Nominations for YWCA Outstanding Women 2025 due Dec. 6SALISBURY – In a nearly five-hour session of the latest Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on the application for redevelopment of the Wake Robin Inn, experts representing the interveners took center stage. The next and final session is set for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The PZC will have 65 days after the hearing closes to render a decision. Aradev, the developer, is proposing to expand the site, adding rooms to the inn, putting up guest cottages, installing a pool and spa, and building an event barn. Plans also call for extending the property accessed off Route 41 to go through to Wells Hill Road. The application for a special exception has raised concerns among neighbors and townspeople, leading to a request from Angela and William Cruger for intervener status during the hearing. William Cruger said he and his wife are abutters to the site on Wells Hill Road. He noted there are two levels of concern: one for the neighbors, whose enjoyment of their property, as well as values, would be reduced. He said there also would be negative implications for the community. “They’re not just saying they don’t like it, which they don’t,” Cruger said. “But there are reasons for denying the application. It’s not political; it’s not about popularity; it’s the law.” Cruger then called upon a battery of experts to give testimony. First to speak was planner Brian Miller, who said he doesn’t accept NIMBY projects, but after reviewing the application, he found many negative aspects. He said the plan is about placing a large commercial use into a residential area. He described the event barn, with a capacity of up to 200 people, as more like a catering hall. “Large parties tend to be noisy or raucous at times,” Miller said, calling letting events go on until midnight in a residential area “unbelievable.” Roger Rawlings, a local financial analyst, said increased traffic on a particular road has a negative effect on property values. “The commission is obligated to look at that data,” he said, concluding the values on Wells Hill Road would be adversely affected. Ecologist George Logan focused on storm-water management and how water discharge from the project could affect Lake Wonoscopomuc, while acoustical engineer Bennett Brooks spoke of the noise impact from the development. He said there are three factors of obtrusive noise: buildings and their systems, behavior and traffic. “This development has the strong potential to be highly intrusive and not compatible with the neighborhood,” Brooks said. “The application is incomplete or flawed. It needs more details or calculations.” Lastly, engineer Dainius Virbickas questioned several aspects of the project, including the actual number of parking spaces, handicapped accessibility into the hotel, slopes and lack of soil tests for the parking areas. Attorney Perley H. Grimes Jr., representing the Crugers, said the burden of proof of whether the regulations are met and the site plan is complete is on the applicant, not the neighbors. “I think my clients met the terms that the application doesn’t meet the regulations,” he said. “... If the commission adheres to the regulations and Connecticut case law, it is compelled to deny the application.” Grimes said the PZC must take into account the petition signed by more than 250 residents and the 60 letters expressing opposition to the plan, with only 10 in support. “This could permanently change the area and be detrimental to the community,” he added. In questioning the experts, attorney Josh Mackey, representing Aradev, asked if Logan had ever been on the property before writing his report. Logan acknowledged he had not. PZC Chairman Michael Klemens took the applicants by surprise when, at the end of the session, he asked whether the project could go forward without the event barn and the extension of the property to Wells Hill Road. Mackey said they would have to give that question consideration and come back with an answer Tuesday. Contact Ruth Epstein at kcsruthe @ aol.com.

Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordNoneBeijing said Tuesday it would restrict exports to the United States of some key components in making semiconductors, after Washington announced curbs targeting China's ability to make advanced chips. Among the materials banned from export are metals gallium, antimony and germanium, Beijing's commerce ministry said in a statement that cited "national security" concerns. Exports of graphite, another key component, will also be subject to "stricter reviews of end-users and end-uses", the ministry said. "To safeguard national security interests and fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation, China has decided to strengthen export controls on relevant dual-use items to the United States," Beijing said. "Any organisation or individual in any country or region violating the relevant regulations will be held accountable according to the law," it added. Washington announced Monday restrictions on sales to 140 companies including Chinese chip firms Piotech and SiCarrier, expanding efforts to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China. These can be used in advanced weapons systems and artificial intelligence. The new US rules also include controls on two dozen types of chip-making equipment and three kinds of software tools for developing or producing semiconductors. Beijing swiftly vowed to defend its interests. On Tuesday, China added that the United States had "politicised and weaponised economic, trade and technological issues" as it unveiled its own export curbs. The moves also restrict the exports of "dual-use items to United States military users or for military purposes", Beijing said. China accounts for 94 percent of the world's production of gallium -- used in integrated circuits, LEDs and photovoltaic panels -- according to a report by the European Union published this year. For germanium, essential for fibre optics and infrared, China makes up 83 percent of production. Beijing last year already tightened restrictions on exporters of the metals, requiring them to provide information on the final recipient and give details about their end use. But Tuesday's rules now ban them outright. It also previously restricted exports of certain types of graphite -- key to making batteries for electric vehicles. "The move is clearly a retaliatory strike at the US," Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told AFP. "It drives home an important point which is that China is not completely passive (and) there are some cards it can play and hit the US with as well with regards to chips," Loh added. These "back and forth curbs" could create supply chain disruption, as well as inflationary pressures, should they affect trade for third parties, said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science from the National University of Singapore. While the metals play critical roles in high-tech industries, they are upstream in the supply chain, meaning the immediate impact on production "is limited", Brady Wang, associate director at technology market research firm Counterpoint, told AFP. "As the US-China trade tensions have persisted for some time, many intermediary manufacturers in the supply chain have been stockpiling these materials," Wang added. Multiple Chinese trade associations released similarly worded statements Tuesday urging members to seek local alternatives to US chips. The Internet Society of China called on companies to "be cautious when procuring US chips, seek to expand cooperation with chip companies in other countries and regions, and actively use chips produced and manufactured in China by domestic and foreign enterprises". The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers accused Washington of having "arbitrarily amended the control rules, seriously affecting the stable supply of US chip products". "The Chinese auto industry's trust and confidence in the procurement of US chip products is being shaken, and US auto chip products are no longer reliable and safe," the association said. The US's Semiconductor Industry Association president John Neuffer said such claims over reliability and safety "are simply inaccurate". He added that the group is evaluating the impact of latest controls by Washington and Beijing, urging "both governments to avoid further escalation". isk-oho-bys/bfm

Japan’s record deal-making activity this year isn’t giving foreign firms much holiday cheer: For now, the field remains mostly dominated by the local mega banks and law firms with deep ties to the corporate world. At roughly $200bn, the volume of transactions including mergers and acquisitions in the country is up 48% this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That compares with a 17% increase across Asia Pacific and a 19% slump for China, which remains the biggest market in the region with $271bn in volume. The sheer amount of activity is reshaping the battleground for investment bankers seeking to earn the often lucrative fees that come with these transactions. Just as the year winds down, one deal has left bankers scrambling to take part in: Honda Motor Co’s acquisition talks with Nissan Motor Co. The tie up could potentially form the world’s third-largest carmaker. But while the big international investment banks win advisory roles on some deals, Japanese firms historically have a big hometown advantage, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. And among law firms, the preference for Japanese involvement is even more stark with local firms taking the top five spots. “While some foreign banks have been relatively successful in Japan and they continuously pitch and work on many deals, the reality is the Japanese megabanks have much more access to companies due to their lending and underwriting relationship,” said Akio Katsuragi, co-founder and chief executive officer of investment banking boutique Crosspoint Advisors. Partly, this reflects the industries prominent in some recent deals in strategically important sectors such as technology, which makes it even harder for foreign buyers, where global investment banks may have an edge over their local rivals. One such example is Japan Industrial Partners’ $15bn takeover of conglomerate Toshiba Corp, in which Katsuragi’s firm was a lead adviser. Other banks that worked on the deal included Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc, Mizuho Financial Group Inc, Nomura Holdings Inc, as well as overseas banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co and UBS Group AG. The planned union of Honda and Nissan is one of those evergreen deals that has been talked about for years, according to Katsuragi, who was previously CEO of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc’s Japan office. The time is right for the deal to happen, he added, otherwise they might struggle to survive in a very competitive global market. The two companies earlier this week reached a tentative agreement to set up a joint holding company that will aim to list shares in August 2026. While their executives have been careful to paint the transaction as a merger of equals, Honda will take the lead in forming the new entity and nominate a majority of its directors. “There is still a preference to find a Japanese solution when it comes to big deals, especially if there is a possibility of combining two national champions or finding local investors as a way to preserve some of the national-trophy assets,” said Takeshi Nakao, managing partner at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Tokyo. Other deals receiving foreign interest but facing local resistance in Japan include Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc’s pursuit of the owner of 7-Eleven convenience stores. Banks working on the potential cross-border deal include Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Morgan Stanley and Nomura. After the operator of Circle K stores made its intentions known, Seven & i Holdings Co considered a management buyout to take itself private with funding from banks, Itochu Corp and the founding Ito family in a transaction that could be worth around $58bn, Bloomberg News reported. Banks that may provide financing for what could be the largest-ever such deal in Japan include Sumitomo Mitsui, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc and Mizuho. “If Seven & i is possible, then anything could get done, other than certain assets in strategic and sensitive industries,” said Nakao of Freshfields. Nippon Life Insurance Co has done more than $12bn in deals this month alone, and Japan’s biggest insurer isn’t finished yet. There’s also Bain Capital’s ongoing plans to buy shares of software developer Fuji Soft Inc without the support of the Japanese company’s board, setting the stage for a rare hostile bid in its battle with KKR & Co for the Yokohama-based firm. “This is the busiest ever we have seen in Japan dealmaking,” Nakao said. “Deals in Japan are going to get even bigger, both inbound and outbound.” The deal bonanza has also been buoyed by a strong stock market, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index reaching an all-time high in July. It has gained more than 20% this year. Outside of Japan, India was the other hot spot for deals this year, with a record $20bn raised in initial public offerings and $97bn in other transactions including M&A. Investment bankers in Japan have also been busy on equity capital markets transactions as global investors continue to pile into Japanese stocks. About $6.3bn was raised via IPOs in Japan since January, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

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Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National ChampionshipRedefining motion capture with innovative flying action cameras and the award-winning HOVERAir Beacon LAS VEGAS , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Zero Zero Robotics , a pioneering tech company in intelligent devices, announced their participation at CES 2025, where the company will showcase its HOVERAir X1 series of self-flying cameras at booth # 56045 , Venetian, Level 2, Halls A-D. Designed to simplify aerial cinematography, the HOVERAir lineup includes the pocket-sized HOVERAir X1, the action-focused HOVERAir X1 PRO, and the Professional grade HOVERAir X1 PROMAX. Zero Zero will also celebrate its 2025 CES Innovation Awards Honoree title in Audio/Video Components & Accessories for the HOVERAir Beacon, an intelligent modular controller that redefines precision tracking and control. The introductory model in the HOVERAir lineup, HOVERAir X1 , weighs just 125g and delivers an effortless aerial photography experience with no controller or app required. With over five pre-programmed flight paths, including Hover, Follow, Zoom Out, Orbit, and Bird's Eye, it's perfect for capturing cinematic moments in everyday life. Its 2.7K video resolution, palm launch capabilities, and robust computer vision algorithms make it the ultimate everyday and travel companion. Building on the success of the X1, Zero Zero introduced the HOVERAir X1 PRO and HOVERAir X1 PROMAX in August 2024 to meet the demands of action enthusiasts and professional creators. The X1 PRO offers 4K/60fps video with a 104° field of view for versatile shooting conditions. The X1 PROMAX delivers stunning 8K /30fps video with 4K /120fps slow-motion capabilities, a 1/1.3" CMOS sensor, and 14 stops of dynamic range for cinematic footage. Both models feature advanced AI tracking, Level 5 wind resistance, and a lightweight, durable HEMTM frame. "Our vision has always been to create flying cameras that are effortless, intelligent, and fun to use," said MQ Wang, Founder & CEO of Zero Zero Robotics. "The HOVERAir series puts professional-grade aerial cinematography in the palm of your hand, whether you're capturing casual moments or pushing creative boundaries." Adding to these innovations, the HOVERAir Beacon enhances control and precision for the series. The Beacon features a patented Tri-state modular design with two detachable joysticks, enabling one-handed and full-featured two-handed controls. It activates HoverLinkTM for precise tracking with up to a 1 km transmission range, while the 1.78" OLED display allows real-time footage monitoring. Equipped with AI-powered noise cancellation, the Beacon sets a new standard for audio and video recording during aerial shoots. "We're excited to bring the HOVERAir X1 series and Beacon to CES 2025, where we're redefining how motion is captured, tracked, and controlled," continued Wang. "These tools empower creators and adventurers to document their journeys with breathtaking precision and ease." Zero Zero Robotics invites attendees to stop by Booth #56045 to experience the HOVERAir X1 series in action and witness its unparalleled performance. Media wishing to interview Zero Zero Robotics personnel should contact Borjana Slipicevic. About Zero Zero Robotics Zero Zero Robotics was co-founded in 2014 by Stanford PhDs MQ Wang and Tony Zhang , specializing in embedded AI technology for intelligent devices. Known for its innovative machine vision and high-precision control systems, ZeroZero has team members who are dreamers, engineers, inventors, and builders hailing from top universities and research institutions around the world. Zero Zero Robotics holds more than 140 core patents and has pioneered technologies like fully enclosed portable propeller designs and bi-copter designs, cementing its place as a leader in intelligent device development. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2587719/20241225_CES.jpg View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zero-zero-robotics-showcases-bestselling-hoverair-x1-series-at-ces-2025-302339226.htmlZscaler Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

At her studio in Los Angeles, Australian artist Jemima Wyman is trying to come to terms with the cancellation of her 30-year survey show. or signup to continue reading The internationally-known Palawa artist could have shown her career survey at a range of prestigious institutions, but went with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, where she has both studied and taught. "It has a really special place in my heart, and that's why I was excited to do the 30 year survey show there, because I had such a long relationship with the institution," she told AAP. In November, Wyman was told QUT's Art Museum was cutting its 2025 program, and her show would be axed. The free-to-visit museum at QUT's Garden Point campus has eight staff and describes itself as one of Queensland's premier visual arts institutions. The university is facing financial challenges due to funding shortfalls, but staff would not be impacted by any of the university's current plans, a QUT spokesperson said. "We have had to make a number of difficult decisions with regard to pausing activities across a number of areas of the university, including some programming at QUTAM for 2025," they told AAP. It appears the museum will show one exhibition of items from the university's art collection during 2025. Wyman is not the only artist left hanging, with an exhibition of two of Australia's most significant ceramicists, Vipoo Srivilasa and the late Gwyn Hanssen Pigott also affected, as well as a group show by six Barkandji/Barkindji artists. University museums do more to support first nations artists than any other type of gallery, according to Penelope Benton of the National Association for the Visual Arts. "This kind of decision is hugely impactful for the working lives of Australian artists," she said. Wyman's exhibition had been expected to tour to UNSW in Sydney, followed by the Samstag Museum at the University of South Australia. The artist said she's worried the university is technically shutting down the museum. "If you're only having one show a year, and it's from the collection, then you're not really being an active institution in terms of supporting contemporary artists," she said. "It sounds to me like a strategy to not ring alarm bells ... a strategy to step down the museum and eventually shut it down completely." University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Sheil has apologised to Wyman in an email, saying the university has to make tough decisions, with departments prioritising teaching and research until the budget returns to surplus. Professor Sheil also cited a rapid decline in creative and fine arts enrolments, and said fine arts degrees and staff are now based at QUT's Kelvin Grove campus, several kilometres away from the museum. There have been a series of recent cuts to arts courses at institutions in the region, including at the University of Queensland, James Cook University, Queensland College of the Arts, and Southern Cross University. "It's a shame that it's all being cut, I think it will be really detrimental to the region," said Wyman. "Artists will have to go interstate to get the education they need, it will probably create a cultural desert in Queensland." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

Excerpt from Carol Mithers’ book, ‘Rethinking Rescue’

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday defended the visa program that allows highly skilled foreign workers to immigrate to the US, marking his first comments on an issue that has divided his supporters this week. Trump said in an interview with The New York Post that he’s “a believer in H-1B,” referring to the visas granted to thousands of foreign workers who immigrate to the US to fill specialized jobs. In his first term, Trump restricted access to foreign worker visas, and he has previously criticized the program. But during the 2024 campaign, Trump signaled openness to giving some foreign-born workers legal status if they graduated from a US university. “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump told The New York Post on Saturday. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” he added. Trump’s comments mark the first time he’s weighed in on the issue since entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tapped to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency , defended the foreign worker visa program, igniting sharp criticism from MAGA loyalists hoping to restrict immigration. Over several days this week, Musk has passionately defended H-1B visas in social media posts, arguing for their importance in allowing tech companies — including his own — to grow their businesses. In a post Friday, Musk said he will “go to war” to protect access to H-1B visas. “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B,” the tech mogul wrote . “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Musk, who was born in South Africa and obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother, came to the US as a foreign student and later worked on an H-1B visa. Musk and Ramaswamy’s defense of foreign worker visas has been met with strong pushback from the anti-immigration supporters in Trump’s coalition. Former Trump aide Steve Bannon called H-1B visas a “scam” on an episode of his podcast Saturday, joining a vocal contingent of loyal Trump supporters that includes former Rep. Matt Gaetz and far-right provocateur Laura Loomer . The H-1B visa program allows 65,000 highly skilled workers to immigrate to the US each year to fill specific jobs and grants another 20,000 visas to such workers who have received an advanced degree in the US. Economists have argued the program allows US companies to maintain competitiveness and grow their business, creating more jobs in the US. Trump has previously opposed the H-1B visa program as part of his platform to encourage US companies to prioritize American labor over hiring foreign workers. During his 2016 campaign, Trump accused US companies of using H-1B visas “for the explicit purpose of substituting for American workers at lower pay.” In 2020, Trump restricted access to H-1B visas on several occasions, part of his administration’s effort to curb legal immigration while responding to the changing economic conditions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump’s comments siding with Musk represent another instance of the president-elect growing closer to the tech mogul . On Friday, the president-elect posted on social media a private message apparently intended for Musk asking when he plans to pay another visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.'Courage over comfort': U.S. Rep. Becca Balint visits Burr and Burton Academy

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Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 LaLiga defeat at Athletic Bilbao as Kylian Mbappe missed from the penalty spot again. Alex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. 📸 PORTERAZO. JULEN, JULEN! JULEN JULEN! #AthleticRealMadrid #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/w260s6xo79 — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) December 4, 2024 But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Esposito's penalty books Empoli's place in the next round 💪 #FiorentinaEmpoli pic.twitter.com/UUxghH9l6b — Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 4, 2024 Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.What Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio)

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