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Ronaldo lifts Al Nassr to brink of Champions League last 16by C. Narayanasuwami (A member of the former Ceylon Civil Service and Retired Senior Professional of the Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines) The unparalleled victory of JVP/NPP in the national elections of November 14, 2024 has created an unprecedented sense of euphoria among Sri Lankans. This was no ordinary achievement as a lot of hard work went into changing the mindset of communities that had hitherto blindly followed the elitist policies of the major political parties. What led to this transformation? An analysis of the voting pattern clearly illustrates that many factors were at play in seeking a complete overhaul of the policy and administrative structure in the country – there has been a low turnout of voters (around 65 percent) compared to previous elections but this is a subject that is outside the scope of this paper. Obviously, the cry for a systems change was heard and the people were prepared to listen and digest the causes and consequences of a weakening economy that was overwhelmed by disjointed policies, corruption and waste, and administrative structures that did not provide flexibility and freedom to change approaches. Factors that contributed to a sweeping change It is important to analyse more critically the factors that were at play in achieving this incredible victory that included several firsts: becoming the first single party two-thirds majority in the Parliament after the proportional representation (PR) system was introduced; winning in 21 out of 22 electoral districts thereby obtaining the participation of all ethnic communities, including the estate communities who had been accustomed to vote based on trade union affiliations; and above all, changing the collective psyche and traditional mindsets of the northern and eastern Tamils who for the first time opted to vote for national parties than to parochial regional parties. JVP/NPP led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, more popularly known as AKD, was closely engaged for over a decade in reconstructing the rural base, building significant ties with the urban middle class and the trade union movements, and establishing links with the public sector and the Sri Lankan diaspora. The leadership factor here should not be underestimated as the form, structure and presentational characteristics of AKD’s messages were forceful, eclectic and quickly absorbed. Simultaneously, social media and digital marketing were used as catalytic modes of communication. The culmination point came with the ‘Aragalaya’ movement which opened-up new opportunities that were seized with vigour and enthusiasm. In fact, the beginnings of the tremendous successes achieved on September 21 and November 14, 2024 respectively, must be traced to the Aragalaya which was taken too lightly by the established political parties. The organisational skills that went into village level campaigning and canvassing were undervalued by the JVP/NPP”s opponents. There was a determined effort to address the crying needs of people at all levels and make them understand the nuances of the NPP manifesto, which combined with the oratorical skills of AKD, had the magical result of spreading the message in a clear, concise and convincing manner. The writer listened to a few speeches of AKD’s via ‘You Tube’ to understand the thrust of his campaign. What he eloquently said at his Jaffna rally created a lasting impact on the minds of listeners. He raised issues, asked questions and provided convincing answers that mesmerised the public-I could see the smiling faces clapping with all their might appreciating both the innuendos and the practical insights offered for solving the problems of the dispossessed landowners and the missing peoples’ relatives. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and needless to add the convinced listeners decided to vote for NPP resulting in significant electoral successes in Jaffna. The campaign strategies adopted by NPP cut into the failures of past socio-economic policies and were aimed at capturing the essence of livelihood issues. Cost of living, mismanaged economy, corruption, social inequities, inequitable justice system and law and order issues, along with the colossal waste of public resources, including by those in power, formed the core of the issues advanced urging system change Critically reviewing the NPP manifesto, one is struck by the scope, scale and versatility of the major socio-economic, governance, institutional and policy reform issues identified and assessed for review, reform and reconstruction. The comprehensive coverage of developmental issues from economy and social transformation to framing a new constitution; public service reform, improved health, education, and transport; and a myriad of other institutional reforms- from investment promotion to digitalization provided a platform for the people to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a new political dispensation. The concept of one nation embracing the north, south, east, central highlands and the west with equal opportunities for the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and the plantation communities sank well into the minds of the people from Dondra head to Point Pedro yearning for change and social liberation. Interestingly, race and religion were excluded in the dialogues. The outcome was evident in the composition of the elected representatives who clearly vindicated that social transformation has indeed begun. Another factor that contributed to the expansion of the vote base was the role played by the expatriate community and the social media – they served to provide incentives for knowledge transfer and logistical support. The visit of the NPP leader of the NPP to a few western countries and Japan generated both funding and substantial enthusiasm and support from the Sri Lankan diaspora which in turn helped to provide promising feedback and advice to their kith and kin living in Sri Lanka. This was confirmed in discussions with expatriates in the U.K and Canada, among others. The battle has been won but the war is yet to begin The people have spoken decisively and unambiguously. The Cabinet, the focal point of the decision-making process of government, is now in place. What follows next is the question that is in the minds of the millions who voted for change. Expectations are running high. Election promises as well as the key challenges outlined in the 130 page Election Manifesto have now to be dissected, analysed and prioritised for action through projects and programs. Promises that need to be translated into intputs and outcomes cover a wide array of subjects from poverty alleviation, social restructuring, new investment strategies, eradication of corruption and waste, framing of a new constitution, building trust and reconciliation among divided communities for improved power sharing, and several other interrelated priority areas such as transport, health and education sector improvements. These are no ordinary list of ‘to-do’ things. The government’s approach to governance AKD and the Prime Minister have the vision, ability and power to design and execute a program befitting the varied developmental interventions necessary to implement the promises given to the people of the country. They will have to carry the cabinet of ministers and the public officials along with them to deliver. How would this be done and what kind of strategies and official structure will be initiated -obviously these are issues which would have been thought of, debated and decided upon and would likely be placed before the country shortly. The writer, based on his experience in the development sector both in-country and overseas, thought it relevant to highlight some experiences that may be relevant here. In his book, ‘Managing Development: People, Policies and Institutions’ he touches on some of the more important areas in Governance, Institution Building, Agricultural Development and Monitoring and Evaluation. The book deals extensively with public sector reform in Sri Lanka and this was well received at all levels. But since its publication in 2019, despite all efforts, little has been done to revamp the public administration. The public service suffers from lethargy and inefficiencies that have been hardly touched upon for a couple of decades. A strong will to reform the public service must be present to execute the diverse programs encapsulated in the Election Manifesto. Similarly, there is copious data available on poverty alleviation strategies experimented and successfully executed in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), among others, have documented some of the success stories. There is an urgent need to undertake targeted interventions to deal with extreme poverty- 26 percent of the people in Sri Lanka live in poverty and need intensive support mechanisms to rise above poverty. Restrictive regulatory policies and practices have hindered the development process considerably in the recent past. It is presumed that a committee of experts will be chosen to address shortcomings and map a path to facilitate expeditious despatch of business, including a suitable mechanism to provide easy access to foreign investment. In short, Sri Lanka has to set up a special overarching institution that will cut red tape, ease restrictions inimical to investment, and provide easy access to investment opportunities. Determining Priorities There are competing demands, including the promise to frame a new constitution, that would engage the attention of the government. But the determination of priorities is based on emerging demands, including a full assessment of the current economic and social needs. At present, debt restructuring and economic sustainability in the context of the IMF Agreement precedes others. A follow-on exercise will be to itemise and determine priority areas of intervention with framing of the new constitution given a lower priority. The question that is being raised now is how the long-standing issue of ethnic discontent, power devolution and language disparities will be resolved along with the existentialist issues of the average Sri Lankan who is plagued by cost of living, transport, education and health issues. These are matters that the government needs to resolve through short, medium and long term interventions. Several expert panels and advisory committees may have to be enlisted to look at ways and means of making good the promises given to the people. None of the long-standing issues can be resolved quickly and this is something that the government should reiterate at all times to dispel adverse publicity by elements waiting to undermine the new government. Looking ahead Formidable challenges lie ahead. Obstacles are many and the entrenched public service along with political opponents can make matters difficult. Prioritised interventions should make things happen irrespective of hidden sabotage and non-cooperation. The shortage of rice being experienced now, for instance, may be the artificial effect of non-cooperation by the millers who have formed an oligopoly to stifle competition. More such instances may arise and a watchful eye is what is required to resolve issues as they surface. There is overall commitment and dedication and a significant knowledge base present in the current cabinet. However, with few exceptions, experience in the art of governance is lacking among many. This may adversely affect policy formulation and implementation in the short term. But as long as the will to succeed prevails, short term inadequacies could be overcome through proper training, guidance and supervision. A standard monitoring and evaluation system has to be established to monitor implementation of projects and programs and assess performance periodically so that appropriate corrective actions could be taken promptly. The government and especially AKD is aware that the country is watching with cautious optimism the realisation of the promised land. .

Fire guts Radio Nigeria’s Lagos officeTechnology has eliminated many jobs over the years. Buggy whip makers have been out of business since McKinley was in the White House. The iceman hasn’t made home deliveries in nearly as long. And there’s just not as much call these days for switchboard operators as there once was. Oh, and knocker-uppers have vanished from British streets as well. Wait, what? This story is a reminder of the fundament truth in George Bernard Shaw’s quip that “England and America are two countries separated by the same language.” In Brit Speak, to “knock someone up” is slang for waking them up. The name derives from knocking on a bedroom door to rouse a sleeper. Here on this side of the pond ... well, let’s just say “knocking someone up” involves something completely different and leave it at that. Getting back to our British cousins, there’s more involved than just a simple phrase. From the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century up to World War II, people in the U.K. were actually paid to be “knocker uppers.” As large factories and business offices began appearing, people suddenly had to show up for work by a specific time, often early in the morning. That could be difficult for sound sleepers in that era long before alarm clocks. (And when they were invented, many early models were unreliable.) Being late too many times carried the very real possibility of losing a much-needed job. What to do? Enter the knocker uppers. For a few pennies a week, they would come around to homes and make sure working-class people were awake. They did so by utilizing a variety of methods. Most common was the use of a long, thin pole, similar to a fishing rod. They would lift it up and rap on a bedroom window until the party inside got out of bed. Sometimes, rattles were used. Some enterprising people even used peashooters to hit the glass windows and awaken their clients. They were especially popular in industrial cities like Manchester but were also commonly found in most metro areas. So, just who were the knocker uppers? Poor retirees, mostly. Older men and women looking for extra money to help them scrape by. Moms-to-be, frequently not allowed to work during pregnancy, did it to help replace their lost wages. Sometimes, police officers walking the beat would supplement their meager income by performing the service. Children were occasionally employed, though not often due to their fondness for oversleeping. In England’s coal country, miners sometimes hung slate boards on the outer walls of their houses and wrote the times they were to be awakened. They eventually gained the nicknames “knocky-up boards” or “wakeup slates.” And the practice wasn’t limited to England. Although the custom didn’t catch on in this country, knocker-uppers were also used in Ireland and the Netherlands. But nowhere was the practice as widespread as it was in Britain’s working-class neighborhoods. All good things must eventually come to an end, and so it was for the knocker-uppers. Alarm clocks became both more affordable and dependable after World War II. Most knocker-uppers stopped making their rounds in the 1950s, with a few isolated pockets carrying on into the 1970s. A woman named Molly Moore claimed to be the last practitioner of the trade, as was her mother before her. Both women favored the peashooter approach to making sure their clients greeted the new day. It’s a quaintly picturesque image today: An old man or woman wandering down a street in the morning’s first light, reaching up and gently tapping on a window, then moving on down the block and repeating the process until finally, with the sun inching higher overhead, a whistle blows, and the workday begins anew once more.It was not long ago that Tamil Nadu was impressed with Telangana’s IT policy and Maharashtra builders hailed Telangana’s building permission system. Be it Industries, IT, building permissions or any of the previous government’s initiatives, Telangana’s policies were those that won accolades from different States with many even wanting to replicate them for delivering effective services to their people. In sharp contrast to this, the Congress government is now either renaming schemes and policies, or introducing new ones. The objective, though officials claim is to render more services, is clearly to remove everything that has the BRS imprint, especially the IT policy. In July 2023, Tamil Nadu IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan had visited the State on a three-day tour to learn about the policies and initiatives, which would benefit people of the State. He visited Telangana’s innovation ecosystem, which includes T-Works, T-Hub, WE Hub, T-Fiber office and also met with stakeholders in the IT sector at Tech Mahindra campus. Complimenting the Telangana government for the rapid growth achieved in the IT sector in the last nine years, Thiaga Rajan had said the Tamil Nadu government would adopt the best practices of Telangana. “Tamil Nadu was supposed to be on par with Hyderabad and Bengaluru but the desired growth was not achieved in the IT sector because of the past government,” Thiaga (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rajan had said. Sharing the details of IT / ITeS exports in the last 10 years, BharathMBNR, a X user said: “44 percent of the total 2.9 lakh IT jobs created in India during the 2022-23 financial year from Hyderabad (1.27 lakh). State with four percent population created 44 percent of jobs. Again, why do you need a new IT Policy?” While this was about Telangana’s IT policy, builders from Maharashtra were impressed with the fast pace at which building permissions were being issued in Telangana. In September last, a delegation of 250 representatives from Maharashtra CREDAI and other organizations had arrived in the city to study the real estate sector progress in Telangana. Maharashtra CREDAI president Pramod Khairnar and Vice president Sunil Kothwal were impressed with the Telangana government initiatives in making things easy for households and builders in getting permissions. Oblivious to these recognitions, or choosing to ignore them, the Congress government is now rechristening Telangana State Building Permission Approval and Self Certification System (TS-bPASS) as BuildNow (Unified Online Building and Layout Approval System). It would be formally launched by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on February 1, 2025. A new life sciences policy is also on the anvil, despite the existing one being what helped Telangana become one of the topmost destinations in India for investments in the sector.

Jeers rang around the Etihad Stadium after the final whistle of a dramatic 3-3 draw. After five-straight losses in all competitions, City looked to be cruising to victory after going three up inside 50 minutes. But Feyenoord mounted an improbable comeback and leveled the game in the 89th minute to leave the home crowd stunned. While the worst losing streak of Guardiola’s managerial career was brought to an end, his wait for a first win since Oct. 26 goes on. Erling Haaland had scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also on target to put City in control. But goals from Anis Hadj Moussa in the 75th, Santiago Gimenez in the 82nd and David Hancko in the 89th turned the game on its head. City's players, including Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol and Haaland looked visibly frustrated as they left the field to cheers of the delirious traveling Dutch fans in the away section of the stadium. City plays Premier League leader Liverpool on Sunday — defeat would leave it 11 points adrift of its title rival. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNetanyahu's office says his security Cabinet has approved ceasefire deal with Hezbollah

Thanksgiving Weekend Sports Guide: Your roadmap to NFL matchups, other games, times, oddsMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Senate on Thursday began considering a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. The world-first bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts is likely to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, the Parliament’s final session for the year and potentially the last before elections, which are due within months. The major parties’ support for the ban all but guarantees the legislation will become law. But many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences. Unaligned Sen. Jacqui Lambie complained about the limited amount of time the government gave the Senate to debate the age restriction, which she described as “undercooked.” “I thought this was a good idea. A lot of people out there thought it was a good idea until we looked at the detail and, let's be honest, there's no detail,” Lambie told the Senate. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly carried the bill 102 votes to 13. Once the legislation becomes law, the platforms would have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced. The platforms complained that the law would be unworkable, and urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how young children could be excluded. Critics argue the government is attempting to convince parents it is protecting their children ahead of general elections due by May. The government hopes that voters will reward it for responding to parents' concerns about their children's addiction to social media. Some argue the legislation could cause more harm than it prevents. Criticisms include that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, is ineffective, poses privacy risks for all users, and undermines parental authority to make decisions for their children. Opponents of the bill also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of the positive aspects of social media, drive them to the dark web, discourage children too young for social media to report harm and reduce incentives for platforms to improve online safety. Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press

MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Blend Labs, Inc. ( NYSE:BLND – Free Report ) by 110.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 125,560 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 66,015 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Blend Labs were worth $471,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Blend Labs by 15.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 26,148 shares of the company’s stock valued at $98,000 after acquiring an additional 3,576 shares in the last quarter. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP bought a new stake in Blend Labs during the third quarter valued at approximately $3,253,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Blend Labs by 7.9% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,643,051 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,161,000 after buying an additional 120,152 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Blend Labs in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $194,000. Finally, RiverPark Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Blend Labs in the 3rd quarter worth $77,000. 52.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Blend Labs Stock Performance BLND opened at $5.35 on Friday. Blend Labs, Inc. has a 1 year low of $1.52 and a 1 year high of $5.53. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $4.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $3.47. Analysts Set New Price Targets Check Out Our Latest Report on Blend Labs Insider Transactions at Blend Labs In other Blend Labs news, insider Oxana Tkach sold 18,324 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.18, for a total value of $94,918.32. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 88,677 shares in the company, valued at approximately $459,346.86. This trade represents a 17.13 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, insider Winnie Ling sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.33, for a total value of $66,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 286,416 shares in the company, valued at $953,765.28. This trade represents a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 115,348 shares of company stock worth $501,449. Insiders own 13.21% of the company’s stock. Blend Labs Profile ( Free Report ) Blend Labs, Inc engages in the provision of cloud-based software platform solutions for financial services firms in the United States. It operates in two segments, Blend Platform and Title365. The company's Blend Builder Platform offers a suite of products that powers digital-first consumer journeys for mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, and deposit accounts; and offers mortgage products to facilitate the homeownership journey for consumers comprising close, income verification for mortgage, homeowners' insurance, and realty. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLND? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Blend Labs, Inc. ( NYSE:BLND – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Blend Labs Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blend Labs and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Former Silicon Valley Dem donor applauds ousters of progressive California pols: ‘We need to put Americans first’Sinead O’Connor and tragic son Shane had ‘complex and turbulent’ relationship and ‘loved each other madly’, inquest told

Allenspach shot 6 of 12 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line for the Bulldogs (9-2). Fort went 5 of 9 from the field (5 for 8 from 3-point range). The Governors (4-5) were led by Darius Dawson with 18 points. Akili Evans added 10 points and three steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsWith the state election commission on Sunday announcing the municipal corporation elections date, December 21, the focus has now shifted to candidate selection. The screening committees of political parties, however, are yet to finalise candidates for various wards despite several aspirants having turned in their applications. The Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, have trained guns at the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) state government for announcing the civic body polls, which will be held on December 21 polls, on short notice. Aspiring candidates meanwhile made a beeline to their respective party office and constituency MLA offices to secure their name in the candidate list. AAP candidates have already installed hoardings in the same ward to make their presence felt. The announcement of elections also prompted parties to begin conducting meetings with their party leaders. SAD’s Ludhiana unit held a special meeting to strategize for the upcoming elections with senior leaders and constituency in-charges of the party. Addressing the media, senior leader Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal announced the formation of a five-member legal committee to assist candidates during the election process. The committee includes senior advocate Harish Rai Dhanda, Parupkar Singh Ghuman, Parminder Singh Laddi, Harkamal Singh Meghowal and advocate Gaganpreet Singh. “The committee will provide candidates with legal guidance and assistance, including filing nomination papers,” Grewal said, adding that the names of candidates would be announced soon and emphasised that the party would contest the elections with full strength and determination. The leader, however, was quick to caution against any “high-handedness” by the ruling party, saying, “It will not be tolerated during these elections.” BJP district president Rajneesh Dhiman also criticised the AAP government for announcing municipal elections on short notice, calling it a sign of panic and lack of foresight. Speaking to reporters after the election announcement, Dhiman said the AAP government’s approach reflects a narrow mindset. He pointed out that just days before the announcement, AAP MLAs rushed to inaugurate various development projects in the city, which, according to him, was another attempt to mislead the public. He questioned the government’s preparedness to provide no objection certificates (NOCs) to candidates, a mandatory requirement to contest municipal elections, saying, “Without NOCs, participating in the elections is nearly impossible. Has the government made any arrangements for this?” The BJP leader further alleged that the government lacks funds for genuine development work, yet its MLAs are inaugurating projects without clarity on where the money will come from. “The AAP government is trying to deceive voters in the name of development projects to win the municipal elections, just like they made false promises during the assembly polls,” he said.

PHOENIX — An Arizona man is facing criminal charges after he allegedly made a series of threatening, violent statements targeting President-elect Donald Trump. A criminal complaint filed in federal court recently accuses Manuel Tamayo-Torres of posting a video online on Nov. 21 that included statements threatening to harm the incoming president. Investigators reviewed the suspect's social media account and reported finding pictures of the suspect holding up firearms, records show. Federal records indicate the suspect was recently taken into custody. The complaint charges the suspect with five counts: making false statements while buying a firearm and making threats against a president. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku : Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV : Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. >> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone. >> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News appTrump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems