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Sky Labs Inc., BrainU Co., Ltd., and ANDOPEN Co., Ltd. will be recognized as Innovation Award Winners SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its successful participation last year, Seongnam City will participate in CES 2025, the world's largest consumer electronics and information technology exhibition. The event will take place from January 7 to 10, 2025 , in Las Vegas , USA . Seongnam City will operate the "Seongnam Pavilion," which will support 25 local startups from the Seongnam region and highlight their innovative technologies and products. CES 2025 will attract approximately 4,400 companies and over 130,000 attendees worldwide. At CES 2024, Seongnam City garnered significant attention from domestic and international investors and buyers by showcasing startups with outstanding technological capabilities. This effort established valuable global networks and expanded market opportunities, achieving a total contract value of KRW 145.5 billion . These tangible outcomes highlighted the high level of satisfaction among participating companies. This year, Seongnam City, a leading innovative hub in South Korea , aims to actively support local startups in expanding into overseas markets and building global networks through its participation in CES 2025. The Seongnam Pavilion will feature cutting-edge technologies and products across advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, smart cities, and mobility. Through these efforts, Seongnam City seeks to further solidify its position as a "Global Innovation City." Notably, three companies from Seongnam were honored with CES Innovation Awards, demonstrating their technological excellence and global competitiveness on the world stage: Seongnam City stated, "By participating in CES 2025, we aim to showcase Seongnam's innovative technologies to the global stage and provide a launchpad for our startups to expand into international markets." Meanwhile, the Seongnam Pavilion will feature 25 companies, including BRYTN Co., Ltd., NTL HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd., EMTAKE Inc., AWESOME LAB Co., Ltd., JNL Co. Ltd., Linkface Co., Ltd., Emma Healthcare Co.,Ltd., NC& Co.,Ltd, Becon Co.,Ltd, LITBIG, Inc., GeodeSound., Inc, MEDIAIPLUS, INC, BoS Semiconductors, Sky Labs Inc., STRATIO, INC., BrainU Co., Ltd., analogue plus Co.,Ltd., EX Healthcare Inc., Mangoslab, Littleone, Bluefeel Co., Ltd., Aram Huvis Co., Ltd., Real Design Tech Co.,Ltd., Crescom Co., Ltd., ANDOPEN Co., Ltd. These companies are set to unveil their groundbreaking technologies at the exhibition. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seongnam-city-to-participate-in-ces-2025-paving-the-way-as-a-global-innovation-hub-302339453.html SOURCE Seongnam CityChargers focused on avoiding a letdown and not a potential playoff berth in matchup with Patriots'Wholly achievable': calls grow for $10-a-day childcare
Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah start a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fightingPublished 3:36 pm Saturday, December 28, 2024 By Staff Reports At U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 29, the Minnesota Vikings face the Green Bay Packers, beginning at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Vikings should win, based on our computer model — continue scrolling to discover more tips about the point spread, over/under and even the final score. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. The Vikings rank 12th in total offense (346.3 yards per game) and 16th in total defense (335.8 yards allowed per game) this year. The Packers’ offense has been excelling, compiling 377.7 total yards per game (fourth-best) this season. On defense, they rank sixth by surrendering 312.1 total yards per game. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
GREG JOHNSON: Saints game proves Giants assembled historically bad quarterback roomHike in sugar price during crushing season raises eyebrows LAHORE:Amid sizeable sugar carryover stocks health crops size, sugar price hike right in the middle of crushing season have raised eyebrows. In the absence of sugarcane indicative price, millers are virtually given free hand in buying produce from growers at their own sweet will. Not only this, powerful sugar manufacturers are free to determine price of commodity as well, said market sources. They confirmed that a rising trend in price of sugar is being seen in the market lately. According to them, Rs10-15 per kg increase in sugar price have no justification. During ongoing crushing season 2024-25, ample stock of sweetener is available in the market and there is no justification of any price rise of sugar. Physical sugar stock as on Nov 30, 2024 was above 766,093 tons and production from Nov 16 to 30 2024 was 183,960 tons. Hence, well over one million ton of sugar is available in the country. So, no need to be panicked, they said and added that with such a healthy stock and huge sugarcane crop, there will be sufficient sugar in the country. They pointed finger toward speculators trying to hike sugar prices. On the other hand, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) claimed that rumours are being spread by speculators having vested interests linked with price hike of sugar. The spokesman said that the ex-mill sugar prices have not exceeded the government’s declared limit of Rs140 per kg set by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting on June 13, 2024 although which was way below cost of production of sugar. Notwithstanding the benchmark of maintaining ex-mill price of Rs140 per kg, as a pre-condition for allowing exports of surplus sugar, was agreed by sugar industry under duress of sugar glut, for liquidating surplus stocks and for minimising losses. Meanwhile, Federal Ministry of Industries echoed similar views regarding sugar sector of the country. Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, assured that there has been no rise across the country. He confirmed that there is no shortage of sugar in the market and that its price remains stable. The minister stated that sugar is currently available at Rs130 per kilogram in retail markets and between Rs124 to Rs125 in wholesale markets. Federal Minister further emphasised that, under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, sugar prices are being closely monitored to ensure affordability for the public. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to taking all necessary measures to maintain price stability and prevent any unwarranted fluctuations in the market.
