https://arab.news/bzn37 LONDON: The UK is set to join a security pact between Bahrain and the US designed to build “long-term stability in the Middle East.” The UK government said it would sign a deal to join the US-Bahrain Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement on Saturday in Manama. The original agreement between the US and Bahrain, which have long-standing security ties, was signed in September last year. At the time the State Department said it would “enhance cooperation across a wide range of areas, from defense and security to emerging technology, trade, and investment.” Bahrain’s foreign minister confirmed on Friday that the UK had been invited to be a partner in the agreement, Reuters reported. “The comprehensive security integration and prosperity agreement is designed not as a bilateral arrangement, but as the beginning of a multilateral framework that aims to bring together countries with an equal interest in delivering stability and prosperity,” Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain. Hamish Falconer, the UK’s minister for Middle East and North Africa, will travel to Bahrain on Saturday to sign the agreement with officials from Bahrain and the US. He said the pact was a “joint commitment to be at the forefront of global efforts to promote the rule of law and contribute to regional stability and prosperity.” Falconer added: “The Middle East is subject to instability and the risks of escalation and miscalculation are high. It is more important than ever for the UK to join efforts to build long-term regional security in the region, alongside key partners Bahrain and (the) US.” Both the UK and the US have major naval bases in Bahrain, home to America’s Fifth Fleet. Bahrain has supported American and British efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which has been targeted by attacks from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen for more than a year. By entering the agreement the UK will bolster its strong security and economic cooperation with Bahrain, the British government said. The first UK Bahrain Strategic Investment Partnership agreed in 2023 has provided over £1 billion of investment in the UK, the announcement added The security agreement comes as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to deepen relations with Arab Gulf states. The emir of Qatar this week took part in a two-day state visit to Britain, during which the two countries signed an agreement for Qatar to invest £1 billion in British climate technologies.Labor makes housing major issue at WA and Federal election, unveiling $450m package
Another Day, Another Hydrogen Transportation Failure — Hyzon Edition
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — Connor Amundsen scored 25 points as Dartmouth beat Vermont 84-54 on Saturday. Amundsen shot 7 of 11 from the field, including 7 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line for the Big Green (5-7). Ryan Cornish scored 23 points and added nine rebounds and eight assists. Brandon Mitchell-Day shot 4 of 8 from the field and 7 for 8 from the line to finish with 15 points, while adding nine rebounds. Jace Roquemore led the way for the Catamounts (6-8) with 14 points. TJ Hurley added nine points for Vermont. Nick Fiorillo also had eight points. NEXT UP Dartmouth plays Wednesday against Colby-Sawyer at home, and Vermont hosts Elms College on Monday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Will Foster Moreau Play in Week 13? NFL Injury Status, News & Updates
Reed scores 15 off the bench, Tulsa downs Mississippi Valley State 93-48Srinagar, Nov 30: The Inspector General of Border Security Forces (BSF) Kashmir Frontier Ashok Yadav on Saturday said that ahead of winters and heavy snowfall, the people are ready on launching pads to infiltrate to this side of the border. Talking to reporters, the IG BSF, however, said that there always remains constant effort by the terrorists to infiltrate to this side but the security agencies are working in close coordination to thwart any such attempt of the terrorists. “We plan it very carefully and we (BSF) sit with the army and plan our operation with proper coordination and synergy. We chalk out plans about how to dominate the vulnerable gaps,” Ashok Yadav said. He said that the security grid always remains intact on the Line of Control (LoC) and area domination remains a regular exercise of the forces manning the borders. “That is how we are dominating the borders and we try to spot any attempt when the terrorists try to infiltrate to this side. The chances of infiltration always remain high before the snowfall but we are working in close coordination with Indian Army to thwart any such attempt made by the terrorists,” IG BSF Kashmir frontier said. When asked about the gathering of information and inputs about the terrorists making attempt to infiltrate to this side of the border, the IG BSF said they get information from different intelligence agencies which are analysised and operation is launched accordingly. “The terrorists communicate very less and whatever information we receive in pieces and bits, we analyse that and counter their infiltration attempts,” he said. The IG BSF Kashmir frontier said that it was a “big challenge” for the security forces that the terrorists changing their strategies and making less communication. “But on basis of the pieces of information received from different agencies, we always counter their plans and come up with new strategies. All the security and intelligence agencies sit together and brainstorm to counter the new challenges. We are trying to do counter all the infiltration attempts of the terrorists,” he said. He said that it was clear that people are still sitting on the launching pad. “And they try to infiltrate to this side and try to spoil the peaceful atmosphere here. But the way we do our area domination on the LoC, we are very confident that we will fail their every attempt,” IG BSF said. The IG BSF said the terrorists are trying to strengthen their security protocol while planning new infiltration attempts. “There are always apprehension of having gaps in the intelligence inputs due to the change in strategies of terrorists. but all the agencies are trying to analyse the bits and pieces and identify the hideouts and the supporters,” he said. About the impact of the change in the political scenario of Pakistan on Kashmir’s security situation, the IG BSF said that any change in Pakistan situation “definitely has an impact.” “But I cannot comment broadly on this topic as its the domain of the intelligence agencies,” he said.
The scenarios for the 49ers to make the playoffs are complicated and unrealistic . What I’m asking the 49ers to do in Sunday’s game with the Bears is simple and achievable: Show some pride. This might not be a team that can compete for the championship (or even make the tournament) but that doesn’t mean anyone should roll over. This isn’t the NBA, after all. No, in the NFL, there is still plenty to play for, even if the season’s original goals have gone up in smoke. Sunday is the perfect spot for San Francisco to get right. They’re facing a Chicago team with a rookie quarterback, a head coach in his first game, and the general stench of chaos around them. Don’t get me wrong, the Bears have many admirable qualities, and they can absolutely win Sunday’s game, which should be called the MiseraBowl . But surely the Niners — for all their faults and fumbles — aren’t as bad as these guys. Right? Say what you will about the Niners (I’ve said it all by now), but at least they’re not possibly starting former Seahawk special teamer Travis Homer at running back Sunday—no, they’ll have rookie Issac Guerendo in the backfield. And while Bears fans wondered if interim head coach Thomas Brown (who was promoted to offensive coordinator 17 days prior) would fulfill his new gig from the booth, the Niners haven’t dealt with coaching-from-the-booth issues for over a year. And instead of wondering if their quarterback is “the guy” to stake the franchise, like the Bears with rookie Caleb Williams, the Niners are trying to figure out how much to pay the quarterback on whom they’ll stake the franchise. That’s totally different! But, hey, the Niners will be at home on Sunday. That has to count for something. Ok, the margins between these two teams might be tighter than initially expected, but this Niners’ season still matters. If not the quixotic quest for the playoffs, then as a testament to quality for players and coaches and a momentum starter for the 2025 season. “Just flush the things that have happened. Don’t worry about what has happened in the past,” George Kittle said this week. “Flush it, try to be your best self, and just move forward because we still have a lot of great players on this team that can all make really special plays. And all it takes is a spark to get the boys going, and then after that, we’ll see what can happen.” This is the beauty of the NFL — every game has meaning, even if neither team should have any interest in actually playing the game. And for all the conversation around the Niners tanking for a good draft pick, wouldn’t it be better to pull it together and play — for the first time all season — some solid football final weeks, making the Seahawks and Cardinals — who need a playoff berth more than the Niners — sweat until the very end, and put a dent in the notion that this team’s stock is in a tailspin? This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, after all. Lesser teams have earned more reputation from less than what is being asked of the Niners. Draft picks? That can all be sorted out in the spring. And it’s not like the Niners need to position themselves for a quarterback at the top of the first round. (We saw how that worked out last time.) No, the Niners need both quality and quantity this upcoming offseason. They’ll need to build up both lines and their defense with young and cheap players. But this team isn’t tearing things down to the foundation—this isn’t a full-on rebuild. No, call it a restructuring. It’s one part a penance for trying to run back the same team that went to the Super Bowl in 2023, another, the natural autophagy of a football team. It’s a crucial offseason, no doubt, and wouldn’t it be better if the Niners entered it with a reason to believe they are still a team to beat in the NFC? The Niners built a stars-and-scrubs roster and were decimated by bad injuries to those stars. They played with fire and were burned. After a season as disappointing as this one, the Niners have to prove that their window of contention for that long-sought sixth Lombardi Trophy is still open. That this team isn’t done, even if this season is. Beating the Bears won’t reverse this campaign’s trend or give the Niners a leg up in 2025, but losing to Chicago certainly wouldn’t help the cause. Whatever lie the 49ers need to tell themselves to get up for this game needs to be said. The Niners’ best might not be all that great anymore, but it’s time for that best to show itself. Great players and teams are self-motivated, after all. Consider this the 2025 preseason, folks. What the Niners do on Sunday and in the final four games of the season will give us a great hint as to what we can expect next year.NoneHawks top Cavs again to advance in NBA Cup, Boston beat BullsWASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, U.S. officials said Friday. The State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation," according to a statement. The designation of Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the U.S. has slapped on Georgian politicians, lawmakers and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in U.S. jurisdictions or that might enter U.S. jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protestors, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia." Ivanishvili is a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze , announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia's bid to join the European Union, fueling further public outrage.
Calvert Hall football coach Josh Ward has stepped down after four years leading the Cardinals, the school announced Friday.Hannah added five rebounds for the Braves (10-2). Connor Dillon scored 13 points while going 5 of 8 (1 for 4 from 3-point range). Corey Thomas shot 4 of 4 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points. Duke Deen also had 12 points. The Golden Griffins (0-13) were led by Paul McMillan IV, who posted 26 points. Jasman Sangha added 14 points for Canisius. Anthony Benard had eight points. The loss was the Golden Griffins' 13th in a row. NEXT UP Bradley plays Sunday against Valparaiso at home, and Canisius visits Sacred Heart on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .UltraTech Cement on Friday said it is acquiring an 8.69% stake in Meghalaya-based Star Cement from the promoter group for ₹851 crore, a strategic deal that will help India's largest cement producer gain a foothold in the northeastern market. ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise The move comes just three days after the Aditya Birla Group flagship made Chennai-based India Cements its subsidiary. Pre-emptive Move India Cements was acquired in phases this year by UltraTech, as the Indian cement industry continues to see unprecedented consolidation. Incorporated in 2001, Star Cement is one of the most profitable companies in northeast India. UltraTech will pick up a non-controlling minority stake at ₹235 per share in a block deal from "some promoter and promoter group entities of Star Cement," it said in a regulatory filing. Its board of directors approved making an investment to acquire up to 37 million equity shares of Star Cement at a price not exceeding ₹235 per share, excluding STT, stamp duty and other levies, it added. 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UltraTech's move to pick up a stake in the Meghalaya-based cement firm is perceived as a pre-emptive move to block Adani Cements from making a similar move. It could also be the first step to acquire the company as it happened with India Cements, industry experts said. In June, when UltraTech had acquired a 23% stake in India Cements from investor RK Damani, the company had said it was only a financial investment. But, within months, it took over the business from N Srinivasan and family. One of the largest cement brands in northeast India, Star Cement is seen as a takeover target for national players. It has a 7.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) grinding capacity, 6.1 mtpa clinker capacity, up from 2.8 mtpa in FY24, a dealer network of close to 2,000, and a retailer network of over 12,500. It is also expanding to West Bengal and Bihar. Cement companies in the Northeast enjoy 1.5-2 times Ebitda per tonne compared to pan-Indian peers, experts said. "Owing to logistical constraints/hilly terrain, the Northeast market has been enjoying better pricing (higher by ₹1,000-1,200 per tonne) and in turn, profitability as compared to other regions," said Krupal Maniar, cement analyst with Antique Stock Broking. "Star's Ebitda is likely to almost double to ₹1,000 crore over the next four years, given 120% rise in its clinker capacity." Shares of UltraTech ended 0.45% lower on Friday at ₹11,406.15 on the BSE while that of Star Cement closed at ₹232, up 0.98%. Star Cement had reported an overall turnover of ₹2,910 crore in 2023-24. It has seven plants and a total workforce of 4,200. It plans to achieve a manufacturing capacity of 25 mtpa by 2030, as per the company's website. According to an investor presentation shared post-September quarter, the company commands a 26.5% market share in the Northeast market. Premium sales account for 10.6% of overall sales. Its sales volumes have seen compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% between FY19 and FY24 versus the industry average of 6%. The company has two upcoming units in the Silchar and Jorhat districts of Assam and has planned a capex of ₹380 crore for the second half of the current financial year. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Israel’s war with Hamas has resulted in some cutting-edge, astonishing medical advancementsWith the 2024 season officially over, we’ve been publishing final stat leaders in a variety of categories. This post is dedicated to team stats and will highlight goals for, goals against, goals for per game, goals against per game and goal differential.
Coppin State wins 68-60 over Navy( MENAFN - GetNews) The first battle in our country's morality war must start with us. That can be hard because if you are like me, you have screwed up royally in the past. Drew Alan Hall describes his father as his best friend, though they sometimes disagree on specific subjects. One such subject is politics. While neither Hall nor his father considers themselves far right or far left, they occupy different sides of the aisle regarding presidential candidates. Recent elections have sparked heated conversations between them, often centered not on tax strategy or foreign policy but on morality - specifically, the morality of individuals and their politics. Election years tend to bring moral issues to the forefront of public discourse, addressing topics ranging from gender identification to abortion and beyond. These issues emerge in debates between candidates and conversations among individuals, often spilling over into social media. During one such discussion with his father, Hall observed that many people look to political figures and parties as society's moral compass. The distinction between the morality of policies and the morality of candidates often becomes blurred. Hall believes followers of Jesus should take time to pray and reflect on how they approach their beliefs about morality and political choices before casting their votes. The desire for leaders to embody strength and integrity is not unique to America. The Bible illustrates this struggle when God's people asked for a king. Saul, who looked the part, was flawed internally, while David, a man after God's heart, made significant moral missteps. These two leaders, despite their outward differences, both faced moments of moral failure. Hall notes that while society often demands its leaders exemplify morality and integrity, individuals may not hold themselves to the same standards. The first step in addressing the nation's morality issues must begin with individuals. Acknowledging personal mistakes can be challenging, and past failures may lead some to feel unworthy of being used by God. Hall suggests that such thinking can cause people to expect their leaders to achieve what they themselves cannot. Conversations about morality and leaders' actions often overlook personal accountability. To see a shift in national morality aligned with God, Hall emphasizes that individuals must first address their own lives. This personal transformation does not necessarily require running for office but does demand active participation in the mission of making disciples and sharing the good news of Jesus. Hall draws parallels to the life of Peter, who, after denying Jesus, initially returned to his old life as a fisherman. However, an encounter with the risen Messiah helped Peter move past his guilt and step into God's work, ultimately playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the church. Hall highlights that while Peter did not pursue political office, his personal transformation led to world-changing impact. As the election approaches, Hall encourages individuals to seek a transformative conversation with Jesus. Such a conversation can lead to the realization of God's plan for their lives, replacing guilt and shame with grace and forgiveness. Hall believes this shift - aligning actions with beliefs - can gradually influence the nation's morality. For Christians navigating the election season, Hall offers three steps. First, engage in an honest conversation with Jesus to assess whether personal actions align with beliefs. Second, pray for guidance to discern the candidate to support and determine how to do so in a way that honors Christ. Third, remember that a follower of Jesus finds identity in His life, death, and resurrection - not in any political candidate or party. Regardless of who wins the presidency, Jesus remains King. About "How To Keep it Real" by Drew Alan Hall Has regret over past denial of God kept you from the purpose he has for your life? The good news is God does not want you to stay sidelined by past mistakes. By comparing the story of Peter's denial to my own, this book shows how one tough conversation with Jesus could be the thing that moves you forward to radically living for him. In this book, readers will be introduced to three things. Get a Free Copy of this Book on Amazon From December 23 to December 27th. Amazon: Kharis Website: About Kharis Publishing At Kharis Publishing, we believe every writer deserves a chance to share their story with the world. If you've faced rejection after rejection, you're not alone-many great authors have been in your shoes. 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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim being handed over the gavel of Asean Chairmanship by Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane, Laos, in October. — Bernama photo THE Year 2025 is fast approaching. For Malaysia, 2025 will be the year we take over the Chairmanship of the world’s fifth largest economic bloc, with its 680-million strong population. As one of this regional grouping’s founding fathers in1967 – together with Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – Asean has been such an integral part of Malaysia’s past, present and future that our chairmanship in 2025 is nothing less than a defining moment on how we could lead the region towards realising its current potential fully. Year 2025 is equally significant for Asean because it also marks the 10th anniversary of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). The theme for Malaysia’s Chairmanship is ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’ – two key values which have drawn upon Malaysia’s Madani values of ‘Sustainability’, ‘Compassion’, ‘Respect’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Prosperity’ and ‘Trust’. Tackling key regional challenges For the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), it is exactly those values that will underscore the outcome-driven economic agenda we will be promoting through Asean’s Economic Pillar. ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’ as Malaysia’s Asean 2025 value proposition is admittedly very simple, even prosaic. But it truly encapsulates the brutal simplicity of what is facing our region: if Southeast Asia cannot become more inclusive and sustainable, other propositions such as economic prosperity and tech innovation may prove to be empty wins. Indeed, decades have been spent talking about the need for a ‘people-centric Asean’, of ensuring the economic wins of regional integration benefit all, including women, youth and micro-medium and small enterprises (MSMEs). Additionally, our economies and people will also be left behind if we cannot create a regional ecosystem that maximises the benefits of e-commerce and digitalisation. Furthermore, our lands and economic ecosystems will also be devastated if we fail to embrace sustainability and transition towards greener energy and carbon neutrality. The Madani Government, too, espouses prosperity that must not only benefit the rich and elites, and must not be at the expense of our environment, which is already fragile from the impact of centuries of carbonised economies and industries. So, in effect ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’ is the perfect theme for Asean 2025 because it is what the region, and I dare say even Malaysia, need to succeed in the future. ‘A packed, outcome-driven 2025’ The ‘main events’ will of course be the two Asean Summits in Kuala Lumpur, along with Related Summits like the Asean+3 or East Asia Summits. It will be very exciting to see the leaders of our region and the wider world all descend upon our soil. But in fact, our year-long commitment involves different levels of meetings across different ministries to progress Asean’s political-security, economic and social-cultural integration agendas. For Asean’s Economic Pillar, which the MITI and several other ministries are responsible for, we will classify our Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) into four key thrusts: enhancing trade and investment; creating an inclusive and sustainable pathway; promoting integration and connectivity of economies; and building a digitally resilient Asean. More details about what we hope to achieve will be provided as time goes on. My colleagues in the Cabinet will, of course, have their own initiatives on their own and in collaboration with each other. At the working level, the Senior Economic Officials Meeting just concluded in Kota Kinabalu (Dec 4-5, 2024). Moving forward, on the Economic Pillar’s ‘plate’, we also have, among others, the 31st Asean Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat in Johor (February 2025), the Asean Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur (April 2025), and the 57th AEM and AEM Dialogue Partners Consultations, together with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur (September 2025). Many will wonder what the impact of all these Meetings will really have. Allow me to briefly explain. Bear in mind that Asean will become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2050. Its GDP last year stood at US$3.8 trillion compared to US$2.5 trillion in 2015. Regional trade in 2023 was US$3.5 trillion compared to US$2.3 trillion in 2015. Asean: What’s In It for Malaysia? As I have repeatedly mentioned, there is so much room for growth, particularly with current intra-Asean trade at just 23 to 25 per cent. Increasing trade is one of the matters high on MITI’s agenda next year, including by ensuring we can either conclude or upgrade the various free trade agreements (FTAs) that Asean has ratified with key trading partners. Increased trade within Asean also means increased trade for Malaysia. In fact, the best way to appreciate the value of Asean is to imagine a Southeast Asia without it: no visa-free access for business and travel to other countries in the region; no Asean lanes at immigration in various airports; tariffed Malaysian goods exported to Southeast Asia and vice-versa; no FTAs with crucial trading partners like China, India and Japan, which could mean laboriously negotiating individual bilateral trade deals, one by one. Imagine, too, if each Asean member state had to individually negotiate cross-border issues like the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change – surely these issues could be better negotiated as a grouping with more clout and bargaining power. All these may be too conceptual for the masses to appreciate, because most of us have, for example, taken for granted the relatively free movement of goods, services and people among Asean countries, facilitated by plenty of government-to-government (G2G) negotiations over the decades. Granted, Asean still has a lot of work to do to become a more integrated economic community – which is why MITI is determined to achieve as much as possible on the economic front, to ensure that the benefits of a more integrated Asean economy will be felt long after Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship ends. MITI is equally determined to help Malaysia shape the future of our region. So, we will be both proactive and passionate about Asean. We may not see results immediately, but how Malaysia drives Asean’s agenda and manages difficult regional issues vis-à-vis the grouping will have an impact on Malaysians and our businesses in the long run. So, the short answer on whether all these meetings will really have an impact on Malaysia is this – yes, we stand to gain a lot from it, which is why it must matter a great deal to Malaysia. This is also why I am excited about Asean’s economic agenda – it will be a lot of hard work for MITI and the various ministries involved, but we are determined to deliver on our Economic Pillar Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), because I am confident their positive impact on our region will transcend long after Malaysia’s chairmanship ends, and even beyond our lifetimes. * Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister.
(New Castle) Session closed: Looking back on the work of area lawmakers in 2023-24
Large language overkill: How SLMs can beat their bigger, resource-intensive cousins
Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the USChoose from this curated list of five premium stainless steel water bottles that quench your thirst with style. The sleek Sens Life HYDRA METALLIC goes with a modern lifestyle; then the fun Mad Over Print Rolling Panda Sipper has been thoughtfully designed for kids and kids at heart. Embrace tradition and health with The Better Home Copper Sipper or get gym-ready with the versatile STRAUSS Gym Shaker Bottle. If blanket temperature control is what you need, your best choice is the Homestic Heart Vacuum Insulated Bottle. Each array of features and aesthetics ensures that hydration feels effortless and fashionable for all occasions. Stay hydrated with these stainless steel sipper bottles that are ultimate thirst-quenching companions. Environmentally safe, sturdy, and quite sleek - these bottles promise to satisfy and quench thirst and keep drinks hot or cold for hours. Be it hiking in the woods, climbing a mountain, or just commuting to work, these bottles come in handy. They feature double wall insulation, spill-proof lids, and ergonomic designs, which perfectly enhance any adventure. Let's delve into the top 5 sipper steel bottles that will make you think about how you survived till now without them! 1. Sens Life HYDRA METALLIC (SIPPER) Image Source: Marvelof.com Order Now The Sens Life HYDRA METALLIC sipper is a stylish water bottle, perfect for casual and professional use. Made from high-quality materials, this bottle is built to be both durable and convenient. Key Features: 2. Mad Over Print Rolling Panda Sipper Image Source: Marvelof.com Order Now Fun and functionality are combined in the Mad Over Print Rolling Panda Sipper. This is a fun and quirky sipper that's suitable for both young children as well as adults. Key Features: 3. The Better Home Copper Water Bottle with Sipper Image Source: Marvelof.com Order Now Those who value both health and tradition would appreciate The Better Home Copper Water Bottle. Combining the advantages of copper with contemporary sipper technology, this bottle is a perfect example. Key Features: 4. STRAUSS Stainless Steel Water Bottle Image Source: Marvelof.com Order Now Key Features: 5. Homestic Heart Home Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle Image Source: Marvelof.com Order Now When it comes to keeping beverages cold, the Homestic Heart Home Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle is a great option. For a prolonged duration, this bottle can keep drinks hot or cold. Key Features: These sipper bottles offer a range of benefits and drawbacks. From health benefits to functionalities and fashionable designs, there is a range of bottles that cater to all types of users. While each has its share of minor imperfections, these cons outweigh these general advantages and make them excellent options for hydration on the go. Choose your preferred lifestyle and maintain a refreshing drink. Disclaimer: The above mentioned article is a sponsored feature. This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of IDPL, and IDPL claims no responsibility whatsoever. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.Reports: Rangers G Igor Shesterkin agrees to record $92M deal
Many Perth families are choosing to leave the cooking — and dirty dishes — to others on December 25 this year and enjoy Christmas lunch at their local pub. And this could be the last Christmas when venues are forced to serve alcoholic beverages only with a meal. The Australian Hotels Association is lobbying both major parties in the lead-up to next year’s State election to consider changes to the “antiquated” Liquor Licensing Act that requires drinks to be served ancillary to a meal on Christmas Day and Good Friday. AHA WA boss Bradley Woods said with more pubs, bars and hotels opening to serve Christmas lunch and dinner, venues and consumers wanted more flexibility on December 25. “It’s an issue that has long been on our agenda to see venues meet community needs and demands,” he told The Sunday Times. Mr Woods said while only a “smattering” of venues would open on Christmas Day a decade ago, there was now significant demand from patrons wanting to avoid spending half the day in a hot kitchen preparing a roast. With tourism expenditure in WA at an all-time high of around $18 billion a year, the hotels chief said more interstate and overseas visitors than ever were keen to go out for a drink on Christmas Day and Good Friday. “(The current regulations are) putting an unnecessary restriction on a couple of days of the year,” Mr Woods said. He said community expectations had changed in the past decade. “People who want to go to church, or celebrate in a religious manner, on Christmas Day are doing that, and . . . there’s no limitations on that,” Mr Woods said. “We want to seek reform from both sides of the political divide, that they will support an ongoing process of red-tape reduction and reform of some of the restrictions that are somewhat antiquated. “We’re well beyond the community having this expectation that adults not do anything on Christmas Day other than attend church and do traditional family get-togethers.” The Guildford Hotel is among the many Perth pubs planning to serve festive packages offering multi-course feasts and free-flowing drinks on Christmas Day. Senior operations manager Katie Reeves said the annual event grew bigger each year, with the historic pub expecting more than 400 diners this year. While most customers were happy to have alcoholic beverages with food on Christmas Day, she said the rules should be relaxed on Good Friday. The Stories hospitality precinct, which launched earlier this year at the redeveloped Yagan Square, will not open for business on December 25. Ross Drennan, co-director of Stories owner Nokturnl, said the group had decided to give hard-working staff a day off to spend with family and friends. “Christmas is a tough decision for us,” he said. “We feel like there is probably demand there, particularly in the restaurants, to host long lunches.” Mr Drennan said the added cost of staffing because of public holiday penalty rates was “a consideration but not a determining factor” for the decision not to open on Christmas Day. However, he supports scrapping the current rule allowing alcohol to be served only with meals on December 25 and Good Friday. “The public don’t understand the reasoning behind it, and as such it just creates frustration,” Mr Drennan said. “This frustration is then borne by staff working in hospitality who must constantly try and defend these rules.” The hospitality operator expects the licensing regulations to change before Good Friday next year, which falls on April 18. CHRISTMAS LUNCH IS ON THEM On December 25, leave the hard work and dirty dishes to the teams at these Perth pubs. Make sure you book in advance for your big pub feed this Christmas. THE GUILDFORD HOTEL Indulge in the Guildford Hotel’s famous Christmas Day feast. The pub offers three courses, and a two-hour beverage package across two sessions (midday-2pm and 4pm-6pm). The cost for adults is $180 per person, for children under 12 it is $65 each, and it’s free for children under three. THE CLAREMONT HOTEL Take the stress out of planning and enjoy the ultimate Christmas Day feast featuring two hours of drinks, share-style lunch, seafood, salad and charcuterie station, and a dessert bar with a chocolate fountain. This decadent banquet costs $230 for adults (with a no-alcohol package for $160), and it costs $160 for teens, $70 for children, and is free for infants. There are two seatings available: midday-2pm, and 3pm-5pm. THE VICTORIA PARK HOTEL The Vic is putting on a mouthwatering Christmas buffet on December 25 with two hours of wine, beers, bubbles and softies for $159 per person. Diners can upgrade with an arrival bottle of bubbles. The cost for children aged 12 and under is $59 each. Two-hour seatings are available at midday and 3pm. BLASTA COLLECTIVE The popular Burswood brewery offers a sumptuous three-course meal starring seasonal local produce and three hours of free-flowing beverages from midday-3pm on Christmas Day. First-release tickets are on sale now for $175 per person. THE BASSENDEAN HOTEL The beloved Basso dishes up three courses of delicious shared plates for $165 per person, which includes two hours of wine, beer, bubbles and softies. Children aged 12 and under can chow down for $60, while those under four eat for free. There are two sessions: midday-2pm, and 3pm-5pm. MARKET GROUNDS Celebrate Chrissy in style at the award-winning inner-city pub. The three-course set menu with three hours of free-flowing festival cocktails, bubbles, house wines, tap beers and cider runs from midday and costs $180 per person (or less for those too young to drink). QUEENS TAVERN The Beaufort Street stalwart marks Christmas with a three-course a la carte menu plus canapes on arrival. Choose from three entrees (including a chilled prawn cocktail), four mains (featuring traditional ham and turkey) and three desserts for $130 per person with pay-as-you-go beverages from the bar. There’s also a $35 mini set menu for children. SWEETWATER ROOFTOP BAR Join Sweetwater for the ultimate Christmas Day with breathtaking views of Fremantle. For $195 per person, indulge in a three-course banquet and two hours of free-flowing bubbles, wines, tap beers and ciders. Non-drinkers can enjoy non-alcoholic wines, beers and mocktails. The cost for under-16s, $35 per person with the choice of a main meal and a soft drink. Sessions are available for midday-2pm, 1pm-3pm, and 2pm-4pm. THE GLOBE The crew at this city institution dust off their Santa hats to serve up a three-course family-style feast featuring shared plates, a “main event”, and a festive dessert grazing table to finish. There’s also a two-hour beverage offer including house wines, beers and soft drinks across two sessions, starting at midday or 4pm. The cost is $160 per adult or $60 per child under 12, with children under three eating for free. THE GALWAY HOOKER Forget White Christmas, and start dreaming of Christmas by the beach with a cold Guinness in hand. Head to the beachside Irish pub in Scarborough for a three-course nosh-up starring turkey and other festive favourites plus two hours of drinks. The cost is $170 for adults, $80 for children aged 17 and under, and free for children under three. Sessions are available from midday-2pm and 4pm-6pm. THE WOODBRIDGE HOTEL The Woody gets into the Christmas spirit with a three-course lunch from midday for $69 per person (or $55 for seniors), plus a two-hour drinks package for $40 per person. COBBLERS TAVERN Head down the Old Coast Road to Cobblers in Falcon for a traditional roast dinner, the centrepiece of this pub’s Christmas Day feast costing $149 per person. That price includes a two-hour drinks package of house wines, selected tap beers and soft drinks. Children aged 17 and under can enjoy the tucker for $49 per person, under-11s for $39, and those aged for and under for $15. THE QUARTER ACRE This Applecross pub offers a three-course feast plus two hours of free-flowing beverages from midday for $149 per person or $80 for non-drinkers and teenagers. The cost for children under 12 is $60 per person, while kids under three eat free. THE RAFFLES HOTEL The historic waterfront hotel celebrates Christmas Day with a festive three-course set menu lunch paired with two hours of drinks for $160 per adult, $50 per child (aged 5-12) and free for kids aged four and under.SEC rushing leader Dylan Sampson of Tennessee declares for NFL draftThe other day I recorded the annual predictions wrap-up with Laurent Segalen and Gerard Reid of Redefining Energy. I’d joined the fun last year for the first time after starting up the Redefining Energy—Tech sub-channel, judging their predictions from the previous year and adding predictions of my own. One of my predictions for 2025 was that there was going to be a bloodbath in hydrogen for transportation. It’s not going to help that it’s illegal to call hydrogen trucks, ferries, or rail zero emissions or even low-emissions in North America, Europe, or Australia, with both Canada and the EU allowing non-governmental organizations to bring charges. After all, hydrogen in transportation is actually quite high emissions. In the best possible case, it’s many multiples of battery or grid-tied electric, and in average cases close to diesel. In some cases, it’s worse than diesel. Why? Well, manufacturing hydrogen, in the best possible scenario, requires about three times as much green electricity as just using the electricity in vehicles through batteries, so whatever emissions are related to the electricity are tripled. Also, hydrogen is a greenhouse gas, albeit indirectly by preventing the methane in natural gas or burped out of cows from degrading, with 13 to 37 times the potency of carbon dioxide. And as the smallest or second smallest molecule — depending on whether you ask chemists or physicists — and at the pressures required to have enough of it in one place to do anything useful, it leaks. Every time it moves from container to container or piece of equipment to piece of equipment, a bit leaks. When it’s liquified for long-distance trucking, for example, it turns back into a gas on the road and gets vented. The combination means that for hydrogen-powered vehicles, an average of 10% of the hydrogen is likely to be vented from manufacturing to getting into the fuel cell. This isn’t new news, by the way. In 1976, Paul Crutzen (a Nobel Prize-winning atmospheric chemist) and Dieter Ehhalt were among the first to propose that hydrogen could indirectly impact the atmosphere by interacting with the hydroxyl radical (OH) . OH is crucial in regulating methane’s lifetime in the atmosphere. Hydrogen competes with methane for OH, extending methane’s atmospheric lifespan, thereby increasing its greenhouse effect. In a pivotal 2001 study, Richard Derwent and colleagues quantified how hydrogen leakage could indirectly increase methane levels by reducing OH concentrations. The 2023 multi-author Sand et al study published in Nature only clarified how bad the problem was , not that there was a problem. Industrial use of hydrogen in the 20th century saw numerous explosions linked to leaks, particularly in the emerging oil refining and chemical processing sectors of the 1910s and 1920s. Various industrial accidents led to safety regulations about detection, ventilation, and the like. That hydrogen leaks is incredibly well known. It’s minimized as much as possible in industry because it’s expensive, but it’s mostly been a matter of trying to prevent people from dying or being injured, so accurate estimates of leakage rates have been few and far between. But now the data is coming in. A hydrogen refueling station in California was seeing 35% leakage rates and it took years of remediation and fixes to bring it down to 2% to 10% leakage, just at the site. A hydrogen electrolysis and refueling plant in Europe was seeing over 2% to 4% leakage. A US DOE report on hydrogen boil-off made it clear that even very high-volume refueling stations refilled with liquid hydrogen would see 2% losses just from that part of the value chain. Basically, you have to make hydrogen in industrial-scale electrolysis plants that are closely monitored and maintained by trained chemical processing engineering professionals and use the hydrogen at the same location and immediately as a feedstock in the manufacturing of something that doesn’t leak to have low leakage rates of the stuff. Make it in a small electrolysis facility at a bus garage or dockside for ferries and the small plant will leak like a sieve. Truck it anywhere and leakage occurs. Moving it from an electrolyzer to a pressurized tank will see leakage. Liquifying it will see leakage. Pumping it into a truck, ferry, or rail car will see leakage. The best scenario I assessed was a plan to put an electrolyzer beside a bus garage in Winnipeg, which has exceptionally low carbon intensity electricity, about 1.3 grams per kWh, about as good as it’s possible to get. In that scenario, between manufacturing and leakage, I estimated that a hydrogen fuel cell bus would have 15 to 16 times the carbon emissions per kilometer as just using the electricity in a battery electric bus. And Winnipeg found that was too expensive, and pivoted to a methanol reformer as the plan, asserting falsely that it was low emissions too. In actual fact, as methanol has high carbon emissions in manufacturing, a bus filled with hydrogen made from methanol would have 3.2 times the emissions of a diesel bus. Naturally, the hydrogen-for-energy crowd have not been remotely transparent about this problem. Like the extreme inefficiency of hydrogen-for-energy pathways, the reality that green hydrogen will always be expensive, and the unreliability of fuel cells, most of them are in denial. The ones that aren’t in denial are the ones intentionally delaying decarbonization who don’t care. These realities are catching up to companies that have been trying to make hydrogen vehicles, hence my prediction for next year. I’m pretty sure that at least one of Plug Power, FuelCell Energy, or Ballard will finally disappear, possibly all three. They are trading for pennies on the dollar compared to the 2021 miniblip, never mind the early 2000 maxiblip. Ballard Power has never made a profit, losing an average of $55 million annually since 2000, $1.3 billion in total. Even the hydrogen faithful eventually will cut their losses, eat the capital gains loss for tax breaks, and invest in something useful. I expect that at least one of the major truck and bus firms that’s trying to do both battery electric and hydrogen will follow Quantron into bankruptcy , probably Van Hool or New Flyer. As I noted, hydrogen is appealing because of higher unit prices per vehicle, but every hydrogen truck or bus a firm sells likely costs it 3–5 unit sales of battery electric vehicles because of additional corporate overhead, failure to improve battery electric vehicles to be competitive, and deeply unhappy customers. It’s a recipe for market share loss, not gain. At least one major western bus manufacturer will abandon hydrogen fuel cell buses, maybe Solaris. Norway will finally stop trying to build hydrogen ferries and replace the single operational hydrogen ferry — 2x the emissions of a diesel ferry, 40x the emissions of a battery electric ferry on the same route, 10x the energy cost of a battery electric ferry — with battery electric. But Christmas came early for this prediction. Exit Hyzon from the scene. It was founded in 2020 as a spin-off of Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, focusing on heavy-duty commercial applications such as trucks and buses. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, the company developed proprietary fuel cell systems targeting higher power density and faster refueling times. With operations spanning Europe, Asia, and Australia, Hyzon collaborated with local partners in a vain attempt to build hydrogen ecosystems, including refueling infrastructure, to support FCEV adoption. Despite all the problems listed above and the failures to establish hydrogen ecosystems, Hyzon forged ahead, signing agreements for fleet deployments and participating in pilot projects worldwide. I’d have included Horizon on the stock chart above, by the way, but it’s privately held not publicly traded so it’s only losing money for its private investors, like mining giant Anglo American. Now all of those contracts and agreements are worth the paper that they are printed on, nothing. Hyzon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 20th of 2024. The filing follows a prolonged period of financial instability, operational challenges, and restructuring efforts aimed at stabilizing the company. Hyzon’s decision to file for bankruptcy reflected its inability to secure sufficient financing or implement effective strategic alternatives, despite earlier efforts to downsize its operations in markets like the Netherlands and Australia. The company had also been dealing with reputational damage stemming from a settlement with the SEC in 2023 over allegations of misleading investors. What was that last part? Oh, of course, Hyzon was a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), and like most of those Wall Street bro enriching vehicles, was a scam to dupe money out of retail investors . Hyzon was on my 2022 list of cleantech SPACs that were going to end badly. The chart above is of 56 cleantech SPAC firms whose stocks had been pumped then dumped by the Wall Street bros. About 60% of them had SEC charges against them. A lot of them are heading for bankruptcy, saddled with absurdly inflated expectations and far too little capital as the Wall Street bros took as much as 65% of it in some deals. After pumping, Hyzon was briefly worth $850 per share. Now it’s stock, soon to be delisted, is worth $1.12. The Wall Street bros made out like bandits. Hydrogen and hydrogen transportation was a theme among SPACs. Nikola Corporation went public in June 2020 through a SPAC merger with VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., valued at approximately $3.3 billion. Shortly after, the company faced fraud allegations from the aptly named Hindenburg Research in September 2020, claiming Nikola had misled investors about its technology and capabilities. Investigations by the SEC and DOJ followed, leading to the conviction of founder Trevor Milton in 2022 on three counts of fraud. Nikola agreed to pay a $125 million fine in 2021 to settle SEC charges for deceiving investors through misleading public statements. Who doesn’t remember Nikola’s lovely video of a hydrogen truck driving long a highway that was faked by towing a truck to the top of a hill and letting it roll down from there? Par for the course for hydrogen transportation plays. Hyzon Motors misled investors by making false statements about its business relationships and vehicle sales. The company falsely claimed to have delivered its first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle in July 2021, even releasing a misleading video suggesting the vehicle was operational on hydrogen when it was not equipped to do so. Additionally, Hyzon reported selling 87 FCEVs in 2021, when in reality, no such sales had occurred that year. These actions led to settled fraud charges by the SEC in September 2023. But now its false claims — “Delivering heavy duty transport, without emissions” – are gone. At least it won’t be charged with with false advertising for its greenwashing, so there’s that, I guess. As I always say to good engineers and others in hydrogen firms, get out now or at least start getting out. It’s going to end badly and you aren’t actually doing anything for the environment. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit