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double down meaning blackjack Landowners sue Henry County over proceeds from tax salesFormer Trump envoy to India says the new administrations will push hard on Iran sanctions, China challenge India should expect raised tariffs, and a renewed push to get a Free Trade Agreement finalised from the United States as Donald Trump gets set to begin a second term in office, said former Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster. In an exclusive interview to The Hindu via videoconferencing from New York, Mr. Juster, a former U.S. department of Commerce official who was appointed by Mr. Trump to India in the first term (2017-2021) said that the first tenure and Mr. Trump’s campaign pronouncements were indicators that the second term would see a further strengthening of India-U.S. ties , but certain irritants in ties, such as over high tariffs , market access in areas like “agricultural exports from United States to India and the IT (information technology) equipment sector and medical devices”, and differences over Iran policy could also return. In Mr. Trump’s first term, the U.S. had withdrawn India’s GSP status for exporters, and forced India to cancel all oil imports from Iran. Mr. Juster pointed out that Mr. Trump’s cabinet nominees thus far had very strongly pro-India positions, and that they also saw China as the U.S.’s “major strategic challenge”, pointing in particular to NSA-designate Michael waltz , currently co-chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives, whom External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in Washington last week. Mr. Juster said that it was unlikely the Department of Justice indictments in the Pannun case and against the Adani group would have “any substantial effect on the broader US-India relationship”. When asked about a possible invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Trump inauguration on January 20, Mr. Juster pointed out that foreign leaders have not traditionally attended the inauguration, but that the two leaders share a close personal relationship from Mr. Trump’s previous term. With the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States for the second time just weeks away, New Delhi stepped up its outreach to the incoming administration with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri both spending the year-end week in Washington. In an exclusive interview to The Hindu over a video conference from New York, Mr. Trump’s last envoy to India (2017-2021) Kenneth Juster spoke about what to expect from his next tenure in office. Broadly, how do you think President Trump will approach India, given your experience of the ties during his previous tenure? I think there’s going to be a very strong U.S.-Indian relationship during the second term of the Trump presidency, and I base that on what happened during the first term. U.S.-India relations were among the highlights of the Trump administration’s foreign policy. President Trump was the first U.S. President to label China as a strategic challenge to the United States and to popularize the concept of the Indo Pacific, which strategically links the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean regions. It was a concept that was pioneered by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, but the United States really enhanced it by its own activities, and soon the entire region and world was speaking of the Indo Pacific. Under the Trump administration, we also revived the Quad, the grouping among the United States, India, Japan and Australia, which has continued to thrive under the Biden administration. We enhanced our defence cooperation significantly, signing three major foundational agreements, increasing the number of military exercises and having the first ever tri-services exercise. We increased energy exports to India of all types, clean coal, natural gas, oil and renewables, and worked closely with India on those issues. There was also a very strong people-to-people relationship. There was a Howdy Modi event in Houston with over 50,000 people that President Trump was at. And then there was a Namaste Trump event in February of 2020, that had over 100,000 people in Gujarat. So, there’s a very strong relationship between the President and the Prime Minister, and the United States really provided very critical and important assistance to India when China came across the Line of Actual Control into disputed territory in 2020. What should one make of Trump nominees thus far, including Rubio, Hegseth, Gabbard, Ramaswamy and Hegseth, all of whom have been positively disposed towards India? Let me also mention Representative Michael waltz, who’s going to be the incoming National Security Advisor, who is currently co-chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives. And yes, I think the appointees by and large will be furthering the strength of the US-India relationship that we saw in the first term of the Trump administration. Senator Rubio, who’s the nominee to be Secretary of State, had introduced legislation that would treat India as equivalent to an ally for purposes of technology transfers and provide a variety of other positive elements to the US-India relationship. But in addition, these advisors see China as the major strategic challenge that the United States faces. And in that sense, I think there’s a certain strategic clarity between the United States and India as to what some of the challenges will be in the Indo-Pacific region. What about the unusual and special relationship with Elon Musk, who has been trying to bring in companies like Tesla and Starlink to India, but asking for more concessions, tax waivers. Do you think India should be prepared to give more when it comes to business? Well, that’s going to be a business decision for India. India made concessions to bring Apple into India, and that’s been a great success in terms of its manufacturing operations there. And the government of India will have to decide whether the concessions being sought by Mr. Musk relative to Tesla and Starlink, and I don’t know all the specifics of that, make sense from its perspective or not. But given Mr. Trump’s threats of the past on India being a “tariff abuser” and how India lost its GSP status for exporters, should India expect more of such shock therapy? Look, the President has been clear that he believes India should lower tariffs and is too protectionist, and he bases this on both the levels of tariffs, which the real tariff level in India is high, and the trade deficit that exists between the United States and India. And he had this opinion during the first term. I don’t think it’s correct to say that the GSP issue was shock therapy. There’s a statute that provides the generalized system of preferences benefits to countries, which gives tariff free entry to hundreds and even thousands of products into the United States. But the statute also requires that the beneficiary country increase its own market access to US products. There were complaints filed by the medical devices industry and the dairy industry that they were not getting access to India. So, the US Trade Representative’s Office undertook a full investigation. They felt that there were other industries, including the IT services industry, that also were not getting sufficient access. But instead of withdrawing GSP right away, the US government undertook an extensive negotiation with the Government of India to try to reach some resolution of this issue. The negotiations lasted for over one year. The US government felt that they were coming close to an agreement, but it could never get concluded. And finally, under the statutory requirement, they were compelled to have to terminate GSP, and yet still continued negotiations after that to try to reinstate GSP, to get some market opening measures. Regrettably, that was still not possible. I think by the time President Trump came to India in February of 2020, it looked like the Indian side was willing to close the deal, but at that point the President was seeking a bigger deal. We have to remember that part of the effort in putting tariffs on a country is to try to get a negotiation to increase market access for the United States. So, the President-elect has indicated that he will slap tariffs of 10 to 20% on most countries around the world, and I think that would probably include India. But I also think that could be the beginning of a negotiation to open markets a bit and, from India’s perspective, to try to lock down the benefits of its largest trade partner, the United States, in both goods and services. And one should think expansively in terms of what other issues of concern, whether it be in technology, in energy, or elsewhere, where the two sides could do some horse trading and reach a broader trade and economic agreement. Will reopening FTA talks be a priority for the Trump administration, as when the Biden administration came in it made it clear it wasn’t a priority? Well, to be fair, the Biden administration chose not to move forward in the free trade agreement area and, instead, launched a different initiative, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. President Trump, despite being known as someone who loves tariffs, also negotiated several trade deals during his first term, including with Mexico and Canada and with Japan as well. And I think he would want to do so in the second term with India. Some of the areas that were sticky were in some agricultural exports from United States to India and the IT (information technology) equipment sector and medical devices. And I would hope that we could get beyond those issues, reduce tariffs there, and then look at other broader measures that could be addressed to enhance our economic relationship. One strategic reason for doing this is that China really dominates the Indo Pacific region with its economic strength, and if the United States and India were to strike a larger trade and economic agreement, that would begin to counter some of China’s enormous presence in the region. Also, we should work out an understanding on the digital economy, because so much data flows back and forth between our two countries. Both of our technology sectors are critical to our economies and are leading technology sectors of the world. Do you think the ease of doing business in India is now better in these last four years? Yes, I think the ease of doing business in India has certainly improved, although I think there could still be further improvements. We’ve seen enormous investments by the government in infrastructure, whether it be airports, seaports, roads or highways. We’ve seen efforts to attract investors through a variety of different incentives, and certainly India is on the radar screen of most major US and other international companies that are looking for a major market to invest in. I still hear, though, from US companies that they find the regulatory framework can be a bit slow and burdensome, and that at times there’s regulatory uncertainty. My concern at times about some of the high barriers to trade -- not to investment, but to trade -- is that this may dissuade some companies that want to move goods in and out of India from making it the supply chain hub that India would like to be. Like with the GSP removal, the feeling in India is that the Trump administration strong-armed India- the US insisted that India must zero out Iran oil import. It’s interesting that despite many requests from the Biden administration, India did not actually reduce its oil intake from Russia. What would the expectations be from India in the next four years? I don’t think we strong armed India on trade, because we never changed the situation. So, it was a negotiation that was unable to be concluded. Yes, you are correct on Iran, the Trump administration had a maximum pressure campaign, which I think may well get reinstituted in this next term. India was treated like every other country, which meant you needed to zero out oil imports from Iran. And India complied with that. I think on Russia, there is an understanding of the long historical relationship India has had. And in the previous term of the Trump administration, there were not ultimatums put on India with regard to Russia. As you know, there was an S-400 sale. There was talk of potential sanctions under CAATSA, but that never was implemented. I think Russia is a fluid issue, and it may well depend on how negotiations go between Russia and Ukraine. But I think Iran is one area where the administration has shown a very consistent and tough position in terms of seeking to economically isolate the Iranians. Delhi has also been shocked by US Department of Justice investigations and indictments- first in the Pannun assassination plot case, and then against the Adani group. Do you think a Trump administration will approach these DOJ investigations and indictments differently, and now that the Pannun case trial is actually underway, will it affect India US bilateral ties? Well, when cases get into our Justice Department and into the legal process, I would not want to comment on them, and they should probably not be affected by any concerns other than the legal considerations that are being followed by the prosecutors. I would not expect that the Trump administration would seek to inject itself in these cases. I can’t foresee what the legal people at the Department of Justice will do and how they will read the evidence overall. But beyond that, I don’t see these cases having any substantial effect on the broader US-India relationship. The BJP has said on its official handle in response to these cases that the US State Department is targeting the Modi government, and that it is, in fact trying to in some way weaken India. Were you surprised that the investigations have had such a negative effect in India? Well unfortunately, at times, folks in India can be very sensitive about legal matters, but I can tell you from my experience, this would not have been something that the State Department would have chosen to push or not push. If anything, the diplomatic community would wish that these types of cases did not exist, but they get into our legal process, and we are very strict about not interfering with what the prosecutors do. The Attorney General and the people in the Justice Department make those decisions, but it’s really inappropriate for someone at the State Department or an ambassador or diplomat to try to inject him or herself into those matters. The Biden administration has sought to leave its legacy on Indian ties with the iCET. What do you think will be the major areas of growth for the India, US relationship in the next four years of Trump? The US-India relationship has continued to grow in a positive direction over the last 25 years, and each administration has built on the successes of the previous one, despite changes of parties [in power], and I expect that to continue. Technology has always been an important aspect of the US-India relationship. When I was Under Secretary of Commerce (2001-2005), we launched the High Technology Cooperation Group. We then had an initiative called the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) that worked on civil defence, civil nuclear and high technology issues. We then had the civil nuclear deal, which was a landmark occasion, followed by the Defence Technology Transfer Initiative (DTTI). So, the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) really builds on top of those. And I expect technology to continue to be an important area and a key area for the two countries to focus on. The exact nature that it takes will depend on conversations that the two countries have. Semiconductors has been an area where they’ve been working together. There may be other avenues in artificial intelligence and elsewhere, but technology is a key linkage between our countries. In fact, many CEOs of US companies are Indian Americans, who came from India and contributed to our country. I think defence cooperation will also continue to be very critical. We hopefully will do more tabletop exercises together and scenario planning and other issues, understanding that India wants to maintain its own autonomy. But I think it’ll be important that we increase our ability to work together and have some level of interoperability. Lastly, I think energy is an area that holds enormous promise, because India needs to import a lot of energy, and the Trump administration will be pushing all forms of energy exports, as in the first Trump term, whether it be liquefied natural gas, oil, clean coal or renewables. Would a revival of the big Tellurian LNG deal, that was announced by the leaders, but never made headway, be on the cards? I don’t know what the status of that deal in particular is, but deals of that type, I think , have potential. There’s a lot of speculation in India about who will be the next Trump envoy to India. Given your experience, including of handling his unexpected social media posts (on Twitter/X), what are the skills that you think he should be looking for? Well, obviously I have some biases in terms of what one should look for, but one should remember that people in Washington do not wake up in the morning worrying about India. They may worry about China, about Russia, about Iran. Ideally, you want the ambassador to be someone who knows a lot about India and understands its history and culture and has dealt with Indians previously, because it’s a complicated country. But at the same time, one must have good relationships back in Washington, DC, at the White House and with the State Department, so that this individual can help shape policy and be actively involved in a country with a ten and one-half hour time difference [from the United States]. Over time, the US has gravitated increasingly toward political appointees [for India], and so I would expect you’ll see that here as well. I know there are a number of candidates interested, but I’m not sure who has the leading edge on it thus far. But the choice should be one that understands President Trump and how he operates, so that he or she can help deal with any statements that come out of Washington in terms of translating them effectively to the Indian government. There’s also some commentary on whether Prime Minister Modi will get an invitation to the Trump inaugural on January 20, as Chinese President Xi Jinping has. Your thoughts? It’s not normally been the tradition to have foreign leaders come to an inauguration. Instead, it’s been representatives and ambassadors in Washington who attend. I don’t know what the thinking is within the administration, and I have not yet heard anything one way or the other in terms of an invitation to Prime Minister Modi. But I would emphasize again that the two leaders have a very good relationship. President Trump felt his trip to India in February 2020 was an excellent one. And I think that personal relationship will be important going forward. The Biden administration has had a strong relationship with India, I think the first Trump team did too and I expect that trend to continue going forward. Published - December 29, 2024 08:45 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit India-United States / USA / IndiaAmerican Airlines Group Inc said that a tech issue with DXC Technology Co, a third-party vendor that maintains the company’s flight-operating systems, caused a brief ground stop on all US flights on Tuesday. The carrier said that a network hardware-related issue has been resolved and flights have resumed. American’s flight-operating system allows for air transport to be coordinated and dispatched, it said. The halt lasted for about an hour. “We sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience,” American said in a statement. “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible.” The airline didn’t say if it expected any further delays or other knock-on effects. American Airlines had 3,320 domestic flights and 581 international flights scheduled for the day, according to aviation data provider Cirium. Only 19 of its flights were cancelled by the early afternoon, in line with the typical 1% cancellation rate across airlines, Cirium said. But there were delays: Only about 37% of American Airlines flights were leaving on time as of the early afternoon, Cirium said, noting that most airlines aim for 80% of flights departing and arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. The data provider said that most of the delays at American were under two hours. For example, 72% of flights departing out of American’s Dallas hub left within an hour of the scheduled time. “Based on previous such incidents, it appears American has been able to maintain its schedule, albeit with delays,” said Cirium spokesperson Mike Arnot. “There may be an uptick in cancellations later in the day as crews time out.” American Airlines had said earlier it was experiencing technical issues affecting all of its flights, disrupting operations on a day when the Federal Aviation Administration expects to see about 30,000 US flights across all carriers. Some online postings said the airline suffered a software outage preventing it from calculating weight and balance requirements for its flights. The incident comes after Delta Air Lines Inc suffered a multi-day grounding in July affecting thousands of travellers due to a software glitch. Two years ago, Southwest Airlines Co suffered a year-end meltdown involving computer-system issues. Related Story Kam Air commences operations between Kabul and Doha Hot Air Balloon Festival soars to new heights with global enthusiasmTORONTO - RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 31 points and seven rebounds as the Raptors stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-105 on Thursday for Toronto’s first consecutive wins of the season. Scottie Barnes, wearing protective goggles with red frames, returned to the Raptors (4-12) lineup for the first time since he fractured his right orbital bone on Oct. 28. Barnes finished with 17 points, six assists, and three rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Jakob Poeltl had a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards and Montreal’s Chris Boucher came off the bench for 22 points. Anthony Edwards scored 26 points, including 11 in the third quarter, to keep Minnesota (8-7) in the game. Julius Randle had 23 points and nine rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels scored 22 points and also pulled down seven boards. Barnes was injured in the fourth quarter of Toronto’s 127-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets when he caught an errant elbow from Denver centre Nikola Jokic. Barnes was expected to be out at least three weeks with the injury but came back slightly ahead of schedule. Rookie combo guard Ja’kobe Walter (sprained right shoulder) was also made available for the Raptors. He did not play in the game, however. Toronto wore its new City Edition jerseys for the first time. The black jerseys feature a bright red Raptor in the midst of a between-the-legs jam, like Vince Carter’s iconic move from the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Takeaways Minnesota: Edwards got off to an uncharacteristically slow start to the game, scoring only five points in the first half and quickly getting up to four personal fouls. Despite being so close to foulling out of the game, Edwards became more aggressive and helped the Timberwolves take a lead in the third quarter. Toronto: Although Barnes is unquestionably the best player on the Raptors, his re-integration into the lineup wasn’t seamless with Toronto’s offence looking disjointed for long stretches with 17 turnovers. Poeltl’s usage dropped significantly with Barnes once again becoming the focal point of the offence. Key moment Boucher’s dunk with 6:38 left in the game sparked a 17-4 Raptors run that erased a two-point deficit and gave Toronto a 105-96 lead with 2:31 on the clock. Gradey Dick’s defensive rebound and lob to Barrett for a crowd-pleasing dunk put an exclamation mark on that run, with the 19,296 fans at Scotiabank Arena rising to their feet as Barrett flexed and shouted. Minnesota called a timeout to try and kill Toronto’s momentum after the highlight-reel play. Key stat Toronto shot an excellent 51.4 per cent on field goals, but didn’t get up as many attempts as the Timberwolves, who outscored the Raptors despite shooting 41.3 per cent from the floor. Up next The Raptors travel to Cleveland to take on the NBA-best Cavaliers. Minnesota continues its Eastern Conference road trip with a stop in Boston against the NBA champion Celtics. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

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How to protect your communications through encryptionHyderabad: Kancha Ilaiah’s support for women’s college new name stirs controversySir Keir Starmer has promised sweeping changes to crack down on what he described as the “bulging benefits bill blighting our society”. The Prime Minister used an op-ed in the Mail on Sunday to vow to “get to grips” with the cost of welfare after figures suggested more than four million people will be claiming long-term sickness support by the end of the decade. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce a package of legislation next week designed to “get Britain working” amid Government concerns about the projected rise. Official forecasts published by her department this week show that the number of people claiming incapacity benefits is expected to climb from a pre-pandemic figure of around 2.5 million in 2019 to around 4.2 million in 2029. Last year there were just over three million claimants. The Prime Minister wrote: “In the coming months, Mail on Sunday readers will see even more sweeping changes. Because make no mistake, we will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society. “Don’t get me wrong, we will crack down hard on anyone who tries to game the system, to tackle fraud so we can take cash straight from the banks of fraudsters. “There will be a zero-tolerance approach to these criminals. My pledge to Mail on Sunday readers is this: I will grip this problem once and for all.” Ms Kendall’s white paper is expected to include the placement of work coaches in mental health clinics and a “youth guarantee” aimed at ensuring those aged 18-21 are working or studying.

Lil Wayne Seemingly Reacts to Kendrick Lamar Call Out ‘Man Wtf I Do?!’ - VulturePolicymakers at home and abroad are anxious about offshoring F OR DECADES China has put foreign capital to work. Officials encouraged Western firms to trade technology for access to its vast market, helping to build up Chinese competitors that were often better and always cheaper. They began shipping goods westwards. The resulting “China shock” is often blamed for causing economic dislocation and despair in America’s industrial heartlands. Now, however, it is China’s turn to worry about offshoring. Its manufacturers are taking flight. Explore more More from China How China turns members of its diaspora into spies America is on the hunt for these non-traditional agents. But its efforts risk backfiring How to get a free meal in China As the economy slows, more restaurants are offering food to those in need China’s economy is in for another rough year Bold action is needed to turn things around Chinese hackers are deep inside America’s telecoms networks Rooting them out is proving a challenge China cracks down on Karate-chopping cleaning ladies The government doesn’t want people to be excessively entertained Why China is losing interest in English Learning the world’s lingua franca is no longer a priority for students or businessmen Discover more How China turns members of its diaspora into spies America is on the hunt for these non-traditional agents. But its efforts risk backfiring Podcast Drum Tower Why younger residents of China’s “median city” are so risk-averse Our weekly podcast on China. In the second episode of a two-part series, we meet young inhabitants of Yichun, a Chinese everytown What a fourth-century drinking game tells you about contemporary China China’s obsession with calligraphy colours its view of itself How to get a free meal in China As the economy slows, more restaurants are offering food to those in need Podcast Drum Tower What a visit to a Chinese everytown reveals about the country Our weekly podcast on China. In the first episode of a two-part series, we visit Yichun, China’s “median city”, and ask its elderly residents how they feel about the future China’s economy is in for another rough year Bold action is needed to turn things aroundThe semiconductor industry, renowned for its impressive growth over past decades, is rallying on the back of artificial intelligence (AI) advancements. Though economic slowdowns raise concerns, the demand for cutting-edge devices continues to boost the need for more sophisticated chips. A recent IDC report forecasts a 15% expansion in the semiconductor market by 2025, driven by AI. This development could present a prime opportunity for investors, especially in stocks like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Micron Technology (MU), which have seen a dip in their stock values despite healthy revenue growth in the data center sector. AMD, which has seen a significant increase in its server CPU market share, anticipates a surge in demand for its GPUs within data centers. This promising demand outlook resonates with Wall Street’s optimistic predictions for AMD’s stock, which currently trades significantly below its peak. The company forecasts that the market for AI accelerators will grow substantially, suggesting a long-term growth trajectory. Meanwhile, Micron Technology, a leader in memory and storage solutions, has enjoyed a notable recovery since 2022. Despite recent market fluctuations, Micron’s sales to data centers have soared, particularly with their high-bandwidth memory outperforming expectations. The company remains optimistic about returning to record revenue by 2025, but unknown variables in demand make future predictions challenging. Both AMD and Micron present tantalizing prospects for 2025, yet AMD’s consistent growth positions it as a potentially safer bet for investors aiming to capitalize on Wall Street’s bullish outlook. Why the Semiconductor Boom Driven by AI Presents Unmatched Opportunities The semiconductor industry is poised for an exhilarating transformation sparked by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). With a projected market expansion of 15% by 2025, as reported by IDC, AI is set to redefine the landscape while offering exceptional investment prospects. This article explores new dimensions that could shape the industry’s future, including innovations, opportunities, and strategic insights. Emerging Trends and Innovations The semiconductor sector is experiencing groundbreaking innovations, particularly in AI-specific chip design. Companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Micron Technology are leading this charge with their focus on developing high-performance chips for AI applications. AMD’s strategic investment in GPU technology gears up to power more robust and efficient AI processors, while Micron’s advancements in high-bandwidth memory are setting new benchmarks in data handling capabilities. Investment Opportunities and Predictions For investors keen to enter the semiconductor market, the dip in stock values of key players like AMD and Micron Technology presents an attractive entry point. Analysts remain optimistic about these stocks, with a consensus on AMD’s continued growth driven by increased demand for GPUs in data centers. Predictions indicate a substantial rise in AI accelerator market share, hinting at AMD’s long-term growth potential. Similarly, Micron aims to recover to record revenue levels by 2025, powered by innovations in memory and storage solutions critical for AI and machine learning processes. However, potential investors should remain cautious due to possible demand fluctuations that could impact projections. Market Analysis and Strategic Insights The semiconductor market’s future hinges on its ability to adapt to AI’s evolving needs. Key insights suggest focusing on AI-driven demand could be the linchpin for sustained growth. Data center sales illustrate a robust demand for high-performance computing solutions, underlining the importance of developing chips optimized for AI tasks. Challenges and Limitations While the industry’s growth outlook is promising, challenges such as supply chain disruptions and fluctuating demand could impede progress. The reliance on rare materials and international market conditions also pose logistical and operational challenges that stakeholders must navigate to maintain momentum. Concluding Thoughts The semiconductor industry’s trajectory is closely tied to AI innovations, offering promising yet complex prospects for businesses and investors alike. Embracing AI’s potential, particularly through strategic investments in companies like AMD and Micron Technology, could prove transformative. As the sector evolves, staying informed and agile will be essential for capitalizing on the nascent opportunities in this rapidly advancing field. Learn more about semiconductor trends at IDC and explore investment opportunities through AMD and Micron Technology .

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Jim Cramer Says Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) Is ‘Just Crushing The Numbers’A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the futureA recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!

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Kolkata, Dec 29 (PTI) The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), India on Sunday proposed the introduction of a “faceless” GST audit system to boost ease of doing business in the country. The apex engineering exports promotion body’s proposal comes following the successful implementation of ‘faceless assessment’ by the Income Tax department. “The faceless GST audit system, by using technology and ensuring anonymity, will reduce compliance costs. A faceless system will streamline procedures allowing MSMEs to focus on growth and innovation,” said Pankaj Chadha, chairman of EEPC India. The proposal is a part of EEPC India’s Budget 2025 recommendation. By introducing a “faceless” GST audit system, India can further improve its ranking in the Ease of Doing Business index, making it a more attractive destination for foreign investors, it said. It also proposed that Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) related liabilities should be eligible for the ‘Amnesty Scheme’ to address challenges faced by exporters, who may be unaware of foreign bank charges and foreign business services. PTI BSM RBT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} 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() );WhatsApp Wins Lawsuit Against Israeli Spyware Maker NSO Group

For decades, ring girls like Sydney Thomas have been iconic figures in boxing , walking the ring with confidence and flair. Recently, influencers have stepped into the spotlight, joining the ranks of models at major fights. But now, their biggest competition might not even be human. AI influencers are coming for their crown, and the creator of Lily Hayes —the breakout AI star of Instagram—believes it’s only a matter of time before they crash the ring. Speaking to The Daily Star, Lily’s creator shared their vision for the future: “ Technology is moving so fast and sports organisations, who are inherently innovative, are beginning to embrace AI Influencers.” “Lily has built an incredible fanbase over the past 12 months, and boxing is a really exciting opportunity for her to break into the mainstream.” Lily Hayes' creator “ Ring Girls have always been a massive part of boxing, but the interesting thing about AI Influencers becoming Ring Girls is fans can actually connect with them online, 24/7 , and in multiple languages in the lead up to, during, and after the event.” “There's some big fights touted for 2025, including Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua at Wembley or in Riyadh so we'd love to get Lily on that card.”

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The New York Rangers are still desperately seeking answers following their blockbuster trade of captain Jacob Trouba earlier this month. They'll try to regain some stability when they visit the Florida Panthers on Monday evening in Sunrise, Fla. New York is 3-8-0 since trading Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6 in a roster shakeup that hasn't ignited anybody. They've dropped three in a row and six of seven, most recently losing at the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on Saturday. "Right now, it's just frustrating," New York coach Peter Laviolette said. "We're in the business of winning hockey games and we're not getting it done right now, so it's tough to sit here and tell you good things. We're losing hockey games. We need to win hockey games and we're not getting that done." New York had high expectations after reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years last season. Hopes of getting past that hurdle and reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2014 were heightened after the Rangers improved to 12-4-1 with a 4-3 win at the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 19. They haven't won two games in a row since. "Result-wise, this is not what we wanted," Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said. "We can talk about a reset, we can talk about whatever, but if the result is not there, it's not going to matter." In the loss to the Lightning, special teams once again played a big role. The Rangers went 0-for-4 on the power play while Tampa Bay went 2-for-5. "We don't score on our power play, we let in two goals, we put ourselves in a bad spot," Zibanejad said. "I don't think that's the effort. I don't think that's the team itself or how we came out, how we started. I don't think that's why we lose a game. We had (44) shots, we've got to get in front of a few more and get some quality chances, but I thought we did. It's frustrating." The Rangers will face a hungry Florida team that has been shut out the past two games, the second time that's happened this month. "Yeah, there is something to that. We are playing the perimeter game for the most part," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "That has a lot to do with it." The Panthers most recently fell to the visiting Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, failing to get one past a goalie making his NHL debut in Jakub Dobes. "I don't think we are going to dwell on this one, just kind of move on," Florida forward Sam Bennett said. "Mistakes are going to be made. It's about how you help each other and fix them. We are just going to move on from this game." Sergei Bobrovsky will start in goal for the Panthers. He's 5-2 in seven starts this month with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. He made 24 saves in a 3-1 win against the Rangers on Oct. 24. Overall, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is 15-12-3 in 31 career starts against New York with a 2.83 GAA, a .908 save percentage and one of his 45 career shutouts. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin was pulled after giving up five goals on 13 shots in 28:08 against the Lightning. He took the loss against Florida in October while making 26 saves and is 4-3-0 with a 2.87 GAA and a .915 save percentage against the Panthers all-time. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.