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STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Josh Hubbard scored 14 of his team-high 25 points in the final 10 minutes and Mississippi State pulled away late to post a 91-84 win over a road-weary Prairie View A&M on Sunday afternoon. Prairie View A&M, playing its eighth straight road game after a season-opening win over a non-NCAA opponent, will not play its second home game until it hosts Grambling in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener January 4. The Panthers have surrendered 100 points or more in three games and opponents have topped 90 points in seven of their eight road losses. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
The debate over a potential value-added tax (VAT) hike has reignited following remarks by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira at a seminar, where he mentioned ongoing studies on tax reform, including VAT adjustments. The broader discussion on tax reform -- potentially increasing VAT while reducing corporate and personal income taxes to 15% -- raises questions about Thailand's fiscal strategy. Although the minister did not explicitly state the government has plans to raise VAT from its current rate of 7% to 15%, his comments highlighting that Thailand's VAT is relatively low compared to the 15–20% in many countries sparked widespread public criticism. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra responded to curb the public outcry, reassuring the public via social media that her government would not raise VAT to 15%. While reducing corporate and personal income taxes could stimulate economic activity and consumption, the notion of raising VAT to compensate remains controversial. Critics argue such a move disproportionately affects low-income groups, who would bear a heavier burden relative to their income, while wealthier individuals and corporations benefit from tax reductions. This perception has fuelled criticism that a VAT hike equates to "the poor paying to save the rich". Thailand's VAT rate, introduced at 10% in 1992 and reduced to 7% in 1997 during an economic downturn, is indeed among the lowest in the world. Over the past two decades, Thailand's political landscape, dominated by populist policies requiring substantial funding, has compounded this issue. Successive administrations have introduced programmes targeting grassroots voters without clearly identifying funding sources. The result is a persistent shortfall in government revenue, even as demands for expanded social welfare programmes and public infrastructure grow. Successive governments have considered increasing VAT to bolster state coffers but have faced fierce opposition. This resistance stems from a lack of public trust in how additional revenue will be used and concerns about the fairness of taxation. The question is not whether Thailand needs to increase VAT -- it does. State revenues are insufficient to fund essential social services, let alone support infrastructure development, human capital investment, or national competitiveness. However, any VAT increase must come with clarity and accountability. Research by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) challenges the criticism that a VAT hike disproportionately burdens low-income people. In principle, VAT is a fair tax applied universally. Funds collected from a VAT increase could strengthen social welfare, improve public services, and support national development. Nevertheless, public resistance to a VAT hike often stems from scepticism about the government's intentions. Many fear additional revenue will finance political campaign promises rather than benefit the broader public. The government must outline a clear and transparent roadmap for making use of the increased revenue. For instance, promising to allocate funds to universal healthcare improvements or other initiatives that benefit the majority would reassure the public that the additional tax burden serves the greater good. Raising VAT is a politically sensitive issue that requires careful implementation. A phased approach, with incremental increases over several years, would allow businesses and households time to adapt.
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HNB PLC yesterday announced the official appointment of Damith Pallewatte as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective from 22 November 2024, following on his previous appointment as Acting CEO in April this year. A veteran Banking and Risk Management Professional with over 28 years of experience, including over 14 years in Senior and Corporate Management positions, Pallewatte brings a wealth of diverse experience to his new role. His career has spanned the full spectrum of banking operations, including Strategy and Risk Management, Credit, Branch Banking and Operations, and most recently as Deputy General Manager of HNB’s Wholesale Banking Group, prior to being appointed as Acting CEO. “For generations HNB has served as a crucial lynchpin of the national economy, and a partner in progress to all Sri Lankans. We have steadily established a reputation for trust, integrity, and innovation, by providing best-in-class banking and financial services, and continuously enhancing the capabilities of our people, and our technological infrastructure. These investments have uniquely positioned HNB to serve as a catalyst for a robust, grassroots-led economic recovery, and I am honoured to have been entrusted with the job of leading this remarkable institution through this critical moment in our nation’s history. Moving forward, we remain focused on rebuilding Sri Lankan enterprise – from SMEs to large corporates, while supporting the aspirations of our valued retail customers,” Pallewatte said. Prior to his appointment as MD/CEO Pallewatte served as Acting CEO effective from April 2024, following a remarkable track record of success at the helm of HNB’s fast growing Wholesale Banking Group (WBG). Under his custodian leadership, HNB Group has successfully consolidated its strong growth momentum, recording Rs. 38.7 billion in PBT for the 9 months of FY24, showcasing substantial capital and liquidity levels. Elaborating on the bank’s top priorities over the coming year, Pallewatte explained how HNB would continue to focus on inclusive growth, MSME revival, trade and export facilitation, digital banking innovation, disciplined risk management, and strategic partnerships that foster maximum value for customers and the nation. “Exemplified by endeavours such as obtaining an Authorised Person License for the Colombo Port City SEZ to take by offering world-class integrated banking solutions to the world, we’re positioning HNB and Sri Lanka as a key South Asian hub for global services exports, shaping the future of finance. As we navigate this transformative period, we remain committed to driving sustainable growth and innovation, reinforcing our role as a critical player in the nation’s economic resurgence,” Pallewatte asserted. Commenting on the ongoing effort to expanding HNB’s value proposition beyond the borders of Sri Lanka, he noted that current discussions with regard to the potential acquisition of Bank Alfalah’s Bangladesh operation would also play a critical role in HNB’s next chapter of growth. In addition to his leadership roles at HNB, Pallewatte also serves as Chairman at Acuity Partners Ltd, Acuity Securities Ltd. and Director of Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd. Further enriching his profile, Pallewatte also serves as Chairman of Lanka Ventures PLC and LVL Energy Fund PLC showcasing his expertise in venture capital and renewable energy investments across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. He was recently appointed as Vice President/Director of the International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka. Pallewatte holds an MBA from PIM-SJP, a BSc. Management (Hons.) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK), a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a Certified Financial Risk Manager from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). He is also an ACI Operations Certificate holder of the Financial Markets Association—France and holds a Sustainability and Climate Risk Certificate (SCR) from GARP, underscoring his dedication to advancing financial, social, and environmental sustainability practices.No. 5 UCLA snaps No. 1 South Carolina's 43-game win streakThe Saints are making contingency plans to play without QB Derek Carr as they try to stay alive
Nationalism has emerged as a potent force shaping global tech policy, nowhere more so than in the United States. With Donald Trump returning to the White House for a second term, his vision for America's technological future is coming into sharper focus. At home, Mr Trump promises a sweeping deregulatory agenda coupled with industrial policy aimed at boosting domestic tech businesses. Abroad, his administration appears poised to double down on aggressive restrictions aimed at keeping American technology out of China's hands. Yet Mr Trump's grand vision to "make America great again" overlooks a crucial detail: the cycle of innovation matters hugely for technological progress. The path the US is charting risks fostering a tech ecosystem dominated by mediocre products, like attention-grabbing social media apps, while failing to nurture the kind of transformative inventions that drive productivity and long-term economic growth. Joseph Schumpeter, the renowned Austrian economist who popularised the term "creative destruction", identified three key stages of the process. First, there's innovation -- a breakthrough idea or method. In the realm of artificial intelligence, this stage includes the development of neural networks, which laid the foundation for deep learning and, more recently, the transformer architecture that has powered the rise of generative AI. Then comes the stage of commercialisation, when disruptive ideas evolve into market-ready products. This is where tools like ChatGPT -- applications built on large language models (LLMs) -- emerge and become accessible to everyday consumers. Finally, there's diffusion, the phase when the novel technology becomes pervasive, reshaping industries and daily life. So far, discussions of tech regulation have tended to focus on the later stages of this process, which bring immediate economic benefits, often overlooking the early stage of invention. It is true that regulations to ensure safety, guarantee data privacy, and protect intellectual property can raise adoption costs and slow down product rollouts. But these guardrails are less likely to stifle innovation at the invention stage, where creative ideas take shape. Of course, the prospect of discovering the next commercial blockbuster -- something like ChatGPT -- may indeed spur future invention, and widespread adoption can also help refine these technologies. But such feedback is likely to be very limited for most products. Consider the case of Character.AI, a company that developed a popular companion chatbot. While the product has certainly contributed to the diffusion of LLM-based services, it has done little to spur invention. Recently, the company even abandoned its plans to build its own LLM, signalling that its focus remains firmly on diffusion rather than groundbreaking invention. In such cases, regulations ensuring that innovations are safe, ethical and responsible by the time they reach the market would most likely deliver benefits outweighing the costs. The recent tragedy of a 14-year-old boy who took his own life after prolonged interactions with Character.AI's chatbot underscores the urgent need for safeguards, especially when such services are easily accessible to young users. Lax tech regulation also carries a hidden cost: it can shift resources away from scientific discovery, favouring quick profits through mass diffusion instead. This dynamic has fuelled the proliferation of addictive social-media apps that now dominate the market, leaving behind a trail of societal ills -- everything from teenage addiction to deepening political polarisation. In recent years, a growing chorus of academics and policymakers has sounded the alarm over the systemic dysfunction of the US tech sector. Yet, despite the high drama of congressional hearings with Big Tech CEOs and a cascade of bills promising comprehensive reforms, the results have been disappointing. So far, the federal government's highest-profile effort to rein in Big Tech has centred on TikTok -- in the form of a bill that would either ban the app outright or force its Chinese owners to divest. In the realm of data privacy, the most significant measure so far has been an executive orderrestricting the flow of bulk sensitive data to "countries of concern", China chief among them. Meanwhile, US authorities have increasingly directed their scrutiny inward to root out espionage. The now-infamous China Initiative, which disproportionately targeted ethnic Chinese scientists, has stoked fear and prompted a talent exodus from the US. Compounding this is a broad visa ban on Chinese students and researchers associated with China's "military-civil fusion" programme. While ostensibly aimed at protecting national security, the policy has driven away countless skilled individuals. This brings us to the paradox at the heart of US tech policy: simultaneous under- and overregulation. On one hand, US policymakers have failed to implement essential safeguards for product safety and data privacy – areas where thoughtful oversight could mitigate risks while fostering a competitive environment conducive to cutting-edge innovation. On the other hand, they have adopted an aggressive, even punitive, stance towards US-based researchers at the forefront of scientific discovery, effectively regulating invention itself. The irony could not be starker: in its bid to outcompete China, America risks stifling its own potential for the next breakthrough technology. ©2024 Project Syndicate S Alex Yang is Professor of Management Science and Operations at London Business School. Angela Huyue Zhang, Professor of Law at the University of Southern California, is the author, most recently, of 'High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy'(Oxford University Press, 2024).
Syrian government services come to ‘complete halt’ as workers stay at homeFARGO — Qualifying for the North Dakota Class B volleyball state tournament for the very first time was a dream for Medina-Pingree/Buchanan. But to come out and dominate three sets was beyond anything it imagined. ADVERTISEMENT That's exactly what the Thunder did, upending Central McLean 3-0 in the state quarterfinals Thursday at the Fargodome. Set scores were 25-15, 25-9 and 25-17. The match was highlighted by M-P/B roaring out to a 17-1 lead in the middle frame, including what was an 11-0 start to the set. "It was so much fun to be at the state tournament and be able to have a score like that," said Thunder head coach Jacie Connell. "We just never let down. I just said we need to eliminate our errors in the second set, and they did a great job of that." With the win, No. 3 seed M-P/B (31-6) advanced to Friday's state semis where they'll take on No. 2 South Prairie-Max (33-6) with first serve set for 5 p.m. Connell said as state tourney newcomers, nerves came naturally. At least whatever nerves were left after downing Class B No. 1-ranked Linton/HMB in the Region 3 championship last week. "Lots of emotions," Connell said. "But beating the No. 1 team in the state in the (region) championship, I think a lot of our nerves were out right there. They were just excited to be here and play." ADVERTISEMENT Maddie Gefroh finished with a match-leading 14 kills for M-P/B, including the final one to secure match point in Set 3. "It felt great knowing we're closer to the finals now," said Gefroh, senior captain and middle hitter for the Thunder. "You could tell there were some nerves, but as soon as we got onto the court, we were ready to go right away." Gefroh said the dominant second set gave M-P/B all the momentum it needed to finish things off in Set 3. "That was crazy," Gefroh said. "That gave us so much energy to go into the third set. We knew we could do it right away." Central McLean (31-4-1) drops into the consolation semifinals, where it'll face Kenmare/Bowbells (35-7) at 1 p.m. Friday. Reagan Kjelstrup paced the Cougars offensively with eight kills while Morgan Snyder had six. Daphne Lauer finished with 25 assists. Behind Gefroh in the Thunder kills department was Brynn Sorenson with nine and Jorgen Tripp with eight, including set point in the opening frame. ADVERTISEMENT Gefroh added three aces and three blocks while Violet Bohl recorded 34 assists. Cierra Mack finished with a match-leading 15 digs. "If we play our game, that's been huge for us just eliminating our errors," Connell said. "We're going to talk about what we need to adjust a little bit on defense and we'll be ready to go. "It's been a great journey so far and we're happy to be here."Bitcoin ETFs Surge as Crypto Market Boom; BlockDAG Raises $150M in Record Time
Jeffrey Funke sworn in as new chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme CourtAnd the ASX’s most shorted stock (still) is...PARIS, Nov 22 (Reuters) - France wrapped up their autumn nations series in style with a 37-23 victory against Argentina for their third win in as many tests at the Stade de France on Friday. Six days after beating New Zealand 30-29, Fabien Galthie's side were never in real trouble against the Pumas, with a penalty try and tries by Thibaud Flament, Gabin Villiere and Louis Bielle-Biarrey while Thomas Ramos had another perfect kicking day with 15 points. Argentina scored second-half tries by Thomas Gallo and Ignacio Ruiz, with Tomas Albornoz kicking the rest of their points, but lacked discipline to challenge Les Bleus a week after a 22-19 defeat to Ireland. France, who also beat Japan in their first outing earlier this month, will now be the favourites for the Six Nations, which starts on Jan. 31. Coach Galthie drew positives from the series, with a lot of turnover, after France were the only team from the northern hemisphere to win all their tests. "We had decided to make changes because that test was coming only six days after the All Blacks," he said. "There is a lot of competition in this squad and it's good for everyone. We had a weird year after the World Cup but for this series we had the best possible team of the moment," he added, already looking towards the 2027 World Cup. "Until then we only have 30 tests. It seems a lot but it's coming quickly," he said. Argentina put the early pressure, working through the phases to wear down the French defence but the hosts held firm and were first on the scoreboard when Flament powered over. The Pumas were down to 14 after Julian Montoya picked up a yellow card for foul play in a ruck that resulted in prop Jean-Baptiste Gros being replaced by Reda Wardi after three minutes with a leg injury. Albornoz kicked three penalties, while Ramos slotted in two more as Argentina reduced the arrears to 13-9. But France were on the attack again and Villiere dived over after a long domination spell and Ramos converted to extend the lead to 11 points. It was 27-9 shortly afterwards with France being awarded a penalty try when Juan Martin Gonzalez volleyed the ball forward as last defender to deny Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Gonzalez was sin-binned and Ramos added a penalty to put France 30-11 at halftime. Just like against Ireland a week ago, Argentina did not give up and pulled a try back when Gallo bundled over, only for France to dash the visitors' hopes of a comeback with Bielle-Biarrey collecting his own grazing kick for France's fourth try. The Argentina forwards kept France under pressure, however, and Ruiz touched down as Les Bleus suffered physically. But the hosts' defence held firm to preserve a deserved win, with a couple of dodgy lineouts the only weakness they showed on the night. Sign up here. Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Some Syrians say Hezbollah's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, foreshadowed the Assad regime toppling, as Hezbollah was key in Assad staying in power. Now that Assad is gone, many feel the country has a new opportunity, despite a terrorist organization now being in control. "The political freedom. They want civil laws. Sadly, the regime did not give that all to the people," said Aziz Wehbey. Born in Syria, the one-time head of the Syrian American Society in the Lehigh Valley, says hopes are high civil war will end in Syria. This, as 24-year President Bashar al-Assad's regime toppled over the weekend. In Syria, many residents celebrated the end of Assad, as Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, a terrorist organization, now controls the government. "They still are a very conservative Sunni version of Islam. But nonetheless, they're limiting their goals now to sort of the reconstitution of the Syrian state. And the goal is to liberate the people of Syria from the Assad regime," said Brian Mello, a Middle East expert for Muhlenberg College. Mello added that volatility in the region will increase, as Iran, Turkey, and Israel will likely seek to influence the outcome. "My real question here, like, what will emerge in Syria? Will it be just a new type of dictatorship?" Mello said, wondering if stabilization in the country can come. Some local Christian Syrians called Assad a brutal dictator. Others are concerned about what this now means for Christians in Syria. Wehbey is confident the change will unify the country. "I'm looking forward to see people from the community going back to Syria and invest money in Syria and moving Syria for a bright future," he said. Wehbey and Mello both noted that more refugees are returning to Syria, since the regime toppled.
on Sunday shared a copy of a cease & desist notice sent to by her legal team, demanding a public apology from The 1975 singer, as well as a request for a $1 million settlement. The letter comes after swirling tension between the two singers which began earlier this week when Healy reactivated his X (formerly Twitter) account. In response to Banks’ tweet saying Charli XCX “used to be soooo pretty,” Healy wrote that “All the women you attack seem to be culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people. I think this makes you jealous cos you’re so talented but everything else about you is a failure. Just rap bro.” Banks responded to Healy’s insult by writing that he and his fiancée, model Gabbriette, “both look like you share needles,” to which Healy threatened to “fucking slap you so hard I’ll get a Guiness world record for the highest a rat some bitch calls a wig has ever flown.” Healy then apologized for the threats in a statement online and deactivated his account. Banks has a history of throwing insults on social media. Healy does as well, including many documented instances of racist comments. The cease & desist letter, and dated Saturday Dec. 7 from Wallace J. Collins III in New York City, notes that its demands are in response to Healy’s “threats of violence.” Collins confirmed to on Sunday that his office sent the letter to Healy on Saturday night. “Your attacks against my client’s professional reputation, your overt racial epithets and your most recent threats of physical violence against my client have been well-documented since you published them worldwide online,” Collins wrote, noting that Banks saved screenshots of the posts Healy has since deleted. He called Healy’s actions “wrongful, bad faith and malicious” and said they have “seriously damaged and will continue to damage my client.” The letter continues, “Your removal of the damaging attack posts and your acknowledgement that your reaction was inappropriate does not undo the damage, but rather constitutes evidence of an admission of guilt by you.” He went on to note that he had drafted a summons and complaint per Banks’ request, but that “I have usually found it beneficial for all parties to try to resolve such matters amicably without the need for court intervention.” The note ends with a demand that Healy immediately cease and desist from making any further or defamatory statements against Banks and that he make a prompt and public apology to her. He also demands compensation in the amount of $1 million for “full settlement of this matter.” reached out to reps for Healy and Banks for further comment on the matter. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter