WITH every product launch, vivo solidifies its place in the smartphone industry, winning over both consumers and tech aficionados with unparalleled camera performance. Its X-series, in particular, garnered significant buzz when vivo confirmed in mid-November the unveiling of the vivo X200 Pro in the Philippines, signaling the comeback of the brand's top-of-the-line series in the country this December after its last release in 2022. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Nico Iamaleava throws 4 TD passes to lead No. 10 Tennessee over UTEP 56-0
pick-uppath/E+ via Getty Images Runway Growth Finance Corp. ( NASDAQ: RWAY ) is an interesting BDC, offering exposure to the exclusive world of venture capital and private equity (VC/PE). With the latest quarterly dividend suggesting an annual yield of 15.4%, it may even be a Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.On my radar: Jasleen Kaur’s cultural highlightsNeeding 148 to win, South Africa crashed to 99 for eight owing to superb bowling by Mohammad Abbas. But Kagiso Rabada turned batting hero as he and Marco Jansen took South Africa to victory with an unbeaten ninth wicket partnership of 51. Rabada, so often a match-winner as a bowler, went on the attack as a batsman, hitting an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls, while Jansen provided solid support in making 16 not out. “It is an emotional moment for me,” South African captain Bavuma said at the post-match presentation. “As a team, we have overcome a lot. We haven’t been super-dominant with our performances, we haven’t been ruthless but we have always found a way to ensure the result was on our side. “Today was testament to that. It speaks a lot to the talent and character of the group.” South Africa’s win meant that only one of Australia and India can qualify for the final at Lord’s in June. Pakistan captain Shan Masood said he was proud of the effort of his players but lamented the failure to take ruthless advantage of their opportunities. “Twice we had them eight down and with the bat we could have extended our first innings and could have extended our lead (in the second innings). We have to learn to seize the moments.” Masood said Abbas, playing in his first Test in more than three years, had been “sensational”. The 34-year-old Abbas took a career-best six for 54. He bowled unchanged for 19.3 overs –- four of them on Saturday when he took his first two wickets -– in a spell of unremitting accuracy on a pitch which gave seam bowlers help throughout the match. Man of the match Aiden Markram and Bavuma batted solidly at the start of the day after resuming on 27 for three. However, Markram was bowled by Abbas for 37 by a virtually unplayable ball which kept low and seamed back off the pitch. Bavuma and David Bedingham added another 34 runs until Bavuma uncharacteristically charged down the pitch at Abbas and was given out caught behind for 40. He walked off immediately but Ultra Edge technology showed the only ‘spike’ was when the ball brushed his trouser pocket. It was the first of four wickets which fell for three runs in 12 balls. Naseem Shah bowled Kyle Verreynne and Abbas had Bedingham and Corbin Bosch caught behind off successive deliveries. Rabada and Jansen saw South Africa through to lunch at 116 for eight -– then polished off the match in just 5.3 overs after the interval, with each stroke cheered by the home spectators. Both sides have a short break before they meet for the second and final Test in Cape Town on January 3.The NBA on Saturday suspended three players for their roles in an on-court clash during Friday's game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns. Dallas forward Naji Marshall was suspended for four games and Suns center Jusuf Nurkic for three while Mavericks forward P.J Washington will sit out one game. The incident came with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter when Nurkic committed on offensive foul on Dallas's Daniel Gifford. "Marshall and Nurkic then engaged in an on-court altercation. Nurkic escalated it by swinging his arm and striking Marshall on top of his head. Marshall responded by throwing a punch that connected with Nurkic's face," the NBA said in a statement. "As the officials and other players attempted to diffuse the situation, Washington further escalated the altercation by shoving Nurkic to the floor. For their roles, Marshall, Nurkic and Washington were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game," the league added. Marshall late confronted Nurkic near the locker rooms, in a "hostile manner" according to the NBA. The NBA said the players will not be paid during their suspension periods. sev/bb
Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. 2024 was a year of triumphs and setbacks for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Here's how it unfolded The year 2024 saw President Vladimir Putin further cement his power as he sought to counter Russia's isolation over the war in Ukraine. He won a fifth term that will keep him in office until 2030 following an election with only token opposition. He tightened a political crackdown on Russian society, and his top opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison under still unknown circumstances. But gunmen massacred scores of people in a Moscow concert hall, and a bomb killed a top general in attacks that underscored security flaws. Ukrainian forces swept into the Russian region of Kursk, Putin boasted about a lethal new hypersonic missile, and a new Trump administration raised concerns about continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Russian man arrested for allegedly running LGBTQ+ travel agency found dead in custody A Russian man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers has been found dead in custody in Moscow. That's according to independent news outlet Mediazona on Sunday. According to OVD-Info, Andrei Kotov of the Men Travel agency was in pretrial detention facing extremism charges. An investigator told Kotov’s lawyer that her client had died by suicide and was found dead in his cell. Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ+ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist. The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career.CM condoles death of Mahavir Mandir Trust secy Kishore Kunal
