Murray to Coach Djokovic Through Australian Open1 2 Varanasi: The Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) celebrated the ‘Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav ' on the anniversary of Tamil poet Sri Chinnaswami Subramania Bharati , the freedom fighter and visionary scholar and paid tribute to his contribution to Indian language, literature and the nation's Independence. The celebration on Wednesday featured talks, cultural performances and discussions, all centred around promoting diversity and richness of Indian languages and literature. The event was also a platform to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of India's languages and cultural heritage. The highlights included talks by Prof Hemalatha, head of the department of pharmaceutical engineering & technology, lecture on relevance of Bharati's work in Indian languages with focus on his contributions to women's empowerment. Assistant professor in the department of chemistry, E Saravanakumar, explored the influence of Bharati's literary works on modern thought and scientific advancements and highlighted cultural and linguistic heritage of India through Bharati's poetry, sharing some of his impactful poems that continue to resonate with society. IIT (BHU) students recited poems inspired by Bharati's works. The poems, presented in Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, and Bhojpuri, resonated with the ‘Bhashayen Anek, Bhav Ek' (Many languages, one thought) theme, celebrating unity and beauty of languages cherished by Bharati. Dean of student affairs, Prof Rajesh Kumar, highlighted the pivotal role of language in shaping national identity and unity, while IIT (BHU) director Prof Amit Patra delivered the presidential address, reflecting on the enduring legacy of Sri Chinnaswami Subramania Bharati and his visionary thoughts for a prosperous and united India. He emphasised the importance of recognising and celebrating India's linguistic and cultural diversity, echoing Bharati's deep commitment to these ideals. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
By John Ogunsemore The Federal Government has distanced itself from a purported list of ambassadorial nominees currently circulating on social media . In a Sunday statement, acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa described the list as fake. The ministry said that President Bola Tinubu has the prerogative of appointing ambassadors, which he has not done. The ministry urged the public to disregard claims on appointment of ambassadorial nominees as it is devoid of truth. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public to kindly disregard the fake list of ambassadorial nominees, which is currently in circulation on some social media platforms. “The Ministry wishes to state unequivocally that the appointment of ambassadors is the prerogative of Mr. President, and no such appointments have been made in that regard. “The purported list should, therefore, be discountenanced,” the statement reads.Avior Wealth Management LLC Buys 1,293 Shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN)
NoneDOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has reaffirmed her ruling that Tesla must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick on Monday denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. McCormick also rejected an equally unprecedented and massive fee request by plaintiff attorneys , who argued that they were entitled to legal fees in the form of Tesla stock valued at more than $5 billion. The judge said the attorneys were entitled to a fee award of $345 million. The rulings came in a lawsuit filed by a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musk’s 2018 compensation package. McCormick concluded in January that Musk engineered the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. The compensation package initially carried a potential maximum value of about $56 billion, but that sum has fluctuated over the years based on Tesla’s stock price. Following the court ruling, Tesla shareholders met in June and ratified Musk’s 2018 pay package for a second time, again by an overwhelming margin. Defense attorneys then argued that the second vote makes clear that Tesla shareholders, with full knowledge of the flaws in the 2018 process that McCormick pointed out, were adamant that Musk is entitled to the pay package. They asked the judge to vacate her order directing Tesla to rescind the pay package. McCormick, who seemed skeptical of the defense arguments during an August hearing, said in Monday’s ruling that those arguments were fatally flawed. “The large and talented group of defense firms got creative with the ratification argument, but their unprecedented theories go against multiple strains of settled law,” McCormick wrote in a 103-page opinion. The judge noted, among other things, that a stockholder vote standing alone cannot ratify a conflicted-controller transaction. “Even if a stockholder vote could have a ratifying effect, it could not do so here due to multiple, material misstatements in the proxy statement,” she added. Meanwhile, McCormick found that the $5.6 billion fee request by the shareholder’s attorneys, which at one time approached $7 billion based on Tesla’s trading price, went too far. “In a case about excessive compensation, that was a bold ask,” McCormick wrote. Attorneys for the Tesla shareholder argue that their work resulted in the “massive” benefit of returning shares to Tesla that otherwise would have gone to Musk and diluted the stock held by other Tesla investors. They value that benefit at $51.4 billion, using the difference between the stock price at the time of McCormick’s January ruling and the strike price of some 304 million stock options granted to Musk. While finding that the methodology used to calculate the fee request was sound, the judge noted that the Delaware’s Supreme Court has noted that fee award guidelines “must yield to the greater policy concern of preventing windfalls to counsel.” “The fee award here must yield in this way, because $5.6 billion is a windfall no matter the methodology used to justify it,” McCormick wrote. A fee award of $345 million, she said, was “an appropriate sum to reward a total victory.” The fee award amounts to almost exactly half the current record $688 million in legal fees awarded in 2008 in litigation stemming from the collapse of Enron. Randall Chase, The Associated Press
Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Chelsea teenager Marc Guiu scores twice in 3-1 win over Astana in Conference League A youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the UEFA Conference League. Eighteen-year-old Marc Guiu struck twice within five minutes early in the first half in freezing conditions in the Kazakh capital. Renato Veiga, who is 21, headed home the third off a corner. Chelsea has 15 points atop the standings of the third-tier competition with one more game to play in the league phase. More games including those in the second-tier Europa League were scheduled later Thursday. Among them unbeaten Manchester United is at Viktoria Plzen while Rangers host Tottenham. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick's deal ahead of introductory news conference North Carolina’s trustees have approved terms of the deal to hire Bill Belichick as the Tar Heels’ new football coach. The board met Thursday morning to sign off on the agreement, announced Wednesday night by the school as a five-year deal. Specific terms of that deal have yet to be released. The school is set to hold its introductory news conference for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Thursday afternoon. Belichick has never coached in college football. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Raiders player Charles Snowden facing misdemeanor DUI charge after Las Vegas arrest LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders football player Charles Snowden was arrested in Las Vegas on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and released from custody. The NFL, the Raiders and Snowden’s attorneys acknowledged Thursday the 26-year-old first-year defensive end was arrested early Tuesday. He faces a scheduled court date in April. It’s not clear yet whether the arrest will affect Snowden’s status with the team. He has played every game this season, and the Raiders' next game is at home on Monday. Commissioner Roger Goodell can impose a three-game suspension without pay for a first violation of the league's alcohol abuse policy. Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year deal NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto will be introduced by the New York Mets at Citi Field, a day after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized. Soto chose the Mets’ offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. The 26-year-old’s contract value eclipsed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Its length topped Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego that runs through 2034. Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo.Prospera Financial Services Inc lifted its position in shares of Royce Value Trust Inc. ( NYSE:RVT – Free Report ) by 1.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 48,547 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Royce Value Trust were worth $762,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new position in Royce Value Trust during the third quarter worth about $78,000. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Royce Value Trust during the second quarter worth about $145,000. Calamos Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Royce Value Trust during the second quarter worth about $155,000. Creative Planning grew its position in Royce Value Trust by 7.7% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 11,791 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $185,000 after buying an additional 842 shares during the period. Finally, Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. acquired a new position in Royce Value Trust during the third quarter worth about $200,000. 25.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Royce Value Trust Stock Performance Shares of RVT opened at $16.48 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $15.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.18. Royce Value Trust Inc. has a twelve month low of $13.11 and a twelve month high of $16.93. Royce Value Trust Announces Dividend About Royce Value Trust ( Free Report ) Royce Value Trust Inc is a close ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Royce & Associates, LLC. It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The fund spreads its investments across diversified sectors. It invests in value oriented stocks of small cap and micro cap companies. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RVT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Royce Value Trust Inc. ( NYSE:RVT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Royce Value Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royce Value Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI") is clarifying the float-adjusted liquidity ratio (FALR) eligibility criteria used in the S&P U.S. Indices and Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Indices Methodologies. No constituent changes for any U.S. companies currently in the S&P Composite 1500 indices or Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market indices will occur, as this simply clarifies and provides more transparency to the existing FALR rule. The below excerpt is the full U.S. Liquidity criteria language, including the clarification: Liquidity. A float-adjusted liquidity ratio (FALR), defined as the annual dollar value traded divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization (FMC), is used to measure liquidity. Using composite pricing and all publicly reported U.S. consolidated volume, annual dollar value traded is defined as the average closing price multiplied by the historical volume over the 365 calendar days prior to the evaluation date. This is reduced to the available trading period for IPOs, spin-offs or public companies considered to be U.S. domiciled for index purposes that do not have 365 calendar days of trading history on a U.S. exchange. In these cases, the dollar value traded available as of the evaluation date is annualized. Eligibility differs depending on the index: S&P Total Market Index Liquidity requirements are reviewed during the quarterly rebalancings. The price (corporate action adjusted) as of the evaluation date, and the shares outstanding and Investable Weight Factor as of the rebalancing effective date are used to calculate the FMC. The evaluation date is five weeks prior to the rebalancing effective date. FALR must be greater than or equal to 0.1. Current constituents have no minimum requirement. IMPACTED INDICES IMPLEMENTATION TIMING The clarification is effective today, Monday, December 9, 2024 . Please note that the S&P U.S. Indices Methodology and Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Indices Methodology on S&P DJI's website are updated with the clarified language. For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit www.spglobal.com/spdji . ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI ), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji . FOR MORE INFORMATION: S&P Dow Jones Indices [email protected] Media Inquiries [email protected] SOURCE S&P Dow Jones IndicesUCF will attempt to shake off a dreadful offensive performance when it collides with LSU on Sunday afternoon in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Knights (4-1) couldn't get anything going against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, going 21-for-62 from the field (33.9 percent) and just 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.8 percent) en route to an 86-70 loss. Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with 13 points while Keyshawn Hall and Dior Johnson added 11 apiece for UCF, which never led and fell behind by as many as 23. Knights coach Johnny Dawkins is hoping that his team's struggles don't carry over into the meeting with the Tigers (4-1). "We have to do better offensively," Dawkins said. "We have to space the floor better. We have to balance our offense between our perimeter and our bigs. Those are things that we didn't do consistently (on Friday)." LSU also needs to clean things up after committing 15 turnovers in a 74-63 setback against Pitt on Friday. Tigers forward Jalen Reed doesn't believe giving the ball away will be a lingering issue. "I feel like a lot of our turnovers were more on us than them," Reed said. "I feel like a lot of the turnovers were careless, but we're a better team than that and I feel like we'll take care of the ball better moving forward." Reed and Vyctorius Miller each posted 14 points in the loss to the Panthers, with Reed also hauling in seven rebounds. Cam Carter chipped in 11 points. Carter is putting up a team-leading 16.4 points per game. Jordan Sears (12.0 points per game), Reed (11.0) and Miller (10.2) also have scoring averages in double figures. Ivy-Curry (16.8 points per game), Hall (16.2) and Darius Johnson (13.0) have been leading the way for UCF. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between the Knights and Tigers. --Field Level Media
Cora Jade Says Giulia Will ‘Never Be Good Enough’ to Beat Her Bestie Roxanne Perez
By KELVIN CHAN, Business Writer LONDON (AP) — Looking for a new social media platform because X, Threads and Mastodon just aren’t cutting it? You could try Bluesky . People seeking to avoid chaos, noise and political bluster in the aftermath of the U.S. elections are noticing a different mood on the Bluesky social platform, where the vibe is seemingly welcoming and there are noticeably fewer trolls. The site announced it had rapidly added more than a million new users in the week after Election Day, and has emerged as one of the fastest growing rivals to Elon Musk’s X and similar platforms. If you’re tempted to check out the new space, here’s a guide on how Bluesky works: Getting started Maybe you’re not ready to commit to adding yet another social media account. No problem — you can still look around on Bluesky without signing up because all posts and profiles are public. You might get a sense of deja vu because the platform’s look and feel are very similar to X. That should be no surprise because Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey was an early Bluesky champion. (Dorsey’s no longer involved with Bluesky, which is owned and run by its executive team as a public benefit corporation.) If you take the plunge and get an account, you’ll need a username. You’ll notice Bluesky handles are a little bit different because they end by default in the site’s domain, .bsky.social. You can personalize your handle to make it more memorable, by using your own website’s domain or buying a custom one through Bluesky. But it might not be something most newbie users need or want to do right away. How do I find interesting people? Bluesky boasts that it gives users “algorithmic choice” to tailor the content they’re shown instead of leaving it up to the whims of a centralized system. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see,” it says . What it means is that you can follow custom feeds set up by other users, or design your own. If you tap #Feeds in the menu on the left, you’ll see some default offerings like Cat Pics and Gardening. My Bangers is a list of your most popular posts by likes and Catch Up shows the site’s most popular posts from the past 24 hours. You can find more by doing a search and tapping the Feeds button. There’s also the usual “Discover” feed of suggested posts and a chronological feed of accounts that you follow. To help new users settle in, Bluesky has starter packs of recommended feeds and accounts to follow, which anyone can create and share. They don’t show up in Bluesky’s search results but can be found in directories online . Or someone might share one with you. After I signed up, a colleague pointed me to one for major news outlets . There are tens of thousands of starter packs, ranging from broadly appealing topics like Taylor Swift to niche interests like cargo bikes or U.K. comedians . You can follow the whole pack or scroll down the list to choose individual accounts. What about people you followed on X? There’s a browser extension tool called Sky Follower Bridge that will help you find X users who’ve migrated to Bluesky. But check before clicking the follow button to make sure it’s not a different user using the same display name or handle. How to post Ready to join the conversation? You can write posts or reply to others but keep it short because there’s a limit of 300 characters — 20 more than on X. You can also upload photos and videos, though videos can’t be longer than 60 seconds. GIFs and emojis are, of course, available too. You can still @ people by typing in their username, like posts by tapping a heart icon or use hashtags to highlight a theme. Bluesky has added a menu to hashtags, so when you click on one you’ll get different options for seeing, or muting, posts on that topic. What about trolls? Bluesky’s decentralization ethos extends to the content control options it offers. For starters, users can choose in their settings menu whether to see replies, reposts or quote posts in their feed. Specific words or tags can be muted temporarily, or forever, while accounts can be muted or blocked individually, or in bulk by adding them a moderation list. You can even fine tune the level of adult content that shows up in your feed. Bluesky has a team of content moderators to police the site for material that’s illegal or breaks the rules. But it’s also taking a different approach by open sourcing its content moderation system in an attempt to resolve problems with traditional moderation services which it says “lack transparency and user control.” So, individuals or groups can set up their own content filters, or labelers, that go beyond what Bluesky offers. These labelers can be used to categorize content or users, which can then be blocked or hidden. But they could also be used for informational or creative purposes, like curating or verifying content. There are labelers to identify images generated by artificial intelligence or to fact check news posts. You can find lists of labelers online. After I subscribed to a U.S. politics labeler, some posts in my feeds were flagged “!Donald Trump” or “!Democrat politician” and hidden unless I click Show. Follow Kelvin Chan on Bluesky Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions."I cried for years after that," John Ramsey tells PEOPLE Courtesy of Netflix is opening up about his raw emotions on Dec. 26, 1996, the day he found the body of his 6-year-old daughter, , in the basement of the family’s Boulder, Colo., home. “When I found JonBenét, there were no tears,” Ramsey tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “Well, I lost my oldest daughter in a car accident a couple of years before, and when I had the call, I was angry. I was mad. I was shocked. I didn't cry. I cried for years after that, but at that moment, you're in shock. I was mad. I was mad at God.” He adds, “At least for me. If I was on a business trip on the airlines, sitting by myself, I'd start to cry, every couple of years. It's the weight of the loss, but at that moment, you're in shock.” Earlier that morning, John’s wife Patsy called police after noticing their daughter was missing. ON the call, Patsy, who has since died, frantically revealed that she'd discovered a chilling ransom note asking for $118,000 for JonBenét’s safe return. After John found JonBenét's body, it was revealed that she'd been sexually assaulted and strangled in their home. The child beauty pageant queen had and a garrote twisted around her neck. Zuma Press Inc/Alamy Related: Her death was ruled a homicide and the parents quickly became suspects — something Ramsey believes occurred because of the parents' initial reactions. “We did not act right that morning, therefore they're guilty,” Ramsey says of what investigators believed. “And it is just incompetence.” No Ramsey family member has ever been charged in connection with JonBenét's killing. Patsy died in 2006. Related: Nearly 30 years later, the case remains unsolved. Today, Ramsey hopes to encourage someone to come forward with new information and to “put pressure” on police to use advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy to finally catch JonBenet’s killer. Ramsey is also speaking out in Netflix’s three-part docuseries, , which begins streaming Monday, Nov. 25. The series explores what Ramsey considers to be missteps made by authorities when investigating JonBenét’s murder amid an international media frenzy.
Tinubu Is Responsible For Tax Reform Bills Pushback – Sowunmi Gives ReasonWho is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad?
By KELVIN CHAN, Business Writer LONDON (AP) — Looking for a new social media platform because X, Threads and Mastodon just aren’t cutting it? You could try Bluesky . People seeking to avoid chaos, noise and political bluster in the aftermath of the U.S. elections are noticing a different mood on the Bluesky social platform, where the vibe is seemingly welcoming and there are noticeably fewer trolls. The site announced it had rapidly added more than a million new users in the week after Election Day, and has emerged as one of the fastest growing rivals to Elon Musk’s X and similar platforms. If you’re tempted to check out the new space, here’s a guide on how Bluesky works: Getting started Maybe you’re not ready to commit to adding yet another social media account. No problem — you can still look around on Bluesky without signing up because all posts and profiles are public. You might get a sense of deja vu because the platform’s look and feel are very similar to X. That should be no surprise because Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey was an early Bluesky champion. (Dorsey’s no longer involved with Bluesky, which is owned and run by its executive team as a public benefit corporation.) If you take the plunge and get an account, you’ll need a username. You’ll notice Bluesky handles are a little bit different because they end by default in the site’s domain, .bsky.social. You can personalize your handle to make it more memorable, by using your own website’s domain or buying a custom one through Bluesky. But it might not be something most newbie users need or want to do right away. How do I find interesting people? Bluesky boasts that it gives users “algorithmic choice” to tailor the content they’re shown instead of leaving it up to the whims of a centralized system. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see,” it says . What it means is that you can follow custom feeds set up by other users, or design your own. If you tap #Feeds in the menu on the left, you’ll see some default offerings like Cat Pics and Gardening. My Bangers is a list of your most popular posts by likes and Catch Up shows the site’s most popular posts from the past 24 hours. You can find more by doing a search and tapping the Feeds button. There’s also the usual “Discover” feed of suggested posts and a chronological feed of accounts that you follow. To help new users settle in, Bluesky has starter packs of recommended feeds and accounts to follow, which anyone can create and share. They don’t show up in Bluesky’s search results but can be found in directories online . Or someone might share one with you. After I signed up, a colleague pointed me to one for major news outlets . There are tens of thousands of starter packs, ranging from broadly appealing topics like Taylor Swift to niche interests like cargo bikes or U.K. comedians . You can follow the whole pack or scroll down the list to choose individual accounts. What about people you followed on X? There’s a browser extension tool called Sky Follower Bridge that will help you find X users who’ve migrated to Bluesky. But check before clicking the follow button to make sure it’s not a different user using the same display name or handle. How to post Ready to join the conversation? You can write posts or reply to others but keep it short because there’s a limit of 300 characters — 20 more than on X. You can also upload photos and videos, though videos can’t be longer than 60 seconds. GIFs and emojis are, of course, available too. You can still @ people by typing in their username, like posts by tapping a heart icon or use hashtags to highlight a theme. Bluesky has added a menu to hashtags, so when you click on one you’ll get different options for seeing, or muting, posts on that topic. What about trolls? Bluesky’s decentralization ethos extends to the content control options it offers. For starters, users can choose in their settings menu whether to see replies, reposts or quote posts in their feed. Specific words or tags can be muted temporarily, or forever, while accounts can be muted or blocked individually, or in bulk by adding them a moderation list. You can even fine tune the level of adult content that shows up in your feed. Bluesky has a team of content moderators to police the site for material that’s illegal or breaks the rules. But it’s also taking a different approach by open sourcing its content moderation system in an attempt to resolve problems with traditional moderation services which it says “lack transparency and user control.” So, individuals or groups can set up their own content filters, or labelers, that go beyond what Bluesky offers. These labelers can be used to categorize content or users, which can then be blocked or hidden. But they could also be used for informational or creative purposes, like curating or verifying content. There are labelers to identify images generated by artificial intelligence or to fact check news posts. You can find lists of labelers online. After I subscribed to a U.S. politics labeler, some posts in my feeds were flagged “!Donald Trump” or “!Democrat politician” and hidden unless I click Show. Follow Kelvin Chan on Bluesky Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. EST
