234 twin flame Quentin Tarantino blasts Yellowstone as 'soap opera' leaving devoted fans ragingNoneGuest Col | Dr Manmohan Singh: A homage riddled with guilt

HINGHAM, Mass., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HINGHAM INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS (NASDAQ:HIFS) ("the Bank”), Hingham, Massachusetts, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.63 per share. The dividend will be paid on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of January 6, 2025. Robert H. Gaughen, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, in announcing the dividend, stated, "Returns on equity and assets in 2024 have been significantly lower than our long-term performance, reflecting the challenge from the increase in short-term interest rates over the last twenty-four months and a historically long and deep inversion of the yield curve. These conditions have posed a significant - albeit ultimately temporary - challenge to our business model. Our core business has been particularly challenged during this period and our investment operations have been critical to sustaining some growth in book value per share in this environment. As our assets continue to reprice higher and our liabilities, including both deposits and wholesale funding, reprice lower, conditions have become somewhat more favorable for our model. While this market environment has been extraordinarily challenging, the Bank's business model has been built over time to compound shareholder capital through economic cycles. During all such periods, we remain focused on careful capital allocation, defensive underwriting and disciplined cost control - the building blocks for compounding shareholder capital through all stages of the economic cycle. These remain constant, regardless of the macroeconomic environment in which we operate. I believe that over the past twenty-four months we have retained this focus and it will serve us well as our business emerges from this period.” The Bank regularly considers all capital allocation options and continues to return capital to the ownership through both regular and special dividends. This will be our 124th consecutive quarterly dividend. The Bank has also generally declared special cash dividends in each of the last twenty-nine years, typically in the fourth quarter, but did not declare a special dividend in 2023 and 2024. These special dividends have varied considerably, as the Bank sets the level of the special dividend based on the Bank's capital requirements and the prospective return on other capital allocation options. This may result in special dividends, if any, significantly above or below the regular quarterly dividend. Given the present environment and the Bank's capital generation capacity, the Bank believes that the prospective returns in the Bank's core business currently warrant reinvestment of incremental capital to support lending at attractive pricing. Incorporated in 1834, Hingham Institution for Savings is one of America's oldest banks. The Bank maintains offices in Boston, Nantucket, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The Bank's shares of common stock are listed and traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol HIFS. CONTACT: Patrick R. Gaughen, President & Chief Operating Officer (781) 783-1761

( MENAFN - GetNews) The first battle in our country's morality war must start with us. That can be hard because if you are like me, you have screwed up royally in the past. Drew Alan Hall describes his father as his best friend, though they sometimes disagree on specific subjects. One such subject is politics. While neither Hall nor his father considers themselves far right or far left, they occupy different sides of the aisle regarding presidential candidates. Recent elections have sparked heated conversations between them, often centered not on tax strategy or foreign policy but on morality - specifically, the morality of individuals and their politics. Election years tend to bring moral issues to the forefront of public discourse, addressing topics ranging from gender identification to abortion and beyond. These issues emerge in debates between candidates and conversations among individuals, often spilling over into social media. During one such discussion with his father, Hall observed that many people look to political figures and parties as society's moral compass. The distinction between the morality of policies and the morality of candidates often becomes blurred. Hall believes followers of Jesus should take time to pray and reflect on how they approach their beliefs about morality and political choices before casting their votes. The desire for leaders to embody strength and integrity is not unique to America. The Bible illustrates this struggle when God's people asked for a king. Saul, who looked the part, was flawed internally, while David, a man after God's heart, made significant moral missteps. These two leaders, despite their outward differences, both faced moments of moral failure. Hall notes that while society often demands its leaders exemplify morality and integrity, individuals may not hold themselves to the same standards. The first step in addressing the nation's morality issues must begin with individuals. Acknowledging personal mistakes can be challenging, and past failures may lead some to feel unworthy of being used by God. Hall suggests that such thinking can cause people to expect their leaders to achieve what they themselves cannot. Conversations about morality and leaders' actions often overlook personal accountability. To see a shift in national morality aligned with God, Hall emphasizes that individuals must first address their own lives. This personal transformation does not necessarily require running for office but does demand active participation in the mission of making disciples and sharing the good news of Jesus. Hall draws parallels to the life of Peter, who, after denying Jesus, initially returned to his old life as a fisherman. However, an encounter with the risen Messiah helped Peter move past his guilt and step into God's work, ultimately playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the church. Hall highlights that while Peter did not pursue political office, his personal transformation led to world-changing impact. As the election approaches, Hall encourages individuals to seek a transformative conversation with Jesus. Such a conversation can lead to the realization of God's plan for their lives, replacing guilt and shame with grace and forgiveness. Hall believes this shift - aligning actions with beliefs - can gradually influence the nation's morality. For Christians navigating the election season, Hall offers three steps. First, engage in an honest conversation with Jesus to assess whether personal actions align with beliefs. Second, pray for guidance to discern the candidate to support and determine how to do so in a way that honors Christ. Third, remember that a follower of Jesus finds identity in His life, death, and resurrection - not in any political candidate or party. Regardless of who wins the presidency, Jesus remains King. About "How To Keep it Real" by Drew Alan Hall Has regret over past denial of God kept you from the purpose he has for your life? The good news is God does not want you to stay sidelined by past mistakes. By comparing the story of Peter's denial to my own, this book shows how one tough conversation with Jesus could be the thing that moves you forward to radically living for him. In this book, readers will be introduced to three things. Get a Free Copy of this Book on Amazon From December 23 to December 27th. Amazon: Kharis Website: About Kharis Publishing At Kharis Publishing, we believe every writer deserves a chance to share their story with the world. If you've faced rejection after rejection, you're not alone-many great authors have been in your shoes. Video Link: MENAFN27122024003238003268ID1109036027 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.What to know about ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's HezbollahNC State and East Carolina meet in next season's opener. But first, the Military Bowl

Mikel Arteta hailed the best away European performance of his Arsenal reign after watching his side dismantle Sporting Lisbon 5-1. The Gunners delivered the statement Champions League victory their manager had demanded to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Inter Milan last time out. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track, lifting them to seventh place with 10 points in the new-look 36-team table. It was Arsenal’s biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter by the same scoreline in 2003. Bukayo Saka was on target for Arsenal (Armando Franca/AP) “For sure, especially against opposition we played at their home who have not lost a game in 18 months – they have been in top form here – so to play with the level, the determination, the purpose and the fluidity we showed today, I am very pleased,” said Arteta. “The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live they are so good! They were all exceptional today. It was a big performance, a big win and we are really happy. “The performance was there a few times when we have played big teams. That’s the level that we have to be able to cope and you have to make it happen, and that creates belief.” A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners took the lead after only seven minutes when Martinelli tucked in Jurrien Timber’s cross, and Saka teed up Havertz for a tap-in to double the advantage. Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Declan Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Viktor Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after David Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved. A miserable night for prolific Sporting striker Gyokeres was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.NC State and East Carolina meet in next season's opener. But first, the Military BowlPowers will play for the six-player state title in football after outlasting South Wasco County 40-30 in the semifinals Saturday at Cottage Grove. The top-ranked Cruisers will face Harper Charter, the No. 2 ranked team, in the championship game this Saturday. Harper Charter beat the combined Prairie City/Burnt River squad 65-22 in the other semifinal game. The championship game is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Caldera High School in Bend. Both teams enter the title contest with perfect records. Powers overcame four turnovers and a few costly penalties to beat the Redsides in their semifinal game. Just like in the quarterfinals, they trailed early, as well, before taking the lead. South Wasco County had the ball first, and took just three plays to score, with quarterback Storm McCoy connecting with George Barnett on a 54-yard score. It was the first of four touchdown passes, all to different players, for McCoy. Marcel Sandoval’s conversion kick gave the Redsides an early 8-0 lead. The Cruisers then promptly lost a fumble, the first of their four turnovers, and Sandoval recovered for the Redsides. But right away, the Cruisers forced the first South Wasco County turnovers, with Rene Sears recovering the miscue. A big run by Jayce Shorb moved the ball deep into South Wasco territory and Sears connected with Patrick Mahmoud on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Sears added the conversion run and the Cruisers trailed just 8-7 with 6:19 go in the first quarter. The first big Powers penalty came on the ensuring South Wasco County possession, an offsides penalty on a play when the Redsides snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head for what would have been a safety. The Redsides then reached the Cruisers’ 10 yard line, but another snap over the quarterback’s head led to a big loss and the Cruisers stopped the drive when Mahmoud knocked down a fourth-down pass. This time it was Braden Bushnell connecting with Mahmoud on a 67-yard touchdown pass to put the Cruisers in front for good, 13-8 after a failed conversion attempt. After another quick stop, Powers drove the field and Shorb scored from 1 yard out. Bushnell hit Sears for the conversion, giving the Cruisers a 20-8 lead early in the second. The Redsides had another snap over the quarterback’s head on a fourth-down play giving Powers the ball at the South Wasco County 11, but the Cruisers were unable to capitalize. South Wasco County drove the field and McCoy hit Marcos Chavez for a 14-yard score, pulling the Redsides within 20-14. Both teams scored in the final minute of the first half — a 17- yard run by Sears for Powers and an 18-yard pass from McCoy to Coy Shirley for the Redsides — but South Wasco County made its kick and Powers missed its conversion and the Cruisers’ halftime lead was 26-22, a close score by Powers standards for the season. The Cruisers scored quickly in the third quarter, a two-play drive with Sears connecting with Talon Blanton for a pass down to the South Wasco County 11 and then a conversion pass from Sears to Blanton. The Cruisers then recovered a squib kick, with Sears falling on the ball, and Sears connected with Brody Harless for a 6-yard touchdown that gave Powers a 40-22 lead with 6:22 to go in the third quarter. Blanton recovered the squib kick again, with Blanton getting on the ball, but South Wasco County got an interception by Barnett. Powers forced another turnover, with Mahmoud intercepting in the end zone. But Powers had a fumble and this time, the Redsides converted, with Gavin Hagen scoring an 88- yard catch-and-run touchdown on a pass from McCoy. Sandoval’s kick made it 40-30 in the final minute of the third quarter, but the score turned out to be the final touchdown of the game. The final quarter wasn’t without excitement, though. Powers had a long touchdown run by Shorb called back by a penalty, got a sack by Dan Shorb to end the ensuing South Wasco County drive, and then lost its final turnover. South Wasco County got the ball down to the Powers 4, but was unable to score. Blanton had a big sack to push the ball out to the 17 and the Redsides dropped a potential touchdown pass. Powers ran out the clock and advanced to the championship game for the first time since 2003, when Powers lost to Powder Valley. The Cruisers got their last state title in 1998, the last of three straight state championships. In the win over South Wasco County, Sears rushed for 139 yards and the two scores and also completed 6 of 14 passes for 94 yards and two more