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The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines game has become legendary not just for Michigan's upset of the previously No. 2 ranked Buckeyes on the road, but also for the postgame brawl. On Monday, a CBS Sports reporter shared new, extended video footage of Ohio State coach Ryan Day's vantage point during the brawl, following him from the playing of a a postgame song to the moments before the brawl broke out. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.MAP Meeting Evolves into MedSpa Pro, Builds Momentum for Record-Breaking 2025
Employees work at an excavator assembly line of a Develon subsidiary in Yantai, east China’s Shandong Province on Dec 26, 2023. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (Nov 23): A little-known road called Kaixuan in Jining, east China’s Shandong Province, has become an undeniable presence on the world’s leading cross-border B2B e-commerce platform, Alibaba. It not only witnesses the transformation of Jining from a traditional coal resource hub to a manufacturing powerhouse but also how cross-border e-commerce has changed the fate of factories along this road. Stretching approximately 2.5km from southwest to northeast, the road, whose name means triumph in Chinese, can be walked in about half an hour. However, a dozen machinery manufacturing companies gathered on both sides of the road, actively seeking to go global through Alibaba. For Han Guangfei, general manager of Jining SAAO Machinery Company Ltd, a “resident” of Kaixuan Road that specialises in small and medium-sized road construction machinery, the recently concluded annual “Double 11” online shopping spree was more of a reminder that his business is not limited to just one day. While others are busy stocking up on discounted daily necessities, he is focused on quality control and preparing the inventory of road rollers, setting his sights on overseas markets. “Either go global or be left behind,” said Han. “Most of the machinery factories you can see along the Kaixuan Road are doing business on Alibaba.” SAAO mainly produces various types of road rollers and graders. It earned its reputation in the industry by sponsoring all the lighting machinery equipment in the 2023 Chinese sci-fi blockbuster “The Wandering Earth II.” Han believes traditional manufacturing equipment must explore overseas markets to achieve sustainable development. In 2018, SAAO’s foreign trade orders accounted for only 20 per cent of its business. Han’s decision to go global online has become a game changer for the company, while SAAO’s store on Alibaba.com, the cross-border B2B platform owned by China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba, was in full operation in 2019. “Since then, the foreign orders have flocked in, but we have seen a surge in overseas orders through Alibaba since 2021 when foreign countries strove to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with an infrastructure-building wave,” said Han. “In the first half of this year, our order transaction volume on Alibaba increased by 50 per cent year on year, while foreign trade amounts to 60 per cent of its overall business, and the figure is expected to rise to 70 per cent by the end of this year,” he added. SAAO’s overseas expansion is reflected in the official economic data released by the Chinese authorities. According to the China Construction Machinery Industry Association, in the first half of 2024, China’s construction machinery import and export trade exceeded US$27.13 billion, up 3.13 per cent year on year. Among them, exports amounted to nearly US$25.84 billion, up 3.38 per cent year on year. People visit the booth of Alibaba.com during the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province on Oct 15, 2024. – Xinhua photo Alibaba also sees more machinery manufacturers like SAAO rapidly expanding their presence in the overseas market. Its data shows that among the top 10 industries with the highest growth of online transactions on Alibaba.com in the first half of 2024, half are related to machinery equipment and construction materials, with star products in the construction machinery industry, such as excavators, loaders, and drilling rigs, having seen transaction growth rates exceeding 50 per cent. Many enterprises from Jining, one of China’s six major construction machinery industry bases with over 900 such enterprises, are also flocking to Alibaba. Since April this year, the number of new merchants from Jining joining Alibaba has increased by 76.2 per cent year on year. “Jining has already been a brand itself on Alibaba. Foreign buyers searching for road-building machinery know well what they can get from the enterprises tagged with Jining,” said Guo Zhengkui, the regional head of Alibaba.com in Jining. Guo said that the rapid growth of online machinery exports began in 2023 when markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East embarked on a wave of infrastructure construction. This created a huge demand for China’s construction machinery, which has a competitive advantage in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness. “Chinese companies going global is not easy. First of all, you have to face the most cutthroat competition domestically, which is why once you survive that round and become a winner here, you are pretty much the most competitive product internationally,” he said. Guo noted that the strong performance of Jining’s mainstream product – small excavators – has been transformative to Chinese construction machinery enterprises for its multifaceted role in farming. Previously, Chinese machinery was traditionally used for infrastructure building in the European and American markets. But now, the convenience of online procurement has prompted many foreign farms and gardens to purchase small excavators through Alibaba, said Guo, bringing breakthroughs to Chinese machinery enterprises with a richer product line. Guo’s view is shared by Liu Mingtao, general manager of Hengwang Group, a major excavator and bulldozer producer based in Jining. “The overseas demand is overwhelming now. If new customers come to place orders, they may not necessarily be able to get them,” said Liu. In 2013, Hengwang officially opened its store on Alibaba.com and the annual sales growth on the platform has already exceeded 80 per cent this year. So far, it accounts for about 70 per cent of the company’s overall foreign trade turnover. “Twelve years ago, 99.9 per cent of my business mates didn’t know what I was doing; five years ago, 10 per cent of them started coming to me for advice; now, 90 per cent want to know how to do cross-border e-commerce,” said Liu. “This year, we see fresh blood has joined us, and many of them are second-generation entrepreneurs in the industry,” he said. Expansion of overseas warehouse Besides growing overseas demand, another driving force behind the booming machinery business is the large number of overseas warehouses sprouting across the globe, which makes Chinese cross-border e-commerce much easier. According to official data, China has over 1,000 cross-border e-commerce industrial parks and over 2,500 overseas warehouses covering over 30 million square metres. However, they are not merely warehouses for goods storage. By integrating storage, logistics, and after-sales support with digital and intelligent technologies, they are helping the country’s over 120,000 cross-border e-commerce entities bring their products to all corners of the world. This warehousing and logistics method has greatly improved logistics efficiency and customer experience. It also helps businesses respond actively to order peaks and reduce logistics costs. To promote cross-border e-commerce, the Chinese government released a guideline in June on advancing the construction of overseas warehouses. The guideline specified measures in financial support, infrastructure construction, and services. Cross-border e-commerce, in collaboration with new foreign trade infrastructure like overseas warehouses, helps build new advantages in international economic cooperation and has become a dynamic force in China’s foreign trade development, it noted. People watch an excavator stunt show at the 2023 East Asia Marine Expo in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province on June 28, 2023. – Xinhua photo Hengwang has built 13 warehouses in major export destinations such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Liu said that such warehouses not only store complete machines but also spare parts for timely after-sales service and technical support. “Overseas warehouses do not always operate at full capacity but adjust inventory dynamically according to customer demand.” SAAO has also taken action. Han plans to deploy overseas warehouses in Central Asian countries after setting up warehouses in Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, as his business is expanding from Europe and America to the region. Staff members of Kilimall work at a warehouse in Mlolongo, Kenya on Nov 10, 2023. – Xinhua photo Exploration never stops Liu calls himself a “road warrior” after spending more than 200 days abroad last year, shuttling between Europe, America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He discovered more business opportunities as Hengwang transformed from a small and medium-sized machinery equipment producer to a large equipment maker. “Being early is crucial. We are developing new products, such as 125-tonne large excavators that can compete with famous brand Caterpillar of the United States and Japan’s Komatsu,” Liu said. SAAO also invested more in the overseas market. It purchased more machines including a second laser cutting machine worth 1.5 million yuan and supplemented its workforce in various links of the entire foreign trade business chain, from technicians, assemblers, salespeople, and procurement personnel. In addition, SAAO has developed green machinery that uses new energy and does not have engine noise pollution. “Currently, the demand for environmentally friendly machinery is increasing year by year, and its shipment volume has accounted for nearly 10 per cent of our overall volume,” said Han. “Only those who never stop exploring and innovating can thrive on the Road of Triumph,” he said. – XinhuaU.S. imposes new controls on chip exports to China
Monport Laser Unwraps the "Christmas Laser Bonanza" - Spark Your Creativity with Unbeatable Festive OffersOne of the smallest states in the US has been punching way above its weight in terms of installed solar capacity for almost 25 years, and it’s not stopping there. A new statewide project is in the works to draw more farms into the agrivoltaic movement, in which solar panels and agriculture combine for mutual benefit. If you guessed the state in question is New Jersey, either you caught the Garden State reference or you’re reading this now. Either way, New Jersey holds the #10 position for installed solar capacity in a 50-state ranking. That’s quite a feat for a state that sits down at #46 by land mass. To further complicate the prospects for solar growth, New Jersey is a densely developed state sandwiched between Philadelphia and New York City, packed with suburban towns, malls, roadways, railways, and commercial activity including major airports and seaports. That leaves little room for the kind of sprawling solar arrays common in Texas and other land-rich states. To shrink the pool of available space further, New Jersey ranks high on the scale of land set aside for public parks and wildlife conservation. One survey puts it at 20%, second only to Alaska. That explains why much of the growth in solar capacity has consisted of rooftop solar arrays, parking lot canopies, and other small-scale installations. Agriculture comprises one of the few remaining sectors in which private property is not already developed for other uses. Solar developers have been encountering rising opposition in rural communities, but the 2022 New Jersey agricultural census indicates that farmers in the state are already amenable to infrastructure that leverages solar energy. The census includes farms earning annual revenue, or potential revenue, of $1,000 or more. As of 2022, it showed that greenhouse operations lead the state’s agriculture industry along with nurseries, floriculture, and sod production. “New Jersey ranks fifth in the nation in nursery stock sales at $296 million and is third in potted flowering plant sales at $77.5 million,” the NJ Department of Agriculture explained in a recap of the 2022 census posted earlier this year. Of note, the census also revealed the New Jersey outstrips larger states in the production of certain specialty crops and row crops, two areas in which agrivoltaic activity is beginning to ramp up. That includes eggplant (#3 in state rankings), cranberries and asparagus (#4), and blueberries (#5). The Agriculture Department also lists New Jersey in the Top 10 for peaches, plums, bell peppers, spinach, bok choy, escarole, and other crops. In a state where farmers are already squeezed for space, farms are also getting smaller. That trend is also consistent with the potential for agrivoltaic projects to maximize the use of space. The 2022 census showed that the amount of acres farmed in New Jersey fell in accord with national trends, but the number of farms rose by 115 to hit 9,998. In contrast, the number of farms in the US fell by 7%. Agrivoltaic projects can also complement the state’s growing agritourism sector. Despite the interruption of the COVID-19 outbreak, farmer revenue from agritourism in New Jersey topped $29 million in 2022, up from $18 million in 2017. Against this backdrop, in October the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced the launch of the new Dual-Use Agrivoltaics Pilot Program. Billed as one of the first dual-use agrivoltaic programs in the country to be implemented on a statewide basis, the three-year program is aiming at a total of up to 200 megawatts over the next three years. That’s just for starters. The Utilities Board notes that its NJBPU Solar Program has shepherded the installation of more than 205,000 solar projects in New Jersey since its inception in 2000, for a total capacity of 4.9 gigawatts. Last year the Solar Program held a record-setting pace for applications, bringing the total up to 6.2 gigawatts if projects in the pipeline are included. Research culled from participating farms in the Dual-Use Program will support a permanent program, complete with construction and operation standards that will help accelerate more widespread adoption. The Rutgers University Agrivoltaic Program is charged with administering the program. In an interesting twist, BPU also notes that its community solar program has been taking off. Community solar projects are another area in which agrivoltaic practices are beginning to emerge, providing new business opportunities for local livestock grazers and other farmers. Interested? Stay tuned for a Notice of Availability sometime in January. Updates will be posted on the BPU website and the New Jersey Clean Energy Program website, or sign up for BPU and Clean Energy listservs. CleanTechnica has been following the agrivoltaic movement since 2018, when researchers at the US Department of Energy and elsewhere began to assemble evidence that some crops can thrive in the partial shade of solar panels. The shade also fosters a supportive microclimate for soil and water conservation, while the cooling effect of vegetation helps to increase solar conversion efficiency (see lots more dual-use background here ). In the following years, much of the activity has focused on livestock grazing or habitat restoration with a focus on pollinator-friendly plants that support nearby crops. More recently, the agrivoltaic field has branched out with an assist from new, vertical bifacial solar technology . Rutgers recently installed the first such vertical solar panels in New Jersey at its farm in New Brunswick, to assess how the vertical configuration can facilitate hay mowing as well as livestock grazing. The case for agrivoltaics is also gaining attention for its role in preventing a catastrophic decline in the global insect population. Last year, researchers from the Energy Department and academic partners published the results of a five-year study assessing the impacts of habitat restoration on the grounds of utility-scale solar arrays . “We found increases over time for all habitat and biodiversity metrics: floral rank, flowering plant species richness, insect group diversity, native bee abundance, and total insect abundance, with the most noticeable temporal increases in native bee abundance,” the research team concluded. Overall, they assessed that insect communities responded to the habitat restoration project at the relatively rapid pace of less than four years. In another key finding, the researchers found that bee visitations from the solar array to a nearby soybean field were comparable to the visitations from a nearby farmland preserved under the US Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program. That’s interesting from a rural solar development perspective. The CRP is tasked with helping farmers restore marginal lands. It covers millions of acres under 10-15 year contracts. If utility-scale solar arrays can achieve similar goals while generating clean kilowatts, then so much the better. Follow me via LinkTree , or @tinamcasey on Threads, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Photo (cropped): Space-saving bifiacial PV technology is a new addition to the dual-use agrivoltaic movement, which enables farmers to continue working their land while realizing income from solar projects (courtesy of Rutgers University). CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook X Email Mastodon Reddit
AP Business SummaryBrief at 5:35 p.m. ESTThe business of decarbonization is too important to wait, say experts. But merely having climate commitments that focus on 2050 isn’t sufficient, as such pledges may lull business leaders into thinking there is still some time left until they need to act. It’s not only possible but prudent for organizations to decarbonize, safeguard nature, and build resilience rapidly — now. In fact, businesses that fail to address growing climate risks in the near term are more likely to experience steep financial losses throughout the coming decade. Two WEF reports – “The Cost of Inaction: A CEO Guide to Navigating Climate Risk” and “Business on the Edge: Building Industry Resilience to Climate Hazards” provide a roadmap for companies as they move forward toward net zero operations. The authors describe the roadmap as a plan that every business leader should be activating within the next 24 months to drive better executive level decision-making. Avoid economic loss by enhancing resilience. Increase revenues and sustainability through adaptation. Collaborate to protect communities and ecosystems, through resilience and adaptation. Accept that it is a decisive moment for action. With the planet already facing irreversible tipping points, the frequency and severity of climate hazards with a direct impact on business and societies globally will continue to grow. The cascading economic and societal risks for business are complex and interconnected, but they can be understood in three separate ways: direct operational costs, supply chain disruption, and instability in nature and society. Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires have had a direct impact on the business climate. The climate crisis is already having profound effects on the global economy with climate-related damages having surpassed $3.6 trillion since 2000 , more than doubling in 20 years. Climate inaction means missing out on opportunities, as the global green economy is expected to expand from $5 trillion in 2024 to $14 trillion by 2030. The economic case for decarbonization is better than most may think, as industries can reduce 10-60% of their emissions at no or limited additional cost. At carbon prices in line with net zero requirements, almost all sectors could abate over 50% of their emissions, with some achieving net zero. The US has seen hundreds of billions of dollars in clean technology investments since the 2022 passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — solar installations, offshore wind farms, electric vehicle manufacturing, battery factories, mining and processing of battery minerals, adoption of heat pumps, and other energy efficiency improvements. Whew! Our CleanTechnica editor, Zachary Shahan, says that the IRA has been “one of the most under-appreciated pieces of legislation in American history.” Lots of businesses are already investing in decarbonization. The IRA is the biggest reshoring and pro-manufacturing legislation that the US has ever experienced. Its strategic and numerous incentives have been crucial to motivating EV and battery manufacturing. IRA investments are recreating a strong domestic EV manufacturing sector as well as breaking China’s dominance of critical mineral and battery component supply chains. Yet, as the global energy mix shifts toward low-emission sources, further significant investments are required to modernize infrastructure and ensure the reliability of power generation. This includes upgrading transmission grids and expanding energy storage systems to support the integration of variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar. To make this leap, it’s important for businesses to understand the full scope of emissions that are produced by the world economy – as categorized under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol – is essential for companies to assess and manage their carbon footprints effectively: Scope 1: Direct emissions from company-owned or controlled sources, such as factory emissions. Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy, like electricity. Scope 3: All other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including material extraction and processing, transportation, waste management, and the use and end-of-life treatment of sold products. In a December 2024 interview, John Mennel, a managing director at Deloitte and its purpose strategy leader, outlines how, because renewables are the cheapest source of energy, “companies generally save or make money when they’re more sustainable.” Companies, of course, will only move as quickly as they can define investments profitably and finance them. Unlike direct emissions produced by an institution’s own operations, financed emissions represent the broader climate footprint resulting from the allocation of financial resources to entities that may contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through their operations. Two types of climate risks are becoming material for business: physical risks (acute events like floods and chronic issues like sea level rise) and transition risks (e.g., regulatory changes and stranded assets). Companies now need to consider the risks to the existences and assets from climate change. Moreover, if they do have a decarbonization plan, they must anticipate how to reduce the capital expense to accomplish it as well as how to increase the return on investment. Together, these risks are reshaping industries, threatening financial stability, and creating urgency for climate action. Powerful statistics that emerge from new World Economic Forum research include: Companies investing in adaptation, decarbonization, and resilience are seeing up to $19 in avoided losses for every dollar spent. That’s the equivalent to the economic impact of COVID-19 every two years. Businesses investing in adaptation, resilience and decarbonization are seeing tangible returns — up to $19 in value for every dollar spent. Businesses that fail to adapt to physical climate risks could lose up to 7% of annual earnings by 2035. Companies that fail to decarbonize face mounting transition risks: up to 50% of profits by 2030 in heavy-emitting sectors. For the average listed company, climate-driven losses equate to a drop in earnings of 8.1–10.1% per year by 2045. Green markets are projected to expand from $5 trillion to $14 trillion by 2030. Extreme heat and other climate hazards are expected to cause $560–$610 billion in annual fixed asset losses for listed companies by 2035. Telecommunications, utilities and energy companies are most vulnerable. While it is a long way short of requirements of the Paris Agreement, we are at the beginning of a “prolonged period of decline for the first time since the industrial revolution,” according to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook . What will it take to reduce the emissions of the formidable power, buildings, transportation, and agriculture industries? It will require hundreds more wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, and storage batteries. The production of these industries, in turn, will require water, energy, rare earth elements, and critical metals to produce, creating more emissions from production. Is this progress toward decarbonization achievable? While some say that decarbonization remains a significant challenge, pathways to a net zero future are on the horizon. The business of decarbonization requires leaders who are both visionary and practical, innovative and articulate. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email RedditBy Matt Barrows, RJ Kraft and Jenna West The San Francisco 49ers plan to place running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on injured reserve after suffering injuries in the team’s Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills . McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury but will not need surgery, coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. The injury is about a six-week recovery time, which sidelines the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year for the remainder of the regular season. Additionally, Mason suffered a high ankle injury in the loss and will be placed on IR. Both must miss a minimum of four games; the 49ers have just five games left this season. GO DEEPER 49ers look a lot like their 2020 snakebit selves in snowy, blowout loss to the Bills These latest injuries mean the 49ers’ top three running backs from the start of the offseason — McCaffrey, Mason and Elijah Mitchell — are all on injured reserve. Rookie Isaac Guerendo is the only healthy running back, not including fullback Kyle Juszczyk , on the roster, though Patrick Taylor Jr. is on the team’s practice squad. The 49ers will have to go outside the building to sign at least one more back. Matt Breida , who played for the team from 2017 to ’19 and spent three weeks on the roster during training camp, would seem to be a potential option. Advertisement McCaffrey left Sunday night’s game early in the second quarter. Taking a carry on a first down play, McCaffrey took a few slow steps before sliding to a stop for a 5-yard loss. he left the field under his own power and went to the medical tent, then attempted to jog along the 49ers sideline before heading to the locker room. Sunday was just McCaffrey’s fourth game of the 2024 season. He returned in early November after missing most of training camp and the 49ers’ first eight games because of tendonitis in both Achilles. He had seven carries for 53 yards and two catches for 14 yards before exiting Sunday’s game. For the season, McCaffrey had 202 rushing yards along with 15 receptions for 146 receiving yards. Mason was the team’s primary running back for the first two months of the season while McCaffrey was out with his initial injury. The third-year back leads the team in rushing with 789 yards and has three touchdowns. Guerendo, a fourth-round pick out of Louisville, has shown promise while filling in for Mason when he was hurt against the Seattle Seahawks (Week 6) and the Dallas Cowboys (Week 8). He has 246 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the season. Additionally, defensive tackle Kevin Givens suffered a torn pec in Sunday night’s loss. He is out for the season and will also be placed on injured reserve. The 49ers (5-7) have lost three in a row and sit two games behind the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. What do the 49ers have in Guerendo? The injuries to McCaffrey and Mason mean Guerendo suddenly will become the 49ers’ lead tailback, and it likely also will prompt the 49ers to promote Taylor from the practice squad. Guerendo seemed to be starting to find his stride when McCaffrey returned from his Achilles injury and immediately received nearly all of the tailback snaps. Advertisement Now, Guerendo will get an opportunity to resume his NFL education. He’s shown flashes of potential, including on Sunday when he had a 15-yard touchdown against the Bills. But he’s also fumbled twice on kickoffs (losing one) this season and it’s not quite clear whether he’s fully shaken the injury bug that plagued him in college. In short, Guerendo — and the 49ers — will benefit from him getting more snaps. It will better prepare him for the 2025 season and ought to give the team a better idea on how to approach Mason’s situation — he’ll be a restricted free agent in March — when the season is over. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat writer Required reading (Photo: Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images)
Dog that survived fatal Highway 17 collision will be returned to familyNEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set on Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.2%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October’s lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late March
Kolkata: Consumer goods makers have significantly increased their capital expenditure, including on research and development (R&D), to make their products as well as manufacturing processes sustainable and environment friendly, as these factors are becoming crucial for both consumers and investors. Companies increased their capex up to nine times in the past three financial years, and on R&D by up to four times, to specifically make products and manufacturing processes sustainable, according to an ET study of 15 leading publicly traded companies across fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), automobile and electronics sectors. For a few companies, expenditure went up on both counts. "Consumers nowadays, especially the younger generation, are extremely conscious about sustainability and prefer to buy brands who develop sustainable products and use sustainable manufacturing processes ," said Pradeep Bakshi, managing director of Tata-owned appliance manufacturer Voltas . "Even for business-to-business deals, this has become a benchmark." He said the company is using components which are greener in nature, along with recycled plastic for some models of air coolers and washing machines, and also pushing for biodiversity inside the factory campuses. For automakers, most of their capex and R&D expenses are related to electric vehicle development and reduction of emissions from fuel vehicles. 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Two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto deployed 100% of its R&D spending in the past three fiscals on electric vehicle development, while the share of R&D in capex went up to 65.1% in 2023-24 from 6.4% in 2021-22. Havells India managing director Anil Rai Gupta said companies are not only focused on developing energy-efficient products but also reaching zero norm standards earlier which has a greater acceptance globally among consumers and investors when Indian companies are going global. FMCG companies such as HUL , ITC and Tata Consumer Products have increased their spending on R&D to replace non-recyclable plastics with recyclable plastics , reduce plastic packaging by focusing on suitable alternatives and develop products which promote healthier lifestyles. Dabur India 's R&D spending on developing sustainable products went up to 42% of its total R&D budget in 2023-24 from 10% in 2021-22, while as a share of capex, it went up to 12.8% from 1.5% during this period. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
MAA Announces Regular Quarterly Preferred DividendWill Utah State or Boise State forfeit vs. San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?
COLUMBUS, Ga. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL ) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared the first quarter dividend of $0.58 per share, payable on March 3, 2025 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2025 . This represents a 16.0% increase over the previously declared fourth quarter dividend. Commenting on the announcements, Aflac Incorporated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos said: "I am pleased with the Board's action to increase the first quarter 2025 dividend. We treasure our record of 42 consecutive years of dividend increases, and our dividend track record is supported by the strength of our capital and cash flows. As an insurance company, our primary responsibility is to fulfill the promises we make to our policyholders. At the same time, we are listening to our shareholders and understand the importance of prudent liquidity and capital management. We remain committed to maintaining strong capital ratios on behalf of our policyholders and balance this financial strength with tactical capital deployment." Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL ), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan . In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products. 1 In Japan , Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under "Sustainability." 1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. The company desires to take advantage of these provisions. This document contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal," "objective," "may," "should," "estimate," "intends," "projects," "will," "assumes," "potential," "target," "outlook" or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. The company cautions readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy, including inflation defaults and credit downgrades of investments global fluctuations in interest rates and exposure to significant interest rate risk concentration of business in Japan limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate differing interpretations applied to investment valuations significant valuation judgments in determination of expected credit losses recorded on the Company's investments decreases in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems and on successful execution of revenue growth and expense management initiatives interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company inherent limitations to risk management policies and procedures operational risks of third-party vendors tax rates applicable to the Company may change failure to comply with restrictions on policyholder privacy and information security extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities competitive environment and ability to anticipate and respond to market trends catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, as a result of climate change, epidemics, pandemics (such as COVID-19), tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events ability to protect the Aflac brand and the Company's reputation ability to effectively manage key executive succession changes in accounting standards level and outcome of litigation or regulatory inquiries allegations or determinations of worker misclassification in the United States Analyst and investor contact - David A. Young , 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667 or [email protected] Media contact – Ines Gutzmer , 762.207.7601 or [email protected] SOURCE Aflac IncorporatedSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Zscaler Inc. (ZS) on Monday reported a loss of $12.1 million in its fiscal first quarter. The San Jose, California-based company said it had a loss of 8 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, came to 77 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 13 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 63 cents per share. The cloud-based information security provider posted revenue of $628 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Thirteen analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $605.7 million. For the current quarter ending in January, Zscaler expects its per-share earnings to range from 68 cents to 69 cents. The company said it expects revenue in the range of $633 million to $635 million for the fiscal second quarter. Zscaler expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.94 to $2.99 per share, with revenue ranging from $2.62 billion to $2.64 billion. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ZS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ZS
Seyi Vibez, whose official name is Balogun Afolabi Oluwaloseyi, is a fast-rising Nigerian singer and songwriter. He first rose to fame for his single God Sent in 2021. His worldwide breakthrough came with Chance Na Ham , a single from his second studio album, Billion Dollar Baby, in 2022. Read Seyi Vibez's biography to learn more about the sensational singer. TABLE OF CONTENTS Profile summary Seyi Vibez's biography What is Seyi Vibez's age? Where did Seyi Vibez come from? What is Seyi Vibes' real name? Which University did Seyi Vibez attend? Career Seyi Vibez's studio albums and EPS Seyi Vibez critical acclaim, nominations and awards What is Seyi Vibez's net worth? What is Seyi Vibez’s height? Social media presence Who is Seyi Vibez's wife? What is Seyi Vibez's record label? Who is the richest between Seyi Vibez and Zinoleesky? Seyi Vibez feud with Zinoleesky Did Seyi Vibez buy Lamborghini? What is Seyi doing now? Seyi Vibez has been making waves in the music industry since 2019. He is known for his poignant lyrics and deep melodies. He ranks among the best-selling Nigerian artists in 2024. This SeyiVibezs biography maps the artist's rise to fame, net worth, family, wife, and latest songs. Profile summary Read also Young Duu's biography: age, net worth, car, who signed him? Seyi Vibez's biography Seyi Vibez is a Nigeria n singer and songwriter. The hot-rising star captivated his fanbase with his soulful lyrics and addictive melodies that blend Apala, Fuji, and Amapiano. Seyi Vibez's music stays loyal to his street-style roots and has succeeded in Nigeria and abroad. His breakout single Chance (Na Ham) from his second studio album, Billion Dollar Baby, peaked at No. 7 on Nigeria's TurnTable Top 100 chart. The album debuted at No. 19 on the UK Afrobeats chart. People often ask how old is Seyi Vibez following false speculations that the artist was over 30. He was born on 12 July 2000, making him 24 as of 2024. His zodiac sign is Cancer. The Afro-Fuji singer took to X in January 2023 to share his passport captioning it, "22 year old boy giving them headache!". Read also Shallipopi's net worth, age, where is he from and who signed him? Vibez was born and raised in the Ketu area of Lagos State. When he was 13, his family moved to Ikorodu due to unforeseen circumstances. The talented singer grew up with his mother in Ikorodu, where he started his music career. Seyi Vibez's religion is Islamic. Seyi grew up in a close-knit family and has been very thankful for their support of his passion for music since he was young. In an interview with Viper Magazine, the Street hop star said: After God, my mother, father, family then my fanbase. My family is very important in my life so I don't joke. Since I dropped my first album 'million dollar baby', my family has been thankful to God. He was particularly close to his mother. Unfortunately, Seyi Vibez's mother died in March 2024. The singer mourned her loss on Instagram describing the day as the “darkest day of my life”. His later opens up about how his mother's death affected him and made him stop making music for a while. Read also DJ AB's net worth, background, wife, brothers, house and cars Seyi Vibez said his mother was everything to him . He says he had bought her house to surprise her with but she passed before he could hand her the gift. He said he recorded music to grieve her loss, but did not release any of it. He was born Balogun Afolabi Oluwaloseyi. However, he is widely recognized by his stage name, Seyi Vibez. He says he got the name due to his ambitious nature since he was young: Growing up I used to be a kid with a different view on things and just wanted different. So every time with my pals, I just always try to share and keep everyone on the same frequency as me, so they started calling me “Seyi with the vibe.” Balogun Afolabi Oluwaloseyi decided to turn the phrase into his professional name. The singer's unique music stays true to his stage name. Read also Who is Dunsin Oyekan's new wife? His family life and what happened to his wife He is currently a student at Lagos State University, studying Sociology. The Nigerian Afro-pop artist attended As-Sodiq Primary School in Ketu and later enrolled at Skylights Secondary School in Agric Ikorodu. Seyi Vibez's biography reveals a passion for music from a very early age. The street hop star sensation says he enjoyed watching music videos by singers. The songs Seyi Vibez's father and brother listened to shaped his music taste. He says: My earliest memories of music my father and elder brothers listened to, the music playing on the streets at barbershops and bars and stuff. His brother saw his passion for music and offered to take him to a studio to see how music was made. After the visit to the studio, Seyi Vibez made his first song when he was 14 years old. However, it was not until 2019 that he made his official debut with his first single, Anybody . Read also Chino Pacas’ age, height, date of birth, real name, net worth Seyi first gained popularity in 2021 with the release of his single Godsent . The same year, he released his debut album, No Seyi No Vibez (NSNV) . His international breakthrough came the following year with his single Chance (Na Ham) off his second studio album, Billion Dollar Baby. Billion Dollar Baby rose to number 1 on Nigeria's TurnTable 50 albums chart and debuted at number 19 on the UK Afrobeats chart. The hit single Chance (Na Ham) peaked at 7 on the TurnTable Top 100 chart. The rising star continued his success the following year, in January 2023, with the release of a 5-track EP, Memory Card , featuring the American rapper YXNG KA. The EP dominated the TurnTable Top 10 chart, gaining over 6.30 million streams in the first week. In February of the same year, Let There Be Light debuted at number 14 on the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100 chart. In April 2024, Seyi Vibez, in collaboration with Muyeez , released the song Instagram , which went top 10 in less than 24 hours on Apple Music Nigeria Charts. Read also Does Kizz Daniel have a wife? A look at his relationships According to Genius, Seyi Vibez has 115 songs in total. He is widely known for his singles, including Dia Fada, Better Days Freestyle, Anybody, and Professor Peller featuring Zlatan Ibile. His most popular songs are Gwagwalada , Higher , Giza, and Chance (Na Ham) . Studio albums Billion Dollar Baby - 2022 Vibe Till Thy Kingdom Come - 2023 Thy Kingdom Come - 2023 Loseyi Professor - 2024 EPs No Seyi, No Vibez - 2021 Memory Card - 2023 Nahamciaga - 2023 Seyi Vibez is known for his surprise music release style. He has built excitement around his music drops by not announcing releases beforehand. Seyi Vibez's street music style, which fuses Apala and Fuji with Amapiano, has earned him much critical acclaim. Pan African Music listed his album Thy Kingdom Come as one of the ten best albums of January 2023. Read also Does Timini Egbuson have a wife? A look at his love life He won the best Street-Hop Artist at the 16th Headies Award with his hit single Chance (Na Ham) . In May 2024, he was announced as a nominee for the Best New International Act 2024 at the BET Awards Viewer's Choice. FreshersLive alleges that his net worth is approximately $85,000. Seyi Vibez’s biography shows that he primarily earns his income from his music career. However, this information is not official because the source could be more reliable. He is 5 feet 11 inches (180 centimetres) tall and weighs approximately 172 pounds (78 kilograms). Aside from singing, Vibez is also a social media personality. Seyi Vibez's Instagram account has over 2 million followers. He mainly shares his music videos. His Facebook account has 190K followers; his Twitter account has more than 357k followers and 253k subscribers on YouTube at present. Everything about Seyi Vibez's latest songs is available on the channel. Read also Does Asake have a wife? A look into his relationships Who is Seyi Vibez's wife? The rising hot star is not married as far as public information goes. Seyi Vibez keeps his private life close, so not much is known about his dating life. What is Seyi Vibez's record label? Seyi Vibez was signed to the record label Dapper Music for distribution of his music. However, recent reports suggested he parted ways with the label following a backlash after a last-minute cancellation of his Toronto show. The talented singer wiped his previous posts on Instagram and updated his bio to "Independent" in September 2024. Who is the richest between Seyi Vibez and Zinoleesky? There is no verified information on Zinoleesky's net worth to establish whether he is richer than Vibez. Some sources allege that he is worth $1.1 million - $1.5 million while others report his net worth to be $235,000. Read also Ivan Cornejo’s age, height, family, nationality, net worth The conflict between Seyi Vibez and his fellow Nigerian artist Zinoleesky spilled online on social media. The issue started with Zinoleesky giving unwelcomed advice to Seyi Vibez on improvements for his album. Seyi took a jab at Zinoleesky counseling to stop speaking until he could afford a new house (Zinoleesky had recently purchased new property). The feud has led to questions from fans wondering which artist is richer. Did Seyi Vibez buy Lamborghini? The new Seyi Vibez's car is a 2020 Lamborghini Urus estimated to be worth N450,000,000. In a video shared on Facebook , Seyi Vibez is showing off his new car while sitting on top of it. What is Seyi doing now? People often ask what happened to Seyi Vibez or is Seyi Vibez still alive? The Afro-Fuji star is alive and still singing. In 2024, he released his sixth project, Loseyi Professor . He has launched his record label Vibez INC to nurture a new roster of artists. He says he wants to give a chance to new artist to pursue their dreams: Read also Yhemolee’s biography: age, real name, siblings, net worth The vision was to give back and also have myself glued to the music as it’s what I love. Seyi Vibez is a fast-rising singer and songwriter from Nigeria. He is best known for his hit song Chance (Na Ham) . Seyi Vibez's biography tells you more about the hot Afro-Fuji artist, his family, inspirations and future aspirations. Legit.ng recently published an article about Bernice Burgos . She is a renowned businesswoman, model and social media personality from the United States of America. She was born in the Bronx, New York, and resides in Los Angeles, California. Bernice Burgos is well known for appearing in numerous videos as a model and sharing her lifestyle photos on Instagram. She is also recognized for being the mother of the popular model and Instagram star Ashley Burgos. Discover more about her. Source: Legit.ng
India's badminton star PV Sindhu got engaged to Hyderabad-based tech executive Venkata Datta Sai. The two-time Olympic medallist shared a picture of her engagement with Datta Sai on her social media. In the picture shared by Sindhu, the two can be seen having rings in their hands and sharing a burst of laughter. The picture has gone viral on social media. Check the post here. Sindhu is set to marry Datta Sai, who is an Executive Director at Posidex Technologies. The two will tie the knot on December 22 in Udaipur. The wedding festivities will begin on December 20. There will be a reception in Hyderabad too. Sindhu's father had revealed that the two families know each other. "The two families knew each other but it was only a month ago that everything was finalised. This was the only possible window as her schedule will be hectic from January," Sindhu's father, PV Ramana, told PTI. "So that is the reason the two families decided to have the marriage ceremony on December 22. The reception will be held in Hyderabad on December 24. She will start her training soon after as the next season is going to be important," he added. The couple will be marrying in the end of December as Sindhu has a busy season coming up. "So that is the reason the two families decided to have the marriage ceremony on December 22. The reception will be held in Hyderabad on December 24. She will start her training soon after as the next season is going to be important," her father further added. PV Sindhu's would-be husband, Venkata Datta Sai is a Hyderabad-based executive director at Posidex Technologies. He did a Diploma in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies from the Foundation of Liberal and Management Education. Datta Sai later pursued a BBA in Accounting and Finance from Flame University. He attained a Masters degree in Data Science and Machine Learning from the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore. Datta Sai has also managed team Delhi Capitals. He has worked with JSW as a summer intern and as an in-house consultant. During his tenure, he also managed JSW-owned Delhi Capitals.
