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Fashionistas descend on Telfar’s Soho flagship opening — waiting in line for hours to shop: ‘A memory to be created’By SARAH PARVINI, GARANCE BURKE and JESSE BEDAYN, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision. Related Articles The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden’s AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, “limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people “may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.
NoneEAST LANSING, Mich. — The sight was a common one for Andrew Kolpacki. For many a Sunday, he would watch NFL games on TV and see quarterbacks putting their hands on their helmets, desperately trying to hear the play call from the sideline or booth as tens of thousands of fans screamed at the tops of their lungs. When the NCAA's playing rules oversight committee this past spring approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season, Kolpacki, Michigan State's head football equipment manager, knew the Spartans' QBs and linebackers were going to have a problem. "There had to be some sort of solution," he said. As it turns out, there was. And it was right across the street. Kolpacki reached out to Tamara Reid Bush, a mechanical engineering professor who not only heads the school's Biomechanical Design Research Laboratory but also is a football season ticket-holder. People are also reading... Kolpacki "showed me some photos and said that other teams had just put duct tape inside the (earhole), and he asked me, 'Do you think we can do anything better than duct tape,?" Bush said. "And I said, 'Oh, absolutely.'" Bush and Rylie DuBois, a sophomore biosystems engineering major and undergraduate research assistant at the lab, set out to produce earhole inserts made from polylactic acid, a bio-based plastic, using a 3D printer. Part of the challenge was accounting for the earhole sizes and shapes that vary depending on helmet style. Once the season got underway with a Friday night home game against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30, the helmets of starting quarterback Aidan Chiles and linebacker Jordan Turner were outfitted with the inserts, which helped mitigate crowd noise. DuBois attended the game, sitting in the student section. "I felt such a strong sense of accomplishment and pride," DuBois said. "And I told all my friends around me about how I designed what they were wearing on the field." All told, Bush and DuBois have produced around 180 sets of the inserts, a number that grew in part due to the variety of helmet designs and colors that are available to be worn by Spartan players any given Saturday. Plus, the engineering folks have been fine-tuning their design throughout the season. Dozens of Bowl Subdivision programs are doing something similar. In many cases, they're getting 3D-printed earhole covers from XO Armor Technologies, which provides on-site, on-demand 3D printing of athletic wearables. The Auburn, Alabama-based company has donated its version of the earhole covers to the equipment managers of programs ranging from Georgia and Clemson to Boise State and Arizona State in the hope the schools would consider doing business with XO Armor in the future, said Jeff Klosterman, vice president of business development. XO Armor first was approached by the Houston Texans at the end of last season about creating something to assist quarterback C.J. Stroud in better hearing play calls delivered to his helmet during road games. XO Armor worked on a solution and had completed one when it received another inquiry: Ohio State, which had heard Michigan State was moving forward with helmet inserts, wondered if XO Armor had anything in the works. "We kind of just did this as a one-off favor to the Texans and honestly didn't forecast it becoming our viral moment in college football," Klosterman said. "We've now got about 60 teams across college football and the NFL wearing our sound-deadening earhole covers every weekend." The rules state that only one player for each team is permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field. For the Spartans, it's typically Chiles on offense and Turner on defense. Turner prefers to have an insert in both earholes, but Chiles has asked that the insert be used in only one on his helmet. Chiles "likes to be able to feel like he has some sort of outward exposure," Kolpacki said. Exposure is something the sophomore signal-caller from Long Beach, California, had in away games against Michigan and Oregon this season. Michigan Stadium welcomed 110,000-plus fans for the Oct. 26 matchup between the in-state rivals. And while just under 60,000 packed Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, for the Ducks' 31-10 win over Michigan State three weeks earlier, it was plenty loud. "The Big Ten has some pretty impressive venues," Kolpacki said. "It can be just deafening," he said. "That's what those fans are there for is to create havoc and make it difficult for coaches to get a play call off." Something that is a bit easier to handle thanks to Bush and her team. She called the inserts a "win-win-win" for everyone. "It's exciting for me to work with athletics and the football team," she said. "I think it's really exciting for our students as well to take what they've learned and develop and design something and see it being used and executed." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Netanyahu's office says his security Cabinet has approved ceasefire deal with HezbollahMid-American Conference football goes all in on November weeknights for the TV viewers
Superheroes can save the day, but when it comes to business, it may be a bit of a struggle. At Collected: Your Pop Culture Headquarters, a small business in southwest Fort Worth, owner Ron Killingsworth said his retail store has maintained its steady customers, although sales are down 15% from last year. Inflation — including rising prices of food and other necessities — has prompted customers to scale back on their discretionary purchases such as comic books and graphic novels. “You can’t really eat comics, so people have cut back on some items,” he said. “Traffic is still pretty steady, but sales are down quite a bit from last year.” The 13-year-old business at 2823 Alta Mere Drive is gearing up for Small Business Saturday, set for Nov. 30, with a slew of pre-holiday sales on new and vintage comics, action figures, games and other products intended to prompt customers to buy items as gifts for themselves and others. “We follow the retail trends of Black Friday sales and Small Business Saturday, so those do help us,” Killingsworth said. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. Comic books are still the No. 1 seller at Killingsworth’s store, which also buys collectible pop culture items. However, the sales decline has prompted him to carefully monitor his stock since the new comics he buys at wholesale are nonreturnable items. “We’re always buying but you only have so much shelf space, so we have to make smart choices,” he said. “You have to listen to your customers. You have to make sure you’re ordering for your customers and not yourself.” Killingsworth, 61, said he recently purchased several Golden Age comics — including The Marvel Family No. 36 , printed in 1949 — to add to his stock. Board game sales, which soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, are now down, but other items related to anime have brought in more female customers, as books and TV shows in that popular genre have created demand for mainstream audiences. Small Business Saturday, which started in 2010 to help local stores and restaurants recover from the Great Recession, has become a Thanksgiving weekend tradition. The U.S. Small Business Administration, which became a co-sponsor in 2011, said the special retail event has boosted holiday sales — totaling $17 billion in 2023 — for small businesses nationwide. Jeff Burdett, Texas state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said small businesses play a vital role in shaping and enriching local communities. “In addition to creating good-paying jobs and strengthening the local economy, small businesses shape our communities by volunteering their time and financially supporting charitable organizations,” Burdett said in a statement. “A recent NFIB report highlights how small business owners and their employees benefit their communities, beyond operating their business.” As the holiday retail season starts, he said, “I encourage all Texans to shop small, especially on Small Business Saturday, and thank a small business owner for how they enrich your community.” Fort Worth chambers of commerce also encourage residents to shop local on Nov. 30. “Small Business Saturday is more than just a day of shopping — it’s a celebration of the hard-working entrepreneurs who form the backbone of our local economy,” Anette Landeros, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said. “Small businesses create jobs, spark innovation and foster a sense of community that large retailers often cannot replicate.” “In Fort Worth, where our diverse small business community reflects our city’s unique culture and talent, supporting these enterprises means investing in our neighbors, friends and families, said Landeros, who will leave the Hispanic chamber Dec. 13 to become chief strategic officer of the Trinity Metro transit agency . “Small Business Saturday is a reminder to think local and to recognize that every customer plays a vital role in helping our small businesses thrive, not just during the holiday season but year-round.” Mia Moss, who recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of opening Black Coffee at 1417 Vaughn Blvd. in east Fort Worth, said Small Business Saturday helps shine a light on local businesses. “It has been great for Black Coffee because people go out of their way to support us by grabbing coffee before they shop with other local businesses or grab gifts with us for the coffee lover in the family,” Moss said. “This day lets people know that they have options and we love it!” For Killingsworth, adapting to economic trends is a priority for his pop culture business. That includes advertising and posting videos on social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook. “You just have to change, although it may not be what you planned,” he said. “You just want to keep going and adapt. For me, it is a fun industry.” Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org . News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Your support makes TWICE the impact today. As November draws to a close , time is running out to double your impact. Thanks to the generosity of the Nicholas Martin Jr. Family Foundation, every dollar you give will be matched—up to $15,000. Will you give today to help trusted, local reporting thrive in Fort Worth and Tarrant County? Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . 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You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Eric E. Garcia, Fort Worth Report November 23, 2024WREXHAM made it two home wins in the space of four days with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lincoln City in League One. James McClean's shot in the second half which went in off a Lincoln defender proved to be the difference between the sides as Phil Parkinson's men remain second in the table and unbeaten at The Racecourse. The Reds didn't play as well as they did in Saturday's 3-0 success against Exeter City but the result is all that matters. Wrexham, without a game this weekend, remain four points behind leaders Wycombe Wanderers. After his side produced a superb display against Exeter, Parkinson named an unchanged side against Lincoln. Wrexham saw a lot of the ball in the early exchanges and George Dobson headed wide from McClean's cross. Lincoln came more into the game and Reds' goalkeeper Callum Burton made a brilliant reflex save to keep out Paudie O'Connor's header from Sean Roughan's free-kick. Another Imps set-piece caused problems with Bailey Cadmarteri putting his effort wide. Wrexham came back into it and Ollie Palmer went down under Erik Ring's challenge in the area but no penalty was given. Lincoln had the upper hand and a low free-kick into the area was deflected just over the bar by a Wrexham player. There was a sight of goal for Wrexham when McClean, who found himself in a central position, crossed to the back-post but Palmer's shot went across goal. Jack Moylan fired wide on the turn for Lincoln and there was an even better chance for Wrexham when Lewis Brunt's header struck the top of the crossbar from McClean's free-kick just before the break. Palmer's header from Dobson's cross was saved by keeper George Wickens with the first opportunity of the second half but it was a subdued performance by the Reds. It got better as Palmer took a cross down and fired over and Wrexham took the lead in the 67th minute. Dobson picked out McClean in the area and his shot found the back of the net off defender Tendayi Darikwa. Palmer headed straight at Wickens from Barnett's cross but Lincoln weren't out of it. Jack Moylan and Jovon Makama both went close while Rob Street wasn't far away in added time before Barnett shot wide for Wrexham and one goal proved to be enough. Wrexham (3-5-2): Burton; Cleworth, O'Connell, Brunt; Barnett, Dobson, James (James 77), Rathbone (O’Connor 89), McClean; Lee (Mullin 73), Palmer. Subs not used: Howard, Scarr, Revon, Faal. Lincoln City (3-5-2): Wickens; Darikwa, O'Connor, Roughan; Ring (Hamilton 72), McGrandles (McKiernan 82), Erhahon, Moylan, Jefferies; Cadamarteri (Draper 72), Makama (Street 82). Subs not used: Pardington, Jackson, Duffy. Attendance: 11,786 (631 from Lincoln).
Baku: Countries agreed on Sunday to an annual finance target of $460 billion to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change, with rich countries leading the payments, according to a hard fought deal clinched at the COP29 conference in Baku. The new goal is intended to replace developed countries’ previous commitment to provide $150 billion per year in climate finance for poorer nations by 2020. That goal was met two years late, in 2022, and expires in 2025. Activists participate in a demonstration for climate finance at the COP29 UN Climate Summit. Credit: AP Countries also agreed on rules for a global market to buy and sell carbon credits that proponents say could mobilise billions more dollars into new projects to help fight global warming, from reforestation to deployment of clean energy technologies. On Saturday, negotiators went from one big room where everyone tried to hash out a deal together into several separate huddles of upset nations. More to come Reuters Get to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Climate crisis Azerbaijan United Nations Most Viewed in Environment LoadingFirst hermaphroditic ‘tahong’ found in PHL
DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLResidents in the communities who witnessed the accidental bombing of villagers in Sokoto state are still in shock and paid One of the survivor, revealed to the press how her mother, father and siblings were burnt to death While a resident in the area where the tragic incident occurred narrated what the villagers experienced before everything went up in flames, the Military has insisted its operation was carried out based on credible intelligence from multiple sources CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements Hours after the tragic airstrike in Sokoto state , a survivor has recounted the harrowing experience of watching her family perish in the ensuing inferno. Legit.ng recalls that a fighter jet targeted at Lakurawa terrorists reportedly killed many villagers and left several others injured in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa communities in the Silame local government area. Read also “The devastating airstrike": Atiku speaks on alleged killings of innocent by military in Sokoto But in an interview with BBC Hausa, the distraught woman, who pleaded anonymity, described how her father, mother, and four younger siblings were burnt to death during the airstrike. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! As reported by Vanguard on Thursday, December 26, through tears, she said: “I saw them burning—my mother, my father, and my three younger brothers.” Also narrating what happened to BBC, another resident identified simply as Usman Manuga, said: “After the Fajr (early morning) prayer, we noticed planes flying overhead. Moments later, bombs were dropped, and everything went up in flames.” Sokoto government speaks on military airstrike Legit.ng recalls that Governor Ahmad Aliyu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in an accidental airstrikes from the Nigerian Army in Sokoto state. Aliyu said he is in direct communication with the Nigerian Army to ensure a thorough investigation into the tragic incident. Read also Nigerian Air Force speaks on bombing of 2 Sokoto communities The governor said working together will help overcome this difficult moment and ensure that such tragedies do not happen again. The airstrike, allegedly carried out by a Nigerian military warplane, occurred on Tuesday morning, targeting suspected insurgents in the area. Read related article on Sokoto tragedy here: Nigerian military breaks silence on bombing civilians Sokoto tragedy: Atiku speaks Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Atiku Abubakar , the former vice president of Nigeria, condemned the alleged killing of innocent Nigerians by military airstrike. The former vice president wondered if the military learned from the Tudun Biri airstrike that killed over 80 villagers. However, the military, in its reaction, insisted that the strike targeted members of the Lakurawa terrorist group. 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
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Egypt’s Minister of State for Military Production, Mohamed Salah El-Din Mostafa, presided over a series of general assembly meetings for the ministry’s affiliated companies and units. Spanning three days, these meetings focused on reviewing financial statements for the fiscal year 2023/2024 and evaluating the performance of the associated entities. The discussions revealed impressive financial achievements, with revenue growth reaching 144% for FY 2023/2024, representing a 44% increase compared to the previous fiscal year. Key performance indicators reviewed included revenues from activities, net sales, completed production, finished goods inventory, employee statistics, wages, raw material usage, and overall financial summaries. Minister Mostafa stressed the importance of optimizing the technological capabilities, material resources, and human capital of these companies to further enhance performance and productivity. He urged company chairpersons to align their efforts, emphasizing collaboration, integration, and adherence to governance principles to ensure efficient management of the Ministry’s assets. Cost optimization and proactive measures against potential encroachments were highlighted as priorities. Accelerating the development of ongoing projects was another focus, with a call to adhere strictly to project timelines to maximize returns and bolster contributions to the national economy. The minister also underscored the importance of meeting contract obligations promptly while maintaining the high quality expected of the Ministry of Military Production. Acknowledging the global economic challenges stemming from rising energy and food prices, along with disrupted supply chains, Mostafa noted their impact on economic recovery efforts. However, he emphasized the Egyptian government’s commitment to stabilizing labour markets, mitigating adverse effects, and supporting affected sectors and citizens. As part of its strategic goals, the Ministry of Military Production is advancing the localization of advanced manufacturing technologies within its affiliated companies. This effort aims to increase local components in products, conserve foreign currency, and reduce reliance on imports, reinforcing the Ministry’s position as a key contributor to the national economy.UCF will attempt to shake off a dreadful offensive performance when it collides with LSU on Sunday afternoon in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Knights (4-1) couldn't get anything going against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, going 21-for-62 from the field (33.9 percent) and just 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.8 percent) en route to an 86-70 loss. Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with 13 points while Keyshawn Hall and Dior Johnson added 11 apiece for UCF, which never led and fell behind by as many as 23. Knights coach Johnny Dawkins is hoping that his team's struggles don't carry over into the meeting with the Tigers (4-1). "We have to do better offensively," Dawkins said. "We have to space the floor better. We have to balance our offense between our perimeter and our bigs. Those are things that we didn't do consistently (on Friday)." LSU also needs to clean things up after committing 15 turnovers in a 74-63 setback against Pitt on Friday. Tigers forward Jalen Reed doesn't believe giving the ball away will be a lingering issue. "I feel like a lot of our turnovers were more on us than them," Reed said. "I feel like a lot of the turnovers were careless, but we're a better team than that and I feel like we'll take care of the ball better moving forward." Reed and Vyctorius Miller each posted 14 points in the loss to the Panthers, with Reed also hauling in seven rebounds. Cam Carter chipped in 11 points. Carter is putting up a team-leading 16.4 points per game. Jordan Sears (12.0 points per game), Reed (11.0) and Miller (10.2) also have scoring averages in double figures. Ivy-Curry (16.8 points per game), Hall (16.2) and Darius Johnson (13.0) have been leading the way for UCF. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between the Knights and Tigers. --Field Level MediaMid-American Conference football goes all in on November weeknights for the TV viewers
Big Ten slate features Indiana-Ohio State showdown and Penn State-Minnesota matchup Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP ) at No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 6-1, No. 2 CFP), Saturday, noon ET (Fox) This marks the 98th matchup between these two teams, but it's only the fourth time both teams have been ranked. Although Indiana is unbeaten, its soft schedule means the Hoosiers aren't assured of making the 12-team field if they lose this game. The only team with a winning record that Indiana has beaten is Washington (6-5). Ohio State needs a win to have a realistic shot at a rematch with top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State has beaten Indiana 28 straight times since the Hoosiers posted back-to-back victories in 1987-88. No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1, No. 4 CFP) at Minnesota (6-4, 4-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) This is likely Penn State's biggest obstacle on its way to a potential playoff berth. The Nittany Lions' lone remaining regular-season game is a Nov. 30 home matchup with Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Minnesota has had an extra week to prepare this game since its 26-19 loss at Rutgers on Nov. 9, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Penn State and Minnesota have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. Penn State DE Abdul Carter has multiple tackles for loss in each of his last three games. He ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision players in tackles for loss (17 1⁄2). Southern California RB Woody Marks rushed for a career-high 146 yards in a 28-20 win over Nebraska. Marks has six 100-yard rushing performances this season. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Ray Rice did it three straight years from 2005-07. Monangai has run for 1,028 yards this season and rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei recorded a sack and had a game-clinching interception as the top-ranked Ducks won 16-13 at Wisconsin last week. He has 8 1⁄2 sacks this season to rank second in the Big Ten. Four of the top seven Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passer rating are from the Big Ten. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke is second, Ohio State's Will Howard is third, Penn State's Drew Allar is fifth and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel is seventh. ... Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. The only Power Four quarterback with a better touchdown/interception ratio while throwing at least 10 touchdown passes is Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who has 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Rutgers' three Big Ten wins matches its largest total since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers also had three conference wins in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. A victory Saturday over No. 24 Illinois would give Rutgers three straight Big Ten wins for the first time. ... Washington's 31-19 win over UCLA was its 20th straight home victory, representing its second-longest such streak in school history. The Huskies won 45 straight home games from 1908-17. ... Wisconsin heads to Nebraska this week having won its last 10 matchups with the Cornhuskers. Penn State justifiably is favored on the road against Minnesota, but Bet MGM's 12 1⁄2-point spread seems way too big. Expect this game to have a single-digit margin.
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The Ajyal Film Festival 2024, organised by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), continues its activities with an array of filmmakers sharing their cinematic journeys and stories behind their works. On this occasion, the DFI organised a press meeting with Oscar-nominated photographer and filmmaker Misan Harriman, and Jianjie Lin, the director of the film *Brief History of a Family. "I've never heard of a major film festival opening with a film about Sudan, where the world witnesses the largest loss of lives," says Harriman. "That Ajyal recognised it by opening with *Sudan, Remember Us, to me is an extremely revolutionary moment." He was further moved by the fact that Ajyal 2024 was bringing *From Ground Zero, set against the backdrop of the ongoing war on Palestine, with 22 short films created by filmmakers from Gaza. "I have many colleagues in Gaza, some of them no more, and to see the reality of what is happening reflected in real-time in this way is crucial,” he added. An ambassador for Save the Children, Harriman said that the films at Ajyal reflect the reality of Palestinian children, adding that the event's ethos intersects with his own commitments from documenting the hunger crisis in north Africa to the migrant crisis in Sicily. The founder of “What We See”, Harriman said it has evolved as a “web 3” phenomenon, and he is leveraging the platform to integrate technology and culture to create a level playing field that helps the vulnerable. Through his work as a photographer and filmmaker, Harriman challenges conventional narratives and advocates for social change. "When there is injustice, I turn my lens to that," he said. Harriman, whose journey as a photographer began at age 40 when he was gifted a camera by his wife, is today one of the most influential voices in contemporary photography. His work gained global recognition during the Black Lives Matter protests, where his powerful images captured the raw emotion and humanity of the movement. "I was shooting my own trauma," Harriman said. "I see the invisible scars in the people I photograph and it feels like taking their pain and holding it." "When I'm shooting something I love, it's not just about the highlights and shadows," he added. "As the great photographer Robert Frank said, 'The eye should learn to listen'. Throughout my life, my eye has learned to listen deeply." From shooting a British *Vogue cover to his Oscar nomination for *The After, his short film about grief and healing, Harriman's work focuses on underrepresented voices and stories. "I could have just been the guy who shot the *Vogue cover, going from yacht to castle to party," he said. "But I didn't want my daughters growing up with a father who only chased fame and fortune. I shot heroes who risked everything to bring change." Harriman shares Ajyal's mission of nurturing meaningful dialogue through art. "We have to decide to decolonise our minds and look for the truth,” he said. “In today's world, simply telling the truth has become a revolutionary act." Jianjie Lin, the director of *Brief History of a Family (China, France, Denmark, Qatar), shared the view that human concepts are global. "This is my first feature and it observes the familial structure and how it reacts to social change,” he said. “The movie addresses the one-child policy and how it affected middle-class families who are figuring out their new life with the anxiety of losing everything.” “It also talks about the individual's identity versus what parents may impose on their children,” he added. Lin said that what makes Ajyal special is how it includes young people in the conversation, adding that the support by the DFI helped him reach global audiences, with members of the team he worked with coming from different backgrounds. – QNA Related Story Powerful lineup at Ajyal Monday 'Voices from Palestine' at Ajyal 2024Skyro, a financial technology firm, has launched its buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) financing and flexible loan as a growing number of Filipinos find ways to cope with inflation and the impacts of recent typhoons. "With high inflation and the typhoons we have experienced, consumers may have money to spend now, but who knows if the money will still be there in the future?" Skyro head for point-of-sale system Lowen Medina said. Skyro's BNPL and flexible loans are available on its app, making financial services accessible to Filipinos nationwide. Through its partnership with Paynamics, Skyro also connects consumers with over 4,000 merchants, including e-commerce websites, hotels, airlines and insurance companies. Medina said Skyro offers zero to low interest rates and adjustable payment periods. "They can go to the app and adjust their monthly amortization and due date. In this way, we ensure that they will still be able to pay their loans based on the payment term they have selected," he said. Vision “Our vision is for Filipinos to enjoy a life they’ve always dreamed of. Now we’re slowly making that happen through our partnership with Paynamics, allowing its online merchants to offer our flexible financial lending solutions," Medina continued. Using Skyro's own artificial intelligence and data analysis system, Medina said loan applications can be approved in as fast as two seconds up to five minutes. He added that Skyro registered a high approval probability rate, with 80 percent of all loan applications usually approved. "Together, we bring stronger cash flow to businesses while offering customers flexible payment options and terms, fostering a more inclusive and digitally empowered economy," Paynamics co-founder and chief executive officer Mylene Chua-Magleo said.