A few months back, I received a scrawled letter on lined notebook paper that included this message: “I apologize for my handwriting and spelling. I am writing this on a log.” Don’t worry, Giovanni. I could read your letter, along with the rest of the notes from Scouts spending some time at Camp Baldwin in Dufur, which is south of The Dalles. More than a dozen letters arrived from Scouts, each working toward fulfilling the requirements for a communications merit badge. The tone of the questions ran the gamut from wise to whimsical. However, most did not include names or return addresses so I will give my answers here. “How do you get sleep at night? What do you think of semantics? Have you ever ridden in a limo? What’s your opinion of palindromes?” Joe was full of questions. For the record, Joe, I don’t think I’ve ever taken a ride in a limousine. Journalists’ cars tend to have mileage well into six figures, look pretty beat up and carry lots of detritus like fast-food wrappers and empty coffee cups. I do enjoy palindromes, however. “Working on a newspaper seems very interesting. How do you like the job? If hypothetically you could go bald in exchange for 1 million dollars, are you taking the money?” Lucas asked. “I believe that this one question in combination with a degree of job satisfaction can be used to determine some important qualities that editors need in order to be proficient in the work force.” Now, I’m afraid if I give the wrong answer, I’ll be exposed as unqualified. Realistically, though, editors do tend to lose a lot of hair over the years – mostly because of tearing their hair out over reporters who have missed deadline. Under an alias, one Scout asked, “How is it being an editor? Is it hard? I was also wondering if a whole lot of people still read physical newspapers. Lastly how much can you bench press?” Well, “Gronk R. Skibidi,” a whole lot of people still read print newspapers, and the print version of The Oregonian is an important part of our suite of products, which includes OregonLive and our online version of the newspaper, found at theoregonian.com. It’s true that reader habits have migrated to the internet and that means our readership is larger than it has ever been, thanks to OregonLive’s vast audience . And I don’t know how much I can bench press. I am sure it’s a lot (heh). Several correspondents wanted to know about the day-to-day reality of the job of newspaper editor. “Do you deal a lot with spelling corrections or give mostly writing tips. What’s the biggest spelling mistake you’ve seen. What have you done in order to get the position,” a Star Scout wrote. I started my career on the copy desk. The editors there are the final eyes on news articles before they are published. Copy editors clean up typos and grammatical errors, write headlines and ask questions to fill in any information the article might be missing. Even today, I point out spelling mistakes and give writing tips. As to the biggest spelling error ever? I certainly have some memorable ones. Readers, what do you remember? As for what I did to get this position, I think I mainly just stuck with it for 41 years. I began as a summer intern, and I’ve been known to tell our interns, “Hey, if you stick around long enough, they might even make you editor someday.” Seriously, though, I was willing to change as our business evolved. Openness to new ideas will serve you well in any career. Several Scouts seemed dialed into the existential changes in newspapering. “My first question is what is the superior form of communication, paper or technology,” asked Preston. A similar query came from Connor. “Do you think social media is more, less, or equal in significance to a newspaper?” Nice use of the Oxford comma, Connor! As for your question, The Oregonian/OregonLive has about 2 million followers on our various social media platforms. Delivering the news via Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, X or its alternatives, Threads or the emergent Bluesky, will continue to be an important part of our strategy. We want to be where readers are, and people spend a lot of time scrolling on social media. But, Preston, to answer you, the important thing is not the form of delivery. The important thing is the journalism. People crave reliable local news and information they can’t get anywhere else. The Oregonian/OregonLive’s newsroom focuses on Oregon and primarily the Portland metro area, where most of our readers live. We want to deliver a robust daily news report and consequential investigative journalism. We also want to celebrate the place where we live. You can find our coverage of Oregon’s people, places and experiences at hereisoregon.com. People who value independent news can subscribe and pay to support us, or they can read us wherever our work appears. That helps us, too. Thank you, Scouts! Your letters brightened my day. Reach me at tbottomly@oregonian.com .The arms race in large language artificial intelligence (AI) is heating up. Can the Gulf countries play a leading role in the sector, given the high savings, cheap energy and good political ties with the US? The tech billionaire Elon Musk has alarmed competitors, and intrigued customers and observers, by rapidly building a supercomputer, appropriately known as Colossus, in just 120 days, in Memphis Tennessee in a new data centre. Its purpose is to power his xAI technology, and it will be of an unprecedented scale: Some 100,000 graphics processing units supplied by Nvidia. Competitors are nervous. There is no guarantee that this formidable scaling up of computer power will give his xAI a superior edge, but no certainty that it won’t. Industry experts reckon that the tools at the rival OpenAI are currently superior, but the sheer computing muscle of Colossus may help xAI close the gap or overtake. What does this mean for the economic world, including the Gulf? The impact of AI is already being felt, will continue and likely intensify. You could say that there has been much hype around AI, accidents such as ‘hallucinations’ in large language models and technical glitches. But you could have made similar criticisms about the aviation sector in the early 20th century – there were crashes and failed models, but it still proceeded to transform long-distance travel around the globe. AI is at a similar stage 100 years on. And just as you need a skilled pilot for an aircraft, similar principles apply with AI. Harvard Business Review in its September-October edition refers to the development of ‘fusion skills’ – the most intelligent applications of AI in which human and artificial intelligence is most effectively combined. For example, breaking a complex problem down into sequential parts, and priming the large language model to address each challenge sequentially, beginning with the simplest, is more effective than asking it to solve a complex problem in one go. Researchers at Google DeepMind have found that this ‘least-to-most’ approach improves the accuracy of AI output from 16% to 99%. Research by the Boston Consulting Group has found that only a minority of firms gain substantial value from AI, and that the most successful companies ensure that the people, skills and processes are optimal. This is the 70-20-10 principle: 70% of the investment is in people and processes; 20% is in technology and data, and just 10% in the algorithms. The most effective companies used AI for growth and revenue generation, not just process efficiencies. In this rapidly developing technology, how should the Gulf countries invest and position themselves? It is likely that China and the US will remain the primary providers of AI, given the scale of the technological investment required, as illustrated by the examples of Elon Musk and his rivals. The response of the Gulf sovereign wealth funds and other key players has been promising. Rather than trying to compete with the US and China in a direct way, they are developing strategic support roles within the existing industry, while identifying niche opportunities for growth. Arabic language models constitute a promising industry. AI specialist companies within the region report that it costs around one third more to train an English large language model and then translate into Arabic, than to train one using Arabic inputs. Doing so can eliminate some of the western biases of English-language models. For Gulf economies, cheap energy offers another competitive advantage in developing AI hubs. Saudi Aramco has calculated that the cost of power locally is around 13% cheaper than the cost per kilowatt hour in the US. Given the considerable computing power needed for large language models, this is significant. Geopolitical considerations are of paramount importance. The Gulf states are political allies of the US, which does not want technological know-how falling into the hands of Iran or China. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF has announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to develop a specialist hub, which will be a research and education centre, including for Arabic language models, and a base for global enterprises and startups. It will be based near Dammam. This year the United Arab Emirates launched the fund MGX, totalling $100bn, with investors including BlackRock and Microsoft, dedicated to investing in AI companies. The AI revolution is well underway, and there will be significant returns for both providers and users. So far, the key players in the Gulf have made some smart strategic calls. The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions. Related Story 61 countries to compete in 8th Katara Award for Reciting Holy Qur’an Sheikha Al Mayassa unveils 'The Race Is On' exhibitionThis Black Friday , you can get an incredible deal on the Dyson V11 cordless vacuum. With a great 39% discount, this powerful and design cleaning machine is available at just $349, down from its original price of $569 . This offer is part of Amazon’s Black Friday Week deals and it includes their best price guarantee throughout the event period. If the price drops further during Black Friday, Amazon will refund you the difference, so there’s no need to wait. See at Amazon As an added bonus for holiday shoppers, Amazon is extending its return policy for this Black Friday deal. It means that you can return the Dyson V11 Origin until January 31, 2025, instead of the standard 30-day window. This is great if you’re considering the V11 as a Christmas gift. Most Premium Vacuum As you probably know, Dyson is a renowned British brand and it’s famous for producing some of t he world’s most powerful and efficient vacuum cleaners . The V11 Origin is no exception and boasts impressive suction power (185 AW !), innovative design and extended battery life. This cordless wonder also transforms effortlessly into a handheld vacuum so that you’ll be able to tackle any cleaning task in your home. The Dyson V11 Origin is equipped with Dyson’s latest motor technology and delivers up to 185 Air Watts (AW) of suction power. This massive power ensures that no dirt, dust, or debris is left behind-whether you’re cleaning carpets, hardwood floors or even tiles. The vacuum features three cleaning modes – Eco, Auto, and Boost – and you can adjust the suction power (from the LCD screen located at the top of the vacuum) based on your cleaning needs and maximize battery life. What’s great with this model is that the vacuum’s High Torque cleaner head comes with a dynamic load sensor that automatically detects the floor type and adjusts suction power accordingly in Auto mode. This feature ensures optimal cleaning performance on any floors but also helps conserve battery life. Speaking of battery life, the Dyson V11 Origin offers a run time of up to 60 minutes on a single charge when using Eco mode. You can check the battery level on the LCD screen as well. The V11 Origin’s bin capacity is 0.76 liters and provides ample space for collected debris13. When it comes to filtration, the vacuum is equipped with a whole-machine filtration system that captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. It’s also incredibly silent (75 dB) and you’ll really like it on a daily basis. Everything is so easy, in particular because it’s corless. We really recommend not miss out on this exceptional Black Friday deal: this is the record low price for a premium Dyson V11 Origin vacuum and it might run out of stock very soon. Over 10,000 units have been sold in the past month on Amazon, and this vacuum is clearly among our favorite. See at Amazon
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was seen leaving a hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday morning. An X post claiming that President-elect Donald Trump did not allow Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to stay at Mar-a-Lago the night after their dinner went viral. The post said: "Trump allows all his guests he invites over to stay the night at Mar-A-Lago. He made Trudeau spend last night at a hotel. Trump despises Trudeau as much as we do." Mar-a-Lago is Donald Trump's estate in Florida where all the action is since the election night. Justin Trudeau's visit to Mar-a-Lago was a surprise one and was decided hastily. It followed Donald Trump's announcement on social media that the US will impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canada and Mexico because these two countries are sending illegal immigrants and drugs to the US. Both the Canadian PM and the Mexican president responded swiftly and held positive talks with Trump. Trudeau joined Donald Trump at the dinner and stayed in Florida for the night. On Saturday morning, he was seen leaving a Florida hotel in West Palm Beach. Based on this, the claim of the viral tweet can not be established that Trump did not allow him to stay the night at Mar-a-Lago. Many Canadian officials were also there along with Trudeau including public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, responsible for border security, and Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford. Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, and Trudeau’s deputy chief of staff, Brian Clow. Mary Trump's meatloaf According to reports, the dinner has Mary Trump's meatloaf -- named after Donald Trump's mother. Over this meatloaf and other things, Trump and Trudeau discussed trade, border security, fentanyl, defense matters, Ukraine, China etc. The meeting came at Trudeau's suggestion, according to a Canadian official, and it was not disclosed to the Ottawa press corps, which only found out about Trudeau's trip when flight-tracking software detected the prime minister's plane was in the air. The meeting and the dinner lasted over three hours. There was no air of hostility in the statements that both the leaders issued. While Trudeau said he had an excellent conversation with Trump, Trump said the meeting was very productive.Ganderbal, Nov 30: Government Degree College Ganderbal hosted an annual alumni meet–2024 in the conference hall of the college on Friday bringing together former students and staff to celebrate and reconnect. The meeting was attended by about 30 alumni from various batches coming together to relive their memories and share experiences. The programme was organised by IQAC of the college and the proceedings of the programme were conducted by Dr Sheikh Tanveer Salam (Coordinator IQAC). The programme started with recitation of Quranic verses by Parvaiz Ahmad Wani. Spiritual presentations were followed by the presidential address of Principal of the College, Prof Fouzia Fatima highlighting the importance of engaging alumni for the overall development of college, referring alumni as the backbone of college. This was followed by a power point presentation of Dr Sheikh Tanveer Salam to brief the audience about the growth of college both in academic excellence and infrastructural augmentation over the years right from its inception. Dr Mairaj Ahamad Bhat, Assistant Professor of Political Science and President Alumni Association of GDC Ganderbal briefed about the status of registration of Alumni Association of GDC Ganderbal under the name “Shehjaar” and highlighted the need for passing a joint resolution to strive for addressing some challenges faced by the college like occupation of half of west campus of college by Central University of Kashmir, water logging of west campus, need for indoor sports hall and separate Women’s college in Ganderbal. Prof Mairaj then invited other prominent alumni like Bilal Ahamad Wani (social activist), Feroz Ahamad (Inspector JKP), Zahoor Ahamad Mehdi and Mehraj (National Awardee Sarpanch) for sharing their experiences as students of the college. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks extended by Dr Sheikh Shubeena (AP Veterinary Technology and Member IQAC). The programme was a resounding success. The joyous moments were captured through photographs leaving participants eagerly anticipating the next gathering.Clare County Council has partnered with the local business community in Ennis to promote the Clare County Capital town as an attractive shopping destination this festive season. Christmas artisan markets, choral and street trad music, children’s entertainment, street radio, a Christmas window display competition, an appearance by Liam McCarthy, and a Santa Train rolling through the town center are amongst the highlights of this year’s Christmas in Ennis program. Festivities get underway on Thursday, November 28 when Santa Claus comes to town for the switching of the Christmas Lights with live music from the Circus Ponies and Vocal Ponies, and a special guest appearance by All-Ireland winning Clare hurling captain Tony Kelly and manager Brian Lohan with Liam MacCarthy in tow. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! The local authority has confirmed that work on the Ennis Public Realm Enhancement Scheme will be suspended from November 27 until January 6 to facilitate Christmas and New Year’s shopping trade throughout the town. Free public parking also will be provided at various locations throughout the town. Mayor of Ennis Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy commented: “Ennis is a truly magical place to be in the weeks leading up to Christmas as the town’s festive lighting scheme and programme of events and activities really bring the town to life.” “For me, the Christmas spirit really kicks in when I see the festive lights are switched on and I hope they will, in their own small way, further enhance the town as a place to visit, shop and do business during the Christmas period,” added Mayor Colleran Molloy. “The quality and range of shopping outlets in the town is as good if not better than other large towns throughout the country and that’s why I would urge as many of you as possible to shop local this Christmas. Buying locally boosts the economy of the town and wider county and helps to generate new jobs and attract new retailers.” 2024 Hurler of the Year Shane O’Donnell pictured with Santa Claus and Councillor Pat Daly at the switching on of the Ennis Christmas lights in 2023. Credit: Eamon Ward Carmel Kirby, Director of Economic Development and Ennis Municipal District (MD) said: “I wish to acknowledge the collective efforts of the staff of Ennis MD, Elected Members and Ennis Chamber for putting together this year’s Christmas in Ennis programme and for showing their commitment to further enhancing the town’s status as a top location to visit and do business in. I particularly wish to compliment members of the local business community for their efforts to promote the town as an attractive shopping destination in the run-up to Christmas.” Christmas Artisan Markets will bring the sights, sounds and smells of the festive season to the Templegate Plaza every Saturday from November 30 to December 21 from 10.30am to 3.00pm. Traders will be showcasing a variety of locally produced gifts and produce, which would make an ideal Christmas gift, or last-minute stocking filler. The complimentary ‘Santa train’ will operate through the town on December 13 -15 and 20-22. On Sunday, December 1 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm, the sound of music will fill the air throughout Ennis town centre as Comhaltas presents Christmas Street Trad, while St. Michaels Villas’ Choir will perform choral music in the Templegate Plaza on Sunday, December 8 from 2.00pm to 3.30pm. Glór will host two family-friendly Christmas events subsidized by Clare County Council with a ‘Frozen’ singalong taking place at 11.00am on November 30 and a fun-filled event called ‘A Little Christmas Time’ with face painting and crafts taking place on December 14 at 11.00am. A Juggler and Stilt walker will entertain Christmas shoppers on O’Connell St on December 8, while ‘Living Statues’ will come to life on O’Connell Street on December 15 and December 20. A post shared by Clare County Council (@clarecountycouncil) Clare County Council is collaborating with The Clare Champion on the ‘Christmas window display competition’ to create a vibrant festive atmosphere and enhance community spirit in the town. Children are reminded that they can post their letters to Santa Claus at Santa’s Post Box at ‘The Height’, while the streets of Ennis will ring to the sound of Christmas music from December 13 when Christmas Street Radio returns until Christmas Eve featuring well-known local radio presenter Ger Sweeney broadcasting daily on street speakers throughout the town. Meanwhile, all public donations received at the Ennis Lions Club Remembrance Tree in The Market will this year go toward Milford Hospice and the Children's Ark Paediatric unit at UHL. To boost retail activity in the town, there will be free parking for shoppers from 2.00pm at all public carparks (excluding on-street parking) from November 28 to January 1 inclusive. Free parking will be provided from November 28 from 5.00pm to 8pm each day at Áras Contae an Chláir, The Courthouse and Waterpark Campus Drumbiggle. All day free parking will be provided at Áras Contae an Chláir on November 30 and December 1, and December 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22 and on the same days along with Christmas Eve at Waterpark Campus Drumbiggle. There will be no charge for parking in Council car parks throughout the town from 2.00pm between Thursday, November 28 and Wednesday, January 1, 2025 inclusive. On-street parking will operate as normal.TUCSON, Ariz. -- Snoop Dogg has nearly as many ties to football as he does to rap music. The entertainer coached youth football for years and created the Snoop League, an after-school program for inner city Los Angeles youths. Snoop has been a guest analyst on football broadcasts and his son, Cordell Broadus, played Division I football. When Snoop took his latest step, becoming the sponsor of a bowl game, he had a demand: Find a way for all players in the game to receive name, image and likeness (NIL) money. “This was Snoop's idea,” said Kym Adair, executive director of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice. “He was having conversations with people he knows in the college football world and I got a call that said he wants us to be the first bowl to make this commitment and that's what we did.” The beneficiaries are Colorado State and Miami (Ohio), who will conclude their seasons Saturday at Arizona Stadium in the Arizona Bowl. The bowl is classified as a 501(c)(3), so all revenue goes to charity. And, being one of the few bowls not tied to ESPN, it opens the door for unique sponsorship opportunities. The bowl was previously sponsored by Barstool Sports and the digital media company used its own cast of characters on the broadcast, which was streamed on its digital platforms. Snoop Dogg takes over this year. The rapper/entertainer is the latest celebrity to sponsor a bowl, following the footsteps of Jimmy Kimmel and Rob Gronkowski at the LA Bowl. And, Snoop being Snoop, he wanted to put his own spin on his own bowl. “College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences,” Snoop said in a video posted on social media. “So it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football — when it was focused on the colleges, the players and the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry.” With that will be an NIL component. The bowl can't pay players just for playing in the bowl, but both teams participated in football clinics on Friday and will get paid for their services. Other bowls have given single players NIL opportunities, but this is believed to be the first to offer it to every player on both teams. “I love the fact that the Arizona Bowl is unique and tries new things, and obviously having Snoop here is unique,” Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. “The NIL component, it’s the future. It’s what football has become now. We think it’s fantastic for our kids and then the interaction with the kids is the hidden gem of the whole thing.” The NIL component of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl comes a month after a similar effort in The Players Era Festival basketball tournament in Las Vegas. The eight-team tournament said it paid out $9 million in NIL money to participating players for activities outside the competition. It also offered $50 million in NIL opportunities over the next three years for services and activities compliant with NCAA regulations. Are the Players Era Festival and Arizona Bowl the start of a new future? It is not out of the question in big-time college athletics, where schools are already preparing for the era of revenue sharing with players next year. “Revenue sharing between the players and the athletic departments is already on the horizon, so whether that takes the place of these types of arrangements or they're completely separate has yet to be determined," Adair said. "We're just trying to be flexible, ahead of the curve and make an impact any way we can.” Just the way Snoop wants it. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) New York, NY, Dec. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an era where digital finance is rapidly transforming global markets, GoldMarketer.com has emerged as a leading platform, setting a new standard for how traditional and digital financial products are integrated and traded online. Specializing in digital gold, the platform has grown into a comprehensive Internet finance hub offering a wide range of products, including foreign exchange (forex), cryptocurrencies, stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and various financial derivatives. Building on a Legacy of Innovation Founded years ago, initially focused on providing investors with access to digital gold-a product that blends the timeless value of gold with the convenience of digital transactions. Over time, the platform expanded to offer a variety of other financial instruments, broadening its appeal to a diverse global audience. This evolution has allowed to cater to both conservative investors and more speculative traders, positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for those seeking to navigate the complexities of modern financial markets. The platform's commitment to innovation, security, and user experience has helped it become a trusted name in the fast-growing world of online finance. Digital Gold at the Core This offering has become particularly popular among investors seeking a hedge against inflation, economic instability, and currency devaluation. With digital gold, users can gain exposure to gold's long-established store of value in a form that is both accessible and efficient in the digital age. Expanding Product Range While digital gold remains a cornerstone of the platform, has expanded its product suite to include a wide array of traditional and digital assets. The forex market offers access to a broad range of currency pairs, allowing traders to take advantage of global currency fluctuations with competitive spreads and powerful trading tools. Cryptocurrency offerings include popular assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a host of altcoins, allowing users to diversify into one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy. For those interested in traditional equities, provides access to global stock markets and ETFs, offering a straightforward way for investors to gain exposure to international stocks and sectors. This diverse portfolio of financial instruments makes a versatile platform, catering to a wide range of investor preferences and risk profiles. Commitment to Security and Transparency In today's financial landscape, security and transparency are critical, and has made these values a top priority. The platform employs advanced encryption and multi-factor authentication to ensure that user data and assets remain safe. Additionally, its commitment to regulatory compliance helps build trust with users by ensuring that its operations are transparent and accountable. Clear pricing, real-time market data, and robust risk management tools further contribute to a positive user experience, making it easy for investors to make informed decisions in an often volatile market. Global Reach and Future Outlook Looking ahead, has ambitious plans to continue innovating. The platform is exploring opportunities to integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer more personalized investment strategies and insights. Additionally, is considering the integration of decentralized finance (DeFi) options, which could open up new avenues for users to engage with financial markets in a decentralized manner. A Benchmark for the Future of Internet Finance As the world increasingly turns to digital finance, is well-positioned to lead the way, shaping the future of online financial services for the next generation of investors. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. MENAFN27122024004107003653ID1109036193 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Should you invest in Kotak Transportation & Logistics NFO?India, EU firm up extensive roadmap for green hydrogen cooperation
LOS ANGELES — Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks’ overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. The Gamecocks (5-1) lost for the first time since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat them in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals. Te-Hina Paopao scored 18 points and Tessa Johnson scored 14 for the Gamecocks, whose road winning streak was third-longest in Division I history. It was the first time UCLA took down a No. 1 team in school history, having been 0-20 in such games. The program's previous best wins were over a couple of No. 2s — Oregon in 2019 and Stanford in 2008. Elina Aarnisalo added 13 points as one of five Bruins in double figures. UCLA (5-0) dominated from start to finish, with the Bruins' suffocating defense preventing the Gamecocks from making any sustained scoring runs. Takeaways South Carolina: The Gamecocks trailed by double-digits at halftime for the first time since Dec. 21, 2021, against Stanford, according to ESPN. Chloe Kitts, who averages a team-leading 14 points, finished the game with 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. UCLA: The Bruins led 43-22 at halftime. Eight different players scored and contributed to 11-0 and 7-0 runs in the first and second quarters as they shot 52% from the field. Key moment The first quarter set the tone for a game in which the Gamecocks never led. They missed their first nine shots and were 4 of 18 from the floor in the quarter. UCLA ran off 11 straight points to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter. Key stats The Bruins dominated the boards, 41-34, and held the Gamecocks well under their scoring average of 80.2 points. Up next South Carolina travels to Florida to meet Iowa State in the Fort Myers Tipoff on Thanksgiving. UCLA travels to the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii to play UT Martin on Friday.Baker Mayfield mocks Tommy DeVito's celebration as the Bucs embarrass the Giants 30-7Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials sayMAKING predictions for the coming year is a mug’s game. But there is one forecast I feel confident in making: That the people who are contributing least to economic growth will be the ones reaping the rewards. Figures from the Resolution Foundation confirm what has been obvious for months: That public sector workers have been the big winners from Labour’s general election victory. At the beginning of 2024 the average public sector worker was earning two per cent more than an equivalent worker in the private sector. Since then the gap has trebled to six per cent. The differential in salaries, though, is only half the story. Many public sector workers continue to enjoy salary-linked pensions . Private sector employers realised long ago that increasing longevity was making it unaffordable to offer workers guaranteed, index-linked pensions for life based on what they were earning while in work. READ MORE FROM ROSS CLARK Yet public sector employers have carried on getting these generous pensions regardless, relying on taxpayers to pick up the burden. Pleading poverty Another shocking set of figures released yesterday shows that across Britain a quarter of council tax receipts are now swallowed up by pension contributions for council staff. In some areas it is much more. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council managed to spend more on pension contributions last year (£10.1million) than it raised in council tax (£9.5million). Providing actual public services such as emptying the bins and running libraries and swimming pools has to be funded from other sources of revenue. Most read in The Sun We have become used to councils pleading poverty, bleating that “Tory austerity” has bled them dry. But now we know the truth: While the public sees services slashed, former council employees have been treated to extravagant pensions. The Local Government Pension Scheme, though, is in some ways the responsible one. It is one of the few public sector schemes which is “fully funded”, which means that today’s contributions are invested to pay tomorrow’s pensions. Most schemes, such as those for NHS workers, teachers , firefighters and so on, are “unfunded, which means that there is no pot of cash being invested to pay future pensioners. Instead, today’s pension contributions are going straight out of the door to meet current pension liabilities. Were they in the private sector, these pensions would be called Ponzi schemes — they are like the scam operated by the late US financier Bernie Madoff. They are committing future taxpayers to huge, unknown liabilities. If the public sector was working efficiently and well, it wouldn’t matter quite so much. Yet disgracefully, public sector workers are being allowed to get away with producing less and less each year. Astonishingly, the average public sector worker produces less now than when Tony Blair came to power nearly 28 years ago, with minor productivity gains in the years to 2019 wiped out since the pandemic . The Labour government has made things worse This has been a period of huge technological advance, offering numerous opportunities for making work more efficient. Instead, civil servants and others have been indulged with the right to work from home, or even from the beach. Valuable work time is frittered on endless diversity courses and team-bonding exercises. Some council staff have been put on four-day weeks without any loss of pay, based on the fantastical assumption that it will somehow make them so much happier that they will produce as much in four days as they used to in five. Far from addressing the problem of falling public sector productivity, the Labour government has made things worse. In one of its first acts it awarded fat pay rises to NHS staff, train drivers and others without any requirement to agree to improved working practices. We can’t go on like this. If the private sector worked like the public sector we would be stuck with 1990s standards of living. Like the Soviet Union in its last decades, Britain would have become the land which economic development forgot. Energy crisis As it is, we have a millstone of a public sector being dragged along by a private sector which is still just about able to generate enough wealth to stop the country falling into permanent recession . But it is a close-run thing. In the first three months of the Labour government the economy failed to grow at all. This was an economic downturn generated entirely in Downing Street . Unlike the economic retreat caused by Covid-19 and the energy crisis following the Ukraine invasion, Britain’s sudden step backwards is not echoed internationally. Rather, it has been caused by declining confidence in the face of higher business taxes coming into effect next year. Labour came to office promising “growth, growth, growth”. If they really want to achieve that, they need to be shrinking the unproductive public sector and boosting the private sector. They are doing the opposite, while failing to undertake reforms to public sector pensions needed to avoid fiscal disaster in future. READ MORE SUN STORIES The past few months have seen a generous payday for some. But none of us will be shielded from the long-term decline caused by a slothful public sector.
NoneExpert explains science behind personal guides to well-being
BALLOT boxes across the country were opened this morning as counting to see who will win seats in the next Dail took place - but it's taking some time. And a candidate in the election shared what she's doing to pass the time as the count continues. Laura O'Neill, General Election candidate for Aontu in Longford /Westmeath, shared her popular hobby of passing the time on X as she waits patiently for the reveal of the counts. She wrote: "We came prepared to pass the time at the count centre!" She shared a gif of herself and her friend who are following the instructions to assemble a blue Lego vehicle. Assembling Lego toys was one of the many things that were being done to pass the time in the count centre as many people were spotted knitting, reading and doing art and crafts. Laura's priority in the election is to raise more care and investment for the rural farming communities in Longford and Westmeath . She's also raising issues about mental health, youth emigration, the ongoing cost of living and the housing crisis. Elsewhere, a box in the Count John McCormack centre in Athlone , Co Westmeath was found to contain a very expensive addition. An unlucky voter managed to leave behind more than just his voting preferences yesterday as his wedding ring slipped into a ballot box at Gael Scoil an Choilin in Mullingar, One of the counters in the centre, Peter Creamer, discovered the wedding ring as he was rummaging through the voting papers this morning. The surprise find was shared on social media in a bid to alert the owner of the lost silver band. A picture of Peter holding the ring was posted online by the RTE Longford -Westmeath election coverage page. The snap was captioned: "We have a wedding ring! One of the counters Peter Creamer has found a wedding ring in a box from Gael Scoil an Choilin in Mullingar." The owner of the missing ring is being encouraged to head down to the count centre to claim it. Counting in the general election started this morning at 9am after a shock exit indicted that there would be a close contest between the three major parties. Figures from last night's exit poll showed Sinn Fein slightly ahead of Fine Gael in first preference votes, with Fianna Fail then narrowly trailing behind. A record number of 174 TDs are set to be elected, up from 160 in 2020, with a number of reps and voters involved in constituencies shake-up. The number of Dail constituencies increased to 43 from 39 in 2020, which will elect between three and five TDs each. The first seat has already been handed to Fianna Fail's Sean O Fearghail as he was the Ceann Comhairle of the previous Dail. More than 680 candidates are competing for the remaining 173 seats with the first results expected later this afternoon. A GENERAL election is held in Ireland at least every five years in order to vote for who will represent the Irish public in Dail Eireann. As Ireland is a parliamentary democracy, voting must be held in order for the public to collectively choose who will represent people in Government and what parties will form the Government. In a General Election, the public votes for members of Dail Eireann who go on to become Teachta Dala - TDs. According to the Irish Constitution - a General Election must be held every five years and cannot go on for longer than five years. However, the Dail can be 'dissolved' at any time to call an early or snap election. The President is responsible for dissolving the Dail and this process usually takes place on the advice of the Taoiseach. The President can only refuse to dissolve the Dail if the government does not have a majority of TDs in the Dail. A General Election can also be called if the Taoiseach or Government lose a vote of no confidence. Or in the instance where a coalition party - the smaller party that joins with larger parties to form a government - withdraws its support for those in government. This is called a dissolution and a general election must take place within 30 days of the dissolution of the Dail. Once the Dail is dissolved a polling day must be set by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government - the roll currently held by Fianna Fail TD Darragh O'Brien .