JERUSALEM — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Rescuers and residents search for victims Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon. Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israeli security officers and army soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. A community center that once welcomed performances by Motown stars — including Diana Ross and the Supremes — continues to evolve to meet the needs of its public. The Sewickley Community Center, originally formed in 1935 as the Sewickley Colored Community Center, remains a steadfast staple center offering a variety of recreational and educational programs for residents of the Sewickley Valley area. "It was specifically acquired to accommodate African Americans in Sewickley who were not permitted to go to the YMCA," Stratton Nash said of the nonprofit's origins. These days, the center strives to embrace cultural diversity by providing social, professional, educational and recreational activities for all families and individuals in Sewickley. But the reality of the center's daycare facility recently closing due to lack of funds and revenue has board members mobilizing to figure out a way to bring back what Nash said is a much-needed service in the community. The closing impacts about a dozen families and the board is currently exploring options. Nash is hopeful that childcare services will be offered in the future. "After covid, we never really returned to the pre-covid numbers, but nonetheless there was still that gap and we had financial losses," Nash said. "We want to reestablish some form of after-school care — it's still to be determined at this time." Nash, a Sewickley resident and vice-president of the center's board of supervisors, grew up playing and socializing at the center that "flourished" until around the 1980s. For decades, the center was a focal point destination in the community — serving about 20 percent of African Americans residing in Sewickley during the 1940s — equating to about 700 Black residents. Occupying a three-story brick structure on Chadwick Street that once housed a business that made products for World War... Joyce Hanz
Who do our cities cater to? ADB report says Pakistan urban realm is pestered by rampant demographics and urbanisation, uncertain economic environment Pakistan boasts a population that reached 241.5 million in 2023, a 16.3 per cent increase since 2017, with 93.8 million in urban areas – a near fourfold rise since 1981. Projections estimate over 400 million people by 2050, making Pakistan one of eight countries driving global population growth. This indicates a worrying situation for an already worrisome urban infrastructure and services. As per the ADB’s latest National Urban Assessment, Pakistan urban realm is pestered by rampant demographics and urbanisation, uncertain economic environment, partial devolution post 18th Amendment, patchwork urban planning and poor delivery of urban needs (water and sanitation, solid waste management & drainage). This is despite our country being one of the signatories of SDG 11 which mandates a city to be “inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. While literature is fraught with the architectonic reading of the city’s problems that is strict structural terrain (mostly housing deficit and astronomical cost of urban sprawl), the human-centric outlook is mostly circumvented in the discourse. Public spaces – streets, public markets, parks, public squares, beaches, etc – work as the nucleus of interactions between people. These spaces function like the microcosm of the macrocosmic city. According to Atomcamp, public spaces are the cornerstone in enhancing the core functions of the city which are economical, sociological and political, thereby building smarter, sustainable, and resilient cities. It is this instrumentality that makes these a “vital ingredient of successful cities”. These spaces are the locus of civic life, hence named ‘public’, and provide a milieu where people engage with urban politics, economy, environment, and residents. It follows, then, that providing public spaces equally accessible to all genders is a key component in creating the type of equity that is foundational for sustainable urbanisation. Historically, neoliberal policies across the world have facilitated the privatisation of all kinds of spaces, reshaping both urban and rural landscapes. Planning mechanisms characterised by speculative capitalism and privatisation of public institutions and services have negatively affected marginalised communities including gender-disparity through structural dispossession and physical displacements, though in specifically different ways across political and historical contexts. This has fueled a broader ‘exclusion’ in society. Apart from the myopia in urban planning and its muddling ramifications, gender inclusivity in public spaces faces the added burden of the prevailing perennial patriarchal project – or rather the ‘default’ position of spaces we live in. The male-dominant design and culture of public spaces have fueled this predicament with more depth and rigour. Instead of public spaces being forgiving and inclusive to any mortal, they have remained alien to the disenfranchised. Predominantly, men alone have been able to exploit their benefits for long. Women often suffer from being judged, approached, or harassed in public spaces. They are often subject to catcalling, unwanted comments, and physical intimidation, which then makes public spaces hostile and unwelcoming. This experience is so common that many girls preemptively alter their routes or avoid certain areas altogether. Fear of violence, including assault or theft, can make public spaces feel unsafe, especially at night or in isolated areas. A lack of adequate facilities, such as clean restrooms, safe waiting areas, and childcare support, further exacerbates these challenges. This is especially burdensome for young mothers or women from low-income backgrounds, restricting their mobility and access to these spaces. As this struggle for safety persists, it overshadows other aspects of women’s engagement with public spaces, including comfort, pleasure, and a sense of