In Maharashtra, a tale of two coalitionsCountrywide Air Alert In Ukraine Due To Missile Threat #Countrywide #Alert #Ukraine #Missile #Threat #Investment #Fund #Contract #Company #EmployeeCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — EJ Neal had 12 points in Sacramento State's 63-61 win against Air Force on Wednesday night. Neal had five rebounds for the Hornets (2-4). Julian Vaughns shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to add 12 points. Jacob Holt had 10 points and shot 3 of 5 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Falcons (2-5) were led by Jeffrey Mills, who posted 19 points. Ethan Taylor added 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for Air Force. Vaughns scored eight points in the first half and Sacramento State went into halftime trailing 33-22. Sacramento State used a 12-0 second-half run to take the lead at 34-33. Lachlan Brewer scored 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Sandra Bullock makes rare public appearance at star-studded Lakers vs. Pistons gameThe Future of Leadership: Why AI literacy is non-negotiable for African boardsAP Sports SummaryBrief at 3:10 p.m. EST
Joseph P Kelley , Executive Vice President at Nordson NDSN , disclosed an insider purchase on December 23, based on a new SEC filing. What Happened: Kelley's recent move, as outlined in a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, involves purchasing 1,401 shares of Nordson. The total transaction value is $293,831. The latest update on Tuesday morning shows Nordson shares up by 0.11%, trading at $209.53. Get to Know Nordson Better Nordson manufactures equipment (including pumps, valves, dispensers, applicators, filters, and pelletizers) used for dispensing adhesives, coatings, sealants, and other materials. The firm serves a diverse range of end markets including packaging, medical, electronics, and industrial. Nordson's business is organized into three segments: industrial precision solutions, medical and fluid solutions, and advanced technology solutions. The company generated approximately $2.7 billion in revenue in its fiscal 2024. Key Indicators: Nordson's Financial Health Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Nordson's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 12.53% as of 31 October, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Industrials sector. Key Profitability Indicators: Gross Margin: The company excels with a remarkable gross margin of 54.11% , indicating superior cost efficiency and profitability compared to its industry peers. Earnings per Share (EPS): Nordson's EPS is notably higher than the industry average. The company achieved a positive bottom-line trend with a current EPS of 2.14 . Debt Management: The company faces challenges in debt management with a debt-to-equity ratio higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 0.75 , caution is advised due to increased financial risk. Exploring Valuation Metrics Landscape: Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The Price to Earnings ratio of 25.81 is lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock. Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: A higher-than-average P/S ratio of 4.48 suggests overvaluation in the eyes of investors, considering sales performance. EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): With an EV/EBITDA ratio of 17.44 , the company's market valuation exceeds industry averages. Market Capitalization: Indicating a reduced size compared to industry averages, the company's market capitalization poses unique challenges. Now trade stocks online commission free with Charles Schwab, a trusted and complete investment firm. The Impact of Insider Transactions on Investments In the complex landscape of investment decisions, investors should approach insider transactions as part of a comprehensive analysis, considering various elements. Exploring the legal landscape, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated by Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This encompasses executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be submitted within two business days of the transaction. Highlighted by a company insider's new purchase, there's a positive anticipation for the stock to rise. But, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors. Unlocking the Meaning of Transaction Codes Investors prefer focusing on transactions that take place in the open market, indicated in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 indicates a purchase, while S indicates a sale. Transaction code C indicates the conversion of an option, and transaction code A indicates grant, award or other acquisition of securities from the company. Check Out The Full List Of Nordson's Insider Trades. Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don't miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. Click here for access . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will direct his Justice Department to "vigorously pursue" the death penalty to protect Americans from "violent rapists, murderers, and monsters" when he takes power on Jan. 20. Trump's statement on his social media platform Truth Social was in response to President Joe Biden's announcement on Monday that he had commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row, converting them to life in prison without parole. "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters," Trump said. Trump restarted federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021 after a nearly 20-year pause. Biden, who ran for president opposing the death penalty, put federal executions on hold when he took office in January 2021. Unlike executive orders, clemency decisions cannot be reversed by a president's successor, although the death penalty can be sought more aggressively in future cases. The Trump transition team on Monday had denounced Biden's decision, calling it abhorrent and favoring convicts who are "among the worst killers in the world." (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Too early to celebrate – Arne Slot keeps leaders Liverpool focused
Putting money into a and buying quality blue-chip shares to hold for decades can be a lucrative way to get ready for retirement, no matter how far away that may seem at present. But maximising the value of one’s SIPP is not just about maximising one’s opportunities for gain. It also involves trying to avoid costly mistakes. Here are three such investing mistakes I actively seek to avoid with my SIPP. Not paying attention to costs and fees The difference between 1% and 0.5% might not sound much. But as an annual fee, if that is levied every year on the value of an investment with a timeframe measured in decades like a SIPP, even small sounding differences can have a very large financial impact. For example, I like getting paper statements for my SIPP. But when I realised just how much was charging me for them, I switched to digital ones only – as well as comparing that provider’s SIPP costs more generally . Taking a short-term approach As a long-term investor, it is not surprising that I generally see a short-term investing mindset as a potential mistake. But whereas sometimes it is understandable, when it comes to a SIPP, I think the vehicle is perfectly suited to taking a long-term approach. This can work in two ways. For example, maybe a share that does well now has different prospects over the long term. That is a risk I consider in owning tobacco shares, given declining cigarette usage. But it can also mean identifying a share I think has great long-term potential even though it may be going through a rough patch. That is why I am hanging onto my shares in ( ) even though recent performance has been disappointing. The share has fallen 38% in value over the past five years. Last year’s revenues declined 6% (albeit from a record high). While the 9% dividend yield is certainly attention-grabbing, it may be at risk if earnings are weak. This year’s interim dividend per share was 1.2p, for example, while basic earnings per share were negative at -1.1p. However, over the long term, consumers and trade customers will want to decorate and renovate kitchens and bathrooms. Topps has economies of scale, as it sells one in five tiles bought in the UK. It has been growing its online business and an acquisition of assets from a failed rival this year (currently being reviewed by competition authorities) could help it build its presence among specific professional clients. Too much of a good thing Another mistake to avoid is letting one’s SIPP become imbalanced. That is not just about diversifying – it is about diversified. As an example, imagine five years ago I split a £100K SIPP 10 ways evenly over five shares that have gone nowhere since, four that have grown 10%, and . Ignoring dividends and fees, my SIPP would now be worth £372,000. Without having even touched my once diversified SIPP, though, Nvidia’s incredible share price run would mean that that one share now represented of my entire SIPP valuation. Diversification is not just about initially allocating a SIPP. It can also mean selling down stakes in huge winners, as has been doing with his stake.
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David Cronenberg is more than a master of body horror, author arguesThe documentary film "Mattila" won the "Bronze Tanit" Award in the official documentary competition at the 35th Carthage Film Festival, which concluded its activities on Sunday, Dec 22, in Tunisia. The film, directed by Tunisian Abdullah Yahia and produced by Al Jazeera Documentary, tells the story of Rayan, a Tunisian teenager who was forced to face the challenges of the world of crime and delinquency after leaving school at an early age. In the absence of his parents who left the country illegally during the events of the Tunisian revolution in 2011. Over the course of 3 years of filming, "Mattila" follows the journey of Rayan who found in football a safe haven away from delinquency and marginalization. The film also depicts his ambition to travel to France to meet his parents after a separation of more than 12 years. The film "Mattila" is a testament to the social difficulties facing Tunisian youth, and highlights the strength of hope and determination in striving for a better future, despite the harsh circumstances. Related Story Al Jazeera Media Institute to hold AI conference in Jan Gulf Times reporter receives ‘Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award 2024’
SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLVIT System, a recognized leader in innovative technology, will participate in CES 2025, taking place January 7–10 in Las Vegas . The company's iSARTM (intelligent Search and Rescue) has been honored with the prestigious CES Innovation Award in the "Smart Cities" category. At CES, SOLVIT System will showcase its groundbreaking technology to dramatically reduce search areas for individuals lost in radio shadow zones. Addressing the Challenges of Rescue Dead Zones Mobile communication shadow areas, often called "rescue dead zones" in current E911 services, pose significant challenges for locating missing individuals due to the absence of technology capable of identifying or narrowing these shadow zones. Wide-area searches without actionable clues often result in unsuccessful rescue attempts despite substantial investments of time and resources. Powered by advanced algorithms, the SOLVIT-iSARTM system reduces the search area to as little as 1/25 the size required by traditional methods. Cutting-edge technology for Swift and Accurate Rescues At CES, SOLVIT System will demonstrate iSARTM's functionality and the innovative algorithms behind its success. The solution leverages advanced mobile communication forensic technologies and intelligent inference, including: These fully automated processes enable rescue operators to complete professional-grade analyses within just 10 minutes, a significant improvement over the three hours typically required by radio forensic experts. The company will highlight its front-end applications for command-and-control centers and mobile devices. These tools enhance operational efficiency, allowing rescue teams to work quickly and effectively in the field. Proven Innovation with Global Recognition SOLVIT System's iSARTM has been celebrated for its groundbreaking contributions to public safety, improving the likelihood of rescuing individuals while ensuring the safety of rescue personnel. Before earning the CES Innovation Award, iSARTM was recognized as an "Excellent Research and Development Innovation Product" by Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. Since its deployment in April 2024 at the Korea National Fire & Disaster Headquarters, the system has demonstrated exceptional efficiency and reliability. Motivation and Vision for the Future "We are proud to be honored with the CES Innovation Award for iSARTM that saves lives," said Yeong-Goo Kim , Founder and CEO of SOLVIT System. "Driven by our commitment to saving lives, we have applied our expertise to the search and rescue field." The company's participation in CES 2025 goes beyond showcasing its product. Mr Kim aims to connect with a wide range of people, agencies, companies, and institutions to explore opportunities for collaboration and the localization of iSARTM in different countries. He also hinted at the development of the next version of iSARTM, promising further groundbreaking innovations. He also hopes that iSARTM's CES Award will serve as a stepping-stone toward establishing legal and institutional frameworks for public access to radio resource information and time-series data. Special thanks go to KCA for providing refined radio resource information, ATDI for supplying a proven radio analysis engine, and the institutions that supported technical validation. Key Features of SOLVIT-iSAR Join Us at CES 2025 For more information, visit SOLVIT System at CES 2025 in LVCC North Hall, Booth 8879 , to experience the award-winning SOLVIT-iSARTM — a revolutionary step forward in rescue operations designed to save lives and resources through advanced technology. About SOLVIT System Since its establishment as a corporation in 2007, SOLVIT System has grown into a small but strong enterprise that provides military communication Modeling & Simulation (M&S), radio analysis, digital twin technology, edge AI, and security solutions. It supplies these solutions to defense research institutions such as the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology (KRIT) and defense companies like Hanwha Systems and LIG Nex1. The company has been recognized by Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as a "Defense Industry Innovation Company." More at CES 2025: LVCC North Hall, Booth 8879 ( https://exhibitors.ces.tech/8_0/floorplan/?hallID=A&selectedBooth=8879) Website: https://en.solvitsystem.co.kr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjBF993Pwc For further information: SOLVIT System: Hansol Kim , +82-2-6241-6667, hansolkim@solvitsystem.co.kr , sales@solvitsystem.co.kr ; View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solvit-system-wins-ces-2025-innovation-award-illuminating-paths-to-save-lives-in-radio-shadow-areas-302339454.html SOURCE SOLVIT System
Brookfield Infrastructure Renews Its Normal Course Issuer BidsBROOKFIELD, News, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. ("BIP") BIP BIP today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") accepted a notice filed by BIP of its intention to renew its normal course issuer bid for its outstanding limited partnership units ("LP Units") and its cumulative class A preferred limited partnership units ("Preferred Units", and together with LP Units, "Units"). Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation ("BIPC") (NYSE/TSX: BIPC ) also today announced that the TSX accepted a notice filed by BIPC of its intention to renew its normal course issuer bid for its outstanding class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares ("Exchangeable Shares"). BIP and BIPC believe that the renewed normal course issuer bid will provide the flexibility to use available funds to purchase Units or Exchangeable Shares, as applicable, should they be trading in price ranges that do not fully reflect their value. Under BIP's normal course issuer bid, the Board of Directors of the general partner of BIP authorized BIP to repurchase up to 5% of the issued and outstanding LP Units, or up to 23,088,572 LP Units. At the close of business on November 19, 2024, there were 461,771,450 LP Units issued and outstanding. Under BIP's normal course issuer bid, it may repurchase up to 126,133 LP Units on the TSX during any trading day, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume of 504,532 LP Units on the TSX for the six months ended October 31, 2024, calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX. BIP currently has four series of Preferred Units outstanding and that trade on the TSX. Under BIP's normal course issuer bid, BIP is authorized to repurchase up to 10% of the total public float of each series of Preferred Units as follows: Series Ticker Issued and outstanding units 1 Public float 1 Average daily trading volume 2 Maximum number of units subject to repurchase 3 Total Daily Series 1 BIP.PR.A 4,989,265 4,989,265 6,031 498,926 1,507 Series 3 BIP.PR.B 4,989,262 4,989,262 2,964 498,926 1,000 Series 9 BIP.PR.E 7,986,595 7,986,595 4,451 798,659 1,112 Series 11 BIP.PR.F 9,936,190 9,936,190 5,363 993,619 1,340 Calculated as at November 19, 2024. For the 6 months ended October 31, 2024. In accordance with TSX rules, any daily repurchases with respect to each of the Series 1, Series 9 and Series 11 Preferred Units will be limited to 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX of the respective series and any daily repurchases with respect to the Series 3 Preferred Units will be limited to 1,000 Preferred Units. Under BIPC's normal course issuer bid, the Board of Directors of BIPC authorized BIPC to repurchase up to 10% of the total public float of Exchangeable Shares, or up to 11,889,600 Exchangeable Shares. At the close of business on November 19, 2024, there were 132,029,368 Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding and 118,896,006 Exchangeable Shares in the public float. Under BIPC's normal course issuer bid, it may repurchase up to 46,896 Exchangeable Shares on the TSX during any trading day, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume of 187,586 Exchangeable Shares on the TSX for the six months ended October 31, 2024, calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX. Repurchases under each normal course issuer bid are authorized to commence on December 2, 2024 and each normal course issuer bid will terminate on December 1, 2025, or earlier should BIP or BIPC, as applicable, complete its repurchases under its respective normal course issuer bid prior to such date. Under BIP's current normal course issuer bid that commenced on December 1, 2023 and expires on November 30, 2024, BIP previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 23,107,234 LP Units, 498,926 Series 1 Preferred Units, 498,586 Series 3 Preferred Units, 798,659 Series 9 Preferred Units and 993,619 Series 11 Preferred Units. BIP has not repurchased any Units under its current normal course issuer bid in the past twelve months. Under BIPC's normal course issuer bid that commenced on December 1, 2023 and expires on November 30, 2024, BIPC previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 11,867,195 Exchangeable Shares. BIPC has not repurchased any Exchangeable Shares under its current normal course issuer bid in the past twelve months. Repurchases of Series 1, Series 3, Series 9 and Series 11 Preferred Units will be effected through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative trading systems. Repurchases of LP Units and Exchangeable Shares will be effected through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE and/or alternative trading systems. All Units and Exchangeable Shares acquired by BIP and BIPC, respectively, under the applicable normal course issuer bid will be cancelled. Repurchases will be subject to compliance with applicable United States federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as applicable Canadian securities laws. BIP and BIPC intend to enter into automatic share purchase plans on or about the week of December 23, 2024 in relation to their respective normal course issuer bids. The automatic share purchase plans will allow for the purchase of Units or Exchangeable Shares, as applicable, subject to certain trading parameters, at times when BIP or BIPC ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. Outside these periods, the Units or Exchangeable Shares will be repurchased in accordance with management's discretion, subject to applicable law. About Brookfield Infrastructure Brookfield Infrastructure is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, midstream and data sectors across the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. We are focused on assets that have contracted and regulated revenues that generate predictable and stable cash flows. Investors can access its portfolio either through Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. BIP BIP , a Bermuda-based limited partnership, or Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation ((NYSE, TSX: BIPC ), a Canadian corporation. Further information is available at https://bip.brookfield.com . Brookfield Infrastructure is the flagship listed infrastructure company of Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager with over US$1 trillion of assets under management. For more information, go to https://brookfield.com . Contact Information Media: Investor Relations: Simon Maine Managing Director Corporate Communications Tel: +44 739 890 9278 Email: simon.maine@brookfield.com Stephen Fukuda Senior Vice President Corporate Development & Investor Relations Tel: +1 416 956 5129 Email: stephen.fukuda@brookfield.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The words "believes," "may" or derivations thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding potential future repurchases by BIP of its Units and by BIPC of its Exchangeable Shares pursuant to their respective normal course issuer bids and, as applicable, automatic repurchase plans. Although BIP and BIPC believe that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. The future performance and prospects of BIP and BIPC are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results of BIP and BIPC to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by the statements in this news release include: general economic conditions; interest rate changes; availability of equity and debt financing; the performance of Units and Exchangeable Shares or the stock exchanges generally; and other risks and factors described in the documents filed by BIP and BIPC with securities regulators in Canada and the United States including under "Risk Factors" in BIP's and BIPC's most recent Annual Reports on Form 20-F and other risks and factors that are described therein. Except as required by law, BIP and BIPC undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
PRAYAGRAJ (India), Dec 27 — Beside India’s holy rivers, a makeshift city is being built for a Hindu religious festival expected to be so vast it will be seen from space, the largest gathering in history. Line after line of pontoon bridges span the rivers at Prayagraj, as Indian authorities prepare for 400 million pilgrims — more than the combined population of the United States and Canada — during the six-week-long Kumbh Mela. The millennia-old sacred show of religious piety and ritual bathing is held once every 12 years at the site where the holy Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet. But this edition from January 13 to February 26 is expected to be a mega draw, as it is set to coincide with a special alignment of the planets. Beads of sweat glisten on labourer Babu Chand’s forehead as he digs a trench for seemingly endless electrical cables, one of an army of workers toiling day and night at a venue sprawling over 4,000 hectares (15 square miles). “So many devotees are going to come,” 48-year-old Chand told AFP, who says he is working for a noble cause for the mela, or fair. “I feel I am contributing my bit — what I am doing seems like a pious act.” ‘Pure faith’ A humongous tent city, two-thirds the area of Manhattan, is being built on the floodplains of Prayagraj, formerly called Allahabad, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. “Some 350 to 400 million devotees are going to visit the mela, so you can imagine the scale of preparations,” said Vivek Chaturvedi, the spokesman for the festival. Preparing for the Kumbh is like setting up a new country, requiring roads, lighting, housing and sewerage. “What makes this event unique is its magnitude and the fact that no invitations are sent to anybody... Everyone comes on their own, driven by pure faith,” Chaturvedi told AFP. “Nowhere in the world will you see a gathering of this size, not even one-tenth of it.” Around 1.8 million Muslims take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Kumbh numbers, according to Chaturvedi, are mind-boggling. Some 150,000 toilets have been built, 68,000 LED lighting poles have been erected, and community kitchens can feed up to 50,000 people at the same time. Alongside religious preparations, Prayagraj has undergone a major infrastructure overhaul, and huge posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dot the city. Both are from the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with politics and religion deeply intertwined. Nectar of Immortality The Kumbh Mela is an ancient celebration, with its origins rooted in Hindu mythology. Hindus believe that taking a dip in Sangam, the confluence of the rivers, will cleanse them of their sins and help them attain “moksha”, setting them free from the cycle of birth and death. According to legends, deities and demons fought over a pitcher — or “kumbh” — containing the nectar of immortality. During the battle, four drops fell to Earth. One drop landed in Prayagraj. The others fell at Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain — the three other cities where the rotating Kumbh Mela is held on other years. But the one in Prayagraj — held every 12 years — is the largest. Organising authorities are calling it the great, or “Maha” Kumbh Mela. The last Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in 2019 saw 240 million devotees, according to authorities — but that was the smaller “Ardh” or half festival, spaced in between the main event. “When you talk about the Kumbh, you have to talk about astronomy,” said historian Heramb Chaturvedi, 69. “Jupiter transits one zodiac sign in a single year,” he added. “Therefore, when it completes 12 zodiac signs, then it is Kumbh.” Core to celebrations is giving alms to the “wise and learned, the poor and the needy”, he said. Naked monks Some pilgrims have already arrived, including naked naga sadhus — wandering monks who have walked for weeks from the remote mountains and forests where they are usually devoted to meditation. They will lead the dawn charge into the chilly river waters on the six most auspicious bathing dates, starting with the first on January 13. “I have come here to give my blessings to the public,” 90-year-old naga sadhu Digambar Ramesh Giri, naked with dread-locked hair in a bun, told AFP. “Whatever you long for in your heart you get at Kumbh.” — AFP
Enerflex Ltd. Provides Update Related to Kurdistan Project
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to India Post on a plea seeking the introduction of QR-based or digital payment facilities across all postal offices to prevent over-charging due to cash-based transactions. A bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) raising concerns about arbitrary tariff rounding, lack of digital payment options, and outdated infrastructure in postal services. The petition cited specific examples to illustrate the systemic issues. In one instance, a customer was charged Rs 18 for a postal tariff of Rs 17.70 due to the unavailability of exact change, resulting in an overcharge of 30 paise. While this amount may seem negligible, when multiplied across crores of transactions nationwide, it translates into significant financial losses, contended advocate Ujjawal Gaur, the petitioner-in-person. Conversely, in another example, a customer was charged Rs 41 for a tariff of Rs 41.30, leading to a waiver of 30 paise, which directly impacts the Consolidated Fund of India and highlights the inefficiencies in India Post’s cash-handling practices, added Gaur. “This reliance on cash transactions leads to inefficiencies, delays, and situations where customers, unable to provide exact change, often forfeit the leftover balance, further compounding financial losses,” contended the petition. Further, it said that the lack of digital payment facilities violates Article 14 of the Constitution as it discriminates against people who are solely reliant on cashless transactions. Agreeing to examine the issue raised in the PIL, Justice Narula-led Bench issued a notice to India Post, the Union government and other respondents and sought their responses within four weeks. “Issue notice to Respondents, by all permissible modes, upon filing of process fee, returnable on the next date of hearing. On service, such Respondents shall file a counter affidavit within a period of four weeks from the date of service,” it ordered. The matter will be heard next on April 25, 2025.When the page turns on 2024, it will be time to say goodbye, once and for all, to the amateur athlete in college sports. In theory, the concept held on stubbornly via the quaint and now all-but-dead notion that student-athletes played only for pride, a scholarship and some meal money. In practice, the amateurs have been disappearing for years, washed away by the steady millions, now billions, that have flowed into college athletics, mostly through football and basketball both through legitimate and illicit means. In the coming year, the last vestiges of amateur college sports are expected to officially sputter out — the final step of a journey that has felt inevitable since 2021. That’s when the Supreme Court laid the foundation for paying college players in exchange for promotions — on social media, TV, video games, you name it — featuring their name, image or likeness (NIL). The changes have come in spasms so far, not always well thought out, not always fair and not regulated by any single entity like the NCAA or federal government, but rather by a collection of state laws, along with rules at individual schools and the leagues in which they play. But on April 7, the day final approval is expected for the landmark, $2.8 billion lawsuit settlement that lays the foundation for players to receive money directly from their schools, what was once considered anathema to the entire concept of college sports will become the norm. David Schnase, the NCAA’s vice president for academic and membership affairs, acknowledges that maintaining the unique essence of college sports is a challenge in the shifting landscape. “You can use the word ‘pro,’ you can use the word ‘amateur,’ you can attach whatever moniker you want to it, but those are just labels,” Schnase said. “It’s much less about labels and more about experiences and circumstances. Circumstances are different today than they were last year and they are likely going to be different in the foreseeable future.” Few would argue that college athletes shouldn’t get something back for the billions they help produce in TV and ticket revenue, merchandise sales and the like. But is everyone going to cash in? Are college players really getting rich? Recent headlines suggest top quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood was lured to Michigan thanks to funding from billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and that a top basketball recruit, A.J. Dybantsa, is heading to BYU — not a hoops powerhouse — for the reported price of $7 million. For every Underwood or Dybantsa, though, there are even more Matthew Slukas and Beau Pribulas. Sluka’s agent says his son agreed to play quarterback at UNLV after a promise of receiving $100,000 and quit three games into the season after the checks never came. Pribula was the backup quarterback at Penn State who abruptly entered the transfer portal earlier this month, choosing the college version of free agency over a chance to play with the Nittany Lions in the College Football Playoff. He’s not the only one hitting the portal in hopes of getting rich before new regulations related to the NCAA settlement take effect. “We’ve got problems in college football,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. The settlement will overhaul the current system. Currently, players receive money via third-party collectives that are booster-funded groups affiliated with individual schools. Coming up fast: the schools paying the athletes directly — the term often used here is “revenue sharing” — with collectives still an option, but not the only one. “It’s going to be more transparent,” said Jeff Kessler, the plaintiffs’ attorney and antitrust veteran who helped shape the settlement. “If anything, having the schools handling all the payments is only going to improve the system.” The NCAA has started collecting data about NIL payments, which date to July 2021. Its first set of numbers, which includes data from more than 140 schools across more than 40 sports in 2024, show a bracing disconnect between have and have-nots. For instance, average earnings for football and men’s and women’s basketball players is nearly $38,000. But the median earning — the middle number among all the data points on the list — is only $1,328, a sign of how much the biggest contracts skew the average. The statistics also show a vast difference in earnings between men and women, an issue that could impact schools’ ability to comply with Title IX. That 1972 law requires schools to provide equal athletic scholarships and financial aid but not necessarily that they spend the same dollar amount on men and women. Heading into 2025, there is no clarity on how this issue will play out. Regardless, the numbers are jarring. The NCAA data set shows the average earnings for women in 16 sports was $8,624, compared with $33,321 for men in 11 sports. Men,’s basketball players averaged $56,000 compared with $11,500 for women. The biggest losers from this move toward a professional model could be all the swimmers and wrestlers and field hockey players — the athletes in the so-called non-revenue sports whose programs also happen to serve as the backbone of the U.S. Olympic team. Only a tiny percentage of those athletes are getting rich, and now that universities have to use revenue to pay the most sought-after players in their athletic programs, there could be cuts to the smaller sports. Also, someone’s going to have backfill the revenue that will now go to the players. Well-heeled donors like Ellison are not around for every school, nor have private equity firms started sending money. The average fan will have to pony up, and the last six months have seen dozens — if not hundreds — of athletic directors begging alumni for money and warning them of changes ahead. Already there are schools placing surcharges on tickets or concessions. How will fans respond to a more transactional model of college sports? “I don’t know that fans have this really great love for the idea of 100% pure amateurism,” said Nels Popp, a University of North Carolina sports business professor. “I think what they care about is the colors and the logos and the brand. I don’t know that it matters to them if the players are making a little bit of money or a lot of money. They’ve been making money for the last couple years, and I don’t know that that’s making fans really back off.” The last time amateurism came under such assault was in the 1980s, when the Olympics unwound the final remnants of pretending the vast majority of their athletes were anything other than full-time professionals. The transformation was tinged with a note of honesty: The people putting on the show should reap some benefits from it. Even 40 years later, there’s an good argument they remain underpaid. The contours of the same debate are shaping up in college sports. Athletes are pushing for a players’ association that would add more transparency to a business that, even with the changes coming, is still largely dictated by the schools. The NCAA, while acceding to the need to pay the players, wants nothing to do with turning them into actual employees of the schools they play for. It’s an expensive prospect that is winding its way through the legal system via lawsuits and labor hearings that many in college sports are desperate to avoid for fear it will push the entire industry off the financial cliff. Among the few things everyone agrees on is that things aren’t going back to a time when athletes pretended to play for pride while the money moved under tables and through shadows. And that this, in fact, could only be the start, not the end, of the transformation of college sports. “At some point, I think people might have to understand that maybe college athletes don’t go to college anymore,” Popp said. “Or maybe they don’t go to class during the season. There could be more radical changes, and as long as they’re wearing the right logo and the right colors, I’m not sure that fans really care.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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