WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Xavier Bell had 29 points in Wichita State's 87-72 victory over Friends University on Sunday. Bell shot 11 of 16 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Shockers (10-3). Quincy Ballard added 17 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Corey Washington totaled 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Collin Maclin finished with 18 points for the Falcons. Cahlese Lee added 11 points and two steals. Randy Woolf Jr. recorded 10 points, five assists and two steals. Wichita State took the lead with 8:30 left in the first half and never looked back. Bell led his team in scoring with 21 points in the first half to help put them up 45-36 at the break. Wichita State pulled away with a 12-1 run in the second half to extend a nine-point lead to 20. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Ilya Samsonov turned aside 31 shots for his 14th career shutout and Tanner Pearson had a goal and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights extended their season-best winning streak to six games with a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday night in Las Vegas. It was Samsonov's first shutout with the Golden Knights and marked his sixth win in his past seven starts. Brett Howden and Victor Olofsson also scored goals and Shea Theodore added two assists for Pacific Division-leading Vegas, which improved to an NHL-best 15-3-0 at home. The Golden Knights also moved into a tie with the Winnipeg Jets for the NHL lead in points with 53. Dan Vladar stopped 34 of 36 shots for Calgary, which had a five-game point streak (3-0-2) come to an end. The Flames were playing the second game of a back-to-back that began 22 hours earlier with a 3-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks. Vegas, which scored two short-handed goals in a 23-second span in the third period of a 6-3 comeback win over San Jose on Friday, came up big again on special teams on Sunday during a scoreless first period, killing off a five-on-three power play by the Flames. Meanwhile, Vladar, who yielded five goals on 38 shots in a 5-0 loss to the Golden Knights on Oct. 28, turned aside the first 23 shots he faced, including a handful of close, grade-A chances. Howden finally ended the scoreless duel with 4:01 left in the second period when he redirected Alex Pietrangelo's shot from the high slot over Vladar's right shoulder for his 15th goal of the season, moving him into a tie with the injured Ivan Barbashev for the team lead. Olofsson made it 2-0 at the 14:41 mark of the third period with a power-play goal, one-timing a Theodore pass from the middle of the right circle into the top far corner of the net for his eighth goal of the campaign. The Flames pulled Vladar for an extra attacker with about 2 1/2 minutes remaining, and Pearson sealed the win with an empty-netter with 6.7 seconds to go. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
Elon Musk , in an X post, has backed Suchir Balaji’s mother Poornima Ramarao’s claims about foul play in her son’s death. The former employee of ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment. A month prior to his death, he accused the artificial intelligence company of violating copyright law. A medical officer ruled his death as suicide and the San Francisco police said, there are “no evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” However, the 26-year-old Indian-origin techie’s mother has called for an FBI investigation, casting doubts on the police’s conclusion that her son’s death was a suicide. Also Read: Indian-origin OpenAI whistleblower's mother breaks silence on Suchir Balaji's death: 'Doesn't look normal' “We hired private investigator and did second autopsy to throw light on cause of death. Private autopsy doesn’t confirm cause of death stated by police,” reads a post shared on the profile of X user Poornima Ramarao. “Suchir’s apartment was ransacked , sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like some one hit him in bathroom based on blood spots. It’s a cold blooded mu*d*r declared by authorities as suicide,” the post further says. Elon Musk reacted to the post and wrote, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.” “He felt AI is a harm to humanity,” in an earlier interview, Balaji’s mother recalled how her son’s optimism for AI turned into scepticism. What OpenAI Whistleblower Suchir Balaji accused the company of: In an interview with the New York Times in October, Suchir Bajaji accused OpenAI of using copyrighted data, claiming that it violated the law. He also told the outlet that “technologies like ChatGPT were damaging the internet.” Also Read: Rohan Mirchandani, Epigamia co-founder, dies after suffering cardiac arrest at 42: report The techie who worked for nearly four years as an artificial intelligence researcher at OpenAI left his job because he didn’t want to contribute to a technology he believed would harm society more than benefit. “If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company,” he said.
Diljit Dosanjh dedicated his Guwahati concert on Sunday night to ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh and delivered a heartfelt tribute from the stage. The singer praised the life of the celebrated economist and highlighted that many valuable lessons can be learnt from his journey. New Delhi: Diljit Dosanjh had a blockbuster 2024. With concerts spanning the globe, the 40-year-old Punjabi sensation captured the hearts of music lovers worldwide with his electrifying performances. During his Guwahati show on Sunday night (December 29, 2024), the Jatt & Juliet star paid a moving tribute to former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. From the stage, Dosanjh expressed that there are many valuable life lessons to be learnt from Singh’s life. He added that the late leader led an exceptionally simple life. Dosanjh further said that Singh never answered back or spoke ill of anyone, even though pursuing such a trait is extremely difficult in the world of politics. He also dedicated his concert in the Assamese city to the celebrated economist. Have a look: The heartfelt video of Dosanjh’s tribute has now gone viral on Instagram, garnering over 60 lakh views. The short clip is receiving immense praise from netizens in the form of likes and shares. “He completely changed India’s growth trajectory! Rest in power, Sir!” commented one social media user. Another wrote, “He wasn’t a politician; he was a humanitarian in political positions. He showed the nation the power of silent yet ambitious actions – those are the ones that truly matter. He demonstrated to the world what it means to be an Indian in today’s world. He’s and will always be incomparable.” Manmohan Singh death For the unversed, Singh breathed his last at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday (December 26, 2024) following age-related complications at the age of 92. His ashes were immersed in the Yamuna River near the Majnu Ka Tila Gurdwara on Sunday (December 29, 2024). Click for more latest Celebrity news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Raghav Jaitly is a seasoned digital journalist with over 10 years of experience. Over the course of his career, he has worked with some of the largest news outlets in India, including Times Internet, Zee News, News18, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, Bhaskar Digital, and Jagran Group. With an extensive portfolio, Raghav covers a variety of beats, from Entertainment and Politics to Tech and Sports. In the digital journalism landscape, Raghav Jaitly has established himself as a driving force with a track record of successful storytelling. Latest News
After delay, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s tax shift plan clears the House, advances to SenateShares of Vesper Healthcare Acquisition Corp. ( OTCMKTS:VSPRU – Get Free Report ) traded down 2.2% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $13.83 and last traded at $14.00. 4,200 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 24,185 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.31. Vesper Healthcare Acquisition Price Performance The company’s 50-day moving average price is $14.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.00. Vesper Healthcare Acquisition Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Vesper Healthcare Acquisition Corp. does not have significant operations. It focuses on effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Miami Beach, Florida. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Vesper Healthcare Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vesper Healthcare Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upwardLAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Labour plans to make spiking a specific offence and has laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking, with a pilot to begin within weeks before a wider rollout next year. Ms Davies-Jones, asked about why it was worthwhile to make spiking a new offence when it is already illegal, said: “Spiking is a crime already. “A lot of people don’t realise that it is a crime already, which is part of the problem.” She said there were around 6,000 reports of spiking last year but that because it is an underreported crime, it is not clear how big of a problem it is. 'Legislation won't fix this on its own...this is about a culture shift' @SophyRidgeSky challenges Minister for Victims @AlexDaviesJones on the govt plan to change the spiking law even though it is already a criminal offence. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/Zb65c6KnOM — Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) November 25, 2024 “Part of the problem we’ve got is around the data collection, so you don’t know if you’ve been spiked with a drink, a needle, a vape, for example,” she told Politics Hub on Sky News. Modernising the offence and giving police the tools to get accurate data allows a clearer picture of where, how and how often spiking is happening, she said. It is about “clarifying it, modernising it, making sure that people know exactly what this is...the law isn’t quite, it isn’t up to date. “It isn’t modern enough.” Sir Keir Starmer earlier said he hopes the change will give people “the confidence to come forward”, in a meeting of police bosses, transport figures and hospitality executives in Downing Street. Spiking will be made a criminal offence. My government was elected to take back our streets, central to this mission is making sure women and girls can feel safe at night. Perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 25, 2024 Ms Davies-Jones and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were among the attendees at the round-table discussion on Monday morning. Labour pledged in its manifesto to introduce a new offence for spiking, but there was no detail in the King’s Speech this year about a specific crime, though it promised to ensure an improved police response to cases. According to information published by the Metropolitan Police, spiking offences are currently covered by more than one law, but most come under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Sir Keir told the meeting: “There are a number of measures that we are setting out this morning – we want to talk it through with you. “The first is to make spiking a specific offence so that it counts, it’s reported.” He said that such a measure would mean that it “enables everybody to have the confidence to come forward” and also “it allows perpetrators to know that it’s a specific offence”. Detailing the training scheme, he went on: “We’re beginning the piloting of training for staff in venues.” He said the scheme would be “partly to spot what’s happening, but also to know what to do in the event that there is an incident in a venue”. “That will start in December with a pilot then it will be rolled out from March of next year,” Sir Keir added. He also said that the “final” point of discussion for the morning was “police indexing – (the) way that we count it across different police forces”. Sir Keir added: “At the moment it’s quite hard to get your arms around the pure numbers.” Plain clothes officers are being deployed in areas around bars and clubs to spot predatory behaviour. The text-to-report number, 61016, that allows women to contact British Transport Police to report harassment on the train, is due to be relaunched. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims. “That’s why today we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and to crack down on perpetrators, by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide. “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. “These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”West Virginia takes home win streak into matchup with Bethune-Cookman
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.Amit Malviya refutes AAP MP Sanjay Singh's claims alleging BJP tried removing his wife's nameLauren Boebert Is Now on Cameo Giving Advice and Pep Talks
F1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, has died at 100
The much-anticipated inaugural World Iyan Carnival took center stage in Ekiti State, showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of the region through captivating performances. With the theme “Agrotourism: A New Frontier for Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development,” the event featured a rich blend of cultural displays by the Ekiti and Idoma people, yam presentations, Oriki Iyan recitations, panel discussions, and performances by dancers adorned in stunning traditional attire. The highlight of the carnival was the renowned Omoge Iyan pageant. Prince Ade Ajayi, Founder of World Iyan Carnival, while speaking at the carnival, said the carnival is aimed at showcasing Ekiti rich culture and changing the economic perception of the State. According to him, the carnival is anchored on four transformative initiatives including; 50 million yam tubers cultivation initiative, documenting the origin of Iyan in partnership with Netflix, Aafin Iyan Resort and the annual Iyan Carnival. He equally noted that the carnival will boost the economy of the State and the country in general adding that 27th December has been mapped out as World Iyan Day. “We are excited to see this initiative and it’s Pillars come to life today. The 50 million Tubers cultivation; the Origin of Iyan Epic Documentary; the Aafin Iyan Resort and the Carnival proper. “We also announced the launch of a groundbreaking initiative in agricultural financing, Office to Farm Agric Credit—the first of its kind in Nigeria’s history. “This initiative is the result of a 7-year research journey focused on developing innovative financing models in agriculture under the platform of the World Iyan Carnival (WIC). “It aligns with one of our core pillars—cultivating 50 million tubers of yam—while expanding the opportunities for civil servants, private sector workers, NGOs, and organizations to invest in and benefit from agricultural wealth creation. “Through strategic partnerships with financial institutions and Africa’s leading blockchain technology company, we have developed a platform that bridges the gap between the office and the farm. “It allows salary earners and institutions to actively participate in financing and trading not just tubers but other crops as well, fostering a new era of agricultural wealth in Nigeria. “This initiative is a key contribution to the Renewed Hope Campaign, which aims to revitalize Nigeria’s agricultural sector and unlock its potential for sustainable economic growth. “Beginning in the first quarter of 2025, we will launch this initiative across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, starting from the western region. We are inviting financial institutions, public and private sector players, and all stakeholders to join us in making this vision a reality. “Members of the World Iyan Cooperative will be the first to enjoy these benefits, and we encourage others to register and become part of this transformative journey.” The maiden world Iyan carnival was well attended by Government functionaries including Senior Special Adviser on Agric Extension Dr Olowoyo Sikiru and many of his SSA team together with Director General Of Ekiti Bureau of Tourism, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre.F1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26
Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiMatt Duchene and Jamie Benn lead the Stars past the Blackhawks 5-1
The great bottled hoaxFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.
As Mike Brown’s time as Kings coach abruptly ends, here’s a timeline of his Sacramento tenureThe Vegas Golden Knights shut out their opponent for the third time this season with a 3-0 win against the Calgary Flames Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena. This was the Golden Knights’ second shutout win against Calgary this season after a 5-0 decision two months ago (Oct. 28). Vegas also defeated the Oilers 1-0 on Dec. 3. The win extended Vegas’ winning streak to six games. Ilya Samsonov stopped all 31 shots he faced for his first shutout with the Golden Knights. He and the Vegas special teams, particularly the penalty kill, played key roles in the club’s 25th win of the season. The Golden Knights found themselves down two men late in the first period but were able to hold Calgary off the board to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes. Vegas killed off the rest of the penalty at the start of the second and then took care of a delay-of-game minor halfway through the middle frame. It took nearly 36 minutes, but the Golden Knights scored the first goal of the contest for the third straight game after falling behind 1-0 in their previous five. Brett Howden netted what proved to be the game-winner with 4:01 remaining in the second period. Howden deflected Alex Pietrangelo’s shot in transition to finish off an excellent passing play that involved almost everyone on the ice. Alex Pietrangelo. like if you agree pic.twitter.com/922fiOWgLk The goal was originally credited to Pietrangelo but was later announced as Howden’s 15th of the year; he is now tied with Ivan Barbashev for the team lead. Nearly 15 minutes into the third period, Vegas got some much-needed breathing room on the team’s fourth power play of the night. After generating six shots on a very dangerous — albeit unsuccessful — power play in the first period, the Golden Knights had two uneventful efforts, including one midway through the third. However, on their second consecutive opportunity in the period, the Golden Knights finally broke through, as Victor Olofsson beat a stingy Dan Vladar on the one-timer for his eighth goal and fifth power-play tally of the year. POWER PLAY GOALOFSSON 🙂↕️⛄️ pic.twitter.com/QSteBwDLZL With just seven seconds on the clock, Tanner Pearson scored an empty-net goal to seal the win for Vegas; it was his second point of the game after recording the secondary assist on Howden’s marker. Shea Theodore also came away with multiple points after assisting on the Olofsson and Pearson goals. It was a solid team effort by the Golden Knights, who got off to another strong start despite being unable to finish early. The Golden Knights were comfortable in a tight game and were able to hold on to the lead, which was a struggle earlier this season. Samsonov was a big part of that, as he made a number of difficult and timely saves. The penalty kill, which was arguably the team’s weakest link early in the season, has transformed into one of the club’s best assets, and it was on full display tonight. The power play also cashed in with a clutch goal in the final six minutes of regulation. The top unit moved the puck well, opening things up for Olofsson on the right side. Like Friday’s game against the Sharks, though, this game was probably closer than it should have been, especially since Calgary was in the second half of a back-to-back. That being said, the Golden Knights never trailed, did a lot of things well and ultimately took care of business in a winnable game. Vegas is now 15-3-0 on home ice this season. Notably, the Golden Knights have collected 44 of a possible 52 points against Western Conference teams this season and remain in first place in the league with 53 points (25-8-3). The Golden Knights will wrap up 2024 Tuesday against Nick Suzuki and the Montreal Canadiens.
Win vs. Carolina a display of how potent the Bucs offense can beInternational standard-setting body Investors in People (IiP) has recognized the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as one of the world’s best employers. The Overseas Employer of the Year Award was received by the SEC during a ceremony held in London, in the United Kingdom. This recognition reflects the commitment of the SEC to the growth and wellbeing of its employees through capacity-building programs, effective employee communication, and advancements in human resource management practices. Other organizations nominated in the same category were Cyprus Costas Papaellinas Organization-Cyprus Pharmaceutical Organization Ltd. and the Philippines Rua Seguridad Corp. The IiP Awards recognize global enterprises and small businesses alike for their commitment to improving workplace wellbeing, promoting growth and nurturing an environment for employees to thrive. It also recognizes best practices in specific categories such as best apprenticeship program, best culture, best use of technology, diversity and inclusion, and leadership and management, among others. “We are honored to be named the Overseas Employer of the Year in the IiP Awards 2024, as this recognition serves as another testament to the steadfast commitment of the commission in upholding the highest standards in ensuring the welfare of our employees,” SEC Chairman Emilio B. Aquino said. “Under our SuperVision 2028, our goal as a regulator is to transform the Philippine corporate sector and capital market into one of the best in Southeast Asia. However, we cannot achieve this without investing in our most valuable asset—our people—to make sure that they have the right skills and mindset, and a positive and nurturing environment where they can thrive and best provide our stakeholders with top-notch services.” In February, the SEC secured accreditation from the London-based IiP after demonstrating high-standard practices in promoting employees’ welfare. The agency is the first in the government financial sector and the third national government agency to receive the IiP accreditation for people management. In September, IiP Philippines conferred to the SEC the People Investor of the Year – Special Citation Award for fostering a supporting and rewarding work environment for its employees. A journalism graduate and has covered the Philippine business beat for more than a decade.