As the Mahakumbh Mela of 2025 approaches in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, authorities are introducing AI-driven innovations for crowd management to ensure the convenience and safety of the pilgrims. Senior Superintendent of Police for the Mahakumbh, Rajesh Dwivedi, confirmed the installation of approximately 2,700 CCTV cameras throughout the district and fairgrounds. The Yogi Adityanath government is breaking new ground by digitizing the event on a massive scale, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media to enhance security and crowd control. High-tech AI cameras are deployed to keep constant watch over the event, aiding not only in security but also in helping reunite individuals separated from their companions. Social media platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) are being harnessed to efficiently reconnect lost individuals with their families among millions of attendees. A digital 'khoya paaya kendra' or lost-and-found center will become operational on December 1, implementing advanced technology to promptly address cases of missing persons. Under the directives of the government, 328 AI-enabled cameras are now monitoring key areas, with full installation underway. These devices are equipped with face recognition capabilities to quickly identify and locate missing individuals, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the gathering areas for the estimated 45 crore attendees. (With inputs from agencies.)TORONTO - Losses in the tech sector led Canada’s main stock index and U.S. markets lower Friday, as investors made year-end adjustments to their holdings. The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 50.42 points at 24,796.40. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 333.59 points at 42,992.21. The S&P 500 index was down 66.75 points at 5,970.84, while the Nasdaq composite fell 298.33 points at 19,722.03. All of the markets saw larger losses earlier in the day before seeing some recovery in late trading. On the TSX, the information technology index saw the largest decline at 0.9 per cent, while utilities and industrials also fell. In the U.S., big tech names were down including Nvidia Corp., just over two per cent lower, and Microsoft Corp., down 1.7 per cent. The losses were likely more from end-of-year rebalancing than any particular outlook on the sector, said Mike Archibald, vice-president and portfolio manager with AGF Investments Inc. “Given how well stocks have done this year, there’s certainly going to be some profit taking from larger pensions, institutions and other clients, to probably rebalance,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything too nefarious about the move today. It just happens to be, you know, a little bit of profit taking from some of the real big winners.” The trend explains why the pressure can be especially seen in the magnificent seven tech stocks that have helped lead substantial gains for the year. Besides the big tech stocks, other more speculative bets like bitcoin and micro-cap stocks have also seen a retreat recently, showing a potential easing of risk appetite, said Archibald. “In the last couple of weeks we’ve seen a bit of a rollover in some of those assets, so we continue to watch those as they can be a bit of a tell for short-term trading patterns,” he said. “So we’ll see what that means as we move towards 2025.” The Canadian dollar traded for 69.37 cents US, compared with 69.51 cents US on Tuesday. The February crude oil contract was up 98 cents at US$70.60 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up six cents at US$3.38 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$22 at US$2,631.90 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.12 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
Forget Christmas with your feet up at Chequers, Keir’s already embarking on his first Government reset
Published 5:39 pm Saturday, November 30, 2024 By Data Skrive The New Orleans Pelicans (4-16) are keeping their eye on six players on the injury report, including Brandon Ingram, ahead of a Sunday, December 1 game against the New York Knicks (11-8) at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have listed two injured players. The game tips at 6:00 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Their last time out, the Knicks won on Friday 99-98 against the Hornets. Jalen Brunson’s team-leading 31 points paced the Knicks in the win. The Pelicans’ most recent outing was a 120-109 loss to the Grizzlies on Friday. The Pelicans got a team-leading 30 points from CJ McCollum in the loss. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long 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 .Percentages: FG 44.444, FT .773. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
TEHRAN – Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran's commitment to tackling regional and global issues through cooperation during talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Andrey Rudenko and Sergei Ryabkov in Moscow. During these discussions, emphasis was placed on the significance of ongoing international consultations and the advancement of multilateralism. The conversations spanned various subjects, such as bilateral relations, regional and global developments, and collaboration within the BRICS framework. Takht-Ravanchi took to X on Friday to describe the discussions as "constructive and fruitful," emphasizing potential negotiations on nuclear issues and sanctions termination. He expressed Iran's determination to continue consultations with its partners to address regional and global challenges. The two sides emphasized the need for continued dialogue on legal and customs incentives to facilitate trade, strengthen economic ties, and advance a comprehensive cooperation agreement. Initiatives like the North-South Corridor and the 3+3 consultative mechanism for the Caucasus region were highlighted as key areas of focus. Another part of the discussions involved exchanging views on enhancing international peace and security, especially in the face of pressures from states engaging in unilateral actions that violate international law, human rights, and humanitarian principles. Additionally, the senior Iranian diplomat discussed the country's relations with North and South American countries, cooperation with BRICS nations, and broader international security matters. Reaffirming Iran’s commitment to transparency in its nuclear activities, Takht-Ravanchi reiterated Iran's dedication to its international obligations and its support for a constructive approach to global affairs.By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that their seminaries are being pushed toward radicalism and extremism, but they are exercising patience. “You are pushing my seminary toward radicalism and extremism, but we remain patient. We are not producing terrorists; this is a war, and we are fighting for religious survival. You have declared war against us, and now we face each other. We are steadfast, and we know that until the Day of Judgment, we have to fight for Islam because we aim for paradise,” Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared while speaking at an event in Peshawar. “The bureaucracy and establishment can use as many sympathetic words as they wish, but we have no trust in them,” he stated. The JUI-F chief highlighted that there are two major threats: one of annexation and the other of apostasy, asserting that religious seminaries play a pivotal role in countering these threats by teaching Hadith and guiding the Muslim community. “Currently, all religious seminaries are under pressure to be forced into submission. I even oppose the division between religious and worldly education—knowledge is knowledge, whether it is religious or worldly.” He reiterated his distrust in the bureaucracy and establishment, saying, “No matter how sweet their words may be, we will not trust them. They have destroyed the religious seminaries, and we will liberate them from this influence. We demand registration, but they don’t cooperate. We ask to open our bank accounts and operate within the state system, but they refuse to facilitate us.” Referring to the political dynamics, Fazlur Rehman said, “Before the elections, the PDM government was formed. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was part of it, and Shehbaz Sharif was the prime minister. After extensive discussions, it was agreed that seminaries would have the autonomy to register with whomever they wished. We demonstrated responsibility at that time as well. A draft was prepared under the 1860 Societies Act, with an added clause. This draft was not prepared by us but by the government, and there was consensus on it. The bill passed the assembly but was blocked afterward. We now seek legislation on this consensus draft as part of the 26th Amendment, and we want it to become an act.” He further mentioned the PPP’s role in negotiations, stating, “Even now, the PPP is in government. We held a month of negotiations during which I was engaged. After five hours of discussions, the bill was passed. The next day, five more hours of negotiations were held with Nawaz Sharif, and consensus was achieved. The bill was first presented in the Senate. The 26th Amendment bill comprised 56 clauses, to which we added five points of our own. The bill was passed, but now objections are being raised by the Presidency. At a meeting in Lahore, both the President and Bilawal Bhutto were present. Raising objections now is inappropriate.” JUI-F’s “Death to Israel” conference set for Peshawar The JUI-F’s “Death to Israel” conference will be held tomorrow in Peshawar, as the deadlock between the government and JUI-F over the seminaries bill persists. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is expected to announce a march toward Islamabad tomorrow. According to JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghori, party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will deliver a special address at the conference. Preparations have been completed, and workers from across the province are expected to attend. The conference will serve as a show of solidarity with Palestinian brothers through massive public participation. The spokesperson stated, “We will record our protest against the atrocities in Palestine during the conference. Additionally, a future plan of action will be outlined against the government’s bad faith regarding the religious seminaries act. This illegitimate and fake government continues its deceit and betrayal. The option of announcing a march toward Islamabad may also be declared during the conference.” The conference will also feature speeches by JUI’s central secretary-general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Muhammad Aslam Ghori, Maulana Amjad Khan, Maulana Asad Mehmood, Engineer Zia-ur-Rehman, Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman, Maulana Abdul Wasay, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Halijvi, Rashid Soomro, Maulana Ata-ul-Haq Darwish, Agha Mehmood Shah, and Hafiz Naseer Ahrar. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Ituka scores 18 off the bench, Jacksonville State downs East Carolina 86-78Rogers Provides Update on Its Acquisition of Bell’s 37.5% Stake in MLSE
A North Korean voice Kim Jong-un would love to silenceWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
Lara Adejoro The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, has announced that no fewer than 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies with robust projects are set to execute 22 large-scale initiatives in Nigeria. Pate disclosed this in a message posted on his X handle on Friday. He also revealed that more than 10 value chain verticals have been established within the country, highlighting that these milestones align with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the health sector from a consumption-driven model to one that creates jobs and enhances economic value. In October 2023, President Tinubu launched the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain and appointed Dr Abdu Mukhtar as the National Coordinator. The initiative aims to increase the local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to at least 70 per cent of national consumption by 2030 and expand the workforce in the life sciences manufacturing sub-sector to at least 50,000 full-time employees from the current estimated 20,000, among other objectives. Since the initiative’s establishment, Pate noted that the President has signed an executive order to stimulate domestic production of pharmaceuticals, test kits, medical textiles, and consumables. “While it is important to acknowledge that some initial implementation challenges occurred, these have now been collaboratively resolved with all key stakeholders. I am pleased to report that this policy is now positioned to achieve its intended objectives,” Pate stated. He highlighted substantial progress, including securing investment commitments. “To date, we have a line of sight to significant investments, including financing from the European Investment Bank and a $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding with Afreximbank to support both incoming and domestic manufacturers in the health and life sciences sectors.” Pate added that the Presidential Initiative has inspired five development finance institutions to collaborate on dedicated financing platforms to unlock Nigeria’s healthcare value chain. He also noted that over 70 healthcare manufacturing companies with solid business cases are in active discussions to execute 22 large-scale projects. “More than 10 value chain verticals have been established in-country, including the manufacturing of rapid diagnostic test kits. This effort is exemplified by our MoU with South Africa-based Abbott Diagnostics, which is already producing in Lagos,” he said. Pate confirmed that Abbott has agreed to establish a plant in Nigeria to manufacture rapid test kits for malaria and other diseases. Additionally, he highlighted investments in medical oxygen through a partnership with the Global Gases Group, which is establishing a cryogenic air separation plant in Nigeria. He also referenced a recent agreement with Siemens Healthineers to establish an ultrasound assembly plant in the country. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: health_wise@punchng. com Tags Health Minister Healthcare firms Professor Muhammad Ali PateHours after journalist and television host Munni Saha was taken into custody last night, the detective branch (DB) of police released her in the early hours. "Police did not detain her. People detained her and then handed her over to the police. The Tejgaon police first took her to the police station. She was later moved to the DB police compound for security reasons," Rezaul Karim Mallick, additional commissioner (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star. "Munni Saha had a panic attack and fell ill. Considering her condition and that she is a female journalist, we released her under Section 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code," Mallick said, adding that she must appear in court to seek bail and comply with future police summons. She was handed over to her family on bond, he added. According to section 497 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, subsection (1) when any person accused of any non-bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by an officer in charge of a police station or appears or is brought before a Court, he may be released on bail, but he shall not be so released if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or transportation for life: Provided that the Court may direct that any person under the age of sixteen years or any woman or any sick or infirm person accused of such an offence be released on bail. Earlier, around 9:20pm last night, Munni Saha went to a media office at Janata Tower of the capital's Kawran Bazar. While she was leaving the office by car, a group of people blocked her. Mobarak Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Tejgaon Police Station, told The Daily Star, "Munni Saha was wanted in a case filed earlier. She was arrested after police rescued her from locals in the capital's Kawran Bazar area." Sohel Rana, inspector (investigation) of the Tejgaon Police Station, told The Daily Star, "We rushed to the spot and rescued Munni Saha. A team from the detective branch of police then took her into custody." According to video footage, circulated on social media, people were seen accusing Munni Saha for spreading misinformation during the BDR mutiny in 2009 through her reporting. On July 22, a murder case was filed against 193 individuals including Munni Saha and six other journalists over the death of a student – 17-year-old Nayeem Howlader -- in the capital's Jatrabari area on July 19. Nayeem's father Kamrul Islam filed the murder case with Jatrabari Police Station. The six other journalists named in the case are Mozammel Haque Babu, managing director and editor-in-chief of Ekattor TV; Syed Ishtiaque Reza, former chief news editor (CNE) of Ekattor TV; Ahmed Jobaer, a director of Somoy TV; Farzana Rupa, former principal correspondent of Ekattor TV; Shakil Ahmed, former head of news at Ekattor TV; and Nayeemul Islam Khan, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's press secretary. Of the FIR-named journalists in the case, Mozzamel Babu, Farzana Rupa, and Shakil Ahmed have been arrested. They are now in jail.
The China Fund, Inc. Declares DistributionsAndrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football program
India News | DU Academic Council Approves One-year PG Program, Reserves Seats for Single Girl Students4Th Test: That Is A Stupid Shot, Pant's Let His Team Down Badly, Says GavaskarGARLAND, Texas — Whether or not “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie is a holiday-time debate nearly as old as the film franchise. Now, a North Texas mayor has jumped into the debate in a new viral video. In a video shared on the city of Garland’s social media channels, Garland Mayor Scott LeMay, dressed in a white tank top and carrying a Zippo lighter, made it clear he was on team “Die Hard is a Christmas movie." City Hall is in good hands this holiday season. Mayor Scott LeMay sends his greetings! LeMay appears in a makeshift tunnel in the 37-second clip, recreating a scene with “Die Hard” protagonist John McClane, played by Bruce Willis in the popular action movie franchise. The clip shows LeMay shimmying through the tunnel, which is revealed to be made of Home Depot boxes, as a colleague enters the room and calls out the “Die Hard” theme of the city’s holiday video. “Remember when we said, ‘no ‘Die Hard?’” the staffer asks in the vide? “But it’s a Christmas movie...I’m tellin’ ya,” LeMay replies. The mayor ends the video with a holiday greeting, still dressed as John McClane and in the makeshift ventilation duct. “From all of us here at the city of Garland, we want to wish you happy holidays and an awesome 2025. Yippee ki yay...,” LeMay says before he’s interrupted by his colleague yelling, “Mayor!” and played out by “Let It Snow.” The video, which was first posted Christmas Eve, had received thousands of views by Friday. More Texas headlines: Related Articles North Texas restaurant, music venue closing for 'renovation' Drone show element of Dallas' Reunion Tower NYE show scrapped, officials say Jerry Jones was just crowned champion! But the title wasn't an honorable one.The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.