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Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that'll changeLatest News | .KISHTWAR/JAMMU NRG13 JK-INFRA PROJECTS-SINGH Union Minister Singh Urges Speeding Up Infrastructure Projects in Kishtwar
The Dish: Terra Mediterranean returns to Artisan Circle and Argentinian food arrives in Euless{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-25T03:15:04+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-25T03:15:04+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-25T03:15:03+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22831/sports/football/who-are-rwandas-best-11-footballers-of-2024", "headline": "Who are Rwandas best 11 footballers of 2024?", "description": "2024 has truly been a year of transformation for Rwanda’s national team Amavubi and this is not only attributed to German coach Torsten Frank Spittler...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22831/sports/football/who-are-rwandas-best-11-footballers-of-2024" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/25/67168.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/25/67168.jpg" }, "articleBody": "2024 has truly been a year of transformation for Rwanda’s national team Amavubi and this is not only attributed to German coach Torsten Frank Spittler but also a host of players who showed a commendable improvement in their performance at club and national team levels. The likes of Djihad Bizimana and Ange Mutsinzi helped their respective teams play European football while others like Samuel Gueulette and Josias King Furaha had stellar performances which made an impact to their clubs’ ambitions. Times Sport brings to you Rwanda's best footballers of 2024. Fiacre Ntwari (Goalkeeper)-Kaizer Chiefs Ntwari had an outstanding 2023/24 season and was among the best keepers in the South African Premiership last season. He joined Kaizer Chiefs from TS Galaxy for an amount in excess of $400,000. Although he is yet to hit the ground running form at Chiefs, Ntwari has been absolutely superb at national team level. He single-handedly saved Rwanda against Nigeria in an AFCON 2025 qualifier held in Kigali on September 10, making as many as 10 crucial saves, a performance that left Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen impressed. Ntwari had a fantastic year between Amavubi spots during both AFCON 2025 and World Cup 2026 qualifiers, but he will have to rediscover his club form or Spittler will be pushed to think of alternatives in 2025. Fitina Omborenga (Right-back) Omborenga was part of the APR team which won the 2023/24 league title before moving to arch rivals Rayon Sports at the end of the season. He is also among very few players who played all Amavubi matches except Rwanda’s recent 3-2 defeat to South Sudan in the CHAN qualifier in Juba on December 22. Omborenga provided the crucial assist for Jojea Kwizera to score the only goal against Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifier game in South Africa on June 11. He has also established himself as a key figure in Robertinho’s Rayon Sports who will finish 2024 at the top of the Rwanda Premier League. Emmanuel Imanishimwe (left-back) Imanishimwe had attained cult status in his three-year stint with AS FAR Rabat of Morocco before joining Cypriot outfit AEL Limassol in June 2024. He has so far adapted to the Cypriot Premier League and he is always in the starting 11 when he is fully fit. On the international scene, he provided two assists in the AFCON qualifiers for Amavubi which was against Benin and Nigeria. Ange Mutsinzi (Centre-back) Mutsinzi started the 2024 season with then Norwegian third tier club FK Jerv where he played 12 games scoring 1 goal before being signed by Zira FK of Azerbaijan who were competing in the Europa Conference League. He featured in all their games as they were bundled out by Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus. On the international scene, Mutsinzi played every minute of the Amavubi main team games throughout the year. He scored the equalizer in a 2-1 AFCON qualifiers match against Nigeria in Uyo on November 18. Clement Niyigena (Centre-back) The APR centre back had an exceptional year at the back as the army club went unbeaten in the 2023/24 season. He was named the best player of the tournament in the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Tanzania where APR FC reached the finals. On the international scene, Niyigena rose to the occasion when he started twice against Benin in Abidjan and