belonging. The fear of harassment or violence diminishes their ability to enjoy outdoor leisure activities, leading to reduced participation in city life and a loss of autonomy in navigating urban spaces. This reality underscores a critical truth: public spaces are far from neutral when it comes to gender. The absence of equality in the planning, design, and functionality of public spaces has further encoded traditional gender roles into the built environment. Women’s limited access and engagement with public spaces is not merely a personal inconvenience but a systemic issue that undermines the very fabric of the city’s life. These inequalities adversely affect the core functions of a city across various domains. We stand at a pathetic position of 145th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Index rankings of WEF, with a minuscule female labour force participation rate never exceeding 31 per cent. The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 findings showed that 28 per cent of Pakistani women aged 15-49 have faced some form of gender-based violence. And our political spheres are mostly bereft of female participation, except by the benevolence of political dynasty-ism. Public spaces mean different things to different genders. Women’s interactions with these spaces differ significantly from men’s, and intersecting factors such as class, caste, religion, and education further complicate these dynamics. Ergo, a one-size-fits-all urban planning approach cannot address such complexities. At present, we need a practical starting point to prioritise women in urban planning – a foundation for building truly inclusive public spaces. It is only when the gender lens is applied to cities that the lack of equity, accessibility, inclusivity, and amenities shows up. Gendered placemaking is the need of the hour. This refers to the intentional planning and development of spaces that cater to the needs of women, diverse groups, and underserved communities by actively involving them in the planning process. This approach, systemically known as gender mainstreaming, seeks to integrate the perspectives of all genders at every stage of a project, including design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, with the goal of promoting equality in design and participation. A well-designed space is inviting, with comfortable seating, shade, and landscaping that encourages people to gather. It is easily accessible, well-connected to transit, and accommodating for different mobility needs. Safety is paramount, with good lighting and visibility fostering a secure environment. A sense of belonging is also essential, with flexible spaces that allow personal connection and creativity. Ultimately, gendered placemaking creates public spaces that are safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. The Global South must rid itself of the flawed, archaic city planning that prioritises suburban development and car-dominated transportation planning. Instead, it should embrace urban regeneration and people-centric planning principles. Rather than relying on template solutions, there is a need for participatory urban planning, where everyone – regardless of gender, age, ability, or background – can advocate for what they need in the built environment of their neighbourhood. Psychological feelings of being unsafe (fear, anxiety, and uneasiness) are eased when people can ‘read’ public spaces and accurately observe the behaviour of others. When residents and visitors to public spaces can confidently assess their environment, they experience themselves as resourceful agents capable of influencing public spaces for mutual benefit. For this, there is an utmost need to enforce and expand laws against harassment, assault, and gender-based violence. The government can introduce harsher penalties for offenders, establish anti-harassment laws specific to public spaces, and promote initiatives that encourage reporting and swift action on such cases. To create gendered spaces, there is an undeterred need to orchestrate policies and government interventions within the broader gender disparity equation that could transform spaces into terrains that are not only accepting of all but juggernauts of feminist undertones, ensuring autonomy in all three core functions of the city. For instance, we need safety audits like the Mumbai Safety Audit led by the Indian NGO Akshara Centre. This is a participatory project where women map unsafe areas in their communities. The audit gathers data from women on specific safety concerns, such as inadequate lighting, poorly maintained sidewalks, and lack of public toilets. Insights from this data are used to push for municipal reforms. By involving local women in data collection, this project brings visibility to women’s safety needs in public spaces, influencing city planning and raising awareness about gender-sensitive urban development. Cities must prioritise gender-sensitive amenities, including clean public restrooms, women-only waiting areas, and safe spaces for women with young children. Allocating budget resources for these facilities can make public spaces safer and more accessible for women and girls. Additionally, investing in feminist organisations and movements globally can amplify advocacy and education efforts. Empowerment programmes such as self-defence workshops, skills training, and safe-space discussions can equip girls with the confidence and tools to navigate public spaces securely. Community awareness campaigns are also vital for shifting societal attitudes. Workshops and public campaigns can educate communities about respecting women’s rights, discouraging harassment, and promoting respectful behaviour in public spaces. A collective effort to ensure inclusive public spaces will not only empower women but also foster a fairer, more harmonious society for all. Furqan Ali is a Peshawar-based researcher who works in the financial sector. He can be reached at: alifurqan647@gmail.com Zara Nazir is a Lahore-based law student and the founder of the feminist literary magazine ‘Risala Tarz’. She can be reached at: zara.nazirch@gmail.comBarron Trump 'hardly exists' and is 'desperate to make friends' at NYU