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This Week in B2B: New Year, New Back-Office Innovations
Sentrycs Concludes a Year of Record Growth with its C-UAS Technology Capable of Addressing the Growing Drone Threat Across Four Continents TEL AVIV, Israel , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentrycs, a technology leader in the Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) industry, announced today its continued progress globally within the public safety market. The company recently closed agreements with two new law enforcement organizations, including one in North America . These new agreements will deliver core protocol manipulation sensor solutions across a wide variety of scenarios, from fixed sites to vehicle-mounted (mobile) operations. The deals mark another significant milestone for the company, which has seen its business quadruple, year over year, along with continued adoption of its pioneering technology which is now deployed across sensitive facilities and strategic assets worldwide. The company has seen a noticeable spike in C-UAS interest heading into 2025, especially as in recent weeks, concerns have grown over unexplained drone sightings throughout several east coast states in the US. These sightings have prompted calls from both officials and citizens for swift action to identify and mitigate these mysterious flights. Unregulated or malicious drone activity poses significant risks to public safety and critical infrastructure, ranging from unauthorized surveillance and smuggling to potential terrorist threats where commercially available drones can quickly and inexpensively be weaponized. Addressing these challenges requires sophisticated solutions capable of countering such threats effectively while ensuring no interference with other communication systems that rely on the same frequency bands as the drones themselves. Sentrycs' solution is one of the few available technologies that addresses these challenges head-on, offering reliable and field-proven capability designed to safeguard public safety with no collateral damage. Leveraging proprietary technology, Sentrycs' passively detects, identifies and tracks drones, significantly reducing the possibility of false detections, a constant challenge encountered with other technologies. The platform also allows the operator to mitigate (or neutralize) the drone in seconds, directing it to a designated safe landing spot or returning the device to its original home location, avoiding the need for kinetic engagements that often cause collateral damage. "Recent events here in the US, specifically those in New Jersey really highlight the need to monitor unregulated drone activity, as it poses significant risks to public safety and critical infrastructure. Every single day our technology is supporting missions to monitor or mitigate illegal drone activity. Our global footprint means we address a variety of threats from ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) to enable human trafficking and drug smuggling, to even improvised explosive devices being delivered by the drones themselves" said Jason Moore , Chief Revenue Officer at Sentrycs. "Addressing these challenges demands sophisticated solutions that counter such threats immediately and effectively without interfering with critical communication systems or causing collateral damage" About Sentrycs Founded in 2017, Sentrycs is a leader in integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology, providing innovative solutions for drone threat detection and mitigation. The company is dedicated to advancing C-UAS technology through continuous research and development, ensuring its products remain at the forefront of the industry. With its solutions deployed across four continents, Sentrycs is committed to safeguarding public safety and critical infrastructure worldwide. CONTACT: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2585358/Sentrycs_Counter_Drone.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2422730/5087617/Sentrycs_Logo.jpg SOURCE Sentrycs
Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020If you’re new to snowboarding, you may not realize the importance of a solid pair of snowboard bindings. In reality, this piece of gear does more than just secure your boots to the snowboard. Bindings are responsible for transferring the power from your legs to the board, allowing improved control and comfort. A quality pair of bindings could last for years, so the decision to buy is a big one. For snowboard bindings that are durable, lightweight and comfortable, check out the BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings . Some snowboard bindings are better suited for certain riding styles. Consider how you plan to use your snowboard before settling on a specific pair of bindings. If you’re not sure, try renting some gear for a day and see how the bindings feel on the slopes. Many snowboard manufacturers include a 1 to 10 flexibility rating with their bindings. A high number indicates stiff bindings, while a low number is assigned to bindings that are particularly soft and flexible. Most snowboard bindings have straps that secure the ankle and toe sections of your boots to the board. The ankle