Kigali as regular starter Thierry Manzi was sidelined through injury. Manzi may be Spittler’s No1 choice in Amavubi defence, but Niyigena has always made sure the Ahli Tripoli star’s absence was not felt whenever he was introduced. Djihad Bizimana (Defensive Midfield) Amavubi skipper Djihad Bizimana enjoyed an incredible 2024 and his performance at both club and national team levels showed what a top player he is. In the 2023/24 season which ended in June 2024, he made 28 appearances scoring twice and providing one assist as Kryvbas qualified for the Europa League. He played in all their Europa League qualifying round as well as Conference League play-off games. The 2024/25 season, which began in August, has seen him playing 16 games so far. On the international front, he has been ever present in the Amavubi games this year. He played 10 games for Amavubi in all competitions and scored twice. ALSO READ: Bizimana optimistic Rwanda can break the jinx vs Benin in Kigali Samuel Gueulette (Central Midfield) It was a remarkable year for the Raal La Louviere assistant captain who played an instrumental role in club’s qualification to the second tier league. Gueulette signed a new two-year contract in June and has continued to excel at club level. Currently, he has played 15 games this season scoring once and providing one assist as his team lies 2nd on the league table. In Amavubi colors, Gueulette, who was a fringe player under previous coach Carlos Ferrer, was one of the key elements in Spittler's set up. He has used him in various positions such as False 9, on the wings, offensive midfield as well as his normal position which is central midfield. He would accomplish the mission anyway. ALSO READ: Rwanda's Gueulette nominated for player of the month at Belgian club Kevin Muhire (Offensive midfield) The Rayon Sports captain was named as the player of the season. Muhire joined the Blues in the middle of the 2023/24 season but he made a quick impact which saw him win the accolade. The Rwanda international carried on where he left off at the of the 2023/24 season and is continuing to take Rwanda Premier League by story as he leads the charts with eight assists before even the first round of the 2024/25 league campaign. On the international scene, he has been good with his most notable performances being against Nigeria in Kigali and South Sudan in Juba where he scored in Rwanda’s 3-2 loss in Sunday’s CHAN Qualifiers first leg. Jojea Kwizera (Right Attack) Kwizera joined USL club Rhode Island FC in January 2024 and went on to make 24 appearances, scoring three goals and providing five assists as his club reached the USL play off final. 2024 was also the year the US-based winger made his international football debut for Amavubi when they played against Benin in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Abidjan on June 6. He scored his first Amavubi goal five days later against Lesotho in South Africa in the same qualifiers on June 11. Kwizera has been a regular starter for Spittler since his maiden call-up in June 2024. Innocent Nshuti (Centre forward) Nshuti had a torrid time at US third tier club One Knoxville SC as he failed to score or provide an assist in the whole 2024 season. He has not been able to impress his employers and is already considering a move out of the club by mutual consent. Despite the performance, Nshuti has a couple of offers on table to choose from with South African club Malumo Gallants leading the race to sign him. The former APR forward was, however, on fire in an Amavubi shirt, scoring some crucial goals in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. He netted against Libya in Tripoli, Benin in Kigali and also Nigeria in Uyo. King Josias Furaha (Left Attack) Furaha was instrumental as FK Jerv qualified back to the Norwegian second tier league. He featured in 19 games and scored 7 goals as his side booked their place back to the second league. Furaha, who can operate anywhere upfront, was named in the Norwegian third tier team of the week four times. The 21-year-old forward could be a valuable addition to the Amavubi team as the World Cup qualifiers resume in.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Okai Gyimah" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }While my election-related columns about politics and the economy generated the most reader responses in recent weeks, I found the reaction to my column on direct primary care most interesting. In these arrangements, patients pay doctors directly, like in the old days, rather than through insurance. The topic tapped a vein of nostalgia with readers who remembered what health care was like 50 years ago, before the rise of interlinked networks of care systems and nationwide insurers. For others, the concept — in which patients essentially become members of a doctor’s practice and pay a flat monthly fee of around $70 to $90 — just seems practical. “We only need health insurance for major medical procedures. Health care would be much less expensive without it,” reader Mary O’Connor wrote. She then offered a plan for getting more people to use direct primary care physicians. “I suggest we start with public employees,” she wrote. “Take away their health insurance except for major medical procedures and give them an increase in pay. They can use this for doctor appointments. Doctors will lower their charges if they don’t have to wait for an insurance company to pay them.” Dr. Darrell Krieger, a physician in Crystal, wrote to point out a problem. “What is left unsaid in the article is the issue that primary care physicians are decreasing in number at an alarming rate, with no one to replace them, making access for patients increasingly difficult, particularly as older physicians such as myself retire,” he wrote. “This is a nationwide problem that is recognized within the medical field but gets little attention in the media,” he added. Though I didn’t mention it in the column, I talked with Dr. Laura Slings and her husband Steve, who runs the back office in her practice, about the broader numbers at stake. When she was working at one of the large health systems, Dr. Slings had more than 2,000 patients in her practice. She’s aiming for about 500 at her independent clinic. “If all these doctors leave the system and open direct primary care ... that’s going to contribute to the shortage, right?” Dr. Slings said. “It actually is a potential solution to the primary care crisis because so many primary care docs cannot continue to sustain what’s being asked of them right now. They’re retiring early. They’re burning out.” How, and whether, all this works out will take years, I suspect. My colleague Karen Tolkkinen last week wrote about the most acute shortage of doctors in Minnesota: dentists outside the metro area . Separately, several readers asked about something I left out of my Oct. 16 column on ninja gyms: whether kids are more prone to getting injured in them than a playground or school gym. Kids are kids, of course, and they’re out flinging themselves around in these places. At Ninjas United, the Maple Grove gym I visited, the padding is everywhere and there are coaches and spotters all around. “You’ll see we have some $800 mats called cloud mats and they’re phenomenal,” co-owner Chris Voigt said. His wife, Jen, who runs the gym, said she notices teenagers are more prone to sprains or strains because they need to warm up. “But they still remember being a kid when they didn’t need to warm up,” she said. “So some are a little more relaxed in their warm-ups, when they should be a little more focused during that.” This past week, several readers reacted to my column about the dramatic, ignominious end of Bremer Bank , the longtime St. Paul institution that sold to Indiana-based Old National, by noting that the bank’s beginning was just as dramatic. Before starting the bank and the charitable foundation that owned it, Otto Bremer and his brother Adolf in 1911 took over the Schmidt Brewing Co. from its founder, Jacob Schmidt. They built it into one of the nation’s largest by 1920, when prohibition started. Through the 1920s, Otto started to purchase banks and, as the Depression started, “pledged every asset he owned” to keep them shored up. That included his stocks in “eastern banks,” according to the Star Tribune’s obit of him in 1951. “The eastern stocks were lost by sale when additional margins in a declining market could not be furnished,” the obituary said. Finally, a good news update to a column I wrote at the start of the year urging Minnesota regulators to allow taller buildings with a single staircase. On Oct. 31, the technical advisory group responsible for updating the state’s building code unanimously approved a proposal that will allow single-stair residential buildings up to four stories. “This approval makes Minnesota the first among the new wave of states around the country moving in this direction to actually adopt a code change statewide,” said Cody Fischer, president of Footprint Development in Minneapolis.
