Giants will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when they host the SaintsOno Enters into Drug Discovery Collaboration Agreement with Congruence Therapeutics to Generate Novel Small Molecule Correctors in the Oncology AreaNone
A young Nigerian man has shared the certificate he was given as prize for emerging as the best graduating student in his department The student of the University of Benin graduated from the department of Civil Engineering with a CGPA of 4.89 Social media users who came across his post did not hesitate to congratulate him in the comments section CHECK OUT: Learn at Your Own Pace! Our Flexible Online Course allows you to fit copywriting skills development around your busy schedule. Enroll Now! A young Nigerian man's outstanding academic achievement was recently recognised with a prestigious award. The University of Benin graduate emerged as the best graduating student in the Department of Civil Engineering, earning a well-deserved certificate to commemorate his achievement. Best graduating student shows off award certificate The accomplished graduate, @ kolatheballer , took to the X app to share his certificate and a photo of himself proudly wearing his graduation attire. PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow His post was met with an outpouring of congratulatory messages and praise from social media users who were impressed by his academic excellence. Read also UNIBEN graduate poses with mum as he celebrates leaving school after years, photos trend According to the graduate, his achievement was a proof of his hard work, dedication, and unwavering faith. His Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.89 confirmed his exceptional academic abilities and commitment to excellence. In his words: "All glory to GOD. Thank you Department of Civil Engineering. Thank you UNIBEN. It’s Official! All glory to GOD B.Eng. Civil Engineering Bagged. Civil Engineering Best Graduating Student with a CGPA of 4.89/5.0. Class of 2022/23. University of Benin. A journey of hard work, dedication, and unwavering faith." Reactions as UNIBEN graduate shows off award Nigerians stormed the comments section of his post to react to it. Pakidor said: "Congratulations." Emenike Emmanuel said: "My Idolo." Ekenem commented: "Engineering on fire. Well done and congratulations bro." Mo of Oduga said: "Congratulations." Miracle Fimicho said: "Congratulations my bro." Williams Ajayi said: "Congratulations sir." University of Ibadan graduate bags first class Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a Nigerian lady celebrated as she graduated with a first-class degree from the University of Ibadan . Read also UNIBEN: Man who bagged degree in engineering says it took him 9 years to graduate She shared photos and a video of herself on her convocation day, as she revealed that she studied Communication and Language Arts. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng
I approached AI journaling with a clenched jaw and a healthy dose of skepticism. In many ways, journaling feels profoundly human. It's about putting pen to paper, right? Leather-bound notebooks are supposed to be filled with words only you will ever read. AI creates a bit of a loophole. Now, instead of closing your journal shut in an emotional frenzy, AI journals can challenge you to go deeper; identifying recurring patterns, and even offering up suggestions you might not have thought of on your own. They can teach you about yourself, help you see situations more clearly, and even make important decisions . . . all from the comfort of your own device. I've spent the past three years dealing with chronic illness and, more recently, the loss of my right eye. There's a lot of grief I've yet to work through (does it ever really go away?), and oftentimes I find myself talking into an abyss. My anger isn't fully understood by friends and family, although I appreciate their support, and I have a bad habit of masking my true feelings to mental health professionals. Traditional journaling has been a major tool for me, especially in times of crisis — but I tend to look back on my graveyard of wayward ramblings and cringe. While my long-winded rants felt like a catharsis in the moment I'm not entirely sure I learned much about myself in the process. AI journaling offers a potential solution, identifying patterns in your entries, and giving you the chance to actually learn from what you write. "People often just don't have access to emotionally intelligent support," says Chrys Bader , co-founder of an AI journal called Rosebud. "AI is actually really good at helping you explore your inner world and find what's true for you, giving you the validation and the confidence to go out and make the changes you need." With that possibility in mind, I decided to put two different AI journals to the test: Rosebud and Mindsera . Over the course of a few weeks, here's what I learned, liked, and have yet to figure out on my journaling journey. How Does Mindsera Work? When you open up the program on your computer (it's only available on desktop at the moment), you can choose to respond to a prompt, or write on a blank document. You can also take a photo of a physical journal entry (i.e. one you wrote on paper) for Mindsera to analyze. From here, you have the option to "go deeper" with an AI-generated prompt based on what you've already provided. For instance, in one entry about illness and grief, I was asked "What does hope look like for you now, after all you've been through?" Once you've completed your full entry, you receive an emotion analysis based on the emotions expressed in your writing, modeled after Plutchik's wheel of emotion (although Mindsera's version is displayed in a quick list, rather than a wheel). This includes the percentage of each emotion in your entry, and an explanation as to why the AI detected each one. "A lot of users have said that they wrote their journal entry, and they didn't think that it had any element of frustration, for example," says Mindsera founder Chris Reinberg . After the analysis, however, they're able to see things differently. "This helps them to build emotional intelligence and understand themselves better," Reinberg says. Along with the analysis, you'll also receive a colorful piece of AI-generated artwork based on your journal entry (see mine below!). All entries will be organized by this art with bulleted summaries and the corresponding emotions from each entry. Mindsera also has an insights tab (next to tabs for the home page, previous entries, and different AI "frameworks"), where you'll find a graph documenting all of your recorded emotions in different sized circles — their size indicative of their presence in your writing. You can go explore these emotions with a simple click, Reinberg says. "I click on excitement, and it basically gives me an overview based on all of my journal entries: what are the different things that have caused me excitement or anxiety or stress?" he explains. Mindsera will also give you a personality type based on the "Big Five" personality traits. It'll break down the recurring topics in your entries and offer concrete suggestions with extensive descriptions as well. Some of my suggestions included "reconnect with friends," "explore creative outlets," and "practice mindfulness and rest." You can even ask your Mindsera journal to assess your current mental health status based on your journal entries. Reinberg gave a few examples like: "How close am I to burnout?" "What is obvious around me but doesn't appear obvious to me?" "What are my unmet needs?" In this way, you can truly "have a conversation with your journal," he says. The frameworks tab offers a more guided approach to journaling. Here, you'll select from six overall goals: basic journaling, productivity, wellness, decision making, problem solving, or business. Within each broader goal, you can then narrow down your intentions and work through more specific questions. If you select decision making, for example, you can choose the "regret minimization" framework to prioritize projects you won't regret (and respond to the three corresponding questions). If you select wellness, however, you may choose the "emotion audit" framework to better understand why you feel a certain way (this one has 11 questions). My Experience With Mindsera My first time using Mindsera was also my first-ever time using AI for journaling. Eager to see what would happen, I decided to abandon the prompts and really put the algorithm to the test, opening up about illness, peace, and the importance of rest. "Back when I was in and out of the hospital, I had my tarot cards read at one of my favorite places in Tucson. The woman pulled an image of a ship sailing to shore. She told me it signified peace on the horizon. Sometimes I wonder if I've reached it yet. Is this it? Am I at peace?" I wrote. After my initial entry, I hit Mindsera's "go deeper" function and was met with the prompt "What does true peace feel like for you?" As promised, the prompt helped me reflect on a much deeper level — something I never would've done on my own. It was a simple prompt, but it made me feel heard in a profound way, which I felt made the journaling experience more impactful (and more emotional) as a whole. Toward the end of my Mindsera testing, I finally decided to ask it a question. "What makes me happiest?" I typed, interested to see if this could clue me in on how to be happier overall. Mindsera quickly gave me a concrete response informed by my former entries. It included moments of creativity (I had previously mentioned my love for dancing, writing, and makeup); adventure and connection with others (citing specific trips I had taken with friends); and small pockets of peace (I wrote a surprising amount about iced coffee). "Ultimately, happiness for you is intertwined with hope," it told me. "Despite the uncertainties and changes in life, you hold onto hope for a beautiful future." Mindsera is currently only available via desktop, which I felt made it easier to go into detail, or elaborate on specific situations. For some, it may feel a bit intimidating to start writing on a blank canvas, but I liked the creative and emotional freedom this provided. Plus, if you're feeling overwhelmed, Mindsera does provide optional prompts to get you started ("what are you planning for today" or "what small joys currently bring you a sense of connection and hope"). Not to mention the frameworks, if you have a more specific goal in mind. Since I'm already dealing with unresolved emotions, topics bubbled up naturally, and I didn't feel any pressure to hold back, or force my true thoughts to fit within specific parameters. I was also a big fan of Mindsera's emotion analysis (mentioned earlier), which pops up after every entry like a mini Spotify Wrapped. It gives you a ranking of each emotion detected in your writing (quantified by percentages), giving you an opportunity to see how you're really feeling, and learn more about yourself in the process. These emotions are tracked over time so you can identify patterns and triggers (sources of sadness, happiness, etc.), based on your journal entries. For instance, I learned that many of my entries included an underlying amount of fear. Gratitude and hope, however, were the overarching themes according to my journal insights. Because of its structure, this was the journal I got the deepest with, and I learned a lot about myself, the way I grieve, and the things that make me happiest in the process. As much as I enjoyed Mindsera, I wasn't always as consistent as I would've liked, seeing as I didn't always have the time or emotional bandwidth required. While I liked carving out time to get deeper in a journal that I actually enjoyed looking back on, I wasn't always eager to whip out my laptop to record an entry after work. As of now, I could see Mindsera working best as the first part of your nighttime routine, or — if you're not trying to dig as deep — as a morning ritual before digging into your inbox. How Does Rosebud Work? Despite also being an AI journal, Rosebud operates quite differently than Mindsera. For starters, Rosebud is an app-based tool. Upon opening the app, you're met with the opportunity to record a morning intention, an evening reflection, or start fresh using the pink plus sign at the bottom of the screen. After writing, you'll receive a brief takeaway, a quote, and a summary of your mood and the topics discussed. You can also favorite more specific journals (for gratitude, healing, positivity, relationships, etc.) in the explore tab, and respond to prompts based on former entries. "We've been partnering with experts to develop more unique experiences. We just launched one with a trauma and anxiety therapist," Bader says. There are also different therapeutic modalities that "help expose people to different ways of processing." "While everyone else was worried about whether AI would become self-aware and take over the world and kill us, we thought it was more interesting whether AI could actually help us become more self-aware," Bader says. The app started on the web over a year ago, and the native iOS and Android app launched this August, taking "the best of everything we learned from the web," Bader says. Rosebud's insight tab includes writing stats, an emotional landscape with a graph of emojis documenting your written emotions, and key themes mentioned in your journal. There's also a "cast of characters" featuring people you frequently mention. Once you've recorded three entries, you will also receive a weekly report with additional insights that unlock every Saturday. "It'll analyze all of your entries, point out themes, highlight your insights and your wins," Bader explains. In terms of the response, Bader says it's been overwhelmingly positive so far. "I've been building apps since I was 13 and my whole life, I've never seen this level of feedback before," he says, pointing to someone who used Rosebud to help with their addiction. "They started to use Rosebud and it really helped them get a lot of clarity on things, and they've been two weeks sober." He says another person found Rosebud after struggling with an abusive relationship for more than 16 years. "Four months later, and now they're out of that relationship in the best place they've been in a long time." Rosebud felt like a very realistic tool, alerting me throughout the day so I remembered to complete an entry in the morning and evening. I liked the idea of having a resource for mental health right at my finger tips, and the accessibility of Rosebud is definitely a big plus. The prompts for both the morning intention and the evening reflection were structured, but quick to complete ("what was the highlight of your day?" or "is there anything worrying you about the day ahead?") and you also have the opportunity to start with a blank page, or go deeper with your entries — which I almost always took. It didn't take long for Rosebud to identify certain elements of my life that could use some work (like burnout and an unwillingness to rest). But the insights were always delivered in an uplifting way. I liked getting a short, concise takeaway from each of my entries to help start my day on the right foot, and I often contemplated writing them on a sticky note so I wouldn't forget what I had learned. Luckily, you can just bookmark them on the app for easy reflection. It was interesting to record my thoughts in the morning and night, and Rosebud quickly helped me identify some major imbalances in my life. For instance, while I often set a morning intention to read, rest, or unwind, by my evening reflection, I realized I had devoted all of my energy to work. Although my entries weren't always as deep on this particular app, I still had the opportunity to learn more about myself, with extensions like a gratitude journal, dream journal, and expert-informed journals for everything from nervous system rebalancing to knowing your needs. You also get prompts based on what you've written, quick insights after every entry, and a weekly analysis of your past entries. As a whole, I found Rosebud easy to navigate but less emotional, and I think this would be ideal for someone looking to make journaling a habit. It's straightforward, doesn't require a ton of time, and provides quick feedback for those looking to make concrete changes in their life. Rosebud was definitely a practical pick for learning more about myself and identifying areas for improvement. The reminders were helpful, but I didn't always feel as motivated to go deeper with my emotions (the way I did with Mindsera). Because I'm dealing with so much grief, my journals are typically where I channel some of these emotions. That said, Rosebud can definitely still teach you a lot about yourself, and I'd say both journals were surprisingly thoughtful in their responses — it really just comes down to which format and insights you prefer. Can You Trust AI Journals? Every AI journal is different, but the creators acknowledge that some might be skeptical about using AI in their journaling. Bader says Rosebud is currently in the process of becoming HIPAA compliant, but in a special agreement with Open AI and Anthropic, they (and their AI partners) don't retain any of the data that's sent. "It's just processed and discarded," Bader explains. "Putting your data into technology — there's always some risk that carries with that, it's never going to be zero, but we're doing everything that we can, following best practices, storing data encrypted, using trusted technologies, and just putting into practice all the best practices to protect people's data." Mindsera seconds this ethos around privacy. "We're very privacy oriented and we believe in the privacy of thoughts," Reinberg says, noting that Mindsera is independently funded and hand-raises their money. "It's your head, it should be a secure place," he says. Final Takeaways AI journaling should never serve as a replacement for professional mental health care — in fact, both founders say the journals should be viewed as supplemental. That said, AI journaling did shatter some of my preconceived notions about what journaling "should" be, giving me the chance to reflect, process my grief, and learn about myself in the process. It could also be a great tool for anyone needing additional daily support, or looking for more accessible mental health resources. As for which AI journal works best, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you're new to AI journaling, definitely take advantage of the free trials to see which works best for you and your lifestyle, including your overall goals and preferred format. Pricing tiers for the journals I tried are as follows: Mindsera Pricing Rosebud Pricing Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. Are AI-Assisted Mammograms the Future? Here's What to Know2025 must be the year of the partnership disruptor in sport
Demi Moore revealed how actor Bruce Willis almost two years after he was revealed his dementia diagnosis . Ex-wife Moore answered questions on CNN about his ongoing health battle, saying that he “in a very stable place at the moment.” “I’ve shared this before, but I really mean this so sincerely,” Moore said. “It’s so important for anybody who’s dealing with this, to really meet them where they’re at, and from that place, there is such loving and joy.” In 2022, Willis' family announced his aphasia diagnosis, a language disorder that makes it hard for those to communicate or understand others. In 2023, they learned the aphasia was a result of frontotemporal dementia. “I’ve known that something was wrong for a long time. It started out with a kind of vague unresponsiveness, which the family chalked up to Hollywood hearing loss,” his daughter Tallulah Willis wrote in Vogue in 2023. “I find that I’m trying to document, to build a record for the day when he isn’t there to remind me of him and of us.” His second wife, Emma Heming Willis, currently is the actor’s caretaker. Moore emphasized that Willis' condition is “very difficult,” and said that she wouldn’t wish it on anyone. “There is great loss,” Moore said. “but there is also great beauty.” Soap opera star Thom Christopher died on Dec. 5 at the age of 84. Christopher starred as villain Carlo Hessler on the long-running soap One Life to Live . Former co-star Anthony Crivello announced his death in a Facebook with a heartfelt message. “He was always a gentleman, always supportive, and he and his wife Judith who proceeded him in death, where always gracious to me and welcoming,” Crivello, who played Christopher’s son, wrote. Christopher’s wife Judith died in 2019. “May Thom fly on Wings of Angels to be beside his beloved Judith, and may they enjoy each other’s company once again, beside the ‘Pearly Gates’ of heaven.” Christopher appeared on the series from 1991 to 2008. One Life to Live ran from 1956 until 2013. In 1992, he won a daytime Emmy for best supporting actor for his work on the show. The name TASER is already synonymous with public safety, with professionals everywhere relying on them for unparalleled protection in all kinds of situations. If you want to get the same sense of security and peace of mind, the TASER Pulse 2 is here to meet your needs. The TASER Pulse 2 is the ultimate compact solution for less-lethal self-defense. Like all TASER devices, the Pulse 2 is designed to empower you to take control of your safety with confidence and clarity while lessening the risk of accidentally hurting yourself (or worse). The TASER Pulse 2 has a traditional compact gun design, making it concealable, easy to carry, and perfect for incorporating into your everyday life , so you can feel fully prepared for any situation that may arise. As the saying goes: if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. The TASER Pulse 2 also makes the perfect gift to share with a loved one during this holiday season. After all, you can’t put a price on feeling protected! Whether you’re buying for yourself or someone you care about, now is the perfect time to invest in security by grabbing this reliable tool. If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. Randy Moss, former wide receiver, Hall of Famer and current ESPN pundit for “Sunday NFL Countdown,” is stepping back from the show due to heath issues, according to the network. The hiatus, announced on Friday, comes after an Instagram post by Moss on Sunday asking for prayers. In the video, he said he has been battling “something internal,” and that he has a “great team of doctors.” The star then referred to viewers mentioning his seemingly yellow eyes last week, and put on a pair of sunglasses. “Your boy is going to get through it,” Moss said. “So if you see me with my... glasses on, y’all know what I’m battling,” ESPN said Moss had the network’s “full support’ and that they “look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready.” In the Instagram video, Moss, 47, told men to get their check-ups and bloodwork done. “I just ask for all the prayer warriors to put their blessing hands on me and my family through these hard times,” Moss said. A post shared by Randygmoss (@randygmoss) Britney Spears didn’t move to Mexico— despite the video of Spears saying she did, a source told The Hollywood Reporter . The singer originally told fans that she moved to Mexico to escape the “incredibly cruel” paparazzi. “It really kind of hurts my feelings that the paparazzi make my face look like I’m wearing like a white Jason mask, and it doesn’t even look like me,” Spears said on Tuesday. “They’ve always been incredibly cruel to me, the paparazzi and pictures and the way they’ve illustrated me to be in some of it. I know I’m not perfect at all, by any means, but some of it is extremely mean and cruel, and that’s why I’ve moved to Mexico.” The clip was part of a longer video marking Spears’ 43rd birthday on Monday, which was also the day her divorce with Sam Asghari was finalized, according to TMZ . Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. 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The company argued that it violated the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court’s opinion, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance are expected to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, though it’s unclear if the Court would hear the case. The ban was signed into law by Joe Biden in April, capping off a years-long fight against the popular app, which lawmakers view as a threat to national security. Two hikers reportedly stumbled upon a woman tied to a tree and crying in Monterey County, California, on Wednesday. According to SF Gate , she was walking a trail in Pebble Beach around 7:30 that morning when she noticed a “suspicious male” behind her, holding a gun. The man did not take anything from her or assault her or injure her, just left her tied up for two hours before the passersby found her. With the help of another hiker, he untied the woman and called the police. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office subsequently launched a search for the suspect, described as being in his 30s with a neck tattoo involving the letter Z. SFGate reports that while authorities haven’t identified anyone matching that description yet, they say there is “no active threat to the community.” Confusing celebrity update: Paris Jackson, daughter of late musician Michael Jackson , is engaged to Justin Long. Not the Justin Long I think you’re thinking of (he’s married to Kate Bosworth) but another Justin Long; the Justin Long who Jackson has been dating for about two years. He works as a music producer, sound engineer, and mixer, according to The Daily Mail , and first appeared on Jackson’s Instagram in Nov. 2022. The next time he showed up on her grid was Friday, in a carousel she posted to celebrate Long’s birthday, which also included photos of the proposal. “Happy birthday, my sweet blue,” she captioned the post, using her nickname for her fiancé. “Doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind and I couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with.” As for when the pair became engaged, Jackson was photographed wearing a big diamond ring during Paris Fashion Week this past September. Consider this the hard launch? The jury in Daniel Penny’s manslaughter case signaled Friday that they’re struggling to reach a verdict on the case. They must decide if Penny “recklessly” caused the death of Jordan Neely by putting him in a six-minute chokehold on the subway in May 2023. Penny’s attorneys argued that the former Marine was justified in putting Neely in a chokehold because witnesses say he told passengers, “Somebody’s going to die today,” and that he was ready to go to jail. Prosecutors argue that no witnesses testified that Neely brandished a weapon or touched anybody, and that Penny kept Neely in the chokehold long after other passengers left the train. The jury has been deliberating since Tuesday. The jury could also convict him of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide. If the jury can’t reach a verdict then Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley would issue an “Allen” charge, which urges them to reach a unanimous verdict. Penny faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the manslaughter charge, or up to four years if convicted of a lesser count. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. It’s not every day that you can score a deal on a high-quality printer at a lower cost. Investing in a quality printer for your home or office is a game-changer, and while it’s not the most fun purchase, it’ll pay for itself in a couple of months. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay full price for a solid printer, thanks to HP’s current sale . Right now, you can score the HP Envy Inspire 7955e , the brand’s premium at-home photo printer for $70 off. If you’re looking for a solid holiday gift that they’ll actually use, the deluxe multi-purpose printer is a great choice—especially for photographers and anyone who works from home. The all-in-one printer is also designed with HP’s Wolf Essential Security system to keep your information secure and keep hackers out. Plus, unlike other printers that require you to get your hands dirty to replenish the ink, this one offers a 15-second mess-free ink refill experience with bottles that can be plugged into the tank. Say goodbye to messes and hello to your new printer . Best of all? For a limited time, score three months of Instant Ink with HP+. Donald Trump on Friday fired off an unequivocal message of support for his defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth in the wake of several damaging reports about the Fox News star’s alleged behavior. “Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social. “He was a great student—Princeton/Harvard educated—with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump’s post came the morning after Hegseth spent the day meeting with senators whose votes he’ll need to be confirmed as the next Pentagon chief. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Hegseth insisted he’d had a “ great week ”—despite multiple bombshell reports emerging in recent days about his alleged drunken antics, which he denies, along with rumors that Trump is considering replacing him with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his nominee for defense secretary. “As long as Donald Trump wants me in this fight, I’m going to be standing right here in this fight,” Hegseth said. A top Romanian court alleged Friday that Russia conducted an elaborate TikTok psy op to get a pro-Putin political newcomer elected president. The European Union member state’s Constitutional Court made the unprecedented decision to annul the results after the first round of its election votes, with Sunday’s second round of voting canceled, too. A raft of now-released intelligence reports allege that front-runner Calin Georgescu soared into the lead backed by 25,000 TikTok accounts based in Moscow. The Euro skeptic and anti-NATO Georgescu, who has professed his admiration of Romania’s fascist past, was a relative nobody before the election and was polling at around 5 percent. The U.S. State Department said earlier this week that it was concerned by the Romanian Supreme Council of National Defense’s “report of Russian involvement in malign cyber activity designed to influence the integrity of the Romanian electoral process.”NOA to sensitise niger citizens on tax reform, social vicesMaharashtra: Jeetendra Awhad Files FIR Against NCP Leader Rupali Thombre Over Fake WhatsApp Chat AllegationsSri Lanka is facing a severe rice shortage, and the situation is bound to take a turn for the worse unless remedial action is taken forthwith. The country has produced enough paddy, according to the Department of Agriculture, and the government itself has said there are sufficient stocks of paddy! If so, why has a rice shortage occurred? Minister of Trade and Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament on Wednesday that rice millers had agreed to release 200,000 kilos of rice daily to be sold at the maximum retail price (Rs. 220 a kilo) through the Sathosa retail outlets. Implying that all necessary action had been taken to break the back of the rice crisis, Samarasinghe claimed that a banking issue that had prevented millers from increasing the amount of rice released to the market had been sorted out with a presidential intervention. He should have revealed what that issue was. The NPP leaders are beginning to sound like apologists for the powerful millers, just as their predecessors did. Sathosa has only 443 retail outlets countrywide, and obviously they cannot cater to more than 22 million people belonging to about 5.1 million families. The Ministry of Agriculture informs us that Sri Lanka’s daily rice consumption is about 6,500 MT and the amount of rice the millers have reportedly offered to release a day is woefully inadequate to meet the demand for rice. The harebrained manner in which successive governments have sought to tackle the rice issue exemplifies a local saying; what they have been doing is ‘like using a loincloth to control dysentery’. The government says it has decided to lift restrictions on rice imports temporarily and the State Trading Corporation and Sathosa will import 70,000 MT of rice urgently. When imported rice stocks will arrive here is anyone’s guess, and the possibility of private importers colluding to keep the price of imported rice artificially high cannot be ruled out; the paucity of regulations as well as the impotence of governments and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) allows anti-competitive practices to thrive at the expense of consumers. In October 2024, addressing an NPP election rally in Polonnaruwa, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared that there were sufficient stocks of rice in the country and ruled out the possibility of importing rice. A senior economist attached to the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, reportedly informed President Dissanayake at a meeting, in October, that the country had sufficient rice stocks, according to the Agriculture Department database, and there was no need for rice imports. He brought to the notice of the President that rice shortages occurred whenever millers were asked to adhere to the prices stipulated by the CAA. Minister Samarasinghe and NPP MP and National Organiser of the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation, Namal Karunaratne, have also confirmed that the country has sufficient rice stocks. Thus, it is clear that the large-scale millers have created an artificial shortage of rice to jack up prices. On listening to President Dissanayake and other NPP stalwarts during their election campaigns, people must have expected them to get tough with the millers, after forming a government, and ensure that the interests of consumers and farmers would prevail. But the action they have taken to solve the rice crisis is anything but tough. The President’s recent meeting with a group of powerful rice millers responsible for market manipulations looked like a convivial confab. When rice imports get underway, the large-scale millers usually release more rice to the market, as we have seen over the years, and imported rice remains unsold as Sri Lankans prefer local rice varieties. Most of all, changes in market dynamics cause paddy prices to fall during harvesting periods much to the detriment of farmers’ interests. Millers laugh all the way to the bank. Everything possible must be done to prevent unsold imported rice stocks from ending up as animal feed. The government must summon courage to grasp the nettle if it is genuinely desirous of safeguarding the interests of rice consumers and paddy farmers. Ad hoc remedies and mere rhetoric won’t do.
South Korea president escapes impeachment over martial law fiascoNew Orleans (4-8) at New York Giants (2-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Saints by 5. Against the spread: Saints 5-7; Giants 3-9. Series record: Giants lead 17-15. Last meeting: Saints beat Giants 24-6 on Dec. 17, 2023, in New Orleans. Last week: Saints lost to Rams 21-14; Giants lost to Cowboys 27-20. Saints: overall (12), rush (10), pass (19), scoring (14) Saints defense: overall (30), rush (26), pass (29), scoring (19) Giants offense: overall (T26), rush (15), pass (31), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (19), rush (29), pass (6), scoring (18) Turnover differential: Saints plus-2; Giants minus-8. Derek Carr. The quarterback completed 23 of 28 for 218 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the previous meeting and had a 134.8 quarterback rating. Drew Lock. The veteran quarterback is going to make his second straight start with Tommy DeVito (forearm) hurt. He threw for 178 yards and ran for a career-high 57 yards in the loss to the Dallas. He scored on an 8-yard run and had a 28-yard scramble to set up another. He also made mistakes, throwing a pick-6 and losing a fumble on a scramble. Saints offense vs Giants defense. The Giants defense is banged up. DT Dexter Lawrence (elbow) was put on injured reserve Monday and fellow starter Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck) missed practice earlier in the week. Leading tackler and ILB Bobby Okereke is dealing with a back issue. Saints: Tight end Taysom Hill's knee injury last week will sideline him the rest of the season. Running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) is eligible to come off injured reserve and could return to the lineup Sunday. Guards Cesar Ruiz (concussion) and Nick Saldiveri (knee) have been held out of practice this week. Center Erik McCoy (groin) , who sat out last week's game, returned to practice early this week on a limited basis. Guard Lucas Patrick (calf) has practiced on a limited basis after sitting out the past three games. Tyrann Mathieu (forearm) has returned to full practice this week after sitting out much of the second half of last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Giants: Lawrence and rookie TE Theo Johnson (foot) were placed on injured reserve and probably are out for the season. ... DeVito (forearm) and LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) missed the Dallas game but they are making progress this week. DeVito will back up Lock. ... Eluemunor and RT Evan Neal (hip) may be game-time decisions. ... CB Deonte Banks (ribs), Okereke (back) and Nunez-Roches (neck) are unlikely to play. WR Malik Nabers was added to the report Thursday with a nagging groin issue. The Saints have won two of the past three meetings. The Giants are winless in all six games at MetLife Stadium this season. The Saints are 2-1 under interim coach Darren Rizzi, who was born in New Jersey and grew up a Giants fan. ... Carr ranks sixth among qualified passers with a 103.3 rating in 2024. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had TD catches in his past three games. ... TE Juwan Johnson had five catches against the Rams. ... DT Bryan Bresee has a career-high 6 1/2 sacks and is looking for his third straight game with a sack. He had two sacks against New York last season. ... DL Chase Young has two sacks and three tackles for loss against the Giants in December. ... LB Demario Davis had 10 tackles and a sack in the previous meeting. ... CB Alontae Taylor is the only player with at least 10 passes defended and five tackles for loss in each of the past two seasons. ... Mathieu needs five tackles for his eighth straight season of at least 50 tackles. ... Giants: RB Tyrone Tracy ranks second among rookies with 619 yards rushing. He has run for four touchdowns. ... WR Malik Nabers has 75 catches for 740 yards. His reception total is the most by a rookie in his first 10 games. .... Wan'Dale Robinson has career-high 63 catches. ... OLB Brian Burns has a career-high eight passes defended and 10 tackles for loss. ... Okereke needs seven tackles for his fourth straight season of 100 or more tackles. ... S Tyler Nubin leads all rookies and ranks fourth among DBs with 93 tackles. ... The Giants have set an NFL record going 11 straight games without an interception. They have one interception this season. The NFL record for fewest in a season is two by the 2018 San Francisco 49ers. The fewest in a season by the Giants was six in 2022. Look for running back Alvin Kamara to have a big game. He has 894 yards rushing on 206 carries and he has caught 59 passes for 450 yards. He has seven touchdowns, six rushing. The 29-year-old has had eight games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage this season and he is third in the league with 1,344 yards from scrimmage. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl