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sports jacket Instagram, Facebook close accounts of suspect in CEO killing as posts flood with commentsThe year 2024 has witnessed significant milestones in China-Zimbabwe cooperation in the agriculture sector, a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy. Trade between the two sides increased, while China’s support for Zimbabwe’s technical expertise and human resources development in the agriculture sector also expanded. According to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, a national investment promotion body, the agriculture sector sustains more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, provides 63 percent of raw materials for the manufacturing sector, generates 30 percent of export earnings, and contributes 15 percent to gross domestic product. In a bid to further open China’s market to Zimbabwean agricultural products, a trade protocol on the export of Zimbabwean avocados was inked during Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s state visit to China in September, ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Rodwell Choto, an avocado farmer from Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province, is among those preparing to meet the expected surge in demand from China. “Exports to China will give us foreign currency, our economy will grow, and our livelihoods will improve,” Choto told Xinhua in a recent interview, noting that avocado farmers are ramping up production. According to the Horticultural Development Council, an organization representing horticultural exporters in Zimbabwe, the Southeast African country is projected to produce a record 6,000 metric tons of avocados in 2024, with its avocado industry set to expand the growing area from the current 1,500 hectares to 4,000 hectares by 2030. This builds on earlier successes, including a 2022 trade agreement enabling the export of fresh citrus to China, which saw its first shipment in 2023. “This is a chance for African agriculture now to become part of the global food value chain,” said Christopher Mutsvangwa, politburo member and secretary for information and publicity at the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) party. Zimbabwe’s tobacco sub-sector has also flourished in 2024, bolstered by China’s market access. Tobacco, an important economic activity and a major foreign currency earner for Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest tobacco producer, saw exports to China rise 38.3 percent to 790 million U.S. dollars in the first nine months of 2024, accounting for 40.6 percent of Zimbabwe’s total exports to China, according to data released by the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe. The overall trade figures between Zimbabwe and China grew 25.6 percent to 3 billion dollars in the same period, the Chinese embassy added. Despite these significant milestones this year, a severe drought has caused crop failures and livestock losses, greatly undermining the agriculture sector. In response, China launched a project to drill 300 boreholes in four provinces of the country. “These boreholes will not only provide safe water to the affected community, but will also serve as a stepping stone towards resilience building in view of the current El Nino-induced drought, and will also save the lives of our livestock which is also in dire need of water,” said Zimbabwe’s Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Daniel Garwe. China’s support extends beyond infrastructure to human resource development. Collaborative efforts have focused on capacity building and technical assistance to enhance agricultural productivity. As part of this initiative, Zimbabwean officials and professionals have attended seminars and workshops in China, equipping them with skills to modernize agriculture. Jotamu Dondofema, director of agricultural education in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, is among the officials who attended a seminar on the construction of green, low carbon, and circular economic systems in China this year. “This program has already yielded significant benefits. We have witnessed large numbers of successfully trained personnel, improved technologies in the agricultural value chains, the establishment of renewable energy sources and systems, and information and technology-sharing platforms anchoring capacity-building initiatives. These efforts have enhanced the employability and competitiveness of Zimbabwean professionals while also promoting the adoption of green technologies and sustainable practices,” Dondofema said.Fancy becoming a stock market millionaire in future? I think that can actually be a realistic target for many people. It does not even necessarily involve investing in little-known or fast-growing companies. My approach is to aim for a million over time by building up stakes in just a few great companies and . Some basic principles of stock market success How to turn such a pipe dream into reality? I think a realistic approach is required. I believe three things can help or hinder me depending on whether or not I have enough of them: money, time, and . Time can help great investment choices show their true worth Let’s go through those in turn. First is money. I do not plan to aim for a million in some hare-brained scheme, hoping to put just a few pounds in the market and strike gold. The more I invest, the easier it should be to achieve my target. Putting in £200,000, for example, I need to grow my portfolio value five times. That is not easy – but it is far easier than the 50 times growth I would need to aim for a million with a £20k investment. So, as circumstances allow, I plan to put aside a serious amount of money on a regular basis to invest. As for time, it can let a business show its true value and also help brilliant investments rise exponentially. stock has soared 180% this year. But that incredible performance actually pales in comparison to the five-year price growth of . Getting the right shares Nvidia’s performance has been exceptional but it shows that a fivefold increase in value over time can be achieved. In fact, even at the more modest annual growth rate of 10%, I could turn £200,000 into a million pounds in just 25 years. I think 10% is achievable while sticking to well-known blue-chip shares with a proven business model. One potential strategy could be to try and “ ” by . But imagine if instead of that, I weeded out the poor and middling performers and bought just the top five to 10 performing shares of coming years. My portfolio’s compound annual growth rate would likely be far better than the FTSE 100 average. Spend time making smart choices My Christmas stocking did not contain a crystal ball, so like everyone else I do not know what will be the best-performing shares of years to come. But I can make choices about what shares I could hopefully perform strongly as I build my portfolio to aim for a million. For example, I think ( ) could perform well and is a stock that investors should consider. The FSTE 100 consumer goods maker has risen 18% since July. However, that still puts it 23% below its level five years back. Reckitt certainly has its share of risks that help explain that price fall, including ongoing litigation in the US that could eat into future profits. But the market for cleaning and personal care products is large and resilient. Thanks to a stable of unique brands like , Reckitt has pricing power. That helps it earn profits that can be used to fund shareholder dividends.

WASHINGTON — Deaths from starvation will likely pass famine levels in northern Gaza as soon as next month owing to Israel’s “near-total blockade” of food and other aid, the U.S.-created global food-crisis monitor said on Tuesday. The finding by the Famine Early Warning System Network appeared to expose a rift within the Biden administration over the extent of starvation in northern Gaza, with the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, disputing part of the data used in reaching the conclusion and calling the stepped-up famine warning “irresponsible.” Northern Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its 14-month war with Hamas militants. Israel at one point increased the number of aid deliveries it permitted into northern Gaza under pressure from President Joe Biden. But the U.N. and aid groups say Israel recently has blocked almost all aid again. Only nine U.N. trucks have been able to bring in food and water over the past 2 1/2 months, Oxfam says. Related Story: Israel’s Stance on Aid Deliveries Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the area’s residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza’s far north, near the Israeli border. FEWS Net said unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in northern Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between next month and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. Cindy McCain, the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, in a Dec. 15 appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” called for political pressure to get food flowing to Palestinians trapped in north Gaza. “We need unfettered access. We need a ceasefire and we need it now,” she said. “We can’t ... sit by and just allow these people to starve to death.” Related Story: US Support and Political Implications FEWS Net was created by the U.S. Agency for International Development in the mid-1980s to warn of global food crises. The United States, Israel’s main backer, provided a record amount of military support in the first year of the war. At the same time, the Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more access to aid deliveries in Gaza overall, and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. The administration recently said Israel was making improvements and declined to carry out its threat of restrictions. Military support for Israel’s war in Gaza is politically charged in the United States. Republicans and some Democrats have staunchly opposed any effort to limit U.S. support over the suffering of Palestinian civilians trapped in the conflict. The Biden administration’s reluctance to do more to press Israel for improved treatment of civilians undercut support for Democrats in last month’s elections. Related Story: US Ambassador Challenges Famine Warning Lew, the U.S. ambassador, challenged the famine warning in a posting on social media, saying it was based on “outdated and inaccurate” data. He pointed to uncertainty over how many of the 65,000 people remaining in northern Gaza had fled in recent weeks, saying that skewed the findings. FEWS said its famine assessment holds even if as few as 10,000 remain there. “We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs — which are great — and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible.,” Lew wrote.AfD leader Alice Weidel "has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Come on!" Musk wrote. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Elon Musk is nothing if not shameless. He proved that again this weekend, when he published an op-ed in one of Germany’s biggest newspapers, Die Welt , doubling down on his earlier support for the racist, far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD). In the op-ed—reportedly published online Saturday and in print Sunday—Musk writes that the AfD is “the last spark of hope for this country” and, essentially, that his vast wealth makes his politics a matter of public interest. “As someone who has made significant investments in Germany’s industrial and technological landscape, I believe I have the right to speak openly about its political orientation,” Musk writes, according to a Google translation of the text. As the country approaches a snap election on February 23, following the November collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, AfD is polling second, at 19 percent, behind the center-right Christian Democratic Union of Germany. Musk outlines five areas in which he claims AfD reigns supreme: His op-ed was published alongside a rebuttal from editor Jan Philipp Burgard, who writes that “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach that only the AfD can save Germany is fatally wrong.” Burgard notes that the AfD wants to remove Germany from the EU, which he says would be a “catastrophe” given the nation’s reliance on exports and the reliance of German citizens on the EU single market. He further argues that AfD’s isolationist focus could harm its relationship with the US in particular—and “doesn’t Elon Musk want to see many Teslas rolling along Germany’s highways in the future?” And, Burgard points out, Musk’s claims that the party isn’t so bad ignore the reality that Björn Höcke, another AfD leader, has been convicted—twice—of using banned Nazi slogans. The publication of Musk’s op-ed elicited immediate internal backlash. Die Welt ‘s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, announced on X on Saturday that she’d resigned after it posted online. Musk’s piece was meant to expand upon Musk’s December 20 X post that “only the AfD can save Germany.” (The party thanked him with a public video from party leader Weidel.) But as my colleague Alex Nguyen wrote , AfD is even controversial among Europe’s nationalists. In May, France’s far-right party led by Marine Le Pen split from the AfD in its European Parliament coalition after the German party’s top candidate, Maximilian Krah, said that a person was “not automatically a criminal” just because they had been a member of the SS, Adolph Hitler’s paramilitary organization. When you dig more into the priorities of AfD leaders, it makes sense that they’re on an island of their own—and why Musk is trying to court them. Some party officials, like Trump , have been clear about their desire to carry out mass deportations. As Mother Jones contributor Josh Axelrod, a Berlin-based reporter, wrote recently: The AfD’s central pledge is to counteract the so-called Great Replacement, a conspiracy theory that claims white Europeans or Americans are the victims of a plot by nonwhite immigrants to “replace” them and poison their societies. It was the inspiration for shooters to take up arms and target Muslim victims in Christchurch, Jews in Pittsburgh, Black people in Buffalo, and gay people in Bratislava. “It’s the thing that brings together the far-right in multiple countries,” Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the nonprofit Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told Mother Jones . As Burgard put it in his Musk rebuttal: “Even a genius can be wrong.”

Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” Impact on retailers, communities In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Increased penalties Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Retail theft data Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Zen Massage & Head Spa 86 Voted NYC’s Top Head Spa for 2025Oregon started signing day behind Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten recruiting rankings and was poised to finish Wednesday on top. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Oregon started signing day behind Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten recruiting rankings and was poised to finish Wednesday on top. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Oregon started signing day behind Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten recruiting rankings and was poised to finish Wednesday on top. The Ducks flipped five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord from the Buckeyes and four-star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele from California — additions that pushed them to No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten in the 247Sports Composite rankings. A Big Ten-high four five-stars signed with the Ducks. Ohio State’s class, ranked fifth in the country, is highlighted by a pair of national top-five prospects in quarterback Tavien St. Clair and cornerback Devin Sanchez. Michigan’s class was rated third best in the Big Ten and seventh best in the nation. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 national recruit, was scheduled to sign his letter of intent with the Wolverines on Wednesday evening. Two other Big Ten teams were ranked in the top 20, No. 13 Southern California and No. 17 Penn State. Leader of the pack Oregon closed with a flourish with Offord and Sagapolutele flipping on signing day and four-star linebacker Gavin Nix switching from Miami on Tuesday. The Ducks signed some of the nation’s top prospects at wide receiver and cornerback. Dakorien Moore is the No. 1 receiver and Dallas Wilson is No. 4. Offord is the No. 2 corner, Brandon Finney is No. 5 and Dorian Brew is No. 8. They also signed a second quarterback, the four-star Akili Smith Jr., whose father was the Ducks’ quarterback in 1997-98 and an NFL first-round draft pick. Best of the rest Five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet was USC’s top signee, and the Trojans beat out Ohio State and Oregon for five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart. Penn State landed the No. 4 offensive lineman in the country in Malachi Goodman. Among eight four-star defensive players to sign was linebacker LaVar Arrington Jr., whose father was a 1998 All-American for the Nittany Lions and No. 2 overall draft pick in 2000. Nebraska signed four-star linebackers in Dawson Merritt and Christian Jones and got a pleasant signing-day surprise when four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills flipped from Oklahoma. Under the radar Iose Epenesa, the No. 14 national prospect and No. 3 defensive lineman, continues his family’s tradition at Iowa. The edge rusher from Edwardsville, Illinois, is the brother of former Iowa star AJ Epenesa. Another brother, Eric, is a walk-on linebacker for the Hawkeyes. Their father, Eppy, played at Iowa in the 1990s. ... Indiana’s breakthrough season produced a minimal bump in the recruiting rankings. The Hoosiers, who signed 21 players, went from No. 16 last year to No. 13 in the Big Ten. . ... Maryland signed four four stars, including the nation’s No. 5 quarterback prospect in 6-foot-4, 215-pound Malik Washington. ... Michigan State didn’t sign a four-star recruit for the first time since at least 2009. ... Purdue, three days after the firing of Ryan Walters and coming off one of the worst seasons in program history, signed just six players. Star of the class Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Michigan’s NIL collective reportedly offered Underwood an eight-figure financial package and Tom Brady provided a strong nudge to get him to flip from LSU two weeks ago. Underwood is from Belleville, Michigan, less than a half-hour drive from Ann Arbor, and he has said playing close to home also was a factor. Underwood is the first No. 1 national prospect to land at Michigan since defensive end Rashan Gary in 2016. Biggest surprise An Ohio State stocking cap sat alongside Auburn and Oregon ballcaps on a table at Offord’s signing ceremony at Parker High in Birmingham, Alabama. He picked up the Auburn cap and put it on for a split-second, then flipped it into the crowd and put on the Oregon cap. With three of the top eight cornerback prospects and four-star safety Trey McNutt expected to sign, the Ducks would have the highest-rated group of defensive backs. ___ 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 Advertisement Advertisement

New Delhi [India], December 24 (ANI): The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), India’s largest government-owned steel producer, has been conferred with eight national awards by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), the Ministry of Steel stated in a release on Tuesday. These PRSI National Awards 2024 were given away at the 46th All India Public Relations Conference held at Raipur during December 20-22, 2024. SAIL was recognized in various categories viz. E-Newsletter for SAIL Track, Corporate Film (English), Best Communication Campaigns (Internal Publics) for SAIL Gaurav Diwas celebration, House Journal (English) for SAIL News, Best PR Programme for Promoting Science & Technology for steel plant technologies, Best Use of Social Media in a Corporate Campaign for promoting green steel, Corporate Website, as well as Annual Report. Amarendu Prakash, Chairman, SAIL lauded the recognition and said, “These awards underscore the various efforts of our communication initiatives in enhancing SAIL’s image and outreach. SAIL has always given due emphasis on effective communication, which plays a crucial role in shaping the company’s image and forging better stakeholder relationships. This recognition is a testimony to SAIL’s dedication to excellence in communication. All employees of SAIL have appreciated this achievement. As we move forward, we will continue to innovate and uphold the highest standards in all our communication endeavors.” The Government of India owns about 65 per cent of SAIL’s equity and retains voting control of the Company. However, SAIL, by virtue of its ‘Maharatna’ status, enjoys significant operational and financial autonomy. Since its inception, SAIL has been instrumental in laying a sound infrastructure for the industrial development of the country. Besides, it has immensely contributed to the development of technical and managerial expertise. It has triggered the secondary and tertiary waves of economic growth by continuously providing the inputs for the consuming industry. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

AP News Summary at 5:18 p.m. EST( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders paid homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 100th birth anniversary on Wednesday. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "Respectful tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his 100th birth anniversary. He dedicated his life to building a strong, prosperous, and self-reliant India. His vision and mission will continue to give strength to the resolve for a Viksit Bharat." In a video message, he highlighted the significance of Vajpayee's legacy, stating, "Today, in honour of Atal Jayanti, is celebrated as 'Good Governance Day.' Good governance means when the Centre doesn't have a feeling of power but of service." He urged citizens to fulfil their responsibilities, adding, "It should be our aim to achieve our goals on this occasion of 'Good Governance Day' and in remembrance of Atalji. This is the expectation of the public, and this is the lesson Atal Bihari Vajpayee taught us." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid homage to Vajpayee, calling him a leader who ushered in an era of development and good governance. "Atal ji made cultural nationalism a work culture and always kept the country's security and public welfare paramount. He made the BJP popular with the masses with his purity and self-restraint in political life. Like the Pole Star, Atal ji will continue to guide the countrymen on the path of national service till eternity," Shah wrote. BJP President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda, in his tribute, lauded Vajpayee's contribution to Indian politics. "Revered Atal Ji gave new heights to the tradition of integrity and service in Indian politics. His contribution to establishing the country as a global superpower is unforgettable," Nadda wrote. He further described Vajpayee's life as "an inspiration" and extended greetings on 'Good Governance Day,' stating that the day reflects Vajpayee's dedication to all-round national development. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also joined in paying tributes, referring to Vajpayee as "a pillar of independent Indian politics." "Atal ji set new standards in both politics and diplomacy, working throughout his life with the resolve to build a strong and prosperous India," Singh wrote, adding, "His significant contribution to India's progress cannot be appreciated enough. Today, on his 100th birth anniversary, I pay my humble tribute to him." Vajpayee, remembered as a statesman and visionary leader, served as India's Prime Minister three times and played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. His leadership continues to inspire millions across the country. MENAFN24122024000231011071ID1109028642 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.

Is the CFP bracket fair? Here are some tweaks that would have changed thingsLoveland Big Thompson Kiwanis Club and the Loveland High School Key Club met Tuesday afternoon to wrap children’s books for preschoolers in the Thompson School District, an annual effort to spread both Christmas cheer and literacy among young children. Madison Russell, 15, left, a Loveland High School Key Club member, and Kiwanis Club member Larry Abston, right, put Kiwanis Club stickers inside books before wrapping them in the school cafeteria Tuesday. The groups wrapped the books to give to preschool students. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald) “It’s mainly so they have their own book,” Joan Zuboy, a board member for Loveland Big Thompson Kiwanis said. “They share it with their family. It also gets them more interested in reading, hopefully. Literacy is so important, and the teachers make them feel that in the classroom, they’re happy to take something home that’s part of class and part of what they’re learning.” Having a book of their own, she continued, is important to developing literacy as children continue to grow, partially because it provides an opportunity for reading at home, and partially because it can demystify reading so that more challenging titles encountered as a child grows become more accessible. “They don’t feel intimidation, it’s something they’re familiar with,” she said. In total, the volunteers wrapped more than 500 books Tuesday afternoon, with three different options for kids. “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” a classic of the genre published in 2000, is a more accessible board book for younger preschoolers or preschoolers with special needs. Its simple content, focused on learning the letters of the alphabet, and sturdy design make it ideal for younger students who might be inclined to tear out pages or otherwise damage a less durable option. For older students, “the Invisible String” by Patrice Karst, focuses on separation anxiety, something Zuboy said is a common problem among preschoolers leaving the comfort of home to begin going to school for the first time. “Heart String,” the final option, by Brooke Boynton-Hughes, focuses on community and the ways in which people are connected. The Key Club, a social club for high schoolers sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and following its same principles of service, has a chapter at Loveland High School, and high schoolers packed into the cafeteria Tuesday afternoon to help wrap the books alongside their older peers. Senior Jaiden Jacob, a Key Club member, said she was wrapping presents “to give to kids that may not be as fortunate before Christmas, so kids can get books and families don’t have to worry about spending money.” Abe Pilato, president of the Kiwanis Club, said that Key Clubs are a valuable way to get younger people interested both in their club specifically and their values more broadly. “Kiwanis in general is all about helping youth in the community, right?” Pilato said. “So being engaged with the schools, helping young adults as they’re getting ready to go into their next chapter of life, to become responsible, to teach them skills around planning projects like this, it’s just what Kiwanis is about.”The Vikings and their in-gear offense will be a tough team to outscore moving forwardImmigrants are increasingly choosing to stay in Quebec, according to a new report from Statistics Canada, but the same isn't true in the Atlantic region, which continues to lose newcomers to the rest of the country. Out of all the immigrants admitted into Quebec in 2021, almost 94 per cent of them were still in the province one year later — a jump of 8.8 percentage points compared with the 2018 cohort of newcomers. The largest increase of newcomers choosing to stay in Quebec was in the economic category, the StatCan report said. Catherine Xhardez, assistant professor of political science at Université de Montréal, said the StatCan report is welcome news for Quebec because unlike in the rest of the country, the provincial government controls its economic immigration stream. "It's also a question of competition. You want the best and brightest to stay because if you invest in them, if you select them, you do not want them to go to Ontario," said Xhardez, who also directs ERIQA, a research group that studies immigration to Quebec. Quebec pauses key immigration programs for permanent residents Quebec suspends foreign recruitment missions until mid-2025 Decades ago, when the Quebec unemployment rate was much higher than the current 5.7 per cent, immigrants were leaving the province at a much higher rate, Xhardez pointed out, saying job opportunities and social programs are key to keeping newcomers. "It really depends on living conditions and opportunities for migrants. That is the biggest factor for people moving from one province to another province," she said. With the latest data already a few years old, Xhardez admits that changes in Quebec's political climate — the government regularly blames immigration for threatening the French language — and the province's recent decision to freeze several immigration programs may impact future immigration trends. Such actions may have the effect of driving immigrants away, she said, especially considering other provinces also target francophones. Lowest retention rates in Atlantic Canada Quebec isn't the only province to have high immigrant retention rates. Ontario leads the country — 94.6 per cent of newcomers admitted to the province in 2021 were still there one year later. In British Columbia it was 91.7 per cent and in Alberta is was 89.5 per cent. However, Atlantic Canada offers a stark contrast. The four provinces recorded decreases in one-year retention rates for immigrants admitted in 2020 compared with 2021. Newfoundland and Labrador recorded a 14.1 percentage point drop, Nova Scotia saw a 11.7 percentage point decrease, the drop in Prince Edward Island was 8.9 percentage points, and in New Brunswick it was 2.2 percentage points. "Immigrants who left their intended Atlantic provinces were increasingly likely to settle in Ontario," the report said. Meanwhile, the statistics agency also looked at five-year retention rates, analyzing how many immigrants admitted in the country between 2013 to 2017 were still in their intended provinces five years later. "Among immigrants admitted from 2013 to 2017, those who intended to live in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec were the most likely to reside in the same province five years after their admission," the report said. Five-year retention rates were highest in Ontario at 93.5 per cent, B.C. at 87.5 per cent, Alberta at 87.3 per cent and Quebec with 79.7 per cent. P.E.I. immigrant retention improves, but still Canada's worst by far Sask. sees drop in percentage of immigrants who choose to stay long-term Once again, the retention rates in Atlantic Canada were among the lowest in the country. In Nova Scotia, 61.7 per cent of immigrants admitted in 2013 were still in the province five years later, rising to 62.1 per cent for the cohort of newcomers who came in 2017. In New Brunswick, 51.7 per cent of immigrants admitted in 2017 were in the province five years later, a rise of 3.9 percentage points compared with the cohort who came in 2013. For the cohort of immigrants who arrived in 2017, 45.6 per cent of them were still in Newfoundland and Labrador five years later; 25.7 of them were still in Prince Edward Island. Lack of meaningful jobs, support to blame Those figures come as no surprise to Tony Fang, economics professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, who said "lack of meaningful employment or perceived lack of it" was primarily to blame. "That's the number one reason why they don't stay in the region," he said in an interview Monday. "The second is family ties. The third reason is a lack of community support," he said, explaining that close-knit communities in the region can be difficult for newcomers, making them sometimes feel like outsiders. Newcomers can more easily find their cultural communities and families in big cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, Fang said, adding that the region would do well to accept larger numbers of immigrants at once, as Newfoundland and Labrador did with Ukrainian and Syrian refugees. And while immigration may be outpacing housing and social services in the country, he said the Atlantic region desperately needs newcomers to boost its economic development. "We have the oldest population. We have the most severe labour demographic deficits. We have more severe skilled labour shortages, so immigration certainly has more positive impact for Atlantic Canada," Fang said.

Keir Starmer Pledges Labour Will Recruit 13,000 More 'Bobbies On The Beat' In Crime CrackdownAl-Sisi highlights digital transformation, ICT growthA new report has listed top airlines operating routes across Nigeria with the most flight delays and cancellations The report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority shows about 10 international and local airlines experienced delays and cancellations The report shows over 15 million passengers moved through Nigeria’s airports in 2023. Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. Passengers in Nigerian airports experienced some of the highest flight delays and cancellations rates in the first half of 2024. Flight delays and cancellations on some Nigerian routes have become frequent, caused by weather conditions and operational challenges. Passengers experience delays and cancellations during Xmas Passengers travelling through Nigerian airports during the holiday period experienced delays due to concerns about potential last-minute delays or cancellations. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! As the holiday season begins, increased passenger traffic may result in crowded airports and longer delays. Read also FG spends N1.4bn on repentant terrorists' rehabilitation, secret trials According to Business Insider, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos rank among the 10 busiest airports in Africa , with a significant part of the continent’s air traffic. NCAA reports the number of flight cancellations and delays The report said about 15.89 million passengers moved through Nigeria’s airports in 2023. The delays disrupted schedules and created significant logistical challenges. Some of the delays are caused by technical issues, weather conditions, air traffic congestion, and regulatory or security checks. According to data from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), about 19,250 passengers across Nigerian airports faced prolonged delays during the review period. Also, the NCAA data shows that of the 35,398 flights operated by 13 domestic airlines, about 16,945 experienced delays. Airlines in Nigeria cancelled 696 flights, representing two per cent of the total 35,398 flights operated. The top airlines with the most delays and cancellation Read also Full list: Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines, 3 other airlines sanctioned by NCAA, reasons given Additionally, about 48% of domestic flights experienced delays. Twenty-six airlines operated 7,144 flights, with 2,305 delays and 69 cancellations. The NCAA data shows international and local airlines with the most delays and cancellations to and from Nigeria’s airports. Delta Airlines Cronos Uganda Air Turkish Airlines South African Airways Air Peace Kenya Airways Max Air (international) British Airways Air Cote d'Ivoire Air Peace clarifies the video, suggesting passengers rush Legit.ng earlier reported that Air Peace provided updates regarding the status of its flight on December 20, 2024, confirming that customers never hurried to board its aircraft without following the operational guidelines established by aviation authorities. The company said some unknown persons created the movies that were making the rounds on social media to confuse and divert stakeholders, management, and regulators. Ejike Ndiulo, Air Peace spokesperson, disclosed in a statement that the video content making the rounds amounts to a false claim, which is not just cheeky but also deceptive. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng

Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. president, Nobel winner, dies at 100