000 people from their villages. The has significantly reduced the amount of farmland, thus increasing food insecurity. As of September, more than 45 per cent of the population of Bas-Artibonite was acutely food insecure. Gang violence has also left many farming families unable to pay off debts or access basic services. A cataclysmic situation The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned that across Haiti, at least 3,960 people have been killed, 1,432 injured and 2,951 kidnapped in gang-related violence this year alone. "The situation in Haiti is cataclysmic. We continue to receive reports of killings, sexual violence, displacement and other violence - including in hospitals," he said. "In the face of the horrific violence against the population that is spreading - inside and outside Port-au-Prince - and the inability of the police to stop them, the much-needed multinational security support mission must be deployed to Haiti as soon as possible." The High Commissioner stressed that the support mission must include internal control mechanisms and other safeguards to ensure its compliance with international human rights norms and standards. In light of the escalating violence and following October's report of the UN Group of Experts on Haiti, this report also calls on the Security Council to update the list of individuals and entities subject to UN sanctions. "The focus must continue to be on the implementation of the arms embargo and sanctions targeting those responsible for this untenable situation," said the High Commissioner, who also called on the Haitian authorities "to fulfill their international human rights obligations but also to put in place robust measures to strengthen the country's institutions and improve governance, including by fighting corruption and impunity."

765040

nan

NPR

The Associated Press

Ukraine says spy chief's wife is being treated for poisoning with heavy metals

Marianna Budanova is the wife of Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency. She is undergoing treatment in a hospital.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/29/1215756943/ukraine-spy-chief-wife-treated-poisoning-heavy-metals

2023-11-29 05:10:56

In this file photo, Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, center, attends a commemorative event on the occasion of the Russia Ukraine war one year anniversary in Kyiv, Ukra… [+2522 chars]

Food

In this file photo, Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, center, attends a commemorative event on the occasion of the Russia Ukraine war one year anniversary in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2023.Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via APhide caption In this file photo, Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, center, attends a commemorative event on the occasion of the Russia Ukraine war one year anniversary in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2023. KYIV, Ukraine — The wife of Ukraine's intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning and is undergoing treatment in a hospital, a spokesperson for the agency said Tuesday as the country's war with Russia stretched into its 22nd month. Marianna Budanova is the wife of Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the military intelligence agency that is known in Ukrainian as GUR for short. Her condition was confirmed to The Associated Press by Andrii Yusov, the agency's spokesman. Yusov did not provide more details about the alleged poisoning, nor did he say if it was believed to have been intended for Budanov or whether Russia was thought to be behind it. Earlier this year, he told Ukrainian media that military intelligence chief had survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the Russian state security service, or FSB. Previously, Budanov had also told local media that his wife lives with him in his office, which could suggest he was the intended target for the poisoning. There was no immediate comment on the poisoning claim from the Russian government, which has long been suspected of poisoning opponents. Russia media and commentators picked up the Ukrainian reports, with some speculating that it could be part of infighting in Ukraine. Local media, quoting their sources in GUR, said Budanova was hospitalized in Kyiv. The exact nature of the heavy metals that caused the poisoning has not been made public. However, local media said the metals were not used domestically or in military equipment, so the GUR representatives presume the poisoning was carried out intentionally, possibly through food or drink. Apart from Budanova, who has been married to Budanov since 2013, several GUR personnel also were diagnosed with the same poisoning, according to local newspaper Ukrainska Pravda. An official statement with more details was expected to be released by GUR. Budanova, who holds a degree in psychology and acted as an advisor to Kyiv's mayor before the war, spoke about her experiences being married to Ukraine's spy chief to local media. In an interview in October 2022 to Ukraine's Elle magazine, Budanova described how on the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion on Feb. 23, her husband informed her it would start the next morning. "We got together and went to his place of work, and since then we have not been home," she said, adding that they did not discuss sending her away somewhere else safer.

765045

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Reuters

UK's Deliveroo sees expansion into non-food driving growth

The group, which competes with Just Eat Takeaway.com and Uber Eats in markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, said it had launched "Deliveroo Shopping" on its app, which will allow customers to buy non-food items, including D.I.Y. products through a part…

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/uks-deliveroo-sees-expansion-into-non-food-driving-growth/articleshow/105586263.cms

2023-11-29 07:32:59

British food delivery company Deliveroo said it was expanding into non-food retail, betting on toys, electronics and other goods to help drive growth, after it reiterated 2023 profit guidance.The gro… [+1560 chars]

Food

IANS British food delivery company Deliveroo said it was expanding into non-food retail, betting on toys, electronics and other goods to help drive growth , after it reiterated 2023 profit guidance. The group, which competes with Just Eat Takeaway.com and Uber Eats in markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, said it had launched "Deliveroo Shopping" on its app, which will allow customers to buy non-food items, including D.I.Y. products through a partnership with hardware supplier Screwfix. Elevate Your Tech Prowess with High-Value Skill Courses Offering College Course Website IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in FinTech, Banking & Applied Risk Management Visit Indian School of Business ISB Digital Transformation Visit IIM Kozhikode IIMK Senior Management Programme Visit By expanding into the new categories, Deliveroo, which has 162,000 restaurants and 20,000 grocery sites on its platform and operates a network of delivery riders, will increasingly find itself in competition with its shareholder Amazon . The US company holds a 14.13% stake. In the medium term, Deliveroo said it expected its gross value transaction (GTV) to grow by a mid-teens percentage each year, and reiterated its expectation that its earnings margin as a percentage of GTV would come in at over 4% by 2026. "There continues to be significant headroom for growth," Deliveroo's chief executive Will Shu said in a statement ahead of an investor day on Wednesday. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories For its 2023 full-year, the company said it continued to expect adjusted core earnings between 60 million and 80 million pounds. Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on deliveroo growth driving growth food delivery amazon Stay on top of technology and startup news that matters. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

765077

nan

GlobeNewswire

Straits Research

Global Textile Dyes Market Size is Estimated to Reach USD 19.56 Billion by 2031, Growing at a CAGR of 5.8%: Straits Research

Dyes are compounds that color fabrics, particularly denim products, polyester fiber, cotton, nylon, silk, wool, fur, and carpet. Dyes are also used to color food. During the dying process that takes place in textile production plants, a variety of chemicals a…

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787727/0/en/Global-Textile-Dyes-Market-Size-is-Estimated-to-Reach-USD-19-56-Billion-by-2031-Growing-at-a-CAGR-of-5-8-Straits-Research.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/c25b8e5a-9a9f-499a-8eb6-76ff0d860959

2023-11-29 13:15:00

New York, United States, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dyes are compounds that color fabrics, particularly denim products, polyester fiber, cotton, nylon, silk, wool, fur, and carpet. Dyes are al… [+6392 chars]

Food

New York, United States, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dyes are compounds that color fabrics, particularly denim products, polyester fiber, cotton, nylon, silk, wool, fur, and carpet. Dyes are also used to color food. During the dying process that takes place in textile production plants, a variety of chemicals and dyes are utilized. Numerous factors are considered when choosing dyes, such as the cost of the dyeing process, lightfastness, reaction to rubbing, and reaction to washing. Download Free Sample Report PDF @https://straitsresearch.com/report/textile-dyes-market/request-sample Increasing Demand from Asia-Pacific Region Drives the Global Market According to Straits Research,“The global textile dyes market size was valued at USD 11.7 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 19.56 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period (2023–2031).”Asia-Pacific is expected to be the most important market in the future, particularly in India and China, where demand is expected to be higher because these are the world's fastest-growing economies. They have experienced consistent economic growth over the last decade and are now one of the world's economic powerhouses. Asia-Pacific countries like China and India have the world's highest population densities. Textiles are in high demand due to the world's growing population. Furthermore, rising consumer demand for textiles for various applications such as apparel, home textiles, and industrial/technical textiles has contributed to the market's expansion. Similarly, the lower manufacturing cost due to the raw material availability and labor at lower rates drives the growth of textile dyes. Minimizing Water Wastage and Organic Dyes Creates Tremendous Opportunities The textile dyeing process wastes a lot of water and is a limitation because water is scarce. The development of new water-saving processes is expected to provide a significant opportunity for market expansion. Similarly, advancements in environmentally friendly organic dyes present a promising new market for the textile dyes industry. Regional Analysis Asia-Pacific is the most significant global textile dye market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.4% over the forecast period. China, Japan, and India are the major Asian economies contributing to the region's adoption of technical textiles. China is one of the leading automotive manufacturers, so technical textiles are used more frequently. Favorable investment policies and government initiatives to promote the growth of technical textiles in India and China drivedemand for textile dyes. Growth in these regions is also driven by the development of manufacturing sectors, increased population on the continent, and improved economic conditions. Additionally, growth in public infrastructure development, rise in the healthcare sector, and rapid urbanization are key factors driving the technical textile market. For example, the Indian government launched a scheme in 2014 to promote the use of geotextiles in the North East, with a five-year duration (2014-2019). The scheme aims to promote and use geotextiles in infrastructure development by providing technical and financial assistance. This investment is expected to increase demand for textile dyes because direct or substantive dyes, which have a strong affinity for cellulose fibers, are used on the material and textile dyes, such as acid and basic dyes, are used primarily for dying material. Key Highlights Competitive Players The key players in the global textile dyes market areAgrofert S.A., Archroma, Chromatech Incorporated, Colourtex, DuPont., Hollindia International B.V., Huntsman Corporation, Jay Chemicals Industries Ltd., Kiri Industries Ltd. (Kiri), and Organic Dyes and Pigments., and others. Market News Global Textile Dyes Market: Segmentation ByDye type By Fiber type By Regions Get Detailed Market Segmentation @https://straitsresearch.com/report/textile-dyes-market/segmentation About Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. Straits Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. provides actionable market research data, especially designed and presented for decision making and ROI. Whether you are looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with the client’s purchase. We overcome our clients’ issues by recognizing and deciphering the target group and generating leads with utmost precision. We seek to collaborate with our clients to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches. For more information on your target market, please contact us below: Phone:+1 646 480 7505 (the U.S.) +91 8087085354 (APAC) +44 208 068 9665 (the U.K.) Email:sales@straitsresearch.com Follow Us:LinkedIn|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter

765089

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Iran: International consensus exists on necessity of lasting ceasefire in Gaza

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says there is an international consensus on the need for the establishment of a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after it was under a genocidal war by the Israeli regime for about seven weeks.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-presstv13.htm

nan

2023-11-29 07:27:22

Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 November 2023 12:41 AM Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says there is an international consensus on the need for the establishment of a lasting ceasefire i… [+2405 chars]

Food

Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 November 2023 12:41 AM Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says there is an international consensus on the need for the establishment of a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after it was under a genocidal war by the Israeli regime for about seven weeks. The top diplomat made the remarks in a phone call with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Monday. Amir-Abdollahian pointed to a forthcoming foreign ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Palestine, which has been scheduled for Wednesday. "There is an international consensus on the priority of lasting cessation of [Israel's] attacks on Gaza and the [occupied] West Bank, lifting of the [Gaza] blockade, dispatch of humanitarian aid, including medicines, food, and fuel, and preventing forced expulsion of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank," Iran's foreign minister said. Israel started its devastating war on Gaza on October 7 following a surprise operation by the Palestinian territory's resistance groups against the occupying regime. A four-day truce entered into force across the Gaza Strip on Friday and was extended for two more days past its expiry on Monday. Gaza's Government Media Office said in a report on Monday that more than 15,000 Palestinians were killed in Israel's genocidal war before the truce took effect. It added that the figure included 6,150 children and 4,000 women, with more than 33,000 others injured. Besides its incessant and indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza during the war, Israel cut off the flow of basic supplies, such as water, electricity, medicines, and fuel into one of the world's most densely-populated territories that houses over two million Palestinians. Ever since the onset of the war, the regime has also escalated its aggression across the West Bank, killing hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied territory. The Swiss official, for his part, expressed concern about the situation in the Palestinian territories, while emphasizing the need for releasing prisoners, providing support for civilians, sending humanitarian aid to the afflicted areas, and preventing further escalation of the Gaza war. He pointed to consultations that have taken place on the part of his country to protect the lives of civilians as well as the efforts made to realize a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Cassis expressed hope that the underway truce in Gaza would be extended for a longer period of time.

765090

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

UNRWA Situation Report #41 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information is valid as of 27 November 2023 at 22:30 local time )

No description

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-unrwa01.htm

nan

2023-11-29 03:40:12

UNRWA Situation Report #41 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information is valid as of 27 November 2023 at 22:30 local time ) UNRWA 28 Nov 2023 T… [+2030 chars]

Food

UNRWA 28 Nov 2023 The Gaza Strip

765094

nan

ETF Daily News

MarketBeat News

Save Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SVFD) Short Interest Update

Save Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SVFD – Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 500 shares, a decline of 54.5% from the October 31st total of 1,100 s…

https://www.etfdailynews.com/2023/11/29/save-foods-inc-nasdaqsvfd-short-interest-update/

https://www.americanbankingnews.com/wp-content/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/save-foods-inc-logo.png&w=240&h=240&zc=2

2023-11-29 12:42:41

Save Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SVFD – Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 500 share… [+1797 chars]

Food

Save Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SVFD–Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 500 shares, a decline of 54.5% from the October 31st total of 1,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 11,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new position in Save Foods during the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,819,000. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Save Foods during the 3rd quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in Save Foods during the 1st quarter valued at about $174,000. 61.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Shares ofNASDAQ:SVFDopened at $1.83 on Wednesday. Save Foods has a 12 month low of $1.66 and a 12 month high of $16.52. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $3.04 and its 200 day moving average is $4.08. Want More Great Investing Ideas?10 Stocks to Sell NOW!3 Stocks to DOUBLE This YearThe 10 Best Stocks to Own in 20237 Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever(Get Free Report) Save Foods, Inc, an agri-food tech company, develops and sells eco-friendly green treatments for the food industry to enhance food safety and shelf life of fresh produce. The company's products are based on proprietary blend of food acids combined with oxidizing agent-based sanitizers for cleaning, sanitizing, and controlling pathogens on fresh produce that are safer for human consumption and extend their shelf life by reducing their decay.

765120

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ET Online

The great tunnel escape: A remarkable story played out inside while rescue teams toiled away outside

According to various accounts of the events, the workers who went 17 days without sufficient food and fought irregular sleep and bouts of anxiety, played a critical role in their evacuation.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/the-great-tunnel-escape-a-remarkable-story-played-out-inside-while-rescue-teams-toiled-away-outside/articleshow/105582747.cms

2023-11-29 06:00:36

As the entire nation was sitting glued to TV sets for news about the fate of the 41 people trapped inside Uttarkashi's collapsed Silkyara tunnel, a remarkable story of grit and gumption was playing o… [+2841 chars]

Food

Arnold Dix: Meet the Aussie expert who helped rescue 41 workers from Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site As the entire nation was sitting glued to TV sets for news about the fate of the 41 people trapped inside Uttarkashi's collapsed Silkyara tunnel , a remarkable story of grit and gumption was playing out inside. The story was about how the trapped workers battled the elements to actively contribute to the rescue efforts being mounted from outside. According to various accounts of the events, the workers who went 17 days without sufficient food and fought irregular sleep and bouts of anxiety, played a critical role in their evacuation, ToI reported on November 29. The report details how the trapped workers helped in the deployment of oxygen pipes and set up safety points while rescuers were drilling from three different directions. Themselves tunnel workers, they already had the necessary tools, but they also showed determination and discipline in ample measure, never coming up short in any task they were directed to do by the rescuers. "Over the 17 days of confinement, they adapted, re-composed themselves, and collaborated for the greater good", Shivani Azad of ToI wrote. They also strictly adhered to the guidance being given by the medical team. It was commendable how the workers maintained a calm demeanour and "displayed the highest order of discipline", the report quoted Dr Rohit Gondwal, who oversaw the mental counselling of the trapped from outside the tunnel, as saying. Accordinng to Dr Gondwal, a most remarkable aspect was the unity among the trapped workers. "Interestingly, none of the 41 workers crumbled under the circumstances or refused to contribute to work. None of them fought among themselves or had even the smallest tiff during these all these days," he told ToI. The fact that they never lost their composure played a critical part in the successful rescue as all instructions given from outside were executed to perfection, the report added. Various tactics were put to use by the rescue teams from outside to keep the morale of the workers high. "Whenever we felt that our people inside the tunnel were sounding low and despondent, we instructed them to continue working in a jovial manner so that they kept doing things as per our instructions," the report quoted a rescue team personnel as saying. An official from the Uttarkashi district administration highlighted how the trapped showed enough foresight and grit during the ordeal. "They were told to stock their edibles and toiletries to prepare for any forthcoming adverse situations. Not getting demotivated, they collected and stocked those items patiently, never showcasing signs of being mentally or physically drained out. This played a key role in their eventual rescue," the official told ToI. Last but not least, humour and camaraderie played their part in sustaining their sanity, helping them keep their focus. "One of them had asked me for chicken for dinner and I had promised him a chicken party once he was outside provided he completed the task of setting up the oxygen pipe with precision," ToI was told by a rescue team member. In Video: Arnold Dix: Meet the Aussie expert who helped rescue 41 workers from Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on tunnel collapse uttarkashi tunnel uttarakhand tunnel silkyara tunnel tunnel collapse rescue (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

765125

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ETtech

Swiggy loss for first half FY23 narrows to $636 million, food business grows 17%: Prosus

Swiggy, whose major businesses include its core food-delivery platform as well as quick commerce venture Instamart, saw overall gross merchandise value (GMV) growth of 28%.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/swiggy-loss-for-first-half-fy23-narrows-to-636-million-food-business-grows-17-prosus/articleshow/105587092.cms

2023-11-29 08:08:00

Virtual Influencers Now Making Real Money? AI, AI, Sir!As social media influencers, Kyra and Naina have hit the big time. Only thing is, theyre not actually real not entirely anyway. Titan, Realme, M… [+199 chars]

Food

Agencies Prosus , the largest shareholder in Swiggy , said the Indian food-delivery major’s loss narrowed 35% from a year ago to $208 million for the half year ended September 30. The Amsterdam-based unit of South African conglomerate Naspers holds a 32.7% share in Swiggy. Elevate Your Tech Prowess with High-Value Skill Courses Offering College Course Website IIT Delhi IITD Certificate Programme in Data Science & Machine Learning Visit Northwestern University Kellogg Post Graduate Certificate in Product Management Visit IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Data Science For Managers Visit Between January and December 2022, Swiggy had accrued a loss of about $540 million, according to earlier filings by Prosus for that period. In comparison, main rival, listed food-delivery firm Zomato, reported a profit of Rs 36 crore ($4.3 million) for the quarter ended September, on operating revenue of Rs 2,848 crore ($341.6 million). Swiggy, whose major businesses include its core food-delivery platform as well as quick commerce venture Instamart , saw an overall GMV growth of 28%. The core food business grew 17% to a gross merchandise value (GMV) of $1.43 billion in the first half, helped by double-digit growth in transacting users and inflation in the average order value (AOV). The GMV calculation excludes cancelled orders and includes fees paid to delivery workers, Prosus added. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories In comparison, Zomato reported a gross order value (GOV) of $1.84 billion for the food-delivery business in the first two quarters of FY24. Swiggy’s food-delivery business’s operating loss narrowed 89%, said Prosus, helped by an improving contribution margin and operating leverage. Contribution margin is generally calculated as the money left over from sales after all variable expenses are paid. Also read | Invesco raises Swiggy’s valuation to $7.8 billion Swiggy’s quick-commerce business Instamart saw its GMV grow 63%, helped by an increasing store count. Instamart’s contribution loss fell 75% for the first half of FY24. “Broader product selection, densification of the store network and faster delivery times have continued to aid customer acquisition and retention,” Prosus said in its report. Contribution loss usually indicates the loss after variable costs are deducted from the overall revenue. Zomato and Swiggy have been engaged in a pitched battle for market share, both in the core food-delivery business as well as the quick commerce business through Swiggy Instamart and Zomato-owned Blinkit. Swiggy has also been preparing for a listing over the past few months, initiating talks with bankers to assess its valuation for a 2024 initial public offering (IPO). On October 17, US-based asset manager Invesco assigned a valuation of $7.8 billion to Swiggy as of July 31, having earlier slashed the valuation to $5.5 billion as of April 30. Swiggy hit its peak valuation of $10.7 billion during a $700 million funding round led by Invesco in January, 2022. On the other hand, US-based asset manager Baron Capital, another investor in Swiggy, valued the firm at $8.54 billion in August. Over the past few months, both firms have employed subscription benefits such as free deliveries, namely Zomato Gold and Swiggy One, to expand market share. While Zomato Gold only covers the food-related business and does not extend benefits to Blinkit, Swiggy One’s benefits extend to Instamart too. In November, Zomato had said that the Gold subscription brought in 40% of its GOV, and that its membership had grown to 3.8 million. ET had reported in August that Swiggy was working with telecom and banking firms to roll out bundled plans that include Swiggy One subscriptions, called Swiggy One Lite. ( Originally published on Nov 29, 2023 ) Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on Swiggy Prosus instamart gmv delivery naspers Stay on top of technology and startup news that matters. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

765126

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Humanitarian Aid

No description

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231127-whitehouse02.htm

nan

2023-11-29 07:27:22

November 27, 2023 Via Teleconference 4:03 P.M. EST MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining this call to discuss U.S. efforts to accelerate and expand humanitarian assistance going into Gaza. … [+21776 chars]

Food

November 27, 2023 Via Teleconference 4:03 P.M. EST MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining this call to discuss U.S. efforts to accelerate and expand humanitarian assistance going into Gaza. This call is on background, attributable to "senior administration officials," and embargoed until tomorrow, November 28th, at 5:00 a.m. For your awareness, not for your reporting, on the call today, we have [senior administration official], [senior administration official], and [senior administration official]. With that, I'll turn it over to [senior administration official] for remarks at the top. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great. Thanks, [moderator], and appreciate everyone joining today. We just wanted to share some of the latest news in terms of the humanitarian — our efforts to get additional humanitarian assistance into Gaza, as well as go through the President's leadership on this file to date. And so, I think as everyone is tracking, since the start of the conflict, President Biden has really spearheaded international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to facilitate the sustained flow of lifesaving humanitarian assistance — in particular, food, water, and medicine and other relief supplies. And as you all know and many of you were on the trip covering it, President Biden traveled to the region 10 days into the conflict, both to send a strong signal of support for the people of Israel and to stress the importance of efforts to minimize civilian casualties and increase access to humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are caught in the middle of this conflict that was launched by Hamas. As a result of the President's trip and the President — at the President's request, Israel and Egypt committed to cooperate on the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. And within one week of the start of the conflict, President Biden appointed David Satterfield — Ambassador David Satterfield as the Special Envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues to work these issues at a high level on a day-to-day basis between the key parties on the ground. Now, while — while in Tel Aviv, the President also announced $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. This builds on the President's strong commitment to the Palestinian people in making sure that the U.S. is the largest single donor, both to UNRWA, as well as to broader assistance to the pe- — to the Palestinian people. Over the past seven weeks, from the President to the Secretary of State to our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, to Ambassador Satterfield in the field, our team has been working around the clock to advance three key lines of effort with respect to the humanitarian response: first, to expand humanitarian access; second, to push for the restoration of essential services — in particular, water has been a key service that we've sought to restore; and, three, to secure adequate deconfliction mechanisms for civilian populations, sites, and movements in Gaza. The President has also consistently stressed the importance of ensuring military operations are conducted in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law, including with respect to the protection of civilians. And I think we've really made significant progress in terms of humanitarian access and the flow of humanitarian assistance since October 21st, when the President visited, with more than 2,000 trucks having been delivered so far, including goods from food, water, medical assistance and shelter supplies, as well as critically needed fuel. And this is really thanks to the initial deal the President helped broker and then foster with — by himself and his top senior officials. During the first four days of the current humanitarian pause, which we're delighted has been extended for an additional two days, we saw approximately 800 trucks going into Southern Gaza, and also some assistance has been able to reach Northern Gaza. One upcoming event that I wanted to highlight for you all is that, tomorrow, we're very glad to announce that we will have the first of three relief flights that are facilitated by the unique capabilities of the U.S. military that will be arriving into North Sinai in Egypt. And this will be to bring — to bring a series of items — medical items, food aid, winter items, given that winter is coming in Gaza — for the civilian population. And these will be delivered by the United Nations to civilians in need in Gaza. Two further planeloads will be coming in the coming days, and we'll be sure to keep you all up to date on that. This builds on previous five flights that we supported on commercial flights that came into Arish in Northern Egypt. We are continuing, of course, to work with our regional allies and our humanitarian partners to ensure that the assistance that we bring in continues to flow, is sustained, and that we are able to continue to increase it over time. Just want to acknowledge, from the President on down, we understand that what is getting in is nowhere near enough for normal life in Gaza, and we will continue to push for additional steps, including the restoration of the flow of commercial goods and additional basic services. I also just wanted to say that we're leading among donor countries in trying to ensure that the U.N.'s Flash Appeal is fully funded. Our USAID administrator, Administrator Power, convened key donors just last Friday to try to strengthen support for the U.N. Flash Appeal. And throughout this entire process, we have sought to also solicit feedback from humanitarian and human rights organizations, both directly here at the White House, including listening sessions with the National Security Advisor and other NSC leadership, as well as engagement with those organizations in the field to ensure that we're receiving real-time feedback from the broad range of implementing partners assisting civilians in Gaza. So, why don't I stop there and turn it over to [senior administration official] to share a bit of the latest from the ground with us. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. Thanks, [senior administration official]. And before I start on where we are today, I just want to reiterate [senior administration official's] point. On the 16th of October, when Secretary Blinken came out to Israel two days before the President's visit, it was not one drop of water, not one ounce of fuel, not one pencil would move across the border. We very rapidly moved, with the President's visit, to a quite different position of the beginning of trucks coming through with humanitarian assistance to the south but still very tight strictures on supply of fuel. We've moved, over the just a little more than four weeks since then, to a sustained 240 trucks a day, significant quantities of fuel moving through, and not just goods being delivered — medicine, shelter, food — but also the critical supplies to keep infrastructure — water desalination plants, hospitals, pumping of water from wells, sewerage pumping, solid waste removal — all essential to life in South and Central Gaza, which has now 80 percent of the population of the Gaza Strip. All of those have been sustained because of our efforts. And I'll give a little bit of color to [senior administration official's] description. There were periods when the President was on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel, Jake Sullivan with his counterpart, I with mine, Secretary Blinken with all of the above every single evening to work these kinds of issues through. And our objective was not to continue to have to make those calls every night, but to get a sustaining mechanism in place. And that's where we are right now. It needs to continue, and it needs to increase. And I'll make one other comment before turning your questions. The assistance that is being moved in, the fuel that is being provided are not linked to the hostage releases. Obviously, we have taken maximum advantage of the pause for the hostage releases to move as much as we can, to increase volumes as much as we can. But what we are doing stands on its own. And when this current phase of hostage releases is over, we have made very clear that this level or increased levels, ideally, need to be sustained. So, there is no linkage here, one to the other, of releases with provision of goods with provision of fuel. We took advantage of this moment, but it needs to be sustained. And with that, I'll turn it over to your questions as well. MODERATOR: Thank you, both. Moderator [Operator], if you'd please instruct our listeners on how to queue up for questions. Q Hi. Just had two quick questions. One was more of a clarification on these three relief flights that are going to begin. Are these — can you just give a little bit more color on what the items are that are being sent in? I know you said winter-related items, but how, if at all, are they different than what's been already being sent in in these 2,000 truckloads? And then, secondly, Kirby earlier today expressed hope that additional Americans were going to be released. It doesn't seem, in this last group that was released, there were any Americans. Can you give us any update of what's going on on that end and if there was any disappointment in that Americans weren't released in this latest group? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, let me just take your questions in reverse order. So, on the American hostages, of course, we work tirelessly every day. The President has been on the phone with — with key leaders in the region to push for the release of American hostages. We, of course, wish that all of our hostages had been released already. But I think that the good news from today is that the pause has been extended for a further two days. So, we are very hopeful that we will be able to get those American hostages out in that period. Just a little bit more clarity in terms of the question on the assistance flights that will be coming into Arish via U.S. military flights. You know, some of these things have already gone in, but there will be additional items: of course, you know, more food stocks, but also winter clothing, which is something that the U.N. has prioritized given that the rainy season has started in Gaza; specific food items for — in particular, for children that is ready to use, as well as additional medical supplies, which are — which are in urgent need in Gaza, as everyone knows. Q Yes, yes. Sorry. Thank you. [Senior administration official], what can you tell us about your talks with the Israelis in recent days about how to increase humanitarian aid, especially if you look ahead towards the possible operation in Southern Gaza where now around 2 million Palestinians are staying? How — can you describe us your talks about that? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. And I'll start with the humanitarian assistance piece. We're very pleased that a sustained level of 100 — or rather 240 trucks has been reached. But it's not enough to return some sense of basic civilian life for the 2 million people now in South and Central Gaza. Humanitarian assistance, robust as it is, isn't enough. What you need is to get commercial goods in. And we have been discussing for some weeks now with the government of Israel how we move to phase two. Phase one is the sustained delivery of basic subsistence humanitarian goods through U.N. and other channels. We're at that point now. But next point is going to commercial goods. That's where you start getting into the 300, 400 trucks a day. To get that volume of assistance in, inspection procedures will need to be increased and enhanced, and you're going to need to resort to commercial contracting within Gaza to meet the trucks coming in from Egypt. We know how it should be done. We hope that, after this pause concludes, that can be phase two of the humanitarian program. But your question, Barak, brought up another critical issue for us. There are indeed 2 million people, or thereabouts, in South and Central Gaza. It is extremely important — and from the President down, we have reinforced this in very clear language with the government of Israel — very important that the conduct of the Israeli campaign, when it moves to the south, must be done in a way that is to a maximum extent not designed to produce significant further displacement of persons. You cannot have the sort of scale of displacement that took place in the north replicated in the south. It will be beyond disruptive. It will be beyond the capacity of any humanitarian support network, however reinforced, however robust to be able to cope with. It can't happen, which means that the manner of the campaign has to be extremely carefully thought through to minimize this consequence of further, significant displacement. It also has to be conducted in a way that is maximally deconflicted with humanitarian facilities — power, water, humanitarian sites, hospitals, other facilities — including the many U.N.-supported shelters located throughout South and Central Gaza. Now we've had this discussion — we have these discussions on a constant basis with Israel. And if you ask me to characterize the response, it's a receptive one. There is an understanding that a different type of campaign has to be conducted in the south than was conducted in the north. To reiterate what you've already heard from the President, from other senior officials of the government: We want the objectives of this campaign — the elimination of Hamas as a governing, as a threatening force in Gaza and the threat to Israel. And — but how the campaign is conducted, particularly in the south is exceedingly important, because of the fragile situation with this very significant internal displacement already occurred on the ground. Q Hello, can you hear me? Hello? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes. Q Oh, sorry. Just — just to follow up on the previous question. Whether you have — you have gotten assurances from Israel — I know that the pamphlets have been dropped asking people in the south to go to safe zones. There aren't — don't appear to be any safe zones. Or do you believe that there are safe zones set up that are going to require the actual movement of people? And also, the United Nations has said that in order to increase assistance, along the ways that you've outlined, that they really would like another border entry place, specifically Kerem Shalom, to be opened in Southern Gaza. Have you discussed that with the Israelis? And is there any movement in that direction? Thanks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, (inaudible), to the first part of your question, what we are discussing is not the safe zone, the humanitarian zone that almost a month ago was proposed by the government of Israel. What we are talking about are practical arrangements on the ground, multiple arrangements. What you might call "areas of deconfliction," which are approximate to, already contained U.N. facilities and shelters, but where, based on the best judgment, they — people there or people who may wish to come there would not be subject to kinetic activity. That's very different than the original concept. It's practical, pragmatic arrangements at multiple places on the ground. No one is going to be forced out of their homes by intent. And these areas are not designed as places preemptively for people to go to. It is inevitable though that in any kinetic campaign, however carefully managed, there is going to be a certain inevitable movement of persons who will judge their safety to the better off somewhere than where they are. This is an attempt to be able to locate, to delineate those multiple areas where there will not be kinetic activity, and this is a very different concept than the one initially announced — declared by Israel. Now, on the second crossing issue: The Israeli government has made a political decision, which I do not see any sign of changing so long as hostages are held by Hamas, of closing Kerem Shalom to movement of goods from Israeli territory directly into Gaza. There are robust inspection facilities at Kerem Shalom. There's every possibility that those inspection facilities could be used, but not for direct movement of assistance or goods from Israel into Gaza, across the Kerem Shalom frontier. Q Hi, yes. Danny Kemp from AFP. I was just wondering: Is there a sense that these flights — you know, by putting these, you know, these three planes — these U.S. assets so near Gaza and kind of creating this lifeline — is this kind of a subtle way of putting pressure on Israel to keep up the truce for as long as possible, possibly beyond a two-day extension? Thanks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I mean, I think you've heard many senior officials from here at the White House and from other parts of the government say that we would like to see the deal — the current humanitarian pause deal extended as long as possible. And the formula there is, you know, every 10 hostages, you get an additional day of the pause. So, we would like to see that going as long as there are additional hostages to get out. No, the — the intent here is simply to ensure that a significant flow of humanitarian assistance, in particular the kind of humanitarian assistance that is needed right now — some of the winterization items that I mentioned — are arriving quickly into El Arish for onward transit to Gaza. We've been able to see a surge in goods in recent days during the pause, and we want to do our part, as the U.S., to make sure that that flow continues in a robust manner. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, I'll just build on what [senior administration official] said. The movement over the last four or five days of assistance has been so significant in volume that a backfill into El Arish is now needed, and these planes are part of that backfill. There's quite a quantity of goods enroute to El Arish from other destinations. But this is a significant contribution at a moment when that fill is very much needed. Q Hello? Can you hear me? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes. Q Okay. Great. This is Nadia Bilbassy with Al Arabiya. Thank you for doing this. My question for [senior administration official]. You know, [senior administration official] before the war, there was 2,500 beds in hospitals in Gaza. Now we have around 35,000 wounded up till now. What's the feasibility of having field hospitals? Is it something that you can work with the international community to provide field hospitals within this small period of — short period, rather, of the humanitarian pause — especially that doctors were saying they were operating on kids without anesthesia? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes. Nadia, putting in field hospitals has absolutely been part of our approach over the course of last month, and we're very pleased that a number of field hospitals are already, in South Gaza, being established, and we see several more on the way, both national provision — the governments of Jordan, Turkey, the UAE have all been engaged in this — as well as NGOs Médecins Sans Frontières, ICRC, and our own International Medical Corps, IMC. So, yes, we do see the value cumulatively of the hundreds of beds, surgical provisions that these multiple field hospitals will be able to provide. Some countries have also moved towards provision of hospital ships. That's a little more complicated than the kind of care that can be provided in a field hospital. But I know the French have a hospital ship bound for El Arish, which they hope can become operational in the near future. Q Hi, thanks. This is Ben Samuels from Haaretz. A lot of human rights organizations are worrying about the potential for epidemic disease outbreak. So, beyond what is going in over the next few days with these flights, what contingency plans does the U.S. government have in place to combat, you know, whether it's cholera or any other epidemic disease? And then a second question: How much of a hindrance is it that the U.S. can't directly provide funds to the Palestinian Authority because of the Taylor Force Act? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Among the medical goods that are coming into Gaza now are vaccines. But the real key to preventing the kind of outbreaks — typhoid, cholera — which tend to occur in situations like this is increasing the supply of potable water and sanitation. And that is why we have placed such emphasis since the beginning of this engagement on moving as much fuel as possible in in order to power everything from sewerage pumps, to the D cell system in the south, to getting the Israelis to restore service as we did to two of the three main national carriers piping water into Gaza. You've got to get potable water supplies in to try to avoid these diseases. We have been focused on this, as has the U.N., but fuel is critical. The fuel that is being provided now has made a big difference. More fuel needs to continue to come. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And just on the question about the Taylor Force Act, you know, I think our focus here is really on the humanitarian file. And given that we don't have a Palestinian Authority representative in Gaza, we don't have a Palestinian partner that we could provide this assistance directly to, UNRWA has really performed an incredible role here in being the facilitators for all of the U.N. and other assistance that has gone into Gaza. And we really couldn't do this without — without UNRWA. MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone. That's all the time we have. Thanks to our speakers and you all for joining. As a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to "senior administration officials," and it's embargoed until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow, November 28. Thanks so much. 4:31 P.M. EST

765138

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on the Situation in Israel and Gaza

The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-state01.htm

nan

2023-11-29 02:54:24

US Department of State Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonNovember 28, 2023 The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, t… [+2700 chars]

Food

US Department of State Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonNovember 28, 2023 The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union. Begin Text: We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union welcome the release of some of the hostages seized on October 7 by Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and the recent pause in hostilities that has allowed a surge in humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We, as the G7, urge the release of all hostages immediately and unconditionally. We call for the facilitated departure of all foreign nationals. We emphasize Israel's right to defend itself and its people, in accordance with international law, as it seeks to prevent a recurrence of the October 7 attacks. We appreciate the leadership of the United States and countries in the region, especially Qatar and Egypt, and their tireless efforts to secure this and future pauses. We support the significant efforts of the United Nations to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance during this pause. This arrangement is a crucial step towards bringing all remaining hostages home and addressing the full scope of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We call on all parties to build on the provisions of the deal and to ensure greater humanitarian aid continues to reach civilians in Gaza on a sustained basis. Every effort must be made to ensure humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. We support the further extension of this pause and future pauses as needed to enable assistance to be scaled up, and to facilitate the release of all hostages. We underscore the importance of protecting civilians and compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law. We remain steadfast in our commitment to work with all partners in the region to prevent the conflict from escalating further. Emphasizing the importance of maritime security, we call on all parties not to threaten or interfere with lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by all vessels. We especially call on the Houthis to immediately cease attacks on civilians and threats to international shipping lanes and commercial vessels and release the M/V Galaxy Leader and its crew, illegally seized from international waters on November 19. We remain committed to a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution that enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in a just, lasting, and secure peace. End Text.

765141

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

South Sudan: Humanitarians appealing for US$1.8 billion to support 6 million of vulnerable people with most acute needs

The humanitarian community in South Sudan today released the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP).

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-unocha01.htm

nan

2023-11-29 03:39:40

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Juba, 28 November 2023) The humanitarian community in South Sudan today released the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response… [+3234 chars]

Food

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Juba, 28 November 2023) The humanitarian community in South Sudan today released the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP). In launching of the 2024 HNRP, the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Ms. Marie-Helene Verney, reiterated the commitment to support people's priorities and needs with life-saving assistance while working towards resilience and livelihoods. Ms. Verney said:"We will work to support people's progress to being self-reliant so that they no longer have to depend on humanitarian assistance. Sadly, for most people, we expect multiple shocks, including the negative impact of climate change, which will continue to drive acute needs next year." In 2024, 9 million vulnerable people are projected to be in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. Of these, humanitarian partners will target 6 million with the most acute needs. The humanitarian response will require $1.8 billion to provide this support to the people targeted. Humanitarians plan to target people with shock-driven needs, such as those impacted by negative climate effects, conflict, disease outbreaks where they require life-saving assistance."With less funding in 2024, we will prioritize assistance to support communities with the most acute needs. The reality is that some people will experience needs that humanitarians will not be able to respond to, and it is important that they have access to state-provided basic services,"emphasized Ms. Verney. In some areas, where conflict and violence lessened, and agricultural production increased, people's needs have decreased. However, the majority of people across the country remain in challenging circumstances. An estimated 7.1 million people will continue to be in food insecurity situation during the lean season from April to July and as projected through the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) survey. 1.6 million children remain at critical risk of malnutrition. Women and girls remain at high risk of gender-based violence. The Sudan crisis that erupted on 15 April 2023 increased the caseload of vulnerable population that require assistance. The impact of the crisis is realized on the economy, further stretching people's coping capacities as market prices increased. With the humanitarian appeal for 2023 underfunded at 53.8 per cent as of 22 November, timely and sufficient funding is required to ensure people's most acute needs are met. In collaboration and cooperation with the authorities, donors, recovery and development actors, humanitarian partners endeavor to enable community-driven solutions towards self-sustainability."The humanitarian community supports the government in its leadership role of responding to people's needs and to provide basic social services to its citizens," said Ms Verney. "As we continue to operate on the frontlines in highly dangerous conditions to help people move from surviving to thriving, we need attacks on civilians and humanitarians to stop,"she added. For further information, please contact:Joseph Inganji, Head of Office, inganji@un.orgKrasimira Antimova, Public Information Officer, antimova@un.orgOCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org/south-sudan or www.reliefweb.int. 28 November 2023

765143

nan

GlobeNewswire

MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Beyond the Farm: The Evolution of Palate-Pleasing Innovation in the Cultured Meat Market

Chicago, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cultured meat market, also known as lab-grown or cell-based meat, is an emerging sector within the food industry that has gained considerable attention in recent years. Cultured meat is produced by cultivating an…

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787637/0/en/Beyond-the-Farm-The-Evolution-of-Palate-Pleasing-Innovation-in-the-Cultured-Meat-Market.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/afcc5182-4ae0-43a8-a965-4351d590b7ed

2023-11-29 12:30:00

Chicago, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cultured meat market, also known as lab-grown or cell-based meat, is an emerging sector within the food industry that has gained considerable attention … [+7416 chars]

Food

Chicago, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thecultured meat market, also known as lab-grown or cell-based meat, is an emerging sector within the food industry that has gained considerable attention in recent years. Cultured meat is produced by cultivating animal cells in a controlled environment, cutting the need for traditional animal farming. This innovative approach aims to address various environmental, ethical, and health concerns associated with conventional meat production. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global cultured meat market size is projected to reach USD 0.2 billion in 2023 and USD 1.1 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 16.5% from 2028 to 2034. In the next five years from 2023, the cultured meat market is projected to grow at 16.1% of CAGR. Download PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=204524444 Requirement of Cultured Meat in the Poultry Segment The need for cultured meat in the poultry segment arises from a combination of environmental, ethical, and economic considerations that are driving the exploration of alternative protein sources. Here are some key reasons for the interest in cultured meat within the poultry industry: Reduced Environmental Impact:Conventional poultry farming is associated with significant environmental challenges, including deforestation, water pollution, and high greenhouse gas emissions. Cultured meat production has the potential to significantly reduce these negative environmental impacts by requiring less land, water, and energy compared to traditional poultry farming. Animal Welfare:Cultured meat addresses concerns related to animal welfare by ending the need for raising and slaughtering animals for meat production. This aligns with the growing consumer demand for more humane and ethical treatment of animals in food production. Optimized Resource Utilization:Cultured meat has the potential to use resources more efficiently. Traditional poultry farming involves the use of substantial amounts of feed, water, and land. Cultured meat production can be designed to use fewer resources, contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient food production system. Reduced Disease Transmission:Poultry farming is susceptible to diseases that can affect both animals and humans. Cultured meat production can be conducted in a controlled environment, reducing the risk of disease transmission between animals and the potential for zoonotic diseases. Increased Protein Production:With a growing global population and increasing demand for protein, there is a need to find more efficient and scalable ways to produce meat. Cultured meat has the potential to contribute to global food security by supplying a reliable and sustainable source of protein. Advancements in Biotechnology:The poultry industry can benefit from advancements in biotechnology and tissue engineering, which enable the production of high-quality cultured meat products. As technology continues to improve, the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cultured meat production in the poultry segment are likely to increase. Changing Consumer Preferences:As consumers become more conscious of the environmental and ethical implications of their food choices, there is a growing demand for sustainable and cruelty-free alternatives. Cultured meat presents a choice that addresses these concerns while providing a familiar and popular protein source like poultry. Download PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=204524444 Culinary Creativity Unleashed At the heart of this cultural shift is the nuggets segment, benefitting immensely from the versatile nature of cultured meat technology. This innovation opens a realm of possibilities, allowing for the creation of a myriad of products with diverse flavors, textures, and ingredients. The nuggets segment serves as an ideal canvas for culinary creativity to flourish. Cultured meat companies are at the forefront, diligently working to replicate the familiar taste and texture of traditional chicken nuggets, while also venturing into uncharted territory with unique, chef-inspired variations. This culinary innovation is striking a chord with consumers looking for novel and exciting dining experiences. Diverse Offerings for Varied Tastes Creative chefs and food scientists are pushing boundaries, experimenting with an array of seasonings, coatings, and cooking techniques to produce nuggets that cater to a spectrum of tastes. From classic comfort food enthusiasts to health-conscious consumers looking for gluten-free or low-fat options, the cultured meat nuggets segment is diversifying to meet evolving consumer preferences. Furthermore, the potential for customization in nugget production, including the incorporation of specific flavor profiles, herbs, or spices, is broadening the appeal to a wider consumer base. As these products become more accessible and appealing to a broad audience, the nuggets segment within the cultured meat market is experiencing robust growth, driven by culinary innovation and product diversity. US Market Dominance and Regulatory Support In the global arena, the United States is poised to claim the largest market share in 2023, thanks to its dynamic environment fostering innovation, attracting investments, and supplying crucial regulatory support in the cultured meat sector. This supportive ecosystem has significantly reduced uncertainty and paved the way for substantial progress, exemplified by recent developments. A milestone achievement in 2023 was the approval from the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) for the sale of lab-grown chicken products. This groundbreaking approval subjects cultured meat facilities to USDA inspection, aligning them with traditional meat processing plants. Strategic Alliances and Market Entry Pioneering companies like Upside Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) and Good Meat, a subsidiary of Eat Just Inc., are gearing up to introduce their cultured chicken products to the market. Opting for exclusive partnerships with renowned restaurants, such as Bar Crenn in San Francisco and a restaurant in Washington, D.C. owned by acclaimed chef Jose Andrés, these companies are strategically positioning themselves for successful market entry. These regulatory approvals and strategic restaurant partnerships mark a significant milestone in the cultured meat industry in the United States. They underscore the government's commitment to supporting and regulating this innovative sector, while also creating pathways for cultured meat products to reach mainstream consumers through established foodservice channels. Conclusion As we navigate through 2023, the rise of cultured meat nuggets symbolizes a culinary revolution driven by innovation and diversity. With the United States leading the charge in regulatory support and market development, the cultured meat industry is on the cusp of mainstream acceptance. Major players such as Mosa Meat, UPSIDE FOODS, JUST, Inc., Integriculture Inc., and BioCraft, Inc. are shaping the future, offering a sustainable and delectable alternative to traditional meat production. The journey has just begun, and the tantalizing possibilities of cultured meat are set to redefine our culinary experiences. Speak to Analyst:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=204524444 Browse Related Reports: Starter Cultures Market Plant-based Meat Market Meat Substitutes Market Meat Processing Equipment Market

765149

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ET Online

90 passengers of Bharat Gaurav special train suffer food poisoning near Pune

The train was booked by a private party for a pilgrimage-related tour to Palitana in Gujarat. It carried roughly 1,000 passengers. Near Pune many passengers experienced dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and loose motions. In response, a team of doctors fro…

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/90-passengers-of-bharat-gaurav-special-train-suffer-food-poisoning-near-pune/articleshow/105592230.cms

2023-11-29 10:21:06

In a disturbing incident, as many as 90 passengers on board a Bharat Gaurav Special train between Chennai and Palitana suffered food poisoning, as the train approached Pune railway station late on Tu… [+1493 chars]

Food

ANI The special train was carrying roughly 1,000 passengers In a disturbing incident, as many as 90 passengers on board a Bharat Gaurav Special train between Chennai and Palitana suffered food poisoning, as the train approached Pune railway station late on Tuesday. The Pune rail officials were alerted to the situation at 10.45 pm. Ramdas Bhise, the Divisional Commercial Manager and PRO of the Pune rail division, told TOI, "This train had been booked by a private party for a pilgrimage-related tour to Palitana in Gujarat. It carried roughly 1,000 passengers. We were informed that many passengers experienced dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and loose motions. In response, a team of doctors from the railway hospital, along with doctors from Ruby Hall and other railway officials, were sent to Pune station to provide medical assistance." The train reached Pune station at 11.25 pm, and immediate medical attention was administered. Bhise explained, "Passengers were taken off the train onto the platform and given treatment. Fortunately, no passengers had to be admitted to hospitals. After receiving treatment, the train, with all passengers, departed from Pune station around 12.30 am." Officials emphasized that the train underwent thorough checks before departure. "There was no pantry facility on the train. It was reported that passengers received food at Wadi railway station, approximately 180 km from Solapur . We are trying to ascertain the source of the food, as some sources mentioned that donations in the form of food were also received by the passengers. As of now, we know that the food wasn’t provided by the railways. However, further investigations are ongoing," stated the official. (The story was originally published in TOI) Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on bharat gaurav train solapur pune pune station bharat gaurav food poisoning (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Recommended Stories Petrol, diesel price revision only when oil price stabilises below USD 80 India's infrastructure output growth quickens to 12.1 per cent in October India, Africa to be major contributors to 112 million barrel/day of peak global crude oil demand in 2030: S&P Whirlpool to sell 24% stake in India business to reduce debt Padget Electronics' new smartphone manufacturing facility inaugurated by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw HPCL to commission Chhara LNG terminal in 2-3 months; gets 6-7 offers to hire capacity Thailand’s MQDC to announce first residential project in India early next year Rice on cusp of fresh 15-year high in Asia after sharp rebound REC board approves hike in borrowing to Rs 1.5 lakh cr for FY24 India's oil imports from Russia rebound in November: Data 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

765158

nan

ETF Daily News

MarketBeat News

Else Nutrition Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:BABYF) Short Interest Up 601.6% in November

Else Nutrition Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:BABYF – Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 401,300 shares, an increase of 601.6% from the October 31st total of 57…

https://www.etfdailynews.com/2023/11/29/else-nutrition-holdings-inc-otcmktsbabyf-short-interest-up-601-6-in-november/

https://www.americanbankingnews.com/wp-content/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/else-nutrition-holdings-inc-logo.png&w=240&h=240&zc=2

2023-11-29 13:02:47

Else Nutrition Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:BABYF – Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 401,300 sha… [+1583 chars]

Food

Else Nutrition Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:BABYF–Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 401,300 shares, an increase of 601.6% from the October 31st total of 57,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 884,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. BABYFopened at $0.18 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $0.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.38. Else Nutrition has a twelve month low of $0.12 and a twelve month high of $0.83. The company has a current ratio of 4.70, a quick ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Else Nutrition (OTCMKTS:BABYF–Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 14th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.28 million during the quarter. Else Nutrition had a negative net margin of 168.87% and a negative return on equity of 161.29%. Want More Great Investing Ideas?10 Stocks to Sell NOW!3 Stocks to DOUBLE This YearThe 10 Best Stocks to Own in 20237 Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever(Get Free Report) Else Nutrition Holdings Inc engages in the development, production, and sale of food and nutrition products for infants, toddlers, children, and adults in North America and Israel. It offers baby snacks; baby feeding accessories, such as feeding bottles and teats; plant-based baby formula products; toddler, children, and adult nutrition products; and complementary food products.

765171

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ETMarkets.com

Stocks in news: Zomato, Aster DM Healthcare, PCBL, IREDA, Siemens

Tata Power's renewable energy arm gets a letter of award for development for a 200 MW firm and dispatchable renewable energy project with SJVN.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/stocks-in-news-zomato-aster-dm-healthcare-pcbl-ireda-siemens/articleshow/105570802.cms

2023-11-29 01:30:00

GIFT Nifty on the NSE IX traded 24 points, or 0.12 per cent, higher at 20,151.5, signaling that Dalal Street was headed for positive start on Wednesday. Here's a slew of stocks that will be in focus … [+1168 chars]

Food

Shutterstock.com Shares of state-owned IREDA will list on the exchanges today. The stock is expected to debut with a premium of 30% over issue price. GIFT Nifty on the NSE IX traded 24 points, or 0.12 per cent, higher at 20,151.5, signaling that Dalal Street was headed for positive start on Wednesday. Here's a slew of stocks that will be in focus today for various reasons. Zomato Chinese payments group Alipay plans to sell its 3.4% stake in food delivery giant Zomato for nearly $400 million through block deals on Wednesday. Tata Power Tata Power's renewable energy arm gets a letter of award for development for a 200 MW firm and dispatchable renewable energy project with SJVN. Wipro Wipro launches a continuous compliance solution built on Amazon Security Lake in collaboration with Amazon Web Services. Read more: Here's the trading setup for today's session PCBL The Board of PCBL gave in-principle nod to the acquisition, directly or through one of its affiliates, of 212,172 shares of Aquapharm Chemicals for Rs 3,800 crore. Aster DM Healthcare Aster DM Healthcare Board approved sale of GCC entities to Alpha GCC Holdings for $1.01 billion. Siemens Siemens reported consolidated revenue of Rs 5808 crore in the fourth quarter, up 25% year-on-year, while net profit fell 12% year-on-year to Rs 571 crore. Havells Havells has introduced its Lloyd brand in the Middle East market. IREDA Shares of state-owned IREDA will list on the exchanges today. The stock is expected to debut with a premium of 30% over issue price. Connect with Experts - Wealth creation made easy Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Wednesday, 29 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition For More Capital, Byju’s Must Pass a Tough Test Top shareholders at Byju’s have demanded the company meet certain conditions before they consider any future capital infusion into the beleaguered edtech firm that is battling a deepening fund crunch, people in the know of the matter said. Virtual Influencers Now Making Real Money? AI, AI, Sir! As social media influencers, Kyra and Naina have hit the big time. Only thing is, they’re not actually real — not entirely anyway. Titan, Realme, MG Motors and Boat are paying a premium to advertise through 3D-animated humans, or virtual influences, who have become quite the phenomenon on Instagram with views of up to 21 million for their reels. Timing of Burmans’ Open Offer Fishy: Religare Ind Director Ahmed Hamid Ahmed, an independent member on the Religare Enterprises board, has described the timing of the Burman family open offer to buy more shares as ‘fishy’ in the first such media comments by any of the independent directors at the financial services company the founder-promoters of Dabur are seeking to control. Read More News on Stocks in news Zomato Aster DM Healthcare PCBL IREDA Siemens (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news , stock tips and expert advice on ETMarkets . Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. Read Economic Times Epaper . Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price , Axis Bank Share Price , HDFC Bank Share Price , Infosys Share Price , Wipro Share Price , NTPC Share Price ... more less Pick the best stocks for yourself Powered by Weekly Top Picks: Eight stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 40% 9 mins read 4 stocks with 5 % to 8.87% dividend yields and continuous dividend payments for 7 years 7 mins read Weekly Top Picks: Seven large & mid caps with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 42% 9 mins read What do Q2 LIC results indicate for other Insurance companies? Two Life and 3 non-life Insurance players with “buy” and “strong buy” ratings 3 mins read Large cap stocks with upside potential of more than 25% 4 mins read 5 stocks for a high dividend yielding portfolio 8 mins read Eight midcap stocks, 2 with“ Strong Buy” and 6 with “Buy” recommendations with potential upside of up to 35% 7 mins read Six high ROE and low PEG ratio stocks, right combination for wealth creation 8 mins read View More Stories Subscribe to ETPrime

765179

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Vindhya Pabolu

Redevelopment work in VV Puram drags, spoils Food Street flavour

Bengaluru: Almost a year after work began on the redevelopment of Food Street in VV Puram, the road remains partially laid and footpaths broken.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/redevelopment-work-in-vv-puram-drags-spoils-food-street-flavour/articleshow/105576999.cms

2023-11-29 02:48:06

8 vegetarian dishes from Kashmiri Pandit cuisine that are a must-try

Food

Bengaluru: Almost a year after work began on the redevelopment of Food Street in VV Puram, the road remains partially laid and footpaths broken. With a perpetual haze of dust and no parking facility, the city’s favourite go-to place for a bite is now a no-go zone even for its most ardent patrons, rue food vendors.The work that began in December last year was targeted for completion in September.Though establishments weren’t exactly shut down, shrinking businesses — 40% according to some traders — have resulted in many stalls downing shutters on their own. In fact, BBMP had announced that the road would be reopened on August 15, but backtracked considering the works weren’t over.Shine Varghese, 21, who’d earlier frequent Food Street with friends and relish masala papads, was on the street on Wednesday after a year hoping that the work would be over.“I was disappointed. The street wasn’t as good as it used to be and there were very few options. Earlier, there would be such huge crowds that it would be difficult to even enter the street. This time, the street was rather empty and very few people were present even at 7.30pm. I don’t think I want to go there again until the work is over,” he told TOI.Jitendra Singhal, 41, who has been selling sweets and chats on the street since 2007, said: “Our business has suffered due to delay in work. We can neither close down the shops, nor keep them open. Our regular customers are missing, and new ones aren’t coming a second time after seeing the condition of the street. The biggest problem is lack of parking space.” Kiran Kumar, 38, who has been selling ice creams on the street for four years, lamented that even weekend sales aren’t great. “Earlier, we would open by 11am and close by midnight, but now we open only by 4 in the evening as there is no business. Dust from the under-construction road lands on our food. I have to pay rent and salary for 10 people.”According to VV Puram Street Vendors’ Association, there are 42 shops on the 400-metre stretch. “We’re calling this the third wave of corona. Only when we were picking up pace, this redevelopment work has again pushed us back. We have already lost most of our customers. We just want the work to be over at the earliest,” said association president Mani Kanta Gupta.A BBMP official told TOI that the work will be completed in the next 15 to 20 days. “The delay is due to contractors’ strike on some payment issues. This time, we will lay the footpaths and complete all the work,” he added. Trade activist Sajjan Raj Mehta said the situation is the same with many busy streets. “Our demand is that the authorities complete these works at the earliest,” he maintained.

765198

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ETMarkets.com

Varun Beverages shares up 0.82% as Nifty gains

A total of 11,597 shares changed hands on the counter till 11:16AM (IST).

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/stock-watch/varun-beverages-shares-up-0-82-as-nifty-gains/articleshow/105582269.cms

2023-11-29 05:46:36

NEW DELHI: Shares of Varun Beverages Ltd. traded 0.82 per cent up in Wednesday's trade at 11:16AM (IST). Around 11,597 shares changed hands on the counter. The scrip opened at Rs 1067.0 and touched a… [+1335 chars]

Food

ThinkStock Photos NEW DELHI: Shares of Varun Beverages Ltd . traded 0.82 per cent up in Wednesday's trade at 11:16AM (IST). Around 11,597 shares changed hands on the counter. The scrip opened at Rs 1067.0 and touched an intraday high and low of Rs 1073.5 and Rs 1062.65, respectively, in the session so far. The stock of Varun Beverages Ltd . quoted a 52-week high of Rs 1075.0 and a 52-week low of Rs 550.0. As per BSE , the total market cap of the Varun Beverages Ltd. stood at Rs 138617.86 crore at the time of writing this report. Key Financials The company reported consolidated sales of Rs 3889.02 crore for the quarter ended 30-Sep-2023, down 31.2 per cent from previous quarter's Rs 5653.0 crore and down 22.02 per cent from the year-ago quarter's Rs 3187.24 crore. The net profit for latest quarter stood at Rs 501.07 crore, up 31.5 per cent from the corresponding quarter last year. Shareholding pattern As of 30-Sep-2023, DIIs held 2.22 per cent stake in the company, while foreign institutional investors held 27.55 per cent and the promoters 63.1 per cent. Valuation ratio According to BSE data, the stock traded at a price-to-earnings multiple of 69.35 and a price-to-book ratio of 16.84. A higher P/E ratio shows investors are willing to pay a higher price because of better future growth expectations. Price-to-book value indicates the inherent value of a company and is the measure of the price that investors are ready to pay even for no growth in the business. Varun Beverages Ltd. belongs to the FMCG Food & Beverages industry. Connect with Experts - Wealth creation made easy Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on varun beverages Varun Beverages Ltd Varun Beverages Share Price varun beverages Varun Beverages Ltd Varun Beverages BSE NSE Nifty Sensex (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news , stock tips and expert advice on ETMarkets . Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. Read Economic Times Epaper . Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price , Axis Bank Share Price , HDFC Bank Share Price , Infosys Share Price , Wipro Share Price , NTPC Share Price ... more less Pick the best stocks for yourself Powered by Weekly Top Picks: Eight stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 40% 9 mins read 4 stocks with 5 % to 8.87% dividend yields and continuous dividend payments for 7 years 7 mins read Weekly Top Picks: Seven large & mid caps with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 42% 9 mins read What do Q2 LIC results indicate for other Insurance companies? Two Life and 3 non-life Insurance players with “buy” and “strong buy” ratings 3 mins read Large cap stocks with upside potential of more than 25% 4 mins read 5 stocks for a high dividend yielding portfolio 8 mins read Eight midcap stocks, 2 with“ Strong Buy” and 6 with “Buy” recommendations with potential upside of up to 35% 7 mins read Six high ROE and low PEG ratio stocks, right combination for wealth creation 8 mins read View More Stories Subscribe to ETPrime

765207

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Iran warns US, Israel of 'harsh consequences' if war crimes continue in Gaza

Iran's foreign minister has warned the United States and Israel that they will face "harsh consequences" if they fail to permanently stop war crimes in the Gaza Strip committed during the genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2023/11/mil-231128-presstv11.htm

nan

2023-11-29 07:27:22

Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 November 2023 7:00 AM Iran's foreign minister has warned the United States and Israel that they will face "harsh consequences" if they fail to permanently stop war crimes … [+3907 chars]

Food

Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 November 2023 7:00 AM Iran's foreign minister has warned the United States and Israel that they will face "harsh consequences" if they fail to permanently stop war crimes in the Gaza Strip committed during the genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network published on Tuesday, as a temporary truce is holding between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas resistance group in Gaza. "It is important that the [Israeli] aggression and crimes must halt and that the temporary ceasefire must become a permanent one. Otherwise, the region will face new conditions," he said. "The Zionist regime and the Americans should accept the harsh consequences of a failure to stop the war crimes." The four-day ceasefire in Gaza, which expired on Monday, was extended for two more days. It led to a cessation of Israel's devastating war on Gaza as well as a swap of Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails and captives held by Hamas. Amir-Abdollahian said that Israel welcomes the continuation and expansion of the war in the case the US fully supports the Gaza genocide. Tehran, he added, was informed through intermediaries that the White House has recently found out that their continued support for Israel does not benefit them. The top Iranian diplomat also noted that the US has today "the will" to stop Israeli atrocities through a stable ceasefire, send humanitarian aid to Gaza, and prevent the forced displacement of the Palestinian people. "The Israeli regime failed to destroy Hamas in the past six weeks despite the all-out presence of support of the US and its allied countries," he said. "Hamas is a reality that is rooted inside Palestine. Hamas is part of the Palestinian resistance. We believe that the future of Gaza will be decided by the Palestinian people and resistance." Amir-Abdollahian further said that the expansion of the scope of the war in the past weeks was part of a "natural reaction" of regional resistance forces to the US's military support for the Israeli massacre of Palestinian women and children. Iran has no proxy groups in the region, he emphasized, adding that resistance movements are operating to protect the interests of their own countries, preserve regional security, and defend the Arab-Muslim Ummah. Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas conducted Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. Since the start of the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 15,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left vast swathes of the coastal enclave in ruins. An additional 7,000 Palestinians are missing and believed to be under the rubble. Israel has also imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. The Iranian foreign minister also described Lebanon's Hezbollah as one of the most powerful resistance groups in the region. The US and some Western countries sent 28 messages to Hezbollah in the six past weeks, urging the resistance movement to exercise restraint and prevent the expansion of the Gaza war, he said. He further said occupation is an ominous phenomenon, which will never be recognized under international law, stressing that the Palestinian land belongs to the Palestinian people. "We believe that helping the Palestinian people in the face of the occupation and providing the occupied Palestinian land with political support has a legal, humanitarian, Islamic, and religious basis," Amir-Abdollahian asserted. He said Iran's political solution to the Palestine issue involves a referendum among the original residents of Palestine, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims, under the supervision of the United Nations with the financial contribution of other governments.

765209

nan

GlobeNewswire

Tingo Group, Inc.

Tingo Group Receives Nasdaq Request for Information Following Expiry of Securities & Exchange Commission’s Temporary Suspension of Trading in the Company’s Securities

Tingo Group Receives Nasdaq Request for Information Following Expiry of Securities & Exchange Commission’s Temporary Suspension of Trading in the Company’s

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787734/0/en/Tingo-Group-Receives-Nasdaq-Request-for-Information-Following-Expiry-of-Securities-Exchange-Commission-s-Temporary-Suspension-of-Trading-in-the-Company-s-Securities.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/738e0dec-48a4-4b8b-bc91-e826b7e480dc

2023-11-29 13:20:00

MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tingo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TIO) (Tingo or the Company), a profitable, multi-national fintech, agri-fintech, food processing and commodity trading com… [+4775 chars]

Food

MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tingo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TIO) (“Tingo” or the “Company”), a profitable, multi-national fintech, agri-fintech, food processing and commodity trading company, today announced it has received a request for information from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). While the temporary suspension of trading in the Company’s Securities imposed by the Securities & Exchange Commission on November 14, 2023 expired at 11:59 pm EST on November 28, 2023, Nasdaq have advised they will continue to keep the Company’s securities halted pending their review of the requested information. The Company intends to make its response to Nasdaq’s information request within the next 3 to 4 business days and will fully cooperate with Nasdaq to assist them in completing their review as quickly as possible, with the goal of achieving the resumption of trading in the Company’s Securities at the earliest opportunity. About Tingo Group Tingo Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TIO) is a global Fintech, Agri-Fintech, food processing and commodity trading group of companies with operations in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Tingo Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, Tingo Mobile, is a leading Agri-Fintech company operating in Africa, with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products, including a ‘device as a service’ smartphone and a value-added service platform. As part of its globalization strategy, Tingo Mobile has recently begun to expand internationally and entered into trade partnerships that are contracted to increase the number of subscribed farmers from 9.3 million in 2022 to more than 32 million, providing them with access to services including, among others, the Nwassa ‘seed-to-sale’ marketplace platform, insurance, micro-finance, and mobile phone and data top-up. Tingo Group’s other Tingo business verticals include: TingoPay, a SuperApp in partnership with Visa, offering a wide range of B2C and B2B services including payment services, an e-wallet, foreign exchange and merchant services; Tingo Foods, a food processing business that processes raw foods into finished products such as rice, groundnut oil, nut products, wheat, millet and maize; and Tingo DMCC, a commodity trading platform and agricultural commodities export business based out of the Dubai Multi Commodities Center. In addition to its Tingo business verticals, Tingo Group also holds and operates an insurance brokerage platform business in China; and Magpie Securities, a regulated finance services Fintech business operating out of Hong Kong and Singapore, which, as relatively small businesses within the Company, are currently in the process of being reviewed and re-positioned. For more information visittingogroup.com. Disclaimer The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management and the Company’s board of director’s view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made with the SEC by the Company and: (i) the results of the independent review; (ii) the risk of restatement of the Company’s previously reported financial statements or the identification of one or more material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting; (iii) costs relating to the independent review, which are likely to be material; (iv) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company, including as may result from the independent review and (v) the ability to meet stock exchange continued listing standards. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Investor Relations Contact949-491-8235TIO@mzgroup.uswww.mzgroup.us

765220

nan

GlobeNewswire

Vow ASA

Vow ASA: Extraordinary General Meeting in Vow ASA concluded

The EGM in Vow has been concluded, and the board of directors was elected pursuant to the recommendation from the nomination committee, as follows:- Narve Reiten, chairman- Susanne Schneider, director- Bård Brath Ingerø, director- Cecilie Lind, directorThe mi…

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787719/0/en/Vow-ASA-Extraordinary-General-Meeting-in-Vow-ASA-concluded.html

https://ml-eu.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/22e1a041-3b33-4b5a-839d-a868a6b8103f

2023-11-29 13:04:00

The EGM in Vow has been concluded, and the board of directors was elected pursuant to the recommendation from the nomination committee, as follows: - Narve Reiten, chairman- Susanne Schneider, direc… [+1446 chars]

Food

The EGM in Vow has been concluded, and the board of directors was elected pursuant to the recommendation from the nomination committee, as follows:- Narve Reiten, chairman- Susanne Schneider, director- Bård Brath Ingerø, director- Cecilie Lind, directorThe minutes from the EGM are attached.For more information, please contact: Henrik Badin, CEO, Vow ASATel: +47 90 78 98 25Email: henrik.badin@vowasa.com Tina Tønnessen, CFO, Vow ASATel: +47 406 39 556Email: tina.tonnessen@vowasa.com About Vow Vow and its subsidiaries Scanship, C.H. Evensen and Etia are passionate about preventing pollution. The company’s world leading solutions convert biomass and waste into valuable resources and generate clean energy for a wide range of industries. Advanced technologies and solutions from Vow enable industry decarbonisation and material recycling. Biomass, sewage sludge, plastic waste and end-of-life tyres can be converted into clean energy, low carbon fuels and renewable carbon that replace natural gas, petroleum products and fossil carbon. The solutions are scalable, standardised, patented, and thoroughly documented, and the company’s capability to deliver is well proven. The company is a cruise market leader in wastewater purification and valorisation of waste. It also has strong niche positions in food safety and robotics, and in heat-intensive industries with a strong decarbonising agenda. Located in Oslo, the parent company Vow ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker VOW). This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Attachment

765224

nan

ETF Daily News

MarketBeat News

SharkNinja (NYSE:SN) Shares Down 3.7%

SharkNinja, Inc. (NYSE:SN – Get Free Report)’s stock price was down 3.7% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as 45.69 and last traded at 46.01. Approximately 327,775 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 74% from the average daily vol…

https://www.etfdailynews.com/2023/11/29/sharkninja-nysesn-shares-down-3-7/

https://www.americanbankingnews.com/wp-content/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/sharkninja-inc-logo.jpg?v=20230921090239&w=240&h=240&zc=2

2023-11-29 13:06:42

SharkNinja, Inc. (NYSE:SN – Get Free Report)’s stock price was down 3.7% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as 45.69 and last traded at 46.01. Approximately 327,775 shares were traded… [+3489 chars]

Food

SharkNinja, Inc. (NYSE:SN–Get Free Report)’s stock price was down 3.7% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as 45.69 and last traded at 46.01. Approximately 327,775 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 74% from the average daily volume of 1,284,654 shares. The stock had previously closed at 47.79. SN has been the topic of several analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group started coverage on shares of SharkNinja in a report on Tuesday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $61.00 price objective on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group began coverage on SharkNinja in a research report on Tuesday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $61.00 price target on the stock. William Blair initiated coverage on SharkNinja in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. They set an “outperform” rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on SharkNinja in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SN Want More Great Investing Ideas?10 Stocks to Sell NOW!3 Stocks to DOUBLE This YearThe 10 Best Stocks to Own in 20237 Stocks to Buy and Hold ForeverThe company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of 44.07. SharkNinja (NYSE:SN–Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported 0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of 0.81 by 0.14. The business had revenue of 1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of 1 billion. The company’s revenue was up 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that SharkNinja, Inc. will post 3.13 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 11th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a $1.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SN. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of SharkNinja during the third quarter worth $42,000. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new stake in shares of SharkNinja in the third quarter valued at about $141,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of SharkNinja during the third quarter worth about $185,000. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of SharkNinja during the third quarter worth about $272,000. Finally, Pinnacle Associates Ltd. bought a new position in shares of SharkNinja during the third quarter worth about $335,000. (Get Free Report) SharkNinja, Inc, a product design and technology company, engages in the provision of various solutions for consumers worldwide. It offers cleaning appliances, including corded and cordless vacuums, as well as other floorcare products; cooking and beverage appliances, such as air fryers, multi-cookers, outdoor and countertop grills and ovens, coffee systems, cookware, cutlery, kettles, toasters, and bakeware products; food preparation appliances comprising blenders, food processors, ice cream makers, and juicers; and beauty appliances, home environment products, and garment care products.

765225

nan

ETF Daily News

MarketBeat News

CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA) Shares Up 3.3%

CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA – Get Free Report)’s share price shot up 3.3% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $35.75 and last traded at $35.39. 477,692 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 1,650,30…

https://www.etfdailynews.com/2023/11/29/cava-group-nysecava-shares-up-3-3/

https://www.americanbankingnews.com/wp-content/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/cava-group-inc-logo.png?v=20230619103910&w=240&h=240&zc=2

2023-11-29 13:04:44

CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA – Get Free Report)’s share price shot up 3.3% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $35.75 and last traded at $35.39. 477,692 shares were traded during mid-day trading, … [+3503 chars]

Food

CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA–Get Free Report)’s share price shot up 3.3% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $35.75 and last traded at $35.39. 477,692 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 1,650,301 shares. The stock had previously closed at $34.27. Several research firms have recently weighed in on CAVA. Citigroup boosted their target price on CAVA Group from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on CAVA Group from $50.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on CAVA Group from $54.00 to $48.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Loop Capital started coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. They set a “hold” rating and a $40.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wedbush upped their price objective on CAVA Group from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $47.00. Check Out Our Latest Report on CAVA Group Want More Great Investing Ideas?10 Stocks to Sell NOW!3 Stocks to DOUBLE This YearThe 10 Best Stocks to Own in 20237 Stocks to Buy and Hold ForeverThe business has a 50-day moving average of $32.51. CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA–Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by $0.07. CAVA Group had a negative return on equity of 13.72% and a negative net margin of 1.12%. The company had revenue of $175.55 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $171.49 million. The business’s revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that CAVA Group, Inc. will post 0.1 earnings per share for the current year. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CAVA. Artal Group S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,310,727,000. Revolution Growth Management Company Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $265,169,000. Capital Research Global Investors acquired a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $51,188,000. Capital International Investors acquired a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $51,188,000. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,408,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.83% of the company’s stock. (Get Free Report) CAVA Group, Inc owns and operates a chain of Mediterranean restaurants. The company offers salads, dips, spreads, toppings, and dressings. It sells its products through whole food markets and grocery stores. The company also provides online food ordering services. Cava Group, Inc was founded in 2006 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

765246

nan

ETF Daily News

MarketBeat News

Berenberg Bank Cuts Pets at Home Group (LON:PETS) Price Target to GBX 440

Pets at Home Group (LON:PETS – Get Free Report) had its price target lowered by investment analysts at Berenberg Bank from GBX 460 ($5.81) to GBX 440 ($5.56) in a report released on Wednesday, Digital Look reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the…

https://www.etfdailynews.com/2023/11/29/berenberg-bank-cuts-pets-at-home-group-lonpets-price-target-to-gbx-440/

https://www.americanbankingnews.com/wp-content/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/pets-at-home-group-plc-logo.png&w=240&h=240&zc=2

2023-11-29 13:20:45

Pets at Home Group (LON:PETS – Get Free Report) had its price target lowered by investment analysts at Berenberg Bank from GBX 460 ($5.81) to GBX 440 ($5.56) in a report released on Wednesday, Digita… [+1564 chars]

Food

Pets at Home Group (LON:PETS–Get Free Report)had its price target lowered by investment analysts at Berenberg Bank from GBX 460 ($5.81) to GBX 440 ($5.56) in a report released on Wednesday,Digital Lookreports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the stock. Berenberg Bank’s price target suggests a potential upside of 45.50% from the stock’s current price. Separately, Shore Capital downgraded shares of Pets at Home Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Pets at Home Group Want More Great Investing Ideas?10 Stocks to Sell NOW!3 Stocks to DOUBLE This YearThe 10 Best Stocks to Own in 20237 Stocks to Buy and Hold ForeverPETSopened at GBX 302.40 ($3.82) on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of £1.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,508.00, a PEG ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.62. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is GBX 309.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 351.11. Pets at Home Group has a 52 week low of GBX 259.20 ($3.27) and a 52 week high of GBX 400.20 ($5.05). The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.90. (Get Free Report) Pets at Home Group Plc engages in the specialist omnichannel retailing of pet food, pet related products, and pet accessories in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail, Vet Group, and Central. The company offers pet grooming services comprising a full dog groom, bath, microchipping, and nail clipping; and pet insurance products.

765263

nan

GlobeNewswire

Research Nester

Pancreatic Cancer Market revenue to reach USD 36 Billion by 2036, says Research Nester

Key pancreatic cancer market players include Amgen Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Aduro Biotech Inc., Clovis Oncology Inc., NewLink Genetics Corp., Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Celgene Corporation. Key pancreatic cancer market players include Amgen In…

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787554/0/en/Pancreatic-Cancer-Market-revenue-to-reach-USD-36-Billion-by-2036-says-Research-Nester.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/77e335b1-e272-4a4c-a0ff-211ce0caee29

2023-11-29 10:30:00

New York, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global pancreatic cancer market size is slated to expand at ~18% CAGR between 2024 and 2036. The market is poised to garner a revenue of USD 36 billion… [+7108 chars]

Food

New York, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global pancreatic cancer market size is slated to expand at ~18% CAGR between 2024 and 2036. The market is poised to garner a revenue of USD 36 billion by the end of 2036, up from a revenue of ~USD 6 billion in the year 2023.The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing globally, which is driving the growth of the market. As of 2023, the American Cancer Society predicts that 64,050 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (33,130 men[R1], 30,920 women). Request Free Sample Copy of this Report @https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request-5299 It is estimated that 50,550 people will die from pancreatic cancer (26,620 men and 23,930 women). Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive form of cancer, and it is often not detected until it is in an advanced stage. Additionally, the treatment options for pancreatic cancer are limited, and the survival rate is low. These factors are contributing to the rise in pancreatic cancer cases, which in turn is driving the growth of the pancreatic cancer market. Advancements in Diagnosis and Treatment to Boost Market Growth Advancements in diagnosis and treatment options for pancreatic cancer are also driving the growth of the market. As researchers gain a better understanding of the different types of pancreatic cancer, they are developing more targeted treatments that are more likely to be effective with fewer side effects. New diagnostic tools, such as liquid biopsies and imaging techniques, are improving the accuracy of diagnosis and enabling earlier detection of the disease. A liquid biopsy involves sampling and analyzing circulating tumor cells (CTCs[R2]), small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), and tumor DNA (ctDNA) from body fluids. Additionally, new treatment options, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies, are improving patient outcomes and extending survival rates.Pancreatic CancerMarket: Regional Overview The market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region. Increased Incidence Of Obesity And Diabetes to Drive the Growth in the North America Region Thepancreatic cancer marketin North America is garner the largest revenue by the end of 2036 due to several demographic changes, including an aging population and increased incidence of obesity and diabetes. In the US, there are 37.3 million diabetics (11.3[R3]% of the population); 28.7 million are diagnosed with diabetes, including 28.5 million adults. As the population ages, there will be a higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, which are risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Additionally, the aging population will lead to an increase in the number of people with pre-existing conditions that can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Obesity and diabetes are known risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and as these conditions become more prevalent, the number of cases of pancreatic cancer is expected to increase. Make an Inquiry Before Buying this Report @https://www.researchnester.com/inquiries-before-buying-5299 Growing Awareness About The Disease And Availability Of Advanced Treatments to Drive the Growth in the Asia Pacific Region The Asia Pacific pancreatic cancer market is estimated to garner the largest revenue by the end of 2036. This is due to its increasing prevalence in the countries in the region, coupled with the growing awareness about the disease and availability of advanced treatments. Several organizations and governments in Asia Pacific have launched campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer. For example, the Singapore Cancer Society launched the "Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month" campaign in November 2020, which aimed to educate the public about the symptoms and risk factors of pancreatic cancer. This has led to an increase in diagnoses, and this increased demand for diagnosis and treatment will drive the market. Pancreatic CancerSegmentation by Type The chemotherapy segment is anticipated to hold the largest revenue by the end of 2036. This is due to its relatively high success rate compared to other treatments, its high cost, and its availability in most of the countries around the world. Additionally, the growing prevalence of pancreatic cancer, the increasing demand for personalized cancer treatments, and the technological advancements in chemotherapy such as CRISPR[R4], artificial intelligence, telehealth, the Infinium Assay, cryo-electron microscopy, and robotic surgery are expected to drive the growth of the chemotherapy segment. Furthermore, the rising investment by pharmaceutical companies in the development of pancreatic cancer drugs is also expected to fuel the growth of the chemotherapy segment. Pancreatic CancerSegmentation by Affected Areas The exocrine segment is anticipated to hold the largest revenue by the end of 2036. As the exocrine cells of the pancreas are responsible for producing enzymes that help break down food, they are also the main cells affected by pancreatic cancer. As the prevalence of exocrine cancers increases, the demand for treatments and diagnostics for pancreatic cancer also increases. In 2022, more than 90% of[R5]pancreatic cancers around the world were estimated to be exocrine tumors. Additionally, exocrine pancreatic cancers are often more aggressive and difficult to treat than endocrine pancreatic cancers, so the need for better treatments and diagnostics is even greater. Request for Customization of this Report @https://www.researchnester.com/customized-reports-5299 A few of the well-known industry leaders in pancreatic cancer market that are profiled by Research Nester are Amgen Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Aduro Biotech Inc., Clovis Oncology Inc., NewLink Genetics Corp., Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation., and other key market players. Recent Development in the Market About Research Nester Research Nester is a one-stop service provider with a client base in more than 50 countries, leading in strategic market research and consulting with an unbiased and unparalleled approach towards helping global industrial players, conglomerates and executives for their future investment while avoiding forthcoming uncertainties. With an out-of-the-box mindset to produce statistical and analytical market research reports, we provide strategic consulting so that our clients can make wise business decisions with clarity while strategizing and planning for their forthcoming needs and succeed in achieving their future endeavors. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds.

765280

nan

Boing Boing

Jennifer Sandlin

Thanksgiving 2023 sets new record for holiday shopping

If you went shopping anytime during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend (Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday), you certainly weren't alone. In fact, a record-making number of shoppers—200.4 million, up from last year's 196.7 million—were out hitting t…

https://boingboing.net/2023/11/29/thanksgiving-2023-sets-new-record-for-holiday-shopping.html

2023-11-29 11:30:01

If you went shopping anytime during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend (Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday), you certainly weren't alone. In fact, a record-making number of shoppers200.4 mi… [+1705 chars]

Games

If you went shopping anytime during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend (Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday), you certainly weren't alone. In fact, a record-making number of shoppers—200.4 million, up from last year's 196.7 million—were out hitting the brick-and-mortar or virtual malls this year. The National Retail Federationreleasedthese and other holiday shopping numbers today. Here are some other highlights: 121.4 million shoppers visited physical retail locations, down slightly from 122.7 million in 2022. 134.2 million people shopped online, up from 130.2 million in 2022. The peak day for shopping was Black Friday—76.2 million shopped in physical stores, up from 2022's 72.9 million, and 90.6 million consumers shopped online (up from 87.2 million in 2022). Online shopping on Black Friday even surpassed "Cyber Monday" numbers—73 million consumers shopped online on Cyber Monday in 2023 (down from 77 million in 2022). What were folks shopping for? According to theNRF: The top gifts shoppers purchased during the five-day period were clothing and accessories (bought by 49% of those surveyed), toys (31%), gift cards (25%), books, video games and other media (23%), and personal care or beauty items (23%). The National Retail Federation defines the holiday season as November 1stthrough December 31st, and is forecasting that Americans will spend between 3% and 4% more than last year, for a total of between $957.3 billion to $966.6 billion. I avoided the malls this year (like I do every year), and instead did some holiday shopping online at some of my favorite small or local retailers. I got a couple of incrediblepo'boy patentt-shirts fromDirty Coast, this cute "Sittin' on a Rainbow" t-shirt from theJohn Prine/Oh Boy Recordsstore, this coolKassandra t-shirtfromPotatum, and this helpful7-fan LuggableHEPA filter/Corsi-Rosenthal box fromClean Air Kits.

765330

nan

Forbes

Erik Kain, Senior Contributor, Erik Kain, Senior Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/

You Only Have A Few Days To Complete Fortnite’s Shortest Battle Pass

It’s a very odd situation and I’m not really sure what to make of it.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2023/11/29/you-only-have-a-few-days-to-complete-fortnites-shortest-battle-pass/

2023-11-29 13:00:00

Fortnite OG is almost over Credit: Epic Games Its a very odd situation and Im not really sure what to make of it. Epic Games recently released Fortnite OGa brand new season thats taken players back… [+1619 chars]

Games

Fortnite OG is almost over It’s a very odd situation and I’m not really sure what to make of it. Epic Games recently released Fortnite OG—a brand new season that’s taken players back to the original map with a rolling release of the game’s first Chapter worth of seasonal content. Old guns, locations, items and more have all come back to the game (though its new movement system and graphics have remained in place). This has been a wildly popular trip down memory lane. The weekend after the release of Fortnite OG Epic boasted the highest player count the game has ever seen, with 44.7 million players hopping into the battle royale title that Saturday alone. That’s huge for a game that’s been out for six years and counting. This season kicked off on November 3rd, but despite being the most popular season in years, it’s already about to end. On December 2nd the Big Bang / Eminem event brings Fortnite OG to a close, after just one month. This is particularly strange for a game that usually has 2.5 to 3 month long seasons. The longest season ever—Chapter 2, Season 1—was 128 days long. The second longest (Chapter 2, Season 2) was 119 days long. The shortest season ever was the very first season of the entire game, at 50 days. Fortnite OG isn’t even 30 days. That means you have less than a full month to finish the entire Battle Pass, let alone enjoy the OG map, guns, items and so forth. It’s very bizarre! Epic is promising “a new beginning for Fortnite” starting after the December 2nd live-event. Downtime will start that night and whatever they have in store for the next Chapter and Season lands this coming Sunday. That means you have just a handful of days to wrap up your Battle Pass and enjoy the OG map. Good luck, young padawans. And have fun. We’ll probably never see this map again.

765332

nan

Forbes

Nick Crain, Contributor, Nick Crain, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/

Ready To Contribute: End Of OKC Thunder Bench Has Talent Primed To Produce

To this point, the regular rotation for the OKC Thunder has been deep. Even then there's four players that have yet to log significant minutes that can make an impact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2023/11/29/ready-to-contribute-end-of-okc-thunder-bench-has-talent-primed-to-produce/

2023-11-29 12:45:00

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 15: Vasilije Micic #29 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives by ... [+] LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of his game at Spectrum Center… [+3988 chars]

Games

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 15: Vasilije Micic #29 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives by ... [+] LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of his game at Spectrum Center on October 15, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images) While the Oklahoma City Thunder generally plays deep rotations during the regular season, there’s some real talent towards the end of the bench with players on on full-time contracts that have yet to earn the opportunity to showcase what they can bring to the floor. Not including the trio of two-way players on the Thunder roster, there has been a clear set of four pieces that have been in a tier of their own outside of the regular rotation. What’s interesting about these four — which speaks to the depth of this team — is that they all have the ability to make a real impact at the NBA level. These are players that have a wealth of basketball experience at the professional level and have proven they belong. At some point during the stretch of an 82-game season, all four of these players will eventually hear their names called and be asked to go contribute. When that time comes, there’s something unique that each of them brings. For starters, Vasilije Micic is an experienced lead guard despite being new to the NBA. The game is certainly different in this league relative to the international style of play, but playmaking, vision and 3-point shooting are all skills that translate nonetheless. Whether it’s an injury at some point during the season that requires Micic to step into a prominent role, or being a veteran presence as a backup point guard to mix things up during a slump, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Serbian to work his way into the rotation. A legitimate sharpshooter, Davis Bertans has proven he has the ability to be one of the league’s premier 3-point shooters. Especially given his height at 6-foot-10, the 31-year-old is able to rise above defenders to knock down contested shots from the perimeter. To this point, he’s primarily played in spot minutes situationally as Oklahoma City needs an offensive spark, but he hasn’t yet cracked the nightly rotation. The defensive side of the ball is an area of weakness for him, but there will likely be a stretch of the season in which Bertans gets hot from beyond the arc and helps propel a winning streak for the Thunder. Following a fantastic rookie season after being selected with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Tre Mann had a down sophomore season in which he seemingly took a step back. In year three, his minutes have been further reduced. While he’s proven he can create for himself and generate points in a hurry, it’s the other parts of the game that he’s been unable to show to earn minutes. For him, it’s all about defending, making the right reads and keeping the ball moving on offense. Regardless, his services off the bench will be needed at some point this season and there will be at least one game in which he turns into a microwave scorer in the flow of a game and helps Oklahoma City get over the hump. Finally, Aleksej Pokusevski is just 21 years old and in a contract season, but has logged the fewest minutes of any player on the 15-man roster. The 7-footer has suffered several injuries over the past year which has hindered his development. Although he had a really good start to the 2022-23 campaign, he’s since been either off the court due to injury or completely out of the rotation even when healthy. When he gets his chance, he provides playmaking and defensive disruptiveness, but it’s still unclear what it will take for him to earn minutes. Every single member of the Thunder’s 15-man roster brings something to the table. The depth of the team is real, and each player will get their chance to shine at some point over the course of 82 games.

765338

al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera

UEFA Champions League results: Dortmund beat Milan and PSG salvage draw

Dortmund, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Lazio have confirmed their places in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.

https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/11/29/uefa-champions-league-results-dortmund-beat-milan-psg-draw-newcastlebarcelona-beat-porto-atletico-madrid-beat-feyenoord

2023-11-29 06:51:42

Borussia Dortmund have advanced to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 victory at AC Milan, while a 98th-minute Kylian Mbappe penalty earned Paris Saint-Germain a 1-1 draw with… [+3895 chars]

Games

Dortmund, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Lazio have confirmed their places in the last-16 stage of the Champions League. Borussia Dortmund have advanced to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 victory at AC Milan, while a 98th-minute Kylian Mbappe penalty earned Paris Saint-Germain a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. Elsewhere, Barcelona came from behind to beat Porto 2-1 and reach knock-out rounds for the first time in three seasons, as the European club competitionreturned to actionon Tuesday. In the Netherlands, Atletico Madrid beat Feyenoord 3-1 with the help of two own goals to seal their spot in the last 16 a year after failing to get past the group stage. The victory left Atletico with 11 points, one more than Lazio, who defeated Celtic 2-0 earlier. Feyenoord have six points, five more than Celtic, with one round of matches left. Round of 16 ✅#UCLpic.twitter.com/e5LFYVPLSF — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)November 28, 2023 In Italy, Marco Reus gave Dortmund an early lead from the spot after Olivier Giroud had a penalty of his own saved for Milan. Although Samuel Chukwueze levelled at the end of the first half, goals from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and substitute Karim Adeyemi gave the visitors the win they needed to book their spot in the last 16. “The lads are clearly exhausted after this match but they are very happy, happy that we are through already, with a match to spare,” Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said. “We all remember that when the draw was made this was called the group of death.” Dortmund top Group F and are three points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain after the French team rescued a 1-1 draw at home that keeps them in a position to qualify for the last 16 and leaves Newcastle in serious danger of a group-stage exit. Kylian Mbappe struck a controversial penalty deep in stoppage time after PSG’s players howled loudly for handball when the ball bounced off Newcastle’s Tino Livramento’s chest and a spot-kick was awarded after a VAR check. Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hit out at the decision that denied his team a win. “In my opinion, it wasn’t the right decision,” insisted Howe after the game. “It is hugely frustrating for us because at that moment you know how little time there is left in the game, but there is nothing we can do about it now.” Seven-time champions Milan – who reached the semifinals last season – and Newcastle are two points below PSG. They play each other at St James’ Park in the final round of matches, when PSG visit Dortmund. Round of 16, Here We Come! 🗣️pic.twitter.com/sIr9fL8CvL — Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)November 28, 2023 Group G saw Phil Foden inspire a second-half comeback as Manchester City beat Leipzig 3-2. The defending champions had trailed 2-0 at halftime at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, but Foden scored one and helped to create two more as Pep Guardiola’s team ensured they would advance atop Group G. He set up a goal for Erling Haaland in the 54th minute and evened the score in the 70th. The midfielder then played a part in the buildup for substitute Julian Alvarez’s winner in the 87th as City preserved an unbeaten home record in the Champions League that dates back to 2018. Lois Openda had looked like firing Leipzig to an unlikely win with goals in the 13th and 33rd. But City responded like champions after the break to turn the game around, with Foden at the heart of the comeback. “We had to be (as) relaxed as possible and we reacted really well,” Guardiola said. “We are first in the group and I am very satisfied for the reaction at the end. The team runs and fights and has spirit.” City are now unbeaten in 29 home games in the competition since losing 2-1 against Lyon in September 2018. They have topped their Champions League group for seven seasons in a row. City and Leipzig had already qualified for the last 16. City have 15 points from five games, six points more than second-place Leipzig. Tuesday's action ⚽️#UCLpic.twitter.com/nlToMse2Ex — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)November 28, 2023 Follow Al Jazeera English:

765357

nan

Forbes

Sam Leveridge, Contributor, Sam Leveridge, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/samleveridge/

Theo Hoping To Become The Fourth Zidane To Play For Real Madrid

Theo Zidane is in the Real Madrid squad to take on Napoli and will be dreaming of joining his brothers Enzo and Luca, and his father Zinedine, in playing for the club.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/samleveridge/2023/11/29/theo-hoping-to-become-the-fourth-zidane-to-play-for-real-madrid/

2023-11-29 12:30:06

Théo Zidane has been included in Real Madrid's squad to play Napoli on Wednesday evening. Getty Images Real Madrid could give a debut to a fourth member of the Zidane family against Napoli in the C… [+4124 chars]

Games

Théo Zidane has been included in Real Madrid's squad to play Napoli on Wednesday evening. Real Madrid could give a debut to a fourth member of the Zidane family against Napoli in the Champions League as 21-year-old midfielder Théo Zidane has been included in Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the game at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening. He would follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, his father who won four Champions League titles during his time at the club as both a player and a coach, as well as his older brothers Enzo and Luca, who continue to ply their trades in the lower levels of Spanish soccer. All four of Zinedine's children are pursuing careers in professional soccer, with Théo and Elyaz still on the books of Real Madrid after all four have come through La Fábrica, as Real Madrid's youth academy is known. Théo has made 69 appearances for Real Madrid Castilla, the club's second team, and is now a regular for Raúl González, the former striker who is now the manager of the side. He has started 11 of Castilla's 14 matches this season and has established himself after making his way into the team last year. Following in his brothers' footsteps Any Zidane is going to struggle to live up to the legacy of Zizou, one of the club's all-time legends after 227 appearances as a player and 301 games as the team's coach. However, Théo will be looking to compete with his brothers in terms of leaving his mark on the first team. Both Enzo and Luca were regulars for Castilla, like Théo, with 78 and 51 appearances respectively. When it came to making their first team debut, Théo will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Enzo, who scored on his only Real Madrid appearance against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey in 2016. Luca would go on to play twice, both in LaLiga, against Villarreal in 2018 and Huesca in 2019. The eldest son Enzo is currently plying his trade on the outskirts of Madrid in the third tier with Primera RFEF club Fuenlabrada. His first move after leaving Real Madrid was to join Deportivo Alavés, before a move to France with F. C. Lausanne-Sport, a return to Spain at C. F. Rayo Majadahonda, then Portugal with C. D. Aves. He returned to Spain for a year at U. D. Almería but left after only three appearances to join Rodez Aveyron Football, where his father is a shareholder, and then came back to Spain once again with CF Fuenlabrada in 2022. Zinédine Zidane was accompanied by his four sons (Théo, Elyaz, Enzo, Luca, left to right) and his ... [+] wife Véronique when announced as Real Madrid coach in 2016. Second son Luca has had a more successful career, and currently finds himself at high-flying Eibar in Segunda, the second division of Spanish soccer. The goalkeeper has made a name for himself as a reliable option at that level, following an impressive loan stint at Racing Santander, which earned him a move to Rayo Vallecano. Promotion with Rayo was the highlight, with Luca earning the number one shirt for the team's successful playoff campaign, but he played only 13 games in their first season back in the top flight and left for Eibar the following summer. He has now played 50 games as their first choice shotstopper. Another Zidane to follow Théo may not be the last Zidane to make a name for himself at Real Madrid, either. The youngest of the four sons is Elyaz, who is now 17 years of age and has been with Los Blancos for the past decade. He can play as a left-back or as a central defender and has impressed many with his development to date, earning call-ups to represent the French national team at youth level for the under-17, under-18 and under-19 age groups, playing 19 times and scoring two goals in the process. Currently playing for another former Real Madrid player, Álvaro Arbeloa, who is coaching the Juvenil A side, he is further away from the first team set-up but continues to impress coaches within the club. Earlier this year, that was enough to earn him a call-up to train with the first team in a training session under Carlo Ancelotti. While Elyaz has not returned to that scene and his position is well covered following the summer arrival of Fran García, he may retain hope of one day following Théo, Luca and Enzo into the Real Madrid first team just like Zinédine.

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al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera

Rahul Dravid to stay on as India cricket coach until T20 World Cup

Dravid's role as coach will likely cover India's campaign at next year's T20 World Cup.

https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/11/29/rahul-dravid-to-stay-indian-cricket-team-coach-until-t20-world-cup-bcci

2023-11-29 09:57:20

Rahul Dravid will stay on as Indias head coach following an extension of his contract, which had expired with the ICC Cricket World Cup at home earlier this month, the countrys cricket board has said… [+2522 chars]

Games

Dravid’s role as coach will likely cover India’s campaign at next year’s T20 World Cup following an extension by the Indian cricket board. Rahul Dravid will stay on as India’s head coach following an extension of his contract, which had expired with theICC Cricket World Cupat home earlier this month, the country’s cricket board has said. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not reveal the duration of the extension but it is likely to cover the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June. “The BCCI engaged in productive discussions with Rahul Dravid after the term of his contract ended … and unanimously agreed to further the tenure,” the board said in a statement on Wednesday. Dravidwas appointed in November 2021 for two years. India’s World Cup campaign ended with a loss against Australia in the final on November 19. The BCCI acknowledged Dravid’s “exceptional professionalism” as coach of the side which reached the finals of the World Test Championship, which they also lost to Australia. His team of support staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, have also been retained. The board also praised former test batter VVS Laxman, who was expected to succeed Dravid in the role having occasionally filled in for his former India teammate, saying he had shown “exemplary” service. Laxman is currently guiding a second-string India squad in a five-match T20 series against Australia. Dravid is likely to reclaim the coaching reins for India’s tour of South Africa next month. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said Dravid had made India a “formidable” force. “Team India is now a formidable unit across formats, and our top ranking in all three formats directly reflects his vision, guidance, and the roadmap he charted for the team,” he added. “Having won 10 consecutive games before the final, our World Cup campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, and the head coach deserves appreciation for setting up the right platform for the team to flourish.” India, captained by Rohit Sharma, remained unbeaten in 10 matches coming into theWorld Cup final in Ahmedabad. India last won a global title 10 years ago – the 2013 Champions Trophy – and their last World Cup triumph came in 2011 at home. Dravid said he thoroughly enjoyed the last two years in charge of the side. “I am genuinely proud of the culture we have set in the dressing room,” the 50-year-old said. Dravid, nicknamed “The Wall” or “Mr Dependable” for his classic batting and rock-solid defence as a batter, is expected to lead the team on their tour of South Africa next month. Before retiring as a player in 2012, Dravid scored 13,288 runs in 164 Tests, second only to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for India and fourth overall in the world rankings. Follow Al Jazeera English:

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nan

Forbes

Jay Paris, Contributor, Jay Paris, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/jayparis/

In Step-Back Year, Los Angeles Rams Are Stepping Into The Playoff Race

The Rams' story for 2023 was clear: save some dough, hoard future draft picks and make a big splash in ‘24 with available salary cap space. Then they won two straight.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jayparis/2023/11/28/in-step-back-year-los-angeles-rams-are-stepping-into-the-playoff-race/

2023-11-29 00:36:10

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) aims downfield during the team's win against the ... [+] Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Rams, with two-straight victories, are in the NFC playoff h… [+3274 chars]

Games

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) aims downfield during the team's win against the ... [+] Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Rams, with two-straight victories, are in the NFC playoff hunt. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) The Los Angeles Rams story for 2023 was clear: save some dough, hoard future draft picks and make a big splash in ‘24 with available salary cap space to rebuild a team that has been paying a steep tab since winning Super Bowl 56. But as the calendar turns to December, the Rams (5-6) have flipped the page on their original notion. After two straight wins and a revitalized offense, dare we say, they are in the NFC playoff hunt. By Sunday night, they could be tied for the No. 7 spot in the NFC if a few things fall into place. Paramount, of course, is the Rams defeating the visiting, and underdog, Cleveland Browns (7-4), who could be without their top two quarterbacks because of injuries. If L.A. adds another win, on the heels of the favored Dallas Cowboys besting the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, that would drop the Seahawks to 6-6. But the Rams hold the tiebreaker here thanks to a season-sweep of Seattle as coach Sean McVay continues his domination of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. The final peg is the Kansas City Chiefs bouncing the Packers on Sunday night, which would drop Green Bay to 5-7, one game behind the Rams. When the Packers beat the Rams in Week 9 to drop them to 3-6, few thought L.A. could climb off the mat. Then quarterback Matthew Stafford returned from his thumb injury, and last week, running back Kyren Williams suited up after an ankle injury cost him four weeks. Viola! The Rams have now won twice and the chatter is about what might happen this year, instead of everyone peering through binoculars with a focus on ‘24. McVay is tapping the breaks on the big picture, especially with the Rams not that far removed for a three-game losing streak. But there’s a chance L.A., with a late push, could be playing meaningful games in mid-January. “It’s about one week at a time,’’ McVay said. “If we do that and continue to get better, then I think those conversations always take care of themselves, and that’s what served us well in previous years as well.’’ Still, the outlook was on next year when the Rams will move some dead weight off the books as they currently have about $46 million in cap space in ‘24, according to spotrac. On the draft side, the Rams will have their first, first-round pick since zooming up the board to take quarterback Jared Goff in 2016. All told, the Rams hold 10 selections to round out a roster which is showing it can compete at a high level this year. Tight end Tyler Higbee had heard the wait-until-next-year mantra. He said the players and coaches never bought into it. Higbee had two scoring catches in the Sunday’s 37-14 win over the Cardinals. “(We) knew that we had a chance to do something special and make a run at the playoffs,’’ Higbee told the LA Times. There’s still plenty of work to be done with remaining games against Cleveland, the Baltimore Ravens (9-3), Washington Commanders (4-8), New Orleans Saints (5-6), New York Giants (4-8) and NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers (8-3). Let the record show the Rams are still looking for ‘24 to be a big year. But first, let this one play out. L.A. has the look recently of someone eager to play on and just maybe be a surprise team in the playoffs.

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nan

International Business Times

AFP News

Liverpool Set To Clinch Place In Europa League Knockouts

Liverpool and their Premier League counterparts West Ham United and Brighton can all clinch spots in the knockout phase of the Europa League this Thursday with a round of group games to spare, while troubled Ajax face elimination from the competition.

https://www.ibtimes.com/liverpool-set-clinch-place-europa-league-knockouts-3719634

2023-11-29 02:21:31

Liverpool and their Premier League counterparts West Ham United and Brighton can all clinch spots in the knockout phase of the Europa League this Thursday with a round of group games to spare, while … [+3424 chars]

Games

Liverpool and their Premier League counterparts West Ham United and Brighton can all clinch spots in the knockout phase of the Europa League this Thursday with a round of group games to spare, while troubled Ajax face elimination from the competition. The Anfield side could have already wrapped up their place in the next round earlier this month, but they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat by Toulouse amid a euphoric atmosphere in France, albeit only after having a last-gasp equaliser ruled out by the VAR. That victory was celebrated, understandably, by Toulouse and their supporters as one of their greatest ever results, but it should go down as nothing more than a minor setback for Jurgen Klopp and his team. Having won their previous three outings in Group E despite massive changes to the line-up each time, Liverpool need only avoid defeat at home against LASK of Austria in order to secure progress before their final match away to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium next month. Indeed they will qualify regardless provided the Belgians do not win in Toulouse at the same time, but there is also a chance the Reds could wrap up top spot in the group -- that would ensure they advance straight to the last 16 rather than having to participate in an extra round of play-offs. While Liverpool sit just two points off the top of the Premier League, LASK are third in the Austrian Bundesliga, five points behind leaders Red Bull Salzburg. Their biggest threat is likely to come from goal-scoring midfielder and captain Robert Zulj, but it would be an enormous shock if they took anything from their trip to England. West Ham are in a similar position to Liverpool, knowing a win this midweek will take them through from Group A but that they could qualify regardless if results elsewhere go their way. The Hammers will be in northern Serbia to take on TSC Backa Topola, a team they defeated 3-1 in London in September but who have just claimed a notable 4-0 win away at domestic league leaders Partizan Belgrade. David Moyes's team are level atop their group with Freiburg and will qualify for the knockout phase come what may as long as the Germans avoid defeat at home to Olympiakos of Greece. Brighton and Hove Albion will extend their first ever European adventure into the new year if they get the better of AEK Athens away in Group B, which would be a measure of revenge after they lost 3-2 when the sides met in England in September. Roberto De Zerbi's side looked up against it when they followed that by drawing 2-2 in Marseille, but they have since beaten Ajax twice to find themselves eyeing the next round. Beaten Europa League finalists in 2022, Rangers have a chance to qualify this Thursday if they win at home to Aris Limassol of Cyprus in Group C. Rangers have an impressive record at home in the Europa League, winning seven and drawing one of their last eight matches there in the competition. They did lose 2-1 away to Aris in October, but that was before the appointment of Philippe Clement as manager, since when they are unbeaten. "It is a massive game at Ibrox on Thursday where we need to get three points to put us in a good position in the group and that is all our main focus now," captain James Tavernier said after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Aberdeen. Marseille and last season's runners-up Roma can also qualify, but Ajax need to beat the French club away to keep alive their chances. It has been a dreadful season so far for the Dutch giants, although they are undergoing a revival domestically, with three wins and a draw in their last four games since John van't Schip became coach.

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nan

Forbes

Tony East, Contributor, Tony East, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyeast/

After Daniel Theis Buyout, Indiana Pacers Have Roster Options

The Indiana Pacers waived veteran center Daniel Theis earlier this month. They now have many options with the newly opened roster spot.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyeast/2023/11/28/after-daniel-theis-buyout-indiana-pacers-have-roster-options/

2023-11-29 04:38:18

Milwaukee Bucks' Pat Connaughton (24) goes to the basket against Indiana Pacers' Daniel Theis (27) ... [+] during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Indianapolis. (… [+6026 chars]

Games

Milwaukee Bucks' Pat Connaughton (24) goes to the basket against Indiana Pacers' Daniel Theis (27) ... [+] during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Indiana Pacers waived veteran center Daniel Theis earlier this month. The 31-year old center has already joined the Los Angeles Clippers on a new deal. “He competed great in training camp and he helped us win the Milwaukee game. This is now an opportunity for us to thank him, give him his respect, and wish him the best in the next endeavor,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Theis. Just six days prior to being waived, Theis gave Indiana eight important minutes in a win over the Bucks. He scored two points and defended well. That outing was Theis’ only appearance of the season for the blue and gold. The big man had shared that he was unhappy with his limited playing time in Indiana, and that was part of the reason such an early-season waiver even took place. The German center’s salary could have been useful in trades down the line, but the financial savings and roster spot have value to the Pacers right now. The financial savings exist because Theis agreed to a contract buyout. In a buyout, a player and his team can opt to change the amount of guaranteed salary in a contract, which is done with waivers in mind. In this case, Indiana and Theis agreed to a buyout, with the Pacers changing the guaranteed salary in Theis’ contract from just over $9 million to just under $7 million. The reason that the veteran center agreed to a lesser salary is because he is going to make the money elsewhere. Upon clearing waivers on November 17, Theis signed a minimum salary deal with the Clippers, and he has already played in six games for his new team. With Los Angeles, the German big man will make just under $2.2 million — the exact amount he agreed to give up in his buyout with the Pacers. Essentially, Theis is still making $9.1 million this season. Roughly $7.0 million is being paid by the Pacers, about $1.7 million is coming from the Clippers, and the remaining $400,000 or so is being paid out by the NBA — a practice on minimum salary deals for players with more than two years of service. The veteran gets his full contract value, Indiana gets money savings, and Los Angeles gets Theis. The Pacers also get an open roster spot, which could be valuable in a number of ways. They have optionality now, something that the current front office has prioritized during their ongoing rebuild that is nearing its end stages. Indiana could use the open spot to take in a player via trade, sign someone, convert a two-way contract player, or add someone on a 10-day deal come January 5. It’s hard to say what the best use is. If the blue and gold wanted to fill the roster spot right now, then adding a player on a non-guaranteed deal would be smart. They would keep all of the flexibility outlined above and be able to waive the player with little penalty so long as they do so before the league-wide contract guarantee date in early January. That is a possibility, but keeping the roster spot open means Indiana’s cap space remains at as high of a number as possible, which is important for flexibility. “I’d classify it as a definite maybe,” Carlisle joked when asked if his team planned on using the roster spot they opened in the move. He said that it was a question for the front office. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Daniel Theis #27 of the Indiana Pacers walks across the court ... [+] in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 05, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) The Pacers can open up as much as $9.6 million in cap space right now, so they could sign a player to a contract that starts at that amount at any time. There aren’t any free agents worth that much on the market right now — if there was, they would be on a roster — but it could still matter as the season progresses. They could also bring in a player via trade that has a 2023-24 salary of that $9.6 million figure or less, and they wouldn’t have to send out any players to get the deal done. Perhaps they could take in a player from the Grizzlies when Memphis has to clear a roster spot at the end of Ja Morant’s suspension, or maybe they could take in a player in a bigger, three-team trade involving a star player down the road. They could just trade for someone they want on their roster. There are many strong uses of the roster spot in a trade. An imbalanced swap, one in which the Pacers send out one fewer player than they receive, is also much easier now. Last year, they took in three players in a trade deadline deal with Milwaukee and had to make corresponding waivers to complete the transaction. The Pacers could convert one of their two-way contract players — Oscar Tshiebwe, Kendall Brown, and Isaiah Wong, to a standard deal, but such a move would have little upside. Those players are all already under contract with the blue and gold, though they do have a games-played limit in the NBA. Should the Pacers still have the roster spot open come January 5, they could opt to sign any free agent to a 10-day contract. Teams are not permitted to add players via 10-day deals until that date, but those contracts are a good way to fill a roster and get a shorter look at a player while still maintaining flexibility. None of the options are necessarily better than any others. It all depends on what the Pacers value the most. Keeping their flexibility as high as possible heading into the trade deadline seems like the smartest move, so if they made a trade early, it would need to be a no-brainer since they would lose flexibility. Short of that, any move the Pacers would make soon with their newly-opened roster spot would likely be to add someone on a non-guaranteed contract or a 10-day deal. With the team being mostly healthy so far this season and optionality being important to the team, don’t expect an eye-popping move in the near future. Closer to next February’s trade deadline, though? Indiana’s flexibility will be important.

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nan

Forbes

Graham Ruthven, Contributor, Graham Ruthven, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/grahamruthven/

Can Aston Villa Really Finish In The Premier League’s Top Four?

Aston Villa are just two points off the top of the Premier League table, so can they really finish in the top four this season?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/grahamruthven/2023/11/29/can-aston-villa-really-finish-in-the-premier-leagues-top-four/

2023-11-29 12:28:13

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring the winning goal with ... [+] Leon Bailey during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at T… [+3401 chars]

Games

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring the winning goal with ... [+] Leon Bailey during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 26, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) Two points is all that currently separates Aston Villa from the top of the Premier PINC League table. Their 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur highlighted the progress they have made under Unai Emery with Villa now capable of competing against the very best in English soccer. Their position in the table is no fluke. Indeed, only Manchester City (82) have claimed more Premier League points in 2023 than Aston Villa (71). Their form is no flash in the pan. Instead, it is a prolonged period of achievement which has led many to suggest Villa could finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League. Emery has given Aston Villa an identity. They are arguably the best counter-attacking outfit in the league, as demonstrated by the way they picked off Spurs on the break. The likes of Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby give them speed and directness in attack with Ollie Watkins in exceptional goalscoring form as Villa’s frontman. BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa celebrates with teammate John McGinn ... [+] after scoring the team's second goal from a penalty kick during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton FC at Villa Park on August 20, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) John McGinn and Douglas Luiz have reached new heights in their careers under Emery with Aston Villa extremely effective at playing through the midfield and into the attack at pace. To do this, decision-making has to be sharp and it certainly has been over the first 13 fixtures of the 2023/24 campaign. Aston Villa have given Emery the power he lacked in his ill-fated spell as Arsenal manager. They have built around the Spaniard and delivered him players equipped to thrive under his stewardship. Last season under Steven Gerrard, Villa were getting sucked into a relegation battle. Now, fans are asking - what is the ceiling for this team? “There are seven team who are contenders more than us for the top seven positions, while we are there we are going to try to enjoy it and keep it,” said Emery after the win over Tottenham, playing down his team’s top four chances. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the Premier League match ... [+] between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 26, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images) “Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle. We can get confidence from wins like this. But it is still clear in my mind, we need balance. It’s 38 games, we have to show consistency.” While Emery is right to point out the length of the season and Aston Villa’s need for consistency, his team measures up well against their rivals. Not only do Villa have a clear identity on the pitch, they have good squad depth - Youri Tielemens, Jacob Ramsey and Bailey all came off the bench against Spurs. Villa might fade towards the end of the season, as Leicester City did in successive seasons when they threatened to finish in the top four, but Emery’s team are trending in a positive direction. They belong at the top end of the Premier League and they are good enough to stay there.

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nan

Deadline

tomt

Thomas Augsberger, Eden Rock Media Founder & ‘Mr. Brooks’ EP, Dies At 60

Deadline has learned that Thomas Augsberger, Eden Rock Media founder, producer and international media consultant died suddenly today at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 60 years old. The German-born and trained attorney advised a number of high-profile media…

https://deadline.com/2023/11/thomas-augsberger-dead-eden-rock-producer-1235642143/

2023-11-29 05:27:46

Deadline has learned that Thomas Augsberger, Eden Rock Media founder, producer and international media consultant died suddenly today at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 60 years old. The German-bo… [+4863 chars]

Games

Thomas Augsberger, a producer, international media consultant and founder ofEden Rock Media, died suddenly today at his Hollywood Hills home, Deadline has learned. He was 60. The Germany-born and trained attorney advised a number of high-profile media clients over the years, most prominently Germany’s Leonine Studios. Prior to Leonine, Augsberger served 23 years as an advisor to Dr. Herbert Kloiber‘s Tele Muenchen Group as TMG’s exclusive North American representative in the US. In 2002, he founded Eden Rock Media, a film and television production company and media consulting business. Augsberger was widely respected for his deep experience in the production and acquisition of feature films, television series, and content libraries; investments in US distributors and production companies; the co-financing, co-production, and distribution of film, television, and digital projects; and the negotiation of German output deals with studios for theatrical, home entertainment, and television. Over the course of his 26-year consulting career, Augsberger acquired hundreds of individual film and TV projects as pre-buys from US producers, sales agents, and studios, including pre-buys of Marvel’sIron Manfranchise, Voltage’s Academy Award winnerThe Hurt Locker, Paramount’sShutter Island, Summit’sTwilightfranchise,Lionsgate’sJohn Wickfranchise,Knives Out, and, most recently, the worldwide hitThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes(which just crossed $200M global), as well as the forthcoming Lionsgate filmsBorderlandsandBallerina. In television, Augsberger selected and licensed German-speaking rights for such series asFlashpoint,Anger Management, andThe Night Manager. He has also overseen various TMG investments in the US, including a preferred equity investment in Lionsgate Entertainment in 1999 and the acquisition of the Mutual Film Library in 2006. As a producer, Augsberger developed and produced more than 15 independently financed feature films, mostly from first time writer/directors. These includeIncident at Loch Ness, written and directed by Zak Penn and starring Werner Herzog;Waiting, written and directed by Rob McKittrick, starring Ryan Reynolds & Anna Farris;Mr. Brooks, co-written and directed by Bruce Evans, starring Kevin Costner,Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, co-written and directed by Eli Craig, starring Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk, andSolace, written by Sean Bailey and Ted Griffin, directed by Afonso Poyart, starring Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Abbie Cornish. He recently executive producedThe Professionals, written by Michael Colleary and starring Brendan Fraser and Tom Welling, andSpy City, written by William Boyd and starring Dominic Cooper. He is a founding partner of Filmaka, BestEverChannels, and Liquid Light. He served on the board of Lionsgate from 2002-2004 and, at the time of his passing, served on the boards of BEC, Liquid Light, and ROW8, a US PVOD & EST platform. Leonine’s Fred Kogel said, “I am devastated. Thomas was a one of a kind character – one you do not find anymore today – and most of all a friend. My thoughts are with his family, that they will get through this horrible loss.” Lionsgate’s Joe Drake said, “Thomas was wholly unique and a special colleague in our business, so many great memories created during 30 years of friendship. Always thoughtful, articulate, tough and deeply human – that was his super power. No surprise that he is so loved and has so many friends. He will be deeply missed and our hearts are with his family.” Toby Emmerich said, “Knowing Thomas for the better part of 30 years I’ve never stopped admiring his enthusiasm for life and his essential optimism. Truly one of the most affable, gregarious and surprising people you will ever meet. I knew him best as a friend, a passionate film producer, and a deeply loving and engaged husband and father. And on the surprising front, an opera singer, former male model, and a shockingly quick and agile tennis and soccer player! The second to last time I saw Thomas was at UCLA to hear Jeanine Basinger and Sam Wesson talk about their book “Hollywood: The Oral History.” Thomas was happily there with his 16 year-old daughter Helena, who is, unsurprisingly, already a passionate filmmaker herself. Thomas will be missed by all who knew him.” Said Patrick Wachsberger, “I am missing a great friend with the most beautiful singing voice; an amazingly bright colleague. Thomas is irreplaceable. A huge loss for anyone who had the amazing chance of knowing him.” Said longtime friend, screenwriter and filmmaker Zak Penn, “There are people you rarely hear about that are as responsible for films as any director, writer, or star. People like Thomas Augsberger – a smart, sunny, and relentless force of nature who willed so many films into existence. He was a great lawyer, producer, athlete, opera singer, and most of all, husband and father. It pains me to know that I won’t hear that deep baritone again, I will miss him terribly.”

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nan

Forbes

Mark Sparrow, Senior Contributor, Mark Sparrow, Senior Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/

Keychron’s K4 Pro Is A Sensibly Priced Mechanical Keyboard

This mechanical keyboard from Keychron is a 96% layout. Suitable for macOS and Windows, the K4 Pro keyboard is an affordable option for fans of mechanical keyboards.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2023/11/29/keychrons-k4-pro-is-a-sensibly-priced-mechanical-keyboard/

2023-11-29 11:00:00

The K4 Pro mechanical keyboard from Keychron has a 96% layout which includes a full numeric keypad ... [+] and media keys. Keychron The latest keyboard to turn up on my desk for review is Keychrons… [+6519 chars]

Games

The K4 Pro mechanical keyboard from Keychron has a 96% layout which includes a full numeric keypad ... [+] and media keys. The latest keyboard to turn up on my desk for review is Keychron’s K4 Pro, a fabulously compact keyboard with an affordable price tag, a numeric keypad, and a whole row of media and function keys. Available with plain white keycaps or Keychron’s more usual black, grey and red color scheme, the K4 Pro is compatible with macOS as well as Windows. The K4 Pro is supplied with keycaps for macOS and Windows. There’s no need to program the keyboard to work with either operating system as a simple sliding switch toggles between the layouts. But if you do want to program the keys, then there’s compatibility with QMK/VIA firmware if you want it. The Keychron K4 Pro is a sturdy mechanical keyboard featuring a 96% layout and is priced very sensibly. There is a choice between a wired connection via a USB-C cable or wireless Bluetooth. You can pair the K4 Pro with up to three different Bluetooth devices and easily switch between them with a keypress. If you haven't tried a mechanical keyboard before, you're missing out. At the heart of the Keychron K4 Pro is an ARM Cortex M4 32-bit processor and QMK firmware that enables the keyboard to be extensively programmed so keys can be remapped if necessary. To program the K4 Pro, you can use VIA software or go to the VIA website using Google’s Chrome browser. The VIA system requires a little studying to get up to speed, but you’ll soon get the hang of things. Like many mechanical keyboards, the Keychron K4 Pro features hot-swappable switches under each keycap. You can choose from K Pro Red, Blue or Brown switches when you order, or you can fit your choice of switches, which is quite popular, especially amongst mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. This keyboard can be ordered with plain white LED backlights or with RGB LEDs, which will appeal to gamers. The light intensity of the LEDs can be varied, as can the color and the animation. The RGB LEDs can have 22 types of settings with a wide range of effects like breathing and flashing. The south-facing LEDs are designed to illuminate the keyboard from the user’s angle and they are also free from interference if you install Cherry-profile alternative keycaps. The K4 Pro keyboard from Keychron can be ordered with Red, Blue or Brown switches each offering a ... [+] different feel and sound. Changing the switches is easy and you can easily replace any malfunctioning switch by pulling it out with the switch-puller tool supplied in the box. The K4 Pro accepts almost any 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, including those from well-known names like Cherry, Gateron, Kailh and Panda – and all without using a soldering iron. By replacing the switches, you can customize the keyboard’s feel and change the sound the keys produce. One of the problems with mechanical keyboards is how some larger keys – like the space bar, shift, enter, and backspace – can wobble and rattle. To make the keys feel more solid, Keychron uses PCB-mounted screw-in stabilizers. For enthusiasts, the Keychron K4 Pro can even accept third-party, screw-in PCB stabilizers. The keycaps that ship with the K4 Pro have a spherical OSA profile and are made with a double-shot process using PBT. This material produces more comfortable keycaps on the fingertips and has excellent oil resistance for long-term durability. If you don’t like the color of the keycaps you ordered, or if they start looking shiny after long-term use, you can change them for a different design or color. The K4 Pro keyboard comes already set up for use with macOS. Spare keycaps are provided for Windows ... [+] users and a toggle switch makes changing over to the a different layout very easy. The angle of the K4 Pro can be altered between three height settings, which, in turn, offer three different typing angles to suit the user and whether they like to use a wrist rest. Although the Keychron K-Series of keyboards aren’t as heavy and solid as the company’s Q Pro models, this solid and reliable design should favor touch typists and gamers. I only found one small issue: the tendency of the Q and A keys on my version to occasionally not respond when on Bluetooth. When I switched to wired use, the problem disappeared. The K4 Pro supports N-Key Rollover (NKRO) on wired and Bluetooth connections for super-fast typists and gamers. N-Key Rollover ensures that your key presses will always be captured no matter how fast you type. This feature is essential for fast typists and gamers who play games that require accurate keystrokes and where multiple keys might be pressed simultaneously. The Keychron K4 Pro keyboard is available in all white finish which may appeal to Mac users. Verdict: The Keychron K4 Pro is a relatively compact 96% keyboard offering a separate numeric keypad and a full row of function keys for media use. The sample I tried had brown switches with tactile feedback and required moderate force to activate the switch. The brown switches are pretty good for all-round use. Brown switches aren’t too noisy and have a gentle feel. I did notice a slight rattle on some of the K4 Pro’s keys, but, overall, this keyboard offers a lot for the money and makes long typing sessions much more satisfying. Pricing & Availability: The Keychron K4 Pro is available fully built or as a barebones kit. The fully assembled version with switches and keycaps and is priced at $79.20. The K4 Pro can be ordered from the Keychron website. More info: keychron.com Tech Specs:

765585

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Neelanjit Das

Income tax payable on winnings from online, offline games of chance

E-commerce websites like Amazon, CRED, others oftentimes runs free to play gaming contests like spin-the-wheel and others. For the purpose of income tax these games are a game of chance and are taxed at flat 30% rate plus cess, etc. Nonetheless there are some…

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/tax/income-tax-payable-on-winnings-from-online-offline-games-of-chance/articleshow/105564804.cms

2023-11-29 04:57:14

Many e-commerce companies like Amazon, CRED and others often run contests like spin-the-wheel where cash equivalent or non-cash prizes like iPhone, OnePlus mobile, gift vouchers, and other goodies ar… [+8037 chars]

Games

ET Online Many e-commerce companies like Amazon, CRED and others often run contests like spin-the-wheel where cash equivalent or non-cash prizes like iPhone, OnePlus mobile, gift vouchers, and other goodies are offered. At times, instead of prizes, cashback or discounts on products are given to the customer. To win these prizes all an individual needs to do is spin the wheel or play the game on the e-commerce website. No money or registration fee or similar is required to be paid to participate in spin-the-wheel contests organized by e-commerce companies. Sometimes, points are given which can be redeemed later for gift cards after crossing a certain threshold. Just like any other winnings you make on online games , there are tax implications you need to be aware of with regard to the money you win in spin-the-wheel games organized by e-commerce portals. Read on to find out. Source: Amazon App Source: Amazon App How is money made from spin-the-wheel games taxed Online games: "Online game means a game that is offered on the internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource including any telecommunication device," says Dr. Suresh Surana, founder, RSM India, a tax and business consulting group. A telecommunication device can mean an iPad, any tablet, mobile phone, or other devices which can be used for tele communication. The winnings from online games run by e-commerce websites are considered as a game of chance. These winnings are taxed under section 115BBJ of the Income Tax Act, 1961. According to Section 115BBJ, income in the nature of winnings from online games shall be taxed at the rate of 30% flat plus cess and surcharge (if any), with effect from FY 2023-24. "The winnings from online and offline games/contests/others till March 31, 2023, would be taxable at 30% (plus surcharge and cess) under section 115BB. Till FY 2022-23 there was no distinction between offline and online game winning for taxation purposes," says Kumarmangalam Vijay, Head of Direct Tax and Partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors. Offline games without internet: "In case the online games do not fall within the scope of Section 115BBJ due to non-satisfaction of any required condition for instance, the contest can be accessed without internet, the same would still be covered within the scope of Section 115BB and subjected to tax @ 30% (plus applicable cess and surcharge, if any)," says Surana. Offline gaming contests are those contests which are conducted at a physical location like in a mall gallery or auditorium, etc. without the requirement of an internet or telecommunication service or device, respectively. Winnings from offline games are also considered as a game of chance. However, the tax is levied under different sections of the Income-tax Act. Section 115BB imposes a flat income tax rate of 30% plus cess and surcharge (if any) on winnings from offline gambling or betting games. Calculation of taxation for winning from online and offline games Receipt of gifts or cash prizes from online spin-the-wheel contests are taxed under section 115BBJ and section 115BB, respectively. This tax is levied irrespective of the applicability of the basic exemption limit of the individual. This means even if an individual has a gross taxable income below Rs 2.5 lakh/Rs 3 lakh, ITR filing is mandatory to declare winnings from these games. For example, if an individual has gross taxable income of Rs 2,48,000 in a financial year and won Rs 7,50,000 through the contest, then 30% tax plus cess has to be paid on the Rs 7,50,000 income. Further, ITR filing would be mandatory for this individual. If the prize income of Rs 7,50,000 was non-existent for this individual, then the individual would not have to pay any income tax and ITR filing is not mandatory. Valuation of prizes The prizes can be given in kind (iPhone, etc.), cash and in cash equivalents (gift card, etc.). "Prizes given in cash/cash equivalent or in-kind through online or offline games organized by e-commerce sites should be reported as income under the 'Income from other Sources' while filing the income tax return (ITR). If the prize is received in kind, the market value of the gifts /items received is taken into consideration for determining the value of the gift/item received," Akhil Chandna, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat, a tax and business consulting group. Is TDS applicable on winnings from online/offline games? Tax deducted sources (TDS) are applicable on the winnings from online games from FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25). TDS on winnings from earlier years shall be levied under section 194B. However, there is a difference in applicability of TDS for 'online games' and offline games. Offline games: "TDS shall be deducted under section 194B for winnings from any betting or gambling game if the aggregate amount received in a financial year exceeds Rs 10,000," says Surana. Online games: "TDS shall be deducted under section 194BA for winnings from any online game without any threshold limit," explains Surana. This means that if an individual wins Re 1 in an online game, TDS would be deducted. However, if an individual wins Rs 9,999 in an offline game, no TDS would be deducted. The TDS rate under both section 194B and 194BA is flat at 30%. Payment of TDS There could be a situation where the prize from the contest is received wholly in kind or partly in cash and kind, but the cash prize is not enough to cover the TDS liability. "In case the cash price is not sufficient to meet the liability for deduction of tax or the prize is in kind, the distributor of such gifts shall, before releasing the winnings, ensure that tax has been paid in respect of such winnings. This means that the winner of the prize cannot take home the prize without paying the TDS amount," says Surana. The liability to pay TDS is upon the winner of the game, however, it is the responsibility of the contest organizer to collect and deposit TDS on the winner's behalf. Hence, the contest organizer will collect the money for TDS from the winner to deposit on his/her behalf. How to report winnings from online/offline games in ITR "The winnings from online/offline contests including spin the wheel contests should be reported as income under the head of income 'Income from other Sources' in the ITR. The Individual should disclose such income i.e., winnings from online games/lotteries etc. under "Schedule OS" of the ITR form under part 2 "Income chargeable at special rates"," says Chandna. There is no point in hiding such income as the company running the contest would deduct TDS otherwise, they would not be complying with the tax laws. If the individual still goes ahead and does not file schedule OS along with his/her ITR, he/she may invite scrutiny by the income tax officials. If the contest organizer did not deduct TDS, it would be a breach of law and the organizer would be prosecuted. "We understand that there are currently certain prescribed compliances through which the income tax department tracks these transactions. These include filing of TDS and income tax return of the contest organizer, issuance of Form 16A to the recipient of income, maintenance of proper records and documentation for the game winnings, etc.," says Vijay. "It is important to note that the non-reporting of such income can easily be identified by the tax department on the basis of taxes withheld and deposited by Organizer at the time of distributing the winning prizes," says Chandna. Is GST applicable on prizes won? "Earlier the GST rates were different for games of skill and games of chance. However, since October 1, 2023, there is no distinction between a 'game of skill' and a 'game of chance' when it comes to GST rate. Both the types of games are uniformly taxed at the rate of 28%. GST is levied on the gross gaming revenue (GGR) /platform fee/ registration fee, etc by whatever name be it called," says Sanjay Chhabria, Director-Indirect Tax, Nexdigm, a professional services providing company. Spin-the-wheel or jackpot or other games played on the internet are usually a game of chance. "Since e-commerce websites like Amazon, CRED do not charge any money/registration fee/ platform fee/ other fee for playing spin-the-wheel game, GST is not levied. If there is any website that charges money to play spin-the-wheel, GST would be applicable," says Ankit Jain, partner, Ved Jain and Associates, a Delhi based chartered accountancy firm. Connect with Experts - Wealth creation made easy Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on amazon india amazon spin the wheel online gaming tax amazon app games income tax implications of winning in online games Direct Tax (Your legal guide on estate planning, inheritance, will and more.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Read Next What happens if life certificate is not submitted in Nov? First ever SGB tranche up for redemption today Life certificate: 12 reasons face authentication can fail LIC launches life insurance plan with lifetime guaranteed returns What are the grounds for challenging a will? SCSS rule change: 4 new features to know Prices up 21.6%: This NCR area emerges as favourite for affordable homes Play, win online game prize AND pay income tax Top credit cards for IRCTC railway ticket booking Calculation of assurance benefit under EDLI Scheme 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

765742

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

ET Online

Do video games lead to healthier lifestyle changes? 'GTA 6' hype inspires fans to quit smoking ahead of release

Fans anticipating the release of 'Grand Theft Auto 6' (GTA 6) are making unexpected lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, to savour the gaming experience.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/do-video-games-lead-to-healthier-lifestyle-changes-gta-6-hype-inspires-fans-to-quit-smoking-ahead-of-release/articleshow/105595738.cms

2023-11-29 12:11:50

The imminent release of 'Grand Theft Auto 6' ('GTA 6') has not only stirred excitement among fans but has also triggered unexpected lifestyle changes, with some enthusiasts opting for healthier habit… [+1990 chars]

Games

Agencies Fans are not only eagerly counting down to the release but are also preparing physically for the immersive gaming experience. Story outline Fans eagerly awaiting the release of 'GTA 6' are adopting healthier habits Some have quit smoking to ensure optimal health when the game drops A devoted fan shared their journey of quitting smoking on Reddit The imminent release of 'Grand Theft Auto 6' (' GTA 6 ') has not only stirred excitement among fans but has also triggered unexpected lifestyle changes , with some enthusiasts opting for healthier habits in anticipation of the game's launch. Rockstar Games, known for its secretive approach to project details, recently announced a sneak peek at 'GTA 6' set to be unveiled in early December. A Catalyst For Change One of the surprising outcomes of this fervour is the decision by certain fans to quit smoking , ensuring they are in optimal health to fully savour the gaming experience. A Reddit user, identifying as a devoted GTA 6 fan, shared their personal journey of giving up smoking, expressing concerns about potential health issues and the desire not to miss out on the game due to preventable complications. The fan said, "I've been a fairly heavy smoker for a while now. Lately, I've been coughing a lot more and just feeling like shit from the cigarettes, but addiction is a hell of a thing. I'm so hyped for GTA 6 that the thought of being in the hospital or on heavy medication as a result of cigarettes has got me to quit cold turkey. I will not miss out on this game and want to be in my best possible health for it. Today is 10 days free. Thanks, Rockstar!" Agencies GTA VI (Representative Image) This personal account struck a chord with numerous people, sparking a wave of congratulations and the sharing of similar stories within the gaming community. A person said, "I’ve had similar thoughts. A lot can change in the year or so GTA 6 will take to release. may we all be in good health to see it through!" Another fan said, "Keep it up! I went cold turkey, now of 2 years. You'll have ups and downs but it's for the best." Gaming Culture's Transformative Power The excitement for 'GTA 6' is visible, with Rockstar Games' recent announcement increasing the anticipation. The ten-year wait for a new instalment in the 'GTA' series has proven to be a significant catalyst for these lifestyle alterations, showing the impact gaming can have. Fans are not only counting down the days until the game's release but are also making tangible changes to ensure they are physically prepared for the immersive gaming experience. Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on GTA 6 video games lifestyle changes GTA 6 release quit smoking Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

765777

al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera

Climate change gets in the way of French oyster culture

Rising ocean temperatures, which in July set a new world record at 20.96C, make oysters more vulnerable to disease.

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/11/29/climate-change-gets-in-the-way-of-french-oyster-culture

2023-11-29 13:00:44

Rising sea temperatures due to climate change are forcing oyster farmers in Frances southwest to take a break from summer maturation, traditionally a key step in the production of the tasty molluscs.… [+1313 chars]

Climate

In Pictures Rising sea temperatures due to climate change are forcing oyster farmers in France’s southwest to take a break from summer maturation, traditionally a key step in the production of the tasty molluscs. Starting next year, producers in Marennes Oleron, France’s biggest oyster bay, will no longer be able to steep oysters in shallow clay beds in salt marshes, known as “claires”, during the summer months. Oyster farmers in this region traditionally keep the molluscs in the oyster beds for the final weeks before their sale. The treatment gives them a less salty and iodic taste than if they come straight from the sea, and earns them the “fine” label, recognised by the EU’s protected geographical indication (PGI) category. But climate change is negating the effects of the oyster beds. Scientists have found that because of fast-evaporating water, the salt concentration has become too high between early June and late August, leading to the ban during those months. Human consumption of oysters goes back thousands of years. They come in a wide variety of flavours and textures depending on water salinity, alkalinity, mineral content and nutrition. “We’re going to have to accept change,” said Henry Schaller, a local farmer using the claire method for which the Marennes Oleron oyster region is famous. But the 37-year-old, in the business since 2010, said he had already cut down on summer maturation even before the new rule. “The oysters had become too salty,” he said. “We had a weaker, lower-quality product.” Follow Al Jazeera English:

765758

nan

GlobeNewswire

NACON

PRESS RELEASE: NACON: FIRST HALF 2023/24 RESULTS - English version

Press releaseLesquin, 27 November 2023 - 6 p.m. CET FIRST HALF 2023/24 RESULTS PERFORMANCE AFFECTED BY A RELEASE......

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787626/0/en/PRESS-RELEASE-NACON-FIRST-HALF-2023-24-RESULTS-English-version.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/40d0d0c7-c2bf-4f7b-9d82-9ebad796c394

2023-11-29 12:17:00

Press releaseLesquin, 27 November 2023 - 6 p.m. CET FIRST HALF 2023/24 RESULTS <ul><li>PERFORMANCE AFFECTED BY A RELEASE SCHEDULE WEIGHTED TOWARDS THE SECOND HALF</li><li>IMPROVEMENT IN MARGIN RAT… [+5369 chars]

Games

Press releaseLesquin, 27 November 2023 - 6 p.m. CET FIRST HALF 2023/24 RESULTS STRONG, PROFITABLE GROWTH EXPECTED OVER THE FULL YEAR NACON (ISIN FR0013482791) is today announcing its consolidated results for the first half of its 2023/24 financial year (six months from 1 April to 30 September 2023) as finalised by the Board of Directors in its meeting of 27 November 2023. * This item has been classified under other operating income in the income statement, as required by IFRSs. In the first-half period, Catalogue sales (new games) were adversely affected by the limited release schedule. They amounted to €23.1 million, down 9% year-on-year. Back Catalogue sales (games released in previous years) were resilient at €21.2 million (down 1.8%), and returned to growth in the second quarter. Sales in the Accessories business totalled €24.9 million. They rose sharply at the end of the period due to the upturn in the global market driven by the growing installed base of new consoles. The gross margin rate was 64.2%, an increase of almost 3 points year-on-year. EBITDA came in at €29.3 million, giving an EBITDA margin rate of 43.2% as opposed to 31.4% in the year-earlier period.Operating expenses remained under control and increased only slightly. After €25.6 million of depreciation and amortisation charges relating to non-current assets (€14.5 million in the first half of 2022/23), operating income was €3.7 million, equal to 5.4% of sales. The increase in net financial expense was due to higher interest rates but above all negative exchange differences (foreign exchange loss of €0.5 million as opposed to a gain of €1.8 million in the year-earlier period). Firm financial position at a time of major development At 30 September 2023, NACON had equity of €248.7 million as opposed to €242.6 million at 31 March 2023. It also had €19.6 million of cash and cash equivalents versus €47.6 million at 31 March 2023, since the Group has chosen to fund developments while reducing the amount of new borrowings.The value of NACON’s inventories also decreased relative to the previous financial year. Currently, 50 games are under development, and the related assets have a carrying amount of €118.1 million. Funds from operations totalled €22.0 million during the first half. Full year 2023/24: Expected strong growth in sales and earnings The second half of the 2023/24 financial year will see a busy release schedule, with over 10 new games expected during the period. Games released in the third quarter includeAstérix & Obelix: HeroesTM,Cricket 24 Official Game of The AshesTM,Gangs of SherwoodTMand especiallyRobocop: Rogue CityTM, NACON’s most successful ever launch. Games scheduled for release in the fourth quarter includeWar HospitalandTest Drive Unlimited: Solar CrownTM. Sales from the back catalogue are continuing to grow as it automatically expands with the addition of games released in previous years. Finally, the Accessories business will benefit from a more favourable base for comparison, growth in the installed base of Xbox series and PS5 consoles and the release of several high-potential products including theREVOLUTION 5 PROcontroller andRIG 600 PROheadsets.With second-half business levels likely to be buoyant, NACON is confirming its expectation of strong growth in sales and operating income in its 2023/24 financial year. Next key event: Third-quarter 2023/24 sales: 23 January 2024 after the market close Attachment

765762

nan

Forbes

Brian Sampson, Contributor, Brian Sampson, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/

3 Takeaways From Milwaukee Bucks In-Season Tournament Group Play

Here are three takeaways from the Milwaukee Bucks In-Season Tournament group play that earned them an advancement to the knockout round.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2023/11/29/3-takeaways-from-milwaukee-bucks-in-season-tournament-group-play/

2023-11-29 12:54:04

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks at Bam Adebayo ... [+] #13 of the Miami Heat in the first quarter during the NBA In-season Tournament game at Kase… [+4727 chars]

Games

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks at Bam Adebayo ... [+] #13 of the Miami Heat in the first quarter during the NBA In-season Tournament game at Kaseya Center on November 28, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User Expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograh, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) The Milwaukee Bucks emerged unscathed from the group stage of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, securing a spot in the knockout round after defeating the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. For those still grappling with the In-Season Tournament concept, here's the nutshell: Teams within each conference were divided into three random groups, engaging in a round-robin where each team played the others once on designated Tuesdays or Fridays in November. The team with the best record in each group, plus one wild card from each conference (the team with the best group play record and point differential among those who didn't win their group), advanced to the knockout round. The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament featuring eight teams, four from each conference. Win, and you progress; lose, and you're out of the tournament. Teams eliminated or already out of contention are matched with similar counterparts to complete their requisite 82 games this season. The two teams reaching the championship will play an additional 83rd game, not affecting regular-season standings. With group play concluded and the Bucks moving on to face the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals, here are three takeaways from the inaugural In-Season Tournament group stage. Point Differential Matters Considerable uncertainty surrounded the tournament as the season approached, especially regarding how teams and players would approach it. The primary stakes, a mix of pride and a financial incentive (with players on the winning team set to receive $500,000 each), underpin the NBA's aspiration to foster a positive culture around the NBA Cup. For the time being, this combination appears to have sufficed. In the initial pool play games, some teams strategically elevated their margins of victory, cognizant that point differential stood as the pivotal tiebreaker determining advancement or an early exit. Milwaukee executed this strategy against the Charlotte Hornets, securing a commanding 31-point win that granted them a substantial advantage in point differential across the Eastern Conference. The madness reached its peak on the final Tuesday of pool play, with teams vying to maximize their point differentials. The Boston Celtics, finishing 3-1 in East Group C, found themselves tied with the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets entering the night, but trailing in point differential. However, their massive margin of victory earned them the nod for advancement. The Cavaliers and Knicks also partook in the strategic endeavor of amplifying their point differentials, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament dynamics. The Feel Following the Bucks' inaugural In-Season Tournament clash against the New York Knicks, Damian Lillard offered insights in an interview, pondering whether these games carried a distinct feel. While uncertain about a definitive shift, Lillard acknowledged a unique quality permeating these matchups. He clarified that their primary objective was to reach Las Vegas, the site of the semi-final and final games. The games didn’t quite have a playoff atmosphere feel, but it wasn’t your normal ho-hum regular season game. It was somewhere in between. One report shared ESPN saw a 24 percent increase in viewership during their games on Friday night from 2022. That’s a huge win for the NBA. This is only just the beginning and I’m expecting the intensity to ratchet up a notch in the knockout round. The Game It’s clear coaches also prioritized these games above the others. The Bucks made sure they had all of their key players for each group play game, resting their guys in other games. Bucks’ head coach Adrian Griffin also played his key guys more during these four contests. That’s just a small uptick, but it’s noticeable considering that even takes into account the Bucks blowout victory over the Hornets. Overall, from the fans to the players to the coaches, the In-Season Tournament generated more buzz and attention than normal regular season games. That’s exactly what the NBA was going for, as they look for creative ways to build a loyal base. This is likely only the beginning, as we prepare for a chaotic knockout round unlike anything the league has ever seen.

765774

abc-news

ABC News

FRANCES D'EMILIO Associated Press

Ailing Pope Francis appears at a weekly audience but says he's not well

Pope Francis has presided at his weekly audience with the public at the Vatican

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ailing-pope-francis-appears-weekly-audience-aide-read-105234151

2023-11-29 09:34:32

VATICAN CITY -- VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis presided at his weekly audience with the public at the Vatican, but he said that he's still unwell and asked an aide to read his remarks for him on Wedn… [+1808 chars]

Climate

VATICAN CITY --VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is still having trouble breathing as a result of a lung inflammation that forced him to cancel his scheduled address at the U.N. climate conference in Dubai and to delegate the reading of his weekly catechesis lesson and other remarks to aides, the Vatican said Wednesday. Francis told his general audience Wednesday morning that he still didn't feel well and that his voice was “not pretty." He coughed and spoke in a whisper in the few remarks he did deliver at the end of the gathering. Francis, who turns 87 next month and had part of one lung removed as a young man, no longer has a fever and is in stable condition but continues to receive antibiotics, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in an update later Wednesday. “The lung inflammation associated with the respiratory difficulty remains,” he said. Francis came down with the flu late last week and canceled all his audiences Saturday for what he later revealed was a lung inflammation. The Vatican has said a CAT scan ruled out pneumonia, but Francis on Tuesday canceled his planned weekend trip to Dubai for the climate meeting after doctors recommended against it. The pontiff, who has made caring for the environment a priority of his papacy, wants in some way to participate in the discussions in Dubai, according to the Holy See. It was unclear if Francis might read his address to the COP28 event by videoconference or take part in some other form. The Vatican said the pope had acquiesced to the doctors’ request “with great regret.” After asking an aide to read his catechism lesson, Francis did speak at the end of the audience to welcome the truce between Israel and Hamas. He said he hopes it continues “so that all the hostages are released and access necessary to permit humanitarian aid” to reach Gaza is provided. "They lack bread, water, the people are suffering,'' Francis said. Francis also met with members of Celtic, a soccer team from Glasgow,Scotland, which has strong Catholic roots. “Excuse me, but with this cold, I cannot speak much, but I am better than yesterday,'' Francis told team members. While he let a priest read his remarks, at the end, the pope praised the ”beauty of playing together." The pontiff, an avid soccer fan from Argentina, told the players that he would greet them one by one. And Francis seemed to enjoy a performance of visiting circus performers and posed for a group photo. “I want to say thanks for this moment of joy,'' Francis said, adding that the circus expresses the human dimension of “simple joy,” and asking the audience to applaud. Francis was hospitalized earlier this year for three days for intravenous treatment with antibiotics of what the Vatican then said was bronchitis.

765827

nan

International Business Times

AFP News

COP28 President Denies Using Climate Talks To Push Oil Deals

The Emirati president of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he sought to use his leadership of COP28 to pursue fossil fuel deals for his country.

https://www.ibtimes.com/cop28-president-denies-using-climate-talks-push-oil-deals-3719680

2023-11-29 12:06:07

The Emirati president of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he sought to use his leadership of COP28 to pursue fossil fuel deals for his country. "These allegations are… [+1687 chars]

Climate

The Emirati host of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he used his presidency of the crucial talks on global warming to pursue fossil fuels deals. The allegations against Sultan Al Jaber, who is also CEO of his country's oil giant ADNOC, have fanned long-running suspicions over the wisdom of a petrostate hosting the COP28 talks. But Jaber, who also chairs a UAE-owned clean energy company, strongly denied reports that he used his position as COP president to pitch new oil and gas investments to governments. "These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate," Jaber told reporters on the eve of the talks, which will draw world leaders and tens of thousands of delegates to Dubai over the next two weeks. "It's an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency. Let me ask you a question: do you think the UAE or myself will need the COP or the COP presidency to go and establish business deals or commercial relationships?" Leaked documents obtained by the BBC and the Centre for Climate Reporting alleged that talking points prepared for Jaber for COP meetings with foreign governments pushed joint business opportunities in fossil fuels. The briefing notes, detailed in reports published on Monday, signalled ADNOC's willingness to work with countries including China, Germany and Egypt to develop oil and gas projects. "I promise you, never ever did I see these talking points that they refer (to), or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions," said Jaber. He said every meeting he conducted with governments or stakeholders as president of the climate talks "has always been centred around one thing and one thing only: and that is my COP28 agenda." But the allegations fuelled persistent scepticism over the suitability of an oil executive leading the world's climate negotiations as governments are pushed to commit to phasing out fossil fuels, something no COP has ever achieved. Former US vice president Al Gore said the allegations "have confirmed some of the worst fears" around Jaber while former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said the COP28 host had been caught "red handed". "The global community's gaze is fixed upon these leaders, expecting them to embody the very essence of integrity, untainted by bias and national or personal gain," said Tasneem Essop, executive director of the Climate Action Network International. "Any deviation from this path represents a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the world and a failure in their duty to future generations," he wrote on X. But Jaber has weathered other controversies over his alleged conflict of interest since being appointed COP president earlier this year, including calls from US and European lawmakers for his replacement. Supporters, including US climate envoy John Kerry, say Jaber is uniquely positioned to broker compromise at the COP talks, where world leaders will be confronted by their lack of progress in curbing global warming in a record-breaking hot year. The 50-year-old bristled at accusations that he has a conflict of interest, touting his years of work in climate and sustainability, and success in drawing out commitments from big oil and gas players. "We must incentivise, encourage, and motivate everyone to be part of the solution... rather than sidelining them or leaving them behind, or pointing fingers at them," Jaber said.

765828

nan

International Business Times

Nick Perry

COP28 President Denies Using Climate Talks To Push Oil Deals

The Emirati host of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he used his presidency of the crucial talks on global warming to pursue fossil fuels deals.

https://www.ibtimes.com/cop28-president-denies-using-climate-talks-push-oil-deals-3719693

2023-11-29 13:27:29

The Emirati host of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he used his presidency of the crucial talks on global warming to pursue fossil fuels deals. The allegations again… [+3227 chars]

Climate

The Emirati host of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he used his presidency of the crucial talks on global warming to pursue fossil fuels deals. The allegations against Sultan Al Jaber, who is also CEO of his country's oil giant ADNOC, have fanned long-running suspicions over the wisdom of a petrostate hosting the COP28 talks. But Jaber, who also chairs a UAE-owned clean energy company, strongly denied reports that he used his position as COP president to pitch new oil and gas investments to governments. "These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate," Jaber told reporters on the eve of the talks, which will draw world leaders and tens of thousands of delegates to Dubai over the next two weeks. "It's an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency. Let me ask you a question: do you think the UAE or myself will need the COP or the COP presidency to go and establish business deals or commercial relationships?" Leaked documents obtained by the BBC and the Centre for Climate Reporting alleged that talking points prepared for Jaber for COP meetings with foreign governments pushed joint business opportunities in fossil fuels. The briefing notes, detailed in reports published on Monday, signalled ADNOC's willingness to work with countries including China, Germany and Egypt to develop oil and gas projects. "I promise you, never ever did I see these talking points that they refer (to), or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions," said Jaber. He said every meeting he conducted with governments or stakeholders as president of the climate talks "has always been centred around one thing and one thing only: and that is my COP28 agenda." But the allegations fuelled persistent scepticism over the suitability of an oil executive leading the world's climate negotiations as governments are pushed to commit to phasing out fossil fuels, something no COP has ever achieved. Former US vice president Al Gore said the allegations "have confirmed some of the worst fears" around Jaber while former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said the COP28 host had been caught "red handed". "The global community's gaze is fixed upon these leaders, expecting them to embody the very essence of integrity, untainted by bias and national or personal gain," said Tasneem Essop, executive director of the Climate Action Network International. "Any deviation from this path represents a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the world and a failure in their duty to future generations," he wrote on X. But Jaber has weathered other controversies over his alleged conflict of interest since being appointed COP president earlier this year, including calls from US and European lawmakers for his replacement. Supporters, including US climate envoy John Kerry, say Jaber is uniquely positioned to broker compromise at the COP talks, where world leaders will be confronted by their lack of progress in curbing global warming in a record-breaking hot year. The 50-year-old bristled at accusations that he has a conflict of interest, touting his years of work in climate and sustainability, and success in drawing out commitments from big oil and gas players. "We must incentivise, encourage, and motivate everyone to be part of the solution... rather than sidelining them or leaving them behind, or pointing fingers at them," Jaber said.

765845

nan

International Business Times

Mathilde Dumazet and Imran Marashli in Paris

COP28 Puts Out Welcome Mat To Lobbyists

"All views are welcome. All views are needed," declared Sultan Al Jaber, president of the UN's COP28 and head of the Emirates state oil and gas company in the run-up to the climate talks in Dubai.

https://www.ibtimes.com/cop28-puts-out-welcome-mat-lobbyists-3719646

2023-11-29 06:15:30

"All views are welcome. All views are needed," declared Sultan Al Jaber, president of the UN's COP28 and head of the Emirates state oil and gas company in the run-up to the climate talks in Dubai. T… [+4394 chars]

Climate

"All views are welcome. All views are needed," declared Sultan Al Jaber, president of the UN's COP28 and head of the Emirates state oil and gas company in the run-up to the climate talks in Dubai. That welcome also extends to lobbyists and big oil companies, some of whom will be part of national delegations when negotiations start on Thursday. Here we look at some of the questions that raises. "Leaders, experts and people of influence" come together in the COP's "blue zone", where talks take place, the UN states, without mentioning lobbyists. But lobbyists can get accreditation by joining a national delegation or from one of the 2,000 "observer" groups made up of NGOs and professional groups. "When people think about lobbying, they think about behind-closed-doors meetings between a company or their representatives and a policymaker. And that's certainly a lot of it," Faye Holder, program manager at think tank InfluenceMap, told AFP. But it can also "include things like social media posts, advertising, sponsorships, the use of trade groups or astroturf groups", fake organisations made to look like grassroots groups, she said. The lack of clear rules at the talks about conflict of interest has long been criticised. Indeed, hosts the UAE were accused this week of using its role as COP28 hosts to discuss fossil fuel deals with other governments, according to leaked documents obtained by the BBC. COP28 dismissed the reports as "inaccurate". Until this year, the UN did not oblige delegates to reveal their links to the organisation they were accredited with or who they are employed by, making it extremely difficult to detect lobbyists. Some 65 members of the US Congress and the European Parliament wrote to the UN to voice their "profound concern that current rules... permit private sector polluters to exert undue influence" on the talks. A report by high level experts mandated by the UN called for "non-state actors to publicly disclose their trade association affiliations" and said they cannot be allowed to "lobby to undermine ambitious government climate policies either directly" or indirectly. The last COP in Egypt set a new record for lobbyists, with 636 official delegates working for fossil fuel companies, according to Global Witness, which combed through participants' CVs. The NGO told AFP that that record will be broken again in Dubai. The umbrella group Kick Big Polluters Out claims that at least 7,200 lobbyists working for fossil fuel interests have been accredited to COP summits over the last two decades. And that is only the "tip of the iceberg", they claim, with many passing under the radar. Kick Big Polluters Out said lobbyists sometimes outnumber both the delegations from some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and activists from NGOs. Many state-owned oil and gas companies also form part of their countries' national delegations. COP28, which will have a record 70,000 delegates, has thrown the doors open to the private sector, with oil and gas majors officially invited along with other polluting industries. Ironically, according to the experts, it is perhaps the first time that fossil fuel producers' part in the talks has been addressed so openly. COP28 president Jaber told AFP this week that "everyone needs to be held accountable". Some NGOs, however, have appealed for a boycott of the talks, while others want to counter lobbyists by turning up themselves in large numbers. One of the clearest examples of the influence of the oil and gas companies on a COP was the Paris Agreement in 2015. Its Article 6 created a system of exchange of carbon credits, something the industry had demanded for years. David Hone, Shell's chief climate advisor, admitted that they spent four years pushing "for the need for carbon unit trading to be part of the Paris Agreement. "We can take some credit for the fact that Article 6 is even there at all," he told a 2018 conference organised by IETA, a lobby group founded by oil companies that will have dozens of delegates at COP28. In Dubai, the lobbies could again have a strong influence on the language of the agreements "and what it means", said Holder, particularly the vaunting of carbon capture, green hydrogen and "low-carbon gas" as possible solutions. She said the big question will be around the phrase "phasing out fossil fuels", and if this might be altered to "unabated fossil fuels", which means without carbon capture, "which is a sort of sneaky word that makes quite a big difference", and gives the oil industry lots of wriggle room.

765870

al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera

How Parthenon sculptures sparked a diplomatic row between Greece and UK

The UK PM cancelled a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart after Athens sought permanent return of the sculptures.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/29/how-the-parthenon-sculptures-sparked-a-recent-row-between-greece-and-the-uk

2023-11-29 12:02:09

Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has cancelled a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis, sparking a diplomatic row over the status of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculpture… [+6673 chars]

Climate

The UK prime minister cancelled a scheduled meeting with his Greek counterpart after Athens demanded permanent return of ancient sculptures. Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunakhas cancelled a planned meetingwith his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis, sparking a diplomatic row over the status of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculptures housed in the British Museum. Greece has repeatedly asked for their permanent return to Athens, while the United Kingdom and the museum have refused to do so. Here is what we know about the ongoing dispute that has triggered a social media storm in Greece: On its website, the British Museum says it “has called for a new Parthenon partnership with colleagues in Greece and constructive discussions are on-going”. Follow Al Jazeera English:

765901

nan

Forbes

Michael Podolsky, Forbes Councils Member, Michael Podolsky, Forbes Councils Member https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/people/michaelpodolsky/

Beyond The Price Tag: How Exceptional Customer Service Sets Companies Apart

Make customer service a core strategic priority and reap the rewards of loyal brand advocates to boost your reputation and drive growth and profitability.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/11/29/beyond-the-price-tag-how-exceptional-customer-service-sets-companies-apart/

2023-11-29 12:00:00

Cofounder and CEO of PissedConsumer, a review platform that helps consumers be heard and brands improve their customer service processes. getty Customer service is the new competitive battleground.… [+6614 chars]

Climate

Cofounder and CEO of PissedConsumer, a review platform that helps consumers be heard and brands improve their customer service processes. Customer service is the new competitive battleground. Businesses often rely on promotions, discounts and low prices to attract and retain customers. However, where low prices and promotions once dominated competitive strategies, true differentiation now comes down to an entirely different factor—customer service. In my experience, I’ve found that truly exceptional companies know this. Customers make purchasing decisions based on the complete value proposition, not just the price tag. They seek outstanding customer service and a positive customer experience that meets their needs without stress or complications. Over the decades, I’ve seen consumer expectations rise dramatically. Customers now demand fast, personalized, proactive service across channels. Mediocre customer service simply doesn’t cut it anymore. The companies that succeed tend to focus on delivering unmatched customer service—far beyond what the competition offers. They make customer satisfaction a priority. For these leading companies, promotions and sales events serve to complement, not drive, their value proposition. Our recent Black Friday survey showed that about two-thirds (67.4%) of consumers have no plans to shop on Black Friday. According to NerdWallet, consumers are expected to scale back this holiday shopping season due to financial constraints despite sales and deals. This signals that customers may not be lured by cheap prices and sales alone due to the current economic climate. Overall, business leaders should be aware that consumers could be more selective when shopping this season and plan accordingly. In short, value and convenience outweigh promotional novelty for most customers. Instead, they likely shop when the need arises, seeking overall value rather than a quick bargain. From my perspective, a key component of this overall value is the customer experience. With this in mind, I want to take a look at the key factors that, in my opinion, define how today’s most successful companies deliver exceptional customer service to set themselves apart from the competition. Know what customers value. Companies that realize the value of customer satisfaction have an in-depth understanding of their customers’ needs, wants and values. They invest heavily in customer research through surveys, interviews, focus groups and online review management. By truly knowing what customers care about, they can shape customer experiences to deliver a service that meets or exceeds expectations. Invest in customer service training. I still see companies that consider customer service as an obligation, a cost of doing business, and view it as little more than a box to tick. We need to overcome this misconception. Smart leadership understands that customer service is a value creator that’s well worth investing in and will ensure that all customer-facing staff receive extensive, ongoing training to deliver empathetic, knowledgeable service that builds a bond between company and customer. Empower frontline employees. Being serious about customer service involves giving frontline employees a degree of autonomy in resolving customer issues. Forcing staff to adhere to rigid policies can simplify training but may end up frustrating customers. Given enough leeway to think creatively in finding a solution, empowered employees can provide the responsiveness and flexibility customers appreciate and have come to expect. Make it effortless to get help. Companies that take their customer service provision seriously enable customers to get assistance anytime, anywhere, through any channel. Seamless support across in-app chat, social media, phone, email, etc., should be easily accessible with just a click or a tap. Customers don’t expect, and shouldn’t have to, contact multiple departments to resolve an issue. Show you respect and value your customers’ time by providing an efficient combination of digital convenience and readily available human help. Proactively address customer needs. Public customer feedback and online reviews offer a wealth of useful information that front-running companies tap into. As discussed in a previous Forbes Council post I led, using data and analytics to identify customer needs proactively allows problems to be picked up early and gives companies a chance to resolve issues before frustration escalates. For example, forward-thinking companies usually have a dedicated online review management strategy and a well-trained team working continuously, whether in-house or third-party, to stay on top of online chatter about their business. When a potential issue surfaces, they immediately reach out to customers to mitigate the issue or offer a solution before it becomes a serious problem. Make things right when service falters. Even with great customer service, problems will arise. Smart companies have streamlined processes in place to immediately make things right when service falls short. Quickly resolving issues curtails customer frustration and builds loyalty. Continue service improvements. Analyzing customer feedback, complaints, customer satisfaction, and other operational metrics to identify weak points allows focused, continuous improvement. This can be fed back into ongoing CS agent training so they are aware of customer expectations and areas that need particular focus and can then be given strategic support in improving performance. Align employees around the customer. Consistency saves time and makes the customer feel that linear progress is being made toward solving their issue. Proper interaction with customers is vital here. Employees across the organization should be aligned around the individual customer’s needs through clear and consistent communication, service logs, and uniform training for all employees, thereby limiting specialization and the need to transfer customers to a different agent. Customer service is a growth vector. Providing great customer service that exceeds expectations requires strategy, commitment and the proper investment in your team. But this investment soon pays for itself and then some in the form of loyal, satisfied customers who buy more, refer others and help build your brand. The most successful companies know they’re not just pushing their products or services. This alone is not enough. We need to be crafting complete customer experiences. Make customer service a core strategic priority and reap the rewards of loyal brand advocates to boost your online reputation and drive growth and profitability. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

765911

bbc-news

BBC News

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews

Building fire safety work could take three years, says minister

But minister says high rise buildings in Wales with fire safety issues are "guaranteed" to be fixed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-67566134

2023-11-29 11:27:54

High rise buildings in Wales with fire safety issues are "guaranteed" to be fixed, but it might take up to three years, a minister has said. The Welsh government says Wales is the first part of the … [+3382 chars]

Climate

High rise buildings in Wales with fire safety issues are "guaranteed" to be fixed, but it might take up to three years, a minister has said. The Welsh government says Wales is the first part of the UK with a plan for all fire safety issues in buildings more than 11m high, not just cladding. There will also be tighter rules on building inspectors. Campaigners say they welcome the update, but are worried about a lack of timescales and dates. People living in high rise blocks across Wales have been struggling to have faults put right since the Grenfell disaster in London in 2017 in which 72 people died. Many homeowners have been left unable to sell their flats, and are also paying higher insurance and service charge fees. Asked whether the Welsh government was now guaranteeing that cladding would be replaced, Climate Change Minister Julie James, who is responsible for housing, replied: "Yes, absolutely. "Here in Wales we do more than cladding. I think we're alone in the UK in saying that we will remediate all fire issues." On timescales, she said it was hard to be precise because of supply chains, but that it could take up to three years to have an agreed schedule and funding in place. "It's about experts, people to do the work and so on," she said. "But somewhere in between the next few months and about three years, depending on the complexity of the works in the building, where you are, what the supply chain looks like and how we can get hold of the contractors who can actually do the work." The campaign group Welsh Cladiators, which represents residents living in affected blocks, responded: "We see a lack of hard timescales and dates in the minister's statement, which suggests further drift and delay in any real progress "Sadly, our on the ground daily experience in Wales does not recognise the minister's rather buoyant and bullish statement." The group said it welcomed any update but "whilst some real and tangible progress has rightly been made in the remediation of social housing developments, thousands of private leaseholders continue to face severe challenges with their fire and build defective homes". "Many are hugely frustrated by the slow rate of progress." In March the Welsh government announced that major developers had signed a legal agreement to fix unsafe blocks. There are arrangements in place to cover "orphan" buildings where the developer is unknown or the building more than 30 years old, and with smaller developers. There is also a Leaseholder Support Scheme, which can involve the Welsh government taking over the leasehold of an affected property. Welsh ministers are bringing in tighter rules for building inspectors, with the oversight of new high risk building being restricted to local authority inspectors from next April. There will be new standards and registration for building inspectors. The change was welcomed by campaigners. The latest update forms part of the Welsh Labour government's co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru in the Senedd. But Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds asked ministers to create a "transparent and accountable system, like the one already in existence across the border, that allows residents to track building repairs and their progress". "One of the many people who have been in touch with me on this issue has told me how they have faced delays stretching back four years, during which time they have been footing a very costly bill whilst awaiting repairs. "The ongoing lack of clear information has left many residents ill-informed and burdened with unnecessary hardship, put frankly they have been left in the dark by Welsh Labour."

766035

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

AFP

COP28 president denies using climate talks to push oil deals

Former US vice president Al Gore said the allegations fulfilled some of these "worst fears" while former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said Jaber had been caught "red handed". Supporters say Jaber's unique profile presents an opportunity to broker a co…

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/cop28-president-denies-using-climate-talks-to-push-oil-deals/articleshow/105595255.cms

2023-11-29 11:26:04

The Emirati president of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he sought to use his leadership of COP28 to pursue fossil fuel deals for his country."These allegations are f… [+1676 chars]

Climate

AP The Emirati president of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he sought to use his leadership of COP28 to pursue fossil fuel deals for his country. "These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate," Sultan Al Jaber , who is also CEO of United Arab Emirates' oil giant ADNOC , told reporters on the eve of the climate summit. "It's an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency. Let me ask you a question: do you think the UAE or myself will need the COP or the COP presidency to go and establish business deals or commercial relationships?" Leaked documents obtained by the BBC and the Centre for Climate Reporting alleged that talking points prepared for Jaber for COP28 meetings with foreign governments pushed joint business opportunities in fossil fuels. The briefing notes, detailed in reports published on Monday, signalled ADNOC's willingness to work with countries including China, Germany and Egypt to develop oil and gas projects. "I promise you, never ever did I see these talking points that they refer (to), or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions," said Jaber, who also chairs a clean energy company. He said every meeting he conducted with governments or stakeholders as president of the climate talks "has always been centred around one thing and one thing only: and that is my COP28 agenda." But the allegations furthered long-running suspicions about an oil man at the helm of the world's climate negotiations who had already been accused of conflicts of interest. Former US vice president Al Gore said the allegations fulfilled some of these "worst fears" while former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said Jaber had been caught "red handed". Supporters say Jaber's unique profile presents an opportunity to broker a compromise between opposing sides during the two-week talks. Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on adnoc jaber leaked emirati centre for climate reporting christiana figueres (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

766045

abc-news

ABC News

JON GAMBRELL Associated Press, MALAK HARB Associated Press

Emirati-designated COP28 leader forcefully denies report UAE wanted to seek oil deals in summit

The Emirati president-designate for the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks has forcefully denied a report alleging his nation planned to use the summit to strike oil and gas deal, a day before the summit was due to being

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/emirati-designated-cop28-leader-forcefully-denies-report-uae-105235451

2023-11-29 11:26:28

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The Emirati president-designate for the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks forcefully denied Wednesday a report alleging his nation planned to use the summit t… [+3394 chars]

Climate

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates --The Emirati president-designate for the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks forcefully denied Wednesday a report alleging his nation planned to use the summit to strike oil and gas deals. Sultan al-Jaber, who also leads the massive state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., called the allegations from a BBC report “an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency” before the talks were set to begin on Thursday. The report cited what it described as “leaked briefing documents” the broadcaster said showed the Emirates planned to discuss oil, gas and renewable energy deals with several nations. “These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate,” al-Jaber told a small group of journalists gathered for a news conference that also was aired live. “I promise you never ever did I see these talking points that they refer to or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions.” He added: “So please for once, respect who we are, respect what we have achieved over the years and respect the fact that we have been clear open and clean and honest and transparent on how we want to conduct this COP process.” Asked for comment, the BBC said: “The investigation was rigorously researched according to the highest editorial standards.” The broadcaster did not elaborate regarding the report, which it published with the Center for Climate Reporting. Immediately after the remarks, a faked news release sent to The Associated Press described al-Jaber as having agreed to resign. COP28 organizers with the UAE delegation later confirmed it was false and al-Jaber would continue in his role. Each year, the country hosting the U.N. negotiations known as the Conference of the Parties — where COP gets its name — nominates a person to chair the talks. Hosts typically pick a veteran diplomat as the talks can be difficult to steer between competing nations and their interests. The nominee’s position as “COP president” is confirmed by delegates at the start of the talks, usually without objections. However, activists’ ire over al-Jaber’s selection could still see a turbulent start to the negotiations. ADNOC, the state oil company, has plans to increase its production of crude oil from 4 million barrels a day up to 5 million, boosting its production of carbon-emitting crude oil and natural gas. Al-Jaber, a 50-year-old longtime climate envoy, is a trusted confidant of UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He’s been behind tens of billions of dollars spent or pledged toward renewable energy in the federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Jaber escorted Sheikh Mohammed through the COP28 site on Wednesday ahead of his remarks. But the fact that al-Jaber repeatedly defended himself and the country from activists’ criticism is telling in the Emirates, an autocratic nation that while a key U.S. business and military ally still tightly controls speech, bans political parties and criminalizes labor strikes. U.S PresidentJoe Biden, who has attended the last two COP meetings in Scotland and Egypt, will not attend this summit amid the Israel-Hamas war. Vice President Kamala Harris will attend in his place. ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ This story has been corrected to show that a purported statement on al-Jaber's behalf was faked.

766062

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

AP

As Dubai prepares for COP28, some world leaders signal they won't attend climate talks

Dubai is preparing to host the COP28 climate talks, with over 70,000 attendees expected, including heads of state. The summit aims to assess global progress in limiting emissions to slow global warming. While President Biden and Pope Francis will not be atten…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/as-dubai-prepares-for-cop28-some-world-leaders-signal-they-wont-attend-climate-talks/articleshow/105580342.cms

2023-11-29 04:37:36

8 vegetarian dishes from Kashmiri Pandit cuisine that are a must-try

Climate

DUBAI: Dubai prepared Tuesday to host the COP28 climate talks as world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis signaled they would not be attending the negotiations that come during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war roiling the wider Middle East. Workers under a still-scorching November sun stapled up bunting and decorated Dubai Expo City's iconic Al Wasl Dome with trees and other green foliage ahead of the summit, scheduled to start Thursday in the United Arab Emirates. Armed United Nations police patrolled about half the area of Expo City where the delegates will debate, while the other half will host other climate events. Airport-style security screenings greeted those coming into both areas. The two-week meeting of international leaders aims to assess where the world stands when it comes to limiting emissions to slow global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial times. Emirati officials said Tuesday they expect over 70,000 attendees at the talks, including heads of state. Britain's King Charles will be among the leaders to attend the talks. However, some have said or otherwise signaled they won't be attending the Conference of the Parties - where COP gets its name. They include the 81-year-old Biden, who attended both COP26 in Scotland and COP27 in Egypt. "The president has been very much focused on the conflict between Israel and Hamas over the last month or so," said John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, on Monday. "He was working the phones over the course of Thanksgiving weekend. And I suspect that he'll continue to work the phones in coming days." The White House has said it is sending a climate team, including Special Envoy John Kerry, climate adviser Ali Zaidi and clean energy adviser John Podesta. Pope Francis meanwhile canceled his trip to Dubai for the U.N. climate conference on doctors' orders Tuesday, although he is recovering from the flu and lung inflammation, the Vatican said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also likely will not attend the talks, Israel's Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. Nor will Foreign Minister Eli Cohen attend the summit, the ministry said, citing the war. Arab nations have reacted with rage over the punishing bombardment and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The UAE reached a diplomatic recognition deal with Israel in 2020, but public anger still seethes in this autocratic nation of seven sheikhdoms. Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Assad won't be attending either, according to the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan, despite receiving an invitation from Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Instead, Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous will lead the country's delegation. Assad has slowly reintegrated himself into Arab regional politics in the last year, despite his brutal crackdown on 2011 Arab Spring protesters that descended into a civil war and consequently became a regional conflict. The war has killed half a million people and displaced half of Syria's population.

766083

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Reuters

US Vice President Kamala Harris to attend COP28 climate summit in Dubai

The 28th meeting of the United Nations "Conference of the Parties" on climate, known as COP28, runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a major oil producer. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi…

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-to-attend-cop28-climate-summit-in-dubai/articleshow/105583096.cms

2023-11-29 06:14:01

Virtual Influencers Now Making Real Money? AI, AI, Sir!As social media influencers, Kyra and Naina have hit the big time. Only thing is, theyre not actually real not entirely anyway. Titan, Realme, M… [+199 chars]

Climate

AFP U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the COP28 climate summit in Dubai , Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The 28th meeting of the United Nations "Conference of the Parties" on climate, known as COP28, runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a major oil producer. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are among the leaders expected to attend the event that begins on Thursday. Reuters reported earlier this week that U.S. President Joe Biden would not attend the gathering. Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Wednesday, 29 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition For More Capital, Byju’s Must Pass a Tough Test Top shareholders at Byju’s have demanded the company meet certain conditions before they consider any future capital infusion into the beleaguered edtech firm that is battling a deepening fund crunch, people in the know of the matter said. Virtual Influencers Now Making Real Money? AI, AI, Sir! As social media influencers, Kyra and Naina have hit the big time. Only thing is, they’re not actually real — not entirely anyway. Titan, Realme, MG Motors and Boat are paying a premium to advertise through 3D-animated humans, or virtual influences, who have become quite the phenomenon on Instagram with views of up to 21 million for their reels. Timing of Burmans’ Open Offer Fishy: Religare Ind Director Ahmed Hamid Ahmed, an independent member on the Religare Enterprises board, has described the timing of the Burman family open offer to buy more shares as ‘fishy’ in the first such media comments by any of the independent directors at the financial services company the founder-promoters of Dabur are seeking to control. Read More News on US Vice President Harris COP28 climate summit Dubai tom hogue rishi sunak United Nations kamala harris (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition From the Internet to cloud to AI: the musical chair of strategy and performance in Indian IT industry How a humble bamboo can transform real-estate sector’s messy carbon problems Silent killer: India gasps for breath as COPD spreads to rural areas, affects non-smokers. Gold prices will be impacted by Fed moves, geopolitical scenarios and upcoming polls 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring PhonePe’s latest big move Stock Radar: 11% rally in a month! This heavy equipment maker is likely to surpass Rs 5,000 levels to hit fresh highs 1 2 3 View all Stories

766103

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Yogita Rao

Crore-plus job offers come calling to IIT-B this year too

The Dubai COP28 conference is a crucial event to assess the progress made by countries in fulfilling their climate change commitments. This article explores the role of the oil and gas industry in addressing climate change and the need for countries to take a…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/dubai-cop28-assessing-climate-change-commitments/articleshow/105576961.cms

2023-11-29 02:46:11

8 vegetarian dishes from Kashmiri Pandit cuisine that are a must-try

Climate

Mumbai: Amidst concerns over the global economic slowdown’s impact on this year’s placement season, IIT-Bombay is likely to have a fair share of crore-plus job offers. Though the number of companies visiting across IITs are not the same as last year, the drop in numbers is negligible, say students, who are hoping for a good placement season.At IIT-B, the crore-plus offers will be coming from Da Vinci Derivatives, Hudson River Trading, Glean Technologies, Barclays, among others, said a final-year student.While Da Vinci Derivatives is said to be making an offer of Rs 1.3 crore for a domestic profile, Hudson River Trading is offering a profile for 200,000 Singapore Dollars (equivalent to Rs 1.24 crore) and Glean will be offering an international role for a package of $1,25,000. Hudson River Trading, a quantitative trading firm, is visiting IIT-B — and other IITs — for the first time and will be offering a Singapore role at the institute. The details of the packages are based on the job application forms, and the firms may or may not select students from the campus. The selection will be based on placement interviews that begin on December 1.Jane Street Capital, a trading firm headquartered in New York City, which offered the highest-ever package of Rs 3.67 crore at some of the IITs last year, is said to have made a pre-placement offer at IIT-B this year too. “Jane Street usually hires students through internships,” said a student, adding that this year’s package is not known.Barclays is offering a role in Hong Kong, with a package of 11 lakh Hongkong dollars. The JAF for Edge Focus mentions that it is a remote role. Graviton Research Capital, Quadeye, NK Securities, too, will be making coveted offers for domestic roles. Profiles being offered at these major firms are of traders, quant researchers or developers. Microsoft and Apple will be visiting the campus too, and so far, they have only sought applications for domestic roles. All the companies visiting the Powai campus historically are coming this year too, said a student, adding that there are new companies and unique ones too. The unique companies are the ones exclusively visiting IIT-B campus.Last year, 384 companies had participated in the process at IIT-B and 1,516 students were placed through the campus placement cell. The highest domestic salary stood at Rs 1.68 crore, and the highest international offer was Rs 3.67 crore. The placement report said that 16 crore-plus offers and 65 international offers were accepted last year. The average salary stood at Rs 21.82 lakh.

766140

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

AP

Climate contradictions key at UN talks. Less future warming projected, yet there's more current pain

Dubai hosts United Nations talks for a global stock take on the progress of the Paris climate agreement. The latest assessments show that the world is heading for considerably less warming than projected a decade ago. However, the pain from current climate ch…

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/climate-contradictions-key-at-un-talks-less-future-warming-projected-yet-theres-more-current-pain/articleshow/105580411.cms

2023-11-29 04:39:57

<ul><li>News</li> <li>Climate contradictions key at UN talks. Less future warming projected, yet there's more current pain</li></ul> Dubai hosts United Nations talks for a global stock take on the … [+532 chars]

Climate

NEW YORK: The world is heading for considerably less warming than projected a decade ago, but that good news is overwhelmed by much more pain from current climate change than scientists anticipated, experts said. That's just one of a set of seemingly contradictory conditions facing climate negotiators who this week gather in Dubai for marathon United Nations talks that include a first-ever assessment of how well the world is doing in its battle against global warming. It's also a conference where one of the central topics will be whether fossil fuels should be phased out, but it will be run by the CEO of an oil company. Key to the session is the first "global stocktake" on climate, when countries look at what's happened since the 2015 Paris climate agreement, how off-track it is and probably say what's needed to get back on track. Even though emissions of heat-trapping gases are still rising every year, they're rising more slowly than projected from 2000 to 2015. Before the Paris deal, scientists at Climate Action Tracker and the United Nations Environment Programme were projecting about 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming over pre-industrial levels based on how much carbon dioxide countries were spewing and what they planned to do about it. That 3.5 "is totally out of the picture. It will not happen," said NewClimate Institute scientist Niklas Hohne, who works on Climate Action Tracker. "Our number is 2.7 (4.9 degrees Fahrenheit). It could be even lower with pledges and with net zero targets." UNEP's Emissions Gap projected 2.5 to 2.9 degrees (4.5 to 5.2 degrees Fahrenheit). The global goal is 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Countries are promising and even starting on actions that should eventually reduce emissions, but those cuts haven't materialised yet, said Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare, also of Climate Action Tracker. "So things aren't as bad as they could have been or as we worried they might be 20 years ago, but they're still far from where we need to be," said Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson, who heads scientists who annual track world emissions in the Global Carbon Project. When he looks at the impacts of just 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming - about what the world has gotten so far - World Resources Institute CEO Ani Dasgupta said he wants to scream from the rooftops about how "unfair and unequal the devastation is." "No one who has half a brain can be happy where we are," Dasgupta said. Scientists underestimated for decades how much destruction just a little warming would cause, several scientists said. And that damage we are feeling far outweighs the gains made in reducing future warming projections, they said. Hare points to more than 60,000 heat deaths in Europe in 2022. Others point to thousands dead from flooding in Pakistan and Libya. "The more we know, the more severe impacts we see at lower temperature changes," said Anne Olhoff, chief author of the UNEP Emissions Gap report. "The impacts happen much faster than we thought previously and much harder than we thought previously." The damage the world is seeing "is scarier to me than almost anything else," Jackson said. "We are seeing the world's weather start to unravel and there's no evidence that that will stop." When it comes to emissions, the key is what's causing them, experts say, citing fossil fuels. "I think rightly the fundamental role of fossil fuels will take center stage" at the Dubai negotiations, called "COP" for conference of parties, said Melanie Robinson, climate director for World Resources Institute. Heading into negotiations, world leaders have crowed about tentative agreements to triple the amount of renewable energy use and double energy efficiency. But that's not enough, said Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research. "It requires the tearing out the poisoned root of the climate crisis: fossil fuels," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Guterres, numerous climate scientists and environmental activists all say what's needed is a phase-out - or at the very least a phase-down - of coal, oil and gas. But the host country runs the negotiations and appoints a president. The host country is the oil state United Arab Emirates and it has named ADNOC oil company CEO Sultan al-Jaber, who also runs a renewable energy company, as the conference president. Al-Jaber and his colleagues say by bringing fossil fuel companies to the table they can get more done and that it may take someone in the industry to get the concessions needed. Environmental activists don't believe it. "We cannot trust these politicians and we cannot trust the processes of the COPs because the fossil fuel industries are tightening their grip around their processes and dictating their outcomes," youth environmental activist Greta Thunberg said. The process is in the hands of parties or nations and because of the COP rules it has to be by consensus or practically unanimous so that makes a phase-out of fossil fuels agreement unlikely, but a "phase-down of fossil fuels is inevitable," said Adnan Amir, the UAE's No.2 official for the climate talks. "There are many different views on the fossil fuels language from many different parties and how exactly we will land it will be about how we get the right formulation,'' said COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi. "I think the sentiment is all the same. The language here that we're seeing between parties is really much closer than we've seen in the past." New Climate Institute's Hohne said a phase-out is needed but doesn't think Al Jaber will allow it: "He would basically have to agree that the basis of his business model of his company would be eliminated." Hohne, Hare, Dasgupta and others look at al-Jaber and others' heavy promotion of carbon capture and storage - technology that the scientists say hasn't proven itself -- and they worry that the climate talks will look like something significant has been accomplished when it actually hasn't. "I think there's a high risk that it (negotiations) ends up in greenwashing, in just looking nice but not leading to much," Hohne said. Activists and even United Nations officials also said they are disturbed by countries pointing to their efforts to reduce coal and increase renewable energy, as they also approve new oil and gas drilling projects, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine. A report by the activist Centre for Biological Diversity said that while new efforts by the Biden Administration in its Inflation Reduction Act would reduce nearly 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030, 17 different oil and gas projects it has approved would add 1.6 billion metric tons of emissions. "Governments can't keep pledging to cut commitments to cut emissions under the Paris Agreement and then greenlighting huge fossil fuel projects," UNEP Director Inger Andersen said. "This is throwing the global energy transition and humanity's future into question."

766143

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Reuters

India scrambles to add coal-fired power capacity, avoid outages: sources

The expansion drive comes ahead of this week's U.N. climate summit COP28, where France and the United States are expected to clamp down on financing for coal plants, a move that India, dependent on coal for 73% of power generation, plans to oppose.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/india-scrambles-to-add-coal-fired-power-capacity-avoid-outages-sources/articleshow/105595702.cms

2023-11-29 11:40:29

India aims to add 17 gigawatts of coal-based power generation capacity in the next 16 months, its fastest pace in recent years, to avert outages due to a record rise in power demand, according to gov… [+3647 chars]

Climate

India aims to add 17 gigawatts of coal-based power generation capacity in the next 16 months, its fastest pace in recent years, to avert outages due to a record rise in power demand, according to government officials and documents. The expansion drive comes ahead of this week's U.N. climate summit COP28 , where France and the United States are expected to clamp down on financing for coal plants, a move that India, dependent on coal for 73% of power generation, plans to oppose. The world's fastest growing major economy has added an annual average of 5 gigawatts of coal-based electricity generation capacity over the last five years, but it is also ramping up renewable energy. Yet it will fall short of satisfying power demand if it does not expand the number of its coal plants, said two government officials, who did not want to be named as they are not authorised to speak to media. In the next four months, India plans to add nearly 3 gigawatts of coal-fired generation, while the following fiscal year , starting from April 1, 2025, will see it add 14 gigawatts, or its highest level in eight years, according to internal government documents seen by Reuters. The power ministry did not immediately respond to queries from Reuters. To ensure completion of projects, New Delhi has begun a review of 38 coal generation plants whose construction has been held up for years, moving to resolve issues over equipment and land acquisition delays, the two officials said. The government expects 28 of these projects to become operational in the next 18 months, it told power producers in a presentation at a meeting on Nov. 21. Such projects include state-run power company NTPC 's 660-megawatt unit in the eastern state of Bihar which has been delayed for 13 years, and two in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand held up for five years. At the meeting, Power Minister R. K. Singh told public and private power generators that India would "have to add coal-based thermal capacity," to meet requirements growing at an unprecedented rate, said the two officials, who also attended. He also urged private companies to set up fresh coal-based power generation capacity to meet night-time demand and assured them of financial assistance. Industry officials said such a call was being made for the first time in a decade since most private investments in the coal-fired power sector had stopped around the year 2012, partly because of India's green energy push. While the coal expansion drive aims to meet an expected rise of 10% in demand during peak hours in fiscal year 2024-25, India will still meet a national commitment of half of fuel generation capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, the two officials said. Since adding 22 gigawatts of capacity in the fiscal year 2015/16, India cut back on plans to expanding coal-fired plants as the government opted for alternate energy capacity, officials have said. Now India wants coal-fired plants sufficient to meet power demand of 384 gigawatts by the fiscal year 2031/32, revised up 5% from an earlier projection of 366 gigawatts, the government documents showed. The government consequently revised up its estimate of coal-based power requirement by 9%, to 283 gigawatts. "We have now modelled a stressed scenario factoring in a below-normal monsoon and a corresponding demand spike, such as we experienced in Aug-Oct this year," one of the government officials said. That stress accounts for delays in the commissioning of 86 gigawatts of non-fossil capacity by fiscal 2031/32. In the lead-up to Thursday's climate summit in Dubai, the European Union , U.S. and UAE have rallied support for a deal to triple global renewable energy installed by 2030. More than 100 countries have backed this deal, officials told Reuters, but countries including China and India are not yet fully on board. Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on Fiscal year european union U.N. climate summit COP28 NTPC (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Recommended Stories Petrol, diesel price revision only when oil price stabilises below USD 80 India's infrastructure output growth quickens to 12.1 per cent in October India, Africa to be major contributors to 112 million barrel/day of peak global crude oil demand in 2030: S&P Whirlpool to sell 24% stake in India business to reduce debt Padget Electronics' new smartphone manufacturing facility inaugurated by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw HPCL to commission Chhara LNG terminal in 2-3 months; gets 6-7 offers to hire capacity Thailand’s MQDC to announce first residential project in India early next year Rice on cusp of fresh 15-year high in Asia after sharp rebound REC board approves hike in borrowing to Rs 1.5 lakh cr for FY24 India's oil imports from Russia rebound in November: Data 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

766147

wired

Wired

Matt Simon

The Weirdest Reason the Poles Are Warming So Fast? Invisible Clouds

Clouds way up in the stratosphere act like a blanket, trapping heat in the Arctic and Antarctica. That could help explain why models keep underestimating how fast they’re warming.

https://www.wired.com/story/the-weirdest-reason-the-poles-are-warming-so-fast-invisible-clouds/

2023-11-29 13:00:00

In the Arctic and Antarctica, PSCs appear anywhere between 15 and 25 kilometers (9.3 and 15.5 miles) in the sky during cold winter conditions. Theyre most often invisible, but they can be sighted whe… [+3272 chars]

Climate

If you had lived some 50 million years ago and taken a trip to the poles, you would have found lush forests and creatures like crocodiles instead of miles-thick ice sheets. That’s because during the Eocene, greenhouse gas concentrations were much higher than they are today, leading to a natural period of global warming. Levels of methane, which is80 times as potenta planet-warmer as carbon dioxide, were especially high, ratcheting up temperatures and allowing plants and animals to migrate toward the poles—just as they’re slowly doing once again. Methane may have been heating the Eocene poles in another more subtle, fascinating way: by creating a blanket of invisible clouds that trapped warmth against the surface. That alone could have boosted warming at the poles by 7 degrees Celsius during the coldest winter months, according to apaperrecently published inNature Geoscience. “We know that when methane is in the atmosphere, it gets oxidized, and then it produces water vapor,” says climate scientist and lead author Deepashree Dutta, who’s now at the University of Cambridge but did the research at the University of New South Wales. “This water vapor then travels upward into the stratosphere, and helps to form polar stratospheric clouds,” or PSCs for short. The Arctic is today warming up tofour times fasterthan the rest of the planet due in part to gnarly feedback loops: Ice melts, which exposes darker water or land underneath, which heats up faster, which leads to more warming and more melting. Scientists call thispolar amplification. Predictive climate models consistently underestimate polar warming; scientists’ actual observations tend to be more grim than what models expect. And this disagreement is even larger for past climates like the Eocene. PSCs may be a missing piece that explains why. They're currently less common in the Arctic compared to Antarctica, butwith greenhouse gas emissions rising, scientists are wondering weather these clouds could become more prevalent over both poles in the future. “If we don't have projections—that are realistic—of the warming that's coming, then we're probably going to get our understanding of how the system is going to shift quite wrong,” says ecologist Isla Myers-Smith of the University of British Columbia and the University of Edinburgh, whostudies the Arcticbut wasn’t involved in the new research. “With the recent warming that's been going on in the Arctic, the observed temperatures are now much higher than the models have predicted.” Clouds are a major source of uncertainty in climate science: In September,a revelation about how trees seed cloudsin more temperate regions also suggested that climate models—of the preindustrial world, and of the future—might need retooling. But clouds aren’t always included in simulations. Models can only handle so much detail, given the limits of computing power.

766166

nan

GlobeNewswire

Insurance Services Office, Inc. (Verisk)

Verisk LightSpeed® Small Commercial Accelerator Added to Guidewire Marketplace

Integration helps small business insurers bind new business in seconds Integration helps small business insurers bind new business in seconds

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787718/0/en/Verisk-LightSpeed-Small-Commercial-Accelerator-Added-to-Guidewire-Marketplace.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/691d9ae6-2551-4eb1-8e63-a4bcb06e72bf

2023-11-29 13:04:00

JERSEY CITY, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verisk, (Nasdaq: VRSK), a leading global data analytics and technology provider, has announced the integration of its LightSpeed® Small Commercial solut… [+2721 chars]

Climate

JERSEY CITY, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verisk, (Nasdaq: VRSK), a leading global data analytics and technology provider, has announced the integration of its LightSpeed®Small Commercial solution ontoGuidewire Marketplace. This integration can help small business insurers automate underwriting workflows and bind new business in seconds. LightSpeed Small Commercialquickly provides insurers with reliable exposure data including the minimum core attributes needed in an automated process (NAICS, SIC, #Employees, payroll and revenue) as well as insights for more informed decision-making with only the input of basic information. The automation is driven by deep underwriting data and analytics that allow insurers to efficiently classify, quantify, and qualify risks for more targeted risk selection and increased straight-through processing. “Insurers face the challenge of delivering quotes at a rapid pace while meeting business growth and profitability targets,” said Elizabeth Casas, vice president of commercial lines underwriting at Verisk. “When it comes to small business insurance coverage, it’s all about the details. Our LightSpeed Commercial accelerator accurately optimizes in seconds, and now it will enable Guidewire customers to enhance operational efficiency, better serve customers, and drive profitable growth.” Frankenmuth Insurance, a super-regional insurance carrier based in Frankenmuth, Michigan, is a new client of Verisk, and will be deploying the technology in 2024. “Leveraging the LightSpeed Small Commercial accelerator will allow us to quote new business faster, resulting in a quicker, easier buying experience for our customers,” said Tim LeClair, vice president of commercial lines at Frankenmuth Insurance. “Verisk has provided a clear path to grow our portfolio and strengthen customer relationships.” More than 30 Verisk solutions have been integrated onto Guidewire Marketplace, including360Value®, which helps insurers from underwriting to renewal with reliable, claims-driven, component-based estimates that account for virtually all material and labor required to rebuild structures. ### About VeriskVerisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) is a leading strategic data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry. It empowers clients to strengthen operating efficiency, improve underwriting and claims outcomes, combat fraud and make informed decisions about global risks, including climate change, extreme events, ESG and political issues. Through advanced data analytics, software, scientific research and deep industry knowledge, Verisk helps build global resilience for individuals, communities and businesses. With teams across more than 20 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification byGreat Place to Workand fosters aninclusive culturewhere all team members feel they belong. For more, visitVerisk.comand theVerisk Newsroom.

766188

nan

GlobeNewswire

InsightAce Analytic Pvt. LTd.

Lignofuels Market - Thermochemical Segment Witness Growth At A Rapid Rate | Reveals InsightAce Study

Companies covered in this study are Gevo, Inc., Aemetis Inc., BlueFire Renewables, Axens, New Energy Blue, LLC, Enerkem, Praj Industries, Clariant AG, Raizen, Lessaffre, Ensyn Corporation, Red Rock Biofuels LLC, American Process, LanzaTech Global, BlueFire Re…

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787531/0/en/Lignofuels-Market-Thermochemical-Segment-Witness-Growth-At-A-Rapid-Rate-Reveals-InsightAce-Study.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/0e88e2e9-67b2-4a38-aa13-e33c9d874fc5

2023-11-29 09:20:00

Jersey City, NJ, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global Lignofuels Market - (By End-User (Automotive, Aeros… [+7486 chars]

Climate

Jersey City, NJ, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the"GlobalLignofuels Market- (By End-User (Automotive, Aerospace, Marine), By Source (Dedicated Energy Crops, Agricultural Residue, Forest Residue, Urban Waste), By Processing Technology (Thermochemical, Biochemical)), Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2031." According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, theGlobal Lignofuels Marketis valued atUS$1.63 Bn in 2022, and it is expected to reachUS$ 3.06 Bn by 2031,with aCAGR of 7.39%during the forecast period of 2023-2031. Lignofuels are made from lignocellulosic biomass containing cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This biomass can be obtained from various plant materials, including agricultural wastes (such as maize stover and wheat straw), forestry residues, energy crops (such as switchgrass and miscanthus), and other non-food plant materials. The use of agricultural and forestry leftovers for the production of lignofuels addresses waste management issues. Converting these leftovers into biofuels is a cost-effective and ecologically responsible approach that promotes the circular economy. Investments in lignofuel projects, both commercial and public, foster innovation and scalability. Aviation and shipping are among the industries beginning to embrace lignofuels as a viable and sustainable fuel source. The start of biofuel testing in commercial aircraft by businesses like Boeing and Airbus represents a significant move towards sustainable aviation, which is projected to boost lignofuel growth. Free PDF Report Brochure @https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/2235 Recent Developments: List of Prominent Players in the Lignofuels Market: Need Specific Chapter from the Report @https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/2235 Lignofuels Market Report Scope: Market Dynamics: Drivers: The dynamics of the lignofuels market are driven by several factors that impact the development, commercialization, and use of biofuels generated from lignocellulosic biomass. In the U.S., organizations such as the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) and the Advanced Biofuels Business Council (ABBC) are promoting the development and use of advanced lignofuels, hence boosting the market growth. Through research and policy advocacy, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) promotes the global transition to sustainable energy sources, including cellulosic ethanol. The availability of investment and capital has a considerable impact on the market dynamics of lignofuels. Research and commercial projects rely on financial support to scale production, conduct pilot studies, and overcome technical challenges. The financing available determines the rate of technological advancement and commercial expansion. Challenges: Lignofuel production, particularly from lignocellulosic biomass, can be costly. The procedures required to convert complicated biomass structures into usable fuels, such as enzymatic hydrolysis or gasification, can necessitate substantial investment, reducing the economic sustainability of lignofuel production. The technological complexity of lignofuel production technologies, such as biochemical and thermochemical procedures, can make scaling up from laboratory or pilot-scale production difficult. However, efficient and scalable procedures are critical for the economic feasibility of lignofuels. These factors are likely to hinder market expansion. Regional Trends: Asia Pacific Lignofuels Market is expected to register a major market revenue share and is projected to grow at a high CAGR in the near future. Growing public awareness of climate change as well as environmental issues has resulted in increased efforts to minimize carbon emissions. Lignofuels, as a renewable and low-carbon alternative, are positioned as part of the solution to address climate change issues in the Asia-Pacific area. Some nations in the Asia-Pacific area have set biofuel mandates and targets to encourage the use of renewable fuels in transportation. Compliance with these rules boosts demand for lignofuels as a key component of the biofuel mix. Curious about this latest version of the report? Enquiry Before Buying:https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/2235 Segmentation of Lignofuels Market- By End-User- By Source- By Processing Technology- By Region- North America- Europe- Asia-Pacific- Latin America- Middle East & Africa- About Us: InsighAce Analytic is a specializing in market research and consulting services that helps in building business strategies. Our mission is to provide high quality insights with using data analytics techniques and visualization tools that drives the disruption and innovation in market research industry. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with in-depth analysis and key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Follow Us @https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightace-analytic-pvt-ltd/ Subscribe Our Exclusive Newsletters @https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/latest-market-research-reports-6929319878155739136/

766206

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

PTI

After Uttarakhand tunnel rescue, Congress seeks thorough audit of all projects under implementation

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said while "we salute the rescued workers and applaud the entire rescue team", there should be a reflection on some larger questions thrown up by the tunnel collapse.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/after-uttarakhand-tunnel-rescue-congress-seeks-thorough-audit-of-all-projects-under-implementation/articleshow/105589288.cms

2023-11-29 09:04:29

A day after 41 workers were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, the Congress on Wednesday demanded a thorough audit of all projects under implementation while also calling for putting on… [+2453 chars]

Climate

TNN A day after 41 workers were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand , the Congress on Wednesday demanded a thorough audit of all projects under implementation while also calling for putting on hold all future projects in the Himalayan region and subjecting them to professional ecological scrutiny. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said while "we salute the rescued workers and applaud the entire rescue team", there should be a reflection on some larger questions thrown up by the tunnel collapse. "While we salute the rescued workers and applaud the entire rescue team -especially the twelve 'rat-hole' miners who displayed both skill and daring, and who surely deserve a more appropriate name for the work they do -- we should also reflect on some larger questions thrown up by the tunnel collapse," the former environment minister said in a post on X. — Jairam_Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) The fragility and complexity of the Western Himalayan ecosystem has been brought home to us in a stark manner, he said. "What has also been revealed is the failure of the environmental appraisal process when it comes to planning, designing and executing civil construction, and other projects in this region. In the Char Dham project for instance, of which the collapsed tunnel was a part, construction works were awarded in a way so as to escape environmental impact assessment altogether!" Ramesh alleged. Reports have come on the absence of widely accepted safety features on the tunnel, he said. "The trauma that the 41 workers have had to go through for 17 days should make us pause a bit. A thorough audit of all projects under implementation should be carried out, and all future projects in the Himalayan region must be put on hold and have them subject to professional ecological scrutiny," Ramesh asserted. "The entry to the office of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change that was inaugurated over a decade back has these words: Prakruti Rakshati Rakshata. This is a simple yet powerful maxim embedded in our civilisational heritage. Sadly only lip service is being paid to this maxim with disastrous consequences for ourselves," he said. Rescue workers pulled out all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for almost 17 days. A portion of the under-construction on Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed on November 12, blocking the exit of the workers who were inside. Food, medicines and other essentials were sent to them through a six-inch pipe pushed through the debris. Relief was felt far and wide over the safe evacuation. Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023 Read Complete ePaper  » Digital View Print View Wealth Edition Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment. ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible. HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET. Read More News on uttarakhand tunnel rescue congress uttarkashi Silkyara tunnel (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ... more less Prime Exclusives Investment Ideas Stock Report Plus ePaper Wealth Edition How COP28 is set to facilitate syncing of corporate India’s green journey and business trajectory. Wings or Sting? Energy drinks market heats up as Red Bull, PepsiCo jostle to grab a cool share. Four signals from the OpenAI mess that the government, big tech, and you cannot ignore. Light at the end of the tunnel: Higher plant utilisation sending a current through power stocks 3 insights to kick-start your day, featuring Amazon’s India journey Stock Radar: IEX has given breakout from a descending triangle pattern; where is the stock headed? 1 2 3 View all Stories

766249

nan

GlobeNewswire

Timberline Mechanical

Timberline Mechanical Offers Valuable Insights on Making Your Commercial HVAC System More Efficient

How To Make Your Commercial HVAC System More Efficient How To Make Your Commercial HVAC System More Efficient

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787434/0/en/Timberline-Mechanical-Offers-Valuable-Insights-on-Making-Your-Commercial-HVAC-System-More-Efficient.html

nan

2023-11-29 00:12:00

Boulder, Nov. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Some business owners and decision-makers view the expense associated with operating a commercial HVAC system as a sunk cost of sorts and dont pay much atten… [+6974 chars]

Climate

Boulder, Nov. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Some business owners and decision-makers view the expense associated with operating a commercial HVAC system as a “sunk cost” of sorts and don’t pay much attention to it. If the system is operational and the building is holding a reasonably comfortable temperature, they focus on other “more pressing” concerns. That is understandable. However, in today’s competitive business environment, every penny can make a crucial difference. Whether dollars saved go toward operational costs, research and development, or directly to the bottom line to make stakeholders happy, they all matter. Consequently, it pays to understand how to make your commercial HVAC system more efficient. And it is easier than you might think. A Little Attention to Your Commercial HVAC System Goes a Long Way When considering how to manage your commercial HVAC system, it is crucial to remember that ensuring it is serviced regularly and repaired as needed to optimize performance delivers immediate and long-term benefits. In the short term, maybe you will see modest savings in your energy costs. But when properly invested, even small monthly gains can grow to be significant sums over time. And that is just one way that greater HVAC efficiency benefits your business. Assessing and addressing system performance has several related benefits. For example, equipment that runs more efficiently experiences less wear and tear. As a result, it is less likely to suffer costly breakdowns. It also lasts longer, reducing your replacement expense. So, as you arrange for expert service and maintenance on your system, you can congratulate yourself on pushing those issues much further into the future and enabling longer stretches of uninterrupted operations. But how do you ensure your commercial HVAC system maintains peak efficiency? Read on to find out. Your Roadmap to More Efficient HVAC System Performance Not surprisingly, there is no quick fix that will guarantee outstanding performance going forward. It is all about consistency in maintaining your system. However, once you take the actions below and get into a rhythm of caring for your commercial HVAC system, it may start feeling essentially effortless. Connect With a Trusted Commercial HVAC System Service Provider You can accomplish all the above actions more easily if you have a commercial HVAC system service provider you know and trust. They can be a valuable resource about HVAC technology in general and, once they have worked on your system, your heating and cooling components in particular. Nothing feels better than having a service provider who starts functioning more like a partner. You will find that HVAC companies are glad to hear from you, even if you currently don’t need service or repairs. That is certainly true for us at Timberline Mechanical. We are happy to answer any questions about our services and learn about any challenges you are experiencing or anticipating. So, if you aren’t already a Timberline Mechanical customer, we encourage you to find out why so many other companies and commercial property owners are. Contact usat your convenience, and let’s talk about how to keep your current commercial HVAC system operating at peak performance—from regular maintenance to expert repairs. About Timberline MechanicalTimberline Mechanical is a Boulder HVAC Contractor located in Boulder, CO, and serving the Colorado Front Range, including Broomfield, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior and Erie. We are dedicated to providing the intelligent solutions necessary to keep your Boulder Commercial HVAC equipment running efficiently and at its peak performance. Whether we are completing a service call request, providing Commercial HVAC Preventive Maintenance or conducting Special Projects work, we offer intelligent commercial HVAC solutions to ensure that your business needs are met. You can focus on your business while we make sure your commercial HVAC equipment is running smoothly.https://www.timberlinemechanical.com/ Media Contact: 303-258-3589

766256

nan

GlobeNewswire

Transparency Market Research

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission System Market to be Worth USD 33.54 billion by 2031 | Transparency Market Research Inc.

An increase in the power consumption and installation of grids is boosting the high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system market. An increase in the power consumption and installation of grids is boosting the high voltage direct current (HVDC) tra…

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/29/2787519/32656/en/High-Voltage-Direct-Current-HVDC-Transmission-System-Market-to-be-Worth-USD-33-54-billion-by-2031-Transparency-Market-Research-Inc.html

https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/27b21b27-620b-4cae-8360-605a9662092b

2023-11-29 08:59:00

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system market is projected to flo… [+7415 chars]

Climate

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Transparency Market Research Inc. -The global high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system market is projected to flourishat a CAGR of 7.1%from 2022 to 2031. As per the report published by TMR, a valuation of US$ 33.54 billion is anticipated for the market in 2031. As of 2023, the demand for high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems is expected to close at US$ 19.4 billion. The global shift towards renewable energy sources has significantly boosted the demand for HVDC technology. Aging grid infrastructure in many regions requires upgrading to meet the growing electricity demand. HVDC systems offer more efficient, long-distance power transmission, reducing transmission losses and allowing for grid expansion across diverse terrains. Request Sample of the Report:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=73522 Competitive Landscape Most of the key vendors in high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system market are adopting new technologies and strategies with comprehensive research and development, primarily to develop and prioritize sustainable power maintenance service. Rapid urbanization and industrial growth in emerging economies drive the need for efficient power transmission solutions, drive the market for high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems. As HVDC transmission systems offer a reliable and efficient means to supply power to densely populated areas and industrial hubs. HVDC transmission systems are also popular because they can act as a firewall and prevent the transmission of faults between the connected AC grids and hence, avoid ‘blackouts’. HVAC transmission lines require relatively larger spacing between the phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase conductors. The transmission tower used for HVAC needs to be taller and wider than HVDC to maintain such spacing. Using the HVDC transmission tower reduces the installation cost as compared to HVAC towers. Key Takeaways from the Market Study Ask Expert for the Research Report-https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ASK&rep_id=73522 High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission System Market: Key Trends and Opportunistic Frontiers High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission System Market – Regional Analysis Key Developments in theHigh Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission SystemMarket High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission System Market – Key Segments Technology Type Deployment Application Capacity Region Buy this Premium Research Report:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=73522&ltype=S More Trending Reports by Transparency Market Research – Cogeneration Equipment Market-The global cogeneration equipment market is expected to cross the value of US$ 55.7 Bn by the end of 2031 and it is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2021 to 2031 Industrial Waste Management Market-The global industrial waste management market is expected to cross the value of US$ 2.3 Trn by the end of 2031 and it is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2021 to 2031 About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact: Nikhil SawlaniTransparency Market Research Inc.CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN,1000 N. West Street,Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USATel: +1-518-618-1030USA – Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Website:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.comBlog:https://tmrblog.comEmail:sales@transparencymarketresearch.com

766340

al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera

Ukraine ‘will not back down’ against Russia as it urges Western support

'Ukraine is not going to back down', official says as Kyiv seeks to keep Russia conflict on agenda amid Israel-Gaza war.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/29/ukraine-fm-vows-to-keep-fighting-while-lobbying-nato-support

2023-11-29 12:49:49

Ukraine will forge ahead in the battle against Russias invasion, Kyivs top diplomat has pledged as he seeks to rally Western support. Ukraine will not back down in fighting against the Russian invas… [+2880 chars]

Space

‘Ukraine is not going to back down’, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tells NATO foreign ministers. Ukraine will forge ahead in the battle against Russia’s invasion, Kyiv’s top diplomat has pledged as he seeks to rally Western support. Ukraine will not “back down” in fighting against the Russian invasion, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told a summit of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, even as its military locked into a bloody stalemate with enemy forces amid signs that the provision of weapons and funding is slowing and that the war in Gaza is limiting global attention. “We have to continue, we have to keep fighting. Ukraine is not going to back down,” Kuleba said. “The issue here is not just Ukraine’s security, it is the security and safety of the entire Euro-Atlantic space.” His entreaty comes amid fears that Western fatigue is setting in over the drawn-out war, and that attention and funding is shifting to the Middle East. The United States, Ukraine’s biggest single-country donor, has sent more than $40bn in aid since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. However, some $61bn in additional aid to Ukraine is being held up by the US Congress. Another $50bn package from the European Union is struggling to pass because of opposition from Hungary, leaving Ukraine concerned about dwindling resources as it heads into the harsh winter. Despite the funding delays, Western leaders insist they will stand by Ukraine as long as it takes. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “every single NATO member expressed enduring support for Ukraine” at Wednesday’s summit. He added that the US is looking for supplemental funding for Ukraine to be approved by Congress in the coming weeks. As well as funds, Kyiv is in desperate need of ammunition, with the West struggling to keep pace with earlier pledges to supply bullets and shells. The US is engaged in talks with Greece to buy $47m worth of artillery shells for Ukraine, which has urged partners to accelerate the delivery of ammunition. The EU has so far sent Ukraine some 300,000 of the 1 million shells it promised, Kuleba said, but it has warned that it will not be able to meet the target in full. However, Germany’s foreign minister voiced strong backing for redoubling military aid, urging for the formation of a “protective shield” that can block Russian attacks during the winter. The Ukraine-focused NATO summit comes as Russian and Ukrainian forces appear to grind to a winter deadlock 22 months into the war. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s military said it had fended off a string of overnight Russian drone and missile attacks. The air force said it destroyed nearly two dozen Russian attack drones and several missiles in the nationwide aerial assault. Russian air defence also destroyed a Ukraine-launched drone flying towards Moscow, the mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobyanin, said. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has made significant breakthroughs on the battlefield for weeks as Moscow’s invasion drags on. The conflict has killed or wounded an estimated 500,000 from both sides. Follow Al Jazeera English:

766348

nan

Forbes

Kaitlyn McInnis, Contributor, Kaitlyn McInnis, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaitlynmcinnis/

Turn Your OneFineStay Holiday Rental Into A Private Theatre With This Unique Concierge Service

The leading luxury private rental brand, onefinestay, has this week announced a new holiday-focused collaboration with Revels in Hand.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaitlynmcinnis/2023/11/29/turn-your-onefinestay-holiday-rental-into-a-private-theatre-with-this-unique-concierge-service/

2023-11-29 12:27:21

onefinestay Revels in Hand performance Ryan ODonoghue The leading luxury private rental brand, onefinestay, has this week announced a new holiday-focused collaboration with Revels in Hand. The part… [+1669 chars]

Space

onefinestay Revels in Hand performance The leading luxury private rental brand, onefinestay, has this week announced a new holiday-focused collaboration with Revels in Hand. The partnership invites travelers to enjoy a holiday getaway with family and friends that also happens to transform into a private theatre stage with personalized performances with actors, writers, and directors performing directly in the holiday rental. “Whether guests are celebrating the holidays at our villas in the Caribbean or tucked away in the snowy Rocky Mountains at our chalets, we aim to bring unparalleled, tailored experiences to our guests. As the holidays bring together family and friends, Revels in Hand’s bespoke performances are a unique way to make unforgettable memories together in a luxurious setting,” says Michele Bayens, Director of Concierge Services at onefinestay. The brand’s exclusive partnership was first launched in spring of 2023 but has since evolved to offer new and exciting performances centered around the holiday season. The team at onefinestay can also arrange for a myriad of festive experiences to complement the private performance, like a hot chocolate bar, gingerbread-making classes, and even a multi-course meal prepared by a private chef. Think of it as the best way to host a holiday get-together without, you know, actually having to go through the stress and effort of hosting. Guests who are interested in having a bespoke performance in their rental space will work with the onefinestay concierge team to choose from a curated selection of Christmas-inspired entertainment. You can expect classics like Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol to more romantic tales like Voice of the Turtle. The team is also open to creative input and ideas for further shows if your family has a specific holiday performance in mind.

766355

nan

Forbes

Grace Banks, Contributor, Grace Banks, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracebanks/

Fernando Laposse Excites Design Miami With His Furry, Surreal Sculptures

Mexican Artist Fernando Laposse elevates the pollination process with his eccentric designs.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracebanks/2023/11/29/fernando-laposse-excites-design-miami-with-his-furry-surreal-sculptures/

2023-11-29 13:29:36

In his last solo show at Friedman Benda gallery in New York Ghosts of Our Towns, Mexican designer Fernando LaPosse showed a spongy pink two seater sofa covered in thick fur. It was a fitting center p… [+4976 chars]

Space

In his last solo show at Friedman Benda gallery in New York “Ghosts of Our Towns”, Mexican designer Fernando LaPosse showed a spongy pink two seater sofa covered in thick fur. It was a fitting center piece for an artist who has spent the last ten years adding an equal sense of the sublime and the ridiculous to his exploration of the relationship between people and the natural world. “I work with a community of indigenous farmers and we have been working together to find ways to preserve their traditional farming” he says from his workshop in Tonahuixtla, located in the Acatlan region of Mexico. Floral Installation by Fernando LaPosse, Perrier Jouet House, Tokyo 2023 Laposse has worked in Tonahuixtla for over 15 years, and is careful to make the distinction between being an artist that works in Mexico City, and an artist that works in rural Mexico. If you’re truly interested Mexico he says, “you want to go to the source and to learn from them [indigenous people] in a respectful way, you have to go to the countryside.” The designer maintains a deep relationship to the rural community he works with, attributing these communities as the source of Mexico’s popularity – “It has been their resilience to withstand modernization that has given us the cultural capital that the world is so obsessed with now.” FERNANDO LAPOSSE: GHOSTS OF OUR TOWNS at Friedman Benda Gallery, New York 2023 Since starting his practice, Laposse has looked at the impact of globalization, agriculture and global warming on local, micro communities. His latest work is an installation showing the pollination process in collaboration with Maison Perrier Jouet, which he debuted in Tokyo earlier this year in the Harajuku district at the House of Wonder, a pop-up hosted by Perrier Jouet from 11 - 29 October. Next week, he’ll show the piece at Design Miami. In the bubblegum pink, tactile work, Laposse aims to reimagine the pollination cycle with a trademark series of oddball add ons, like yellow pollination dust, running water, moss and 3D printed birds. Here, he explains how he tethers the need to subvert with bubblegum colors to his desire to critique the marginalization of agricultural communities. Floral Installation by Fernando LaPosse, Perrier Jouet House, Tokyo 2022 What led you to create your latest installation The Pollination Dance? The inspiration is pollination, the changing of the seasons and the passing of time. The collaboration is about celebrating the important role that pollinators play in ensuring biodiversity, but also to admire the beauty and mystery of the pollination act itself. It is a fleeting moment full of joy and vitality. Your first debuted the piece at the House of Wonder, did Tokyo influence your work, as you put the final touches to the piece? Japan was always an inspiration. Things like Japanese zen gardens for contemplation were very influential in creating the architecture of the art installation. You work outside of Mexico City on a farm, how long have you had that space and how do you use it to influence your work? I don´t own the farm but I work with a community of indigenous farmers outside of Mexico City and we have been working together to find ways to preserve their traditional farming within their ancestral lands by combining design, and the creation of new materials from the by-products of their crops. That collaboration has greatly influenced my work because they have taught me how everything in nature is interconnected and how with a proper knowledge of these interconnections we can strike a balance where plants, animals and humans work together to create abundance. How does working in rural Mexico, and not Mexico City, show itself in your designs? Mexico is a place that wherever you are you are very close to natural materials, it is easy to go to the source there and to find people to help you make your vision a reality without the need of big investment or machinery. Craft and proximity to nature is what makes Mexico so special. Many people know of Mexico City as a creative place, but not so much the surrounding countryside. What’s a draw for you about rural Mexico that people don’t know? Most of the things we associate with Mexican culture and gastronomy actually come from our indigenous population. It has been their resilience to withstand modernization that has given us the cultural capital that the world is so obsessed with now. Unfortunately they are still some of the most marginalized and unrecognized communities. If you want to go to the source and to learn from them in a respectful way, you have to go to the countryside. You’ll be showing The Pollination Dance at Design Miami, how do you want audiences to interact with the work there? Miami will be an even bigger and more ambitious version of the show in Japan, but with the same principles in mind. We are including poetry readings in the space related to pollination and I am very excited to see how people will react to that, and immerse themselves in the experience. The Pollination Dance runs from 5-10 December at Design Miami.

766373

the-times-of-india

The Times of India

Bloomberg

India in talks with Boeing, Blue Origin for space partnerships

India's space agency is actively considering collaborative ventures with Boeing Co., Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin LLC, and Voyager Space Holdings Inc., as the official visit from the head of Nasa underscores the increasing level of cooperation between the United …

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-in-talks-with-boeing-blue-origin-for-space-partnerships/articleshow/105598356.cms

2023-11-29 13:20:15

ISRO-NASA space ties deepen: NASA Chief says, US ready to send Indian to space in 2024

Space

India’s space agency is exploring joint collaborations with Boeing Co., Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin LLC and Voyager Space Holdings Inc., as an official visit by the head of Nasa highlights the growing level of cooperation between the US and India in outer space.The potential partnerships could also involve Indian commercial entities, India’s department of space said in a statement Wednesday.Nasa administrator Bill Nelson is visiting several locations in India this week, including Bengaluru-based facilities that are testing and integrating spacecraft for a joint US-Indian Earth-observing mission scheduled for launch in 2024.Nelson’s visit underscores Nasa’s deepening space alliance with the Indian Space Research Organization, which this year notched several accomplishments including the landing of a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole in August.The two space agencies are planning to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station next year. In June, Nelson joined a ceremony in Washington when India signed the Artemis Accords, a US-backed initiative with more than two dozen other countries to establish principles for space exploration.ISRO-NASA space ties deepen: NASA Chief says, US ready to send Indian to space in 2024Blue Origin is “very keen” on considering using an Indian rocket as a crew capsule to service its proposed space station Orbital Reef in low-Earth orbit, Isro chairman S Somanath told the Times of India in June. Larsen & Toubro Ltd., an Indian manufacturer of engineering equipment, is in early discussions with Blue Origin to supply orbital launch capabilities, according to local media.Denver-based Voyager in July announced a preliminary agreement with Isro’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd., to explore using Indian rockets to launch and deploy small satellites.Voyager in July also signed a memorandum of understanding with Isro and the Indian national space promotion and authorization center regarding the use of Gaganyaan, the space agency’s crewed spacecraft now under development, to service a proposed space station, Starlab.Boeing is considering designing and manufacturing of a space capsule simulator for India’s human spaceflight project but hasn’t signed a contract yet, according to local media.India’s upcoming projects include its first launch of astronauts on a crewed mission, scheduled for 2025.To boost its lunar ambitions, the country plans to develop a next-generation launch vehicle and a new launchpad, with the goal of landing people on the moon by 2040.Isro’s to-do list also includes establishing a space station by 2035, launching a Venus orbiter and landing on Mars.

766392

nan

Forbes

Tom Sanderson, Senior Contributor, Tom Sanderson, Senior Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/

Is Xavi’s FC Barcelona Job Now Safe After Champions League Last 16 Qualification?

Is Xavi Hernandez's head coach job at FC Barcelona now safe after the Catalans qualified for the Champions League last 16?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2023/11/29/is-xavis-fc-barcelona-job-now-safe-after-champions-league-last-16-qualification/

2023-11-29 11:27:18

Xavi's job might be safe for the meantime at FC Barcelona. Getty Images FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez and his players must have breathed a huge collective sigh of relief when the full tim… [+2529 chars]

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Xavi's job might be safe for the meantime at FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez and his players must have breathed a huge collective sigh of relief when the full time whistle on their comeback win against Porto in the Champions League was blown on Tuesday night. Sealed by goals from the two Joaos, Cancelo and Felix, the 2-1 victory guaranteed that Barca will qualify for the knockout phase in Europe's elite competition for the first time since 2021 whether that is as the winners of Group H or runners-up. As indicated by UEFA figures and a report from Mundo Deportivo, beating Porto will replenish Barca's battered coffers with much needed prize money and there could be more to come if the Catalans top Royal Antwerp in their final group game then advance to the quarter finals in March. The key development also bought Xavi time - a valuable commodity that was beginning to run out for the club legend in the manager's hotseat. Though he brought a maiden La Liga crown to Camp Nou for the first time in four years this spring, the former number 6 had a black cloud hanging over him for overseeing back-to-back failures to reach the business end of the Champions League. When Barca were turfed out of the tournament and thrust into the inferior Europa League, he wasn't able to steer his men to the trophy as consolation in two separate sittings either with Eintracht Frankfurt and Manchester United delivering respective hammer blows in 2022 and 2023. Whether Barca can retain the Spanish championship this season or not, Xavi would ultimately be judged on avoiding making it three times unlucky in Europe. Recent losses to Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk triggered doubts from some about his suitability for one of football's most demanding roles, and he wasn't naive enough to believe that his job is now safe because of this week's exploits. "Problems are never solved at Barca," Xavi noted with a laugh in a post-match interview with Movistar, before insisting that the focus should be on congratulating the club and team for their achievements above all without looking beyond the here and now. Xavi knows that there are difficult domestic ties coming up against Atletico Madrid and Girona at the top of the table this week and next. And if Barca don't come out of those meetings to the satisfaction of the all-powerful entorno, or environment, that surrounds the Blaugrana, he will again be taken to task. Though he has a little breathing space for now, Xavi will, like most managers at top outfits, be evaluated in the spring. Barca aren't expected to win the UCL, but at least going out on their shield in the quarter-finals or semi-finals, and mounting a reasonable La Liga title defense, could guarantee him another term in the hotseat.

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al-jazeera-english

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera

‘Won’t join farcical vote’: Bangladesh opposition leader ahead of election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party will boycott January elections amid a deepening crisis for the country's democracy.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/29/wont-join-farcical-vote-bangladesh-opposition-leader-ahead-of-election

2023-11-29 09:21:47

A day before nominations end for Bangladeshs January 7 parliamentary election, the countrys leading opposition party has confirmed that it will not participate in the vote, citing irregularities by P… [+7369 chars]

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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party will boycott the January elections amid a deepening crisis for the country’s democracy. A day before nominations end for Bangladesh’sJanuary 7 parliamentary election, the country’s leading opposition party has confirmed that it will not participate in the vote, citing irregularities by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), told Al Jazeera there is “no chance of us participating in the election” until a key demand of the party is met. Thursday, November 30, is the last date for submission of nominations. The BNP wants Hasina to step down and make way for a neutral caretaker government to conduct the election in a “free, fair and credible manner”. While Hasina’s Awami League (AL) party has ruled that out, the government has also launched acrackdown on the BNP, with top functionaries and grassroots-level workers being jailed on a range of new and old cases, involving mainly violence and corruption. Many opposition leaders have gone into hiding. The situation prompted the global non-profit, Human Rights Watch, to issue a strongly-worded statement on Monday, condemning the spate of arrests, and calling on Bangladesh’s “diplomatic partners” to act. HRW said“the government’s autocratic crackdown will jeopardise future economic cooperation”. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General and currently its top leader outside jail (except those in exile), has been living away from home since the last week of October and announcing party programmes on social media from undisclosed locations. Rizvi is the only top BNP leader who has remained visible over the past three weeks. Even though he did appear in a few street protests, he swiftly changed locations after such events. An advocate by profession, Rizvi has faced arrest multiple times during Hasina’s rule since 2008 – in 2012, 2013 and 2022 – spending months behind bars. Since the BNP’s October 28 mega protest, Rizvi has been named in two separate cases of violence registered at the Fatullah police station in Bangladesh’s Narayanganj district. The associated penal provisions would not allow him a quick bail. Rizvi spoke to Al Jazeera over the telephone. Excerpts: Al Jazeera: The window for filing nominations is almost over. Is there any chance you have a Plan B? Ruhul Kabir Rizvi:There is no chance of us participating in the election unless the government agrees to our demand. We still hope good sense prevails in the government. If the prime minister steps down and the elections are held under a caretaker government, we are ready to participate. Al Jazeera: Suppose the government does not agree and the election commission goes ahead with the next steps after November 30, what would you do? Rizvi:We will continue to do what we are doing. Protests would intensify on the streets. People will be on the streets in even greater numbers. The public opposition to afarcical election processwill isolate the government in the international sphere. Al Jazeera: There is a question many are asking. Has the BNP hoped for a little too much from the international community in pressurising the Hasina government? Rizvi:Were we dependent on international support, we would not have been on the streets. Our leaders and workers are braving all odds. The government is using state apparatus like the police and intelligence agencies to fill the jails with opposition leaders. Our leaders and workers are facing arrest, intimidation, and harassment on a daily basis. We can’t stay at home if we do not want to be arrested. But we have not fled the ground. We are not issuing appeals to the international community from any safe space. We are very much into the fight on the ground. At the same time, the world is now called a village. People from every country get to know about what’s happening elsewhere. They form their opinions on global issues. We are appealing to the conscience of the democratic people of the world that they try to ensure a free, fair, participatory and credible election in Bangladesh. That’s all we are asking for. Al Jazeera: Apart from the ruling party and its allies, both factions of the Jatiya Party (the third-largest party) appear set to contest the elections. Many smaller parties are entering the poll fray. Wouldn’t non-participation isolate the BNP? Rizvi:This is what the ruling party has been arguing since 2014. That year, there was no election in 154 seats where their candidates won uncontested. The seats where a contest happened with their friendly forces recorded abysmally low voter turnout. People did not vote. In 2018, we did participate but the ruling party did not allow suspected opposition voters to reach the polling stations. The polling was totally rigged and people gave it the name of Nishi Rater Nirbachon or the election in the dead of night. Even the international community knows it as the midnight election. This will be yet another farcical election if held under the current government. The use of police and intelligence agencies shows the extent of politicisation of the administration. We will isolate ourselves from the masses if we take part it in, when everyone knows what is on the cards. Al Jazeera: Are you really confident of staying relevant without participating in the election? Rizvi:The experience of former President [Hussain Mohammed] Ershad’s dictatorial rule in the late 1980s shows us that staying with the people is more important than elections. Both Awami League and BNP had boycotted the 1988 election. We stayed on the streets, ensured a free and fair election, and the people brought us to power in 1991. Al Jazeera: What would you do if the elections took place despite all your efforts and the Hasina government returned to power with a massive mandate? Rizvi:That government would not last. It will collapse. Al Jazeera: Several new parties have emerged in the electoral scene and it is being speculated that some of your party’s leaders and organisers may contest the elections on these parties’ tickets. Rizvi:The government is trying to lure, intimidate and coax some leaders into contesting the elections. The police and intelligence agencies are being used for this purpose. These newly formed parties are the results of the government’s initiatives. The core BNP organisers will not go. Such initiatives were seen during Ershad’s rule as well. At that time, the term Jatiyo Beiman (national traitor) became popular to describe those contesting in farcical, one-sided elections. Those who now contest will earn the same moniker. Al Jazeera: You have criticised China’s statement supporting the election as per Bangladesh’s Constitution. How do you look at India’s stance of describing the election as “Bangladesh’s domestic affair”? Rizvi:India’s stance has hurt Bangladesh’s democratic people. They are upset with them for supporting an authoritarian and undemocratic regime. India should have valued Bangladesh’s public sentiments. Al Jazeera: Do you have any further messages for the international community? Rizvi:My appeal to the democratic forces in all countries is to play their part in ensuring a free, fair and credible election, and in ensuring that Bangladesh has the scope for free speech and universal human rights. Election is only one aspect of the whole. The Cyber Security Act is being rampantly abused to silence critical voices, not just opposition parties. We want the world’s democratic forces to raise their voices for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. Follow Al Jazeera English:

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nan

Forbes

Expert Panel®, Forbes Councils Member, Expert Panel®, Forbes Councils Member https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/people/expertpanel/

20 Ways To Harness Technology For Enhanced Mental Healthcare

Using technology to remove the stigma of mental health and create a secure environment of trust is a first step.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2023/11/29/20-ways-to-harness-technology-for-enhanced-mental-healthcare/

2023-11-29 13:15:00

getty Technology has the potential to revolutionize numerous areas of the healthcare sector, including mental health. From innovative apps to virtual therapy platforms, the marriage of technology an… [+9551 chars]

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Technology has the potential to revolutionize numerous areas of the healthcare sector, including mental health. From innovative apps to virtual therapy platforms, the marriage of technology and mental health support has ushered in a new era of accessible and personalized care. As society shifts toward promoting mental well-being, it's important for business leaders to explore how technology can augment and enhance mental healthcare. Below, 20 Forbes Human Resources Council members share ways tech tools can be used to reshape mental health support to make it more inclusive, responsive and effective. 1. Outline Company Benefits And Streamline Resources In Intranets Technology can enhance the accessibility of mental healthcare in many ways. Employer intranets outlining company benefits not only streamline resources but also eliminate potentially hard conversations for employees in need. Apps and websites offer an array of solutions, including telehealth consultations, mindfulness modules and asynchronous communication with mental health professionals. - Neepa Patel, WellRight 2. Tailor Music Therapy To Stimulate Emotional Healing With one of our strategic partners, we have seamlessly integrated mental health technology and music therapy to enhance MH support. We leveraged the capabilities of technology, individuals can now engage in music therapy tailored precisely to their unique needs. This approach stimulates emotional healing, encourages self-discovery and contributes significantly to overall mental well-being. - Misha Ford, 3TG Staffing Solutions 3. Access Technological Support Discreetly By making support readily available through technology, people can seek help discreetly, without the fear of judgment or social stigma. This approach not only improves access to care but also contributes to the destigmatization of mental health issues, encouraging more open and honest conversations about mental well-being. Technology facilitates immediate access to mental health support and care. - Jade Nikolaou, SecondMuse 4. Assess Personal Data To See Happiness And Stress Levels At Work Technology—through apps, fitness trackers and so on—gives us access to our own data, which, if we’re mindful, we can use to assess our happiness, creativity, focus, stress and even satisfaction at work. Over time, by paying attention to trends in our behavior and environment, we can understand times when we’re thriving and times when we need extra support. - Ursula Mead, InHerSight 5. Match With A Suitable Mentor Using Mentoring Software Mentoring technology makes it easier for employees to get matched with a suitable mentor and find mental health support. When mentor-mentee pairings are driven by technology, it takes the awkwardness out of "asking" for mentorship from a senior executive or a team lead. With the right mentoring software, employees can get matched based on skills they want to learn or goals they want to achieve. - Matthew Reeves, Together Software Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify? 6. Build A Personal Connection With Your Employees First Using technology to remove the stigma of mental health challenges and create a secure environment of trust is a first step. Communicating how to access the needed support, opening PTO for mental health days and embracing a holistic approach to supporting employee wellness. Multiple apps and tech environments have bloomed in recent years, but building personal connections with people is key to supporting mental health. - Julie Hankins, NNIT 7. Use Video Calls To See People Using video calls to see people and feel comfortable reaching out to anyone, anywhere, any time at a minimal cost immersed in calming music. - Reema Akhtar, Seer Solutions 8. Create Online Communities For People To Share Experiences Technology can help create online communities of like-minded individuals who can provide mutual support, anonymity and resources and increase accessibility. These online communities can allow individuals to connect and share their experiences and coping strategies. Peer support can reduce feelings of isolation and provide a sense of belonging, understanding and validation. - Kshitij Jain, Joveo 9. Track And Encourage Time Off To Recharge Our research found that 87% of workers globally have experienced burnout in the past year, which shows the need to prioritize well-being. One way to use technology to offer support is to track time off. If you notice certain employees aren’t taking time to recharge, you can nudge them towards a vacation. If you see a broader trend, it’s a signal to reassess your time off policies and work processes. - Susan Tohyama, Ceridian 10. Provide Resources Like Mental Health Coaches And Movement Challenges At our company, we prioritize well-being, including mental health. We leverage technology to put both resources and challenges in our colleagues’ hands so that they always have available access to things like mental health coaches, movement challenges and healthcare navigation support. We can nudge them to use resources at the right times or they can engage any time they choose. - Dave Barnett, DeVry University 11. Break Barriers And Connect Patients Using Teletherapy Teletherapy breaks barriers, connecting patients with therapists via video, phone or chat. Flexible, accessible and resourceful, it eases the path to mental healthcare, crucial at a time when connecting with the right professional can be daunting which in of itself can be a good excuse to ever get help. The ease of access and convenience is helping to save lives. - William Stonehouse, Crawford Thomas Recruiting 12. Set Up A Meeting To Use Apps Like Headspace Or Calm There are many apps out there now that employees should be encouraged to use and give themselves a break during the day. We should encourage employees to set a time on their calendar, daily or weekly, and use apps, such as Headspace or the Calm app, to recharge and reset their day. If employees can set up a work-related meeting, then setting up a meeting to care for themselves should be equally important. - Heather Smith, Flimp Communications 13. Provide Adaptable And Individualized Mental Health Support Emerging technologies offer the ability to provide adaptable and individualized mental health support, which has naturally led to their demand. Ethical issues arise when technology causes a decrease in human connection, HR efficiency, data privacy or security. Challenges, such as finding a happy medium between evidence, regulatory frameworks and HR compliance, must be addressed by businesses. - Dr. Nara Ringrose, Cyclife Aquila Nuclear 14. Consider Lifestyle Spending Accounts For Wellness Solutions I'm a fan of lifestyle spending accounts or LSAs. In my experience, an LSA can provide the widest variety of wellness solutions from meditation apps to gym stipends. It's inclusive because each person can choose what they need when they need it and the list of offerings keeps growing. Users determine what is best for their wellness, which matters since no single approach is right for everyone. - Mikaela Kiner, Reverb 15. Implement Chat Technology To Create A Safe Space To Check In Employees need to feel seen and heard, and one way to connect with them to ensure they feel this no matter where you work is to connect through technology. Chat technology can create a safe space to check in on your employees, in a one-on-one fashion. Finally, reducing how many emails and reminders tech employees receive supports their mental health. - Cat Colella-Graham 16. Create Safe, Controlled Environments For Employees Leveraging virtual reality (VR) in mental healthcare is transformative. VR's immersive nature can create safe, controlled environments, enabling individuals to confront and work through their fears or traumas under professional guidance. This tech-aided approach marries traditional therapy with innovative engagement, heralding a new era of personalized care that's both effective and captivating. - Joseph Soares, IBPROM Corp. 17. Offer Meditation, Teletherapy And Mood Tracking Technology can bolster mental health through apps for meditation, teletherapy and mood tracking. This provides people with accessible tools for self-care and fosters well-being. - MJ Vigil, DispatchHealth 18. Offer Apps With Immediate Access To Mental Health Resources Apps that offer immediate access to mental health resources and support and allow people to find help regardless of where they are, the time of day or even the level of the situation are critical. Reaching someone who can quickly determine if the person is in imminent danger or just needs some support can be a powerful tool in supporting mental well-being. - Lisa Shuster, iHire 19. Leverage Teletherapy Platforms For Remote Sessions Leveraging technology, teletherapy platforms enable mental health professionals to provide remote counseling sessions. From a practical standpoint, this ensures care accessibility irrespective of location. Academically, studies confirm that teletherapy can be as effective as in-person sessions, expanding reach while maintaining care quality. - Hassan Choughari, Jaroudi Group 20. Integrate Virtual Reality Therapy To Confront Fears Integrate virtual reality (VR) therapy. VR therapy creates immersive environments for individuals to confront fears and manage anxieties, offering innovative exposure-based treatments. Employers can provide access, training and private spaces, ensuring confidentiality and integrating VR therapy with existing mental health programs for effective employee support. - Kelsey Griffis, InfoTrack US

766411

nan

Globalsecurity.org

John Pike

Iran response to Israel allegation about launching satellite

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations rejected Israel claim that the launch of the Noor 3 satellite into space is a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/news/2023/space-231128-isna01.htm

nan

2023-11-29 07:27:24

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 28 November 2023 / 12:00 Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations rejected Israel claim that the launch of the Noor 3 satel… [+2154 chars]

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ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 28 November 2023 / 12:00 Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations rejected Israel claim that the launch of the Noor 3 satellite into space is a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. Tehran (ISNA) "Amir Saeid Iravani" Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Islamic Republic of Iran to United Nations in a letter to "Zhang Jun" President of the Security Council and "Antonio Guterres" Secretary-General of UN writes: I am writing to you regarding the letter dated 21 November 2023 from the representative of the Israeli regime addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2023/895), where it claimed that the launch by Iran's Qased Space Launch Vehicle (SLV) on 27 September 2023 of the Noor-3 satellite into orbit was a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015). The claim in the letter is completely unfounded as Iran has never taken any activity inconsistent with the Security Council Resolution 2231(2015). Iran has made it clear, time and again, that all its activities related to its missile and space programs are fully in compliance with its legitimate rights under international law. Moreover, Iran has consistently maintained that its missile and space programs fall outside of the purview and competence of Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) and its annexes. The Israeli regime's purpose of furthering such a baseless claim is clear, and it is to divert attention from the urgent issue currently demanding the international community's focus: the heinous atrocity crimes committed by this apartheid regime against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Accusing Iran of destabilizing activities in the region appears to be nothing more than a desperate attempt by the Israeli regime to evade accountability for its war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity that were committed and are being committed in occupied Palestine. We urge the international community and, in particular, the United Nations Security Council to hold the Israeli regime accountable for these atrocities.I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council. End Item

766434

nan

Forbes

Simon Bird, Forbes Councils Member, Simon Bird, Forbes Councils Member https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/people/simonbird/

How To Engage With Propensity-Based Targeting

Tools like ChatGPT have provided a glimpse into how AI can make people’s lives more efficient. Maybe it’s time retail marketers had their own.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/11/29/how-to-engage-with-propensity-based-targeting/

2023-11-29 13:30:00

Tech veteran and cofounder and CEO of RevLifter, helping e-commerce retailers grow through personalized offers. getty At this point, its harder to find an e-commerce retailer that isnt aware of the… [+4747 chars]

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Tech veteran and cofounder and CEO of RevLifter, helping e-commerce retailers grow through personalized offers. At this point, it’s harder to find an e-commerce retailer that isn’t aware of the gradual phasing out of third-party cookies than one that is. Google’s decision to eliminate the hidden code that allows marketers to track users’ web activities has been mooted for years. However, the disabling of third-party cookies for 1% of Chrome users in Q1 2024 will see brands heading into a new world they seem ill-prepared for. Despite the looming deadlines, reports suggest that 80% of marketers still rely on cookies to support their marketing activities. In retail, the lack of clarity over a post-cookie world has rightly placed the spotlight on something every marketer has immediate access to first-party data. Online retailers have an abundance of information for building customer profiles and delivering personalized experiences, content, recommendations and offers across their sites. The tricky part is coming up with solid applications for that data. Well, here’s one worth considering: personalized interventions based on a consumer's propensity to perform targeted actions. Propensity Explained When a customer browses an e-commerce site, they leave precious clues as they sift through categories and product pages, add items to their cart and perhaps even make a dash for the exit. Many retailers now leverage these signals to pinpoint their preferences and interests and serve personalized interventions, whether offers, messages or recommendations. What tends to get overlooked is each customer’s propensity to perform the same actions. By pooling their behavioral data, retailers can build anonymized audiences and outline what each segment needs to fulfill a targeted outcome. The process of detecting levels of intent and triggering an appropriate, often profit-friendly reaction centers on AI and machine learning. Their role is to absorb huge amounts of historical data and determine what each customer needs, based on past journeys, all in real time. In a typical journey, a current visitor’s signals (e.g., previous purchases, items in their cart, pages visited) would be matched up with previous visitors’ to form the basis of a prediction regarding their next move. The retailer will use an algorithm to score each customer. A low score could mean a low intent to drive their goal, in which case a bigger incentive is required. Meanwhile, those scoring higher might need less—and in some cases, nothing—to do the same. The result is a heavier intervention where it’s required and a much lighter one where it’s not. Where Are The Gains Made? In the context of propensity, online retailers are best focusing their efforts on three very important metrics. Item count: Target visitors who will buy more or fewer products. Average order value (AOV): Target visitors spending more or less than the average customer. Conversion rate (CVR): Target visitors who are more or less likely to purchase. Each of these metrics has a much firmer goal behind it. Item counts are a huge concern for retailers, often fitting the "everyday low price" mold that needs to manage and move vast amounts of inventory. Many more retailers will pay special attention to their AOV to make their existing audience more valuable. Still, perhaps nothing resonates as strongly as showing and hiding promotions based on a customer’s likelihood of converting. Deployed correctly, it could be a game-changer for becoming more profitable. Why Propensity Matters In Today’s Market Undeniably, there is a very bottom-line-focused angle to concepts like propensity-based targeting. A retailer explaining how they left thousands of customers to continue their journey to protect their margin won’t win too much praise in the personalization space. However, there is certainly a role for these AI/ML-powered applications in today’s market. Promotions remain key to driving sales at a time when “affordability” is the number one concern for consumers globally. It’s bad news for retail margins, which tightened in 2022 and can rarely afford the room for broad, one-size-fits-all discounting. Boston Consulting Group recently called on retailers to trim their volume of promotions and eliminate their focus on short-term gains. Its analysts believe brands can act “smarter” by taking a streamlined approach, prioritizing 1-2-1 targeting and constantly tracking ROI to ensure profitability. If retailers do need to look beyond third-party cookies and simultaneously focus on profit as a metric, using propensity to rightsize their promotions would seem like a good starting point. Tools like ChatGPT have provided a glimpse into how AI can make people’s lives more efficient. Maybe it’s time retail marketers had their own. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?