Navy gets 95-yard TD run from Horvath and stops 2-point try to beat Oklahoma in Armed Forces BowlAdani Group could find funding harder after US indictment as banks review creditFans are waiting with bated breath for the trailer of global superstar Ram Charan's film Game Changer. The makers have so far just dropped the teaser and songs of the films. As part of the promotional campaign, the makers recently hosted a spectacular pre-release event in Dallas, marking the first time such an event was organized in the USA for an Indian film. The event garnered tremendous success and enthusiasm. Producer Dil Raju shared the news about the trailer at the pre-release event that recently took place in Dallas, USA. A grand event will be held on January 1 to launch the film's trailer. 'RIP Letter': Ram Charan's fan threatens to die by suicide over delay in Game Changer trailer Amid the wave of promotions fans have taken to social media and asked the makers to speed up the release of the trailer. A fan of Ram Charan has written an open letter to the makers of his upcoming movie, Game Changer. In the note titled 'RIP Letter', the fan asked the makers to release the trailer of the movie on priority. He stated that if the makers of Game Changer fail to do so, he will die by suicide. "You are not even considering the sentiments of the fans. Suppose you do not release a teaser or update by the end of this month or fail to share the trailer by New Year's occasion. In that case, I regret to inform you that I will be forced to take drastic measures, including ending my life," the letter, dated December 28, reads, as quoted by the Free Press Journal. Game Changer is directed by S Shankar. A teaser released earlier this year revealed that Ram Charan will play an IAS officer who takes on a corrupt system, bringing both brains and brawn to his role. #Dhop is Charan & Thaman Combo mark Song in #GameChanger Both went Beast mode ❤️? pic.twitter.com/TEfEkAy105 Recently, Pushpa 2: The Rule director Sukumar gave his first review of Game Changer. The filmmaker was speaking at an event in Dallas when he said, "I watched Game Changer with Chiranjeevi sir. I want to give the first review. First half, was awesome. Interval, blockbuster. Trust me. Second half, the flashback episode gave me goosebumps—phenomenal. I was so sure Charan would receive a National Award for Rangasthalam, and so did others. But the way he essayed emotions in the film's climax, I got the feeling again. He performed so well, he will definitely get a National Award for it." Game Changer will finally hit theatres on January 10, 2025, in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. 'Is Kartik Aaryan mimicking Akshay Kumar': Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 drops on OTT; fans call it 'waste of time' Mom-to-be Athiya Shetty flaunts baby bump as she heads to watch Ind vs Aus match with Anushka Sharma 'Flirted for fun with Avinash': Kashish answers Salman Khan rudely; Bhai gets angry, says 'Don't be like that with me...'
ISLAMABAD - South Asia, home to over 1.8 billion people, is facing escalating environmental challenges, with marine pollution emerging as a critical threat. Coastal ecosystems, reliant on fishing and tourism, are suffering from rising levels of plastic waste, industrial runoff, and untreated sewage. Immediate action is needed to protect both the environment and the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. The region’s heavy reliance on agriculture is a key driver of marine pollution, as excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes nutrient-rich runoff that contaminates rivers and oceans. Despite efforts to improve farming practices, countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh continue to see rising fertilizer use, aggravating the environmental crisis. A recent World Bank report reveals that six South Asian countries contribute to cross-border pollution, including plastics, industrial waste, and untreated sewage, through the 20 major rivers in the region. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus River basins are major sources of pollution. This environmental degradation is severely impacting coastal economies, with declining fish stocks, polluted beaches, and damaged marine habitats leading to significant economic losses. 2-day Kashmir Jannat Nazeer festival concludes Plastic waste, one of the most persistent threats to marine life, exacerbates the problem. Improper waste management and storm-driven littering result in plastics — such as bags, bottles, and fishing gear —entering the oceans. The long decomposition time of plastic leaves lasting damage to coastal ecosystems. Pakistan, for instance, faces significant marine pollution challenges, especially in its coastal cities like Karachi and the districts of Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin in Sindh. The country generates approximately 20 million tons of waste annually, with 10% consisting of plastic. While Pakistan has taken steps, such as banning single-use plastic bags in major cities, much more needs to be done. Local governments can extend these bans to coastal areas and organize cleanup projects to promote sustainable practices. Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, a Sustainable Development Expert, talking to APP emphasizes that effective wastewater management is crucial in mitigating marine pollution. He advocates for the installation and upgrading of wastewater treatment plants to prevent untreated industrial and domestic waste from reaching the sea. He also suggests converting waste into energy as a sustainable alternative. ITP tackle over 800,000 traffic violations, issues 64,395 new licenses in 2024 Dr. Kumbhar stresses the importance of stricter enforcement of environmental laws, particularly in Sindh, to prevent industries from discharging untreated waste into the sea. He also advocates for educating local communities and stakeholders about the harmful effects of marine pollution and promoting eco-friendly practices. Establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the Sindh coastline would also contribute to conserving vital marine ecosystems, he says. Marine pollution is not only a threat to biodiversity but also to the health of coastal communities. The pollutants in the oceans, such as heavy metals, microplastics, and chemicals, accumulate in fish, posing serious health risks including cancer and neurological disorders. Poor sanitation and untreated sewage discharge further exacerbate waterborne diseases like cholera, hepatitis, and gastrointestinal infections in coastal areas. Moreover, the declining fish stocks due to pollution threaten the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen in Sindh and other regions. Shakrial post office: a lifeline amidst adversity The destruction of coral reefs, vital for biodiversity and coastal protection, further complicates the situation. Pollution, including oil spills, significantly damages these ecosystems, weakening natural defenses against cyclones and rising sea levels. Mangroves, another crucial barrier against coastal erosion, are also suffering from unchecked industrial activities and pollution. As a result, coastal areas are becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather events. Addressing marine pollution in South Asia requires concerted efforts at both the regional and global levels. Dr. Kumbhar stresses the importance of international collaboration to tackle transboundary marine pollution effectively. Drawing inspiration from initiatives in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, he advocates for shared knowledge and joint actions to reduce ocean pollution. Indonesia, for example, plans to cut marine plastic debris by 70% by 2025 through public awareness campaigns and infrastructure improvements. Similarly, Vietnam aims to reduce marine plastic by 50% by 2030, focusing on eliminating single-use plastics in coastal tourist areas. Azerbaijan cuts Russian citizens' stay from 180 to 90 days Meanwhile, in China, the “Blue Circle” initiative, started in 2020, uses digital technology to manage marine plastic waste, with impressive results. This model has helped recycle over 10,000 tonnes of marine waste, including 2,200 tonnes of plastic, with plans to expand the effort nationwide. The threats facing South Asia’s marine ecosystems are undeniable. Acidification, overfishing, and pollution are all factors contributing to the rapid decline in ocean health, impacting food chains and the income of those reliant on fishing. Immediate action is required to safeguard marine biodiversity, protect local economies, and ensure long-term sustainability. Governments, industries, and local communities must collaborate to enforce stricter environmental laws, promote sustainable practices, and invest in cleanup initiatives. Only through combined efforts can South Asia hope to reverse the damage and preserve its coastal resources for future generations. CTP issue 40,985 challan slips to unfit PSVs Tags: marine pollution aJeju Air black box analysis may take months: Transport Ministry
Will Tanner Hudson Play in Week 17? NFL Injury Status, News & UpdatesWhat to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria's 13-year war and why it matters
ERBIL Efforts to form a government in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) continue as delegations from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) met in Sulaymaniyah. The talks, held at the PUK’s Political Bureau on Saturday, focused on post-election stages, strategies, and preparations to serve the people’s interests, according to a statement by PUK. Both parties expressed readiness to continue negotiations with each other and other political groups. The statement also highlighted consensus on the importance of developing a comprehensive understanding ahead of the KRG parliament’s first session on Dec. 2. In the Oct. 20 parliamentary elections, the KDP secured 39 seats, the PUK 23, the New Generation Movement 15, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (Yekgirtu) 7, and smaller groups won a total of 16 seats. The KRG parliament has 100 seats, including 5 reserved for quotas. *Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in IstanbulTORONTO , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Equitable Bank (the "Bank" or "Equitable"), Canada's Challenger BankTM, today announced it is reducing its prime lending rate by 50 basis points to 5.45% from 5.95%. Equitable's wholly owned subsidiary Concentra Bank is also reducing its prime lending rate by 50 basis points to 5.45% from 5.95%. Both rates are effective December 12, 2024 . About Equitable Bank Equitable Bank has a clear mission to drive change in Canadian banking to enrich people's lives. As Canada's Challenger BankTM and seventh largest bank by assets, it leverages technology to deliver exceptional personal and commercial banking experiences and services to nearly 700,000 customers and more than six million credit union members through its businesses. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of EQB Inc. (TSX: EQB), a leading digital financial services company with $127 billion in combined assets under management and administration (as at October 31, 2024 ). Through its digital EQ Bank platform (eqbank.ca), its customers have named it one of the top banks in Canada on the Forbes World's Best Banks list since 2021. To learn more, please visit eqb.investorroom.com or connect with us on LinkedIn . Investor contact: Mike Rizvanovic Managing Director, Investor Relations [email protected] Media contact: Maggie Hall Director, PR & Communications [email protected] SOURCE Equitable Bank
Unai Emery feels confidence returning after Aston Villa end winless run
As polls point to Yes, Anas Sarwar's road to Bute House just got a lot rougherNEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. The S&P 500 fell 66.75 points, or 1.1%, to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 333.59 points, or 0.8%, to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 298.33 points, or 1.5%, to 19,722.03. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.1%. Microsoft declined 1.7%. Each has a market value above $3 trillion, giving the companies outsized sway on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy stocks held up better than the rest of the market, with a loss of less than 0.1% as crude oil prices rose. “There’s just some uncertainty over this relief rally we’ve witnessed since last week,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.7% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62% from 4.59% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury remained at 4.33% from late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.Docebo Wins Top Recognition – Gold at the Canadian Marketing Association Awards for Leaders in Learning Series
Pisces – (19th February to 20th March) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Multiple opportunities wait for you Stick to principles at the office and ensure you keep the lover happy in the relationship. Financially you are prosperous today. Keep a watch on your health. Be careful to not annoy the lover today. At the office, utilize the opportunities for growth in your career. Go for big wealth investments today. However, your health may not be perfect. Pisces Love Horoscope Today Do not let love affairs go by ego-related issues. You must spare time for the lover. The second part of the day is good a take on marriage. You should also provide space to the partner and not impose your ideas which may hamper the relationship. Some love affairs will require more communication and this is vital in long-distance affairs. Single male natives would be happy to fall in love today. Meet someone special while traveling or at an official event. You may also propose to get a positive response. Pisces Career Horoscope Today Your approach is crucial today as some profiles will have a minor ruckus. Be careful about office politics which may also hamper your reputation at the workplace. A freelancing opportunity can be a good option to display your talent and when such an option knocks you. Some tasks will require you to visit the client’s office. Some students will clear the interview for their first job. There can be minor productivity issues but your professional life will be good. Pisces Money Horoscope Today Prosperity will come today but your expenditure will also be higher. Cut down the shopping for luxury items and instead care for more savings. Your plan to buy a home may not work out today. However, you will be good to settle all pending dues. Financial success will prompt you to make further investments. You may consider stock, trade, and speculative business as safe options. Pisces Health Horoscope Today Always be cautious about even minor ailments and consult a doctor whenever necessary. Those who have a history of cardiac issues will develop complications. Seniors with breathing issues must avoid dusty areas. You should also start the day with light exercise or jogging at the nearby park for an hour. Do not bring the office stress to home. Spend more time with people with a positive attitude. Pisces Sign Attributes Strength: Conscious, Aesthetic, Kind-hearted Weakness: Sentimental, Indecisive, Unrealistic Symbol: Fish Element: Water Body Part: Blood Circulation Sign Ruler: Neptune Lucky Day: Thursday Lucky Color: Purple Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Stone: Yellow Sapphire Pisces Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)NW_FG Akers 21, 9:31. ILL_Laughery 30 run (Olano kick), 8:12. NW_D.Turner 13 interception return (Akers kick), 2:14. ILL_Altmyer 1 run (Olano kick), 13:21. ILL_Laughery 64 run (Olano kick), 14:15. ILL_P.Bryant 43 pass from Altmyer (Olano kick), 10:08. NW_FG Akers 34, 5:35. NW_Henning 11 pass from Lausch (Akers kick), 1:34. ILL_Laughery 31 run (Olano kick), 12:15. ILL_FG Olano 24, 11:06. NW_Gordon 15 pass from Lausch (Lang pass from Lausch), 1:00. A_26,378. RUSHING_Illinois, Laughery 12-172, McCray 11-46, Valentine 7-16, Anderson 1-4, (Team) 2-(minus 3), Altmyer 3-(minus 23). Northwestern, Porter 12-53, Komolafe 8-32, Lausch 5-22, Himon 3-21, Boe 1-(minus 15). PASSING_Illinois, Altmyer 10-17-2-170. Northwestern, Lausch 25-48-2-287, Boe 4-13-1-42. RECEIVING_Illinois, P.Bryant 4-70, Franklin 3-54, Dixon 1-38, McCray 1-5, Arkin 1-3. Northwestern, Henning 10-119, Gordon 7-53, C.Johnson 3-39, Eligon 2-35, Kirtz 2-25, Wagner 2-24, Porter 1-28, Himon 1-4, Arthurs 1-2. MISSED FIELD GOALS_Northwestern, Akers 44.
Mass production of microLED displays begins next year – FoxconnWhat to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria's 13-year war and why it matters