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CHRIS Brown has a lifelong love, a passion, an obsession he just can't let go - basketball. Six months ago the former professional basketball player focused all of that energy into a new business at Broadmeadow called Hoop Dreams. Login or signup to continue reading "I always wanted to start something focusing on individual coaching," he said. "When I came here to play it was a rugby league town. The last couple of years basketball has just taken off." Brown was an international import back in 2003 to the former local team - the Hunter Pirates. He had been playing in Japan, but the guard took the opportunity to play in the NBL and this move would end up anchoring him to the city. Brown fell in love and the couple went on to have three children who "fortunately also fell into basketball". His eldest child Diyah, 13, plays for the Newcastle Falcons and has made country NSW selection, with hopes of pursuing the game further. Basketball is booming in the Hunter, with plans for a new $82-million Newcastle basketball stadium under way. But the project has garnered hundreds of objections from the community due to the location on Wallarah and Blackley ovals. "We need the courts, we need the space," he said. "With the NBA popularity growing here and on social media the sport is considered cool, kids love the culture of it. Everyone is watching Steph Curry shoot threes, they love it." With a $30,000 fitout complete with a custom-designed court, gym, meeting space and even a mural, it is easy to see why this dedicated basketball training space has quickly grown in popularity for young players. According to Brown there are 75 aspiring and academy athletes on the books, ranging from under 12s right through to age 18. The roster of coaches, which includes program appearances from NBL 1 Falcons players Myles Cherry and Ryan Beisty, focus on individual skills and going back to basics. "Within a week we were at capacity," he said of launching the business. "The kids love basketball, but there is so much more to sports than just the game. We have a nutritionist, strength and conditioning training, a psychologist. The goal is skill development for kids of all ages, but we also just want to help create good kids." Brown has big plans for the business which is currently running as a not-for-profit. He wants to create outreach programs in NSW, to get the teenagers out into low socio-economic communities to do their own coaching. "It is important for those high performance kids to give back, to have that experience," he said. The third part of the puzzle is travel, taking his own Hoop Dreams teams to play in other competitions both nationally and abroad. On the first weekend of November, Hoop Dreams saw its first touring team compete in the Annual Seaside Classic Tournament in Port Macquarie. The under 17s girls team took home the win. "The hardest transition is figuring out what do you do when you stop playing professional sport," he said. "I hope we can build this as place for connection, a community for these kids." Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017. Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. 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Top 25 teams will be in action across six games on Saturday’s college basketball schedule. That includes the UCLA Bruins squaring off against the Long Beach State Beach at Walter Pyramid. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Federal government says 'not to confuse' premiers' differing opinions on Trump tariff retaliation, 'confident' in Canada's response
CHICAGO — A chilly Chicago winter doesn’t necessarily mean the African lions at the Lincoln Park Zoo have to go inside. In fact, as temperatures dip — even as cold as 10 degrees or in the snow — the pride may huddle up on heated rocks in their exhibit to spend more time relaxing outdoors. “They also have access to indoor holding areas in the winter, so if they want to go into a space that’s completely enclosed and warmer, they can go in there whenever they like,” said Dave Bernier, the zoo’s general curator. “We give them the choice, and luckily, they choose the exhibit spaces a lot more than they choose the holding spaces.” Lions aren’t the only species that are better equipped for the winter than one might expect. Specialists at Chicago’s zoos say they use a combination of technology and habitat features to prepare months in advance to properly care for every animal with unique requirements for the season, from polar bears to koalas to flamingoes. The Lincoln Park Zoo prefers to find species that can be outside for the four seasons, based on their temperature guidelines, Bernier said. But, like for the lions, which are found in sub-Saharan Africa, where temperatures usually range between 65 to 85 degrees, there’s a bit of creativity involved to give them a boost in the winter. The lion exhibit, Bernier said, has about 20 of the heated rocks, which have a surface temperature between 55 and 60 degrees. He said the zoo determined the size and placement of the rocks — which helped make them as comfortable as possible — using behavioral data from the previous lion exhibit. There’s also an overhanging shelter so the lions can escape the rain or snow, and they can head inside to a holding area if they want to, he said. Some animals require a bit more oversight, however, including the two male koalas named Brumby and Willum at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. The fuzzy animals, which are native to Australia and made their debut at the zoo this summer , are allowed outdoors only if it’s above 40, said Mark Wanner, the associate vice president of animal care and conservation. Unlike most other mammals, a koala has a smooth surface on its brain, meaning it’s unable to draw conclusions or make simple decisions. This means that the zoo staff keeps a close eye on the duo when it’s between 40 and 60 degrees, because the koalas can’t always choose themselves to head inside. “Their cognitive ability is not quite what it would be in a lion, so to speak,” Wanner said. When it starts getting cold out, Wanner said, specialists decide day by day whether it’s safe for various animals to be outside. The wind is also a big factor, he added. “We tend to err on the side of caution, because we do get such drastic drops in temperature and such extreme temperatures here,” he said, adding that some animals, such as brown bears, grow additional hair or fur during the winter to cope with colder weather. To monitor surface and ambient temperatures, humidity and wind speeds, the zoo uses a tool called a “thermal neutral zone kit,” Wanner said. Employees point it at an animal’s habitat to track thermal zones, checking, for example, whether a rock is putting off a sufficient amount of heat. The zoo also has temperature sensors installed in buildings that notify the staff if something goes awry, he said. Both zoos start “weatherproofing” for the winter around September, including switching on heating elements and, at Lincoln Park, a snow melt system for the penguin exhibit. Brookfield employees lay out extra bedding for some animals inside their indoor habitats, what Wanner called their “bedroom,” and make sure water lines are protected. On the flip side, the zoos provide fans, ice and cooling areas to some animals in the summer, such as polar bears and gorillas. Bernier said it’s important to find animals to bring into the zoo that are the right match for Chicago’s climate. When the Lincoln Park Zoo opened the Pepper Family Wildlife Center, it opted to bring in the Canada lynx and snow leopard, rather than an ocelot or margay, small carnivores that live in tropical climates, because they wouldn’t have been able to handle the winters, he said. Snow leopards, which are large cats that weigh up to 120 pounds and found in central Asia, can be outside when it’s below freezing. But Bernier said the animal care team may consider bringing them inside for short periods of time if it hits 20 degrees. It’s one of the “hardy” species at the zoo that are actually suited to cool climates and are quite active during the season. Others include the red pandas and Sichuan takins, as well as the Mexican gray wolf at Brookfield. Lincoln Park Zoo’s plains zebras, which Bernier said are found in very far southern Africa and experience more seasonal rather than temperate climates, can be outside almost all year round in Chicago. The zoo also chose African penguins rather than Antarctic ones, so they don’t have to be kept cool through refrigeration all year. Their pool is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer, he added. The animal Bernier said visitors are usually the most surprised to see outside in the winter is the pink flamingoes. The zoo is home to Chilean flamingoes, which are smaller, live in high altitudes and can tolerate extreme temperatures — even well below freezing — much more so than the Caribbean kind, which Bernier said the zoo once owned and had to put inside a building for half the year. Bernier said the winter is a “fantastic” time to visit the zoo, and that some of his favorite moments are watching the rhinos and polar bears play in the snow. “They like to be out in the snow, and it’s kind of fun to watch them roll around in the snow and see how much they enjoy that kind of weather,” he said. Gov. J.B. Pritzker cuts the ribbon for the 2024 Illinois State Fair and takes questions from reporters on Thursday, Aug. 8. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sharks activate Nico Sturm, reassign Jack Thompson to AHLNoneTime is running out to finish your Christmas shopping, but that doesn’t mean you’re short on options for your loved ones. A quality timepiece is one of the best ways to show someone how much you mean to them and at Citizen there are plenty of fantastic styles at great prices to choose from. The brand has unveiled a last minute gift guide packed with great ideas for that special someone. One standout ladies’ option is the Citizen Silhouette . This elegant watch has a 26mm stainless stell case and bracelet that’s easily adjusted at a local jeweller’s, and is sure to bring a smile to someone's face on December 25. Its mother of pearl dial and silver hands and markers make for a gorgeous, shimmering look, and it’s both water-resistant and sustainably powered too. Thanks to Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology , this watch is powered by any light source it can find, and will never need a new battery. READ MORE: Debenhams' £425 diamond watch similar to a £7,500 Rolex slashed by 89% to £45 is 'perfect' for Christmas READ MORE: Shoppers rush to snap up luxury beauty sets slashed by 60% just in time for Christmas While it only has a few reviews at John Lewis , they’re all glowing with praise - particularly about the genius way it runs. “This is an elegant timepiece and does not require batteries,” began one five-star review. “I have had this model for about 15 years and always runs accurately so long as it has an adequate supply of light.” Another said: “Powered by light so no need for replacement batteries. Looks very elegant on the wrist.” A five-star TrustPilot review added: “Their Eco Drive watches are great. Accurate to 60 seconds a year and never need a battery replacement. I've bought about 5 over the years (1 x for me, the others as presents) and they've all been perfectly reliable.” One less positive reviewer did flag a fault with her watch. She said: "All in all I think Citizen have the best quality watches for the price point. Most timepieces are solidly constructed and have that Japanese build quality. One or two of mine have had faults over the years but in general I have kept coming back." Of course, there are many more options to choose from at Citizen , and so you’re sure to find the perfect watch for your loved one if the Silhouette doesn’t quite hit the mark. There’s the Citizen Ladies Diamond at £329 , with a stunning gold-tone stainless steel case at a slightly larger 33mm. Eight real diamonds are featured on the mother of pearl dial, and it comes with the same water resistance and Eco-Drive tech as the Silhouette. The Citizen Ladies' Diamond Watch retails for £329. (Image: Citizen) Citizen doesn't just have an array of ladies' watches on offer. For aircraft enthusiasts, the Citizen Red Arrows Limited Edition Automatic GMT at £895 is the ideal choice. Inspired by the death-defying RAF Red Arrows, this watch is loaded with features that make it both stand out and look the part for any occasion. Its aeronautical slide-rule scale circles the face, with red-accented hands that can be configured to display two different timezones at once. Finally — for this round-up, at least — there’s the Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic at £299 . This one’s design is focused on the ultramodern, sports-oriented style that’s sure to make an impression whether you’re on the track or the tube. It doesn’t have Eco-Drive tech built-in, but is instead powered by the wearer’s movement — just be sure you wear it regularly to ensure it remains juiced up. Citizen offers classic and elegant-looking watches for both men and women. (Image: Citizen) If you do want to jump on a new watch for a loved one's present ahead of Christmas day, orders generally take three to five working days. Citizen says on its site that 'orders placed after 1pm on Monday 23rd December (Mainland UK) and Friday 20th December (Highlands and Islands) will not guarantee delivery before Christmas Day.' Watches are a popular gift this Christmas with other timepieces to check out alongside Citizen's iconic timepieces . Debenhams has reduced the price of the Naples Silver Dial 12404 Two Tone Swiss Quartz Watch to £251. Elsewhere, if you're looking for a watch that mixes tech with fashion, Selfridges has the classic-looking Huawei Watch GT4 41mm Smart Watch currently reduced in price to £209.
