PARKER: Black and Hispanic women should be eyeing path to prosperity
TEHRAN – Science, Research, and Technology Minister, Hossein Simaei-Sarraf, has announced the country’s readiness to establish a joint science and technology park in Iraq. The official also expressed Iran's interest in attracting talented and motivated Iraqi students, particularly to the universities of border cities. “We have only set the condition that the Iraqi students are required to study in Persian,” Simaei-Sarraf said, adding that the Iraqi administration has welcomed the condition, IRNA reported. He made the remarks on Tuesday in a meeting with Haider Abd Dahed, the Iraqi deputy minister of higher education. Both officials emphasized their interests in expanding scientific ties through exchanging students, research, and technology. During the meeting, the Iraqi official proposed granting 100 scholarships to Iranian students to study in Iraq. Referring to Iran’s successful experiences in the development of the technology ecosystem, Dahed said, “We have taken Iran’s experience as a role model in establishing science and technology parks, and in this regard, have passed regulations in the parliament.” The potential of establishing a joint science and technology park in Iraq has been examined by experts and will be finalized at the joint meeting of Iran-Iraq universities in Karbala, the Iraqi official noted. Referring to the significant number of Iraqi students in Iran, Dahed said, “We would like Iraqi students to study in Persian to get more familiar with Iranian culture and knowledge.” Simaei-Sarraf, for his part, said the Iranian faculty members and post-graduate students can take sabbaticals in Iraq as one of the possible ways to further develop scientific relations between the two countries. The official also welcomed Dahed’s proposal for attracting Iranian students in case necessary measures are taken to lay the grounds for their education in Iraq. In the end, Dahed, on behalf of the Iraqi minister of higher education, invited Simaei-Sarraf to attend the joint meeting of Iran-Iraq universities which is planned to be held in Karbala. On Monday, Omid Rezaei-Far, an official with the Iranian science ministry, held a meeting with Dahed. Highlighting the importance of developing scientific and technological relations between the two neighboring countries, Rezaei-Far said the country’s universities hold the capacity to accept more Iraqi students. The Iraqi official, for his part, said visiting Iran’s scientific, technological, and innovative activities can be a good experience for Iraqi students. Referring to close relationships between the two countries, the official stressed the need to eliminate obstacles to scientific interactions. Rezaei-Far also said the exchange of professors and students, the establishment of joint science and technology parks, and the implementation of joint research projects, can develop strategic partnership between the two ministries. He went on to say that the implementation of decisions made by the joint scientific committee of the two countries, and the working groups in technology, innovation and research projects, along with the approval of agreed-upon regulations by the parties, will enhance cooperation between the two countries. Developing scientific and technological ties can address the challenges of Iraqi students studying in Iran, and boost cultural and scientific relations between Iran and Iraq, Rezaei-Far noted. MT/MG
Rogers Provides Update on Its Acquisition of Bell's 37.5% Stake in MLSEA SECOND top Nat has been caught up in another freebies row — after he was chauffeured to the Scottish Open in a government limo. Tories blasted Dr Alasdair Allan’s trip to watch home golfing hero Robert MacIntyre’s victory, insisting it had nothing to do with his role as Climate Change Minister. 3 It comes weeks after Health Secretary Neil Gray was forced to explain his limo trips Credit: Alamy 3 The minister attended the event where Scot Robert MacIntyre triumphed Credit: Getty Our revelation comes weeks after Health Secretary Neil Gray faced calls to explain trips to Aberdeen matches in ministerial motors . Scots Tories’ deputy leader Rachael Hamilton hit out: “It looks like Neil Gray’s got company when it comes to taking the public for a ride. “Alasdair Allan must explain why he thought he could charge taxpayers for a jolly which is completely outwith his job description. “If he wanted to watch the world’s leading golfers, he should have paid for it out of his own pocket.” Read More Scpttish Politics LAW VOW SNP government will 'consider' creating new offence for non-fatal strangulation CON THE BUS SNP ministers 'quietly ditch' bus pledge as funding cut by 98 per cent We can reveal papers show the MSP was driven to the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, East Lothian, on July 14 — the last day of the £7million PGA Tour showdown. His trip was listed as an official ministerial visit to a “major event”. But no press releases were issued about the jaunt to the tournament, won by MacIntyre, from Oban, Argyll . There was also no official justification for the visit or how it fell under his remit. Most read in The Scottish Sun LOCKED DOWN Police & paramedics swarm busy Glasgow retail park as they seal off areaa lew's new love Lewis Capaldi grows close to influencer as they party with Noel Gallagher STRIP SEARCH Gers ‘to ditch Castore for major kit brand' next season but there’s a catch CRYSTAL BALL Celtic vs Rangers score predictions as SunSport writers have their say And questions were asked about the lack of official pictures that are typically issued of ministers at high-profile outings. It has also emerged Sports Minister Maree Todd enjoyed a two-night trip to Wimbledon at taxpayers’ expense in July, with a hotel costing £213 and a return train ticket an extra £194. EXPLAINED: Scottish Budget 2024, what do the SNP's spending plans mean for you? We told last month how Dons-supporting Mr Gray admitted he’d appeared to act “more as a fan and less as a minister” after taking official limos to nine football games. Minutes and guest lists from the trips were released earlier this week. But there were no official notes for several of the matches. Mr Gray was also blasted for going to the premiere of Saoirse Ronan movie The Outrun in Edinburgh . Last night the Scottish Government said Dr Allan had been invited by Scottish Open chiefs who saw “sustainability” as a “key consideration”. A spokesman added: “He met with stakeholders, including the GEO Foundation — an international not-for-profit organisation that supports and rewards sustainability action. 3 Dr Alasdair Allan took a limo trip to watch home golf hero Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open Credit: Alamy “He also toured the site to learn more about sustainability initiatives. Read more on the Scottish Sun BATTY WEATHER Record-breaking snow & temps on the way for Scotland as expert issues warning GER KIDDING Tottenham fans blast ex-Spurs star as he's spotted wildly celebrating Gers goal Ministers attending events in a ministerial capacity are entitled to use government transport . All costs are in accordance with travel and subsistence policies.”According to a report by global real estate services firm JLL, millennials and Gen Z are expected to make up around 60% of new homebuyers in India by 2030. The study also anticipates an increase in urban homeownership rates from 65% in 2020 to around 72% by 2025. This increase is expected to be driven by affordable financing and a younger demographic entering the housing market. India's housing market set for significant transformation Ritesh Mehta, Senior Director and Head (North and West), Residential Services and Developer Initiative at JLL India, expects India's housing market to undergo a major transformation by 2025. The change will be fueled by rapid urbanization, technological innovations, and changing consumer preferences. Further, Tier II and III cities like Jaipur , Indore , Kochi are expected to drive over 40% of new housing developments by 2025. Housing sector's contribution to GDP and market growth The JLL report also predicts that the housing sector will contribute 13% to India's GDP by 2025. The sector is expected to develop into a $1 trillion market by 2030, driven by demographic changes, policy reforms, and global trends. Sustainability is now considered a necessity, not a luxury, in the housing market, with green-certified buildings expected to constitute 30% of new residential projects by 2025. Demand for sustainable development and smart homes The JLL report also highlights the increased demand for sustainable development, smart homes, and tech-integrated living spaces. It also notes that affordable housing initiatives are gaining traction in the market. In 2024, sustainability has become a critical factor influencing property values and buyer decisions. Green building certifications like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are becoming more common as the real estate industry prioritizes sustainability. Residential sales in India see significant increase While the demand for smart homes and tech-integrated living spaces is skyrocketing, budget-friendly housing continues to be a key focus in India. The number of residential units sold during 2024, which amounts to about 85% of the total units sold during the entire 2023. 2024 witnessed a phenomenal 17% increase in sales compared to the same period in 2023. This upward trajectory in demand paved the way for sustained growth in India's residential asset class, JLL's report stated.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Tafara Gapare scored 19 points, freshman Derik Queen had 15 points and eight rebounds and Maryland beat Bucknell 91-67 on Wednesday night. Maryland opened the game on a 15-2 run, extended it to 25-7 with 10:38 left and led 51-28 at the break. The Terrapins led by at least 16 points the entire second half, which included runs of 12-0 and 9-0. Gapare scored the 10 straight points during the second-half run. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest sports news delivered right to your inbox six days a week.
