On this special occasion, let us all take a moment to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Lang Ping, a true national idol and a symbol of pride for China. May her birthday be filled with joy, love, and happiness, and may she continue to inspire future generations with her unwavering spirit and unparalleled dedication to excellence.The transformation of the A2 factory's 5.5 generation line into a micro OLED production facility will likely involve significant investments in research, development, and manufacturing capabilities. Samsung's renowned expertise in OLED technology, coupled with its resources and infrastructure, positions the company as a formidable player in the micro OLED display market.Modi’s party wins Maharashtra state polls, loses Jharkhand
3. Exposure to Environmental Carcinogens:The process of gathering such detailed information in just two hours was no easy feat, and it speaks volumes about the dedication and efficiency of the volunteers involved. Their commitment to helping those in need, even in the face of tight deadlines and challenging circumstances, is truly commendable. The volunteer who spearheaded this effort not only showed exceptional organizational skills but also displayed a deep sense of empathy and understanding towards the student's situation.
Overthinking what you said? It's your 'lizard brain' talking to newer, advanced parts of your brainThe controversy began when rumors started circulating among the residents that the house, previously owned by a wealthy businessman who met a tragic end, was haunted by his vengeful spirit. Despite Qiong Yao's insistence that she did not believe in such superstitions and was drawn to the property for its architectural charm and serene surroundings, neighbors have continued to express their concerns.
In a shocking turn of events, Manchester United have reportedly decided to offload their star player in order to make way for a high-profile striker signing. The club's management has been rumored to be willing to go to great lengths to secure the services of a top striker, even if it means parting ways with their current key player.
Donald Trump picks border patrol chief ousted by Joe Biden as new customs leaderSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite vehement protests by governing party lawmakers, further deepening the country’s political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. Han’s impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him. The court is already reviewing whether to uphold Yoon’s earlier impeachment. The impeachments of the country’s top two officials worsened its political turmoil, deepened economic uncertainties and hurt its international image. The single-chamber National Assembly passed Han’s impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote. Lawmakers with the governing People Power Party boycotted the vote and surrounded the podium where assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik was seated, shouting that the vote was invalid and demanding Woo’s resignation. No violence or injuries were reported. The PPP lawmakers protested after Woo called for a vote on Han’s impeachment motion after announcing its passage required a simple majority in the 300-member assembly, not a two-thirds majority as claimed by the PPP. In a statement, Han said his impeachment was regrettable but added that he respects the assembly’s decision and will suspend his duties to “not add to additional confusion and uncertainty.” He said he will wait for “a swift, wise decision” by the Constitutional Court. The deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, took over. Later Friday, Choi’s office said he instructed the military to boost its readiness to help prevent North Korea from miscalculating the situation and launching provocations. He also told the foreign ministry to inform the United States, Japan and other major partners that South Korea’s foreign policies remain unchanged. Han, who was appointed prime minister by Yoon, became acting president after the National Assembly impeached Yoon, a conservative, about two weeks ago over his short-lived Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
S&P/TSX composite, U.S. markets end the trading day lower FridayIn conclusion, Tyronn Lue's decision to decline the Lakers' offer due to a lack of respect highlights the importance of upholding principles of dignity and fairness in professional sports. As a highly respected coach in the league, Lue's stance serves as a reminder of the value of self-worth and integrity in the face of challenging circumstances. It is a call to action for organizations to prioritize respect and fairness in their dealings with employees, ultimately creating a stronger and more supportive environment for all involved.The clock may have finally wound down for TikTok after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Friday that Congress has the power to ban the popular social media app if it fails to shed its Chinese ownership. The judges dismissed the First Amendment challenge that was brought by TikTok and many of its highest-profile users, who argued the ban was unconstitutional. "The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States. Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States," wrote Judge Douglas Ginsburg. Sell-or-Ban—No Other Option The sell-or-ban law was signed by President Joe Biden in April, after receiving bipartisan support from lawmakers—including many who received classified briefings from the U.S. intelligence community. Critics of Friday's ruling were quick to call for the Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals ruling. "This law threatens the free speech rights of our client and millions of other Americans who use TikTok to share and hear political ideas," said Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, which filed a lawsuit to challenge the TikTok ban in June. "To protect their rights, we'll ask the court to stay its decision until we seek Supreme Court review and receive a final decision," Huerbert added. Not Over Until It's Over While the company has until January 19, 2025, to either be sold or be banned—there are still possible lifelines available for TikTok. "One is the Supreme Court, which doesn't have to accept the case but could," explained social media analyst Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media. It is a long shot, as the high court may opt not to hear the case. Yet, even if the case is heard, it doesn't mean SCOTUS would rule in favor of TikTok, especially as lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have pushed for the ban. "It's unlikely to say that the First Amendment outweighs U.S. national security interests, especially in the wake of the recent Chinese 'Salt Typhoon' hacking incident ," said Sterling, who added the other lifeline could come from the incoming administration. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump had actually tried to ban TikTok, only to see the Biden administration overturn it. It is possible the same could play out again, just with the roles reversed. Trump has said he no longer supports a ban . "Although the ban is scheduled to take effect before he's inaugurated, Trump could push Congress to repeal the ban," added Sterling. "It's not clear whether that would be successful because of divisions within the Republican Party on TikTok." Are The Security Concerns Valid? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have warned of the potential danger that the app presents as it could share user data with China, yet, some critics of the law say TikTok is just part of a much larger and more serious issue of how social media companies have access to the personal data of users. "The U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on TikTok highlights critical issues in mobile app security, API vulnerabilities, and the overarching role of big technology companies in app ecosystems dominated by Apple and Google," said Ted Morocco, CEO of cybersecurity provider Approov. "While the TikTok ban focuses on national security risks due to foreign ownership, the conversation must expand to address systemic flaws in app distribution and privacy regulation," Morocco added. "The lack of a federal data privacy framework in the U.S. exacerbates the issue, allowing platform owners to set their opaque policies." The cybersecurity expert added that the current policies enable practices that prioritize profit over user protection, including permissive data harvesting and inadequate penalties for privacy violations. "A clear, enforceable policy would mitigate these risks, especially for minors, who are disproportionately targeted by app-based surveillance and manipulative algorithms," explained Morocco, who said similar scrutiny should apply to all apps, regardless of their origin. TikTok's ban is largely justified by concerns over data flowing to a foreign adversary, even as American companies don't operate all that differently in how they gather customer data. "U.S.-based companies like Meta and Amazon have also faced allegations of privacy abuses," said Morocco. "A robust framework would ensure equal accountability and provide mechanisms for imposing meaningful penalties globally." TikTok's case simply serves as a microcosm of broader issues within cybersecurity, and how users are largely oblivious to how their data may be used. This ruling could address some national security concerns, but Morocco said a more comprehensive and transparent approach is needed to tackle the structural problems of app ecosystems. "Only by prioritizing security, transparency, and accountability, can the U.S. safeguard its citizens," he continued. Where Does This Leave TikTok Users? There is now less than a month and a half until TikTok could be banned in the U.S., and those who have large followings may need to look to other platforms . "If TikTok is shut down, which would be highly disruptive for many creators and users, Instagram is the most likely place that both groups would turn," said Sterling. "Instagram Reels is essentially a TikTok clone. But they could move to other networks as well. Bluesky is a possibility but I would be surprised if people moved over there vs. Instagram."
As fans eagerly await news of Puig's future, one thing is clear: the football world has not heard the last of this rising star. With his eyes set on even greater achievements, Puig is poised to make a lasting impact on the sport for years to come. Watch this space, because the best is yet to come from the 25-year-old sensation known as Puig.Modi’s party wins Maharashtra state polls, loses JharkhandFurthermore, financial literacy and education have become crucial tools for navigating the complex and ever-changing financial landscape. Individuals are increasingly seeking guidance from financial advisors, attending workshops and seminars on investing and wealth management, and leveraging online resources to enhance their understanding of personal finance. By taking control of their financial futures and arming themselves with knowledge and skills, individuals can adapt to the evolving economic realities and secure their long-term financial well-being.Gus Malzahn is leaving UCF to become Florida State's offensive coordinator, AP source says
Tencent Video's decision to limit the number of devices for member login is a step in the right direction. By restricting the simultaneous logins, they are encouraging users to maintain their own individual accounts and discouraging the unauthorized sharing of login information. This move is likely to have a positive impact on both the platform and its users. Users will benefit from a more secure and personalized experience, while Tencent Video will see an increase in subscription revenues and user engagement.Congress slams government, says "stagnant wages" key cause of lower GDP growth in July-September quarter
Let’s take out the crystal ball and see what’s in store for property prices. Nationally, they continue to creep higher – they’re up a very respectable 6.7 per cent this year. Yet it’s also clear that the market is losing steam, especially in the tinsel-towns of Sydney and Melbourne, where there are currently more homes for sale than at any time in the past five years. Why? “Owners struggling with mortgages at the moment are thinking, ‘I’d better get out and take advantage of relatively high prices’,” AMP chief economist Shane Oliver was quoted in the news as saying. I think that makes sense. But hold your handbags! Another expert, Louis Christopher from SQM Research, predicted this week that prices could boom 10 per cent nationally next year if we get a rate cut (or two) early next year. I also think that makes sense (especially in Perth and Brisbane, where there’s a lack of supply). So the question then becomes: how likely is it that homeowners will get some ‘relief’ from high rates? Well, in January economists were almost unanimous that we’d get a rate cut this year. Didn’t happen. And now they’re equally unanimous that we’ll get rate cuts next year. Tik. Tok. Perhaps that’s why Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers describes current interest rates as being “stubbornly high”. Interesting. So Jim is suggesting that interest rates are behaving much like my three-year-old does when I won’t buy him a Big M at the local Romsey IGA. He collapses on the floor and starts howling like a wolf, and then goes limp as a jellyfish when I try to pick him up. Now that is stubborn. So, let’s zoom out and take a look at the historical chart. Australia’s official interest rate is well below historical highs. From this perspective, current rates don’t look ‘stubborn’ – or particularly high – to me. The truth is that interest rates movements are as unpredictable as my three-year-old. (Just ask the former Reserve Bank Governer Philip Lowe, who famously shanked his ‘lower for longer’ forecast ... despite the fact that he was the one who set the rates!). Look, despite the crazy amount of airtime we give economists and experts, history has proven that they’re actually no better at picking the longer-term movements of interest rates than a dart-throwing monkey. So here’s my advice: Don’t be stubborn, and don’t listen to experts (including me!). If you’re making buying or selling decisions, you need to deal with the facts in front of you. And that goes for you too, Jim. I know you’re hanging out for a 10% pop in prices before the election in May, but you can’t count on it! Tread Your Own Path! I Can’t Sleep. I Can’t Eat. I’m a Walking, Shaking Mess. Hi Scott, I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I’m a walking, shaking mess. We put our home up for sale in the first week of March for $1.25 million, on the advice of our agent. (At the time I thought it was on the high side, but I didn’t say anything.) It’s been eight months now and we haven’t got a single offer! Our agent has gone missing in action, and we don’t even have open-for-inspections anymore. My husband, on the other hand, is cool as a cucumber. He’s sure someone will come along and buy it. I’m climbing the walls, not just because we’re up for thousands of dollars in selling costs regardless of whether we sell or not (!), but because we’re stuck in limbo. I want to move interstate to start our new life (and my new job!) but we can’t do anything until this bloody place is sold. What should we do? Wendy Hi Wendy I can feel your stress through my computer screen! My wife says that I am too blunt, but she’s currently overseas, so I’m going to say what I damn well please: Your asking price is too high. If you haven’t sold your home within six weeks of listing (let alone eight months!) you have one of three options: First, you can take it off the market and wait till prices recover. Second, you can rent it out for a period of time. Third, you can meet with your agent and discuss aggressively lowering the price so you can attract a number of bidders, and let them sort out what the market value is. Which one does your head tell you is the best option? Remember, it’s very likely you’ll be buying and selling in the same market. In other words, if you sell your home for less than you expect, chances are you’ll buy your next home for less than you expect. The stress you’re feeling comes from a lack of control. Waiting and hoping isn’t a strategy that will work in this market. You need to take action! Good luck! Interest rates and other housing issues can dial up stress levels. Picture: iStock Too Much Temu Hi Scott, I’ve just been clearing out my mother’s motor home and storage shed after she passed away. She had SO many (UNOPENED) packets with random labels, apparently all from Temu. Checking her Temu account, she had spent over $1000 in the last five months! Alex Hi Alex As I wrote last week, Temu has turned shopping into gambling: it’s so cheap you’re willing to take a punt on whether you’ll actually use it or not (and besides, you only need to buy a few more things to qualify for free shipping, or discounts, or both). I also think they’ve tapped into the inner six-year-old in all of us: who doesn’t love the rush of waking up on Christmas morning and seeing all the presents Temu Santa has left for us? The problem that you’ve nailed with your mum is that it’s mostly just stocking-filler rubbish that you’ll discard by New Year. What Is Wonder Woman Worth? Scott, I’m wondering what your thoughts are around the hourly rate for a stay-at-home parent? I am unable to go back to work while we have young kids at home, one of whom has a chronic illness. My wonderful partner is supporting the family on his income. Although being the main caregiver is one of life’s most important jobs, it is seriously undervalued and underpaid. If I were to get paid a wage, what would it be? Wonder Woman (aka a mum) Hi Wonder Woman, My wife Liz left me last week. She’s flown to Europe to produce a documentary for the next three weeks (“or so”). In the lead-up to her departure she sat me down and took me through what I call ‘Liz-gistics’: It’s an actual spreadsheet that tracks the movements of our four kids. When I put all their activities into my calendar it honestly looks like a failed game of Tetris. The next few weeks are absolutely terrifying. So, how much is a stay-at-home parent worth? Well, I went looking and found a study by salary.com which calculated that stay-at-home mums work a whopping 96 hours a week, and therefore it says they should earn at least $230,000 a year. Yet that all sounds kinda clickbaity and not particularly useful. Scott Pape says household income should be shared. Picture: Jason Edwards Look, the home is not a workplace. If it were, I’d have taken my three-year-old to HR for verbal bullying, harassment and workplace assault after he threw his Vegemite toast at me because I mistakenly cut it into squares rather than halves. My simple answer to your question is that you and your partner should share the money that comes into the family, based on the family money buckets you’ve set up. However, and this is important, part of that set-up should include individual Splurge buckets: a set amount that you can enjoy without judgement or guilt from the other. Oh, and you should also have a family Smile bucket so you can jointly save up for things that you’ll enjoy as a family. Working together is how you win. DISCLAIMER: Information and opinions provided in this column are general in nature and have been prepared for educational purposes only. Always seek personal financial advice tailored to your specific needs before making financial and investment decisions. More Coverage Don’t spend $85k on two degrees that won’t get you a job SCOTT PAPE Scott Pape’s 13 top tips for saving money Scott Pape Barefoot Investor Don't miss out on the headlines from Barefoot Investor. Followed categories will be added to My News. Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Barefoot Investor ‘Adulting sucks’: when to contact your bank for mortgage help A young couple is ready to pull the ripcord just three months after getting their mortgage because they can’t get their expenses under control. Here’s what Barefoot Investor suggests they do. Read more Barefoot Investor Warren Buffett sounds the alarm for investors Donald Trump believes we are entering a ‘golden age’ of investment returns but legendary stock picker Warren Buffett is screaming ‘SELL’. So who’s Barefoot Investor backing? Read moreNFL fines Seahawks CB Coby Bryant $6,594 for Marshawn Lynch tribute after pick-6 vs. Cardinals - Yahoo Sports
LAHORE - Defending championsPakistan Wapda and Pakistan Army advanced to the semifinals of the National Women’s Basketball Championship here at the Wapda Sports Complex. Wapda, wearing white shirts, remained unbeaten in the championship, continuing their streak of consecutive victories in the pool round by defeating Faisalabad 50-13. This win secured their spot in the semifinals.In this match, Faisalabad struggled against the defending champions. Wapda led by 19 points at halftime, which increased to a 40-point advantage by the end of the game. Hijab Fatim was the standout player for Wapda, scoring 22 points, while Sidra Hakeem added 12 points. For Faisalabad, Feroza Aslam scored 9 points. In the second match, Pakistan Army defeated Islamabad by 53-21. Aisha Dilshad and Amna Mohsin were the top scorers for Pakistan Army, with 25 and 10 points, respectively. The top eight teams participating in the five-day championship including Wapda, Karachi, Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Pakistan Army, Lahore, Hazara, and Faisalabad. Death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto observed Tags: army wapda national womenAs the countdown to the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards begins, all eyes are on the nominees and the anticipation builds for what promises to be a star-studded and unforgettable event. With a mix of established stars and emerging talent vying for the top honors, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. Fans of the nominees are gearing up to show their support and tune in to see who will emerge victorious on the big night.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A person familiar with the details called it a “positive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said topics included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine, NATO, China and pipelines, as well as the the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year. Although Trump once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest” during his first term, ties between the two countries have remained among the closest in the world. Trudeau is the first leader from the G7 countries to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser, and the three men’s wives. Also at the dinner were David McCormick, just elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and his wife, Dina Powell, a former deputy national security adviser under Trump, as well as Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff. https://x.com/DaveMcCormickPA/status/1862716986629005758?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet McCormick posted a photo on X of the group seated at a round table on the patio of Mar-a-Lago. At the table behind the president-elect a boy can be seen mugging for the camera. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday. Trudeau said earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs issue by talking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday after speaking with Trump that she is confident a tariff war with the United States will be averted. “We’re going to work together to meet some of the concerns,” Trudeau told reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “But ultimately it is through lots of real constructive conversations with President Trump that I am going to have, that will keep us moving forward on the right track for all Canadians.” Trudeau said Trump got elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now he’s talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products including potatoes from Prince Edward Island. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully re-negotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. “We can work together as we did previously,” Trudeau said. Trump made the tariff threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at the Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border are few in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after he made his social media posts on the border. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official told The Associated Press this week. A government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. “Canada has reason to fear because Trump is impulsive, often influenced by the last thing he sees on Fox News,” said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. “He can leverage that by catering to what he thinks will sound and look good to the public rather than to what happens or will happen.”
Lang Ping's journey to becoming a national idol began in the 1980s, when she was a key player in the Chinese women’s volleyball team that won the gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Her powerful spikes, graceful demeanor, and leadership skills earned her the nickname "Iron Hammer", symbolizing her unstoppable force both on and off the court. After retiring as a player, Lang Ping transitioned to coaching, where she continued to make history by leading the Chinese women’s volleyball team to numerous victories, including gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016.