Parents slam Netflix's Spellbound for 'inappropriate' theme
A day after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee overhauled the structure of CID, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in state assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Friday demanded her resignation as she was the police minister for more than 13 years. Adhikari said Banerjee should take people's mandate one year ahead of 2026 (2026 assembly polls are scheduled in Bengal). Meanwhile, Adhikari wrote a letter to the Speaker of Bengal assembly to Banerjee had on Thursday accused a section of the police force of being corrupt and putting her government in bad light, saying that she would completely reshuffle the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police. Adhikari said, "Mamata Banerjee has been the chief minister and police minister since 2013, which is more than 13 years. She is responsible for the corruption. She should immediately resign. She should take people's justice. What she said yesterday is very alarming. She has lost her credibility and she should resign." After chairing a meeting of top state government officials, the CM said stern action should be taken against those involved in corrupt practices. Following observations made by Banerjee, Officer in-charge of Barabani Police Station in Asansol has been removed today. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program "The lower-level officers of CID are being blamed by the Chief Minister. I know very well that they have been compelled by the ruling Trinamool Congress to engage in corruption. There is involvement of the CM's family as well. I speak with documents in hand," Meanwhile, BJP legislators on Friday submitted a notice of resolution for removal of the Speaker. Today, ahead of the opening of the Winter Session of the assembly, LoP wrote a letter to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay today on this matter. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Unique among ‘Person of the Year’ designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazine National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a Cleveland State University (CSU) study, total investment in Ohio’s shale energy sector was approximately $3.1 billion in the second half of 2023. The latest report , prepared for JobsOhio, Ohio’s private non-profit economic development corporation, covers shale-related investment in Ohio from July 2023 through December 2023 and cumulates total investment from 2011 forward. The study from CSU’s Energy Policy Center at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs revealed that with previous investments to date, cumulative oil and gas investment in Ohio through December 2023 is estimated to be around $108.2 billion. Of this, $76.7 billion has been in upstream, $22 billion in midstream, and $9.5 billion in downstream industries. The study showed that cumulative shale-related investment steadily rose between 2011 and 2023. As the spread between oil and natural gas prices has increased, finding and development (F&D) costs for oil have been falling, driven by innovations that improve the operational efficiency of production from shale wells. The study suggests that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to upstream operations could drive additional improvements. “As natural gas exploration technology continues to evolve, Ohio’s abundance of resources can play an essential role in supporting economic growth in industries like advanced manufacturing, healthcare, polymers, construction, aviation, and automotive,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “Since 2011, the shale-related investment in Ohio’s energy economy has steadily increased to $108.2 billion as industry experts and investors look to the state for growth.” “Total shale-related investment was up $1 billion in the second half of 2023 compared to the first half of the year, due largely to construction starting on a major natural gas power plant,” said Mark Henning, Research Supervisor for the Energy Policy Center in the Maxine Goodman Levin School or Urban Affairs at CSU. “This level of overall investment will likely continue as upstream producers continue to ramp up activities in the region’s oil window, where we have seen new well development more than double during the first half of 2024 compared to the second half of last year.” Upstream Investment Overall, upstream investments were down by about $332 million in the second half of 2023 compared to the first half of the year, reflecting a decline in the number of new wells drilled. Oil prices have remained high relative to natural gas prices, sustaining an average oil-to-price ratio of 6:1 since the beginning of 2023. Midstream Investment Midstream investment reached $290.4 million in the second half of 2023; a 69% increase compared to the previous six-month period. Most of the midstream investment during the Study period was for gathering system and transportation buildout, with $166.9 million spent on gathering lines and $91.9 million spent on compression. An additional $31.5 million was spent on NGL pipelines. Downstream Investment Since 2015, the CSU studies have reported that 10 natural gas-powered power plants have been in the planning, construction, or newly operational stages. Seven of these plants consumed 13% of Ohio Utica gas production for power generation during the second half of 2023 and generated the equivalent of approximately 35% of the electricity consumed in Ohio across all sectors during the same time period. This is the sixteenth CSU study reporting investment resulting from oil and gas development in Ohio related to the Utica and Point Pleasant formations. The latest report and previous reports can be found here . For more information on Ohio’s growing energy industry, visit www.JobsOhio.com/energy . About the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs The Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University is recognized as one of the best public affairs schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The Levin School is ranked 4th in the US in the specialty of Urban Policy and 12th in the specialty of Local Government Management. Levin offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional development programs in fields that guide and advance vibrant and sustainable communities, including urban studies, public administration, urban planning, environmental studies, nonprofit management, and organizational leadership. The Levin School’s collection of scholars combines practical experience with research and theory, delivering excellence in teaching to prepare the next generation of community leaders. Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution with more than 14,000 students, 8 colleges and schools and more than 175 academic programs. According to the Brookings Institution, CSU is No. 18 in the U.S. among public universities that fulfill a critical dual mission: providing upward mobility and conducting impactful research. CSU is the only Ohio university in the top tier of the Brookings list. U.S News & World Report consistently lists CSU among America’s Best Colleges and Universities. About JobsOhio JobsOhio , Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio . Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition , Lake to River Economic Development , Ohio Southeast Economic Development , One Columbus , REDI Cincinnati , Regional Growth Partnership , and Team NEO , JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com . Follow us on LinkedIn , X , and Facebook. Matt Englehart JobsOhio 614-300-1152 englehart@jobsohio.com
Once cold and lonely, ‘snow management’ at Tahoe resorts goes high-tech with lasersDevelopments in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector have generated a lot of headlines over the past couple of years. The abilities of AI systems to create original content, automate processes, and increase productivity have businesses of all stripes eager to secure a part of the resulting windfall. One company that's well positioned to benefit from this trend is Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 8.54% ) . It has decades of experience creating novel AI solutions, which came in handy when the generative AI trend went mainstream early in 2023. That secular tailwind has been extremely profitable for the company and its shareholders. The stock is up 333% so far this year and up 1,060% since the start of 2023, with its gains driven by robust results and an expanding opportunity. Positive developments for Palantir were so plentiful over the past week, it's likely that some investors didn't catch all the announcements. So here are four things you may have missed this week. 1. Admission to the Nasdaq-100 index To kick off the week, Nasdaq announced that Palantir will be added to the Nasdaq-100 index before the market opens on Dec. 23. This was widely expected after Palantir switched its listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq last month. In a press release at the time, Palantir said, "The company expects to begin trading as a Nasdaq-listed company on November 26, 2024 and its common stock will continue to trade under the symbol "PLTR." Upon transferring, Palantir anticipates meeting the eligibility requirements of the Nasdaq-100 Index." While the listing move was largely a cosmetic change, it could boost demand for Palantir stock, as mutual funds , institutional investors, and exchange-traded funds that track the index will have to buy it. 2. A new partnership Palantir and Red Cat Holdings ( RCAT 18.33% ) announced a strategic partnership that will see Palantir's Visual Navigation software integrated into Red Cat's Black Widow drone. The company will also deploy Palantir's Warp Speed manufacturing operating system. "Equipped with Palantir's visual navigation and artificial intelligence, the Black Widow will be among the most capable drones ever fielded by the Department of Defense, compact enough to fit in a rucksack," said Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson. The terms of the contract weren't provided. 3. Extending its Army Vantage contract Palantir announced an extension to its "long-standing partnership with the U.S. Army to deliver the Army Vantage capability in support of the 'Army Data Platform' (ADP)." The platform leverages data and Palantir's AI to accelerate decision-making and improve combat readiness. While the original contract was focused on personnel and combat readiness, the ADP system has become integral to the Army's data-driven decision-making process. It supports soldiers in a growing list of use cases in areas such as logistics, risk management, recruiting, and financial management. This new agreement will expand the contract to include data across the entire Department of the Army. The total value of the contract is $400 million, though it could potentially be increased to as much as $618 million over the next four years. 4. Translating faith-based content On the other side of the war and peace coin, Pray.com chose Palantir to help it with foreign language translations for the company's faith-based content. The company noted the challenge of providing its offerings in a variety of languages, which has been cost-prohibitive due to the staffing requirements and the complexity of local idioms. Using Palantir's Ontology Software Development Kit, Pray.com was able to process audio and video transcripts and translations "across multiple languages," achieving the "quality of native language speakers." Perhaps equally important, it was able to achieve these results in a matter of minutes, rather than the days or weeks of human efforts its large volumes of translations had previously required. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. What it all means for investors It's important to point out that none of these developments are likely to move the needle for Palantir individually. Taken together, however, they bolster the company's investment thesis. Given Palantir's rapid growth trajectory, commonly used valuation metrics like price-to-earnings and price-to-sales ratios fall short as gauges of its stock. However, applying the more appropriate forward price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio -- which considers Palantir's robust growth rate -- provides a multiple of 0.61. Generally speaking, the experts view any positive PEG ratio below 1 as signifying an undervalued stock. For price-sensitive investors concerned about its current level, it might be worth buying Palantir using a dollar-cost averaging strategy -- investing set amounts in the stock at regular intervals, regardless of what the price is doing at those times. Or, one could wait and hope the stock dips. That said, given the company's accelerating growth and the magnitude of the opportunity, I believe Palantir is a buy .
Kuwait City, Dec 21 (PTI) Praising the diaspora's contribution to global growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Saturday that India has the potential to become the “skill capital of the world.” Modi was addressing a large gathering of the Indian community at a special event ‘Hala Modi’ at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in the city. “Every year, hundreds of Indians come to Kuwait. You have added an Indian touch to Kuwaiti society. You have filled the canvas of Kuwait with the colors of Indian skills. You have mixed the essence of India's talent, technology, and tradition in Kuwait,” Modi said. The prime minister, who is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, expressed happiness about the presence of Indians from diverse corners of the country in the gulf nation and called it a “mini-Hindustan.” India's StartUps, FinTech, smart technology and green technology can develop cutting-edge solutions for every need of Kuwait, he said. “India is well-equipped to meet the world's demand for skilled talent ...India also has the potential to become the skill capital of the world,” Modi emphasised and underlined that for many decades to come, India will remain the youngest country in the world. Highlighting India's strong commitment to supporting Indian workers in Kuwait and across the Gulf, Modi discussed technology-driven initiatives implemented by the government, including the e-Migrate portal. Thanking the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his gracious invitation, Modi stated that it was after 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister was visiting Kuwait to strengthen and solidify the age-old friendship. “The relationship between India and Kuwait is one of civilisation, the sea, affection, trade, and commerce. India and Kuwait are located on two shores of the Arabian Sea. It's not just diplomacy that connects us, but also the bonds of the heart,” the prime minister said to a loud cheer from the gathering. “Today, personally, this moment is very special for me. For you all, coming to India takes four hours, but for the prime minister of India, it took four decades,” he told the Indian gathering. Modi further recalled the centuries old strong trade ties between the two countries. “Our elders in Gujarat still recall how Kuwaiti traders learnt Gujarati, wrote books in it and traded their world-famous pearls in our markets. We took supplies of horses and many other items. There has been a long-lasting relationship between India and Kuwait,” he said. He also reminded the diaspora that till about 60-65 years ago, Indian rupees were accepted in Kuwait. The PM said that in the coming decades, India and Kuwait will become significant partners in prosperity. “While the people of Kuwait are dedicated to building a 'New Kuwait', the people of India are striving to create a developed India by 2047 ... Kuwait, through trade and innovation, wants to be a dynamic economy. India is also focusing on innovation and strengthening its economy,” Modi said. “India has the skill, technology, innovation and manpower that 'New Kuwait' needs.” Reminding the diaspora gathering about India's heritage and legacy, Modi said the world is celebrating the first 'Meditation Day' on December 21 and added, “This day is dedicated to India's thousands of years of meditation tradition.” The Prime Minister extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh to be held in India in January 2025. He then listed all the festivals to be celebrated across India in coming weeks and invited the diaspora to India for participating in those festivities and then “witness the Republic Day celebrations before returning.” “There was a time when the legendary actor Dilip Kumar inaugurated the first Indian restaurant here. But the true essence of Indian cuisines can only be experienced by visiting the country. So bring your Kuwaiti friends along!” During his two-day visit to Kuwait, Modi is set to meet the Emir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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But how much should privacy matter? Lizzo shows off dramatic weight loss in new photos Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths here in Florida. Here’s why After bankruptcy court, Spirit sees future as a higher value airline ‘for years to come’Lawyers for a voting machine company that’s suing Fox News want to question founder Rupert Murdoch about his contentious efforts to change his family trust , the attorneys told a court Monday. Election-tech company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit regards Fox's reporting on 2020 voting fraud claims. But Smartmatic’s attorneys suggest the separate succession fight over Murdoch's media empire might shed light on any Fox Corp. involvement in editorial matters. It's an important, if technical, question as Smartmatic seeks to hold the deep-pocketed Fox parent company responsible for statements that the news network aired. Fox contends that there's no such liability and that it was engaging in journalism, not defamation, when it broadcast election-fraud allegations made by then-President Donald Trump 's attorneys. Rupert Murdoch may already have given a deposition — out-of-court questioning under oath — in the defamation suit. Such records aren't public at this stage, but plans for his deposition were briefly mentioned at a 2022 hearing. Smartmatic now is seeking to talk to Murdoch about his efforts to rewrite his plans for his businesses after his death. The matter is playing out behind closed doors and in sealed files in a Nevada probate court. The New York Times has reported that Rupert Murdoch wants to keep his eldest son, Lachlan , in charge of the conglomerate's newspapers and television networks in order to ensure a continued conservative editorial outlook . Smartmatic wants to get the 93-year-old patriarch on record while the probate matter plays out, company attorney Edward Wipper told a judge Monday. Fox News lawyer K. Winn Allen said the probate case “has nothing at all to do with” Smartmatic's claims and is “not appropriate” fodder for the suit. Fox Corp. declined to comment after court. Fox News' lawyers, meanwhile, want Smartmatic to provide records about a U.S. federal criminal case against people, including Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate, accused of scheming to bribe a Filipino election official . Piñate has pleaded not guilty. Smartmatic isn't charged in the criminal case, and Smartmatic attorneys have said the matter was irrelevant to the defamation suit. Fox lost prior bids for a court order to get the information, but a hearing on the network's renewed request is set next week. It's unclear how soon Judge David B. Cohen will decide on that request or on Smartmatic's bid to dig into the Murdoch family trust case. Both requests are part of pretrial information-gathering, and no trial date has been set. Smartmatic says it was a small player, working only with California's heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In subsequent Fox News appearances, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell portrayed Smartmatic as part of a multi-state scheme to steal the vote from the Republican. Federal and state election officials , exhaustive reviews in battleground states and Trump’s own attorney general found no widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Nor did they uncover any credible evidence that the vote was tainted. Dozens of courts, including by judges whom Trump had appointed, rejected his fraud claims. Fox News ultimately aired an interview with an election technology expert who refuted the allegations against Smartmatic — an interview done after the company demanded a retraction . The network is countersuing Smartmatic , claiming it violated a New York law against baseless suits aimed at squelching reporting or criticism on public issues. The New York defamation suit is one of several stemming from conservative-oriented news outlets' reports on Trump’s 2020 vote-rigging claims. Smartmatic recently settled with One America News Network and Newsmax . Fox News settled for $787 million last year with Dominion Voting Systems, another election-technology company that sued over conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s 2020 loss. Jennifer Peltz, The Associated Press
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