Bilawal vows to defeat foreign plots against missile programme
5 Small-Cap Altcoins With Huge Potential for 20x Gains in 2025
In today’s special edition of NewsHour, anchor Heena Gambhir discusses the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections in 2025 and the politics surrounding them. With tensions rising ahead of the Delhi "dangal," there is an open war of words between AAP and Congress. The conflict intensified after Sandeep Dikshit filed a complaint against Aam Aadmi Party’s schemes to the Delhi LG. In response, LG VK Saxena ordered an inquiry into AAP. AAP, however, has lashed out at the probe order. Arvind Kejriwal accuses the BJP of using Congress to file the complaint against AAP. On the other hand, BJP accuses AAP of using voter data for future political gain.Panellists also joined the conversation to discuss the issue. Delhi L-G orders probe against AAP. It is the BJP who is rattled before the elections, Saya Anmol Pawar. Shehzad Poonawalla tells Heena Gambhir, , What stopped AAP from giving Rs. 1,000 to the women of Punjab?Watch full debate show on Times Now.#aap #kejriwal #arvindkejriwal #bjp #congress #delhipolls #mahilasammanyojna #vksaxena #delhilg #delhielections #delhissemblypolls #sandeepdikhsit #rahulgandhi #indiabloc #indiaalliance #newshour Read More
IRVINE, Calif. , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OrthAlign, Inc. today announced a significant milestone with the successful first clinical use of its Lantern Hip handheld technology. The procedure was performed by Edwin Su, MD, a renowned orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, NY . "The first clinical case of Lantern Hip is a monumental achievement for our team and the surgeons involved with this project," said Eric Timko , CEO of OrthAlign. "This expansion of our flagship platform to include hips not only enhances our product portfolio, but also positions us for significant growth in both the hospital and the ambulatory surgery center (ASC). We're excited to kick off the new year with Lantern Hip and showcase its impact at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting," says Eric Timko . Lantern Hip is the latest evolution in hip technology, built upon the success of over 375,000 OrthAlign procedures worldwide. Next-generation sensors, powered by accelerometers and gyroscopes, are designed to provide an accurate and simple solution to navigate cup placement and measure changes in leg length and offset. The system enables the surgeon to choose their preferred implant, and is accessible to any site of service. "Lantern Hip allows me to personalize cup position for each patient," said Dr. Su. "I can compare the functional pelvic plane (FPP), the anterior pelvic plane (APP), and the coronal plane during live cup navigation, so I can place the implant in the best position for function and stability. With its triple-sensor technology, Lantern Hip also allows me to feel confident in my leg length and offset restoration. The system was simple for me and my team to integrate into our workflow during our first case, and I expect this will make a positive impact on other surgeons' experience too." OrthAlign will continue to offer surgeons the opportunity to experience Lantern Hip firsthand through webinars and demonstrations at industry events throughout 2025. For inquiries about upcoming events or to schedule a product demonstration, contact your local OrthAlign representative. Visit www.orthalign.com/lanternhip to view the Lantern Hip introductory video. Lantern Hip is indicated for use in direct anterior total hip arthroplasty procedures with the patient in the supine position. About OrthAlign, Inc. OrthAlign is a medical device company with a focus on delivering practical, cutting-edge technologies for orthopedic surgery. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, OrthAlign provides surgeons with user-friendly, cost-effective solutions to help improve patient care in joint replacement. In 2023, the company celebrated a record-breaking year with over $50 million in global revenue, reflecting its dedication to growth and leadership in the industry. Driven by the belief that everyone deserves exceptional healthcare, OrthAlign is committed to making empowering technologies accessible to all. LANTERN ® and ORTHALIGN ® are registered trademarks of OrthAlign, Inc. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orthalign-inc-announces-first-cases-using-lantern-hip-the-next-evolution-in-total-hip-replacement-technology-302336610.html SOURCE OrthAlign Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.Murphy USA MUSA has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 20.91% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 33.99%. Currently, Murphy USA has a market capitalization of $10.23 billion. Buying $1000 In MUSA: If an investor had bought $1000 of MUSA stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $4,297.27 today based on a price of $505.23 for MUSA at the time of writing. Murphy USA's Performance Over Last 5 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) BJP president J P Nadda on Saturday said the Centre has decided to allocate space for Manmohan Singh’s memorial and informed his family about it, as he accused the Congress of indulging in “cheap politics” over the former prime minister’s cremation. The BJP chief’s reaction came after the Congress accused the Centre of insulting Singh, the country’s first Sikh prime minister, by performing his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could be turned into his memorial. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the BJP-led Centre had “totally insulted” Singh, a great son of Mother India and the first prime minister from the Sikh community, by performing his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat. Reacting sharply, Nadda said, “It’s very unfortunate that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and incumbent Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are not refraining from playing politics even over the former prime minister’s sad demise.” “No amount of condemnation is enough for such cheap thinking of the Congress. The Congress, which never gave real respect to Manmohan Singh when he was alive, is now playing politics in the name of his respect,” he added. The Union minister said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had allocated space for Singh’s memorial and also informed his family about it. “Yet, the Congress is spreading lies,” he said. “Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress leaders should refrain from indulging in such cheap politics,” Nadda said. The BJP chief alleged that the Congress “tarnished and degraded” the position of the prime minister by placing Sonia Gandhi as “super prime minister” over Singh. “Not just this. The way Rahul Gandhi insulted Manmohan Singh by tearing an ordinance, there is no other example of this,” he added. “The same Congress is today playing politics over the death of Manmohan Singh,” the BJP chief said, alleging that the Gandhi family had not given respect to anyone except itself. Nadda charged that the Gandhi family did not do justice to Singh or any other leader — be them from the Congress or other parties — citing the examples of BR Ambedkar, India’s first president Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, former prime ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri, PV Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, ex-president Pranab Mukherjee and Sitaram Kesri. “The Gandhi family has always insulted all other big leaders (than those part of the family),” the BJP chief said. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi had rejected the request for setting up a monument to Rao. “His (Rao’s) body was not even given a place in the Congress office. The Congress did not want his last rites to be held in Delhi. His funeral was held in Hyderabad. It was Modi who established the memorial to Rao in 2015 and honoured him with the Bharat Ratna,” Nadda said. “Even after the passing of Vajpayeeji, Congress leaders and their supporters continued to insult him,” he charged. In 2020, when Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee died, the Congress Working Committee “did not even bother” to call a condolence meeting. “In 2013, the Congress-led UPA government decided to build a national memorial and had said that there would be no separate memorial for any leader. It was Prime Minister Modi who built the Prime Ministers Museum and Library to remember them and to make people of the country familiar with them,” he said. “...the Congress has only built memorials for its family members,” the BJP chief said and asked the party to learn from Modi the true meaning of giving respect. Nadda said that according to an estimate, about 600 government schemes, educational institutions, awards, roads, national parks, museums, airports, ports and buildings in the country were named after members of the Nehru-Gandhi family by Congress governments. “The number of schemes in the name of other personalities can be counted on the fingers,” he said and added, “Our country will neither forget nor forgive the sins of the unprincipled Congress.” Slamming the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said it was “very unfortunate” that they felt it necessary to promote their “political agenda” at a time when the entire country is mourning the sad demise of the former prime minister. “Is this not an insult to the former prime minister? Why are the sentiments of his grieving family being mocked,” he asked in a post on X. Pradhan said that soon after Singh’s demise, the Union Cabinet decided to allocate a place for his last rites and a memorial to honour him, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the former prime minister’s family and Congress president Kharge about it. “The Congress should refrain from this shameful politics in this hour of grief and respect the memories of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh,” Pradhan said. PTI PK IJT IJT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties. “President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,” Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations. “President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,” Guterres said. King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president. “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977." President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend. America and the world lost a “remarkable leader” with Carter’s death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented “the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,” Biden said. The president repeatedly praised Carter's “simple decency” and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era. “I don’t believe it’s a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,” Biden said. “To know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.” Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.” He went on to say Carter's “humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.” Carter will be remembered as “one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity,” el-Sissi said. President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.
The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding @KemiBadenoch apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 27, 2024 On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”HED changes procedure of principals’ hiring LAHORE : The recruitment procedure for the appointment of permanent principals in 420 colleges has been changed after receiving thousands of applications from the province, Higher Education Department (HED) sources told APP Sunday. It is worth mentioning here that the process of recruiting permanent principals in colleges was started 6 months ago, but it could not be completed. Despite the entire process being online, there is a delay due to unexpected number of applications. The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) had also started the process of appointing principals online in July, 2024.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $200 million in humanitarian aid for conflict-torn Sudan during what was likely his final trip to the United Nations while in office. With the U.N. Security Council more divided than ever, Blinken led two meetings of the U.N.’s most powerful body on Thursday, capping his engagements with the world body after a tumultuous four years that saw war return to Europe and multiple crises in the Middle East. But neither focused on Russia’s war with Ukraine or the Mideast, where the U.S. has been frequently at odds with permanent members China and Russia and almost always in the minority when it comes to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Instead, in an apparent bid to produce a modicum of consensus, Blinken led Security Council sessions on artificial intelligence and Sudan , where conflict has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis that aid agencies say has not received enough attention. The money announced by Blinken will go toward food, shelter and health care for the people of Sudan. He also said the State Department will work with Congress to provide an additional $30 million to elevate civilian voices to help with the transition back to democratic governance. Here’s a look at America's top diplomat at the U.N.: Why did Blinken preside over Security Council meetings? Blinken has been appearing in person and virtually before the Security Council since March 2021, just after assuming his position as the Biden administration’s top diplomat. In addition to several one-off council meetings, including one in February 2022 shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine, Blinken has gone to New York for a week every September for the annual General Assembly gathering of world leaders. The presidency of the Security Council rotates alphabetically every month among its 15 members. This month, it's the U.S. turn. The country holding the presidency almost always organizes several signature events on topics its government chooses. Presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers often preside at these meetings, which ministers from other council nations are invited to attend. Why was the US not highlighting the Middle East or Ukraine? Russia and China have blocked all council action condemning the invasion of Ukraine. This has led U.S. officials to believe that a session on the topic, especially as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office with a stated goal of ending the war immediately, would likely be a waste of time. On the Middle East, the U.S. has frequently vetoed council action condemning Israel for its tactics against Hamas in Gaza, leaving it virtually alone at the United Nations in supporting Israel. Why was the US focusing on Sudan? War broke out in Sudan last year between rival generals heading the military and paramilitary forces. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, forced millions from their homes and pushed a large swath of Sudan’s population to starvation — creating an often forgotten global crisis the U.S. is seeking to spotlight. The roughly $230 million in assistance announced Thursday brings total U.S. support to over $2.3 billion since the fighting erupted. Blinken said the fighting unleashed the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and every day “brings new atrocities, attacks on hospitals, on markets, displaced persons, camps, summary executions, women and girls subjected to unspeakable sexual violence.” “We continue to see war crimes and crimes against humanity committed across vast parts of Sudan,” he said. Why did the US choose AI? The U.S. leads the world in developing AI technology, according to a recently released Stanford University index, and it has been in the forefront of U.N. action on AI. In March, the first U.N. resolution on artificial intelligence was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly. Sponsored by the U.S., it gives global support to an international effort to ensure the powerful technology benefits all nations, respects human rights and is “safe, secure and trustworthy.” Blinken said AI has the potential to do “tremendous good” but can also pose “tremendous threats to the international peace and security that this council is charged with upholding.” He noted that “repressive regimes are using AI-enabled surveillance to target journalists and political dissidents" and that "if algorithms are built into weapon systems, and if they malfunction, they could spark a conflict.” “By setting rules of the road for AI we can minimize these risks, we can harness the exceptional promise of this technology,” he said. Did Blinken confront Russia? Blinken has represented the U.S. at the Security Council about half a dozen times at meetings ranging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the war in Gaza. Russia, like the U.S. and China, is a permanent veto-holding member of the 15-nation council, and both have seats at its horseshoe-shaped table. But apart from pointed disagreements during debates, there have been no confrontations or one-on-one meetings between Blinken and Russian diplomats at previous U.N. meetings — and there was none on Thursday. Blinken thanked Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia after his remarks — as is custom — even though Nebenzia accused the U.S. of imposing rules on others but not abiding by them. But the Russian envoy agreed that “we cannot allow AI to dominate human beings and human values.” It is not unusual for Blinken or other senior U.S. officials to attend international meetings and conferences where Russian officials are present, but interactions are rare. ___ Lee reported from Washington. Edith M. Lederer And Matthew Lee, The Associated PressManitoba’s auditor general is calling for better cybersecurity at the province’s main health-care planning body, and better financial reporting from the provincial government. In the first of two reports released Thursday, Tyson Shtykalo said Manitoba Shared Health has a process to respond to cyberattacks but has not been running tests for scenarios such as ransomware or data theft. “Since no tests were performed, the effectiveness of the (process) cannot be evaluated to ensure that Shared Health is prepared to promptly respond to a major cybersecurity event,” the report said. The report recommends annual testing and more training for cybersecurity incident response team members. “Without formally communicating existing plans and procedures to the ... team and providing members with necessary training on their roles and responsibilities, there could be delays in responding to cybersecurity incidents at Shared Health,” the report stated. Shared Health said it is working on the recommendations and plans to develop a regular schedule for testing the system. The second report looked at the provincial government’s financial report for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which included a deficit of just under $2 billion. The report said there was an unprecedented number of errors in the financial information prepared for the audit, which needed correcting. “We found that in many cases the amounts recorded in the accounting records were not adequately supported or did not match the supporting documentation,” Shtykalo wrote. The lack of supporting documentation included areas such as the calculations of the government’s contractual obligations. Shtykalo said the problems do not bring into question the major spending and revenue numbers in the government’s year-end financial report, but point to a need for better preparation and a shortage of trained financial personnel who prepare the statements. “Unfortunately, in the current year, the issues persisted and were exacerbated by the loss of key senior staff members during the audit. The province needs to build capacity, including improvements in staffing, training, review, (information technology) infrastructure, and external support,” the report said. The government responded by saying it continues to work on hiring more chartered professional accountants in a competitive market. It also said the office of the provincial comptroller “has turned its attention to learning and training sessions to support and onboard new staff members.”
