National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times SECURITY:Taiwan is in talks with Amazon about collaborating on Kuiper broadband communication satellites to harden its telecommunications infrastructure in a potential conflict with China By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA 請繼續往下閱讀... Taiwan is launching the “Chip Team Taiwan” initiative to forge robotics, drones and space industry supply chains to decrease dependence on China, National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks at a news conference marking the conclusion of the 12th quadrennial National Science and Technology Conference in Taipei. The integration of semiconductor manufacturing would boost the indigenous tech and defense sector’s growth, he said. 請繼續往下閱讀... Taiwan has achieved a lot in terms of manufacturing of chips, but lacks the innovation necessary for sustaining industrial capabilities, which are key to resilience, including sovereign artificial intelligence drones and space tech, he said. Under the Chip Team Taiwan initiative, chipmakers would join forces to accomplish the nation’s smart tech, innovative economy, social balance and net zero carbon emission goals, he said. The initiative is to focus on improving the capability to develop drones, the space industry, communications satellites and multi-functional robots, he said. The government’s priority is to supply chips to meet national defense and security needs, especially in drones, while plans for robotics would be disclosed in a few months, he said. The nation’s semiconductor sector should dedicate more of its production to meet domestic needs instead of catering to foreign clients, he said. Trade partners should rest assured that Taiwan is committed to secure and resilient supply chains not dependent on parts supplied by China, Wu said, adding that the team’s corporate members would be disclosed later. Separately, Reuters yesterday reported that Taiwan is engaged in talks with Amazon.com about collaborating on the tech giant’s Kuiper constellation of broadband communications satellites. The negotiations are part of Taipei’s effort to harden its telecommunications infrastructure in a potential conflict with China, akin to Ukraine’s defensive use of SpaceX’s Starlink network against Russia’s invasion, it said, citing Wu. A Ministry of Digital Affairs spokesperson said Taiwan is considering a partnership with Amazon, but the talks are still in the early stages. Amazon is one of the service providers that could potentially meet Taiwan’s national security and performance requirements, they said, adding that redundancies are necessary for a resilient communications infrastructure. The ministry is carrying out a program to establish a non-geostationary satellite communications network consisting of 773 stations for national defense and emergency response, they said. Eutelsat OneWeb and SES-operated satellites form the network’s backbone, they said, adding that the ministry aims to achieve 24-hour coverage by the end of the year. The program’s success is crucial for maintaining the nation’s military and political command during contingencies, they added. The news of Taiwan holding talks with Amazon came after reports dating back months suggesting a rift between the nation’s officials and SpaceX chief executive officer Elon Musk, a close ally of US president-elect Donald Trump. In February, the US House of Representatives Committee on China demanded that Musk ensure US troops in Taiwan can use Starshield, the military version of Starlink, after multiple sources told a congressional committee that SpaceX had denied service to the nation. Last month, Musk allegedly asked Taiwan-based suppliers to move manufacturing abroad, citing “geopolitical concerns,” the Guardian said in a report. Additional reporting by Reuters 新聞來源: TAIPEI TIMES 不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法How Manmohan Singh’s economic reforms changed India
Pakistani authorities launch operation to clear Imran Khan supporters from the capitalPinion has 22 points as Arkansas State beats No. 16 Memphis 85-72letters@hindustantimes.com Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed state government departments to implement an action plan to generate employment effectively. He also asked officials to seek the cooperation of experts to accelerate efforts towards achieving the objective of making Uttar Pradesh a trillion-dollar economy. Chairing a meeting at his official residence here to discuss employment generation in the state, he said the state government’s initiative would enable the “New Uttar Pradesh” to play a pivotal role in fostering economic growth while creating abundant employment opportunities in line with the vision of “New India.” At this meeting, officials of various departments and institutional representatives presented potential opportunities and plans for creating jobs. He emphasised that providing timely employment to the state’s youth, based on their qualifications and skills, is a top priority for the government. Calling for the creation of maximum employment opportunities by leveraging local resources, he directed officials to enhance effectiveness of skill development programmes to encourage youth toward entrepreneurship. He also highlighted that the state government is working sector-wise to achieve its goal of transforming Uttar Pradesh into a trillion-dollar economy. Notably, to achieve this goal, work is being carried out across 10 sectors, with all state departments integrated into these sectors. He reviews the progress every three months, while the ministers concerned conduct monthly reviews. Additionally, the administrative heads of departments are required to review the work every 15 days. Adityanath said the work of making U.P. a trillion-dollar economy is being monitored by the CM dashboard. He urged representatives of various institutions to inspect the CM dashboard so that they can be made aware of the working style of the state government. He said the sectors offering the most employment opportunities are medical, education, tourism, construction, and manufacturing, urging special focus on these areas. He also highlighted that the Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025 presents an excellent opportunity to showcase the state’s image to the nation and the world. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025, a confluence of religion, spirituality, and culture, attracts global attention. Discussions during the Mahakumbh should focus on employment, skill development, knowledge, and technology, he added. He instructed officials to increase the number of UPSRTC buses and develop new routes to enhance connectivity.
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic is returning to the Dallas lineup Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing the Mavericks’ two previous games with a left heel contusion. Doncic won last season’s scoring title with a career-best 33.9 points per game and is fifth in the NBA this season averaging 28.9, and seventh in assists, averaging 8.2. He had triple-doubles in three of his last four games, including his most recent appearance last Sunday with 45 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 143-133 win at Golden State. The defending Western Conference champions are 18-10, fourth in the West, and have won 13 of their last 16 games following their only losing streak of the season, a four-game skid from Nov. 8-14. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Luka Doncic returns to Dallas Mavericks' lineup after missing two games with left heel contusionSITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence) Nominates Creative Group Canada for Prestigious Crystal Award SCHAUMBURG, Ill. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Group, Inc., a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency, was recently nominated for a Crystal Award in the category of Most Creative Solution Deployed to Overcome Adversity when war broke out in Israel . THE STORY In October 2023 , Israel was attacked just a month before Creative Group's client was to host their annual incentive program at the Intercontinental Hotel David in Tel Aviv . This, of course, derailed a year of meticulous program planning. With civil unrest making it impossible to operate that program, the team immediately began the search for an alternate destination that would not only preserve the essence of the incentive trip but deliver the same level of excitement and prestige for the winners. After careful consideration, the group's location was secured at the exceptional Corazon Cabo Resort and Spa in Los Cabos for a rescheduled event in early February 2024 . As the new destination was being sourced in a condensed 4-month period, the planning team was simultaneously managing the cancellation process with existing contracts in Israel and designing a new – and equally rewarding – program in Mexico . Janet Traphagen, President of Creative Group, said, "I am so proud of our internal associates and our client's collaboration – the way they quickly pivoted to a new solution during a time of crisis was nothing short of amazing." The client and the qualifiers were thrilled with the newly designed travel experience and the creative thinking involved in bringing this alternative solution to life in such a short timeframe. THE IMPACT 65% of attendees rated the experience a perfect 5/5 35% gave it a healthy 4/5 Eighty-seven percent of participants highlighted the app's effectiveness as a communication and engagement tool Attendee comments: "The trip was excellent given the short timeline to plan it. The planning team did a great job in arranging it under those circumstances." "For my wife and I, it was our first trip and we really enjoyed it." "I would never have guessed that this was pulled together on such short notice. A truly amazing experience. Thank you!" "To the whole team, I give you a 10! My wife and I appreciated it. Well done!" "I tip my hat to the organizers, FANTASTIC JOB." About Creative Group Creative Group is a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with numerous Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Award, which recognizes the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S. Creative Group was founded in 1970, and has served clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive, and hospitality. Employing 220+ people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois , and maintains offices in San Francisco , Appleton, Wisconsin , and Toronto, Canada . For more information about Creative Group, visit http://www.creativegroupinc.com About the SITE Crystal Awards Recognition Program: Considered the highest honor in the incentive travel industry, the SITE Crystal Awards recognize creative, practical and truly memorable incentive programs that not only keep employees engaged but also drive business results and improve the bottom line. SOURCE Creative Group, Inc.
Exeter Chiefs and Newcastle Falcons put league struggles behind them to keep up perfect Premiership Rugby Cup records on Friday and move closer to booking quarter-final spots. Exeter are winless in the Premiership after six games but continue to use this competition to boost flatlining fortunes. An outcome which was rarely in doubt finished 31-7 in their favour as Gloucester were downed for the first time in this competition since December 2022. Newcastle won a thriller 28-27 against Sale Sharks, Brett Connon converting Max Pepper's late try to win by a solitary point. In the other match, Leicester Tigers posted a first win in three cup outings leaving Championship outfit Nottingham floored after a second-half mauling which saw them win 70-29. Whatever the misery inflicted by a winless Premiership campaign, it was all smiles for Exeter after a convincing victory over Premiership Rugby Cup holders Gloucester. In a match the visitors dominated from start to finish, Rus Tuima got the ball rolling after five minutes, burrowing over from close range. Ben Hammersley added a second, converted by Josh Hodge to give the Chiefs a 14-0 early lead against their shellshocked hosts. A rampaging effort from Will Rigg, a stunning 70-yard effort from Hodge and a Stu Townsend score completed a 31-0 first-half rout, with Val Rapava Ruskin's second-half score a consolation for the hosts. Leicester roared back from an early scare against Championship side Nottingham, for whom Harry Clayton crossed twice to put them into a 12-0 lead after 22 minutes, raising the prospect of a third defeat for the Tigers following losses to Northampton Saints and Coventry. But Leicester bounced back with four tries before the break to lead 28-12 at half-time, with Matt Rogerson, Archie Vanes, Ollie Allan and Solomone Kata going over. In the second half the Premiership side displayed class and ruthlessness in equal proportions, running in a further six tries. Izaia Perese, James Whitcombe, Jack Kinder, Ollie Hassell-Collins (2) and Emeka Ilione all touched down after the interval. At Kingston Park, Pepper and Connon combined late to extend Newcastle's record to three wins from three and, like Exeter, they have collected a maximum 15 points. Tadgh McElroy had crashed over early on to give Sale the lead but a Connon penalty and Jamie Blamire's close-range try put the Falcons in front 8-5. James Harper went over from close range before Tom Gordon for Newcastle and Tom Curtis for Sale exchanged tries. After Ben Stevenson scored for the hosts, Rouban Birch looked to have sealed matters with a try to make it 27-18 at 68 minutes. But a Falcons penalty reduced the gap to six points and Pepper ran in late on to set up Connon and leave Sale stunned. Pool A: Caldy v Doncaster (14:00) Pool B: Coventry v Northampton Saints (15:00) Pool C: Ealing Trailfinders v London Scottish (15:00); Saracens v Harlequins (15:00) Pool D: Bedford Blues v Bath (15:00) Pool E: Hartpury RFC v Cornish Pirates (14:30) Pool D: Bristol v Ampthill (14:00)
When Kim Kardashian held hands with a Tesla Robot, the internet went wild. On November 19, Kardashian posted a series of photos of her with a one-of-a-kind gold Tesla Optimus AI Robot. Why did the internet go wild? These are not just any photos, Kardashian's photoshoot is almost like how people get photographed with their partners. She can be seen holding the robot's hands and even sitting on its lap inside a Tesla Cybercab. Netizens after looking at this photo are going back to the 2016 tweet by The Sun, which said: "Women will be having more sex with ROBOTS than men by 2025". Many are saying that the prophecy is fulfilled and the prediction is now true. But What Does It Really Mean? We asked Ruchi Ruuh, a relationship counsellor why specifically the prediction focuses on women's relationship with a robot, whereas it could be men too. "Robots could offer women a kind of "perfect" partner that might offer predictability and consistency that they might feel are missing in men in general," she explains. Is it because women are unwilling to invest emotionally? " It’s not necessarily that women are unwilling to invest emotionally, but robots may provide a safer alternative without rejection or betrayal. This choice could symbolize a deeper desire to feel safe and secure with the partner," explains Ruuh. She also points out that women are creatures who primarily look for safety and when the world around them seems unsafe, whether physically, sexually, or emotionally, they would be driven to a robot or any alternative that makes them feel safe. Having said that, Ruuh also points out that robots can never replace men or real people. However, the "fatigue from giving too much without reciprocation" is leading to the speculation that women may consider robots as a "less complex and a more manageable solution." "While most people are taking it like a literal sexual intimacy, it's much more than that. It is about safety," point What was the 2016 prediction? Dr Ian Pearson, a futurologist suggested that women will soon be "getting busy with robots rather than men," reports The Sun. Ian's prediction comes from how sexual exploration has evolved around women's body. Women are now more able to have a connection and relationship with their bodies. Also Read: Ministry Of Sex: Russian Government Is Entering Your Bedroom, Wants You To Have More Sex! Toys and massagers, which used to be taboo earlier are now an integral part of women's magazines. A lot of people will still have reservations about sex with robots at first but gradually as they get used to them, as the AI (artificial intelligence) and mechanical behaviour and their feel improve, and they start to become friends with strong emotional bonds, that squeamishness will gradually evaporate," he said in the report, commissioned by Bondara. In fact, there have been cases reported earlier where many have fallen in love with their AI-assistant. Robosexuality Is More Complex Than You Think A new research titled Technically in love: Individual differences relating to sexual and platonic relationships with robots, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships reveals that robosexuality is an attitude towards and interest in sexual relationship with robots. The study found that there are three broad attitudes which can lead to robosexuality including a sociosexual orientation where someone can invest in a sexual relationship without emotional attachment. The second attitude is called hostile sexism, where people view gender relations as competitive and full of conflict, so choose something that is neither a man nor a woman, so there exists no concept of control over one another. The third attitude is social dominance orientation, which measures a person's desire to support and maintain a ranking of different groups. This means supporting the idea that people from different racial groups or social classes having a certain sexual orientation should be ranked below others. These three measuring units were used to study the role of robosexuality that plays in people's lives. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Relationships, Lifestyle and around the world.Back in December of last year, we told you how the state of Texas, along with conservative media outlets The Federalist and The Daily Wire filed suit against the U.S. State Department . Why? Well the State Department funded the Global Engagement Center (GEC), an agency that sought to censor and bankrupt conservative outlets. As we wrote at the time: The suit asks that the State Department's actions be declared illegal and 'to permanently bar it from developing, promoting, or encouraging others to use technology to de-amplify, shadow ban, or restrict 'the lawful speech of the American press and Americans.' Our initial reaction can be summed up in one word: BOOM. The Left figured out a while ago they can align themselves with corporations and NGOs (we use that term loosely) to circumvent the pesky First Amendment and silence conservative outlets. Now we find the proposed short-term funding bill currently before Congress would continue to fund the GEC for a year: 🚨BREAKING: The short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown includes a one-year extension on the State Department's Global Engagement Center — the agency me and @mtaibbi reported has funded speech suppression efforts and is being sued by the Federalist and Daily Wire pic.twitter.com/fWYaTzVepL No. Absolutely not. Ugh That's putting it mildly. Please don’t sign that bill, @MarshaBlackburn @AndyOgles @BillHagertyTN (and @DrMarkGreen4TN just to be sure!). Let the next Congress handle this.. shut this one down. Shut it all down. Don't pass the bill and let the gov shutdown. Hopefully that'll help prevent the Biden admin and deep state folks from continuing their shenanigans of thwarting Trump's agenda. Use this as an opportunity to do something useful! GOP show some backbone! @VivekGRamaswamy ... This! Show some backbone! Absolutely no. The Global Engagement Center should be immediately shut down, ordered to preserve ALL documents, and criminal investigations into all of its employees should begin on Day 1. Yes. In their abominable omnibus, Republicans are set to fund the illegal government censorship cartel that is attempting to shut down and destroy conservative news outlets like @FDRLST and @realDailyWire . This is unforgivable insanity. What on earth is going on? @elonmusk ... https://t.co/Zntf4bG4Db This is unforgivable. No words https://t.co/RBBb0sFics None. This is inexcusable. No Republican should vote for this bill as it’s currently written. If you’re thinking of voting for it, answer this: Aside from you getting home for Christmas on time, why would you vote for it? Our side just won the election, stop letting Dems run you over. https://t.co/M1AqkFAdNg Absolutely inexcusable. Who is the constituency for this, who put it in there? And if a bill need garbage like this to get enough votes, @SpeakerJohnson , maybe it's not worth passing. Ruin Members' Christmases, not the nation's future. https://t.co/1itZSGCqir This bill cannot pass.
This Samsung 2.1-channel soundbar is only $100 at Best Buy today!
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Ray'Sean Taylor had 27 points, Ring Malith scored 24 with 10 rebounds and SIU Edwardsville beat Ball State 82-69 on Sunday. Taylor went 9 of 22 from the field (7 for 15 from 3-point range) for the Cougars (6-4). Malith hit 7 of 13 shots and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line. Brian Taylor II shot 5 of 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line to finish with 13 points. Juan Sebastian Gorosito led the way for the Cardinals (3-6) with 17 points. Ball State also got 13 points and six rebounds from Ben Hendriks. Malith scored 10 points in the first half and SIU-Edwardsville went into the break trailing 41-39. Ray'Sean Taylor scored the last seven points for SIU-Edwardsville to finish off the 13-point victory. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Tracy City Attorney Bijal Patel will resign from her job, with the Tracy City Council accepting her resignation Tuesday night during a closed session. Patel submitted her resignation during a closed session meeting on Tuesday, when performance reviews of her and City Manager Midori Lichtwardt were on agenda. Councilman Dan Arriola, who has been elected as Tracy’s next mayor, with the Nov. 5 election results still to be certified, made the announcement: “At this time Ms. Patel is voluntarily issuing her resignation as Tracy City Attorney, and the City Council is accepting her resignation.” Human Resources Director Kimberly Murdaugh reported that three council members voted to accept Patel’s resignation and two abstained from the vote. She did not specify how each individual council member voted. Patel will remain in her office until Dec. 3, and she will work remotely until her resignation becomes effective at the end of the year. She then will receive a severance package that includes the equivalent of a year’s salary, $279,807, plus 140 hours of management leave and 12 months of COBRA payments to allow for continuation of her health insurance. Patel came to the city in April 2022 with 20 years of experience working at the City of Oakland, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and City of San Francisco. Her more than 21⁄2 years at the city of Tracy were marked by conflict with Mayor Nancy Young, leading to a San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report that, among other things, blamed Patel for delays in development and business projects and poor morale among city staff. The conflict came into the public spotlight in May 2023 when the council considered revisions to its Code of Conduct, which Young denounced as a policy document that would give the city attorney undue authority. That issue brought forth the council majority’s dissatisfaction with then-City Manager Michael Rogers, who would end up resigning. After the California State Bar declared Patel’s law license inactive for one month in July 2023, the council majority of Mayor Pro Tempore Eleassia Davis and council members Mateo Bedolla and Dan Evans continued to support her, approving a raise for her in December 2023 while Young and Arriola opposed the raise. Circumstances of that raise also led to two lawsuits against the city, the council majority in particular, but recent San Joaquin County Superior Court rulings in those cases have supported the city and Patel. Patel’s resignation comes as the council prepares to make a transition based on the results of the Nov. 5 election. Mayor Nancy Young is off of the council because of term limits, and Mayor Pro Tempore Eleassia Davis will be off of the council after an unsuccessful run for mayor. Steve Abercrombie and Dotty Nygard are the two leading candidates for council from Nov. 5, and Bedolla is likely to keep his seat on the council as the third-highest vote-getter as Arriola moves to the mayor’s seat. Despite the divisions and conflict over the past year-and-a-half, Patel and Young both made comments indicating they have reached a degree of reconciliation. “I hate that we have come to this place, and I do hope that you read the comments, at least from me, for this evaluation,” Young said, referring to the City Attorney’s performance evaluation discussed in closed session. “We’ve had our differences of approach and difference of opinion, definitely, throughout the time. I can say that in the past few months we have had a better working relationship and I do appreciate that and I do acknowledge that even in my review,” Young added. “I do wish you well in your endeavors. Even though it’s bittersweet I’m happy to be able to end on a better note than it could have been.” Patel agreed that they have put their conflicts behind them. “I do acknowledge that we have repaired our relationship in the past few weeks. It’s better to end on good note. I appreciate being able to leave on my own terms.” Davis, Evans and Bedolla, who have consistently supported Patel and praised her work on development agreements and other land-use matters, continued to offer words of support and encouragement while denouncing attacks against her. “I wanted to publicly thank you for your service to the city of Tracy,” Davis said. “I am disheartened that you are leaving, but I do understand. I do absolutely wish you the best of luck. I think you’re an outstanding attorney and I don’t think that this city did you any justice or favors, and I truly apologize as a member of this council and as a resident. You deserve better and I wish you the very best.” Evans added that he appreciated Patel’s experience as a development attorney. “You’ve got that background that really is perfect for this city. It’s what we need. It’s been invaluable, and the treatment that you’ve endured during your tenure at the city of Tracy, personally, it’s unforgivable and I’m very sorry that you’ve had to endure that.” In addition to conflicts at council meetings and the lawsuits, Patel was also subject to persistent online attacks through social media, as well as through mailers. “It’s difficult for me to even serve from this dais watching that happen. The city is losing somebody that endured that treatment to just do what’s right for this city,” Evans said. Bedolla added that Patel has contributed to progress on important city projects. “As part of a team we’ve had some really good successes in the past couple of years between the land for the aquatics center, the multigenerational rec center groundbreaking. I’ve seen things get done in this city that don’t necessarily match up with the narrative. I just want to sincerely thank you for your work.” Arriola’s comment was brief: “I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.” A statement from the City Manager’s office reads: “Over her tenure, she has played a vital role in improving legal processes and procedures, advancing the City's legal initiatives, and ensuring the protection of its interests.” During the closed session the council also conducted a performance review for City Manager Midori Lichtwardt. Young reported afterward that the council will consider an amended contract for Lichtwardt at its Dec. 3 meeting. • Contact Bob Brownne at brownne@tracypress.com , or call 209-830-4227.
Xylem Inc. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors