NFL Week 12 big questions and takeaways: Five wild endings, huge upsets and division-race shake-ups
Analysis-Gaetz exit puts spotlight on other Trump nominees accused of sexual misconduct
realme Closes 2024 with Record-Breaking Growth and Launches the Industry’s Best Waterproof Smartphone, realme C75PM Manmohan Singh will always remain in the history of Indian politics as a debatable figure, whose contributions towards the world economy has been nothing short of phenomenal. On countless occasions, he has saved India as well its allies from severe economic crisis, and his efforts towards building Indo-US relations may have been criticized back then, but the Asian country is surely reaping the benefits of the same now, with a different Prime Minister at the helm. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping Did India-US relation building help both countries during former PM Manmohan Singh's regime? There is a lot of difference in opinion around the contribution of PM Singh towards the building of India-US relations. The 2008 nuclear deal takes the cake, but the ties with the United States still did not help the country in attaining a permanent seat in the UN Security Council back then. The Khobragade spat from back then had also severed the Washington-Delhi ties, with China, then and now, remaining a major challenge for India, with the US not doing much to help in talks between the two countries. Pakistan has always remained like a thorn to India's side, and the US has been rather volatile on the Indo-Pak concept, with each President adapting different strategies. Only in recent times has the US grown explicitly critical about Pakistan's military strategies, including the fact that it is now building long-range tactical nuclear missiles through its weapons development program. US' on-off pivot policy in Asia has created much of a problem for Delhi over the years, especially in Singh's tenure, and even though he tried, his government could not achieve much in this aspect. FAQs: When did PM Manmohan Singh passed away? PM Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024, after being admitted to a hospital in New Delhi. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program How many terms did PM Manmohan Singh serve? PM Manmohan Singh served two terms as the Prime Minister of India, both the collision governments being known as UPA I and UPA II respectively. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
A 42-story hotel with a two-level synagogue just west of Treasure Island is moving forward. The non-gaming KDH Hotel, formerly known as the King David Hotel, was recommended for approval by the Paradise Town Advisory Board on Tuesday and is expected to be reviewed by the Clark County Commission on Jan. 8. Developers expect Jewish visitors will embrace the 486-room property with the onsite synagogue and kosher meals available. But before the county can consider the proposal, developers must complete a series of studies on traffic and drainage and have the height of the building OKed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Board members on Tuesday voted 3-1 to forward the 648-foot proposal that would tower above the 368-foot Treasure Island to the commission. Board member Kimberly Swartzlander cast the lone vote against approval, citing concerns about having a high-volume property on a tight 0.6-acre parcel. Treasure Island opposition Treasure Island General Counsel Brad Anthony testified in opposition to the project, concerned about traffic and deliveries to such a small space. “Treasure Island believes that the project will have adverse impacts on surrounding properties due to increased traffic and heavy polluting,” Anthony said during a public hearing. “Food deliveries, linen and sundries, retail items, etc., require access to the property,” he said. “I have heard during an in-depth screening for a few board members that a large building on a small parcel will have an impact on its neighbors. I would like to note that that is exactly what this is. We also believe that the inability to stage construction vehicles onsite while building this tower will create massive problems and negatively impact ingress and egress on the North Strip.” .embed-container {position: relative; padding-bottom: 57%; height: 0; max-width: 100%;} .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container iframe{position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} small{position: absolute; z-index: 40; bottom: 0; margin-bottom: -15px;} Board members voiced their concerns after the presentation. “I think you’re going to have some real challenges,” board member John Williams said before the vote. Proponents and opponents concurred that the biggest challenges may occur during construction when equipment is moved onto the site. But Swartzlander added that once the building is open, operations could be just as challenging with just three loading bays available to take deliveries, a porte cochere where guests would enter and take an elevator to the 14th level for check-in. Including five subterranean parking levels and seven above ground, there would be room for 531 spaces, around 80 fewer than the required 610 parking spaces. Plans also call for back-of-the-house uses on levels 1-12, a swimming pool on level 13, the level 14 lobby sandwiched between retail on levels 13 and 15, hotel rooms on levels 16-42, more back-of-the-house on level 43, more retail on levels 44-46 and the worship facility on levels 47 and 48. The KDH also will have kosher restaurants, bars, a banquet facility as well as retail and convention space. “The uses and amenities provided in the hotel will include the standard fare as well as kosher restaurants and amenities which are otherwise unavailable in the immediate area,” a justification letter to the county stated. “The closest synagogue to the subject area is approximately four miles from the Las Vegas Strip and the resort corridor.” Waivers requested Landowner Ray Koroghli, who operates the New Pioneer casino in Laughlin, has also requested several other waivers of development standards due to the size of the lot, including length and width of the driveway, landscaping, height restrictions and property setbacks. Land use and development consultant Lebene Ohene of the Brown, Brown & Premsrirut law firm, explained the reasoning for the waiver requests in a 30-minute presentation. The street address for the hotel is 3601 Vegas Plaza Drive and a small apartment complex exists at the site, with access from Spring Mountain Road. The hotel project was reviewed earlier this year, but held for commission review until after it could be resubmitted under revised design standards that took effect Jan. 1.Hensley 4-14 5-6 15, Massey 2-4 0-0 4, Davis 5-13 4-6 16, Dibba 4-11 4-4 12, Mayo 1-7 0-0 2, Sharp 3-6 1-1 7, Aligbe 4-5 1-2 9, Sykes 3-6 0-3 7, Steffe 2-5 1-2 7. Totals 28-71 16-24 79. Batcho 4-12 8-10 16, Abram 8-13 2-2 18, Cooper 6-14 4-5 18, Newman 3-9 5-6 11, Ree 1-2 0-0 3, Green 5-12 7-7 19, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Bates 0-0 0-0 0, Crawford 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 26-30 85. Halftime_S. Illinois 31-27. 3-Point Goals_S. Illinois 7-24 (Steffe 2-5, Hensley 2-6, Davis 2-7, Sykes 1-1, Mayo 0-2, Dibba 0-3), Louisiana Tech 5-20 (Cooper 2-5, Green 2-6, Ree 1-2, Abram 0-2, Newman 0-5). Fouled Out_Mayo. Rebounds_S. Illinois 43 (Davis 10), Louisiana Tech 35 (Cooper 12). Assists_S. Illinois 18 (Mayo, Sharp 4), Louisiana Tech 11 (Newman 5). Total Fouls_S. Illinois 22, Louisiana Tech 16.
Liverpool punish rivals’ errors with dominant win over Leicester to stretch lead
Traditional sectors get smarter with 5G+ industrial internet
Commerce Bank cut its stake in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co ( NYSE:VRT – Free Report ) by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,752 shares of the company’s stock after selling 133 shares during the period. Commerce Bank’s holdings in Vertiv were worth $2,065,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Vertiv during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $160,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vertiv by 10.2% during the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 28,066 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,792,000 after buying an additional 2,604 shares in the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in shares of Vertiv in the third quarter valued at about $869,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise grew its stake in shares of Vertiv by 38.3% in the third quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 29,503 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,935,000 after acquiring an additional 8,168 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wrapmanager Inc. bought a new position in Vertiv during the third quarter worth about $232,000. Institutional investors own 89.92% of the company’s stock. Insider Activity In related news, Director Jakki L. Haussler sold 15,347 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.38, for a total transaction of $2,108,370.86. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,425 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $470,526.50. This represents a 81.75 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, insider Karsten Winther sold 44,924 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.99, for a total value of $3,593,470.76. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 10,542 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $843,254.58. This trade represents a 80.99 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 91,185 shares of company stock worth $10,074,936 in the last quarter. 5.01% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Vertiv Stock Performance Vertiv ( NYSE:VRT – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.98 billion. Vertiv had a net margin of 7.72% and a return on equity of 55.33%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 19.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Vertiv Holdings Co will post 2.69 earnings per share for the current year. Vertiv Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.0375 per share. This is an increase from Vertiv’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.11%. Vertiv’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.67%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have issued reports on VRT. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Vertiv from $115.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Vertiv from $124.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Vertiv from $126.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Mizuho raised their price target on Vertiv from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Vertiv from $134.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $138.50. Get Our Latest Report on VRT Vertiv Profile ( Free Report ) Vertiv Holdings Co, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and life cycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VRT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vertiv Holdings Co ( NYSE:VRT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vertiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .WHEELING, W.Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco") (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. ("Premier") (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco's special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. "Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders," said Jeff Jackson , President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. "With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities." With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio , based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana , and serve customers in nine states. About WesBanco, Inc. With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia , WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024 . Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Premier Financial Corp. Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio , is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio , operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio , Michigan , Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier's website at www.PremierFinCorp.com . Matters set forth in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, and including statements about the benefits of the proposed Merger between WesBanco and Premier, that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those contained or implied by such statements for a variety of factors including: the effects of changing regional and national economic conditions, changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and associated interest rate sensitivity; sources of liquidity available to WesBanco and its related subsidiary operations; potential future credit losses and the credit risk of commercial, real estate, and consumer loan customers and their borrowing activities; actions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Securities Investors Protection Corporation, and other regulatory bodies; potential legislative and federal and state regulatory actions and reform, including, without limitation, the impact of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act; adverse decisions of federal and state courts; fraud , scams and schemes of third parties; cyber-security breaches; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; rapidly changing technology affecting financial services; marketability of debt instruments and corresponding impact on fair value adjustments; and/or other external developments materially impacting WesBanco's operational and financial performance, the businesses of the WesBanco and Premier may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the proposed Merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes; disruption from the proposed Merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; the required governmental approvals of the proposed Merger may not be obtained on the expected terms and schedule; changes in economic conditions; movements in interest rates; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing of other business strategies; the nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms; and extended disruption of vital infrastructure; and other factors described in WesBanco's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Premier's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and documents subsequently filed by WesBanco and Premier with the SEC. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release. Neither WesBanco nor Premier assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesbanco-inc-and-premier-financial-corp-announce-shareholder-approvals-of-merger-agreement-302329433.html SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.National Museum - Tepapa I enjoyed Disney’s 2016 film Moana. My relatives and I attended the Reo Maori release here in Aotearoa, in a packed theatre of Maori language supporters. Watching the film in our own language was emotional and powerful. Moana is a seagoing adventure portraying the courage of its Pacific characters. I see many aspects of Maori communities represented in the film: our elders, our voyaging history, our language and culture, our ability to adapt, our sense of spirituality and our hope. I see the characters in my own whanau (extended family). My nephew is similar to the character of Maui, the demigod voiced by Dwayne Johnson. He’s a likeable “big-boned” fulla with a quick wit – an overly confident rascal who draws others to him with a playfulness that gets him into (and out of) trouble. At the same time, movies like Moana – in which non-Indigenous creators try to tell Indigenous stories – raise sensitive questions about authenticity, cultural appropriation and veiled forms of continuing colonisation. Disney’s bottom line is to develop characters and storylines that suit a global market and will ultimately be financially viable. Perhaps this is why it missed so many key characteristics of Maui as he is known to the Polynesian people. Maui returns to the big screen in Disney’s Moana 2. Disney In Moana, there is a mystique around Maui’s demigod status; he sits in the space between the gods and humanity. Like the Maui of Polynesia, he can shapeshift, wields a magic hook and is courageous. Yet this Hollywood Maui would have no chance against the Maui of Polynesia , who is not a god to be worshipped, but a spirit – a set of characteristics identified through the actions of a person. Maui’s spirit lives today and can be activated by his descendants to do extraordinary things. Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia make up the Pacific islands. Wikimedia , CC BY-SA A Maori view of Maui Maui’s biggest muscles were in his head and stomach (where Maori believe the core being of a person is located). However, there is no record of him having an appearance that made him stand out in the community. When Maui decided to rejoin his birth family as a young man, he lined up with his brothers, and his mother was unable to see a difference between the siblings’ physical builds. This is in contrast with his unusually large build in Moana. He also wasn’t the playful, reckless larrikin depicted in Moana. He saw the world through clear eyes and calculated his way forward, courageously approaching challenges as opportunities to demonstrate his mastery. He was innovative, intelligent, confident and resourceful – and most of what he did would benefit the whole community. That said, he could also be devious, cruel and jealous as he pushed to achieve his goals. One of his names is “Maui-potiki”, or “Maui the youngest sibling”, which signals the characteristics of someone who challenged the status quo – a free thinker and a clever trickster. Supernatural power leads to supernatural deeds Maui faced a series of challenges . Some were forced on him, such as surviving his infancy. At birth he was presumed dead (or near death) and was abandoned to the sea. His grandfather rescued and raised him, teaching him skills, knowledge and karakia – the spiritual means to bend the laws of the universe in his favour. In Maori lore, Maui is said to have used his fish hook to pull up the pacific islands, including New Zealand. Wilhelm Dittmer/Wikimedia He faced many challenges in his world, and his responses conveyed important social and life lessons. For instance, the days were too short and people were unable to complete their work before nightfall. So Maui’s answer was to slow the Sun’s journey across the sky. He convinced his sceptical brothers to help him and they went to the pit where the Sun rose each day. Armed with plaited ropes, infused with spiritual power to hold the Sun, as well as the sacred jawbone of his ancestor (which he also used as a hook), they stationed themselves around the pit and waited. As the Sun rose into the morning sky, the brothers pulled their ropes to form a tight net, trapping the Sun. Maui quickly climbed onto the Sun and began to beat him (the Sun is personified and thought to be masculine in Maori belief) with his ancestor’s jawbone. Dazed and battered, the Sun asked Maui the reason for the attack, who then gave him an ultimatum: “Slow your movement across the sky (or I’ll be back)!” The Sun, from fear and injury, slowed down, providing a useful length of daylight for the people. While violence may not be a justifiable approach to change, there’s still much to learn from this incident. When you need to get something done, you should have a plan, build a team, make use of the resources available to you, be courageous and go for it. Stories spread across the seas Maui is credited with many other exploits . He hauled islands up across the Pacific. He spoke with the gods and creatures of the Earth. He even brought fire to the world from the goddess Mahuika and came close to conquering death. Maui and the fire goddess, 1952, Wellington, by E Mervyn Taylor. Purchased 2004. Te Papa (2004-0026-1). Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa , CC BY-SA Each story contains layers of knowledge, explaining important aspects of the world and human behaviour. This information was so significant that these stories have been passed down through generations for hundreds of years – spread with our voyaging ancestors across the Pacific, the largest continent in the world. As such, Maui pops up in stories all across Polynesia, reaching into Melanesia and Micronesia. While the tales about the character, attitude, aptitude and mana (the spiritual lifeforce) are similar, variations exist across Polynesia. Moana aims to entertain and speak to us and our children. Perhaps the sequel will now reawaken Maui-based discussions on marae (Maori communal spaces) and other Pacific forums. Or perhaps the spirit of Maui will see this “harmless rascal” persona as a launch pad to galvanise his descendants into addressing the ills that face them today. Kia ara ake ano te kawa a Maui – let the spirit of Maui arise. And enjoy the movie. Mike Ross receives funding from Victoria University of Wellington, The Waitangi Tribunal,
Educational institutions closed amid political turmoil in twin cities Rawalpindi/Islamabad : The district administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad announced the closure of all educational institutions on Monday (today), citing the prevailing political situation as the reason for the decision. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rawalpindi, Hasan Waqar Cheema, issued a notification for the closure of educational institutions in Rawalpindi, but the directive did not extend to the entire division. Meanwhile, the Punjab government suspended all forms of transport and movement across the region, causing widespread disruption. Students commuting between Rawalpindi and nearby districts, such as Taxila, Chakwal, Attock, and Jhelum, face significant challenges in reaching their educational institutions due to these transport restrictions. Similarly, hostel students returning home for the weekend now find themselves stranded as intercity transport remains suspended. In Islamabad, a spokesperson for the district administration confirmed the closure of all schools and colleges. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad also announced the decision via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "In view of the prevailing political situation, all educational institutions will remain closed in Islamabad. The situation has left parents, students, and educators in a state of uncertainty as the region braces for the anticipated political activity and its associated disruptions.PM leads first round of Romanian presidential vote: exit polls BUCHAREST: Pro-European Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was leading in Sunday ́s first round of Romania ́s presidential election, according to two exit polls released soon after the end of voting. Ciolacu scored 25 percent of the vote while the centre-right former journalist turned small-town mayor Elena Lasconi was on 18 percent, according to the polls. Two far-right candidates scored 15 and 16 percent. Voting finished at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT). In the absence of an outright winner in the first round -- scoring more than 50 percent -- the top two candidates go through to a second-round run-off on December 8.Ciolacu ́s Social Democratic Party (PSD), which has shaped the country ́s politics for more than three decades, currently governs in a coalition with the National Liberal Party. Polling in third place is former journalist Elena Lasconi, who became mayor of the small town of Campulung and head of a centre-right opposition party, who could prove to be a surprise package. “Our best hope might be to wake up with Lasconi in the second round -- she seems to be the most honest candidate,” said Diaconu before hopping on a Bucharest tram. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and close at 9:00 pm, with exit polls expected shortly after.Top campaign staff from Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential run have revealed that the popular YouTube show "Hot Ones," which often invites celebrities to be interviewed while eating wings that increase in spice level, refused to host Harris. Harris' staff retroactively evaluated her campaign in a Pod Save America podcast episode, in which they admitted that they attempted to get her onto "Hot Ones" as a guest, but the team behind the show declined their offer. The showrunners "didn't want to delve into politics," Stephanie Cutter, who ran messaging and media strategy for Harris, said on the podcast. "'Hot Ones,' which is a great show, they didn't wanna do any politics, so they weren't going to take us or [Trump]," Cutter said. "So that was the issue." Cutter further indicated that this was the response the Harris team received "across the board" when trying to get her onto similar non-partisan shows, despite some of these shows later welcoming then-presidential candidate Donald Trump onto their platforms. "I don't think he had the same problem," Jen O'Malley Dillon, a former Harris campaign manager, said. She noted that the Trump campaign "certainly was able to tap into some cultural elements in ways that we couldn't." Podcast host Dan Pfeiffer, a former communications director for Barack Obama, was shocked at "the idea that it would be more politically problematic to have on Kamala Harris, the sitting vice president of the United States, than Donald Trump, a man who's been convicted of a crime and tried to violently overthrow the election." Harris' campaign staff also reiterated their candidate's willingness to appear on the Joe Rogan podcast , noting that they attempted to get her on the podcast when she visited Austin, Texas, where Rogan lives, for her rally with Beyoncé . However, Trump was reportedly recording his episode on the podcast that same day, so they said scheduling issues prevented the episode from happening. Originally published by Latin Times.
Russia missile suspected in Azerbaijani plane crash, Moscow warns against 'hypotheses'NoneTrump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. antitrust watchdogs that pounced on Big Tech and deterred corporate deal making throughout President Joe Biden’s administration may be kept on a shorter leash by Donald Trump after he returns to the White House next year. Although regulators began cracking down on tech powerhouses such as Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president, most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to mergers and deal-making after years of hypervigilance under Biden’s watch. One of the biggest reasons underlying the anticipated pivot stems from the widespread belief that the chief architects of the Biden administration’s get-tougher stance — Lina Khan of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department’s Jonathan Kanter — won’t be part of the Trump regime. Both the Justice Department and FTC didn’t respond to request for comment. Trump’s announcement of billionaire Elon Musk, who once anointed himself as “Technoking,” to oversee an advisory effort focused on slashing government spending could end up reducing the staffs and regulators trying to rein in deep-pocketed companies. “There are going to be some profound changes” in antitrust policies, said John Kwoka, an economics professor at Northeastern University that has periodically worked on antitrust issues with the FTC and Justice Department. “Elon Musk could end up having a larger-than-life influence on policy, and that isn’t something we have seen before, where a single person whispers in the ear of the President.” Other experts interviewed by The Associated Press mostly agree with Kwoka’s sentiments. But they also believe it’s highly unlikely the anticipated shift will result in regulators abandoning existing antitrust cases against Big Tech firms, partly because those legal showdowns coalesce with populist worries about the industry’s increasing power and influence on people’s lives. “We are in uncharted territory, but the idea of going up against Big Tech still has legs to it,” said Rebecca Allensworth, a Vanderbilt University law professor who tracks antitrust issues. But the changing of the guard may open a door for Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook to avert prolonged court battles and negotiate settlements under a president that relishes in deal making. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” While the fate of existing antitrust cases remains in a realm of pure speculation, almost everyone is betting the Trump administration will be more receptive to mergers that typically come with a promise of lower costs and other benefits for consumers. The stage is set for “a golden era for deal flow among public and private tech players over the next 12 to 18 months,” Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote in a research note after Trump’s reelection. It’s a belief widely shared by most investors, which helped fuel a run up in the overall stock market since Election Day and boosted shares in companies trying to close deals announced during the Biden administration. One such example involves Capital One Financial and Discover, who aim to consummate their merger in a stock swap next year. Capital One’s market value has increased by 11% while Discover’s market value has climbed 16%. The change in administration could also sway a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. But the FTC filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. But the two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. Given grocery prices remain a hot-button issue among consumers still feeling shell shocked from post-pandemic inflationary spikes, Allensworth believes the Trump administration is less likely to “abandon or soft pedal” the FTC’s challenge to the Kroger-Albertsons merger. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!