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Mahakumbh 2025, a celebration of Sanatan culture, will unfold in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 117th episode of his Mann Ki Baat radio program, highlighted the event's spiritual grandeur and cultural significance, calling it 'Ekta Ka Mahakumbh'. He shared his excitement about the extensive preparations along the Sangam's banks, recalling his recent aerial survey of the Kumbh area, which left him awestruck by its vastness, beauty, and magnificence. PM Modi emphasized the event's unifying message: "Mahakumbh’s essence lies in ‘Ek Ho Pura Desh,’ and the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga symbolizes a united society.” He, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, extended an open invitation to devotees from India and around the globe to partake in the spiritual festivity. Under the guidance of PM Modi and led by CM Yogi, preparations for Mahakumbh 2025 have reached their final stage. With significant enhancements over the 2019 Kumbh, this edition will feature expanded fairgrounds and improved facilities for pilgrims. CM Yogi, personally steering the ‘Ek Ho Pura Desh,’ campaign, has visited Prayagraj four times in December alone to ensure seamless progress in the arrangements. In 'Mann Ki Baat,' the Prime Minister remarked that the uniqueness of the Mahakumbh lies not only in its vastness but also in its diversity. He highlighted that millions of people gather for this grand event, including thousands of saints, numerous traditions, hundreds of sects, and several Akharas. He also emphasized that the Mahakumbh reflects a society free from discrimination, where no one is considered superior or inferior. “This year’s Mahakumbh will further strengthen the mantra of unity," the Prime Minister said. He urged all Kumbh participants to take the pledge of unity and commit to eliminating division and hatred from society. The Prime Minister stated that this time, devotees from across the country and the world, will also witness a digital Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. With the help of digital navigation, visitors will be guided to various ghats, temples, and saints’ Akharas, as well as parking areas. For the first time, an AI chatbot will be utilized during the Mahakumbh, providing information related to the event in 11 Indian languages. This chatbot will allow users to seek assistance by typing or speaking their queries. The fair ground will be monitored by AI-powered cameras, which will also assist in locating anyone who gets separated from their group. Devotees will have access to a digital lost-and-found centre as well. Additionally, information about government-approved tour packages, accommodations, and homestays will be provided directly to visitors on their mobile devices. The Prime Minister encouraged all attendees to take full advantage of these facilities and share their experiences by uploading selfies with the hashtag #EktaKaMahakumbh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally taken charge of overseeing the Mahakumbh preparations. He is regularly visiting Prayagraj to inspect the ongoing arrangements and review the progress of the work. Under his directives, all tasks within the fairgrounds are set to be completed by January 5. CM Yogi's proactive approach toward the preparations is evident from his frequent visits to Prayagraj in December. During the month, he visited the city four times—on December 7, 12, 13, and 23—to assess and ensure the readiness of the arrangements. The Chief Minister is personally extending invitations for the Mahakumbh to prominent figures. On Saturday in Delhi, the Chief Minister met with former President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister and BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda, and Mizoram Governor General VK Singh inviting them to the grand event. Additionally, ministers from the Yogi government have travelled to other states to invite Chief Ministers, Governors, and other dignitaries to participate in the Mahakumbh. PM Modi and CM Yogi extend invitation to devotees worldwide Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have invited devotees from across the state, nation, and the world to participate in 'Mahakumbh 2025.' Following the Prime Minister’s remarks in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program, the Chief Minister shared a post on ‘X.’ The Chief Minister wrote: ‘Maha Kumbh Ka Sandesh Ek ho Pura Desh’ ‘Ganga Ki Aviral Dhara Naah Bate Samaj Hamara’. He highlighted that PM Modi, during 'Mann Ki Baat,' had called upon 140 crore Indians to unite and experience the divine, grand, and digital Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. He also urged devotees to become witnesses to this spiritual 'Amrit Kaal' and share their experience by uploading selfies with the hashtag #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh on social media.
Shield AI and Palantir Technologies Deepen Strategic Partnership and Announce Deployment of Warp SpeedThe Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the rest of the season after the star wideout played through a shoulder injury for nearly two months. Lamb initially sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on Nov. 3 but has not missed any of the Cowboys' first 15 games this season. "Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb's shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out' for the remaining two games of the season," a team spokesperson said in a statement to media outlets. "He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery." The Cowboys (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, face two division rivals to close the season. They visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and will host the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Lamb, 25, hauled in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns this season. It marked his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, and he may be selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl for his efforts. Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August, covering the 2025-28 seasons. --Field Level Media
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV - How to watch NYC FC vs. New York RB matchup for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs
Pickleball's popularity soared in 2024 and it reached the masses in the year. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the US and its popularity is on the rise across the globe. Tennis players love to play pickleball and many of them have become pro-pickleball players. Pickleball is a hugely popular sport. Here, we have a look at 3 sporting personalities who tried their hand at pickleball in 2024 - Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic was the most famous sporting personality who played pickleball in 2024. A month before trying the sport, the tennis legend had warned the tennis clubs against its increasing popularity. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was joined by Jannik Sinner, Barbora Krejcikova and Callie Smith in a friendly pickleball game. He could play the sport again during the Australian Open 2025. Suryakumar Yadav India cricketer Suryakumar Yadav tried his hand at pickleball with Prithvi Shaw and other members of the Mumbai cricket team during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Mumbai teammates played the sport at the Pickleball arena in Secunderabad. Apart from Suryakumar, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan have also played pickleball. Its popularity is on the rise in India too. Becky Lynch WWE superstar Becky Lynch tried pickleball during her break from the in-ring action. She shared a pic on social media to reveal that she played pickleball. The former women's champion has been out of action since May. Becky's contract with WWE ended in May and she has been away from the company since then. While there is no update about her return date, she is confirmed to make her return ahead of Wrestlemania 41. Becky lost to Rhea Ripley in the opening match of Wrestlemania 40. Her husband, Seth Rollins made his WWE return in June. He will face CM Punk on Raw's Netflix debut. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Pickleball, Sports and around the world.USC loses veteran WR Kyron Hudson to transfer portalPet surrenders growing as inquiry details 'rehoming crisis'
Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”
It is trite to say Dr Manmohan Singh was an institution. He was a colossus who strode the economic and governance firmament like an intellectual giant in a landscape populated by pygmies. Born at Gah, now in Pakistan, he came across the Radcliffe Line to India as a refugee, like millions of others who lost their homes and hearth in the holocaust called Partition. With sheer hard work and perseverance, he built a life as a distinguished professor, an economist of repute, finance minister and finally Prime Minister of India for a decade. In his long and successful career, he held a diverse array of posts in academia and government. He was always polite to a fault, humble, self-effacing, the epitome of gravitas who carried success lightly on his shoulders. As chief economic adviser, Reserve Bank governor, finance secretary and Planning Commission deputy chairman, among several high-level positions, he got an unique understanding of India’s economic and governance challenges. As finance minister from 1991 to 1996 he leveraged this understanding to preside over the most fundamental reset of India’s economic trajectory when he dismantled the licence quota permit raj and unshackled the creative animal spirits of India’s economic entrepreneurs. This reset of India’s economic trajectory took place as the post-WWII world order collapsed and political scientists were predicting the “end of history”. He created a new world for millions of young people who came of working age in the post-globalisation and liberalisation period. It is unfortunate India’s political lexicon and language never mirrored this economic reset and is populist to this day. As Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004, he brought a quiet dignity and sobriety to that august office as political polarisation had already made parliamentary proceedings extremely toxic, to put it mildly. As Prime Minister, he risked his government’s future to break the nuclear apartheid that had plagued India since the first nuclear test in May 1974 “when the Buddha smiled” in the Pokhran desert of Rajasthan. After becoming Prime Minister in 2004, Dr Singh built upon the Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbott dialogue in the aftermath of India’s second nuclear in May 1998, that led to a second reset in India-US ties by signing a “New Framework for India-US Defence Relations” on June 28, 2005, marking the full-scale start of defence cooperation between India and the US. Twenty days later, on July 18, 2005, the US and India announced the launch of the civil nuclear cooperation initiative. Under this, India agreed to commit all its civilian nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards. In 2004, the Congress had only 145 seats in the Lok Sabha. It was dependent on the critical outside support of the CPI(M), CPI and other Left parties who had 55 seats. Historically, the Left always had an anti-imperialist and anti-US worldview. In June 2008, Dr Singh threw down the gauntlet and said India would go ahead with the US civil nuclear deal. Ironically, the BJP, which was the author of the reset with the US after the 1998 nuclear tests, and signed the “Next Steps in Strategic Partnership” in 2003, brought a no-confidence motion against Dr Manmohan Singh’s UPA government in July 2008. Dr Singh in turn tabled a vote of confidence. Among stormy scenes in the Lok Sabha, with the BJP (Opposition) displaying wads of currency notes in the House, bringing proceedings to a new nadir, the government carried the day and won the vote, paving the way for the India-US nuclear deal to become reality, that was succeeded by the historical waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, possibly the first ever for any non-signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In the general election of May 2009, the Congress swept every city in India from Thiruvananthapuram to Jammu -- a fact attributed to the esoteric effects of the US nuclear deal which almost had a magical effect on the Indian middle classes, who probably never fully understood or appreciated its clauses and nuances. Dr Singh’s second term was also marked by major reforms like permitting Foreign Direct Investment in Multi-Brand Retail. His foreign policy was characterised by a friendly relationship with neighbours, including a robust back-channel dialogue with Pakistan that produced a four-point formula, better known as the Manmohan-Musharraf Agreement. If implemented, it may have changed the dynamics of South Asia. But the 2007 Lal Masjid siege and the lawyers’ strike destroyed Gen. Musharraf’s political capital, and thus became a missed opportunity for not only India and Pakistan, but the region as a whole. During Dr Manmohan Singh’s second term as PM from 2009 to 2014, the UPA-2 government was at the receiving end of the most torrid, toxic and corrosive onslaught by the media, which ironically got boundless opportunities after Dr Singh’s unshackling of the Indian economy. But Manmohan Singh never lost his calm or equanimity. As his I&B minister and government spokesperson, I had to do the heavy lifting of putting the government’s point of view in the public space on a daily basis in 2012-2014. One day, flying to Ludhiana, my erstwhile parliamentary constituency, for the golden jubilee celebrations of the Punjab Agriculture University in December 2012, I asked him a conceptual question: What should be our approach to the media? Without batting an eyelid, he responded: “It should be an essay in persuasion and not an essay in coercion”. I pushed back, saying a biased and agenda-driven paradigm can’t be influenced by persuasion as they are just puppets on a string, whose masters are elsewhere. He was unconvinced and said: Put yourself in the shoes of the Opposition and try and imagine what would think if the entire media turns into a government mouthpiece. A true democrat, his prophetic words came true in the decade that followed his premiership. On January 3, I anchored his mega press conference at the new National Media Centre. It was a cold wintry morning. Dr Singh gave an excellent summation of his ten years as PM. Replying to a question, he said philosophically: “History will judge me kindly”. The press, however, concentrated on his announcement that he would retire in May 2014 after completing his second term. One newspaper even ran a photograph of an exit sign over a door, with Dr Singh walking towards it. It was an eloquent testimony to the ignominy he was put through -- primarily because he was a decent person. On December 26, 2024, as he breathed his last, all that we need to say is that a gentleman is with us no more. Adieu, Sir: another world awaits.In apparent dig at Jan Suraaj Party, Tejashwi accuses PK’s outfit of acting as Nitish’s ‘B-team’
What Are Implications Eu Mercosur Free Trade AgreementIf your last week of the year is anything like mine, it's all about munching on those Christmas leftovers while watching the Boxing Day Test and wading through the big pile of books Santa generously dropped down the chimney. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue This year, the tome that made the biggest thud as it landed under our Christmas tree was Australian Lustre: Places, spaces and things by Trent Mitchell. It's one of those books you can dip in and out of, like between a few lazy laps at Manuka Pool or body surfs at Broulee. And it's not because it has standalone chapters - rather because it's a photographic record of that annual holiday tradition for many: the road trip. However, Australian Lustre isn't a compilation of glossy, set-up shots that have been photoshopped to fill tourist brochures, cram influencers Instagram feeds or adorn those calendars that you scored for Christmas and are now already 50 per cent off at the mall. No, this is Australia through Trent Mitchell's eyes. And dare I say it, it's the real Australia. Photographer Trent Mitchell loves the ocean, but his latest book Australian Lustre he takes the reader on a road trip around Australia. Picture by Trent Mitchell Australian Lustre features more than 300 photographs of places Trent visited as kid or wanted to; and has since (re)visited on hundreds of road trips as an adult. Trent's insatiable ache for the road trip dates to Christmas holidays as a kid when his parents would load the family wagon and drive up the NSW coast to caravan parks. View + 6 Photos His wonderfully evocative memory of the Budgewoi caravan park on the Central Coast, published in the foreword, suggests he should write more to accompany his photos. "The caravan park was wedged between an enormous open sharky beach and a smelly stagnant lake that gave you pelican itch. Across the water, a power station loomed as the centrepiece to our sunset view. The air was thick with salt, glazing everything with a distinctive coastal patina. Most things would decay in the elements. Bikes and barbecues tended to go first. The hard sun and open space didn't help, yet the heat was perfect for fish and chips, bare feet and ice cream." Those childhood summers left an indelible impact on Trent. "During these never-ending holidays our family existed in a quintessentially Australian world, and the experiences were etched deep into the corners of my subconscious, truly informing the curiosity and passion that I carry with me on the road now," he reveals. Trent admits he pines for those simple summer days and loves pointing his camera to the past, "holding onto those cherished slices of time in hope to infuse the reflections and feelings into pictures". And boy does he do it well, leading us on a nostalgic journey through the holidays of not only his own childhood, but, if you grew up in Australia in the mid-to-late-1900s, probably yours too. His take on Big Things sums up his idiosyncratic style. Goulburn's Big Merino appears at its best angle - some kids gathered, gawking questionably at its posterior. Meanwhile, he captures the Big Prawn poking its garish head over the roof of a three-bedroom brick veneer house in a Ballina cul-de-sac on bin day. You won't see this view of Ballina's Big Prawn in the tourist brochures. Picture by Trent Mitchell "I'm always looking for an interesting point of view or something that has an unexpected look to it. With the prawn I was seeing how far away I could go with it still standing out without all the clutter around it," he explains. While Trent has a real zeal for outback outposts such as Coober Pedy - he admits he could "publish a whole book on that town" - plenty of coastal shots made their way into the book too, including former Gold Coast motels in various states of (dis)repair. He also has a thing about out-of-place Hills Hoists. Those with beach views, those adorned with just a Santa hat, a piece of tinsel and a pair of undies, to those abandoned in a parched desert landscape. Hills Hoist in Coober Pedy, South Australia. Picture by Trent Mitchell Trent says that when he arrives somewhere, "he wanders the backstreets to see what makes a place tick, not just drive down the main street - I go into the back streets, am curious, what's around that corner, check out all sorts of nooks and crannies." No doubt, that's how an unbalanced skateboarder attempting tricks in a deserted Aldi loading bay and a discarded giant yellow smiling golf ball abandoned in someone's driveway also ended up in the book. Fore! The things you see in people's driveways. Palm Beach, Queensland. Picture by Trent Mitchell While some road trips result in more Kodak moments than others, given he is on the road so much, sometimes Trent just happens to be in the right place and at the right time, such as when he visited the Big Koala at Dadswells Bridge in Victoria. "I was trying to work out how to best photograph it, when suddenly a caravan pulled up with the slogan 'home amongst the gum trees' splashed across its tailgate," he muses, adding, "It was perfect." The Big (Giant) Koala at Dadswells Bridge, Victoria. Picture by Trent Mitchell Trent is currently planning a six-month lap of the country for later this year with his own young family to add to Australian Lustre for a second edition. "It's easy photographing, as I don't have to plan anything," he says adding, "I just do it." Mmm. Sounds a bit like my next week relaxing on the couch. Australian Lustre: Places, spaces and things by Trent Mitchell quickly sold out. Picture by supplied. Although only published a month ago, Trent's book has already sold out, but he does have a waitlist for reprints and future editions. trentmitchell.com Long live the Desert Wave In this corresponding column last year, I wrote about the apparent demise of the "desert wave" - that friendly wave exchanged between passing motorists on country roads. Since then, I've received a constant stream of correspondence from readers reporting that, at least in remote areas, the wave is alive and well. "We recently did a trip from Canberra to Alice Springs, via Broken Hill, and back via the South Australian peninsulas," Marica Denman says. "We waved to everybody, and most waved back." Peter Longhurst, of Cooma, who has travelled "most of Australia over the past 17 years with a camper trailer on many dirt roads", confirms "the desert wave is still alive in all outback areas of the country". "Travelling with a camper trailer for 15 years and now a caravan, the wave between these drivers still exists, along with ute drivers with swags," reports Peter, adding, "the only drivers that do not wave are generally motorhome drivers". "I can only assume that they have rented their motorhomes and therefore think they are above the humble van and trailer travellers," he says. Meanwhile, Brian Macdonald, of Cook, suspects the desert wave is dying "because the closing speed between two vehicles is now over 200kmh meaning drivers are more intent on avoiding a head-on collision than acknowledging the other driver." Is the friendly desert wave still alive and well? Picture by Tim the Yowie Man That said, Brian believes you have a much higher chance of receiving a return wave if you are driving a similar vehicle. "I drive a VW van and often exchange the V (or peace) sign when with other VWs." Similarly, Maureen Bell reveals drivers of old Peugeots have a secret signal. "We wave, beep or flick high beam at other drivers of Pugs," reports Maureen, adding, "perhaps it's the attraction of membership of a minority." WHERE ON THE SOUTH COAST? Recognise this landmark building circa 1910? Picture supplied Rating: Medium-Hard Clue: Yes, it's still there. Not far from a beach pool. How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to tym@iinet.net.au The first correct email received after 10am, Saturday, December 28, wins a double pass to Dendy, the Home of Quality Cinema . Did you recognise this south coast beach? Picture by J Asche Last week: Congratulations to Judi Power Thomson, of Ainslie, who was first to identify last week's photo as Merry Beach, near Kioloa, taken from near the Snapper Point walking track. Judi just beat several readers including Gwenyth Bray, of Curtin; Ann Smith, of Curtin, and Ian Boyd, of Croobyar (near Milton), to the last prize for 2024. I'd love to see a rephotograph of the same spot now, so if you are near Merry Beach this summer, and happen to take a photo, please send it to me at the address at the end of this column. Penguin or Horseshoe: you decide Steve Leahy was perplexed by the "think outside 'the penguin" clue that accompanied the photo of Jerrabomberra Waterhole recently in this column's photo quiz. When I explained to Steve the clue related to the ACT border resembling a penguin (Jerrabomberra being in NSW), he was equally bemused. "I always thought the ACT looked like a kookaburra," he asserts. Steve has a point - there's a resemblance to both creatures. Did You Know: If former surveyor-general Charles Scrivener had his way we may have ended up with a horseshoe-shaped border that included the Queanbeyan and Molonglo River catchments instead of the Gudgenby, Naas and Paddys River catchments. The ACT was initially proposed to be a horseshoe shape, that included the Queanbeyan and Molonglo River catchments. Picture supplied Season's Greetings to all readers. Thank you for all the letters, emails and photos submitted throughout the year. As is tradition, this column won't be taking a break over the holiday season, so keep sending in those reports of quirky, mysterious and unusual sightings. CONTACT TIM: Email: tym@iinet.net.au or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times , GPO Box 606, Civic, ACT, 2601 Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Tim the Yowie Man Tim the Yowie Man is a Canberra Times columnist, and an intrepid adventurer, mystery investigator, and cryptonaturalist. Tim the Yowie Man is a Canberra Times columnist, and an intrepid adventurer, mystery investigator, and cryptonaturalist. More from Canberra More details revealed of Geocon's plans for the Phillip Pool redevelopment 26m ago No comment s Trump wins the election and now liberals can't stand to watch the news 26m ago No comment s Voters across the world are resentful and angry and are lashing out 26m ago No comment s Red tape and fine print won't make the world a better place for not for profits 26m ago No comment s When a heartbreaking Christmas tradition was about to fall apart, the community stepped up 26m ago No comment s Thought that friendly 'Desert Wave' was dead? Not quite yet 26m ago Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... 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