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Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has implemented a strict ban on making political statements or criticisms regarding Tirumala, following several incidents where political leaders used their visit to the holy site as a platform to criticise rival parties and leaders. In a recent board meeting, TTD unanimously resolved to take action against anyone violating this rule. The ban was implemented from Saturday, with the TTD making it clear that the spiritual climate and sanctity of the hill temple must be maintained by all. Meanwhile, TTD announced the implementation of a special darshan for locals from Tirupati, which will take place on every first Tuesday of the month, starting December 3. Local devotees from Tirupati rural, Tirupati urban, Chandragiri mandal, and Renigunta mandal can obtain tickets at special counters by presenting their Aadhaar cards, as announced by TTD chairman B.R. Naidu.
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Eagles try to cast aside perceived Hurts-Brown relationship issues ahead of Steelers showdownFile photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Picture credit: AP) US President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Brics member countries and their allies, threatening to impose 100 per cent tariffs if they proceed with plans to introduce or support a currency to replace the US dollar in international trade. Trump's statement was made on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, targeting the bloc's ongoing efforts to challenge the dominance of the dollar. Trump demanded a formal assurance from the Brics nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside newer members such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE. He stated, “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new Brics Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar, or they will face 100 per cent Tariffs." He further warned that any such move would result in the countries losing access to the US economy, saying, “They should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US Economy." Trump dismissed the possibility of the Brics nations successfully challenging the dollar's dominance, adding, “There is no chance that the Brics will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America.” The Brics bloc has been exploring ways to reduce dependency on the US dollar, discussing the creation of a shared currency to facilitate trade among member nations. This initiative has been viewed as a direct challenge to the dollar’s supremacy in global trade and finance. Proponents argue that such a currency would protect their economies from the volatility of US sanctions and monetary policies.University professors across the political spectrum in Texas are preemptively self-censoring themselves for fear of damaging their reputations or losing their jobs, according to a new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a First Amendment advocacy group. More than 6,200 professors from across the country responded to the survey on the climate of free speech and academic freedom on their campuses, one of the largest surveys of its kind, according to FIRE. Respondents included more than 165 professors at Texas A&M University, more than 200 at the University of Texas at Austin and nearly 50 at the University of Texas at Dallas. According to survey results, 35% of all respondents said they recently toned down their writing for fear of controversy and 27% felt unable to speak freely for fear of how students or administrators might respond. Nearly a quarter of faculty worry about losing their jobs over a misunderstanding. The worries were higher among faculty at Texas universities. At UT-Austin, more than half of the faculty respondents said they occasionally or often do not share their opinions because they worry how others might respond. Nearly half of faculty respondents at UT-Dallas said they had toned down their writing to avoid pushback. “Faculty are not conflating self-censorship with being polite or professional — that would be categorically different,” the report stated. “Rather, consistent proportions of faculty report that they are likely to refrain from sharing their views in various professional and conversational contexts for fear of social, professional, legal, or violent consequences.” FIRE said this climate is unsustainable for higher education. “The academy needs courageous faculty who are not afraid to research, write about, or teach topics that some may shy away from because they are labeled as controversial — to ask and investigate unasked and unanswered questions,” the report concludes. “And the academy needs more faculty who are not afraid to support colleagues who themselves are afraid, or who have been targeted and have come under fire for their speech or academic endeavors. Consistent support from institutional administrations would not hurt either.” According to the report, one faculty member at Texas A&M said they are actively avoiding aspects of the job due to the climate on campus. “I am starting (for the first time in my career) to censor myself out of a desire for self-preservation,” the faculty member told FIRE. “I say nothing at all in faculty meetings now, if I attend at all.” A UT-Austin professor said they feel pressure to conceal certain opinions. “The atmosphere in certain academic units can be cult-like and fascistic and I really feel I have to pick my battles,” the professor said. The report highlighted an incident at Texas A&M last year in which the school watered down a job offer to Kathleen McElroy, a Black journalism professor, after the Board of Regents and alumni groups criticized her previous employers, her diversity, equity and inclusion work and her research on race. McElroy decided to decline the offer and stay at her current job at UT-Austin after an A&M administrator told her he could not protect her if the regents wanted to terminate her. The Texas A&M System paid her a $1 million settlement after acknowledging mistakes were made during the hiring process. FIRE’s survey found self-censorship was more prevalent among conservative faculty. Around 55% of faculty who identified themselves as conservative reported they self-censor, compared to 17% of faculty who said they were liberal. The survey also found that faculty are more likely to be skeptical of conservative peers, indicating in the survey that a conservative faculty member would be a poor fit in their department. Two-thirds of respondents said universities should not take positions on political and social issues. That number was higher in Texas. Around 70% of the faculty respondents at Texas A&M, UT-Austin and UT-Dallas supported institutional neutrality. Earlier this year, the University of Texas System Board of Regents adopted an institutional neutrality policy after UT-Austin became ground zero in Texas for clashes over the Israel-Hamas war. Around 70% of survey respondents said the conflict was the most difficult issue to discuss on the flagship campus, along with racial inequality and transgender rights. At Texas A&M, the three most difficult issues for faculty to discuss on campus were racial inequality, trans rights and abortion. Overall, half of the faculty who responded to the survey said it is rarely or never justified to require job candidates to submit diversity statements, written statements in which job seekers explain how they might support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts if hired. Last legislative session, Texas lawmakers banned diversity statements at public colleges and universities as part of Senate Bill 17, the law that eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion offices on campuses. Many survey respondents said they don’t believe administrators at their universities will push back against governing boards or politicians to protect free speech on campus. At Texas A&M, 45% of respondents felt academic freedom — the longstanding principle that protects faculty’s ability to pursue teaching and research activities without political interference — was somewhat secure on campus. More than a third of respondents said they’re not sure A&M administrators would protect free speech on campus. Last year, Texas A&M University System leaders directed the school to put a professor on paid administrative leave after a well-connected student complained that the professor allegedly criticized Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during a lecture. Text messages showed Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp directed the system’s flagship university to put the professor on paid administrative leave while school officials investigated the complaint. He also updated the lieutenant governor on the status of the investigation, which eventually found that the complaint was unsubstantiated. Faculty said the incident created a chilling effect on campus. FIRE’s survey comes as Texas faculty are gearing up for another legislative session in which they expect Republican lawmakers to try and curtail their power on campus. Patrick has asked lawmakers to limit the influence on campuses of faculty senates, which provide input on their universities’ curriculum and hiring decisions.
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Commercial expansion in Temple continues as a pallet-building company with U.S. headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia, announced plans to build a $12.5 million facility within Temple Industrial Park on the north side of the city and add 45 full-time jobs to the local economy. CHEP USA, part of the Australia-based Brambles Company, signed a long-term lease to build the 65,000 square foot facility on 11 acres in the industrial park. The facility is expected to be completed and operating by September 2024. “CHEP’s decision to build in Temple strengthens our industrial ecosystem and aligns with our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” Adrian Cannady, president and CEO of Temple Economic Development Corporation, said in a press release. “This facility isn’t just creating jobs; it’s creating a legacy of environmental stewardship and economic opportunity for our community. Temple EDC is proud to partner with CHEP to build a brighter, more sustainable future.” Temple EDC is a nonprofit organization that serves as the contracted economic development entity for the city. CHEP USA describes its operations as managing, maintaining, transporting and supplying 330 million pallets and containers that are shared and reused by growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The company states that it serves the fast-moving consumer goods, fresh produce, beverage, retail, bulk packaging and automotive industries for some of the world’s most recognizable brands such as Coca-Cola, Dole, Kellogg’s and Tyson. Once operational, the Temple facility is projected to service and repair thousands of pallets annually, supporting CHEP’s mission to deliver sustainable, efficient supply chain solutions to businesses worldwide. Representatives for CHEP USA could not be reached for comment. Types of jobs and pay scales were not provided with the press release. Temple EDC stated the facility represents the “synergy of sustainability, economic development, and a thriving supply chain network.” CHEP USA building in Temple, the EDC stated, “underscores Temple’s position as a premier destination for forward-thinking businesses, where industry and community growth go hand in hand.” Alabama-based Graham & Company, LLC — a commercial real estate firm — will serve as the project’s developer, according to Temple EDC. Representatives from Graham were on site Wednesday for a formal groundbreaking ceremony. “We’re proud to once again partner with CHEP in Texas. They require a unique mix of real estate solutions that our firm is well positioned to deliver against with our build-to-suit platform,” Henry Graham, president of Graham & Company, stated in the release. The CHEP USA facility in Temple is expected to integrate energy-efficient systems and sustainable practices promoted by the company which works to reduce carbon emissions and advance “circular economy principles.” This CHEP USA operations model is known as “share and reuse” which focuses on reusing and recycling pallets and containers. The company touts this approach as helping companies reduce waste, improve efficiency, and lower environmental impact. The new facility is part of continued commercial and economic growth in Temple. Seoul, South Korea-based steel producer SeAH Superalloy Technologies announced in July it would build a $110 million steel production facility expected to create 100 full-time jobs on a 45-acre spot in the expanding Temple Industrial Park. San Jose, California-based Rosendin, an electrical contractor, announced a recruiting campaign in October to fill positions for electricians, general laborers and support staff to help with the ongoing construction of an $800 million data center for Meta, the Facebook parent company. The facility will have about 900,000 square feet on a 393-acre property in the industrial park.UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning from the Knights to become the new offensive coordinator at Florida State , sources confirmed to CBS Sports' John Talty. Malzahn posted a 28-24 record in four seasons with the Knights but had consecutive losing seasons after joining the Big 12. Malzahn is tasked with repairing a Florida State offense that struggled mightily during a lifeless campaign. The Seminoles finished No. 131 in the nation in total offense and scoring offense, mustering only 15.8 points per game against an ACC schedule one year after going 13-1 with a conference championship. The Knights were seen as a potential dark horse heading into the Big 12, but they've struggled with quarterback issues. Four different players took major snaps in 2024 as the Knights finished only 2-7 in conference play and 4-8 overall. The record was the worst at UCF since 0-12 in George O'Leary's final season in 2015. CBS Sports will update this breaking news story as more information becomes available.Ghana's opposition leader John Mahama officially won the country's election on Monday, easily defeating the ruling party candidate after voters punished the government's economic management and high living costs. Mahama won 56 percent of the votes in Saturday's presidential ballot, compared to the ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who secured 41 percent, the electoral commission said announcing official results. The landslide comeback for former president Mahama ended eight years in power for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by Ghana's worst economic turmoil in years, an IMF bailout and a debt default. "These eight years have witnessed some of the darkest periods of our governance," Mahama told crowds of supporters blowing horns and whistles in his party office in Accra. "This mandate also serves as a constant reminder of what fate awaits us if we fail to meet the aspirations of our people." Bawumia, a former central banker, had already quickly conceded defeat on Sunday, acknowledging Ghanaians wanted change after the government failed to shake off widespread frustration. Bawumia also said the Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) party had won the parliamentary vote in Saturday's election. Official results for the parliament are still being tallied. Mahama, 66, had previously failed twice to secure the presidency, but in Saturday's election he managed to tap into expectations of change among Ghanaians. He promised to "reset" Ghana, usher in economic revival and renegotiate parts of the country's $3 billion IMF accord. In his acceptance speech, Mahama promised reforms and "severe" measures to bring Ghana back on track. "The journey is not going to be easy... because the outgoing government has plunged our dear nation into the abyss," he said. "I am certain that we shall win the battle." With a history of democratic stability, Ghana's two major parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party politics in 1992. But Ghana's economic woes dominated the 2024 election, after the continent's top gold producer and world's second cacao exporter went through a debt crisis, the default and currency devaluation. Turnout for Saturday election was 60.9 percent, a slide in participation from 79 percent in the 2020 election, results showed. With a slogan "Break the 8" -- a reference to two, four-year terms in power -- Bawumia had sought to take the NPP to an unprecedented third mandate. But he struggled to break from criticism of Akufo-Addo's economic record. While inflation slowed from more than 50 percent to around 23 percent, and other indicators stabilised, economic concerns were still a clear election issue for most Ghanaians. That frustration opened the way for a comeback from Mahama, who first came to the presidency in 2012 when he was serving as vice president and then President John Atta Mills died in office. During campaigning, the former president also faced criticism from those who remember his government's own financial tribulations and especially the massive power blackouts that marred his time in office. bur/pma/giv
PHILADELPHIA — Let’s get the good news in Philadelphia out of the way first. The Eagles are riding a nine-game winning streak, Saquon Barkley is making a serious run at the NFL season rushing record and a playoff berth was clinched for the fourth straight year under coach Nick Sirianni. Now, about all that grumbling ... Yes, Philly sports fans, media and social media doomsayers are usually the ones with a complaint even in the best of times for the pro teams. Perhaps it’s a bit unsettling around Philadelphia, then, that the grousing after a win over Carolina this weekend came from inside the locker room. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, and even Jalen Hurts, made public their complaints about the state of the (diminishing) passing game, putting the coaching staff on notice that enough was enough and it was time to rev up the engine on a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and get the offense humming headed into the postseason. Even Sirianni conceded that yes, it was fair to raise questions about an offense that allowed Smith and Brown to combine for only eight catches and 80 yards. The problem this week? “Being on the same page,” said Smith, whose team hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Smith is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has yet to break 100 in a game this season. Brown has four 100-yard games, well off last season’s run when he topped 100 yards in six straight games and seven times overall. Hurts threw for just 108 yards with two TDs passing and one rushing score. Should an offense getting on the same page develop into this much of a concern for the Eagles (11-2) after 13 games? “No. I just say no,” Hurts said. There are reasons the numbers are down. The easy one, of course, is that the traditionally pass-happy Eagles have leaned on Barkley and his team-record 1,623 yards to steer the offense in his first season. Hurts also shoulders his share of the blame given his propensity for holding on to the ball. He was sacked four times and missed Smith and Brown the few times he did chuck the ball deep to open receivers on long routes. Hurts didn’t throw Brown the ball a couple of times when he was open, including on a TD pass to Smith. “Have to find a way to come together and come and sync as a unit and play complementary ball,” Hurts said. Hurts has topped 300 yards passing only once this season, and his last three games are at 179-118-108. He does have only five interceptions and has thrown just one during the winning streak. What needs help The offensive woes start at the beginning. The Eagles have yet to score a touchdown on their opening possession through the first 13 games and average only 10.7 points in the first half. They had only 46 total yards in the first quarter. The slow starts are one reason why teams with losing records such as Carolina, Jacksonville and Cleveland are able to keep games close at the Linc and make last-gasp drives at an upset victory. What’s working The running game. That really only means one name: Barkley. Barkley rushed for 124 yards to break the Eagles’ season record, and Eric Dickerson’s NFL mark is in his sights. Barkley needed just 13 games to pass LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. Barkley also maintained his pace to break Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. Barkley is one pace for 2,122 yards, just 17 yards beyond Dickerson’s 2,105 total. Stock up Linebackers Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean. Dean led the Eagles with 12 tackles while Baun had 11 tackles and a sack. They both had strong games in shutting down Carolina’s — albeit banged-up — running game. Stock down Jake Elliott. Elliott was wide right on a 52-yard attempt in the third quarter and has missed all five attempts of 50-plus yards this season. Injuries Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was evaluated for a concussion and treated for an additional injury in the fourth quarter but had a game-changing interception. Key number 9 — The Eagles won nine straight games only three other times, in the 2017, 2003 and 1960 seasons.Abpro Holdings Celebrates Closing of Business Combination with Nasdaq Bell Ringing
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