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Car-free streets return near Rittenhouse Square on Dec. 8 and 15Wall Street has been closely watching who President-elect Donald Trump will pick, especially given his plans to remake global trade. WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 22 said he had chosen prominent investor Scott Bessent as US Treasury secretary, a key Cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs. “I am most pleased to nominate Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States,” Trump said in a statement released on Truth Social. “Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost international investors and geopolitical and economic strategists.” Wall Street has been closely watching who Trump will pick, especially given his plans to remake global trade through tariffs and extend and potentially expand the raft of tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term. The choice came after days of deliberations by Trump as he sorted through a shifting list of candidates. That list included Apollo Global Management Chief Executive Marc Rowan and former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh. Investor John Paulson had also been a leading candidate, but dropped out, while Wall Street veteran Howard Lutnick, another contender, was appointed as head of the Commerce Department . Mr Bessent, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has advocated for tax reform and deregulation, particularly to spur more bank lending and energy production, as noted in a recent opinion piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. The market’s surge after Trump’s election victory, he wrote, signaled investor expectations of “higher growth, lower volatility and inflation, and a revitalised economy for all Americans”. Mr Bessent follows other financial luminaries who have taken the job, including former Goldman Sachs executives Robert Rubin, Hank Paulson and Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s first Treasury chief. Dr Janet Yellen, the current secretary and first woman in the job, previously chaired the Federal Reserve and White House Council of Economic Advisers. Economy’s quarterback As the 79th Treasury secretary, Mr Bessent will essentially be the highest-ranking US economic official, responsible for maintaining the plumbing of the world’s largest economy, from collecting taxes and paying the nation’s bills to managing the US$28.6 trillion (S$38.5 trillion) treasury debt market and overseeing financial regulation, including handling and preventing market crises. The treasury boss also runs US financial sanctions policy, oversees the US-led International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other international financial institutions, and manages national security screenings of foreign investments in the US. Mr Bessent will face challenges, including safely managing federal deficits that are forecast to grow by nearly US$8 trillion over a decade due to Trump’s plans to extend expiring tax cuts next year and add generous new breaks, including ending taxes on Social Security income. Without offsetting revenues, this new debt would add to an unsustainable fiscal trajectory already forecast to balloon US debt by US$22 trillion through 2033. Managing debt increases this large without market indigestion will be a challenge, though Mr Bessent has argued Trump’s agenda will unleash stronger economic growth that will grow revenue and shore up market confidence. Mr Bessent will also inherit the role carved out by Dr Yellen to lead the Group of Seven wealthy democracies to provide tens of billions of dollars in economic support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion and tighten sanctions on Moscow. But given Trump’s desire to end the war quickly and withdraw US financial support for Ukraine, it is unclear whether he would pursue this. Another area where Mr Bessent will likely differ from Dr Yellen is her focus on climate change, from her mandate that development banks expand lending for clean energy to incorporating climate risks into financial regulations and managing hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits. Trump, a climate-change skeptic, has vowed to increase production of US fossil fuel energy and end the clean-energy subsidies in President Joe Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Fed facing The Treasury secretary is also the administration’s closest point of contact with the Federal Reserve. Both Dr Yellen under Mr Biden and Mr Mnuchin under Trump typically met weekly with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often over breakfast or lunch. Mr Bessent has floated the idea of creating a “shadow” Fed chair. This would entail nominating as early as possible a presumptive Powell successor to the Fed Board who would then deliver their own policy guidance so that, as Mr Bessent told Barron’s in October, “no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore”. The next seat to open up at the Fed Board is that of Governor Adriana Kugler, whose term runs to January 2026. Mr Bessent has since said he no longer thinks the idea of a shadow chair worth pursuing, the Wall Street Journal reported. Mr Powell’s term as Fed chair expires in May 2026, and presidents rarely wait until the Fed chief’s term ends before nominating a successor. From finance to DC Mr Bessent, 62, primarily lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his husband and two children. He grew up in the fishing village of Little River, South Carolina, where Mr Bessent has said his father, a real estate investor, experienced booms and busts. Mr Bessent worked for noted short seller Jim Chanos in the late 1980s and then joined Soros Fund Management, the famed macroeconomic investment firm of billionaire George Soros. He soon helped Mr Soros and top deputy Stanley Druckenmiller on their most famous trade - shorting the British pound in 1992 and earning the firm more than US$1 billion. In 2015, Mr Bessent raised US$4.5 billion, including US$2 billion from Mr Soros, to launch Key Square Group, a hedge fund firm that bets on macroeconomic trends. Key Square’s main fund gained about 31 per cent in 2022, according to media reports, but firm assets have declined to approximately US$577 million as of December 2023, according to a regulatory filing. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now

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Welp. This season is officially off the rails. Ohio State thoroughly handled Indiana. Oklahoma trounced Alabama. Florida dashed Mississippi's playoff hopes. Auburn upset Texas A&M. Arizona State and Kansas sent the Big 12 into chaos with their wins over BYU and Colorado. Notre Dame resoundingly ended Army's magical run. And that was all in one week! There are more than 60 voters on the AP Top 25 panel. There’s at least one voter from each state that has an FBS team and a handful of national folks. For the state of Nebraska, there’s one voter. Each week I will break down my ballot compared with the actual Top 25 and write on some pressing topics. Without further ado, here is my ballot ahead of Week 14: And here is the actual AP Top 25 for Week 14: Nothing makes sense. I think Ohio State is the best team in the nation right now. However, the Buckeyes remain No. 2 behind undefeated Oregon. Penn State, even at 10-1, doesn't feel inspiring. Barely beating Minnesota? Not cause to be optimistic. I think Indiana still deserves more credit than it gets. The whole "who have they played" narrative is tired. Of their 10 wins, three teams are bowl-eligible in Nebraska, Washington and Michigan. And Michigan State is at five wins ahead of a Week 14 game against Rutgers. I don't know what to make of the SEC or the Big 12. The SEC might be lucky to get three teams into the College Football Playoff. Two feels reasonable, but three feels like a stretch — especially depending on the final week of the regular season. Every game is winnable for the ranked SEC teams. But every game is losable, too. Auburn could beat Alabama. Texas A&M could beat Texas. Vanderbilt could beat Tennessee. And, man, how about Florida? The Gators, after everything, could finish the season 7-5. Heck, even winless Mississippi State could pull off an Egg Bowl miracle over Mississippi. But regardless of what happens, thanks to tiebreakers, Georgia has clinched the SEC championship game. There's a possibility that the Big 12 gets left out of the CFP. If Boise State runs the table in the Mountain West and Tulane runs the table in the American, there's a possibility that both of them, in two weeks, are ranked ahead of whichever Big 12 team decides it wants to win the conference. Kansas, after being left for dead at 2-6, has rattled off three straight wins over ranked teams and could be bowl-eligible with a win over Baylor. Who's going to even make the Big 12 title game? Four teams are tied at 6-2 heading into the final week of the regular season, and there's plenty of potential chaos on the horizon. And Army... congrats on a great start to the season. Apologies that it had to end the way it did against Notre Dame. Now, was Army's schedule — in retrospect — pretty cupcakey? You betcha. Florida Atlantic, Rice, Temple, Tulsa and East Carolina have all already fired their coaches. And UAB probably should, too. Did I still have them ranked this week? I did. Mostly out of the notion that winning games, above all else, is the most important piece of the puzzle here. And because, honestly, the bottom of the poll is an absolute dumpster fire that's impossible to ascertain. Also, with one week left in the regular season, 77 teams have clinched bowl eligibility out of the possible 82 spots. Two more teams are guaranteed to reach their sixth win this week as there are two games both featuring 5-win teams. There are also 12 other teams that could win and reach a sixth win. It's been a while since there were too many bowl-eligible teams — another sign of the chaos that's unfolded this year. Three teams rose five or more spots this week and one team made a return to the Top 25. Arizona State: The biggest riser of the week? The Sun Devils. They jumped up seven spots to No. 14 after their chaotic victory over BYU. That's three straight wins for Arizona State, two of which came over teams that were ranked at the time. Clemson : The Tigers jumped five spots this week to No. 12 after their convincing victory over The Citadel paired with other teams dropping spots with losses. Iowa State : The Cyclones also rose five spots after narrowly beating an injury-riddled Utah squad. That's two straight wins for the Cyclones, putting them at 9-2 and in a must-win spot this week in Farmaggedon. Missouri: Tigers fans must have whiplash. Missouri is back in the Top 25 this week after a brief stint on the outside looking in. The Tigers vaulted back in at No. 24 after beating Mississippi State, 39-20, to move to 8-3 on the season. Seven teams dropped five or more spots this week, and one team dropped out. Army: Losing like that to Notre Dame? That'll send you tumbling. Army fell seven spots this week, narrowly holding onto the No. 25 spot. Colorado: Colorado also dropped seven spots after losing to Kansas, 37-21, falling to No. 23. The Buffaloes are still in the hunt, but they're in a must-win situation against Oklahoma State this week. Alabama : The Crimson Tide is on red alert this week after they not only lost to Oklahoma, which is bad enough, but only scored three points in the game. For that, Alabama fell six spots to No. 13. Indiana : Well, the fun story of an undefeated Indiana is over. The Hoosiers lost to Ohio State and dropped five spots to No. 10. The Hoosiers could still eclipse their 11th win of the season this week when they host the struggling Purdue Boilermakers to close out the regular season. Mississippi: Mississippi said goodbye to its playoff hopes with a loss to Florida, tumbling six spots down the rankings to No. 15. BYU : The Cougars have now lost two in a row — one to Kansas and now to Arizona State. The Cougars, once the Big 12's best story of the season, fell five spots this week to No. 19. Texas A&M: Texas A&M, after losing a close game to Auburn, 43-41, dropped five spots to No. 20. Oddly enough, though, Texas A&M is still in position to make the SEC title game. Just have to get through ~checks notes~ Texas this week to get there. Washington State: The Cougars lost the de facto Pac-2 Championship Game, so they fell out this week. I didn't want any three-loss teams on my ballot at all last week, but after the chaos of this week, it was impossible to do that again. So, I kept all the three-loss teams below No. 15. And that makes my ballot a little funky compared to the consensus poll. The biggest "miss" I had was Tennessee. I had the Volunteers at No. 11, while they came in at No. 7. Their most recent win came over a struggling UTEP that's 2-9 on the season. Before that, they lost to Georgia. Before that, they beat the only winless team in SEC play in Mississippi State. Now, I'm of the mindset that you have to win the games on your schedule, but they're pretty tough to figure out. Also, I had Memphis ranked instead of Missouri. Here are the games I have circled for this week: No. 16 South Carolina (8-3, 5-3) at No. 12 Clemson (9-2, 7-1) : It's been a long time since the Palmetto Bowl featured two ranked teams — 11 years, in fact. Going to be a fun one in Clemson. 11 a.m. kick Saturday on ESPN. No. 3 Texas (10-1, 6-1) at No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2): The Lone Star Showdown is back after a 12-year hiatus, and the stakes are incredibly high as the winner will advance to the SEC title game to face Georgia. 6:30 p.m. kick on Saturday on ABC. Kansas State (8-3, 5-3) at No. 17 Iowa State (9-2, 6-2) : The Big 12 is a mess, and this game will directly influence who makes the Big 12 title game. 6:30 p.m. kick on FOX. Get local news delivered to your inbox!SATURDAY'S BOWL GAMES

By HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.”

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“I happened to be in the teacher workspace, and (teachers) were all talking about this,” Hampton said. “A couple people turned to me and said, ‘Cerelia, what are we going to do? All of the kids are going to cheat on their papers.'” District 228 teachers were not alone in their immediate skepticism of a free-to-use online AI chatbot that spits out responses to user-generated prompts almost instantaneously. According to a Pew Research Center survey from fall 2023, a quarter of kindergarten through high school teachers say AI tools result in more harm than good for K-12 education. Only 6% said they believe the reverse. However, since Hampton began digging into ChatGPT and other AI tools with classroom applications, she and other District 228 leaders have become more enthusiastic about the inclusion of such tools in teaching and learning. “When the Internet first came around, we thought that was going to change education and ruin it,” said Jim Broswell, director of operations and technology for the district. “It did change it, but it didn’t ruin it, it just put it in a different place. I think the same things are happening with AI.” Broswell said he understands AI can create fear among teachers as students find new ways to cheat or plagiarize, and said some districts have looked to curtail the technology’s use in schools. But Bremen 228 has taken the opposite approach, embracing the potential of AI to not only help students in their research and studying, but also for teachers to detect potential issues with turned in work. “I think the thing that we’re doing that’s working really well is that we don’t have hard and fast policies,” Broswell said. “We’ve created a culture where people are trying AI, and they’re finding out the good and the bad, and then as we go we’re taking that feedback and shaping what it’s going to look like here in our district.” The district has involved educators in developing their open minded approach, Broswell said, by forming a technology committee of 30 teachers from departments across the district’s four high schools: Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Hillcrest in Country Club Hills and Bremen in Midlothian. The committee was tasked with research surrounding AI and education, even taking part in a full-day workshop given by an AI expert with the Illinois Learning Technology Center. Teachers learned that more successful than banning students from using AI is providing them guidelines of ethical versus unethical applications. Hampton said one example is allowing 11th grade students writing essays on college and career readiness to use ChatGPT to search ideas for topics to write about, but not to conduct research or draft. “I witnessed a teacher utilize ChatGPT with her class just to generate interview questions for someone they wanted to interview about their career,” Hampton said. “That was very cool to see, because it’s not writing the actual paper, it’s just getting the ideas going.” Hampton and Broswell said outside of making students aware of when AI use is permitted, teachers have learned to craft assessments that make cheating with AI more difficult. Broswell said useful approaches teachers learned include straying from simple wording of prompts on assessments in favor of more complex “AI proof questions” as well as requiring students complete more of their work in the classroom, without access to devices. He’s also found AI tools can help teachers with this work in such ways as creating different versions of tests so students in different class periods can’t share answers. “The things that teachers are using (AI) for are nothing but positive,” Broswell said. “I think it’s been a force multiplier — teachers have been asked to do more and more over the years ... Time is a concern, but now we have these supercharged tools that are allowing us to do what we want more frequently at better quality.”Saquon Barkley sets Eagles season rushing record and has Dickerson's NFL mark in his sightsKimball Electronics Wins Highest Customer Ratings in Seven Categories of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY’S 2024 Service Excellence Awards

When T.M. Krishna received a standing ovation from an overflowing audience at the Music Academy on a bright Christmas morning this year, it marked a momentous point in his musical journey and, indeed, in the history of Carnatic music and the cultural history of South India. Here was a venerable institution, established nearly a century ago to uphold values in Carnatic music, announcing its coveted award to the “enfant terrible” of that world with the cream of the Carnatic audience cheering and congratulating him at his concert leading up to the conferment of the award. Krishna has antagonised many in the Carnatic community by calling it out on its hypocrisies and its exclusive and elitist practices. Over the past few months, there have been embarrassingly shrill protests from a section of the community over the Music Academy’s Sangita Kalanidhi award being conferred on him and by the calls for a boycott of the Academy. But, the large turnout on that day showed that Krishna does not seem to have lost the support of a large section of the community for the sheer brilliance of his music and also showed, possibly, the capacity of this highly intelligent community to acknowledge the truth behind his often abrasive statements. It was not a crowd of liberal, left-wing ideologues but the usual, typical crowd of Carnatic rasikas of the December music season with a generous sprinkling of NRIs. A lady sitting a couple of seats away was the nightmare of every concertgoer. She excitedly identified the ragas for the benefit of everyone around; she sang along and impatiently completed phrases for Krishna whenever he sustained a swara in a kaarvai . It is all about the music If Krishna’s political statements lack nuance and restraint, his music is a stark contrast. “He is completely immersed in his music. It is bhakti, surrender, without a god necessarily in the picture,” observed a friend who teaches at IIT Madras. Also Read | The Carnatic wars As befitted the momentous occasion, Krishna made two remarks about his journey. He had sung on that very same stage 30 years ago with the same accompanists—R.K. Shriram Kumar and Arun Prakash. Amidst all the controversy and anger about Krishna, these two men, especially RKS since he is “orthodox” and not expected to brook Krishna’s “ anti-Brahminical stance ”, have faced the ire for continuing to play with Krishna. In the second historical reference and homage, Krishna sang “ Pankaja Lochana ”, the Swathi Tirunal composition in ragam Kalyani, a song one associates with Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Krishna’s guru. Without naming him, he remarked, “We have heard him sing this at this very venue— avar paadi kettirukkom .” Krishna has evolved as a musician like few others have, challenging the norms and expectations of a Carnatic concert. In an early departure from the norm, Krishna did away with “the list”. The list is just that—a list of songs that are to be included in a concert in a certain order. It is meant to give structure to the concert as a whole and help the audience to relate and anticipate better. And it incorporates “variety”—a range of composers, of talas and ragas. Musicians take great pains to craft a perfect list for every concert. Variety is a strange obsession with the Carnatic audience, and more curious is their taking pride in “the variety” that Carnatic concerts incorporate. Unable to reconcile expectations of offering variety with his artistic quest, Krishna abandoned the list. A fresh take The going was not easy since the list is beloved, but today we go to a Krishna concert without any expectations of what he will include in it and how he might present it. The exquisite “ Javali Jaanaro ” in Khamas was positioned early on in the concert preceded by a Ragamalika alapana ; he sang similar ragas like Mukhari and Manjhi, which does not serve the purpose of variety; he sang a Todi alapana and then switched to Kalyani —nothing surprises us anymore. He has managed to draw the Carnatic audience’s attention towards the quest for the raga rather than exhibitionism of any sort—of repertoire, of vocal prowess, or virtuosic skills. Thoughts, reminiscences, and musings swirled amidst the exhilaration of listening to a gripping concert. What is a raga? Wherein lies its identity? As president of the Academy’s conference this year, Krishna has had a strong role in curating it around the theme of raga, and the historical, technical, aesthetic, and philosophical issues around it were very much in the air. Somewhat adventurously, he sang the raga Poorna Shadjam after a sublime Mukhari. The list would not have permitted such a juxtaposition since the two ragas draw from the same basket of swaras. He entered Poorna Shadjam with tara sthayi avarohi phrases using the swaras Ga Ri, swaras that are common to both ragas. Here were questions of raga aesthetics and identity that are central to this music. Tonal material is inevitably shared between multiple ragas since we only have a very limited number of swaras. Phrases, too, are shared as in this case; Ga Ri Ri is common to both ragas. Should they always be rendered in such a manner—the accent, the srutis, the gamakas —that there is no mistaking which ragam is being sung? In this case, dare I say that Mukhari’s Ga Ri Ri is generally launched from a starting point of an elongated Ri? So that it is always Ri...Ga Ri Ri? And the final Ri is launched from the Sa, while in Poorna Shadjam the final Ri is rendered as a janta prayogam ? Once the raga is established, can one take liberties with this? Unless one does so, expansive alapanas are probably difficult. Or are they? What is the value of an expansive, long alapana ? The audience at the vocal concert of Sangita Kalanidhi T.M. Krishna at the Music Academy on December 25, 2024. | Photo Credit: SRINATH M And why is it important to identify the raga? Why was the lady sitting next to me so invested in figuring out the raga and announcing it excitedly? Consumption of Carnatic music and how listeners engage with it at multiple levels is another large question that teased the mind. As musicologist Dard Neuman has pointed out, listening to this music for some is like reading: an important dimension of listening for one kind of listener of Carnatic music is that we translate into swaras that we hear, and when there is a mismatch anywhere, the experience is thwarted. What implication does this have for this “oral/aural” tradition? Krishna rendered Dikshitar’s “ Jambupathe ”, a wondrous creation, in the majestic version of Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini, with a sensitive accompaniment by RKS that moved me to tears. I was reminded of the description of the rasika gayaka, a type of singer in Sarangadeva’s Sangita Ratnakara and Sangita Samaya Sara , the 12th century treatise by the Jain scholar Deva. Rasika gayaka is he who is himself suffused with rasa and moves the listeners to tears, the treatise says, and lists several other kinds of singers. Where did all this vocabulary go? Why do not we have something similar or even dissimilar to talk about Carnatic music? Paying tribute As an artist, Krishna not only pushes the boundaries to render compositions of Perumal Murugan and Narayana Guru, but also reclaims legacies such as the courtesan repertoire and the recensions of compositions in the landmark treatise Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini . This latter task, which RKS too is engaged in, throws into sharp focus the downside of the oral tradition, which is not always successful in the preservation of compositions. These reconstructed compositions glow with austerity and simplicity, which have been lost, no doubt, to the demands of exhibitionism at concerts. “ Varugalaamo iyaa ”—May I come in to have just a glimpse of you? Krishna sang this song almost as if he were singing it to himself. Held together by a quiet rhythm of melancholy and not the tight one of the Misra Chapu, it flowed gently, with Arun Prakash anticipating every phrase with masterly command. It was quite remarkable that the team rendered the composition without the structure of a tala. Why does tala dominate Carnatic concerts so much—that is another big question. Also Read | Can Carnatic music concerts stand alone without the violin? The Carnatic community redeemed itself that December morning by its show of support for Krishna. But it is sobering that those who came to listen to him and support him exultantly were predominantly from the same community he has repeatedly ruffled with “complicated questions and conversations”. It is an interesting community, to say the least. And it is also interesting that Krishna’s efforts are yet to yield newer audiences. A more open stage When Krishna accepted the award, many of his admirers struggled to make sense of his return to the fold. About a decade ago, Krishna had announced his withdrawal from the December season in Chennai for having become excessively commodified and exclusivist. The Sangita Kalanidhi is the highlight of the season and when Krishna accepted it this year, there was a clear contradiction in his stance, to say the very least. Has he been drawn back into the fold, thus nullifying his politics? I would disagree. Not only can we expect Krishna to continue with his work towards greater inclusivity, but the conference at the Academy this year had a distinctly unusual complexion. It included, for instance, a “lecdem” (a portmanteau of lecture and demonstration) on oppari (grief performance) on the hallowed stage of the Music Academy, which would have been deeply repugnant to Brahmanical sensibility. In levelling the field and discussing the music of oppari, gana , and koothu along with ragas as handled by Thyagaraja and Dikshitar, Krishna appears to have stood his ground. Lakshmi Sreeram is a musician and faculty at Ahmedabad University. CONTRIBUTE YOUR COMMENTS SHARE THIS STORY Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit

Sophia Smith, the ex-girlfriend of Liam Payne , is now engaged. The social media influencer took to Instagram to share the heartwarming moment her beau James Bridgwood proposed during the festive season. Sophia, who's 30 and went out with Liam from 2013 until October 2015 after first crossing paths at St. Peter's Collegiate School in Wolverhampton, has a history with the late singer. Liam, who sadly passed away last October at the age of 31, had persistently asked Sophia out more than 20 times before she finally said yes. In an intimate video posted online, James can be seen getting down on one knee in a room adorned with rose petals and champagne, while they were both in their PJs and with their daughter Angelina Grace, born in April 2023, playing nearby. READ MORE - 'I was told my baby died in a fire but I spotted her at a birthday party six years later' READ MORE - A sneak peek at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's solitary Christmas as 'royal snub confirmed' Sophia captioned the touching video, which was set to Dan Berk's acoustic version of "Anyone": "Yes a million times over. 25.12.24," along with a red heart emoji. The clip shows a visibly moved Sophia admiring her new ring as little Angelina seems happily oblivious, asking her parents to play with her dolls. Sophia, who has stayed close with Liam's former bandmates, family, and friends, received a flood of congratulatory messages. Lottie Tomlinson commented: "Congratulations," with tears and pink hearts emojis, while Lou Teasdale wrote: "Aw Soph," followed by a red heart, reports the Mirror . Reality TV star Maura Higgins chimed in with: "Congratulations." Fans flocked to offer their congratulations to the pair, with one writing: "Omggggggggg. Congratulations! ! ! ! ! ! ! ", while another said "Favourites forever can't stop watching this video," A third chimed in with "Yayyyyy! So happy for you both! Congratulations." The couple had been together for several years and were even rumoured to be discussing marriage plans before they split nearly a decade ago. At the time, Liam said he was "absolutely devastated" by the break-up, telling The Sun on Sunday: "In order to do right by somebody, sometimes it's better not to do what your heart wants, but to do what's better for them." He also revealed to Attitude Magazine that they had talked about marriage, but decided it was too soon. Sophia had been supportive of Liam throughout his One Direction days, even attending their final concert tour together. The news of Sophia's engagement comes just three months after the sad passing of Liam, who fell from the third floor of a hotel at just 31. An autopsy confirmed that Liam died instantly due to "multiple traumatic injuries" and "internal and external haemorrhage." Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

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Donald Trump Asks Supreme Court to Pause Potential TikTok BanThe Future of MSMEs The MSME sector in India is evolving rapidly, shaped by technological advancements, shifting market demands, and government-backed initiatives. As businesses face both opportunities and challenges, it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to stay adaptable and proactive in adopting new trends. In an exclusive conversation with The Hans India, Suresh Mansharmani, Co-Founder, Tajurba Business Network, discusses the key trends shaping the future of MSMEs, the critical steps for growth, and how entrepreneurs can leverage available resources to thrive in an ever-changing environment. 1. The MSME sector has seen significant shifts in recent years. What trends do you think will define the future of MSMEs in India, and how should entrepreneurs prepare to stay competitive? The Indian MSME sector is undergoing a major transformation, driven by advancements in technology, changing customer expectations, and government initiatives. Entrepreneurs must adapt to these shifts to stay competitive. Key trends shaping the future include digital transformation, where MSMEs must embrace digital tools, such as e-commerce, to expand into new markets with minimal costs. Access to credit remains a challenge for MSMEs, but financial inclusion efforts and alternative lenders are bridging the gap, offering more funding options. Additionally, growing awareness of environmental issues is prompting MSMEs to adopt sustainable and green practices, attracting eco-conscious customers while reducing environmental impact. 2. IPOs can be a game-changer for MSMEs. Could you walk us through the critical steps you advise businesses to take when preparing for an IPO, especially in a challenging market environment? An IPO is a key milestone for MSMEs, offering capital and credibility, especially in tough market conditions. To navigate this process successfully, MSMEs must ensure financial stability, healthy cash flow, and address any internal financial issues. Compliance with SEBI regulations, transparency in financial statements, and clear risk disclosures are crucial for gaining investor trust. Additionally, effective risk management strategies and contingency plans are necessary to mitigate potential market and operational risks. A fair, data-driven valuation and appropriate pricing are vital for attracting investors, while strong corporate governance structures, such as an independent board, further enhance credibility. Crafting a compelling narrative that highlights the business's value proposition, growth trajectory, and market positioning, along with a well-executed prospectus and roadshows, can help engage potential investors, even in a challenging market. 3. How do you see OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) transforming the landscape for MSMEs? OKRs are becoming increasingly important for MSMEs, providing a structured approach to goal-setting that enhances clarity, focus, and accountability. The framework helps teams align around shared objectives and transparently track progress through measurable Key Results. For MSMEs, OKRs act as a motivational "North Star," rallying employees behind a common vision while breaking down ambitious goals into actionable steps. The primary benefit of OKRs for MSMEs is the alignment it creates, ensuring everyone from top leadership to employees works toward common objectives. This promotes accountability and responsiveness to change. However, challenges like training employees unfamiliar with goal-setting frameworks and balancing ambitious yet attainable objectives must be addressed. When implemented effectively, OKRs help MSMEs improve productivity, agility, and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving business landscape. 4. With multiple government initiatives aimed at supporting MSMEs, which ones do you feel are most beneficial, and how can business owners navigate these resources effectively? The Indian government offers several schemes to support the growth and stability of MSMEs, providing critical resources such as financial subsidies, training, and infrastructure support. Since 2008, District Industries Centres (DICs) and banks have distributed significant funding through schemes like the Margin Money subsidy, helping create millions of jobs. MSME owners can benefit by approaching local DICs for access to these resources and guidance on various government initiatives. Additionally, programs like the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) launched in 2022 aim to accelerate growth, improve market access, and support technological upgrades and sustainable practices. MSME owners can leverage RAMP for competitiveness, international market expansion, and improved access to finances. By aligning these initiatives with their business needs—such as technology upgrades or green practices—entrepreneurs can strengthen their operations and position themselves for long-term growth. 5. What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs who are just starting, especially in today’s highly competitive environment? Success in entrepreneurship is rooted in a foundation of curiosity and a willingness to learn. This adaptability helps navigate challenges, while strong communication and salesmanship build trust and relationships. Empathy and respect for others' viewpoints are also crucial for fostering teamwork. Financial responsibility is key, as securing funding should aim toward building a profitable, sustainable business rather than relying on successive rounds of investment. A solid learning foundation, including skills like communication, financial literacy, and market trend understanding, is essential for long-term success. Entrepreneurship requires resilience to overcome setbacks, viewing failures as lessons rather than obstacles. Surrounding yourself with a network of skilled, goal-oriented individuals, such as mentors and peers, accelerates growth and provides valuable support, helping entrepreneurs refine their vision and approach.

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