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Norse Atlantic Chooses T6 At New York's JFK For Operations Starting In 20262 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada borderMAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country's highest court of disputed Oct. 9 elections killed at least 21 people, including two police officers, authorities said Tuesday. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court's announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. “From the preliminary survey, in the last 24 hours, 236 acts of violence were recorded throughout the national territory that resulted in 21 deaths, of which two members of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique also died," Ronda said. He said 13 civilians and 12 police were injured. Ronda said 25 vehicles were set on fire, including two police vehicles. He added that 11 police subunits and a penitentiary were attacked and vandalized and 86 inmates were freed. Tensions were high in the country ahead of the The Constitutional Council ruling on Monday and violent protests started immediately after the announcement was made. Footage circulating on various social media platforms showed protesters burning and looting shops in the capital Maputo and the city of Beira, where some city officials were reported to have fled the city. Mondlane has called for a “shutdown” starting Friday but violence in the country has already escalated and the situation remained tense in the capital on Tuesday night following a day of violence and looting by protesters. The country of 34 million people . Mondlane’s supporters, mostly hundreds of thousands of young people, have since taken to the streets, and have been met by gunfire from security forces. This brings to from post-election violence since the initial results were announced by the country's electoral body. The Associated PressAn FBI Agent Refused To Go Along With The Biden Admin’s Anti-‘Extremism’ Agenda — It Cost Him His Career

WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. People are also reading... Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Lost Luggage Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Delayed/Cancelled Flights Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Flight Compensation in the U.S. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." Flight Compensation in Canada The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Bumped Off the Flight Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. As a result, flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% of the airline's 3,901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Nineteen flights were canceled. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the FOS system. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about any “chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day.” He said officials were watching for any cascading effects, such as staffing problems. On social media, however, customers expressed frustrations about delays that caused them or their family members to miss connecting flights. One person asked if American planned to hold flights for passengers to make connections, while others complained about the lack of assistance they said they received from the airline or gate agents. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights were departing within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — were arriving at their destinations as scheduled. Dallas-Fort Worth, New York’s Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays, Cirium said. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site had not posted any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. Associated Press writers David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.

Netflix continues to express confidence that its streaming platform is prepared to handle the massive audiences expected for a pair of Christmas Day NFL games along with the start of its live coverage of the World Wrestling Entertainment's "Raw" next month. Concerns were raised after users experienced issues with buffering and low quality feeds during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match last month. Netflix has exclusive rights to stream NFL games on Christmas Day between the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. Beyonce is scheduled to perform during halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, which could create more server traffic Netflix must take into account. It's a major test after the company reported an average global live audience of 108 million viewers for Paul's victory over Tyson in Arlington, Texas. Downdetector.com , which tracks service outages, announced that there were 90,000 issues reported at one point. "It was a big number, but you don't know, and you can't learn these things until you do them, so you take a big swing," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria told Front Office Sports. "Our teams and our engineers are amazing, moved super quickly, and stabilized it, and many of the members had it back up and running pretty quickly. But we learn from these things. "We've all obviously done a lot of stuff to learn and get ready for the NFL and Beyonce, and so we're totally ready and excited for WWE." WWE president Nick Khan told FOS that Raw's tone and content will not change as it moves to the streaming service, with its first event of 2025 scheduled for Jan. 6. "There's some online chatter about, ‘oh, it's going to be R-rated, or for us old folks, X-rated.' That's definitely not happening," Khan said. "It's family-friendly, multi-generational, advertiser-friendly programming. It's going to stay that way. I would look for more global flair, especially as the relationship continues to develop." --Field Level MediaWhat Trump’s plan to replace the current IRS chief could mean for the agencyFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden's commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. Story continues below video “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump's statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump's rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl's mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden's decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. _______ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

Eagles seek 7th straight win while Rams try to keep pace in crowded NFC West raceGeneral lack of awareness and understanding of arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes among the public is one of the many challenges that slow the effectiveness of Arbitration in Nigeria. Fabian Ajogwu , president of Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb), shared his assessment of arbitration practice in Nigeria and the future opportunities of the practice in this interview. He also discussed the forthcoming conference of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) and the benefits it holds for members, guests and Nigeria. ZEBULON AGOMUO brings the excerpts: The theme of the forthcoming conference is, ‘Transformation and intervention: the evolving trends in arbitration & ADR practice in Africa’; these “evolving trends” include the technology, particularly the Artificial Intelligence (AI). How prepared is NICArb for this new normal, especially with AI technology? The rise of evolving trends, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), presents both opportunities and challenges for arbitral institutions like the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb). While NICArb has yet to make significant strides in AI adoption, its forthcoming conference on ‘Transformation and Intervention: The Evolving Trends in Arbitration & ADR Practice in Africa’ presents an ideal starting point to engage with this critical topic. To maximise the benefits and minimise potential risks associated with AI adoption, NICArb must adapt strategically to these advancements by understanding how AI can improve the dispute resolution process. AI already plays a role in dispute resolution through tools like online dispute resolution (ODR), document drafting, and other scalable applications that improve efficiency and accessibility. However, the adoption of AI in arbitration requires careful consideration of ethical issues, such as bias in algorithms and the risk of fabricated data, to ensure fair outcomes in dispute resolution. NICArb’s readiness to explore and adapt to these technological advancements will be essential in positioning itself as a leader in the evolving arbitration landscape. This conference provides an excellent opportunity for NICArb to initiate meaningful discussions and develop strategies for responsibly integrating AI into its practices while advocating for the establishment of ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks to govern its use. Getting Nigerians to patronise local talents in Arbitration/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a huge challenge. What would you say is the best approach to win over doubters? Winning over people to patronise local talents in Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Nigeria requires a strategic, multifaceted approach that addresses both perception and practical concerns. The first step is understanding the challenge. Scepticism about the capability of local practitioners often stems from the assumption that international experts are more competent or experienced. This is due to concerns about the perceived lack of expertise and neutrality within the Nigerian arbitration system, coupled with issues like potential bias, a slower legal process, and a desire for greater enforceability of awards in international courts, especially when dealing with cross-border disputes. Addressing these concerns is key to building trust in local talents. After understanding the challenge, it is important to first highlight the benefits of ADR through awareness and education. ADR methods, such as arbitration and mediation, are more advantageous than litigation because they are faster, less expensive, and more flexible than traditional court proceedings. Many are unfamiliar with the practicalities and benefits of ADR. Public awareness campaigns, webinars, and training programmes can demystify ADR and make it accessible to a broader audience. An informed public is more likely to consider local practitioners as viable options. It is also important to note that there is a growing pool of highly qualified Nigerian arbitrators working to improve the reputation and capabilities of domestic arbitration. Showcasing successful cases handled by local practitioners can help shift perceptions. Testimonials from satisfied clients, case studies of effective dispute resolution, and examples of cross-border disputes resolved by Nigerian arbitrators can help shift public perception. Events such as workshops, seminars, and conferences (like this one hosted by NICArb) are excellent platforms to share these narratives and inspire confidence in local talents. Institutions like NICArb play a pivotal role in enhancing the arbitration framework in Nigeria. Ongoing efforts to improve transparency, neutrality, and efficiency in domestic arbitration should be publicised to reassure potential clients of the system’s credibility and reliability. How would you assess the performance of Arbitrators in Nigeria when compared with those in other countries like Kenya, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire? The performance of arbitrators varies across jurisdictions due to differences in legal frameworks, cultural contexts, and institutional support. Arbitration in Nigeria has been evolving, with a growing number of trained arbitrators and institutions dedicated to dispute resolution. Nigeria has made significant strides in arbitration, with its arbitral institutions and the Arbitration and Mediation Act of 2023 enhancing its arbitration framework. NICArb plays a significant role in promoting standards and training for arbitrators. However, challenges such as delays in proceedings and a lack of public awareness about the benefits of arbitration can affect the overall perception of arbitrators’ performance. Take for instance, Kenyan arbitrators are highly regarded for their efficiency and adherence to international standards, supported by a robust institutional framework, such as the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) and a growing pool of qualified arbitrators. The country has seen a rise in arbitration-friendly practices, and many retired judges join the arbitration field, adding to its credibility. Egypt has a well-established arbitration system, with the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) being a key player. The country also benefits from strong institutional support. Its legal framework supports arbitration, and its recognition as a preferred seat for arbitration in the region. As a member of OHADA (Organisation pour l’Harmonisationen Afrique du Droit des Affaires) Côte d’Ivoire benefits from a harmonised legal framework for arbitration similar to that of other French-speaking West African countries. Côte d’Ivoire is emerging as a significant player in arbitration, with efforts to improve its legal framework and promote arbitration as a preferred method of dispute resolution. The country is working towards enhancing its reputation as a reliable arbitration hub. While Nigeria is making progress, Kenya and Egypt are ahead in terms of established frameworks and a larger pool of experienced arbitrators. Côte d’Ivoire is on the rise but still developing its arbitration infrastructure. Nigerian arbitrators have the potential to be highly competitive on the international stage. What are the challenges to achieving speedy results in Arbitration/ADR cases in both private and public sectors, and to what extent can you say NICArb as an institute has contributed to solving them? Among the challenges to achieving speedy results in Arbitration/ADR include Procedural Delays: These can arise from various factors, including the complexity of the case, the availability of arbitrators, and the scheduling of hearings. In both the private and public sectors, lengthy procedures can frustrate parties seeking quick resolutions. Another significant challenge is the general lack of awareness and understanding of arbitration and ADR processes among the public. Members of the public may not fully grasp the benefits of ADR methods compared to traditional litigation, leading to hesitance in choosing arbitration as a viable option for dispute resolution. Insufficient institutional support can also hinder arbitration’s effectiveness. In some cases, arbitration institutions may lack the necessary resources or infrastructure to facilitate timely proceedings. This can include inadequate hearing facilities or insufficient administrative support to manage cases efficiently. Despite these challenges, the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) has made significant strides in addressing these challenges and promoting the effectiveness of arbitration in Nigeria. NICArb has focused on enhancing arbitrators’ skills and knowledge through comprehensive training programmes. This helps ensure that arbitrators are well-equipped to handle cases promptly and effectively. The institute has also been active in raising awareness about the benefits of arbitration and ADR. Through workshops, seminars, conferences, etc, NICArb aims to educate the general public about the advantages of choosing arbitration over litigation, thereby increasing the demand for ADR services. NICArb plays a crucial role in developing the arbitration framework in Nigeria. This also includes establishing standards and guidelines for arbitration practices and creating a more structured environment that can facilitate quicker resolutions. NICArb advocates for policy changes that support the growth of arbitration in Nigeria. By engaging with government and legal stakeholders, the institute seeks to address systemic issues that contribute to arbitration delays, such as legislative reforms that enhance the enforceability of arbitration agreements. What is the main focus of this year’s annual international conference of NICArb? The 2024 Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) is centered around the theme ‘Transformation and Interventions: The Evolving Trends in Arbitration and ADR Practice in Africa.’ This theme critically examines how arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practices are adapting to the changing landscape in Africa. The key areas of focus include Transformation in Arbitration Practices, Interventions to Improve ADR, Addressing Emerging Trends, and Networking and Collaboration. The conference will serve as a platform for networking among arbitration professionals, legal practitioners, and stakeholders from various sectors. This collaboration is essential for sharing insights and best practices and fostering partnerships that can drive the growth of arbitration in Africa. At a press briefing to herald the conference, the institute called on the Federal Government to release the National Arbitration Policy; what in your opinion may have delayed the release and what efforts has the institute made to get the policy released beyond making the call at a media event? The delay in releasing the National Arbitration Policy in Nigeria is not something this institute has control over. It could be attributed to several factors, including bureaucratic processes, political considerations, and the need for comprehensive stakeholder-consultations to ensure the policy aligns with international best practices. As an institute, we have made our impute. The dominant impute we have made is that arbitration must and should remain party autonomy, party-driven, and that it must balance the interests of parties and not provide any lopsidedness in outcomes for arbitration. We also want to make sure that arbitration does not by itself aid or promote illegality and issues of corruption. So, it is important that the policy makes mention of some of these core pillars of any dispute resolution system or administration of justice, which is to remove a corrupt system from it, to not make it a weapon of fraud, or to aid in illegalities. We as an institute have, with all humility, made our contributions. We do hope and push through our members that it comes out on time. NICArb has been actively working to expedite the release of the policy through various efforts beyond their media call. These efforts include Engagement with Government Officials, Stakeholder Consultations, Public Awareness Campaigns, and International Conferences and Workshops. Promoters of ADR believe that incorporating ADR mechanisms (mediation and arbitration), into the court system can help alleviate the burden on courts and provide faster, more cost-effective dispute resolution options for litigants. How has this fared and would it be convenient to say that the Nigerian judicial system has been the better for it? The integration of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, into the Nigerian court system has been a significant development aimed at alleviating the burden on courts and providing faster, more cost-effective dispute resolution options for litigants. This initiative has shown promising results, contributing positively to the judicial landscape in Nigeria. One of the primary benefits of incorporating ADR into the judicial system is the reduction of case backlogs in courts. The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC), for example, has demonstrated that disputes handled through ADR are resolved more quickly and amicably compared to those processed through traditional litigation. This efficiency helps to free up court resources, allowing judges to focus on more complex cases that require judicial intervention. ADR mechanisms are generally more cost-effective than traditional litigation. The expenses associated with prolonged court cases, such as legal fees and other related costs, can be significantly reduced when parties opt for mediation or arbitration. This financial benefit makes ADR an attractive option for many litigants, particularly in a country where access to justice can be hindered by economic constraints. The alternative pathways to justice which ADR offers, allows parties to resolve their disputes in a more informal and flexible environment, which can be particularly beneficial for those who may feel intimidated by the formal court system. This accessibility is crucial in a diverse society like Nigeria, where various cultural and social factors influence how disputes are perceived and resolved. The incorporation of ADR into the judicial system promotes a more collaborative approach to dispute resolution. It encourages parties to engage in dialogue and negotiation, fostering a sense of ownership over the resolution process. This leads to more satisfactory outcomes for all parties involved, as solutions are often tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Despite these positive developments, challenges remain in fully integrating ADR into the Nigerian judicial system. Issues such as public awareness, the need for training among legal practitioners, and the establishment of a robust legal framework for ADR practices continue to be areas that require attention. However, the judiciary and various stakeholders are actively working to address these challenges through training programmes, public awareness campaigns, and legislative reforms. It is reasonable to assert that the Nigerian judicial system has benefited from the incorporation of ADR mechanisms. The positive impacts on court congestion, cost-effectiveness, access to justice, and collaborative dispute resolution highlight the advantages of this approach. While challenges still remain, the ongoing efforts to promote and institutionalise ADR within the judiciary suggest a promising future for dispute resolution in Nigeria. You have been in the practice for many years now. Could you please let us have idea of the progress made over the years in dispute resolution and how Nigerians are embracing it as a viable alternative? Over the years, Nigeria has made significant strides in the field of dispute resolution, particularly with the adoption and enhancement of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms. Some of the key developments include Legislative Reforms: The Arbitration and Mediation Act of 2023 replaced the outdated Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1988. This new act aligns Nigeria with international standards, such as the New York Convention, and introduces several innovations like emergency arbitrator proceedings and enforceable interim measures. Establishment of ADR Centers and Institutions: Nigeria has several institutions and centers which promote ADR services and practices. These include the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb), the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre (NCC-DRC), the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (NICN-ADR), the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), and so on. This also includes the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC), which is Africa’s first court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) center and has served as a model for other ADR centers in the region. There is a growing awareness among Nigerians about the benefits of ADR, such as quicker, cheaper, and more amicable resolutions compared to traditional litigation. Legal practitioners in Nigeria are increasingly incorporating ADR into their practice. Many lawyers (even law students) now receive training in mediation and arbitration, equipping them with the skills necessary to guide clients through these processes. This shift is indicative of a broader cultural change within the legal profession, where ADR is seen as an essential tool for effective dispute resolution. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, such as the need for more trained professionals and better awareness. However, the overall trend shows a positive shift towards embracing ADR as a viable alternative to litigation. Could you please tell our readers how the conference would benefit members and guests who will be attending, and the country in general? Is it going to be another talk shop? The upcoming conference promises several substantial benefits for attendees and the country as a whole, making it far more than just another talk shop. It aims to be action-oriented. The benefits of the conference to both members and guests, as well as for Nigeria as a whole, include: For Members and Guests: Networking Opportunities: The conference brings together professionals, experts, and stakeholders from various sectors, providing a platform for meaningful connections and collaborations. Another is knowledge sharing: Attendees will gain insights from leading experts in arbitration and ADR, learning about the latest trends, best practices, and innovative solutions. Through workshops, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, participants can enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in their fields. Professional Growth: Engaging with thought leaders and participating in discussions will inspire new ideas and strategies, contributing to professional growth and development. The benefits of the conference for the country: Economic Development: The adoption of effective dispute resolution mechanisms can attract foreign investment, as it assures investors of a reliable legal framework for resolving disputes. Improved Judicial Efficiency: Promoting ADR can reduce the burden on the courts, leading to faster case resolutions and more efficient judicial processes. Public Trust: By highlighting ADR’s benefits and successes, the conference can help build public trust in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, leading to more widespread adoption. Policy Influence: The conference’s discussions and recommendations can influence policy-making, encourage the government to adopt and support ADR mechanisms more robustly.Miami of Ohio and Colorado State will try to overcome notable transfer-portal defections during Saturday's Arizona Bowl at Tucson, Ariz. Miami (8-5) enters the game without its top two wide receivers Javon Tracy and Reggie Virgil after the duo elected to play elsewhere. Tracy, a redshirt sophomore who caught 57 passes for 818 yards with seven touchdowns, is moving on to Minnesota. Virgil, a junior who tallied 816 yards on 41 receptions with nine touchdowns, is bound for Texas Tech. "It's kind of insane, to be honest," Miami coach Chuck Martin said. "We'll lose some real good kids in the portal, but we'll also gain some good ones. It's just crazy. "In some ways, it stinks, but in some ways, it's fun, too. We're looking at a lot of some good ones." Miami has also lost two cornerbacks, including sophomore Raion Strader to Auburn. Strader had 53 tackles with two interceptions and a team-best 17 passes broken up. Will Jados, a redshirt junior offensive tackle who started 38 games for Miami, is transferring to Texas Tech. Colorado State (8-4) also lost its two top receivers in the portal. Sophomore Caleb Goodie committed to Cincinnati and sophomore Jamari Person remains undecided. Goodie caught 21 passes for 436 yards with four touchdowns, and Person had 36 receptions for 386 yards and a touchdown. Another sophomore, linebacker Buom Jock, also is in the transfer portal after he led the Rams with 100 tackles. "They lost a couple receivers in the portal, just like us, so they've adjusted, just like most teams in the bowl season have adjusted to the team that they have available," Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. Redshirt sophomore Armani Winfield, who had 37 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns, is the top available receiver for the Rams. Miami's leading receiver entering the game is fifth-year senior Cade McDonald (49 catches for 606 yards and three touchdowns). Miami won seven straight games before losing to Ohio in the MAC championship game behind sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert, who has completed 57.6 percent of his passes (204 of 354) for 2,737 yards and 21 touchdowns. Gabbert has been prone to throw interceptions, with 11, including one against Ohio in the conference title game. He did not throw an interception in a 30-20 victory over Ohio earlier this season. Keyon Mozee is Miami's featured running back with 1,073 yards on 170 carries with four touchdowns. Matt Salopek, a sixth-year linebacker, leads Miami with 113 tackles. He is the first player in program history with four 100-tackle seasons. Colorado State won six of its last seven games -- committing only seven turnovers in that span. Senior running back Avery Morrow has 956 yards on 166 attempts with nine touchdowns. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a redshirt sophomore, has thrown for 2,475 yards while completing 207 of 335 attempts (61.8 percent) with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Chase Wilson, a fifth-year senior linebacker, has 91 tackles this season, three for loss. --Field Level Media

Keir Starmer has attempted to relaunch his struggling government with a new set of six “milestones” aimed at persuading voters he is making progress. After five months in Downing Street beset by scandals over freebies and the loss of his chief of staff and a cabinet minister, the prime minister delivered a keynote speech at Pinewood Studios in a bid to steady his ship. But in a sign of the difficult task ahead of him, his address to an event packed with Labour supporters was met with a muted audience response and little applause. It reflected the findings of a new national poll from Find Out Now UK that puts Labour in third place on 23 per cent, behind the Tories on 26 per cent and Nigel Farage’ s Reform UK on 24 per cent. And the event was overshadowed by a warning from the Bank of England that his chancellor’s much-criticised Budget would lead to job losses. Sir Keir tried to inject some energy into his flagging government by announcing that his “milestones” were raising living standards, building 1.5 million homes, putting 13,000 new police on the beat, giving children the best start in life, ending hospital backlogs, and securing green energy. But in a 54-minute speech and question-and-answer session, he appeared quickly to come unstuck on some of his past promises. He was accused of watering down a previous pledge by stating that only 95 per cent of energy will be “clean” by 2030, rather than 100 per cent as before. Energy secretary Ed Miliband was deployed to provide reassurance that the plan had not changed. And he downgraded the promise of economic growth – previously the centre of Labour’s election campaign – to a detail after “raising living standards”. There was barely a mention of a previous pledge to hire 6,500 new teachers. There was also no mention of domestic abuse despite representatives of campaign groups on the issue being in the audience. But a defiant prime minister, who joked about how he could be the next James Bond after appearing at the studios where the 007 films were made, insisted that his government is delivering for the country. Sir Keir said: “This government was elected to deliver real change for working people – and that is exactly what we are doing. “We have already stabilised the economy, secured an extra £26bn for the NHS and launched a Border Security Command to tackle illegal migration. “Faced with a dire inheritance, we know that we cannot deliver our plan for change alone. Mission-led government means doing things differently, and a decade of national renewal will require the skills and determination of us all.” New cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald has been charged with rewiring the civil service to deliver the plan, he said. The prime minister has repeated promises to cut immigration but stopped short of setting any targets. Sir Keir pledged his government would “reduce immigration – legal and illegal” but was unclear how this would be achieved. Under repeated questioning from reporters as to why he had not included immigration in the list of six “milestones, he said cutting immigration “will only be done with a serious plan” and – referring to “illegal” immigration – repeated his argument that the only way to do this would be to go after people-smuggling gangs. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister offered “nothing concrete on immigration – because Labour have no plan to control numbers” while Reform UK criticised him for not including “any measurable targets” in his milestones. Voters want “a serious plan to ensure we’ve got control of our borders, not arbitrary caps, not gimmicks”, the prime minister said. His six milestones were meant to go alongside three foundations of economic stability, national security and secure borders. Previously, he had announced five missions and six first steps which were entwined into his “plan for change” document. The event gave the impression of a major rally and election manifesto launch even though the audience did not appear to be energised by the content of the prime minister’s speech. But his biggest headache came from the Bank of England, with its survey of chief financial officers showing the majority expect lower profit margins, higher prices and lower employment. More than a third warned of lower wages. Following the Budget, the Bank of England’s survey of small, medium and large businesses shows that 59 per cent of firms expect lower profit margins, 54 per cent expect to raise prices, 54 per cent expect lower employment and 38 per cent expect to pay lower wages than they otherwise would have done. Andrew Griffith, shadow business and trade secretary, said: “The Bank is right to warn that businesses are taking a hit from Labour’s Budget. Ultimately, it’s working people who will pay the price as employers scale back on pay, cut jobs and raise prices for everyday items. “If Labour are serious about growth, they should listen to the very real concerns from business.” While there was some welcome for the speech, there were warnings that Sir Keir’s government will need to find new investment to achieve his milestones. Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) England, said: “To achieve his plan, the prime minister needs to join the dots between hitting NHS targets and solving the crisis in nursing. We deliver the vast majority of care, but our workforce is severely depleted and recruitment is collapsing. This impacts every service, including non-urgent, the very issue he wants to address. A plan for change needs a plan to turn our profession around.” This came as Sir Keir again refused to repeat the recent pledge by his chancellor of “no new taxes” – giving rise to concerns about another tax raid in the spring. He did receive some support from the right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), previously associated with Liz Truss’s disastrous economic policy. Dr Kristian Niemietz, head of political economy at the IEA, said: “Britain’s inability to build anything is not just a problem for one or two sectors of the economy in isolation: it is the mother of all problems, affecting nearly every part of the economy to varying degrees. The government’s recognition of this is welcome, and the prime minister is right to point out that our planning system has not just left us short of homes but of key infrastructure too, including transport and energy.”Fats and Oils Market Trends, Leading Players, Regional Trends, Competitive Landscape, and Industry Overview by 2029 12-19-2024 10:56 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire MarketsandMarkets� Fats & Oils Market by Type (Vegetable Oils and Fats), Source (Vegetables and Animals), Form (Liquid and Solid), Application (Food and Industrial), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Rest of the World) - Global Forecast to 2029 The global fats and oils market [ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fats--oils-market-worth-323-7-billion-by-2029--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302219849.html ] is projected to reach a valuation of USD 271.8 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%, climbing to USD 323.7 billion by 2029. This growth is fueled by transformative shifts and innovations across diverse sectors, including animal feed, oleochemicals, and biofuels, beyond their traditional culinary applications. Image: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Images/fats-oils-market.webp In the food industry, vegetable oils and animal fats are integral to processed foods, improving texture, flavor, and shelf life. Key players like palm, rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean oils dominate global consumption due to their multifunctionality in both food and non-food products. Animal fats such as butter and lard remain vital in baking, providing rich flavor profiles. Additionally, specialty oils like coconut, shea butter, and cocoa butter are gaining traction as alternatives to conventional oils due to their unique properties. Regional preferences significantly influence cooking oil choices; for example, rapeseed, sunflower, and olive oils are popular in Europe, whereas palm oil leads in Asia and Africa. Meanwhile, the rise of plant-based diets has spurred global demand for oils like coconut. Fats and Oils Market Drivers [ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fats-oils-market-size-share-growth-drivers-industry-news-edward-scott-d1nwf/]: Rising Oilseed Production The expanding global demand for edible oils-essential in food and industrial applications-has driven significant growth in oilseed cultivation. According to Egypt's National Research Center, oilseed crop areas have increased by 82% over the past 30 years. This aligns with OECD projections of global vegetable oil consumption reaching 249 million metric tons by 2022, primarily driven by dietary shifts in the Asia-Pacific region. Soybean production, a major contributor, is expected to hit 41.1 million metric tons by 2030, with top producers like the U.S. and Brazil leading the charge. Innovations in agricultural biotechnology, such as genetically engineered proteins from Nanyang Technological University, have enhanced oil yields by up to 18%, supporting sustainability by meeting growing demand without expanding land use. Fats and Oils Market Opportunities [ https://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/navigating-the-fats-and-oils-market-trends-challenges-and-opportunities.html]: Growth in Microencapsulation of Fats and Oils Microencapsulation is emerging as a key trend in the specialty fats and oils market. This process enhances the stability, shelf life, and functionality of sensitive ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, milk fat, and vegetable oils by protecting them from temperature, moisture, and oxidation. These advancements make encapsulated fats and oils ideal for functional foods, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals. Major players are increasingly adopting encapsulation technologies, leveraging matrices like whey proteins and casein blends to produce fat-rich powders for diverse applications. This trend aligns with rising consumer demand for health-focused products and offers significant growth potential in the market. Dominance of Vegetable-Based Fats and Oils Vegetable-based fats and oils are poised to maintain their leading market share due to their versatility, health benefits, and broad availability. Oils like soybean, palm, and sunflower are widely preferred for their culinary and industrial uses, offering essential fatty acids and being perceived as healthier than animal fats. Advances in agricultural practices and biotechnology have ensured a steady supply of vegetable oils at lower costs, further solidifying their market dominance. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=6198812 Food Applications: Leading the Market The food sector represents the largest application segment for fats and oils, driven by their essential role in flavor enhancement, texture improvement, and preservation. Fats and oils contribute to desirable properties such as crispiness and richness in cooking and baking while serving as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins and flavors. Growing demand for processed and convenience foods, coupled with increasing consumer interest in diverse culinary experiences, reinforces the prominence of food applications in the fats and oils market. Asia-Pacific Dominates the Fats and Oils Market Share [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/fats-oils.asp ]. The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share in the fats and oils industry, driven by rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and shifting dietary preferences toward processed and convenience foods. The region's growing population and expanding middle class have significantly increased the demand for edible oils used in cooking and food processing. Additionally, the surge in fast food consumption and the development of the food service industry contribute to the market's growth. Strong economic progress and enhanced distribution networks further solidify Asia-Pacific's leading position in the global fats and oils market, boasting the highest CAGR. Leading Fats and Oils Manufacturers [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/fats-oils-market.asp]: The key players in the market are ADM (US), Wilmar International Ltd (Singapore), Cargill, Incorporated (US), Bunge (US), Kaula Lumpur Kepong Berhad (Malaysia), Olam Agri Holdings Pte Ltd (India), Manildra Group (Australia), Mewah Group (Singapore), Associated British Foods plc (UK), United Plantations Berhad (Malaysia), Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Japan), Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. (Japan), Oleo-Fats (Philippines), Borges Agricultural and Industrial Edible Oils, S.A.U. (Spain), K S Oils Limited (India), CSM Ingredients (US), SD Guthrie International Zwijndrecht Refinery B.V. (Netherlands), Musim Mas Group (Singapore), Richardson International Limited (Canada), and AAK AB (Sweden). ADM (US) ADM is a food manufacturing company that is primarily involved in the production of food & beverage ingredients, feed & feed ingredients, industrial ingredients, biofuels, and naturally derived alternatives to industrial chemicals. The company operates through four business segments, namely, Ag services & oilseeds, carbohydrate solutions, nutrition, and others. The company offers oils derived from vegetable sources for food, industrial, and fuel applications. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment encompasses worldwide operations involving the sourcing, trading, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials. It also covers the crushing and further processing of oilseeds like soybeans and soft seeds (such as cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed) into vegetable oils and protein meals. The products from oilseeds, produced and marketed by this segment, serve as ingredients for food, feed, energy, and industrial customers. Wilmar International Ltd (Singapore) Wilmar International Ltd is one of the leading agribusiness companies. The company is involved in the cultivation of palm oil, crushing oilseed, refining edible oil, milling & refining sugar, and specialty fats. The company operates through four business segments, namely food products, feed & industrial products, plantation & sugar milling, and others. Under its food products segment, Wilmar processes, brands, and distributes a wide variety of edible food products, including vegetable oils, sugar, flour, rice, noodles, specialty fats, snacks, bakery and dairy products, ready-to-eat meals, and central kitchen products to wholesalers and distributors in China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Africa. During FY2023, the company expanded its operational capacities across several countries and regions, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Ghana, India, The Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. These expansions encompassed diverse activities such as refining of edible oils, crushing of oilseeds and palm kernels, extraction of rice bran, milling of flour, palm oil, and sugar, packing of edible oils, rice, and flour, manufacturing of specialty fats, and production of cakes. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=6198812 About MarketsandMarkets Trademark MarketsandMarketsTM has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets Trademark is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore Trademark (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=fats-and-oils-market-trends-leading-players-regional-trends-competitive-landscape-and-industry-overview-by-2029 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Florida State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fats-oils-market-6198812.html This release was published on openPR.

Struggling Syracuse looks to climb back above .500 when it hosts Albany on Tuesday night. The Orange (4-4) are coming off a conference loss to Notre Dame where they failed to make a 3-pointer in a game for the first time in more than 10 years, going 0-for-9 from behind the arc. They will be without leading scorer J.J. Starling, who broke his hand in practice last Monday. Orange coach Adrian Autry said there was "no timetable" for Starling's return after the loss to the Fighting Irish and lamented his team's struggles with turnovers and free-throw shooting in the defeat. "Too many blown opportunities," Autry said. "We're not shooting the ball well. We have to adjust and go game by game now. Our front court has been pretty secure, but we have to keep working and getting better." Starling was averaging a team-high 19.8 points before his injury. The Orange may need to lean more on freshman Donnie Freeman, who has been a standout for Syracuse this season. He's averaging 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds and already has four double-doubles. He was co-ACC Rookie of the Week last week. Defensively, the Orange have struggled. They rank No. 329 in scoring defense, giving up 79.4 points per game. Albany is scoring 77.2 ppg so far this season. The Great Danes (6-4) were downed by Boston University 80-74 in overtime on Saturday. They started the season 5-1 but have lost three of their last four. Senior guard Byron Joshua, a transfer from Alcorn State, is the Great Danes' leading scorer at 13.6 ppg. Amar'e Marshall was an All-America East Conference pick last season after averaging 16.7 points, but his field goal shooting has dropped from 43.4 percent last season to 34.5 percent this season. He is scoring 11.7 ppg. "I think we're learning how to compete at the right level," Albany coach Dwyane Killings said after a loss to Georgetown on Nov. 30. "I think the one thing that troubles us a lot is that our identity and our energy comes when the ball goes in the basket. When it doesn't, I don't think we have the grit that we need right now." Albany has been one of the best teams in the country in terms of steals. The Great Danes average 10.2 steals per game, which is tied for No. 12 in the nation. Syracuse is 8-0 against Albany all-time with the teams last meeting in 2011. Syracuse is 4-0 at home and 4-0 against non-power-conference opponents. --Field Level MediaWashington (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Billy Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, to head the Internal Revenue Service, signaling plans to oust current Commissioner Danny Werfel before his term expires in 2027. Replacing Werfel, who was picked by President Joe Biden, could mean a major shift at the agency, which has been undergoing a massive transformation that’s become a political football in Washington. Democrats have argued the agency, after facing years of budget cuts, needs more money to go after tax cheats and modernize its technology. And Republicans, many of whom – including Long – have supported shutting down the agency altogether , are skeptical that new enforcement actions won’t unfairly target middle-class Americans. Last year, Republican lawmakers successfully clawed back $20 billion of the $80 billion provided to the IRS by the Democrat-backed Inflation Reduction Act that passed in 2022. Further cuts to the IRS’ budget could be a priority for Trump, who has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of a new commission to cut federal spending . While the Inflation Reduction Act spells out how much money can be used for enforcement activities and taxpayer assistance, it’s largely up to the IRS, which is housed in the Department of Treasury, to decide how exactly the money is spent . One of the biggest projects under Werfel – the launch of a free tax filing program called Direct File – doesn’t have the backing of many GOP lawmakers, some of whom have criticized the program as “illegitimate and unnecessary.” There are Republicans who have also voiced concern about the effort to ramp up enforcement. Some, including Trump , have misleadingly suggested that the IRS is hiring 87,000 new auditors to target middle-class Americans and small business owners. But Democrats say the IRS needs the influx of money to successfully go after tax cheats. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, the agency did not have the staffing or resources to pursue high-income earners that the agency knew owed taxes, Werfel said earlier this year . So far, the IRS has collected nearly $1.3 billion in overdue taxes from wealthy households due to the new enforcement efforts. Less controversial efforts undertaken under Werfel’s leadership have been aimed at making it easier for Americans to file their federal taxes, like hiring thousands more customer service representatives and updating the agency’s archaic technology so that it can digitize paper forms . The independent Congressional Budget Office and other budget experts say that spending money on tax enforcement can reduce the deficit by bringing in more tax revenue. Long served 12 years in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023. He ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat in 2022. During his time in Congress, Long served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – but not on the House’s main tax-writing committee. He co-sponsored, along with dozens of other Republicans, bills to abolish the IRS and replace the federal income tax system with a national sales tax. Long currently works as a certified tax and business adviser, according to his X bio . “DM me to save 40% on your taxes. We have a new traunch of tax credits just out!” it says. “Since leaving Congress, Billy has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday announcing his pick. In the private sector, Long has been helping people file for the employee retention tax credit, a pandemic-era benefit. The IRS temporarily paused processing of those claims in 2023 amid concerns of fraud . In a 2023 podcast interview , Long talked about how he only helps people who are eligible to claim the tax credit. “If they don’t qualify, we do not tell them they do. And we do not to get them through the process,” he said. “Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm. He is the consummate ‘people person,’ well respected on both sides of the aisle,” Trump said in his statement. A former professional auctioneer, Long once used his skills to drown out a protester who was disrupting a committee hearing on Capitol Hill. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

(Bloomberg) — Former US climate envoy John Kerry said the world is set to blow past a goal of limiting warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, raising doubts about whether even “clawing back” to that target is possible. In an interview, Kerry and his new business partner, Tom Steyer, join the chorus of voices worldwide saying the target of holding global warming to within 1.5C (2.7F) is no longer within reach. Global temperatures this year will likely register an average 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, a prospect that cast a pall over this week’s COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. “We are in a place where we’re going to blow by 1.5 degrees, with the best hope that we’re in a position for what’s called a ‘clawback’ — that you can somehow claw your way back to 1.5,” said Kerry, who recently joined Steyer’s Galvanize Climate Solutions venture capital firm. “I have serious reservations about whether what we’ve seen of human nature thus far would encourage you to believe we’re actually going to claw back that far,” he added. Still, Kerry and Steyer remain confident that efforts to transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy will survive President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to roll back some of President Joe Biden’s climate policies. Trump won’t be able to stop the switch to cleaner technologies, both because it’s happening worldwide and because it’s being driven by business, they said. “The US is going to power through,” Steyer said. “This is going to be done on the basis of money, returns, business economics. There’s no policy that undoes that.”

According to Patra, innovations in the digital credit landscape such as Account Aggregators, OCEN, and financial services on ONDC have also contributed to productivity gains. New Delhi: The internationalisation of the unified payments interface (UPI) is progressing rapidly, as India emerges as a world leader in leveraging digital technologies for transformative change, according to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report. The UPI hit a milestone of 16.6 billion transactions in a month in October, with improvements in its capabilities like successful instant debit reversals at 86 per cent (77 per cent in the same month last year). "India’s UPI, an open-ended system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application of any participating bank, is propelling inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions seamlessly,” said RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra in the report. According to Patra, innovations in the digital credit landscape such as Account Aggregators, OCEN, and financial services on ONDC have also contributed to productivity gains. As of March 2024, ONDC operates in over 720 cities, with orders at 49.72 million. The Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) addresses the credit gap of MSMEs estimated at around Rs 52.2 trillion by connecting them with banks, and clients, with a reduction in funding costs up to 2.5 percentage points. “The value of invoices financed through TReDS have surged more than 23 times. As of October 2024, around 5,000 active FinTechs are involved in providing various financial and technical solutions to businesses, including MSMEs, helping businesses better manage their operations and improve supply chain finance,” wrote Patra. Around 40 per cent of the rural population and 78 per cent in the 20-30 years age group in the overall population use internet in India, with approximately one-third of households engaging in online purchases of consumables and services, one-fourth in buying of consumer durables, and nearly one-tenth in food purchases. The rising importance of embedded financing is reflected in its share in FinTech funding, which has grown from two per cent in 2020 to nine per cent in 2024, wrote Patra. Taking these developments into account, a summary measure of digitalisation for India has been constructed by using a dynamic factor model (DFM). “The index has been rising, reflecting the ongoing digital revolution. The spread of digitalisation has spurred research on assessing the effects of digitalisation on the economy and the transmission of monetary policy,” said Patra. India is uniquely positioned to unlock new growth avenues and optimise existing ones with its digital public infrastructure (DPI), a vibrant information technology (IT) sector and a burgeoning youth population, including one of the largest AI talent bases, noted the RBI Deputy Governor. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.

POLAND - 2023/09/19: In this photo illustration, a WhatsApp logo seen displayed on a smartphone with ... [+] stock market percentages in the background. (Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Facebook-owned WhatsApp , launched in 2009, has become the most used mobile messenger app in the world, with nearly three billion users. It's often used for work these days, as well as for chatting with friends. As a result, getting hacked can cause significant problems for users, with attackers using their access to steal money and scam the user's contact. And it can happen to anyone, through methods such as social engineering , web hacking, spyware and Forward Call. We look at the warning signs that your WhatsApp account is hacked , and how you can recover your account if it has. Did Your WhatsApp Get Hacked? WhatsApp users are generally alerted to the fact that their account has been hacked after one of a number of warning signs. Generally, this is strange activity, such as messages from unknown contacts, unread messages marked as read, or the arrival of unsolicited verification codes. Often, you may be alerted to this unauthorised activity on your account by friends and family, who may have received fake messages from you, perhaps asking for money or personal information, or containing fraudulent links. In some cases, WhatsApp users discover that their profile details have been changed, perhaps with a new photo — this allows the attackers to impersonate someone else as part of a wider scam. You may also realise that further devices have been logged in to your account without your permission. It's also a warning sign if you find that your phone is running slowly — this may mean that the hackers are running hidden applications. What To Do If Your WhatsApp Is Hacked? If you think that your WhatsApp account has been hacked, you'll need to try and undo any damage caused, get your account back under your control and take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. Recovering a WhatsApp account is usually a very simple process — see “How Can You Recover Your WhatsApp Account?” below. But there's a little more time and effort involved in clearing up any problems that may have been caused by the hack and doing a better job of protecting your account from future attacks. Here's what you'll need to do to make that happen. This Viral Smart Bassinet Is 30% Off With The Snoo Black Friday Sale The 50 Best Black Friday Deals So Far, According To Our Deals Editors Step 1: Delete Fake Messages Once you've regained control of your WhatsApp account, the first step is to delete any messages that the hacker may have sent from your account. This should be very straightforward. If your profile picture or other account information has been altered, then you should change back to the original version. You should also check whether the hacker has added any new contacts — if so, delete those too. Step 2: Check For Unexpected Apps The hackers may well have installed new apps on your phone in order to help them target new victims. Check through all the apps you have, and delete any that weren't installed or approved by you. Step 3: Check For Unauthorized Devices WhatsApp accounts can be accessed on multiple linked devices, and you'll need to make sure that you've booted the hacker out. You can remove any unauthorized devices by opening the app and going to Settings, where you'll see a list of Linked Devices. If there are any that you don't recognize, you can log them out of your account simply by tapping on them. Step 4: Tell Your Friends Your WhatsApp contact may well have been receiving messages purporting to be from you, but in fact sent by the hacker. These messages may ask for personal data, contain fraudulent links, or even ask them for their own WhatsApp verification codes under some or other pretext. You should alert anybody on your contacts list to what's happened, and tell them to ignore any such messages they may have received. Step 5: Secure Your Account For The Future If you haven't already set up two-step verification then this is the time to do it. It's a very speedy process — simply go to Settings, then Account, then Two step verification. You'll be asked to set a PIN; and then you're done. You may also choose to protect your data by only allowing your contacts to see your profile. To do this, go to Settings, Account, Privacy, Profile Photo and then select My contacts. How Can You Recover Your WhatsApp Account? Recovering a WhatsApp account is a very straightforward process. You simply need to sign into WhatsApp with your phone number and re-register — to do this, you'll be sent a six-digit code via SMS or a phone call. Once you've done this, because WhatsApp can only be registered with one phone number at a time, anybody using your account will automatically be logged out. You may also be asked to enter a two-step verification PIN. If you don't know it, this means that the hacker may have enabled two-step verification themselves. In that case, there will be a short delay in getting your account back, as there's a seven-day wait before you can sign in without the two-step verification PIN. Bottom Line Recovering a hacked WhatsApp account is a simpler process than is the case with many other apps. You'll also need to alert your contact that they too may be vulnerable and take steps to avoid being hacked again, but this too is fairly straightforward.