Veteran banker Chitral De Silva joins SDB bank leadership team
Tech billionaire Elon Musk spent at least $270 million to help Donald Trump win the US presidency, according to new federal filings, making him the country's biggest political donor. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Musk, the world's richest person, was an ardent supporter of Trump's White House campaign -- funneling money into door knocking operations and speaking at his rallies. His financial backing, which has earned him a cost-cutting advisory role in Trump's incoming government, surpassed spending by any single political donor since at least 2010, according to data from nonprofit OpenSecrets. The Washington Post reported that Musk spent more this election cycle than Trump backer Tim Mellon, who gave nearly $200 million and was previously the Republican's top donor. Musk donated $238 million to America PAC, a political action committee that he founded to support Trump, filings late Thursday with the Federal Election Commission showed. An additional $20 million went to the RBG PAC, a group that used advertising to soften Trump's hardline reputation on the key voter issue of abortion. Musk has been an ever-present sidekick for Trump since his election victory in November, inviting him to watch a rocket launch in Texas by his SpaceX company. Trump has selected the South African-born tycoon and fellow ally Vivek Ramaswamy to head the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, through which the pair have promised to deliver billions of dollars of cuts in federal spending. However, with Musk's businesses all having varying degrees of interactions with US and foreign governments, his new position also raises concerns about conflict of interest. The president-elect has nominated several people close to Musk for roles in his administration, including investor David Sacks as the so-called AI and crypto czar. Meanwhile, billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman, who has collaborated with Musk's SpaceX, was named the head of US space agency NASA. pgf-bjt/acbThis year, Kim Stark’s kids took responsibility for decorating the family Christmas tree. Ornaments include toy cars, puzzle pieces, string and a pair of binoculars — things her three young daughters had handy after the family lost their home in summer’s devastating Jasper wildfire. “I have the most wonderful tree on the planet,” said Stark. “It’s part of our story and part of who we are. “If (the kids) are happy, I’m happy.” Stark is part of the fabric of the Jasper townsite, a 10-year member of the fire department and owner of a coffee shop and bakery. Her family, plus three furry pets and a fish, are living in a condo as they navigate rebuilding their home. “(The kids) miss our house, and we talk about our house,” said Stark. “We make sure we go to our neighbourhood, so that it doesn’t become somebody else’s neighbourhood.” Stark and other residents are anxious and nervous for the future following the fire that hit the town July 24. About 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors were safely evacuated before the fire breached the western edge of town and destroyed 350 homes and businesses, including 820 housings units. The Insurance Bureau of Canada pegged the damage at $880 million. Six months after the fire, debris is still being cleared — lot by lot. Locals including Stark are quick to say things could have been worse. But anxiety over temporary living situations and what may be a long and slow rebuild process has many residents and municipal leaders feeling unsettled heading into 2025. For Sabrina Charlebois and David Leoni, the top concern is the Alberta government’s $112-million modular housing project. It’s to put up 250 pre-built rental units in the town and rent them to those displaced by the fire. Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said the first homes should be ready by late January or early February, with the rest in April. The majority are to be multi-bedroom suites to accommodate families. “If we can get all of our approvals on time, we definitely are on time to be able to build in the context of what we promised,” Nixon said. It’s complicated, he added, given there are layers of government with an Alberta town in a national park. Charlebois was born and raised in Jasper. The fire destroyed her childhood home, which her late father built, as well as the salon where she worked. “It’s better than nothing,” she said of the housing project, noting at least 2,000 residents were displaced so demand could outnumber the new units. Charlebois, who has been staying in a hotel, said it’s understandable projects like this take time. But “we’re six months into this, and there’s no homes for anyone.” “My fear is not finding a place to live, because I have to be out of my hotel by the spring,” she said. Leoni, a dentist and former Olympic biathlete, and his family also lost their home, as did seven staff at his clinic. He said the April cutoff date Charlebois is facing also applies to his staff staying in hotels. “Hopefully that’s concurrent with the provincial government’s opening of these modular units that they’re putting in, because we’re going to lose staff,” said Leoni. “Without them I can’t do anything.” The clinic needed to replace $160,000 worth of equipment and required a top-to-bottom scrub before appointments resumed in October. Leoni estimates his patient list is down one-third because of the fire. Whether those patients return remains to be seen. Charlebois and Leoni both said their anxiety is heightened when they consider the unpredictable nature of the town’s tourism economy and how it could complicate the pace of rebuilding. It’s a catch-22: residents need houses in order to rebuild and restart the economy, but they can’t restart the economy without tourists. And tourists require services, which require workers, who require housing. Bill Given, the town’s chief administrator, said he’s optimistic the municipality can “thread the needle.” But he has his own anxieties when it comes to rebuilding, namely the complexity of Jasper operating under both federal and provincial oversight. “An associated risk of that is that individual agendas from different orders of government overtake the public interest in delivering on what Jasper needs,” Given said. “I think there’s also a risk, maybe somewhat smaller, that private interests overtake the broader public interest.” Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, who lost his home in the fire, said they have to find a way. “Failure is not an option for anybody,” said Ireland. “We have one chance to get this right, and that’s what we have to do.” In the meantime, Stark and her daughters watch from behind a fence as what’s left of their home is cleared away. “I’m super excited just to have a hole instead of a burnt spiral staircase that was coming up in my backyard. “Now,” she said, “it’s just this beautiful dirt. “There’s future there.”
Pisces – (19th February to 20th March) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Multiple opportunities wait for you Stick to principles at the office and ensure you keep the lover happy in the relationship. Financially you are prosperous today. Keep a watch on your health. Be careful to not annoy the lover today. At the office, utilize the opportunities for growth in your career. Go for big wealth investments today. However, your health may not be perfect. Pisces Love Horoscope Today Do not let love affairs go by ego-related issues. You must spare time for the lover. The second part of the day is good a take on marriage. You should also provide space to the partner and not impose your ideas which may hamper the relationship. Some love affairs will require more communication and this is vital in long-distance affairs. Single male natives would be happy to fall in love today. Meet someone special while traveling or at an official event. You may also propose to get a positive response. Pisces Career Horoscope Today Your approach is crucial today as some profiles will have a minor ruckus. Be careful about office politics which may also hamper your reputation at the workplace. A freelancing opportunity can be a good option to display your talent and when such an option knocks you. Some tasks will require you to visit the client’s office. Some students will clear the interview for their first job. There can be minor productivity issues but your professional life will be good. Pisces Money Horoscope Today Prosperity will come today but your expenditure will also be higher. Cut down the shopping for luxury items and instead care for more savings. Your plan to buy a home may not work out today. However, you will be good to settle all pending dues. Financial success will prompt you to make further investments. You may consider stock, trade, and speculative business as safe options. Pisces Health Horoscope Today Always be cautious about even minor ailments and consult a doctor whenever necessary. Those who have a history of cardiac issues will develop complications. Seniors with breathing issues must avoid dusty areas. You should also start the day with light exercise or jogging at the nearby park for an hour. Do not bring the office stress to home. Spend more time with people with a positive attitude. Pisces Sign Attributes Strength: Conscious, Aesthetic, Kind-hearted Weakness: Sentimental, Indecisive, Unrealistic Symbol: Fish Element: Water Body Part: Blood Circulation Sign Ruler: Neptune Lucky Day: Thursday Lucky Color: Purple Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Stone: Yellow Sapphire Pisces Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)Aston Villa fails in its bid to overturn Jhon Duran’s red card at NewcastleThe Australian government's support for a UN resolution calling for an end to Israel's occupation of Gaza is to blame for a widely condemned arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, the Jewish state's prime minister says. It is impossible to separate the reprehensible arson attack from the federal government's "extreme anti-Israeli position," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on social media early on Saturday. "Including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel 'to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible', and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country," he wrote on X. "The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism," he said. The Adass Israel synagogue at Rippon Lea in Melbourne's southeast had two of its three buildings gutted after suspected masked intruders allegedly broke into the building and set it alight in the early hours of Friday. Two congregants preparing for morning prayers, were inside. They were evacuated, with one sustaining minor injuries. Police have not ruled out terrorism as a motive, believing the attack was targeted. The suspects had poured accelerant on the floor inside the synagogue and set it on fire before fleeing when they were disturbed by a congregant, police said. Israel President Isaac Herzog said he firmly condemned the horrific arson amid an intolerable wave of attacks on Jewish communities when he spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday night. "I noted to the prime minister that this rise and the increasingly serious antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community required firm and strong action, and that this was a message that must be heard clearly from Australia's leaders," he said. "I thanked him for his ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, and expressed my trust that the local law enforcement would do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice." Political and religious leaders have widely condemned the attack on the synagogue, built by Holocaust survivors. Mr Albanese said he had no tolerance for antisemitism. "This deliberate, unlawful attack goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation," he said in a statement. Australian Federal Police will provide all requested resources to Victorian authorities, he said. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said police patrols would be increased, and pledged $100,000 to rebuilding the synagogue.
Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Solar fuel Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 17, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! Will Solar Fuel Market Continue to Show Strong Growth? The solar fuel market has witnessed a significant rise in recent years. The market grew from $12.16 billion in 2023 to an anticipated $13.06 billion in 2024, indicating a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 7.4%. This considerable growth during the historic period can be ascribed to breakthrough research in solar technology, government incentives, rising energy costs, and public awareness about climate change, and the establishment of renewable energy standards. How Will Solar Fuel Market Size Grow In The Coming Years? The size of the solar fuel market is projected to see substantial growth in the upcoming years, reaching $17.52 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 7.6%. The surge in growth during the forecast period can be attributed to an increase in industrialization, substantial investments in renewable energy, government rewards and subsidies, as well as improvements in energy storage systems. Major trends include advancements in solar cell efficiency, expansion of large-scale solar farms, a push for energy storage integration, and development in hybrid solar technologies. For detailed insights, get a sample of the market report now: What Are the Key Market Drivers for Solar Fuel Industry? The rising demand for renewable energy is expected to propel the growth of the solar fuel market moving forward. Renewable energy refers to energy from natural resources that replenish constantly, such as solar, wind, and hydropower. This shift supports sustainable power generation while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The increased demand for renewable energy originates from environmental concerns, the falling prices of renewable technologies, government stimuli, energy security needs, and advancements in energy storage solutions. Solar fuel allows the production of renewable energy by offering a dependable method to store and convert solar power into usable energy, improving overall energy accessibility and sustainability. Download the full market report for in-depth analysis: Who Are The Industry Leaders In Solar Fuel Market? The industry is dominated by major players such as Royal Dutch Shell plc, TotalEnergies SE, Reliance Industries Ltd., Linde plc, Sharp Corporation, Plug Power Inc., Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Waaree Energies Limited, Azure Power Global Limited, Sunfire Solar Energy LLC, BrightSource Energy, Ballard Power Systems Inc., Motech Industries Inc., Green Hydrogen Systems A/S, eSolar Inc., Solar Energy Industries Association, Synhelion SA, Heliogen Inc., Synhelion SA, and SolarFuel GmbH. What Are The Major Developments In Solar Fuel Industry? Strategic partnerships aimed at developing solar fuels for aviation and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of solar fuel production and utilization are trending in the solar fuel market. An example being the partnership in June 2024 between Synhelion SA, a Switzerland-based cleantech company, and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., a Switzerland-based aerospace company. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of large-scale solar fuel production facilities, improve the solar-to-fuel conversion process efficiency, and reduce costs through innovative engineering solutions. How Is The Solar Fuel Market Segmented? The solar fuel market in this report is characterized as - 1 By Type: Hydrogen, Ammonia, Other Types 2 By Application: Power Generation, Transportation, Other Applications 3 By End Use: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Utility What Is The Regional Outlook For Solar Fuel Market? Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the solar fuel market in 2023, with the market report covering regions including Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. 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