Mark Vancil has been called “Michael Jordan’s Boswell.” For more than 30 years that has been the case and it all began when Vancil, a native of far west suburban and charming Sycamore, was a young sportswriter covering the Bulls and their rookie named Jordan for the Chicago Sun-Times. Vancil had come to the paper after getting a journalism degree at Northern Illinois University and working at such newspapers as Florida’s Clearwater Sun and St. Petersburg Times, DeKalb’s Chronicle and the Aurora Beacon-News. “When I came to the Sun-Times in 1984, the Bulls weren’t good, so they took a chance on this young guy,” he told me last week, “I think Michael and I became friends, in part, because I never asked him for anything.” Vancil would soon leave the Sun-Times to cover the NBA for the short-lived sports daily The National. But he never lost touch with Jordan. “I had been thinking about writing books since I was young and finally in Jordan I came upon the perfect subject,” he told me. “I pitched the idea in the late ‘80s and nothing happened. Then in 1992, I was ready.” He was in Southern California, where Michael was practicing with the so-called U.S. “Dream Team” for the Olympics. “We were a stairwell, and he tells me he is going to quit and play baseball,” Vancil says. “I realized that the next season could be his last in the NBA, the timing was perfect for a book.” Vancil explained his idea, telling Jordan, “I can guarantee you a million dollars.” Jordan smiled and said, “You’ve got a million dollars?” “Not yet,” said Vancil. They made a deal, orchestrated an innovative publishing venture and in 1993 the world had “Rare Air: Michael on Michael,” with dozens of striking photos by acclaimed Walter Iooss Jr. and words from Jordan. “This was Michael’s book, his words. I interviewed him all over (on tape) and put it together,” Vancil says. The book was a sensation. It is estimated to have sold more than 2.5 million copies. (You can now find autographed copies online for, oh my, many thousands of dollars.) This success spawned a publishing company called Rare Air Media. Vancil also wrote books about Ken Griffey Jr., Mario Andretti, Dan Marino and musician Johnny Cash. His latest, just published, is unlike the rest but certainly benefits from Vancil’s experiences and opinions. It is a thought-provoking marvel titled “The Last Excellent Man: The Meaning of Our Jordan Year,” which is a bit about Jordan but also a lot else. In it, there is Vancil’s near dust-up with Oprah, the quiet visits Jordan would make to local children’s hospitals, “acts of kindness personal and executed quietly”; and thoughts on politics, technology, sports gambling. Though Vancil, in his self-effacing manner, writes “readers (will) notice that parts of my life string through these pages ... the attention to my own life in these pages is uncomfortable.” Sorry he feels that way but having him pepper the book is what gives it its special kick, its authoritativeness, its philosophical potency as in “The connection between people and their inner lives is largely misunderstood, if acknowledged at all. Yet, it appears to be the source of Jordan’s on-court theatrics, (Taylor) Swift’s three-and-a-half-hour performances, and the soulful countenance with which both travel.” There is no specific “man” referred to in the title, and many men and women are discussed, including Caitlin Clark, Muhammad Ali and Steve Jobs. One of the most moving portions deals with the murder of James Jordan, Michael’s father, whose body was discovered on Aug. 13, 1993, by a fisherman in a South Carolina swamp. I learned things, such as that race car driver Mario Andretti “could pick out his wife in the infield while maneuvering a Ferrari around the track’s 17 turns, sometimes at 180 miles an hour.” I was especially grabbed when Vancil addresses “America’s peculiar desire to attack what it previously cheered.” He writes of the theories surrounding Jordan’s first “retirement,” and how any involved would have had to craft “one of the greatest conspiracies in the history of conspiracies, and then maintained a Black Ops level silence for more than 30 years.” I had not seen Vancil in some time before we sat down last week and our conversation was filled with memories of the newspaper business and the names of mutual friends, such as his high school friend and former Sun-Times and New York Times writer Dirk Johnson. Another of those ink-stained pals, Ron Rapoport, told me, “I remember when Mark was one of us at the Sun-Times, scuffling to get athletes’ quotes and trying to make deadlines, and then all of a sudden he became this journalistic colossus explaining the phenomenon of Michael Jordan to the world. Did James Boswell know as much about Samuel Johnson as Mark does about Jordan? I wonder.” I was happy to hear that Vancil and his wife Laura, who runs a granola company, have been married for more than three decades and have four grown children, often dropping into the family home in the suburbs. And, born storyteller that he is, he told me, “Laura and I went on our first date in mid-January 1993. After dinner, she suggested extending the night at the Old Town Ale House. I was hooked. So, for symmetry, a while later we stopped into the Ale House on our way to a family event, put Patsy Cline on the jukebox, got down on a knee at the bar, and that was that. We were married on Sept. 4.” He still talks to Jordan. They are friends. “Yes,” Vancil says. “Of course our lives have diverged.” He smiles and then says, “For one thing, Michael’s a multi-billionaire and I’m not.” And that’s OK. Money isn’t everything. rkogan@chicagotribune.comYoung Thug’s Request To Modify Probation Terms Partially Granted