India News | Advanced Facility for Pashmina Certification, Next-gen DNA Sequencing Facility Inaugurated at WII
CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem all outstanding shares of its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series MM (CUSIP No. 060505FR0), liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), and the corresponding depositary shares each representing a 1/25 th interest in a share of the Preferred Stock (CUSIP No. 060505FQ2) (the "Depositary Shares"). The Depositary Shares will be redeemed simultaneously with the Preferred Stock on the upcoming dividend payment date on January 28, 2025 (the "Redemption Date"), at a redemption price of $1,000 per depositary share. Declared dividends of $21.50 per depositary share in respect of the outstanding Depositary Shares for the full current semi-annual dividend period from, and including, July 28, 2024 to, but excluding, January 28, 2025 will be paid separately on January 28, 2025 , to holders of record on January 1, 2025 , in the customary manner. Accordingly, the redemption price of $1,000 per depositary share does not include any accrued and unpaid dividends. Dividends on the redeemed Depositary Shares will cease to accrue on the Redemption Date. The Depositary Shares are held through The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and will be redeemed in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. Payment to DTC for the Depositary Shares will be made by Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively, as redemption agent. The address for the redemption agent is as follows: Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Attn: Corporate Actions 150 Royall St. Canton, MA 02021 This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the certificate of designation governing the Preferred Stock or the deposit agreement governing the Depositary Shares. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States , serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States , its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 , and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts . www.bankofamerica.com Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire , Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 lee.mcentire@bofa.com Jonathan G. Blum , Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 jonathan.blum@bofa.com Reporters May Contact: Jocelyn Seidenfeld , Bank of America Phone: 1.646.743.3356 jocelyn.seidenfeld@bofa.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-of-america-announces-full-redemption-of-its-series-mm-preferred-stock-and-related-depositary-shares-302338391.html SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
MUNICH, Germany, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's Harry Kane scored a hat-trick with two of the goals in second half stoppage time, to give the league leaders a 3-0 win over visitors Augsburg on Friday and open up an eight-point gap at the top with their sixth straight clean sheet across all competitions. The Bavarians, who take on Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, are undefeated in the Bundesliga and on 29 points following their fifth consecutive league game without conceding a goal. Second-placed RB Leipzig, who travel to Hoffenheim on Saturday, are on 21 points. "We said at half time we should just keep going and create chances," Kane, who has scored 14 league goals this season, told reporters. "Thankfully we got the penalty and from there the game opened up." Kane has scored 50 league goals since joining Bayern last year, needing just 43 Bundesliga games to reach that mark, faster than any player in the league's history. Bayern have a busy schedule coming up with PSG on Tuesday before the trip to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga in a week. They cap off their 11-day four-match run with the German Cup last-16 clash at home to holders Bayer Leverkusen on Dec. 3. "We have a big week ahead with PSG in the Champions League then Dortmund then Leverkusen in the Cup. We're in a good moment, we're feeling good and should just keep the momentum up," Kane said. As expected Bayern had more than 70% possession for much of the first half but Augsburg had keeper Nediljko Labrovic to thank for a goalless first half after the Croatia international stopped efforts from Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Leon Goretzka, who also hit the crossbar four minutes after the restart. Labrovic then denied Michael Olise in the 51st but could do nothing to prevent Kane from scoring with a well-taken 63rd minute penally. The England captain was then awarded another penalty following a lengthy VAR review in stoppage time with Augsburg's Keven Schlotterbeck sent off for tripping him in front of goal. Labrovic was beaten by Kane once more after picking the wrong side again before the forward completed his hat-trick only seconds later after controlling a Goretzka cross with a superb first touch and then heading in. Sign up here. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabLong-term exposure to air pollution linked to blood clots in veins
Eric Trump shares Donald's 'Amazon shopping list'... and Justin Trudeau won't like itKuwait City, Dec 21 (IANS): Lauding the hard work, achievement and contribution of the Indian community to the development of Kuwait, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh events to be held next month while spotlighting that India of the future will be the hub of global development and the growth engine of the world. Addressing a massive gathering of Indian diaspora at a special 'Hala Modi' event held at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in Kuwait City, PM Modi praised their significant contributions and vital role played by the Indian community in fostering India-Kuwait ties. "I am not here today just to meet you, but to celebrate your achievements. Just a little while ago, I had the opportunity to meet Indian workers here who are engaged in various professional sectors. They are involved in construction work, and many others are contributing their hard work in other sectors as well. Indian doctors, nurses, and paramedics are a significant strength in Kuwait's medical sector. Those of you who are teachers are helping shape the next generation of Kuwait. The doctors, architects, and other professionals among you are building the future of Kuwait's workforce. The citizens of Kuwait highly respect you all because of your hard work, honesty, and skills," said PM Modi. Addressing Indian nationals representing a cross-section of the community in Kuwait, the Prime Minister outlined India's approach as a 'Vishwabandhu' (a friend to the world) and elaborated upon the country's rapid progress and transformation, especially in the fields of technology, infrastructure and sustainability. "You all came from India and stayed here, but you have kept the spirit of Indianness in your hearts. India is moving forward with a new attitude. India is the fifth-largest economy in the world. India has the number one fintech ecosystem in the world," he said. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted achievements such as financial inclusion, women-led development and inclusive growth besides spotlighting the shared aspirations of the two countries - of 'Viksit Bharat' and 'New Kuwait' - emphasising that there were huge opportunities for India and Kuwait to work together. He thanked the leadership of Kuwait for the welfare of the Indian community and reflected on India's strong commitment to support Indian workers in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Gulf with technology-based initiatives undertaken by the government such as E-Migrate portal among others. "India has the potential to become the world's skill capital. For many decades to come, India will remain the youngest country in the world. In this scenario, India has the capacity to meet the global demand for skills. To achieve this, India is aligning its skill development programmes with global needs. In recent years, India has signed migration and employment agreements with nearly two dozen countries. These include Gulf countries, as well as Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Mauritius, the UK, and Italy. Countries around the world are opening doors to India's skilled manpower," he mentioned. Sharing achievements and growth trajectory with the diaspora, Prime Minister Modi asserted that India of the future will be the hub of global development and the growth engine of the world. "India is continuously becoming digitally smart, and this is just the beginning. The future of India will be shaped by innovations that will guide the entire world. The future India will be a hub for global development. It will be the growth engine of the world," he said. Prime Minister Modi, who is the first Indian PM to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years, specifically mentioned that the relationship between India and Kuwait is one of civilizations, of the sea, of affection, and of trade with both countries situated on the two shores of the Arabian Sea. "India is one of the first countries to have recognised Kuwait's independence. And that is why coming to a country and a society with so many memories attached to it, and with which our present is connected, is truly memorable for me... "Today, personally, this moment is very special for me. After more than four decades, after 43 years, an Indian Prime Minister has come to Kuwait. It takes four hours to travel from India to here, but it took the Prime Minister four decades," he stated. During his address, PM Modi stated the warmth and affection of the Indian diaspora in Kuwait is extraordinary. "I arrived in Kuwait just two and a half hours ago and since stepping here, I have felt a unique sense of warmth and closeness. People have come from various states of India, and looking at all of you, it feels as if a 'Mini India' has gathered before me," he said. Prime Minister also extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh to be held in India in January 2025. "The first month of the new year, January 2025, is going to be a month full of many national celebrations. This year, from January 8 to 10, the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' will be held in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). People from around the world will attend, and I invite all of you to this event. After that, please come to Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) to join the Maha Kumbh, which will be held from January 13 to February 26," said PM Modi.India is gearing up for a major milestone in its space journey with the launch of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEX), planned for December 30, 2024. The mission will be carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C60). The rocket is set to take off at 9:58 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission is an important step for ISRO as it will showcase its ability to dock two spacecraft in space. This is a key technology for future space missions. The main goal is to design and test the systems needed for bringing two spacecraft together, docking them, and then separating them again. Mission Summary and Goals The SpaDEX mission will send two identical satellites into space, named Chaser (SDX01) and Target (SDX02) . Each satellite weighs about 220 kilograms . The two satellites will be positioned in a circular orbit 470 km above Earth, at an angle of 55 degrees. The