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Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's pick to be attorney general, is a staunch ally of the former president, defending him against impeachment during his first term and pushing his false claims of election fraud as he sought to cling on to the White House. The 59-year-old former Florida attorney general, if confirmed by the Senate, will now serve as the top law enforcement official in a second Trump administration. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans -- Not anymore," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again." Bondi's nomination means the top ranks of the Justice Department will be filled by Trump loyalists, as the president-elect has named three of the lawyers who defended him in his multiple criminal cases to its other high-ranking roles. Trump tapped Bondi to be attorney general on Thursday after his first pick, firebrand ex-Florida lawmaker Matt Gaetz, dropped out amid sexual misconduct allegations and doubts that he could obtain Senate confirmation. A graduate of the University of Florida with a law degree from Stetson University, Bondi served as a prosecutor for 18 years before being elected attorney general of the "Sunshine State" in 2010, the first woman to hold the post. Bondi, a native of Trump's adopted home state of Florida, was reelected to a second term in 2014. As attorney general, Bondi notably fought opioid addiction and human trafficking while taking a tough stance on crime and supporting the death penalty. She sued BP for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and obtained more than $2 billion in economic relief for Florida, according to her biography page at Ballard Partners, a powerful lobbying firm where she has worked after leaving office. - Trump University - While serving as attorney general, Bondi was drawn into a controversy involving Trump when she declined in 2013 to join a multi-state prosecution accusing Trump University of fraud. It emerged later that Bondi's reelection committee had received a $25,000 donation from the charitable Trump Foundation. Both Trump and Bondi denied any wrongdoing. Bondi joined Trump's legal team during his first impeachment trial, in which he was alleged to have pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find political dirt on his 2020 election opponent, Democrat Joe Biden. Trump was impeached by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives but acquitted by the Republican-majority Senate. After the 2020 election, Bondi made television appearances on behalf of Trump and pushed to de-legitimize vote counting in battleground states as part of the push by the former president to overturn the results of the vote. Bondi has also criticized the criminal cases brought against Trump, appearing in solidarity at his New York trial, where he was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star. At Ballard Partners, Bondi has done work for Amazon, General Motors and Uber and as a registered lobbyist for the oil-rich Gulf nation of Qatar, according to press reports. She is also a member of the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned right-wing think tank. cl/dw2024 In Review
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Dutton’s had a great year, but 2025 will test his one great weaknessCoinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which falls on December 3 every year and with an aim to support this group, increase community awareness of their issues and work to care for them, Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), Qatar Stars League (QSL) and Qatar Paralympic Committee (QPC) participated in the ‘Paralympic Inspirations Day’ on Monday, 2024, at Aspire Ladies Sport Hall, with the participation of a number of players and school students. The events were attended by HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, former Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, in addition to officials from the participating entities: Abdullah Nasser al-Naemi, Acting CEO of AZF and Director General of Aspire Logistics; Khaled Ali al-Mawlawi, Acting Director General of Aspetar; Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of QSL; Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication at QSL; Dr Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development at QSL; Dr Hassan al-Ansari, Secretary-General of QPC; and Amir al-Mulla, Executive Director of QPC. A number of guests and dignitaries, Ooredoo Stars League players, stars and former players as well as representatives of media outlets also attended the event. The opening speech was delivered by Ali Radhi Arshad, wheelchair champion, and Abdelkarim Hassan, player of Al Wakrah and Qatar national team, and everyone was welcomed and the importance of unifying efforts to continue to promote and support athletes from different categories in order to achieve all goals and aspirations was emphasised. The events included distinctive sections and various sports activities, most notably standing long jump, obstacle race, floor hockey, basketball, football bowling and other games, and medals were distributed to the participating students and players. Al-Kuwari said: “I would like to express our happiness in organising this event in co-operation with Aspire Zone Foundation and Qatar Paralympic Committee, which coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, whom we’re proud of and appreciate, as they’re an essential part of society and supporting them is a duty of everyone. From this view point, we were keen, in co-operation with our partners, to celebrate their international day. I can only express my highest appreciation and gratitude to them, and I take this opportunity to thank all those who co-operated and participated with us. “Thanks also to all those who were present and everyone who contributed towards making this a distinguished event.” Al-Naemi said: “AZF is proud to host the 2024 Paralympic Games Day at Aspire as we believe that sports are not limited to a specific category and that they’re available to all ages and abilities. The AZF is always keen to involve people with disabilities in the various sports activities by Aspire as part of our social responsibility. We’re also keen to benefit from our worldclass facilities equipped according to the latest international standards to suit all requirements. We thank the co-operation of QSL and QPC for the event’s success.” Dr al-Ansari said: “As we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re reiterating our support for this group of the society, which deserves more attention and focus. QPC would like to thank the Qatar Olympic Committee for its great support and encouragement for our activities aimed at the uplift of our athletes with disabilities and creating a feeling of oneness among them. Such events and activities help them further discover their talents. I thank the Qatar Stars League and Aspire Zone Foundation for joining us in this noble cause.” Related Story UDST hosts 'Move Smart' event Dreama, MSDF celebrate Children’s Day with innovative artwork at HIANo. 3 Nittany Lions relying on defensive depth in Big Ten title game and postseason run
New Delhi : The second day of the 7th edition of Bharat Ka Garv, Odisha Parba illuminated the heart of Delhi, leaving an indelible mark on the audience. With the stunning blend of tradition and innovation, the event celebrated Odisha’s rich art, culture, and heritage like never before. Odisha Parba 2024 was honored by the presence of several dignitaries who added to the grandeur of the event. Shri Tankadhar Tripathy, MLA-Jharsuguda, brought a special sense of pride to the occasion with his emphasis on Odisha’s contribution to India’s cultural and academic landscape. Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of School Education, along with Shri Chamu Krishna Shastri, an eminent educationist and Sanskrit scholar, highlighted the educational and cultural significance of the festivities. Shri Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri Siddhartha Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj, graced the occasion with his invaluable support in preserving Odisha’s cultural legacy, reiterated the significance of Odisha as a cultural jewel of India. The evening saw profound performance of Nritya Vedanta – a fusion of Odissi and Chhau dance, by legendary Guru Sudarshan Sahoo and his talented disciples. The sacred message of peace conveyed through every movement of the graceful dance mesmerized the audience, highlighting the timeless beauty of Odisha’s art and dance traditions. Adding an extraordinary flair, the aerial artistry of Mallakhamba, performed by the ‘Fate Fighters’, filled the venue with energy, showcasing the strength and elegance of Odisha’s historic aerial sport. The rhythm and grace that followed with Sanskriti Dhara, a vibrant expression of Western Odisha’s dance traditions, took the audience on a cultural journey, celebrating the soul of Sambalpuri and tribal folk dance. The evening continued to captivate with the rhythmic beats of Ghudka Dhwani, a tribute to the tribal rhythm of Gudka by the Koshal Folk Academy. The dynamic Adi Nrutya – a rap revolution by Happy Stid (Shri Prayas Bahidar), injected a fresh burst of energy into the festival, bridging modernity with tradition. Other highlights included Gotipua Nritya Utsav by Aradhana Dance Academy, where young dancers wowed the crowd with their acrobatics and grace. The soulful symphony by renowned artists Ms. Dipti Rekha Padhi, Ms. Barnali Hota, and Shri Abhijeet Mishra resonated deeply, leaving the audience spellbound. The handicrafts and textile stalls were a major draw, with the authentic Sambalpuri sarees and Odisha’s famed paddy crafts, particularly from Nabrangpur, showcasing intricate artistry that requires up to 10 days of meticulous weaving. Sabai Grass home décor and the Pattachitra handicrafts from Raghurajpur brought Odisha’s traditional craftsmanship to the forefront, drawing significant crowds and admiration. These stalls, alongside others, exemplified Odisha’s rich and diverse artisanal heritage. A literary conclave added intellectual depth to the event, featuring luminaries such as Dr. Pratibha Ray (Chair), Prof. Basant Kumar Panda, Prof. Damayanti Beshra, Ramjit Tudu, Dr. Rudrani Mohanty, and Dr. Rajendra Padhi. Moderated by Paramita Satapathy, the session delved into Odisha’s literary treasures, inspiring a deeper appreciation for its cultural narrative. Meanwhile, a live show of varied social media influencers meet’ gave attendees the unique opportunity to interact with their favorite digital creators, gaining valuable insights into social media’s role in career growth and its evolving impact. The evening’s diverse performances and the massive footfall are a testament to the growing reverence and admiration for Odisha’s cultural legacy with the world, marking a celebration of pride and tradition.None
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Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money . By Jordan Chussler MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE December 16, 2024 I tested the claim that AI could beat the stock market’s returns over 90 trading days. ***Money is not a client of any investment adviser featured on this page. The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Money does not offer advisory services.*** I consider myself a disciplined investor. I stick to dollar-cost averaging and dividend reinvestment plans. I sift through quarterly earnings reports; I generally avoid meme stocks and IPOs no matter how much hype they receive. And I pride myself on having a well-diversified portfolio. Is it boring? Sure. But is it effective ? Absolutely. It was for my grandfather, too, who taught me the basics of investing, including how patience is as critical to long-term success as which companies I choose to purchase shares of. He passed away in 2006, and 18 years later, my grandmother — who turned 92 recently — is still living comfortably from the seeds he sowed decades ago. But when a bunch of self-proclaimed apes begin to target short sellers, or when a new technology claims it can produce returns that beat the market — a feat that the majority of investment professionals are incapable of achieving — it always piques my interest. Such was the case earlier this year when a company named Danelfin began claiming that its AI-powered stock-picking tool was capable of outperforming the benchmark S&P 500 index over 90 consecutive trading days (i.e., excluding stock market holidays and weekends). It was a bold assertion made by the little-known startup, and as Money’s investing editor, I would’ve been remiss not to have tried it out for myself. So in short order, I signed up for Danelfin’s free model and decided to pit it against the S&P 500. And while I was at it, I asked my son — whose interests currently revolve around Roblox and ice cream — to hit the big blue button on a digital stock randomizer until he got bored. The stage was set: the S&P 500 vs. AI vs. my 5-year-old. How Danelfin’s AI works Before diving into the stocks chosen for me, it’s useful to understand how some companies are leveraging AI to help improve investors’ odds of success. The ability to beat the market isn’t taken lightly in investing circles. BNP Paribas found that in 2023, hedge funds returned an average of 6.67% while the S&P 500 returned 24%. Moreover, a 2020 study conducted by S&P Dow Jones Indices compared actively managed funds to the performance of the S&P 500, finding that 89% of fund managers failed to beat the benchmark index. Danelfin’s stock analytics platform aims to improve investors’ chances of securing large returns by leveraging AI’s ability to sort through massive amounts of data in order to provide retail investors with a technological edge formerly reserved for professionally managed funds. Founded in 2016, the company’s mission is to “democratize the use of artificial intelligence to help everyone make better investment decisions,” according to its website. Danelfin intends to do so by using its Explainable Artificial Intelligence, an analytics platform, to provide users with stock and ETF ratings, plus an easy-to-understand AI-generated score that ranges from 1 to 10. The platform uses 600 technical indicators, 150 fundamental indicators and 150 sentiment indicators for every stock and ETF it rates. According to the company, the higher the score assigned by its AI, the higher the probability that an equity will outperform the market over the next 90 trading days. The stocks AI (and my son) picked for me Because I’m a disciplined investor, I wasn’t about to break the bank on an AI stock-picking experiment solely because it would make for a fun story. Fortunately, most major brokerages now offer fractional shares . So before the market opened on July 8, I chose two stocks that Danelfin’s free AI model recommended — big-box retailer Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and legacy carrier United Airlines Holding Inc. (UAL) — both of which received AI scores of 10 at the time. Then, after my son became disinterested in the stock randomizer after roughly 30 seconds, I had his pick: car parts retailer AutoZone Inc. (AZO). That Monday, before the opening bell, I purchased $1 worth of each. COST was trading for $885.67 per share, UAL was trading for $47 per share, and my 5-year-old’s pick, AZO, was trading for $2,815 per share. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 began the day at $5,567.19 before hitting a then-record high. After 30 trading days Things got off to a rocky start. In the lead-up to this analysis, the S&P 500 had posted a year-to-date return of 17.38%. But summertime volatility suddenly gripped the market, spiking to its highest levels since October 2023 at the tail end of the last bear market. After the first 30 trading days, on Aug. 16, here’s where things stood: The S&P 500 was outperforming the two AI picks despite both elevated volatility and a significant tech-fueled sell-off that saw it fall by 8.49% between July 16 and Aug. 5. But the index was able to recover nearly all of those losses by Aug. 16, the 30-day mark of the experiment. At this juncture, the S&P 500 and both AI stock picks were in the red, and it was beginning to look like my son — who thinks Santa is real and broccoli is evil — was a stock-picking savant. After 60 trading days September is notoriously the worst month of the year for stock performance. According to data from the S&P 500, since 1950, the average return for the S&P 500 for September is approximately -0.5%, which makes it the only month that has consistently posted a loss over that period. When the month began, it looked like more of the same. From the last trading day of August through Sept. 6, the S&P 500 experienced another sell-off that drove the index down by 4.25%. But things turned around quickly as foresighted investors scooped up the shares that inexperienced and panicked sellers offloaded. By Sept. 19, the S&P 500 was trading higher than it was before the sell-off began. After 60 trading days, on Sept. 30, here’s where things stood: At this point, the two AI picks had an average return of 10.74%, with one stock outperforming the S&P 500 by nearly fivefold and the other trailing the market by more than three percentage points. Meanwhile, my 5-year-old found himself in second place, with a return of 11.90% through 60 trading days, beating the market and one of the stocks AI picked. After 90 trading days The third and final phase of this experiment began with a strong October for the broad market and ended with a boost from the 2024 presidential election. In October, the S&P 500 set several more of all-time highs, and following a brief pullback at the end of the month, stocks rallied through the final day of the 90-trading day window prescribed by Danelfin’s AI. At the conclusion of those 90 trading days, on Nov. 11, here’s where everything stood: While the market rally allowed the S&P 500 to outperform one of AI’s stock picks — Costco — it was no match for United Airline’s gain of more than 90%. Danelifin’s proprietary model was able to identify the buy-low opportunity in the beleaguered airline before the stock hit its year-to-date low of $37.88 on Aug. 5. By Nov. 11, shares of UAL had reached their highest price since January 2020. The takeaway At the time of writing, shares of United Airlines just hit their all-time high, suggesting that AI is in agreement with my grandfather’s investment mantra of patience and discipline. While Danelfin’s other pick failed to beat the market, the average return for both stocks over the 90-trading day window was 47.8%, or more than five times the return of the S&P 500 during the same period. So: It worked. But had I decided to chose just one of Danelfin’s recommendations, I could have either outperformed or underperformed the market, which leads me to believe that — for now — AI’s claims are perhaps no more authentic than those made by the average Wall Street suit. Nobody has a crystal ball. The same goes for emerging technology like stock-picking AI platforms. And for novice or passive investors, the best approach remains investing in lower-risk index funds that historically provide reliable returns. My son has since returned to focusing on computer games and manipulating me into buying him cups of Cookie Monster ice cream (which contains enough blue food coloring to leave him looking like the flavor’s namesake Sesame Street character on a regular basis). That said, I’ll never forget that during a stretch of 2024, my 5-year-old randomly picked a stock that not only outperformed the market but held its own against AI. More from Money: Online Sports Betting Is Gaining Popularity — at the Expense of Traditional Investing This Is the Most Boring (but Effective) Way to Become a Millionaire What Investors Can Learn From the Worst-Performing Stocks of the Year Since joining Money in 2023 as an investment editor, Jordan has specialized in a wealth of finance topics, ranging from traditional equities (stocks, mutual funds and ETFs), income investment vehicles and alternative assets to retirement savings, debt-based fixed-income securities and commodities, with a specific focus on gold and other precious metals.He takes pride in combining his personal interests and professional experience in finance and education to help readers increase their financial literacy and make better investment choices.Jordan has worked in digital publishing for 17 years after graduating from Lynn University as a member of both the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society and the U.S. Achievement Academy's All-American Scholar Program. He previously served as managing editor of Weiss Ratings, where he worked alongside a team of investment writers, editors and analysts to produce educational finance content and daily, weekly and monthly market news alerts.As a contributing writer for BetterInvesting Magazine, Jordan covered topics focused on the fundamentals of investing, technical and fundamental analysis, mutual funds, debt securities, dividend investing, retirement savings strategies and passive income generation. His bylines can also be seen in Apple News, Money Crashers, The Charlotte Observer, Fort-Worth Star Telegram and a dozen other newspapers.
Abstract Security Joins Forces with Analytica42 to Supercharge Integration Delivery including integration to Google SecOps PlatformThe Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants stumble onto center stage for a Thanksgiving Day battle of backup quarterbacks, as the out-of-contention NFC East rivals have served up a combined six wins and 16 losses in 2024. Cooper Rush helped the Cowboys (4-7) return to the win column at Washington before the three-day prep for playing holiday host to the Giants (2-9), who have shuffled plans amid another potential quarterback switch. New York lugs a six-game losing streak and some emotional drama to the table Thursday afternoon. "The fight has definitely been there," Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. "But we're still pretty far down in the valley of adversity right now. We've made one step in the right direction, so we've still got a lot of climbing to do." The playoffs are an afterthought at the moment. Dallas is tied for 4th in the NFC and the Giants are dead last with the final third of the season ahead. Beating the Commanders 34-26 on Sunday helped the Cowboys exhale, if only briefly, and they will now try to win at home for the first time in six tries. The Cowboys are shooting for a season sweep of the Giants for the fourth consecutive season. "It was great to get some wind under our wings, but this Thursday's game comes on you so fast. That's really where my mind is and my heart is, too," McCarthy said. Last in the NFL in scoring (14.8 points per game) and 28th in passing offense at 187.9 yards per game, the Giants are devoid of highlighter-worthy names on the offensive scouting report. They traveled to Texas on Wednesday without last week's starting quarterback, Tommy DeVito, who was officially listed as questionable because of a forearm injury. The last win for the Giants, 29-20 at Seattle, came one week after losing 20-15 to the Cowboys in September. New York is 0-4 against the NFC East including two losses by a combined eight points to the Commanders. Rookie Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers flashes big-play ability. He's also not shy about sharing his opinion. Nabers received a good talking to from head coach Brian Daboll after he blasted the Giants' effort and felt New York was "soft" in a 30-7 whipping at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence shared the sentiment only days after openly pondering why and how the Giants decided to hand the starting quarterback job to the undrafted DeVito at the expense of 2019 first-rounder Daniel Jones. "When you lose a game like that, there's frustration," Daboll said. "Certainly, you'd like to keep it in house. But you understand them, and I've been doing this for a while. There's conversations that you have to have if comments like that are made. I respect the opinions of the players and of the coaches. We'll work as hard as we can to get this fixed." In Sunday's loss, Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey virtually folded DeVito in half on a first-quarter sack and staggered him again with a jarring hit in the fourth quarter as he released a pass. Banged up in the aftermath, DeVito wasn't asked to complete a full practice the past three but did throw a few times Monday and Tuesday. He didn't practice Wednesday and didn't accompany the team to Arlington, Texas, leaving Drew Lock to get the call for the Giants if DeVito doesn't get transportation to Texas and medical clearance by Thursday afternoon. In front of DeVito, offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) was ruled out. Evan Neal (hip) was on the long list of injury concerns for the Giants but had no injury designation Wednesday. Eluemunor left last week's game in the first half and couldn't return. Extra blockers likely are mandatory to keep Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons from feasting. Parsons had two sacks at Washington, his second game with multiple sacks in three outings since returning from a high-ankle sprain. He had two sacks of Jones the last time the Giants visited for Thanksgiving in 2022. Nabers caught 12 passes for 115 yards from Jones in defeat against the Cowboys Week 4. That was before the QB switch. Nabers wasn't targeted in the first half last week. Giants running back Tyrone Tracy enters the week in the proverbial doghouse because of another costly fumble, after his fumble in Week 10 at London gifted the Carolina Panthers a game-winning field goal in overtime. "Blood is in the water now," Tracy said. "You've got to understand this is the NFL and ball security is job security." Beyond their 0-5 home record, the Cowboys are 2-1 in the NFC East but have been outscored by 98 points on the season. The nine-loss Giants own a minus-89 scoring margin. Dallas was 8-0 at home in the 2023 regular season, then started a streak of six consecutive losses -- including the wildcard blowout by the Packers -- by an average of 22.3 points. Rush was not special at Washington, but he threw a pair of TDs, completed 75 percent of his passes and didn't throw an interception. He was limited Monday with a knee injury, but McCarthy appeared confident the QB would be available over current backup Trey Lance. Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle handled a career-high 19 carries, for a career-best 86 yards last week, erasing his previous best -- 12 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown -- against the Giants last season. He caught a 15-yard TD pass in the Cowboys' win over the Giants in September. New York gave up 156 rushing yards to the Buccaneers, the fifth consecutive game of allowing at least 140. A win would bring the Cowboys' record to 5-7, good enough to find the fringe of playoff chatter. The Cowboys are hopeful for the return of key players, including tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion), guard Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) and No. 1 cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) after they sat out Week 12. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is expected to be back for the first time since Week 4, but left guard Zack Martin (shoulder, ankle) won't play. Cooks was activated to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, when the Cowboys moved rookie cornerback Caelen Carson (shoulder) and second-year offensive lineman Asim Richards (ankle) to injured reserve. Defensive backs Andrew Booth and Kemon Hall were elevated from the practice squad. --Field Level Media
Christ is a temporal mark- After and Before Christ. For the politics in India, Manmohan Singh serves as a reference – After Him and Before Him. Christ, his christian followers believe, was crucified. The politics Manmohan Singh represented and conducted, was also crucified. His personality, his demeanour, his ideals – all this is a misfit in the new age India. Long before his departure on Thursday this week, India suffered a bereavement of a greater magnitude – death of the political leadership Manmohan Singh represented. Looking back he appears like a creature from a different planet who once was the Prime Minister of a country called India – a human prime minister. Never an accidental Prime Minister. It was good luck for India that this economist gentleman was eyed by a prescient Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, to become the finance minister of India. He came, he saw and he liberated the Indian economy. What he also witnessed in his later years, was the devastation of Indian politics. Manmohan Singh was many things rolled in one. An academic who taught his subject at the highest level. A banker who served as the chairman of RBI. An economist who brought in radical reforms. A prime minister who made a coalition work for 10 long years, and navigated his country in such crucial matters as the Indo-US nuclear deal. Name a sector of governance, economy, politics and diplomacy where he didn’t leave an imprint. Another thing he never spoke about it. His was a person full of substance, never full of himself. He was a human being who wouldn’t scare fellow humans. So all humans of the world, it is time to mourn. That is the reason why someone like Anwar Ibrahim, from a far off land, Malaysia, is so saddened by his demise. If anyone has to take a peek into the person the Singh was, read the condolence message Anwar Ibrahim posted on X. Like him there must be hundreds, nay thousands, of hearts he must have touched. A superficial knowledge of states and governments tell us that it is the system that matters in the end. No matter who rules, no matter who is in the chair, it is the national interest and the state policy that finally holds the key. But that is not the entire truth. The person at the top informs everything down under. India just observed 100th anniversary of A B Vajpayee. Wasn’t there something in the man that we had a different political atmosphere? He belonged to an ideological politics that was different from Manmohan’s. But he shared the grace and magnanimity in his person with Manmohan Singh. That is why he was, and is, praised by people across party and ideological divides. Manmohan Singh was gentle and calm, graceful and profound, honest and efficient; the strength of his personality was in his humility. Unfortunately, these traits are no longer in demand. The times have changed. The choices have changed. Now is the time for leaders who can inflict fear in others, who can cast a spell of madness on a rabble, who can raise rhetoric to Himalayan heights, who can bring skies down and turn the earth upside down. Manmohan Singh, by his very disposition brought ease and calm; on the contrary. In the din of today’s politics, who can match the reserves of calm the frail body of Manmohan Singh carried. He had a glacial personality, today’s politics needs volcanic eruption. Now that the man is no more, we see everyone in India, and beyond, praise him. But it still pains to think of the occasions when the Indian media made deprecating remarks about him, and the political opponents added to the toxicity. A man of great character was subjected to the smallness of politics that India spewed after he was no longer in the seat. In his maiden budget speech in 1991, Singh quoted Victor Hugo: “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.” He had rightly sensed it then. He brought the Indian economy on the global map. That was the time Manmohan Singh was brought into the politics of India. When his political party lost power, the time for some really ghastly ideas came. Victor Hugo’s quote was applicable then, and is applicable now. Unfortunately, it looks like Indian politics and the Indian society are bursting with ideas that change the very image of an ideal man. Manmohan Singh, even Vajpayee, don’t fit that image. The tragic in the times after Manmohan Singh is that Manmohan Singh is no longer an image of an ideal statesman. How could he live more?Sale Runs Through February 28, 2025 FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises, the most iconic cruise brand in the world, today unveiled its Come Aboard Sale, offering fantastic savings on cruises across the globe. 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The Come Aboard Sale runs now through 11:59 pm PT on February 28, 2025 , and is available to residents of all 50 United States, Canada , Puerto Rico , Mexico , Bermuda and the District of Columbia . More details and exclusions can be found at https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-deals-promotions/limited-time-offer . Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com . About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean , Alaska , Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe , South America , Australia / New Zealand , the South Pacific, Hawaii , Asia , Canada /New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. Sun Princess, the brand's new, next-level Love Boat named Condé Nast Traveler's Mega Ship of the Year, introduces the groundbreaking Sphere Class platform and will be joined by sister ship, Star Princess, in Fall 2025. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK). *Come Aboard Sale Limited Time Offer Disclaimer GENERAL TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL OFFERS IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT("Offer(s)"): Offers only available to legal residents of North America . Offers only available for new bookings, on select cruises, on a limited availability, are capacity controlled (regardless of stateroom availability), and may not be combined with other offers or promotions (aside from those listed herein). Other exclusions may apply; void where prohibited. Changes or refunds may not be permitted. Offers and their parts (if any) are not transferable, not substitutable, and not redeemable for cash. Princess Cruise Lines , Ltd. ("PCL") is not responsible or liable for any errors, including printing or other errors. PCL may change or revoke Offers at any time. A deposit is required for all stateroom guests. All values quoted in USD. Offers valid on bookings made 12/16/24 - 2/28/25 . Please refer to princess.com for terms, conditions, and details that apply to all bookings. Fares are per guest and apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space available basis at time of booking. Fares for other categories may vary. Fares are non-air, cruise- or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom only. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth guests. All cruise fares are inclusive of government-imposed taxes and fees. Government-imposed taxes and fees include but are not limited to any and all fees, tolls and taxes imposed by a governmental authority such as wharfage, head taxes, dockage, Panama canal tolls, US Customs fees, immigration and naturalization fees, government inspection fees, hotel or VAT taxes as part of a land tour, air taxes, and similar government-imposed taxes and fees for the performance of the cruise. Government-imposed taxes and fees are subject to change and PCL reserves the right to collect any increases in effect at the time of sailing even if the fare has already been paid in full. Up to 40% off fares Offer - Discount based off applicable Launch Fare, which fare excludes government-imposed taxes, fees and expenses. Offer available on a space-available basis at time of booking, on select categories and sailings. Discount applies to cruise standard fare element only and is based on destination and stateroom category and does not apply to Princess Plus or Premier packages, or any cruise tour and/or land tour elements, even when included in the cruise fare. Discount only applies to first two guests in a stateroom. Free Room Upgrade Offer applies to booking the stateroom location you wish to sail in for the price of the lowest non-guarantee category within that stateroom type during this Offer only and is subject to availability. Offer is based on availability in like-to-like stateroom types (Interior to Interior, Oceanview to Oceanview, Balcony to Balcony, Mini-Suite to Mini-Suite). Offer excludes upgrades on select categories, including but not limited to Sancturary Collection, premium categories and suites. Offer does not apply to land portion of a cruisetour. In order to take advantage of the upgrade, guest must select and book the upgraded room type during checkout, but cannot select the highest cabin category for such stateroom type as a part of the upgrade. Guests that book a lower room type in a stateroom category may not be upgraded, even if there is availability for the upgrade. Guests that book the highest cabin classification of stateroom category will be charged the full category fare and will NOT receive the lowest fare for such category. Guests will only see (and pay for) the lowest fare within the selected room type and will not see any discounted amount at checkout. If you are unable to book an eligible upgraded room type, the upgrade is not available on such room for that category or cruise. Free 3rd & 4th guest offer applies to cruise fare only for recipient and guests covered by the complimentary offer (if any) and excludes Government Taxes & Fees, and the Required Cruise Fees & Expenses. Also excludes required deposit (if any) and other cruise-related expenses and travel expenses. Actual amounts owed by recipient and applicable guests may vary and shall be calculated at the time of booking. First or Second guest in stateroom will be responsible for their cruise rates as well as the free guest's out of pocket charges and expenses. Offer only applies: (i) to Offer recipient and guests covered by the complimentary cruise Offer (if any) and (ii) to the third or fourth guests booked in the same stateroom as the first and second guests. Approximate value of free sailing for 3rd and 4th guests varies from $99 to $6,759 USD per person. There is no guarantee of Free Offer availability at time of booking. Offer is available on select voyages and guest will know if their selected voyage is available for free 3rd/4th guests if, when selecting to travel with 3rd or 4th guests, whether the fare summary page lists $0 or whether it lists an actual cruise fare amount for such guests. $99 Deposits applies to full, standard deposits only and shall not further reduce already reduced or discounted deposits. Offer not available on World Cruises, Full suites, Sanctuary Collection categories, cruises 45 days or longer, and cruises in which final payment is required. Voyages eligible for select Instant Savings offers require a non-refundable $99 deposit. Princess Cruise Lines LTD's ("PCL") Better Than Best Price Guarantee (the "Guarantee") is only available to legal residents of the 50 US/DC or Canada . If a guest books a cruise between December 16, 2024 and December 15, 2025 for any 2025, 2026, or 2027 cruise departure (the "Original Booking") and such guest finds an active, publicly available (as explained below), and lower Cruise Fare for the identical verified booking on the Princess Cruises' website (Princess.com) prior to the final payment of the cruise (the "Located Cruise Fare"), they can submit a Guarantee claim form and PCL will give the guest an On Board Credit with a value of 120% of the difference between what the guest actually paid for the Original Booking and the Located Cruise Fare. The Located Cruise Fare must be a publicly and currently available Cruise Fare, available on Princess.com , and consist of the identical details as the Original Booking (including but not limited to, on the same ship as the Original Booking, the same sail dates, the same stateroom category, the same number of guests, same bundle (Princess Plus or Princess Premier Package) and be booked under the same conditions) to be eligible. 'Publicly available' means that the Cruise Fare must be available to all guests, without any additional eligibility or required qualifications to qualify; 'publicly available' does not include unpublished, negotiated Cruise Fares with corporations, travel agencies, groups, associations, or other Cruise Fares that are specifically agreed upon by PCL and for a specified and limited group. PCL will only consider/compare the Cruise Fare from the Original Booking against the Cruise Fare from the Located Cruise Fare; no credits or other incentives will be considered. Determination as to whether the Located Cruise Fare is identical to the Original Booking will be in PCL's sole discretion. Located Cruise Fare must be in the same currency that Original Cruise Fare was booked (USD or CAD) and must be live/available for purchase for US/Canadian residents. To submit a Guarantee claim, Guest must fill out a claim form with all required information, including providing screenshot proof of qualifying lower Located Cruise Fare. The form must be submitted prior to the final payment date of the Original Booking's time/date of booking to be considered. Cruise fares on websites that require a password or paid membership to complete the booking, except Princess.com , are also ineligible. Guarantee claim will be denied if PCL is unable to independently verify the Located Cruise Fare and may be rejected if it is incomplete or is submitted in a language not used on Princess.com . PCL may deny claims relating to a time during which there is an outage, technical issue or circumstance beyond PCL's reasonable control. If PCL verifies the guest's Guarantee claim, and PCL awards the guest an OBC, PCL will apply the OBC to the guest's onboard folio. OBC must be used on the Original Cruise, expires at the end of such cruise, and may not be used in the casino . Limit: One (1) Guarantee submission per booking and one (1) OBC per person/booking/stateroom for the Original Booking; such OBC's value cannot exceed $2,000 . OBC will be awarded in the same currency as the currency onboard such cruise. OBC is non-refundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. All decisions and factors regarding this Guarantee and any claim will be determined by PCL in its sole discretion. PCL reserves discretion for applying this Guarantee and awarding a make good, if any, to a guest. PCL is not responsible for any errors in connection with this Guarantee, including any typos or printing or technology errors. PCL may modify, end, or withdraw this Guarantee or any of its terms for any reason, with or without prior notice. Other restrictions and exclusions may apply. Ships of Bermudan and British Registry. Offer expires: Friday, February 28, 2025 ( 11:59 pm PST ) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/family-friendly-perks-and-huge-discounts-highlight-princess-cruises-come-aboard-sale-on-2025--2027-sailings-302332930.html SOURCE Princess CruisesWall Street Sees Average Trading Volume Ahead of Thanksgiving
Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York
Winless at home, Cowboys shoot for eighth consecutive victory over GiantsWhat to know about Scott Turner, Trump's pick for housing secretaryCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score, and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. NO. 25 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31: Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending Illinois to a wild road victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. IOWA 29, MARYLAND 13: Kaleb Johnson rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 35 carries, and Kamari Moulton scored on a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter to help Iowa outlast Maryland in College Park. Johnson scored from 2 yards out in the second quarter for his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, and the Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3) rebounded from their loss to UCLA in their previous game. Maryland (4-7, 1-7) needed to win its final two regular-season games to reach six wins and bowl eligibility, but the Terrapins were dominated in the first half and eventually fell behind 16-0. Drew Stevens made five field goals for Iowa, including kicks from 54 yards in the second quarter, then 50 and 49 in the third. LATE FRIDAY MICHIGAN STATE 24, PURDUE 17: Aidan Chiles threw for two scores in the first half to build a three-touchdown lead and Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) held on to beat Purdue (1-10, 0-8) at home. The Spartans are a win away from being eligible for a bowl with first-year coach Jonathan Smith and they play Rutgers at home in the final regular-season game.
LG USA ANNOUNCES CREATION OF 2025 SUMMER INTERNSHIPS EXCLUSIVELY FOR RUTGERS STUDENT-ATHLETES