gstar28 casino
As children and young adults, we often mock and dismiss the cultural practices ingrained in our society, labelling them as outdated and irrelevant. Yet, with time and the onset of responsibilities, we come to realise that many of these practices are not as irrational as they once seemed. In fact, most rituals and traditions hold profound significance and are thoughtfully designed to support individuals, especially during challenging times. The Indian value system emphasises society and family as the core units of existence, in contrast to the Western value system, which prioritises the individual and their needs. This contrast becomes most apparent during emotionally challenging times, such as coping with a personal loss. In Western countries, individuals often seek solace and guidance from a counsellor. In contrast, in Indian society, the collective comes together to share in your grief, offering communal support and easing the emotional burden. Here, we celebrate life’s joys together, and we grieve its sorrows together. Recently, our family faced a deeply emotional experience when my father-in-law, the patriarch of our family, passed away. His demise in the evening brought with it several logistical and emotional challenges. With my husband, the eldest son, away on duty and needing nearly ten hours to return, we were faced with the task of preserving the body overnight. The suddenness of the situation left the family in shock, grappling with both the grief of loss and the responsibilities of arranging the funeral. In this moment of vulnerability, the true strength of our community shone through. Friends and neighbours swiftly stepped in to support us, taking on roles we could not manage ourselves. Some ensured the proper preservation of the body, while others became our guides, organising essential arrangements. Many stayed by our side as co-mourners, offering their presence and empathy during our time of sorrow. As the night vigil approached, no one in the family had paused to eat or drink. It wasn’t due to a lack of time but rather a lack of intention. Additionally, as per tradition, we were advised not to light the kitchen fire until the funeral pyre was lit. Elders explained that the house carried negative energy after death, and lighting the fire was discouraged. Reflecting on this ritual, I realised it wasn’t merely about notions of purity or impurity. Instead, it symbolised the essence of community and togetherness, fostering mutual support during times of shared grief and loss. Before we could utter a word, our neighbours arrived, carrying flasks and kettles of steaming tea along with casseroles filled with daal and chapatis. Although none of us felt like eating, they gently insisted, reminding us to keep up our strength for the long and emotional journey ahead. By morning, their care continued unabated. Freshly brewed tea accompanied by biscuits and rusks arrived, and soon after, friends and neighbours poured in with an abundance of parathas and sandwiches— enough to sustain us through a siege. Their unwavering kindness and practical support not only provided physical and emotional succour but also came as a poignant reminder of the strength of community in times of grief, easing our burden. Their actions served as a heartfelt reminder of the deep significance of social bonds and the power of collective support in Indian culture. During times of grief, it is not only the immediate family that shoulders the burden but the entire community that comes together, ensuring no one faces such moments in isolation. So, the next time loud music from your neighbour’s yard keeps you awake at night, pause and take a deep breath. Remind yourself of the moments when those very neighbours stood by your side during your difficult times, offering support and comfort.Donate to provide hope locallyGuest Opinion: Dems must educate ‘low-information voters’
A boy created AI-generated porn with the faces of girls he knew. Why Toronto police said he didn't break the law
Amazon is doubling its investment in Anthropic to $8 billion in a deepened collaboration on artificial intelligence, the companies said Friday. The e-commerce and technology behemoth will remain a minority investor in Anthropic, having pumped an initial $4 billion into the artificial intelligence developer late last year and becoming its primary cloud computing provider. “The response from AWS customers who are developing generative AI applications powered by Anthropic in Amazon Bedrock has been remarkable,” said Matt Garman, chief of AWS cloud computing division. “We’ll keep pushing the boundaries of what customers can achieve with generative AI technologies.” Amazon is investing the additional $4 billion in Anthropic as part of an expanded alliance that includes working together on “Trainium” hardware to optimize machine learning, according to the companies. “We’re looking forward to working with Amazon to train and power our most advanced AI models using AWS Trainium, and helping to unlock the full potential of their technology,” said Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei. The announcement came just days after Britain’s competition regulator cleared Google-parent Alphabet’s investment in Anthropic, following a probe. The Competition and Markets Authority concluded that the big tech giant had not acquired “material influence” over Anthropic as a result of the deal, which was reported to have cost $2 billion. The British regulator is one of several global regulators concerned with reining in big tech companies and their partnerships with AI firms. In September, the CMA cleared Amazon’s initial investment in Anthropic, saying it did not believe that “a relevant merger situation has been created.” With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.
Trump's first actions and job data to test US market in January
AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:35 p.m. ESTCHARLESTON – The West Virginia Water Development Authority approved giving $5 million to an Ohio-based Catholic-affiliated career and vocational college to expand into the state and to create a conservative think tank without a required recommendation from one of three state officials. In October, the Water Development Authority unanimously approved providing $5 million from the Economic Enhancement Grant Fund to the College of St. Joseph the Worker, a Steubenville-based college affiliated with the Catholic Church. The funds will need to be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. All students at the College of St. Joseph the Worker will earn a bachelor’s of arts in Catholic Studies while also receiving training in several trades including carpentry, HVAC, plumbing and electrical. According to information provided from several state agencies through a Freedom of Information Act request, the college’s grant proposal for the $5 million would allow the school to expand across the river into West Virginia for several training programs, a satellite campus, scholarships, and the creation of a think tank focused on social conservative public policy. In an Dec. 19 press release, the college said its expansion projects into West Virginia would greatly benefit Weirton and the Ohio Valley. The college will provide an additional $5 million, bringing the estimated cost of the project to $10 million. “The college is extremely grateful to the state of West Virginia for the recent award of an economic development grant,” according to the college’s statement. “Over the course of the next five years we expect to spend more than $10 million directly on these projects. However, the economic impact to the Weirton area will be far, far greater.” “I’m thrilled about this project for our people in the Northern Panhandle, especially for our young men and women,” said Delegate Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, in an email on Dec. 23. Of the $5 million, more than $2.1 million would be used to create a construction and real estate company headquartered in Weirton. Funds would be used to acquire a warehouse and construction yard, purchase equipment and materials, and employ up to 200 apprentices and between 50 and 100 construction workers. The project, estimated to take five years to complete, would focus on revitalization of historic and culturally valuable projects and developing new building projects. “As a mission-driven educational organization, we will be able to take on construction and revitalization projects that other, exclusively for-profit organizations would not, such as work of historical and cultural significance in communities that might otherwise be unattractive to investors,” according to the college’s grant proposal. More than $1.6 million of the $5 million Economic Enhancement Grant dollars would go towards scholarships for the recruitment of West Virginia students, develop partnerships with tradesmen and contractors in the state for placement of apprentices, the purchase of training facilities in Weirton, and purchasing and/or renovating housing for students. Another $200,000 would be used to seed the creation of a possible branch campus for the College of St. Joseph the Worker. According to the grant proposal, the College is considering a possible branch in the Kanawha County area. “With the success of this initial development in West Virginia, the board of trustees of the College of St Joseph the Worker can establish exploring a second campus in West Virginia,” according to the grant proposal. “Particularly, we hope to evaluate Teays Valley, W.Va., which seems to be an emerging market for the type of intellectual and trades revitalization that the College intends to achieve.” “The primary purpose of this specific grant is to develop additional vocational training that will quickly prepare workers, strengthen our workforce, and benefit communities across West Virginia,” said C.J. Harvey, communications director for Gov. Jim Justice, in an emailed statement on Dec. 20. “This initiative is squarely focused on economic development and creating jobs.” According to a spokesperson for the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and the Higher Education Policy Commission, the college has yet to reach out to state higher education officials. The college will need to apply for a series 20 initial authorization/commission to grant degrees in West Virginia. Unrelated to construction trades, the college wants to use $1 million of the grant for what it categorizes as “advocacy.” It would use the funds to create a bioethics certificate program for continuing education for the medical and psychotherapy fields, as well as create the “Center for the Common Good” to support “life-affirming policy in West Virginia.” In a separate document, the college explained the Center for the Common Good would focus on conservative public policy, specifically citing abortion and immigration and border policy as examples, using research, op-eds, speeches, educational tools, presentations, and proposals for the West Virginia Legislature. “...The college faculty has also been involved in supporting the developing conservative political vision for West Virginia (ie the abortion restriction; solidarity with Texas' border, to name but a few),” the college wrote in an earlier grant proposal. The college is listed as a 501(c)(3) on its 2022 IRS 990 form. According to the IRS, a 501(c)(3) organization can engage in some lobbying activities, but it could risk loss of tax-exempt status if it engages in too much lobbying. “Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying,” according to the IRS website. “For example, organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.” The governor’s office avoided answering the question of whether it was appropriate for Economic Enhancement Grant dollars to be used to create a conservative public policy think tank. “Any additional educational or ethical components mentioned in the application are secondary and fall outside the scope of the administration’s main focus: to get newly-trained workers in the workforce as quickly as possible,” Harvey said. In the Oct. 19 press release sent after multiple requests for interviews with officials, the college announced all of the proposed projects for the Economic Enhancement Grant dollars. However, the press release includes no mention of using the funds for a conservative think tank. WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE The Water Development Authority was created in 1977 by the Legislature to provide grants and loans to local governments and public services districts for construction of water and wastewater infrastructure. But in recent years, the authority has been used as a funding conduit for economic development projects across the state. The Economic Enhancement Grant Fund was created by the Legislature in 2022 by House Bill 4566. The fund was seeded with $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. HB 4566 empowers the authority to create an Economic Enhancement Grant subaccount to provide grants to governmental agencies and not-for-profits to cover all or portions of costs for infrastructure projects. According to State Code, funds in this Economic Enhancement Grant subaccount can be used “to cover all or a portion of the infrastructure projects to enhance economic development and/or tourism when recommended by the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Economic Development and/or the Secretary of Tourism.” However, to date there has been no letter of recommendation from one of the three cabinet-level departments as required by State Code. The Economic Enhancement Grant application from the College of St. Joseph the Worker was approved on Oct. 10 with authority members and three cabinet secretaries at the time, former Department of Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael, former Department of Commerce Secretary James Bailey and current Department of Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby, only being provided with the college’s Economic Enhancement Grant application and grant proposal the day before the scheduled meeting. While one version of the college’s application included a check mark indicating that the Department of Economic Development had provided a recommendation, Water Development Authority Executive Director Marie Prezioso confirmed in an email that no letter recommendation for the college’s Economic Enhancement Grant application has been provided. “It was my understanding that we would be provided with a letter from the secretary, however we do not have one on file,” Prezioso said. “It was this office’s understanding the project was verbally recommended with a formal letter forthcoming,” Harvey said. Both Justice Chief of Staff Brian Abraham and Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Urling, who also chairs the Water Development Authority, were involved with recommending the college’s proposal. At least one former cabinet secretary at the time, James Bailey, expressed concern about the college’s grant proposal in an email to an authority staffer the day before the Oct. 10 authority meeting. Bailey left the Department of Commerce to return to the private legal sector on Oct. 18. “I need a letter of recommendation for this project. Our board meeting is tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice. We just started working on it,” Prezioso wrote to Bailey in an email the morning of Oct. 9. “Is there a more detailed application like we normally have? The document doesn't really detail what the project in WV is other than potentially locating a campus in the state in a few years,” Bailey wrote. “There are some other issues that we should maybe talk over if you'd like to give me a call.” In an email the morning of the Oct. 10 authority meeting, Prezioso asked Andrew Jones, the academic dean and professor of history and political theory at the College of St. Joseph the Worker, to revise the proposed budget for the College’s Economic Enhancement Grant request. “The grant must be used for a project that consists of the acquisition, construction and equipping of multiple education facilities for the in-class and on-site training of the five major construction trades of HVAC, carpentry, masonry, electrical and plumbing, including areas for tools and equipment storage, materials for training and all necessary appurtenances,” Prezioso wrote. BUILDING A FRAMEWORK The first email about the project came on Oct. 2, nine days before the Oct. 10 authority meeting, from McGeehan to Abraham with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, carbon copied. In that email, McGeehan thanked Abraham for his assistance with the college’s Economic Enhancement Grant application. McGeehan confirmed last week that his first conversations with Abraham about the project began as early as September. McGeehan, the dean of students at Weirton Madonna High School, explained that Weirton Madonna has no affiliation with the College of St. Joseph the Worker. McGeehan said he became aware of the college after completing a master’s degree in philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville. “A mutual friend who had went through the graduate program with me at Franciscan made introductions with some of the staff over at the College of St. Joseph the Worker, who at the time, had plans to expand into other areas of Ohio,” McGeehan said. “I touched base with them about expanding into West Virginia instead. I toured their workshops and facilities a few times and I was deeply impressed.” After an email from the authority was sent to officials with the college on Oct. 4 with the Economic Enhancement Grant application, McGeehan emailed the authority back the same day with the completed application. West Virginia already offers several construction trades programs, including in the Northern Panhandle. West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling offers several short-term training programs and multi-year certificates for trades, such as HVAC, electrical, and industrial/construction/trades. Project BEST, also headquartered in Wheeling and affiliated with the Upper Ohio Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, offers apprenticeship training, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing and pipefitting. But McGeehan said what the College of St. Joseph the Worker is offering to West Virginia students is unique and holistic, focused on not just providing rote training. “The College of Saint Joseph the Worker is unique, insofar as it offers a holistic approach to shaping young men and women, one reason why I’m excited about it,” McGeehan said. “Nowhere in in the United States is there an institution that simultaneously trains the mind in the humanities while also in the manual trades.” “This is done by teaching young men and women the skilled trades, such as carpentry, HVAC, and construction, while also providing their students with a classical education along the way, both of which are greatly needed in our state,” McGeehan continued. “Upon graduation, their students earn their Journeyman’s card in the skilled trade of their choice, along with earning a bachelor’s degree, and because of the college’s ability to raise funds, offer scholarships, and provide paid on-the-job training for their students, their students graduate with zero debt.” McGeehan was a co-sponsor of HB 4566 in 2022. Earlier this month, the authority approved 24 projects for Economic Enhancement Grant dollars, awarding more than $67 million. During the October special session, lawmakers appropriated an additional $125 million to the Economic Enhancement Grant Fund. According to the governor’s office, the authority has approved Economic Enhancement Grant projects worth $594 million since 2022. McGeehan said the $5 million for the College of St. Joseph the Worker is an appropriate grant award. “I conceived and wrote the bill which passed into law to establish the EEG fund in the first place, so that grants like this one could come about, and be awarded to non-profit institutions and municipalities to help beautify our local communities and strengthen their infrastructure for our people,” McGeehan said. “Many of the problems our state suffers from are downstream of faltering local communities, weakened family bonds, and a younger generation without practical skills, who are quite often steeped in university debt,” McGeehan continued. “I’ll continue to do what I can to help reverse this trend.” In 2023, McGeehan was the co-sponsor of an originating bill from the House Government Organization Committee, where McGeehan is vice chairman, to create a Joint Legislative Committee on Civic Life. House Bill 3561 would have created a state agency to provide grant funds to nonprofits that support “traditional cultural values” “family growth, maintenance and self-sufficiency” and the creation of new fraternal organizations. McGeehan said HB 3561, which failed in a 42-51 vote, has no connection to the college’s Economic Enhancement Grant award. “While I’d certainly defend a decision to capitalize such an initiative, the grant did not include funding for what you wrote,” McGeehan said. “...The state is merely matching an investment that the college has agreed to put into our state. Beyond that, the grant has nothing to do with the specific bill you referenced.” Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com .
ISRO to demonstrate docking of satellites in space in January, launch on MondaySpain Is It Still a Safe Destination to Visit? U.S. State Department Issues Heightened Travel Warnings Amid Growing Safety Concerns and Civil Unrest
Timberwolves didn’t turn to small ball to close last game, and those lineups don’t seem to be on the horizonThe scope for collaboration between India, the world’s third largest energy consumer, and Kuwait, which holds 6.5% of global oil reserves, is immense and the two sides are set to transform their traditional buyer-seller relationship into a strategic partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. India’s rapidly growing petrochemical industry, which will be worth $300 billion by 2025, and Kuwait’s “Petrochemical Vision” under its Strategy 2040 can open the doors for joint investment, technology exchange and mutual growth, Modi said in an interview with state-run KUNA news agency as he began a two-day visit to the West Asian state. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier and fourth largest LPG supplier, meeting 3% of the country’s energy needs, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed $10 billion. India is among Kuwait’s top trading partners and two-way trade was worth $10.47 billion during 2023-24. Modi said energy is an important pillar of bilateral ties and it reflects the deep trust and mutual benefit underpinning the partnership between the two sides. “Indian companies actively engage in importing crude oil, LPG and petroleum products from Kuwait, while also exporting petroleum products to Kuwait,” he said. “As India emerges as the world’s third largest energy, oil and LPG consumer, and Kuwait holds around 6.5% of global oil reserves, the scope for further collaboration is immense,” he added. In addition to conventional hydrocarbons trade, there are new areas for cooperation such as an entire value chain of oil and gas, joint efforts in low-carbon solutions such as green hydrogen, biofuels and carbon capture technologies. Modi also referred to the bilateral energy partnership as a driver of diversified and sustainable growth and energy security. “Trade and commerce have been important pillars of our bilateral relationship. Our bilateral trade has been on an upswing. Our energy partnership adds a unique value to our bilateral trade,” Modi said. “We are happy to see ‘Made in India’ products, particularly in automobile, electrical and mechanical machinery and telecom segments making new inroads in Kuwait... Diversification to non-oil trade is key to achieving greater bilateral trade,” he added. There is potential to expand cooperation in the pharmaceutical, health, technology, digitalisation, innovation and textile sectors. Modi, who is set to hold talks with the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Sunday, said: “Overall, bilateral ties are progressing well and...scaling new heights. I eagerly look forward to my talks with...the Amir to elevate our ties in various areas, including defence, trade, investment and energy.” He said India’s economic growth and pace of infrastructure development creates opportunities for investment across a range of areas, including expressways, railways, airports, ports, energy grids and digital connectivity. “Our political stability, policy predictability and reform-oriented business approach has made India a magnet for global investment, manufacturing and supply chains. The Indian growth story is attracting global manufacturers – from semiconductors, aircraft, drones to e-vehicles -- to set up shop in the country,” he said. At the same time, Modi pointed out, the “Kuwait Vision 2035” is focused on transforming the country by making it an economic and connectivity hub. He said there is synergy in the visions of both sides and the pace of economic activity in both countries opens up opportunities for the two governments and companies to collaborate. Modi thanked the Amir of Kuwait for looking after the welfare of the one million-strong Indian community, the largest expatriate group that includes doctors, businessmen, construction workers, engineers and nurses. “As we elevate the level of our relationship with Kuwait to a strategic partnership, I believe the role of the Indian community will only grow in importance,” he added. Modi also spoke on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and emphasised that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. He underlined the importance of “sincere and practical engagement between stakeholders for bridging differences and achieving negotiated settlements”. He expressed willingness to support earnest efforts that can lead to the early restoration of peace, especially in Gaza and Ukraine. He reiterated India’s support for a negotiated two-state solution for the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders.
- Previous: gstar28 app
- Next: gstar28 login register
