Advertisements for prescription-only medications for weight loss and other treatments are not allowed in all forms of media, the health authorities told The Straits Times. This is after a spate of online ads appeared on social media to promote weight-loss treatments available on telehealth platforms. In response to ST queries in early August, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Nov 14 that they were reviewing the advertisements on weight-loss drugs flagged by ST and would take appropriate action for any breaches. “These advertisements may not be conveyed in any form of media, including digital media such as websites, social media platforms and telehealth platforms,” they said in a joint statement. ST has seen telehealth operators promoting their weight-loss programmes, along with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook since mid-July. GLP-1 drugs, initially developed to treat diabetes, have gained widespread attention after doctors found them effective in helping patients shed the kilos. In Singapore, these drugs are available only by prescription from a registered medical practitioner or pharmacist. They can also be prescribed via telemedicine, with Saxenda being the most common GLP-1 drug offered by telehealth platforms here. It is a daily injectable drug and is administered using a pen. Advertisements for such prescription-only medicine are not allowed under the Health Products (Advertisement of Specified Health Products) Regulations 2016. HSA published a document on Nov 7 for telemedicine providers on regulations regarding the advertisements of health products. In it, the authority said that publication of any information that promotes the sale or use of a health product, whether directly or indirectly, is considered an advertisement. The reference to any health products or the featuring of such products – whether named, through an image or implied through descriptions of a specific health product – may constitute an advertisement, it said. In the online advertisements seen by ST, the telehealth operators either featured the Saxenda pen with its label covered, or used a blue pen that resembles the product. Some operators called it a “skinny pen” or “weight-loss pen”, or referred to it as “Sxnda”. MOH and HSA said: “Publication of information that promotes the sales or use of specific brands of medicines, whether directly or indirectly (for example, using acronyms, misspellings, creative naming or product images with masked identifiers), is also disallowed.” Some of the telehealth operators offer the GLP-1 drugs as part of a weight-loss programme. Their advertisements highlight the potential weight loss from the use of the medication, as well as health benefits in areas such as metabolism and energy levels. Some also promote buy-now, pay-later services for the purchase of the drugs. The health authorities said that advertisements of licensable healthcare services must contain factually accurate information and be capable of being substantiated. However, they must not solicit or encourage the use of such services. “Information about discounts and payment by instalments cannot be included in the advertisements,” said the agencies. When asked why they ran the GLP-1 weight-loss ads despite the risk of violating regulations, operators approached said they were committed to complying with the rules. Dr Sue-Anne Toh, co-founder of Novi Health, said: “We are committed to fostering open dialogue with regulators to ensure that our practices align with the public’s best interests.” A spokesman for Ora Group, which runs platforms andSons and Ova, said the company will “work closely with (regulators) if there are new rules or clarifications required”. Mr Sean Low, founder of Ordinary Folk, which operates Noah and Zoey, said the company regularly reviews its content creation policies and guidelines on social media and other platforms, and has adequate staff training. “If any content is found to unintentionally overstep these guidelines, we welcome feedback and are committed to making immediate corrections and further enhancing our compliance oversight,” said Mr Low. Elevate’s co-chief executive, Mr Rio Hoe, said that the company has “established an understanding” with HSA on what constitutes an advertisement and what sort of content is permitted. The company has “carefully complied with the guidance we have been provided, as well as industry norms”, he added. Beyond the legal risks, the advertisements have raised concerns about the potential of encouraging people who do not need weight-loss drugs to seek them out. One such group is patients who struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia, said Dr Tina Tan, a senior consultant psychiatrist at Better Life Clinic. “In the vast majority of cases, one of the primary desires of such patients is to lose weight, which means they may be tempted to take supplements or medications that they perceive as helping them to rapidly achieve that goal,” said Dr Tan. “However, such consumption does not address the underlying psychological issues these patients are dealing with, and can potentially cause harm to the person who consumes them in an inappropriate manner.” While Dr Tan acknowledged the role of marketing in promoting the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs, especially for those who truly need them, she said that the advertisements should have clear disclaimers on who can use the medications and who should avoid them.OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Sira Thienou scored 16 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals and No. 18 Mississippi coasted to an 89-24 win over Alabama State on Saturday. Starr Jacobs and Christeen Iwuala both added 12 points and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 for the Rebels (5-2), who had a breather after losing to No. 2 UConn by 13 in the Bahamas. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Four prolific phone fraudsters who handled over 5,000 stolen phones have been sent to prison. Across an 18 month period, the gang used stolen phones from across London to take out loans with their crimes costing a total of £5.1 million. The group were tracked down by officers from Lambeth and Southwark after a number of robbery and theft victims reported they had tracked their stolen devices to two main London addresses. The suspect were tracked and were raided early on February 26. During their search, officers found 170 suspected stolen phones. But cops have not been able to track down the owners of all the phones seized as not all were reported as stolen. Zakaria Senadjki, 31, of Dartmouth Close, Notting Hill was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods, conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and possessing/controlling ID with improper intention. He was hit with eight years behind bars. Ahmed Abdelhakim Belhanafi, 25, of Dartmouth Close, Notting Hill was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and was given four years and eight months. Nazih Cheraitia, 34, of Wales Farm Road, Acton was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and possess/control ID document with improper intention. He was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. Riyadh Mamouni, 25. of Dartmouth Close, Notting Hill was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. The Met is urging anyone who has had a lost or stolen phone to use the national mobile phone register so recovered phones can be restored. Last year, more than 64,000 mobile phones were reported to the police as stolen in London, through theft or robbery – double the previous two years. Commander Owain Richards, from the Metropolitan Police , said: “I want to commend the borough based local officers involved for their excellent work in tracking down these individuals and ensuring they were brought to justice. “We do not underestimate the impact these crimes have on Londoners and are doing all we can to tackle phone thefts. This includes increased policing in hotspot areas and making better use of technology. “However we need the phone companies to play their part and make it more difficult for criminals to re-sell these stolen devices. The Met will be speaking with them in the coming weeks to push this issue even further.” Sign up to our London Court & Crime newsletter for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up HEREFirst Period_None. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders will elect a new parliament Saturday after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This is Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Iceland, a nation of about 400,000 people, is proud of its democratic traditions, describing itself as arguably the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy. The island’s parliament, the Althingi, was founded in 930 by the Norsemen who settled the country. Here’s what to look for in the contest. Voters will choose 63 members of the Althingi in an election that will allocate seats both by regional constituencies and proportional representation. Parties need at least 5% of the vote to win seats in parliament. Eight parties were represented in the outgoing parliament, and 10 parties are contesting this election. Turnout is traditionally high by international standards, with 80% of registered voters casting ballots in the 2021 parliamentary election. A windswept island near the Arctic Circle, Iceland normally holds elections during the warmer months of the year. But on Oct. 13 Benediktsson decided his coalition couldn’t last any longer, and he asked President Halla Tómasdóttir to dissolve the Althingi. “The weakness of this society is that we have no very strong party and we have no very strong leader of any party,’’ said Vilhjálmur Bjarnson, a former member of parliament. “We have no charming person with a vision ... That is very difficult for us.” The splintering of Iceland's political landscape came after the 2008 financial crisis, which prompted years of economic upheaval after its debt-swollen banks collapsed. The crisis led to anger and distrust of the parties that had traditionally traded power back and forth, and prompted the creation of new parties ranging from the environment focused Left-Green Alliance to the Pirate Party, which advocates direct democracy and individual freedoms. “This is one of the consequences of the economic crash,’’ said Eva H. Önnudóttir, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland. “It’s just the changed landscape. Parties, especially the old parties, have maybe kind of been hoping that we would go back to how things were before, but that’s not going to happen.” Like many Western countries, Iceland has been buffeted by the rising cost of living and immigration pressures. Inflation peaked at an annual rate of 10.2% in February 2023, fueled by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While inflation slowed to 5.1% in October, that is still high compared with neighboring countries. The U.S. inflation rate stood at 2.6% last month, while the European Union’s rate was 2.3%. Iceland is also struggling to accommodate a rising number of asylum-seekers, creating tensions within the small, traditionally homogenous country. The number of immigrants seeking protection in Iceland jumped to more than 4,000 in each of the past three years, compared with a previous average of less than 1,000. Repeated eruptions of a volcano in the southwestern part of the country have displaced thousands of people and strained public finances. One year after the first eruption forced the evacuation of the town of Grindavik, many residents still don’t have secure housing, leading to complaints that the government has been slow to respond. But it also added to a shortage of affordable housing exacerbated by Iceland’s tourism boom. Young people are struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder at a time when short-term vacation rentals have reduced the housing stock available for locals, Önnudóttir said. “The housing issue is becoming a big issue in Iceland,'' she said. —— Kirka reported from London.
How fighter frustrations brought back the old UFC glovesPartnering with hummel and Northwell Health, the new kit honors the club's iconic local roots. WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Westchester Soccer Club (WSC) – the first homegrown professional sports club to call New York's most populous suburb home – debuted the team's inaugural home kit last week at an event with Northwell Health, its front of kit sponsor and official health partner. See images of the new kit here and the video reveal. Through an exciting partnership with hummel, a leading global sportswear brand, and with sponsorship from Northwell Health, the home kit builds on the excitement of WSC's iconic homegrown brand unveiled earlier this summer. The White, Gold, and Blue "Zee" Kit represents the next step in WSC's campaign to deepen community engagement as it prepares for the 2025 season in the United Soccer League One (USL). Earlier this year, USL announced that Westchester County, N.Y. has been granted the rights to a USL League One franchise, with WSC to kick off in 2025 as the host of home matches at the newly renovated Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, N.Y. "Our new kits proudly showcase the defining spirit of our community. At its core, the jersey is a celebration of our heritage, with the "Infinity W" mark (found in our badge and side-striping) and the Tappan Zee Bridge representing the connection between our players, fans, and our hometown communities," said Mitch Baruchowitz, majority owner of WSC. "Northwell Health is very proud to be the front-of-kit sponsor and official health partner of Westchester Soccer Club. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to fostering a healthier, more connected community," said Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez of Northwell Health. "The new jerseys symbolize the strength of this collaboration, and we are excited to stand alongside WSC in uniting and inspiring Westchester through the power of soccer." Designed with the vibrant spirit of the NY suburban landscape in mind, the jerseys embody the pride and identity of WSC as a uniter of families and communities in the greater Westchester Region. The distinctive home kits resonate with the club's unique identity and aim to bring fans together and feature one of the region's iconic landmarks. In addition to the introduction of the new kits, WSC is also excited to announce the availability of season ticket deposits for the upcoming League One season. A deposit includes exclusive access to club information, announcements, invitations to events and more, providing fans the opportunity to secure their seats for an exciting season ahead, further solidifying their connection to the club. The new jerseys, and other items in a brand-new line of merchandise, are now available online at WSC's website for ensuring that fans can proudly display their support for the club ahead of the season. For more information about the new jerseys, season ticket options, and upcoming events, please visit: https://www.westchestersc.com/ . About Westchester Soccer Club Westchester Soccer Club, Westchester's first homegrown professional sports team, will join USL One in the 2025 season. The club is dedicated to celebrating the region's profound love for soccer through exciting game experiences and community-focused events. With a strong commitment to nurturing local talent, WSC aims to build a world-class developmental pipeline for both boys and girls in Westchester. For more information and updates, follow WSC on social media: Twitter/X: @westchestersc • Instagram: @westchestersc • Facebook: @westchestersc Sign up for email updates at www.westchestersc.com Media Contact: Josh Vlasto josh@joshvlasto.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/westchester-soccer-club-debuts-new-home-kit-to-kick-off-upcoming-season-302317028.html SOURCE Westchester Soccer Club
Elon Musk has pledged unwavering support for the H-1B visa program, vowing to go to “war” to defend it. He credited the program for bringing “critical” foreign-born, highly skilled workers to the United States—individuals who he said have played pivotal roles. “Take a big step back and [expletive],” Musk continued. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Musk’s defense of the H-1B program comes as debates over immigration policy and workforce competitiveness intensify, with critics arguing the program undermines domestic job opportunities and proponents emphasizing its role in driving innovation and economic growth. During his first term, President Donald Trump imposed restrictions on foreign worker visas and expressed criticism of the program. However, his 2024 campaign signaled a potential shift, indicating a willingness to grant H-1B visas, or even green cards, to foreign-born workers who graduate from U.S. universities. In recent days, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to jointly lead Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have both ramped up their advocacy of American companies using H-1B visas to hire workers. “Trump’s election hopefully marks the beginning of a new golden era in America, but only if our culture fully wakes up,” Ramaswamy wrote on X. “A culture that once again prioritizes achievement over normalcy; excellence over mediocrity; nerdiness over conformity; hard work over laziness.” Musk’s and Ramaswamy’s views have sparked resistance both from factions within Trump’s political base and from conservatives more broadly. Former U.N. ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley weighed in, criticizing Ramaswamy’s comments and urging Trump to prioritize American workers over foreign-born talent. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, suggested there is common ground between tech industry leaders and immigration restrictionists regarding the H-1B visa program. “Increasing the share of new immigrants selected based on their skills—described as a ’merit-based' system—has long been a goal of President Trump,” Kirkorian wrote, adding that an “obvious win-win” would be to eliminate the visa lottery and what he described as “chain-migration” categories and reallocate roughly half of those visas to skilled categories. “This would result in both an increase in the number and share of new immigrants chosen for their skills and a reduction in the overall level of immigration,” he argued. The bill, which did not receive a vote in the Senate, aimed to cut levels of legal immigration to the United States by 50 percent, eliminating the current demand-driven model with a merit-based points system that gives points for factors such as education level, existing job offer, or extraordinary achievement such as a Nobel Prize. Canada and Australia use similar merit-based systems. Other legislative initiatives similar to RAISE have failed to advance.
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Riley scores 18, Utah Tech beats Denver 68-54
Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victoryUnion Minister for Energy U Ko Ko Lwin received the Russian delegation led by Mr Sholban Kara-Ool, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. During the meeting, they exchanged views on cooperation with Russian companies in promoting oil production rate using modern technologies in prolonged oil fields of Myanmar, investment in oil and gas exploration industry at inland and offshore blocks, potential of LNG distribution using the strategic location of Myanmar and LNG connection using completed pipeline network, import of crude oil and petroleum products, investment of Russian companies in establishment of refineries and fertilizer factories in Myanmar and upgrading of the existing factories, effective cooperation in the energy sector and human resource development initiatives. – MNA/KTZH
Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination. There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals. However, the biggest drama came at the Etihad Stadium, where City were cruising early in the second half with a three-goal advantage as they sought to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from a penalty just before half-time, and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected shot made it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Haaland struck again to make it 3-0, but Feyenoord's comeback began on 75 minutes when Anis Hadj Moussa took advantage of hapless defending to round goalkeeper Ederson and pull one back. Substitute Santiago Gimenez bundled in to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes and the equaliser arrived a minute from the end. Ederson was again caught out with Igor Paixao going around the goalkeeper and crossing for Slovak international David Hancko to head in. "We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable," complained Guardiola. "We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory." It is the first time that a team has gone into the last 20 minutes of a Champions League game trailing by three goals and still avoided defeat, as the point boosts the Dutch side's hopes of progressing. City are two points outside the top eight places which offer direct qualification for the last 16, while Bayern moved above them by beating PSG 1-0 in Munich. South Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before half-time, heading in after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov failed to clear a corner. PSG had Ousmane Dembele sent off in the second half and the French champions have just four points, and three goals, from five games. They are a lowly 26th in the 36-team league, a point adrift of the positions which offer a place in the play-off round in February. "We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated," admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique. Lewandowski notched his 100th goal in the competition with an early penalty in Barcelona's 3-0 home win over French side Brest. Dani Olmo netted midway through the second half before Lewandowski sealed Barca's win at the death, his 101st goal in the Champions League -- only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more. Inter lead the standings with 13 points, a point ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool, after a 1-0 win at home to RB Leipzig which means they are also still yet to concede a goal. Castello Lukeba's own goal made the difference at San Siro, and Leipzig are one of only three teams to have lost five games out of five. Arsenal romped to a 5-1 victory away to Sporting in Lisbon, as the Portuguese side adapt to life without coach Ruben Amorim, who has departed for Manchester United. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes all scored in the first half for Arsenal, before Goncalo Inacio pulled one back shortly after the restart. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty on 65 minutes after Martin Odegaard had been brought down, and Leandro Trossard headed in to seal Arsenal's win late on. Atalanta romped to a 6-1 win over rock-bottom Young Boys in Switzerland, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring braces. Sead Kolasinac and Lazar Samardzic also netted for the Italians, with Silvere Ganvoula getting the hosts' reply. Florian Wirtz struck twice, including a penalty, as Leverkusen crushed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a superb free-kick and Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia also netting. Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa each scored twice and Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann once as Atletico romped to a 6-0 win away to Sparta Prague. Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham were the scorers in AC Milan's 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava, whose goals came from Tigran Barseghyan and Nino Marcelli. Marko Tolic saw red at the end for Slovan, who are without a point. as/nf
Bryant defeats Tennessee State 97-85LISBON (Reuters) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was looking for a statement win from his side on Tuesday and got it as they brushed aside in-form Sporting Lisbon with a superb display in a 5-1 away Champions League victory. Arteta praised his team’s intelligent use of the ball and their tenacity against a Sporting team that beat Manchester City 4-1 in their previous Champions League outing and had won 17 of their previous 18 games in all competitions. “I’m very happy, it is a big result against a big opponent,” Arteta said. “We wanted to make a statement. I felt a really good energy before the match, but you have to put it into practice. “The first half was exceptional and gave us the platform to win the game. We were really clever and efficient in the way we attacked them. It is an important win for us.” Arsenal looked untouchable in the first half as they went into the break 3-0 up, but a goal early in the second period for Sporting changed the mood in the stadium until Bukayo Saka scored a fourth to swing the momentum their way once more. “The atmosphere was changing (when Sporting scored), they had belief, but after that we showed our personality to get on the ball again, to defend deeper if we needed to and the fourth goal changed it again,” Arteta said. “We have to enjoy it, playing in this competition against these sorts of team. I was pleased with how the performance flowed.” Arsenal had been in a mini-slump of three games without a win before a 3-0 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this past weekend. Backing up a victory with another dominant display is something they will have to do all season long if they are to be successful, according to Arteta. “We need the consistency, if you want to be going for championships then you have to win and win again. Today was a different type of game but we handled it well and let’s move on now,” he said. Arsenal are next in action on Saturday when they travel to West Ham United in the Premier League. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
TEHRAN – On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to peace and stability in Syria in response to recent accusations from the Arab League. In its recent statement, the Arab League accused Iran of interfering in Syria's internal matters, urging Tehran to "respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Responding to these allegations, Araghchi released a comprehensive statement in Arabic on X, outlining Iran's regional objectives and underscoring the nation's commitment to maintaining stability and order. “Like you, we aim to achieve stability, calm, and prevent chaos and disturbances in Syria,” he stated. The top diplomat elaborated on Iran's goals, highlighting the importance of preserving Syria's unity and territorial integrity, ensuring the security of all ethnic and sectarian groups, and protecting holy sites. Araghchi also emphasized the need to limit illegal arms, reject foreign intervention, and prevent Syria from becoming a base for terrorism. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the territories they had unlawfully seized and called for the establishment of a truly representative government in Syria. Moreover, the top diplomat emphasized that the ongoing regional chaos necessitates rational, inclusive, and collaborative strategies, cautioning against provocations that could incite sectarian conflict and justify foreign intervention. “Iran shares with other countries in the region a vision for a safe and peaceful transition towards an inclusive government in Syria with the participation of all ethnic groups,” Araghchi asserted. The foreign minister criticized those stirring up discord, pointing out that they attempt to fulfill their desires by blaming external forces for Syria's problems. He argued that such actions aim to legitimize continued occupation by the Israeli regime and the United States, justify foreign interference, and exclude certain Syrian groups from political participation. The foreign minister also highlighted the importance of avoiding divisiveness and sectional interests, stating, “Navigating the current turbulent period in the region requires rationality, participation, cooperation, and avoiding the stirring of conflicts and temporary interests.” Araghchi concluded by reiterating Iran's commitment to collaborating with other regional countries to create an inclusive government in Syria, indicating a readiness to support efforts in achieving this aim. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government earlier this month, recent developments in Syria have heightened uncertainties about the country's political future.Fighting Against Tree Felling.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Rafael Pinzon had 22 points in Bryant's 97-85 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday night. Pinzon shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 4 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line for the Bulldogs (4-3). Connor Withers scored 17 points while going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 4 for 9 from 3-point range, and 1 for 4 from the line. Keyshawn Mitchell finished 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points, while adding 13 rebounds.
Shoppers bemused as Easter eggs hit shop shelves before New Year’s EveSangeetha Sabhas play a vital role in nurturing music and musicians, serving as key institutions that uphold the cultural essence of society. Established in 1983 by Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji, JSS Sangeetha Sabha stands as a distinguished organisation dedicated to promoting classical music. Notably, it is the only Sabha in Mysuru that hosts Annual Music Conferences, showcasing Lecture-Demonstrations, performances by renowned musicians, musicologists, scholars and emerging talents. The Conference is conducted in memory of Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Swamiji, guided by Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, who is the Hon. President of the Sabha. During the Conference, the President of the Conference is honoured with the prestigious title ‘Sangeetha Vidyanidhi’ and the coveted ‘Sangeetha Seva Nidhi’ award is conferred upon an eminent classical musical promoter and organiser. In the 29th edition of this Conference, which will be held from Dec. 2 to 6 at Navajyothi Auditorium in the premises of JSS College for Women, Saraswathipuram, Mysuru, the veteran Vainika and renowned musician Prof. R. Visweswaran will be the Conference President and the well-known music patron P. Nityananda Rao will be honoured with the title ‘Sangeetha Seva Nidhi.’ SCHEDULE There will be two events a day — a lecture-demonstration in the morning at 10 am by eminent musicians and musicologists; In the evening, a one-hour slot from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm featuring young artistes, followed by the main concert for the day. Dec. 2 5.30 pm: The event will be inaugurated by A.S. Kiran Kumar, former Chairman, ISRO, in the presence of Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji. READ ALSO An evening with music... The title of ‘Sangeetha Seva Nidhi’ will be conferred on P. Nityananda Rao. Prof. N.K. Lokanath, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, will be the chief guest. Ramesh Kannan, MD of Kaynes Technology, who has been chosen as the new President of the Sabha, will preside. 7 pm: Venna recital by R. Visweswaran, accompanied by K.V. Prasad on mridanga and G.S. Ramanujan on ghata. Dec. 3 10 am: Lecture-Demonstrations – ‘Synthetic Indian Percussion Instruments’ by Dr. K. Varadarangan; ‘Ragamalika’ by Dr. R. Visweswaran. 5.30 pm: Vocal recital by Akshatha Rudrapatna, accompanied by Karthikeya Ramachandra on violin and Nandan Kashyap on mridanga. 6.30 pm: Vocal concert by S. Saketharaman, accompanied by Mathur R. Srinidhi on violin, Arjun Kumar on mridanga and Shamith Gowda on ghata. This concert is held in the memory of G.N. Setharamayya. Dec. 4 10 am: Lecture-Demonstrations – ‘Laya in Kannada Kavya’ by Krithika Sreenivasan; ‘The world of pallavis’ by Manasi Prasad. 5.30 pm: Veena Concert by Rakshita Ramesh, accompanied by K. Vishnuvardhana on mridanga. 6.30 pm: Vocal concert by Dr. Vidyabhushana, accompanied by Pradesh Achar on violin, V. Praveen on mridanga and B.S. Raghunandan on ghata. This concert is held in memory of B.S. Rajagopal. Dec. 5 10 am: Lecture-Demonstrations – ‘Grahabedha’ by Rao R. Sharath; ‘Intricacies of Mridanga playing’ by B.C. Manjunath. 5.30 pm: Flute concert by K.P. Pranav, accompanied by Rupanagudi Ratna Teja on violin and Pranav Subrahmanya on mridanga. 6.30 pm: Chitraveena concert by N. Ravikiran, accompanied by Gayatri Sivani on violin, H.S. Sudhindra on mridanga and Sharath Kaushik on ghata. READ ALSO Mysuru ‘Ninada Griha Sangeet’ series held Dec. 6 5.30 pm: Vocal concert by Bhargavi Venkatram, accompanied by Vaibhav Ramani on violin and B.S. Prashanth on mridanga. 7.30 pm: The valedictory function will commence in the presence of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, in which Prof. Visweswaran will be conferred the title of ‘Sangeetha Vidya Nidhi.’ The valedictory speech will be delivered by T.S. Satyavathi. MLA M. Krishnappa will be the chief guest. The event will be presided over by violinist Vid. Mysore Nagaraj. P. Nityananda Rao Prof. R. Visweswaran Sangeetha Vidyanidhi Star cultural sceneManchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination. There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals.
Alan Hughes dead: Legendary ‘Voice of Snooker’ behind Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White’s nicknames passes awayInside Ellie Leach's life from Coronation Street rise to Strictly win and famous family