The recent Associated Press article that appeared in the Sun-Times, “Doc Rivers gets emotional when talking about childhood hero Bob Love,” was a bit painful to read. As a lifelong Chicago Bulls fan and also a PWS (person who stutters), it has been hard for me to come to terms with the death of my hero, Bob Love. Love overcame obstacles in his life and never once played himself as a victim. First, it is a travesty he is not in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, when so many players who do not have the same impressive stats that he accumulated in his career have been inducted. This injustice needs to be rectified, and it should have been during while the Bulls great was living. To say that Love was an absolute role model and hero to people who stutter is an understatement. He overcame his stuttering as an adult through speech therapy en route to doing public speaking as director of community relations for the Bulls. I attended the political rallies for Love’s candidacy on the Chicago City Council over two decades ago and shadowed him while he was campaigning in public and knocking on doors. I hoped to learn his success formula for overcoming stuttering. It was inspirational to watch him in action, and it definitely helped me in my own speech therapy struggles. Love lent so much of himself over the years as a national spokesman for the Stuttering Foundation of America. Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser summed it up best: “Stuttering didn’t bench Bob Love, and he’s an All-Star in our book, too.” Love may have left this earth, but he will continue to inspire and motivate people who stutter for many years to come. Carlo Peluso, Arlington Heights Good sport On Saturday, in a hard fought and exciting Big Ten football game, the University of Illinois defeated Rutgers 38-31 with a touchdown with only 14 seconds left. After the game, Rutgers star running back Kyle Monangai said: "(Illinois) made a great play at the end of the game. I think we played our hearts to the very end, even that last play. Illinois did the same. They’re a great team. The chips fell their way today.” In the game, Monangai had a career high 28 carries for 122 yards. In the bigger game of life, his outlook establishes him as a first-class, high-quality individual, which the entire world could use in big doses right now. Christine Craven, Evergreen Park Dirksen security concerns are real The Sun-Times’ recent editorial about the need to remove restrictive conditions from the Century and Consumers buildings located at State and Adams streets completely disregards the legitimate security concerns of those judges and employees of the Dirksen Federal Building. For obvious reasons, the U.S. Marshal’s office and the FBI cannot share the details of all of those concerns without further jeopardizing the safety of federal workers. Suffice to say, these concerns are legitimate and real. For this reason, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., allocated the funds for the destruction of the buildings, which have sat vacant and unused for many years. Courthouses, unfortunately, are targets of those who seek to harm innocents in the name of some misguided cause. Your cavalier editorial casually dismissed these legitimate concerns in the name of development when many buildings in the Loop are struggling to find tenants. Susan E. Cox, retired U.S. magistrate judge, Lincoln Park Honoring lives centered on service Thanksgiving is a day when an entire nation gives thanks for what our great country has to offer. Families and friends gather together to celebrate with sumptuous dinners and share the joy of Thanksgiving. I would like to suggest we also give thanks to those among us who are not with family, friends and loved ones. They are the faceless indefatigable servants, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, doctors, nurses, transportation workers. A grateful nation turns its eyes toward you. A special thanks. Bob Angone, retired Chicago Police lieutenant, Austin, Texas Thanksgiving thoughts I give thanks for the young maple tree outside my window that waxes gold only on one side when the sun is just rising. I give thanks for the wave of honking geese flying in formation overhead. I give thanks for the plump squirrels emerging from their large nests in the trees. I give thanks for the hum of passing cars on a nearby street. And I give thanks for my sight and hearing, which I so often just take for granted. Kathleen Melia, Niles Legal privilege What is wrong with the Illinois Supreme Court? They let Jussie Smollett , who totally disrespected the Chicago police officers as well as city residents, go free. He was convicted of a crime that cost the city over $130,000 in manpower and time that could have been used for other investigations. Why are only “special” people allowed to stay free during appeals? If it were you or I, we would have been in jail for months already. I guess we’re not so special. Rose Johnson, WheelingMichelle Obama did not receive a warm welcome on social media after touting her self-help workbook Overcoming , which the former first lady hopes will help people “get through the challenging periods life throws our way.” Obama shared a video holding the workbook for the first time, describing it as a “timely” gift or purchase. It remains unclear if she is suggesting it is timely as it comes just weeks after President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential election and will take office again on January 20. Obama said, emphasizing again that this purchase may be helpful “particularly during this time.”: My new workbook, Overcoming , is how it’s going to be on shelves. Is the first time I’ve held it myself. This is a timely gift or purchase for yourself, because this is a workbook that takes you through some techniques and exercises based on some of the insights I shared with you all in The Light That We Carry. “So I encourage you, particularly during this time, during the holiday season, during a time where we feel a little out of sorts, a little anxious,” she said, adding: I urge you to pick this book up and just walk through some of the exercises and also do it in some groups. I mean, I know there are a lot of great book groups out there, and you guys might find that using some of these exercises techniques and tips as a form of conversation. So, I hope you find this useful. Take care. Talk soon. “I’m so excited to give you a first look at Overcoming — a workbook designed to help you get through the challenging periods life throws our way,” the text of her social media post read, announcing the book’s December 3 release date. However, social media users were not very amused. “Nobody has divided our country more than you and Obama,” one X user responded . “Next book you can write – How to overcome the destruction and divisive culture you and your husband have left behind,” another quipped as many commenters offered similar sentiments. Those include the following comments: “I would rather hug a grizzly bear or spend a day shopping at the mall than read that garbage book. ” “Nobody cares. You and Barry destroyed this great nation.” “Hard pass. Never ever not in million years. Not enough money.” “What did you overcome exactly?” “I can’t wait to not read that.” “Does this book tell us how you overcome a personal chefs [sic] death?” “This is a fabulous idea! Spend decades NOT teaching people how to cope, and then sell them a diary to help them cope. ” “Peddle this shit on blue sky not X” “No one is looking for life advice from an Obama, neither one of you dudes. You have tried to destroy our country for the last 16 years, no thanks, kick rocks.” “If I wanted to waste money I’d burn it” “Traitorous scum.” “Just the person I need advice from or help increase their ever growing bank account, never happen. “ According to a description of the book, Overcoming includes “creative activities, reflective writing prompts, habit tracking tools, and more to provide the ultimate guide to unlocking your small power, sharing your whole self, showing up in relationships, and of course, ‘going high.'” The book’s release comes less than a month after Trump’s victory. Both Barack and Michelle Obama blamed his victory on the economy and coronavirus pandemic.
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