straps keep you in a flexible yet fixed position when you lean forward onto your toes, while the toe straps keep your feet in place when you lean back. Padding is used on snowboard bindings to absorb some of the shock caused by bumpy runs. Think about your riding style when deciding how much padding you need. Mounts secure the bindings to the board. You can use mounting screws to attach the bindings and adjust the foot positioning to your preference. Just like a snowboard, snowboard bindings come in a wide variety of different colors and patterns. If you want a cohesive look, pick out bindings that match the rest of your gear. When shopping for snowboard gear online, try to purchase from well-known brands like Burton, Salomon or Rossignol. Cheap snowboard bindings from an obscure manufacturer might be tempting, but you could find yourself with an inferior product once you hit the slopes. The cost of snowboard bindings can vary depending on the brand name and the quality of the parts. Beginner and intermediate snowboarders can expect to pay around $100-$250 for a quality pair of bindings, while advanced snowboard bindings regularly exceed $300. A. Most snowboard bindings are sold in two to five size options. Look at the model’s sizing chart and compare it with your boot size to find bindings that fit you. A. Yes. Although there are women’s snowboard bindings that advertise particular design features, snowboard bindings are universal. This means you can choose any pair you want, as long as they’re the right size. BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Despite being advertised as men’s snowboard bindings, these bindings use advanced technology to deliver quality support and performance for any rider. What you’ll love: Backed by Burton’s legendary reputation, these snowboard bindings offer an advanced level of performance, control and comfort in a stylish package. The padding has a gel to absorb extra shock, and the bindings come in five color options. What you should consider: These bindings might be too expensive for beginner and intermediate riders. Salomon Pact Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: These versatile bindings are durable and affordable enough for almost any rider. What you’ll love: A solid choice for beginners, these snowboard bindings have a rear-entry design with high-quality straps for fine adjustments. Many users note their durability and comfort during long days of riding. What you should consider: These bindings have a limited number of size options, and the mounting discs may not attach to every board type. BURTON Grom Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Designed for kids and small snowboarders, these popular bindings have a solid construction and reasonable price tag. What you’ll love: Perfect for young riders hitting the slopes for the first time, these beginner bindings are compatible with most snowboard mounting systems and feature a single-component baseplate for consistent control and responsiveness. They’re also available in two sleek color options, black and white. What you should consider: Some users questioned the quality and longevity of the bindings’ highback. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Voice biometrics liveness detection software from has passed a test evaluating compliance to the international standard for presentation attack detection (PAD) testing for level 1 spoofs by . The test of Veridas ECHO’s compliance to the ISO/IEC 30107-3 standard required it to successfully block 100 percent of spoof attacks presented. Veridas says ECHO is the first voice solution on the market to pass the test, in which voices were played through a loudspeaker. The company says ECHO can detect real recorded voices, as tested by iBeta, and also synthetic voices, which are out of scope of the level 1 PAD evaluation. The test was carried out with Veridas Shield v0.1.0 running on an iPhone 12, according to the compliance from iBeta. ECHO combines anti-spoofing software, which launched in August, with real-time voice analysis and privacy-by-design principles, according to the announcement, for seamless, secure and reliable identity verification. Veridas emphasizes in the release that its adherence to the strictest privacy standards gives organizations the confidence to embrace voice biometrics to reduce fraud and detect deepfakes. ECHO itself was in October. At that time, the company called out an emerging opportunity stemming from what it described as major players in the voice market that are not primarily focused on identity exiting the space. “Veridas ECHO is not just a voice solution—it’s a leap forward in security and innovation,” said Javier San Agustín, CTO of Veridas. “Successfully completing the iBeta evaluation highlights Veridas’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of biometric technology to deliver solutions prioritizing trust, safety, and user experience. This accomplishment represents a huge milestone not only for Veridas but for the voice biometrics industry as a whole.” NIST held an assessment of in 2021, with Veridas scoring high marks, and the company published a late last year. Veridas’ passed iBeta’s PAD level 2 compliance test back in 2022. | | | | | | | |Phillies add depth to bullpen with $4 million, 1-year deal for reliever Joe RossWorkers in Southern California’s lesser-compensated counties are getting the bigger pay hikes. My trusty spreadsheet reviewed quarterly wage stats from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics for the second quarter, focusing on details for 29 California counties and seven from Southern California. The 9.9 million local workers collectively saw annualized earnings rise 3.6% in 12 months to an average $75,600 annual wage. By the way, Southern California’s workforce is roughly the size of all the employees in New York state or the Netherlands. Let’s start with paying the Inland Empire and its big logistics industries. Across San Bernardino County, annual wages rose 5.3% in a year to $62,504 for 837,800 workers. That’s the region’s biggest raise – but its only eighth-best out of the among 29 California counties tracked by the report. Meanwhile, neighboring Riverside County had 4.3% increases (No. 14 statewide) to $59,384 for 836,100 workers. And in Santa Barbara County, an economy heavy with hospitality jobs, wages were up 4.7% (No. 9 statewide) to $67,496 for 222,400 workers. Now, let’s contrast those raises better-paid parts of Southern California. These counties have higher concentrations of workers at technology and business-services companies. Orange County’s one-year raises averaged 4.2% (No. 15 statewide) to $78,312 for 1.65 million workers. Los Angeles County pay was up 4.1% increase (No. 16) to $79,768 for 4.5 million workers. In Ventura County, there was a 3.2% increase (No. 19) to $68,068 for 339,100 workers. And then contemplate San Diego County, with the region’s best pay. These 1.54 million workers got the smallest raises statewide – only a 0.1% increase to $79,352. Stronger raises at the bottom of the pay spectrum earlier in 2024 likely reflect hikes in various minimum wages and continued staffing challenges for bosses in lower-paying industries. Southern California pay hikes were significantly below what bosses handed out in nine Bay Area counties, which amounted to 6.1% increases to $138,900-a-year wage for 4 million workers. By the way, the state’s biggest raises were in Santa Clara County – a 10% jump to $188,864 for its 1.1 million workers. Southern California also trailed 13 other California counties in the study, where collectively pay was up 4% in a year to $64,300 for 3.1 million workers. Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com Some of my popular tales of 2024 ...
Share Tweet Share Share Email December 19, 2024 – Roam, the leader of decentralized global open wireless network, announced a major milestone today: the Roam Network has surpassed 1 million active WiFi nodes , supported by over 1.7 million registered users across 190+ countries and regions . This achievement highlights Roam’s continued success in delivering innovative solutions to create a free,secure and seamless network . At its inception in 2021, Roam identified the challenges faced by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) in scaling OpenRoamingTM globally. By integrating Web3 technologies , including Decentralized Identifiers (DID) and Verifiable Credentials (VC) , Roam has fostered community-driven growth and secured its position as a pioneer in the DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) sector. 2025 Roadmap: Accelerating Innovation Across Products, Technology, and Ecosystem Roam also unveiled its ambitious 2025 roadmap , outlining 11 key updates spanning product ,technology and community ecosystem growth. Product Updates Roam will roll out four major product launches: Q1: Roam Loan – A groundbreaking initiative in partnership with Huma Finance , enabling users to acquire mining hardware with low/none upfront costs. Payments are seamlessly deducted from mining rewards, ensuring a user-friendly “Buy Now, Pay Later” experience. Q2: Roam Growth – Enhancements to the Roam Growth platform, introducing a sustainable framework to maximize user rewards and upgrade the existing product suite. Q3: Roam App 2.0 – A revamped app delivering a richer, more interactive user experience with expanded connectivity features. Q4: Roam Innovator Hub – A comprehensive platform offering APIs , SDKs , and grants to empower developers to build and innovate within the Roam ecosystem. Technological Advancements Roam’s technology roadmap emphasizes seamless integration and performance: Proof of Presence Protocol (Q1) – Real-time validation and verification of local interactions within the Roam Network. Router OS Updates & Next-Gen WiFi Miners (Q3) – Launch of new WiFi mining devices, including third-party certified hardware and OpenRoamingTM-enabled community devices. Fully Converged Wireless Network (Q4) – Integration of WiFi and cellular data networks to enable seamless, uninterrupted global roaming. Community Ecosystem Expansion To strengthen its global user base, Roam will introduce: Roam eSIM Long-Term Plan (Q1) – An industry-first eSIM offering with no expiration, no binding commitments, and no monthly fees, providing ultimate convenience for users worldwide. Roam Discovery Program (H1) – A suite of initiatives, including Discovery Pool , Discovery IMPACT , and the Discovery Incubator , designed to attract industry leaders, investors, and innovators. Community DAO Governance (H2) – A decentralized governance framework that empowers users to participate actively in shaping the Roam Network’s future. A Year of Strategic Growth and Recognition Roam’s commitment to steady, incremental progress has driven its exceptional growth. In 2023, Roam secured $5 million in strategic funding , led by Anagram and Volt Capital , with participation from Comma3 Ventures , ECMC Group , and continued support from early investors Synergis and SNZ . In April 2024 Samsung Next made a notable investment in Roam, which also made it the only investment from Samsung Next in this sector since DePIN had been defined by Messari. This year, Roam’s hardware node count maintained its leadership position on DePINscan , and the network’s expansion to over 1 million nodes underscores its effectiveness in bridging Web3 innovation with real-world connectivity solutions. Building the Future of Global Connectivity As Roam looks ahead to 2025, the team remains steadfast in its mission to provide secure, seamless, and accessible global connectivity. With a user base spanning over 190 countries, Roam continues to transform WiFi and cellular networks, empowering communities and developers to create sustainable digital economies. Roam’s journey from 0 to 1 million nodes reflects their commitment to building a truly decentralized global network. The 2025 Roadmap marks the next phase of growth, delivering cutting-edge products, breakthrough technologies, and a thriving ecosystem to meet the evolving needs of the users worldwide. About Roam Roam is a DePIN open wireless network engaging OpenRoaming & eSIM technologies to create a free, secure & seamless decentralized global network . With over 1.7 million users in 190+ countries, Roam is dedicated to creating innovative products and tools that empower communities, developers, and the ecosystem. Related Items: decentralized global network , Roam Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Roam Ranks #1 on DePINscan, Paving the Way for DePIN’s Future Roam Revolutionizes Travel Connectivity: A Milestone of 1 Million Users Roam Telecom Data Layer: A Revolutionary Ecosystem Uniting People, Devices, and Data CommentsLucky Crypto Trader Who Made $340M on Shiba Inu (SHIB) in 2021 Predicts 2025's Millionaire-Maker Coin
H-1B rejig to have mixed impact on Indian IT, studentsSave articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Hold onto your bookmarks. The list of our 10 most-loved books published since 2000 spans the literary, experimental and translated as well as true crime, science fiction and memoir genres. Some will make you cry, others will make you laugh – the best will have you doing both. Choosing only 10 books from 25 years means there are notable absences, but the list offers a sketch of the books that have shaped us and our world since the start of the millennium. Our writers, critics and editors were asked to consider their personal favourites – the books that will always have a place on their shelves – as well as quality, influence and legacy. How many have you read? Austerlitz, W G Sebald (2001) W G Sebald was the German master who invented contemporary “faction”, and Austerlitz is the last of his longer works and the one which most resembles a novel. The main character shares a name with the famous Napoleonic battle and he speaks in moody and melancholic arias of desolation over a period that stretches from the 1960s to the 1990s. Austerlitz hates the aggressive brutality of the architecture of Antwerp and exhibits a depth of melancholy that is the basic idiom of his self-delineation and Sebald’s characterisation. This is a mutation of fiction which has the self-validating intensity of great poetry. Austerlitz is a labyrinth of a book in which dream worlds and real worlds shatter and collide. It’s manifestly a masterpiece, perhaps the very greatest of those works which insinuate and actualise the way in which the mind transfigured the world it depicts. Peter Craven Blankets , Craig Thompson (2003) There was once a time when comic books were considered child’s play – throwaway fluff for the emotionally and socially stunted. At the turn of the millennium, the great graphic novels boom happened and suddenly everyone realised they’d unfairly dismissed the literary potential of books with pictures. Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis , Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home were among the era’s most acclaimed titles, alongside my moody favourite Craig Thompson’s Blankets – a romantic and melancholic coming-of-age story charting the author’s world-opening first love and spirited questioning of his religious upbringing. It all plays like a Softies song – deeply evocative and earnest and reflective, Thompson’s snow-dotted panels are filled with the sort of quiet space that stops you in your tracks repeatedly, something run-on sentences could never do. As my copy’s coffee-stained jacket, quoting Pulitzer winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer, somewhat defensively suggests: “I’d call that literature.” Robert Moran Joe Cinque’s Consolation: A True Story of Death, Grief and the Law, Helen Garner (2004) These days, we’re inundated with true crime content — podcasts, documentaries, books and TV shows — but none come close to the moral inquiry, literary craftsmanship and utter elegance of Helen Garner’s Joe Cinque’s Consolation . The non-fiction work follows the murder trial of Anu Singh, a law student at ANU in Canberra, and her best friend, who were accused of murdering Singh’s boyfriend, engineering student Joe Cinque, in 1997 with a lethal dose of heroin and Rohypnol. Singh had allegedly organised two dinner parties before the murder, hinting to her friends about her plans, but none intervened. Garner’s work avoids easy conclusions and oversimplification, combining sharp analysis with deep empathy to transform a personal tragedy into a universal exploration of justice, grief and human frailty. If only this self-reflective, philosophical book was the standard for all works about true criminal cases. Melanie Kembrey Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (2005) Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are special children growing up in a curiously old-fashioned boarding school with kind teachers. Already the place and time is lit with a nostalgic glow. Kathy, now an adult, looks back without rancour on those formative years and the close ties with her two friends. Gradually, the world surrounding the school is revealed. You may see the twist coming, but it doesn’t matter, because Never Let Me Go is unexpected in different ways. Kazuo Ishiguro ’s delicate handling transcends his science fiction premise and in simple understated language graced with dignified euphemisms tells us a complex and profoundly moving love story. The reader may be shocked and angry, but the characters never are, and we respect that. Kathy’s memories add up to a meditation on human connection, what we can keep and what we have to lose. The last scene, in which Kathy contemplates rubbish flapping on a barbed wire fence, has never left me. Jane Sullivan Ten must-read books published since 2000. A Visit from The Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan (2010) “Time’s a goon, you gonna let that goon push you around?” says Scotty Hausman. He’s a failed guitarist who leaves a dead fish in the office of a friend whose success he resents in A Visit from the Goon Squad , Jennifer Egan’s ode to Proust by way of The Sopranos that I devoured when it came out. Egan’s kaleidoscopic 2010 novel follows unforgettable characters including a kleptomaniac called Sasha Blake and Bennie Salazar, a punk rocker-turned-ageing record executive who sprinkles gold flakes in his morning coffee in a bid to feel again. It’s often praised for its formal daring: its interlocked narratives shuttle back and forth and one of its best chapters is written as a PowerPoint presentation. But to me, the novel’s ability to evoke time’s quieter tragedies — the ghosts of youth, the slow sapping of desire, the choices that distance us from those we most love – that make it profound. Neha Kale My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante (2011) The Italian novelist Elena Ferrante is an elusive figure. The name is a pen-name; Ferrante’s true identity is officially unknown. What we know is that she has published a quartet of evidently autobiographical novels, collectively called the Neapolitan Novels, which prove that fiction in the 21st century can still scale the exhilarating heights that Proust scaled in the 20th. My Brilliant Friend , the disturbing and beautiful first book of Ferrante’s sequence, centres on the narrator’s childhood friendship with the unforgettable Lila. Both girls are ambitious and courageous; both struggle to transcend the limits of the oppressively male world around them. Like Proust, Ferrante has an uncanny memory. She recalls the passions and traumas of her girlhood as if they happened yesterday. The story she tells is in one sense local and particular. But she tells it with a piercing urgency that transforms it into something universal, which has resonated with millions of readers worldwide. David Free Conversations with Friends, Sally Rooney (2017) Before every book marketed to Millennial women became stamped with a cursory “for fans of Sally Rooney”, there was Conversations With Friends , the book that kicked off the Irish author’s career and, arguably, an entire literary genre. Despite having released three novels since – each a success in their own right – Conversations is still Rooney at her best. Ultimately, this is a book about relationships: the friendship between college students, poets and former lovers Frances and Bobbi; the marriage between alluring older couple Melissa and Nick; the addictive and, honestly very hot, love affair of Frances and Nick; and the bloodied relationship between Frances and her body. Being a Rooney fan may have become somewhat of a cliche (though one much less painful than that of her literary haters, in my opinion), but there’s no denying this book changed what we considered possible in fiction for, and about, young women. Gyan Yankovich Hit So Hard, Patty Schemel (2017) I’m sorry, but Patty Schemel’s memoir of drugs, sex(uality) and existential annihilation is rock and roll. The prose is clean, rigorous and every bit as pacy as Schemel’s drums thrashing and churning during Live Through This . You don’t necessarily need to care about Seattle grunge, riot grrrl, textured portraits of Kurt Cobain (whose pathos Schemel perfectly evokes here) or exactly what it’s like to throw a puppy-shaped backpack full of Anne Rice paraphernalia at Courtney Love, to appreciate this memoir. Just savour the unexpected, ambient turns of phrase (an addict’s excuses and escape plans, their little bouts of salvation bargaining: the “geographic cure”; Courtney Love playing Melbourne’s Big Day Out with Hole: a “radiant nightmare”.) There is, too, the affecting gallows humour, as in the unexpected punchline to a story of someone casually injecting heroin in their neck during casual conversation; or the eerie moment Schemel, watching the news, sees her own picture displayed during reports of the death of a fellow Hole member. Dumpster-diving, so to speak, through LA dreams and Madonna’s garbage, all while maintaining the kind of stoicism Marcus Aurelius would kill for, Schemel’s voice – graceful, resonant, beguiling – convinced me that, sometimes, the only way out is through. Declan Fry My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh (2018) My Year of Rest and Relaxation is an exercise in hypnotised reading. Such is the skill of Ottessa Moshfegh, taking us through the story of an appallingly beautiful 26-year old woman who embarks on an ambitious self-imposed quarantine to sleep for a year. The unnamed narrator is a rich, skinny orphaned elite. She approaches her voluntary isolation with the focus of a cyclist about to tackle the Tour de France. It’s mid-June 2000 when her drug-induced hibernation begins. “I didn’t do much in my waking hours besides watch movies,” she announces in the opening pages. Her dogged attempts to detach herself from reality are thwarted (or aided) by a pair of hilarious sidekicks – her psychiatrist, Dr Tuttle, a turtle-neck wearing quack who encourages 14 hours of sleep; and Reva, the painfully jealous loyal friend who suffers from a degree of self-loathing that makes her both utterly detestable and endearing. Saying no to the world that was not made for women, this text therefore feels resolutely feminist. Our heroine’s utter denial of stimuli feels both outrageous and inspiring. No other book captures the sweet malaise that was the late ’90s, pre-9/11 New York era. Jessie Tu Praiseworthy , Alexis Wright (2023) Praiseworthy is a canon-crushing Australian novel for the ages – a grand, whirling hymn of everywhen. Wright’s real-life frustrations at the indignities of the Anthropocene stalk the pages of this bitterly funny book. When a methane-like haze settles over the once-tidy town of Praiseworthy , a dreamer – Cause Man Steel – sees an opportunity to capitalise on this new, ferocious era of heat. There’s a fortune to be made, deliverance to be found. Is he a schemer or a visionary? Prophet or fool? His journey will be as absurd as it is epic – a Don Quixote of the dust. “I believe literature must meet the scale of what is happening in the world,” Wright explains. “We have to, even foolishly, believe that anything can be done in life or in literature with deep thought”. Praiseworthy is not just the product of deep thought, but an invitation – a mighty and generous invitation – to do the thinking for ourselves. Beejay Silcox Honourable mentions Things I Didn’t Know: A Memoir , Robert Hughes (2005) Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel (2009) Outline , Rachel Cusk (2014) Lincoln in the Bardo , George Saunders (2017) The Overstory , Richard Powers (2018) What books do you think deserve a place on the list? Tell us in the comments.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson's romantic moment during Christmas dinner at Mar-a-LagoKolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday congratulated Sinchan Snigdha Adhikary and Biltu Maji who topped the Indian Statistical Service examination, stating that her government’s emphasis on encouraging students for national-level competitive tests was yielding results. Banerjee said students from West Bengal were showing improved performances in the civil services examinations, and they will lead the Indian bureaucracy. “Glad that this year the first and the second positions in the UPSC-conducted prestigious Indian Statistical Service examination have been won over by two boys from Bengal. While I congratulate the two successful winners, Sinchan and Biltu, I note that our emphasis on encouraging our children for all-India competitive examinations has been yielding concrete results,” she said in a post on X. “Our students are showing improved performances in IAS and IPS examinations, too. The Satyendranath Tagore Civil Services Study Centre of the state government has already become a centre of attraction for young and ambitious students who want highly subsidised top-grade support for these examinations. They will lead Indian bureaucracy again,” she added. The results of the Indian Statistical Service examination, held from June 21 to 23, were declared on Friday. While Adhikary secured the top spot, Maji was second.Maropost extends its "High Performer" streak in G2 Winter Reports while earning new "Easiest to Use" badge