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Exclusive-Trump team weighs direct talks with North Korea's Kim in new diplomatic push, sources say
Experts have said that training some drivers in growth of the nation’s livestock sector is key to improved productivity of livestock for food security in Nigeria. The co-task team leader of Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES)/World Bank, Dr. Chidozie Anyiro, made the assertion at the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity building programme by the Kwara state government and packaged by the Synergy Impact Consultant Limited for an additional 100 extension agents/farmers on small ruminant production and crop residue processing for improved utilisation by ruminants in Ilorin, Kwara. The LPRES team lead also said that consistent training of farmers is key to addressing broader objective of the food security agenda of the federal government. “You cannot improve productivity without addressing some key drivers in the growth of our livestock. For instance, you have to address pasture needs, water needs, among other issues. “So the training of these drivers such as the farmers, extension agents, etc is very key to addressing those constraints that have hindered productivity of our livestock”, he said. Dr. Anyiro, who said that objective of the LPRES project is to improve livestock productivity, resilience, and commercialisation of selected livestock chains, added that the capacity building of the selected farmers/extension agents, who he described as frontliners, is part of the efforts to achieve the broader objective of LPRES. Talking about the need to have adequate number of such people to achieve desired objective, the agricultural expert said that there is a need for consistent training. “Livestock productivity is a gradual process. It’s about consistency. Where we have missed it in the past is in doing a one-off activity and you think it would make significant impact. So, consistency means a lot, making sure that you are connected with people that you have trained and you keep training them because there are a lot of technologies that have come up on a daily basis and you have to keep updating the farmers on the new trend. “It has a lot to do with food security programme of the present government in the country. Yes of course. One focuses on availability, affordability, nutritious food. Before you can achieve the broader food security agenda of the country, there are other sub components that you need to address. So, this training is key to addressing the broader objective of the food security agenda of Mr. President”, he said. Also speaking, the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Toyosi Thomas, who represented Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said that the state government decided to invest in the participants to ensure critical growth and development of agricultural production in the state. The governor charged the participants to take the training seriously and put it into practice, saying that they should not see it as one such ordinary training. He encouraged them to scale down the training among members of their various communities, adding that their performance would allow government to continue the training programme for more beneficiaries to enjoy. He expressed happiness that past participants had been training others to improve livelihood among the populace. “Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is prioritizing human capital development. Especially, the extension agents. We are determined to strengthen the number to over a thousand frontliners from the present number of 500 beneficiaries. “Our target is to have one extension agent in each ward of the state and to ensure mobility, by providing one motorcycle in each ward for effectiveness”. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
Hallmark Fave Andrew Walker Goes Inside His Skincare Line and Shares Holiday Plans (VIDEO)Motion Recruitment's 2025 Tech Salary Guide Unveils the Shifting Landscape of IT Hiring, Compensation, and In-Demand Skills
Bengaluru: India’s top five information technology services companies grew at a slower clip in the first nine months of this year, defying hopes that the $254 billion industry would rebound after reporting its weakest growth ever in 2023. Yet, save for Wipro Ltd, the shares of the remaining four IT services firms—Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd, HCL Technologies Ltd, and Tech Mahindra Ltd—have delivered better returns than both the Sensex and the Nifty 50 so far this year. In 2023, TCS and Infosys stocks fared worse than the Sensex, while the other three outperformed. The Nifty IT index has also vastly outperformed the two benchmark indices, gaining 22.48% in the year through 27 December. The Sensex has gained 8.89% so far this year, and the Nifty 50, 9.53%. Analysts say investors are loading up on Indian IT stocks in anticipation of a recovery in tech spending by Fortune 500 companies as the US Federal Reserve is set to cut its key interest rates further. The Fed has but indicated earlier this month that it may opt for fewer rate cuts next year as it battles stubborn inflation. “... As interest rates ease, discretionary spends can pick up, translating to more business for IT service providers," Pramod Gubbi, founder of Marcellus Investment Managers. “When the US Fed indicated (in September) that it was done with rate hikes from March 2023, the market had started to factor in growth." TCS, Infosys, HCLTech and Wipro saw their order books, or total contract value, decline in the first half of 2024-25 (April-September) compared to the corresponding year-earlier period, marked by the absence of ‘mega deals’ that are worth more than $1 billion. The second half of the fiscal year (October-March) is historically weaker for Indian IT services companies because of fewer billing days and more holidays. Even so, these companies have issued positive revenue guidance for FY25 and have been hiring more people. “This year, as growth is looking promising, the IT sector is outperforming out of expectation that things will get better, and hence the returns," said Sanjeev Hota, vice-president, head of research at Mirae Asset Sharekhan. Keith Bachman, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets, said in a 12 December report that increased hiring by India’s largest IT services firms in recent quarters was a leading indicator signalling better growth, which in turn could drive a rally in their stocks. Mint reported last week that a renewed hiring spree by Dublin-headquartered and NYSE-listed Accenture Plc painted a as it signalled a rebound in global IT spending. Yet, analysts are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of Indian IT services firms next year considering the rise of generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, which could dash the sanguine outlook. “GenAI is deflationary in my view as it will mean that IT services will be delivered by fewer people, and therefore, the revenue can come down," said Gubbi, adding that the money saved by customers will go to more GenAI investments and new streams of work will come from GenAI. While AI and GenAI currently account for only a fraction of IT services companies’ revenues, these technologies are biting into their clients’ discretionary IT spending. “... We question if 2025 IT services market growth will benefit from net new demand, including new generative AI projects, more so than current pricing pressure and generative AI deflationary forces," said Bachman of BMO Capital Markets. “A plausible scenario could be that in 2025, IT services growth might improve over 2024 (with upside tension to consensus estimates in this scenario), and then as the capabilities of generative AI grow and improve, the deflationary impact is more pronounced in 2026 and beyond, leading to prolonged growth headwinds."Novak Djokovic hires his former rival as new coach