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In a bold move reshaping the consumer electronics landscape, Asia's SCG Far East (SCG) has acquired a majority stake in Maser Group, Africa's premier provider of high-quality, competitively priced consumer electronics. The deal, valued at $5 billion, fortifies Maser’s ambition to expand its influence globally and cements its role as a pioneering force in Africa's rapidly evolving tech market. Through this acquisition, SCG aims to bring its extensive experience and capital to help Maser scale its innovation-driven products across global markets, bringing new vigor to both African and Asian markets. CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! “ Maser Group has been a true catalyst in transforming the African electronics sector, and this partnership gives us an incredible opportunity to further that innovation ,” stated Prateek Suri, CEO of Maser. “ SCG’s commitment to identifying and supporting dynamic entrepreneurs aligns perfectly with our vision. Together, we will accelerate our growth trajectory and enter a new phase of global impact .” Read also The intersection of technology and pilgrimage: An interview with Dr Abdullahi Ahmed Bappah Maser Group has long been a leader in Africa’s electronics sector, offering an innovative range of products that have gained traction across the continent and beyond. With roots that emphasize affordability without compromising quality, the brand has evolved into a symbol of modern African enterprise. By partnering with SCG, Maser now has the resources to pursue larger projects, further bolstered by the support of the influential Iloh family, known for their political and strategic insights that have shaped major business alliances across the continent. The acquisition is a milestone for both companies and highlights SCG’s goal to expand into untapped markets with high growth potential. The decision was not made lightly, as noted by SCG’s Head of M&A: “ Our criteria for identifying partners is straightforward: great management, great entrepreneurs, great people. Maser is the ideal partner with whom to grow together. Their innovative products have reshaped the African electronics market, turning it into a hub of digital innovation .” Read also Firm launches new phone brand, realme C61, targets young tech-hungry consumers This deal also sees the participation of key players from Series A and B funding rounds led by Innovation Group Asia Markets, whose support provided Maser with early-stage backing as it established its stronghold in Africa . Series C, finalized by SCG, positions Maser to benefit from SCG’s resources, expertise, and expansive distribution networks. PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow With a growing middle class and increased demand for high-quality consumer electronics, Africa is fast becoming a lucrative market for technology-driven companies. Maser's commitment to offering affordable yet high-end products has resonated with a broad spectrum of consumers, making it a prime investment opportunity for SCG. “ From the start, our aim was to redefine the consumer electronics market by addressing local needs with global standards ,” Prateek Suri noted. “ SCG’s investment allows us to keep innovating while ensuring African consumers have access to cutting-edge products. The support from SCG is not only financial but strategic, as we will be leveraging their networks, operational efficiencies, and technological expertise to achieve a stronger, more impactful reach .” Read also Insuretech firm, Cubecover bridges access gap with affordable services SCG’s acquisition also aligns with its ambition to support the growing market potential in Africa, which has been largely untapped by international tech players. This partnership will facilitate shared technological advancements and the distribution of new, innovative products developed specifically for African consumers, catering to their preferences and needs. Under the terms of the acquisition, Prateek Suri will lead Maser’s global expansion efforts, backed by SCG’s resources. The Maser Group’s equity, retained by Suri, will be reinvested into large-cap ventures across Africa, allowing Maser to extend its portfolio to new markets and continue its mission of empowering African consumers through affordable technology . This strategy is expected to foster further economic growth on the continent, creating jobs and enhancing digital literacy. Maser’s growth is also deeply influenced by the guidance and support of the Iloh family, who bring a unique blend of political acumen and business insights to the table. Their backing has been instrumental in creating an environment conducive to the company’s ambitious expansion plans, ensuring that Maser remains agile in a competitive market. Read also CBN mandates banks to move to new FX trading platform, gives commencement date “ Our long-standing commitment to the African market has been the driving force behind our sustained growth ,” said Suri. “ We see this partnership as a springboard to scale operations and bring products to markets that were previously beyond our reach. The synergy with SCG allows us to blend African ingenuity with global best practices, crafting products that resonate on an international scale. ” With the acquisition finalized, SCG and Maser are poised to revolutionize Africa's consumer electronics industry and set a new benchmark for quality and innovation. Both companies are optimistic about the partnership’s potential to unlock unprecedented growth opportunities, bringing more products to African consumers while exploring additional markets in Asia and beyond. “ Maser Group is not just a company; it is a testament to the dynamism and potential of the African market ,” stated SCG’s Head of M&A. “ Together, we will not only enhance the African technology landscape but will also open doors for collaboration between Asia and Africa, harnessing the strengths of both regions to deliver unrivaled value .” Read also Elon Musk launches ChatGPT rival, xAI, new company hits $50bn valuation after raising $5bn This acquisition marks a new era for Maser and SCG, solidifying their joint commitment to elevating African consumer electronics on the global stage. With Prateek Suri at the helm of its global expansion and SCG’s unwavering support, Maser Group is set to become a formidable force in the tech world, championing African innovation while setting new industry standards. PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: Legit.ng
Years ago, comedy writer Mike McMahan got the opportunity of a lifetime — an interview to join the writing staff of a new Star Trek series, the first in over a decade. McMahan was a massive Trekkie and had recently made a splash with a parody Twitter account called “ TNG Season 8 ,” in which he summarized goofy, imaginary episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation . He’d even sold the idea to Simon & Schuster and written an entire episode guide for the bogus season. Now, he was getting a chance to work on the real thing... and he turned it down. McMahan had been working on a new animated series that had not yet premiered, but that he loved working on and didn’t want to walk away from. To hear McMahan tell it, the folks at Secret Hideout, Alex Kurtzman’s production company in charge of the new Trek spinoff, thought he was crazy. The show McMahan was working on was Rick and Morty , which went on to be a massive pop culture sensation. More confident than ever in McMahan’s instincts, Secret Hideout reached out again in 2018, this time to ask him what he wanted to do. McMahan answered with a pitch for an animated sitcom based in the Star Trek universe, a truly wild swing for the typically reverent and cerebral sci-fi franchise. This gamble paid off, too, as his series Star Trek: Lower Decks has become an overwhelming fan favorite with an appeal that has reached beyond the Starfleet faithful. As the series comes to a close after five seasons, Polygon caught up with McMahan about how his wacky passion project made its mark on one of American pop culture’s most cherished legacies. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Polygon: I just saw on Bluesky someone surfaced the preface to your collection of Star Trek Season 8 posts where you said, “I’m never going to write for Star Trek.” Mike McMahan: But even worse than that, I wrote those TNG Season 8 posts, and then I sold the idea to Simon & Schuster and wrote a fake guide to a fake season of Star Trek: The Next Generation . And in the intro to that book, I talked about never having a Star Trek show, so this book is going to be it. And people bring it up and I’m just like, Man, 10-years-ago Mike, what were you doing? No, I mean, it all worked out for you! It’s very aspirational, I’m sure, for a lot of fans thinking, This is something that can and has happened . Right? Yeah. It was cool because when I was becoming a writer in TV and writing my own stuff all the time, I was watching Star Trek with my wife, being like, “Man, I wish Star Trek was still around,” because it was in the in-between phase. And I remember being like, “I’m just gonna write Star Trek whether somebody pays me to or not.” And, eventually people saw me doing that — especially Aaron Baiers, who became the head of Alex Kurtzman’s company. He and I were assistants back in the day, and he saw me doing that on my own volition. And then when I worked on Rick and Morty , it became like a natural sort of thing. So, if you’re a big fan of stuff, what I would say is: Keep loving that stuff, but also work on all sorts of other stuff you love, and then it might converge. That was the lucky part, was the convergence of it. Sure. I mean, luck is usually something that only works in your favor if you’ve done a lot of hard work first, right? Yes. Did you ever write a Trek spec script, just like a proper a TNG script for fun? I never did because I always wanted it to be funny. And like, TNG is funny, but I wanted it to be Lower Decks funny. So, I had written things that were kind of like, not really TNG , but were basically like The Orville kind of versions. A thing that I appreciate about this whole new era of Star Trek is that each new series has pushed the boundaries of what Star Trek is, but in a different direction. In the early days, Discovery seemed to be aiming to be a Game of Thrones -y thing. And your project is almost in the exact opposite direction of that. So what I’d like to explore with you today is essentially the rules of the Lower Decks writers room, and how they evolved over five seasons. How did you come to define what this was both within and without the bounds of Star Trek? So, season 1, I went into it day one having actually like a bible written up for the show’s style guide for the artists and the writers. I knew that the show had to feel like it took place seven years after Star Trek: Nemesis , that we had to fit into the timeline both technologically and with design and with all of the character attributes that that would come with. So that we recognize this as kind of like the last of the TNG -era shows. When it comes to the narratives that we’re telling, every episode right off the bat had to have a big Star Trek story happening to the ship and the bridge crew that was affecting our Lower Deckers, but that their main storyline was a social, emotional, comedic story pulled from experiences people had at work or dating or in life in their 20s and 30s. So we always had two stories happening at the same time — the big sci-fi story and the “getting to know who you are in life” story. On top of that, the first season was all, Oh, I can’t believe I get to make a Star Trek. I’m going to play, I’m going to do the hits. We’re going to see a Klingon in the second episode. We’re going to have a trial episode. We’re going to have a big bad that has a metaphorical political social commentary at the end of the season . The first season it felt like we were Doing a Star Trek. And then the second season, we understood the characters better. We had spent a lot more time with the actors and finding stories with the characters. And that’s when we became “We’re doing a Lower Decks .” That’s when we were like, We want to incrementally move these characters forward. When they learn stuff, we don’t want to have them unlearn it the next episode, like a classic sitcom . And the main goal the whole time was that the big surprise of this show should be that it’s funny, but it’s also thoughtful Star Trek and that there’s different ways to do that. Like, I love the original animated series. I think it’s fascinating and I grew up watching it too, but I didn’t want Lower Decks to become that. I didn’t want Lower Decks to be an “asterisk” show, a show that, like, people probably had never heard of or didn’t care about. Our goal was, if you’re talking about your favorite Trek shows, you should at least admit that Lower Decks is one of the Trek shows. And I feel like we maybe overshot that a little bit, because a lot of people love Lower Decks . I think that of the crop of new shows, Lower Decks is the predominant favorite. Which is crazy! We must have lucked into that, because I think they did some amazing stuff on those other shows. And we’ve just been doing, you know, literally what we set out to do from day one. It feels very lucky that we got to do it, and that people respond to it feels lucky, too, because sometimes I feel like I’m making the show for me, whether or not other people are going to like it. So when they do, it’s a very nice surprise. I’m curious, when you were working on that first season, what kind of conversations you were having with your fellow storytellers about the accessibility of the show versus We’re a bunch of fans and we want to see these things. We weren’t worried about the accessibility because the only people who think Lower Decks isn’t accessible to outside viewers are people who know a lot of Star Trek. And people who don’t know a lot of Star Trek are just meeting aliens that are not too complex to figure out for the episode. Like, when you meet a Klingon, you know who they are in the first 30 seconds. In Lower Decks , you don’t need to know who Kahless is. If a Klingon is talking about Kahless on Lower Decks , the lines are designed for you to understand the meaning it has to them, even if you don’t know all the apocrypha, just like you can watch any episode of Star Trek and not have to have seen them all. In Rick and Morty , we were creating pastiches of other sci-fi characters all the time that felt like it was world-building, but you didn’t have to know the backstory of the aliens they were meeting. That was the same way we were treating legacy species in Lower Decks . But luckily, with, say, the Cardassians, there are many episodes that define them for us. We just get to kind of give a slightly broader take on them. So for me, the stuff that a lot of people were railing on and worried about was not going to be a problem for me because all of the little legacy stuff, all of the design choices, the understanding that Mariner has seen the holologs of the things that we call episodes, that all of that stuff is to turn Star Trek into a world so that we can have comedy take place within it. It’s kind of like when I worked at Second City in Chicago, there were a lot of sketches where you kind of have to live in the city to get what they’re making fun of here, but they were doing it in a way that even if you’re in it from out of town, you’re still laughing in the scene. It just has a different kind of resonance for you. That is what the deep-cut stuff in Lower Decks usually plays as. Now, sometimes, just to be little stinkers, we’ll put in, like, an extremely deep cut that makes no fucking sense to you unless you’re way in. Like the Spock helmet. Yeah, the Spock helmet, or Mariner referencing Xon. That’s a character who never even ended up on screen. Those moments are for deep, deep fans. But in a way, I always talked about Lower Decks being sort of like a translator for all other Trek. Like, if you watch Lower Decks , you could go pop into any other Trek and you kind of get the gist because the Lower Deckers either encountered somebody or talked about it or we did an episode that sort of honored it. You know, you could pop into Voyager , you could pop into Enterprise or TOS . I mean, our characters literally popped into Strange New Worlds . Like, they should feel kind of like an “Every-Trek,” in a way. And I think that as a fan, you always worry — especially as a Star Trek fan — that somebody using the things you liked from before are gonna ruin them, or they’re gonna be the wrong version of them, or they’re gonna lessen the thing you liked about it. But we always talk about Star Trek as being like going to a national park. Like, when we’re writing and designing stuff, you have to enjoy it, to enjoy being there, but don’t change it so that the next person can’t enjoy what you liked about it. Right. You always want to be additive to what you’re working on. Yeah, additive and celebrating it. And originally, there wasn’t even a big drive to have legacy actors reprise their roles on the show. But, I had met Jonathan Frakes when I was shooting a Short Trek that I wrote, and he was directing an episode of Discovery . And I showed him the pitch that we were about to take out for Lower Decks , and he was cracking up and he made me promise him that we would have Riker show up in it . And that’s why Riker shows up at the finale of the first season, because I was like, Oh man, I promised Frakes we would do this, and we better get Marina [Sirtis] in there. And then, you know, we had Q show up for a quick bit. But that created the feeling of, like, Oh, I guess part of this show is having these characters come back. How are we going to do that? We’ve got to keep them funny. We’ve got to honor what they set up before. And everything on Lower Decks is really hard to write because it’s got to be funny, but also deeply thoughtful. So it sounds like you didn’t have to have anybody in the writers room who was just like a casual Star Trek fan who could be your test audience, like you could kind of just trust that it was going to work. You know, it was a mix. In the first season, it was me, Ben Rodgers, Brad Winters, David Wright, M. Willis. Like, the writers room was a mix of comedy writers, animation writers, and deep, deep Star Trek fans, but not somebody who had worked on Star Trek before. Brad Winters, my producer, has a brain that is so deep in Trek. Like, we can have a conversation when we have an episode written where he’ll be like, “You have the characters doing this here, but there’s an episode in the middle of Voyager that says this can’t happen. So let’s talk about why you wanted to do it and how we can fit it in.” So everything is always, when it comes to the Trek lore, guiding us to what we wanted to do, and then sometimes we just have to adjust. We also have Dr. Erin [Macdonald], who is our science advisor, and she’ll get every script, because part of what feels right about Star Trek is that the science actually makes sense, even if we’re doing something silly. She does a pass on every script to make sure that I’m not making stuff up that’s crazy. And then we have the Star Trek franchise team, like John Van Citters and Marian Cordry and Dayton Ward. Not only have they worked on so many episodes of Trek, but also on all of the side stuff, the comics and the books and everything. I’ll have them look at everything and make sure that it passes the sniff test with them too. So, like, we would have a lot of Star Trek fans, you know, watching the stuff and like, the reviews we always got were, “Oh, yeah, a new Lower Decks episode just came in!” You know what I mean? It felt like we were doing something right. Like in almost any show, but especially in comedy, there’s usually a period early on where the writers and the actors are all kind of figuring out the characters together. Like how it takes a season and a half for TNG to really find Will Riker as he gradually becomes more like Frakes. And I’m curious how the animation workflow affects something like this, going back and forth between writer, actor, and animator. It really does feel when you see interviews with Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid and Noël Wells and Eugene Cordero, that there’s so much of them in these characters. Yeah. Do you feel like you can pinpoint a moment where you all found your stride, and how did it come about? It kind of came about naturally. It was, you know, I had done a lot of direct, like, voice directing on Rick and Morty and on Solar Opposites . So, when we started recording Lower Decks , I just kind of put them through hell at first. Like, I would have Tawny do, like, 25 takes of each line, and then we found those characters together. And, over time, Brad, my producer, also was able to start voice directing the show primarily because over time, we all started to understand the characters together. Not only from watching the show together and performing the show together, but Tawny and Eugene were going to conventions and having really interesting conversations with fans of the show and with actors on other Star Trek shows. Like, at first there were no wrong answers. And then over time, as you start to learn the characters, it’s like, “Oh, Rutherford wouldn’t say that. What’s a Rutherford way to say that?” And you don’t have that at first because you don’t know Rutherford. But I think it just speaks to the patience and the talent of the cast. We really lucked out in some respects in casting, that we made some right choices right off the bat. Jack Quaid didn’t know anything about Star Trek coming in, but he’s an amazing actor and he’s super funny. And he wanted to know about Star Trek. He wanted to know what it means to be in love with Starfleet. Every actor had that desire. There wasn’t really any one miracle moment. It was just really loving to work with this cast, really believing in the scripts and the cast thinking they’re funny too. Nobody was at odds with each other and there was tons of communication. Anybody on the cast could call and ask questions beforehand or when we’re there, and we were never trying to force them into something. We were trying to find the best version all together from the very first episode. Well, now you’ve got sort of a legacy being built out of that experience. Tawny’s in the writers room for one Star Trek show and apparently developing another one, which I’m sure you can’t tell me anything about. I can’t, but Tawny’s a genius and everybody she’s working with seems amazing. Like, everybody on the show feels like a mega star I got before the rest of everybody else found out. You know what I mean? So, yeah, I would think Tawny can do literally anything that she wants to do in this world. And on top of that, just wrapping up here, can you tell me anything about Starbase 80? Starbase 80 smells really weird; its systems are very old. It’s like a mix of Enterprise , TOS , lots of stuff. Are we going to be going there again? I would love to go there again. There are no plans to go there again. I pitched a Starbase 80 spinoff to CBS like, three years ago, which is where a lot of this came from. I would love to go back to Starbase 80, but right now there are no plans to do it. Entertainment Q&A Sci-fi Star Trek TVThe ISWAN Seminar 2024 in India, hosted at the Maritime Training Institute (SCI) in Mumbai, brought together key maritime stakeholders to address pressing challenges affecting seafarers and their families. Over 150 participants, including maritime leaders, policymakers, shipping executives, welfare organizations, seafarers, their families and academics, convened to explore topics ranging from discussions on family support, fraudulent crewing agents, and the impact of decarbonization on seafarers’ well-being, alongside key launches and collaborative announcements. The seminar started with a welcome address by Mr. Deepak Shetty, IRS (Retd.), Former Secretary to the Government of India, Director General of Shipping, and ISWAN Trustee, who emphasized the significance of industry collaboration in enhancing welfare initiatives. This was followed by addresses from distinguished guests: Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Kaushik, Dean of Academic Affairs, Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), emphasized the importance of addressing legal complexities in the maritime sector, particularly those concerning fraudulent crewing practices. She highlighted GMU’s pivotal role in advancing maritime welfare research through initiatives like the GMU-ISWAN survey on fraudulent crewing agents. Prof. Kaushik also underscored the university’s commitment to fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and welfare organizations to create robust legal frameworks and promote ethical practices in the maritime domain. Capt. J. C. Anand, Chairman Emeritus, the Indian Register of Shipping, and the senior-most member of the Indian maritime industry at 103 years of age, captivated the audience with his address. He stressed the importance of training seafarers and upholding ethical practices in maritime operations and reflected on the industry’s evolving landscape over the decades. Mr. Rene Anderson, CEO, Sea Health and Welfare, spoke about the significance of holistic welfare approaches for seafarers. He highlighted the parallels between ISWAN’s work and Sea Health’s initiatives, emphasizing collaboration for the well-being of maritime professionals. Mr. Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping, India, delivered the Chief Guest’s address, focusing on regulatory measures designed to support seafarers. He spoke about the Directorate’s commitment to digitizing grievance redressal mechanisms and simplifying processes to ensure timely assistance for seafarers in need. He also mentioned the MOU with ISWAN as a testament to this effort. Capt. Daniel Joseph, Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG (Tech), Directorate General of Shipping, reinforced the Director General’s vision, commending ISWAN for its welfare programs. He emphasized India’s proactive approach to ensuring maritime safety and support for its seafarers. Commander Abeer Sharma, representing the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (Indian Navy), provided an operational perspective on maritime security. He addressed geopolitical challenges in West Asia, maritime threats, and the importance of collaborative knowledge sharing between the Navy and the maritime industry. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, offering deeper insights into India’s maritime preparedness. Panel Discussions- Family Support in Seafaring This panel explored the importance of families in bolstering seafarers’ mental well-being and resilience. Moderated by Mr. Simon Grainge, Chief Executive at ISWAN, the discussion covered strategies to strengthen family systems and the industry’s role in addressing challenges faced by seafarers’ loved ones. Panellists: Dr. Harish Shetty, Senior Psychiatrist Ms. Saleha Shaikh, Founder & Head, MUI Women’s Wing Capt. Karan Kochhar, Managing Director, Maersk Capt. Sharad Kishore, Master Mariner The Impact of Recruitment Fraud on Indian Seafarers Based on the GMU-ISWAN survey findings, this panel focused on the prevalence and consequences of fraudulent recruitment practices, featuring the testimony of Sumeet Vishwakarma, who shared his experience as a victim of such practices. Moderated by Mr. Alexander Held, Head of Commercial Turtle, the session highlighted legal, regulatory, and educational interventions to protect seafarers from exploitation. Panellists: Capt. Manish Kumar, Nautical Surveyor, Directorate General of Shipping Dr. Mohit Gupta, Assistant Professor, Gujarat Maritime University Mr. Marville Espago, Regional Manager, ISWAN Philippines Mr. Sumeet Vishwakarma, Seafarer The Impact of Decarbonisation on the Welfare of Seafarers This discussion addressed the complex challenges posed by the industry’s shift towards decarbonization. Moderated by Mr. Rajeev Nayyer, President of the Institute of Marine Engineers (India), panellists reflected on the balance between achieving environmental goals and ensuring the well-being and preparedness of seafarers. Panellists: Ms. Louise Hall, Director of Loss Prevention, Corporate Responsibility, and Marketing, The Shipowners’ Club Mr. Kaushik Seal, Director, Slabs Consultancy Pvt Ltd Mr. Karan Ahuja, Chief Engineer Mr. Chirag Bahri, International Operations Manager, ISWAN Launches and Partnerships- Family Outreach Programme (FOP): ISWAN marked a milestone with the launch of the FOP in India, building on its success in the Philippines. After a trial phase in September 2024, the program is now officially live and forms an integral part of ISWAN’s Seafarers’ Education and Awareness Session (SEAS) project. The FOP aims to provide comprehensive support to seafarers’ families, recognizing their critical role in the seafaring community. GMU-ISWAN Research Report: In collaboration with Gujarat Maritime University, ISWAN launched a research report addressing the pressing issue of fraudulent crewing agents in India. The report provides actionable insights and recommendations to protect seafarers from exploitation, spotlighting the importance of ethical recruitment practices in the maritime industry. MoU Signing with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS): ISWAN and TISS formalized a significant partnership aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of seafarers and their families. The collaboration leverages TISS’s expertise, including its iCall helpline—a free mental health support service available to all. This MoU underscores a commitment to creating meaningful mental health interventions for the maritime community. Concluding Remarks by Mr. Simon Grainge Mr. Simon Grainge, Chief Executive at ISWAN, delivered the closing remarks, summarizing the seminar’s impactful discussions. He highlighted key takeaways from the day, including the focus on mental health, maritime security, decarbonization’s impact on welfare, and the urgent need to address fraudulent recruitment practices. He appreciated the contributions of esteemed speakers for providing actionable insights. Mr. Grainge reiterated ISWAN’s commitment to working collaboratively with industry leaders, government bodies, and academic institutions to drive meaningful changes for seafarers and their families. Vote of Thanks by Mr. Chirag Bahri In his vote of thanks, Mr. Chirag Bahri, International Operations Manager at ISWAN, expressed gratitude to all participants, including esteemed guests for their invaluable contributions. He acknowledged the efforts of moderators and panellists from the day’s sessions for fostering constructive dialogue. Mr. Bahri also extended heartfelt thanks to the sponsors and supporting organisations for their support and emphasized the importance of collective efforts in advancing seafarer welfare initiatives. The seminar also featured an interactive app-based contest, with the winner receiving a Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth speaker sponsored by Sailor Today Radio. Acknowledgements ISWAN extends its heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors, whose generous support made the ISWAN Seminar 2024 a resounding success: Platinum Sponsor: Gujarat Maritime University Gold Sponsors: Fleet Management, Kandla Seafarers Welfare Association, Maersk Silver Sponsors: Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, Bahri Ship Management, Campbell Shipping, Emarat Maritime LLC, Mayfair We Care, OSM Thome Bronze Sponsors: Teekay, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Marlow Navigation Crew & Ship Management, MMS Maritime (India), Sea Bird Medicare, Equitas Small Finance Bank Radio Sponsor: Sailor Today Radio Media Sponsor: Marex Media Additionally, ISWAN acknowledges the contributions of the Supporting Organizations, which included: The Company of Master Mariners of India, NAUGHTICA-Offing Group, FOSMA, Institute of Marine Engineers (India), INSA, MASSA, Maritime Training Institute (SCI), TURTLE, and The Shipowners’ Club. This collective effort demonstrates the maritime community’s shared commitment to enhancing the welfare of seafarers and their families. Looking Ahead The ISWAN Seminar 2024 offered valuable insights into enhancing welfare programs amidst the ongoing challenges faced by the industry. Source: International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)
Apple users waiting for the company to release a foldable iPhone may not have to wait much longer, with the company reportedly planning to release one soon. Apple’s iPhone represents roughly half of the company’s revenue, but designs in recent years have largely stagnated, offering users only incremental improvements. As a result, sales have largely plateaued as the company has struggled to convince users to upgrade to models that don’t offer much more than the ones they already have. According to , Apple is preparing two major upgrades to its iPhone lineup. The first is a thinner model, less than the current models’ 8-millimeter design. says Apple intends to price the thinner phone at a point less than the Pro model. The new model is expected next year. Meanwhile, the company is also working on not one but two foldable devices. reports that one of the models blurs the lines between tablet and laptop, with a screen that folds out to a whopping 19 inches. The second model is a more traditionally sized phone, which will be larger than an iPhone 16 Pro Max when it is unfolded. Apple has long been rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone but has not been satisfied by the limits of the technology. The company is known for creating some of the best-designed phones in the industry, with a near-maniacal focus on design. While foldable phones provide some significant advantages over traditional models, they also come with some equally significant trade-offs, especially when it comes to durability and battery life. The fact that Apple appears to be closing in on a foldable release would seem to indicate that the company believes technology has finally reached a point where it can release a phone with minimal compromises. Either that or Apple is so desperate to jumpstart iPhone sales that it’s finally willing to accept the compromises that come along with such devices.Larry Wilson: The lost art of college students talking to each otherSSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages
PACS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: PACS Group Investors With Losses Are Notified Of January 13 Deadline In Securities Fraud Class Action Contact BFA Law (NYSE:PACS)
2d illustrations and photos/iStock via Getty Images Credo Technology ( NASDAQ: CRDO ) shares surged 28% in late trading on Monday after the technology company reported fiscal second-quarter results and guidance that blew past expectations. For the period ending November 2, Credo, which makes connectivity solutions for optical and Ethernet applications, said it earned an adjusted $0.07
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Veering toward a midnight Friday government shutdown , House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a new plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, but punted President-elect Donald Trump demands for a debt limit increase into the new year. House Republicans have been meeting behind closed doors on next steps after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a debt ceiling increase be included in any deal — and if not, he said in an early morning post, let the closures “start now.” “We will not have a government shutdown,” Johnson said as he left the basement session at the Capitol. Johnson set a vote for Friday evening, but the outcome was uncertain. He declined to disclose the new idea under consideration but lawmakers said it would fund the government at current levels through March and adds $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers. Gone would be Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling, which GOP leaders told lawmakers would be debated as part of their tax and border packages in the new year. "So is this a Republican bill or a Democrat bill?" scoffed Trump ally Elon Musk on social media. It is almost impossible to meet Trump's last-minute pressure. Johnson knows there won't be enough support within the GOP majority to pass any package, since many Republicans prefer to slash federal government rather than fund it, and won't allow more debt. Instead, Johnson has been in talks Friday with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries , whose party's support will be needed to ensure passage of any deal. Democrats, though, have been cool to Johnson's efforts after he reneged on their original bipartisan compromise. Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power and limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago, alongside his billionaire ally Elon Musk , who is heading up the incoming administration's new Department of Government Efficiency. “If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now,” Trump posted early in the morning on social media. Trump does not fear government shutdowns the way Johnson and the lawmakers see federal closures as political losers that harm the livelihoods of Americans. The incoming Trump administration vows to slash the federal budget and fire thousands of employees . Trump himself sparked the longest government shutdown in history in his first term at the White House, the monthlong closures over the 2018-19 Christmas holiday and New Year period. More importantly for the president-elect is his demand for pushing the thorny debt ceiling debate off the table before he returns to the White House. The federal debt limit expires Jan. 1, and Trump doesn't want the first months of his new administration saddled with tough negotiations in Congress to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. It gives Democrats, who will be in the minority next year, leverage. “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump posted — increasing his demand for a now five-year debt limit increase. "Without this, we should never make a deal." Johnson is racing behind closed doors to prevent a shutdown, but his influence has its limits. Trump and Musk unleashed their opposition — and social media army — on the original plan Johnson presented, which was a 1,500-page bipartisan compromise he struck with Democrats that included the disaster aid for hard hit states, but did not address the debt ceiling situation. A Trump-backed second plan, Thursday's slimmed down 116-page bill with his preferred two-year debt limit increase into 2027, failed in a monumental defeat, rejected by most Democrats as an unserious effort — but also Republicans who refuse to pile on the nation's red ink. On Friday morning, Vice President-elect JD Vance arrived early at the speaker's office at the Capitol, where a group of the most hardline Republican holdouts from the House Freedom Caucus were meeting with Johnson. At one point during the lunchtime meeting of House Republicans, Johnson asked for a show of hands as they determined the path forward, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman said. Government workers have already been told to prepare for a federal shutdown which would send millions of employees — and members of the military — into the holiday season without paychecks. “Welcome back to the MAGA swamp,” the House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted. “That is why our country is on the brink of a government shutdown that will crash the economy, hurt working class Americans and likely be the longest in history.” Jeffries was communicating with Johnson on the path forward, according to multiple people in a closed-door Democratic Caucus meeting. In the Senate, which is controlled by the Democrats for a few more weeks, there are talks of trying to push forward the original package, the bipartisan compromise that Johnson, Jeffries and the Senate leaders had negotiated to strike a deal earlier this week. That would be difficult, but not impossible. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the original agreement “the quickest, simplest, and easiest way we can make sure the government stays open while delivering critical emergency aid to the American people.” “I’m ready to stay here through Christmas because we’re not going to let Elon Musk run the government," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the chair of the Appropriations Committee who was instrumental in that first deal. “We had a bipartisan deal—we should stick to it.” President Joe Biden, in his final weeks in office, has played a less public role in the debate, drawing criticism from Trump and Republicans who are trying to shift the blame for any shutdown on him. Biden has been in discussions with Schumer and Jeffries, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday. But she said, “Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix this.” Johnson faces an enormous task as he tries to keep government running, appease Trump — and save his own job. The speaker's election is the first vote of the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, and Johnson will need the support of almost every single House Republican from his razor-thin majority to ensure he can keep the gavel. Democrats will vote for Jeffries. As the speaker twisted in Washington, his peril was on display. At Turning Point USA’s conservative AmericaFest confab, Trump ally Steven Bannon stirred thousands of activists late Thursday with a withering takedown of the Louisiana Republican. “Clearly, Johnson is not up to the task. He’s gotta go,” Bannon said, drawing cheers. He smiled and cocked his head at the response, “President Trump? These are your people.” Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Darlene Superville and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.Tait-Jones scores 21 as UC San Diego defeats James Madison 73-67