Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:25 p.m. ESTFormer US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100
MHSAA Representative Council elects first new president in decade at fall meeting
Bhubaneswar: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has organised its 12th and 13th Combined Convocation on 28th December 2024. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Govt. of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation address. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Govt. of India; Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India were the Guests of Honour. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman, Board of Governors (BoG), IIT Bhubaneswar presided over the Convocation. Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar presented the Convocation report and awarded the degrees to the students. During this Convocation, the Institute conferred degrees on 1388 students for the academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Out of these students, 8% are PhD, 19% M.Tech, 14% M.Sc, 14% Dual degree (B.Tech and M.Tech) and 45% B.Tech. Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister Shri Pradhan said: “IIT Bhubaneswar should strive to become an institute of Knowledge, Research and Innovation. Being graduates of IIT, they should make efforts towards becoming job creators rather than being job seekers. They should make themselves ready to be contributors in Industrial Revolution 4.0. The educational institutions and faculty members should work towards redefining the attitude and aptitude of the students towards entrepreneurship.” He stressed that the research of the country should move beyond academic publications and achieve global benchmarks in terms of innovation and entrepreneurial acumen. “IIT Bhubaneswar and its students should work towards boosting the start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem to enhance the growth process of Odisha by 2036 and of the country by 2047,” he added. In his address, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said stressed on knowledge creation through research and innovation to become globally competitive. Collaborative partnerships between academia and industry, fostering a multi-disciplinary approach, funding and investment in groundbreaking research and cutting-edge infrastructure and a skilled and diverse workforce are imperative for the development of research ecosystem. He mentioned about the Anusandhan Research Foundation (ANRF) and its objective. Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty said that human knowledge and human competence is irreplaceable even in the age of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The youth of the country have the potential to innovate, and they should utilise this power towards the development of the country, he added. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Abhay Karandikar appreciated IIT Bhubaneswar for becoming a hub of cutting-edge research and innovation. He mentioned that while the country has taken a giant leap in the field of science and technology to make a mark in global map. India has become the 3rd largest in terms of start-up ecosystem in the world which showcases the innovation and entrepreneurial prowess of the country. The youth of the country should take the cue and work towards contributing in making India leader in the field of research and innovation. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar presented a detailed report on various efforts and achievements of IIT Bhubaneswar. He said, “Since its inception in the year 2008, IIT Bhubaneswar has traversed a long way. In recent years, it has aligned itself with the NEP 2020 initiative towards the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision. We are working with the motto: Follow no one, But learn from Everyone, and Acknowledge it too. Follow no one means Be Original, Learn from Everyone means Be open to feedback and criticism, and Acknowledge it too – means duly acknowledge others contributions in your achievements.” He shared the key milestones of IIT Bhubaneswar’s journey towards excellence in research, academics and entrepreneurship. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman, Board of Governors (BoG) motivated the students and said that with its cutting-edge facilities and focus on innovation, the institute empowers graduates to lead in transformative technologies while upholding environmental sustainability and cultural values. He stressed upon finding simple solution to every complex problem. After the Convocation, Hon’ble Minister visited the ground breaking Industry-Academia Research and Innovation Center on Silicon Carbide and interacted with the semiconductor researchers. He also visited the Research and Entrepreneurship Park and interacted with the Start-ups incubated under IIT Bhubaneswar. During this Convocation, the Institute conferred degrees on 1388 students out of which 105 PhD, 269 M. Tech, 197 M.Sc, 192 Dual Degree (B. Tech & M. Tech), and 625 B. Tech for the academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24. It was a proud moment for the graduating students, their parents, the faculty and staff members and the administration of the institute. For the year 2022-23, the President of India Gold Medal was awarded to Shri Harsh Singh Jadon of the Computer Science and Engineering for the best academic performance among all the B.Tech students. For the year 2023-24, the President of India Gold Medal was awarded to Shri Arnav Kumar Behera of the Computer Science and Engineering. An Interaction Meeting on “Exploring Pathways and Prospects for the Future of Research in India” with Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India was successfully organised by DST, ANRF and IIT Bhubaneswar today. The dignitaries addressed the queries of the faculties members, deans and Vice Chancellors from various institutes across Odisha.No. 22 Illinois reaches 9 wins for first time in 17 years with 38-28 victory over NorthwesternA New York woman whose grandparents went missing 44 years ago said on Friday their disappearance haunted her for decades, but the recent discovery of what could be their car submerged in a Georgia pond has her family believing the mystery may soon be solved, according to NBC News . “I never went a day without worrying or thinking about if they had a terrible ending to their life,” Christine Heller Seaman, 60, of Manhattan, said about her grandmother Catherine Romer, who was married to Charles Romer. The couple was reported missing in April 1980. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 “For years and years, we didn’t hear anything. ... It’s something that you held with you every single day of your life ... if they were tortured or harmed,” Seaman told NBC News on Friday in a phone call. Charles Romer, a retired oil executive, and his wife, vanished along with their 1978 Lincoln Continental while traveling home from Miami Beach, Florida. At the time, law enforcement expressed concerns about potential foul play against the couple from Scarsdale, New York, partly because Catherine Romer was wearing approximately $81,000 worth of jewelry. They had checked into a Holiday Inn in Brunswick, Georgia, where hotel employees grew concerned that their bed had not been slept in and reported them missing. But decades later, answers appear to be emerging from a Georgia pond. One human bone was discovered in the submerged Lincoln Continental on Nov. 22, according to a Saturday statement from the Glynn County Police Department . “The vehicle is similar to the description of a vehicle that Charles and Catherine Romer were believed to be driving,” the police department said in the statement posted to Facebook. The car was found in a pond between the Royal Inn Hotel and Interstate 95 on New Jesup Highway in southeast Georgia, police said, adding that the agency is collaborating with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Seaman said a detective informed her family that along with a femur found in the Continental, personal belongings such as jewelry and a license plate bearing the couple’s initials were also discovered in the car. Lawton Dodd, a spokesperson for Glynn County police, said on Friday the human remains have not been identified as belonging to either of the Romers, and the vehicle has not been determined to belong to the couple. Dodd declined to elaborate. 'A happy time' Although a positive identification or identifications are not expected for months, Seaman said the developments have led her family to believe the couple died in some kind of accident rather than falling victim to a vicious crime. Seaman, who spoke from Scotland, said she and her family enjoyed Thanksgiving and reminisced about their missing relatives. “The whole family just shared stories about them. It was a happy time because of this resolve we’re feeling,” Seaman said. “It sort of gave us permission to celebrate their lives and talk about the fun memories without the feeling of dread, sorrow and sadness.” Seaman said she was only 15 when her grandmother and her step-grandfather — Charles was Catherine’s second husband — vanished. She still remembers the look on her dad’s face after he spoke to a detective in Georgia who told them the couple was missing. “We saw his face and he said, ‘Something is very, very wrong.’” Seaman explained that her father was his mother’s only child and he had not heard from her, which was unusual. Seaman described her grandmother as the “life of the party” who was very close to Seaman and her eight sisters. Catherine Romer loved thoroughbred racing and enjoyed traveling with her granddaughters, introducing them to new foods and restaurants, Seaman said. “She was like the celebrity of our house. She was always visiting us. She was very much part of our upbringing,” she said. “She made everyone feel like her favorite child — her favorite granddaughter.” Seaman called Charles Romer a “lovely and generous man.” She expressed gratitude toward investigators and a diving team from Florida, the Sunshine State Sonar team, that found the submerged Continental. “We’re all in shock, but ... we have this gratitude for the people that hunted this whole mystery down,” Seaman said. “People who don’t know us and we’re not related to and are perfect strangers would go to extensive measures to find answers and ... help give a family peace of mind and resolve.” This article originally appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more on NBC News:
Britain moves closer to allowing terminally ill adults to end their lives
STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — Two Oregon men were found dead in a Washington state forest after they failed to return from a trip to look for Sasquatch, authorities said Saturday. The 59-year-old and 37-year-old appear to have died from exposure, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said via Facebook. The weather and the men’s lack of preparedness led the office to draw that conclusion, it said. Sasquatch is a folkloric beast thought by some to roam the forests, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The two men were found in a heavily wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Portland. A family member reported them missing around 1 a.m. on Christmas Day after they failed to return from a Christmas Eve outing. Sixty volunteer search-and-rescue personnel helped in the three-day search, including canine, drone and ground teams. The Coast Guard used infrared technology to search from the air. Authorities used camera recordings to locate the vehicle used by the pair off Oklahoma Road near Willard, which is on the southern border of the national forest. To remove this article -Seibert misses an extra point late as the Commanders lose their 3rd in a row, 34-26 to the Cowboys LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Dallas’ Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown, and the Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert was wide left on the point-after attempt following a bad snap. On the ensuing onside kick attempt, Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown as the Cowboys ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Earlier in the fourth quarter, KaVonte Turpin returned a kickoff 99 yards for a TD.
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CRWD – Get Free Report ) CAO Anurag Saha sold 2,858 shares of CrowdStrike stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $364.29, for a total value of $1,041,140.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 38,201 shares in the company, valued at $13,916,242.29. The trade was a 6.96 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Anurag Saha also recently made the following trade(s): CrowdStrike Stock Down 2.8 % NASDAQ:CRWD opened at $354.99 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.44 billion, a PE ratio of 696.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 19.48 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $342.36 and a 200-day moving average of $316.22. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. has a 52 week low of $200.81 and a 52 week high of $398.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Hedge Funds Weigh In On CrowdStrike Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently weighed in on CRWD shares. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on CrowdStrike from $360.00 to $420.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on CrowdStrike from $370.00 to $365.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price on CrowdStrike from $350.00 to $370.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on CrowdStrike from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Wedbush set a $330.00 price objective on CrowdStrike in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, thirty have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $364.25. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CRWD About CrowdStrike ( Get Free Report ) CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc provides cybersecurity solutions in the United States and internationally. Its unified platform offers cloud-delivered protection of endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data. The company offers corporate endpoint and cloud workload security, managed security, security and vulnerability management, IT operations management, identity protection, SIEM and log management, threat intelligence, data protection, security orchestration, automation and response and AI powered workflow automation, and securing generative AI workload services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CrowdStrike Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CrowdStrike and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .No. 7 Tennessee gives up 1st 14 points before rallying to rout Vanderbilt 36-23Georgia quarterback Carson Beck on Saturday announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery . Beck, a fifth-year senior, made his NFL plans official on social media. Recommended Videos Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Beck is expected to begin throwing next spring. He could have returned for a sixth season but instead will enter the NFL draft. Beck posted on Instagram: “The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made.” Gunner Stockton, who took over for Beck in the second half against Texas, will start for Georgia on Wednesday in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Beck has started every game of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He was 24-3 as a starter. Beck passed for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2023 but had more difficulties with turnovers this season as he passed for 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before his injury in the SEC championship game. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballGeorgia quarterback Carson Beck on Saturday announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. Beck, a fifth-year senior, made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Beck is expected to begin throwing next spring. He could have returned for a sixth season but instead will enter the NFL draft. Beck posted on Instagram: “The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made.” Gunner Stockton, who took over for Beck in the second half against Texas, will start for Georgia on Wednesday in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Beck has started every game of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He was 24-3 as a starter. Beck passed for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2023 but had more difficulties with turnovers this season as he passed for 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before his injury in the SEC championship game. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Read more NCAA football coverage at thestar.com
D ear Neil: A squirrel must have planted a bur oak acorn in one of our pots last year because we were blessed with a seedling this spring. It grew well (27 inches tall), although it was attacked by a fungus this fall. Should we plant it into the ground now or wait another year? Plant it in the next month or two. In fact, I would plant it right away. Its root system is probably winding around and around at the bottom of the pot. If so, use your pruning clippers to cut one or two of the encircling roots so that they will branch out. Otherwise, they may girdle themselves as they grow larger over the years. You really don’t want to leave it in a container any longer than necessary. It’s tall enough to stand on its own. Put a stake alongside it to keep an animal from stepping on it, and keep it watered every few days now through the winter, spring, and summer. By the way, the “fungus” might have been the minor damage of sawfly larvae as they take the tissues out from between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. They are fairly common on bur oaks, but they are of no particular concern. Dear Neil: I know you like a shrub called Italian jasmine, but I can’t find it in nurseries. Do you have any suggestions? Sadly, I do not. It’s a venerable old plant that was more popular 50 to 70 years ago than it is now. But it’s handsome and really ought to be brought back into more common use in our landscapes. For those who are unfamiliar, it’s Jasminum humile. North Carolina State University’s website notes that it has recently been separated into a separate genus with the name Chrysojasminum humile. It’s an arching shrub to 4 to 5 ft. tall and 5 or 6 ft. wide, perhaps slightly larger in South Texas. It’s winter-hardy about as far north as the I-20 corridor or slightly beyond, although the great cold spell of February 2021 did a lot of damage to plants that had previously survived for decades. It has square stems that are lined with small, very dark green, glossy evergreen leaves. Its flowers are produced in late winter and spring. They’re small, trumpet-shaped and clear yellow. I’ve never seen any fruit on the plants. Italian jasmine is propagated by stem cuttings taken in late winter on through early summer. It roots very easily, and several cuttings can be planted into each nursery pot to make plantable transplants within 12 months. It grows best in full sun and in highly organic, consistently moist soils. I’ve never seen an insect or disease bother it. If you decide that you’d like to try it, ask for it at your favorite independent retail garden center. Ask for the owner, manager, or buyer, and see if they stock it or can order it in for you come springtime. Nurseries that do landscape contracting year ‘round are usually your most likely sources. Dear Neil: We moved to Texas from Indiana last spring. I’d like to plant rhubarb. What suggestions do you have for me? It is not adapted to this part of the country. We’re simply too hot. I could try to encourage you with tips and tricks, but I’d just be wasting your money and effort. Stick with things that will be far better suited. Dear Neil: If I have overseeded my bermudagrass lawn with winter rye, do I need to worry about applying nitrogen fertilizer this time of year? You do not need to worry. Apply it at half the rate recommended for normal feedings. The rye is still young and just getting started. By applying your high-quality nitrogen fertilizer (30 to 40 percent of the nitrogen in slow-release form) in the reduced rate, most of it will be taken up by the ryegrass. Any that’s left over will be held in reserve by the permanent turf’s root system. All will be well. Dear Neil: Ten years ago we planted a red maple in our front yard. For several years it provided beautiful fall color, but in the past two years the leaves have started to turn black around their edges by early October. They fall to the ground with no color change. A second tree in another location provides beautiful color. Is it climatic or something in the soil? What can we do? If you’re talking about Acer rubrum, the true red maple from the Northeast, I’ve seen that happen time and again here in Texas. It’s especially common in alkaline soils (western two-thirds of Texas). It can also be due to one tree getting way too dry or suffering trunk or root system injury. Examine both trees closely, and if you’re still puzzled, have a certified arborist take a look at the affected tree. Dear Neil: I have grown tomatoes in two raised beds, alternating the beds when I plant. I add compost and manure each time before I plant. This year’s crop was very limited, and it was suggested that I replace all of the soil. That would be such a job. What do you suggest? I don’t have nearly enough facts. Nematodes might be involved. They are microscopic, soil-borne worms that sting plant roots and suck fluids from them. The plants become stunted and unproductive, and you can usually see knotty galls on their roots. In that case, replacing the soil might be your best choice. Do a little research on nematodes to see if they sound like a possibility. You can also have the soil tested for their presence by working with the Texas Plant Clinic at Texas A&M. All the information is on their website. Otherwise, be sure the plants are still getting full sunlight. Sometimes we allow shade to creep over our gardens without noticing it.Rivers crisis made me stronger – FubaraRivian Automotive: High Margin Of Safety
Horizon Aircraft Secures $8.4 Million Strategic Investment
WOBURN, Mass., Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLIN), a global leader in AI-powered marketing technology, announced today that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 after market close on Monday, December 23, 2024. On that day, Ari Kahn, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas Windhausen, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, plan to host a live conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results. The details and registration link for the conference call and replay are as follows: Participants can register for the conference call using the URL above. Registration in advance of the call is recommended. Once registered, participants will receive dial-in numbers and their unique PIN number. About Bridgeline Digital Bridgeline helps companies grow online revenues by increasing their traffic, conversion rate, and average order value through its suite of apps. To learn more, please visit www.bridgeline.com or call (800) 603-9936. Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 All statements included in this press release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Bridgeline Digital, Inc. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, business operations and the business of our customers, suppliers and partners; our ability to retain and upgrade current customers, increasing our recurring revenue, our ability to attract new customers, our revenue growth rate; our history of net loss and our ability to achieve or maintain profitability; instability in the financial markets, including the banking sector; our liability for any unauthorized access to our data or our users’ content, including through privacy and data security breaches; any decline in demand for our platform or products; changes in the interoperability of our platform across devices, operating systems, and third party applications that we do no control; competition in our markets; our ability to respond to rapid technological changes, extend our platform, develop new features or products, or gain market acceptance for such new features or products, particularly in light of potential disruptions to the productivity of our employees resulting from remote work; our ability to manage our growth or plan for future growth, and our acquisition of other businesses and the potential of such acquisitions to require significant management attention, disrupt our business, or dilute stockholder value; the volatility of the market price of our common stock, the ability to maintain our listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, or our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls as well as other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of such risks could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.Rising geopolitical tensions, Adani ‘bribery’ case add to Indian market's woes — expert adviceLevi Colwill insists that he would be 'SCARED' to play Chelsea if he was part of another Premier League roster ahead of their clash with fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa
NoneSINGAPORE: Pacing up and down near the Singapore Sports Hub's Water Sports Centre, with brows furrowed and sweat trickling down their faces, they checked their phones every 10 seconds. Then, amid the charged atmosphere of nervousness mixed with excitement, a shout: “One minute and one second ... second place!” The team, dressed in bright turquoise T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Different Dragons", erupted into cheers and hugs as they celebrated their silver medal at the Singapore Regatta Waterfest in November. At this annual dragon boat race, hundreds of competitors - from educational institutions, business organisations and other entities - vie to be the quickest over a 200m distance in the Kallang Basin. For Different Dragons, a second-place finish in the adaptive open category was especially sweet - and perhaps more so for nine members who are paddlers with disabilities of both physical and intellectual nature. “I find it difficult to paddle because of a back problem I’ve had, and it’s also difficult to paddle at the same speed as everyone,” said Jarran Ng, who has Williams syndrome. The genetic condition affects physical features, cognitive development and other parts of the body like the heart. “(But) the team never made me feel like I couldn’t do it and I felt like I belonged." SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME At the Singapore Regatta Waterfest, one of the biggest dragon boat contests in the country, teams were heard chanting "in it to win it". Different Dragons, which was founded in 2019, has other goals in mind. “We’re a very chill team, having fun is one of the most important aspects for us,” said Rayson Oon, a volunteer coach since the team started out. This approach should not be mistaken for a lack of focus and determination. They had trained for the November race all year, aiming to prove their abilities matter more than their disabilities - which they ultimately did. Naturally, it hasn't been all smooth sailing. The past few years have been a constant exercise in trial-and-error, patience and positivity, as volunteers sought to find the right ways to teach the sport, even in basics such as holding a paddle. When Tan Cher Hui first signed up with Different Dragons as a volunteer, she struggled to support her twin brother with autism, who had also joined the team as a competitor. Race rules dictate that each paddler with a disability can be accompanied by one able-bodied caregiver or volunteer inside the boat. For instance, her brother couldn't cope with changes to the training schedule caused by rain, and would often have meltdowns. "Because to him, dragon boating happens every Sunday,” said Tan, 26, who added that this was a huge challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic when such activities came to a halt. “It took a toll on him and I didn’t know if it was worth carrying on." But the encouragement and perseverance of other volunteers that pushed her to stay on, and the siblings have now reaped the rewards. “I learnt how to interact and engage with people of all different disabilities, and even picked up sign language," she said. "And it was heartwarming to see the other members be welcoming and inclusive with my brother." ANOTHER FAMILY For members of Different Dragons, being part of a team - and one that empathises with each other - was something especially precious. Jimmy Chan, a deaf paddler, told CNA how his condition made it tough in work settings and that he often felt isolated during conversations. "I wanted a space where I would not feel judged or different, and the team offered that," he said through sign language. The 53-year-old relies on vibrations from the dragon boat drum beat, along with the strokes of the first paddler seated in front, to sync with the rest of the team. “We share resilience, teamwork and a drive to break barriers. Each step feels like a victory, and our strong bonds make every challenge worthwhile, keeping us going,” Chan said. Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." MOVING DISABILITY SPORTS FORWARD Having an adaptive category in a prestigious dragon boat event like the Regatta Waterfest gives people with disabilities access to the right resources and a level playing field, said Ms Kelly Fan, executive director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council. “Inclusive sports focus on creating platforms where persons with and without disabilities can play together. "The primary goal is to foster firsthand understanding and appreciation of the challenges that individuals with disabilities overcome to participate in sports, while also providing opportunities for meaningful social interaction,” she added. Singapore is set to launch an Enabling Sports Fund next year, which aims to "encourage impactful community-initiated disability sports initiatives.” The government will match dollar for dollar donations made to this fund, which hopes to raise at least S$10 million (US$7.4 million) by 2030. It's part of Singapore's Enabling Masterplan 2030 , a national roadmap for people with disabilities to live and participate more actively in the community. Progress has been made but more needs to be done to continue promoting inclusivity, said Ms Fan, pointing to costs and accessibility as remaining barriers. “It is not just about ramps or lifts within a venue," she said. "It extends to the awareness that sport opportunities exist for persons with disabilities; the affordability of sport involvement on top of enhanced costs of living of a (person with disability); the proximity and accessibility of an accessible venue; and the readiness of a venue to cater to disability sports.” Members of Different Dragons, meanwhile, are happy to continue playing their part in not just raising awareness, but sending out a more profound message - that paddlers with disabilities can be capable of anything, said Lu, the volunteer coach. “The perception many have is that members with disabilities can’t paddle as well as able-bodied individuals, but that’s not true,” said Oon, the other coach. Paddler Lee Wei Kiong, who has an intellectual disability, told CNA how the team has inspired him to work hard and keep practising. “I never thought we could beat other teams, but our process is getting better,” he said, while standing next to a trolley filled with bottled drinks he lugged from home to give out to his teammates. “When I was younger, people used to say that I have a low IQ (intelligent quotient) and I wouldn’t be able to do anything. But I learnt that whatever others can do, I can do too." "Normal people can dragon boat, so can I.”
NoneA charter school in Arizona recently received approval from the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools to offer a fully online school experience for grades four through eight that gives students just two hours of academic instruction per day — taught entirely by artificial intelligence . If ever there was an idea that sounds doomed to fail. Unbound Academy will offer students personalized learning software provided by IXL and Khan Academy, both online educational resource companies. The AI will use each child’s emotional cues, responses to questions and tasks, and the time it takes them to complete assigned tasks to create tailor-made lessons. Unbound says they already have a similar educational model up and running in Texas. Videos by VICE How useful any of these lessons will be to students who don’t have a flesh and blood human providing it for them, establishing a tangible connection to reality, remains to be seen. For instance, what happens if the student has a question? Can the AI think in the abstract to get the point of a lesson across to a student on the fly the way a good, creative teacher can? The actual “schooling” the students receive may only last for two hours , but the rest of their school day will be dedicated to life skill workshops in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and public speaking. These workshops will not be led by teachers but rather by “guides.” Given there’s often a profit motive behind charter schools and very little altruistic desire to pass knowledge down to the next generation, a school without teachers sounds like the ultimate capitalist educational experience. A school without any pesky teachers to pay who will then form a union to demand fair pay like greedy cretins who have to cough up their own money for basic classroom supplies even though many of them can barely afford rent . Do you ever get the sense that the entire tech industry took a weird turn in the past 5 to 10 years toward actively attempting to replace some of the most important pillars of our society with a bunch of lines of code that can’t think creatively, or even on its own? They want to replace all of us with technology that fundamentally would not exist without being fed our work , and often without our permission. The tech industry has done a great job of making us feel like they despise us.
There's good news for PlayStation Plus subscribers, because Sony is about to reveal a new batch of free PS4 and PS5 games. The December 2024 PS Plus Essentials will be announced by Sony on November 27, before launching a week later on December 3. December's batch of games will replace the current line-up, which includes Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, Ghostwire Tokyo and Death Note Killer Within. If you want to grab the current games and next month's releases, then now is a good time to join PS Plus, because memberships are discounted as part of Sony's Black Friday sale. As for the December line-up, fans have been attempting to predict the next wave of games ahead of the official reveal. Based on the monthly predictions thread over on Reddit , many fans believe Forspoken, Hades, Atomic Heart, Terminator Resistance or Resident Evil Village will join the line-up. Resident Evil Village feels long overdue for PS Plus, so don't be surprised if it finally makes an appearance in December. You can also add Resident Evil 2 and Resi 3 Remake to that list. Terminator Resistance is another game that feels like a good fit for PlayStation Plus in December. Elsewhere, there are plenty of picks for Assassin's Creed games such as Mirage and Unity. Ubisoft's Prince of Persia The Lost Crown also gets a mention. Other realistic picks include Deathloop, Signalis, Suicide Squad, Lords of the Fallen, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Quarry, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, Snowrunner and Viewfinder. That's on top of Wrestlequest, Judgement, Payday 3, Jusant, Cocoon, Like a Dragon Gaiden, Moving Out, CrossCode, LEGO Hobbit, Everspace 2, Shenmue 3, Mafia 3 and Stray. I could definitely see Stray making an appearance after all this time, although the publisher may want to add some distance following its recent release on Nintendo Switch. Other people believe we could see games like Castlevania Advance Collection, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Planet Zoo, Hitman World of Assassination, or EA Sports WRC make an appearance in December. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Hogwarts Legacy, Sonic Frontiers, Subnautica: Below Zero, Harold Halibut, Dave the Diver, Cult of the Lamb, Metro Exodus, The Pathless and Art of Rally also receive votes. Some of the more eye-catching picks include Cyberpunk 2077 and Sea of Thieves, which both seem unlikely, but would equally make fantastic additions. A PS Plus release of Sea of Thieves would help boost the player count, while a Cyberpunk 2077 launch would help CD Projekt sell more units of its Phantom Liberty DLC. A few Final Fantasy games feature in the predictions thread, although one of them seems unrealistic. Indeed, while I could definitely see Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core joining the line-up, I don't think we'll be seeing Final Fantasy 16. Other unlikely additions include Rise of the Ronin, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Gran Turismo 7, Topspin 2K25, God of War Ragnarok, Lies of P, Spider-Man Miles Morales, Dark Souls Remastered, Red Dead Redemption and Nier Automata.Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire slammed the College Football Playoff selection committee on Saturday for snubbing the Big 12 in the latest playoff rankings. "It's absolutely embarrassing what they're doing to this conference," McGuire said on Saturday. "If they look at it that way, if they sit there and say who's playing the best football, who's the most competitive conference, who week in and week out, what you see on tape and the games that you've got to play, I think the Big 12 should be in, the Big 12 champion should be in the Final Four." McGuire added: "I think it's absolutely ridiculous what is happening at that level, with that committee." Boise State is ranked above every Big 12 team at No. 11 in the Week 13 CFP rankings and could beat out the conference for a first-round bye. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .
From sex drive woes to cheating and porn addiction, Dear Deidre reveals readers’ most common problems of 2024
Exeter City players in 2024 - how many can you rememberMr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.