Claro Enterprise Solutions Expands Technology Service Offerings to Accelerate Mergers and Acquisitions Integrations
NEW HARTFORD — Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Automotive Technology instructor John Stratton was recently named as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence’s (ASE) 2024 CCAR/Electude/ASE Instructor of the Year. Stratton was among 59 automotive professionals recognized on November 20 during the ASE Service Professionals Awards ceremony held at the 2024 ASE and ASE Education Foundation Fall Board Meetings in New Orleans, LA. “These awards represent outstanding achievement in many areas of ASE Certification,” said Dave Johnson, ASE president and CEO. “The individuals being honored have demonstrated their knowledge by placing among the highest scoring automotive professionals holding ASE credentials. This, along with their exemplary performance each and every day, makes them exceptional examples of our industry to the public we serve. Together with our industry partners and award sponsors, we salute the best of the best.” Stratton joined the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center as an Automotive Technology instructor in 2003. He brings more than 27 years of experience working in the automotive industry to his classroom, where he enjoys seeing students from diverse backgrounds become lifelong friends, knowing students have become successful in their careers and having former students give back to the program by serving on the consultant committee. Stratton is ASE certified as a Master Automotive Technician, and in Maintenance and Light Repair and Advanced Engine Performance. He serves as co-advisor for the OHM BOCES chapter of SkillsUSA and also as the mechanical contests cluster manager for the New York State SkillsUSA Conference. He is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) and the National Auto Service Task Force. Prior to joining the OHM BOCES, Stratton was employed as a technician, shop foreman and service manager. Stratton attended high school in New Hartford, earned his associate of applied science degree from SUNY Canton and furthered his education at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Oswego. Individually, Stratton has been named the recipient of the 2018 NACAT/Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Award, the 2020 SkillsUSA New York State Advisor of the Year, the 2021 SkillsUSA Region 1 Advisor of the Year, and the recipient of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Award for Teaching Excellence. Under Stratton’s guidance, the OHM BOCES Automotive Technology program was recognized by Tomorrow’s Technician magazine in 2019 as the top automotive program in the northeast and one of the top four high school and post-secondary programs in the nation.Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud charges
Tasmania’s $1 billion salmon industry will supply thousands of Australian households this Christmas, its fresh and smoked fish fillets a relatively cheap alternative to many seafood options. But what is the environmental cost? Salmon farming in Tasmania. Credit: Adam Gibson Tasmania’s big three salmon producers – foreign-owned companies Huon, Tassal and Petuna – promote the industry as sustainable, with low environmental impacts. But the industry’s critics warn it is poorly regulated, environmentally harmful and expanding at an unsustainable pace. Seafood shoppers face a difficult task in deciding who to trust, especially with political leaders gearing up for an election stoush over the future of the industry. Fishy issues Salmon farms have been blamed for environmental degradation around the Tasmanian coastline, antibiotics leaking into the food chain, algal blooms, dead seals and introduction of hundreds of thousands of escapee fish into the environment. However, Salmon Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin, who heads the peak body for the industry, said the farms were a good fit for the Tasmanian environment. “We know millions of Australians will have salmon on the menu this Christmas lunch, and by doing so, they are supporting the livelihoods of 5000 Australians living across regional Tasmanian communities,” Martin said. “Salmon is also a responsibly sourced seafood farmed under the highest environmental regulatory conditions of any farmed protein in Australia. “Aquaculture also eases demand pressure on our wild fishing stocks.” A salmon farm in Tasmania. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Salmon Tasmania’s website states the regulations strike a balance between growing a vital protein source, which is produced with minimal environmental impacts due to careful management. The industry states its physical footprint on the water is 4000 hectares, compared to 426 million for agriculture on land. “Tasmanian waterways are not, and never can be, overrun by salmon pens,” it said. Green gripes However, environmental groups paint a different picture. “The industry puts into the sea more pollutants than all of Tasmania’s sewage outfalls combined,” said Australian Marine Conservation Society sustainable seafood program manager Adrian Meder. The organisation’s GoodFish sustainable seafood guide told shoppers to reject Tasmanian farmed salmon this Christmas, warning that the huge expansion of the industry’s footprint “could lead to high environmental impacts”. Wild fish kilometres from salmon farms have been found with antibiotic residue in their flesh. There are strict health guidelines around food containing antibiotics, due to the potential for uncontrolled use to lead to the creation of so-called superbugs in the human population. Farmed salmon are sometimes treated with antibiotics to prevent infections that can kill fish or hurt production levels. The Salmon Tasmania website said only its veterinarians can prescribe antibiotics. Meder said nutrient-rich salmon waste is churned out from salmon pens, disrupting the marine ecosystem. It has been linked to algal blooms that have, in some instances, clogged inshore reefs in several locations near farms. A Tasmanian parliamentary inquiry completed in 2022 warned that the industry’s rapid growth had been facilitated by the state government, which is “an enthusiastic promoter and supporter of the industry”. It included several scientific expert submissions that warned about algal outbreaks and issued a recommendation for “ceasing operations in sensitive, sheltered and biodiverse areas” – a call Meder said had been ignored. Salmon Tasmania rejected these claims. “We do not know who the Australian Marine Conservation Society is, what their agenda is, or who funds them, but we are very confident in the sustainability of our operations across Tasmania,” Martin said. Harbouring doubts Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast is not the main source of salmon supply, producing around 13 per cent of annual production. But it is where the most controversial leases are, because it is the only home for the incredibly rare and ancient relic, the Maugean skate, of which there are only 40 to 120 adults left in the wild. Salmon farming began there in the late 1980s, and all three of Tasmania’s salmon companies, Tassal, Huon and Petuna, operate in the waterway. They have recently scaled back the size of their operations as concerns about the industry’s impact on the critically endangered fish grew. The federal government’s threatened species committee said in August the best way to save the endangered fish was to eliminate, or at least dramatically cut back on, salmon farming in its habitat. The committee said there was a “significant correlation” between low oxygen levels and an increase in salmon farming. Farmed fish suck up a lot of the oxygen in the water, while fish food and faeces that enter the water via the salmon pens feed oxygen-consuming bacteria. Salmon farmers are trialling mechanical systems that push micro bubbles of oxygen to the bottom of the harbour. “No fish farming should ever pose an extinction threat to an endangered species, and no other fish farming industry in Australia does,” Meder said. “It’s actually really easy to do fish farming better than this.” Salmon Tasmania has warned that scaling back the industry could cut the 260 local jobs that it generates and claimed that multiple factors affected water quality, not just farming, including climate change and disruption from hydroelectric dams to river flows into Macquarie Harbour. Political fallout Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has on her desk a request from environment groups to revoke licences for farming in Macquarie Harbour, but a decision is not expected before an election due by May. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused the government of seeking to shut down the salmon industry. “The government’s prepared to hang the local community out to dry,” he said this month. Macquarie Harbour is in the Braddon electorate, which the Liberal Party won from Labor at the 2019 election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hopes to win Braddon back. He visited on December 14 and declared he would not pre-empt Plibersek’s legal responsibilities as environment minister, but nevertheless guaranteed the industry would continue under his leadership. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour, on Tasmania’s west coast. “As long as I’m prime minister, there will be support for jobs here in Tasmania because I understand how important it is for the Tasmanian economy,” Albanese declared. Plibersek was absent from his visit. However, Plibersek said on December 19 that she welcomed the prime minister’s presence in Tasmania and echoed his support for the industry. But it was far harder to interpret her position on the future of the industry, which she said must be weighed against environmental concerns. “We know that the salmon industry is important for local jobs in Tasmania, but we also know that Tasmanians really value their natural environment ... I’m not going to comment on any decision that is before me at the moment.” Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .
Lions host Packers on Thursday night, hoping to push winning streak to franchise-record 11 straight DETROIT (AP) — Detroit and Green Bay , longtime rivals and current contenders, will have much at stake when they meet Thursday night in the Motor City. Larry Lage, The Associated Press Dec 4, 2024 1:43 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) DETROIT (AP) — Detroit and Green Bay , longtime rivals and current contenders, will have much at stake when they meet Thursday night in the Motor City. The NFC-leading Lions (11-1) are aiming to stay ahead of Philadelphia (10-2) in the race for the conference's best record and Minnesota (10-2) in the NFC North with a win against the Packers. Detroit can also clinch a spot in the playoffs with an 11th straight victory that would set a franchise record. “We’re in playoff football right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “This is the type of stuff that you live for and it’s also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament.” Green Bay (9-3) also has a lot to play for because it can pull within a game of the Lions if it can split the season series with a slight upset as 3 1/2-point underdogs, according to BetMGM. “This game is going to be important for us moving forward toward the end of this thing and we’re going to treat it as such,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. Born to run Green Bay’s ability to slow down Detroit’s run game might be pivotal. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, the first teammates in league history to run for at least 10 touchdowns in consecutive seasons, have combined to average more than 140 yards on the ground per game. The Packers limited San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey to 31 yards on 11 attempts and held Miami to 39 yards rushing in their past two games. It was the first time since 1995, and just the second time since 1950, that they gave up fewer than 45 yards rushing in two straight weeks. Montgomery ran 17 times for 73 yards and Gibbs had 65 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries last month at Green Bay. “They played Montgomery the whole first half and then the second half they came with Gibbs,” McKinney recalled. “They got a good 1-2 punch.” Road warriors Home field has not been an advantage in the series lately. The road team has won four straight games, going back to Detroit closing the 2022 regular season and Aaron Rodgers' career with the Packers in a 20-16 win at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has won five straight NFC North road games, including last year at Detroit on Thanksgiving. Picked off McKinney and Lions safety Kerby Joseph each have an NFL -high seven interceptions, leading the rest of the league by at least two. Joseph had a pick-6 in the most recent meeting against Green Bay and has picked off four passes in four games against the Packers. “He’s a ballhawk,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “He’s going to make the plays when the ball’s in the air, so he’s definitely a guy you’ve got to know where he’s at.” Social media slipup Lions coach Dan Campbell was taken aback at a news conference recently when a reporter informed him Gibbs had a post on social media showing some of the team's strategy. “I'd rather our stuff not be out there,” Campbell said. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur feels the same way, though he said it doesn't provide a competitive edge to see another team's terminology on a whiteboard. “Guys understand that nobody wants their information out there for the whole world to see, so we try to keep everything in house here,” LaFleur said. “But I don’t think it’s like the end of the world, either.” Tough stretch Both teams will play a third game in 12 days. “How the whole organization has handled this has been really impressive,” said Packers defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, who had a sack in each of his past two games. After the game, each team will get a break. The Lions will host the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills on Dec. 15 and Green Bay plays at Seattle later that night. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Larry Lage, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Drew Lock will start at QB for Giants against Saints Dec 4, 2024 3:02 PM Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr.'s 'serial killer mentality' is serving him well amid bumpy patch Dec 4, 2024 2:56 PM NFC-leading Lions host Packers, aiming for franchise-record, 11-game winning streak, playoff spot Dec 4, 2024 1:38 PM
Cheers and beers for Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester reign starts with win
Two-time Academy Award winner Sean Penn slammed the Oscars while speaking — and chain-smoking — at a press conference during the Marrakech Film Festival. “The Academy have exercised really extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the bigger world of expression, and in fact, have largely been part of limiting the imagination and very limiting of different cultural expressions,” the “Mystic River” star, 64, said, Tuesday during the annual event, according to Variety . “So I don’t ... get very excited about what we’ll call the Academy Awards [except for] when a film like ‘The Florida Project,’ or ‘I’m Still Here,’ or, you know, ‘Emilia Perez,’ of the things that are likely to happen this year.” He went on his anti-Oscars rant while applauding Ali Abbasi’s Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” which has been a controversial film considering the president-elect’s impending inauguration as the 47th president of the United States and his disparaging remarks about the movie. “When something sneaks through, it’s to be celebrated,” Penn argued. “It’s jaw-dropping how afraid this [so-called] business of mavericks is of a great film like that,” he continued. “One with great, great acting. [It’s amazing] that they too can be as afraid as a piddly little Republican congressman.” “The Apprentice” is not expected to make an impression in the upcoming awards season. Trump, 78, criticized the film as a “fake and classless” movie and said he hopes it will “bomb” in an Oct. 14 post to his social media site, Truth Social. He added, “It’s a cheap, defamatory and politically disgusting hatchet job, put out right before the 2024 Presidential Election, to try and hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country.” Furthermore, Sebastian Stan, who portrays the reality star-turned-politician in “The Apprentice”, claimed his peers shunned him for partaking in the movie and that he was unable to participate in Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series because his colleagues refused to interview him. Plus, Abassi claimed to the Hollywood Reporter that Netflix turned down the film because “they have millions of MAGA subscribers.” “If you’re in the toilet paper business, you don’t want to alienate half the ass-wiping public,” the director bluntly added. Penn is known for being a political activist and an outspoken critic of Trump’s policies, so it’s no surprise he is a fan of the film — which reportedly has a scene depicting him raping his first wife, Ivana Trump. Penn — who won best actor at the Oscars for “Mystic River” and “Milk” — was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Marrakech Film Festival on Sunday and encouraged people to be politically incorrect, as reported by Variety. “Around the world [there is] this demand for diversity — but not diversity of behavior and not diversity of opinion or language,” he told the audience. “I would just encourage everybody to be as politically incorrect as their heart desires and to engage diversity and to keep telling those stories, and I’m very proud and happy to be here.” The decorated actor and director notably made his red carpet debut with his 30-year-old girlfriend, Valeria Nicov, at the film festival over the weekend.DETROIT (AP) — Detroit and Green Bay , longtime rivals and current contenders, will have much at stake when they meet Thursday night in the Motor City. The NFC-leading Lions (11-1) are aiming to stay ahead of Philadelphia (10-2) in the race for the conference's best record and Minnesota (10-2) in the NFC North with a win against the Packers. Detroit can also clinch a spot in the playoffs with an 11th straight victory that would set a franchise record. “We’re in playoff football right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “This is the type of stuff that you live for and it’s also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament.” Green Bay (9-3) also has a lot to play for because it can pull within a game of the Lions if it can split the season series with a slight upset as 3 1/2-point underdogs, according to BetMGM. “This game is going to be important for us moving forward toward the end of this thing and we’re going to treat it as such,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. Green Bay’s ability to slow down Detroit’s run game might be pivotal. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, the first teammates in league history to run for at least 10 touchdowns in consecutive seasons, have combined to average more than 140 yards on the ground per game. The Packers limited San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey to 31 yards on 11 attempts and held Miami to 39 yards rushing in their past two games. It was the first time since 1995, and just the second time since 1950, that they gave up fewer than 45 yards rushing in two straight weeks. Montgomery ran 17 times for 73 yards and Gibbs had 65 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries last month at Green Bay. “They played Montgomery the whole first half and then the second half they came with Gibbs,” McKinney recalled. “They got a good 1-2 punch.” Home field has not been an advantage in the series lately. The road team has won four straight games, going back to Detroit closing the 2022 regular season and Aaron Rodgers' career with the Packers in a 20-16 win at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has won five straight NFC North road games, including last year at Detroit on Thanksgiving. McKinney and Lions safety Kerby Joseph each have an NFL -high seven interceptions, leading the rest of the league by at least two. Joseph had a pick-6 in the most recent meeting against Green Bay and has picked off four passes in four games against the Packers. “He’s a ballhawk,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “He’s going to make the plays when the ball’s in the air, so he’s definitely a guy you’ve got to know where he’s at.” Lions coach Dan Campbell was taken aback at a news conference recently when a reporter informed him Gibbs had a post on social media showing some of the team's strategy. “I'd rather our stuff not be out there,” Campbell said. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur feels the same way, though he said it doesn't provide a competitive edge to see another team's terminology on a whiteboard. “Guys understand that nobody wants their information out there for the whole world to see, so we try to keep everything in house here,” LaFleur said. “But I don’t think it’s like the end of the world, either.” Both teams will play a third game in 12 days. “How the whole organization has handled this has been really impressive,” said Packers defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, who had a sack in each of his past two games. After the game, each team will get a break. The Lions will host the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills on Dec. 15 and Green Bay plays at Seattle later that night. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
NoneCheers and beers for Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester reign starts with win
International assessment studies, widely discussed over the last five years, have set formidable challenges and high expectations for the new Department of Education (DepEd) team. In 2019, the World Bank reported that 70 percent of 10-year-old Filipino children suffered from “learning poverty”: they could not read and understand age-appropriate written text. By 2022, that learning poverty had deepened to 91 percent. Among 79 countries and economies participating in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) tests for 15-year-old children, the Philippines placed 79th in reading and 78th in both math and science. With 81 participants in 2022, the Philippines improved to 78th in science, 75th in reading, and 74th in math. It also did better in the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics assessment to measure the proficiency of 11-year-old students in reading, writing, and math. The Philippines reached Band 2-3, performing in all three areas at minimum proficiency levels. Ten percent could understand texts with familiar structure. Seventeen percent could perform basic math operations, such as fractions, and interpret simple tables and graphs. In presenting ideas in writing, roughly 54 percent could produce only a few sentences with very limited content. The majority of Vietnamese students reached the highest band in reading and math and Band 6-7 in writing. They could understand and summarize texts, solve complex math problems, and use appropriate vocabulary in well-organized texts. Students from Malaysia and Myanmar performed at all proficiency bands, with a significant number reaching mid- and high levels. Philippine students shared Band 2-3 with counterparts from Cambodia and Lao PDR. They recognized basic words, understood simple texts, wrote basic sentences, and showed foundational arithmetic skills. Of the Asean 10, only these six countries participated in the 2019 assessment, with Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, and Indonesia declining to join. Pisa results, however, appeared to register the biggest shock. Pisa was the global, gold assessment standard, covering more participants over a longer timeframe. The comparative rankings perhaps also provoked more damage to national pride and psyche. Especially when viewed from the historical perspective of the educational standards the Philippines had established as a US colony in the ’30s, rebuilt after the war, and sustained through the ’50s. Climbing out of the current education pit into which it has plunged would be a truly heroic feat such as the country has seldom achieved. It may neither be realistic nor fair to compare Philippine Pisa ratings against those of older, better-governed, and richer countries. But the DepEd mandate to demonstrate measurable improvements in learning outcomes and its continuing participation in Pisa make it difficult to escape comparisons against past ratings. It is thus some comfort to know that even developed countries have suffered setbacks in Pisa standing and have managed to recover. In the late 1990s, claims of declining, basic education standards in England became a political concern. Between 2000 and 2005, Nick Gibb followed and critiqued the ruling Labour Party’s education programs as the Tory opposition party’s shadow minister for education. With Tory electoral victories, Gibb emerged from the shadows, serving in Tory Cabinets for education issues from 2010-2012, 2014-2021 and 2022-2023. Between the 2000 and 2009 Pisa tests, England dropped from 7th to 25th place in reading, 8th to 27th in math, and 4th to 16th in science. During his first ministerial term in 2010, Gibb embarked on a program to arrest the slide and regain lost ground. By the 2012 test, the direction had been partially reversed, with improvement to 23rd place in reading and in math to 25th, though science further dropped to 18th place. But by 2022, England ranked 13th in reading, 11th in math and 13th in science. Recalling the Pisa journey at a recent forum in Australia, Gibb noted the factors that propelled the forward movement. First, the willingness of government reformers to invest in a long-term effort; there are few quick fixes to education problems. Second, high-level, political, and material support from successive prime ministers. And, third, the commitment of time and resources, and the hard-nosed determination to document and pursue only those initiatives backed by evidence-based research. Granted, DepEd bears a heavier burden over a longer distance. But the task is critical and calls for the government’s sustained commitment of effort and resources. —————- Edilberto C. de Jesus is professor emeritus at the Asian Institute of Management. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . —————- Business Matters is a project of the Makati Business Club ( [email protected] ).
I’m A Celebrity suffers very awkward tech blunder after Melvin’s exit leaving Ant McPartlin frustratedLucknow: UP social welfare minister and former IPS officer Asim Arun recalled Manmohan Singh as a courteous, humble and extremely punctual leader. Asim told TOI that he was part of the Close Protection Team (CPT) of the Special Protection Group or SPG — the elite force responsible for the PM's security — from 2004 to 2008 and had the opportunity to witness Manmohan Singh's exemplary qualities first hand. "I was his bodyguard for three years since I was the assistant inspector general in the CPT. The SPG maintains the innermost security ring for the PM — the Close Protection Team, which I had the honour to lead," said Asim. "The assistant inspector general in CPT remains like a shadow with the PM," he said. Asim recounted that Dr Saheb possessed only one personal vehicle — a Maruti 800 — which would remain parked behind the gleaming black BMW at the PM House. "Manmohan Singhji would frequently tell me: ‘Asim, I dislike travelling in this vehicle (BMW); my car is that one (Maruti)'," he recounted. "Sir, this vehicle isn't for luxury, rather its protective features are SPG requirements." "I would tell him. Nevertheless, whenever the convoy passed the Maruti, the PM would fondly gaze at his prized possession," said Asim. "It reflected on his humble background and his priority for common man's welfare," recalled the minister. Dr Saheb's steadfast punctuality profoundly influenced me. He was on time for every appointment an thereby setting an exemplary standard for his staff. His gracious demeanour impressed all. Whether engaging with international dignitaries or household staff, he had the same courtesy, said Asim. "The former PM's poise during challenging circumstances was noteworthy. Amid crisis, while others might falter, Dr Saheb remained calm and evaluated situations before reaching measured conclusions," said the former IPS officer. His leadership steered India's economic transformation , guiding the nation from fiscal uncertainty towards establishing a robust market economy, concluded Asim.. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
The Edmonton Oilers dropped a hard fought battle against the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 1-0, and after the game, Coach Knoblauch highlighted a mistake from Leon Draisaitl but still absolved the Oilers star from any blame. Leon Draisaitl attempted a quick tap-pass at the blueline, and it resulted in a direct turnover that led to Vegas's only goal of the game. Instead of ripping Draisaitl for the mistake though, Coach Knoblauch instead encouraged him to keep making skill plays like that, because it's what makes him an elite player. There was a mistake on that goal but with the amount of opportunities he creates, it's not always going to be perfect If you have players never making mistakes they're probably never creating much. - Coach Knoblauch This message from Knoblauch is absolutely the right one to convey to a star player like Leon Draisaitl, and also Connor McDavid of course. The superstars need to have the freedom and opportunity from the coach to try everything they can to create scoring chances. After signing a $14M annual contract, Draisaitl should have free rein to try any drop passes. Especially in a 1-0 game, a turnover on an offensive play from Draisaitl can't be the only reason the Oilers lost. They didn't score, which is trending to become a surprising problem for the Edmonton Oilers. Outside of McDavid and Draisaitl this season, no other Oilers forward has scored even 5 goals. It was an unfortunate mistake for Leon Draisaitl that was amplified because of the 1-0 shutout loss, but it's a play that he needs to be encouraged to make more often than not. It's great that Coach Knoblauch defended his superstar, and is sending the message to the Oilers stars to do what makes them great. This article first appeared on Oilers Daily and was syndicated with permission.Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge ended with a 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka. The Dutchman, who was out of work for just two weeks following his four-game spell as Manchester United interim boss, only started on Sunday so was happy to end a hectic three days in style. “It has been very busy getting to know everyone, start working together,” he said. “Everybody was involved with that and helping, it was busy, long days, but worth it. I was focused on the game and what the game needed, the subs, the half-time talk, so focused on the moment, so I am going to get myself a little beer and reflect on the last three days.” He endured a dream start as Vardy scored after just 98 seconds with El Khannouss and Daka adding second-half goals. It was by no means one-way traffic, though, as West Ham – who scored a consolation through Niclas Fullkrug at the death – had 30 shots on goal. But Van Nistelrooy saw enough to think he can deliver on his objective of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League. “I am very happy, if you look at the result – and it is about the result – it was a great night, three points, three good goals and also very effective. Ruud at the wheel 🛞 pic.twitter.com/eVgIwWAcYw — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024 “Overall the game of course we have seen and how dominant West Ham were at certain stages and what they created, that is a fact and something we have to look at. “Overall, what I expected of the players going forward was togetherness and hunger, energy and spirit in this team that is fighting for every inch. “Eleven players on the pitch who are fighting as a foundation to play the rest of the Premier League. I saw that completely with every single player that started and came on. “That’s the foundation we have to build on, without that it will be impossible to get where we want to go. I am very happy about that.” West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Julen Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Lopetegui expects to keep his job but forthcoming games against his former club Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. “The only thing that I am worried about is to go to training session tomorrow and stand up the players and prepare the next challenge,” he said. “We have one month of December with a lot of matches and I am sure with this attitude we are going to achieve many more points. “I believe in the players. I am confident that tomorrow we are going to be ready to prepare the next match. “Understanding the question, but at the end of the season maybe we talk in another way. There are a lot of matches and points, a lot of things can happen. “I believe in these players and team, I am sure the position is going to be much better. They are only words but we have to work a lot to achieve this.”
What we know about South Korea's martial law
HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives, including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling, were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Key Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70
The Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has approved the promotion of 154 members of staff to various ranks. Among those promoted are 33 academic staff who have been elevated to professorial ranks. The Council chaired by Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (rtd), approved the promotion of the affected staff, according to a statement by the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, University of Abuja, Dr. Habib Yakoob, on Thursday in Abuja. He noted that among the academic staff, 19 were elevated to the rank of professor, 14 to associate professor, 20 to senior lecturer, six to lecturer I, and one to lecturer II. Similarly, 94 non-teaching staff were promoted across various ranks, including two to deputy director, six to assistant director, and others to different grades. Yakoob quoted the acting Registrar, Mrs Islamiyat Foyeke Abdulrahim, as saying that the promotions were approved during the Council’s 98th Regular Meeting held on Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th and Saturday 14th December 2024. ALSO READ: VC tussle: UniAbuja Council reassures candidates of level-playing field The breakdown of promotions according to the statement included specialties such as automobile engineering, energy engineering, library management, international economic law, environmental and development law, political sociology, media and conflict studies, cardiology, educational administration and planning, medical microbiology, banking law and policy, science education, curriculum studies, English language education, social studies education, sociology of dance, and applied geophysics. In a congratulatory message to the promoted staff, the acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, commended the staff’s dedication, hard work and discipline. She added that the University was committed to ensuring timely promotions for all deserving staff, with the support of the Governing Council. Maikudi said, “These promotions reflect the University of Abuja’s commitment to fostering excellence, recognising merit, and encouraging growth among its staff. “I therefore, congratulate all the promoted individuals and urge them to continue contributing to the University’s vision of academic and professional distinction and excellence. “All outstanding backlogs of promotion cases have been meticulously reviewed and resolved, ensuring fairness and recognition for deserving staff. “The remaining cases are now awaiting external assessment reports, reflecting the University’s commitment to transparency, meritocracy, and timely career progression for its workforce.” ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNEMiddle East latest: WHO chief says he was at Yemen airport as Israeli bombs fell nearby