A resident of Indiranagar , Bengaluru , reported sewage overflowing into her home from nearby restaurants on Sunday. A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the resident shows the sewage flowing through her parking area and into her sump. The incident occurred on 12th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, and involved restaurants named Bohemians, Forbidden Fruit, and Chianti. The incident forced residents to temporarily relocate while officials investigated the matter. Indiranagar Resident voices concerns In the video, the resident detailed how sewage flowed into her home from behind the property, passing through the parking area and contaminating her sump. The video, shared by the handle I Change Indiranagar , criticized the lack of response from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). The federation, which represents Resident Welfare Associations in the area, stated, "No action from BBMP as it was Sunday. BWSSB not willing to act as it was restaurants' problem. No response from BBMP Chief and JC. @DKShivakumar, is this Brand Bengaluru? We are the ones who vote!" — icindngr (@icindngr) Authorities respond, but residents demand more The Integrated Command and Control Centre Bengaluru acknowledged the issue on X, requesting specific location details. In response, I Change Indiranagar identified the affected area as 12th Main and named the restaurants Bohemians, Forbidden Fruit, and Chianti as being involved. As per TOI report, two restaurants were sealed after their sewage overflowed into two adjacent houses, contaminating drinking water sumps. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials inspected the site on Monday. They found that the internal sewage systems of the restaurants were blocked, causing their chambers to overflow and push sewage into the neighboring homes. Each affected sump, with a capacity of 6,000 liters, was rendered unusable. 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One user commented, “Absolutely disgusting... The license of all such commercial places should be cancelled.” Others highlighted concerns under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 271, which addresses hygiene violations and their potential to spread diseases. Restaurants receive notices, temporary closure enforced The BBMP sealed the two restaurants and issued notices requiring them to fix their internal sewage lines within 24 hours. Bhagyalakshmi, BBMP health inspector for the east zone, stated, "We've locked up the restaurants and served them notice, asking them to get their internal drainage system fixed. They'll face legal action if they fail to do so... I've directed our health officer to check all commercial establishments in the area to ensure they are following all the trade licence rules." Safety measures for commercial establishments BWSSB officials also issued notices to 22 other commercial establishments on 12th Main Road, instructing them to install grease and waste traps to prevent internal clogging. A BWSSB official emphasized the need for these measures to safeguard residents' safety. Residents call for accountability Venkatesh V, a resident whose sump was contaminated, voiced his frustration, saying, "Such establishments, which are causing immense trouble to residential units, should be shut, and BBMP did shut these two restaurants and issued notices. The restaurants have assured us they will get our sumps cleaned up, hopefully in one day. BBMP should have taken some action against them earlier as we had complained about them multiple times." (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Albania, a hidden gem on the Balkan Peninsula often dubbed ‘Europe’s last unturned stone,’ is emerging as a captivating tourism destination that seamlessly combines natural beauty with rich cultural heritage. From its pristine beaches to the rugged Albanian Alps, and with numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the country offers a diverse range of attractions that cater to travelers seeking history, adventure, and relaxation. Albania’s Commitment to Sustainable Tourism The Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Albania (MOTE) has made significant strides in aligning the country’s tourism industry with sustainability goals. As part of this commitment, Albania joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), underscoring its dedication to preserving the environment while boosting tourism. Albania’s tourism strategy integrates environmental concerns with local community engagement, ensuring that sustainable practices guide the country’s tourism growth. In October 2024, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, unveiled the National Tourism Strategy 2024-2030. This ambitious plan outlines the country’s approach to sustainable tourism, aiming to enhance tourism’s year-round appeal and elevate Albania as a diversified destination. The strategy is based on six core pillars, including infrastructure investments, fiscal policies, destination management, product development, marketing, and workforce training. By focusing on these areas, Albania seeks to boost tourism revenues and reduce the seasonality of the industry, creating a more stable economic foundation. Additionally, the strategy divides Albania into six tourism regions to foster tailored tourism development: the Adriatic Coast, the Northern Interior, Tirana, the Ionian Coast, and the Southern Interior. These regions will help refine tourism offerings, from eco-tourism experiences to cultural and historical tours, contributing to a broader and more sustainable tourism landscape. Global Support for Albania’s Sustainable Goals Albania’s commitment to sustainability is further supported by its partnership with the United Nations. In 2022, the UN and Albania signed a Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework that aligns Albania’s tourism and environmental goals with the broader objectives of the European Union and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The cooperation is aimed at helping Albania’s tourism industry grow in harmony with its environmental and social priorities. “Albania has a unique approach to tourism that’s even reflected in our policies. We are one of the few countries where tourism and environmental management are governed by the same ministry, creating an internal check-and-balance system. Our goal is to develop tourism as the major sector of our economy, but we’re equally committed to doing it sustainably, caring for our natural surroundings. The UN Tourism Barometer shows Albania leading Europe in the rise of international visitors. Meanwhile, we’ve designated over 21% of our land as protected area, with national and natural parks offering beautiful opportunities for ecotourism such as Vjosa, the last wild river of Europe. I am confident that GSTC will help us even more towards our objectives for a sustainable tourism that respects the environment”, said Mirela Kumbaro , Minister of Tourism and Environment of Albania . Albania has already become a leader in Europe in attracting international visitors, as highlighted by the UN Tourism Barometer, and the country is poised to continue its momentum in sustainable tourism development. Memorandum of Understanding with GSTC In a strategic move to further enhance sustainable tourism, Albania’s Ministry of Tourism and Environment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and RisiAlbania/Helvetas in August 2024. This agreement aims to foster collaboration between the parties, promoting the adoption of the GSTC Criteria and advancing sustainable tourism practices in the country. The partnership will help establish a National Framework for Sustainable Tourism, encouraging local businesses to pursue certification through GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies. This framework is designed to provide clear guidelines and support to Albania’s tourism sector as it works towards achieving internationally recognized sustainability standards. Sustainable Tourism Conference in Tirana To build on this collaboration, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Albania will host a Sustainable Tourism Conference in Tirana on December 6th, 2024. The event, supported by RisiAlbania and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), will bring together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. This includes representatives from the GSTC, the UN Tourism sector, and a range of tourism industry leaders, including hotel operators, tour agencies, and eco-tourism advocates. The conference aims to highlight Albania’s sustainable tourism initiatives and offer a platform for sharing best practices, challenges, and strategies for fostering a more sustainable and resilient tourism sector. The partnership between the Ministry and the GSTC is expected to be a pivotal step in further elevating Albania’s position as a leader in sustainable tourism development. By embracing sustainability, Albania is not only protecting its natural treasures but also positioning itself as a model for responsible tourism growth in the region. With its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and forward-thinking tourism policies, Albania is set to become a prime destination for eco-conscious travelers in the years to come. “We are pleased that the Albania Ministry of Tourism and Environment has joined our global network as a GSTC Member and are committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices. We look forward to working with them to advance sustainable tourism practices in their country,” said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
South Korean president vows to fight 'until the very last minute'
