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THE Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Relations and Career Development Office (PUP-Arcdo), in cooperation with Silicon Valley HQ Philippines, Everise, and Jobs 180, held the 1st Student-Industry Conference at the PUP Bulwagang Bonifacio on Dec. 11, 2024. According to PUP Communication Management Officer Jan Vincent Lanuza, Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Tomas Testor, while expressing his appreciation toward the students' enthusiasm, noted that the event day presented an opportunity to explore the intersection of education and the industry to "bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application." Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National Championship
Imran backs Bushra as govt blasts bid to ‘wreck Pak-Saudi friendship’ Former PM says Saudi Crown Prince Salman was "the first to call when I was attacked in Waziriabad" ISLAMABAD/DG KHAN/LAHORE: PTI founder Imran Khan Friday clarified that his spouse Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw ‘our brotherly country KSA’ into a needless controversy, as she didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. In a statement on his social media account, Imran said Bushra had no connection with politics and that she only conveyed his message to the nation on November 24 protest. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was, through the embassy, from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Saudi Arabia always stood by us in difficult times,” he wrote. He continued that ‘only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign ministers conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arab not supported and stood with us’. Imran charged that his government was toppled through conspiracies – all orchestrated by General Bajwa — and that he tried to have these investigated through the chief justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow it. “The nation should focus on November 24 protest. God willing, you will emerge victorious,” he said in his message to the nation from Adiala Jail, where he is incarcerated. Imran made it clear that November 24 was the day to break free from slavery for the rule of law and the Constitution. He said the human rights were suspended, forcing the nation to come out to protest and make sacrifices. The nation, he emphasized, must decide whether to wear the yoke of slavery like Bahadur Shah Zafar or adorn the crown of freedom like Tipu Sultan. APP reports: Meanwhile, taking up the cudgels on behalf of Saudi Arabia for its unconditional financial and diplomatic support to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday warned that spitting venom against such a brotherly country was an unforgivable crime and called for national unity to counter such anti-state elements. Addressing the inauguration of restoration of Kachhi Canal in Taunsa damaged by 2022 floods, he said whether it was the Kashmir issue, the United Nations or the UN Security Council, Saudi Arabia always acted as Pakistan’s advocate and benefactor and bailed out Pakistan recently to seek IMF program. “Despite this, such venom-spitting is an unforgivable crime. I as the prime minister of Pakistan want to announce that the nation will break any hand trying to undermine the Pakistan-Saudi friendship. This is not a joke. The allegation is beyond understanding. “The largest national interest is being “slaughtered” to serve short-term political interest,” he remarked after inaugurating the project. Commenting on Bushra Bibi’s statement, he said: “There can be no animosity towards Pakistan bigger than this. Such people are naive to the magnitude of the damage through their “venomous” words.” Shehbaz recalled the Kingdom’s support to Pakistan after it carried out nuclear tests in 1998 in the form of a free-of-charge oil facility as well as financial support. Azaz Syed reports: Former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa Friday praised Saudi Arabia saying it always stood by Pakistan and provided generous support during all times. He made these comments in an exclusive conversation during which this correspondent sought his views on the controversy sparked by Bushra Bibi’s statement. Bajwa dismissed Bushra’s assertions as baseless, irresponsible and unfounded stating that neither Saudi Arabia nor any foreign nation intervened in Pakistan’s domestic affairs. He emphasised that Saudi Arabia had played a significant role in assisting Pakistan through various administrations. Bajwa highlighted Saudi Arabia’s consistent support to Pakistan, noting that it had been a steadfast ally in challenging times. He also pointed out the Kingdom’s backing of former prime minister Imran Khan’s government, underscoring its commitment to Pakistan’s well-being. He stressed the importance of prioritizing national interests over political agendas, warning against the potential damage that baseless allegations might cause to the country. Bajwa’s remarks about the generous Saudi support to Pakistan during the most challenging periods reflect the deep-rooted diplomatic ties and cooperation between the two nations, reinforcing the notion that Saudi Arabia remains a pivotal partner for Pakistan on the global stage. M. Anis reports: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Friday said Bushra Bibi demonstrated her “moral, religious and political bankruptcy by giving a mean and vulgar statement” against Saudi Arabia. “Our politics has never witnessed such a low [...] she (Bushra) has declared herself as Sharia, how much lower can they stoop,” he said while addressing a press conference here. They are giving out such statements to save their sinking ship of politics, he added. Continuing his salvos, Asif said such a mean and vulgar statement was given against a Muslim country which helped Pakistan in difficult times and where 2.8 million Pakistanis are working. “They are giving statements against a country from where they got a wrist watch as gift and sold it out,” he said. A video message shared on the PTI’s official X handle alleged that when the former prime minister went to Madina “barefoot”, the then army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa started receiving “their calls”, implying that the Saudi officials had a role in his ouster. He advised General (retd) Bajwa to come up with denial of Bushra Bibi’s statement. Asif claimed there was also infighting between Bushra Bibi and her sisters-in-law to inherit politics from the PTI founder. “Not only that she is calling herself as Shariat but also she has launched herself as political heir to the party’s founder,” he said. “The country’s politics has not gone so low that one starts exploiting religion; they also consider themselves pious and religious. They claim being religious but the PTI founder’s sons are being brought up by Jews,” he said. The minister pointed out that the PTI leaded blamed the others of doing politics of inheritance but what they were doing now was the ugly face of politics. “There is a Qabza Group in Lahore and the other Qabza Group is from Pakpattan,” he said. Criticising the PTI’s repeated calls for protests and sit-ins, he said instead of focusing on crushing terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they were attacking the federal capital. Hasnain Qaisrani reports: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Friday said people will no longer heed anti-state activities like sit-ins and long marches. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Kachhi Canal Rehabilitation Project in Taunsa, she asked why these people were interfering when Pakistan had started marching on the path of progress. “One who loves his dear homeland cannot think of indulging in such nefarious practices. Their agenda is anti-state and totally incomprehensible. We need to think over whether to defend ourselves from our enemies or these anti-state elements. The police officers and sepoys are not terrorists but unfortunately their uniforms are humiliated. The provinces should stay united, as the PMLN has always tried to closely link them.” The chief minister said shadows of uncertainty once loomed over Pakistan but now it was treading smoothly on the path of progress and prosperity. “The KP government attacks the federation and Punjab, and now it is ready to launch another assault,” she added. Sher Ali Khalti reports: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said Bushra Bibi made a disgraceful statement about brotherly Islamic countries on the directions of the PTI founder. Speaking at Lahore, she said the mention of this lie in the planning of May 24 chaos was undoubtedly a conspiracy against the country. “The agenda of the PTI founder and Bushra Pinky is the same as that of Israel,” she said. She further said the PTI founder and Bushra Pinky had gone to extreme lengths in their animosity towards Pakistan. “As prime minister, the PTI founder took Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States to a delicate point. He used every tactic to isolate Pakistan internationally. Now, Bushra Pinky, following in her husband’s footsteps, is putting the country’s foreign policy at risk.” She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had worked tirelessly over the past two years to restore friendly relations with China and Saudi Arabia. She said a statement from an uneducated and ignorant woman against friendly countries indicated that she was working on the agenda of hostile elements. The people of Pakistan have now seen the ugly faces of these two deceivers. “Fitna Party” is now unacceptable to Pakistan and its people.” Asim Yasin reports: PMLN parliamentary leader in the Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Irfan Siddiqui Friday said those chanting “No Pakistan without Khan” slogan did not even spare the sacred land of Saudi Arabia from their vicious and anti-Pakistan campaign. “After the cipher saga, they have now raised baseless allegations against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said in a statement on ‘X’. Siddiqui said what Bushra Bibi said was part of a well-thought-out and planned strategy. Such an incident has no parallel even in the history of PTI, which is filled with mischief and chaos, he added. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, under the Telegraph Act of 1885. The FIR was lodged in Dera Ghazi Khan, accusing her of inciting hatred through her video statement. According to the police, legal proceedings are underway under Section 126 of the Telegraph Act and other relevant laws. The sources indicate that a case under cybercrime offence is under consideration, adding that FIA Cybercrime Wing could take up the case within 24 hours.The tablet market continues to bring inventions one after another into its highly specialized Best tablets to buy in 2025. Whether for a workhorse tool for professionals, gaming with stunning visuals, or even family entertainment, this list reveals the Top Tablets in 2025. 1. Apple iPad Pro (2025 Edition) Price: ₹ 1,299,999 Key Features: Seamless performance with M4 chip Liquid Retina XDR display with Motion technology 10 hours battery life iPadOS 18 with an improved approach to multitasking Apple is betting the bank on the iPad Pro: their heavyweight monster for the professional and creative arena. It promises 20% improved chip performance for design software, which is great for traveling video editing. 2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Price: ₹1,09,999 Key Features: Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate S Pen with reduced latency Exynos 2500 chip for mind-boggling speed Dolby Atmos quad speakers It has an 18-hour battery life, and multitasking features similar to high-performance tablets , making it one of the best devices for work and media. With great features, it stands out and is considered one of the finest Android devices, a one-stop shop for everything to be done or enjoyed in one go. 3. Lenovo Tab Extreme 2 Price: ₹79,999 Key Features: 14.5" OLED display for stunning visuals 8GB RAM; 512GB storage Next-generation dual stylus support Inbuilt dual stand for convenience Tab Extreme 2 is one of those gadgets where Lenovo has blended style, high-performance tablets, and functionality, making it perfect for students and professionals. Magnificently, it packs some punch but is well-constructed for the kind of value proposition it presents. 4. Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Price: ₹99,999 Key Features: 13-inch PixelSense display giving real bright views A 2-in-1 device with detachable keyboard AI-integrated Windows 12 to adaptively work with the use 16 hours of battery life Surface Pro 11 is the limit remade in productivity, with smart AI working smarter, redefining workflow, and making it a perfect device for business and multitasking embedded in economical tablets. 5. Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Price: ₹34,999 Key Features 11.2-inch WQHD+ display Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor Dolby Atmos quad speakers Fast charging and USB-C available If cost is a major concern, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro has evaded all entry barriers and justifies its worth as much as possible without being extravagant. It has a very attractive screen that all gamers and binge-watchers will likely remember fondly. 6. Google Pixel Tablet (2nd Gen) Price: ₹54,999 Key Features: Tensor G4 chip performance ideal For 4K UHD streaming Voice Match for access to a smart assistant Matte aluminium design According to Google, it is one of the best tablets to buy for Android users in 2025. It provides seamless access to the entire ecosystem, and its Built-in Hub Mode keeps it useful at home. 2025 Can be an Amazing Year for Tablets Top Tablets 2025, a survey predicts a rise of about 15% in tablet usage worldwide; professionals will account for nearly 40% of this market. Innovative updates regarding chipsets, displays, and AI promise to set a new standard in the requirements of modern technology. Conclusion As we conclude our roundup of the best tablets to buy in 2025, it's clear that there's something for everyone. Whether you're a creative professional seeking powerhouse performance with the iPad Pro, a media enthusiast who wants an immersive experience with the Samsung Tab S10 Ultra, or a budget-conscious buyer looking for affordability without compromise with the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro, the options are endless. With our expert guide, you can confidently choose the perfect tablet that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle – and discover a world of limitless possibilities.
Osun IGR Increases By 82%, Adeleke’s Aide Replies Omokri
Bartsch: Separating science and the humanities is hurting usWhales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Intuitive Surgical . Looking at options history for Intuitive Surgical ISRG we detected 11 trades. If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 54% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 9% with bearish. From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $77,900 and 9, calls, for a total amount of $448,950. What's The Price Target? After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $240.0 and $560.0 for Intuitive Surgical, spanning the last three months. Volume & Open Interest Development In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Intuitive Surgical options trades today is 157.75 with a total volume of 182.00. In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Intuitive Surgical's big money trades within a strike price range of $240.0 to $560.0 over the last 30 days. Intuitive Surgical Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days Significant