Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused the Centre of “denying” Manmohan Singh’s family the right to perform his last rites at a befitting site for his memorial and alleged that it was an insult to the departed leader’s towering legacy and the Sikh community. In a post on ‘X’, Stalin said: “The BJP government’s decision to deny Dr. #ManmohanSingh’s family the right to perform his last rites at a befitting site for his memorial is a direct insult to his towering legacy and the Sikh community. Refusing the family’s request and relegating a two-term Prime Minister to Nigambodh Ghat reeks of arrogance, bias and a deliberate attempt to erase his immense contributions from public memory.” The BJP government’s decision to deny Dr. #ManmohanSingh ’s family the right to perform his last rites at a befitting site for his memorial is a direct insult to his towering legacy and the Sikh community. Refusing the family’s request and relegating a two-term Prime Minister to... Further, he said: “Dr Manmohan Singh’s leadership transformed India’s economy and lifted millions out of poverty. To disrespect a statesman of his stature is to disrespect India’s progress itself. The stain of dishonouring great leaders never fades from history! Stalin-led DMK is a key ally of the Congress party, which has accused the Centre of insulting Manmohan Singh, the country’s first Sikh prime minister, by carrying out his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could later become his memorial.Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami's Cam Ward were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday night. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami's Cam Ward were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday night. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami’s Cam Ward were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday night. The Heisman has been given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year’s winner will be announced Saturday in New York. The top four top vote-getters determined by more than 900 voters — the panel includes members of the media and former Heisman winners — are selected as finalists. A look at each of the finalist’s road to Manhattan. Gabriel Gabriel, who transferred from Oklahoma in the offseason, led unbeaten and top-ranked Oregon to the Big Ten championship in its first year in the league. Gabriel averages 274 yards passing per game and has thrown for 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate is second in the nation. Hunter Hunter, a two-way star, was named All-Big 12 first-team receiver and earned honorable mention for offensive player of the year. He leads the Big 12 with 92 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns and is second with 1,152 yards. His 21 receiving plays of 20-plus yards lead the nation. He also is Big 12 defensive player of the year and a unanimous first-team defensive back after recording 31 tackles, tying for the Big 12 lead with 11 pass breakups and tying for second with four interceptions. Jeanty Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The junior running back has had one of the most productive seasons in college football history. His 2,497 yards rushing are the fourth-highest single-season total in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and his 192.1 yards per game lead the nation and are 58 more than the next highest average. He’s the first FBS player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season since 2019. Ward The Miami quarterback was named Associated Press offensive player of the year and newcomer of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday after averaging 343.6 yards passing per game. He leads the nation with 36 touchdown passes and has been intercepted just seven times. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Advertisement AdvertisementNone
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) shared on its social media post on Friday that the airport has completed a major phase in its ongoing transformation with the successful rehabilitation of its primary runway. Beginning in April 2023 and ending at the end of this year, the $65 million project is expected to improve durability, safety, and operational efficiency, allowing the airport to grow for up to 20 years. Investing up to $1 billion in modernizing and expanding the airport infrastructure, the airport's broader " TransformORF " capital improvement program includes this endeavor as a major component. New runway surface improves operations Resurfacing the two 1,500-foot segments at each end of Runway 05/23, the airport's main commercial runway, was the main goal of the rehabilitation project. While the southern end was being worked on from April to November of this year, the northern end took place from April through November 2023. In this stage of the project, old concrete surfaces were swapped out for new, stronger asphalt, which enhanced the runway's functionality and future repairability. Mark Perryman, president and CEO of the Norfolk Airport Authority, emphasized the importance of the upgrades, noting that the improvements directly impact the airport’s ability to maintain safe and efficient operations. “ The new asphalt ends of Runway 05/23 offer a smoother surface for departing and arriving aircraft. They are also more easily repairable whenever runway maintenance may be needed in the future ,” Perryman said, according to The Virginian-Pilot . Runway 05/23, which spans 9,001 feet, can accommodate most commercial aircraft, supporting flights to destinations across the United States, the Caribbean, and Western Europe. According to the airport authorities, the recently resurfaced runway is essential for satisfying the airport's growing demand, which includes over 75,000 takeoffs and landings a year. Minimizing disruptions To minimize disruptions to airport operations during the renovation, the project was carried out in phases. Work was strategically scheduled between the spring and fall months, ensuring that the runway was fully operational for winter weather conditions. In total, the construction took place over two years, with the final phase completed in November 2024. Environmental considerations were a key part of the project. The old concrete sections were crushed and used as the base for the new asphalt overlay, reducing the need for hauling waste to nearby landfills, Williamsburg Yorktown Daily reported . According to the Norfolk Airport Authority, this approach avoided 460 tons of CO2 emissions, 52,000 gallons of gasoline used, and around 33,000 cubic yards of garbage from landfills. From the details shared by The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia Paving Company was the main contractor for the runway rehabilitation, with assistance from partners including Atlantic Electric, Flight Tech Engineering, and Kimley-Horn Engineering. During previous phases in 2018 and 2020, the airport also completed other relevant upgrades, such as rebuilding parts of the taxiways and replacing centerline lighting. The airport set a new record for intercepting firearms. A growing hub for the region The airport has seen impressive growth in passenger numbers in recent years. By September 2023, the airport was on track to match or exceed its pre-pandemic traffic numbers from 2019. This growth is expected to continue, with major improvements on the horizon to the terminal, parking, and other facilities. Simple Flying recently reported that Norfolk International Airport is adding a third concourse, modernizing its terminal, and building an international arrivals area to accommodate increased international travel. A new multi-story parking garage, a consolidated rental car facility, and expanded cargo handling facilities are also in the works. To accommodate future passenger demand, the airport is also looking at the feasibility of adding a third parallel runway. Norfolk International Airport is ready to handle both business and leisure travel for the next 20 years. The ariport serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina, including Norfolk, Newport News and Williamsburg.
DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Robert Hinton scored 15 points as Harvard beat New Hampshire 72-62 on Sunday. Hinton shot 5 of 11 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line for the Crimson (3-7). Chandler Pigge scored 14 points while going 6 of 9 from the field and added nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Louis Lesmond had 13 points and shot 4 for 7 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Anthony McComb III led the Wildcats (2-11) in scoring, finishing with 21 points. Sami Pissis added 16 points and two steals for New Hampshire. Caleb Middleton had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Harvard's next game is Saturday against Furman at home, and New Hampshire visits Stonehill on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Average temperature: High 72, Low 50 Rainfall: 2.43 inches First quarter: Jan. 6 Full moon: Jan. 13 Last quarter: Jan. 21 New moon: Jan. 29 Above-ground crops: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 31 Below-ground crops: 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 Control weeds: 1, 2, 10, 11, 29, 30 Prune trees and shrubs: 6, 7, 14, 15, 24, 25 3. Flowers: Alyssum, baby’s breath, calendula, California poppy, cleome, candytuft, carnation, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, gaillardia, geranium, godetia, hollyhock, Iceland poppy, lobelia, nasturtium, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansy, petunia, shasta daisy, statice, stock and sweet pea 4. Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion sets, peas, potatoes, radicchio, radishes, roquette, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips 5. Herbs: Anise, bay laurel, cardamom, chives, coriander, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme and watercress 6. Bulbs: African iris, Asiatic lilies, amaryllis, blood lilies, bulbine, crinum, day lilies, Louisiana iris, society garlic, spider lilies, rain lilies, refrigerated Dutch iris, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for forcing 7 . Cared-for lawns are looking good and green as most turf likes cool weather. 8 . Expect some cold weather to discolor lawns which should recover with normal care. 9 . One benefit of the cold is declining weeds; remove and fill bare spots with sod. 10 . Once-a-week watering is the rule and normally adequate at this time of the year. 11 . Continue to mow growing turf to keep a uniform look and control weeds. 12. Feeding time is over until late winter for lawns. 13. Try regreening yellow lawns with an iron or minor nutrient application if needed. 14. Large tan circular spots in lawns are likely due to the brown or large patch fungus. 15 . Brown patch affected lawns should recover; apply a fungicide to prevent further damage. 16 . Spot kill patches of persistent winter weeds with a selective herbicide for your lawn type. 17. Fill in bare spots with sod or plugs; delay seeding of permanent grass until spring. 18. Ryegrass can be seeded to temporarily regreen brown turf or fill bare areas. 19 . Limit turf to what’s needed for family play and enjoyment. 20 . Turn sprinklers off when freezing weather is expected. 21 . Perform annual maintenance on lawn care equipment. 22 . Landscape plants made good fall growth which slows during winter. 23 . Learn what plants need winter protection; many benefit from the cold. 24 . Only protect cold sensitive plants from frosts and freezes. 25 . Thick fabric covers secured to the ground are the best cold protection. 26 . Turn off automatic irrigation systems during freezing weather. 27 . Replant declining warm season flowers with hardy cool season selections. 28 . Reduce landscape maintenance by planting fewer annuals and more perennials. 29 . Container gardens are a good way to enjoy plants in the landscape. 30. Add hanging baskets of color where they can be easily seen. 31 . Feed container gardens weekly if needed for growth; in ground annual plantings monthly. 32 . Annuals and perennials need watering one or more times a week. 33 . Check mulch layers and topdress as needed to conserve water. 34 . Winter is a good time to add hardy trees, shrubs and vines to the landscape. 35 . Make sure root balls are moist at planting time: add a berm to direct water through root balls 36 . New trees, shrubs and vines need frequent hand watering to keep their root balls moist. 37 . Leaves are falling from trees and shrubs; use as mulch or add to the compost pile. 38 . January is a good time to begin yearly pruning of trees and shrubs. 39 . Trim dead, storm damaged or declining portions from trees and shrubs. 40 . Schedule major tree trimming now to be ready for stormy 2025 weather. 41 . Crape myrtle grooming can begin this month; remove only the seed heads and small twigs. 42 . Remove dead fronds and old seed heads from palms but keep the good green leaves. 43 . Groom landscapes by edging beds and walkways. 44 . Divide and replant perennials. 45 . Install micro-sprinklers to conserve water and water only where needed. 46 . Catch and store rainwater to use with container and landscape plantings. 47 . Groom hanging baskets and planters by removing old flowers and lanky stems. 48 . Protect orchids and tropical foliage plants from temperatures below 45 degrees. 49 . Test soil acidity in azalea, philodendron and ixora plantings and adjust if needed. 50 . Turn Christmas trees into wildlife feeders or mulch for the landscape. 51 . Dig and move trees and shrubs from one area of the landscape to another. 52 . Repair gardening equipment. 53 . Place bird houses, feeders and baths in the landscape. 54 . Add ornaments including statuary, a gazing ball or a sundial to the landscape. 55 . Repair wooden benches and chairs. 56 . Many fall crops were poor performers due to weather; remove and plant cool season types. 57 . Cloth covers, loose hay, and boxes may be needed for protection from frost or freezes. 58 . Feed winter vegetables and herbs every 3 to 4 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer. 59 . Lightly mulch gardens to keep the soil moist, control weeds and keep edibles dirt free. 60 . Start seeds of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in early January for March transplants. 61 . Prepare spring planting sites by adding lots of organic matter to sandy soils. 62 . Encourage pollinators to visit by planting clusters of flowers among vegetables. 63 . Save shipping charges; locate seeds, bulbs and transplants locally. 64 . Store saved seeds in the refrigerator in a sealed container until planting time. 65 . Add bird netting to strawberry plantings. 66 . Caterpillars are common cool season pests; control by handpicking or natural sprays. 67 . Harvest herbs and start new plants to have a continual supply. 68 . Prune time has arrived for apple, grape, peach, pear and fig plantings. 69 . Plant hardy fruit trees, shrubs and vines. 70 . An acid soil is needed for blueberry production; have your soil tested before planting. Indoor and foliage plant care 71 . Live plants make the indoors attractive and help purify the air. 72 . Cactus and succulents are being rediscovered as low maintenance indoor plants. 73 . Check out new lighting systems that make it easier to grow plants indoors. 74 . Enjoy holiday plants as long as they remain attractive; as they decline move them outdoors 75 . Keep existing plants a lot longer by giving them at least weekly care. 76 . Check foliage plants brought indoors from the landscape for pests. 77 . Use a mild soapy solution to wash indoor foliage to remove dust and control pests. 78 . Trim off yellow leaves and declining flower stalks. 79 . Move declining plants into the higher light levels. 80 . Water foliage plants when the soil dries to the touch. Tom MacCubbin is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com .
Matthew Knies Is Growing Into the Maple Leafs X-Factor
The average daily turnover in the cash segment of the stock exchanges is showing early signs of revival after falling steadily for the last six months. Most retail investors stayed away from the market after the sudden sharp fall prompted by the pullout of foreign portfolio investors. However, retail investors are now taking advantage of volatility in the equity market and using the occasional bearish trend to make fresh investments. The ADT on NSE fell 32 per cent in December to ₹1,03,292 crore, down from ₹1,52,907 crore in July. In fact, the ADT has been steadily falling ever since July but recovered marginally by two per cent to ₹1,03,292 in December, up from ₹1,00,853 crore logged November. Similarly, the ADT on BSE was down 43 per cent in December to ₹6,758 crore, compared to t ₹11,947 crore logged in July. However, sequentially, it was up 7 per cent in December compared to ₹Rs 6,330 crore in November. Swapnil Aggarwal, Director, VSRK Capital said the steady decline in equity cash market turnover can be attributed to several factors, including increased market volatility and regulatory changes in the derivatives market, which have influenced investor sentiment. The consistent rise in SIP inflows indicates a growing preference for mutual funds, as investors increasingly choose professionally managed funds over direct market participation, he said. This shift could be viewed as a positive trend, as it reflects retail investors’ inclination toward disciplined, long-term wealth creation strategies rather than speculative trading, he added. Foreign investors consistently book profits in the secondary market and investing in primary market. FPIs have sold ₹1.19 lakh crore of their equity investments so far this year. They have invested ₹17,331 crore through the primary market in the last 27 days alone. However, the propensity of FPIs selling has slowed down in December compared to the previous two months. Sriram BKR, Senior Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services said turnover on stock exchanges usually spikes alongside positive rallies and tapers during times of fall or higher volatility. Retail participation was largely seen in the mid-, small- and micro-cap universe, and even that evaporated in October and November, he said. Interestingly, he added that during the same period MF inflows were steady, suggesting that some investors might have turned to MFs instead of investing in stocks directly. CommentsCHESTERLAND, Ohio — Matt Rosati is cleared to return as football coach at West Geauga for the offseason and into next season after the school cleared him of any wrongdoing, according to reports by the News-Herald and Geauga County Maple Leaf . The school placed him on administration leave last month, pending an investigation into complaints that Rosati’s attorney called “nothing more than the cliché of a few disgruntled parents and players.” Attorney Vincent J. Calo followed up last week with a statement that Rosati received a letter from the school district, reinstating him as a teacher and football coach after finding “insufficient evidence to warrant a pre-disciplinary hearing.” The Geauga County Maple Leaf followed up Thursday by citing that letter to West Geauga superintendent Richard Markwardt. Calo added that Rosati “is thankful to WGSD for reaching the correct conclusion in this matter. Mr. Rosati has prided himself on helping instill integrity, accountability, and work ethic in his students and athletes during his stellar 35-year career. Allegations of any misconduct directed at him were vehemently denied at the onset of this matter.” RECOMMENDED • cleveland .com Geauga commissioners say they need time to mull over Grendell’s request for $300,000 for legal fees Nov. 19, 2024, 1:58 p.m. Grendell requests $300,000 from Geauga commissioners to fight disciplinary charges Nov. 18, 2024, 2:35 p.m. While West Geauga finished this season 2-8, Rosati missed the final two games while on administrative leave. It marked his third season at the school and second stint with the program, where he won 69 games from 1996 to 2007, before leading Perry to 111 victories and a Division IV state semifinal run in 2016 with three more regional final appearances. Calo added, “During this extremely stressful process, Coach Rosati has been overwhelmed and truly thankful for the outpouring of support he received from the community; alumni from 22 states; fellow coaches and teachers; administrators and athletic directors he has worked with for the past 35 years; friends and family. He looks forward to resuming his career as a teacher and coach and helping lead young men and women.” Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on X ( @mgoul ), Threads ( @mgoul ) or email ( mgoul@cleveland.com ).NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin extended its streak of record highs after ticking above $99,000 for the first time. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Now, bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . The dramatic rally rolls on as industry players expect the incoming Trump administration to bring a more “crypto-friendly” approach toward regulating the digital currency. Bitcoin was trading at $99,526 Friday afternoon, according to CoinDesk. As with everything in the volatile crypto markets, the future is impossible to know. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But, chances are, you've heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump’s victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, recently pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. How of this will actually pan out — and whether or not Trump will successfully act quickly on these promises — has yet to be seen. “This is not necessarily a short-term story, it’s likely a much longer-term story," Citi macro strategist David Glass told The Associated Press last week. "And there is the question of how quickly can U.S. crypto policy make a serious impact on (wider adoption).” One step Trump must take in the short-term is name a new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shares oversight of cryptocurrencies. Gary Gensler, current chair of the SEC, has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on crypto over recent years, penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. But he's also faced criticism from industry players in the process, like the chief legal officer of Robinhood , who described Gensler's approach toward crypto as “rigid” and "hostile.” Gensler will step down in January when Trump takes office. Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, thinks the industry is craving “just some sort of clarity.” Much of the approach to regulating crypto in the past has been “enforcement based,” he notes, which has been helpful in weeding out some bad actors — but legislation might fill in other key gaps. Despite crypto’s recent excitement around Trump, McCarthy said that 2024 has already been a “hugely consequential year for regulation in the U.S.” — pointing to January’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, for example, which mark a new way to invest in the asset. Spot ETFs have been the dominant driver of bitcoin for some time now — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. According to Kaiko , bitcoin ETFs recorded $6 billion in trade volume for the week of the election alone. In April, bitcoin also saw its fourth “halving” — a preprogrammed event that impacts production by cutting the reward for mining, or the creation of new bitcoin, in half. In theory, if demand remains strong, some analysts say this “supply shock” can also help propel the price long term. Others note it may be too early to tell. History shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of Federal Reserve rate hikes. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs. But experts still stress caution, especially for small-pocketed investors. And lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to," McCarthy said — adding that there isn't a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Assets like bitcoin are produced through a process called “mining,” which consumes a lot of energy. Operations relying on pollutive sources have drawn particular concern over the years. Recent research published by the United Nations University and Earth’s Future journal found that the carbon footprint of 2020-2021 bitcoin mining across 76 nations was equivalent to the emissions from burning 84 billion pounds of coal or running 190 natural gas-fired power plants. Coal satisfied the bulk of bitcoin’s electricity demands (45%), followed by natural gas (21%) and hydropower (16%). Environmental impacts of bitcoin mining boil largely down to the energy source used. Industry analysts have maintained that clean energy has increased in use in recent years, coinciding with rising calls for climate protections
Dominant defense leads UConn to 27-14 win over North Carolina in Fenway Bowl