objectives of the mission are: Showing accurate movements needed to bring the satellites close together and connect them. Testing how electricity can be shared between two connected spacecraft. functioning of the payload after the satellites separate, with the mission lasting up to two years. Note : The term "payload" refers to the essential equipment or instruments carried by a spacecraft to perform its mission. It's a critical part of the satellite, as it directly contributes to achieving the mission's goals. ISRO announced that the PSLV-C60 rocket has been fully assembled and moved to the First Launch Pad for final tests before the mission. India's Progress Toward a Space Station The SpaDEX mission is an important step for India's space exploration goals," an ISRO official said. "It will make India the fourth country in the world to develop advanced docking technology." This technology is important for missions that need several launches to work together for a shared goal. It will be useful for tasks like repairing satellites, coordinating multiple spacecraft to fly in formation, and building complex structures in space, such as India’s planned space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). Creative Use of PSLV’s Fourth Stage : Apart from its docking goals, the mission will make use of the PSLV rocket’s used-up fourth stage, called POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module). Instead of letting it go to waste, this stage will be turned into a platform to carry out experiments in microgravity, helping scientists test and study various conditions in space.The mission will carry 24 payloads onboard, provided by various academic institutions and startups. "PSLV's Fourth Stage Transformed for Experiments" The 4th stage of the PSLV rocket is the final part that helps place satellites into their orbits. Once its job is done, it usually becomes space junk, floating unused in orbit. However, ISRO has found a way to reuse it by turning it into a science platform called POEM. Now, instead of being wasted, it carries small experiments and tests in space, especially in microgravity. This makes better use of the rocket and reduces waste in space. After placing satellites into their desired orbits, the PSLV's 4th stage (PS4) remains in space with leftover fuel and onboard systems like batteries, solar panels, and communication equipment. ISRO modifies this stage to act as a platform for experiments. By attaching scientific instruments and sensors to it before launch, the stage can perform experiments in microgravity, test new technologies, or study space conditions. The fuel helps in minor adjustments, and its power systems keep the experiments running, turning the once-unused stage into a cost-effective space lab. Mission Design and Implementation Strategy The Chaser and Target will be released into orbit at the same time but as separate objects. The PSLV rocket is very accurate, so it will make sure the satellites are placed in orbit with only a small difference in their speeds. This means the satellites will start off moving almost together, making it easier to control and manage their movements in space. The Target satellite will use its onboard thrusters to slowly move away from the Chaser satellite, creating a distance of 10-20 kilometers between them. This phase is called the "Far Rendezvous" (a planned meeting or approach in space), where the satellites are far apart but still close enough to interact or prepare for the next steps in the mission. The Chaser satellite will gradually move closer to the Target satellite in steps, reducing the distance between them to 5 kilometers, then 1.5 kilometers, then 500 meters, 225 meters, 15 meters, and finally 3 meters. At this final distance, the two satellites will connect, or "dock," with each other. Once they are docked, the mission will test the transfer of power from one satellite to the other. After this test is complete, they will separate again to carry out other tasks with their payloads. The Chaser satellite, is equipped with a powerful high-resolution camera. The Target satellite, is equipped with special tools to study Earth and space. It carries a multispectral sensor, which can capture detailed images in different light wavelengths. This helps monitor natural resources, track vegetation health, and study the environment. Additionally, it has a radiation monitor to measure space radiation, which will help scientists collect important data and build a database for future research. Why SpaDEX Matters ? The SpaDEX mission is more than just a technology test; it is an important step toward ISRO's bigger plans. Learning how to dock spacecraft is essential for future goals like bringing back samples from the Moon, exploring other planets, and creating a long-term human presence in space. India is working to join a small group of countries—the US, Russia, and China—that have successfully developed in-space docking technology. This mission highlights ISRO's dedication to creating advanced space technology that is both effective and affordable. For the first time, ISRO is sending a robotic arm into space to test how it can collect space debris. Along with this, India’s first astrobiology experiments (studies related to life in space and how living organisms survive in space conditions) created by students from RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru and Amity University in Mumbai, are also heading to space. These experiments are part of the 24 payloads that the POEM platform will carry. Out of the 24 payloads, 14 come from ISRO’s Department of Space. One of these will focus on developing technologies to grow and sustain plants in space or on other planets. The remaining 10 payloads are from non-government