Options Trades Detected: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume ISRG CALL SWEEP NEUTRAL 01/17/25 $21.3 $19.6 $19.7 $550.00 $78.8K 575 54 ISRG CALL SWEEP BULLISH 06/20/25 $65.0 $60.7 $65.0 $520.00 $65.0K 173 10 ISRG CALL TRADE NEUTRAL 06/20/25 $64.9 $61.4 $63.0 $520.00 $63.0K 173 20 ISRG CALL TRADE NEUTRAL 01/17/25 $305.0 $300.7 $302.7 $240.00 $60.5K 52 2 ISRG CALL TRADE BULLISH 03/21/25 $28.8 $27.6 $28.8 $560.00 $57.6K 140 20 About Intuitive Surgical Intuitive Surgical develops, produces, and markets a robotic system for assisting minimally invasive surgery. It also provides the instrumentation, disposable accessories, and warranty services for the system. The company has placed more than 8,600 da Vinci systems in hospitals worldwide, with more than 5,000 installations in the US and a growing number in emerging markets. Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Intuitive Surgical, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance. Present Market Standing of Intuitive Surgical With a trading volume of 478,667, the price of ISRG is up by 0.66%, reaching $540.1. Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought. Next earnings report is scheduled for 56 days from now. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access . Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Intuitive Surgical, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
SLOWLY shaking her head with disgust, Birhan Woldu is seething that her beloved Band Aid has come under attack. “That song helped keep me and thousands of others alive,” said the mother of two, with the grace and poise of an Ethiopian princess. Speaking to me at her rented apartment in the highlands of Tigray, Birhan is naturally protective over the 40-year-old pop song that has proved a constant milestone in her life. And the 43-year-old is also quick to defend the 1970s punk rocker whose sense of injustice created a social movement that defined a generation. Sir Bob Geldof calls Birhan “the daughter of Band Aid”. She considers him a second father. READ MORE ON BAND AID As a starving child, her image in a TV report helped alert the world to the tragedy unfolding in Africa . Today — 40 years after she almost perished in Ethiopia’s biblical famine — she has a heartfelt message for the Boomtown Rats frontman. Speaking down the lens of Sun man Louis Wood’s video camera, she told Geldof: “Hello my dad, how are you? I’d like to meet you again. “I need to introduce my husband and kiddies to you one day. Most read in The Sun “I hope we will meet again. I love you. Thank you, Bob.” As for the notion that the re-released Do They Know It’s Christmas? is tarnishing Africa’s image, she says of critics: “They are very wrong. “It’s a misunderstanding, misconception, a misrepresentation of Bob Geldof’s work. It’s not true. “I know the truth. Band Aid’s money has helped fund schools and hospitals. It’s very important for Tigray, Ethiopia and Africa.” ‘Hard nuts were crying’ Shortly after meeting Birhan on the day the new Band Aid single was released, my phone rings with an unmistakable Dublin accent on the other end. Some 3,700 miles away, Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, 73, is about to go on BBC’s The One Show to push the latest remixed incarnation of Do They Know It’s Christmas? “Birhan is what Band Aid’s all about,” he told me. Hello my dad, how are you? I’d like to meet you again. I need to introduce my husband and kiddies to you one day. I hope we will meet again. I love you. Thank you, Bob The first time Geldof met Birhan was in a meeting engineered by The Sun in Ethiopia in 2004. Recalling our suggestion that Do They Know It’s Christmas? should be re-released that year, he said now: “I was tired. I told you, ‘If you f***ing organise it, I’ll do’.” So The Sun’s then-editor Dominic Mohan got Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Fran Healy from Travis on board and it was a goer. The 2024 version is a mash-up of the four previous incarnations of the song — including 2004’s rendition — remixed by producer Trevor Horn. As Geldof enthused when he told Live Aid viewers to “give us your f***in’ money” in 1985, he tells me: “The new version is really fantastic, absolutely beautiful. “ Zoe Ball was sobbing when she played it on Radio 2. She had to stop and put on another track. “All the f***ing hard nuts in the control room, I swear to you, they were crying. Trevor Horn has made this scrap of a song a work of art.” Not everyone agrees. Ed Sheeran said he would not have allowed his vocals from the 2014 version to be used had permission been sought. Geldof’s 1984 lyrics have come under intense scrutiny. It’s a f***ing pop song, not a doctoral thesis Sheeran endorsed a statement by British-Ghanaian rapper Fuse ODG who blamed Band Aid for “perpetuating damaging stereotypes” of Africa and “destroying” the continent’s “dignity, pride and identity”. But Geldof’s having none of it, telling me: “It’s a f***ing pop song, not a doctoral thesis.” Meanwhile, in her neat living room, Birhan performs Ethiopia’s coffee ceremony for us with daughters Claire, 13, and ten-year-old Ariam handing out popcorn. Her dad Woldu, 73, and husband Birhane, 43, proudly look on from the sofa. Incense is burned, mingling with the aroma of the roasting coffee beans. Dressed in a traditional white embroidered dress and shawl, Birhan looks back on an astonishing life. Born into this world on a dried ox skin splayed across the earthen floor of a mud-walled hut, she would go on to greet Madonna on the Live 8 stage in 2005 watched by billions around the world. Along the way she has met Brad Pitt , the Beckhams and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Both her and Geldof’s lives are inextricably entangled with Band Aid. Bob was determined to do something after seeing BBC correspondent Michael Buerk’s harrowing 1984 reports from Ethiopia of thousands starving in a “hell on Earth”. Among the suffering masses, Birhan — stick-thin with her forlorn milky eyes rolling back into her head — was filmed apparently dying by a Canadian CBC film crew led by Brian Stewart. Her dad Woldu remembers: “Birhan was dying in my hands. I didn’t notice people were filming me.” A ragged funeral shroud had been laid out for three-year-old Birhan and her grave had already been dug at a clinic run by nuns on the outskirts of Tigrayan capital Mekele. Yet, by some miracle, her pulse returned and she survived. The CBC crew later returned to the clinic and to their amazement found Birhan alive. Today, she has little memory of famine times, saying: “Just to see my picture from then is upsetting.” Her mother Alemetsehay and big sister Azmera perished in the famine. Back in Britain, Geldof had rallied 80s pop and rock royalty — including Bono , Sting and Boy George — to sing his lyrics which Ultravox’s Midge Ure had put to music. The catchy pop record captured a public mood. Some bought boxes of the single to send as Christmas cards. Others bought 50 copies, kept one and put the others back. Geldof told me on Monday: “The bloke driving me around to all the studios today is a Serbian called Vlad. “He was watching Live Aid as a 21-year-old and thought Britain was so amazing, so exciting, that he just left his home and came here.” ‘Happy and healthy’ At the Wembley Stadium Live Aid concert the following summer in 1985, CBC’s desolate footage of starving Birhan was played on the big screens with The Cars’ haunting track Drive. The camera lingered on Birhan’s apparent final moments on Earth. It was the centrepiece of the gig watched on 85 per cent of the world’s TVs. After her unwitting brush with fame, Birhan carried on with her life, herding the family’s goats in the parched mountains of Tigray. Appearing on documentaries by CBC and the BBC , she studied plant science at college. Then in 2004, I travelled to Tigray and interviewed Birhan for a Band Aid anniversary piece. Geldof and Sir Tony Blair were in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for a conference at the same time. What would happen if The Sun arranged for the father of Band Aid to meet its daughter for the first time? When Bob and the then Prime Minister clapped eyes on her, they both appeared close to tears. Birhan presented Blair with a cross from Lalibela, Ethiopia’s holiest Christian site. Today she recalls: “He was very happy. He said he’d keep it at home. “Bob hugged me and called me his daughter.” Sun Editor Dominic had called me moments before the meeting with the idea to ask Bob if he would re-record the Band Aid song. Geldof gave his expletive-laden affirmative without missing a beat. The Sun then flew Birhan over for the London recording and then for the massive Live 8 concert. Backstage a host of celebrities queued up to meet her. Brad Pitt quietly introduced himself, as did a chatty David and Victoria Beckham. Then the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, said hello. At the time she did not realise who most of the famous faces were. But when Jeremy Clarkson ambled past at the Hyde Park, London, supergig she shrieked with recognition. Top Gear was hugely popular in Ethiopia. Back in Ethiopia, she married and had her two daughters. Her marriage would break down, while she had to put up with assumptions from some in her community that fame had brought her wealth. Then, in 2020, a civil war broke out in Tigray with widespread atrocities, including massacres of civilians and rape, in the following two years. It resulted in famine and starvation again stalking the land. Birhan recalled: “Artillery was often passing over our heads.” To support her family, Birhan sold coffee beans on the street. Some three years ago she met new husband Birhane while working for the World Food programme where he was a supervisor. Today Birhan says she’s “happy and healthy”. Now the woman who has been an inspiration to so many wants to start her own charity to help children with disabilities. To date, Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised almost £150million, with Geldof adding: “The song’s vigour after 40 years is astonishing. “An American newspaper said recently it’s probably the most powerful song ever written in rock and roll.” Birhan now hopes Do They Know It’s Christmas? will be a huge hit once more and that another Live 8-style concert will follow. “I want my daughters to come and see me take part,” the daughter of Band Aid says. READ MORE SUN STORIES “It would make me so proud.” In tomorrow’s paper: how band aid’s cash is still changing lives.
If You’d Invested $100/Month in Nvidia Starting a Decade Ago, Here’s How Much You’d Have Now
Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.New Delhi: Over 58 lakh property cards providing 'Record of Rights ' will be issued for owners in over 50,000 villages across 12 states and union territories on Friday at a virtual event which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , officials of Panchayati Raj Ministry said on Wednesday. At least 13 union ministers will meanwhile address events in different states where the property cards will be distributed, officials said. ET Year-end Special Reads It's all Gucci for Indians' luxury craving even as economy shows wrinkles Investing in 2025: Will domestic funds continue to counter FPI sell-offs amid rising valuations? 2024 exposed the underbelly of India's Silicon Valley SVAMITVA Scheme, which was launched in 2020, aims at providing a "Record of Rights" to every property owner in the Village Abadi area. Officials from the Panchayati Raj Ministry said the virtual event, which will be addressed by the Prime Minister, property cards will be issued to 58 lakh property owners in approximately 50,000 villages across 10 states - Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and two Union Territories- Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Meanwhile, several union ministers will reach out to the beneficiaries at different locations in these states, and also distribute some of the property cards. In Rajasthan, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will attend an event in Jodhpur, while JP Nadda will be in Jaipur, Bhupender Yadav in Alwar, Annpurna Devi will be in Kota, and Arjun Ram Meghwal will be in Bikaner. 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View Program In Maharashtra, union minister Piyush Goyal will address an event in Ahilya Nagar, MoS Raksha Nikhil Khadse in Nandurbar, and Murlidhar Mohol will be in Pune. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will address an event in Bhatinda, Punjab, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia will be in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, while Jitendra Singh will be in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. Secretary Panchayati Raj Vivek Bharadwaj said including the latest tranche, 2.19 crore property cards have been finalised so far. Besides, 92 percent of the drone mapping has been done covering around 3.17 lakh of the over 3.44 lakh villages that were the target. The scheme's targets are likely to be achieved by 2026. Survey of rural land in India for Settlement and record of rights had last been completed many decades back. Moreover, Abadi (inhabited) area of villages were not surveyed/ mapped in many States. Hence, no record of Rights could be created for the Village Abadi areas. The scheme aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India. The demarcation of inhabited land in rural areas would be done by the use of drone's technology with the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Revenue Department, State Panchayati Raj Department and Survey of India The outcome from the scheme would include creating/ updating the 'record-of-rights' in the revenue/property registers and issuance of property cards to the property owners. So far, 31 States/UTs have joined the Scheme. Of these, Sikkim, Telangana and Tamil Nadu had participated only in the pilot phase of the Scheme. Further, States of West Bengal, Bihar, Nagaland and Meghalaya have not joined the Scheme. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Our Favorite New Car Reveals of 2024The mellowing of electric-vehicle adoption hasn’t prevented General Motors from introducing several such models, specifically for the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands. In particular, Chevrolet has three available, including the Blazer EV. A fourth – the Corvette EV – is expected sometime in 2025, with others reportedly in the development stage. The scalable platform, which is used for all GM EVs, large and small, can handle front, rear or front and rear electric motors. For the midsize five-passenger Blazer EV, the prominent nose does have a type of grille, but it’s mostly for aesthetics. The rest of the bodywork shares nothing – as in zero – with the gasoline Blazer, which remains in production. Both are same length, but the EV has about a 23-centimetre advantage in distance between the front and rear wheels. That means easier rear-seat access through the generously sized doors, plus plenty of legroom. Despite the EV’s lower roofline, cargo volume is greater than the gasoline Blazer’s, with the seat upright or folded flat. There’s no storage beneath the hood – commonly called a front trunk or a frunk – for smaller items, which is frequently found in other EVs, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The interior has a 17.7-inch infotainment screen and a fashionably large 11.1-inch driver-information display. Instead of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the Blazer EV gets Google software. Oversized air vents are positioned on either side of the dashboard and directly above the floor console. The base 300-horsepower LT lists for $57,900, including destination charges. It’s available in front- or all-wheel-drive ($61,400), has a range of 453 and 538 kms, respectively. Equipment includes the usual power features as well as heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, 19-inch wheels and standard active-safety technology such as front and rear emergency braking, active cruise control and blind-spot warning. The 365-horsepower rear-wheel-drive RS ($68,400) can also go up to 538 kms on a charge, but AWD claws that back to 453. The performance-oriented AWD Blazer SS ($73,400) makes 595 horsepower and 645 pound-feet. According to Chevrolet, it can hit 60 mph (96-km/h) from rest in less than four seconds. The range is advertised as 470 kms. For every 10 minutes the Blazer EV is plugged in to a Level 3 DC fast charger, 125 kms of range will be added. With a 240-volt home charger, expect a full top-up overnight. Note that the dual-level charge cord needed for Level 2 and Level 3 use is optional. The RS and SS come with heated and ventilated front seats, heated flat-bottom steering wheel and a hands-free power liftgate. They both have exterior lighting between the grille and the hood that illuminates when the driver approaches. Exclusive to the SS is a head-up driver’s info display (projects information such as speed onto the windshield), a rear-view camera/mirror, Brembo-brand front brakes, premium-grade interior trim and unique 22-inch wheels (21-inch versions are fitted to the RS). Standard with the SS is the latest version of General Motors’ Super Cruise system that allows hands-free driving on more than 640,000 kms of roads in the United States and Canada. GM says that Super Cruise allows the Blazer to safely overtake slower-moving traffic and return to the original lane, all without driver involvement. Chevrolet also says it is creating a Police Pursuit Vehicle model based on the SS, which, given its power output, likely makes the most sense. Given its size, styling, output and variety of trim levels, the Chevrolet Blazer EV has plenty going for it. It also happens to be competitively priced, further enhanced by government rebates. These factors are helping to create increased buyer interest and acceptance in electric vehicles.
As far as giants go, they do not come taller in the badminton women’s singles circuit than India’s 1.79m P. V. Sindhu, who has a 2019 world title and an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and bronze (Tokyo 2020) to match her stature. For five years since their first encounter in 2019, Sindhu has towered over Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min in their head-to-head record, earning four wins without conceding a game. That all changed on Nov 21, when world No. 13 Yeo put aside her 16cm height deficit and produced consistently high-quality badminton to break the hoodoo. She won 21-16, 17-21, 23-21 after a 69-minute match in the US$1.15 million (S$1.55 million) China Masters round of 16 at the Shenzhen Arena. Showing how much the victory meant to her, Yeo screamed and slumped to the ground clenching her fists as she progressed to the Nov 22 quarter-finals, where she will meet Thailand’s world No. 10 Supanida Katethong. “I’m happy to have another breakthrough for myself. Sindhu is tall and has a good smash, so I have to be wise with my shots to restrict her as much as I can, while I attack as well,” said the 25-year-old Singaporean, who had beaten Hong Kong’s Happy Lo 21-7, 21-18 in the first round on Nov 20. In her first win against Sindhu, Yeo seized the initiative from the start to put her more illustrious rival on the back foot with some delicate net shots and disguised drops. She was 12-7 up in the opening game, before the 29-year-old Indian fought back to 15-15. Loh Kean Yew’s coach Kelvin Ho to take over national training squad But with sparring partner Vega Nirwanda in her corner to motivate and remind her “to be brave and not to follow certain habits”, the Singaporean remained calm to take six of the next seven points to clinch her first-ever game against Sindhu. The roles were reversed in the second game as Sindhu raced to a 10-5 lead before Yeo levelled at 16-16, only to lose five of the next six points as the match went to a decider. Putting her long reach to good use, Sindhu built a 13-9 advantage as it looked like normalcy had resumed. But Yeo had other ideas, changing her strategy to include body shots in her repertoire. She also rode her luck, as Sindhu was up 13-10 when she used up her challenges after two unsuccessful attempts. Yeo then won five straight points, and was successful in her own challenge by a whisker for a cross-court net shot. That gave her a fourth match point, which was finally converted after a tight net shot set up a smash which her 19th-ranked rival returned into the net. While she has not won a title in 2024, Yeo has been consistent since the agonising three-game loss to Japan’s Aya Ohori in the Paris Olympics round of 16 in August, reaching the quarter-finals in five out of seven tournaments. The purple patch has also helped her climb to a career-high world No. 13 this week. In 2024, she has also beaten four top-10 players in South Korea’s An Se-young, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, China’s Han Yue and Indonesia’s Gregoria Tunjung. Said Yeo: “Today I was able to adapt to Sindhu’s shots and stayed calm to avoid making mistakes. I believe I can be a top-10 player and I have been using the Olympics as motivation to become better because I don’t want to let that defeat bring me down.” National singles coach Kelvin Ho said Yeo has been playing well with her speed and good technique, making it difficult for opponents to predict her shots. “She still needs to work on crucial moments, when it requires her to have killer shots but cut down on unforced errors, especially during high-pressure scenarios,” added Ho, who will become coach of the national training squad in 2025. South Korean Kim Ji-hyun, former coach of Sindhu and Supanida, will take over as women’s singles coach. In the opening round on Nov 19, Singapore’s top men’s singles player Loh Kean Yew could not end his wretched winless run against Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, who won 21-17, 19-21, 21-11 for his eighth straight victory over Loh.Education is a well-established means of intellectual growth, social understanding, and empowerment. As vibrant as Indian culture is, with tradition and religion being an integral part of society, there has been considerable debate on the influence of religion in educational institutions. Moral and ethical regulations can well be achieved through the teaching of religions, but when religion becomes too close to formal education, then at times, it hampers the inclusivity, scientific focus, and critical thinking that students face in order to cope with today’s scenario. It is a distinct example of diversity in culture, languages, and traditions that distinguish India in the modern world. Apart from this cultural prosperity, India has also built a skilled workforce and many innovative minds. However, progress in both these areas has been somewhat retarded because of the religious indoctrination introduced in schools. While religious teachings can indeed teach us about moral values and right conduct in our lives, the education sector, above all, should focus on science, wisdom, and knowledge that will inspire technology and innovation better than what is usually practiced in Europe, the West, and the Far East. Religious teachings are a foundation for the development of compassion and dedication to humankind, not hatred, discrimination, or extremism. A specific time for religious teaching in schools is appropriate if balanced with science, laboratories, and innovation towards educating students about healthy competition and growth. Unfortunately, religion is now an instrument for the miscegenation of people and antagonism that threatens the sovereignty of our country. All children should be protected from religious intolerance and instead taught tolerance, sensitivity, and respect for one another. Each soul in this land must be able to feel equally treated and be equal so that our motherland becomes invincible-the country united by value and strength. Many educational institutes of India are closely associated with religious considerations in which biases creep in the case of methodologies and curricula delivered. That being said, when institutions focus more on certain religions more than others, it predisposes children to a divided society, thus truncating the freedom of learning and becoming prejudiced. Some religiously affiliated institutions compel students to participate in activities that range from forced prayers, special dress codes, and conducting ceremonies based on faith. These activities may have significant applications within particular faith communities but make education not appealing to heterogenic students. Instead of spreading warmth and inclusivity, these forced activities tend to create divisions and isolate other students outside the same belief. A morning assembly or religious practices belonging to one religion, such as Hindu prayers or Muslim recitations, alienates students belonging to religious minority communities because a Hindu prayer in a majority of Muslim students’ school or a Muslim prayer in a Hindu-majority school may make students belonging to other religions feel excluded or discomforted. This might create divisions rather than giving an impression of unity and equity, which may further impact the emotional well-being and sense of belonging of the students. It resonates with the vision of Dr. D.S. Kothari, who presided over the Kothari Commission (1964-66). He realized that social, cultural, and religious factors bore a greater weight on the education system in India and, in numerous instances, confined the opportunities for just distribution. Overall, the differences in terms of the quality and inclusivity had been immense. In such cases, the Kothari Commission brought out recommendations from a secular education system, aiming to integrate this vast country and prevent religion-based influences that otherwise hamper educational development. It was also on the strength of science temperament and the machinery of thinking critically that it wanted rational thinking to dominate against dogmatic religious or cultural thinking; at school-going levels, Kothari’s secularism, therefore, fostered shared national identity since it transcends the religious differences, which would result in intellectual and social growth. This vision of education looked at balancing respect for culture and the focus on universal knowledge and skills, so that every child in India could be educated to prepare them for modern roles in society. Similarly, the Romantic poet John Keats, known for his deep feeling for nature and skepticism towards organised religious dogma, did not clearly state that religion militated against education. Yet, however, his writings indicate that he followed a conservative attitude toward conventional religious dogma. Keats, in his letters, is an advocate of “negative capability,” that is, the ability to embrace doubt and uncertainty without seeking absolute religious answers. He thought that strict religious dogmas could limit intellectual as well as poetic exploration. For Keats, true education and development of the soul must embrace that complex rather than a determinate or transcendent religious view. A British-American author and critic of religion, Hitchens proclaimed that religious indoctrination, together with education, should not be mixed together. In his book God Is Not Great, he declared that religious teachings often clash with science and ethics, which led to an education of scientific thought and view. Quite vocally regarding postulates about the relationships of religion and education did the German philosopher and economist, Karl Marx. His most influential essay, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right (1843), includes the statement that religion is “the opium of people.” This simply means that, although very popular, religion often acts as a source of pacification, controlling the masses and not letting them ask questions about the realities around them in society and political life. Marx would believe in the propagation of inequalities through religious teachings. He would see the dangers of such teachings away from the social change the people needed. Marx advocated for a secular system of materialist education, one that would satisfy man’s desire to understand the world in line with scientific analysis and critical thinking. It was through education of people for Marx that a person was to be liberated from religious illusions and was to become aware of the material conditions of life, which could in this manner transform into social and political activities. It is an undeniable fact that religion is the greatest inspirer of values and also the highest moral guide. When religion comes into formal education in a slightly excessive manner, it would asphyxiate students’ development. Education for India must go forward as a secular, inclusive, and intellectually powerful society only if this serves to strengthen the secular element that combines scientific inquiry and critical thinking with religion and religious teachings kept strictly in the personal or cultural context. Education that values and supports diversity but gives objective, evidence-based facts can actually give students the sensibilities to be well-grounded open-minded citizens in today’s world.Biden Commutes Sentence of Hamas Leader's Half-Brother