The Hinterland Scholarship Dormitory (HSD) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown is home to a diverse population of hinterland scholars, and will soon undergo a major facelift, to cater to students’ specific needs. President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali unveiled this crucial initiative, during a dinner with scores of hinterland scholarship students, at his official residence, on Friday evening. According to the head of state, plans are afoot to enhance dormitory facilities, including the founding of essential amenities that will foster sport and artistic development. General enhancements will also be undertaken, ensuring students’ comfort and well-being. “We can development of cricket, maybe a hard tarmac, so that you can play other forms of sport, even during the rainy season... we will put in a facility, preferably a prefab building in there so you can have your art room,” he elaborated for students at the dinner. While students travel home for the Christmas holidays, the head of state and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand along with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai will be working to concretise the plans. Already, an assessment of the general enhancements has been completed, and “We’re going to invest in those upgrades so that we can make your life as easy and comfortable as possible and we can give you a feeling of home,” President Ali emphasised. Furthermore, as the dormitory Liliendaal Dormitory is home to diverse backgrounds, the head of state affirmed the government’s commitment to investing and expanding opportunities for them. He also expressed pride in their achievements and encouraged them to exploit the opportunities available, foster a sense of mutual understanding and support for each other, an important asset in life. “You’re living as a family, and as family, you’re getting to share experiences, build new friendships, and this is what is going to ensure that the Guyana we are building, the One Guyana, is made up of every single community,” he further underlined. These improvements are part of the government’s broader commitment to investing in human capital, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities, so they can have the best futures. Since 2020, investments have been made in improving educational facilities, to ensure equal access to quality education. A massive training programme for hinterland teachers is also being rolled out. Modern schools are being established in every part of Guyana, and are being equipped with technology, including internet access that will integrate the hinterland to broader learning resources. As a result, there is an increasing number of students shining in academics, and joining programmes such as nursing, technical and military training. “Today we celebrate .... the largest intake to the army officers programme came from the hinterland and riverine communities...and we could have only achieved that because for the first time, our young people in the hinterland and riverine communities are having access to secondary education,” Guyana’s president expressed. Ministers Manickchand and Sukhai also delivered brief remarks, in which they underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to hinterland youths. Since 2020, the government would have invested over $300 million to support high achievers from the hinterland, signalling their staunch commitment. (DPI)The National Basketball Association (NBA) is taking a first step back into the huge Chinese market with two preseason games set to take place in Macao next October, five years after the league was effectively blocked from China. The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play the preseason games on October 10 and 12 at the Venetian Arena next year, while an NBA Flagship Store will also open in Macao. "Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world's emerging hubs for sports," NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said in a press release. "The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives." NBA teams command a huge following in China, where basketball is wildly popular. The league has not staged a game in the country since 2019, when a tweet in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong from the Houston Rockets' then general manager Daryl Morey sparked a political firestorm. At the time, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver refused to punish or censor Morey – who is currently the Philadelphia 76ers' president of basketball operations – prompting ire from Beijing and leading the sports station of China's central broadcaster to stop showing the league's games for a year. Hong Kong was roiled by pro-democracy protests in 2019, which at times brought several hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets to push for democracy in the city. Like Macao, Hong Kong is considered a special administrative region of China, partly distinct from the mainland. Beijing repeatedly accused Western democratic forces of working to fuel the popular Hong Kong protests and lashed out at any support for the movement, which died out in 2020 when the capital imposed a sweeping national security law on the city. Silver said two years ago that the NBA had lost "hundreds of millions of dollars" in revenue following the fallout with China, with whom the league had shared a long-standing relationship. According to Reuters, 17 NBA teams played 28 games in China between 2004 and 2019. However, tensions between the league and the country now appear to have thawed, with a legends game featuring six former NBA stars set be held in Macao on Saturday. "We always love the opportunity to compete on the global stage and we are grateful to participate in the NBA China Games 2025," said Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks. "The Brooklyn Nets have an incredible fanbase around the globe and we can't wait to bring our love of the game directly to our fans while giving our players and coaches the opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture." Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, meanwhile, added that playing in Macao is part of the team's vision to "bring the Suns to a global audience and impact fans across the world."
Former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber returning to Cleveland Guardians on 1-year deal, AP source says
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The cost of building a home in NSW and Victoria has jumped by more than 25 per cent in four years, after completion times blew out during the pandemic. The national average construction cost for a home – including houses, townhouses and apartments – rose from $345,410 to $443,828 between 2019-20 and 2023-24, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data published last week. The cost of building a home in Australia has increased by almost $100,000 in four years. Credit: Louie Douvis Costs surged across all states during the period, rising by 25.5 per cent in Victoria and 30.2 per cent in NSW. The biggest leap took place in Queensland, with a 44 per cent rise. The cost of building a home soared during the pandemic due to higher demand, boosted by record low interest rates and government grants such as HomeBuilder. At the same time, disruptions to global supply chains pushed up material and freight costs, and worsened labour shortages. Housing Industry Australia chief economist Tim Reardon said construction costs grew at the fastest rate in June 2022 as supply chain disruptions filtered through to the building process. “You only need one disruption to disrupt everything else and the whole dynamic,” Reardon said. “If you’re missing one component, like the glue for a benchtop, you can’t manufacture that product, you can’t complete the kitchen, and you can’t sell the house.” Reardon said timber prices have fallen about 20 per cent over the past year as global supply chains improve, but other costs – particularly for energy-intensive materials such as aluminium, glass and cement – continue to rise. “The further we get away from the pandemic, the more settled those price changes will be,” he said. AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said construction costs were among the fastest rising components of inflation. “It has moderated a lot over the past six to nine months, but it’s still growing faster compared to headline inflation,” she said. “It started off as a supply issue, but the problem became worse because people were demanding materials to do renovations or to build their home.” The influx has created a bottleneck: the number of houses under construction nearly doubled from 56,000 in June 2020 to 104,315 in March 2023, a number 48 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic record of 70,000 six years ago. This figure dropped to 87,149 in June 2024, but building times remain long, increasing from six months and three weeks in September 2019 to nine months and four weeks in June 2024, the ABS reported. Reardon said the ABS data was likely coming in with a lag. “Build times are now less than what they were pre-pandemic, though only by a week or two,” he said. However, labour shortages would remain constant for at least the next two years, Reardon said, because of the large volume of government construction work under way that is taking up any excess capacity in the labour market. Mousina said construction cost inflation, while down from its peak, could remain higher than overall inflation for some time, partly due to competing government infrastructure projects. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Construction Housing crisis Property development Millie Muroi is the economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Canberra. She was formerly the banking writer based in Sydney. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in National Loading
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber's first venture into free agency turned into a return trip. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner agreed Friday to rejoin the Cleveland Guardians after making just two starts last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Bieber had been expected to leave the AL Central champions. But he's coming back after agreeing to a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Bieber’s deal will pay him $10 million in salary and includes a $4 million buyout. The 29-year-old only pitched twice in 2024 before having the surgery on his elbow that bothered him during the previous campaign. Bieber felt discomfort in his start on opening day against the Oakland Athletics and again when he faced the Seattle Mariners his next outing. Bieber didn't allow a run in either start, and the club had been encouraged by his velocity and dominance (20 strikeouts). But the elbow became too painful and Bieber elected to have the ligament-replacement surgery. If his recovery follows a normal timeline, Bieber should be back in Cleveland's rotation within the first three months of next season. The Guardians feared his loss would hurt them last season, but the club got off to a fast start under first-year manager Stephen Vogt and ran away with the division title. Cleveland eliminated Detroit in the AL Division Series before losing the ALCS to the New York Yankees in five games. Story continues below video Bieber spent chunks of last season with the team and he received a huge ovation at Progressive Field when he was introduced before the postseason series. The two-time All-Star has spent all seven of his big league seasons with Cleveland, which had contemplated trading him before his elbow issues in 2023 limited him to 21 starts. During the shortened COVID-19 season in 2020, Bieber went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA over 12 starts and 77 1/3 innings with 122 strikeouts. He led the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. He was selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2016 amateur draft out of UC Santa Barbara and made his major league debut two years later on his 23rd birthday. Bieber has a career record of 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA over 136 outings spanning 134 starts and 843 innings. He has twice reached 200 innings, throwing a career-high 214 1/3 in 2019. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
LUQUE, Paraguay — Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. Japan's Takehiro Kano, ambassador to UNESCO, reacts after the traditional Japanese brewing of sake was officially named to UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list during a World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold that breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-month process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. Japanese sake, a nominee for UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list, are displayed on Japan's delegation table, during a UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Wednesday. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. Japanese breweries also expressed hope the listing could give a lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. “I hope that this will also be an opportunity for Japanese people to take another look at sake, shochu and awamori, which are the essence of their culture," Hitoshi Utsunomiya, director of the trade group Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, said in Tokyo. "I would like them to try it even once and see what it tastes like,” he said. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the association. Japan's Takehiro Kano, ambassador to UNESCO, reacts as the traditional Japanese brewing of sake was named to UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list during a World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” he said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was “delighted” by UNESCO's recognition of traditional sake-making techniques, and he congratulated those dedicated to preserving and promoting the tradition. A tasting party is all about sampling different wines and evaluating and hopefully enjoying them—and there are a variety of ways to do that. Would you like to host a playful gathering where each guest brings a mystery bottle of wine within a certain price range—a BYOB affair? Or would it be better to have more control over which wines are featured by curating and supplying all the wines as a host? This decision sets the tone—a tasting where guests contribute wine can be a bit of a free-for-all, whereas one where you select wines you supply allows guests to sit back and simply enjoy. And you don't have to break the bank to buy excellent wines—there are lots of wine experts ready to share their affordable picks. How much folks know about wine differs—and that's a good thing. Tastings are group learning experiences. Expertise isn't necessary to host or attend a tasting, but it is helpful to think about what will keep guests comfortable and having fun. Decide whether the vibe will be relaxed and laid-back, like friends sipping wine fireside, or more upbeat and formal. Think about elements like the atmosphere and the location, and consider whether folks will be seated or standing. Will you have a spirited playlist (couldn't resist) or live music? Do you want an expert to introduce each wine, or will you be that expert? Consider how guests will share their thoughts on what they are tasting. Do you want to just talk about them or do something more organized, like take notes or give ratings? Then supply notebooks or notecards and pencils, with categories or questions established ahead of time—all of which can reflect your evening's tone as well. How many people to invite is a question largely informed by the answers to tip #1: Are you having a big, formal affair or an intimate catch-up with close friends? Or something in between? Whatever the case, an RSVP is essential because not only do you need to plan the setup of the space, but you must also make sure there's enough wine for everyone to taste, including each of the wines featured. There's nothing worse than a tasting that runs dry! The math to determine how much wine you need considers the size of the tasting pours—a full glass of wine at a restaurant is usually around 5 ounces, which yields around five glasses of wine from a standard bottle. For tastings, you'll want to do less, depending on how many wines you are featuring—say, 2 ounces if you'll be trying a lot of different wines. Experts agree, having more wine than you need is always a good idea—that way you can send guests home with a bottle should there be a prize at the end of the night. Picking a theme is essential to curating the selection of wines—it's the organizing principle behind your selections. Otherwise, your tasting might as well be just walking down the wine aisle at the grocery store and taking sips from random bottles. There's too much wine out there not to be strategic about this. Plus, a theme helps you to tell the story of each wine better—it's the plot line of the night, if you will. Common themes are types of wine, regions they are from, or even price points—really, one can get as creative as they wish. For inspiration, check out local wine shops and see what they do for tastings. Often, they will follow seasonality and group wines in novel ways for their own in-house tastings. Don't let food be an afterthought for the festivities—after all, food can enhance particular qualities of wine and vice versa. There are many rules around what foods to pair with which wines, but consider this simple advice from Alder Yarrow's Vinography : "Stick with eating good food and drinking good wine." Since the focus is on the wines, allow the drinks to determine what food makes sense, but don't overthink it. Food is a supporting character here—at the very least, guests will need something to soak up all the alcohol (unless you are spitting it out). Eating foods that contain a mixture of protein, fats, and carbs when drinking helps increase the rate of alcohol elimination . Whether it's a full meal or heavy hors d'oeuvres, thoughtful noshes are necessary. The bottom line is, however you do it, hosting the ultimate wine tasting should be fun. Wine can feel intimidating to many people, but most wine experts are passionate, inspired folks who want to share what they know and help you find wines you like. So visit your local wine store or winemaker and ask questions. There are good guides specifically concerning how to taste wine. Dig a little, taste a lot, and have fun. It's all research for your next ultimate wine tasting. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Peerspace and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!