* Says God ordained his electoral mandate Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, said the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo’s one month in office had “so far renewed the hope of Edo people and given them a clear insight into the determination and preparedness of the present administration to bring development and progress to the state”. Akpabio described the mandate of the governor as “divinely ordained by God to bring respite and development to the state”. A statement by Chief Press Secretary to Okpebholo, Fred Itua, said Akpabio made the remarks at the weekend, when he received the governor at his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Ascribing Okpebholo’s electoral victory to God, Akpabio said God had chosen him at this time to rewrite the history of Edo State and place it on the path of development. The statement quoted Akpabio as saying, “Your excellency, every leadership comes from God, and God chooses whom He pleases. It pleases Him at this time to choose you and the APC to lead Edo people at a time like this. “You are a man of few words but full of action. Edo people have not misplaced their votes in choosing you. You have the heart of the common man, and I am confident that your leadership will bring development and transformation to your state.” While thanking Edo people for choosing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September governorship election, Akpabio said aligning the state with the government at the centre portended many positives for the state and the South-south, stressing that the zone is now stronger as a negotiating voice at the federal level. The senate president said, “Edo State is one of the states in the South-south, before Niger Delta, and this is predominantly a minority area in Nigeria. There is always a need to link up with the federal government to be able to contribute our quota to nation building. “Through the providence of God, most of the resources that have kept the country going for decades come from this area, but in terms of representation at the national level, we are always found wanting, except for the period that circumstances brought us Dr Goodluck Jonathan. “Under the APC administration, many of us decided there was need for us to change the political basket to enable us represent our people at the national level and also have a say in what was going on in the country. “So, when I made that strong movement to the APC, it was to move our people in the South-south region to the centre.” Okpebholo said he was in Akwa Ibom to share ideas with Akpabio and tap from his wealth of experience. “Seeing the development in Akwa Ibom, I have come to learn from my leader, seek his advice, and draw from his wealth of experience. He has graciously advised me,” he said.
Driving Calgary’s innovation ecosystem: Insights from Jennifer JensenNone
In the latest turn of events within the cryptocurrency markets, Verum Coin has witnessed a significant surge of 88%, while Phala has climbed 44% in value. Conversely, Bitcoin has struggled, retracing to a price point of $94,000. This development occurs amidst a broader downturn in market performance, with the global crypto market capitalization dropping by 2.11% over the past day. Major cryptocurrencies have displayed bearish trends, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana experiencing notable pullbacks over the last 24 hours. Despite this general market decline, Verum Coin emerged prominently by soaring from a low of $1,120.20 to reach $2,182, supported by recent announcements of integrations with digital wallets, such as the Halo Wallet and Binance Web3 Wallet. This surge is potentially influenced by the popularity of the Verum Runner game, which allows players to convert in-game currencies to Verum Coins. The anonymity of the Verum Coin development team adds an intriguing aspect to its market behavior. Phala Network’s token also experienced a strong upswing, with its price spiking from $0.3716 to $0.5893, before stabilizing at $0.5406. The launch of Phala 2.0, coupled with a collaboration with ai16z exploring AI technology, likely fueled this rapid price increase. Adding to the noteworthy gainers, aixCB by Virtuals saw a rally of nearly 50%, moving from $0.0357 to $0.6697. Empowered by a robust community and significant staking rewards, it appears that this venture has leveraged these factors to bolster its market standing. Overall, while several altcoins exhibited impressive growth, Bitcoin faced challenges maintaining its position, reflecting the complex and volatile nature of the cryptocurrency landscape.