touchdowns. Bushnell and Jayce Shorb combined for 95 more rushing yards and Bushnell completed 5 of 11 passes for 113 yards. Mahmoud had three catches for 88 yards, while Blanton had three receptions for 62 and Jayce Shorb three for 48. Mahmoud had a team-best 10 tackles while Jayce Shorb had six tackles for loss. For South Wasco County, McCoy completed 18 of 33 passes for 431 yards. Hagan had seven catches for 190 yards and Barnett five catches for 147. Barnett had a team-best 70 rushing yards but the team had negative yards in all, due to McCoy losing 101 yards on 10 carries. Harper Charter, like Powers, is unbeaten on the season and twice beat South Wasco County, 45-6 in September and 53-20 on Oct. 25. The Hornets also beat Joseph, the squad Powers beat in the quarterfinals, 48-7. Unlike Powers, which has six seniors among its 12 players, Harper Charter is a junior-dominated club, with one senior and nine juniors. In the other championship matchups: : Lake Oswego beat Central Catholic 33-24 in one semifinal and West Linn held off Sheldon 28-21 in the other, setting up a championship game between the top two teams. The Lakers and Lions meet at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Hillsboro Stadium. In the secondary 6A championship, for the second 16 teams in the state’s largest classification, rivals and neighbors North Medford and South Medford will square off after North Medford beat Jesuit 42-32 and South Medford shut out Newberg 17-0. The game will be at 5 p.m. Saturday in the stadium the two teams share. : Wilsonville knocked off top-ranked Silverton 32-29 to advance to the final against Mountain View, which beat West Albany 40-17 in the other semifinal. The championship game is at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Hillsboro Stadium. : Top-ranked Marist Catholic dominated Scappoose 41-7 to set up a championship-game rematch against Henley, which won last year’s title over the Spartans 42- 23. Henley edged Cascade 21-14, coming from 14 points down in the fourth quarter and winning the game in overtime. The tying touchdown came with just 19 seconds to go in regulation. The championship game is at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spiegelberg Stadium in Medford. : Vale and Burns will meet for the title. One week after knocking off top-ranked Siuslaw, North Valley was stymied by Vale’s defense and fell 20-3. The Vikings have won 12 state titles, the last in 2015, and are unbeaten this year. Burns, meanwhile, upset No. 2 Banks 22-15, the third straight upset for the 11th-seed Hilanders. Burns fell to Vale 18-12 back in early October. Burns has shut out five opponents and given up one touchdown or less to three others. Vale has given up one touchdown or less seven times and won another game by forfeit. The game will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Summit High School in Bend. : St. Paul knocked off top-seed Heppner 18-12 to reach the championship game, where the unbeaten Buckaroos will meet Sunset Conference champion Oakridge. The Oakers, the No. 2 seed, also are unbeaten and eliminated Gervais 28-14 one week after also knocking out Myrtle Point. The championship game is at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cottage Grove High School. : Top seed Adrian will face North Douglas for the title after both won semifinal games Saturday. Adrian beat Crane 34-26 to improve to 11-0 on the season. Unbeaten North Douglas beat Crosspoint Christian 50-6 behind another huge game from Hunter Vaughn, who had four touchdown runs and a TD catch and ran for 287 yards on 13 carries. For the season, Vaughn has rushed for 2,654 yards and 45 touchdowns. The championship game is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Summit High School.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Walmart’s Mexico subsidiary said Friday it plans to appeal a $4.6 million fine for alleged anti-competitive practices involving suppliers. Walmart de Mexico said in a statement that it had talked with suppliers to see if there were any concerns. The agency that issued the fine, known as the Federal Competition Commission, expressed concerns about a “relative monopolistic practice.” The commission, Mexico's main anti-monopoly regulatory agency, is one of several independent agencies soon to be eliminated as part of what the government describes as a money-saving measure. It apparently levied the fine after at least one rival store chain accused Walmart of using its substantial purchasing power to gain discounts that put other sellers at a disadvantage. Walmart is by far the largest retail chain in Mexico. It called the decision “incorrect” and said it contained “errors in applying the law.” The company said it would abide by the agency’s ruling Thursday, but would appeal the decision. Walmart's shares rose about 7.5% on the Mexican stock exchange Friday.

When it comes to providing the best education for Pulaski County students, it matters who’s driving the bus. That was the message Pulaski County Board of Education Chair Cindy Price had after Superintendent Patrick Richardson was handed the district’s PRISM (Pulaski Recognizes Innovative Staff Members) award for Excellence in Education. “Many times I’ve heard Mr. Richardson say, ‘It’s all about getting the right person on the right bus and in the right seat.’ The most important seat is in the very front of the bus,” Price said. “... I’m glad we have Mr. Richardson driving that bus for us. And I appreciate him very much.” The metaphor was particularly apt, seeing as how in his nomination letter, it was noted that Richardson is capable of driving an actual school bus if necessary. “Knowing that it is difficult to recruit bus drivers, Mr. Richardson maintains his CDL so that he can drive a bus when needed,” according to the letter, read out at Tuesday’s school board meeting by Middle School Supervisor Rodney McAninch. Richardson even drove a bus full of supplies out to Western Kentucky when that area was struck by tornado damage, the letter stated. The letter called Richardson a “protecting force” for the district during situations such as the pandemic and, more recently, the concern surrounding Amendment 2, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have allow public tax dollars to go towards private educational institutions. That amendment was ultimately voted down by Kentuckians. McAninch read that Richardson showed “unwavering support for public schools at personal, professional and political expense” by speaking out against the amendment. More than that, however, Richardson has be a strong leader ever since he stepped into the position. “Since becoming superintended of Pulaski County Schools in 2018, the district has consistently ranked in the top 20% of all schools in Kentucky based on state testing results,” the nomination letter read. It also noted his extracurricular activities, as it were. “In his efforts to improve the educational landscape of his school district, community and state, Mr. Richardson has served on many governing boards and councils,” the letter read. “For more than 10 years, he has been involved in with the Kentucky School Plant Management Association, having served as an active member, vice president and president. He has served on the Superintendent Advisory Council, advising the commissioner of education, sharing his experiences and perspectives to inform the commissioner’s decision making. He’s also served on the local Chamber of Commerce board, providing an important and influential pro-education perspective to the group.” In being presented the award, Richardson was joined by many members of his family. When asked if he had any words, Richardson said, “The only way I’m successful at all, it’s because of the people I have around me. And I appreciate this. When I was hired as superintendent, I told the board I feel like my role is to remove barriers, and that’s what I’ve always been about, is trying to remove barriers and let the people do the work. “... It’s been, many times, at the expense of these folks,” he said, pointing to his family members. “I appreciate and love them, and thank you all for supporting me.” Other recipients of PRISM awards were Kim Turpen and James Cox. A letter written in support of Turpen, a math teacher at Southwestern High School, stated that she goes “above and beyond on a daily basis to improve the lives of Southwestern High School students. She’s usually the first teacher to arrive at school, (and) provides morning math tutoring to any student in need of assistance.” The letter for Cox, the assistant principal at Southern Middle School, said, “Mr. Cox is a tremendous asset to the students, staff and families of Southern Middle School. ... He is the one who comforts our students with the greatest needs when they need it the most. For our teachers, he is always there with a listening ear and encouraging voice.”Voice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell gave the Blades a two-goal advantage at half-time, while Jesurun Rak-Sakyi ensured the final half an hour was played with far less intensity when he grabbed the Blades third. The victory sent the Blades to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table, but left the U’s suffering three defeats on the bounce. United head coach Buckingham said: “It’s a tough place to come, a team that are top of the table. “I thought we gave a good account of ourselves across, until we gave away a throw-in goal. “When you come to a place where teams haven’t scored in nine hours here, they don’t give up goals lightly. “We then had to go chase the game, but we’ve reverted back to the shape that we’re comfortable in, and we’ve done as much as we can to prevent them, but their ambition I’m sure as a club this year is to go up. Ours is to make sure we stay up. “We need to make sure we bring players back and we revert back to what we’re good at, and that we get ourselves right for what’s coming in the next month. “We spoke about how important this squad has been. The reality is we haven’t had this squad available to us for the last six to eight weeks. “We have to utilise the squad, whether it’s to get minutes into them and prepare for what’s coming, and it’s difficult to do because you’re coming up against very good players. “There were three of their players on the pitch that cost the entire amount of our team, so that’s the reality of what it is. “We’ve spoken about how important every player is going to be for us to achieve our goals this year, which are very different to their goals. “It’s about making sure we put ourselves in the best place for what’s to come. “We’ve got Millwall now on Saturday, we’ve got players back, and we’ve got a good run of games coming up where we can really go back to where we were at the start of the season.” Buckingham added: “I’ll take responsibility for results. This level is very different to what we’ve been used to. “We’re probably going to get more results against us than we’ve had in many a season, but I’ll accept that as long as players continue to try to showcase what they can do within the formation and the set-up we have. “It won’t work every time, but whether it’s belief or confidence within the group, as long as we continue to see that, we’ll always own the result and own the performance. “Players know their roles. It’s now about doing them as well as we can. If they do that, they’ll put themselves in the best place.”Sturdevant: When departing Hornstein describes value of friendships, the incoming Legislature should listen

LAS VEGAS — Kansas center Hunter Dickinson was ejected midway through the second half of the top-ranked Jayhawks' game against No. 11 Duke on Tuesday night for kicking the Blue Devils' Maliq Brown in the head. Brown was assessed a personal foul for backing into Dickinson while both were going for a rebound. Dickinson was given a flagrant-2 for the kick, leading to the ejection. He initially remained in the bench area with his teammates before being escorted off the floor. Dickinson entered the game averaging 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. Kansas led 57-55 at the time of his ejection.

From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnLocal Football Roundup: Powers reaches football championship game

Prominent industrialists and businessmen from across Anambra State have expressed confidence that the South-East Development Commission will create more opportunities for the South-East geopolitical zone once it becomes operational. They praised the management of the commission, led by Mark Okoye as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Emeka Nworgu as Chairman, for having the capacity to bring the commission’s vision to fruition. Okoye is also the MD/CEO of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, while Nworgu is a former Minister of Labour. Speaking to journalists in Awka on Friday about the SEDC’s importance to the South-East region, businessman and former president of the Anambra Chambers of Commerce, Don Ebubeogu, commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising competence over political affiliation in constituting the board. Ebubeogu stated, “President Tinubu may be sending a strong message to Ndigbo: the era of career political contractors is over. The political gang that has held this region down should now seek meaningful work and remove their weight from our necks.” On her part, Mrs. Ijeoma Oduonye, the Chief Executive Officer of Cutix Plc, expressed confidence that the SEDC would fulfill its mandate of infrastructural transformation and economic rejuvenation for the region. Related News SEDC board will tackle Southeast infrastructure deficit — Ex-PDP presidential aspirant Anambra federal character commissioner lauds Tinubu on S’East development Matters arising from mushrooming of development commissions She added, “We are confident that the SEDC will deliver beyond expectations, promoting dynamic infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth in the South-East region.” It should be noted that President Tinubu signed the SEDC bill into law in July and nominated a 16-member board for the commission on December 7. Among the other nominees were Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, Mr. Toby Okechukwu, Mr. Stanley Ohajuruka, Mr. Anthony Agbo, Dr. Clifford Ogbede, Mr. Ugochukwu Agballah, Mr. Okey Ezenwa, and Chief Hyacinth Ikpor. The SEDC was established to oversee the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged during the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967–1970). The businessmen expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for constituting the Governing Board and Executive Management of the Commission and voiced their hope for a swift confirmation process.Pakistani authorities launch operation to clear Imran Khan supporters from the capital

Christmas events in Surrey include 'A Holly Jolly Christmas' concert at BellFlag football scours nation with talent camps to uncover next wave of stars DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Pat Graham, The Associated Press Nov 26, 2024 2:17 PM Nov 26, 2024 2:20 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message This photo provided by USA Football shows U.S. National Team flag football player Bruce Mapp playing against Brazil at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships at the Pajulahti Olympic Training Center in Lahti, Finland, Aug. 27, 2024. (Lester Barnes/USA Football via AP) DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Pat Graham, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (CFL) Bombers GM Walters sees no need to blow up roster despite another Grey Cup loss Nov 26, 2024 2:11 PM Calgary Stampeders acquire quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. from B.C. Lions Nov 26, 2024 11:06 AM Former Tiger-Cats player, general manager Joe Zuger dead at 84 Nov 26, 2024 7:58 AMArtificial Intelligence is fast evolving. In doing so, it has increasingly challenged traditional conceptions of human-technology interaction. For quite some time, traditional AI systems were seen as ways through which processes could be automated, data managed, or even routine tasks executed. However, with the unveiling of Talkie Soulful AI by TalkietalkieAI, all perceptions of communication between humans and machines are changing. It nurtures emotional intelligence and connects humans more soulfully. Talkie AI is where the future of communication is going from functionality to an AI that creates depth on an emotional level. Concept of Talkie Soulful AI At its core, Talkie Soulful AI has advanced algorithms added with emotional intelligence in natural-sounding conversations to render realism and humanness. Whereas most of those general AI methods would just answer the responses in a script, Talkie AI is designed to give responses to even the nuances and complexity whenever an emotion inside the conversation calls for it. Because this technology uses natural language processing, literally every single interaction goes through, capturing context and sentiment, and gives out relevant responses that emotionally resonate. Gone are the mechanical and impersonal dialogues with Talkie Soulful AI; in their place come meaningful exchanges that stir and heighten feelings of empathy and understanding. This reflects the shift in the manner of communication of people in today’s society, which screams for real life connections at the back of increased automation. Talkie AI: Redefining How Humans Communicate Talkie Soulful AI is the frontier in the future revolution of communication. Well, here is how changes are: 1. Emotionally Intelligent Conversations It takes into consideration most of the serious criticism that traditional AI systems face on the ground of the inability of those to understand human sentiments and respond meaningfully towards these. The architecture within the core of Talkie Soulful AI holds emotional intelligence. While doing this, AI Talkie detects human sentiments ranging over joy, sadness, frustration, excitement, or other feeling manifestations. Further, the context changes depending on the sentiment portrayed. In the input given-for responding-give it a personal appeal, it is looking to light the conversation through emotions. 2. Personalization and Context Awareness What makes Talkie Soulful AI so special is the personalization it offers. It is continuously learning from previous interactions with the user over time. It shapes its patterns of response according to user preference, personality, and even emotional triggers to provide unique, connecting dialogues. Also, Talkie Soulful AI is contextually aware: instead of narrowing the focus down to just one message, it expands to the big conversation. It keeps in mind what has been said by the user, hence also capable of making responses coherent with those made earlier, enhancing continuity and authenticity. 3. Companionship and Emotional Support The role of emotional support cannot be overemphasized where Talkie AI is mentioned. People have been looking for companionship in distress moments or during counseling, and Talkie Soulful AI offers an easily accessible space to talk about a problem. Whether loneliness, anxiety, or just stress is felt, the response of AI Talkie pops up with soothing and empathetic statements that make a person feel heard and not abandoned. With the addition of real-time emotional intelligence, the Talkie Soulful AI ceases to be just a digital assistant but a companion, one in whom one would entrust their comfort and understanding. This is important in particular in moments when immediate human support is not available or if they would like to talk with an AI that really listened and understood them without judgment. 4. 24/7 Availability Yet another strong aspect with the use of Talkie Soulful AI: unlike the availability of human interaction-which, in turn, could be restricted by time zones, schedules, or general unavailability – AI Talkie is available 24/7. Be it deep into the night, through a busy workday, or even during the midst of a personal crisis, it’s always there to support one, guide them, or just converse with them. This no doubt makes AI Talkie an invaluable asset for any person who may seek emotional support or even assistance at any time. Soulful Communication In the rapid pace of the digital landscape, effective communication usually goes out the window. Yet, soulful communication is a basic human need-true empathy, comprehension, and acknowledgment. The capability to deeply connect with others fosters trust, collaboration, and emotional well-being both in personal relationships and at work. Talkie Soulful AI comes to fill in the need for conversations: warm, appealing, and responsive to the emotional cue. It is thus priceless in many areas, ranging from customer service to mental health support and education. TalkieTalkieAI Conceptualization of AI It is such pioneering and leading with vision that is undertaken in order to work for the remodeling of communications using an emotional intelligence approach. Therefore, TalkieTalkieAI believes in the principle of continuous improvement so that Talkie Soulful AI lets it grow into ever-changing user needs for the greater good of building up one connected digital space. The mission of TalkietalkieAI is straightforward: to make good use of advanced technology in bringing people closer and enriching their interactions. As the company envisions building Talkie AI, it sees a future wherein technology connects rather than isolates us from meaningful human understanding. Conclusion It is reconnecting with causes and deeper reasons for the imagination of ways through which we can communicate better. Talkie Soulful AI: This is an innovative technological creation leading the movement to authentic engagement in interactions within different aspects of our lives, brought to the audience by TalkietalkieAI. The prospect of a talkative and soulful AI points to a future in which good communication will be cherished. This exciting evolution not only amplifies our personal and professional interactions but also reaffirms, in our increasing digital world, the intrinsic value of connection. Welcome to the voice of the future in soul-speaking, welcome to Talkie AI. Technology will help us reach each other, create understanding, and deepen connections in an empathetic way.The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) secured the leading position during Charity Week 2024, raising QR114,753.25, a statement said Tuesday. This marks the second consecutive year that the UDST has achieved the highest total among participating universities and schools in Qatar. Charity Week is a global initiative that unites communities worldwide to support orphans and underserved children, guided by shared Islamic and humanitarian values. In Qatar, the event is conducted in collaboration with Education Above All, involving 23 educational institutions. The week-long fundraising efforts at the UDST were spearheaded by students in partnership with the Student Engagement Department, a division of Student Affairs. The team organised innovative activities and initiatives that engaged the entire UDST community. “It is heartwarming to see our community come together for such a noble cause, demonstrating the University’s role in shaping compassionate leaders,” said USDT president Dr Salem al-Naemi. “By instilling human values alongside academic excellence, the UDST continues to make a meaningful impact within and beyond our campus.” “Congratulations to the UDST Charity Week team,” said UDST vice-president (Student Affairs) Dr Angela Flowerday. “Their perseverance, creativity, and teamwork have been truly inspiring.” “This success reflects the spirit of generosity and unity that defines the UDST,” she added. “I look forward to seeing Charity Week return next year, further enriching the culture of collaboration and philanthropy on our campus.” This year, the Qatar Charity Week Team, which involved many prominent schools, colleges, and universities in Qatar, collectively raised QR349,864.81. The UDST Charity Week core team comprised students from different Colleges: Judy Zarzour, Yazen Abu, Basma Kamran, Janan Maki, Faisal Maki, Hira Zahid, and Fidha Mukhtar. Every student was assigned a specific role to ensure the success of the event. “As the representative of Charity Week 2024, I am deeply inspired by the remarkable success and lasting impact of this year’s initiatives,” said UDST Charity Week representative Zarzour. “It has been incredible to witness the passion and commitment of the student volunteers in organising such diverse activities, as well as the overwhelming generosity displayed by the UDST community.” Related Story ADLQ annual symposium concludes Japanese Fruits Week held

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Neel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, climate change for The Times of India. His incisive and comprehensive reporting about over a year-long farmers' struggle against farm laws at the borders of the national capital won laurels. He is an alumunus of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology. Read More ​Erica Fernandes radiates beauty in cultural fashion ​Amyra Dastur stuns in elegant lehenga choli collection​ Shriya Saran sets bridal fashion goals in a breathtaking red lehenga Radiant pics of Anna Ben 10 iconic beverages from popular countries around the world Sara Ali Khan sets new glam goals in shimmery dresses 10 Himalayan hill stations to visit in December Karisma Kapoor redefines elegance with her ethnic fashion mastery How Allu Arjun became the most stylish superstar in South Indian cinemaCenterPoint Energy Declares Regular Common Stock Dividend of $0.2200

None(Bloomberg) — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to cut off back up power supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv stops transporting Russian gas to Central Europe. “After January 1, we will assess the situation and potential reciprocal measures against Ukraine,” Fico said in a video posted on Facebook on Friday evening. “If necessary, we will stop supplying electricity that Ukraine urgently needs during network outages.” Russian gas that flows through Ukraine to Europe will halt at the end of the year when the current deal expires if an alternative can’t be found. Slovakia is one of the biggest remaining buyers and has been cranking up the pressure on Ukraine to find a solution. Fico threatened to retaliate if Volodymyr Zelenskiy doesn’t give him what he wants and the comments on Friday are his strongest yet. Fico justified the threat by pointing to the significant impact that stopping flows of Russian gas would have on Europe’s economy. The European Union will face an additional 120 billion euros ($125 billion) in energy costs over the next two years as a result of a halt, according to Fico. “Stopping the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine is not just a hollow political gesture. It’s an extremely costly move, one that we, in the European Union, will pay for,” Fico said. Neither Russia or Ukraine can see an extension of the deal on the same terms. The Slovak Prime Minister wants to maintain gas transit beyond 2024 and says he has suggested alternative solutions that would not require contact between the two warring nations.

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