organizations, including contributions from educational institutions. A team of undergraduate students from RV College of Engineering (RVCE) has created India’s first microbiology experiment for space research. Developed by Team Antariksh, the project focuses on studying how gut bacteria behave in space conditions. According to GS Varshini, the 20-year-old mission manager, this research is important for understanding how space affects human health, as this specific gut bacterium plays a key role in maintaining overall well-being. Their experiment will study how gut bacteria grow in microgravity. By adding prebiotics (nutrients that help bacteria grow), they will compare its growth in space with how it grows on Earth. This research is important for astronaut health, as it will help scientists understand how the human microbiome works in space. The findings could also be useful for managing waste in space, cleaning up pollutants (bioremediation), and creating new antibiotics for future space missions. Debris Capture & CROPS Research The CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) payload is designed to help ISRO explore ways to grow and maintain plants in space in the future. This could be an important step for long-term space missions. Along with this, a robotic arm is being sent to test how it can capture space debris. As part of the experiment, a small cube (called a debris cube) will be attached to the robotic arm with a tether (a rope, chain, or similar device used to attach or secure something).The cube will be released into space, and the robotic arm will try to retrieve it. This test could help develop technology to clean up space debris in the future. Cowpea Seed Growth Experiment The CROPS payload, created by VSSC, is designed as a step-by-step platform to help ISRO develop the ability to grow and support plants in space or other planets. It is a fully automated system that will run a 5 to 7-day experiment to test if seeds can sprout and grow into small plants (up to the two-leaf stage) in microgravity. The experiment will use eight cowpea seeds, which will grow inside a closed box with controlled temperature. Various conditions like oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, humidity, temperature, and soil moisture will be monitored. Cameras will also capture images to track the plants' growth. This research could help us understand how to grow food in space in the future. Robotic Arm for Space Debris Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator : Developed by VSSC, this experiment is designed to test how a robotic arm can capture space debris using a tether (a type of cord or cable that keeps objects connected). The robotic arm uses cameras and advanced motion prediction technology to locate and grab the debris, even as it moves in a space-like environment. It will also test a special tool called a parallel end-effector—this is like a robotic hand designed to grab and hold objects securely, making it easier to manipulate debris or other items in space. If this experiment works successfully, the robotic arm could eventually be used for more complex tasks in space. For example, it could capture free-floating debris (objects drifting in space without being tethered) or even refuel spacecraft, whether they are tethered or floating freely. These abilities will be very useful in future POEM missions, helping clean up space junk and making space operations more efficient. This research is a step toward solving the growing problem of space debris and improving how we maintain and use spacecraft in orbit. Spinach Growth Experiment in Space In a unique experiment, Amity University, Mumbai, will study how plants react to microgravity using its Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space (APEMS) payload. Amity University Vice-Chancellor, Santosh Kumar, explained that the experiment will use spinach (Spinacia oleracea) to study how plant cells (called callus, which are a mass of undifferentiated plant cells) grow and change under both space and Earth’s gravity. Sensors and cameras will monitor the growth and color of the callus, helping scientists understand how plants adapt to different gravity conditions. This research is important for figuring out how to grow plants during long space missions and could also benefit farming on Earth. (The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com) (Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own and do not reflect those of DNA)
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NEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby
Despite Mary Lou McDonald’s confidence around shaping a coalition without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail – the two parties that have dominated the landscape of Irish politics for a century – the pathway to government for Sinn Fein still appears challenging. With counting following Friday’s election still in the relatively early stages – after an exit poll that showed the main three parties effectively neck-and-neck – there is some way to go before the final picture emerges and the options for government formation crystalise. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, has dismissed talk of a Sinn Fein surge and said he was “cautiously optimistic” about where his party will stand after all the votes are counted. Meanwhile, Ireland’s deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, insisted his party has a “very clear route back to government” as he predicted seat gains. The counting process could last days because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference. The early indications have turned the focus to the tricky arithmetic of government formation, as the country’s several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockey for a place in government. Ms McDonald told reporters at the RDS count centre in Dublin that she would be “very, very actively pursuing” the potential to form a government with other parties on the left of the political spectrum. The smaller, left-leaning parties in Ireland include the Social Democrats, the Irish Labour Party, the Green Party and People Before Profit-Solidarity. Ms McDonald said her party had delivered an “incredible performance” in the election. “I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould here in this state,” she said. “Two party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history and that, in itself, is very significant.” She added: “I am looking to bring about a government of change, and I’m going to go and look at all formulations. “If you want my bottom line, the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years, in our strong opinion, is not a good outcome for Irish society. “Obviously, I want to talk to other parties of the left and those that we share very significant policy objectives with. So I’m going to do that first and just hear their mind, hear their thinking. But be very clear, we will be very, very actively pursuing entrance into government.” In Friday night’s exit poll, Sinn Fein was predicted to take 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of outgoing coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively. Prior to the election, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both ruled out entering government with Sinn Fein. Fine Gael leader Mr Harris rejected suggestions Sinn Fein had broken new ground. He told reporters in his count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow: “Certainly we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it. “I mean, it looks likely, on the figures that we’ve seen now, fewer people, many fewer people would have voted Sinn Fein in this election than the last one. “In fact, I think they’re down by around 5% and actually the parties, particularly the two parties, the two larger parties in government, are likely to receive significant support from the electorate. So definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented.” He said it was too early to tell what the next government would look like. “I think anybody who makes any suggestion about who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government, they’re a braver person than I am,” he said. “Our electoral system dictates that there’ll be many, many transfers that will go on for hours, if not days, before we know the final computations at all. “But what I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead, and I’m cautiously optimistic and excited.” Fianna Fail’s Mr Martin told reporters at a count centre in Cork he was confident that the numbers exist to form a government with parties that shared his political viewpoint. Mr Martin said it “remains to be seen” whether he would return to the role of Taoiseach – a position he held between 2020 and 2022 – but he expressed confidence his party would outperform the exit poll prediction. “It’s a bit too early yet to call the exact type of government that will be formed or the composition of the next government,” he said. “But I think there are, there will be a sufficiency of seats, it seems to me, that aligns with the core principles that I articulated at the outset of this campaign and throughout the campaign, around the pro-enterprise economy, around a positively pro-European position, a government that will strongly push for home ownership and around parties that are transparently democratic in how they conduct their affairs.” Asked if it would be in a coalition with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Social Democrats, he said that would be “racing a bit too far ahead”. The final result may dictate that if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are to return to government, they may need more than one junior partner, or potentially the buy-in of several independent TDs. Mr Martin said it was unclear how quickly a government can be formed, as he predicted his party would gain new seats. “It will be challenging. This is not easy,” he added. The junior partner in the outgoing government – the Green Party – looks set for a bruising set of results. Green leader Roderic O’Gorman is in a fight to hold onto his seat, as are a number of party colleagues, including Media Minister Catherine Martin. “It’s clear the Green Party has not had a good day,” he said. The early counting also suggested potential trouble for Fianna Fail in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, is considered to have a battle ahead, with the risk of losing his seat. Meanwhile, there is significant focus on independent candidate Gerard Hutch who, on Saturday evening, was sitting in fourth place in the four-seat constituency of Dublin Central. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. A Special Criminal Court judge described Mr Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in “serious criminal conduct”. The constituency will be closely watched as other hopefuls wait to see if transfers from eliminated candidates may eventually rule him out of contention. In the constituency of Louth, the much-criticised selection of John McGahon appeared not to have paid off for Fine Gael. The party’s campaign was beset by questioning over footage entering the public domain of the candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub in 2018. The Social Democrats have a strong chance of emerging as the largest of the smaller parties. The party’s leader, Holly Cairns, was already celebrating before a single vote was counted however, having announced the birth of her baby girl on polling day.